europe

TomTom debuts new entry-level GPS for Europe

The Start is TomTom's newest entry-level car navigation device for the European market. Featuring a smallish 3.5-inch color touch screen and a fixed version of TomTom's (normally removable) EasyPort mounting system, the Start is aiming to be a low-cost, pocketable device.

The shape isn't the only thing that's been simplified. The menu's home screen has been simplified to two buttons, "Plan route" and "Browse map." No word has been given on if or how more-advanced menu options will fit into this scheme, but hopefully this reorganization will make the Start'… Read more

Europe sets rules on aid for broadband rollouts

The European Commission has published a set of rules for when state aid should be used to roll out broadband networks, in a bid to speed up the deployment of high-speed next-generation networks in the European Union.

The guidelines (PDF), announced on Thursday, followed a public consultation. According to competition commissioner Neelie Kroes, the rules will "facilitate the widespread rollout of high-speed and very high-speed broadband networks, enhancing European competitiveness and helping to build a knowledge-based society in Europe."

"We expect to see up to ($442 billion) of investment in both high- and very high-speed European broadband … Read more

Browserless Windows 7 refuses to go gracefully

With its plans now centered on creating a ballot screen where users can choose which browsers to install, Microsoft has no plans to ever ship the browserless "E" versions of Windows 7.

Curiously, though, the "E" versions are still listed for sale on several versions of Microsoft's European online store. Nor did the software maker have a clear explanation of why those versions are still listed, weeks after the company said that it would ship the same version globally.

Although the UK site seems to have it right, many of the non-English sites, including Spanish, … Read more

Microsoft alters Windows 7 pricing for Europe

Microsoft said Monday that it plans in a week to end an offer that allowed those buying Windows 7 in Europe to get the full version of the operating system for the price normally charged for the upgrade version.

Those who want to pre-order the full version for the upgrade price have until Aug. 31 to do so, Microsoft said in a blog posting. After Sept. 1, users will be able to order an upgrade version or pay a higher price for the full version, which does not require an earlier version of Windows be installed.

The discounted full version … Read more

Attractive screensaver

Dutch Windmills 3D Screensaver is an attractive, high-quality screensaver that will turn any desktop into a scenic view of the Netherlands.

The program's interface is simple. Although the screensaver is accessed through the computer's Display Properties menu like any other screensaver, Dutch Windmills has an additional screen of options that allows users to adjust settings such as graphics quality, screen size, and audio preferences. Although most of this is fairly self-explanatory, some users may not know what Gamma Control and FPS are. Unfortunately, the program has no Help file to explain. Still, the program's main functions are … Read more

Take control of time in the iPhone

Has your iPhone's date and time got out of whack? Don't like it to reset itself when you cross time zones?

Here's how to take control of time in your iPhone.

Go to Settings, then General, then Date & Time. Turn on or off Set Automatically. You can also have 24-hour time, like they do in Europe and the Army.

Next09: The seven rules of the chief meaning officer

Credit: next09

I just came back from the next09 conference in Hamburg, one of Europe's leading digital/creative/marketing forums that stands out in the conference circuit because of its unique German-international focus (bilingual program, 80 percent international attendees, many international speakers). This year's theme was "Share Economy," and the 1,300 attendees comprised of European VCs and angel investors, Web 2.0 entrepreneurs, media, creative agencies, and executives from German corporations (from BMW to Deutsche Bank to Deutsche Telekom).

In talking to many German attendees, my impression was that the German creative community shows no … Read more

Ford of Europe scales down in wake of global economic crisis

Ford of Europe will do whatever it takes to ensure the company continues to make cars, and a profit, said John Fleming, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO.

Announcements the company made today primarily affect Ford's manufacturing operations in Germany, Spain, and its new manufacturing facility in Craiova, Romania.

The Valencia Plant in Spain will move to a two-shift pattern from May 1. Further talks will take place on how to manage the surplus labor in the short term. Longer term, two-shift versus three-shift working will depend on market demand.

Current Fiesta production will continue at Valencia, and Ford … Read more

VMware moves vCenter to Linux

CANNES, France--VMware will release future versions of vCenter, its flagship virtualization-management software, in Linux versions as well as for Windows, the company's chief technology officer said Wednesday.

Chief technology officer Stephen Herrod announced the move for vCenter, formerly called Virtual Center Server, in a keynote speech at the VMworld 2009 conference here.

"We have enabled vCenter Server to be installed directly on Linux," he said. VMware first said it would release a Linux versio of the management software at its last VMworld conference, in September.

"We have also released a (Linux) version of vCenter Server that … Read more