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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Windows 8.1 Preview available for download

Posted by Jim Bernstein

If you have been waiting for the first major update or service pack for Windows 8 to arrive well now is your chance to get it, well a preview of it at least. The Windows 8.1 (Blue) preview is out and ready for you to download and try out for yourself. Just keep in mind that it’s a beta version and you may end up having to redo your system if you don’t like it because you can’t uninstall it once you “upgrade”. If you have access to a virtualized environment then that would be your best bet for testing it out so you can snapshot your original configuration and roll it back if needed.

The Windows 8.1 preview can be installed right from Windows 8 as an update or you can download an ISO file and install it from the setup file within the ISO or boot to the ISO itself. Microsoft released a listing of all the enhancements and new features but most people were waiting for a Start button and Start menu. Well the Start button made it but it only toggles between the desktop and the Start Screen. As for the Start menu there is not one, at least for now. Maybe if we are lucky it will make it to the final 8.1 release.

You can download the Windows 8.1 preview and get a license key from the Microsoft website.

Friday, June 07, 2013

Intel releases new Core processor

Posted by David Bernstein

 Many people couldn’t tell you what processor they have in their computer and may not even care. But if you follow the latest and greatest CPU trends you know how poplar the Intel “Core” line of processors have been all the way from the Core 2 Duo to the i7.

Intel has just released the 4th edition of its Core line called the Haswell. These processors are 15% faster and offer 50% longer battery life than previous models. They will also be used in laptops and desktops because of their system-on-a-chip (SoC) design. Also included on the chip is a graphical processing unit to help with things such as video editing ang games.

Since the Haswell doesn’t require as much power and run cooler it will make them ideal for tablets and ultrabooks. Being thinner also helps them fit into the smaller spaces these devices offer.  As for battery life, the Haswell can actually shut itself down completely and then come back on immediately without the user even noticing.  But on the negative side these processors will be pricey thanks to all the new technology they hold.

These new processors are already making their way into new devices so keep your eyes opened for that Intel Inside logo.