Windows Live Software Suite Moves Out of Beta

Microsoft’s Windows Live software package has been in beta for a while now and today Microsoft announced that Windows Live is officially out of beta status. Windows Live has many different pieces of software located centrally in one application.

Possibly the most useful piece of the Windows Live puzzle for most users will be the integrated email service that allows you to manage multiple email accounts from different services in one application. Supported email services include Gmail and Yahoo! accounts.

The Windows Live Photo Gallery allows you to import photos directly from your digital camera without needing to install software for your camera. Microsoft says the application will allow you to publish your photos to Windows Live Spaces with two mouse clicks. Other features include the ability to add tags to photos for searching, photo editing capability, and the ability to create slide shows.

Those who like to blog might find use in the Windows Live Writer application that allows the publishing of content to most major blog services like Windows Live Spaces, SharePoint, Wordpress, Blogger and more. The application allows the addition of photos, video, maps and more easily. Users can also compose posts offline and upload them later when online.

Windows Live Toolbar is much like other toolbars already available from Google and Yahoo! with customizable buttons and the ability to initiate a search from any webpage. Windows Live OneCare provides safety for families while online by filtering websites other family members shouldn't be visiting. Security settings on a personal computer can be accessed from most other web-connected machines anywhere in the world.

All the components of Windows Live are now available for free download.

Vodafone and Nokia Join Hands

Vodafone and Nokia have agreed to launch an integrated suite of Vodafone services combined with Nokia Ovi Services on a range of Nokia handsets.

The duo has agreed that a number of these Nokia handsets will be exclusive to Vodafone, which promise to offer access to the Internet at the click of a button.

This new service will offer both Vodafone and Nokia customers with faster and easier access to all of Vodafone's Internet and entertainment services as well as all of Nokia Ovi services.

Customers will be able to access the full suite of communications, Internet services, content, and browsing through these handsets on 3G and 3G broadband networks.

Accoridng to Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president and general manager for Nokia Multimedia, Web2.0 is all about social networking and enabling people to connect with each other in new ways.

Adding further, Vanjoki said that bringing location and context awareness to Web2.0 services is the next stage in Web development, and Nokia multimedia computers enable people to participate to their favorite Internet services on the go.

The duo also promises to offer a wide choice in music by making both the Vodafone music service and the Nokia Music Store available on Nokia's 2008 handsets.

Panasonic PV-GS500 Review

Panasonic PV-GS500 is a really awesome budget cam corder and has many features that professional cameras have and is apt for the price you pay.

The PV-GS500 earned top marks for its video quality in both normal and low-light conditions. The video had bright, accurate color and plenty of fine detail. The PV-GS500 has three CCD sensors (one each for red, green, and blue). The 16:9 wide-screen video looks equally impressive, and the excellent 2.7-inch wide-aspect LCD screen makes it easy to see what you're shooting, even outdoors.

The PV-GS500 feels very solidly constructed, with a tough metal frame that should protect it better than the lightweight plastic body that many camcorders have. It's on the large side, and at just over 3 pounds it's the heaviest camcorder we tested. It fits well in the hand and puts commonly used controls (such as zoom and record buttons) at the fingertips.

You do get a good selection of manual controls with the PV-GS500: You can put the camera into a fully manual mode, or use shutter- and aperture-priority (as well as a selection of scene modes for automatic use). This camcorder is also unusual in that its manual focus is actually usable: Instead of having to fiddle with an on-screen control to focus, you can use the focus ring on the front of the camcorder.

As with the PV-GS300, a lot of the weight (from the lens and the battery, for instance) sits on the left side of the camcorder, which means it can tilt to the left unless you keep a tight grip. You control the on-screen menu with the joystick located next to the mode dial, which is awkward. You'll probably be able to reach the joystick with your thumb, but it'll be a stretch--you really need two hands (one to brace the camera while you loosen your grip to reach the joystick and mode dial). This can also be a pain when you're using the manual controls, as most are set with the joystick.

The battery life of the PV-GS500 was impressive: At 132 minutes, it's long enough for a couple of days away from a power source.

There's no built-in light, but there is a way to illuminate a subject: When the LCD screen is in MagicPix mode and you turn it to face the subject, it acts as a light source. It's not especially bright, but it is fairly effective. The flash on the front of the camera is for still images only.

Also, there is no headphone socket, and the manual controls are not as easy to use as they were on previous models in this Panasonic line (the GS400 was a particular favorite of serious videographers, as it had a headphone socket, a bigger screen, and more-accessible manual controls). These drawbacks do limit the appeal for serious shooters, but they won't be a problem for most people.

The Panasonic PV-GS500 is a great pick for serious shooters who want the benefit of automatic control and the flexibility of manual control. It takes great-looking video and stills.

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