Microsoft has officially unveiled Windows Server 2008 at a ceremony in Los Angeles, kicking off a series of 225 global launch events.

The platform is Microsoft’s first server operating system since Windows Server 2003.
Initially known under its ‘Longhorn’ code-name, Server 2008 was scheduled for release in late 2007 but suffered delays and was not released to manufacturers until 5 February.

Microsoft touted several improvements in the operating system, including tighter security against memory-overflow attacks and a better system for recording and reporting errors.

“The overwhelming response from thousands of IT professionals and developers around the world is that Windows Server 2008 is the most secure enterprise platform we have ever delivered,” said Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.

Microsoft also released Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 at the Los Angeles event.

A series of 225 ‘Heroes Happen Here’ events designed to sell the new releases to IT professionals will be attended by more than 4,000 people, according to Microsoft.

With the environment a hot topic in the motor industry all manufacturers are looking at means to reduce CO₂ emissions. One proven way is to use bio-ethanol, a fuel that’s developed from crops rather than coming from an oil well. E85 is still relatively rare in the UK, this 85% bio-ethanol 15% petrol mix a possible solution to reducing CO₂. If only you could find a pump…

What is it?

It’s a Ford C-Max Flexifuel, which means if you can find one of the handful of E85 bio-ethanol pumps in the UK you’ll be doing your bit for the environment. It looks - stickers on this demonstration example aside - exactly like a conventional petrol or diesel powered C-Max, though it runs on E85 bio-ethanol. Ford, and the many other advocates of the fuel, claims that by using bio-ethanol, CO₂ emissions can be reduced by between 30 and 80% depending on how the bio-ethanol is created. The thinking is that the plants that are grown to produce the fuel actually absorb CO₂ when growing. For Ford’s 1.8-litre engine, independent research by the Imperial College London suggests that the 169g/km of CO₂ at the tailpipe actually equates to 99.6g/km when the absorption by crops grown to produce the fuel is factored in.

How does it drive?

Exactly like its petrol relative. Seriously, there’s no discernable difference behind the wheel at all. It’s fuelled - assuming you can find an E85 pump - in exactly the same way as you’d fuel a petrol car too. Thankfully, should you not be within range of an E85 pump the Flexifuel Ford is just as happy to run on conventional petrol. When running on the greener fuel you’ll find that a tank doesn’t last as long, bio-ethanol not having the same calorific content as conventional petrol. However, cheaper pump prices should offset the higher fuel consumption when running on E85. We’re big fans of the C-Max here, it driving with verve that’s unusual in the practical compact MPV class. Making it a bit greener only adds to its appeal.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

It’s definitely a step in the right direction in reducing CO₂ emissions and our dependence on oil, but there are issues with bio-ethanol. Fuel crops are potentially very lucrative for farmers and there’s some genuine fear out there that food production will be dropped in favour of fuel production. Some of the farming techniques used to create fuel crops - and the processes to convert those crops into fuel - are often CO₂ intensive too. It’s a partial solution to a big problem, though if managed in a sustainable manner then it could be a good means to reduce CO₂ output and the need to drill for oil. However, for it to really work in the UK we need far more E85 pumps; there are currently only a handful, and E85 enabled cars running on petrol are no more green than their petrol alternatives.

Verdict

There’s a lot to like about the E85 C-Max, as it’s just a regular C-Max that happens to be able to stop at a different pump on the fuel forecourt. CO₂ reductions are to be welcomed, but if you’re not lucky enough to live near an E85 pump then you’d be better spending the extra money a Ford Flexifuel vehicle costs over a conventional one on solar panels for the roof of your house or setting up a car sharing scheme to reduce your CO₂. Like a lot of green technologies it’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation; the fuel infrastructure needing to be in place for the cars to use it, and the cars to use it need to be running around for the fuel companies to put the pumps of their forecourts.

Taking the fashion world by storm the beer belt is this year’s must have fashion accessory! Made of stylish black webbing with a chunky silver belt buckle, that’s got a grip strong enough to even hold in my belly! Beer belt has a bottle opener attached to the other end that can be used to open bottle caps not wine corks…… oooh imagine being skewered down there by a corkscrew. That would be very painful.

With life’s most wanted commodity attached to the other end of your belt your ready to conquer the earth. The urge to open your cold one might have you looking like a fumbling, dirty old man but once you get the hang of it you’ll be cracking caps off bottles like the belt was an extra limb. Just don’t forget you don’t need to show everyone your leopard skin boxers to use your belt to its full bottle opening potential. How embarrassing would that be?

Compared to a hundred years ago, or even 50 years ago, the world has become smaller thanks to the advancement of technology specifically telecommunication. A person from the US could easily talk to a loved one in another country, say somebody from Spain for example.

For people who do not possess telephone at home and for those who are always on the go, using prepaid calling cards can help them communicate. Communicating is very important, so people are always looking for ways to keep in touch easily with a phone card.

With the use of these cards, you will have a convenient and affordable way to make calls when you are away from your family friends and associates. These calling cards are being sold in lots of stores, shops, hotel lobbies, bus terminals, airports and on the internet.

This international phone card can be use any time and any where you are, since you can bring with you these cards. These cards are handy, so you put on your pocket each time you go out, so you can make calls any time and any where. You can use prepaid calling cards with any regular phone, cell phone, pay phone and at the hotels.

Boring nights in front of another failing celebrity-less reality TV program are finally over. The TV-off remote control is an ingenious learning device that will drive your friends mad. Simply press the button and the TV-B-Gone will switch off 99% of televisions and virtually anything with an infrared port. There are over 400 off sequences preprogrammed on this handy device. It will keep scanning until it finds the correct off frequency. It is mainly used for TVs, but equally effective on LCDs, DVDs and similar devices.

The fun is endless! Imagine you’re at the pub, a penalty is about to be taken…you press the button…the TV switches off. TV-B-Gone works best when used under 7 metres from the television set, although in optimum conditions can work over twice that distance!

Ladies, imagine the carnage in the pub when your husband has dragged you out for the afternoon and you end up watching the footie. A sneaky prod of your remote and off goes the footie and on comes the Corrie omnibus. TV off remote can be used in an array of location only limited by your imagination. No more boring school videos, no more soaps, no more sport, no more of any of the type of television viewing that makes your skin crawl, just constant sneaky chaos. Genius we think you’ll agree. Tv-off remote works on Plasmas, lcd’s, projectors and normal televisions. In fact this modern day electronic Robin Hood will control most devices that have an infra red port.

If you’ve had enough of the television this is definitely the gadget of choice for you.

The Turboflame Arc Lighter is the first designer household lighter to combine cutting-edge technology with contemporary living style. A beautiful, all-metal lighter, the Turboflame is available in three impressive styles, chrome, brushed steel or titanium, and is fitted with four rubber inserts for extra grip.
Effortlessly elegant and wonderfully versatile, the Arc will make light work of a host of household tasks, from caramelising a crème brûlée to lighting tea lights in aromatherapy burners. In addition, it won’t leave any unsightly black carbon traces on your elegant table candles either.The Arc roars with a 1300°c pinpoint jet-like flame that easily gets into the smallest of spaces, and lights in any direction, even upside down.

The Arc is easy to use with an advanced soft-touch ignition system and an adjustable flame controlled by a small screw on the base. You can easily see when the lighter runs low on gas thanks to a small sight glass near the base of the lighter. The Turboflame Arc is a must have gadget that won’t let you down, it fulfils it’s task as a lighter perfectly and looks stunning when not in use. In addition, you’ll be pleased to know all mechanical parts are covered by a 5 year manufacturers warranty.

Technical specifications

• Turboflame Arc Lighter
• 1300°c razor sharp flame
• Adjustable flame length
• Light in any direction, even upside down
• Four black rubber inserts for extra grip and comfort
• Available in three styles, titanium, brushed steel and chrome
• 5 year manufacturer warranty
• Full instructions included
• Dimensions: H 11.1cm x W 3.4cm x D 1.3cm

The LED Alarm Clock with its individual digits is as much of a talking piece as it is a time piece. Available in black or red, the clock is a series of Perspex stackable cubes that can be moved around independently each displaying one LED number and when placed in the correct order displays the current time. It looks great as a desktop or bedside table accessory and once you arrange them in your favourite way, it’ll be easy for you to tell the time, but might not be for others. Each cube is 1 inch wide x 1.5 inches high with a separate controller for the time set, dimmer and alarm functions (including snooze).

That is one sweet looking phone , made by samsung but branded with the google brand, we should be seeing 2 models produced by the end of 2008.

Being involved in online help activity just imagine how your job could be eased and you could spend less time explaining to your clients the simplest things they are to perform if you had an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments or corrections all by yourself on their computers without leaving your office! Some would say that this is absolutely impossible and there is no 100% stable and handy desktop web conferencing software that can help online support to manage their clients more effectively.

This assumption is not based on real situation on the software market as there are many web collaboration software products that do not just allow you to get access to your clients’ computers but actually see what users are doing and this helps a lot to identify the mistakes they have made and due to such a software the errors can be faster and easily corrected.

All in all, desktop web conferencing software brings pleasure to you and your clients as well! They get faster support and will be ready to use your company’s services in future!

The world’s first and only fire resistant and waterproof hard drive.  Direct USB connectivity to a laptop or desktop computer.  Enables backup of critical data in the event of crash, computer failure and fire and water-related disasters.  Encased hard drive provides protection from dust and dirt.

If your Sentry®Safe hard drive experiences fire or water damage, we will attempt to recover your data free of charge and send you a new unit.

Features:

• USB Y-Cable included

• USB 2.0 bus powered

• Back up software included

• Security features include password protection & data encryption

• After Fire and Water Data Recovery Support Program

• LED power indicator light

• Durable high gloss silver finish

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé will become the world’s most expensive four-seat coupé when the wraps come off at the Geneva show next month,

The Phantom Coupé will cost from £298,000, dwarfing the new Bentley Brooklands’ £230,000 price tag.

Sales of the two-door, four-seat Phantom begin in the summer and the car will be built at Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory.

Rolls says the Coupé is more driver-focused than the Phantom saloon or Drophead Coupé thanks to a body that is more rigid than either of its two sister models.

The Coupé’s rear-hinged doors help with the body’s stiffness and match the Drophead’s for style.

Also shared with the Drophead are the brushed aluminium finishes for the bonnet and windscreen pillars.

At the rear, the Coupé has what Rolls calls a ‘picnic boot’ where the boot lid splits in two to create a seating platform for two adults.

The boot has 395-litres of space, so there’s lots of room for cucumber sandwiches.

Power for the Coupé is the same 6.75-litre V12 engine as the other cars in the Rolls range and it has 453bhp on tap.

That’s enough to get the 2.5-tonne Phantom Coupé from 0-60mph in 5.6 seconds and on to a 155mph top speed.

The Coupé’s fuel tank is 25% larger than the Drophead’s and it manages 18.0mpg combined economy.

Those lucky enough o be able to afford the £298,000 asking price can order the Phantom Coupé now and deliveries begin this summer.

You could listen to music, watch movies or browse digital photos on your PC, but the chances are that they’d look and sound a great deal better on a television screen. A media streaming device such as the DMP-1120w plugs in to the TV and connects to a home network (wired or wireless), so you can browse your media library from the sofa with the supplied remote control.

The DMP-1120w certainly looks good, its white casing and rounded corners giving the product a Mac Mini feel that will sit happily in most living rooms. Setup was easy too, with Scart, component and composite video, and analogue and digital audio available. There’s no hard disk and the lack of an HDMI port means you can forget high-definition films, but that’s no surprise on such a cheap product.

We powered it up and after a lengthy pause it located libraries of files on our two test PCs, connected wirelessly. The DMP-1120w also connects to media software such as TVersity or Twonkymedia, which means you’re not stuck with the supplied software, and can use it with a Mac or a Linux box.
Whether you’ll want to make the effort is another question.

The interface is limited and mostly text based, so there’s no album art when listening to music. And a Media Player quirk meant our music collection was sorted in alphabetical order by song title, which made browsing rather less convenient than we’d hoped – most such devices allow you to search by artist name.

You’ll run into problems if music is saved in OGG or WMA formats, too: the DMP-1120w only plays MP3, AAC and WAV files. There are similar limitations on the video side: MPEG, DIVX and XVID files played faultlessly in our tests, but there’s no support for WMV movies.

Still, the basics of the DMP-1120w work well. It connected to our wireless network without problems, video playback was smooth, and there’s a wired network connection if you need it. The memory card slots are a welcome bonus, too. If value for money is your top priority, and you can live with its limitations, then the DMP-1120w is a good choice.