Earlier today, Microsoft Corp. announced the upcoming launch of various new Windows Live services. Already available for download - albeit in Beta - at http://download.live.com, today's launch highlighted some of the interesting aspects that these new applications carry.

Headlining the pack is a Facebookesque interface called "What's New". Functioning much like the Facebook home page, the What's New page will aggregate updates from various social networking sites, as well as from your MSN Windows Live Messenger contact list. Windows Live Messenger (Beta) also comes with a spankin' new interface, which unfortunately looked a little too cluttered for our liking. 

Some other applications that were showcased today included Windows Live Calendar (an online version of Outlook's Calendar functionality), Windows Live Events (a Windows Live version of the Events application on Facebook), an updated Windows Live Hotmail interface, Windows Live Photos (for tagging/storing/sharing photos online) and Windows Live SkyDrive (25GB of online storage!).

The whole suite of new Windows Live applications (with documentation) are already available at http://download.live.com. The suite of applications are expected to go live - i.e. not Beta - on 13 December, so if you're not too keen on playing around with Beta software check back in about a month's time.

Intel Corporation introduced its most advanced desktop processor ever, the Intel® Core™ i7 processor. The Core i7 processor is the first member of a new family of Nehalem processor designs and is the most sophisticated ever built, with new technologies that boost performance on demand and maximize data throughput. The Core i7 processor speeds video editing, immersive games and other popular Internet and computer activities by up to 40 percent without increasing power consumption.

Broadly heralded by the computing industry as a technical marvel, the Intel® Core™ i7 processor holds a new world record of 117 for the SPECint_base_rate2006* benchmark test that measures the performance of a processor. This is the first time ever for any single processor to exceed a score of 100 points.

"Intel has delivered the fastest desktop processor on Earth to the most demanding users on Earth, the ones who are using their PCs for video, gaming and music," said Patrick Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group. "When you couple what is Intel's biggest leap in chip design with other incredible innovations like Intel's solid state drives, the Core i7 processor has redefined the computer of tomorrow."

We could probably think of a hundred things to do with this baby, but instead, we want to hear it from you. So hop on over to our forums and tell us what YOU would do with a 6-foot rubber band.

Discussion @ Lowyat.Net Forums

(Source: BoingBoing Gadgets)

We used to milk this headline dry when CHMY was still up and running, and it's been quite a while since it's seen the light of day and actually was used in the correct context. But enough reminiscing from me, because if you're a master of C and C++ programming, have experience with shaders and GPU programming, and have created at least one Xbox 360 game in the past, then you're in for the chance of a lifetime. Well, sorta.

Word has it that Square Enix - producers of the Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quast series - has set up shop in California and are currently hiring. Only problem is, that's located on the other side of the world. But don't worry, 'cos if you've got the skills that they're looking for, we doubt that they'll scrouge on an air ticket.

(Source: Kotaku, JobSeeker)

When San Francisco native Tanya Vlach lost her eye in a 2005 car accident, she didn't buckle over and give up. Instead, she started a blog which documented her monocular life. It's been three years since the accident, and in a recent blog post, it looks like Tanya is contemplating enhancing her prosthetic eye with a webcam! 

 "I am attempting to recreate my eye with the help of a miniature camera implant in my prosthetic / artificial eye. The intraocular installation of an eye-cam will substitute for the field of vision of my left eye that I lost in 2005 from a car accident. While my prosthetic is an excellent aesthetic replacement, I am interested in capitalizing on the current advancement of technology to enhance the abilities of my prosthesis for an augmented reality."

Head over to her blog at http://tanyavlach.wordpress.com/ to find out more details.

(Source: Engadget)

Remember how Tom Cruise stroked and caressed his fingers through the air, sending his office workstation (equivalent) into a quivery orgasmic fever? We do, and since then, we've have seen just about everyone from Microsoft to dodgy Russian backyard engineers trying their hand at emulating the Minority Report Experience. 

Today, Oblong Industries joins the long list of gesture UI developers with their own version of hand waving goodness called g-speak. However, it isn't just the interface that's Minority Report-ish, because apparently one of the science advisers from the Spielberg flick was a part of the development team too.

(Source: Engadget)

Chinese engineers don't exactly have the best reputation for their originality, but their ingenuity never fails to amuse us. Take for example this dandy little spy worthy watch phone from Chinavasion - not only does it support dual SIM cards, it even has a touch screen (and mini stylus to boot), a handily placed camera and Bluetooth capabilities!

And if that doesn't take the cake, then Chinavasion's web 2.0 marketing strategy definitely does. Their website not only has a blog page, but also Youtube demonstration videos for each of their products too!

(Source: Gizmodo)

Be honest, and tell us just how many of you out there actually own a digital photo frame? What is that? Less than none of you? Well, that answer doesn't leave us the least bit surprised because we feel that the digital photo frame is one of the most useless inventions of all time.

Having said that, it looks like we aren't the only people who share this sentiment. Over in Japan, a crazy group of people from the research labs of Keian have decided to pimp up their version of the digital photo frame with what looks like everything but the kitchen sink. If you ask us, the P71-A2-JP is as vain an attempt at reviving the hype around digital photo frames as trying to revive a taxidermized cat.

But if you've already on read this far, then you'll probably want to know what kind of specs it carries so here it goes - the 7-inch LCD (480x234) screen incorporates a 300 dpi color photo printer, a digital audio player (?!), a SDHC memory card reader, and a USB port that will let you stream hours worth of images off an external flash drive. An official release date or retail price have yet to be announced, but we sincerely hope this abomination doesn't see the light of day.

(Source: Electronista)

We just got back from a pretty awesome afternoon at the Mac + iPod Discovery Week roadshow that's currently running at the concourse area of Pavilion KL. Organized by EpiCentre, one of Apple's Authorised Premium Resellers, the roadshow not only featured Apple's full range of products, but also a packed itinerary of workshops, various demonstration booths, an iPod loan booth, as well as a cool elevated stage that will host a packed schedule of live performances from tomorrow onwards.

The roadshow will run till Sunday (16 November), so there's still plenty of time to drop by and check it out. 

Check out more event pictures after the jump, as well as the schedule for tomorrow's workshops and live performances.

The HTC Touch family just got bigger with the recent introduction of two new models to the existing lineup - the HTC Touch 3G and the HTC Touch HD.

In a essence, the HTC Touch 3G is a 3G enabled version of the previous Touch, while the Touch HD comes with a 3.8 inch wide-screen VGA display (WVGA), a standard 3.5mm audio jack and a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus. The HTC Touch 3G will be available from the end of November and will retail at RM1,999 while the HTC Touch HD should hit the shelves by December at a retail price of RM3,399.

Full press release after the jump.