Tech Area

HP/Palm Pre3 Coming Soon

2011-03-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

Palm's models have traditionally been targeted mainly at corporate and professional users because of the large full keyboards. Now dubbed HP's Pre3 it is the first model to take after Palm after the acquisition by HP, and the target audience is no different from before.

Among other things, the phone has a huge keyboard, is equipped with a 3.6-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, so yes it's pretty big. The display is a refular LCD screen that provides decent color reproduction, although not quite as good as Samsung's Super AMOLED variants.

The CPU is a Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm with a singlt processor core. This one is clocked to an entire 1.4 GHz, so this should mean a very rapid interface. Moreover, the smartphone gets 512 MB of flash memory for operating system and applications. For the user's data, 8GB or 16 GB of storage is available depending on version.

Multi-tasking is also one of the areas where the WebOS operating system has received a lot of praise. most praise for the former. Each application is a card in a flip-box menu, and these are easy to toggle between.On each of the application cards, you'll see a preview of its content.

Just like in Apple's iOS and Google's Android, the applications in the background essentially go to sleep while not in use. The Pre3 also has a few things in common with BlackBerry's Playbook. For example, most of the menu navigation is done by pulling your fingers across the screen, instead of pressing buttons.

The phone is perceived as very fast and responsive in all situations, and the menu system looks stable. The keyboard is also very good, even for larger fingers. Again, it's a large phone, with both a big keyboard and a relatively large screen, but it's not that heavy at 156 grams.
HP's smartphone is characterized by matte plastic on the back, in addition to an aluminum panel that sits behind the screen when the phone is open.

On the technical side, the phone offers up a couple of new items; if you have a so-called dual-band home router the Pre3 supports connectivity with the latest standard wireless network standard in the frequency ranges 2.4 and 5 GHz. The latter will provide less interference from neighboring networks and household appliances.

Pre3 is also compatible with the Palm Touchstone - a wireless charger that uses induction to charge the phone.

Sonos Controller for Android

2011-03-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Sonos has introduced the Sonos Controller for Android, a free app that converts your Android phone to a wireless music controller for the Sonos Multi-Room Music System.

With the award-winning Sonos S5 in any room and an Android phone in hand, music lovers can enjoy a wireless music experience like no other in their home, according to Sonos.

You can access and play music from the Internet, your own personal music collection, all of it wirelessly. In addition, the Sonos Controller for Android comes with music voice search, which allows users to search for artist, album or song, simply by speaking directly into the phone.

- Sonos's mission is to fill every home with music. We think it is very exciting that we have created the conditions for all Android fans around the world to enjoy music at home, says John MacFarlane, CEO of Sonos.

The Sonos Controller for Android is developed to work with any Android device using version 2.1 or later, as long as it has at least 320 x 480 display resolution.

The Sonos Controller for Android is now part of a full range of Sonos Controllers that include free apps for the iPhone and iPad, a dedicated controller with touch screen, the Sonos Controller 200, as well as free software for Mac or PC (included with every ZonePlayer). All controller devices should work together seamlessly.

Apple Rumor: New MacBook Pro gets OS-Dedicated SSD?

2011-02-21T16:20:00.000-08:00

Apple rumors - real or imaginary - is an actual industry in itself that occupies lots of full-time bloggers and probably private detectives who comb through Steve Jobs' garbage with a toothbrush and patience like a mule. Anyway, the web designers now have a new piece to drool over. Their holy grail, the MacBook Pro, is about to be updated and here are some of the key upates (maybe):

* A fast 8GB or 16GB SSD (Solid State Drive) for use by the O
* The already oversized touchpad becomes even larger
* The laptop will also be a couple hundred grams lighter than current models, which are already the lightest 15-inch laptops on the market)

The most interesting part from the rumor mill is the small SSD, which would make the boot procedure and OS-related functions considerably faster than with any hard drive, and without cutting back on storage space (provided that it comes with a reasonably roomy hard drive, too). I myself use SSD, but unfortunately it is a bit too small. Large SSDs cost an arm and a leg. Another rumor says that they will be equipped with Light Peak, but that sounds a bit too optimistic to be true.

PSP Go Also Hacked

2011-01-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

You have to give Sony some credit for the copy-protection measures on the PS3. It took several years before a hack to play pirated games was even thought up. With the PSP, things have been going less well. By flashing the device with a custom firmware, it has been open season for pirates.

The new variant PSP was supposed to fill the security hole by dropping the UMD player and go for downloadable games, but now it seems that this one, too, has lost its innocence.

A PSP hacker who calls himself "Liquidzigong" has successfully put an ISO loader in PSP go. Video Evidence provided on YouTube, as the user starts Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, which was just released on UMD (and otherwise unplayable on the PSP go, which lacks a UMD player).

New Intel CPUs Announced - Better IGP Included

2011-01-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

As expected, Intel has announced its latest generation processors at CES in Las Vegas. Rougly one billion transistors are now squeezed onto 216 square millimeters of silicon in the company's latest CPU series "Sandy Bridge"--the second-generation Core i7, i5 and i3.

This represents a fairly big leap forward, especially for laptops with integrated graphics, because the graphics part is now integrated on the same chip as the processor. In the real world, this means significantly better performance for high-definition video and casual games.

For example, you should have no problem playing World of Warcraft with decent detail settings on a small laptop without a dedicated video card, which is bad news for current entry-level GPUs from AMD / (ATI) and Nvidia.

Otherwise, the new processors support faster memory, better "Turbo Boost" (overclocking feature), HDMI 1.4 with 3D support, and a lot of other interesting stuff.

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

2010-10-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Let's say your computer or smartphone behaves strangely. You have been there before. Every now and then between our gadgets start to behave so annoyingly that you get the urge to throw them out the window.

Then why don't you just turn it off and back on again and see what happens - it's an old tip and it's no doubt the most simple, but every so often it really works. The question is why?

Part of the answer is the more you use it, the more small chunks of a program (or the operating system) remains in the memory of your computer. When left alone for long enough, there's a good chance that it starts to behave unpredictably. It may begin to slow down, or it might suddenly not bother to go online anymore.

A simple reboot is often the good and proper solution. If your laptop suddenly starts to behave strangely, then solve in nine out of ten cases rebooting fixes the issue. The same is true for smartphones, media players and other advanced gadgets, because they are actually small computers.

Just turn them off and on again!

T12 Wireless: New Wireless Speakers from Creative

2010-09-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the speaker system Creative T12 Wireless, the latest addition to Creative's Pure Wireless family. Slim, sleek and stylish in classic black makes it a natural solution for wireless 2.0 speakers. Creative T12 Wireless presents another solution for wireless speakers in Creative's Pure Wireless family.

The present series consists of wireless speakers that include ZiiSound ™ D5 - the flagship of the individual speaker, Creative Inspire S2 Wireless - a 2.1 speaker system, Creative D200 - best in class for each speaker and Creative D100 - a portable wireless ghetto blasters. Each speaker is equipped with the award-winning Bluetooth technology to deliver the cleanest, wireless sound in its class. With Creative T12 Wireless as the increase is now a wireless 2.0 speaker system with the family.

Creative T12 Wireless has all the qualities that made Pure Wireless series to such a great success:

* Works with all compatible stereo Bluetooth devices
* Quick and easy connection
* High quality wireless audio transmission

Creative T12 Wireless has inherited all the fine qualities of its predecessors but also add their own qualities and takes the user to new experiences with Pure Wireless and adds even more features:
* BassFlexTM technology that extends the low frequency range without the need for separate subwoofer
*Apt-X audio codec for superior sound quality
*Convenient trigger switch on the front, volume, and headphone output

"We are facing an important juncture in the development of how customers experience the music with the speakers from their mobile devices. Everywhere there is a greater range of wireless Bluetooth-enabled, portable devices as smart phones, e-books, netbooks and notebooks - not just iPhone, iPod, and now also iPad. These devices offer new flexibility and have changed the way we listen to our music. We at Creative track a rapidly growing trend towards even greater wireless freedom when we listen to music, and thats why we are in forefront of new design with this all-new Pure Wi-series and offer our customers a choice of wireless speakers in almost every price range and speaker configurations. "

"Since its launch earlier this year, this comprehensive Pure Wi-series been very well received. We know that wireless speakers are applicable and our wireless speaker solutions will replace conventional docking speakers in the very near future," said Joseph Liow, Vice-President for Personal Digital Entertainment Products for Creative.

With Creative T12 Wireless is easy to listen to quality music wirelessly through three ways to pair the devices:

* Connect an iPhone, iPod or iPad † with iPod Transmitter (available separately)
* Connecting via a USB Bluetooth transmitter connected to a PC / laptop or netbook
* Connect via a built-in Bluetooth function on a mobile device or PC

Toshiba Libretto Gets New Predictive Text Input Recognition

2010-09-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Nuance Communications Technology has developed a new version of its Predictive Text Input, XT9, that will be integrated into the European model of Toshiba's new mini-PC Libretto W100. The new model has been developed on the grounds that it is 25 years since Toshiba launched the world's first laptop for the mainstream market.

Nuance expands its related technologies for predictive text input on the new and innovative market for mini-PC with touch screen.

The technology XT9 in Toshiba Libretto W100 will be available in 18 languages and is designed to dramatically improve access to text input for mobile phones and laptops. A user who has Libretto W100 with this technology installed will be able to enter text faster, easier and more accurate by using the touch screen with QWERTY keyboard.

XT9 is one of Nuance T9 products for predictive text input. Nuance has delivered T9 products to more than four billion mobile devices worldwide.

T9 technology include:

* Spelling correction
* The ability to quickly switch between the input including numbers, letters and symbols, regional error correction through Nuance's patented "SloppyType" technology.
* Automatic accent ring for all supported languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Czech, Danish, Greek, Finnish, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Turkish and Slovak.

- We are continuously developing our product portfolio for predictive text entry for users to more easily communicate on any mobile device regardless of location. We are pleased to extend our XT9 technology to the new mini-PC category which Toshiba is now developing, "said Michael Thompson, director of Nuance Mobile.

About XT9

XT9 is a solution for text input that supports a variety of input forms and may be used in mobile applications such as SMS, e-mail, calendar, notes, tasks, and search boxes. XT9 can be integrated in the majority of interfaces and platforms including keyboard with 12-digit or 20 keys, QWERTY keyboard and touch screens. XT9 also supports speech, handwriting recognition and T9 Trace allowing the user carelessly can pull your fingers from one key to another on a touch screen without having to "aim and key" which is otherwise common.

Philips GoGear Connect: New Media Player with Android

2010-09-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Philips introduces the next step in the development of future MP4 players. GoGear Connect is the first MP4 player from Philips with Wi-Fi which is equipped with Android. Connect GoGear comes with preinstalled apps from Google Mobile while thousands of new apps can be downloaded from Android Market.

The combination of Philips' patented FullSound technology and soundproof headphones, make sure you get a good clear sound even in noisy environments. GoGear Connect supports audio formats for best sound quality as FLAC and APE. Feature for movie surround you also a total movie experience.

Philips GoGear Connect has a 3.2 inch touch screen that allows you to enjoy games, videos and more than 75 000 apps from the Android Market. Since Android lets you use multiple apps at the same time, you will never choose to listen to music, surf the web, or navigate Google MapsTM and GPS, but may choose to do everything at once.

Philips GoGear Connect has a 3.2 inch touch screen that allows you to enjoy games, videos and more than 75 000 apps from the Android Market. Since Android lets you use multiple apps at the same time, you will never choose to listen to music, surf the web, or navigate Google MapsTM and GPS, but may choose to do everything at once.

A slot for MicroSD card lets you expand the memory to make room for more music, movies and more apps.GoGear Connect weighs only 128 grams and has dimensions 113x12.6x59 mm. Philips GoGear Connect will be available in stores by the end of September 2010.

Sony Ericsson Zylo - Affordable Walkman Phone

2010-08-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sony Ericsson's new mobile phone Zylo provides easy access to Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live Messenger and Youtube. Zylo is Sony Ericsson's new cheap Walkman phone with a slider function. The mobile phone has, among other things FM radio, a 3.2 megapixel camera, access to the aforementioned apps and of course the standard Walkman-related equipment. Zylo is available in black, pink and silver.

The handset's talk time is up to 210 minutes and standby time up to 403 hours. Zylo has HSDPA support that provides faster downloads and uploads of data packages. The mobile phone has built-in memory 260MB and room for an external memory of up to16GB via Micro-SD.

New SLR from Canon: EOS 60D

2010-08-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Canon now extends its EOS SLR camera series with the new EOS 60D - "the perfect camera for anyone wanting to expand their photographic skills," according to a recent press release; it has a bunch of new features that will inspire photo enthusiasts to develop their own creative style, says the manufacturer. The specifications include an 1:18 MP sensor, 5.3 frames per second, in-camera image editing and a whole new tilting LCD screen that allows HD video and still shots from almost any angle.

EOS 60D promotes the artistic vein with a mixture of manual controls and new, "creative shooting" modes, meaning that you can gain complete control over the images to let the camera take care of everything. With full manual control, you can compose an image without restrictions, or use the creative capabilities of the camera that makes it easier to shoot and adjust the pictures.

The EOS 60D contains the latest in Canon's proprietary technology, including its high-resolution 18 MP sensor to deliver exceptionally large and detailed photographs thanks to the DIGIC 4 chip, that supposedly produces accurate colors, smooth tones and low noise. The EOS 60D is part of the EOS system and is fully compatible with Canon EF series lens and separate Speedlite flashes.

New Features to Boost Creativity

Basic + is a feature that makes it easier to get the effect you're after. Here you can adjust the mood or shoot the scene or lighting conditions. To take control of important functions is easy, so you can compose what you want and get the results you seek. In addition, a variety of creative filters allow you to experiment even more with your images. Make them grainy black and white, for example, or creates images with a documentary feel. Miniature effect mimics the perspective of photography by selective focus on the screen, so that ordinary objects get a model-like look. The Toy Camera Effect adjusts color tones and provides a unique retro look and with soft-focus soft. The filters are placed directly into the camera and when you are finished with your photography, you can immediately try out different effects.

The full manual mode is more suitable for all who wish to maintain control and provide all the tools necessary to produce an artistic, self-esteem. The settings can be adjusted to suit the exact requirements and the unique RAW processing in-camera allows you to fine tune the RAW images directly after capture.The EOS 60D also comes with a new feature so that images can be resized and graded for easier storage and handling. The high sensitivity autofocus system captures details of the whole picture. State AI Servo tracks fast moving objects in sharp detail. The advanced DIGIC 4 processor gives the images a professional feel, with fast processing and low noise.

The SLR camera's ISO range may be extended for shots in dark conditions. Multiple speeds of 100-6400 means that light sensitivity can be adjusted according to conditions and ISO sensitivity can also be extended up to ISO 12800th This means you can take photographs in environments where the light is very bad, for example, in sunsets or indoors.

Multi-Angle Photography

The new 60D has an impressive range of creativity tools as well as a new vari-angle LCD, which allows flexible shooting options, such as overhead or at ground level. With more than 1 million pixels, the images are displayed remarkably clear and you can compose, review and modify them with unprecedented detail accuracy.

Video Sequences in Full HD

All who want to experiment with video, the EOS 60D can shoot in Full HD resolution 1920 x 1080. With selectable frame rate you can change the sequence's look and feel - support for 25, 30, or 24 fps is available and there's an external microphone that can be used to capture some sound. Images and movies can be played back directly on compatible HD Ready televisions via HDMI and controlled via remote control.

Quick Specs:

* Exquisite detail with 18 MP
* Easy to take creative control with Basic +
* Shooting from awkward angles by tilting LCD
* Great in low light, thanks to DIGIC 4 processing
* Process your photos with creative filters
* Take videos of your own way with varying frame rates

X Mark I: Handy Multi-Tool from Canon

2010-08-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Canon extends its popular X-series calculators with the launch of the X Mark I Mouse--a thin calculator with three functions in one, including a wireless laser mouse and numeric keyboard for PCs. The new model is designed for professional or private use and have the X-Series multi-function design while being environmentally friendly, because it is apparently made of recycled parts.

The X Mark mouse has the same design as other devices in the series; a thin, streamlined housing with clean lines, built-in Bluetooth 2.0 features, three buttons to click and a scroll wheel with full features. It can easily be used as powerful wireless laser mouse (1000dpi), so the user can operate the computer and mathematical calculations with the same device.

It is compatible with both Windows and Mac and in addition to mouse functions, this calculator also used as a wireless keypad for PCs, making it a handy tool for inputting numerical data - especially for those who use laptop.

The compact and durable computer-like keyboard makes it easy to write, as comfortably as on larger computers, and the risk of error in numerical input is substantially reduced. The user can also lock the keypad to avoid the risk of pressing the keys when it is used as a mouse. The high-resolution display with ten numbers ensures that all data are always clearly visible, and updates of operational status is displayed directly.

X Mark I has triple functionality but also a very clean design that is unique to Canon calculators. Like the earlier models in the X series, the new calculator made from materials that have been recycled from Canon copiers, minimizing waste, without compromising on appearance.

The lower casing of the counter is made of plastic which has previously been used in Canon copiers, with reduced waste as a result. The effective energy management system helps to not use energy unnecessarily, as it turns off automatically after a specified period of inactivity. There is also a low battery indicator on the display, so the user can turn the device off manually when not in use, thereby extending battery life further.

Thanks to the unmatched design, environmental design and flexible functionality, X Mark I is one of the most advanced calculators in the market. Like all counters in the X series is also available on this model is available in glossy white or black finish, and it adorns her spot on the desktop.

Optimus - New Android Smartphones and a Tablet from LG

2010-08-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

During the second half of 2010 LG is planning on launching a new series of smartphones as well as an iPad-style tablet under the collective name Optimus. According to LG, it's all based on the latest in mobile technology, including some variants with the new Android version 2.2 (Froyo)

LG will introduce ten new "smart mobile devices" in the Optimus series globally during the second half of 2010. The range of smartphones and tablets will be based on several different operating systems, ranging from entry-level models at a premium level and vary in form and design and built-in functions.

First in the new series are two Android-based phones - LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic. They will both be launched with the new and presumably faster version of the Android operating system, version 2.2.

LG Optimus One offers the latest mobile features from Google and connects to various Google services such as the Android Market. The phone also has a convenient user interface and a variety of multimedia features, allowing the phone to one of the most user-friendly on the market.

LG Optimus Chic targets a style-conscious audience with a contemporary design. It will challenge the idea that advanced Android phones must be directed against the really interested in technology to achieve broad acceptance.

In addition to smart phones that LG will introduce its first tablet later this year--also with Android, as the goal is "to offer a product with great performance in a slimmer design".

Source: Press release

Who Wins the Latest Mid-Range GPU Battle?

2010-08-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

ATI launched its DirectX 11 cards even before Christmas last year, and it took some time before Nvidia responded with its GTX 400-series. Challenging the top layer was Geforce GTX 480, a card that performance-wise did very well, but was still beaten by ATI's top models in terms of power consumption, heat and noise.

Just below the top tier, Nvidia launched the GeForce GTX 465 and 470. They were somewhat below the ATI Radeon HD 5850 in performance. The latest battle between Nvidia and ATI is in the value/mid-range segment. The Geforce GTX 460 will compete with ATI's HD 5830 series.

The card is, like the other DirectX 11 cards from Nvidia, is based on the company's Fermi chip. The graphics processor is slightly smaller compared to the GTX 465, which should result in lower power consumption and less heat generation. It has a clock speed of 700MHz and comes in two models, with either 768 megabytes or one gigabyte of GDDR5 memory.

DirectX 11 and 3D Blu-ray

With Fermi, Nvidia was finally able to catch up with ATI in relation to DirectX 11, which is supported in the GeForce GTX 460. In addition, the built-in support for decoding of Blu-ray 3D movies might be considered a great feature by some.

Likewise, the Geforce GTX 460 supports the company's CUDA technology. Games or applications that support CUDA can use the graphics chip to offload your PC's processor. Some tasks will be processed faster and more efficiently by the GPU, including photo and video editing.

YouTube Improves 1080p Quality

2010-08-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

YouTube has previously begun to offer videos in full HD, meaning 1080p resolution. But now the site has gone further and announced that it now supports 4k resolution video. The 4k figure refers to roughly 4000 horizontally pixels (to be precise: 4096 x 2304 pixels), making it four times greater than standard 1080p.

Youtube has posted a list of films that support the new format to demonstrate how it looks in real life. There are however some problems with 4k. On the one hand, filmmakers need equipment to create videos in that format, which is often expensive.

In addition it requires very high bandwidth on the viewers end, capable hardware and large, hi-res screen to take advantage of this. For that reason, the purpose with introducing 4k now is more future-proofing than anything else.