Windows

Battery life--or lack thereof--has been an increasingly vexing issue as the wireless universe continues to expand. But MIT researchers think that they may have made a key discovery in a technology from the past: the capacitor, which was invented more than 300 years ago but has roots that go back to 600 B.C. And according to ScienCentral Video News, the work at MIT could lead to a phone or laptop battery that can be fully charged in seconds.

Summer's almost here, and bloggers must be thinking about squeezing into their bathing suits. Yesterday, we passed along some tips on losing weight that included watching video games. Today, we offer another post on a diet regimen that employs a spreadsheet and a Web site.

Are desktop PCs headed for extinction? That notion might seem like a stretch, but they may be entering a new evolutionary phase as the line between desktops and laptops is increasingly blurred.

Since Dell debuted its 20-pound "luggable" computer last week, Acer and Samsung announced similar products of their own, all with screens around 19 or 20 inches. The whole concept of a heavy "laptop" might seem silly at first, but maybe that's not the point. Instead, we may be witnessing the end of the desktop computer as we know it.

Why, for example, must … Read more

As part of its ongoing effort to convince Windows Vista buyers to go for the more expensive versions, Microsoft is launching its Windows Ultimate Extras program--a series of perks for those that buy the priciest edition of the new OS.

According to a page included in the latest test version of Vista, buyers can expect some members-only software, services as well as additional Vista tips and tricks. Microsoft didn't offer too much detail beyond the info that came with Vista, but a representative did say that one example is that Microsoft "plans to use Ultimate Extras to deliver … Read more

Ever have the suspicion that your computer is against you? We know the feeling. And this cleverly done animated feature captures the ensuing frustration perfectly, with just the right mix of humor and paranoia.

It appears to be a year of reflection for many in the blogosphere, as indicated by such posts as Damien Katz on identifying lousy programmers and Emil Stenstrom on CSS knowledge. Roger Johansson has followed with a post of his own in this vein, addressing the widely varying "levels of HTML knowledge" throughout the Web industry.

Fonts are a popular topic with our readers, so it's important to note that major changes appear afoot for Times New Roman--something of a de facto standard for the last decade because of its enviable position as the default on Microsoft Word. But as Andrew Whitacre notes in this post, it was knocked from its perch earlier this year in beta releases of Office 2007. So what, he asks, does this portend for the future of the font world?

The Vista Views panel is being brought together by CNET News.com to discover what people on the street think about Microsoft's new operating system. We're looking for a range of perspectives--from beta testers to business buyers to home PC owners.

Interested in joining the panel pool? Here's how it works:

Whenever key Vista news breaks, we'll send an e-mail to contributors for their response. Sometimes, we'll ask a yes/no question and use the results as a simple poll. Other times, we'll look for more in-depth feedback on Vista current events. It doesn'… Read more

No matter what they do, a lot of people seem to think an alternative to the universal JPEG format is a good idea. They just wish it wasn't coming from Microsoft.

Knee-jerk criticism, and even downright hatred, of Microsoft has softened in the last couple of years thanks to Google's ascension toward world domination. But bloggers and News.com readers indicate that some things--namely skepticism toward anything Microsoft does--may never change.

Ultimately, Microsoft may end up being the Barry Bonds of technology: No matter what the company does, it may never be trusted.

Blog community response:

"This … Read more