Microsoft announces Office for Mac

Microsoft provided the most extensive look yet into the next version of the Mac version of its popular Office suite. The new product, Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, will arrive in time for the 2010 holiday season.
Mac Business Unit, said that the company is focusing on three things with this new release: better compatibility across platforms, improved collaboration tools, and a more refined user interface. Also, as Microsoft announced last August, the suite will include Outlook for Mac, which replaces Entourage as Office’s e-mail client. And, in keeping with Microsoft’s 2008 promise, the new version of Office will offer renewed support for Visual Basic, which was dropped in the 2008 version of the productivity suite. 

Compatibility, collaboration

To the Mac Business Unit, compatibility means more than making sure that documents, spreadsheets, and presentations created on one platform open and render correctly on the other. Noting that roughly three quarters of their Mac users useWindows at least occasionally, Microsoft’s Mac team says it's also working to make the new Office for the Mac more functionally compatible with the Windows edition.
“Nowadays, compatibility means more than just file formats,” Spoke Microsoft’s Kurt Schmucker. “It’s also workflow, collaboration, and user interface.”
To that end, the new version of Office will incorporate document-collaboration features that take advantage of Microsoft's online storage features. With Office for Mac 2011, Mac users will be able to share files and collaborate on documents with other Mac andWindows users via Microsoft's SharePoint, SkyDrive, and Office Web Apps.
Those online tools will allow users to collaborate on documents with other Windows and Mac Office users in real time, much as you can in Google Docs now. You could, for example, create a document in Word on your laptop, save it to SkyDrive, then share it with others. A pop-up in Word will show you who’s working on the document; click on that list, and you’ll be able to send them a message (as long as everyone is using Outlook or Microsoft’s Messenger IM application). The paragraphs your collaborators are working on will be locked out until they’re done. You’ll also be able to edit those same documents from any computer, using Office’s Web apps. Mac users will have the same experience in the their versions of Safari and Firefox as Windows users get with their browsers, Schmucker said.

Lessons learned

Microsoft also says it’s learned from user feedback about Office 2008 and has tweaked the user interface accordingly in Office 2011.
Most notably, there’s a new Ribbon at the top of each document window. (If you want a preview, check out Office for Windows; the ribbon is already in there, although the Microsoft Mac team members we spoke to said they had learned a lot from the criticism the Ribbon took when launched on Windows.) The Mac version of the Ribbon doesn’t replace any menu bars, but it does replace Office 2008’s controversial Elements Gallery, which took some fire from Mac users for its size and inflexibility. This new Ribbon is designed to give users quick access to each program's most commonly used tools. Unlike the Elements Gallery, the ribbon is customizable and, if you want more screen space, completely collapsible.
The new suite will also feel more Mac-like than Office 2008. For example, the Ribbon is built entirely using Apple’s Cocoa development framework, and takes takes advantage of Apple’s Core Animation system. (As a result, Ribbon tabs will slide smoothly when you rearrange them.) If you click on some Ribbon tools, they will expand smoothly into popovers that don’t obscure the document you’re working on. We even spied a non-modal search box on the right side of the toolbar, right where you’d expect it to be, allowing you to quickly search through documents without having your content blocked by a floating box.
Summarizing the interface changes, Microsoft's Han-Yi Shaw likened Office 2008 to a teenager—“a little quirky”—but said the new edition is Office matured. “This is the version that everyone wanted,” he said.
Shaw added that the Mac team at Microsoft worked hard to adopt Apple technologies while also making sure their product was recognizably Microsoft Office. “We’re at a cross-section of Mac and PC, and because we’re die-hard Mac users, we look at the [Office] technology and try to translate it,” he said. “Following the Apple design philosophy really takes you in the right direction.”

Outlook and Visual Basic

The other big news in Office 2011 is the demise of Entourage and the return of Outlook.
The new Outlook will support PST imports (allowing you to move an Outlook installation, including all your old e-mails, from a Windows PC to a Mac). It will also support Microsoft’s Information Rights Management (IRM), which allows senders to specify what recipients can do with messages (print, forward, and so on). Previously-Windows only, IRM is required in some corporate settings. IRM support in Office 2011 is aimed at Mac users in cross-platform environments, Schmucker said: “It’s been a blocker for some companies because the Mac support was not there.”
And Microsoft has re-engineered the Outlook message database system to be a series of small files, so it’s more easily backed up with Time Machine and searched in Spotlight. “Outlook’s new database is more reliable, faster, and fully supports Time Machine and Spotlight,” Schmucker said.
Finally, power users will be glad to see the return of the Visual Basic macro language. Visual Basic was dropped from Office 2008 in part because it was too technically difficult to port it to the Mac’s then-new Intel CPUs. Microsoft says it began work on that port as far back as 2008—before the last Mac Office shipped. That work is now complete. And the Mac suite will be using the most up-to-date version of Visual Basic, so it’ll be much more compatible with Office for Windows than the Visual Basic in previous versions of Office for Mac.

IPHONE 4

The iPhone 4 marks the very first revolutionary alteration ever since the iPhone first launched in 2007. Glass on the front and back and steel around the sides promises to give the iPhone 4 a truly unique look and feel. At 9.3mm thick, the iPhone 4 is also incredibly thin, 24% thinner than the iPhone 3GS.. Some other design and style alterations reveal a main camera with an LED flash (thank goodness for that!), a front facing camera, trendy volume settings and, in what Jobs states is a world first, anantenna that is part of the key structural element of the iPhone 4.

The next area we will look at is a feature that Apple are labelling Retina Display that is the brand new display screen technology used by the iPhone 4. A new 3.5-inch “Retina” IPS LCD display is going to be the norm for all future iPhone versions (including the iPhone 4) and can offer 326 pixels per inch with an overall resolution of 960 by 640. Exactly what does this implies? Well it has a higher resolution than any other mobile phone currently available on the market and is going to provide much sharper photographs and zoom feature.

Third, the iPhone 4 ıs going to be powered by A4 chip which is the same one used on the iPad is what will take your breath away. Among all the things it will do which are awesome, the thing you will really notice is that the power management feature it has is going to extend the battery life which has already been beefed up independently. Having 7 hours of call time is going to be nice without any doubt. The gyroscope is going to take gaming to a whole new level, but if you aren’t a gamer that won’t matter.

Next in the list is something Apple are very pleased with; the iPhone 4 has a built in gyroscope. This 3 axis gyro works in conjunction with the accelerometer and compassresulting in six axis which is ideal for gaming. Think the Wii and you’re going to get close. Jobs showed off this new feature by playing a game, which looked a bit like Jenga.

Apple’s latest features are coming thick and fast and number five is a big one. The primary digital camera is the subject of a “whole new camera system” – and it will be upgraded from three to five mps, the camera also features a backside illuminated sensor which increases the quality of images shot in low-light. It’s also a lot better for video footage, given that it’s carrying an HD-camera that will be able to shoot 720p at 30fps – what Apple is labelling real High definition

Feature six is one we are already acquainted with, the new iPhone OS 4. We are not going to go into too much depth right here, as this is a review of the mobile phone and not the software, nevertheless the high light of the newest version of iPhone OS will be a chance to run multiple programs simultaneously (multi-task). Plus whilst Apple themselves will happily tell you they weren’t the first to offer a multi-tasking smartphone, they are comfortable they managed to construct something that will not obliterate your battery. We’ll reserve judgement until we’ve had a go on the new iPhone Operating System.

Seven is another function we are already familiar with but one that’s exciting in any case; iBooks will be featured on the all new iPhone 4.

Ultimately, number eight is iAds. A tool designed to help developers earn money so that in turn they can drive down the cost of apps and offer a wider selection of free and low cost apps. iAds is kind of self explanatory; it automatically inserts advertising space into an app (providing the creator selects this option) and earns the developer added revenue from clicks and downloads. An odd feature to finish on from a customer point of view but one that is sure to have app developers drooling.

IPHONE OR ANDROID

Assalamualaikum~

hey guys!!!

i want to share this awesome article that i'm taken by from here~

enjoy it... :)

When it comes to smartphones, the two most popular platforms would have to be Apple's iOS for iPhone and Google's Android. Both platforms have their fair share of advantage and disadvantages, as well as different hardware options when it comes to Android.

Being in the tech reporting industry, I carry both with me - an iPhone 4S and a Samsung Galaxy S2. Both devices have their pros and cons and today I am going to tell you my biggest likes and peeves with them in hopes that it will make it easier to decide which direction to go with your smartphone purchase.

iPhone vs Android: which is better for you?

Starting off with apps, the iPhone wins hands down. Not only does it have a bigger selection but because they are developed for a single screen size (3.5-inches) and platform (latest iOS update), the apps appear to be of a higher quality. This is because app developers don't have to make adjustments to be compatible with a wide range of devices like in the case of Android (Samsung Galaxy S2, Motorola DROID X, Android 2.3, Android 4.0, etc).

Keyboard: While the iPhone keyboard is possibly the best stock touchscreen keyboard out there, it doesn't compare to the many options you have on Android. Third party keyboards like Swype and SwiftKey let you choose which type of typing style you are most efficient at. As an added bonus, if you want a physical keyboard, you can opt for an Android smartphone with one (e.g. Samsung Epic 4G).

Display: Comparing it directly with my Samsung Galaxy S2, I can confidently say that it display blacks more better than the back-lit iPhone 4S. This makes the multimedia experience look that much more richer. But at the same time, the iPhone 4S displays whites better than the Samsung Galaxy S2 which make reading on it more comfortable.

Camera: The iPhone 4S has arguably the best camera on a smartphone in my opinion. With zero adjustments to the settings, the iPhone 4S takes more perfect shots than the Samsung Galaxy S2 in my time with both devices. In other words, if you don't want to have to fiddle with settings or look for the best lighting angle, the iPhone 4S is a safer bet over other 8-megapixel Android smartphone options out there (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note, Motorola DROID RAZR).

Now there are a couple of peeves I have with Apple regarding the iPhone. Their Gmail app is disappointing when compared to Android, there is no LTE, access to the radio toggles require you to go through a couple of screens (you can access toggles for Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, GPS, Brightness all from widgets on Android), and there is lack of a good free turn-by-turn navigation app. So keep that in mind.

Lastly, we get to the accessories. You will immediately find more accessories catered to the iPhone 4S  and its dock connector than Android. When it comes to 3rd party cases, sound docks and even vehicles (e.g. Kia Sorento, BMW 3-series), more third-party manufacturers are focused on Apple than Android devices.

When all is said and done, both the iPhone and my Samsung www.motoringcrunch.com Galaxy S2 are more than capable of carrying out smartphone duties and you can't go wrong with either. On a side note, if you decide to go with Android make sure to pick one of the many popular devices (e.g. Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Motorola DROID RAZR, HTC One X, etc). It will increase your odds of getting the next big update (if not direct from Google then by way of custom ROM developers).

by : TOM CUTTS

p/s: thank you to mr.google because he allow me copy paste about this information. haha

resource: click here :)

Samsung Galaxy Tab officially launched

After weeks and weeks of leaks, teases and rumours, Samsung finally unveiled the much anticipated Galaxy Tab and here are the details.

The Galaxy Tab comes with a 7-inch TFT-LCD WSVGA display with a whopping 1024×600 pixel resolution — no surprises here but we’re surprised that Samsung didn’t opt for its own AMOLED technology for the display. Inside, there’s a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU ARM Cortex-A8 processor with 512MB RAM powering the device and we suspect that it’s the same one that’s churning out delicious 3D graphics on the Galaxy S. Unlike the Galaxy S however, the Galaxy Tab will be running Android 2.2 but it does come with the familiar and easy to use TouchWiz 3.0 UI skin on top, so you can expect pretty much the same level of usability.

There are two cameras on the Galaxy Tab, one 3MP rear-facing main camera with auto-focus and LED flash, and there’s a 1.3MP front facing camera for video calls. We’re slightly disappointed that the galaxy Tab doesn’t come with 5MP camera instead like the Galaxy S and Wave but Samsung has a reputation for making good camera phones so we’re expecting a lot from this 3MP sensor. The camera takes 720p video as well.

We’ve had some time playing with the Galaxy S and Wave, both comes with front-facing cameras but we can’t find a feature where the front-facing camera can be used for taking pictures. So we’re expecting that it will be the same for 1.3MP front-facing camera on the Galaxy Tab.

There’s a choice of 16GB or 32GB of internal storage with an external hot-swapable MicroSD expansion slot that accepts cards up to 32GB. This gives you a storage potential of 64GB.

There’s a massive 4,000mAh battery giving you seven hours of movie playback in 1080p. Samsung has included various codec support allowing the player to virtually play every format under the sun. Swype is preloaded as to is ThinkFree, an app that provides basic support for Word, Excel and Powerpoint allowing you to get some work done on the Galaxy Tab.

Interestingly, you can make phone calls on the Galaxy Tab if you want to as there is a microphone and a speaker but expect to look completely weird with the Tab stuck on your face while you’re yapping away.

Connectivity wise, its suffice to say that the device has everything. Bluetooth 3.0, b/g/n WiFi, HSPA with 7.2Mbps download and 5.76Mbps download. There’s AGPS and a slew of sensors and accelerometres to keep you happy.

What can we say about the Galaxy Tab? From the live feed of the launch at IFA, we are thoroughly impressed with what we’re seeing. The Galaxy Tab appears to be a worthy contender to the iPad and from our previous experiences with what Samsung can churn out in terms of hardware, we have a strong feeling that the Galaxy Tab will continue the tradition without any issues.

Of course we can’t conclusively draw a verdict now without having some time to poke and prod the Galaxy Tab but it does make a very impressive first impression. Now the big question is if and when the Galaxy Tab will make its way to Malaysia. We are hoping that it will be sooner that we expect

I.T RULEZ!!!

3-Dimensional point of view

Assalamualaikum!

You know how we all get excited about 3D movies? Remember the movie AVATAR? It was so awesome in 3D! Soon Titanic the movie also will be in 3D!

So this new era, 3D is the king, ya know?

I used to get headaches looking at 3D stuff even with those 3D glasses on but now, I like it! Hehe! =p

Anyway, I’m talking about 3D because apparently there’s a phone that has 3D camera and games!

Meet the new LG Optimus 3D!

Pic courtesy of Google Images.

Before I go on with my favourite feature, let me brief you on the phone itself! Check this out:

1.  The LCD screen is about 4.3 inches x 2.5 inches big =)
2.  This phone is an android phone which can only mean one thing.. LOADS OF FREE APPS! From games, to editing tools, to photography tools, etc etc!
3.  LG optimus 3D has, by far, the fastest speed! It’s faster than Nexus One, and Samsung Galaxy S.
4.  The transitions between screens are extremely smooth!
5.  It supports Adobe Flash.
6.  It’s got 1GHz dual core Cortex-A9 CPU and PowerVR SGX540 GPU – talking graphics here. So expect good graphics and colours!
7.  It has dual 5 megapixel cameras for that 3D shiznit and it’s pretty stable! It’s not movement sensitive, which means little gegaran won’t spoil your 3D videos =D
8.  It’s got 8GB internal storage, 512MB RAM. Don’t worry, 8GB is big enough,if it is not enough, there’s a microSD card slot so you guys can add up to 32GB external memory!

Now let’s head on to the best thing about this phone:

The 3D camera!! Wooot!