Today, Microsoft made the announcement that Office 2010 will be officially launched to the business world during an event scheduled on May 12. Furthermore, businesses with volume license agreements will also be able to acquire the product during launching day. The general sale of the Office 2010 however is slated for June, and this will essentially involve sales to individual consumers and enterprises that do not have licensing deals.

Free upgrade program

It has been expected that Microsoft will release a program that allows a free upgrade to Office 2010, and the company made good on their word, offering the upgrade tool to consumers who will purchase Office 2007 beginning now until September 30.

The chief financial officer from Microsoft has announced that the launching of the Office 2010 Technology Guarantee Program will be during this month. This statement has been confirmed earlier this week. A news leak has reached the World Wide Web last month about the aforementioned free Office 2010 upgrade program. This was when a Microsoft technology professional posted some information on Microsoft’s partner community website.

Thus, any customer who has bought a legitimate copy of Office 2007 will be able to make free downloads of the Office 2010 edition, when the latest business suite will be finally available for general use come June. This offer however is good only for customers who purchase Office 2007 from March 5 to September 30, 2010.

Customers who purchase Office Home and Student 2007 will be eligible to receive a copy of Office Home and Student 2010 for free. Furthermore, customers who purchase Office Standard 2007 and Office Basic 2007 will be able to receive a copy of Office Home and Business 2010 for free. The Office Home and Business 2010 is a fresh addition to the range of Microsoft Office suites.

A copy of Office Professional 2010 is also available for free to buyers of Office Small Business 2007. In the same way, those who purchase Office Professional 2007 as well as Office Ultimate 2007 will receive a free, legitimate copy of Office Professional 2010, as long as the purchase date is no earlier than March 5 and no later than September 30.

Single license activation keys

Microsoft is releasing Office 2010 as the first of its line of business suites to do away with the lower-priced upgrade editions. The company has disclosed in an earlier statement that no upgrade editions will be available to consumers. Rather, Microsoft will be selling single-license activation keys online and in land-based retail stores to consumers who plan to upgrade from the older edition. The Office Starter 2010 will also be readily installed in new computers.

Free upgrades are limited to 25 per person, a regular practice done by Microsoft to prompt business with multiple copies to take up volume licensing deals. To explain the upgrade edition better, Microsoft has put up a website that caters primarily to this.

We are going back a few years and wanted to let windows users know a little more of the packages and differencies of Windows Vista as we have not been writing about that particular subject before.

Windows vista different versions

Windows Vista comes in following different versions Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. These versions are also available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Windows vista different features

The below main features can be seen as microsoft sales pitches for the windows vista operating system when it was officially launched.

- Most secure windows ever, with windows defender and windows firewall.

- Quickly find what you need, with instant search and windows internet explorer 7.

- Elegant windows aero desktop experience, with windows flip 3D navigations.

- Best choice for laptops, with enhanced Windows Mobility Center and Tablet Pc support.

- Collaborate and share documents, with Windows Meeting Space.

- Experience photos and entertainment, in your living room with Windows Media Center.

- Enjoy Windows Media Center, on TV's throughout your home with Xbox 360 and other devices.

- Protect against hardware failure, with advanced business backup features.

- Business networking and Remote Desktop, for easier connectivity.

- Better protect your data, against loss or theft with Windows Bitlocker Drive Encryption.

Only Windows Vista Ultimate contains all above features and 64-bit version is included in the Vista Ultimate media box.

At its core, the iPhone is exactly that: a phone.  Beyond simply being a mobile phone, however, the iPhone has the technology, tech specs, features and functions to go well beyond the simple role of being a phone.  One of the roles that the iPhone has taken on is as a gaming machine.  With its impressive screen size, silky touchscreen technology, and huge developer support, the iPhone has become quite an impressive portable gaming machine.  In this article, we will cover three impressive games that have just recently been released for the iPhone.

Brothers in Arms 2:  Global Front

Brothers in Arms has been a rather successful franchise in the console gaming world.  On February 22, Gameloft, Ubisoft Entertainment, and Gearbox Software released Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front for the iPhone.  This game has gotten rave reviews from a number of popular game review websites, such as Kotaku, Pocketgamer, and IGN.com.  The theme of the game is a World War II shooter that will have you battling it out in locations in both Europe and Africa.  With 6-player multiplayer support, five maps, three different modes, thirteen levels, and three different vehicles to use, this game is packed with great features, great gameplay, and a great pricetag at only $7.99.

Alice in Wonderland

Released by Walt Disney, Alice in Wonderland is a game for the iPhone that is based on Disney's latest take on the classic book.  In this game, you take control of Alice and you will be taken off to whimsical settings, where you will solve puzzles, and meet some of the most memorable Alice in Wonderland characters, including the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter.  You can also make use of special abilities that you get with the help of Alice's friends.  The game is entertaining and loads of fun for adults and children alike.  You can purchase the entire game for $4.99 or download the free trial that includes two levels of play.

Knife Toss

Have you ever seen one of those circus acts wherein someone is strapped to a wheel, then spun around while a knife expert starts throwing knives at the wheel?  Have you ever wanted to be that person throwing the knives?  If you answered yes, then this is the perfect game for you.  Knife toss will have you giggling with glee as you throw knives and other unlockable weapons at balloon targets posted around a clown on a spinning wheel.  There are three levels of difficulty, over 25 achievements, and unlockable weapons.  Oh, did we mention that the game's free?  Download it now.

Because so many iPhone games are being released, fans will surely enjoy fiddling with their iPhones for hours and hours. And since the technology behind iPhone is quite amazing, you won't have to worry about lag time when downloading stuff from the Internet or when playing your favorite game.

One of the best things about the iPhone is that it has a huge and ever-growing database of applications that you can buy or download for free.  These apps do a great job of taking full advantage of the powerful piece of hardware that is the iPhone, and it also helps you get the most out of your phone, enhancing its functionality and flexibility.  In this segment, we will go over some of the best pieces of software that we found for the iPhone this week.

Autopark

So you park your car along the sidewalk, put a couple coins into the parking meter, and go along your merry way to get done whatever it is you have to do.  An hour later, you return to your car only to find a parking ticket clamped under your windshield wiper.  Fifty dollars for being a couple of minutes late to your car and the meter that's running beside it.  Autopark is a handy little app that will help you avoid such situations.  Basically, this app keeps track of the time left on your meter, allowing you to set alarms at various times to remind you of your running meter.  You can also use the app to set the location of your car through the app's built-in GPS functions.  To be more precise, you can set the parking level and parking slot of your car to help you find your parking spot after a long day at the mall or any other place with a multi-level parking structure.  Finally, you can also use this app to find nearby public restrooms, banks, gas stations, and other services.  There are a bunch of other features in this practical app, but you better be ready to cough up $5.00 for it.

Sling Player Mobile

Sling Player Mobile is one of the more expensive applications in the app store, selling for about $30, but it's an app that packs quite a punch.  With Sling Player Mobile, you can use your iPhone to connect to a Slingbox machine, such as the SOLO, PRO, or PRO-HD.  The app makes use of either Wi-Fi or 3G to connect to your Slingbox, then the app streams whatever is playing on your Slingbox to your iPhone.  You can even use the app to control your digital video recorder, change channels on the Slingbox, and control video sources such as satellite boxes, cable boxes, IPTV boxes, basic cable TV, Apple TV, Tivo, home security cameras, and digital Over-the-Air broadcasts.

Plants vs. Zombies

For those who love using their iPhone as a gaming machine, Plants vs. Zombies is an addictive, fun, and easy-to-learn tower defense game that will have you playing for hours on end.  Basically, you build flowers as towers to defend against the incoming hordes of zombies.  At just $3, this game is a steal.

Instant messaging is one of the most convenient, quick, and easy ways of communicating with friends, loved ones, and practically anyone else on the Internet.  Not only does instant messaging allow you to send messages, but it also allows you to send files, such as pictures, videos, documents, songs, or applications.  One of the biggest problems with instant messaging, however, is that there are so many different networks and softwares out there.  From AOL and Windows Live Messenger to AIM and Yahoo! Messenger, there is a wide variety of messengers to choose from.  In many cases, you cannot communicate with those under a different network, which means that you have to download, install, and make accounts for various networks and instant messengers if you want to keep in touch with contacts using these other networks.  One program that seeks to integrate these various networks and instant messaging softwares into a single, seamless application is Meebo.  Meebo's motto is "instant messaging everywhere", and this handy piece of software truly gives you the power to get and send instant messages from anywhere, to anywhere.  Read on to learn more about Meebo and its many great features.

What exactly is Meebo?

Meebo is basically a technology and service that allows you to communicate with practically every popular instant messaging networks out there.  Some of the instant messaging networks that Meebo allows you to use include Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AOL, and ICQ.  Aside from giving you the flexibility to communicate between these instant messaging networks, Meebo also allows you to communicate with others through popular chatting and social networking sites, such as Facebook Chat, MySpace IM, and Google Talk.  Originally founded in 2005, Meebo has grown in both popularity and functionality, offering a wide range of softwares and platforms to its users.

How can you start using Meebo?

There are a number of ways that you can make use of Meebo services.  The simplest and perhaps the easiest way to start using Meebo is to browse over to Meebo.com, where you can make use of the web-based application to chat with your friends straight from your browser.  If you use Firefox, you can install the Meebo Firefox extension, which places Meebo right in your sidebar.  Meebo has a great feature called "Meebo rooms", which allows you to group chat and share media.  You can even put a Meebo room on your website to use as a way of communicating with your patrons.  Another feature, called "Meebo me", allows you to do one-on-one chatting with your website visitors.  The Meebo bar is a cool feature you can install on your website to allow you to quickly and conveniently drag and drop share files, customize buttons, and use Meebo IM.  You can also install the Meebo notifier that creates a system tray icon to notify you of incoming messages and other information related to your instant messaging accounts.  Finally, Meebo is available for your iPhone, making it the perfect application for keeping in touch through the Internet on your mobile.

The Internet has completely revolutionized the way that we communicate, do business, view the world, and live our lives on a day-to-day basis.  Not only has the Internet made it easier and more convenient to communicate across the globe, but it has also given us the ability to share our lives with others in a completely seamless and integrated manner.  One of the newest things to hit the Internet is Opera Unite, a new platform that has the potential to reinvent the way that we use the Internet.  Continue reading to learn more about Opera Unite and why you might want to use this incredibly useful and powerful technology.

What is Opera Unite?

Opera Unite is a new technology developed by Opera, one of the leading Internet browser software developers.  Opera Unite streamlines the process of sharing files with friends, family, and the Internet in general.  Opera Unite makes use of JavaScript and HTML technologies to build a simple, intuitive platform where people can share files, communicate with one another, and synchronize their data over numerous and varied devices.   This technology is integrated into the latest version of Opera desktop browser, making the software a great, all-in-one solution to your Internet needs.  This means that you just have to download and install the free Opera browser, make an Opera account at their website, and start making use of Opera Unite.

Features that put Opera Unite above other file sharing services

*  No need to upload to share files -  Perhaps the best thing about Opera Unite is that it takes the time-consuming task of uploading out of the file-sharing equation.  Instead of having to upload files to the Internet for other users to get, Opera Unite allows users to connect to your Opera Unite server from which they can view and download content straight from your computer.  In other words, data are shared directly from one user to the next.

*  Unique ability for expansion and customization -  Another great feature of Opera Unite is that it supports an application system.  Developers can make applications (much like add-ons or extensions) for Opera Unite, allowing users to download and use these applications easily.  Applications range greatly from simple note-taking apps to social networking tools and even instant messenger chat apps.

*  Media player and photo sharing capabilities -  Aside from sharing data, such as office documents or notes, another great feature of Opera Unite is that it allows you to access your music library straight from your browser.  The media player web application built into Opera Unite allows for the streaming of files from the source straight to your web browser or streamed to your media player of choice.  Photo sharing has also been streamlined, allowing you to compress, upload, and share your pictures with just a few clicks of your mouse.

New iPhone applications are coming out every day and it's no surprise, what with the huge user-base of the iPhone and other Apple products.  This article will cover some of the iPhone applications that are definitely worth checking out this week.  Whether you want an app for gaming, productivity, utility, or you simply want to keep your iPhone up to speed with the latest and greatest of apps, this article will give you a good idea of where to start.

Gaming:  Assassin's Creed 2

Assassin's Creed 2 is one of the most anticipated games recently released for consoles and the PC.  Ubisoft just recently released an iPhone version of Assassin's Creed 2, called "Assassin's Creed II Discovery".  You can grab the app for a reasonable price from the Apple App Store, but it's important to know that the game is 147mb in size and it has rather awkward controls.  Still, it's worth a try, especially if you're a big fan of the franchise.

Lifestyle:  Siri

Siri is perhaps one of the most useful applications currently in the app store.  This handy app makes use of voice recognition, search engines, and online concierge services to deliver a streamlined app that not only works great, but is free too!  All you have to do is say a command, such as "Book a table for two at Outback Steakhouse" and Siri will take care of the rest, responding with a confirmation or lack of availability.  Now, take into consideration that Siri connects with popular online services such as TaxiMagic, CitySearch, StubHub, OpenTable, and MovieTickets, and you can just imagine how useful this little app can be.

Useful:  Where Is My Phone

One of the most common problems that people have with their mobile phone is that they misplace it.  If you are one of those people who tends to misplace your iPhone, then you may want to get Where Is My Phone?  This is an affordable application that plays back one of the pre-recorded sounds (or a recording of your own) when it recognizes your whistle.  The developers claim that their app can hear your whistle from over 10 meters away, making this a very useful app, even if it's just for playing pranks by setting off the "fart" sound under the seat of an unsuspecting friend.

GPS:  MotionX GPS Drive

A new and improved version of MotionX GPS Drive has been released and this app is definitely worth grabbing.  This app has been deemed by some sites as one of the best and most affordable GPS apps out there.  The app is very reasonably priced and you can make it even more useful by subscribing to the turn-by-turn voice service that is definitely within your budget. This app is definitely worth checking out for GPS navigation.

Wireless connectivity has quickly become a technological standard in new gadgets and gizmos.  Consumers like you and me expect pretty much every gadget we buy and own to be able to wirelessly connect, communicate, synchronize, and work together seamlessly.  One of the best uses of wireless connectivity is the ability to use your mobile phone to control your computers or laptops.  Hardware manufacturers have long been making wireless mouse and wireless keyboard technology, but now the new trend is is in mobile apps designed to allow you to use your mobile phone as a wireless keyboard and mouse for your other hardware.  In this article, we will cover three mobile apps that offer you some great functionality and features for complete, mobile, remote control of your computers.

Apps for the iPhone and iTouch:  Mobile Air Mouse Pro and Logitech Touch Mouse

Logitech has long been one of the leading hardware manufacturers for computer peripherals, especially when it comes to keyboard and mouse peripherals.  Just last week, Logitech released their Logitech Touch Mouse application on the iTunes App Store.  With this app, your iPhone or iTouch can connect to your computer or laptop through Wi-Fi.  You can then use your device as a multi-touch trackpad with some of the following options and functions:

-  Two- or three-button mouse emulation
-  Two-finger scrolling
-  Keyboard
-  Landscape or portrait mode
-  On-screen text display while you type

Like most remote mouse and keyboard software, you will have to install the Logitech Touch Mouse Server on the Mac or PC that you want to control.  The best thing about this software is that you can download it straight from the App Store, free of charge.

Mobile Air Mouse Pro

Another great remote control app for your iPhone or iTouch is Mobile Air Mouse Pro.  Mobile AIr Mouse Pro costs $1.99, but it comes with a number of extra features that can't be found in Logitech Touch Mouse.  Some of the great features on Mobile Air Mouse Pro include the following:

-  Trackpad with either vertical or horizontal orientation
-  Media keys (i.e., eject controls and volume controls)
-  Support for custom-scripted media and web remotes
-  Remote keyboard with function, arrow, and modifier keys
-  Programmable hotkeys
-  Foreign language support

Apps for the Android:  Gmote

For the Android, there are also a number of applications available for remote controlling your computer.  One of the most popular is Gmote.  Gmote is a free application that you can download and use in three, easy steps.  All you have to do is download and install the Gmote client for your Android device, then download and install the Gmote server for your computer, and finally launch Gmote from your phone and use it to connect to and control your computer.

Now, by definition, Apple's iPhone isn't actually a gaming device.  Software developers have sought to change this, however, by creating some great games that you can play right on your iPhone, without having to add on any extra hardware.  All you need to do is purchase, download, and start using one of the countless gaming apps available from the Apple store.  Here are five games that you may want to grab for your beloved iPhone:

Rock Band

For the musician or music lover in you, Rock Band is definitely a must-have game.  Although it comes at a heftier price ($6.99) than many of the other games out there, you do get what you are paying for.  Not only do you get some great gameplay and fun, but you also get access to a seemingly endless supply of songs that you can purchase to listen to and play along with.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene

For $4.99 you can get Space Invaders Infinity Gene, a remake on the classic game Space Invaders.  This shoot-em up game is new and improved, with a slew of new weapons and a beefed-up interface to provide more fun and excitement to this age-old classic.  In fact, you can even play some of the original stages with the original music.  Some of the other game features include an in-game achievement system, as well as worldwide high score tables.

Bejeweled 2

Bejeweled 2 is a game that you can play for hours without getting bored.  It's a simple puzzle-type game that is highly addictive and very fun.  With a number of game modes and its great price point ($2.99), Bejeweled 2 is definitely a game worth looking into.  If you are a puzzle gamer who enjoys sudden-death frenzies or competing for scoring titles, then this may just be the game for you.

Real Racing

Real Racing is a racing simulation game that has a lot to offer.  With its impressive graphics, great controls, and wide selection of cars, tracks, and game modes, Real Racing is definitely one of the best racing games you can find for the iPhone.  With a $4.99 price tag, this game is a steal, especially if you can find other friends to play with through local or online networking.

Shredder Chess

There is a wide variety of chess games out there for the iPhone, but one of the best is Shredder Chess, which costs $7.99.  Although the game doesn't feature amazing graphics, it makes up with great functionality.  Shredder Chess offers challenging and adjustable AI, play ratings, game analysis, chess coach, save and load options, and the ability to enter and analyze any move or position you like.

These are just some of the games that are worth having in your iPhone.  iPhone users never have to feel lonely or bored with these exciting games to keep them company.

Mozilla Firefox is one of the most widely used Internet browsers available for just about all operating systems.  Ever since the first version of Firefox was released in 2004, the browser has quickly become a top pick in the Internet browser software category, downloaded by millions all across the globe.  On January 21, 2010, Mozilla released the latest version of their well-received browser: Firefox 3.6.  While past versions of Firefox have been extremely feature-rich, Mozilla managed to add on a number of new features and tweaks to make 3.6 even better than its predecessor, 3.5.  This article will provide an overview of what's new in Firefox 3.6.

Feel more secure, stable, and better-protected

Firefox has always been known as a secure and stable browser, but version 3.6 brings a number of changes that help make you feel more secure and better-protected.  The browser now implements a system for checking for out-of-date plugins, which may compromise your security as you browse.  Also, Firefox has been optimized to prevent crashes by changing how third-party software works with Firefox.

Get better functionality and performance

Firefox 3.6 has also been optimized to provide a faster and more responsive browsing experience.  The JavaScript has been tweaked for better performance and the browser itself has faster startup times.  Aside from performance upgrades, Firefox 3.6 also has a number of features added for better functionality.  For example, developers now have the ability to speed up page load times by having scripts run asynchronously.  Furthermore, the browser provides support for WOFF font format, which allows the use of downloadable web fonts.  Developers will also be happy to know that Firefox 3.6 has integrated the support for new CSS features, like background sizing, pointer events, and gradients.  Web developers looking to make more interactive web pages can also make use of the DOM and HTML5 support that is now integrated into the browser.  Some of the DOM and HTML5 features that are supported include File API and Drag & Drop API.

Get more personal

Firefox has always been lauded for the fact that you can personalize just about anything, from themes to extensions.  In Firefox 3.6, users will be happy to know that the browser now has an even better and more robust theme system, called Personas.  The Personas theme system allows users to change their theme with a single mouse click.  All you have to do is download and install the free Firefox Personas extension, then browse through the collection of Personas and choose the one you want to use.  The extension even adds an easy-to-use fox mask icon to the lower left corner of your browser, which you can click to change your Personas.  The best part is, anyone can create their own Persona and share it with the rest of the Firefox 3.6 Personas-using community.