Here’s a Halloween download for you. You knew your Mac could detect wireless networks and Bluetooth devices, but did you know it can also detect spirits? The Department of the Supernatural has Mac download called EMF6742 which will allow you to scan and detect supernatural activity. This program take full advantage your Mac’s hardware to scan for anomalies in electromagnetic fields, indicating nearby spirits. A higher number means a stronger anomaly in the EMF.

System requirements include “Mac OS X 10.5 or later, a wide variety of superstitions and/or a sense of humor.” Okay okay, EMF6742 is just a joke. But some people are just that gullible, and EMG6742 will certainly put the trick in “Trick or Treat”. Happy Halloween!

EMF6742 1.2.1 [MacUpdate via DownloadSquad]

Yes, I am covering an in-depth Microsoft Announcement for once, but an important one, at that. Yesterday, Microsoft officially gave up on Windows Vista and announced Windows 7. I’ve scoured a couple of articles, and here are the features I’m looking forward to.

Wi-Fi one click away. A copy from Apple on this one, but a good copy. Instead of having to click the icon and find available networks, they’ve thrown the available networks right in the menu. How simple is that? Wardriving Connecting to an access point couldn’t be easier.

Libraries. Windows 7 has a new feature called Libraries. It allows you clump together same-type content no matter where it is on the system. If you have pictures in one set of folders, and other pictures in another, and you don’t want to combine the folder, you can still track them together by adding them both to the Photo Library.

UAC still lives. Crap. And just when you though Micrsoft had nixed it’s worst feature, they gave it more features. However, they implemented a slider, so you can reduce the number of pesky pop-up warnings, eliminating all the ones that come from Windows, for instance. There are four tiers of security, which are basically “Tell me everthing” or “Tell me nothing”.

RIP Sidebar. Also added is another Mac OS X like feature, but a needed one at that. They have offically killed the sidebar, meaning your Gadgets are free to roam wherever. This also reduces the amount of screen space that is wasted as a result.

Major Taskbar Revamp. Microsoft has dramatically changed how the Taskbar appears. Windows are now arranged into single icons instead of icons and text. Clicking on an icon switches between windows within the specific application. This is a much needed improvment. Not that the old taskbar was bad, but the taskbar really hasn’t changed since the days of Chicago (Windows 95), nearly 15 years. Needless to say, time for change.

I think this is Microsft’s chance to make up for Windows Vista. Make no mistake, Vista was okay, but Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. Needless to say, I’m excited to see it. An official release of Windows 7 in anticipated for next fall.

First look at Windows 7’s User Interface [Ars Technica]
Windows 7 Walkthrough, Boot Video and Impressions [Gizmodo]

Time once again for a Mac Tip. Many people don’t realize that Mac OS X has some handy Navigation Shortcuts for Finder. In fact, they are rught underneath your nose.

If you go to the “Go” menu, you’ll see a drop-down similar to the image above. Also, not shown in my image is a menu for your iDisk, if you have one. Everything is right there, you just have to find it. Enjoy!

Good Morning- already we are at the end of October. How time flies. Anyway, let’s get on with it:

• Gmail has lauched auto-replies- perfect when you’re stuck up.
• US Army warns that Twitter can be used for terrorism. Tweetorism?
• And The Pirate Bay Celebrates Microsoft’s Global Anti-Piracy Day.
• Moving on, The new MacBook is Mm Mm good.
• It’s just to bad it doesn’t take all 8GB of RAM
• And the Snow Leopard is all about speed.
• Mac Mini fans will hide, the small computer isn’t being shipped anymore.
• Firefox has removed it’s License Agreement from Ubuntu. Is this the end of a good freindship?
• And AC/DC’s Runaway Train Video is in an Excel Spreadsheet?

And that’s this week’s Manic Monday. Stat tuned for more goreat tech content. Enjoy!
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What may seem as the most awkward gadget known to man could be a geek’s best friend. While most computers are absent of a Floppy Drive, the older motherboards still need to be flashed by one (ie: My old eMachine, which does have a floppy- I have no disks, though). What do you do? Get the HP USB Floppy Key.

The HP USB Floppy Drive Key provides a 2-in-1 USB media solution that presents to the host comptuer a normal USB storage device and a USB floppy device. Simply connect the USB key to a computer, place the files you want onto the USB floppy, and then move the key over to the floppy-less computer and boot.

This eliminates the need for a USB Floppy Drive and give you an even better reason to throw the disks. These disks are available from HP in 1 GB and 256 MB models for $79 and $49, respectively.

HP USB Floppy Drive Key [HP Store via CrunchGear]

Time for another awesome mac tip. Say you have a bunch of windows on your desktop, and you want to move one. but don’t want to lose focus on the window you’re on. Not to worry, Apple’s got you covered.

Hold down the Command Key (the Apple Key) and drag the window you wish to move.

That’s all there is to it. The window you are trying to move, and the window you are focused on will stay in place, and in focus. Moving windows have never been so easy.

A few of my fellow Computer Science majors have gotten me addicted to Saitek’s complete set of Backlit Keyboards.

This stylish, high quality 104 key keyboard featuring adjustable key backlighting for use in low-light conditions, or even total darkness. It is designed for applications where low light conditions prevent accurate use of a normal keyboard. Volume buttons and Bright/Dim/Off selector control LED backlighting. TruVu keys that allow the lighting to glow through each laser-etched key. It also Feet angle adjustment for maximum comfort and productivity.

As I said, several of my friends have gotten these, so I have ordered one myself. It come in a choice of blue or red backlit models. It’s USB 2.0 and it can be yours for $59.95.

Eclipse Keyboard [Saitek]

… We Salute You- Good Morning. AC/DC’s new album Black Ice comes out today. That’s said, let’s Rock with Manic Monday.

• Let’s start with some Apple news. There are plently of new Apple gadgets. I already beat this to death.
• What’s this? Steve Job’s Blu-Ray a “Bag of Hurt”?
• And Steve Jobs responds to the lack of Firewire on new MacBooks.
• Apple’s Snow Leopard to sport Cocoa Finder and ImageBoot.
• Moving on, OpenOffice.org becomes an even better alternative.
• On to Microsoft, Windows 7 is officially, uh, Windows 7.
• And are there really 20 versions of Windows 7? I take the Pirated Edition.
• And Ubuntu 8.10 is on the way.
• President Bush has signed a controversial anti-piracy law.
• Firefox 3.1 beta 1 officially released.
• Survey Says: Damn it’s fast.
• Moving on, a Major Spam ring has been foiled.

That’s this week’s Manic Monday. If you are want rock, go and get the new AC/DC album. If you’re just waiting around for some good tech content, keep it tuned right here.

One thing I didn’t mention on Tuesday was that there is no Blu-Ray coming to the Mac. Uncle Steve thinks it’s a “bag of hurt”. So if Steve won’t come out with one, Amex Digital will- and that’s just what they did.

As long as your’re cool with hauling around an external unit, future and current MacBook / MacBook Pro owners (and anyone with a fresh USB-equipped Mac, really) can watch and burn Blu-ray Discs. The glossy case come is black or white (funny, huh?). It’ll burn BD-RE / -R (single-layer) discs at 2x, while dual-layer versions will only toast at 1x; as for blank DVDs, they’ll get done at a rate of 4x to 8x depending type.

And while I’ve been targeting it for Mac users, PC user will be able to burn no problem. For $289, it’s not cheap, but certainly won’t break the bank. No word on availability, but I’m sure it’ll be out soon.

Portable Blu-Ray Super Multi Drive [Amex Press Release via Engadget]

Thought that Mac eject key was only for ejecting a disc, right? Wrong! Here are some other ways you can use the eject key.

• Ctrl + Shift + Eject: This will put your screen to sleep.
• Option + Command + Eject: This will put your whole computer to sleep.
• Control + Command + Eject: This will restart your computer.
• Control + Option + Command + Eject: This will shutdown the computer.

Four great ways to use the eject key. Oh, and hit the eject key and it will eject the disc- let’s not forget that one! Enjoy!

Tekzilla Daily Episode 199 – OS X: 4 Secret Uses for the Eject Key! [Revision 3]