Microsoft is Back with Purchase of Skype: Integration of Outlook, Office, and Online Games

Microsoft wants to be back in the game. It wants to be relevant in the era of Apple's iPad, iPhone, iPod or IOS and Google's Android platform. It goes out a huge way by acquiring Skype, the online communication platform Microsoft wants to make available to its gamers.

Many industry insiders are saying that this is one of the greatest buys by Microsoft in the recent memories. It is on a levl-playing field with the likes of Google, Apple, and others as the competition for eyeballs increases.

Microsoft is now a major player in the smartphone business. It wants to integrate Skype with its outlook, office and online games.

What Should You Know About Windows Phone 7?

Microsoft is trying to get into the smartphone business just like Google's popular Droid phones run on Android. The only thing is that Windows Phone 7 has nothing to do with Windows. It is not run on Windows. And it is the first generation of phone released by Microsoft on the new platform. It is by most measures release 1.0. We must quickly say that Microsoft is tinkering with the app phone software in that this release is a new creation, a new design for the company.

If you are used to the features found on Android and iPhone, it will be hard for you to settle for those offered by Windows Phone 7. You will be surprised to find out that WP7 does not offer the following features: You can not add new ringtones. You can not organize your apps in folders. You can not copy and paste. You can not send videos as MMS messages. Forget about video chat. WP7's browser does not allow you to play flash videos. As far as the HTML5, the new kid on the block, WP7 will not play it either. It can not even play videos in its own Microsoft's Silverlight format. Forget about Online news videos, Hulu, youtube and more.



Now what are some of the good features of WP7?

Windows Phone 7 comes equipped with Word, Excel and Powerpoint. This way, just any Microsoft products, it allows you to be productive. It is fast or as fast as its competitors. By paying $15 a month, you can play your music on Zune through the phone. Based on all of this, I would say this is a Me-too gadget. The only good thing is the new rethinking of the app software.



Good luck with your new WP7 if you receive it in your Christmas bag!



Here is a summary of the phone's main features: The Good vs. The Bad



What better place to start than the beginning?
Good

* Responsible for user interface
* Crisp text and graphics (almost like e-Ink)
* Seamless integration of Facebook
* Quick Start from the camera to capture fleeting moments
* Interface clear
* Attractive aesthetic design that calls for a high concept magazine
* Easy Google, Facebook, installing Windows Live
* Did we mention that the elegant, new, eye-candy user interface?

The Bad

* Not compatible with external storage
* The lack of cut-paste functionality / (coming in early 2011)
* Does not have WiFi hotspot
* The lack of integration of Twitter (coming soon)
* Finnicky Google integration
* No unified inbox and e-mail thread
Applications * not persist in the background
* Most of the operating system is optimized for vertical view (horizontal orientation is not as ubiquitous as we would like)

Linux on the iPhone: Android running on iPhone!

Linux on the iPhone: Android running on iPhone!

Official Google Blog: A different kind of company name

Official Google Blog: A different kind of company name

Driving a Toyota These Days is Like Driving a Ford or Hyundai Vehicle in the Past: The Looks and The Questions

Now a Toyota vehicle is like a wild pony of yesterday! It needs to be tamed. Not even Toyota Motor company does not seem to be able to tame it!

I would like the good old days of Toyota to come back quickly. I hate getting all these questions and looks when people see me driving a Toyota. Ah, those good old days when nobody needed to call a CHP, California Highway Patrol, to try to stop a wild Prius vehicle with a scared driver who can not manage to stop it. It is like the wild west again. Cowboys can always stop a wild horse, but not a Toyota these days. It is crazy out there.

By the looks on their face, people are asking whether this Toyota vehicle has not taken you on a wild ride yet. I just hate having to deal with that!

I am not ready to quit on Toyota yet. I am not ready to dump my Toyota yet. I think it is still good.

I hope it does not kill me first though!

Toyota Recall Car List: RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, toyota camry, Highlander, tundra accelerator issues, Sequoia

Updates: For a few days now, we do not know which Toyota vehicle is not subject to a recall. Even the Toyota Prius is not exempt. Its anti-lock breaking system has problems according to many owners. In the meantime, Ford is accelerating is sales campaign to take business from the embattled Japanese car maker.

Toyota has been announcing massive recalls and plans to repair the problems.

"Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances. In addition, Toyota has developed an effective solution for vehicles in production.

Parts to reinforce the pedals are already being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under way. Many Toyota dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day. The company has also taken the unprecedented action of stopping production of affected vehicles for the week of February 1.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of the vehicles our customers drive,” said Jim Lentz, president and Chief Operating Officer, TMS. “We deeply regret the concern that our recalls have caused for our customers and we are doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to make things right. Stopping production is never an easy decision, but we are 100% confident it was the right decision. We know what’s causing the sticking accelerator pedals, and we know what we have to do to fix it. We also know it is most important to fix this problem in the cars on the road.”

Lentz added: “We are focused on making this recall as simple and trouble-free as possible, and will work day and night with our dealers to fix recalled vehicles quickly. We want to demonstrate that our commitment to safety is as high as ever and that our commitment to our customers is unwavering.”

On January 21, Toyota announced its intention to recall approximately 2.3 million select Toyota Division vehicles equipped with a specific pedal assembly and suspended sales of the eight models involved in the recall on January 26.

Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include:
• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4
• Certain 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• Certain 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids, all of which remain for sale.

Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with "J" are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall."

Toyota Plagued with Quality Problems Stops Productiong of Cars and Trucks in the US and Europe, China and Other Countries

So much for the quality of Toyota vehicles! The company is recalling and stopping production of its very popular vehicles such as the Camry, Tundra, Highlander and Matrix from 2007 to 2009. Most of these vehicles have an accelerator problem which causes many drivers to get into accident. Some of them even die. The company is cautious and wants to find the cause of the problems. Until now, it has not found what is ailing the company.

Which cars have the problem?

The models affected are the 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350, 2007-2010 Camry, 2007-2010 ES 350 and 2007-2010 Tundra.

The models that will be recalled or subject to a sales suspension include:

• RAV4 (2009-10 models)

• Corolla (2009-10)

• Camry (2007-10)

• Matrix hatchback (2009-10)

• Avalon large sedan (2005-10)

• Highlander crossover (2010)

• Tundra pickup (2007-10)

• Sequoia large SUV (2008-10)

The suspension is due to problems with gas pedal mechanisms that may cause the accelerator to get stuck, triggering sudden acceleration. The problem has been traced to a US parts supplier. The parts from that manufacturer are used in Toyotas sold in the US and Europe. Toyota is considering a recall of 2 million cars in Europe, as well.

Similar sticking accelerator problems have arisen in the past, driving the car company to recall 4.2 million vehicles in November, and another 2.3 million last week. So far, Toyota has been unable to correct the problem.