Every geeky Windows user I know uses something like TeraCopy or FastCopy to manage big file copy operations in Windows. These plug-ins provide you more control and a better UI and are especially helpful in copying large file in between devices. The good news is that Microsoft themselves is building some of this functionality into the OS so it is available to everyone.

Now all the copy operations are combined and showed in a single window.You don’t have to Alt-Tab and reach the right progress dialog box when you are copying multiple files. In addition to this, every operation has a pause button associated with it. If you are copying 2 things in parallel, pausing one will obviously finish up the other one faster.

Another thing added to this copy interface is a detailed information option that shows you, well, details about the operation. As you can see in the picture it shows a speed graph, remaining number of files and data and, presumably, a better approximation of the time left.

The other thing that they have improved is handling of filename related conflicts while copying. Now they show a 2 column layout with a small preview and some information and let you choose either left, right or both. Checking both will copy both copies with different names.

It looks pretty useful but I wish they would add some way to zoom into the images/PDFs just like Preview.app on Mac.

Ahead is a video with a demo of the new copy/paste experience.

You know what’s the best thing here? Microsoft seems to be doing the right thing. They are improving the experience for end users and making sure they don’t over do it. Also, they aren’t trying to kill off small plugin makers by integrating every feature, no matter how clumsy or useless it may be.

[via Building Windows 8]

The catch phrase is kinda true, “Your email is your business. Google makes it theirs.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrkAuwaoFGg

If you don’t have any clue about what this is all about, you definitely need to see this video.

[ZDNet via Gruber]

Developer Time Kujala, has come up with a an app for Android based phones that allows you replace your Android/custom launcher with something that looks and works just like Windows Phone 7!

I installed the free version on my Nexus S and it works perfectly. It perfectly mimics Windows Phone 7 tiled interface and even gives you options to add tiles with icons or widgets. Each tile is customizable and some apps even allow notification badges. The launcher feels pretty fast does unbelievably well to bring the Windows Phone 7 experience on to your Android phone.

While I’m not a fan of Windows Phone 7 tile based UI (it’s too simplistic in my opinion), I certainly appreciate the hard work that must have gone in while making this app. Everyone with an Android phone must give this a try. This is especially good for people who use their Android phones mostly for limited features and don’t have hundreds of apps installed.

Yes Apple, Android has an app even for that.

[Launcher 7 via TNW]

[via TNW]

I’ll leave saving the day to John Connor, while you enjoy this humorous video in which an XBOX Kinect programmed to be self-aware evaluates that it’s creator (the developer) is worthless to eliminate him and hacks into the US Govt’s database to steal the launch codes and eventually uses the nukes to destroy the world.

Dooms day theories and this fake video aside, there is a lot of cool stuff being built using Kinect drivers for PC and other devices, check out OpenKinect project.

[Via GeeksAreSexy]