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Hands-on with Microsoft's free Works

Intrigued to learn that Microsoft has been testing its ad-supported version of Microsoft Works here in the U.S., I wanted to see it for myself.

After work on Friday, I headed to Costco and to Best Buy, both of which carried Sony laptops that included the product, known as Works SE (Sponsored Edition). As Microsoft said, the product carries largely "house ads" that pitch Microsoft products such as Office. The ads themselves are small, taking up just about a 2-inch square in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

Clicking on the ad didn't appear to … Read more

Microsoft quietly offering ad-funded Works

Updated 4:15 p.m. with details on the countries in which Works SE is being offered.

After years of exploring the matter, Microsoft has finally started offering an ad-funded version of Microsoft Works in some countries.

Users who run the software see a small ad as they are writing their document or editing their spreadsheet. Although the program has the ability to update its set of ads online, today it runs mostly ads for Microsoft and a few partners, all of which ship with the product itself.

Works SE (which stands for Sponsored Edition) is free to PC makers, … Read more

$25,000 uber-box gets Blu-ray

When SE2 Labs debuted its "ITC One" media system late last year, one of the complaints was that it lacked a Blu-ray player. That might seem picky at first blush, until one surveys the laundry list of functions this uber-box already provides: an Xbox 360, HD personal video recorder, digital amplifiers, surround-sound processor, touch screen, and iPod dock, to name a few.

If they're going to jam all that into a home entertainment system that's "roughly the size of two PC consoles," the thinking goes, then it doesn't seem altogether unreasonable to expect … Read more

Sharp 'Special Edition' LCDs connect to Internet, cost a lot of money

Sharp has always offered high-end (read:expensive) LCDs, but its new line of "Special Edition" models hits a new level. The Aquos SE94 series consists of the 65-inch LC-65SE94U, 52-inch LC-52SE94U, and 46-inch LC-46SE94U, which have list prices of $11,000, $4,200 and $3,200, respectively. For your extra dollars, the series features a unique "Cornerstone" design and also has Aquos Net functionality built-in. Aquos Net allows the TV to pull down content from the Internet using the set's Ethernet port, although Sharp only mentions basic functions like checking the weather or getting stock … Read more

Redefining the meaning of all-in-one

In an ideal world, there should be a wonder box that does everything under the sun. Perhaps something like Doraemon; a Japanese anime robot cat and his magical pocket with its endless supply of gadgets and tools. That may be light years away but, in the meantime, SE2 Labs has an entertainment super-machine that looks like a mini-computer server.

Dubbed ITC One, it packs an Xbox 360, HD personal video recorder, surround-sound processor, digital audio amplifier, 4.3-inch touchscreen, iPod dock, and remote control system all in a single box, according to Chip Chick. Pricing-wise, you will need to fork … Read more

Shure announces $99 SE110 earphones

This morning, Shure announced another addition to its SE line of sound-isolating earphones, the SE110. The new model continues the Shure tradition of top-notch sound quality but brings a significantly lower starting price point to potential customers--the SE110 will set you back just $99. (Comparatively, the next model up the line--the SE210--is attached to a $179.99 price tag.) That's not exactly inexpensive in the scheme of earbuds, but then the SE110s aren't cheap in any regard. These earphones employ a balance armature driver in each 'bud, rather than cheaper and more common dynamic speaker drivers found … Read more