How do you qualify for this? You need to have a university email address for starters. How do you get this? You have to be enrolled and attending a university of course. There are some universities that allow you to either keep your email address for several months after your graduate, and some are indefinite. Most likely because of this, there is a good chance that you’re going to have to supply some sort of verification that you have enrolled and are still attending. However, what the information is specifically is unknown at this point as this particular offer is running through a software maker called Digital River.

Why would you want to get Windows 7? Well, if you love Windows, you’re likely to continue following it through it’s upgrades. It’s unfortunate if you ended up getting the flop that Windows Vista was, but it seems that Windows 7 is going to be a major improvement. It’s supposed to be “simpler and easier to use” as their website says.

Some of the new features to look for in Windows 7 are:

• A taskbar with one-click program icons you can add and remove. Also, when you hover over the icons to display thumbnails of all of the files and windows open.
• A “Jump List”. The Jump List is what appears if you right-click on any of the icons in the taskbar. These are the most recent files open, and you can add your own to it permanently.
• Easily share files and printers with HomeGroup.
• Easier to use and more functional Desktop with improved gadgets.

Learn more about it on their website. Enjoy!

Although we think we’ve seen it all for netbooks, the Nokia Booklet 3G does have some features that deserve some respect, especially coming from a company that is accustomed to working on significantly smaller mobile devices. Looking strangely like a Macbook with black trim, the Booklet boasts an aluminum body packed with powerful innards. As measurements go, it is appropriately netbook-size, and lives up to its name, “Booklet.” It is less than two centimeters thick. The screen is a modest 10 inches (with 1280×720 resolution).

Nothing is too stand-outish about the computer’s speed. The Intel Atom X530 is a nice processor, but won’t be wining any races real soon, clocking in at 1.6GHz. 1GB of memory and a 120GB hard drive are relatively ho-hum for a just-released netbook.

Where Nokia’s Booklet 3G really leaves its mark is in the realm of mobility. What the device lacks in muscle it more than makes up for as a full-orbed connection machine. To power such impressive connectivity, you can expect your device to go without charging for 12 hours. That’s more than an average day’s work, which would almost compel you to leave the charger back at the hotel room. Way to go, Nokia.

The long battery life powers a raft of cool connection tools, too. It has 3G-ready action, as the name suggests, giving it powerful appeal as the 3G network expands its reach across the globe. The device connects using high-speed packet access mobile broadband, and, of course, an 802.11n Wi-fi connection. Oh, and some of the Booklets will have internal modems, too. With all those options (including Bluetooth) you shouldn’t have to worry too much about staying connected. As well as the nearly-omnipresent connectivity, it is integrated with A-GPS. Not unaccompanied, the GPS ties in very nicely to Ovi Suite, which among other things can give you a police-like mapping system to know where you’re going and how to get there.

The PS3 has been suffering here and there with sales. It’s running in third place, trailing behind the Nintendo Wii and the XBOX 360. Sony is hoping that the PS3 Slim will inspire the same excitement as the PS2 did when they released the smaller version of it.

The Slim is more affordable than the normal-sized PS3, and not to mention easier to shimmy into smaller places with entertainment centers. Like its father-system, it has a Blu-ray player, and comes packed with a 120GB hard drive. It has built-in Wi-Fi and a web browser for those who want to browser the internet on their system.

Like the newer releases of the larger PS3, it is unable to play PS2 games, which is part of Sony’s downfall with this system. This could very well have something to do with it running in third place. Backwards compatibility is important with these new systems since they first introduced the concept. It has come to be expected and is disappointing when it is not available. This may or may not continue to keep people away. You can still get the PS2 compact version for $99 if you’re interested in it.

No matter what, this system seems to be a better buy than the currently available PS3. You can save some space with this guy, either laying it down horizontally, or standing it up on its side with the purchase of a stand. Either way you look at it, it’s still one sleek machine.

Cnet Reviews

Check out this video from WebProNews at the CES 2009:

• Stick position: for tennis and golf type games.
• Gun position: for shooter and combat games.
• “Inverted” Z, Rotated position: for use as a steering wheel, or a slightly different angle for aviation games.

It seems that no matter the style of your game, this controller will be able to deliver.

The Cywee Z is not just for gamers! It can be used as a mouse as well. You can move away from your desk and the confines of traditional mouse-use to relax. How wonderful to not have to sit in a desk chair! Of course you’ll need a larger monitor for this functionality to be useful at a distance. No sense in stepping back from your monitor if you can’t see it anymore. You’ll also need some place comfortable to sit that is strategically placed in view of your computer.

So, you can be comfortable and use it, and move around and use it, but what about cost? Well, if you don’t have a large monitor then you’re going to have to get one if you want to move away from your screen. This doesn’t sound like a big deal for the more intense technology buffs/gamers/computer users, unless of course you’re strapped for cash. Most people are struggling with money nowadays, given the state of the economy. Even though prices have dropped, large monitors or televisions with monitor capabilities are still not cheap. In fact, the Z itself is not cheap either. At about $120 (NT$3990), it is likely one of the most expensive controllers you’ll buy. Although, if you’re willing to spend a chunk of money on a new game, or drop a couple grand on a superb monitor/television, then what’s another 120 bucks? That’s a drop in the bucket if these electronics are important to you.

As fun as this controller would be to have, the current financial state of everyone really hinders excess purchasing. It’s really hard to say how well the Z will do. Although, since it’s not just for use with one game or system, perhaps people will decide that it is worth buying. As long as the Z is as fluid and easy to use as it looks, I’m sure it will get a lot of hype, and become quite the popular little PC controller.

Good luck to you, Cywee Z!

With the IGF finalists announced, game makers only have a short while longer to find out the best of the best in indie games from last year. From the best overall game to the one with the most impressive art, there’s several different categories for indie game designers to aspire to be the top of. This week we’re going to take a look at a few of the games that have made it to the finals.

One of the lesser categories in the IGF is Technical Excellence. While still important, it doesn’t receive as much attention as some of the other categories. This year, though, there’s a lot of excellent entries in this category. They are all great on each front, but they truly shine in their excellent technical achievements over everything else. These are the games that push the envelope forward and show just what we can do with personal. So take a gander at what these independent developers have to offer to you. You won’t be disappointed!

Continue reading IGF Finalist Showcase: Technical Excellence

IGF Finalist Showcase: Technical Excellence originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This update adds more features to the current Call of Duty: World at War mod tools. Continue reading for update notes.

Download Call of Duty: World at War Mod Tools v1.1b Update (4 MB)
Download Call of Duty: World at War Mod Tools (1.1 GB)
Check out all Call of Duty: World at War downloads

Continue reading Download: Call of Duty: World at War Mod Tools v1.1b Update

Download: Call of Duty: World at War Mod Tools v1.1b Update originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There have been rumors for months that Lionhead Studios was planning to release a PC port of their acclaimed Xbox 360 fantasy RPG Fable II. The original Fable did indeed get a Computer version about a year after the original Xbox version came out.

But it looks like a Computer version for Fable II is still just a rumor for now. According to a post on the game’s official message board by Lionhead’s community manager “Woody”, “We’re not working on a Computer version of Fable II… If this changes we’ll make sure you know about it on our website(s)” While that statement doesn’t rule out such a port in the future it does seem to state that it’s not currently in active development.

[Via Shacknews]

No Fable II Computer port…for now originally appeared on Huge Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While the Mac gaming market seems to bear a preponderance of puzzle/hidden object titles, there are still a few gems that pop up now and again to reward the faithful. Enter: Caster, from Elecorn. Caster is an action shooter that features a pretty effective sense of speed and a VERY effective induction of simulation sickness. This may be the title that finally forces me to test whether or not ginger or dramamine will work to combat the apparent-motion-related nausea that this game causes, because I enjoyed playing it enough that I may want to purchase it. Why? Read on!

Continue reading Mac Monday: Caster

Mac Monday: Caster originally appeared on Huge Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the year’s biggest PC games looks like it will miss its long announced release date. Edge Online reports that Electronic Arts has now removed the previous February 20 release date for The Sims 3 from the game’s official web site. It now states it is coming “in 2009″

In a statement, EA says it is “evaluating the launch window.” for the game, adding “The game looks great and in the near future we’ll have more information.” There’s no clear word on why the game would be delayed but it could be a big blow to EA which is counting on sales of The Sims 3 to help prop up its already troubled financial issues.

Sims 3 release date now in question originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While all of us are still waiting for the long awaited PC-Mac version of Braid to be released, its creator Jonathan Blow is thinking about creating his next game project. In a recent chat with Gamasutra, Blow gives a hint as to his next game (which even he admits might change).

Blow is quotes as saying, “It’s an RPG right now, a 2D RPG that I’m working on.” However don’t get too settled into that concept because Blow then adds, “Next month, it could be a Pac-Man clone or something.” But it seems like the 2D RPG is something that Blow wants to do at the moment, saying, “My newest game I started is looking very promising. I’m very excited to do it.” Meanwhile the PC port of Braid is due out sometime in February or March.

Braid creator thinking about new projects originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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