Happy New Year to each and every one of you! It is exciting just thinking about the fun new tech toys 2013 will offer us. Luckily, we don't have to wait long to see some of the cool tech coming in the near future. The annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off Jan. 8-11 in Las Vegas.
The presence of several big name companies will be missing from this year's festivities, including Amazon, Apple, Dell, Google, HP and Microsoft. Despite their absences, this year's CES, hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association, is one of their largest trade show's ever.
The show will give us a peek into the latest gadgets from smart TVs to big screen phones. Expect to hear about the latest smartphones, tablets and more.
Visit the official CES for all the details on the trade show at www.cesweb.org/.
Gamers' alert
Valve Software has opened up the Steam Linux Beta to everyone. This means any interested gamers can now install and test the upcoming Steam Linux client on Ubuntu. So far, Steam's Linux game library includes more than 40 games, including classics and popular games such as Serious Sam 3, Team Fortress 2, Trine 2 and World of Goo.
Learn more about the Steam Linux Beta at http://steamforlinux.com/?q=en/node/130.
Microsoft updates
Microsoft released seven security bulletins to fix flaws in its software as part of the company’s January security updates. Two bulletins were rated critical and the remaining five were rated important. Among the flaws, two could enable an attacker to execute remote code on a compromised system; three could elevate privilege; one could enable a security feature bypass; and the final flaw could cause a denial of service.
Programs affected by the flaws include all currently supported versions of Windows operating system; Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3; Microsoft Word Viewer; Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3; Microsoft Expression Web SP1 and Microsoft Expression Web 2; Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 SP2 and SP3, 32- and 64-bit; Microsoft Groove Server 2007 SP2 and SP3; Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 and R2.
Read more at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms13-jan.
Roku corner
Here are a few of the coolest additions to the Roku Channel Store:
All the above channels require Roku software version 4.9 and they are all available in the U.S. on Roku 2, Roku LT, Roku HD (model 2500) and the Roku Streaming Stick except where noted.
E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.
The presence of several big name companies will be missing from this year's festivities, including Amazon, Apple, Dell, Google, HP and Microsoft. Despite their absences, this year's CES, hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association, is one of their largest trade show's ever.
The show will give us a peek into the latest gadgets from smart TVs to big screen phones. Expect to hear about the latest smartphones, tablets and more.
Visit the official CES for all the details on the trade show at www.cesweb.org/.
Gamers' alert
Valve Software has opened up the Steam Linux Beta to everyone. This means any interested gamers can now install and test the upcoming Steam Linux client on Ubuntu. So far, Steam's Linux game library includes more than 40 games, including classics and popular games such as Serious Sam 3, Team Fortress 2, Trine 2 and World of Goo.
Learn more about the Steam Linux Beta at http://steamforlinux.com/?q=en/node/130.
Microsoft updates
Microsoft released seven security bulletins to fix flaws in its software as part of the company’s January security updates. Two bulletins were rated critical and the remaining five were rated important. Among the flaws, two could enable an attacker to execute remote code on a compromised system; three could elevate privilege; one could enable a security feature bypass; and the final flaw could cause a denial of service.
Programs affected by the flaws include all currently supported versions of Windows operating system; Microsoft Office 2003 SP3, 2007 SP2 and SP3; Microsoft Word Viewer; Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack SP2 and SP3; Microsoft Expression Web SP1 and Microsoft Expression Web 2; Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 SP2 and SP3, 32- and 64-bit; Microsoft Groove Server 2007 SP2 and SP3; Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 and R2.
Read more at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms13-jan.
Roku corner
Here are a few of the coolest additions to the Roku Channel Store:
- n The Amazon Cloud Player enables Roku users to listen to all the songs and albums stored in their Cloud Player. Read more at http://blog.roku.com/blog/2012/12/13/amazon-cloud-player-now-in-the-roku-channel-store/ or add this channel at https://owner.roku.com/add/amazoncloudplayer.
- n The VEVO video channel features more than 50,000 videos. Read more at http://blog.roku.com/blog/2012/12/20/vevo-rocks-onto-roku/ or add the channel at https://owner.roku.com/add/ENSRFA.
- n Spotify is a streaming music service. This channel requires a subscription to use on the Roku. A free 30-day trial is available at www.spotify.com/us/freetrial/?referrer=roku. Read more about the Spotify channel at http://blog.roku.com/blog/2012/12/20/spotify-now-playing-on-roku/ or add the channel at https://owner.roku.com/add/SJTBGR.
All the above channels require Roku software version 4.9 and they are all available in the U.S. on Roku 2, Roku LT, Roku HD (model 2500) and the Roku Streaming Stick except where noted.
- n The Play on Roku iOS and Android mobile app received an update. In version 2.1 of the app, Roku users can "create on-the-fly playlists" according to the Roku blog. Read more at http://blog.roku.com/blog/2012/12/21/play-on-roku-mobile-feature-updated/.
E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.
