After several months of running the beta of Windows 7 as my main work OS (don’t try this at home kids) I was forced yesterday to do a clean install on my system. I was down to my last three days before the beta would start shutting itself down every two hours automatically, and I thought that this probably wouldn’t be conducive to effective working on my main machine.

I had Windows 7 Release Candidate at the ready, having borrowed a USB key from one of compatriots at sister title Bit-Tech.net. The reinstall went smoothly and I installed a few apps but it was only when I checked the system properties that I realised that I’d actually installed the 64-bit version of Windows 7.

I have to admit that up to now I’ve never been brave enough to actually try it, with the thought of lack of driver support and application support seeming like too much of a headache.

As it happens though, everything I’ve installed - just worked. Everything is snappier than it was before but I can’t tell if that’s down to a clean install or due to Windows 7 64-bit being more efficient. Probably both.

It also means that for the first time I’ll be able to use the full 4GB of memory installed on this ‘ere laptop. Which is nice.

Any 64-bit issues I’ll be reporting on but I’m hoping that being at the bleeding edge of computing won’t hurt too much.

So Apple’s iPhone 3GS has arrived and I must admit I’ve finally bitten the bullet and gone for one. But having seen the speed improvements first hand and web browsing is better than ever, which makes it all the more disappointing that Flash support is still missing from the iPhone.  Many web pages don’t work as intended and many sites now use Flash video, which won’t play on the iPhone.

This makes it all the more galling that the new HTC Hero, claims to have actual Flash support – not Flash Lite, but proper Flash. This is something of a one-up for HTC, and gives is a strong claim to be head of the pack for web browsing.

A video from Adobe, shows Flash working on the Hero, although we’d have to play with one ourselves to get a jusdgment on how smooth it is in reality. In the video the Adobe presenter says that 80 per cent of Flash content should work on the device out of the box, and that it is working on a Flash 10 client, presumably to take care of the rest of them.

Are we going to have to wait until next year’s iPhone with probably dual core processing to give us Flash? Come on Apple, give us what we want.

My favourite story of the week is the proof that the new Find My iPhone feature, a new addition to Apple’s Mobile Me service.

The story (from this entertaining blog post) in a nutshell – bloke in Chicago leaves his iPhone in a bar - remembers that he’s just activated Find My Phone feature on his phone, and the next day is sent an email saying that the service has located his phone.

He starts sending messages to the phone, warning the new owner that he knows where the phone his, and that he’s a comin’. He takes a 3G enabled laptop with him and literally chases down the would-be thief, and is soon reunited with his iPhone.

It’s a well written, nicely paced story – you can hear the theme music in the background as you read. Look out for the film version, coming to a screen near you. My favourite part - the description of how they felt once they’ve recovered it: “We laughed triumphantly, adrenaline racing, feeling like the Jack Bauer trio.”

Truth-be-told, as the comments on the blog indicate, it’s fortunate that he and his intrepid pals didn’t get seriously ass-whooped by whoever had ‘borrowed’ his device – and it turns out the guy was scared of the messages appearing by magic on the device.

So has Mobile Me finally got itself a killer app?

Yesterday we reported that Microsoft would release the beta of a free anti-virus package for PCs called Security Essentials.

It’s currently only available in the US, UK, China, Brazil and Israel.

If you’re in the UK and interested don’t try and get it from the Microsoft Essentials site as it won’t work. Instead, head over to the Microsoft Connect site (down there, bottom right). However, you’ll have to answer a bunch of questions first before you’re privileged enough to get to it.

 As with most people, we’re wondering if it will be any better than the previous version called ‘OneCare’ which had several flaws, chief of which is that it just didn’t work very well.

 This was disappointing, as if you’re trying to protect your operating system, you’d hope that the company that created it would be able to do a good job of doing that. On the other hand, you’d also think that they’d be able to do a better job of protecting it in the first place.

 To be honest seeing the words Microsoft and ‘1.0’ in the installer, don’t fill me with confidence, but I do intend to give it a go and report back on what it’s like. Wish me luck.

So reports emerged today that a Kosher search engine has been launched – called Koogle - providing a rabbinically approved way for ultra-orthodox Jews to browse the internet. Genius.

The problem for the orthodox, and it’s a fair one, is that it’s far too easy to encounter material on the internet that is objectionable for anyone of a religious persuasion, whether you mean to or not. You know, the nudey bits.

The internet though is just too integral to modern life to completely ignore  and many religious families in Israel will have a computer, even though they have a TV. If that sounds odd – it isn’t. It’s possible for parents to control and filter what’s viewable on a family computer – but they can’t control what’s being broadcast.

And anyway – the internet is useful for all sorts of stuff.

It’s defaults to Hebrew, naturally, but there is an English (sort of) version – (top right), and in turns out it more of a limited directory than a real search engine. There are some useful links in there too, such as Kosher restaurants, hotels, travel, and er.. socks. And um, pergolas (what?) and of course, Lingerie. Um really? Is that kosher?

To be honest, the only reason that it’s attracted interest in places such as the Telegraph is because the name is pretty funny – if you get the joke. Koogle is pun based on a potato or noodle based Jewish staple food called ‘Kugel’ and of course, Google.  See funny huh?

Amusingly, Koogle was also the brand name for a 1970s peanut butter by Kraft Foods - later discontinued. No, it wasn’t Kosher.

So in response to reprimands from the European Union, Microsoft is throwing its toys out of the pram – and not shipping any browser at all with Windows 7.

This of course, wasn’t really what the EU wanted – it was trying to promote choice and wanted Microsoft to enable users to choose which browser they wanted to use as they first ran the OS. But Microsoft is sticking to the letter of the law, and pulling IE out altogether.

Which does sort of beg the question of how you’re going to get the browser of your choice onto your computer if it doesn’t have a browser on in the first place. One can’t assume everyone will have a second computer to hand to download one. It’s all a bit chicken and egg – and a little 1998 – remember being excited at getting IE4 on the cover disk on the front of PC Pro or the (recently deceased) PCW? Yeah? Oh, just me then.

What Microsoft is going to have to do then is ship IE8 on a separate CD when you buy the OS – and if you buy a new computer the vendor will presumably help – by installing Firefox for you first.

Or it can stop being silly and include IE – but not force it to being the default – and provide links to all the other providers. The chances are the majority will not bother, and it will still see itself coming out on top in terms of market share.

So it’s been a couple of days since Apple announced its latest updates, and we’ve had a bit of time to calm down. So, have we calmed down?

As everyone expected, the new iPhone was start of the show, and last week I put up my list of what I was hoping to see from the new device.

So how did I do?

Firstly, what I got right. Well much of the improvements were part of the iPhone 3.0 OS update, so cut-and paste, GPS, push notifications, and the landscape keyboard we pretty much knew would be coming. The improved winding (scrubbing) sensitivity, we’ll wait and see how it turns out when we actually get hold of one.

On the hardware side, I was pleased to see there’s a 32GB version, and video capability thanks to an overdue 3-megapixel camera.

So, what did I get wrong?

Well firstly, there’s no higher resolution screen – its remains where it is at 320 x 480 – so I now think that will come in next year’s version that we all now expect to be a major hardware update.I  was also disappointed not to see a 4GB version introduced with the entry level model now the 8GB iPhone 3G.

But ohmygod- the prices! Nicole has already let rip at those crying into their milk at the fact that they won’t be able to upgrade without paying through the nose to get out of the rest of their contract – but even for first time buyers, the iPhone 3Gs is a very expensive proposition. O2 wants £275 for a 32GB one, and that’s with a £35 a month tariff. Ouch.
I can’t decide whether it’s down to the recession or a little bit of greed on O2’s part – the reality is probably in between the two.

So why can O2 do so a thing? Well, it knows it can. After all, it’s not as if people can look the the iPhone prices, decide it’s too much, and decide to go for the new kid on the block, the Palm Pre on another network – because if rumours are to be believed in the UK, O2  has that baby wrapped up too.

So yup, if you’re a gadget freak – it’s got you by the short and curlies…

Also galling is the fact that if you do go for the 3Gs plunge now, the only options are an 18-month or 24-month, meaning that next year’s, possibly heavily revamped model will be out-of-immediate reach.

But when you want something new and shiny, the words ‘possibly’ and ‘next year’ are not likely to register too much. I’m not sure if I can hold out. Now, I’m sure I can find a grandmother down the back of the sofa I can sell… or something.

There’s no guarantee that Apple will announce a new iPhone at WWDC 2009 this evening, but if it doesn’t it’s going to make everyone look a bit silly as the internet tubes are naturally full of iPhone buzz.

That said if you’ve got iTunes on your computer you many have noticed Apple update pushing out version 8.2 of iTunes – supporting the new iPhone 3.0 software, of which we already know plenty, so the timing is apt.

Some analysts have suggested that Apple should hold off on the new iPhone to take it what the Palm Pre is doing, and then counter it, but I don’t think that Apple will take that approach – I’m sure it had a good idea of what the Pre would be capable of before the phone’s release last Saturday.

Here then is a list of some of the things I would like to see in the new iPhone, though I’m sure I’m going to be disappointed in my regards.

•    Higher resolution screen – Likehood - medium

The 3.8in 800 x 480 screen on the HTC Touch HD is fantastic (it’s best feature by far) and I’d love to see Apple match that. I doubt it’s going to increase the size of the 3.5in display, but more pixels to up that dot pitch would be great.

•    32GB capacity model –likelihood – high

When I was using an iPhone it was fantastic for music and video but as I owned an 80GB iPod (5th gen) I really missed having all my stuff available – a 32GB model is really needed, especially with all the app that are out there.

•    4GB capacity model – likelihood – medium

However, not everyone really needs all that space. A 4GB model would bring the price down and make it more affordable for more casual users

•    MMS - likelihood – likelihood  - high

This feature may be ‘old skool’, but it’s still a quick and easy way of sending snaps to other users – especially for those who don’t have email on their phone. Rumours are strong Apple has finally succumbed – let’s hope so.

•    Front video camera  - likelihood - low

I think I was one of the only people who actually used to make video calls – back when my wife and I both had Sony Ericsson V800s. However, the concept that the network 3 has actually launched itself on has died a death – for a number of reasons but if there’s any company that can improve the experience surely it’s Apple.

•    Video recording – likelihood - very high

Rumours suggest the new phone will be dubbed the iPhone video (although other rumours also go with iPhone 3Gs), so this one’s pretty likely. The quality is likely to be very average, and why we should get excited about a feature that most phones have had for years it anybody’s guess.

•    Cut and paste – likelihood – very high

This was a much bemoaned missing feature – and it’s announced as part of iPhone 3.0 OS. Good.

•    Turn by-turn-GPS – likelihood - very high

Google Maps is great on the iPhone, but why it’s taken so long to offer turn by turn direction support I’m not sure. Hopefully now we can see fully fledged navigation packages from the likes of Co-Pilot and TomTom

•    Bluetooth data - likelihood  - low

Bluetooth support has always been poor – but in iPhone 3.0 we’re promised support for the Ad2P profile so users can now use iPhone wireless headphones. But what about data support. I can’t use the iPhone with my TomTom as it won’t accept data connections – frustrating.

•    Flash – likelihood – very low

Will Flash support still not becoming to the iPhone it could get left behind, especially if it arrives firs on the Palm Pre.

•    Push notifications - likelihood - high

The iPhone famously can’t do multi tasking, something that WinMo phones do – even if they don’t do a great job of it. Push notifications would enable developers to get info out about their app without if having to be fully running – e.g. Messenger type apps, or Twitter. At the moment, if you get a phone call, your messenger app would show you as offline. It’s promised though for iPhone 3.0 software- htis could be mega.

•    More sensitive scrubbing – likelihood- medium

I’ve always found winding forward or back though video (scrubbing) a lot harder on the iPhone than on the classic wheel on the iPod. Apple has apparently improved the sensitivity for iPhone 3.0 – let’s hope its true. Well I do, anyway.

•    Landscape keyboard – likelihood – very high

Why oh why oh why, was the landscape keyboard not available on all apps. We’re told that it is now in iPhone 3.0.

•    Document viewing – likelihood – low

Though you can view attachment on the iPhone, you can only do it by accessing the email they are sent with – there’s no way of saving them to the phone for access later. I don’t believe this behaviour is changing for iPhone 3.0 OS. So we’re going to end of this list on a downer.

It’s not really something we can cover over here at IT PRO, but along with Computex, the biggest show in the world this week was E3 – the gaming expo in Los Angeles, where the all gaming companies go to show off their wares to an eager public. And eager they are – gaming, even in these recession hit times is still serious business – in fact, back in January it was announced that for the first time gaming had globally taken more money than movies!

And what excited me most was the announcement of the Beatles: Rock Band! If you haven’t seen it, go check out the games’ opening cinematic – it’s awesome. It’s done by the guy behind the Gorillaz vids and it’s a fabulous three minute surreal tour through Beatles music.

It was also pretty great to see the Paul and Ringo on stage together – brought a smile to the face in a week of pretty depressing news.

Up to now I’ve admired the Rock Band gaming genre, but never really been tempted to take part myself. In my previous job, a flat TV and an Xbox were permanent fixtures and I used to struggle to work as a colleague, who was actually in a real band and a guitarist, used to mesmerise us with his fat fingered Rock Band skills (skillz?). I’ve played once and was rubbish, and it looked like it would take a lot of effort to get that good. And as Homer Simpson once said, “if something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing”.

But as I’m something massive Beatles fan, I’ve now got the bug to once again pick up a guitar. I do have a real one sitting in the loft somewhere, and I sort of remember a few chords, but of course none of that really matters and Rock Band is just lots of button.

The release date of a quite deliberate 09/09/09 – which could cost me an awful lot of money considering that that remastered versions of the Beatles catalogue is being released on CD that day too.

As for digital downloads – the press release that announced the release of the remastered CD’s had a terse, “Discussions regarding the digital distribution of the catalogue will continue. There is no further information available at this time. Now stop asking me about it.” (OK, I added in the last sentence).

Of course, I don’t really care about digital downloads as I’d want the best quality version, and am actually disappointed the releases aren’t on DVD-Audio or SACD – two high resolution disc audio formats of which you’ve probably never heard of anyway.

But anyway. It’s Friday, and nearly 5pm so go check out the Beatles Rock Band Cinematic. It’s awesome.