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1. 
   Review - nVIDIA ForceWare Drivers for Windows Vista/7 (64-bit)

   191.07 (Oct 29, 2009)

   While the driver works fine, somewhere along the line the Nvidia Control Panel has been rendered useless for some built in video models, for instance I'm using a Nvidia 630i/7100 MGPU and the Nvidia Control Panel will no longer open.
   
   This means I no longer have access to detailed configurations or controls like acceleration, performance vs. quality settings or color control. I've tried everything, including a fresh OS install. I've notified both the board manufacturer and Nvidia, both who claim Windows 7 certification with said driver and chipset however neither of them seem to be able to isolate or iron out the problem.
   
   So for the record, if you're using Windows 7 64bit and the Nvidia 630i 7100 chipset, upgrade your drivers ONLY if you don't need access to your settings, as the Nvidia Control Panel no longer works for this chipset.

2. 
   Review - Vuze for Windows

   4.2.0.9 Beta 34 (Oct 23, 2009)

   I absolutely love Vuze. I use it on my HTPC and use utorrent on my laptop.
   It's a way more presentable interface for my HTPC. The search function is also way more comprehensive for 'far from pc' use vs. Utorrent.
   It does use more memory than utorrent, but imho it's worth it. If you have a system with 4GB or more RAM, you won't feel a thing....gfi! you won't regret it.

3. 
   Review - Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility

   9.1.1.1014 (Jun 19, 2009)

   Intel releases these updates for their own brand boards first in every scenario. Then they filter down the line to the generic 'all chipset' area on Intel's site.
   So for those wondering where this and these types of updates come from, simple go to Intel's site and pick any of their current boards. I've used these releases before and they work, but it doesn't mean that they'll keep working - one day they may really be for intel boards only.

4. 
   Review - Microsoft Bing Maps 3D

   4.0 (Jun 4, 2009)

   Relax people, it's just a rename for Microsoft Virtual Earth.

5. 
   Review - Desktop Picture Frame

   3.0 Beta 1 (Feb 5, 2009)

   I always try to give constructive criticism...but oy. I'm not going to trash the program. If you want...um...digital picture frames on some corner of your monitor then power to you. I found it neither that smart, nor that friendly. Keeping an open mind, I suppose it COULD be used in conjunction with those 7" usb monitors hitting the market soon (or...you could just use a wallpaper changer, whatever floats your boat).
   
   I'd personally recommend spending an extra $15 for a real digital frame if you're going to spend $14.95 to put one in your PC.

6. Comment - Myka announces its latest Linux-based 'net top box'

   3.0 Beta 1 (Nov 7, 2009 - 3:13 PM)

   While it's an interesting and useful product, at $379 it's overpriced. Builders can build the same or better for $300 or so and people who want a net-top can get one for roughly $300 as well...meaning you're paying Myka to slap Boxee and Hulu, or Karmic Koala on there, or at the very least for that Myka interface.

7. Comment - Sophos study suggests Windows 7 UAC's default setting is self-defeating

   3.0 Beta 1 (Nov 5, 2009 - 6:26 PM)

   Has UAC somehow become synonymous with Anti-virus or Anti-Malware applications? Hmm...interesting.
   
   "One benefit that UAC could have provided," he continued, "is an additional layer of protection that would help in the event that your anti-virus has failed to detect a new sample. It does not appear from my results that this is the case."
   
   Why on earth would anyone need anti-virus software if Windows 7 UAC was somehow this miraculous? If that were the case they'd have to be called file repairers or something, because their only use would be to clean and repair infected files, not prevent them from affecting the system.
   
   UAC is a safe-guard, not a substitute in any capacity for an av or am program. UAC prevents really, um, adventurous people....who travel the internet and click on any and every website, from being the victim of the typical 'get to website, website downloads and installs "something", ouch!' syndrome.
   
   Personally, I don't think UAC is pointless. It may be, for the smart majority who know to perhaps, install programs like Web of Trust before we go clicking through the web, or those who have tried and true AV programs....but it certainly isn't for Grandma and Grandpa or every now and again PC users who just don't know what they SHOULD, the basics of surfing. It may not prevent virus or malware infections that are complex or advanced enough to come into the system in some unscrupulous way, but it will more than likely pop up big and bright if anything tries to run an .exe or .com or .bat file.

8. Comment - Faster or more secure? Microsoft publishes IE patch to Automatic Updates

   3.0 Beta 1 (Nov 5, 2009 - 1:35 PM)

   And in tomorrows news/commentary/viewpoint here on BN:
   
   "Firefox 3.5.5 yields 410% speed boost over IE8, Windows 7 officially Vista-like while using IE8".
   
   I'm kidding of course =)

9. Comment - The new face of Android: No face

   3.0 Beta 1 (Nov 4, 2009 - 7:35 PM)

   I think he's speaking in no uncertain terms that "too many cooks spoil the broth". Lots of phones, and apps that have to be written for the different iterations of the platform. Some phones are released with 1.5, some with 1.6, some with 2.0....meaning that apps are going to start to drift between the different versions. Some will be written for 2.0 and not be able to work on 1.6 - as we can see this is true, some work on 1.6 but not on 1.5. IF all of them were able to say, get to 2.0 - fine, but some will be stuck at 1.6, and some at 1.5 as of now.
   
   The second 'issue' is the gui being consistent, but I don't think the majority of people consider difference or a change in interface disruptive or inconsistent - I could be wrong. Normally only really old people and very young children dislike or can't tolerate change on such a deep level.
   Android upgrades are flawed in the aspect that if you go from say, 1.6 to 2.0 then you bet your butt some, if not all your installed apps may break.
   
   All of this vs. the Iphone where everything is consistent - 1 phone, very minor changes in hardware between revisions and so pretty much one OS to run on them all.
   
   The problem with this mentality is that it's totally "Apple" thinking. You're locking the user into one phone to experience that. Apple will never make 2 or 3 'flavors' of technically the same Iphone, and ofcourse there's no reason to - it's one company. The Iphone to Iphone 3G was considered an upgrade, as 3G to 3GS, and when they add an SD card slot and physical keyboard, it will be and upgrade from 3GS to 3GSDKB, lol....jk =)
   This may not be a bad thing for some, but it is for others. HTC on the other hand, makes several versions of their phones running technically the same hardware and for the most part, software. People who hate X because of this reason can get Y...people who hate Y for this, can get Z. I love the Iphone....for one simple reason, it's fast! No lagging. But guess what? I'll never get one as it is because I HATE using virtual keyboards.
   
   It all boils down to freedom. Freedom comes with a price....sounds corny, but it's true! The freedom of being able to flick through different hardware and mobile software means you're going to have some problems. That's not to say the Iphone doesn't have some pretty deep software issues as well...but you'll probably never have to worry about an app that wont work on all of them.

10. Comment - New York: Intel's agreements to lower CPU prices led to overcharges

    3.0 Beta 1 (Nov 4, 2009 - 4:59 PM)

    I wonder how much a computer would cost today if TI/Cyrix/AMD weren't around?
    Would we have consumer 64bit? Would we be running 4+ core processors?
    
    Are they villainous or just business people...maybe a bit of both? Would AMD have done the same thing, given the chance?
    
    What's so difficult about cometing fairly?