Goodbye Skype for Windows Mobile & Welcome Skype for Symbian

The bad news is that Skype for Windows Mobile is no longer available for download. But, the good news is Skype now runs on Nokia Symbian phones.

You can download the application by visiting skype.com/m on your mobile phone. It will install automatically. I've tested the application on Nokia E63 and it works great.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5.8

The latest release fixed several security issues :

MFSA 2010-05 XSS hazard using SVG document and binary Content-Type

MFSA 2010-04 XSS due to window.dialogArguments being readable cross-domain

MFSA 2010-03 Use-after-free crash in HTML parser

MFSA 2010-02 Web Worker Array Handling Heap Corruption Vulnerability

MFSA 2010-01 Crashes with evidence of memory corruption (rv:1.9.1.8/ 1.9.0.18)

PC Advisor April 2010

Features

1. 50 ways to speed up Windows
2. Old PCs: sell, replace or upgrade?
3. Fix compatibility issues in Windows 7
   

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Symantec Norton Internet Security 2010 (90-days licence) (Windows XP/Vista/7)
2. O&O SafeErase 3.0 (Windows XP/Vista)
3. Ashampoo Magical Defrag 2.34 (12-month licence) (Windows XP/Vista)
4. IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro (12-month licence) (Windows XP/Vista/7)
   

PC Pro April 2010

Features

1. The Mobile Broadband Con
2. The Dark Side of the Web

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Paragon Rescue Kit 8.5 Professional

Australian APC Magazine March 2010

Features

1. Smartphones
2. Why 3D will takeover

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Ashampoo Music Studio 2009
2. Ashampoo Slideshow Studio 2010
3. Uniblue Speed Up My PC 2009
   

Acid3 Test

After looking at the interesting results from Touch web browser mega shootout, I decided to do the same Acid3 test with my devices. Here are the results:

1. Apple iPod Touch 8GB running OS 3.1.2 (7D11) with default Mobile Safari (100/100). I'm surprised that it's better than iPhone 3GS/3G.
   
2. PC running Mozilla Firefox 3.5.6 (93/100)
3. Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 running Opera Mobile 9.5 Build 15746 (59/100)
   
4. Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 running Windows Mobile 6.1 with default IE Mobile (Failed to run scripts)
5. Nokia E63 running firmware 200.21.012 with default S60 Browser (Failed to run scripts)
   

Budget DVD Player

Since Astone media players are not able to playback original CSS-protected DVD Video, I bought Akira DVD Player PD-3228E for $34.90. It has USB input, progressive scan and LED Display with composite, S-video and component video.

Using a card reader, flash drive or hard disk drive with the USB port, you can play music (MP3) and photo (JPG). Video (VOB) can be played but without audio. You can even rip a music CD into MP3 files by connecting a flash drive or hard disk drive with the USB port.

Astone Media Players

Australian Astone has the most extensive range of media players available in the market. All the models can play music, video & photo and come with 2 x USB 2.0 port except AP-32B with 1 x USB 2.0 port.

* USB DVD-ROM doesn't support playback of CSS-protected DVD Video.

Model	AP-32B	AP-110D	AP-200	AP-300
Price	$99	$149	$199	$189
USB Devices Support	Card reader, flash drive, hard disk drive	Card reader, flash drive, hard disk drive, DVD-ROM* & Wi-Fi Dongle	Card reader, flash drive, hard disk drive, DVD-ROM* & Wi-Fi Dongle	Card reader, flash drive, hard disk drive, DVD-ROM* & Wi-Fi Dongle
Video	HD 1080i Composite, Component & HDMI VOB, Real RMVB, AVI, MPEG-4 etc	Full HD 1080p Composite, & HDMI 1.3 VOB, Real HD, AVI, H.264 MPEG-4/AVC, MOV etc	Full HD 1080p Composite, Component & HDMI 1.3 VOB, Real HD, AVI, H.264 MPEG-4/AVC, MOV etc	Full HD 1080p Composite, Component & HDMI 1.3 VOB, Real HD, AVI, H.264 MPEG-4/AVC, MOV etc
Audio	L/R RCA MP3, WMA etc	L/R S/PDIF, TOSLINK dts 2.0+ Digital Out MP3, WMA etc	L/R, S/PDIF dts 2.0-HD 2.0ch Downlmix MP3, WMA etc	L/R S/PDIF, TOSLINK dts 2.0-HD 2.0ch Downlmix MP3, WMA etc
LAN	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Internal Hard Disk Support	No	No	Yes, 2.5" SATA	Yes, 3.5" SATA

Patch Tuesday February 2010

Microsoft has released the following security updates for Windows XP :

Cumulative Security Update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows XP (KB978262)

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP (KB978207)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB971468)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB975560)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB975713)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB977165)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB977914)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB978037)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB978251)

Security Update for Windows XP (KB978706)

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - February 2010 (KB890830)

Australian PC User March 2010

Features

1. Windows 7 Tips & Tricks
   
2. 50 Hot New Tech Tips

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Quicken Personal Plus 2010 (6-month licence)
2. Ashampoo Office 2008
3. PC Tools Spam Monitor 4 (12-month licence)
4. eScan Internet Security (6-month licence)
   

CCleaner Portable 2.28.1091

The changes are as follows :

- Added support for custom locations for applications.
e.g. CustomLocation1=FIREFOX|C:\MyFirefox\Profile
- Improved detection and cleaning algorithm for new releases of
Mozilla based browsers.
- Added news tasks to W7 jumplist.
- Added new command line parameters: /CLEANER, /REGISTRY, /TOOLS
and /OPTIONS.
- Improved MUI cache cleaning for Vista and Windows 7.
- Added drive information to Wipe Free space status.
- Improved Wipe MFT free space routines.
- Improved W7 toolbar feedback.
- Improved several core processes and routines.
- Improved file search algorithm when recursing.
- Added support for cleaning Paint Shop Pro 12.
- Improved support for IZarc and Axialis IconWorkshop.
- Minor GUI tweaks.

Australian PC Authority March 2010

Features

1. Everything on your TV
2. Shoot like a Pro: Photo & Video Tips & Tricks

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Paragon System Backup 2010
2. Uniblue DiskRescue 2009
   

PC Advisor March 2010

Features

1. 2010 antivirus: the verdict
2. Google: Chrome OS

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Norton Antivirus 2010 (3-month)
   
2. Ashampoo Slideshow Studio 2010

Australian APC Magazine February 2010

Features

1. Best Laptops for Windows 7
   
2. Best Tech
   

Cover DVD (Free Paid Full Version)

1. Ashampoo Burning Studio 2010
2. Ashampoo Magical Snap 2
3. 1-abc.net Startup Booster 2.0

Comparing Apple OS, Windows Mobile & Symbian OS

Mobile OS	Apple 3.1.2 (7D11)	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6	Symbian S60 3rd Edition FP1
Hardware	Need to connect to iTunes before use	Can be tested before purchase	Can be tested before purchase
Restore/ Hard reset	Need access to Internet & iTunes before use	No need access to Internet or PC	No need access to Internet or PC
POP e-mail	Need to store password. Cannot delete e-mails from server immediately	No need to store password	No need to store password. Can delete e-mails from server immediately. Account can reside on external microSD card.
Web e-mail	No issue	No issue	Incompatible with Yahoo
Features	No multitasking & cannot close running app	Multitasking & can close running app	Multitasking & can close running app
Web browsing	Using Safari, can clear history, cookies & cache. Turn on/off pop-ups, JavaScript, plug-ins & cookies	Using Opera Mobile 9.5, can delete history, cookies, cache & form/password data. Turn on/off pop-ups, JavaScript, plug-ins, Flash plug-in & cookies	Using S60 browser, can delete history, cookies, cache & form/password data. Turn on/off pop-ups, Java/ECMA script & cookies