Techzone

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is expected to announce the availability of Windows 7 Beta 1 to pre-approved testers in his Consumer Electronics Show keynote address on January 7.

As reported on the technology site, techarp.com, Microsoft has issued a draft of the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program to their OEM partners on December 10. Also per the report, the Redmond-based software major has given its OEM partners exactly one month to provide their feedback before Microsoft finalizes the program details. Techarp has managed to obtain a copy of the draft, which tentatively refers to the program as the Windows 7 Upgrade Program.

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We’ve heard so much of the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds. The slide-out screen looks sturdy, and it’s capable of
swiveling 30 degrees forward and any steps in between. The tablet isn’t
going to replace a Wacom anytime soon, but it’ll get the job done in a
pinch. The laptop itself is rather bulky, but you come to expect it with the amount of features packed in.

Introduction of Ilife ‘09 with updates all of the apps in iLife and iWork ‘09. There’s also the unibody Macbook Pro with a new updated battery which provides 60% more battery life. Let’s see how that tests out in the real time tests. iWork ‘09 goes online at www.iwork.com where you share your documents. Free in beta and will be charged later once the dust settles down. And iTunes goes DRM Free. That’s that… no new mac mini line, iPhone nano et al… Thanks to the rumor mongers for keeping us excited though… Continue reading for the Keynote updates

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ASUS, a provider of digital home solutions, has launched the new ASUS AIR3, which integrates an iPod speaker with Internet radio. According to the company, the HDSS (High Definition Sound Standard) certified speakers and the ETL (Embedded Transmission Line) module within the chambers provide natural, real and clear sound quality. read more »

Although the atmosphere surrounding this year’s MacWorld has been rather downbeat from Apple’s standpoint and one of why Apple decided to exit a major marketing event like MacWorld. Macworlds are not going to be the same as they once were without Steve.

However, stealing the rumors for this year’s MacWorld are reports of the launch of iPhone Nano. Leading Apple fan sites like MacRumors have released conceptual photographs (the one above) of an iPhone Nano. Labeling these rumors as doubtful, serious doubts are being cast about the likelihood of such a device.

Nokia has removed one of the key obstacles for takeup of its new Internet offering, combining sign-ins for its overall services site, Ovi.com, and for its media sharing device.

Ovi.com is something like Apple’s MobileMe. You can sync your contacts, maps, music and documents from your PC to your online account in Ovi.com and access them on the go. Sounds pretty cool.

Nokia has completed an $8.1 billion acquisition of a mapping company called Navteq to jump-start its Internet business as growth in the cell phone market stalls. The handset maker has gathered access to all of the services to its Ovi.com site, but so far they have all demanded additional usernames and passwords, something analysts see as one of the major obstacles for takeup.

“We are pleased to announce that as part of improving your experience with Share on Ovi, we have merged our sign-in system with Ovi.com,” Nokia said in a letter to clients. “This is a key step in integrating Ovi,” Nokia said. Nokia said earlier this month it aims to make annual revenue of at least 2 billion euros ($2.79 billion) from Internet services in 2011, focusing on navigation, music, games, messaging and media — but is battling with more established rivals such as Google, Apple and Yahoo.  Nokia has not released user numbers for its Internet services, which created revenue of 115 million euros in July-to-September quarter.