• Over 500 New Features in the Upcoming Windows Phone 7 Mango

    // Gradly // blog, Microsoft, Mobile, News, Rants & Raves, Rumors, Software No Responses

    Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has promised over 500 new features for the next release of Windows Phone 7 dubbed ‘Mango’ and will get version 7.5.

    Speaking at Japanese Microsoft Developer Forum 2011, Ballmer promised the features to be unveiled in the Mango event today. The software giant is also expected to unveil new developer tools for Windows Phone applications. Microsoft is currently hard at work on “Mango”, its next major release of Windows Phone. Nokia is also reportedly waiting for the next release of Windows Phone before it unveils its first Windows Phone device. Watch Ballmer speaking about the 500 new features in the video below:

    Neowin is adding additional rumor before today’s Mango activities kick out. Windows Phone 7.5 may be released to Manufacturers today, and will be coming out to all phones in September.

  • PlayStation Network PSN Is Back Again, Firmware 3.61 Released

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Games, News, PS3, Rants & Raves, Scandal, Software, Sony 1 Response

    Sony just announced that over the next several hours it will be flipping the lights back on in its Playstation Network that has been since hackers attacked it nearly a month ago.

    The company announced a phased restart to its network starting with the Americas followed by Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. the company has also pushed out a software update 3.61 that will prompt users to change their password as part of the new security procedures put in place.

    Hirai announced advanced security technology, encryption and additional firewalls:

    We have greatly updated our data security systems. These changes were the result of an intensive investigation aided by some of the most respected forensic and security experts in the computer industry.

    Here is the statement released from Sony today:

    Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

    Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated, which is required to get online.

  • How To Transform Windows 7 Into Windows 8

    // Gradly // blog, Download, How To, Microsoft, Software No Responses

    Following our story on How to transform Windows 7 into Mac OS X Lion, here comes a new skin pack been created which contains many of the expected Windows 8 features. It has visual styles liked the leaked screenshots and third party apps that have been developed to provide users with the expected Windows 8 features. So if you would like to get the Windows 8 skin and small number of features today, try out 8 Skin Pack for 7.

    Note: Please bear in mind that such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing 8SkinPackFor7, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes (if required). Moreover, make sure that UAC (User Account Control) is disabled.

    When installing the transformation pack, you will be presented with the option to install the UXTheme Patch, files and extra items (e.g. wallpaper, visual styles, third party software, etc). You may select all or some of these options to continue. For example, you may not be interested in installing a screensaver, wallpaper, or some third-party software. To uncheck these items, you can expand the options but clicking on the + sign to unselect items from the Files and Extras options. Click on Install to begin the installation process.

    This will install the selected components on your Windows 7 operating system. After the installation is complete, reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

    [via: addictivetips]

  • How To Transform Windows 7 Into Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Download, How To, Microsoft, Software 5 Responses

    A new transformation pack intended for Windows 7 users, this pack  transforms the look of your Windows 7 into a Mac OS X Lion desktop. This transformation pack by HamedDanger.

    Lion Skin Pack for Windows 7. It is an extremely easy to install Mac UI theme. It does not require any theme patching software and can be installed via a simple executable file. It can be quite handy for die hard Mac lovers who require using Windows for some reason (e.g. at office), or Windows users who wish to bring the Mac style to their desktop.

    Note: Please bear in mind that such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing the Lion Skin Pack, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes (if required). Moreover, make sure that UAC (User Account Control) is disabled.

    When installing the transformation pack, you will be presented with the option to install the UXTheme Patch, files and extra items (e.g. wallpaper, visual styles, etc). You may select all or some of these options to continue. For example, you may not be interested in installing a screensaver, wallpaper, etc from the pack. To uncheck these items, expand the options to deselect items from the Files and Extras options.  Click on Install to begin the installation process. The rest of installing is fairly simple.

    Again, such transformation packs are difficult to uninstall and often a system restore point will not revert the changes. Before installing the Lion Skin Pack, make sure that you backup your computer to revert the changes.

    [via: addictivetips]