Microsoft had today rolled out a dozen new applications on to its new Xbox 360 Dashboard to the masses. If you have been part off the preview program, you will have already seen the apps in action. But if like many, you haven’t been able to register for the preview program, you will be pleased to know that YouTube, FiOS Tv and TNZ apps, together with many more are now available to download. View the full list after the jump.

YouTube (Available in 24 countries globally**): From your favorite web original video to gaming tips, a universe of compelling content is available through YouTube on Xbox LIVE.

Verizon FiOS TV (U.S.): Get Verizon FiOS TV with 26 live channels like MTV, Spike, Food Network, Comedy Central, HBO, CNN and Nickelodeon – with more to come. Plus with Kinect, change channels with your voice.

blinkbox ... Read more »

Microsoft has today introduced a new search service called Socl designed for students that combines web browsing, search, and social networking for the purposes of learning.

So.cl (pronounced "social”) is an experimental research project, developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs, which has been created to focused on exploring the possibilities of social search for the purpose of learning.

Microsoft are currently partnering with selected schools (including University of Washington, Syracuse University, and New York University). But anyone can join in the FUSE Labs research community and use the web based projects.

For more information about the new Socl service jump over to the Microsoft Socl website.

Source:  ... Read more »

As well as announcing that the Windows 8 public beta will be available in February, Microsoft has also announced that the Windows Store will launch in February of 2012, and Microsoft has shared some more details about the Windows Store.

It looks like the deals with application developers for the Windows Store will be similar to what Apple offers, Microsoft will pay developers 70 percent of the revenue and keep 30 percent themselves, although the deal does look better as when a particular app reaches $25,000 in revenue, Microsoft will pay developers 80 percent of the revenue.

Applications in the Windows Store will be available in all languages and apps will be available in a total of 231 markets around the world, and when the Windows Store launches in February it will be a beta store, all applications will be free initially.

Source ... Read more »

There have been rumors recently that Microsoft would be launching the public beta of Windows 8 around February of next year, and now Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 public beta will be available in February of 2012.

Microsoft’s Windows 8 developer preview has already become extremely popular with more than 3 million downloads since it was launched, and we suspect the public beta will be even more popular.

Microsoft has yet to confirm the official launch date of Windows 8, although we have heard previously that Windows 8 RTM is expected to be released to hardware manufacturers in July, which could mean we will see Windows 8 launch in the fall of 2012.

Source The Verge

Corsair has this week unveiled they have broken and set a new Memory Frequency World Record. Reaching an impressive 1733.8MHz (DDR3-3467), using Corsair Dominator GT CMGTX6 extreme-performance DDR3 memory.

Corsair used a specially constructed rig to obtain the new world record, which was equipped with a liquid nitrogen cooled computer system using a AMD FX-8150 processor and of course 1GB of Corsair Dominator GT extreme-performance DDR3 memory.

Corsair employee Jake "Planet” Crimmins explains:

"Breaking overclocking world records requires skill, ingenuity, and the right equipment,” – "I’ve broken several records using Dominator GT memory. It’s reliable, it has amazing headroom, and it’s never let me down.”

Microsoft has started to roll out its latest version of Windows Phone, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, and along with he update Microsoft has also released a new version of its Windows Phone Marketplace website.

You will now be able to download applications from the Windows Phone Marketplace online directly to your Windows Phone 7 handset, and there is also a number of other new features like find my phone.

You can find out more information about what is new in the web based Windows Phone 7 marketplace over at the Windows Phone Marketplace

Microsoft has released another demo video for its new OS, Windows 8, and this time we get to have a look at Windows 8 Life ID integration, which will allow you to sign into a Windows 8 PC using your Windows Live ID.

"In Windows 8, we have set out to ensure that each PC user has a truly personal experience that seamlessly bridges their online and offline tasks, is simpler to set up and use, and persists across their set of Windows 8 PCs. To do this, we’ve introduced the ability to log in to Windows (optionally) with a Windows Live ID that works across devices, apps, and services, allowing you a uniquely personal experience with Windows,”

You can find out more information about the Windows 8 Live ID integration over at the Windows 8 Blog.< ... Read more »

Details of a new patent from Microsoft have been revealed which show a new interesting smartphone design, that will feature detachable accessories, which you can see in the photos below.

As you can see from the figure below, the device is a slider phone, and the slider part of the device is where the various interchangeable accessories are placed, like a keyboard or a gaming controller.

Other accessories listed in the drawings reveal that an additional battery and a second display could also be placed into the interchangeable slot, it seems like a pretty cool idea.

There are no details on whether this device will ever go into production, we hope it does as it looks interesting from the drawings.

Source ... Read more »

With Windows 8 every user will receive their own SkyDrive, Microsoft’s cloud based service for storing your documents and application data. Using the combination of both Windows 8 and SkyDrive you will be able to sync your personal settings across a number of Windows systems and be able to access it from a web based browser if needed.

Enabling yo to also access photos and documents that are securely stored in the cloud via Microsofts SkyDrive service. Watch a couple of videos after the jump showing you how this new features will be able to help you access you data and user settings from any Windows 8 system or tablet.

The new SkyDrive features will allow you to synchronise your profile, app settings, and other data across multiple computers, store your photos, documents, and files online so you c ... Read more »