If you like to run your favorite Linux distribution alongside a copy of Windows on the same machine then you might want to stay away from Windows 8 computers. Thanks to a new secure boot in Windows 8, dual-booting might just become a thing of the past.

Now before I begin explaining, let me say that this will affect only those devices with a ‘Designed for Windows 8′ logo on them, so you can still install Windows 8 on your current computer and dual-boot it. The reason it won’t work on these branded computers is because of the UEFI or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface that these machines will be having instead of a traditional BIOS. Read more »

It seems Nikon has finally decided to join the mirrorless interchangeable lens bandwagon with the announcement of the Nikon V1 and J1 models. Both models feature a new CX-size 10.1 megapixel sensor with a 2.7x crop factor, 1080/30p video recording, 1200-fps slow motion capture mode, 3-inch LCD and an ISO range of 100-3200.

The J1 comes with a built-in flash, auto-noise reduction for videos, 73-point AF system, which Nikon claims is the fastest in the world, dual-core EXPEED processing engine and the ability to record videos for up to 29 minutes. Read more »

It seems the old Samsung Galaxy Tab will soon be getting a successor. TmoNews has managed to acquire some hands-on images of Samsung’s next Honeycomb tablet, purportedly called the Galaxy Tab Plus (SGH-T689).

The device is said to have a 7-inch Super AMOLED or Super AMOLED Plus display with a resolution of 1024 x 600. It will also be running on a Cortex A9 and Honeycomb 3.2. Read more »

One of the biggest competitors to Google’s Android Market is the controversially named Amazon Appstore. One of the main reasons for its popularity has been the free app that Amazon gives away everyday to users.

Unfortunately, so far the service has been limited to residents of the US. But not anymore, because it seems now the Appstore is expanding its reach to a wider customer base. Read more »

As promised, AT&T flipped the 4G LTE switch on Sunday. This is not the first time you’ll be experiencing LTE on AT&T’s network, however, as certain areas in the US have been enjoying this for a while now. It’s just that now it’s official.

However, if you were expecting a lot more areas to get LTE after the official launch then you will be a bit disappointed as currently it’s only available in five states. Read more »

Taking a leaf out of Google+’s book, Facebook has added a couple of new and useful features. First is subscriptions. Earlier, you had to be friends with someone to read their posts on Facebook unlike on Google+ or Twitter where anyone can read anyone’s post.

With subscriptions, you can now go to someone’s Facebook profile and subscribe to their posts, so that they start appearing on your timeline without the need for the two of you to be friends. You can choose how many and what kind of posts appear on your. For example, you can disable Farmville posts from the said person if that irks you. Read more »

Ricoh has launched a new high-end point and shoot camera, called the GR Digital IV. This new camera features a 10 megapixel sensor and a 28mm/F1.9 lens, the latter is something you don’t often see on point and shoot cameras.

The GR Digital IV also adds an image-sensor shift type image stabilization, a first for the series. There is also a new Hybrid AF, which uses an external AF sensor with 190 AF points coupled with the conventional CCD contrast AF gives an auto-focus time of just 0.2 seconds, approximately half of the GR Digital III. Read more »

Apple’s implementation of Intel’s Light Peak technology is going places. Intel has now announced that they will be bringing the technology to Windows-based computers as well, with companies like ASUS and Acer joining the bandwagon and getting their products ready for a 2012 launch.

Being the same essential technology, Thunderbolt on these other devices will work the same way as it does on the new range of Mac computers. It will have the same specifications and features that Apple touts for its new range of Macs and will work with the same set of accessories. Read more »

Sony has announced the launch date for the highly anticipated PlayStation Vita. The device will be launching in Japan On December 17 this year. Unfortunately, as far as the rest of the world is concerned, we are still looking at an early 2012 launch.

For the 3G connectivity, Sony has partnered with NTT DoCoMo, who has a couple of plans on offer. The 20 hour plan will cost ¥980 ($13) and the 100 hour plan will cost ¥4,980 ($65). Read more »

We have been itching to get our hands on Windows 8 – which is still just a working title, by the way – ever since the first screenshots surfaced. But when Microsoft officially unveiled it to the public yesterday the itch turned into a proverbial rash.

Luckily, we won’t have to wait for long to try it out for ourselves because Microsoft has has finally released the Developer Preview on their website for everyone to download. Read more »

Continuing their efforts to woo handheld gamers (and failing spectacularly at it), Nintendo has announced one of the most awkwardly designed accessories known to mankind for their 3DS console. The add-on analogue pad doohickey is supposed to make up for the fact that Nintendo forgot to put one in while designing the 3DS.

The analog pad has its own pair of built-in AAA batteries and will even get a handful of games to makes itself useful, such as Monster Hunt 3 G, Biohazard Revelations, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Acecombat 3D Cross Rumble, Dynasty Warriors VS and Kingdom Hearts 3D, starting November and into next year. Read more »

It seems these days if you are a tablet manufacturer other than Apple, the only way to get your device noticed and start flying off the shelves is to give ridiculous discounts on the price.

After the HP TouchPad fire sale a few weeks back, Fusion Garage, who were planning on announcing their Android-based Grid 10 tablet this month has decided that their original $499 and $599 price tags for the Wi-Fi and the Wi-Fi + 3G model was perhaps a bit too ambitious. Fearing they may have another JooJoo on their hands, they have announced a rather generous price-drop. Read more »

We all thought that Google will be restricting their Music Beta service to Android users but we have been proven wrong. Google has now made the service, which is still in beta, to iOS users as well. There is a catch, however.

The catch is that unlike Android, iOS does not get a native application (not now anyway). It’s available in the form of a web app, which can be accessed from the web browser on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. Read more »

If you missed out on the first Crysis game because you did not have a powerful enough PC or are primarily a console gamer then you have a reason to rejoice as the award winning game is now coming to the PlayStation 3 as well as the Xbox 360 and you won’t have to wait for it for long.

EA has announced that they will be launching the console version of Crysis next month. The game will be distributed online as DLC through the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace. Read more »

All of us Windows users shutdown our computers, even though options like Sleep and Hibernate are available. We do it because we like to have a fresh system when we start using it again. Microsoft’s statistics reflect this behavior, which shows a majority of people prefer to shutdown their computers. But the downside of doing this is having to wait for your computer to boot all over again and then re-open all your applications. Depending on your PC hardware, this can take several minutes.

If all this sounds familiar to you, then you will probably welcome Windows 8 with open arms. Because Microsoft has now improved the standard shutdown method that we all know and love and made it much, much faster. How fast? Well, on a powerful enough hardware, Windows 8 can boot in 8 seconds flat. Read more »