Savvy

Chromium OS lands on the Archos 9, doesn't do much

2009-12-19T11:17:00.002+05:30

Trying to satisfy that browser-only touchscreen tablet urge? Well, you're sort of in luck. Those Atom-powered Archos 9 tablets are out and about, and the fine folks at UMPCPortal have slung a copy of Google's Chromium OS onto one. Unfortunately, since there's no touchscreen keyboard in the OS (yet), and the touchscreen input isn't even recognized, this is more of a "proof of concept" than a killer app. Still, we like where this is headed.

Kalai's Flickr

2009-11-24T04:28:00.000+05:30

A few of Kalai's creation taken from Canon EOS 1000D

Artemia

2009-10-29T21:07:00.001+05:30

A sample of the Artemia(Brine shrimps) taken @ vepalodai on august 6th 2008.

Diwali

2009-10-21T04:55:00.005+05:30

We has so much fun during Diwali this year,Inigo was abroad and it was me and my SIL alone,We travelled all the way to Saravanan anna's place and had loads of fun.A little preview of the fun we had is attached in the post

God's weird creation

2009-10-21T03:24:00.000+05:30

Had a chance to see this peculiar leaf which had 2 shades,cud nt resist taking a pic. Thot wud share it.

Windows XP-powered ITG xpPhone now available for pre-order

2009-09-20T17:18:00.003+05:30

If you’re a glutton for the punishment that Windows XP on a mobile phone likely is, then ITG has exactly what you need. The “world’s first mobile phone that runs Windows XP” is now available for pre-order from ITG’s English website. Looking rather big and boxy (is this a new trend?), the xpPhone packs some impressive specs inside its brushed aluminum frame:
AMD Mobile CPU
4.8-inch, 800×480 pixel touchscreen display
QWERTY keyboard
512Mb/1GB memory
Dual hard drives: SSD (8/16/32/64GB) and HDD (30/60/80/120GB)
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
GPS
WiMAX (optional)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA (HSDPA/HSUPA), CDMA/CDMA2000, CMDA 1X/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, TD-HSDPA
7 hours of continuous use with standard battery, 12 hours with extended battery
Windows XP OS

The substantially-sized slider supports nearly all major 3G networks and can be configured from the ordering page to be compatible with AT&T, Vodafone or Orange. No word on pricing details or launch date for the time being, but is anyone out there thinking about taking the plunge?

Raad More

Sprint to launch WiMAX-enabled Android smartphone in 2010

2009-09-20T17:16:00.001+05:30

As is well known, Sprint and Clearwire are slowly pushing forward on their ever expanding 4G network. Mirroring a report from back in June of this year, Sprint is once again said to be working on a WiMAX-enabled smartphone that will support both 4G and 3G connectivity. Just as current CDMA mobile phones switch switch between 1xRTT and EV-DO, the new handset will manage WiMAX and EV-DO signals in a similar manner. The big question is not whether or not Sprint will make such a smartphone, but which OS will this new handset run? Analysts suggest that Android will the platform of choice with Samsung as the manufacturer supplying the necessary hardware. This rumored 4G/3G smartphone will reportedly launch when Clearwire reaches the 100 million subscriber mark in the US, a goal expected to be achieved towards the end of 2010.

Kingston unveils 256GB thumb drive for well-heeled memory fiends

2009-07-22T02:15:00.003+05:30

We're sure that it's only a matter of moments before a 256GB thumb drive this bulky is something of a joke -- hell, it wasn't so terribly long ago that cramming 256MB into something this size was an accomplishment. That said, if you're a netbook user looking for a storage bump, it looks like Kingston's got your back: this guy boasts transfer rates of up to 20 MB/sec. read and 10 MB/sec. write, and for all of you Vista fans, supports Windows ReadyBoost. Now, for the bad news: only available in Europe and the UK, and custom made upon your order (presumably after the check clears) this modern technological marvel will run you £565.67 ($924).

Next-gen iPod touch rumored to get camera, microphone, fairy dust coating

2009-07-22T02:11:00.001+05:30

According to a "well connected source" in the Wired camp, the iPod mills in China are hard at work as we speak, churning out next-gen iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones. This certainly jibes well with the tips we've received regarding both this device and a cam-equipped nano -- although we're still skeptical about the rumored OLED iPods. The article goes on to suggest that once you add a mic to the mix, all you need is a MiFi and the Skype application for "the iPhone experience" on Verizon's (or Sprint's) network. Seems like an awful lot to go through just to avoid AT&T, but we suppose that it's good to have options.

Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life

2009-07-22T02:08:00.003+05:30

After no small amount of external pressure, Dell has finally managed to do some major damage on the Adamo's number one drawback: the price. The starting mark for the 1.2GHz machine has been slashed from $1,999 to $1,499, while the high-end model with SSD and a 1.4GHz processor is down to $2,299. Still not in the same general galaxy as most consumer-aimed Dell products, but quite a lot closer to the realm of possibility.

Create a shortcut to switch users

2009-07-13T21:11:00.001+05:30

Fast user switching has been a very useful feature of Windows for multi-user computers. Dating back to Windows XP, fast user switching allows multiple users to be logged into a computer at once. This is very useful if a user is in the middle of work but another needs to use the computer shortly. Fast user switching will allow the other user to log in while still retaining the other users session. Once the other user is finished the session can be switched back to the original user.

Creating a shortcut to switch the active user is as easy as creating a shortcut to c:\windows\system32\tsdiscon.exe

1.Right click where you want the shortcut to be created and select New and then Shortcut.

2.Copy and paste “c:\windows\system32\tsdiscon.exe” into the location box and hit Next.

3.Give it a name and hit Finish.

Meralco planning internet over power lines in the Philippines

2009-07-13T20:57:00.001+05:30

While the concept of channeling the internet over power lines is far from new, it has yet to be implemented in any significant manner. If a top power distributor in the Philippines has its druthers, however, all that will change in the not-too-distant future. Manila Electric Company, better known as Meralco, is gearing up to use its power lines to bring broadband internet to more of the country, which currently sees just 20 million out of its 90 million inhabitants with access. In fact, the company has already made clear that it is "set to implement the pilot test," with the results guiding it in "determining scope and coverage of the project." Come to think of it,Long way to go India

ReadyBoost comes to the Rescue

2009-06-29T13:42:00.002+05:30

ReadyBoost helps your computer by giving it more high-speed memory. If your computer is running low on RAM then it has to kick a lot of applications out of high-speed physical memory to the paging file on your hard drive.

This usually results in a big hit in performance and increased activity on your hard drive.ReadyBoost helps this situation by giving Windows an alternative to having to stick data into the slow paging file on your hard drive. Instead, ReadyBoost uses a USB storage device that is faster than a hard disk. This results in a performance boost because Windows will have a high speed alternative than using the slow paging file on your hard drive.

In order for ReadyBoost to work, it requires a USB storage device that meets minimum performance and space requirements:

1.The device must be at least 64 MB

2.The device must be USB 2.0

3.It has to be able to read at 3.5 MB/s

4.It has to be able to write at 2.5 MB/s

To get started using ReadyBoost, follow these steps:

1.Plug in USB storage device.

2.Go to Computer and right click on the removable storage device and select Properties.

3.If your device is compatible, you will see a ReadyBoost tab. Click on that.

4.Select Use this device and select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost

system file.

5.Click OK and you are finished.

Note: This facility is available in Windows Vista and above

How to Kill processes from Command prompt(cmd)

2009-06-29T13:40:00.001+05:30

I’m sure you are familiar with the traditional way to kill or end a process in Windowsusing Task Manager. This method is effective but not nearly as fun as killing a process in Command Prompt. Additionally, killing processes in Command Prompt provides much more control and the ability to end multiple processes at once.

All of this is possible with the TaskKill command. First, let’s cover the basics. You can kill a process by the process ID (PID) or by image name (EXE filename).

Open up an Administrative level Command Prompt and run tasklist to see all of the running processes:

C:\>tasklist

Image Name————PID——Session Name——Mem Usage

===========================================================

firefox.exe—————-26356——Console———-139,352 K

regedit.exe—————24244——Console————-9,768 K

cmd.exe——————18664——Console————-2,380 K

notepad.exe————–17364——Console————-7,892 K

notepad.exe————–24696——Console———–22,028 K

notepad.exe————–25304——Console————-5,852 K

explorer.exe—————2864——-Console———–72,232 K

In the example above you can see the image name and the PID for each process. If you want to kill the firefox process run:

C:\>Taskkill /IM firefox.exe /F

C:\>Taskkill /PID 26356 /F

The /f flag is kills the process forcefully. Failure to use the /F flag will result in nothing happening in some cases. One example is whenever I want to kill the explorer.exe process I have to use the /F flag or else the process just does not terminate.

If you have multiple instances of an image open such as multiple firefox.exe processes, running the taskkill

/IM firefox.exe command will kill all instances. When you specify the PID only the specific instane of firefox will be terminated.

The real power of taskkill are the filtering options that allow you to use the following variables and operators.

Variables:

STATUS

IMAGENAME

PID

SESSION

CPUTIME

MEMUSAGE

USERNAME

MODULES

SERVICES

WINDOWTITLE

Operators:

eq (equals)

ne (not equal)

gt (greater than)

lt (less than)

ge (greater than or equal)

le (less than or equal)

“*” is the wildcard.

You can use the variables and operators with the /FI filtering flag. For example, let’s say you want to end all processes that have a window title that starts with “Internet”:

C:\>taskkill /FI “WINDOWTITLE eq Internet*” /F

How about killing all processes running under the your username(savio) account:

C:\>taskkill /FI “USERNAME eq savio” /F

It is also possible to kill a process running on a remote computer with taskkill. Just run the following to kill notepad.exe on a remote computer called Savio:

C:\>taskkill /S Savio /U RemoteAccountName /P RemoteAccountPassword /IM notepad.exe /F

To learn more about taskkill run it with the /? command just like any other Windows command.

Installing Xp on a Dell Inspiron 1525

2009-06-29T13:35:00.002+05:30

Every Dell Inspiron 1525 laptops that we get in the market comes with Windows Vista alone and few people find it difficult working around with Vista and they need Windows Xp to be installed desperately as i was. The main problem in migrating from a Vista to a Xp in Dell is that the XP cd that we have wont have the driver for the SATA hard disk.

There are 2 solutions to this.(Will tell you the hard one first).anyways before deciding to migrate to Windows Xp, better have a backup of all you r data and also download all the necessary drivers for Windows Xp from Dell’s support page

1.While downloading all the necessary drivers, dont forget to get the SATA driver for the hard disk,embed the SATA driver alone with a bootable XP disc and then burn it. You can use nLite to embed a data to the Bootable disc s data and then make a bootable disc.

I know this would confuse everyone.So let’s go with an easy one

2.People thos can play around with the BIOS can do this, press F2 while booting which takes you to the BIOS screen and you can find an option SATA in the menu.Change the SATA mode to ATA(previously it will be AHCI).Save the settings and ther you go . You can use an ordinary bootable Windows XP cd for installing XP in your machine

After installing Windows, Install all the drivers and keep in mind to install the bluetooth driver atlast.Some machines might not accept the bluetooth driver if installed first or in-between.

Please get back if you have any queries.

AT&T's iPhone 3G S pre-orders already sold out

2009-06-14T18:16:00.002+05:30

Bad news for folks hoping a pre-order would save them from that yearly camp out in front of their local Apple Store: iPhone 3G S pre-orders have sold out, and folks who are making new pre-orders are being told that they'll have up to two weeks to get a phone. AT&T customers who do already have pre-orders in still have to line up at 7AM to nab a phone, but at least they've got a guaranteed slot if they show up, while the rest of the world will have to battle over remaining stock when Apple Stores open at 8AM and AT&T stores open to general customers at the same time. Looks like we might get a good riot or two out of this.

Apple to charge for redownloading apps from the App Store over the air

2009-06-13T19:42:00.002+05:30

If you're on an iPhone right now and you see this picture here, you probably have an overwhelming feeling of doom in the pit of your stomach right about now -- or at least you should. Our tipster noticed that this message appeared while redownloading Google Mobile -- not the end of the world, since Google Mobile is free and all, but it's a strong hint that Apple will at least be giving devs the option of charging every time their app is redownloaded over the air, even to the same device from the same iTunes account. We've seen the message ourselves, only with free apps so far, but it's definitely something that could end up making the ownership experience a little more expensive in the future. Good thing for the 32GB iPhone 3G S, we guess, where you'll never have to delete a single app in your life if you don't want to -- but regardless, it's extraordinarily lame move on Apple's part if it ends up staying in there.

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ASUS: "Our goal is to provide products that are better than Apple's"

2009-06-10T11:39:00.001+05:30

ASUS might have launched the netbook era with the original Eee PC and followed up on that with wave after wave of successfully more innovative designs like the Seashell, but that's not enough for vice chairman Jonathan Tsang, who says the company's goal is "to provide products that are better than Apple's." No pulling punches here! According to Tsang, ASUS spends very little on marketing, instead preferring to spend the majority of its budget in engineering products so innovative consumers are forced to take notice. We don't know if that strategy will actually work -- especially since true competition with Apple would have to involve software, not just hardware -- but we will say that it's clear ASUS is doing everything it can to drive the industry forward, not just lying back and copying rivals like MSI and Acer. That's all thought-provoking enough, but there's more: Tsang also says ASUS has a motion-controlled game console that provides better tracking than the Wii sitting on the shelf because content deals are "complicated." Same with an ebook reader. "We don't have the chicken, so cannot have the egg." Well damn -- and we really like eggs, too. Hit the read link for the full interview

Find My iPhone is live, totally found our iPhone

2009-06-10T11:34:00.003+05:30

We wouldn't really say we "have it together" when it comes to remembering where we put our keys / phone / small children, so Apple's announcement of the Find My iPhone service for MobileMe users came as quite a relief. The service just went live, and with a quick toggle of a preference pane in iPhone OS 3.0 the phone is fully prepared for all sorts of lost and found scenarios -- along with acting as an incredibly intuitive (if pricey) stalking mechanism. Find My iPhone works exactly as advertised, giving us a fairly good location estimate from within our lead-lined underground fortress, and sending annoying messages to the phone complete with sound, even when the handset is switched to silent, though unfortunately the sound is a sort of sonar ping that strikes us as incredibly difficult to locate, unless of course our phone is taken by whale. The only other problem is that both the location function and the message service took a couple minutes to track down our iPhone -- not a deal breaker, but we don't know what the hangup could be. After the device is pinged, a confirmation of the event was sent to our MobileMe email address. A live, enthralling video demonstration is after the break.

Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years

2009-06-10T11:28:00.003+05:30

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley have developed an ultra-dense memory chip that is capable of storing data for up to a billion years (besting silicon chips by roughly... a billion years). Consisting of a crystalline iron nanoparticle shuttle encased within a multiwalled carbon nanotube, the device can be written to and read from using conventional voltages already available in digital electronics today. The research was led by Alex Zettl, who notes that current digital storage methods are capable of storing mass amounts of data, but last just decades, while, say, some books have managed to last nearly a thousand years, though the amount of data they contain is quite small. The new method, called shuttle memory, is based on the iron nanoparticle which can move back and forth within the hollow nanotu. Zettl believes that, while shuttle memory is years away from practical application, it could have a lot of archival applications in the future. There's a video after the break, hit the read link for more tiny details.

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onOne's DSLR Remote for iPhone fires your Canon from afar

2009-05-22T18:35:00.003+05:30

Sure, EOS Utility will let you control the Canon DSLR of your choice from the comfort of your PC, but what if you want to add one more enticing level of indirection to the equation? Well, sport, for that, you'll need a little app for the iPhone from onOne called DSLR Remote, which connects via WiFi to a utility on your computer -- which is in turn cabled to your camera. It's not on the App Store just yet, but there'll be two versions available: Professional, for an introductory price of $9.99, which allows you to control a host of camera settings, and the $1.99 Lite, which simply lets you fire the shutter. The coolest part might be Live View compatibility, which would make a great poor man's security camera (if you can call a 5D Mark II a poor man's anything) -- if only it weren't for the instant rejection the app would face had they made it 3G-compatible, right?

Sony Ericsson's facial recognition patent plays the perfect song to complement your mood

2009-05-22T18:33:00.006+05:30

We don't expect this to be indicative of any near-term projects for the now financially hindered phone maker, but one of Sony Ericsson's recently unearthed patents paves the way for some interesting uses. From what we gather, while listening to music on your device, a picture of your face would be taken. That image would then be run through software that interprets your mood, and an appropriate next song based on those emotions would be picked -- so much for the art of mixtapes. Presumably, it'd also require a phone or device with a camera mounted on the same side as the screen, so unless mobile video conferencing takes off in a huge way, we can't see people paying extra for a phone or device with this configuration. And if you just got dumped over SMS, we hope it doesn't intepret those tears as a good time to play that Damien Rice song you two fell in love with. Hit up the read link for the full patent details.

Hitachi's Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Wooo cellphone does 720p video recording

2009-05-22T18:32:00.002+05:30

While it won't be the first handset to capture 720p video (hello, OmniaHD!), Hitachi's Mobile Hi-Vision Cam Woo is still apt to garner quite a bit of attention. As the leaked images hosted down below show, this clever flip phone packs 1,280 x 720 video recording, a 5 megapixel sensor, HDMI interface and a microSDHC slot for good measure. A generous tipster has informed us that said phone is slated to launch this coming Monday on KDDI, though we fully expect that envious North Americans won't ever get to toy with one on their home turf

Japanese University uses free iPhones to track students

2009-05-21T20:24:00.002+05:30

Tokyo-based university Aoyama Gakuin gives their students free iPhones. While at first glance this seems like a fantastic deal, the iPhones are apparently used to track the students. The iPhones will allow the University to tell if the students are physically on campus or not. The goal is to prevent cheating during roll calls, and can also be used for digital lectures (podcasts), doing homework and taking tests.

Would this fly in the US with all of our privacy advocates? Probably not, but a free iPhone is tempting.

Nokia launches 6600i Slide

2009-05-21T18:43:00.004+05:30

Nokia has announced its 6600i slide. This phone is the successor to the 6600 and basically just adds a 5 megapixel camera, brushed metal body, and 3G.

Here are the specs via BGR:

Dual-band WCDMA (850/2100MHz) and quad-band GSM/EDGE
S40
2.2″ QVGA display
5 megapixel camera with auto-focus, 8x digital zoom and dual-LED flash / VGA video recording at 15fps
Bluetooth 2.0, FM tuner, accelerometer, microUSB
20MB internal memory and 1GB microSD card in box
1100 mAh battery
3 / 4 hours talk time (GSM / UMTS), 14.5 days stand-by
93mm x 45mm x 14mm, 110g
Available in both black and silver in Q3 for approximately 200€ ($272 USD) before subsidies and taxes.

Source

Multicard-lovin' dual SATA HDD dock keeps the dream alive

2009-05-21T18:41:00.003+05:30

It's funny, really. Years back, we figured this SATA HDD dock was a one-off device that would get swept under the rug as quickly as it reached prominence. And yet, here we are in May of 2009 looking at the latest iteration of a product that won't ever stop reinventing itself. Brando's Dual SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock with One Touch Backup (yeah, seriously) doubles up on elder models by holding two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives, and it also accepts a litany of flash cards. Lastly, this adds an eSATA connector to the traditional USB 2.0 socket for a bit more flexibility, but we still can't justify the $89 price if you already own a predecessor (or three).

MicroSD-to-USB Mobidapter is a smartphone's best friend

2009-05-21T18:38:00.004+05:30

Okay, so maybe it's just a microSD-equipped smartphone's best friend, but you get the idea. Unlike traditional [insert flash format here]-to-USB adapters, Elan's Mobidapter provides a direct bridge from your microSD slot to your external USB hard drive. The result? Dead simple phone backups and file transfers, all without the use of a PC in the middle. Elan asserts that the currently unpriced device will begin shipping in mid-June, and if you're still baffled about how this thing operates, check the yawn-inducing demonstration vid after the break.

Nokia's N86 8MP cruises through the FCC's database

2009-05-21T18:37:00.004+05:30

When Nokia unveiled its N86 back in February, we Yanks were given no hope whatsoever that a US release was in the cards. We're doing our best to stifle our excitement, but it sure looks like a stateside launch is a lot closer now that said handset has made its way through the dark and murky halls of the FCC. Seen here in a lovely, washed-out shade of black, the 8 megapixel, OLED-equipped dual-slider seems no different than the one we toyed with in Barcelona, save for the whole US-friendly aspect, of course.

HTC Touch Pro2 for Sprint spotted in the wild

2009-05-20T14:27:00.004+05:30

We've known that a version of the HTC Rhodium / Touch Pro2 was inbound for Sprint at some point this summer (assuming no delays), but would mark the first time we've seen one in what appears to be finished production trim. A SprintUsers poster claims that the global roaming-capable device should be hitting retail mid-June with the portrait QWERTY Snap following in July -- and yes, we'd be more inclined to ignore the noise had said poster not also provided the glorious pictures. Looking good -- really good, actually -- but good luck tearing any eyes away from the Pre kiosks in the stores next month, HTC.

Microsoft's latest ad: iTunes and the iPod are crazy expensive

2009-05-12T12:55:00.005+05:30

We've been wondering when we'd see the next Laptop Hunters ad from Microsoft, but it looks like the company's throwing a change-up: its latest 30-second spot features Wes Moss, Certified Financial Planner, explaining that iTunes "costs a lot" while Zune Pass "costs a little." The argument, of course, is that at a buck a song (or more), filling up your iPod costs way more than the $15 / month cost of the Zune subscription service, but we've got a feeling that Wes just won't convince as many people as Lauren and Giampaulo -- while we certainly think Zune Pass is a great deal, especially with the 10 free tracks a month now included, most people have plenty of music from all kinds of sources already, and an additional monthly bill in the current economy doesn't seem all too appealing. Plus, well, this argument has never really worked for services like Yahoo and Rhapsody in the past, so we're not sure it's going to work now. But that's just us -- we're sure you've got your own opinions, so check out the vid after the break and sound off.

P.S. If Wes looks familiar it's because he was a contestant on Donald Trump's The Apprentice. He was fired.

New iPhone specs leaked -- 600MHz CPU, 32GB, 3.2MP cam

2009-05-12T12:50:00.002+05:30

Take this for what it is -- a totally unverified rumor from a Chinese forum -- but a set of specs for a next-gen iPhone have leaked out along with this screenshot, and they're not entirely far-fetched. According to the alleged leak, iPhone model MB717LL 9 ("iPhone2,1" perhaps?) will have a 600MHz processor (up from the current 400MHz unit), 256MB of RAM (from the current 128MB), 32GB of storage, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, as well as a digital compass and FM radio, all while retaining the same battery, basic shape, and screen size. Do we believe it? Well, if we were to conservatively guess at specs for a next-gen Apple phone that's pretty much what we'd come up with -- with the exception of FM -- so we're not shaking our heads too hard. Plus we've definitely seen evidence that a compass will figure into the equation, and there's endless whispers that the camera will see an upgrade. Still, only Steve and the gang know for sure, and we're (probably) not finding out till they're ready -- WWDC, are you here yet?

DIY semi-funtional keyboard pants destined for the geek catwalk

2009-05-12T12:38:00.006+05:30

Did you ever spot a really boss concept and think, "Hey! I could totally cobble this into reality"? No? Well, Zach did. He saw a concept pair of pants with a functioning keyboard, and proceeded to make his very own. Essentially, he chopped a keyboard in half, then used a laser cutter and some good old fashioned sewing to get the keys into the trousers. Because the board had been cut in half, only the left side of it still functions, but, as you'll see from the video after the break, that's good enough for a game of Tetris. Hit the read link for more detailed instructions if you want to make your own.

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Magnetometer finding its way into next iPhone

2009-05-08T12:10:00.003+05:30

Add "compass" to that list of rumored features -- again -- for the next, still-unconfirmed iPhone revision, alongside video production capabilities, a slide-out keyboard, OLED display, LTE / Verizon support, and EV-DO rev. B (okay, not really that last one). Boy Genius Report has obtained two screens allegedly from an unreleased iPhone OS build that suggest a magnetometer'll be part of the new hardware. Given turn-by-turn navigation is now an option for developers, we'd say having directional support is almost a necessity. Why there's also an option for Kitchen Sink in the image we haven't the foggiest, but we're gonna go ahead and add "holographic plumbing assistant" to that wishlist.

Proxicast's Cell-PAK: it's a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged

2009-05-04T10:54:00.003+05:30

If you've been toying with the idea of buying a bulletproof shell for your CradlePoint portable hotspot, we're guessing that Proxicast's Cell-PAK is an entirely better option. Said box, which is described as a rugged, self-powered 3G + WiFi wireless hotspot in a box, was designed to provide "mission-critical wireless communications" in the jungle, on the battlefield or in your backyard. Aside from having its very own battery pack for completely untethered access, the device comes encased in an impact and water-resistant MIL-spec rated chassis, and we're told that it can accept "any 3G modem from any cellular carrier worldwide." We're talking over a dozen hours of wireless access from anywhere that you can retrieve signal, and there's even an external high-gain antenna to help with that. Now, if only that $1,295 price weren't so gigantic...

Nokia E71x now available from AT&T

2009-05-04T10:49:00.004+05:30

It's been an awful long time in coming, but AT&T's customized remix of Nokia's lovely E71 -- the E71x -- is now available for sale direct from the carrier's site. As was revealed a little over a month ago, pricing comes in at just $99.99 on contract after rebate, which seems like a steal for a device with this level of capability and sex appeal. Of course, you'll need to be okay with S60 3.2 -- but if you can get past that, you've got a gorgeous all-metal shell, full QWERTY, HSDPA, 3.2 megapixel cam, and WiFi waiting for you.

Are You a True BlackBerry Addict? Free App Tells the Tale

2009-04-28T18:44:00.004+05:30

You BlackBerry owners know you spend a lot of time on your little phone but you might be surprised to know just how much time you are clicking and spinning. A free app will keep tabs of everything you do on your BlackBerry and give you the scoop that shows just how much time you spend on the phone.

The I Love Blackberry app tallies your daily, weekly and monthly use of the phone so you will know just how serious your affliction really is. The free app can be downloaded direct to your BlackBerry here.

G.E. boasts of physical storage breakthrough; 500GB on a single disc

2009-04-28T18:42:00.004+05:30

As Blu-ray finally begins to gain traction on a wider scale, G.E. is again boasting of a physical disc storage breakthrough with the potential to hold 10 to 20 times more data than a Blu-ray disc and 100 times more data than a DVD. This isn’t the first time G.E. has spoken of its progress in holographic storage research but the New York Times is now reporting the company has made a new breakthrough. G.E.’s technology encodes holographic light patterns onto in a disc and packs data far more densely than the optical technology used by DVDs and Blu-ray discs. In fact, the technology in its current lab state is said to allow for up to 500GB of data storage on a single disc. For comparison, a Blu-ray disc holds 25 or 50GB and a DVD holds 5GB of data. The key to G.E.’s success with this technology of course, is making it affordable — other companies will be introducing holographic storage solutions as soon as this year. InPhase Technologies for example, will soon introduce a specialized holographic storage system geared towards the medical industry. InPhase’s solution however, requires expensive discs and readers that cost tens of thousands of dollars. G.E. plans to show off its work at a conference in Orlando in May, so perhaps some light will be shed on G.E.’s efforts in making the technology a bit more accessible.

Bluetooth 3.0 is in the house, now with more oomph

2009-04-26T00:34:00.002+05:30

Are you happy with your current Bluetooth experience, but aching to give it a little kick in the pants? Fret not because Bluetooth 3.0 is here right on schedule and it’s way faster than its predecessors. With the 802.11 radio Protocol Adaption Layer, transfer speeds can hit up to 24 megabits per second. If that isn’t impressive or means little to you, Bluetooth 2.0 transferred data at speeds of 2 to 3 megabits per second. Almost miraculously, the increase in speed doesn’t mean extra battery drain. On the contrary, Bluetooth 3.0 includes power-saving controls built in. Transferring files via Bluetooth should no longer be a burden or hassle — gone are the days of using Bluetooth file transfers as a last resort for large or bulk files. When will it become widely available? The process has already begun, but the technology really won’t be hitting consumers for another nine to twelve months. Patience, young grasshoppers.

Source

Virtualized Windows XP coming to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate users

2009-04-25T15:43:00.004+05:30

Color us intrigued. The gang at SuperSite for Windows have revealed what they know about a pretty awesome Windows 7 feature: XP Mode, a virtualized copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3. It'll reportedly be a free download for Professional and Ultimate Edition users, a shame it won't be coming to all versions. Unlike many other Virtual PC options, the environment won't require a separate workspace so you can run the individual apps as you would alongside those native to 7 -- in the example pictured, that's Word 2003 in XP mode next to Word 2007. It all sounds vaguely similar to the XP compatibility mode found in Vista, but if we're understanding this right, XPM should make legacy compatibility much less of a hassle. We haven't heard any reports of it being found in the leaked Release Candidate build, so if you're antsy to get a glimpse now, hit up the read link for a gallery.

Source

QuickOffice for iPhone available now

2009-04-25T15:42:00.003+05:30

QuickOffice for the iPhone has been released and is available in the App Store. QuickOffice allows the iPhone to edit and view Microsoft Word and Excel files which can be essential for business users.

The suite costs $19.99 and delivers important features like cut-and-paste. You can also format text, add bullets, and work in landscape mode. In Excel docs, you can use over 125 functions and advanced formulas.

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WinMobile Torrent v.3 Released

2009-04-25T15:36:00.004+05:30

Adisasta, solution provider for mobile people, announces the release of WinMobile Torrent v.3 (wmTorrent v.3) for Windows Mobile. wmTorrent v.3 supports Windows Mobile Professional, Classic or Standard in all display modes.

This latest version of wmTorrent boasts many new features and enhancements. In addition to the standard torrent functions supported in the previous version, wmTorrent v.3 supports: trackerless torrent, peer exchange, plain text and RC4 protocol encryption, consolidated or full file saving mode, http seeding, Unicode UTF-8, saving to file directly without temporary file, file format compatible with most desktop client and many more.

Pricing and Availability

wmTorrent v.3 is commercially available to OEMs and end users.

wmTorrent v.3 is available in English language and is compatible with Windows Mobile Classic/Professional/Standard 5.x or later. All Windows Mobile screen resolutions are supported. A free, 5-day trial can be downloaded, or wmTorrent can be purchased for US$25.00 from

www.wmTorrent.com

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Nokia E71x coming May 4?

2009-04-25T15:32:00.003+05:30

It looks like the Nokia E71x could finally be arriving at AT&T on May 4. Nokia Experts reports a tipster sent them some valid looking information that shows a May 4th launch date for the E71x. You can see the "launch date" on the bottom of the picture.

They also report receiving several PDF document with information about the E71x. You can see the documents on their web site at the source link below.

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Obama to get encrypted BlackBerry soon

2009-04-25T15:28:00.002+05:30

Remember when the Secret Service supposedly told President-elect Obama that he could not use a BlackBerry? Obama won that battle and has been using a BlackBerry for personal use. Apparently the NSA has been working on a souped-up BlackBerry that President Obama will be able to use for official business, including accessing Top Secret data.

The Washington Times reports Obama will receive a BlackBerry 8830 in a few months that he'll be able to use at the White House and during Presidential travel.

"The top-secret BlackBerry 8830 is in the final stages of development by the National Security Agency, which will soon begin checking to make sure its encryption software meets federal standards. The device could be ready for use in the next few months. "

The President's BlackBerry will feature a software called SecureVoice, by the Genesis Key Inc. (Why in the world would they tell everyone what software is on the BlackBerry?) The software is so strong it can apparently turn any BlackBerry 8830 or Curve into a device that can beat hackers, eavesdroppers and spies.

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Eizo's FlexScan EV2023W / EV2303W LCD monitors turn off when humans are away

2009-04-24T11:52:00.002+05:30

Not that we haven't seen LCD monitors get less demanding when it comes to energy, but we've yet to see a company take eco-friendliness this far. Professional LCD maker Eizo has just announced a new pair of panels (the 20-inch FlexScan EV2023W-H and the 23-inch EV2303W-T) that boast a "human presence sensor." As the phrase implies, these displays are designed to shift to power saving mode when it realizes that its master has vacated the area, and when they return, it automatically flips back on in order to keep from being bashed by one of many USB-connected peripherals. Unfortunately, it seems the human detection timer can't be changed from 40 seconds, and no, there are no current plans to implement a robot presence sensor once the Apocalypse is realized

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Giant keyboard art in Shenzhen metro station offers tech-friendly seating

2009-04-24T11:49:00.004+05:30

If you're at the Shenzhen Metro station any time soon, you'll unlikely happen across the beautiful, beautiful sight above. The station -- which is in Shenzhen just north of Hong Kong -- has installed some keyboard art that really speaks to the typist in our souls -- we even type in our dreams occasionally. The keys function as seats to relax in while you wait for your train, though why they chose the keys they chose (Enter, M, <, L, P and ;) is anybody's guess.

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Apple's App Store hits a billion downloads

2009-04-24T11:45:00.004+05:30

Here's to another billion -- and not just from the App Store. Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, webOS, BlackBerry -- we're expecting every bit as much out of you guys, so let the games (and the productivity apps, utilities, flatulence simulators...) begin.

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Creative TravelSound i85 adds external speaker, FM tuner to iPod nano

2009-04-24T11:41:00.003+05:30

There's really no easy way to say it -- Creative's TravelSound i85 is bordering on unsightly, so devout fashionistas should probably look elsewhere. For those who always put design second and utility first, this here device adds a portable speaker and FM tuning abilities to Apple's fourth-generation iPod nano (the tall, thin one, for those unaware) and even includes a built-in rechargeable battery for pumping out up to 15 hours of house jams. Aside from operating as a gaudy wrist adornment, it can also double as a stand (horizontally or vertically), though there's no Dock Connector pass-through (just a miniUSB plug). Worth $99.99? That's between you and the monster underneath your bed.

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Microsoft profits sink for the first time in 23 years

2009-04-24T11:38:00.003+05:30

In a not totally surprising -- yet still kind of striking -- turn of events, Microsoft is reporting that its sales have fallen for the first time in 23 years. You read that right, 23 years. According to numbers that the company has just released, sales fell 6 percent year-over-year, while overall net income dropped a staggering 32 percent. Those numbers are significant, but what's more telling is where those losses are coming from. Namely? Netbooks. Apparently, in the midst of a global downturn consumers really are buying cheaper, especially when it comes to tech, which puts a fairly significant crunch on Redmond's bottom line. A CNN reports suggests that the presence of Linux on those devices has contributed to the hurt here, but it's more likely that the combo of a market still unwelcoming to Vista and the wide popularity of XP on the low-power systems has more to do with these dipping profit margins. Oh, and that general, awful market depression. Still, it should serve as some kind of wake up call to Microsoft that just being the biggest doesn't guarantee that the money will keep rolling in the way it has in years past -- clearly the big picture isn't as sharp as it's always been. Hey Windows 7 -- no pressure, right?

Update: We've tweaked some language in the post that made the situation sound more dire than intended. Don't worry everyone, we know Microsoft isn't going anywhere.

Via CNN

Washington DC announced as first MPH mobile TV market

2009-04-20T18:06:00.003+05:30

In the 22 city-strong foot race to get a live MPH-based mobile TV network up, running, and available to anyone who wants it, it looks like Washington DC's poised to come out on top. Raleigh has already deployed a handful of transmitters for the benefit of bus-goers, but the Open Mobile Video Coalition has announced that Washington DC's local CBS, PBS, NBC, and Ion affiliates plus a Fox-owned independent will all be ready to roll with MPH transmissions by late summer; of course, what remains to be seen is what sort of hardware will be ready to take advantage of the tech by then. We can likely count AT&T and Verizon out for offering MPH-enabled handsets seeing how they're still trying to figure out how to profit from their MediaFLO-based networks, so T-Mobile and Sprint's decisions to take a wait-and-see approach to the mobile TV phenomenon may really end up working in their favor here. Moving beyond the phones, it's said that Dell will be showing some sort of netbook this week with an integrated MPH tuner at the NAB show in Vegas this week, while Kenwood has in-car solutions in the works. As long as the broadcasts stay free -- which by all accounts they will -- the standard has a fighting chance at relevancy, assuming hardware comes to the table.

World's first waterproof solar cellphone from Sharp

2009-04-20T18:04:00.003+05:30

In continuation of a recent trend of major manufacturers announcing a new-found interest in making a buck off developing nations solar-powered cellphones, AU (KDDI) and Sharp have announced the June launch of this unnamed solar handset. Besides being the world's first waterproof solar handset, it charges to a minute of talk or 2-hours of standby after just 10 minutes in the sun. No other specs were announced though we seriously doubt it'll be a power-sucking feature- or smart-phone. Naturally, it'll still be a boon to people where electricity is scarce but what about the industrious guy who owns the village car battery?

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Fujitsu testing self destructing flash drives

2009-04-20T17:16:00.002+05:30

Fujitsu has developed a USB flash drive that automatically erases data or prevents someone from copying data from the flash drive. Fujitsu is currently testing these drives and claims that they can significantly reduce data theft.

The flash drive houses a processor and a battery and the drive can be programmed by the user to fit his needs. For instance, he can set the drive to erase the data automatically after 24 hours or the USB drive can delete the data as soon as its inserted in an unauthorized machine and make the drive unusable. Another thing that this drive supports is the file redirect technology. With file redirection activated, the data is safely stored on the drive and a user selected server and an unauthorized PC cannot e-mail, print or copy the data from the device.

Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table

2009-04-18T15:51:00.006+05:30

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense for Epson to get into the touch-surface game -- most of the larger versions are projector-based, and Epson's been making great little beamers for quite some time. Showcased earlier this year at ISE 2009 alongside a multitouch air hockey table, the Core 2 Duo-powered X-Desk boasts a 1,024 x 768 resolution panel and possesses the ability to recognize up to 16,000 objects using "Smart Tags." Also of note, gesture recognition software enables users to actually speak to the table and see results, though there's no word on whether raising your voice or blurting out obscenities improves efficiency. Like all of these things, we've nary a clue when they'll really be available for the layperson to purchase, but you can certainly live vicariously by hopping past the break.

Dual SIM B5702 slider phone to arrive in May

2009-04-10T16:50:00.004+05:30

Samsung has announced the availability of its dual SIM B5702 which was revealed at the MWC couple of months back. The phone’s USP is its dual SIM holding capability and thus Samsung has got a few good features related to the same.

The phone supports Quadband GSM networks and has a dedicated key on the side to quickly switch numbers without the need to reboot the phone. There are two LEDs placed to indicate which SIM card is active and also different wallpapers, screensavers, ringtone can be set for a quick identification of the active card.

Other noteworthy things it integrates is a 3MP camera with autofocus, FM Radio with RDS, Bluetooth 2.0 and expandable memory.

The phone will start retailing in Russia and other countries from May.

Specifications:

Network: SIM1/SIM2 - Quad band (850/900/1800/1900) EDGE Class

Display: 2.4” TFT LCD / 320 x 240 (QVGA) 262K

Camera: 3MP with Auto Focus

Video: H.263 + AMR,MPEG4

Audio: MP3/AMR/AAC/AAC+/e-AAC/WMA

FM Radio with RDS

Document viewer (MS Office, PDF, TXT, BMP, JPG, PNG)

Full web browsing / Dictionary / Background music

Connectivity” USB 2.0 high speed /Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

Talk Time: Up to 11.4 hours

Standby Time: Up to 220.9 hours

Internal Memory : 50MB

External memory : up to 8GB

Size: 106 x 52.5 x 17.5 mm

More news

Nintendo president squashes talk of Wii price cuts

2009-04-10T06:41:00.004+05:30

Incredible as it sounds, it looks like Nintendo isn't planning on slashing the price of the console it can still barely keep on store shelves. That word comes straight from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who's attempting to clamp down on recent speculation that a Wii price cut could be in the offing, which seemed at least a tad more plausible considering that the manufacturing costs for the console have supposedly dropped significantly since its launch. According to Iwata, rather than trying to drive up sales numbers even further with a price cut, Nintendo will instead be putting "more energy and time into making better entertainment so that our products are going to remain in the top position in our customer's wish lists" -- and now with Disc Dog, in the top position in our hearts.

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric vehicle officially headed to the US

2009-04-10T06:39:00.004+05:30

It isn't exactly providing a whole lot of details just yet, but Mitsubishi has confirmed at the New York Auto Show today that its i-MiEV electric vehicle will indeed be making its way to the U.S., and sometime "before 2012." Interestingly, according to AutoblogGreen, that delay apparently isn't due to any hang-ups with the vehicle itself (it's hitting roads in Japan this summer), but rather whether battery-maker GS Yuasa can scrounge up enough lithium-ion batteries to keep up with demand. It also looks like the car that eventually hits the U.S. won't be exactly the same as the model bound for Japan and Europe, with the i-MiEV name likely the first thing to go. Of course, there's no official word on a U.S. price just yet, but the car, which boasts a range of around 100 miles on a single charge, should be selling for the rough local equivalent of $30,000 when it hits Europe and Japan.

Dell adds liquid cooling option to XPS 625, 630

2009-04-10T06:36:00.005+05:30

Dell's XPS 625 and XPS 630 gaming desktops may be known for one of the best price-to-performance ratios around, but it looks like Dell isn't ignoring those primarily concerned with performance, and it's now added a liquid cooling option to both models that should please the overclockers out there. That comes in the form of an Asetek liquid cooling system, which should be considerably more quiet than the standard fan-based system, while also keeping the system nice and chilly. Just be prepared to shell out an extra $120 on top of the $899 and $1,099 base price for the 625 and 630, respectively, and wait until late this month for the liquid-cooled systems to actually ship.

Qualcomm's Vision of a Wireless Charging Future

2009-04-05T23:53:00.006+05:30

"Wires, wires, wires" or possibly "a nest of vipers" could serve as a description for the space beneath my desk, where my MacBook's battery cable snakes through a spaghetti of others from my phone, my digital-picture frame keyring, my wife's phone charger, and my plug-in iPod charger. I wish that all of it were wirelessly chargeable. And it may be...soon, with Qualcomm's new eZone system.

This week at the CTIA wireless tech show Qualcomm demonstrated its eZone wireless charging technology that promises to revolutionize how we connect our gadgets. Of course we've discussed wireless power before, and the Palm Pre will come with a dedicated wire-free charger system as an option--but none of those options have been quite as elegant as what Qualcomm showcased.

A two-part system, the eZone is a charging pad that houses the main transmitting power technology, and a tiny receiver coil fitted inside portable gadgets after modification. If it takes off it will be relatively easy to incorporate the coil into future gadgets designs. In its current incarnation, the coils are housed in an external appartus, much like an external battery. The intention is for eZone to work as a universal system that can charge several items simultaneously, as it doesn't have to make direct electical contact with the device it's charing. And as an added bonus, Wi-fi and Bluetooth connections will still work while devices are charging, so there's the potential for auto-downloading photos from your camera or wirelessly adding music to your iPod.

The FCC has been involved so that the device meets safety guidelines easily, and the short-range fields from the device work well even if you pop a phone on the charger upside down, or accidentally propped up on a pair of house keys. eZone uses "near-field magnetic resonance" technology to work, according to company specs. The electrical efficiency is a tiny bit low, at around 40%--but it's currently a prototype model, the figures will rise in a marketable version and it's still likely to be much "greener" than having numerous power-sipping wall-warts dotted about your home.

Qualcomm also notes that the tech is capable of charging beefier items like cordless drills, and is flexible enough to be integrated into furniture or even laptop lids--just flip your cellphone on top of your PC to top it up.

There's just one problem, eZone is a prototype, a research project, a "technology demonstrator," and Qualcomm hasn't made any comment on when it will go to market with it. Too bad. I'd buy one right now. And, with that tangle of wires you have in your office, I know you would too.

[Via Qualcomm, Electronista ]

Scientists use virus to build a better battery

2009-04-05T23:21:00.006+05:30

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have demonstrated how a genetically modified virus can be used to construct both the cathode and anode of a lithium-ion battery.

Virus-built rechargeable batteries would have the same power capacity as the batteries used to power hybrid cars, project leader Professor Angela Belcher said in an MIT press statement on Thursday.

In a paper published in the journal Science, the research team explained that they manipulated two genes of the M13 virus to equip the bacteriophage with peptide groups that attract single-walled carbon nanotubes at one end, while the other end of the virus was equipped with peptides that nucleate amorphous iron phosphate.

Combining the nanotubes with the iron phosphate created a highly conductive material that was used in a cathode, said the MIT statement. Battery energy was transferred in "a very short time", as electrons could travel along the carbon nanotube networks and percolate throughout the electrodes.

Three years ago, a research team led by Belcher used a similar virus-modification technique to build an anode — the genetically modified virus coated itself with cobalt oxide and gold to assemble a nanowire.

In tests, researchers found the virus-built battery could be recharged 100 times without losing capacitance. The incorporation of carbon nanotubes increased battery conductivity without adding too much weight, said the statement.

The team now plans to genetically modify microbes to assemble materials with higher voltage and capacitance, such as manganese phosphate and nickel phosphate. Once this is achieved the technology could go into commercial production, said Belcher.

These advances feed into wider cross-disciplinary investigations into energy harvesting: the technique of extracting power from the environment. Current research efforts focus on both biological and non-biological systems. Non-biological study includes research into mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic systems. Biological systems such as photosynthesis and metabolic pathways, already closely analyzed for medical and scientific purposes, are also seen as potential sources of energy for electronic systems, with a cross-over field — synthetic biology — using ideas from living systems in designed processes.

This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.

Archos 2 and Archos 4 flash players leak out,forget iPod

2009-04-05T21:06:00.004+05:30

We haven't heard anything official, but images of an Archos 2 flash player have turned up in a few places on the web today, along with word of an Archos 4. The 2's already listed on Amazon -- it's not going to rock worlds, but it's not bad for $60, with 8GB of storage and microSD expansion, a 1.8-inch 128 x 160 display and a voice recorder all in a .35-inch thick package. There's also a 16GB version on Amazon.de for €68 ($92), but that hasn't yet made it to the US Amazon site. The Archos 4 is a little more mysterious -- all we really know about it is that it'll have a four-inch screen and 16 to 32GB of flash. We're guessing these'll pop soon, we'll let you know.

Mazda RX-8 controlled with iPod touch

2009-04-02T00:04:00.004+05:30

We've seen some interesting ways people have tried to meld iPhone with car, but this one might top them all. Meet Jon's Mazda RX-8, controllable from anywhere in the world using an iPod touch over WiFi. As demonstrated on video, his custom web app can be used to lock and unlock the doors, start and stop the engine, and open the truck. A telemetry window provides data such as fuel level, battery voltage, RPM, speed, and temperatures. It's even got a GPS so you can track the car's wherabouts with Google Maps. All of this is accomplished with computer hidden in the trunk, hooked up to the on-board diagnostics, and equipped with a 3G modem to stay constantly connected to the interwebs. There's no indication on whether he plans to take the mod further, but if so, we can only hope it involves some well-placed cameras and a tilt-controlled steering mechanism. We pity the foolish thief who tries to steal this "haunted" ride. Check out the video demonstration after the break

Samsung unveils 7 digicams for India

2009-04-01T08:18:00.005+05:30

Samsung has announced 7 new point-and-shoot digital cameras, forming the 2009 lineup for the Indian market. The cameras launched are WB500, PL50, PL60, PL65, ST50, ES10, ES15, ES55 and are priced from Rs. 6,990 to Rs. 19,990.

WB500 Features:

10.2 megapixel

ultra-wide 24mm Schneider lens

10X optical zoom

Adjustable shutter speed, aperture, exposure and focus

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

720p video recording at 30 fps

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Rs. 19,990

PL60 Features:

10.2 megapixel

5X optical zoom

2.7-inch display

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 12,490

PL50 Features:

10 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.7-inch display

Digital image stabilizer

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Rs. 9,990

PL65 Features:

12.2 megapixel

5X optical zoom

3-inch LCD

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 14,490

ST50 Features:

12.2 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.7-inch LCD

Dual image stabilizer (Optical + Digital)

Perfect Portrait System including Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Beauty Shot

Sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Rs. 15,900

ES10 Features:

8.1 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.5-inch LCD

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Self Portrait

Rs. 7,990

ES15 Features:

10 megapixel

3X optical zoom

2.5-inch LCD

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Self Portrait

Rs. 6,990

ES55 Features:

10.2 megapixel

2.5-inch LCD

Red-eye fix

Digital image stabilizer

Face Detection

Beauty Shot

Rs. 7,900

Product Page

American bringing in-flight WiFi to over 300 planes

2009-04-01T08:09:00.004+05:30

All hail the laggard! With pretty much every other US-based legacy carrier already on board, we were beginning to wonder if American Airlines even got the memo that in-flight WiFi was in serious demand. At long last, the company has made clear that it plans to equip more than 300 MD-80 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft used primarily in the United States with high-speed WiFi capability (over the next two years). If you'll recall, American announced early on that it was game for trialing the tech, but until today, it had yet to make a commitment large enough to make you consider signing up for its credit card and bankrolling those frequent flyer miles. We're expecting more details to emerge soon, but feel free to start pestering its agents with the whos, whats, wheres and whens.

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Mazda's hybrid hydrogen vehicles to hit the streets this year

2009-03-31T18:05:00.004+05:30

It looks like the world's first rotary hydrogen vehicle will soon be available for lease, courtesy of Mazda. True to its nature as a hybrid, the Premacy Hydrogen RE relies on a hydrogen rotary engine to create the electricity that powers the motor. The system is said to boost the fuel range of the vehicle to around 125 miles, twice the range of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, and maximum output is 110 kilowatts. We look forward to seeing the cars start rolling off the lots and into the hands of local authorities and energy-related companies this year. Finally, it looks like you'll be able to put that hydrogen generator you installed in the garage to good use.

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Sony PSP hacked for use as PC status monitor

2009-03-31T18:01:00.005+05:30

No money for a secondary display? No use for that worn-down PSP? There's hope for the future, friend. Hacker avi has discovered that Sony's handheld makes for a wonderful status monitor, providing a clean look at your PC's CPU usage, memory allocation and system temperature levels. All you'll need is a bit of training in Python, Lua for the PSP and a sister willing to stop watching UMD movies long enough for you to give this a go.

[Read more]

Thanko's USB-powered Health E-Cigarettes sound healthy

2009-03-31T17:58:00.003+05:30

It was only a matter of time, and it took Thanko to make it happen. The purveyors of all things able to be tethered to that most special port now offer the affordable, USB-powered Health E-Cigarette; a name that cunningly stops short of raising the ire of the WHO while still giving you the hope that they might really be "healthy." Like other electronic cigarettes, it uses a heating element to vaporize a nicotine solution to supposedly give you a purer smoking experience along with a suite of other benefits: preserving the health of those around you, keeping your teeth white, and even preventing fires. All that at a fraction of the price of other USB-powered cigarettes -- just ¥2,980 (about $30). If that's all it costs to make Smokey proud, you can sign us up.

[More from TechFresh]

Sony PlayStation 2 just $99.99 starting tomorrow

2009-03-31T17:55:00.005+05:30

We're really hoping that this isn't Sony's global announcement. Nevertheless, starting tomorrow April 1st, the PlayStation 2 will be available for less than $100, exactly as rumored.

[Read More]

BMW in bangalore

2009-03-29T21:25:00.001+05:30

we found this on bannerghatta road

Posted via Pixelpipe.

iPhone finally available without a contract

2009-03-28T15:52:00.002+05:30

The rumor has become reality. You can now pickup an iPhone without signing a contract. Be prepared to pay a ridiculous price though. The 8GB iPhone sells for $599 without a contract, and the 16GB iPhone sells for $699.

The contract-free iPhones are available now from AT&T and Apple stores. To get the deal at AT&T, you must be an existing AT&T customer and you can only purchase 1 iPhone at the contract-free price. Apple will sell them to whoever walks in. Sounds like the Apple store is the better deal.

Keepin' it real fake, part CXCIII: NCKLA E71 ls tcc gccd tc b3 tru3

2009-03-28T15:47:00.006+05:30

Looking to get a Nokia E71 off contract for just over a hundred bucks? Yeah, that's not gonna happen. But you can get this new NCKLA E71-2 for a mere $119 from the always accommodating folks at Solomobi, which should be just the ticket for folks concerned with neither brands nor functionality. You will still get a 2.1-inch QVGA touchscreen (or perhaps just a bundled pen), along with dual SIM card support, built-in Bluetooth, a 0.3 megapixel camera, a "stereo loud speaker," and an included 256MB T-Flash card, with support for up to 2GB. Hit up the link below for a closer look, and the order form if you're feeling like you need a little more KIRF in your life.

[Source]

Wind-powered vehicle hits 126MPH, nabs world record

2009-03-28T15:45:00.003+05:30

Sorry Mr. Schumacher, but your ten year record just got obliterated (okay, "beat soundly") by a Briton. On the dry, dusty plains of Ivanpah Lake in Nevada, Sir Richard Jenkins managed to perfectly harness winds of 30MPH in his futuristic Ecotricity Greenbird in order to hit a ridiculously quick 126.1MPH. In all honestly, we can't even fathom how you hit that speed with just 30MPH of wind, but clearly we're not up to speed when it comes to physics and engineering. At any rate, the milestone is pretty important for Ecotricity, which is trying to make wind power the go-to alternative energy source within the next score. Now, if only we could figure out a cheap and easy way to generate wind on demand, we'd really be onto something.

Sanwa Throat Microphone

2009-03-26T18:40:00.004+05:30

Have you ever had a conversation on a cellular phone, and found that the person that you were talking to could not hear you? Or you could not hear the one that you are talking to? It would be a bad time to get that really important message, like the ones you hear about on those AT&T commercials where the main characters’ phones are talking. SWAT teams, who work in very loud backgrounds, know about this situation. This is why they often use microphones that attach on the neck. Apparently, the neck carries as much vibrations as the mouth, so the other person on the end gets to hear you very clearly. This is why Sanwa has made the Throat Microphone, which will be available to the general consumer. You might think that this is an unusual accessory, but there was a time when no one would be caught dead wearing a wireless headset or Bluetooth earpiece. In other words, Sanwa may be stumbling on the next wave of the future here. I wouldn’t mind wearing one of these myself when I’m working in a loud coffee shop. Of course, I might look like some freak with this collar on, not to mention that I would be talking to myself. Sadly, there is no world when the Sanwa Throat Microphone will be available, nor any word on the price.

Source

Windows 7 edges out Vista in thorough gaming benchmarks

2009-03-26T10:52:00.005+05:30

Looking to find out what's the better gaming experience out there right now -- Windows 7 beta or Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 -- the folks at PC Perspective put both operating systems through the ringer with help from seven graphics cards running the gamut of price ranges. Overall, three ATI Radeon HD and four NVIDIA GeForce cards were pitted with six games and applications in one of the lengthiest benchmarking features we've ever read. AMD / ATI gets credit for being the first to release combined drivers that work on both OSs, and with one lone exception, performance on the Windows 7 machine was equal to or better than Vista. That said, the reccomendations for each system is the same: ATI gets an advantage here for cards in the $120 to $130 range, but the competition is much closer as you start looking at more expensive models. Hit up the read link for technical details that you can shake an anti-aliased stick at.

[Via Engadget]

Western Digital My Book series now 2TB

2009-03-26T10:49:00.005+05:30

Western Digital's extremely popular My Book series of external hard drives got a little capacity boost today: all the single disk models now max out at 2TB. Not bad for the $330 - $380 you'll spend depending on port configuration, but that's a lot of data to trust to one disk -- we'd have a backup strategy firmly in place before plunking down the green.

[Via Electronista]

Acer F1 coming in September, powered by Snapdragon?

2009-03-26T10:45:00.005+05:30

Is one of Acer's mysterious smartphones packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon? According to the folks at All About Phones who reportedly attended an Acer event recently, the F1 will be running the 800MHz ARM chip, which is a tad slower than the 1000MHz equivalent in the TG01. The device will be Windows Mobile 6.5-based, but that's supposedly gonna be shrouded by a Flash-based Acer Suite 2.0 shell. The report also mentions a September release, which jibes with what we saw on that makeshift roadmap at Mobile World Congress, and a 560 Euro ($760) price tag. Nothing's confirmed, but between Acer, HTC, Samsung, and LG, surely someone's gearing up to join Toshiba in the Snapdragon bandwagon.

[Via Unwired View]

Sprint unveils WiMAX expansion cities, 4G is here !

2009-03-25T23:06:00.005+05:30

The XOHM label may be gone, but the potency of Sprint's WiMAX network is still kickin' in and around Baltimore. For those itching for wicked fast mobile broadband outside of The Charm City, Sprint has just unveiled a slew of expansion areas that'll get gifted in 2009 and 2010. As for the rest of this year, folks in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle can expect Sprint 4G rollouts, while residents of Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. can be on the lookout in 2010. In related news, the carrier is also taking this opportunity to reveal that it has "several new 4G devices planned for 2009 and 2010, including a single-mode 4G data card, embedded laptops, a small-office-home-office broadband modem and a tri-mode phone." Lovely.

Source

New iPhone and iPod Touch models coming?

2009-03-25T22:48:00.009+05:30

On the heels of the new iPhone 3.0 software announcement, could new hardware be coming down the pike for the iPhone? According to BGR, they received some information that indicates new hardware for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
"Apple normally makes their device IDs in chronological order, from first released to last released. Here is what I found very interesting for you. Quick, here is an example of the past devices:

iPhone First Gen - 0x1290
iPod touch 1G - 0x1291
iPhone 3G - 0x1292
iPod touch 2G - 0x1293

Then, here is what is found in the ramdisk:

iPhone2,1 - 0x1294
iProd0,1 - 0x1295
iPod2,2 - 0x1296
iPhone3,1 - 0x1297
iFPGA - 0x1298
iPod3,1 - 0x1299"

Obviously this would be categorized under the rumor category at this point. BGR gets it right a lot of the time though, so keep that in mind. Head over to the source link below to see what BGR's source sent them. This looks interesting.

Canon intros Rebel T1i/EOS 500D entry level DSLR

2009-03-25T22:38:00.003+05:30

Canon today announced an entry level DSLR that will give the goodness of EOS 50D and EOS 5D Mark II at a very pocket friendly price. Rebel T1i, as the Americans know or EOS 500D incorporates a 15.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor supporting full 1080p HD video recording at 20 fps. The camera boasts the latest DIGIC 4 imaging processor, ISO sensitivity up to 3200 with couple of high-speed ISO settings going to 6400 and 12800, 3-inch Clear View LCD, nine-point AF, EOS Cleaning System for sensor and SD/SDHC card support. Destined to come in early May, the body only T1i will cost $800 or $900 for the full kit.

Press Release

[Info from Engadget]

BlackBerry Visor

2009-03-25T22:32:00.010+05:30

If you're in need of extreme privacy for your BlackBerry you might check out the Mobile Visor. The company says the visor blocks glare and provides privacy. It works on all BlackBerry models including the new BlackBerry Storm.You can pick yours up for $8.95 at the link below.
"The Mobile Visor provides privacy by blocking others from viewing your screen. This must have BlackBerry accessory stores flat when not in use and is approximately the same size as a credit card. Quickly attaches and removes with a universal elastic band."

Product Page

[Note: This post has been reproduced from Blackberryblast ]

Video: 24 Samsung SSDs hooked up for computer awesomeness

2009-03-25T01:19:00.008+05:30

Samsung’s marketing gigs for SSD are not new. Now they have come again to show what it feels when you’ve 24 256GB SSDs connected in RAID to give that supercomputer performance on a desktop machine.The SSDs give a whopping 6TB of storage, 2GB throughput speed, 0.5 seconds to open the whole Office Suite and just around 19 seconds to open more than 50 apps.

Note: This post has been republished from Samsung Hub. For more Samsung news, head over to Samsung Hub

Samsung Papyrus:Touchscreen ebook reader

2009-03-25T01:01:00.011+05:30

Samsung thinks the ebook reader business is the next goldmine waiting to be dug.Dubbed as Papyrus, the device will have a touchscreen display with a size of around 6-8 inches.Other details to surface is the 512MB in-built memory, stylus and is also able to take notes as well as feature contacts, world clock, calculator amongst other things.

Priced @ $299, this will be released in Korea in June followed by the US and UK.

Note: This post has been republished from Samsung Hub. For more Samsung news, head over to Samsung Hub.

Eee keyboard PC

2009-03-25T00:13:00.014+05:30

Images from Nokia E71 after firmware upgrade and review

2009-03-22T03:35:00.021+05:30

As mentioned in my previous post, the camera was not upto the mark when compared with other 3.2 mp in the market.My E 71 did not disappoint me when i did an upgradation to the firmware.Although the process is tiresome,Nokia really proved its point.Here are few clicks after the upgradation.

Unfortunately i dont have any images taken before the upgradation to do the comparision.Here comes the catch. How can a fix from Nokia be flawless? Yeah it has a flaw.I had all my messages stored in my memory card and after doing the upgradation , i noted that my mobile does not allow me to move the messages to the memory card which is very very essential for me.Luckily my phone memory has got 110 mb storage and it can withstand till i get the next firmware update from them(Nokia). Hope Nokia fixes it now and no more bugs for the next release.

To upgrade the firmware, click on "Update phone software" on the Nokia PC Suite .

To download Nokia PC Suite Click here

Sony unveils new range of digital imaging products at PMA 2009

2009-03-19T23:40:00.026+05:30

At the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) 2009 International Convention, Sony has introduced their new range of digital imaging products including the new Cyber-shot® DSC-HX1 with “sweep panorama” technology.

Cyber-Shot DSC - HX1

The DSC-HX1 is Sony’s first Cyber-shot camera with sweep panorama technology, which can capture up to 224-degree panorama shots in one easy press-and-sweep motion. The HX1 camera is also the company’s first to incorporate a Sony G lens and 1080p HD movie clip recording capabilities and proprietary 1/2.4-inch Exmor™ CMOS sensor technology. This sensor technology allows the camera to achieve burst speeds of up to 10 frames per second at full 9.1 megapixel resolution in the continuous burst mode.

a (Alpha) DSLR Cameras

Sony’s full-frame a (alpha) DSLR-A900 camera introduced last fall, is back at PMA after being presented as a prototype last year. It is designed for serious photo enthusiasts looking for traditional SLR performance with the added benefits of digital photography.

The DSLR-A900 is capable of delivering ultra-fine picture quality with a 24.6-megapixel, 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor and fast image processing with a new dual BIONZ® processing engine. The camera is also the first DSLR to have a body-integrated image stabilization system for a full-frame sensor with Sony’s SteadyShot® Inside anti-shake system.

Handycam High-Definition Camcorders

Sony’s strong 2009 Handycam product portfolio is also on display, including the top-of-the-line HDR-XR520V (shown above) featuring a 240GB hard disk drivethat holds up to 101 hours of HD video (LP mode), a back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor, embedded GPS and improved optical image stabilization.

Its back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor offers a refined level of optical performance. Because the wire circuitry is placed behind the sensor’s photo detectors, the HDR-XR520V camcorders provide stunning low light performance with approximately twice the sensitivity compared to Sony’s existing front-illuminated CMOS sensor at F2.0. This results in brilliant image clarity and reduced grain.

Also on display is the new HDR-CX100 Flash Memory Handycam camcorder. For around USD600, this model includes intelligent face detection and Smile Shutter™ technology, 8GB of embedded memory (a portion of which is used for data management) and three color options (red, black and silver) — all in a compact design.

On top of that, two new digital photo printers, two professional printers and 13 new digital imaging accessories are also on display. Accessories include underwater housing products, high-definition (HD) lenses and output cables, accessory packs for sports and outdoor enthusiasts, as well as a full line of fashionable and functional cases and camera bags for Cyber-shot cameras and Handycam® camcorders.

The intelligent auto (iAuto) mode, available on the T900, T90, W290 and H20 models announced in February,

Guy with a 2GB USB prosthetic finger

2009-03-19T13:32:00.003+05:30

Shall we term it as the epitome of geekiness? Jerry Jalava, a software developer from Finland amputate one of his fingers because of a motorbike accident and had to replace the lost finger with a prosthetic one. However, the difference between a regular prosthetic finger replacement and his is the integrated 2GB USB flash drive. The finger can be detached from its body and plugged in the USB drive just by peeling back the nail.

The future version of his prosthetic USB finger will involve a larger storage capacity and an embedded RFID tag.

You can check out more pictures on his Flickr page.

Fujitsu FLEPia now available for preorder

2009-03-19T01:15:00.001+05:30

Fujitsu has announced its colored e-paper reader, FLEPia is now available to preorder from Fujitsu’s FrontechDirect online store. For now it’s limited to Japan but if it ever comes to US, the great feature set can beat Kindle hands down*.

It has an 8-inch touchscreen 260K color display with 768X1024 pixel resolution support, up to 4GB SD card support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, stereo speakers and battery life of 40 hours.

The FLEPia is bundled with two famous Japanese e-book readers, BunkoViewer (.XMDF) and T-Time (.book) enabling users an access of more than 20,000 Japanese e-books.

Finally, it runs on Windows CE OS 5.0 making it possible for the user to surf the internet,e-mail and can even view or edit Office documents.

It will come in Black or White for JPY 99,750 (USD1013) and will start shipping from April 20, 2009.

*A great feature set, sure, but Kindle’s pocket friendly price tag can make it survive the future FLEPia wave.

Product Page

FLEPia Videos

Press Release

Sony to UK Retailer: PS3 price cuts coming soon

2009-03-19T01:14:00.001+05:30

Another piece of PS3 news claims that Sony might release a new PS3 SKU that will be bundled along with two games - MotorStorm and Resistance: Fall of Man. The bundle is expected to retail at $399, which is the price of a low-end PS3. So in reality, there won’t be any price cut but a better value for money.

Let’s wait and see what strategy Sony adopts. I’m in for both.

Psystar announces Mac OS desktop

2009-03-19T01:09:00.001+05:30

Despite being engaged in a legal tussle with Apple, Psystar tries its luck to push through its new Mac powered desktop PC. Dubbed as Open(3),the computer comes with a pre installed copy of Mac OS X Leopard and features Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processors, 2GB RAM, up to 1TB HDD and GeForce 8400GS GPU.

It sells for $600 until Apple’s lawyers dispatch a fresh summon.

Press Release

Product Page

Jai Ho Nokia

2009-03-18T23:31:00.001+05:30

As a Nokia fan myself,i have never used any other mobiles other than Nokia. Saved a lot get my first mobile Nokia 2100 in 2003 for an unbelieving price of Rs.4400.He gave me this discount as i told him i dont need the charger with the pack. lol...I had an awesome messaging experience with it and never had a single problem. Those were the days when color mobiles dint open doors.Used it for a while and had to sell it :(. After many reviews, i planned to get something with all the latest features on a mobile which a human being cud nt belive in 2005. Landed up on the Nokia 6630 which had memory card facilities which can be upgraded to 2GB ( guys, remember this was back in 2005 when flash drives were 1800 INR for a 512MB).This one had stereo MP3 ringtones with EDGE.

I have used this for nearly 780 hours and the battery backup is still for 2 days.Finally after three years of serving me, it was bored of a single owner handling it and decided to act the other way to me. Failed to start few applications and goes to sleep without announcing.But still works for all the basic functionalities.So started reviewing again in search of a new one .This time i wanted to look professional when i pull out of my pocket,not like any other ordinary mobile freak,so decided on the E series and was watching E51 for a while which made no impact on my wallet.Used it when my cousin got it and really liked it much,but here comes another question. Does it look professional? Naaaah . jus another bar phone from Nokia with few business features, thats it.Opened other windows to jus look into SE,Motorola,HTC , then closed the windows n decided to stick on to Nokia alone.Couple of my friends helped me shortlist to 2 mobiles atlast.N82 and the E71 which had the same features but N82 had a 5mp cybershot with carl zeiss lens etc..As told before it does not look professional and finally was left with a single option and went for it and i dont regret for the decision made.Name anything and its availabe in here.I found the e-mail setup and the GPS really cool in this and GPS signal is too good in a place like Tuticorin. I have been using for a week now and could find very few negative points in this.People who look for good camera mobiles, this is way out of your league.E71 has got a 3.2 MP cam which does not perform like the Nokia N73.And one more thing i noted down is the power button which is very difficult to access.Hope Nokia comes with a fix for this. the new firmware update was awesome and the coolest update in this is the internet radio.All u need is a gateway to the web and u can jus listen to thousands of stations without even the headset plugged in( which normally acts as the receiver for FM radio).More updates coming as and when it is being experienced.Check for the pics of my E71 here

HTC to launch at least couple more Android phones

2009-03-18T22:13:00.000+05:30

At a conference held in Taipei, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou confirmed that they are looking to launch at least three Android phones in 2009. With Magic already out, it leaves us with two other phones waiting to be announced. Which ones could it be? Maybe the leaked phone list could be of our help.
For more news,click here

Samsung NC10 with WiMAX comes to Russia

2009-03-18T22:06:00.000+05:30

Yota, the Russian WiMAX service provider and Samsung have announced NC10 netbook (also known as WiTU PC) with an integrated WiMAX module. Apart from this 4G addition, other specs remain the same: Intel Atom processor, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, Windows XP, 1.3MP camera, Wi-Fi, LAN, Bluetooth, card reader and different I/O ports.

The netbook will start retailing from March 23 for 19,990 Rubles (USD 580). It will be sold exclusively at the M.video retail stores for the first two weeks.