By Crom, the developers from Funcom have released Clan of Conan Issue 17. In this issue, gamers can find more details on upcoming features in Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, a dialogue with Game Director Gaute Godager, and more. Head on over to the full article by clicking on the "read more" link below.

Microsoft has sent some cross-court love again for its Mac users with Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Update 12.0.1. The latest changes takes on critical bugs and stability issues among others. For the complete details, jump to the full article.

If you thought that all the StreamMyGame service can do is stream your video games from your PC to your console, then think again. StreamMyGame has announced that its software now allows you to run 2D applications like those found on Microsoft Office on your low spec Windows notebooks, Linux devices, and even your PlayStation 3. To find out more about this, check out the full article.

The only university in Japan to offer all courses online, Cyber University, teamed up with leading telecommunications corporation SoftBank to launch a service that brings college lessons to mobile phones. Japanese students now have access to a free course on pyramids that they can stream on the go.

More details at the full article!

In case you turned off the Microsoft AutoUpdate feature on your Mac, be informed that there's a new version of MS Office 2004 ready for download. The file is around 59.5 MB and contains several improvements that will enhance the security and stability to your system.

Aside from the above mentioned, Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.5 also contains fixes for vulnerabilities that, when exploited by attackers, overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with various malicious codes. Online site Power Page noted as well the following additions:

• Corrects a bug that can increase the use of system resources when files or objects are dragged to an Office application windows
• A patch for Excel which would prompt the program to suddenly open workbooks or other files
• A patch to reduce PowerPoint's number of unexpected quits
• An update which improved responsiveness in Microsoft Entourage

The update should be used on Mac OS X 10.2.8 (Jaguar) or any other higher versions of Mac operating system. Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.3.5 applies to Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, PowerPoint 2004, Entourage 2004.

The Read link below should take you to Microsoft's download page for the update.

Looks like Google is moving faster towards the completion of their Microsoft-office spin-off. After completing the word processor and spreadsheet applications that would serve as their answer to Word and Excel, the internet giant has announced their acquisition of Tonic Systems which will develop a PowerPoint clone.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt insisted on the idea that their suite will not compete with the well-established Microsoft Office set. He didn't make clear, however, whether their product will be built by Google people from the ground up or they'll be buying the applications from smaller development firms.

The latest updates indicate that the Google strategy is right in between buying and building. What it does, essentially, is they don't build the programs themselves but they don't buy them either. What they do instead of buying applications is they buy the development firms and take them under their wing. Therefore, they have foreign people building under their flag.

A couple of days ago, we learned that Office 2008 for Mac will be shipped during the second half of 2007. While there is still no mention of pricing whatsoever, details regarding the new application are beginning to trickle. We've given you a rundown of some of its features the last time around and this time, we'd like to show you how they actually look.

By the way, the one above is for PowerPoint 2008. The ones below, from left to right, are Ledger Sheets, Publishing Layout View, My Day, and Document Parts.

    

Apple finally released the latest update for Mac OS X 10.4.7 -- the Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update, also called "delta". Those who are updating from Mac OS X 10.4, 10.4.1, 10.4.2, 10.4.3, 10.4.4, 10.4.5, or 10.4.6  to 10.4.8 should install Apple's "combo" update instead.

Apple offers troubleshooting tips if your installation encounters issues. Basically, you use one of the two methods in updating to Mac OS X 10.4.8: The Software Update or the standalone installer.

The update addresses some important issues in the printing, Finder and other Apple applications, networking and modem, and third party software, and security among other things. It's a leap from the 10.4.7 version, especially when it comes to improving reliability and support with other apps as well as enhancing the software's general performance.

With the latest version, it's now possible to sync iTunes with other iPod models with less hassle. Furthermore, the external Apple USB modem has improved the connection reliability when faxing in France or Belgium. Issues with Microsoft Word's OpenType fonts, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, Canon EOS Utility and even with the TV Tracker 2 Dashboard widget have also been resolved.

Note that the update applies for both Intel- and Power-PC-based Macs. Download your standalone installer for PowerPC and Intel-based Macs here.

This isn't a how-to on using your gadget as a remote to advance slides on the PowerPoint presentation you've got loaded up on your laptop. This is a how-to on using your iPod, BlackBerry, or Treo to load up your presentation without your laptop.

Okay, those with common sense would ask, "Why?" There are a ton of laptops out there that are already handy and easy to lug around. Plus, these laptops are obviously more powerful than a handheld. Well, read these three practical reasons that may just convince you to use your handheld in some other way.

• Your gadget can be a last resort, just in case your laptop decides to conk-out or get depressed on you like "Marvin the Paranoid Android" from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
• It frees you to travel on business without a laptop; laptops are so last century.
• You can be prepared for your pitch anytime, anyplace.
  

There are three processes when it comes to presenting from handhelds. The first is the conversion of PowerPoint Slides, next is the issue of how to connect the handheld to the projector, and the last is  how you'd display the slides properly.

You could use any iPod as a presentation device, but first you need a product called "ThinkFree Office 3 Show iPod Edition." It basically lets you create, edit, convert, and store presentations in your iPod. The conversion process saves each slide into images that you can scroll through on your iPod as you present them. If "ThinkFree Office 3" is too pricy for you, there's "iPresent it."

If you're really a cheapskate, PowerPoint actually lets you save your presentation as .TIFF or JPEG files. So you can use the iPod's slideshow functions, and there you go, you've got a presentation.

Getting your iPod connected to a projector is a bit harder though. There's the "Monster iTV Link" for iPod, and you could use that and its high-quality S-video option. You'll also need to buy the $39.00 Apple iPod Universal Dock if you don't already have one. You can leave the iPod in its cradle, and advance slides using the included remote. So there. Really easy right?

Now imagine hooking your iPod up to this.

Buy: [iPod]
Buy: [PowerPoint]
Buy: [Thinkfree Office 3]
Buy: [iPresent It]
Buy: [Monster iTV Link]

 

You all know that Sony got rid of the rumble feature for their PS3 controller, which is said to be the reason why the controller would be a lot lighter than previous ones. You guys also know that the controller will have a six-axis detecting system. But what we don't know is what Sony will call their next-gen controller. They can't call it Dual Shock 3 now that they've removed the rumble feature, could they? Could it possibly be SIXAXIS, to note the six-axis detecting system?

Well, one of the users at 1up suggested to the site that they look up the word 'SIXAXIS' and see what turns up. This may be a long shot in determining whether sony has patented the name for their controller, but 1up looked it up nonetheless and this is what turned up (click on image on the left).

The search didn't turn up anything that could point to Sony calling their controller 'sixaxis' but because the term "six axis" has frequently appeared in Sony's press releases, we couldn't help but speculate. And the term also appeared multiple times in the May 8 announcement of the controller's motion sensing functionality:

"The controller for PS3 employs breakthrough technology of high-precision, highly sensitive six-axis sensing system that does not require any devices other than the controller itself for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional settings to TVs. With this technology, ways to enjoy PS3 will be further enhanced by accessing PS3 through the network, while retaining the six-axis sensing capability."

1UP contacted Sony about this but all the company said was that they haven't announced the name of the controller yet. While these are all just speculations, it could be possible that the company would focus on the six-axis sensing system in naming their controller. We'll have to wait till TGS to find out, but don't be surprised if you see Kutaragi holding a PS3 controller with a powerpoint slide with the word "SIXAXIS" on it. Hmm...do you think the name "SIXAXIS" would give justice to the controller? Methinks Sony could do a little more brainstorming before they call the controller that. But that's just us. What do YOU think?