If you have ever downloaded a song or a video file from the Internet and just couldn't play it back on your Windows computer it may be because you didn't have the proper codecs installed. A codec is a piece of software that can enable your media player the media clip in whatever format it may have arrived in without trying to convert it to another format. You can use CodecInstaller (freeware) to install any missing codecs onto your computer to prevent that unplayable media problem from happening again.
For those of us using Google services such as Gmail and particularly Google Apps for Domains (both are free) we may see enhancements coming soon to certain Google services thanks to Google's acquisition of Postini. Postini provides corporate antispam, email archiving, and other "enterprise" services. It is not clear yet what Google plans to do with their latest acquisition, but the typical pattern usually includes Google incorporating the best features and releasing them for free and then charging for expanded features. As Google continues to look for ways to "organize the world's information," let's hope they also uphold their mantra to "do no evil."
The media industry takes another step into the online entertainment space as BBC announces their new online TV application called iPlayer. Available for Windows XP computers located in the United Kingdom, users can download shows available in the BBC catalog and watch them on their own time. The content is of course protected by digital rights management preventing the files from being copied. In addition each downloaded show expires after thirty days. While this represents another move to online television (IPTV), the availability and usability of the media is rather limited.
A growing need among those who often use multiple computers in different locations is to have access to the documents you need wherever you are. In the old days we had floppies, zip drives, cd-rw's, and even flash drives, but physical media often was damaged lost or mis-labeled leading to data loss. Microsoft has a new service in beta called FolderShare.com allowing users to synchronize files and folders across multiple computers both Mac and PC. Now you can access your files from your home PC from your Office PC and vice versa.
Patch Tuesday came and went July 11th this week as Microsoft released ten new updates, seven of which are deemed critical. Be sure to install any available updates to your Windows systems. 
If you need to make a short ten-minute distance phone call let ViaTalk foot the bill. Just type in your number and the number you want to call and click Place Call. ViaTalk will call your phone and proceed to connect you with the desired number. ViaTalk offers VoIP telephony solutions for home and businesses ranging from $15/month and up.
Early July brought Mac users the 10.4.10 system update which has since been revised to fix an audio issue experienced by some Intel Mac users. If you have not already installed the update or the update to the update run Software Update from the Apple menu to download any updates.
Microsoft has updated their Windows Live Mobile Search available to Windows Mobile phones, Java-enabled phones, and Blackberry phones (beta). Windows Live Mobile Search provides your mobile phone with local maps, driving directions, live traffic data, movie showtimes, and GPS integration. Phones not directly supported by the installable software (read iPhone) may access the same content at http://m.live.com/. 
TiVo has announced the available to download movies on demand from the Amazon Unbox online video store. Movies and TV shows can be both purchased and rented with prices ranging from $0.99 weekend rentals to $14.99 for movie purchases. 
Apple announces the "Next Big Thing" by offering variable pricing for albums in their iTunes Music Store. Head over to the iTunes Music Store to find out who might be the next big thing in music at a discount price.
Apple forayed into the Windows web browser market announcing the immediate availability of their pre-release Safari web browser for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Steve Jobs announced the Safari browser for Windows during his keynote address at the World Wide Developer Conference. You can pick up your copy for Windows at Apple's website. Please note the software is beta (pre-release) and has already demonstrated some serious security issues.
Other web browsers available on Windows XP/Vista:
Once a month Microsoft releases updates (or patches) to their products such as Windows and Office. This day has come to be known as Patch Tuesday. Your computer should be telling you within the next day that you have updates ready to be installed. Be sure to install them and restart your computer as necessary. If you would like to manually update point Internet Explorer to http://update.microsoft.com/ and choose the Express option.
Windows and Apple user alike should be sure to update their Quicktime software to plug a vulnerability hole in the software. Mac users can use Software Update while Windows users should use Apple Software Update found in the Start Menu.
Apple has released a long-awaited update to their digital jukebox software iTunes with version 7.2. The update brings the ability to purchase and play iTunes Plus music tracks and music videos that are not laden with Apple's FairPlay Digital Rights Management software. Participating labels, such as EMI, are selling these DRM-free tracks for $1.29 each or $11.99 for the album. The iTunes Plus tracks are encoded at twice the bitrate for higher quality and can be copied to any device or computer that you own.
Link to Mac Rumors: Apple Releases iTunes 7.2, Launches iTunes Plus (DRM Free)
Apple released Security Update 2007-005. Be sure to start up Software Update and install the update.
If you've been tempted to go out an replace or get your own Xbox 360 Elite, you would be wise to first read Ars Technica's review fo the so-called "elite" console.
Here's a summary of what you'll get over the traditional Xbox 360 Premium system (in order of value):
Here's a summary of what they missed:
If you are one of those people who enjoy or even obsess over privacy issues, you might want to head over to Google's Phonebook Name Removal web site. Before you do, make a Google search for your ten digit phone number to see what comes up. If Google returns your phone number with your name and address you might then want to have yourself unlisted.
Right on the heels of the previously mentioned QuickTime update, Apple has re-released the 2007-004 security update. Most of the fixes deal with wireless connectivity and security issues so be sure to hit Software Update to keep your electronic peace of mind. This update only applies to Macintosh computers unlike the QuickTime update.
Apple issued a critical update for QuickTime media player on which iTunes is built. The security vulnerability affects both Windows and Mac computers. Be sure to fire up your Apple Software Update to get the fix to avoid any potential problems.
For Windows: Click Start, All Programs, Apple Software Update.
For Mac: Click the Apple Menu, Software Update...
The day that many thought would never come, and the day that some hoped would come, and the day that still may never happen, may come soon if the rumors come true of Dell beginning to ship their computer systems pre-loaded with the opensource Ubuntu Linux operating system. While Dell wouldn't be the first to offer a Linux-based OS pre-loaded on OEM consumer computers, they will be the first major manufacturer to do so. Offering a choice between Windows Vista and Ubuntu or other Linux flavor may provide the right kind of competition needed to help the PC market really move forward in usability, interoperability, and flexibility. If you don't want to wait for Dell you can head over to Ubuntu's website and grab a copy for free to install on your PC. (Save yourself some grief by trying it in a virtual machine first; recommended for advanced users.)
Link to Dell set to offer pre-loaded Ubuntu "within weeks" - Engadget
UPDATED:
Dell has confirmed the coming availability of Ubuntu Linux on select Dell laptops and desktop models.
Google has pulled the wraps off of its personalized portal home page and have dubbed it iGoogle. One would hope Google knows what they are doing by using the lower-cased prefixed "i" in a brand name; the Apple, Inc. lawyers might start licking their chops.
The Internet TV company, Joost, has announced the availability of unlimited invitations in an attempt to roll-out their service in the mainstream. While you still need to sign-up via an invitation, finding them won't be very difficult anymore.
Joost pushes ahead in the Internet TV market today as they sign advertisement contracts with thirty-one advertisers including the likes of Coca-Cola, Nike, and Visa.
The folks over at Mozilla who brought us the much-loved web browser Mozilla Firefox have just announced the 2.0 release of their desktop mail application Thunderbird. Thunderbird, built upon open source technology, excels as beyond other desktop mail applications (Outlook Express) which has built-in antispam technology as well as other user interface enhancements. With version 2.0 Thunderbird introduces a new visual theme, message tagging for better email management, and more. Thunderbird 2.0 is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Link to Download of the Day: Thunderbird 2.0 (All platforms) - Lifehacker
The folks who brought us the Democracy Player (an Internet TV application) over at the Participatory Culture Foundation have provided a slick new website to help you make your own online video content including recommended equipment, licensing, and best practices for production and post-production.
Verizon Wireless announed today that it will begin featuring unlimited message, txt, pix, and flix, to their plans for an additional $20 per month.
Link to BetaNews | Verizon Wireless Adds Unlimited Messaging
Apple, Inc. this weekend announced at NAB the long-awaited update to their professional post-production suite Final Cut Studio complete with new applications like Color and updates to current applications. Apple also the released Final Cut Server product to help groups of people share and catalog media assets.
Link to BetaNews | Apple Releases Final Cut Studio 2, Server
Just when it seemed that we would be stuck with digital rights management for the rest of our lives, EMI took a bold step with Apple to begin selling DRM-free songs through the iTunes Store.
Windows Live Writer is a free tool made my Microsoft to help you do desktop based blog posts. It's WYSIWYG interface provides simple access to inserting links, pictures, and more into your blog. Windows Live Writer is compatible with many of the major blogging services available.
