Jim Allchin - The Longhorn Update

On Friday Microsoft's Jim Allchin made three announcements:

1) Microsoft reaffirms their commitment for broad availability of the Windows “Longhorn” Client in 2006. The Windows “Longhorn” Server Operating System continues to be expected to be available in 2007.

2) Microsoft plans to make elements of Longhorn’s WinFX programming model available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. This will enable developers to write WinFX applications that run on hundreds of millions of PCs and offer these next generation of applications sooner. Specifically, Microsoft plans to deliver the “Avalon” and “Indigo” pillars of Longhorn’s WinFX programming model for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

3) Delivery of WinFS will now occur after the initial availability of the Longhorn client. It is expected to beta when Longhorn client is broadly available.

For more information see: Jim Allchin - The Longhorn Update video on Channel9

Tag Database Tool

Tag Database Tool builds the iRivNavi.iDB file for the iHP 100 and 300 series of HDD players. It is superior to the similar tool from iRiver; it is much faster and supports WMA and OGG in addition to MP3 files.

Update: Version 3.0.1 is now available.

SyncBack

SyncBack from 2BrightSparks.com is by far the best tool for synchronising files between two folders. Best of all, it's free!

Update: SyncBack 3.2.3 has just been released.

Windows XP SP2 released on MSDN Subscriptions

Windows XP SP2 has been released to MSDN subscribers. Weighing in at a hefty 475.3 MB, this release has been well over a year in the making.

iRiver N10

One of the smallest solid-state MP3 players to date is the iRiver N10. Not sure when it is due, but here are some screen shots (page in Korean): iRiver N10