Rumor has it that the near-final release candidate of Windows 7 is going to be ready to hit the streets by April 10th. A source from within Microsoft has indicated that the company plans on making its final release candidate launch in less than two months, meaning that we’ll definitely see the street version of the program hit store shelves before the end of the year. Many people speculate we’ll actually see the first version by July, with plenty of time for it to make its way onto computers for the holidays. Microsoft has promised the public shorter wait times for the launch of its products for some time now, it looks like this time they may actually be serious. [via Electronista]

Can you not wait for Windows 7 to finally be available? Now you can make Windows XP look like the new operating system with just a few quick downloads. A company called Niwradsoft has created the Niwradsoft Seven Remix XP free download that will change the entire look of your OS to a more Windows 7-esque like atmosphere. The program will give you new boot screens, logon screens, screensavers, systems themes and a good deal of hacked resource files. Download it for yourself and give it a try here. [via Gizmodo]

Quite frankly, I don’t want to be seen on the phone. The last thing I really need is for the boss to see the empty bottles of Don Julio and ubiquitous red plastic cups stacked behind me when I’m calling in sick. Some people, on the other hand, love to be seen. Assuming they’re Windows users, the latest Skype 4.0  software will be a welcome addition to their telecom collection. The software, already available for download for Windows users, promises to make video calls easier and also allows calls to be viewed full screen–so you better make sure whoever you’re calling has a mug you’d like to chug. Even those with an archaic low-bandwidth connection can get quality video with the help of Skype’s bandwidth manager. Audio is also supposed to be markedly improved courtesy of the new audio engine Silk. [Slippery Brick]

Causing the heads to explode of anyone who was wishing for a less-confusing lineup of Windows 7 versions, Microsoft has confirmed that there will be six SKUs of its upcoming operating system. Apparently, though, the company is going to put most of its efforts (at least in marketing and retail placement) behind two SKUs: Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional. The former has all the expected trimmings, like multi-touch and media center capabilities, Aero User Interface tweaks and home network groups. The latter has those features plus mobility center, presentation mode and enhanced networking capabilities like remote desktop hosting. Below those two SKUs is Windows 7 Starter — a stripped-down version that’s limited to three installs — and Windows 7 Home Basic, which is only available in emerging markets. On the higher end, there’s Windows 7 Enterprise for volume licensees and the all-encompassing Windows 7 Ultimate. Choose wisely. [Engadget and ZDNet]

If you’re curious about the next version of Windows and would like to play around with it, now’s the time to start downloading. The Windows 7 Beta will be available until February 10, and downloads that start on that date will have two extra days to finish up. Keep in mind that the beta doesn’t have to be activated by the 10th, as product keys will remain available. In fact, if you can find an ISO of the beta circulating around the Internet, the official download window shouldn’t matter. One word of caution, though: The beta expires on August 1, so make sure you can still work and play on your existing setup when time runs out. [Windows Blog via CrunchGear]

Someone seems to be making cash off of the fact that Microsoft is shoving Windows Vista down people’s throats. Even though Microsoft thinks it’s outdated software, Dell found out that people want to have their laptops and PCs to run on Windows XP. And more to it, they’re even willing to pay a lot to downgrade. What started at a price of $20-$50 to get from Vista to XP now has reached a price tag of $150 and the poor popularity of Vista seems to be pretty much established.  Would you pay to downgrade? [alleyinsider]

If the current reports are true, and there is no reason to doubt them, Windows 7 should be ready for the public by mid-January next year. With the way development has picked up pace, first DVDs of Windows 7 Beta 1 should be available to attendees at Microsoft‘s Developers Conference in Chicago and Minneapolis from January 13th onwards. Though expected to be officially available in early 2010, Microsoft seems to be speeding up the development process and may release it as early as late 2009. [via Electronista & image by neo.wave]

The dilemma with laptops is that their most coveted attributes– affordability and portability– are priced almost exclusively in inverse relation to one another. But, while Apple seems intent on pioneering the first laptop to both fold into an actual piece of notebook paper and cost a million dollars, alternative PC companies like Asus and Wal-Mart-sold Everex are leading a new trend in the market: the bargain laptop. Both the Asus Eee PC and its kindred competitor, the Everex CloudBook start at $399. But while the CloudBook has beefier specs and, thus, markets itself as a cheaper, primary-laptop alternative to mainstream brands, the Asus is built more as a second laptop, a more portable compliment to the workhorse you already own. That is to say, in addition to a very stylish design, what’s most appealing about the Eee PC, rather counterintuitively, is what it doesn’t have.

The philosophy behind the Eee is: no extra muscle means no extra weight. It’s essentially a micro laptop. Ideal for a quick business trip, a sunny vacation or a crowded subway commute, it has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Weighing in at just 2lbs., it sports a 7-inch LCD screen, a modest but very capable 512 MB of RAM, built-in wireless LAN, and a frequent-flier-friendly 3.5-hour battery. But, like you, it’s not all business; it also has a built-in webcam and microphone, with pre-loaded Linux* software for webchat capabilities. The drawbacks are obvious ones. Word is that the keyboard can feel cramped at times, and it only comes in 2 ipod-nano-like hard drive sizes– 4GB and 8GB. But, its extreme lack of added weight and cool looks (in titanium silver or clean white) more than compensate. And, even if you have to bring an external hard drive along, your net weight is still well under that of the MacBook Pro (5.6 lbs) you left at home. On top of all that, the Asus Eee PC is 100% guaranteed to make you look and feel like an international spy/professional hacker-for-hire (think Ving Rhames in Mission Impossible.)

*The Eee PC is also compatible with Windows

Buy: $399

Earlier this week, we hyped the release of the Crusade epic Assassin’s Creed. If it weren’t for this little game above, Assassin’s Creed could have been the release of the year. While we have been patiently awaiting the AC release for nearly 18 months, we’ve been waiting for this one far longer… Ladies and gents, the game of the year has been released today: Crysis by Crytek/EA. If you own an up-to-date PC, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. If you’re already aware of this game, go ahead and follow this buy link below. If not, stick around after the “read more”, we’ll walk you through just why this game is so lustworthy…

Buy for $49.99 (pc). Continue Reading