How many of us here dare to admit that we have not used the word 'photoshop' as a verb? e.g - That image was photoshopped.

Apparently, many brands name have become a verb instead of a proper noun. One such example is Google, where it has been included in the dictionary . "Just google it", means to search for a word in the Google search engine. The concen of the trademark holders is when their words become so used in daily life they might not be a trademark anymore.

Remember the thermos flask you have in the kitchen? It was actualy a patented product but it was so unique and new that there are no other ways to identify it. People can't just call it the vacumn-hot-water-container so eventually people started calling it thermos flasks and eventually Thermos is no longer a trademark.

Adobe, developer of many design/animation/website builder programs, which owns many trademarks, including those acquired from Macromedia years ago is one of those many who are trying to protect their copyright. How? By 'encouraging' people not to use their trademark in the form of verb LOL.

Check it out here

Proper use of the Photoshop trademark

Trademarks help protect corporate and product identity, and the Photoshop trademark is one of Adobe's most valuable trademarks. By following the below guidelines, you can help Adobe protect the Photoshop brand name.

The Photoshop trademark must never be used as a common verb or as a noun. The Photoshop trademark should always be capitalized and should never be used in possessive form or as a slang term. It should be used as an adjective to describe the product and should never be used in abbreviated form. The following examples illustrate these rules:

Trademarks are not verbs.

Correct: The image was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software.
Incorrect: The image was photoshopped.

Trademarks are not nouns.

Correct: The image pokes fun at the Senator.
Incorrect: The photoshop pokes fun at the Senator.

Always capitalize and use trademarks in their correct form.

Correct: The image was enhanced with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements software.
Incorrect: The image was photoshopped.
Incorrect: The image was Photoshopped.
Incorrect: The image was Adobe® Photoshopped.

Trademarks must never be used as slang terms.

Correct: Those who use Adobe® Photoshop® software to manipulate images as a hobby see their work as an art form.
Incorrect: A photoshopper sees his hobby as an art form.
Incorrect: My hobby is photoshopping.

Trademarks must never be used in possessive form.

Correct: The new features in Adobe® Photoshop® software are impressive.
Incorrect: Photoshop's new features are impressive.

Trademarks are proper adjectives and should be followed by the generic terms they describe.

Correct: The image was manipulated using Adobe® Photoshop® software.
Incorrect: The image was manipulated using Photoshop.

Trademarks must never be abbreviated.

Correct: Take a look at the new features in Adobe® Photoshop® software.
Incorrect: Take a look at the new features in PS.

Sorry Adobe, but I ain't taking the liberty to say "I have edited this image using Adobe Photoshop CS4". I'll just say "It's Photoshopped"

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Currently, it is open to invited guests only. I managed to get one invitation but could not sign up as it's only open to US residents.

Thanks to Prasys , who taught me how to workaround this issue, I finally got my US number - 1-(6158)-karhoe / 1-(6158)-527463.

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With Google Voice, the main benefit that I get is the ability to send out SMSes for FREE. Here I tried sending one SMS to my own DiGi number.

From now on, if you were to receive any SMS from my US number, just reply to my DiGi number

The Windows 7 RTM (Released to Manufacturer) has been released, where build 7600 was signed off as RTM and made available to all MSDN and TechNet subscribers. This version would be released to manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Compaq, Asus to enable them to ensure that the OS will suit their hardwares as well as their softwares.

Thanks to Prasys, I managed to get my hand on a copy of Windows 7 RTM and after hearing on all the advantages of Windows 7, even during the times when it was still in Release Candidate stage., I decided to install it. With Windows 7 being the last operating system from Microsoft to be available on 32bit version. I decided to give 64bit a try, to fully utlize the 64 bit extension of the processor.

So I decided to install it on my aunt's Compaq CQ40 laptop which was acquired a few weeks ago.

Let's start installing.

After installing Windows 7, there were few changes which were noticeable immediately:-

1) Show Desktop - due to the fact that Quick Launch has been removed and replaced with 'Smart icons' - It has been moved to the extreme right of the taskbar. Hovering the mouse over it will activate 'Aero Peek' which shows the desktop with the outline of all active windows.

2) Dreamscene is gone - I have no idea why it is gone

3) Tabbed icons - At default, all similar windows are grouped and hovering the mouse over the icons shows a preview of active windows.

4) New backlight option - Instead of switching to screensaver, you can opt to turn off the backlight immediately if the laptop is left idle, a very wise option to add into 7.

5) Applications such as Paint, and Calculator got a facelift and some makeovers.

6) However, application such as Windows Movie Maker and even shortcut to download Windows Live Messenger were nowhere to be found - definitely results of all anti trust suits againts Microsoft.

There could be many more, but the 6 mentioned above are the ones obviously detected.

Apart from thsoe mentioned above, the laptop also boots faster, and shuts down incredibly fast. Since I have installed 64bit application, I decided to look for as many 64 bit applications and among some which were installed are WinRAR 64bit, MPC HC 64bit, Photoshop 64bit.

Internet Explorer in 64bit is bundled together but it is not practical to use it although it seems to promise a faster performance as Adobe Flash is not made available in 64bit on Windows platform yet.

I faced no problem with drivers as almost all are installed automatically and the rest via Windows Update and only a handful needs manual drivers.

I also came across this feature known as Aero Shake, where by shaking any active window, it would hide all other windows.

Click Read More to view the rest of the story.

Are we going to have HD contents on Astro by year end? If that's the case, I would have to plan the purchase of HDTV already. For those who have not gotten your HDTV, hold your purchase, expect some extra megavanza HDTV sales when Astro officially launches their HDTV.

UPDATE - Astro B.yond HD prices announced - RM20 a month only on top of current package for existing subscribers - free dish, decoder.

Here's the deal

1) 12 months contract
2) Free HDMI, free decoder, free installation, free satellite dish (bigger ones)
3) RM20 for access to all HD channels, provided you have subscribed to those packages (i.e. Access to ESPN HD only if you have subscribed to Sports package)
4) Only Sports and Documentary channels available
5) Starting December 18
6) Decoder comes with HDMI port, optical SPDIF, and USB port to be connected to external storage (currently not available yet)
7) Upon installation, your old decoder + smart card would be taken back.

Subscribe today

Higher subscription fees to ease pressure on Astro

PETALING JAYA: Astro All Asia Networks plc’s plan to raise its subscription price is expected to mitigate the pressure from the escalating content cost and on earnings going forward.

According to OSK Research, Astro will be raising the subscription fee for its popular sports package by RM12 per month effective today.

...............

OSK did not rule out the possibility of further subscription fee rise in the near future, given the expected launch of high definition (HD) content by year-end.

The increase on vernacular as well as fresh offerings with the added transponder capacity from the new Measat-3A satellite were other factors favouring the future price hike.

It last raised its subscription rates in mid-2007 by RM5 to RM15. Before that, rates rose by RM5 across the board in 2004.

.............

“We raised our capital expenditure forecast for FY10 and FY11 to RM300mil from RM200mil to reflect the progressive upgrade on Astro’s broadcasting infrastructure to be HD-enabled and ancillary upgrade for its customer relationship management equipment,” the report said.

Irrelevant parts removed.

Many unanswered questions remain,

What type of HD will Astro be providing?

Would it be 720p or 1080i ? I doubt they would be providing 1080i as it requires more bandwidth.

What about the band that they would use? Would they remain with the rain-sensitive Ku-band or move to C-band ?

Will we use the same small satellite dish to receive Astro contents?

Would Astro charge a premium for the HD decoder set top box?

Will we be charged a premium for HD contents?

Would the HD decoder set top box output HD via HDMI or Component video?

Next, the dilemma would be whether to purchase a HD Ready Plasma TV or Full HD LCD TV? Plasma TV high a high contrast ratio and pictures looks super crisp clear but it has lesser pixels whereas LCD TV at the same price can provide more pixels, but images do not look so vivid and the backlight make things worse.

[takeover]