From X-Bit:

The president of Nintendo of America has revealed the first details about the company’s next-generation console. Apparently, it will not be just a high-definition Wii, as many analysts tend to believe, but it will be a brand-new system with support of HD resolutions as well as mysterious “additional capabilities”.

From DailyTech

No ETA for fix, but modders are hard at work

Every fall Microsoft tends to try to find ways to ban Xbox modders from its Xbox Live service.  Microsoft detests modding, as it allows users to accomplish forbidden activities, such as playing backups of games, playing out of zone DVDs, installing alternative operating systems, or playing pirated games.

From ARS Technica

Recent reports claim that Microsoft has patented the concept behind the "sudo" command line tool.

A closer look at the patent in question tells a very different story.
Righteous indignation erupted on the Internet last week following reports that Microsoft had patented sudo, a traditional command-line tool that is widely used on Linux and some UNIX platforms for selective privilege escalation. Some enthusiastic patent reform advocates predictably held up the patent as an example of the problems that afflict the patent system.

From Bit-tech.net:

Finished earlier this year, E.E.L. Ambiense's mini-ITX mod, BluBawx, is a little beauty! We've had a couple of other small form factor mods pop up this year, like Chris Cook's Atomwood and Sleepstreamers Rampage, and not to forget Ingram by Jeffrey Stephenson, so it's clearly a popular modding segment for the Pro's.

from Computerworld

Pilot program with Ferrari, Pepsi, Porsche and others helps squeeze every dollar out of OS, says analyst

Microsoft today announced that it would sell Windows 7 desktop real estate to advertisers and launched a pilot program that includes Coke, Infiniti and Porsche.

Using Windows 7 themes -- collections of backgrounds, borders and audio elements -- advertisers will be able to brand the desktop, Microsoft said.

From C/Net News

Microsoft has halted distribution of its Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool after questions were raised as to whether the software utility makes improper use of open-source code. The tool is designed to help owners of Windows XP-based Netbooks get Windows 7 onto their machines.
(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has halted distribution of a tool aimed at making it easier to put Windows 7 on Netbooks amid allegations that the utility makes improper use of open-source code.

From Computerworld

Here are 20 tricks to tweak Windows 7 into the interface that works best for you.

Just got your hands on Windows 7 and want to bend it to your will? No problem. We've got plenty of tips, hacks and secrets to keep you busy for a long time, including automatically opening Windows Explorer to a folder of your choice, speeding up taskbar thumbnails, finding hidden desktop themes, forcing User Account Control to act the way you'd like, keeping your Explorer searches secret from others, and more.

From Tweak Town:

As we all know (by now), DFI is a manufacturer known for stuffing in as many overclocking options as they can in their motherboards. They became famous on the back of the nForce 4 LANParty boards. These were some of the best boards for AMD overclocking that you could buy. DFI has continued this mindset and still offer some of the most “tweakable” boards out.

From
InformationWeek

Agreement settles multiple claims AMD filed against chip industry competitor.
Intel (NSDQ: INTC) said Thursday it reached an antitrust settlement with Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) under which it will pay its chip making rival $1.25 billion.

The pact puts an end to all outstanding legal actions, including patent disputes, between Intel and AMD, the companies said.

From Computerworld

CIOs say they are in no rush to upgrade from XP

- Consumers may appear to be snapping up Windows 7, but large companies won't, according to CIOs interviewed this week.

IT leaders who spoke to Computerworld at the Society for Information Management's SIMposium 09 conference this week in Seattle say their companies remain almost completely running Windows XP on the desktop.