Windows 7 RC available for download
The software giant Microsoft has officially started distributing the Release Candidate version of Windows 7. As expected, today they expanded the distribution to all of us average Joes, who now get a hold of the future de facto operating system.
The release candidate is said to include the same set of features as the final product so it will provide a good glimpse into Windows 7. Microsoft however doesn’t recommend this version for the beginners for it is still in development and therefore unstable and insecure.
You also cannot upgrade previous Windows installations to Windows 7 RC. You need to make a clean install which will also be the case when the final Windows 7 comes out. Beta or RC versions can neither be upgraded to final version.
Windows 7 RC is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions for five languages - English, German, Japanese, French, and Spanish. The file is in ISO format so you will need a DVD burner and an appropriate burning software such as ImgBurn or Nero.
Despite leak, ‘Wolverine’ is hit at box office
On April 1st, one month before its theatrical release, a workprint version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was leaked online, and saw giant amounts of downloads.
The release, being a “workprint“, had some special effects missing, as well as the occasional view of wires still attached to actors during action scenes.
Despite this leak however, the movie appears to be successful at the box office, making $35 million USD on its opening day on Friday and making a total of $87 million USD for its first weekend. Comparably, the blockbuster Iron Man made the same amount on its first day.
Production companies says the movie cost about $140 million to create, so $87 million is not quite spectacular, but not to shabby either.
DivX joins the DEG
The Digital Entertainment Group has announced they have added Deloitte and DivX as active associate members.
The DEG now has 64 members from the entertainment industry.
Deloitte has over 500 media clients in the United States and “helps companies identify ways to reduce costs as well as aid in solving operational problems.”
DivX is an implementation of the popular low-bitrate MPEG-4 standard. It helps users create and share digital video.
“As our industry continues to evolve, we invite the participation of all companies to help us explore new horizons for entertainment technology,” added Ron Sanders, DEG president and Warner Home Video president. “Deloitte and DivX are both welcome additions to the DEG and we are eager to have their participation.”
PS3 outsells Wii in Japan for second straight month
Last month we reported that the Sony PlayStation 3 had outsold the Nintendo Wii in Japan for the month of March, marking the first time in 16 months that the Wii wasn’t the top seller in the region.
According to new data figures from Enterbrain for April, the PS3 has done it again, outselling its rivals for the second month in a row.
For the month of April, Sony sold 108,530 units, with Nintendo moving just 67,116 Wii units.
The console was given a boost thanks to the movie Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete and the release of a playable Final Fantasy XIII demo.
BlackBerry outsold iPhone in Q1
The Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry Curve has outsold the Apple iPhone in the Q1 2009, according to NPD figures.
NPD analyst Ross Rubin added that the Curve was helped by its widespread availability (its available through Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon) and Verizon’s recent BOGO on the phone.
Overall, the Curve came out on top, while the iPhone slipped to second and the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm took third.
NPD did not release any numbers with the ranking but analysts believe RIM took about 50 percent of the smartphone market in the Q1, up from 35 percent in the Q4 2008. Both Palm and Apple fell 10 percent each.
Samsung i7500 headed to T-Mobile?
According to a leaked roadmap, the touchscreen Android Samsung i7500 seems to be headed to T-Mobile in the US later this year.
The leaked calender shows a phone very reminiscent of the i7500 shipping in the fall.
The phone is expected to have an American launch, especially because it supports the 1,700MHz frequency needed for 3G access on T-Mobile USA.
The leak also appears to show off the new T-Mobile G2 (HTC Magic) shipping in June with a $179 USD price tag. The G2 would also signify the end of the G1, which will see a price cut to $149 or less.
Canada added to piracy Priority Watch List
The United States has added Canada to its piracy Priority Watch List, calling the nation one of the worst “offenders of copyright piracy.”
Adds the US Trade Representatives (USTR): “In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to redouble our efforts to work with all of our trading partners - even our closest allies and neighbors such as Canada - to enhance protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.”
ESA (Entertainment Software Association) of Canada CEO Michael Gallagher approved of the move adding: “Canada’s weak laws and enforcement practicies foster game piracy in the Canadian market and pave the way for unlawful imports into the US.”
The ESA believes Canada need to strengthen its lax rules on piracy, ban mod chips completely, “provide Customs officials with the authority to seize counterfeit products on the Canadian border” and create “incentives” for ISPs to stop piracy at its source.
“Canada contributes significantly to the development of today’s leading games - creating thousands of high-paying jobs along the way,” Gallagher added. “We are eager to see Canada become a full partner in protecting these products on the way to market.”
The other nations on the Priority Watch List are Argentina, Chile, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela, Algeria and Indonesia.
Activision sued over underpaid royalties
The developer Valve has sued Activision Blizzard over unpaid royalties this month, claiming the company underpaid them by over $400,000 USD.
The dispute started in 2002 with a copyright infringement claim by Valve against Sierra Entertainment, who was purchased by Activision in 2004. In 2005, Sierra agreed to “stop generating cyber cafe licenses to players of Valve games, including Counter-Strike.” At the same point, both companies agreed that an outside auditor would determine the amount of royalties owed to Valve.
As explained by Gamasutra, “that judgment was not made until this month. On April 6, the arbitrator declared Activision (formerly Sierra) to owe Valve a total sum, including interest, of $2,391,932.
On April 7, referring back to a claim first made March 3, Activision declared Valve to have been previously overpaid $424,136 in royalties, and said it would subtract that amount from its ordered payment. Thus, Activision cut a check for $1,967,796 — the court-ordered amount minus the alleged overpayment.
But Valve says Activision never raised its overpayment allegation with the arbitrator, and the two companies already had a longstanding agreement to recognize the arbitrator’s judgment. Furthermore, Activision has already threatened to sue Valve to recover that $424,136 if Valve seeks to confirm the $2,391,932 order.”
Nintendo gets price fixing fine reduced
The large fine imposed on Nintendo by the European Court over price fixing has been reduced today, from EUR 149.128 to EUR 119.24 million.
The fine, given to Nintendo and seven of its European partners, was over price fixing on consoles between 1991 and 1998. Because all parties co-operated with the court ruling, the fine was reduced.
“The Court recalled that the basic amount of the fine may be reduced where the undertaking has effectively cooperated in the proceedings,” said the new court decision. “In the contested decision, the Commission took account of John Menzies’s cooperation, with the result that it reduced that undertaking’s fine by 40 per cent.
“The Court held that pursuant to the principle of equal treatment, since Nintendo produced the relevant documents at the same stage of the procedure and its cooperation must be regarded as comparable, it must benefit in this respect from the same level of reduction of fine.”
‘Wii-no-Ma’ to be released outside of Japan
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said today that the ‘bizarre’ Wii-no-Ma video service will eventually hit North America and Europe.
The service, released today in Japan, the channel is set around a virtual living room that can house 8 Miis.
The Miis can relax and watch programming Nintendo has come up with in conjunction with a Japanese ad agency, and supply ratings for the video material.
“Wii-no-Ma service is available only in Japan at the start, but the overseas deployment is under planning in the future,” added Iwata. “As Japanese videogames, anime or manga are very favoured all over the world, we also anticipate a great possibility of same spread for video programmes.”
