Gadgets

Nokia Text Messenger

2010-06-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

The application fetches you the latest text messages from your connected Nokia device. Naturally, the latest messages are displayed first.

A gadget for Windows Vista, Nokia Text Messenger comes in two different sizes. If you want to place the application in your Windows Sidebar, you can opt for Nokia Text Messenger in a smaller size. The sidebar gadget lets you view three text messages at a time.

If you want Nokia Text Messenger in a slightly larger size, you can have it floating freely on your desktop. In this case, text messages can be browsed in groups of five.

Compatibility and system requirements

Microsoft Windows Vista
Before you download Nokia Text Messenger, make sure that you have Nokia PC Suite version 6.85 or later installed
Should work on all Nokia devices compatible with PC Suite

You can download it here

Toshiba celebrates 25 years of laptops with new Portege, Libretto models

2010-06-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

The very first laptops started turning up about a quarter of a century ago, so it's natural that we'd start seeing some nostalgic looks back (we've seen some vintage models recently from the Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba archives). Toshiba is taking it one step further by releasing a pair of 25th-anniversary laptops.
The first is the Portege R700, a follow-up to one of our favorite laptops, the Portege R500. While that 2007 model had a 12-inch display and was one of the last vestiges of the $2,000-plus ultraportable category (before Netbooks came in and provided a less expensive small-screen option), this new version is an almost entirely different animal. It's a 13-inch model, still light and portable, but not in the same way the R500 was (especially in its solid-state-drive version).
Instead, the R700 comes in at under $1,000, weighs 3 pounds and is about one inch thick, while still including an optical drive. Unlike the latest 13-inch MacBooks, the R700 uses Intel's newer Core i-series CPUs. The magnesium alloy casing is reinforced with a honeycomb rib design, which, when we handled a demo system recently, felt much sturdier than the old Portege R500, which suffered from some serious lid flexing.
The business version of the R600 starts at $999 and includes a port replicator connection on the bottom, while the consumer version (differentiated by a blue lid) is $899, and includes Intel's Wireless Display technology, which uses a sold-separately receiver to transmit video signals to your TV.

HTC HD2 Android Port

2010-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

The HTC HD2 runs Windows Mobile 6.5. That's a problem because the hardware is amazing but the software just isn't that good at all when compared to the likes of Android and iOS.
The guys at XDA Developers have been working a while on getting Android OS on to the HTC HD2, but due to incompatibilities and other problems they have been unsuccessful... that is until the last few days where some good progress was made.
Reasons for the problem include the Snapdragon processor and HaRET which is used to boot Linux from Windows CE devices. When HaRET was used in the past, it basically crashed on the HD2 making it impossible to get Android on to the HD2. Patches have been made though which allow HaRET to run without crashing.
The XDA folk have now managed to get around these problems some how and expect that the HTC HD2 could soon be running a version of Android. Of course we are still quite a while away it seems (perhaps a month or 2) to getting a working build, but it's good to see progress.

DC X725 by Benq compact classy digital camera

2010-06-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Benq amazes us once again with the launch of the new compact classy digital camera. The DC X725 is as small as 12.5 millimeters, and the material from which it is made of is steel, so it is stainless and more resistant. It comes in four different colors, black, red silver, or pearl. It has a 1/2.5 CCD and can go up to 3x optical zoom. The ISO sensitivity can go up to 1600 on photos and 4000 on videos. You can also increase the memory, as it has an SD/SDHC memory card support. The range of mega pixels is, for the time being, unknown, but we can assume it has more then the previous release of Benq that had 7.2. We also have no information regarding the price.

Acer AS5745 and AS7745 Series notebooks

2010-06-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Acer has released two more notebooks for the US market, where the AS5745 and AS7745 Series models are geared for those who are looking for something more than just the bare basics. The two notebooks will be one step ahead of entry-level models, featuring a range of specifications that include quad-core processing, a quartet of memory slots, a secondary hard disk drive support, branded discrete graphics, multi-touch screen technology, LED-backlit displays and/or Dolby Home Theater v3 for that added punch. Still, Acer surprisingly managed to keep the price surprisingly low at $699 upwards

2010-05-30T05:54:00.001-07:00

Western Digital My Passport SE for Mac

2010-05-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

Western Digital is extremely well known for its line of storage devices where backup is concerned, and this time round they have come up with something that targets folks who are running on the Mac platform – we’re talking about the Western Digital My Passport SE for Mac. Available in two capacities of 750GB and 1TB, the My Passport SE for Mac is a portable USB drive which has been specially formatted before leaving the factory to work in a Mac environment right out of the box, complete with Apple Time Machine software compatibility.

These ultra portable USB drives are a snap to tote around, and since they do not require any external power adapter as they derive juice by virtue of being plugged into your computer, it will certainly go a long way in reducing the amount of weight that you would have needed to carry on your travels. For those who are a bit concerned about security, fret not – these puppies are equipped with 256-bit hardware encryption with password protection for that added level of security, where a relatively small drive with such huge capacity should still let you sleep peacefully at night since you know that your data will protected from unauthorized access or theft.

Too bad this is still stuck in the USB 2.0 era, as we would have pretty much preferred to see something much faster along the lines of FireWire 800 or USB 3.0. Well, at least the Western Digital SmartWare software ought to deliver much needed calm whenever you make a backup since you can see it as it happens, making sure that no stone is left unturned. Apart from that, continuous backup ensures you will always have a second copy of whatever was just added or changed. Should the unthinkable happen, you can always retrieve valuable data to its original location, regardless of whether you have just lost the entire gamut of data or overwritten an important file. The 1TB model is going for $199.99 a pop, while those who opt for the slightly smaller 750GB model will have to fork out $179.99 for it.

Search Amazon.com for western digital passport

Nokia E72 arrives in the US

2010-05-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

How do you define a holiday? Let’s have a show of hands here – how many of you out there actually check out your emails even though you’re supposed to be on vacation either alone or with your family? Guess we’re all guilty of it some point or another, as the pressures of work do remain at the back of our heads most of the time wherever we are. Of course, instead of toting around your notebook or even a super light netbook while you’re on your travels, how about trying out something which is far more portable, while being able to dial 911 during an emergency?

That is possible with a smartphone, and the latest model to arrive on US shores would be the Nokia E72. Craig Coffey, Vice President, Marketing, at Nokia, put it very succintly, “This year, time off doesn’t necessarily mean logging off for most of us over the holidays. The Nokia E72 is an ideal gift for those who want to stay connected year round. With industry-leading messaging functionality, separate home screen profiles for work and personal time, and powerful multimedia capabilities, this sleek smartphone takes the hassle out of connecting and responding to obligations that don’t stop for the holidays.”

The Nokia E72 will take off where the hugely successful Nokia E71 left off, offering desktop-like chat experiences and email regardless of who you communicate with. Alongside a QWERTY keypad that is nimble and comfortable to type (I’m using one right now), it is also super slim unlike those Windows Mobile smartphones that tend to bulk up for some strange reason. You also get an optical navi key which in my opinion is more of a novelty than anything else as it has the potential of throwing your navigation off course whenever you flick it accidentally. Can’t argue with the integrated Ovi Maps with A-GPS navigation and a compass though as it helps you find your way around unfamiliar places.

The Nokia E72 enables you to mobilize up to 10 personal email accounts thanks to Nokia MEssaging, while IM can be replied directly from the homescreen with compatibility with Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and Ovi Chat to get you started right out of the box. Best to use this with an unlimited data plan – just sayin’, you know, unless you want to be saddled with a hefty phone bill at the end of the month.

Microsoft Communicator Mobile for Nokia smartphones

2010-05-30T04:56:00.001-07:00

Nokia’s smartphone market share has taken quite a beating over the past couple of years or so, with the rise of the Apple iPhone as well as the introduction of newer players to the market including Android-powered handsets. Well, that doesn’t mean that Nokia does not have a commanding lead – the Finnish cellphone company has come up with some pretty neat devices over the past year, and this time aims to improve the productivity level of their devices with and alliance with Microsoft, resulting in the Microsoft Communicator Mobile. This new unified communications client will hook up directly with a company’s communications systems, helping streamline mobile collaboration. As long as you own a Nokia E72 or E52, you will be able to download the English version today from Nokia’s Ovi Store to get started right away.

Bosses will definitely find Communicator Mobile to be a useful tool, since it allows one to check on their colleagues’ availability, while being able to click and choose on communicating with them via the best method, ranging from IM to email, text to phone call. All names and status of colleagues will be embedded directly into the devices’ contacts application, letting you update your own presence (as well as that of your colleagues), starting and joining instant messaging sessions while making calls directly from the contact card. This helps increase one’s efficiency, since you know whether a colleague is occupied or available for a conversation concerning work.

While Communicator Mobile is available only for the Nokia E72 and E52 as at press time, we do have word that there are plans to support additional devices sometime down the road, including the Nokia E5. Meanwhile, Nokia is already working on optimizing direct access to email and other personal information with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. In the future, you will find Communicator Mobile for Nokia pre-installed on select Nokia smartphones as well to get things up and running right out of the box.

Motorola Milestone Unboxing Video

2009-12-02T00:40:00.000-08:00

The guy over at jkkmobile has made an unboxing video of the recently released Motorola Milestone. To refresh your memory, this Android powered smartphone features a 3.7-inch touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, Android 2.0 OS and supports for quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band 900/2100 WCDMA as well as HSPA connectivities. Watch the video after the break.

Nokia releases firmware v12.043 for N96 smartphone

2009-02-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

The last month of each year is not probably the time for only big releases, so people could feel themselves free to choose New Year presents for their friend and relatives, but it is also the good time for manufacturers nevertheless to get busy with what was not perfect thru the past year.

The case in which we are mentioning it is the latest Nokia N96 firmware update v12.043 available from today's morning December 08. And it is a good move from Nokia I suppose, because even within a few hours from the moment after first lucky N96 users have installed v12.043 to it, the web started filling up with positive comments.

Well done for Nokia as it may now expect better profits from smartphones in the "hot" season of winter. So, let's see what N96 firmware v12.043 is all about.First of all mind you that the latest N96 v12.043 firmware is not up to bring too many of new features. As we started with Nokia was not perfect with its flagman N96 model, now is a good time to fix it along with many other Nokia devices which get their firmware updates regularly. T

hat is exactly the way it should be and it doesn't mean that Nokia puts up for sale underfulfilled gadgets. In the meanwhile, the updated devices show a bit more of what was expected, not only patches for obvious bloopers. More concrete on N96 with v12.043, it now has: camera performance update. It shows in less motion blur and color bloom effect. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have enhanced interoperability.

Messaging fix doesn't alter SMS text into MMS if case when the SMS was sent to more than 20 numbers. With an additional download, compatibility with Nokia Email service is available. And, except for fixing crushing applications, many more changes in screen settings, themes and ringtones, etc.Overall firmware v12.043 made N96 faster and more reliable with plus 45 free MB RAM after boot. The updating pack has 120 MB at Nokia official web site, or over-the-air it would be only 3 MB.

Nokia 5800 (Tube) released - new model is officially presented

2009-02-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

Nokia 5800, previously known as Tube, gained much attention because it was the first Nokia answer to Apple iPhone - not a rival, but a phone with similar looks and interface. Touchscreen thumb-controlled devices are getting more and more popular, and Nokia's first attempt in this market - Nokia 5800 release - promises to be successful one. As was announced earlier, at October 2 Nokia finally presented its first multimedia touchscreen smartphone on Symbian - Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. We dug into details, which are described below.

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic most interesting side is that it is working on a first Symbian S60 made especially for touchscreen control and big resolutions - S60 5th Edition. It is designed to be controlled either by thumbs or stylus, with ability to choose what you prefer the most (unlike Windows Mobile, S60 5th Edition is fully optimized for thumb usage - although, f you like, you can take the stylus and work with it with no problems. On Windows Mobile all thumb operating features are just a shell that works above stylus-oriented OS).

Interesting enough, Nokia oriented this smartphone not as a premium class smartphone but as a middle-class music phone. iIt comes with 3.2 inched sensor display with 640 x 360 resolution, which is bigger than the iPhone's and is capable of displaying movies or images very crisp and bright, 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus and double LED flashlight, GPS. Wireless features include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which, in combination with its high-resolution display, makes 5800 great for web surfing.

Built-in accelerometer adjusts image on screen if the position of smartphone is changed from portrait to landscape mode, this feature is present in almost every modern multimedia smartphone, so it is not a WOW factor anymore.

While aimed at music lovers, smartphone has all that needed for listening in comfort -

3.5 minijack slot for connecting almost every model of headphones to the device (no adapters or proprietary accessories is needed;, powerful multimedia player that runs smoothly and benefits hugely from the display's size - album arts look lovely, especially if saved in high resolution; expandable memory via microSD cards - up to 16 GB is supported, 8GB card is bundled with the phone.
Text input is done fully via touchscreen and virtual keyboard - it has two modes of operation, one for thumb input and one for stylus. Needless to say, phone supports 3G networks and has all that is needed for video calls
First version of this interesting smartphone will be released pretty soon - models in black, red and blue colors will be sold for attractive price - 279 Euros (approximately 380 US dollars), with special edition "Nokia Comes With Music" launching in the beginning of 2009. It is curious, how it will be compatible with great amount of S60 applications and games that are already released. In any case, expect to see many great applications written to use all of Nokia Tube possibilities.

BlackBerry Storm is now available at VZ

2009-02-03T09:09:00.001-08:00

The first touch screen BlackBerry Storm just arrived at Verizon wireless store shelf ready for purchase for $199++ on two-year contract.

MySpace now available on BlackBerry

2009-02-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

Starting Nov.13 social networking MySpace will introduce its mobile app for BlackBerry smartphones. Looks like the RIM MySpace app is features rich close to its desktop brother (sister).

Share events and experiences as they happen
Send and receive MySpace messages from practically anywhere
Access your Friends List and view status information
Receive automatic notifications when messages and comments arrive
Snap a picture with your smartphone’s camera and post it to MySpace with one click
View your friends’ photos and albums
Let your friends know your status and mood while you’re on the go
To receive updates, visit the BlackBerry MySpace page for more details.

Samsung Instinct vs. iPhone 3G: which one will be better?

2009-01-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's not only the battle of two devices it is the battle of two cell phone services providers: Sprint and AT&T. These two phones will be their best and most powerful presenters that they have. iPhone 3G is not out yet but AT&T was successfully selling the previous versions of iPhone for almost a year now. So some people love AT&T and other love Sprint and it's their choice. What we are going to do is compare the features of the two phones.

First of all let's do the comparison of the exterior of Samsung Instinct and iPhone. Instinct is made mainly of plastic which is not that neat today; iPhone has pats made of metal and harden glass to prevent it from scratching.

As to AT&T vs. Sprint there are some advantages and disadvantages; but concerning these phones Sprint is giving very high internet speeds and music store from any point of coverage. AT&T's iPhone can only connect to iTunes store via Wi-Fi, which restricts it to the city limits. Besides, everybody knows about Samsung Instinct's and iPhone's GPS capabilities.

I personally liked the voice control on Samsung Instinct; however not sure if it would work as good as they demonstrate it, so train your speech to be able to control it.

I'm not sure if it was a good idea to have the keyboard only in landscape mode. My personal opinion is that I want to choose what mode to use because it really frustrates me that I need to turn it every time I want to input some text.

One more thing that I love about Instinct is its open platform. I really like to install and use the software I choose. iPhone has made a pretty good job on giving positive experience for the customers but it is closed platform.

Another good thing about Instinct is that they give an additional battery and an external battery charger, which can be very helpful during traveling.

iPhone should be twice as fast in web browsing as the old iPhone is. It supports Bluetooth, GPRS, GSM, EDGE, Wi-Fi, HSDPA, UMTS connectivity and that's what they are proud about. One of the biggest news: it will be able to give you 3G video talks with your friends.

One other big news is that Apple is going to allow third party applications on their iPhone but only those that are approved by them. Not sure how popular that will be. Apple has done a pretty good job on the user interface. And the question I have is: "Will the third party applications be free or they are going to charge the customers for that?" The platform it is running on is Mac OS X Mobile which should bring the customers best experiences.

In the rest of features the iPhone 3G will be just as its predecessor (one of the best phones out there.) It will roll out on July the 11th in 70 countries of the world. The 8GB version will cost $199 and the 16GB version will cost $299.

New Motorola QWERTY slider released - Motorola Hint QA30

2009-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Not so long ago we wrote about new unannounced yet smartphone from Nokia with QWERTY keyboard. Motorola tried to not fall behind its competitor, and officially announced its own QWERTY slider, named Motorola Hint QA30. After all rumors in the past several days, Motorola finally presented its new phone, which is made with text message lovers in mind. Taking in consideration, that Motorola rarely releases something new nowadays, it doubles the interest to its new product.

Phones with QWERTY keyboard have their own piece of market. Modern times developed new type of communication - via text messages and instant messaging applications. It is extremely uncomfortable to type a long message on usual phone keypad, and while many people can live with it, someone can't. This is the audience for QWERTY keyboard enabled phones, like this one. Motorola Hint QA30 is a CDMA cell phone that is a first Motorola slider with full QWERTY keyboard. It has a full set of modern multimedia functions, like QVGA 2.5" display, video and audio playback (list of supported formats include MIDI, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, WMA v9 for audio and H.263, MPEG4, WMV v9 for video), microSDHC support up to 8 GB, Bluetooth Stereo, 2 megapixel camera with video recording, and 3.5 headphone jack for true music lovers. Internet functions are also present, and they are greatly done - fully featured HTML browser, integrated E-Mail and IM functions (which take full benefits from QWERTY keyboard - text input is greatly faster than on standard phone keypad). 128 MB of RAM gives great possibilities for multitasking; 256 MB of built-in memory leave plenty of space even if you forgot your card at home. Las, but not least - this model has aGPS support, so if carrier supports this function users will be able to track their position on the map.

Battery life is also quite impressive for a 940 mAh battery - up to 4.5 hours in talking mode and up to 15 days in standby. Phone is quite thick (because of sliding keyboard), but overall its size is not huge, so it will fit in almost every pocket: 82 x 61,6 x 17 mm, 120g weight. This interesting novelty from Motorola will be released in stores in November 28 in USA, no information about other countries yet. Unfortunately, this is not a smartphone, but is has an impressive set of features for a usual phone and it will be popular amongst young and active people, who like to send text messages and listen music.

eSlick - Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader rival, but cheaper

2009-01-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

More news in e-Reader industry has recently been caught in attention on the Web. The most popular e-Readers today are, of course, Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader. Both of electronic gadgets have different and already well known advantages and drawbacks, but now it is clear that pretty soon they will meet up with a new competitor they both wouldn't like to have. The competitor we are speaking about is eSlick from Foxit Software.

We will talk about eSlick's strong and weak sides later, but now let's say that Foxit eSlick doesn't start shipping this December which means it doesn't steal any of Amazon Kindle's and Sony Reader's sales in the hot New Year period.So, why are we so sure about Foxit Software's eSlick to threaten the other two big moguls? First of all it is its MSRP that matters.

Mind you that Amazon Kindle costs about 360 USD and Sony Reader – full 400 USD. eSlick will cost you only about 260 USD, which will save you at least 100 USD if you was going to buy a e-Reader. eSlick has quite an average pack of features, though they claim to be enough. End user might only face a problem in case he needs to wirelessly download content, which is impossible to do with Foxit's gadget and Foxit doesn't provide its clients with any library (Amazon and Sony do). In rest, everything seems to be fine with eSlick.

It has 800 x 600 Mpx display, 128 MB of internal memory. Memory is expandable, and in stock, eSlick comes with 2 GB SD card. Synchronization is done via USB 2.0 hub, so you can upload text, PDF and MP3 files on eSlick. It runs Linux operating system by the way and is able to convert more files to PDF format. eSlick is up to live 8000 pages until a full charge goes off and three colors are available: white, grey and black. Once again sales start in January '09 but pre-order is already available.

Joke upon your friends with High-Tech USB prank device

2009-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

While most of the gadgets are interesting and convenient helpers, there are some of them that exist only for pranks. Looking like usual devices, they have strange or annoying functions hidden inside. Their main purpose is to prank on a friend's or foe's computer, to annoy them and to laugh on it afterward. They often are not hazardous, and do some simple but annoying actions.

Like this one - it is camouflaged to look just like a simple and harmless USB thumb drive, however it carries a big amount of hidden functions that no one is aware of. Named Phantom Keystroker, it uses one USB port to connect to the target's PC.

When it's connected, it will be recognized by PC as a USB keyboard and mouse, and will stay hidden until time comes. Then it will anger the user by typing the odd and random text, moving the mouse cursor randomly and toggling caps lock - all of these combined would ensure user that his PC is infected by virus, or it was hacked. But no antivirus software will locate the source of this mess, because Phantom Keystroker operates on a hardware side, not software.

With a set of special buttons on its side it is possible to adjust its behavior and set a time delay, which will be useful to provide an alibi or to prolong the joke. Imagine the fury of the user, when after hours of intensive system clean-up he will discover a strange USB thumb drive, connected to his PC! While it is meant to be a harmless joke, it is not recommended to use this at work. Of course, it is very tempting to joke like that on your colleagues, but it is wise to keep in mind that such things may not go unpunished.

Victim also can become very angry after all these actions, so choose wisely place and time to joke. This device can be purchased for 15 dollars.

Animated Business Cards

2009-01-28T09:52:00.001-08:00

Until now business cards have been pretty boring, and generic, not seeing a whole lot of innovation. They may have a cool font or glossy paper, but thats usually the extent of it.
Chung Dha Lam has created a business card that will definitely captivate anyone you hand it to. Not only does it captivate, but in order to make the animation, you need to actually slide the inner card back and forth in its outer sleeve, thus making it the ultimate hands on experience, guaranteeing your card will awe its recipients.

The Samsung Fashion Phone Tells Us When We’ve Eaten Too Much

2009-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

Now I like a nicely styled, pretty phone as much as the next girl, but the plethora of ‘pink girly’ phones that companies produce in the hope they will lure girls into starry eyed submission is getting a little annoying. Now this offering is rather curious, as at first glance it does look nice, but moving beyond the clam-shell design, it’s packed with frankly insulting features, from a calorie counting system to a perfume matcher.

vote! TeliaSonera provides first 4G mobile broadband in 2010

2009-01-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you still haven't switched to a 3G mobile phone or you are going to do it soon, maybe you should not be in a hurry. Today we have found out that the next generation 4G format would not take long to wait for.

TeliaSonera announced today that they are a first company in the world to sign a commercial contract with Ericsson and Huawei to provide 4G coverage. Both of these companies are located in Europe, such a way first 4G mobile broadband will appear in Nordic and Baltic countries.4G as well as 3G format requires a whole new range of mobile phones.

However GSM networks will not be switched off as soon as 4G comes. First of all, 4G will not spread immediately over the world and broadband providers still can see long-term potential in GSM networks. Anyway, 4G is going to change mobile experience completely.

It is up to bring Internet speeds to immense range starting from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. From the other side 4G will provide more safety to users as it is based on IPv6. These features mean that high quality media content will be easily available for mobile gadgets.

For instance, 100 Mbps allow downloading average DVD-5 movie in about 5 minutes or steaming for much bigger displays with higher pixelation.TeliaSonera declared 4G release date for the year 2010 in Oslo and Stockholm. In Oslo it will be Huawei and in Stockholm Ericsson will be in charge.

Nary a Nitpick With HP's New Netbook

2009-01-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

HP's newest netbook, the Mini 1000, is lighter, svelter, stronger, better tasting, and yes, even cheaper than its predecessor.

Earlier this year, HP released its first stab at a netbook, The HP Mini 2133. Sexy and sleek, the Mini had one big problem: a price tag that could reach $750.

HP hastily reworked its offering (the earlier 2133 actually runs Vista using a low-grade Via CPU) and came up with the Mini 1000, a slimmer, less expensive netbook that actually competes with other miniaturized machines on the market.

The 1000 is not only extremely thin (less than an inch thick, all around), it's the lightest 10.2-inch netbook we've tested, at just under 2.5 pounds. For the most part, HP doesn't skimp on features to hit this weight, either.: The model we tested includes the now-standard 1.6-GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1 GB of RAM, Windows XP, and an incredibly bright widescreen LCD. (Among netbooks, only the Acer Aspire One is brighter.) An SSD alternative is also available.

The only place where HP cuts corners is the 60-GB hard drive. Compare that to the Asus Eee PC 1000H, which fields an 80-GB version, while the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 offers a full 160 GB.
With its Mac-like good looks (the discontinued black Macs, that is), the Mini 1000 is a head -turner, but I found it more difficult to work with day to day. HP has admirably squeezed a 92 percent-size keyboard into the machine's tiny frame, but typing on it is difficult. Why? Because there's virtually no space between the keys. It's tricky to touch-type because your fingers tend to wander from their proper position and you don't realize it. Even after typing for hours, I never got used to it. The trackpad is another point of contention, with vertical buttons placed on either side of the pad, not horizontally beneath it. It's not a problem if you're a one-button kinda guy, but heavy right-clickers will often be frustrated.

Back to the most nagging complaint with the Mini 1000: the price. While it's not $750 (thank God), the unit we tested still hits $550 as configured, which boosts the price well above its competition. On an otherwise solid netbook, you should carefully consider its drawbacks: a smaller hard drive, difficult typing and the price of the machine.

Also of note: The Mini 1000 is HP's first version of this machine and runs Windows XP. Look for a Linux-based offering called the Mini 1000 MIE to arrives in January 2009. Its heavily customized version of Linux (courtesy of HP's interface designers) will come with a $20 discount.
WIRED Reasonably snappy performance on par with other Atom-based netbooks. SSD model includes a built-in thumb drive and extra, recessed USB port. Includes upscale laptop features, such as a docking port and an on/off switch for the trackpad. Gorgeous, flush-glass screen.
TIRED Extra $80 doesn't sound like much, but it's 17 percent more expensive than the Lenovo S10. Prone to tipping backwards when opened. Mouse button placement is love-it or hate-it relationship.

RAM Size: 1 GB
Clock Rate: 1.6 GHz
Hard Drive Size: 60 GB
Screen Size: 10 inches
Style: Netbook
Operating System: MS XP
Screen Type: High-gloss
Processor Manufacturer: Intel
Optical Drive: No Optical Drive
Manufacturer: HP
Price: $550 as tested
Release Date: October 29, 2008

Intel Stacks Up the Chips for Your Future PC

2009-01-28T09:02:00.000-08:00

In the chip business, you can never be too cheap, too fast or -- increasingly -- too green. This week, chipmaking giant Intel trickled out a few more details about how it plans to give us all of that and more. The company will deliver a slew of new chips over the next two years for desktop PCs and for servers.

In true technology industry fashion, that means a jumble of codenames such as Nehalem, Lynnfield and Havendale. Here's a rundown of the new chips' details, how they fit into Intel's roadmap and when users can get their hands on them.
Most of Intel's big guns are directed at increasing performance for server chips. But for desktop processors, the company has a new line called Core i7, which should be in production in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Intel's upcoming releases are expected to also help it catch up with rival AMD on the server side of the business, says Jim McGregor, research director and principal analyst for In-Stat. "AMD continues to beat Intel in the server market," he says. "Nehalem represents the first time the two will almost be on par."

Intel's announcements can be broadly categorized across three sets: Penryn, Nehalem and Itanium.

At its developer forum, the company offered more details on a number of its upcoming processors, with focus on better performance and lower power consumption.
Here's a guide to how Intel has stacked its chips:

Penryn:

Last year, Intel introduced the 45-nanometer next-generation Core 2 processor family, code named Penryn. The Penryn microarchitecture delivered more performance at the same clock speed compared to Core 2 duo processors and offered up to a 20 percent performance improvement on tested games compared to the fastest dual core processors then.
Now Intel is ready to release the final member of the Penryn family, a 6-core server chip code named Dunnington. Dunnington has been shipped to Intel's customers since July and it will be available next month to users.

Nehalem:

The star of Intel's portfolio now will be Nehalem.
Nehalem is not just one product but the code name for a family of chips that will appear in desktops, servers and notebooks.
Intel says it is the biggest change the company has made to its chip architecture in a decade and the result will be chips that combine extremely high performance with higher energy efficiency.
The first set of Nehalem-based products to hit the market will be for the workstation and "extreme edition" desktops, with server chips to be introduced later.
Nehalem will have the 45-nanometer manufacturing process and use "hyper threading" technology that will give the chips the ability to execute 8 threads simultaneously on 4 processing cores.

Nehalem differs from earlier Intel architecture in that it uses QuickPath, which integrates a memory controller into each microprocessor and connects processors and other components with a new high-speed interconnect. QuickPath will replace Front Side Bus used in Xeon and Itanium platforms.

"As we make processors faster with more cores and threads, computation stops being a bottleneck," Rajesh Kumar, Intel's digital enterprise group fellow, said during a session explaining Nehalem at the company's developer forum. "Getting to and from the memory system fast enough is the problem and the integrated memory controller on chip improves performance."

Intel says the increase in memory bandwidth in the Nehalem microarchitecture makes the system almost four to six times faster than it current platform. It also allows for very short latency, almost 40 percent better than current versions. (Latency is the lag time before a CPU can begin executing a given instruction.)
Nehalem's power-management features are also a big step forward. Nehalem's power gates cut off switching power to cores that are not being used, rather than just reducing the switching current in earlier versions. Leakage power that was residual in earlier versions, will also be shut off. Nehalem has a new power control unit, which is an integrated microcontroller, and has more than a million transistors.

Glen Yeung, a research analyst at Citigroup, believes Intel could price Nehalem at a 6 percent price premium to the current Core quad-core chips.
Among the first products to be available will be the Intel Core i7 processor for the desktop, followed by a variant for performance servers codenamed Nehalem-EP. A derivative for the expandable sever market will be called Nehalem-EX.
The first set of Nehalem-based chips will be in production in the fourth quarter.
Based on the Nehalem microarchitecture, Intel will also have the following products:
Havendale and Auburndale: processors with integrated graphics, for desktops and notebooks respectively.

Lynnfield and Clarksfield: processors that require discrete graphics (separate graphics cards), for desktop and notebook systems, respectively.
The four listed above are expected to be in production in the second half of 2009.
Intel also plans to have Westmere, a 32-nanometer version of Nehalem. Westmere will debut in 2010, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said earlier this year.
In terms of microarchitecture, Nehalem's successor will be the 32-nanometer microarchitecture process called Sandy Bridge.

Itanium:

The latest chip in Intel's Itanium family for server and high-performance computing systems, Tukwila, is expected to be delivered late this year to servermakers. Systems using the chip will ship in late 2009.
Tukwila is a 65-nanometer chip and the first quad-core member of the Itanium product family. The processor has more than 2 billion transistors on it.
Tukwila will be followed by Poulson and Kittson.
Poulson will use a 32-nanometer process and is expected to feature either four or eight cores, better multithreading and is expected to ship in two years.
Intel has yet to reveal details about Kittson.

AMD starts producing quad-core Opteron processor

2009-01-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

The way how Intel and AMD are working on their processors is sometimes similar to marching as they both regularly come up with a new idea or a solution that nihilities difference between them. Of course, the difference is sizable nevertheless. So far Intel owns the processing domain while AMD has pulled off in chip architecture design. And only just a short while ago, on the 13th of November 2008 AMD has planed a great switch in production models. For very long time, from the mid 2007 to be more concrete, AMD production facilities were all given to their chip for Barcelona quad-core processor, now there is a new one called Opteron or Shanghai in its code name.

Thinking over a Barcelona substitute, AMD developers decided to make the server chip smaller and faster, so they have added a number upgrades to shared L3 cash and SRAM, and have turned from 65 nm size to 45 nm. Such changes have required architecture revision, but everything is well made. Everything is also made to be compatible with Barcelona up to a very last part of the chip.

This is the policy of AMD to make life easier for server parks holders, who in turn vote with their wallets for AMD because Opteron is not the only one processor in AMD family that will let them improve BIOS without constant changing of the entire jack and slot packaging.

Except for reconsidering the Barcelona's architecture, designers have also generously added a lot more memory to cash and SRAM. against the Barcelona's background, Opteron's L3 cash and SRAM are three times and twice respectively as big as the elder ones. Quad-core processors will now have 6 MB cash and 8 MB static random-access memory.

To see what latest quad-core Opteron is capable of will not be very easy for some time because they have just started to appear on the factory. But luckily there is an interesting part of Opetron in work presentation. The video follows.

Barcoding scanning technologies - Barcode scanner - Wand/pen reader

2009-01-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

The barcode scanner - wand/pen reader was the original barcode reader. It has been tried and tested in the field for nearly 40 years. Although barcoding technology has evolved, the barcode - scanner wand/barcode pen reader is the simplest and lowest cost barcode scanner and is still in widespread use today.

A barcode scanner - wand/barcode pen reader is ideal for scanning barcodes that are close together, as the barcode wand/pen reader is used in contact with the barcode.

Typical Applications: Healthcare, laboratories and office environments
Advantages: Ideal for scanning barcodes which are close together
Disadvantages: Operator dependent, contact only barcode scanning
Connectivity: Tethered, cordless
Barcode Reading distance: Contact
Barcode Reading capability: Low, medium and high density codes
Barcode Symbologies: Reading capability e.g. 1D codes.

Click here for more information

Please contact us for further information about barcode scanner - wand/pen readers.

Mobility and Performance - the Intel Performance Power Monitor Gadget for Google Desktop

2009-01-27T20:25:00.000-08:00

Intel has released the Google Desktop Sidebar Performance Power Monitor Gadget v1.1 based on feedback from users who have downloaded and used previous versions of Gadget software.
To help developers create mobilized applications with features similar to the Google Desktop Gadget software, we are also providing the sample code for platform discovery.

Download the Gadget Software
Download & Install Intel Performance Power Monitor Gadget v1.1

Introduction
A loose analogy of Newton's third law of motion can sum up the relationship between mobility and performance. When an object is in acted on by one force an equal and opposite force is applied to the object. Although not directly related to each other mobility has a significant impact on performance, just as performance has on mobility. One of the key features of being mobile is not being tied to an electrical power outlet. The longer a battery provides power to a device the more mobile you are. But being mobile isn't beneficial if you can't do what you want or need to do. Typically the more work done, the more power used. This is the principle behind Intel Speedstep® Technology. This paper describes how Intel Speedstep® Technology saves power and the new feature added to the Intel Performance Power, Google Sidebar Gadget shows how and when power is being saved.

Battery and Performance
The Google Desktop Performance Power Monitor Gadget monitors CPU utilization, battery charge rate, battery drain rate, percent capacity of the battery as well as the time remaining on the battery (when it is plugged in and when it is not).

The Performance Power Monitor Gadget may be configured to sample at a rate of once per second or once every few hours depending on the user's preference. It also keeps a log of the battery charge rate and drain rate. The user has the flexibility to define the number of samples that are recorded in the log as well as an option of manually or automatically refreshing a view of the log.

The Performance Power Monitor logs a record of the charge rate and discharge rate of the battery over time and presents it to the user in the form of a bar graph. The amount of work you can do while on battery depends on how much power the platform is using. The discharge rate will show you just how much power you are using at any one time. On the other side, while the battery is charging, the time it takes to completely charge the battery is not linear. As a battery gets closer to the 100 percent capacity the charge rate slows down. A lot of battery monitors show you the time remaining for the battery to be completely charged. But the Performance Power Monitor will show you the estimat ed time remaining on a good battery if you were to unplug the laptop and start running on battery power.

About the Author
Richard Winterton graduated from Brigham Young University in 1986 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and a minor in mathematics. While at Lockheed Martin from 1986-1994, he designed two network ASIC chips and authored 2 network communication protocols that later become SAE and DOD network protocol standards. Richard was a member of a team that wrote an operating system for the U.S. Navy's A-12 Avenger, advanced attack aircraft, wrote the "BIOS" software for the main avionic computer for the F-16 Fighting Falcon and wrote part of the F-16 operating system. Richard attended the University of Texas at Arlington's graduate school, working on a master's degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1994 Richard went to work for Intel Corporation where his first assignment was a senior software engineer developing Intel's LANDesk Management products. Richard’s current position at Intel is an application engineer responsible for software optimization, and enabling engineer, optimizing and enabling applications for Intel's latest and next generation products.

Merlin Pocket Hard Disk 320GB

2009-01-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

320GB Hi-Speed USB2.0 Pocket Drive with one click backup software.Requires no additional drivers or power.(WINME/XP/2000 & MAC OS9+)Great for transferring files from PC to PC, Data archiving & backups or just as an additional driveAvailable in sizes from 40GB - 160GB. Prices start from AED345/-

For more information http://www.ssscomputers.net/viewpro.asp?proid=127

160GB PhotoBank

2009-01-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

A USB2.0 pocket hard disk that can store and backup all your data. Available in sizes from 100gb-320gb.

The Photobank is more than just a regular USB Hard Disk though, it has slots for multiple types of memory cards (SD/MMC/CF etc.) to allow direct image/photo/data transfer from memory card - NO PC Required!

For more information visit http://www.ssscomputers.net/viewcat.asp?catid=39

IMON Remote with Ultra Bay

2009-01-27T19:53:00.001-08:00

The IMON remote is a full featured remote control for your PC. It comes with software to manage all your mp3's, videos/mp4's and photo's so that you can easily control them with the remote. It also works as a mouse and with applications such as Windows Media, Powerdvd, winamp etc.This hi-end version comes with a 5.25" BAY that you install in your PC to get an external voume knob, easy access buttons and a LCD displaying the latest news and forecasts.A video review of the Ultra Bay can be viewed below:

laptops under 1000 dollars

2009-01-27T07:37:00.001-08:00

The winner of today's top is HP Pavilion dv2660se. Let's find out why. At first, its price is lower - just 9. Then, it features a 1.5-GHz Core 2 Duo T5250 processor coupled with 2GB of memory shared with the laptop's Intel 965 Express integrated graphics, which means you may play 3D games.

The battery life is the longest - 6.3 hours. You will be impressed with the keyboard for easier typing. HP's QuickPlay menu saves your time and makes the most comfortable access to CD/DVD player without starting Windows first. The 14.1-inch, 1280*800 pixel screen is qualitative and allows you to enjoy films.

Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, a fingerprint reader, DVD writer and an ExpressCard slot give you the possibility just to use your computer and not to buy these extra-devices. This HP laptop has a lot of advantages and an affordable price. All its features will make your work on it pleasant and productive.

Sony HTD-DW995 Full HD 1080p Component Home Theater System - Be moved by a Hollywood studio-class home theater experience you won't soon forget. With

2009-01-27T07:34:00.001-08:00

Sony HTD-DW995 Full HD 1080p Component Home Theater System - Be moved by a Hollywood studio-class home theater experience you won't soon forget.

With an 8" active subwoofer for thrilling bass and 900 watts of total power, the HT-DDW995 component home theater system packs a punch.But all that power is nothing without connectivity, and with 2 HDMI inputs and Digital Media Port (DMP) the HT-DDW995 has all you need to enjoy a wide range of media.

Additionally, innovative Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and audio enhancement features improve the quality and impact of any audio input. Bring the cinema experience home with 5.1 channels of pristine surround sound. 7 audio inputs, 2 outputs 7 video inputs, 2 outputs Digital media port AM / FM tuner Accepts 1080p signal via HDMI AV Receiver with HDMI Active Intelligence Portable Audio Enhancer with Front Audio Input 5 satellite speakers with wood grain cabinets, 8? Active Sub Woofer Dimensions - 10 5/8 x 13 1/16 x 14 15/16 (270 x 331 x 380mm)

Panasonic SC-PT1050 Deluxe 5 DVD Home Theater System

2009-01-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

Panasonic SC-PT1050 Deluxe 5 DVD Home Theater System - You've just bought a widescreen TV and are ready to experience HDTV for the first time. Improved visual quality is just one part of the package. HDTV incorporates up to 5.1 channel Dolby-Digital compatible surround sound.

Now there's a dilemma. You want this sound performance to be part of the total experience, but how do you configure 6 speakers in your entertainment room?

You want the DVDs you watch to take full advantage of the HDTV you invested in, but you don't want to have to string so much cable to connect your rear surrounds and subwoofer. The Panasonic SCPT1050 makes it easy. The surround speakers and subwoofer are all wireless, meaning you can quickly mount them without worrying about running wire.

The progressive-scan 5-disc DVD/CD changer up-converts to 1080p, which means you'll get the most out of your HDMI-compatible HDTV with sharp and exceptionally detailed high-resolution images. And unlike ordinary video up-converters that produce images with thicker edges and decreased sharpness, the HD Enhancer keeps edges crisp and clear for outstanding detail.Super Surround puts you in the action with lifelike sound from every angle, and a Four-Step Subwoofer Level Control puts you in command with rich sound effects you can hear and feel. It also comes equipped to deliver exceptional sound quality from portable audio players and other new music sources.

Go ahead and listen to music on your iPod by using the included Universal Dock for iPod, or tune into your favorite XM stations with the integrated XM tuner.

One of the Apple's bestsellers.

2009-01-27T07:31:00.001-08:00

Apple MacBook MB062LL/B 13.3" Laptop was created and designed specially for your active and energetic lifestyle. Let's see if Apple laptop which has great price has great features as well.First of all, I'd like to remind you about the Apple's reputation.

What thoughts come on your mind, when you hear the word 'Apple'? I bet your associations with this company are very nice. Apple is the producer of a large quantity of different qualitative devices starting with flash cards and continuing with laptops.

The same situation is here. According to my opinion, the following laptop is a great combination of the price and quality.

Thanks to Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, a lot of newest functions are available. They will help you to make your work on the laptop easier and more comfortable. The list of such features numbers over 300 points.

It really impresses, doesn't it?The display with pixel-perfect 1280-by-800 resolution guarantees you the best work with media. It also features Intel Clear Video Technology, so you will be definitely satisfied with the great quality, clarity and richness of your images and videos. With the help of the built-in iSight camera, conferencing is not a problem for you anymore. Then, a pleasant innovation of the laptop is that the company tried to make there as less wires on the connectors as possible for your comfort.

One more interesting small point is waiting for you - it is Apple Remote. It means more freedom in your movements and the control of your laptop at the same time. Finally, I'd like to say that the design of the laptop is not extraordinary, but it is great for daily work.

A durable polycarbonate shell in white will save your device from unexpected scratches and damages. I guarantee you that if you buy Apple MacBook MB062LL/B 13.3" Laptop you will be able to discover a lot of useful functions for yourself. Stylish design, rather small size and great features - these are the characteristics of this Apple laptop.

BlackBerry Storm customers complain

2009-01-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

Despite a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, the new BlackBerry Storm has gotten off to a shaky start, according to The Wall Street Journal.
(Credit: Verizon Wireless)

The Storm, which is Research In Motion's first touch-screen device, was supposed to be Verizon Wireless's iPhone killer. Verizon is the exclusive carrier for the Storm. Apple's iPhone is sold exclusively by AT&T. Verizon and RIM had supposedly been working on the device even before AT&T launched the original iPhone two and a half years ago.

The Storm launched in November, in time for the holiday-shopping season. And while it sold well initially with about 500,000 shipping the first month, the Journal reports that many customers who bought the device are complaining of buggy software and hardware glitches.

Specifically, consumers say that the software used to type on the touch screen, which requires you to press down on the face of the phone, is sluggish. I have used the device on and off since it was launched November 21, and I'd agree that it is clunky.

Other examples: the accelerometer that senses and changes the view on the screen when it's turned on its side is slow. And sometimes the "sure press" screen is difficult to use because it registers the wrong character.

Verizon and RIM rushed the device to market, perhaps before it was really ready, according to the Journal article. The newspaper notes that Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-CEO said the companies reached the Black Friday deadline "by the skin of their teeth," after they had missed a planned October debut.

A new software release came out in December to fix many of the bugs. Balsillie and others say that initial software glitches are just the reality for new smartphones that are increasingly becoming more complex. Apple was also forced to release software upgrades after its launch of the iPhone 3G to fix bugs.

The Journal also notes that the companies are working to improve future releases of the Storm including the ability to type on a full keypad while the phone is in portrait mode. Currently, users only see the truncated keypad that is used for the BlackBerry Pearl when the phone is portrait mode. This keypad has multiple letters per key.

Verizon Wireless isn't discussing exact sales figures for the Storm. A company representative told the Journal that the device has lived up to expectations and added that the percentage of returns of the device are in the single digits.

Industry analysts will be listening closely to the company's earnings call Tuesday for clues to how well the phone is doing. And they will be assessing whether the phone can in fact live up to the promise of being an iPhone killer. Apple has already garnered about 25 percent of the smartphone market in North America.

The SMART has launch new flat-panel interactive whiteboard

2009-01-27T02:59:00.000-08:00

Now SMART has launched its latest interactive whiteboard with flat-panel at infoCom08 in Las Vegas. This whiteboard has simply touch feature to control the computer applications, the user can write in digital ink and also save their works.

It is compatible with broad range of flat panel brands and display sizes. The SMART whiteboard has use DViT(Digital Vision Touch) for Flat-Panel Displays, this technology is ensure touch precision without negotiating image quality.

Flash Cards: Lexar kicks out Eye-Fi powered Shoot-n-Sync WiFi SD card

2009-01-27T02:57:00.001-08:00

Lexar Flash Cards cool gadgets and Eye-Fi that were getting snuggly reverse in January and that look at that — nine months after that Lexar Shoot-n-Sync WiFi SD flash card has been inwards on our approach. The 2GB flash card is mostly now a Lexar-branded Eye-Fi Share, so you attractive greatly previously know how it works — you shoot, Flash Cards cool gadgets is uploads — and Flash Cards cool gadgets even same $99 price. Confidently Flash Cards cool gadgets two will be do something a small extra attractive now that they have a gotten just used to effective together.

Lexar Flash Cards cool gadgets also kick out a number of new Cards cool gadgets, include a latest â€œ4GB Memory Micro M2 card, and a 16GB Platinum II 60x SDHC card, and a 16GB Platinum II 80x Compact Flash cardâ€ — no pricing or simplicity of make use of on several of those yet, actually we would dream them soon Lexar Media Flash Cards cool gadgets today announce that a Shoot-n-Sync, a 2GB SD card with Wi-Fi ability powered by Eye-Fi. Obtainable in 2GB ability, aptly named Shoot-n-Sync will be obtainable in October for $99.99. Shoot-n-Sync works just similar to Eye-Fi Card; once you arrange it with your home Wi-Fi network, Flash Cards cool gadgets that will be repeatedly transmit in your camera’s images to your hard drive as well as to several number of photo sharing sites.

The company also is announcing that the adding to their mobile line of memory Cards cool gadgets, this cool gadgets which is companionable with Sony Ericsson phones and new Sony products.

AirCar - runs on compressed air

2009-01-27T02:55:00.000-08:00

After apocalyptic scenarios related to the global warming began to interest scientists, there already began to appear results of exploration in the field of energy economy and some other ecological technologies. In June 2007 Popular Mechanics announced that India, specifically Tata Motors, had begun production of the first car moved by air.

This year, Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) announces that production of the similar model, destined for USA market is expecting to begin till the end of 2009, or at least 2010.They have also tried to find some other solutions in nonpolluting propulsion domain.

For example Daewoo a South-Korean company, created a Matiz concept with a hybrid engine: air – electric. Australian company EngineAir also developed a "rotative engine" moved by pressed air. K'Airmobiles presented two working concepts "VPA" (Vehicle with Pneumatic Assistance) and "VPP" (Vehicle with Pneumatic Propulsion) in the end of the last year; maximum weight of such a model being limited by 250 kg.Propulsion technology of the AirCar's engine was developed by the former Formula 1 engineer for MDI (Motor Development International) from Luxemburg.

While in the internal-combustion engines pistons are moved be the explosion of the fuel, then in an AirCar the moving is realized by air under pressure.ZPM hope that soon the production of AirCars will be more than 10000 units annually. Models that will be launched will be OneCat, with two seats (as was produced in India) and MiniCat, with three seats.

The company is also intending to launch a model called CityCat with six seats.One refueling with 340 l of air under pressure will cost approximately 2 USD and will assure autonomy for more than 1000 km at the speed 100 km/h. The price for such a car is estimating to be 17800 USD.It sounds too good to be true? We hope that not.

Samsung Instinct vs Apple iPhone comparison

2009-01-27T02:50:00.000-08:00

When the iPhone first debuted in 2007, it was almost certain that this device from Apple would have an impact on the cell phone and smartphone market. Of course, the idea of touch screen is not new; it has been in PocketPC's for ages. However, Apple made a very interesting decision - they made a touch screen device that is fully finger operated, and that made a success. Multi-touch technology is not the point; the main point is that you do not need a stylus to work with your phone anymore. Certainly, after the success of iPhone, many other brands tried to make something similar. HTC Touch, smartphone based on Windows Mobile, made a little step forward to the finger navigation, but it failed this task, not because the model is bad, but because the OS it uses is not very finger-friendly. Therefore, in usability part, the Apple smartphone does not have any competitors. Or does it?

One of the biggest cell phone manufacturers, Samsung, observing the success of iPhone and playing on the wave of nowadays fashion, released the new model, completely finger-operated, which can be called true rival of iPhone. It is called Instinct, and is currently sold under Sprint carrier brand. It uses the same philosophy according to user interface as iPhone - finger navigation and complete rejection of stylus. So, we decided to compare this two interesting cell phones and review the advantages and flaws of each.First, we will start from basics.

Design

When it comes to design, it is certain that there cannot be one true answer, which phone looks better. Everyone has different tastes, so it is better to review some of the design specs this phones have. First - the shortage of hard navigation keys. iPhone has only one button on its face, while Instinct has three. It is arguable what solution is more useful, but in any case, these phones are touchscreen operated, so there could be no hard keys at all, every action can be done via virtual buttons on the screen. Both phones use similar style for icons and menus, however, Apple iPhone icons look somehow more polished. In any case, the design side of device is completely a matter of taste.

Display

When it comes to display, this is where the differences begin. The Instinct has a haptic touchscreen, which is very different compared to iPhones multi-touch. It can imitate the feel of regular button press, which is very useful for sensor screen devices; the main problem of virtual buttons is that they are unreal. Providing "real" feedback from pressed button is very nice feature than iPhone lacks. However, the iPhone gets it on the multi-touch side - unlike Instinct, it can be operated using two fingers, which makes the navigation much more intuitive and simple. Which one to choose? It is up to you. The display resolution is better on the iPhone though: 480 x 320 against 432 x 240 in his competitor, and it is 0.3 inches bigger.

Internal hardware

While both devices can send and receive calls, they do this in a very different way. iPhone use GSM connection, while Instinct is purely CDMA phone. Of course, Edge, used on iPhone, is far less rapid than EV-DO on the Instinct, but Apple phone has Wi-Fi, which is faster than both are. The camera on both is almost equal and has 2-megapixels. Instinct is a little more advanced in this domain - it can record video in QVGA resolution, 15 FPS. While iPhone uses triangulation as its GPS, and can draw a circle on map with approximate 1km radius, where you are standing now, Instinct has a true GPS chip that can tell your whereabouts far more precise. Instinct also has a slot for microSD cards, and its memory can be expanded up to 8 GB. Not bad, but iPhone had 8GB right from the start, and now there are even 16 GB models on the market. The only good side of microSD cards is their replaceability, so you can carry several cards and change them as you like. Moving to the musical side, both devices have 3.5 mm minijack for usual headphones, which make this phones look attractive for people who like music. Still, the headphone jack in iPhone is a little specific - it is sinked a little so only specific headphones can be plugged! There are tons of accessories that are used like adapters, but in any case, it is much more comfortable to just plug your headphones and go without need in purchasing some third-party adapters.

Software

The Apple smartphone is powered by specially redesigned Mac OS X, which will be familiar to all Mac users. However, it is not a copy of desktop edition; it is a very different product. While it has a possibility to work with installed applications, Apple blocked away this ability until release of iPhone SDK. Even now, when SDK is already released, it is not easy to just write your own program for iPhone - you must obtain a certificate from Apple first. Hackers already managed to overcome this limitation (trick known as "jailbreak"), but still it limits abilities of the device. Instinct is not a smartphone; it uses its own proprietary operating system, so you can forget about installing any software on it. It still has BREW though, used for navigation application. Moreover, it really is navigational software, not just Google Maps service that iPhone use. In other domains, such as audio and video software, photo gallery and such, they are almost the same. iPhone is fully iTunes compatible, so if you already purchased your music at this store, you can always upload it to the iPhone. Instinct has its own music store, powered by Sprint, and many other Sprint services such as Sprint TV.Unfortunately, Instinct lacks all that interesting features that are possible on the iPhone thanks to multi-touch. Even if you are not using this feature often, it is better to have this possibility. Safari is also Apple exclusive, so on Instinct you are left with a proprietary internet browser, which is far less intuitive and fast as Safari is. Taking in consideration iPhone's iTunes compatibility, it certainly has one of the best audio player software in the modern devices, simple and finger-friendly, as most of Apple devices are. Both phones support almost every multimedia format, after some conversion of course. Widescreen display aspect ratio and high resolution make these devices perfect for the role of portable multimedia centers. Let us not forget Instinct TV services, which makes it even more multimedia-oriented.

Conclusions

These two phones cannot be compared directly, because they belong to the different types: iPhone is a smartphone with a growing list of applications, and Instinct is a usual phone based on touchscreen. However, it is definitely true that Instinct is the best carrier phone from Sprint. iPhone lacks 3G capabilities, but it is already fixed in new model, which has GPS and 3G functionality, so Instinct wins this round only compared with original iPhone 1G. It is hard to declare the winner, so it will be the best to say that you should try both and select one that fits you the most.

Unpacking the ASUS FV6: The laptop that smells like pine

2009-01-27T02:47:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt that manufacturers no longer know how to do to surprise us. ASUS submits its application to your laptop with F6V more fragrant, smelling like a pine series.

Yes, you read right. The new F6V be a surprise any more open with its pine scent, a smell that does not repel it’ll take, since according to the people of PC Authority, it becomes unbearable after taking a few minutes at the computer.

It is true that after a full day open the odor disappears, and curiously, not to leave any option to recharge or replacement. Pay for your laptop has a special smell?

Discusses the HP touch smart tx2z and out relatively victorious

2009-01-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

There was some doubt whether the “extra” $ 300 (215.68 neurone) by the fact that the machine was multitasking justified, and people from Laptop Mag has thrown down the gauntlet over to get us out of doubt.

The first thing said is that the screen multitaskings showed sluggish in response and in terms of performance, reasonable expectations. The battery, meanwhile, endured with dignity if not used for the final will take 3 out of 5 stars in the final verdict.

The conclusion I draw is that HP is that all this has to improve the performance of the screen multitaskings to the criticisms are more favorable.

2009-01-27T02:44:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Engadget has leaked information and photos of the new Dell XPS 13. So you may have seen the same proportions as the existing XPS 13xx, but with a new design, much more monochromatic.

An important detail are the keys, I fear that Dell has also fallen like Sony in the key square with rounded edges, it may seem silly, but they are more keys in separate keyboards earlier, much better at writing. Includes HDMI port, FireWire, USB, a DVD slot-in.

Nokia 5730 XpressMusic: First Mobile Series with QWERTY keyboard

2009-01-27T02:39:00.000-08:00

This is the first model, in fact is, the number of mobile XpressMusic Nokia will have a QWERTY keyboard. Besides the operating system will come with Symbian S60 third generation, have a 2-inch screen, EDGE connectivity (such … this is not the’90s?), 3.2 Mpx camera, 129MB RAM, 140MB of internal memory, microSD card slot for 140MB if you do not reach, Bluetooth, EDR, FM radio and headphones.

Models come in blue and red 1.000mAh will have a battery that lets you use it for 4 hours and half while you talk or if you have 270 hours in standby. You’ll have to wait until April if you fell in love.

Olympus Stylus 8000

2009-01-27T02:37:00.000-08:00

The Olympus Stylus 8000 Tough-shock resistant, water, frost and trampling all those who have children in high menthos coca or begin to find the base-jump in open-motte boring. The new Stylus Tough Olympus-8000 is equipped with a sensor and modern 12Mpx promises to survive 10 meters deep under water in a free fall of 2 meters and 220 pounds of pressure.

It has some features such as facial recognition and optimization of shots. It will be proposed in the $ 400. And it has a little brother, the Stylus Tough-6000, a little less resistant to 1.50 meter drop to 3 meters under water. It will appear in February along with the big brother for $ 300. Very long press release in English after the link.

Tragedy: crushed by a rechargeable battery 9V

2009-01-27T02:34:00.000-08:00

Each passing day brings its share of horrors, and Gizmodo is also here to inform you if you entertain. Today, we can not ignore this scene unsustainable held a few days ago. The cool gadgets artists Lenny & Mariel have been able to capture this tragic moment, while relatives of the victim came contemplate the horrible reality.

Olympus SP-590UZ: 26x zoom abuse secrets

2009-01-27T02:31:00.000-08:00

Did you like the spy 24x zoom Kodak Z980? And you thought qu’Olympus would leave the biggest zoom bridge to competition?

Olympus will release the SP-590UZ, which ridicules the 20x optical zoom of the SP-570 with an upgrade to 26x for a 26-676mm equivalent. It was worth the name to extension that gives its 12 MP sensor in addition, recognition of faces (important on a 676 mm), an image stabilization and 29 different modes.

One might go on the list lifer (I note, but, an attractive compatibility with wireless flash of the mark) but know that for $ 450 you will make the James Bond kazoo in demo. Olympus fate we also STYLUS-7000 and Stylus-9000, nothing really crazy. The first is equipped with a 7x zoom (37mm-260mm), while the second draws up 10x (28mm-280mm) and broadens the angles. These two compact, as opposed to bridge SP-590UZ, a 12 Megapixel sensor, a stabilizing and will be available in February for $ 250, respectively, and $ 350.

Here is what could make your job better

2009-01-27T02:28:00.000-08:00

What you see in the picture is the Emperor workplace. We do not know you, but the first query that comes to mind is what will never cost a thing. Well, it costs $ 40,000 (about 30,500 euros). If this figure has made a shiver run down my spine, as happen to us, it is because, in all likelihood, do not you can afford.

If, however, some of you have the chance to buy one of these beasts with three head, sound system with Dolby THX envelop 5.1, air filter, light therapy and touch screen control, you know that it’s available now. Ah, you can use with both Mac and PC and has the largest position for docking laptop you’ve ever seen, along with a webcam and an included battery backup.

Automobile Theme in Computer Modding

2009-01-27T02:26:00.001-08:00

Now that's what you call an automobile theme; a computer built into a light-alloy wheel. Surely won't make your computer faster but will give it a cool look. Blue lights make it very appealing to the users and shines very nice in the dark.

They just took an Antera light-alloy 23" wheel and stuck mother board and all of the PC components into it. Original optical discs drive built into the middle part of it.

PC configuration:

â€¢ Intel D 945 3.4 GHz processor

â€¢ Asus P5LD2 Deluxe motherboard

â€¢ 2 GB Adata 667 RAM

â€¢ Leadtek PX-8800 GTS 320 MB Video card

â€¢ Thermaltake Blue Orb II and NorthQ 120 mm cooler fans

The insides of the PC are not blowing fast but the look makes me want something like this.

PDA for Blind

2009-01-27T02:24:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine a PDA without a touchscreen? With no screen at all? It is easier to imagine this when you take in consideration people who do not need any sort of imaging device - yes, blind people. It is hard for them to use modern gadgets, because they all require you to see the screen to operate, especially PDAs where all control is made using touchscreen.

Unfortunately, no PDA manufacturer takes in consideration this fact when designing a new model - seems like no one really cares. But that's not true - there are manufacturers who care.GW Micro developed a unique PDA, VoiceSense for use especially by blind people.

It does not have a screen, only buttons with Braille code, mic for voice commands and a loudspeaker. However, do not be fooled by its exterior, because it is an amazingly powerful device too! Intel PXA270 520MHz processor, 1GB of RAM, WiFi, two expansion slots for CF and SD cards, USB2.0 port, FM radio and much more! With help of this gadget, blind people can listen to music, chat with MSN Messenger and browse the internet - very amusing feature considering absence of any display.

It even reads books! All operations are done using voice commands and buttons – the control scheme was simplified to make controlling this PDA easier. The battery life is also a strong point of VoiceSense. 12 hours of work without recharging is amazing result for PDA – fair enough when taking in account absence of display.Of course, this gadget is a true entertainment center for those, who unfortunately cannot see all the beauty that is around us.

It is interesting to see how engineers found a way to manage the device without a screen or any other graphic method of information display. Moreover, this research is useful not only for blind - we all could benefit on improved voice recognition and voice synthesis, if it is used in a usual devices in future. The price of VoiceSense is high - 1895 dollars, which makes it hard to buy even for healthy people. We hope that charity organizations will look up to this interesting gadget and will help to deliver it to its true users.

Nokia 6208c announced in China

2009-01-27T02:14:00.001-08:00

Nokia was keeping us interested in its premieres all-round the year 2008 and the very last presentation of Nokia's smartphone was held on the 31st of December, right before the New Year. At the ceremony in Nanjing, China, Nokia unveiled the 6208c mobile phone.

The place for the presentation was not chosen accidentally of course. Many of those who follow major events in the world of gadgets might have become desperate to see any recent novelty before it appears in China, but Nokia 6208c is not likely to go round world markets – China will be the first and one of the few 6208c's markets.

This point is founded in the concept of the smartphone, in its Asian design, or may be in the fact that 6208c is a testing platform of new touchscreen capabilities.So, what does Asian design actually mean to Nokia 6208c? The first thing to mansion is that Nokia's corporate design didn't go far away, so Nokia is easily recognized in the 6208c model. When I saw it for the fist time, 6300 communicator has come to my mind, but obviously, 6208c takes the 6708's way, which is also a classic form factor touchscreen released in 2006. Secondly, 6208c is all about little creative differences in design. For instance, I can not bypass its stylus.

This is the most interesting stylus by design ever I believe. However, I don't like calling it weird or strange because Nokia would not place a poorly though out product under world's consideration, and who knows, may be it turns out to be so comfortable to use, that you wouldn't like to change it. Anyway the idea was to make it look like bamboo slips. Not an ordinary design of course, hence questionable, so let's move to unquestionable pluses.

One of those is Chinese hieroglyph recognition, write it down on the notepad and the phone will find the most appropriate hieroglyph in its library. Very good, but Nokia is not the first to have this sort of thing, iPhone also has this feature.Other features are QVGA display with 2.4 inches and 320 x 240 resolution, 3.2 Mpix camera with 4 x digital zoom, dual LED flash, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, 3.5 mm jack, expandable with microSD cards memory and lots of other features that have not been described properly on the presentation.

Yet is only clear that Nokia 6208c will be available in China in the first half of 2009, no word on pricing and other markets.

Apple news - new MacBook Pro announced, MacBook lineup upgrade

2009-01-27T02:10:00.000-08:00

We all expected some great news from recent Apple presentation, and we were right. Company presented some new laptops, renovations of their previous models and, of course, the star of the show - new MacBook Pro, which was the most expected release this time. Surely, Apple continued their politics of "leaked" photos days before the final event - this move greatly increased the anticipation of new MacBook lineup.

Let's come closer to the news and review each novelty separately.We'll start from the most anticipated and significant upgrade - new MacBook Pro. It became much thinner, now its thickness is only 2.4 cm (0.9 inches). Its body is fully aluminum now, this makes it feel similar to MacBook Air and improves its durability. Apart from hardware changes, which include NVIDIA GeForce 9400M / 9600M GT GPU and optional SSD drive, new MacBook Pro has new glass trackpad, which is an evolution of all previous trackpad versions. It is 39% larger than previous models, has multi-touch for gestures, and is made from glass for silky-smooth travel.

Steve Jobs also presented new four-finger gestures that can be used for Expose launch or task switching. New MacBook Pro is presented in two versions: cheaper one for 1999 dollars, which include 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 250 GB HDD, 2 GB DDR3 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GPU with 256 GDDR3; and more expensive one for 2499 dollars, with 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 320 GB HDD and GeForce 9600M with 512 GDDR3 memory. All versions include 15.4 inch LCD with LED backlight and 1440 x 900 resolution, iSight webcam, AirPort Extreme WiFi capabilities, one Gigabit Ethernet port and one FireWire 800 port, ExpressCard/34 slot and Bluetooth 2.1.

Apple claims that new MacBook Pro will have 5 hours battery life - if this is true, it is amazing for such strong characteristics.MacBook lineup was refreshed with 13-inched MacBook, its features are similar to those of MacBook Pro, however, it is a bit cheaper.

As always there will be two versions: cheaper one for 1299 dollars will be equipped with 2 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and 160 GB HDD, more expensive one will come with 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo and 250 GB HDD for 1599 dollars. Both versions have 13.3 inch LCD with LED backlight, new glass multi-touch trackpad, 2 GB DDR3 RAM and GeForce 9400M GPU. 5 hours of battery life is announced, same as for MacBook Pro.Sensation of the last year - MacBook Air, was also upgraded a bit to correspond with his larger brothers. New MacBook Air edition gained new GeForce 9400M GPU, 120 GB HDD / 128 GB SSD. Version with HDD and 1.6 GHz CPU will cost 1799 dollars, more expensive one with SSD and 1.86 GHz CPU - 2499 dollars.Not only MacBook lineup was refreshed - Cinema Display lineup was upgraded too with new 24 inch LED backlighted LCD with iSight camera built-in. Its resolution is 1920 x 1200, mic and speakers are also built-in. USB hub and MiniDisplay port finish the list of its features.

They ill be sold for 899 dollars, which is pretty much for LCD monitor, but this is Apple.This year's presentation was fully aimed at MacBook enhancement, and they are quite impressive. While not as revolutionary as MacBook Air launch, new MacBook Pro is definitely worth looking at. Let's hope that we'll see more interesting Apple news in the future.

Dual screen laptop: Is it more convenient than ordinary ones?

2009-01-26T21:27:00.001-08:00

Estari Company based in Pennsylvania has created a really cool gadget laptop that has two touch-screens instead of one screen and a keyboard. Estari began its existence as a software company and now develops hardware. This company has created and patented dual-screen laptop. 2-VU is the name of this gadget and it has been created for the U.S. military. However, now it is being sold to ordinary people as well.The laptop is pretty powerful computer and its hardware is pretty new:

1.83 GHz Intel Dual Core processor
1 GB RAM memory
60 GB hard disk
2 15-inch displays
No ordinary mouse
No ordinary keyboard

Cool huh? Having 2 displays is very cool. First of all the area where you can see data or whatever there is what you are viewing is twice as big as it used to be. So here is where it beats an ordinary laptop with a usual keyboard. This means that you can watch a movie and your neighbor can read the news online on the same laptop at the same time. Not only are these but there are very many advantages that you get having 2 screens instead of one.You are going to have not just two screens, but they are also touch-screens and it means that you do not need any mouse or keyboard to work with it.

Touch-screens have become so popular these days that they have built some into the laptop.However, there are two problems that concern me about these touch-screens. One of them is the durability of such a screen. However, they should be durable; they have been intended for the military forces and they do need durability there. On the other hand this is a model for citizens and not the army.

The other thing that concerns me is typing. When you type using all the ten fingers you do not look at the keyboard. There are special buttons where you put your forefingers.

There will be no such thing on your screen so it would be kind of difficult to aim. The other thing about typing is feeling the other buttons. When I type I need to feel the buttons because I can miss them. However, I think that if you use it a lot you will eventually get used to all the inconveniences. It is actually for you to decide what you want. And it would obviously be cool if you show up somewhere with a piece of gadget like this one.

This is the only laptop that has two displays and it is only the beginning. Having such a monster gadget will cost you a lot of money. You will be able to buy it for $ 4,350 and it is not cheap. I would actually wait to buy this gadget because I think it is a bit too expensive for me.

HP Pavilion dv-41199: Launch a laptop with waves on the outside

2009-01-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

HP launched a special edition of the Pavilion dv4-1199 called Mysterious Waves (waves mysterious) shows that waves on the outside to do honor to his name. The design features a blue with gray really nice to see. It comes with Windows Vista (HP Pavilion dv-41199!), An Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, 14.1-inch screen with BrightView Infinity and a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, Blu-ray reader and a card Video Nvidia GeForce 9200M GS.

Sylvania GNET28001ON Meso 8.9-Inch Netbook PC (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Ubuntu OS, 4 Cell Battery) Black

2009-01-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

Free yourself from clumsy electronics and enjoy uncompromising mobility with the G netbook Meso. Smaller and lighter than a laptop, the G netbook Meso was meant to be used anywhere life takes you.

Flexing Intel's new Atom processor, enjoy powerful computing without the weight: only 2.2 lbs. Access pictures, music, movies and the web without the bulk of a laptop. Discover the netbook -- the next generation in personal productivity.

Indulge in portable, lightweight connectivity at an affordable price. 8.9 diagonal (1024 x 600) Backlit LED Display Integrated Webcamera Intel 945 Express Graphics Chipset 802.11b/g Wireless 10/100 Ethernet Multi Card Reader 3 x USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, RJ-45 LAN Approximate Unit Dimensions - 9 (L) x 7 (W) x 1.25(H) Approximate Unit Weight - 2.2 PoundsCustomer feedback:This little netbook is half the size of a normal laptop, and weighs hardly anything.

I was really impressed with the Ubuntu operating system - don't be intimidated if you have never used linux before! It is super easy to get used to, and what is really awesome is the add/remove program tool. Instead of going to the computer store and buying programs, you just use this application to access literally thousands of programs to do anything, even great games - ALL ARE FREE! It operates silently, runs all sorts of programs quickly (3D games not so well), transfers data via USB faster than any other computer I have used, and the battery lasts almost 3 hours - though it was 3.5 hours when I got it a month ago. Everyone who sees this computer loves it too.

When comparing stats to other little netbooks you will see that this is the best buy, and trust me - get the Ubuntu version and stop being a slave to corporate software giants!!!

Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch PAG80-1V likes adventures!

2009-01-26T21:07:00.000-08:00

It's a real problem to find an interesting, amazing, wonderful and useful present for a husband or a boyfriend, a brother or just a friend! Let me present you Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch PAG80-1V! It can be a nice solution for every woman or girl that wants to surprise her man! In my opinion every man should be strong, self-confident, interesting, intelligent and like sport and adventures! If the person you want to admire is like that, Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch will be a wonderful present! But it will be even irreplaceable if that person is a sailor or a military man.

This watch will remind to the owner about you and you care! The watch is made very well-thought out. First of all, it includes the functions that will be appreciated by people who like being outside, different trips, hikes, adventures, extreme sports. These are built in thermometer, barometer, digital compass and altimeter! Unfortunately, I would like to notice, that the taken measures can't be considered very exact. The digital compass shows 16 directions! Its memory allows you to capture your different measures, such as direction, time, date.

Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch #PAG80-1V has an alarm clock that can be easily set up. All the watches have such feature to stop when it's not necessary at all, at the most important moment. The reason is - the battery is law. If you have Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch, you will never be able to change batteries, because there are no batteries! The watch is solar-power-charging in sun light or indoors light. The watch also has such unusual for usual watch function as a yacht timer! That means that you are able to time the start of regattas! There is an acoustic signal every minute, but the last 10 seconds it is emitted every second. Pay your attention to such thing, that it is very easy to push the buttons and operate the watch even wearing gloves! Of course, the watch is water resistant.

The watch also includes AfterGlow LED electro-luminescent backlight!The material used for band and case is resin for the best protection. Anyway, it is the most actual material to be used for such watch!So, Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch can become a great present for your man (if you are a woman) or for yourself (if you are a man)!At last, the watch looks really great, sporty and stylish! In everyday life it can be just an amazing accessory if you don't need at the moment the other functions! Who knows, maybe with the help of the Casio Men's Pathfinder Solar Digital Watch #PAG80-1V you will find a treasure or gold! So, what is the next direction for a new adventure?!

Windows 7 Beta review

2009-01-26T20:58:00.001-08:00

Shortly after Windows Vista launch, first gossips about intensive work on a new OS appeared - codenamed Windows Vienna. Seeing the blast that Windows Vista made in delivering completely new user interface, compared to XP, everybody thought that next Windows will have even more differences and will be completely revolutionary. Years passed, Microsoft released first Service Pack for Vista, renamed Windows Vienna to Windows 7 and we all started to wait for the first information about new OS. Now, when Windows 7 Beta is publicly available, we must say that it IS a big step forward: not revolutionary (like Vista after XP), but evolutionary. After all piles of garbage that were thrown at Vista during its lifespan, it is pleasing to see that Windows 7 is not a completely new OS - it is Windows Vista made how it was meant to be. In this review we'd like to describe some new features, compare it to the previous version, and warn users about possible bugs and glitches in Beta.After Windows Vista launch, so-called "first screenshots of upcoming OS from Microsoft" appeared. Majority of them were fakes, some of them were just concepts. People started to think that Microsoft will totally revamp User Interface so it will be completely different, and many of them were shocked when first real screenshots hit the web. They were completely indistinguishable from Vista - UI was almost completely the same! There were many differences in the inside, but on the outside it wasn't different from Vista. To prevent people from disappointment, Microsoft launched big press conference, dedicated to the upcoming Windows 7, where all the features were carefully presented and explained. It created big rise of interest, many were anticipating announced "feature complete" Beta. Microsoft plans for admitting only 2.5 million of Beta testers were overthrown with huge amount of users interested in trying new OS, so they stopped the counter and released their Beta for everyone who wants to test it. Of course, we got interested in it too, so we installed it on our spare HDD.

Configuration of our test machine is:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 @ 2.53GHz2 GB DDR2

RAM @ 1033 MHzNVIDIA

GeForce 8600GT 256 MB

Samsung HDD 230 GB

SATA2

So, let's begin our test.

First impressions

After the installation process, which was fast (approximately 25 minutes), we noticed that Microsoft at last made an attractive Boot Screen. After the poorly done Vista loading bar, Windows 7 animations during the boot time are very pleasing. Modern OS must be modern in anything, so this change, while not so significant, shifts the impression from the OS to the positive side. After attractive animation, desktop showed in. After Aurora theme in Windows Vista, made in green / yellow colors, Microsoft shifted to the blue theme. Logon screen looks like water, with rays of light shining from the surface. Thoughts about water confirmed when default wallpaper showed in - it got a pretty fishy in its center. Famous SuperBar, one of the most hyped features of Seven is here, we'll return to it later. Aero effects are the same, same transparent glass window borders, same Windows Flip 3D animations. Icons look a little refreshed; they seem somehow less glossy and more serious. Overall, the UI speed was increased, Windows 7 feels much more responsive than Vista, on the same machine and in the same conditions. But what's new in the next installment of Microsoft OS compared to Vista?

New features

One of the most hyped and anticipated feature is Microsoft's evolution of Windows taskbar, where all open windows minimized to. Now it is called Superbar and it works similar to Mac OS dock. For better understanding, imagine that quick launch panel got combined with taskbar. You still have big application launch buttons, but when you open application, it minimizes into its button. If that application has several minimized windows, they will all minimize to one button, making button look like a pile of icons. Clicking on that pile will bring menu, very similar to that window thumbnails that was shown in Vista while hovering an item in taskbar, with a significant difference - you can close and activate windows by clicking on them. Hovering the mouse over one of them will bring that window to the front, making other windows fully transparent, and it will return to the previous state when mouse pointer leaves thumbnail's position. This feature is called Aero Peek and is very useful in deciding which window must be maximized, or, as name tells, for brief look on the page contents.

Other interesting function of Superbar is Jump List, quick menu that is accessed via right clicking an icon. It is unique to every application, and contains some useful elements, which can be selected before launching application. It can be the "recently opened" file list, or some special functions like history of visited web pages or quick access to bookmarks in IE8. Unfortunately, at this moment such jump lists are available only on the built-in applications like Internet Explorer, but it is only a matter of time before such lists will appear in other applications. Some of the applications, like Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer can display progress bars right on the icon, so user can always see the progress of downloading or copying. These functions improve the friendliness of user interface and greatly increase effectiveness of work.

System tray was also greatly reworked. From the pile of unneeded and useless icons it became a fully customizable panel. From now on, user can configure behavior of every icon, show it always or show only notifications. Unneeded icons hide in handy box menu, which is way more comfortable to use than old "arrow-styled" method.

In Windows 7 Microsoft introduced new way to organize windows on the desktop, which is called Aero Snap. It includes many functions, which make window management much more efficient. When user drags a window to the edge of the screen, transparent borders will show what position that window will take, if dropped. Dragging window to the right side maximize it to the right side of your screen, same with the left, dragging to the upper side maximizes window to full screen. Very handy when you need to compare something or when working with several open documents! Shaking the window while dragging it will minimize all other windows to Superbar - an interesting function, when you need to quickly hide all other windows except the one you work with.

Windows Sidebar, while keeping its name, is no longer a sidebar - gadgets are now a part of desktop, and can be placed everywhere on it. Of course you could do that in Vista too, but now they are completely standalone, and can be accessed by right clicking the desktop. Also, very useful feature of new gadgets - they are no longer minimized when you press "Show desktop" button or WIN+D. Unfortunately, not every Vista gadget will work in the new OS, some of them experience unpleasant graphics issues while some are not working at all.

Windows Vista added useful option for virtual folders in User folder - in Windows 7 they moved even further. Microsoft introduced Libraries, so every virtual folder is not a single folder anymore, but a compilation of folders you like. At last they do not limit user to using only one folder for music and one for video - now you can make compilations from whatever folders you like, which leads to greatly increased content management.Other convenient feature of Seven is Home Group, tool that simplifies network sharing of media files. With it enabled user can easily manage what content should be accessible from other network computers, and what permissions to give. Of course, it can be done manually, however it is much easier with automated tool. It also protects user from accidentally leaving security holes in his network, so only multimedia folders will be shared. Speaking of network features, Windows 7 also simplifies selection of Wireless networks, which are now easily accessed right from network tray icon.

Another hugely hyped feature of Windows 7 is Device Stage, a useful tool to manage external devices. Unlike to previous Windows versions, where external devices needed some third party applications to be recognized in Windows, this time all that work should be done inside the OS. With the especially designed drivers, it should be possible to work with every of your devices in one especially designed for that device window. Microsoft representatives gave an example with mobile phone, which was recognized by Device Stage and had its own control window, which showed basic information about the device (battery state, signal strength) and all the actions that can be made with it, i.e. synchronization etc. Let's hope that every manufacturer will support this feature, because it seems very useful and interesting.

One of the most annoying features in Windows Vista was User Account Control, aka UAC. It was announced like one of the main features of Vista, but it turned out to be a real pain for the users. It asked your permission for doing almost everything, including going to Control Panel or installing / uninstalling applications. It was intended for security purposes, and it indeed helped to make working with PC safer, but many users turned it off because it annoyed them. Folks in Microsoft understood that, and improved UAC a bit. Instead of on / off switch as before, it has a slider that adjusts the "security meter" from total paranoia to complete shutdown. There are four positions, so you can carefully adjust this level for every user.

Interesting option appeared in the User Management, called Safeguard PC. It can be used on simple User accounts by checking the appropriate checkbox. After that, if this user makes some changes during his session, after log off all files and settings will be restored to initial state - very useful for small children that may mess up your computer accidentally changing some options.

Interface and appearance improvements, while some are major, like redesigned taskbar, others are minor, but noticeable. Menus in Control Panel are sliding in and out, which makes it feel way smoother than on Vista. "Computer" screen has an useful option to hide all empty drives, so multi-format card readers will not make a huge list of empty drives - they will appear only if card is inserted. At last that useful Remaining space colored bar show the remaining space on removable drives too, not only on hard disks - very strange that they haven't done it earlier, now it seems much more logical. Other minor improvements were made to the Customization menu, which now is tuned to make customization way easier than on Vista. Some will find useful new wallpaper slide-show feature, which can change wallpapers from selected list in a set time intervals. Good side of all this is that all customization functions, like theme, wallpaper, screensaver and sound scheme settings are brought in one place. Overall the looks of new OS feels much more polished than on the Vista, and this is a very positive sign - Microsoft at last gave attention to the small details, which, when combined together, influence the overall impressions about the OS.

Found bugs

In the process of our testing we found several bugs and glitches, some of them are simply annoying, some were a little more serious. Amazingly, no critical bugs were found - system showed very good stability for the first Beta. In any case, we would list them, to warn all possible users of Windows 7 Beta about them.The most significant bug is hidden inside the Windows Media Player. If your MP3 files have images written in tags, such as Album Art, WMP chops the first 5 seconds of the file. Unfortunately, this change cannot be undone, so backup your library before synchronizing it with Media Player.

Shortly after first reports about this problem showed in, Microsoft released the KB961367 hotfix for this problem, so it is already fixed.Fortunately, other bugs are much less critical as never so destructive as the first one. If UAC is disabled, gadgets are not working - they work only in Administrator account. So if you use User account and you hate UAC, the only solution is to adjust the UAC level so to the second position, leaving it working on the lowest setting possible. Or wait for MS to fix it in final version; it's all up to user.Another small and insignificant issue is the size of context menu, which sometimes gets very wide if some context menu options have images.

Customization menu sometimes hangs when opening folder with many pictures in it, and sometimes themes are "stuck" so only system reboot will fix them. There exist some other small glitches, but they don't deserve to be reviewed as they are very insignificant.

Conclusions

It is amazing that the amount of critical bugs in Beta is minimal, previous Betas from Microsoft suffered from many critical errors and were very unstable. This time Microsoft did a good job in releasing polished Beta version that is working faster than stable version of Vista - even in the same conditions. Of course, not all software is compatible with Windows 7, however due to it using the same kernel as Vista, almost every program that worked in Vista can be launched in Windows 7 - directly or with help of Compatibility Wizard. In the process of testing we found that almost all software worked, problems occurred with drivers and hardware-based applications only.

Developers will need some time to release Windows 7 compatible drivers and programs, and this is normal - all the hard work will be done before the public release of Final RTM version. It is curious that Windows 7 will work on every PC that supported Vista and won't ask for an upgrade, it works better than Vista on the same hardware - amazing results, Microsoft! For now, we have an excellent example of how people should learn on its mistakes - Windows 7 looks and feels like a very polished Windows Vista. It delivers many new features that make the work with OS pleasant quick and comfortable. So let's wait until the end of 2009 to see the final version of this interesting OS.

ISIS! Unlock the mystery and find the hidden treasure!

2009-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

The Egyptian pyramids found on the list of 7 miracles of the world are surrounded by a great deal of secrets and legends. Some unknown forces protect these huge structures and do not allow anyone to penetrate into the heart of the history and culture of the ancient Egyptians, or break silence of great kings' tombs. May be, these are the powerful Egyptian gods, may be the art of placing traps perfectly mastered by wise priests. Nobody knows for sure how long the pyramids will remain riddles for mankind, but it is known that Andrew Reeves, inspired by the pyramids and an Egyptian goddess, managed to create a fascinating and very complicated game - riddle. The game is named in honor of the Egyptian goddess of the sky and nature - Isis. Andrew Reeves, the father of Isis puzzle, invested over 3 years and more than 200,000 pounds in the development of the game. Andrew created surely the most difficult puzzle of all time that is almost impossible to crack! The Isis puzzle is an interactive mind game created for players who have to open a metal ball which is constructed in layers and covered with Egyptian symbols. The task is to break the code and reveal a special key inside by moving details of the ball. The key has a number stamped on it. It must be used to open one of the ISIS golden pyramids.

These pyramids are located throughout the UK, each of them contains a gold coin, if you are the first who finds it and a silver one for the next finders. It is really interesting that every Isis puzzle is hand-crafted in the UK, and the latest engineering technologies are used to ensure a high level of quality and precision. The final role in design of the Ball is played by a solid wooden box with a high polish finish, in which the ball is placed. The designers of the ISIS are so confident of its supreme difficulty that they've put cash prizes for those who manage to break the ISIS code. And, that is what the creator himself says about his brainchild, 'The ISIS appeared as the result of continuous research and development . There are about millions of combinations. The game challenges the most intellectual of minds. The game may become a real obsession and you get restless until you crack the code.... 'And what about you? Do you think it is possible? Would you like to break open the code, check up yourself and your opportunities?Cool gadgets are a hidden treasure waiting to be found. You don't have to do too much online surfing to find cool stuff for your collection of high tech gadgetry. There are plenty of people reviewing these things, so be sure to do some research before you buy anything.

Intel launched new SSD

2009-01-26T20:53:00.001-08:00

Intel announced at the Intel Developer Forum conference from San Francisco that is going to launch new SSD gadgets. At last the big day has come. In the day of 8th September company began selling new X18-M (1,8 inches) and X25-M (2,5 inches) storage devices, SSD with SATA interface and that are based on MLC NAND technology.New gadgets are silent, work at lower temperatures than classical hard discs. These gadgets optimize efficiency of processors, performance of system rising with up to 9 times in comparison with hard discs. Combining the experience of flash memory designing with the experience of creating processors and computerized surveys, new SSD benefits of a number of improvements such as parallel architecture on 10 channels, a superior administration of memory algorithms that allow a faster reading and writing and many others. These two models are available with 80 GB storage capacity (till the end of the year will be also available with 160 GB). Reading speed is up to 250 MB/s and that of writing is up to 70 MB/s. The prize for those more than 1000 commanded gadgets is 595 dollars. In 90 days it is expecting to appear Intel X25-E Extreme SATA Solid-State Drive based on SLC technology and designed specially for servers.

Intel's new technology - Anti-Theft Protection

2009-01-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

Owning a hi-tech device is undoubtedly a big pleasure and joy for most of users. Common mobile phone – a gadget that probably every modern society's member has already got used to. No wander, but the issue is that every piece of technology in our pockets is a bait for a mugger. While smartphones are able to run specialized antivirus and anti-thieft software, notebooks are remaining unprotected basically. Thankfully, Intel has fixed the problem and they will present the salvation scheduled on the summer '09. What they have introduced into a common notebook is a new pack of software that is aimed to protect personal data on a stolen or forgotten notebook, as well a notebook its self. The new Intel technology is called Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection Technology, and I personally thing it will have its future.You might have probably figured out already what sort of services Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection Technology can provide. First of all, if a laptop gets stolen or forgotten somewhere, to take steps to protect it, the gadget must be equipped with a mobile broadband. Actually Ericsson is currently working very closely with Intel to both: develop the protection service and to make sure that Ericsson Mobile Broadband Modules will be working with it without any collisions. So, this is how the whole thing works: when you want to activate this Intel feature in any case, send then a SMS on a particular number, so it comes on the notebook, interferes with the Protection center and the computer is now blocked and reports its location via GPS. Blocked means that it won't boot until it receives another SMS, confirming that the danger is behind. If it happens so that the lost or stolen laptop was turned on before the blocking SMS was sent, on receiving it, Anti-Theft will delete cryptographic keys so the data on HDD becomes unreadable. It doesn’t say how to recover these key, though, Intel promises it will work. To get a laptop back to normal after blocking, it has to sign in Absolute Monitoring Center successfully.

Transformers Cell Phones - New Concept

2009-01-26T20:47:00.000-08:00

Transformers theme has become quite popular today and there are many projects working on that. However, folks at Parkoz Hardware have come up with a very unique idea. Transforming cell phones, are they gadgets of the future?Remember that cell phone in the Transformers movie that they put in the chamber and how it started transforming? Our cell phone could do that too consider Parkoz Hardware guys. Transforming from a usual cell phone to a destruction machine these gadgets would be very cool.A pair of guns, mechanical legs and an evil mind makes the cell phone perfect mini weapon of mass destruction with reduced power of course. Well this would be helpful when threatening your pets or when asking your boss for a pay raise.The only problem left is battery life. The battery needs to be very powerful in order to support this monster's movements. Oh, and one little problem, it needs to have some artificial intelligence micro chip in order to work, but thatâ€™s no problem for our noble minds.One last issue: what would they use as bullets? Anybody? Anything?

Intel to launch new CPUs for lower-cost thin notebooks

2009-01-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

Intel is planning to release new processors for lower priced thin and light notebooks based on its Core architecture later this year. The new chips are said to be a tweak of the current ULV (ultra low voltage) Intel design and should fit into a segment pricier than the Atom, which powers netbooks, but below that of today’s ultra portable computer systems, which are typically priced at around $1500 - $3000 or even higher. In this sense, the new chips will be comparable to the Athlon Neo processor from AMD, which was recently announced alongside a $699 ultra portable model from HP, the Pavilion dv2. Sadly, Intel doesn't seem to be quite ready to share many more details at this time, with the company only saying that the processor could be used in laptops that are less than one inch thick, and that the processor itself would measure just 22 x 22-millimeters.

By Jose Vilches, TechSpot.com Published: January 12, 2009, 11:28 AM EST

PHONE, IPOD, INTERNET AND MORE

2008-12-29T03:04:00.000-08:00

Introducing iPhone 3G. With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. And like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. iPhone 3G. It redefines what a mobile phone can do — again.

Phone
Make a call by tapping a name or send a text with the intelligent keyboard.
Phone SMS

iPod
Enjoy music and video on a widescreen display and shop for music with a tap.
iPod iTunes

Internet
Browse the web, get HTML email, and find yourself with GPS maps.
Safari Mail Maps

APPLE - NANO- CHROMATIC

2008-12-29T02:55:00.000-08:00

APPLE - NANO- CHROMATIC

Curved aheadof the curve.
For those about to rock, we give you nine amazing colors. But that’s only part of the story. Feel the curved, all-aluminum and glass design and you won’t want to put iPod nano down. Learn more

Great looks.And brains, too.
The new Genius feature turns iPod nano into your own highly intelligent, personal DJ. It creates playlists by finding songs in your library that go great together. Learn more

Now you can shake, shuffle, and roll.
Give your iPod nano a shake and it shuffles to another song in your library — thanks to the built-in accelerometer. And you can turn it sideways to view your albums in Cover Flow. Learn more

1-800-MY-APPLE
Find an Apple Retail Store.
Find your local authorized reseller.

Apple The Dream iPhone Pro

2008-12-29T02:39:00.000-08:00

Apple
The Dream iPhone Pro

Nokia patent application shows strange Communicator design

2008-12-28T09:23:00.000-08:00

December 27th, 2008 by Edwin in Conceptual Gadgets, Mobile Phones

Nokia has been playing their cards close to their chest most of the time when it comes to cell phone releases, as their designs tend to lean towards the safe side of things. Well, good thing the Finnish telecommunications company is going the extra mile to come up with a potentially groundbreaking design in the future, if what we see above in a recent patent application goes through to the manufacturing process. This completely weird four-way folding Communicator is full of hinges, keys and pixels that consists of “at least four device parts,” making us wonder what those parts are exactly. What do you think Nokia is up to?

Matrox PowerDesk for Mac announced

2008-12-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

December 22nd, 2008 by Edwin in Apple News, Software

Matrox Graphics Inc. has made available its PowerDesk for Mac desktop management software for Graphics eXpansion Modules (GXMs) used with Apple Mac systems. What makes the PowerDesk for Mac stand out is by improving how and where windows are arranged, making it much easier for users to run multiple applications on a Matrox DualHead2Go or TripleHead2Go multi-monitor set up.
The PowerDesk software-which comes with an easy-to-use interface for setting supported GXM multi-display modes-offers time-saving features that eliminate the need to manually position applications on a multi-monitor configuration. With a keyboard shortcut you can move windows between monitors while maximizing a window to fit a single display. In addition, the Dock can be dedicated to the bottom left, center, or right hand side of your preferred external display.
You will be able to download the PowerDesk for Mac software here.

Wal-Mart sells iPhone 3G for slightly less

2008-12-28T08:58:00.001-08:00

December 26th, 2008 by Edwin in Apple News, Mobile Phones

Most of us who shop at Wal-Mart tend to think that we are getting a better bargain there compared to elsewhere, which is true most of the time if you want to put up with sub-par service and even the risk of getting trampled to death due to insufficient security during mad rush days like Black Friday. Still, for folks who have yet to jump aboard the iPhone 3G bandwagon after more than half a year and want to do so, they can now head down to their local Wal-Mart from Sunday onwards, although you won’t find it to be much cheaper compared to those found in AT&T and Apple Stores. In fact, it will retail for $197 - a (sarcastically) whopping $2 discount over the standard $199 price point for the 8GB version while the 16GB model is going for $297. Does this mean you get more value out of a shorter contract? No - the phones are still attached to a new 2-year service agreement with AT&T or with a qualified upgrade.

Apple files for ’swipe-gesture’ patent application

2008-12-28T08:56:00.001-08:00

December 26th, 2008 by Edwin in Apple News

Apple is a company well known for rolling out firsts in the computing industry, and I must acknowledge that their phenomenal success with multi-touch gestures on their iPhone and iPod touch has won me over as a fan for life. Good thing this has upped the ante with Windows-based computers, as we now see some of the Windows-based notebooks coming with generous sized touchpads that feature more than just point-and-click functionality of yore, although they don’t really epitomize the ease-of-use associated with Apple’s multi-touch gestures. This time round, Apple boffins aren’t resting on their laurels as the company has had visions of improved touch screens floating around in their heads. On Christmas Day, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office revealed an Apple patent application that consists of a swipe-gesture system to be used on touch screen keyboards. What does this all mean for the end user? Well, it basically entails the user to “perform certain functions using swipes across the key area rather than tapping particular keys.”

VisoBoard makes you more…visible

2008-12-28T08:53:00.001-08:00

VisoBoard makes you more…visible
December 26th, 2008 by Edwin in Office Gadgets

Want your business premise to stand out from the rest of the competition? Now that can be a tough question to answer, but not so if you have the help of the VisoBoard. At least that’s what the manufacturer claims, since it is able to speak out your deal at just a glance in order to attract the hundreds of passers-by at your store front each day. The VisoBoard is the modern chalkboard, and best of all is, you don’t have to deal with breathing in chalk dust while you’re, er, chalking out your latest offers. This is the perfect replacement for LED message boards, and each $379.99 (before tax) purchase comes with the following :-
One adapter
One battery mount
High Performance Cleaning Towel
Four Water-Based Fluorascent Markers

Some of Our Favorite Gadgets & Gear

2008-12-27T00:57:00.000-08:00

Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

iPod Touch 32GB
The iPod Touch remains the class of the field, with beautiful design, useful apps, a touch screen, and built-in Wi-Fi.
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

Pandigital 15-Inch Digital Photo Frame
Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

Nintendo Wii
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

Mio Moov 310 GPS
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

Canon Selphy CP770
Choose this model for its looks rather than its overall performance, which is merely adequate.
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews

LP3065 Black 30" Widescreen LCD Monitor
The HP delivers stellar image quality, with crisp text and vibrant colors. Three DVI ports and eight USB ports set it apart.
Full Review • Test Report • Compare Prices • User Reviews