Here’s something for the heavy PC gamers among us. It’s true, digital distribution stores like Steam and EA Store has taken some of the guesswork out of managing game updates, but there’s still a lot of PC games out there where you don’t realize it’s out-of-date until you discover you’re 5 patches behind. Wouldn’t it be cool if Windows notified you of game patches like it does with system updates? Windows 7 might just do that.

A presentation about Windows Game Development at Microsoft’s annual game technology conference, Gamefest 2008, revealed plans that a games update notification system will be integrated into the “Games Explorer” feature of Windows.

Besides the details in the slide above, from what I can gather in the audio recording the feature will only notify users of game updates and point them to a URL defined by the publisher. It will not automatically download or install them like Windows Updates. There was also a prototype of the interface demoed during the presentation but video recordings are not available.

Personally as a pretty heavy PC gamer, I think this is a necessary and perhaps overdue feature in the operating system. Windows is already a really powerful gaming platform and the Vista “Games Explorer” was a step in the right direction.

With Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference (PDC) and Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) happening a week apart from each other in late October, there’s going to be an extraordinary amount of Windows 7 information communicated in such a short time.

A couple of months ago people began uncovering a bunch of Windows 7 related sessions published to the PDC 2008 agenda, and now more recently some Windows 7 sessions has appeared on the WinHEC 2008 sessions list too. Some interesting ones highlighted.

Connected PCs and Devices

• Audio Design for Unified Communications
• Building a Communication Device in Windows 7
• Building a Windows Certified Electronic Picture Frame
• Common Driver Installation Errors and How to Diagnose Them
• Design Considerations for Building a Windows Home Server
• Discussion: Windows Home Server
• PC and Device IDs in Windows 7: What You Need to Know
• Plug and Play Basics
• Printer Driver Development Tools and Print Verifier
• USB Technology Update and Windows Strategy
• Windows 7 Device Experience Overview
• Windows 7 Logo Program and Design Considerations for Network Infrastructure Devices
• Windows Connect Now for Wireless Devices
• Windows Logo for Network Media Devices and the Role of DLNA
• Windows SideShow: Building Better Devices and PCs

Core Platform & Fundamentals

• Distributing Drivers on Windows Update
• Leveraging Solid-State Drives in Windows
• Making Drivers Available on Windows
• Network Power Management Fundamentals
• New Developments in the Storage Platform
• System Integrated Flash Storage
• UEFI Industry Momentum: The AMD Perspective
• Windows 7 Power Management Overview
• Windows Logo Program Future Strategy

Enterprise Computing

• BitLocker: Protecting Portable Data in Windows
• Directions for Virtualized I/O in Windows
• IPv6: Deploying the Foundation for Tomorrow
• Microsoft Data Center Transformation
• New Windows Server Logo Requirements and Programs
• Server and Domain Isolation: The Next Generation for Network Security
• Understanding the Performance Cost of Power Optimizations
• Windows Presentation Virtualization
• Windows Server Power Management Overview
• Windows Virtualization and Cluster Shared Volumes

High Fidelity Graphics and Media

• DirectX: Core Graphics for Windows 7
• Discussion: Windows Media Center
• Display and Monitor Technologies
• Perspectives on the Windows TV Tuners Ecosystem
• Video Improvements in Windows 7
• Windows 7 Logo Program for TV Tuners and Remotes
• Working with the Windows 7 Graphics Architecture

Mobile Computing

• Connecting Projectors and Using Docking Stations with Windows 7
• Multi-touch Designing and Testing for Logo Compliance
• Multi-touch Driver Development
• Multi-touch in Windows 7 Overview

For the moment, WinHEC 2008 seems to have the leg up with more interesting Windows 7 content than PDC. However I’m sure both will balance out closer to the event when all the sessions have been finalized. Unfortunately for me, I can’t attend any of them due to exams *sigh*.

Linux users are assigned a name, known as a username, by the root operator. One method of assigning usernames is to use one's first initial and last name in lowercase; for example, Bernice Hudson would have a username of bhudson. Each user must also have a password, which is used with the username either at a graphical or text-based login.

Older versions of Linux operating systems limited the length of usernames to 8 characters. The current version of Ubuntu limits usernames to 32 characters. Good passwords should be a minimum of 8 characters long and contain uppercase and lowercase letters, along with numbers. Random passwords for users can be generated using the mkpasswd command. Good passwords are not birthdays, anniversaries, your pet's name, the name of your significant other, or the model of your first car!

You cannot change your username, but you can change your user information, such as address, phone, and so on. You make these changes using the chfn or change finger information command. This command will modify the contents of your entry in the system password file /etc/passwd, which is used by the finger command to display information about a system's user. For example, type chfn at the command line and press Enter:

$ chfn
Password:
Changing the user information for andrew
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
        Full Name: Andrew Hudson
        Room Number [None]: 17
        Work Phone [01225445566]: 01225112233
        Home Phone [01225112233]: 01225445566

You are led through a series of prompts to enter new or updated information. Note that the chfn command will not let you use any commas when entering information. You can verify this information in a couple ways, for example, by looking at the contents of /etc/passwd:

$ grep andrew /etc/passwd
andrew:x:1000:1000:Andrew Hudson,17,01225112233,01225445566:\
/home/andrew:/bin/bash

You also can verify the updated user information by using the finger command:

$ finger andrew
Login: andrew                           Name: Andrew Hudson
Directory: /home/andrew                 Shell: /bin/bash
Office: 17, +0-122-511-2233             Home Phone: +0-122-544-5566
On since Tue May 30 20:54 (BST) on :0 (messages off)
On since Tue May 30 20:55 (BST) on pts/0 from :1.0
No mail.
No Plan.

Source of Information : Ubuntu Unleashed

Most of the time, when you PC slows down, chances are you would blame it to obsolete hardware and parts. While that may be a possibility, it is likewise possible as well that your computer may be taking up too much load or even contaminated with a virus or spyware. So before you count the bucks on how much that new desktop is going to cost, try and consider checking first software components before making a final call to upgrade your computer.

The easiest way is to really buy a new computer. Especially if you have the funds for it, then why not? But at times, you have to be practical when upgrading, especially if your computer is not that out of date. Some people have a computer for just about a year and yet they conclude that a new one is in order which may not be that conventional considering computers and peripherals change fast thanks to technology developments.

For others who are not as keen on changing computers as frequent, this is a good alternative. In fact you can find some useful scanners and analyzers online such as that of:

1. Yahoo Anti-Spy
2. Panda Online Scanner

These two softwares are apparently overlooked. Normally, it would be best to get the whole package. But if you are on the crossroads of deciding on what to do with that slowpoke computer then perhaps it would be best to consider these analyzers before making any hasty decisions. The difference can be totally significant and easier on the pocket.

Yesterday, the Zune Team announced their Zune 3.0 release was hitting next week on September 16th. As a Zune user myself, I am pretty stoked for the Zune 3.0 release. The Zune 3.0 release consists of updates across the entire Zune ecosystem including new firmware updates for all Zune devices, new Zune software update, and updates to the Zune Social. The Zune 3.0 release focuses on music discovery and taking it to the next level.

Instead of me talking about the new features in Zune 3.0 that help users discover new music - I figure I'd just show you these videos from members of the Zune Team instead that show off the new features themselves (I love that new Zune animation they use at the beginning and end of the videos!).

Terry Farrell, Product Manager on Zune Marketing Team, discusses the new Channels feature. Channels are like "regularly updated playlists" as Cesar Menendez explains in his blog post on the Zune Insider talking about the Zune 3.0 release. One of the Channels users can be able to subscribe to is the Billboard Top 100. Check out Terry's demo for the low-down:

Video: Zune Fall Update: Channels

Dave Jones, Lead Program Manager on the Zune Software Team, discusses the new Zune software features in Zune 3.0 such as Mix View, the enhanced Now Playing screen, and Personal Picks:

Video: Zune Software Features - Zune Fall 2008

Terry Ferrell discusses the new wireless features in Zune 3.0 such as browsing the Zune Marketplace wirelessly by attaching to a local wireless "hot spot" (hot spots can range from your own wireless home network to your local coffee shop):

Video: Zune Fall 2008 Wireless Features

Megan Tedesco, Program Manager on the Zune Device Team, discusses the Buy from FM feature let lets you add songs you hear from a FM radio station to your cart for purchase and download from the Zune Marketplace:

Video: Zune Fall update: buy from FM

On top of the features mentioned above, the new firmware update for Zune devices will also bring Games and Audiobook support.

The Zune Team is also introducing two new devices with the Zune 3.0 release: the Zune 16 (16GB) and Zune 120 (120GB). Shiny new blue-on-silver and sleek all-black color schemes are also being introduced. I'm going after the new shiny blue-on-silver Zune 16 once it hits stores!

Whether you have a Zune 4 or a Zune 120 - all Zune devices have FM and wireless capabilities so users will be able to enjoy these new features (Buy from FM, Browse Zune Marketplace) across the board.

For more information on the Zune 3.0 release definitely check out Cesar Menendez's post over on the Zune Insider. I know its a bit late but congrats Cesar on the new Zune-ified theme for Zune Insider!

I don't know about you but I'm really looking forward to next week's release :-)