VirtualBox 3.16 released 3/25

Missed it again! Good excuse this time, moving to a new house. This is another maintenance release, lots of bug fixes.
changelog

XP Mode to no longer require hardware virtualization

Well, it looks like the public was loud enough.  MS has removed the requirement for hardware virtualization to use XP Mode.

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/mar10/03-18DesktopVirtPR.mspx

From the link: 

“Windows XP Mode no longer requires hardware virtualization technology. This change simplifies the experience by making virtualization more accessible to many more PCs for small and midsize businesses wanting to migrate to Windows 7 Professional or higher editions, while still running Windows XP-based productivity applications.”

The update will be made available later today:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx

Android 2.1 update available Thursday for Droid

Latest on the Motorola Droid Android 2.1 update

http://www.androidcentral.com/latest-motorola-droid-android-21-update

Although, I think I won’t be updated for several days since they’re rolling out in batches

Goodbye AT&T+WinMo

Today I bought a Droid, after 7 years I’m leaving AT&T and 4 years WinMo.  I told the rep at AT&T that I felt that AT&T only cares about iPhone owners, where’s my lack of coverage app for WinMo?

After my 3rd HTC Fuze, I’ve given up.  Nothing like buying a brand new phone and getting a refurb to replace it. 

Maybe it was just a bad model by HTC, but after 4 years of WinMo phones, I can’t wait any longer for a phone I don’t need to reset every couple of days just to get my phone calls.

What’s next?  A MacBook to replace my Dell+Win7? Scary!

What is up with the Zune Pass?

Today, when trying to sync with my Zune to my Zune Pass, almost 80 songs are no longer available on the Marketplace with the error “This item is no longer available at Zune Marketplace”?  What? 

It appears I am fortunate that I didn’t purchase these songs, because apparently this can happen EVEN IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED the song or album!

WWaWDWiWPC: IBM DOS 5 in WinVPC

Derek Wong submitted this to my site, IBM DOS 5.

Getting Win95 to run on Windows VPC

Thanks to Derek Wong, he’s compiled a lot of info on this and posted it on his site.  He sent me an email a long time ago with his results and I just got around to updating my WWADW site.

Links to his procedure and the patch:

http://www.virtualuser.net/files/win95/Win95VPC7.doc

http://www.virtualuser.net/files/win95/w95vpcbt.exe

Moto Droid 2.1 update, where are you? (Cliff Stoll was right)

Did anyone see that re-release of Clifford Stoll’s internet predictions article (http://www.newsweek.com/id/106554)?

He laments not being able to search for the Battle of Trafagalar and find the date it happened.  The comments sections filled up with “I found it in .002 seconds on Google or wikipedia with Chrome.”  But, remember this was 1995, there was no Google, no Chrome, no Wikipedia, and NetScape Navigator was still 1.0.

Anyway, some of his predictions hold true.  I am finished with AT&T, HTC, and Windows Mobile 6.1.  There’s no 6.5 update for my Fuze in sight, and WinMo 7 looks interesting but I’m tired of not being able to answer my phone from WinMo bugs, not receiving calls from no reception, page after page of fatal WinMo errors that MS wants me to report, but never seem to be fixed, etc.

Not keen on an iPhone. 

So, I went in search of the Android 2.1 release date.   Guess what?  Even with Google, it was frustrating to find any relevant info.  The first two pages of Google results had the same, and incorrect, info that was released on Feb. 8th, that 2.1 was coming “this week.”

Finally, I dug down and found Moto’s official link: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/42208/display_style/redesign/prod_id/7155

With their less than helpful info:

“DROID – Android 2.1

   

  How can I get the latest Android 2.1 software?

There is a release coming, check back soon.”