Microsoft Has Sold 300 Million Windows 7 Licences

We already know that Windows 7 has seen a much more positive reception than its predecessor, Windows Vista. Last summer Microsoft announced that it had shipped an impressive 175 million Windows 7 licenses. So how are sales now that the OS has been available for more than a year?

As part of its quarterly earnings call yesterday, Microsoft revealed that the company has now sold 300 million Windows 7 licenses. 

“To put that in perspective, 300 million is roughly the combined number of households in North American and in Europe!” writes Brandon LeBlanc on the Windows blo. “Or, to put it another way, if you lined up 300 million Windows 7 product boxes, they would stretch nearly 1.5 times around the Earth,” he said.

Feeling Emotional? Get an Emoticon Keypad

If you find yourself constantly filling your emails, instant messages, and work memos with smiley faces :) You may enjoy one of these awesome emoticon keypads, developed by Lavatelli.

One of the great features of this keypad, currently in its prototype stages, is that it will be full customizable allowing users to create their own favorite emoticon masterpieces.Although the two to three key strokes it takes to produce one emoticon may not be particularly taxing, Lavatelli's emoticon pad will be a great novelty gift. In addition, we'd imagine those giant bubbly emoticon buttons would be extremely satisfying to press, just look at them! The buttons themselves will have customizable glowing options to add some color to the personality of the emoticons.

If you've been following the news lately, you've heard about all of the new smartphones, tablets, tablets and more tablets from CES 2011, but it's particularly refreshing to see some unconventional, out of the ordinary gadgets such as this keypad. Unfortunately there's no additional information on pricing or when they will be available but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for it.

Google Cloud Print Beta Launched

Google users can now send email or other documents to a home/office printer from a mobile device.

Monday Google launched the public beta of Google Cloud Print, a free service that enables users with a Google account to print email, pictures and other media from a mobile device. Currently Google Cloud Print is only available to Chrome notebook owners and those using the latest Chrome web browser beta on the Windows Platform-- Linux and Mac support is coming soon.

Microsoft Files Suit Against TiVo

The argument between Microsoft and TiVo continues.

Microsoft accuses TiVo of patent infringement in four cases and filed a trade complaint to prevent TiVo from importing its set-top boxes to the U.S. The patents relate to program schedules, program selection, interface controls as well as DVR use based on program rating.

iPad 2 Production Starts February, iPhone 5 May

Looks like the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 are right on track.

Monday China's Commercial Times (Google Translate) reported that Apple's manufacturing partners will begin iPad 2 production next month in a "small pilot."

Commercial Times said the number is expected to grow in the second quarter of calendar 2011, and could possibly exceedthe peak seen with the original iPad tablet back in Q4 2010. Apple will reportedly keep Foxconn as its largest manufacturing partner while Pegatron and Apple's other typical suppliers will still play a vital role in the tablet's manufacturing process.