Microsoft has finished code work on Windows Phone 7, and is ready to send the mobile operating system off to handset manufacturers.

The OS still needs to be integrated onto devices, but the expected arrival of handsets in October looks likely.

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Source: PC Pro News

Apple traditionally holds an event every September focused on its music products, including its iPod range of personal media players and its iTunes download store.

At today’s event, Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, is expected to unveil new-look iPods, with its premium music device, the iPod touch, redesigned to look similar to the iPhone 4. Experts predict that the new iPod touch will feature the same pin-sharp retina display found on the iPhone 4, as well as dual cameras for Wi-Fi video calls made using Apple’s FaceTime software.

Apple will also likely give more details of Game Centre, a new social gaming network for the iPod touch, which will underline the device’s potential as a portable gaming platform.

Industry insiders also expect Jobs to show off a revamped version of Apple’s set-top box, Apple TV, which allows people to download music, movies and television shows directly to their TV rather than simply having to watch them on a computer.

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Source: Telegraph.co.uk

ViewSonic has launched a 7in tablet - only a day before Apple is rumoured to be unveiling a mini version of the iPad.

In a similar vein to the Dell Streak, the ViewSonic ViewPad 7 is an Android-based device with 3G data and phone capabilities. However, the ViewPad not only trumps the Dell with another two inches of screen, but with the latest version of Android, offering 2.2 compared to the Streak's 1.6.

The ViewSonic device also includes Wi-Fi and assisted GPS and comes with 32GB of internal storage. The ViewPad 7 boasts a capactive touchscreen and eBook reader capabilities.

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Source: PC Pro News

Google has given its live search results a facelift by opening a new site called Google Realtime dedicated to listings that include results from social-network conversations and other live sources.

The new service remains an experiment, but is up and running and enables users to keep track of conversations on sites such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as filter results by location and language.

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Source: PC Pro News

A Harry Potter-style wand that can change television channels with the flick of a wrist has attracted a record investment from Dragons' Den, the BBC2 show for entrepreneurs.
Duncan Bannatyne invested £200,000 in the wand which can be customised to control a variety of household electronic appliances such as laptops, light switches, televisions, hi-fis, DVD players and even remote-controlled curtains.

The Kymera wand, a buttonless remote control, was invented by Chris Barnardo and Richard Blakesley who set up The Wand Company. The entrepreneurs entered the Dragons' Den in a bid to get further investment for the product which can be tuned into 13 different devices and activated using different gestures.

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Source: Telegraph.co.uk

uture versions of iMacs could feature innovative Transformer-like technology letting the machines switch between a standard display and an ergonomically-friendly touchpad.

The concept is simplicity itself, involving not much more than a hinged stand that offers a really shallow pitch when in tablet model, according to a patent filed in January but only recently uncovered by website Patently Apple.

The patent application also suggests that the action of pivoting the screen between vertical and flat would toggle between operating systems – and although specific OSes aren’t mentioned it looks likely that the machines could use OSX when in desktop mode before switching to iOS for its tablet function.

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Source: PC Pro News

Details have emerged of the next version of Microsoft’s Office suite and a potential new app.

Screenshots of early builds of Office 15 have been leaked to a Russian website.

The leaked code is being treated seriously by Microsoft watchers as the site has proved accurate with leaks and revelations about previous releases from the Redmond giant.

Details remain sketchy at this early stage, but it looks likely that Office 15 will include a new application, although quite what it is remains open to speculation.

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Source: PC Pro News

Intel is to pick up McAfee for $7.68 billion, saying the deal reflects how important online security has become for computing.

The chip maker believes offering security software alongside its own hardware will help protect consumers and organisations as more devices, servers and networks connect to the web.

Intel said better security was needed as more and more devices - including mobiles as well as TVs, cars, and medical devices - were connected to the internet.

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Source: PC Pro News

Apple is believed to be planning to release a mini iPad that could be on shop shelves in time for Christmas.

Details of a seven-inch version of the iPad have been reported in a Chinese newspaper that correctly predicted the specifications of the iPad months before anyone else.

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Source: Sky News

Microsoft has announced that a preview of its Windows Small Business Server, codenamed “Aurora”, is available for download and will feature a focus on cloud computing.

Describing the preview as “a significant departure”, Microsoft said Aurora would be the company's first server product to deliver both in-house and cloud computing capabilities for small businesses.

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Source: PC Pro News