...right off the box! Kudos to curious Randy of Randy's Rants and Grant of Joystiq. After grabbing the newly-released game and controller bundle of Guitar Hero II, they simply plugged it into their Windows machines. And that's right: Windows recognized the controller perfectly.

It's really nothing new, but since Microsoft has been providing Xbox 360 controller ports to use your wireless Xbox 360 controllers on Windows, this controller just screams Plug n' Play.

Playing Frets on Fire, a free clone of Guitar Hero, Grant found that it even works great, after a little controller configuration. Window Vista may have a little bit of a frame rate problem with the game, but if you could step up to official Vista drivers, it should run fine.

Mac OS X is a slightly different story, as Grant claims the controller isn't recognized as an HID-compliant device, with GamePad Companion or the open source Xbox 360 driver.

Additionally, the OS X version of Frets on Fire couldn't be run successfully. So we could extend this post to the Apple blog hoping to catch the eyes of practicing porters and see if they could do anything about it.

Watch out though, butcher99 tried plugging his controller onto the USB port of his Windows Vista machine and Logitech devices, which could include ultra-sensitive G5 laser mice and G15 macro keyboards, to stop working. It's another compatibility problem that Microsoft doesn't have any solution for, except perhaps keeping the controller plugged into your Xbox 360.

Like Randy, we're anxious to know what the homebrew community can spruce up for this interesting little development. Photo courtesy of Randy.

We're sure you've already heard of Boot Camp, this amazing tool that lets you natively run Windows on your Mac laptops and computers. Yep (for the uninitiated) Boot Camp lets you install Windows without moving your Mac data, or burning a CD with all the required drivers for Windows.

Boot Camp public installer has been made available months ago, and now Apple has released a new version of Boot Camp. Boot Camp 1.2 beta includes some improvements, and it can be used by new and previous Boot Camp beta users. The following are the changes available on 1.2 beta:

• Support for Windows Vista (32-bit)
• Updated drivers, including but not limited to trackpad, Apple Time (synch), audio, graphics, modem, iSight camera
• Support the Apple Remote (works with iTunes and Windows Media Player)
• A Windows system tray icon for easy access to Boot Camp information and actions
• Improved keyboard support  for Korean, Chinese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Russian, and French Canadian
• Improved Windows driver installation experience
• Updated documentation and Boot Camp on-line help in Windows
• Apple Software Update (for Windows XP and Vista)

If you've previously installed Boot Camp and would like to update, there's no need to partition your hard drive nor reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software and documents. Just update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Mac Drivers CD, and install the updated software it contains onto Windows. Anyway the full installation instructions as well as the downloadable Boot Camp beta 1.2 software awaits when you follow the source link.

   
 

Winnydows has updated her video-converting homebrew application, XviD4PSP. XviD4PSP is one of the most-downloaded video format converters for the PlayStation Portable, Apple iPod, and Microsoft Windows / PC.

It is also useful because different video formats have different compression levels, so you are able to reduce video file sizes.

XviD4PSP runs on Windows Vista or Windows XP SP2. Yes, XviD4PSP is a homebrew application "for" the PSP and iPod, but you don't run it on the PSP or iPod.

If this is your first time to hear about XviD4PSP, we suggest you visit Winnydows' site. Additional info and minimal system requirements are listed at Winnydow's XviD4PSP page - YOU NEED TO READ IT (click on the "Read" link below).

Past versions (like XviD4PSP v4.106 Final and XviD4PSP v4.107 Final) had a lot of bug fixes and new additions, but "XviD4PSP v4.108 RC1 Update" has only one notable change, but it's a significant change.

• In XviD4PSP v4.108 RC1 Update, the quality of x264 encoding has been enhanced.

As was often the case in past XviD4PSP updates, we have aDcOoL to thank for reminding QJ.NET's PSPUPDATES writers about this update.

Download: XviD4PSP v4.108 RC1 Update

Apple expressed its confidence that its Mac OS X Leopard will stack up very well against Microsoft's fledgling Windows Vista system, saying that the latter is not a threat at all.

"We believe we have the superior operating system on the market today, and this release will only extend that. With the features and functionally and stability and security of Mac OS X, I don't really see Vista as a threat," says Peter Oppenheimer, chief financial officer of Apple.

He pointed out that the high hardware demands of the Vista will either scare off or require users to buy a new computer, which opens an opportunity for their wares to be considered.

He also said that historically, Apple's revenues always see a spike whenever a new OS comes out, even though their product has kept relatively silent this year, with Apple choosing to show it off sparingly in shows and choosing to highlight its other products instead.

A definite release date is also yet to be announced, with Oppenheimer reiterating Apple's "this Spring" answer to the question. Details as to the new features were available and they are as follows:

1. Time Machine- a backup utility which can also be used for data versioning
2. Spaces- a virtual desktop
3. An updated version of the Spotlight search application
4. Boot Camp= a system that allows Windows to run on Macs.

Quite the big "ouch" to the Redmond giant: the Department of Transportation (DoT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Internet Explorer 7 from its offices. They are considering switching its operation to Macs and PCs running Novell's SuSe Linux.

The rather harsh policy was sanctioned back in January, but through the enactment of a moratorium, the blocking of Vista upgrades is still in effect. 15,000 users at the DoT and 45,000 employees at the FAA have been barred from upgrading to any new software from Microsoft.

The memorandum, dated January 19, was distributed to address concerns about licensing issues, upgrade costs, and backward compatibility with their existing key software and systems. They aren't scrapping Vista altogether if issues could be resolved, although they are considering alternatives to just going Vista all the way.

Aside from educational institutions and research associations, it seems that even the U.S. government is affected by the cost and compatibility problems regarding Bill Gates' new "Wow" product that shuns many XP compatible programs on its questionable platform.

With the 79th Annual Academy Awards right around the corner (whoops, it's this weekend actually), everyone in star-filled Hollywood is prepping up for the biggest show this Sunday eve. And guess who's also gearing up for a little publicity stunt? Yep, that's right: Apple.

According to the Mac gurus at MacWorld, Apple will be inserting an iPhone-themed teaser ad, specifically fashioned to match the grandeur and star-studded Oscars awards night, Sunday, 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

Although there have been no other details regarding the ad, given the advertising brainstormers they have at Apple, we're sure its going to be a blast. What else could you expect from Apple, after Jobs surprised the world with the announcement of the iPhone?

You'll remember Apple for its constant advertising war (featuring Justin Long and John Hodgman) against Microsoft and their recently released Windows Vista flagship operating system. But perhaps you'd also like to know that Apple created the "1984" advertisement in the 1984 Super Bowl that was considered the best-rated advertisements in history.

But wait, isn't Hollywood kind of freaked out by Apple?

As if iTunes U wasn't favorable enough, colleges are looking to the Apple's flagship computer brand as a viable alternative to the popular PC. Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, for one, is willing to get rid of their PC-compatibles to make room for new Macs.

The trend isn't only spotted over the education industry, but also the research industry as well. The huge stunt Virginia Tech pulled off for the Mac may have also attracted the attention of other educational and scientific organizations. Wilkes University claimed they chose the Mac because it's less susceptible to viruses.

It's doubtful that's the only reason, of course, as with Microsoft's new operating system Windows Vista costing an arm and a leg, institutions will be hard-pressed to shell out big bucks just to adopt new systems. And that's not including the heavy requirements of the new OS that could lead to unavoidable hardware upgrade costs.

The project that will switch a mixed assortment of PC and Macs numbering 1,700 to pure Mac is expected to cost US$ 1.4 million. The institute will be implementing a policy for students who wish to use their own computers within the compound.

From the same guys who brought you Ubuntu right on your OS X desktop, a new guide tackles installing the PC newest flagship OS, Vista Ultimate, into your very own Mac box - more appropriately, your MacBook Pro.

Now the capability of Apple's newer systems to run Windows isn't new news: Apple's move to Intel has made that possibility a lot easier to imagine.

But installing Windows instead of OS X is a lot different from installing Windows on OS X. Simplehelp presents a step-by-step guide for installing an OS over another OS, using a nifty little Virtual Machine (VM) software, called Parallels Desktop for OS X.

It was done before, yes, but this time it's the monster pack Ultimate that gets touchy-feely with its Apple side. Of course, there are problems that will ensue from installing Vista Ultimate on Mac (including hardware requirements).

So run over to the "Read" link and see how to do it. Remember, you will need Parallels Desktop and any Mac similar to a MacBook Pro, so the procedures will pretty much stay the same.

 

Windows Vista has already been out for a few days now and Apple is ready to go to battle. With the launch of Vista, Apple has been poking fun at their rival's security and upgrade process through its TV ads and on its website. Now, they are arming their chain of retail stores for battle.

According to Think Secret, the company has allegedly distributed a six-page document to its sales reps suggesting ways for them to taunt the abilities of Vista and to present the advantages of owning a Mac. Apparently, the document's key messages centers around the Vista's upgrade hassles, the Mac's ability to run Windows, the need to choose from a handful of versions of Vista, and the price of Vista compared to Mac OS X.

And aside from all that, it was also reported that Apple will present Vista-themed ads in its stores and give away corresponding shirts for its employees to wear. The psychological warfare has begun.

We all know of Apple's sneaky bashing of the Microsoft's new flagship OS, Windows Vista. The most vocal of them were reflected on Apple's assortment of advertisements, which are pretty witty if you catch our drift.

This time around, however, Apple is taking the war to a whole new level, although this time it gets a bit louder. Yes, because of Vista's launch, Apple has taken upon itself to promote a better option for a PC upgrade: skip Vista and go right over to a Mac.

Think Secret got word that a six-page document had been handed out to Apple's chain of 170 retail stores to encourage sales representatives to point out the advantages that a Mac has over the PC:

• Vista's pocket-burning price tag compared to Mac OS X and iLife;
• Mac's ability to run Windows, including Vista;
• Windows means upgrade hassles, including conforming with high system requirements and the unnecessary need to select a flavor of the OS;
• Similarities in functionality and appearance between Vista and Mac OS X, like the Aero GUI and the Aqua GUI.

If that's not enough, Apple is also drawing up a battle plan to present Vista-themed advertisements in retail stores and distribute similarly-themed T-shirts for Apple employees to wear.