Top 10 industry-changing applications

By Shaun Nichols Iain Thomson, itnews
At the end of the day a computer is a very sophisticated bit of kit, but without applications it is nothing more than a fancy toy.
We wouldn't have so many computers in the workplace or home if it weren't for the applications that drive adoption. In a very real sense applications were the lifeblood of the computer industry.
The term 'killer app' gets tossed around quite liberally these days. Nearly every piece of software released seems to be pitched as having the potential to send shockwaves throughout the IT world.
In reality, there have been precious few applications which have truly changed the computing industry over the years. This week we examine a few of those true 'killer apps,' and what they have meant to computing.
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The Best Point-and-Shooters Digital Cameras For Any Budget.

The megapixel wars are over. These days, any camera will have as many megapixels as you're likely to need. And today's selection of point-and-shooters and D-SLRs are loaded with advanced features, such as in-camera editing, Wi-Fi, HD video, and fast-shooting modes. The next-generation point-and-shooters are smaller and lighter, with bigger screens. D-SLR prices have dropped dramatically, making them accessible to a whole new crowd of hobbyists. Also, many D-SLRs now have video, so they can replace your old clunky camcorder. The models in this story are good representatives of the new breed of digital cameras, covering the spectrum of price and features. So don't let another summer pass with mediocre photos that go into cold storage on your hard drive. Take shots that you'll want to share, and even frame for your own wall of fame.

Here is a list Point-and-Shoot Cameras:

• Canon PowerShot SD960 IS
• Canon PowerShot SD780 IS
• Casio Exilim EX-FC100
• Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3
• Canon EOS
• Canon EOS 50D
• Nikon D90
• Pentax K2000
• Olympus E-30

Assassins Creed 2 - E3 conference

E3 09: Conference Gameplay
The Assassin's Creed 2 video game may take place in 15th century Italy with an Italian protagonist.
Release Date: 11/1/2009
Platforms: PC, PS3, XBOX360
Genres: Action
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Pre-order Price Guarantee for Assassin's Creed
available here

See trailers on gametrailers.com

Stay connected anywhere with NetBook HP Mini 1137

The HP Mini netbook combines the connectivity of a laptop with the mobility of a wireless phone.
Want an ultra-portable computer for quick online access and entertainment? Bring the HP Mini 1137NR netbook everywhere you go. The lightweight design and large display help you surf the Web, email, IM, and video chat almost anywhere.
Want to see web pages, photos, and other media in crisp, clear quality? That's simple with the 10.1-inch diagonal SD LED HP BrightView Infinity widescreen wisplay. Enjoy streaming videos and online games, plus view digital photos and emails easily.
Need to store lots of files? With the large 80GB hard drive, you can effortlessly carry everything you're working on—like school papers or business reports. You'll have plenty of space for photos and video messages, too.
Want an easy-to-use keyboard that lets you do more than text? Forget about the tiny buttons on your cell phone or PDA. With the near full-size keyboard on this HP Netbook, effortlessly search the Internet, type notes, write emails and update your social networking website.
Travel light with the HP Mini 1137NR Netbook
Carry all the essentials. At 2.45 pounds and less than 1 inch thick, this ultra-portable computer is your perfect mobile companion. Count on convenient Internet access and enjoy entertainment on the go.
Power up everything you need
Make it easy to work and play. With an Intel Atom processor and integrated wireless technology, HP Netbooks give you reliable, energy-efficient computing. Keep up with your favorite websites, plus chat face-to-face using a built-in HP Mini Webcam.
Get the specifics
Processor: Intel® Atom™ N270, 1.60 GHz
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
Display: 10.1-inch diagonal SD LED BrightView Infinity widescreen display
Hard Drive: 80 GB
Memory: 1024 MB
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128 MB total available graphics memory
Weight: 2.45 pounds
Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.56 x 0.99 inches

Time on social networks almost doubles in a year

NEW YORK (Reuters)
Spending more time on social networks and blogs? You're not alone, with the latest figures showing the number of minutes spent on social networking sites in the United States has almost doubled over the past year.
Nielsen Online, which measures web traffic, said the number of minutes on social networks in the United States rose 83 percent in April from the same month a year ago, but found users were quick to move on and sites could quickly fall from favor.
Nielsen Online spokesman Jon Gibs said a major trend had been the continuing popularity of Facebook, which has more than 200 million active members and has become so mainstream it now hosts Pope Benedict and a list of world leaders.
The total number of minutes spent on Facebook surged 700 percent year-on-year to 13.9 billion in April this year from 1.7 billion a year ago, making it the No. 1 social networking site for the fourth consecutive month.
News Corp's MySpace was second most popular but the number of minutes spent on this site fell 31 percent to 4.97 billion from 7.3 billion a year ago, although it remained the top social networking site when ranked by video streams.
Blogger, Tagged.com and Twitter.com came third, fourth and fifth respectively, with the number of minutes spent on Twitter -- that lets people send 140-character messages or Tweets -- rocketing 3,712 percent in April from a year ago.
Full reports...