AMD has supplied a list of forthcoming games that will support DirectX 11, the new graphics API that comes with Windows 7. Hopefully it doesn’t crash and burn like DirectX 10.

DirectX 11 Compatible Games:

• BattleForge
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
• DiRT 2
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2
• Aliens Vs. Predator
• Lord of the Rings Online
• Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberon Unlimited
• Genghis Khan MMO
• Unigine Engine
• Frostbite 2 Engine
• Vision Engine

Source: TechReport

I’ve had to reinstall Windows countless times over the years for one reason or another. As such, I always find myself going through the same routine of tracking down the install files of my cherished apps and reinstalling them as well. Now, as if a gift from the Gods, two enterprising programmers have created an app called Volery that automates this process.

Upgrade to Windows 7!

All you do is simply click the check-marks next to the apps you want installed and oila! Volery updates your clean system with fresh installs. Even better is that it installs all of these applications while avoiding things you don’t want, like those pesky toolbars that tend to ship with free software.

Volery offers up most of which yo probably use, including Firefox, Chrome, OpenOffice, uTorrent, VLC, Adobe Reader, EverNote, Flash, etc.

Get Volery

Are you a High School or College student with an interest in science, technology or mathematics? Then the Association of Computing Machinery has a hell of a deal with you. For a one-time membership fee of $19, you get 8 licenses for Windows 7, plus killer deals on Office and other Microsoft products. The catch? There isn’t one, as long as you can prove you’re a student.

From Cybernetnews:

So who qualifies for the student membership? Any high-school or undergraduate student according to their form. The organization does focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields though. For high-school students especially it would be tough to prove which “field” your focus is on since the curriculum is mostly general studies, but they may want to see related classes on your schedule.

Head here to fill out the application!

Those of your brave enough to venture into release candidate territory, Microsoft has made Windows 7 RC 1 available for anyone to download. This latest version of the highly-acclaimed operating system won’t expire until March 1, 2010, so you’ll have plenty of time to test everything out and get comfortable until you have to plunk down money for a retail copy.

Venture here, follow the instructions, and best of luck!