he latest Windows release will be available to everyone after a surge in demand crashed the Microsoft website on 9 January, the original release date.In response, the company has lifted a planned limit on the number of copies of the Windows 7 Beta available for download.
Microsoft delayed the launch by one day to add "more infrastructure and servers" to cope with demand.
The unlimited download will last for two weeks, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft had initially planned to restrict downloads of the software to 2.5m copies, but now says that unlimited copies will be available until 24 January.
After that, the limit will be reinstated, though it looks likely to be surpassed by then.
Laurence Painell, product manager at Microsoft, said that it had removed the download limit so that Windows 7 would be available to "a much wider audience".
Shocking demand
"We would expect a beta to only be of interest to tech-enthused and those that have a vested business interest, to look at an operating system for testing purposes," Mr Painell explained.
"We didn't quite anticipate the demand that we saw."
Windows devotees flooded the Windows 7 blog with comments while waiting with bated breath for the delayed download.
A commenter on the blog called Adinelus posted from Romania on 9 January: "Thank God it's Saturday tomorrow, otherwise I would have missed this.
"Hope you guys have some spare servers…because millions wait for you!"
Mr Painell stressed that consumers should be aware that they are getting a preliminary version of Windows 7 which is meant for testing.
As a result, the software is likely to have problems that haven't been ironed out, and Microsoft does not provide technical support for it.
"It's not ideal for every consumer to install and use it on a daily basis," he explained.
Microsoft encouraged people with MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) or TechNet accounts to download the software through their subscriptions, to avoid the congestion on its public sites.
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Picnik.com
At Picnik.com there is a wonderful online application to help you create masterpieces from your digital photographs.
Sometimes the best compositions can be ruined by red-eye or bad exposure, and this little application will not only sort out these basic issues, but is also incredibly easy to use.
Simply click Upload Photo and choose a file from your PC, or you can use one of the buttons to upload from the photo sharing websites they support.
The Edit tab allows you to make basic changes, then add special effects, shapes and text under the tab marked create. You can play around with your pictures for free, without even registering. You can even save your work to your hard drive or any of a number of popular photo sharing websites they support.
There is of course the obligatory Premium service, which allows you to pay if you want a wider selection of tools and fonts to use in an ad-free environment.
Finally, if you have used the application to make your own postcard or e-greeting, you can e-mail it on to the people of your choice, again without registration, but you will have to put in your own e-mail address.
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Navy.com
The US Navy offers a pretty cool little game. It is free and a good challenge.
NTE: Strike and Retrieve is a hefty old download - 126MB to be precise - so get the download running and go off to do something else for a while.
You will need to register so that they can analyse your performance, which the terms and conditions state is used to help them benchmark future recruitment standards.
Do not worry though, you only need to put in your e-mail address, so you will not be getting a knock on the door from a recruitment officer any time soon.
The game is a combination of tactics, skill and hand-eye co-ordination. The controls take a bit of getting used to as you pilot your sub-aqua vehicle through a hostile and treacherous terrain.
You will need to figure out the right combination of equipment to complete each mission, with a terribly annoying officer's voice giving you firm encouragement along the way.
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Deputy Dog
In the writer's own words, this is a blog about stuff. Mainly interesting architecture, clever design, geographical oddities and so on, and he does not use capital letters to define his punctuation. So get over it. Life is too short to worry about these things.
Not only is the content of this blog awe-inspiringly imaginative, but it is really well written. Topics are as wide ranging as "10 annoying brilliant offices" to the "top 10 physically modified people", with oodles of images and very readable commentary to draw you in.
Click the Popular link at the top to jump to the most highly rated entries. "Seven amazing holes" is the most peculiar subject to have dreamt up, but utterly incredible to look at and read.
I do not know where this guy gets his material but he is a true online genius. Thank you Deputy Dog, whoever you are.
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