The Following are News items that affect the computing industry, the local area and Tapcast:
*We are keeping this as an archive of the passing days, months and years. It is in reverse date order:
January 20012 - BT to Upgrade Exchange to ASDL2+
BT have advised that on the 18th Januray 2012 they will be upgrading our exchange to give us a more reliable service, and hopefully faster speeds also. Work should be completed by 6pm.
Click here for link to information from them.
November 2011 - Look at our Customers new website
www.oil-seed-extraction-plant-sale.co.uk
September 2011 - Microsoft unveils its new Windows 8 operating system
Windows 8 is designed to run on tablet computers, as well as desktop and laptop PCs.
The software, which is due to be released in 2012 will work on the popular ARM-designed low power processors for the first time
August 2011 - Apple shares fall as Jobs quits
Apple shares have fallen in New York following the resignation of chief executive and co-founder Steve Jobs.
In early trading, the shares were down 2.5% before closing down 0.66% at $373.69.
Mr Jobs, who has been on medical leave since 17 January, will stay on as Apple chairman. The new boss will be Tim Cook, formerly chief operating officer.
Analysts suggested that the share price had not fallen further as investors had confidence in Mr Cook and his team.
June 2011 - Sony Hacked Again!
Sony is investigating another hacking attack on one of its websites.
A group called Lulz Security claims to have broken into Sonypictures.com and accessed details of a million users.
Passwords, home addresses and other personal information relating to several thousand of the accounts was released online.
It is the third major hack to hit Sony since April when the PlayStation Network was targeted and the details of 77 million users compromised.
April 2011 - iPad 2 released
Apple has launched the second generation of its iPad tablet computer at an event in San Francisco.The company said the machine featured a faster processor, improved graphics, and front and rear cameras.Apple leads the industry in sales of tablet devices, but is beginning to face competition from rivals such as HP and Samsung.The event was hosted by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January.
It had been widely speculated that he would not appear owing to his ill health.
Mr Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004.
March 2011 - Microsoft Launches IE9 web browser
Microsoft has launched the finished version of its Internet Explorer 9 web browser.
The company said IE9's graphics handling, security and privacy features put it on an even footing with Firefox, Chrome, Safari and others
February 2011 - Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Service pack 1 was released from 9th February. The standalone update package is available for download as a windows update and download sizes are now much smaller.
January 2011 -
Facebook Millions
Three Harvard graduates are to gamble a $65m settlement they made with Facebook over who came up with the idea for the site, in an effort to get more money.
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss and Divya Narendra argue that at the time of the settlement Facebook misrepresented its stock price, robbing them of millions.
The three accuse Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea for what has become the world's biggest social network.
December 2010 - ‘Kinect’ for PCs being developed
The chips that power the motion-capture system in Microsoft's Kinect are being put in a gadget that works with PCs.
This will mean anyone keen to tap into the sensing abilities of a gadget resembling the Kinect can do so without owning an Xbox 360.
Development versions of the device are being sold by the Israeli company which developed the motion-spotting chips.
November 2010 -
Kinect Released
Gamers around Europe have queued overnight to get their hands on Xbox Kinect, a new hands-free motion control system for the Xbox 360 console.
Stores opened at midnight for fans to buy the £130 (149 euro) controller, which Microsoft says offers a revolutionary new approach to gaming.
It uses a camera, motion sensors and a microphone to allow users to control the Xbox 360 without holding a device.
October 2010 -
Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7 smartphones
Microsoft has launched Windows Phone 7, its latest attempt to break into the lucrative smartphone market.
Mobile phone operators predict smartphones will have a 70% market share in just three years.
Microsoft says it has made Windows Phone 7 more user-friendly, rebuilding the operating system from bottom up.
The phone system's experience is built around so-called hubs that aggregate content like contacts, pictures, documents, and music and video. The content on the phone is then synchronised both with storage services on the internet and the owner's computers at home.
At launch Microsoft's new phone system will be available on nine phones, and with 60 operators in 30 countries
August 2010 - Google Android phone shipments increase by 886%
Demand for phones such as the HTC Desire has helped drive shipments
Shipments of Google's Android mobile operating system have rocketed in the last year, figures suggest.
Statistics from research firm Canalys suggest that shipments have increased 886% year-on-year from the second quarter of 2009.
July 2010 -
Pershore School Upgrades Computers
Pershore High School and 6th Form has been fully fitted with new computer suites with up to date computers all running windows 7 and Microsoft office 2010.
April 2010 - Village pays for its own fibre broadband network
A Midlands village that was told a high-speed broadband fibre network would be “impractical” to install has responded in a novel fashion – it has done the job itself.
Residents of Lyddington in Rutland, Leicestershire were among the 2.5 million homes in the UK currently denied broadband speeds of even 2Mbits/sec because of network infrastructure issues. And with BT having decided that installing fibre-optic lines in the area wouldn't be cost effective, the village's residents took matters into their own hands.
The Rutland Telecom scheme, a joint venture between the local firm reselling BT's broadband and Lyddington's residents, raised £37,000 and set up its own network.
March 2010 - Google Street View goes National
Google Street View is now live.
The service - which was previously only available in 25 cities in the UK - has been expanded to include more than 238,000 miles of road from Shetland down to Penzance. One area of the UK that is unlikely to be included in the national roll-out is Broughton in Buckinghamshire, whose residents ‘chased’ the Google Street View car out of the village when it rolled up to photograph it. See www.maps.google.co.uk and drag the little yellow man onto the map.February 2010 - BBC iPlayer usage doubles in a year
The number of requests to view shows on the BBC’s iPlayer has doubled in the past year, as the service breaks new viewing records.
More than 120 million videos were viewed using the service last month, up from 61.5 million in the same month last year, with January representing the service’s third consecutive record-breaking month.
Weekly figures also show a steady rise in viewings, which are split approximately 60/40 between men and women, according to the BBC. The last week of January alone saw more than 22 million requests for material online.
January 2010 - Exceptional Windows 7 sales spark Microsoft profit spike
Microsoft says the success of its Windows 7 operating system is the main factor behind a record quarterly revenue of $19 billion (£11.7bn) for the last three months of last year.
The Redmond-based giant said the revenue represented a 14% increase from the same period in 2008 and resulted in a $6.6bn (£4bn) profit for the period.
“Exceptional demand for Windows 7 led to the positive top-line growth for the company,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Our continuing commitment to managing costs allowed us to drive earnings performance ahead of the revenue growth.”
Windows 7 was launched globally last October and Microsoft says it has sold more than 60 million Windows 7 licences, making it the fastest selling operating system in history.
December 2009 - Susan Boyle tops YouTube's top 2009 videos
YouTube has announced its list of the most-watched videos of 2009, with Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle taking the crown.
The spinster turned singer via rehab racked up an astonishing 120 million views on the video-sharing site, eclipsing second-placed entry, "David After Dentist", with 37 million views.
November 2009 - How to find out what Google knows about you
Search giant Google is coming clean over the amount of personal data it holds on its users.
Dubbed Google Dashboard, the service allows users to log in and find all the personal information held about them in Google's myriad applications, including Gmail, YouTube, Blogger and several more.
October 2009 - Windows 7 ships early to avoid postal strike
Microsoft has confirmed that it's allowed UK retailers to start shipping copies of Windows 7 early, as the postal strike threatens to derail the operating system's launch.
Reports are flooding in from PC World customers who've received their copies of Windows 7 days ahead of official launch.
The retailer claims the action is intended to avoid the fallout from Royal Mail's planned 48-hour strike on 22 October - the same day as Windows 7's high-profile coming-out party.
01/09/09 Ebay has sold Skype
Ebay has agreed to sell the majority of internet phone company Skype for $2bn (£1.2 bn). Skype's software lets computer and mobile users talk to each other for free and make cut-price calls to landlines and mobiles. Traditional mobile calls are transmitted over a cellular network, but Skype turns your voice into data and sends it over the internet. There are now 405 million users of Skype.
03/08/09 Bing Searches take on Google
Microsoft recently released a new search engine to take on Google. The way Microsoft describe it is "Bing takes a new approach to helping customers use search to make better decisions, focusing initially on four key user tasks and related areas: making a purchase, planning a trip, researching a health condition or finding a local business. If Google doesnt get the answers you are looking for then try Bing at www.bing.com.
PS: We heard that Bing stands for "But Its Not Google" ;-)
04/07/09 Windows 7 is coming
Microsoft are not happy with the response to Windows Vista so they have speeded up the release of the replacement operating system to be called Windows 7. Windows 7 will be released in the Autumn 2009, but on most computers purchased after June 2009 there will be a voucher that allows for a Windows 7 upgrade to be installed.
05/05/09 Mobile Email takeoff
There has been a huge increase in demand for Emails to be downloaded to a mobile device such as a Smartphone. The Smartphone can be set to check for emails on a regular basis and they will synchronize with the normal email back in the office. A timesaver is that an email read or deleted on the mobile will be shown as read or deleted on the office computer.
19/02/09 Kaspersky website hacked
It can happen to even some of the biggest Anti-virus companies in the world! Security firm Kaspersky who produce Anti-virus software have had their US website hacked. Kaspersky admitted there was a vulnerability in part of its US website, but said the problem was fixed within half an hour of detection.
23/03/08 Football legend Sir Bobby Robson is coming to Inkberrow
Inkberrow FC are raising money to get more pitches for the club. As part of these activities, Sir Bobby Robson will be coming to Inkberrow on Wednesday April 23rd 2008.
At 3:00pm Sir Bobby will be at the Village playing fields for coaching session.
See Bulletin 30 on the Inkberrow FC Website
05/02/08 WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 3
Microsoft have released Windows Vista a year ago. However, to support existing users Microsoft will shortly be releasing a Windows XP update called Service Pack 3.
What Microsoft say about SP3 - What Is In Service Pack 3?
Windows XP SP3 includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes, and select out-of-band releases. For example, the service pack includes functionality previously released as updates, such as the Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) 3.0 and the Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 (MSXML6).
Microsoft is not adding significant functionality from newer versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista, to Windows XP through XP SP3. For instance, Windows XP SP3 does not include Windows Internet Explorer 7, although Windows XP SP3 does include updates to both Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7, and it will update whichever version is installed on the computer. One notable exception is that, SP3 does include Network Access Protection (NAP) to help organizations that use Windows XP to take advantage of new features in the Windows Server® 2008 operating system.
But what does it means for Tapcast customers?
Microsoft have issued an update which improves security and prepare computers to integrate with Windows Vista PCs.
03/10/2007 BERROW FELLOWS FINISH THE MONGOL RALLY
Team Berrow Fellows arrived in Ullan Baatar after 29 days on the road. Over £7000 was raised for Cancer Research UK and other charities.
The trusty Fiesta was auctioned in Mongolia with the money going to Mongolian charity work.
15/06/07 MONGOL RALLY 2007
Steve Neal from Tapcast is taking part in the Mongol Rally 2007 with co-driver Richard Hill.
We have helped organise a Coffee Morning in Inkberrow and a disco at the PEC behind the church. In July we will be guest barmen at the Red Hart.
Currently we have raised about £2900, but we are aiming for over £5000 to help 3 different charities:
* Mercy Corp Mongolia
* Send a Cow
* Cancer Research UK
What are the rules for the Mongol Rally 2007?:
* Get a car less than 1000cc and drive from London to Mongolia
* No support crew, make all your own arrangements
* Raise over £5000 for charity
To follow the Berrow Fellows progress and support our charities see www.berrowfellows.co.uk
Mongol rally 2007 Route
There has been an article in the Redditch Advertiser about the trip, click here
20/05/07 TAPCAST ARE LINKSYS VOICE SYSTEM ACCREDITED
Tapcast have passed all of the requirements for Linksys Voice System Accreditation. We are now able to supply and install VoIP telephone systems.
10/03/07 Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Tapcast have achieved Microsoft Small Business Specialist 2007 Accreditation. This is an annual accredation which Tapcast received for the first time in 2006 - we were in the first 300 reseller's within the country to get this Microsoft recognition.
This puts Tapcast in a great position to help Small to Medium Companies that are looking for a company wide solution to security, email and document control etc using Microsoft Small Business Server.
30/01/07 Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft have now released a new operating system called Windows Vista which is an update to Windows XP. Vista was known by its codename Longhorn.
Bill Gates hosted the worldwide launch of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 in Times Square on January 29, 2007. Vista ships in nine different versions that fall under the main categories of home edition and business edition.
The most noticeable change from Windows XP to Vista is a significantly redesigned user interface called Aero, which stands for authentic, energetic, reflective and open. The new interface is intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than those of previous Windows, including new transparencies, live thumbnails, live icons,
Microsoft has also identified several underlying technology improvements that distinguish Vista, including:
* Enhancements to the basic structure of the operating system
* A new audio system.
* A simplified application deployment engine and application installer
* Increased support for digital rights management (DRM)
* Improved interaction with web services
* Improved networking capabilities.
* New security initiatives
* A faster and customizable search engine
* Windows Sidebar: A transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place desktop gadgets
To read more about Vista see the latest on the Microsoft website
15/11/06 computing which? asks "can you fix it?"
Which? have just undertaken a survey of independents repairers’ vs. 'the big boys'.
On their website Computing Which? say:
"Our experts introduced simple faults to PCs and took them to seven branches of PC World and 13 independents.
Prices to fix a loose cable ranged from £10 to £139 and researchers were charged from £20 to £260 to fix a simple software problem.
PC World, which is the only big chain to repair PCs it hasn't sold, performed particularly badly.
At one store, after misdiagnosing the simple software problem, Computing Which? researchers were told a repair would cost £350 and were advised to buy a completely new computer."
For the full article, please click here.
11/10/06 inkberrow football club website up and running
The new Inkberrow Football club website, created by Tapcast Limited, is now operational. This will be a great boost to all the enthusiastic young football players in the village.
Inkberrow FC Website Image
Click here to view the website.
15/08/06 War Driving
War Driving is the term used to describe hackers driving through a neighbourhood with a wireless-enabled laptop and mapping houses and businesses that have wireless access points.
Once connected to an unencrypted network, the War Driver can use the victim’s Internet access as well as explore other computers on that network. More worryingly, a War Driver can sniff network traffic and view such information as passwords and credit card numbers sent over the Internet – even SSL secured data.
If you have any concerns about war driving and whether your network is secure, please contact us.
11/07/06 Microsoft no longer supports windows 98 / ME
Microsoft is urging an estimated 70 million users of Windows 98 to upgrade as it ends support for the software.
From 11 July, Microsoft will no longer help users over the phone with any problems they have with the ageing operating system.
The firm will also stop providing security updates for Windows 98 from the same date.
Products affected by closing down the support system include Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (Millennium Edition). Analyst firm IDC believes that more than 70 million users will be hit by the change.
Support for the software was originally due to end in 2003, but was extended following customer protests.
It urged users to upgrade to a more secure operating system, such as Windows XP, as soon as possible.
This could mean buying a new PC for those running a machine bought eight years ago with Windows 98 pre-installed. This is because the hardware specifications for Windows 98 fall far short of the minimum required to run Windows XP.
It may also mean they have to replace or update any peripherals they use with that ageing machine.
If anybody has any concerns about this announcement please contact us.
Tapcast can upgrade your computer to Windows XP providing hardware requirements are met, or if you are interested in purchasing a new machine with Windows XP please contact us for a quote and advise.
19/06/06 windows xp sp1 support to end in september
Microsoft will stop supporting security fixes for Windows XP SP1 in September, it is advised that all customers upgrade to Service Pack 2 before then.
To find out what version of Microsoft Windows XP you are running please follow the instructions below:
Click Start > Control Panel > System (If you do not see System listed then click "Switch to Classic View").
You will then be presented with your system information, click here for an example.
If you see "Service Pack 2" listed under System then you are fully up-to-date. If you see "Service Pack 1" or no Service pack information at all then you need to upgrade.
For more information on Windows XP Service Pack 2 please visit the Microsoft SP2 website at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx
You can update via Windows Update or alternatively contact us to book an upgrade.
25/05/06 10,000 silver surfers flood onto the web
This week 10,000 older people will switch on a PC and surf the internet for the first times as part of Silver Surfer Week.
The aim of the initiative - organised by Age Concern - is to narrow the yawning digital divide between young and old.
All week, older people have been attending events and workshops across the country to help them discover the internet. Microsoft for example has had a bus touring the south coast resorts favoured by older people, offering technology taster sessions in towns including Bournemouth and Bognor Regis.
20/04/06 Microsoft Windows 98/ME Support to end in July
Microsoft has begun officially requesting that any users running Windows 98, 98SE and Millenium Edition (Me) upgrade their operating system as soon as possible. Microsoft will cease all public and technical support for the products on July 11th 2006 including all patches and security updates.
Microsoft will continue to provide Windows 98 and Me help topics through its Web site until at least July 11, 2007. However, without additional security updates, customers will be left unprotected from potential vulnerabilities.
If anybody has any concerns about this annoucement please contact us.
05/03/06 Google earth
If you have not yet discovered it, Google Earth is a 3D mapping interface to the entire planet. It allows you to move around the world, to any location, and view it from space, and closer.
To download Google Earth for free please visit here.
08/02/06 Picasa
Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organised by date with folder names you will recognise. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organised.
To download Picasa for free please visit here.
09/01/06 What's so good about broadband?
Broadband's big advantage is you're always connected to the internet, so you don't have to dial the number of your internet service provider every time you want to surf the web. You pay a flat rate monthly subscription which buys you as much time as you like online (often from as little as £14.99), unlike dial-up internet access where you're usually charged by the minute.
The other main advantage of broadband is its speed, you can get speeds of around 512Kbit (nearly 10 times as fast as 56Kbps dialup) to 8Mbit (around 140 times faster than 56kbps dialup)
You can also use the phone while you are connected to the internet, whereas dialup engages the line.
Please click here to see news articles before 2006.
*If you have any interesting news items, please give Tapcast a call.
