Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Without further ado, I would like to thank all of you (however many or few of you there are) who read this blog. I know that there is not much here right now but I have a lot coming up and I appreciate all of your support.

I guess I’ll give you a little preview. I am creating a custom theme for this blog. I have just started work on it very recently. All I can tell you right now is that it will be called “Inspire” and it will not only be one theme but a set of similar themes for this website. I will release previews/mockups as I develop Inspire.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ DC

Three new wallpapers released today:

Enjoy!

~ DC

Christoph Boehme, a physicist of the University of Utah demonstrated that it is possible to measure the nuclear spin of phosphorus atoms embedded in silicon using “very subtle electric currents.” Boehme stated that this discovery is a great advancement in the development of the “phosphorus-and-silicon quantum computer,” for it presents “a new way to read data.”

This discovery sounds very hopeful for the development of future CPUs. As of now according to Moore’s Law, which stated that the growth of CPU processing speeds will increase at an exponential rate, we should have CPUs that are capable of processing at over 10 GHz. However, being unable to make the transistors smaller on the chip, our CPU speeds have plateaued at around 3.2 GHz. Consequently, we have resorted to other techniques such as hyperthread and multicore technology to improve CPU performance. Moreover, many believe that the next phase of the “evolution” of computers will include more AI-type features such as more automation and natural language input/output. However, many of the functions are not possible unless you want a PC the size of a building.
However, the development of quantum computers presents great hope for much faster computers. While consumer use of such technology is still years away, such superfast CPUs will definitely improve our experience in CPU-intensive tasks such as gaming, video and photo editing, etc.

To those scientists developing this technology, thank you and good luck!

News source: Technology News Daily

Here is my November 2006 desktop:

~ DC

Somewhat pointless, but yes, I upgraded my Creative Zen Vision:M’s firmware to 1.60.whateveritwas. Not much to say other than it went a lot more smoothly than the countless times that I had to upgrade and restore the firmware of the iPod 5G that I had where the updater literally froze as it updated/restored the player. The Creative updater and the Zen actually shows you what is going on (uploading firmware, rebooting, rebuilding the firmware, etc.) and does not become a frozen white window for twenty minutes. Most of all, all you have to do is run the exe after downloading then delete unlike the iPod updater that makes you reboot your computer.

Anyway, enough iPod bashing for one day. Experience makes one wary indeed.

At least I got my FM Radio recorder feature back.

For my fellow Zen/Muvo users, you can update your players here.

~ DC

Today, November 8, 2006, the next release of Windows, Windows Vista, has been released to manufacturer (RTM). Jim Allchin announced in a video that the General Availability date will be January 30, 2007 and will launch in 18 languages.

Windows Vista Team Blog
Jim Allchin’s announcement video
Windows Vista Screenshots
Windows Vista Q&A
~ DC

Three new wallpapers added today. These were from the San Diego trip.

~ DC

I released three wallpapers today. All three were taken on the Washington/Canada trip (pictures of which will be posted soon).

~ DC

Zune.net, the website of the greatly-anticipated Microsoft Zune MP3 player (which will debut November 14, 2006) just went live today. The website looks really cool, (better and more welcoming than iTunes.com in my opinion) though the Zune music store will launch when the Zune player is released.

Here is the email newsletter I received from Microsoft:

****************************************************************
music is in the air

****************************************************************
Zune is almost here. So, thanks for registering to learn more.
Hope you enjoyed what we have shown so far. We have a lot more
going on.

Zune.net went live today. Check it out to learn more.
http://www.zune.net

Plus, Coming Zune is evolving into Zune Arts. Go see it at
http://www.zune-arts.net
It’s a place for creative expression around the idea of sharing
from some of today’s most progressive artists, animators and
designers. Play around. The gallery is constantly growing.
http://www.zune-arts.net

And because you signed up early we want to give you an exclusive
heads-up. Make sure you come back to Zune.net on November 10 for
some exciting information about our launch plans.

Pass it on. 11.14.06

zune

Furthermore, Microsoft also released a new desktop theme that looks like a black version of the Energy Blue (media center) theme with a orange start button.

Go: Zune
Download: Zune theme

I look forward to Zune’s release.

~ DC

The packaging and CD design for Microsoft’s next generation software, Windows Vista and Office 2007, have been revealed. The box design is different but very nice-looking (and so is the CD). I really like how they implemented the aurora into various aspects of the packaging.

Here is a sampling of the box design and the CD:
107

The icons of the applications in Windows Vista have also been finalized. They all have the characteristic “glass” design:
109

For more images, see here.

~ DC