PC Advisor "PC Advisor Blog"

Windows 7 discounts its way to success

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39:00 GMT

The early sales numbers for Windows 7 are impressive. According to market researcher NPD Group, US sales of Windows 7 boxed software were a whopping 234 percent higher than Vista's first several days of sales.

Android vs iPhone: security nightmare

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:00 GMT

Here's an ad you'll never see: "The new Vodafone (or T-Mobile or O2 or Orange) smartphone: Your IT department's best friend."

The Beatles on Apple! (But not how you think)

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:56:00 GMT

No, you can't get Beatles tunes on iTunes or elsewhere (legally) online. But you will be able to get them on an apple-shaped USB drive.

Why Google wants you to use a single password

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:08:00 GMT

It's one of the basic tenets of online security: never use the same password/username combo for every website that requires one. The logic is sound, of course. A single security breach could expose your most private information - such as banking and credit card numbers - to the bad guys.

Profits of doom

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:56:00 GMT

Securing your cash and privacy in the real world is one thing. Doing so on a PC is a whole new challenge. Breaking into other people's computers and doing funny stuff to them used to be a nerdy challenge; today, it's simply an opportunity to make money.

Windows 7 adoption puts Vista to shame

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:28:00 GMT

Watch out, Vista. Windows 7's early sales are making your figures look embarrassingly puny.

Google Chrome: fast browser, slow on the uptake

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:31:00 GMT

The launch of the Google Chrome browser a little over a year ago brought with it a mountain of hype and expectations, with some suggesting it could be as instantly disruptive and beneficial as Gmail was to the webmail market.

Happy 40th birthday, the internet

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Why do we today celebrate today - October 29 - as the internet's 40's birthday? Because on this day in 1969, what would later became known as the internet was used for the very first time - and crashed.

Microsoft ditches 'Family Guy' sponsorship - wisely

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:58:00 GMT

When Microsoft pulled out of sponsoring a TV programme by 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane, a remarkable thing happened to the future of television. it sets back the doomsday countdown to when our media is tightly woven into sponsorships, corrupting entertainment itself.

A pictorial guide to Android 2.0 'Eclair'

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:06:00 GMT

Feeling hungry? Try a taste of Eclair, Google's brand new Android operating system, in our mouthwatering pictorial guide to its improvements and innovations.

iPod at 8: The device that changed everything

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:27:00 GMT

Amid all the hubbub last week surrounding Windows 7, you may have missed another tech milestone: the iPod turned eight last Friday. Eight? Hasn't it been with us forever?

Web 3.0: the shopping centre web

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:47:00 GMT

If Web 2.0 was the two-way, user generated, cool internet, Web 3.0 will be the era of post-search rationalisation. The shopping centre web. The big brands are taking over.

Can Windows 7 change our minds about Microsoft?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:34:00 GMT

As operating system launches go, Windows 7 has been pretty smooth. The reviews are mostly thumbs-up, and aside from some unintentionally hilarious videos promoting Windows 7 launch parties, Microsoft seems to have generally done things right.

Website aims to stop office tea-round chaos

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:49:00 GMT

When it comes to office life, there's one activity guaranteed to put even the most confident of employees on edge. No, I'm talking about your appraisal, or even the day the big boss comes to visit - I mean the tea-round.

5 ways Windows 7 could be another Vista

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:47:00 GMT

Windows 7 hasn't been officially released for 24 hours yet, but there are those who think Win 7 is nothing more than Vista with a few extra bells and whistles.

Microsoft 'fakes old Mac' to promote Windows 7

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:39:00 GMT

Microsoft appears to be using a picture of an Apple laptop on the cover of its Windows 7 launch documentation.

Windows 7 launch parties: Are they mad?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:26:00 GMT

It's tricky to imagine the thought process that led to Microsoft's 'Windows 7 launch party' strategy. Has there ever been a more embarrassing idea? Whose brainwave was this?

Windows 7 stat attack

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:02:00 GMT

You've already read the Windows 7 review, you've already swotted up on the first Windows 7 PCs, and may have already received your copy through the post. But what you really want are some Windows 7 stats.

Windows 7 more popular than Harry Potter

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:46:00 GMT

The magic of Hogwarts has nothing on Microsoft's new operating system, as Windows 7 raced past Harry Potter in Amazon's UK pre-order sales.

Why Windows 7 may still fail

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:16:00 GMT

The Windows 7 launch event is at fever pitch, but there's one aspect of the new OS that I believe is being glossed over by the mainstream media: hardware compatibility.

First Microsoft Store opens this week

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:45:00 GMT

Microsoft already has a busy week ahead, with Windows 7 launching on Thursday. But it seems Microsoft is also opening its first retail store on the same day as its new operating system.

Windows 7: welcome to the hype extravaganza

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:02:00 GMT

With the days counting down to the official launch of Windows 7 on Thursday, Microsoft and friends have been cranking up the hype machine - but not without a few hiccups along the way.

YouTube in review: the history, hits and misses

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

YouTube has celebrated the third anniversary of its acquisition by Google with the announcement that it's now streaming a full billion video views a day.

YouTube retrospective: the history, hits and misses

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

YouTube has celebrated the third anniversary of its acquisition by Google with the announcement that it's now streaming a full billion video views a day. Most of them, I assume, consist of cats playing music and teenagers dancing awkwardly.

Turn your torch into a digital paintbrush

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:15:00 GMT

We don't usually often think of it this way, but photography is really about drawing pictures with light - which means that you can literally draw your own pictures by adding light to a photo in a controlled way.