Microsoft web platform

Microsoft web platform includes IIS and Web Extensions, SQL server 2008 Express, Visual Web Developer - A free web development tool, .NET framework and some goodies and free popular web applications. It also includes PHP for windows with some free web applications.

More than just a powerful set of tools, servers and technologies, the Microsoft Web Platform offers a complete ecosystem for building and hosting web sites, services, and applications.

The entire setup is made with small downloader called Microsoft Web Platform Installer, which you can download from here.

More about Microsoft web platform at http://www.microsoft.com/web/.

Panasonic DMC ZX1

New Panasonic Lumix ZX1 has 8x optical zoom with a 25mm ultra wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens. A 12.1-megapixel high resolution CCD into a compact body.

Panasonics MEGA O.I.S. has now evolved into the new POWER O.I.S., helping prevent handshake even when using high-powered zoom. With twice the shake suppression capability of previous models, the new POWER O.I.S is particularly effective when shooting at night with a low shutter speed for example, whilst also greatly improving the quality of shots taken indoors where a flash cannot be used or where a photographer doesn’t want to use a flash because it would spoil the mood.

Panasonic DMC-ZX1 specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.33" Type CCD • 12.7 million pixels total • 12.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 4:3 Aspect Ratio: 4000 x 3000, 3264 x 2448, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 • 3:2 Aspect Ratio: 4000 x 2672, 3264 x 2176, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1360 • 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 4000 x 2248, 3264 x 1840, 2560 x 1440, 1920 x 1080
Movie clips	• 1280x720 pixels @ 30fps • 4:3: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels @ 30 fps • 16:9: 848 x 480 pixels @ 30 fps • Quick Time Motion JPEG
File formats	• JPEG (DCF / Exif2.21 • QuickTime (Motion JPEG)
Lens	• 8x optical zoom • 25 - 200mm (35mm equiv.) • f=4.5-36mm • F3.3 - 5.9 • LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR • 9 elements in 7 groups (4 Aspherical Lenses)
Image stabilization	Power O.I.S lens-shift stabilization
Digital zoom	Yes, up to 4x
Focus	• Normal • Macro • Zoom Macro
AF area modes	• Face / AF tracking • 11-point • 1-point high speed • 1-point • Spot
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	• Normal: Wide 50cm - infinity • Macro / Intelligent AUTO : Wide 3 cm / Tele 100 cm - infinity
Metering	• Intelligent Multiple
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • 80 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600 • High Sensitivity Mode : Auto (1600 - 6400)
Exposure compensation	± 2EV, 1/3EV steps
Exposure bracketing	± 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames
Shutter speed	• 8-1/2000 sec • Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec
Aperture	• F3.3 - 5.9 / 2-Step (F3.3 - 10 (W) / F5.9 - 18 (T))
Modes	• Intelligent AUTO • Normal Picture • SCN • My SCN • Motion Picture • Clipboard
Still Piture Scene modes	• Portrait • Soft Skin • Transform • Self-Portrait • Scenery • Panorama Assist • Sports • Night Portrait • Night Scenery • Food • Party • Candle Light • Baby1 • Baby2 • Pet • Sunset • High sensitivity • Hi-Speed Burst • Flash Burst • Starry Sky • Fireworks • Beach • Snow • Aerial photo • Pinhole • Film Grain • High Dynamic (Standard, Art, B&W) • Photo Frame • Underwater
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Shade • Halogen • White Set
Self timer	2, 10 sec
Continuous shooting	• Full-Resolution Image 2.3 fps Max. 5 images (Standard mode), Max 3 images (Fine Mode) • High-speed Burst Mode: Approx. 10 fps (recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)(Speed Priority) Approx. 6 frames/sec (recorded in 3M for 4:3, 2.5M for 3:2, 2M for 16:9)(Image Priority)
Image parameters	Standard, Natural, Vivid, Black & White, Sepia, Cool, Warm
Flash	• Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off • Range: 0.3 - 5.1m (Wide/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 2.8m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 2.7" TFT LCD Display • 230K dots • Field of View : approx. 100% • AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode, High angle mode
Connectivity	• USB2.0 High speed • AV Output (NTSC/PAL) • miniHDMI • DC Input
Print compliance	• PictBridge • DPOF
Storage	• SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card • 50MB internal memory
Power	• Li-ion battery • Charger included • AC adaptor (optional)
Weight (no batt)	138 g
Dimensions	98 x 63 x 23 mm (3.8 x 2.1 x 1.02 in)

Fujifilm A170 compact

Fujifilm as announced a new budget model A170. This is an addition to their A-series easy to use, low cost compacts.

The A170 performs well in low light and can shoot at up to ISO 1600. A170 is thin at 21.9 mm, the new 10 megapixel model is available with a high gloss-double coated veneer finish to give this model outstanding good looks.

Also featuring Fujifilm’s Anti-Blur Mode, the A-series camera will allow you to wave goodbye to blurry pictures; this technology will produce pin-sharp pictures.

Also featuring Fujifilm’s Anti-Blur Mode, the A-series camera will allow you to wave goodbye to blurry pictures; this technology will produce pin-sharp pictures, time after time.

Power is Easy
Remembering to charge your batteries need never be a problem with this camera. Operating on two standard AA batteries, this camera has exceptional low power consumption, so no excuse to miss a shot.

Features at a glance:

• A170: 10 Megapixels
• 3x optical zoom
• 2.7” LCD screen
• Maximum sensitivity up to ISO 1600
• Scene Recognition AUTO
• Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Backlit Portrait, Night and Night Portrait
• Face Detection technology
• Picture Stabilization Mode
• Movie Mode with zoom and sound. (Digital zoom)
• 21.9 mm thin

Google Chrome OS

Google has announced their new Operating System for computers named Google Chrome.

The official announcement on Google blogs says "We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we're announcing a new project that's a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It's our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks and it is a separate project from Android.

The new OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year.