Dans Tech Reviews

QuickOffice shows off version for Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablets

2011-02-18T09:40:00.003-05:00

We continue to be impressed by the functionality and the grace by which Google's latest version of the Android OS offers. This new tablet specific version of the ultra-popular mobile OS will be debuting this month on a handful of tablet devices and many more later this year.

QuickOffice has been making top-notch productivity apps for smartphones for quite some time, and now the company has unveiled a new version for Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablets. As is the case with its apps for other platforms (including iOS and webOS), the new tablet version features Google Docs, Dropbox, MobileMe, and SugarSync integration and offers on-the-go editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. QuickOffice is fully Microsoft Office compatible, of course.

To see QuickOffice for Android Honeycomb in action, take the jump and check out the hands-on video from the folks at Laptop Mag. Those of you on the Apple side of the tablet war can currently pick up QuickOffice for about $15 -- which is a good deal on a great app suite.

Updated Google Voice App Gets Faster Dialing

2010-07-23T09:59:00.000-04:00

Google has updated to its Android and BlackBerry Google Voice app and is promising faster phone call connection times. According to Google, “Our mantra is faster = better.” Here is how the updated clients will expedite calls:

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster.

Full Press Release:

Faster dialing with Google Voice on Android and Blackberry devices
Thursday, July 22, 2010

At Google we are obsessed with speed. Our mantra is faster = better. This is true for our Google Voice mobile apps as well. When you want to make a call, your phone should connect you as quickly as possible, whether you’re calling via Google Voice or not.

Today we are launching an enhancement to the Google Voice mobile app on Android and Blackberry phones, which makes placing calls much faster. We call this feature “direct access numbers.” Here’s how it works:

Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial. Then the call would be connected via a Google Voice access number. With direct access numbers, we assign a unique phone number to every person you call. This means that we no longer need to use your data network to access the server each time you make a call, so calls will be placed much faster.

The updated Android app is available from Android Market starting today. For Blackberry users, you can download the app by visiting http://m.google.com/voice from your mobile device. You will need a valid Google Voice account to use the app, and at this time, Google Voice is available in the US only.

HTC Evo on Sprint Now Available for Pre Order

2010-05-13T13:52:00.001-04:00

Best Buy once again has beat everyone to the punch in offering a pre-order on the game changing HTC Evo on Sprint. This newest addition to Android phones will sport the same snapdragon processor as the Nexus One and the HTC Droid Incredible but have a larger 4.1" screen, front facing camera, 4G WiMax Technology and support a WiFi hotspot. We call this the first of the next generation Android and smartphones. Look for this level of functionality to be standard on all cutting edge smartphones next year.

Skype to Halt Development for Windows Phone

2010-05-13T13:45:00.000-04:00

Skype is reportedly halting development for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 platform and is instead focusing its efforts on the Android, iPhone and Symbian OS. Speaking at an event in Australia, Dan Neary, the Asia Pacific Vice President for Skype, confirmed that the VoIP software giant is not currently developing a version of its popular software for the Windows Phone 7 platform. This revelation comes close on the heels of Skype’s removal of its Windows Mobile version due to the product’s less than stellar UI and poor user experience. Neary failed to provide a reason for Skype’s dismissal of Windows Phone 7 but the decision could stem from WP7’s lack of native code and its tight integration with XNA and Silverlight for development. It also doesn’t help that Windows Phone 7 is a new and untested platform. Regardless of the reason, heavy Skype users looking to jump to Windows Phone 7 may be wise to wait for Skype to change its mind or for some savvy third party developer to pick up the slack.

Finding the Right Broadband Service

2010-04-20T10:26:00.000-04:00

In the UK, the election is just around the corner and for the past few months the proposed Digital Economy Bill has been covered countlessly in news stories all over the country, informing people of what it will mean for them to have fully accessible, high-speed broadband, for both work and pleasure.

With all of the press bringing broadband to the forefront of everyday news, more and more people are feeling the pressure to switch to a new provider in order to get the best deal and the best value for money.

There are many ways to go about doing this, but as most us know, the best deals are online. By using a specialist broadband price comparison site you can compare hundreds of deals from all of the big providers, according to your needs (whether that is speed, monthly cost, download limit, etc).

One good broadband comparison site for this is Top10.com/broadband/, which not only provides deals from big name providers and compares them in an easy to digest way, but it also has up to date news and guides sections to further inform visitors on all things broadband related.

Compare broadband deals at Top10.com.

Skype Going Exclusive to Verizon Wireless?

2010-02-25T13:37:00.000-05:00

If you have been listening to the Skype buzz lately you have heard that Skype and Verizon Wireless have announced a new partnership. This new partnership allows Verizon to be the exclusive provider of Skype calls over their 3G wireless network. Up until this point, there hasn't been much out there in terms of support for this, but demand has been strong!

Windows Mobile OS platform phones have had a Skype Lite app that allowed Skype users to place Skype to Skype calls as well as land line calls over their Windows Mobile smartphones with data plans. iPhone users have been begging for this ability for quite a while but will they get it?

Skype just announced today that they will be discontinuing support for the Windows Mobile platform. We can only speculate but I would say an announcement for the iPhone is coming soon too. It sounds like big red has managed to secure a tighter relationship that we thought. This might mean that only VZW phones will have access to what could be a game changer... VOIP on our cell phones.

Can Windows 7 Phones Compete?

2010-02-23T16:21:00.001-05:00

You can say that it has been the decade of smart phones. The past 3 years have been absolutely revolutionary in terms of smart phone technology and capability. Today we have heavy competitors that deliver amazing functionality and performance from Apple (iPhone), Palm, Nokia (Symbian), RIM (Blackberry) and the newest to the field that is pushing the envelope even further... Google (Android OS). Notice one missing? You guessed it, the company that arguably started the smart phone business is hardly a serious competitor anymore... Microsoft with their Windows Mobile platform.

Microsoft’s newest available release of Windows Mobile (now called Windows Phone) is 6.5 and still looks, feels and operates like Windows XP crammed into the lightweight hardware of smart phones. Performance aside (which is terrible), the user interface is not designed properly for what most smart phones users like to user as the primary interface… touch. Windows Mobile 6.5 phones were really designed to be used with a stylus.

Well Microsoft isn’t a company known to roll over and play dead. Enter Windows 7 Series phones. Microsoft announced this OS build and hardware just a few weeks ago. I must say, it looks great! I am impressed. Here’s the problem, it is too late. It would have been too late if Steve Balmer was handing out released, ready for production handsets to press member at the mobile conference in Spain but no. The official release date for this device and OS is holidays 2010. Any “cutting edge” features included in this new Windows Mobile release would easily be swallowed up by the rabid pace of development and version/build release of Android and even Apples iPhone OS.

Plantronics Pulsar 590 stereo Bluetooth headset Review

2010-02-15T13:27:00.000-05:00

It looks like Bluetooth stereo headsets are finally joining the mainstream. Plantronics came out the $150 Pulsar 590, a combo unit that works as both a phone headset and a stereo headset for audio players. The Pulsar includes a telescoping mic, which can be minimized when you're just using it for music. Another thing we like: the universal Bluetooth adaptor is an optional add-on, which means if you've already paid for Bluetooth devices, you don't have to pay again for a dongle you don't need.

Available with a universal Bluetooth audio adapter, the Pulsar 590 provides immediate wireless compatibility for any device with a headphone jack, such as laptops, home stereos, MP3 players, including Apple iPods, and multimedia devices, such as Sony PSP.

The Pulsar 590 uses multipoint technology to function as both a stereo headset for high fidelity listening, as well as a communications headset for use with mobile phones and other voice-enabled devices. The headset includes a telescopic voice tube with an omni-directional microphone for clear voice communications.

With 10m (33 feet) range, it enables users to listen to music or have conversations away from their laptop, music device or mobile phone. The Pulsar 590 provides up to 12 hours of talk time and 10 hours of listen time.

The device has a familiar headband wearing style with pivoting ear cushions that provide all-day wearing comfort. The portable, lightweight headset features a foldable design for compact charging and travel storage and ships with a full range of accessories, including a desktop charging stand, AC charger, USB charging cable, in-flight cable and travel case. The in-flight cable allows the headset to be used with the Bluetooth radio disabled, a requirement for most airline travel.

The headset can be purchased with the universal Bluetooth adapter for devices that don't have Bluetooth stereo capabilities.

Computers, media and mobile phone devices compatible with the new Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, or A2DP, don't require the universal adapter to experience stereo sound.

plantronics headsets

Woman Loses 112 Pounds by Using Wii Fit

2010-02-01T16:18:00.000-05:00

When Wii Fit first launched, a lot of people rushed out to buy it thinking that it would solve all their fitness problems. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, the Nintendo Wii peripheral didn't change a thing.

However, one woman in the UK has proved that if you combine your Wii Fit work-outs with a balanced and healthy diet, the device can be just as beneficial as real yoga classes and regular trips to the gym.

The News of the World reports that Lara Roberts, a wife and mother of two, managed to drop eight stone or 112 pounds by eating healthy and using Wii Fit every morning. The 38-year-old woman said she was becoming increasinlgy depressed about her weight but only kicked her 4,000 calories-per-day diet when a friend commented that she never seemed to stop eating.

In early 2008, Lara purchased Wii Fit because she wanted to get healthy but couldn't face going to a gym or jogging in the street. Waking at 5 a.m. every morning, she worked out with her Wii Fit and swapped her junk food diet for healthier food.

Just over a year on she has dropped from 252 pounds to 140 pounds.

Palm Pre Plus Coming to Verizon in January

2010-01-07T15:56:00.000-05:00

After over a year of exclusivity with Sprint's network, it looks like the next generation Palm Pre termed the Palm Pre Plus will be making its way to the big red. During the Palm press conference today, CEO Jon Rubinstein announced that Verizon Wireless would be getting a new and improved version of the company's highly-successful Pre smartphone.

Dubbed the Pre Plus, this new handset features double the internal memory of the original Pre (16 GB compared to 8 GB). The Pre Plus also does away with the home/navigation button on the front of the original Pre, and includes a touchstone-compatible cover right out of the box.

There is no official word on pricing just yet, but I would guess that the Pre Plus wil be about $200 with a two year contract.

Viddler offers Video for Small Business

2010-01-06T13:25:00.000-05:00

Today's web content is filled with rich, dynamic material from RSS feeds, to Flash content to embedded video. Embedded video is one of the fastest growing segments on the internet. There are few better ways to enhance your web content than with high-quality embedded video on your pages.

Traditionally, video content was reserved for entertainment niche sites. Business intranet pages and blogs rarely utilized this powerful tool to communicate their message. High costs of dedicated hardware and high bandwidth requirements made video content a long shot call for IT managers. These "show stopping" issues of yester-year are long gone with innovative services like that of offered by Viddler's video hosting for business. Video for small business with Viddler offers a solution for business web content managers to include rich, high quality video content without the high costs of dedicated video hosting systems.

Industry experts like those at CNet Tech News report that small business sites with embedded video content utilized to communicate their message report over 80% higher conversion rates on web pages. Today with high speed, high bandwidth internet access so readily available (take a look at the fresh wave of Android "super phones" just released) it just plain makes sense to start using embedded video to compliment your web content.

Google Phone, Nexus One Launched

2010-01-05T15:16:00.001-05:00

From their Mountain View headquarters search giant Google launched their firepower on the cell phone and more specifically the smart phone industry with what they termed a "super phone". The new device is called the Nexus One and is manufactured by the Taiwanese cell phone giant HTC in close collaboration with Google engineers. With the latest build of the increasingly popular Android operating system 2.1, this device packs some serious power. Nexus One features the much touted Qualcom cpu called the "snapdragon" which screams along at 1.0GHz.

The phone is available today directly from Google as an unlocked device for $529.00 or with TMobile with a 2 year contract for $179.00. Google also announced that Verizon Wireless in the United States and Vodafone have agreed to join Google’s mobile phone. He said the Nexus One would be available in the spring on Verizon.

Google also announced that it would sell Nexus One directly in an online store beginning Tuesday. Consumers will be able to buy it unlocked or with a two-year calling plan from TMobile. The company said it hoped to add other devices and carriers to the direct-to-consumer program.

Size and weight

Height 119mm
Width 59.8mm
Depth 11.5mm
Weight 130 grams w/battery 100g w/o battery

Display

3.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen
800 x 480 pixels
100,000:1 typical contrast ratio
1ms typical response rate

Camera & Flash

5 megapixels
Autofocus from 6cm to infinity
2X digital zoom
LED flash
User can include location of photos from phone’s AGPS receiver
Video captured at 720x480 pixels at 20 frames per second or higher, depending on lighting conditions

Cellular & Wireless

UMTS Band 1/4/8 (2100/AWS/900)
HSDPA 7.2Mbps
HSUPA 2Mbps
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
A2DP stereo Bluetooth

Power and battery

Removable 1400 mAH battery
Charges at 480mA from USB, at 980mA from supplied charger

Talk time Up to 10 hours on 2G Up to 7 hours on 3G
Standby time Up to 290 hours on 2G Up to 250 hours on 3G
Internet use Up to 5 hours on 3G Up to 6.5 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback Up to 7 hours
Audio playback Up to 20 hours

Processor

Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHz

Operating system

Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair)

Capacity

512MB Flash
512MB RAM
4GB Micro SD Card (Expandable to 32 GB)

Location

Assisted global positioning system (AGPS) receiver
Cell tower and Wi-Fi positioning
Digital compass
Accelerometer

SMS Texting Without a Phone

2010-01-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

"Last month my teenage daughter managed to text over 5,000 times!" Ever hear that one before? Talk to any parent of a teenage kid or a husband of a chatty wife and you've all heard the story. Some people SMS text a LOT! It is quickly becoming the primary method of instant communication in the current generation. At the very least it is becoming a integral part of the way the youth generation uses cellular technology. Well at least it used to be only cellular technology.

Enter web texting. We are seeing more and more solutions to allow users to SMS text over the internet using a standard web browser. Case in point, Text4FreeOnline Free SMS Text Message 2Way. Text4FreeOnline.com provides free real time 2 way SMS messaging. Send SMS and MMS pictures from your phone for free. See Text Responses in real time, just like a chat application. No Phone, No SMS Credits, No Problem.

We think this is a clever idea and a great program. This could really save many users some money. Especially the users who sit in front of a computer and use their phones to SMS text.

The Cree LED Flashlight Craze - Fenix TK11

2009-12-21T13:52:00.001-05:00

If you are a typical gadget tech geek, you've probably drooled over any one of the hundreds of new LED flashlilghts powered by the new light-power CREE LED modules. These suckers are bad to the bone! You thought your D-cell Mag Light was bright and built tough...

Enter the Fenix TK11. Fenix is one of the top manufacturers of high-quality tactical flashlights. This new model in the TK line is a killer!

The Fenix TK11 gives you an amazing amount of light in a flashlight that measures a mere 5.3" long. Fenix TK11 has two output modes - Turbo at 225 lumens and General at 60 lumens, and has a smooth reflector for a long distance beam. (Note: the TK11 differs from the TK10 in that the TK11 has a smooth reflector and is compatible with a 18650 rechargeable battery.)

The entire head of the TK11 is machine from aluminum with a 3-point crenelated bezel which allows you to see if the light has been left on when placed head down. Beneath the bezel sits a toughened, AR coated glass lens similar to other Fenix products. A smooth reflector is used in the TK11 which provides a sharply focused beam with some artifacts. The emitter and reflector are perfectly aligned in my sample. The exterior of the head has 6 shallow scallops machined on it which serves well as an anti-roll feature. The hard anodizing on the head is pretty well done with consistent coloring. This is probably due to the thickness of the coating. Its purely cosmetic though, the surface still feels smooth. Looking inside the rear end of the head you'll see the PCB for the "+" battery contact though do take note that the TK11 does not have the reverse polarity protection implemented so that it will work with flat-topped 18650 cells. The threads on the head are smooth, clean and thicker than previous Fenix models.

The TK11 produces a very tightly focused hotspot due to the use of a smooth reflector. It throws significantly further than the TK10 which uses a textured reflector. Due to this, the beam area has some artifacts such as a dark ring right around the hotspot and a feint yellow ring too. Beam tint is a neutral white on General mode and shifts to a slightly cooler tint on Turbo mode.

The notable feature of the TK11 is that it now officially supports the use of a 18650 cell. The circuit used in the TK11 is different that that used in the TK10 as it allows a 3.7V li-ion cell such as a 18650 to power the light up to full brightness instead of about 75% as the TK10 did. Regulation isn't as consistent as the TK10 when using 2x 16340 or CR123 cells, output seems to increase slightly as the cells run down. The TK11 struggles to maintain regulation with 18650 cells on Turbo mode. Run time is good considering the variety of input voltages the TK11 accepts.

Operation of Fenix TK11 LED Flashlight:
Select either Turbo mode or General mode by turning the bezel:
• Turbo Mode: 225 lumens, 1.5 hours of runtime
• General Mode: 60 lumens, 10 hours of runtime

Features of Fenix TK11 LED Flashlight:
• Cree Premium Q5 7090 XR-E LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours (approximate)
• 2 brightness modes, maximum of 225 lumens
• high efficiency head with smooth reflector throws a long range beam
• digitally regulated to maintain brightness over the life of the batteries
• light will flicker rapidly to indicate low battery power
• powered by 2 ea CR123A lithium batteries or one 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery, (batteries NOT included)
• runs for 1.5 hrs high, 10 hrs low using 2 ea CR123A batteries
• runs for 2.7 hrs high, 12 hrs low using 18650 Li-ion rechargeable battery
• durable aircraft grade aluminum body with Type III hard-anodized, anti-abrasive finish
• waterproof to IPX-8* standard (not dive rated)
• toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
• removable grip ring
• pushbutton tail switch for momentary on and constant on/off
• anti-roll body design
• includes 2 spare O-rings, spare switch boot, nylon belt holster and wrist lanyard

The Progress of eBook Readers in 2010

2009-12-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

2009 saw growth in sales and popularity of eBook readers, although there was still an innate reluctance for people to read from screens rather than paper. 2010 will see a shift in emphasis towards e-ink and paper developments, and the new kids on the block will be offering equipment that the more established Amazon and Sony will work hard to emulate yet alone beat.

There is no doubt that eBook readers are continuing to increase in popularity, although it is believed by many that sales will settle to a background level as most potential users wait for the technology to improve. Although many would like the convenience of an eBook reader and the capability of loading a library of books into one machine, they prefer to wait for improvements in both the e-ink and e-paper technology, and also in the quality of the eReaders.

Many feel that if the Kindle is the best there is then they would rather wait. However, they might perhaps not be waiting too long, because many businesses that believed that portable eBook readers would have a niche clientele at best are now developing their own versions of a technology that is proving to have an unexpectedly large demand.

It looks like sales of eReaders are going to rocket in 2010; that is if the bubbling activity in sales and development planned for the year is anything to go by. It seems that many of the problems that consumers have with eBooks and their readers are being addressed, and that development is not only being restricted just to the production of bigger and better machines, but also to new cutting edge technology. So what's in store for you if you are currently considering the pros and cons of eReaders against the real thing?

The devices themselves are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, with companies such as Plastic Logic and Barnes and Noble entering the arena. The latter has just unveiled its 'Nook', which with its multitouch color screen looks hot enough to knock the Kindle of its pedestal. Plastic Logic is entering the market with a business-oriented eReader with 3G connectivity.

The Plastic Logic proReader will be shown to the public at the Consumer Electronics Show on 7th January, 2010 in Las Vegas. With its 8.5 x 11 inch touchscreen, the QUE is the first true business eReader, enabling users to read PDF, Excel, Word and PowerPoint files. As it was described in the article "The QUE e-Reader: The New Kid on the Block", the screen is not only shatterproof, but also capacitive without any loss in sensitivity that such layered screens often show (Digital Book Readers). "The QUE proReader enhances business performance and gives you a competitive edge," according to Plastic Logic's CEO, Richard Archuleta.

In a market currently dominated by Amazon's Kindle, the two computer giants, Apple and Microsoft, are said to be working separately on a multifunctional tablet device that will also offer computer and multimedia functions to their customers. Sony are also rapidly improving their eReader range and the new IREX DR800SD eBook reader goes some way towards helping with the size problem with its 8.1 inch screen.

Many potential users have been put off by the screen size of the earlier products and these new 8 inch+ products are beginning to look very attractive to them. However, apart from increasing wireless connectivity and larger screen sizes, what else should we be looking for in 2010?

Screen size has not been the only problem with newspapers, although some of these will be resolved by 3G technology providing the ability to update quickly without the need for a hard connection. In fact, the concept of digital newspapers is an attractive one to many people, and it is certainly environmentally friendly. Add to that the saving in printing and distribution costs and it is little wonder that many of the larger newspapers are considering trials based upon a 3G and digital subscription model.

Future hardware could involve thin, rollable screens that would convert a large number of people who currently prefer magazine and tabloid formatting. However, given that news is freely available online, the e-News experience would have to offer something special over and above just what can be found on any laptop or palm computer.

Perhaps the new product being developed by Asus might meet the needs of everybody. This eReader is said to have twin color touchscreens that open up just like a hardback book, thus meeting one of the complaints that reading eBook readers with one page open at a time detracts from the reading experience. The eReader will also have a speaker, microphone and webcam, thus enabling Skype videocalls.

In fact, Amazon had better shape up because word has it that the Asus will cost less than the Kindle, and with all the extra features, is liable to jump ahead of it in sales. 2010 might see a massive sea-shift in popularity, particularly if Amazon and Seiko have been resting on their laurels a bit. There is no time for that anymore because the next 12 months will see a massive surge in both R&D and in developments on existing products.

Another of the gripes of genuine book lovers is the appearance of the print. E-ink has gone a long way towards solving this problem, and the continuing development of both ink and e-paper technology by companies other than just Prime View International will lead to improvements in the appearance of eBook reader text and also in prices for the equipment. Early 2010 will bring more competition in this technology that will benefit customers' pockets and their reading experience.

As the popularity of such devices continues to grow, computer and cell phone manufacturers will offer their own equivalents, based on 3G technology and utilising the best e-ink and e-paper technology available to them. Devices will become larger, though still portable, which will involve rollable screens commensurate with the restriction in screen size of portable devices. An increasing number of devices will offer touchscreen throughout 2010, although color screens will not likely be generally available until the year after.

You will also be seeing stores setting aside space just for eBook readers and associated technology. To date, such equipment has been hidden among other miscellaneous electronic applications, but it is now being recognized as a mainstream technology deserving its own promotions.

Finally, don't forget Asia! 2010 will also likely see a significant increase in inexpensive eBook readers from China, Taiwan and other Asian countries. However, it will be the screen and ink technology, and also the range of books, magazines, and eventually newspapers available to users that will ultimately distinguish between those eReaders that sell and those that don't.

This article republished from Article Alley Technology Articles

King of Android Wars - Hero vs. Motorola Droid

2009-11-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

We have now had a little time (a couple days) to play with the top two Android phones on the market now, the Sprint HTC Hero and the Motorola Droid for Verizon. So we wanted to offer our initial impressions between the two handsets. Here is my breakdown:

Motorola Droid wins in the screen deptartment big time. It's bigger (3.7 inches) and has better resolution (854 x 480). It also wins big in overall speed, as the Motorola Droid does have a faster processor.Lastly for the Moto Droid, the physical keyboard is... [READ FULL ARTICLE on ShopAndroid.net Blog]

Blackberry Storm 2 Reviews

2009-10-19T08:29:00.002-04:00

Reviews vary widely in verdict, just like the original Storm (CNET gives it two out of five stars, while PC Mag gives it four out of five) but on the whole everybody agrees that it's a definite step up, fixing most of the issues users had with the original (most notably that lag problem). Some of the reviews, particularly PC Mag and IntoMobile, are downright glowing, which is unexpected given the critical response to the original Storm, but certainly welcome. Note: The two British publications, TechRadar and Times UK, reviewed the 9520, which is the Vodafone version. All others reviewed the 9550 (the Verizon version we'll see in the States).

CrackBerry: "The Storm2 fixes many of the BlackBerry Storm's outstanding issues and makes a ton of incremental improvements, all of which add up to something that feels noticeably better."
CNET: "The RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 brings some welcome additions, such as Wi-Fi, updated software, and a better touch interface, but it's going to face some serious competition from Verizon's upcoming touch-screen smartphones."

PC Mag: "The BlackBerry Storm2 9550 finally delivers on the original Storm 9530's promise."
Washington Post: "Definitely an upgrade from the first Storm in design and usability"
Wall Street Journal: "Fixes all those [hardware] flaws [in the Storm]," but "the traditional BlackBerry interface cries out for a major overhaul"

Laptop Magazine: "It's really more like a do-over than a sequel."
IntoMobile: "I might find something to nag about on the Storm2 after putting it through the gauntlet, but right now, I just really like this thing. All of the gaps have been plugged."
TechRadar (9520): "Overall, the Storm 2 is very much an improvement over the original Storm, but it's evolutionary rather than revolutionary, despite overhauling the SurePress interface."
Times UK (9520): "For all its attempts to court a new customer base, the core market for the Storm 2 remains the business user"

Windows Tablet vs. Apple Tablet

2009-09-28T10:53:00.000-04:00

More than just photos are leaking out about Courier, Microsoft's booklet sized tablet currently in development. Gizmodo has a video showing the Courier's user interface in action. The Gizmodo video is on YouTube (see below) and you should also check out Gizmodo's article about it. The second video looks at an earlier engineering prototype called Codex, also with very early UI design ideas. Courier looks to be the digital equivalent of your calendar, address book, notebook, photos and access to the web -- kind of like an "iPhone meets notebook and pen" device.

While the Courier does use gestures and multi-touch commands, probably the biggest question that popped up for me is whether the pen interface (digital ink) is the right choice for the job. Is the pen interface something that belongs in the Tablet PC era, but not in new touch interface devices? Part of me says the pen's a good idea because that's how we are used to capturing information in our notebooks.

But I personally rarely use a notebook or write things with a pen. I always capture information in my laptop or iPhone, which are pretty much with me constantly. Maybe the touch keyboard, like is used with the iPhone, is the way to go. I personally would rather type, even with a simulated digital keyboard, than write with a pen stylus. It's more akin to using my laptop. The downside is the touch keyboard takes up screen real-estate, where a pen interface doesn't. Apple solved this by hiding and showing the touch keyboard as needed. But the touch's keyboard is more of a thumb-style keypad, not sometime you type with like a normal physical keyboard.

What's really intriguing is thinking about Microsoft and Apple battling it out in the marketplace for this new booklet size tablet. You know Apple's device will be cleanly styled, well designed, and have very good usability. Microsoft's Courier interface is new, something we haven't seen before so we don't know what kind of reaction we'll see from users. In the meantime, we're left to watch videos and simulated interfaces. Hopefully not for long.

So... are you a pen interface user or fan? Or do you prefer the touch keyboard?

Zune 4.0 Software Issues with HD

2009-09-15T08:49:00.000-04:00

With the launch of the Zune HD and the CEDIA show just around the corner, hope has been this could mean an all new integrated future for Windows Media Center and other Microsoft platforms. Don't hold your breath. The corrected spec sheet received from Microsoft indicated HDTV and protected Windows Media Center DVR-MS (the files used by Vista Media center) recordings were not supported. This is what Microsoft's response was in this:

"Zune HD, and the forthcoming Zune 4.0 PC software, will support and transcode Windows Media Center recorded TV file formats from Windows Vista or Windows 7 that contain MPEG-2 video, in either the DVR-MS or WTV formats. Support is limited to unencrypted SD and HD recordings. HD Files with AC3 audio are not supported by Zune."

As you may or may not be aware, in the U.S. any high definition broadcasts you snag from antenna, ClearQAM or otherwise use Dolby Digital AC-3 audio, meaning the Zune software won't be able to convert them. Current workarounds for bringing Media Center recordings on the go should still be a go, but all we can see is the missed opportunity to tie the two platforms together with easy one click transcoding support. Hopefully Microsoft still has something up its sleeve to pull together Zune and Windows 7 Media Center, but portable DVR recordings ain't it.

Black Wii Controllers Coming to US

2009-09-01T13:35:00.002-04:00

We all think that the Wii console looks pretty awesome in black. Unfortunately it seems to be a Japan only option at the moment. And in some sort of cruel tease, Nintendo of America today announced that it will be offering a black Wii Remote, Nunchuk and MotionPlus controller set.

Nintendo hasn't given an exact shipping date for this controller set yet, but we're supposed to expect it in time for the holidays. Too bad we won't have the black console to match.

Were you planning to get a black Wii? Do you already have a white one that you were going to swap out? Let us know!

Android Phone on Verizon this year?

2009-08-28T14:35:00.003-04:00

More and more we are hearing about Android based phones coming to Verizon. So far the only official talk is behind the Motorola Sholes model which features a decent screen and a slide out qwerty keyboard. But futher rumors are being reported that the Palm Pre and other HTC devices will be released later this year with the Android based operating systems.

We say good move Verizon. Along with what will be most likely the first carrier to have 4G speeds with their LTE network, it is looking more and more like Verizon will not need the iPhone to be the number 1 smart phone carrier in the world.

Microsoft Partnering with Nokia on Mobile Office

2009-08-12T13:45:00.003-04:00

CNet today reports that Microsoft is today expected to announce a partnership with the Finnish mobile phone maker that will see the two companies collaborate to bring a version of Microsoft office to Nokia devices.

Citing people familiar with the matter, WSJ also reports the same rumors of an announcement and goes on to say that the deal will be announced by Kai Oistamo, executive vice president for Nokia's devices unit, and Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's business division, a group within the software company responsible for its Office business.

While neither Microsoft nor Nokia are talking turkey right now, the two companies have a press conference scheduled for 8 a.m. (PT) this morning. When word first got out about the event, many people thought Nokia was going to reveal a Windows Mobile device.

Click here for the full story.

Facebook leaks "Lite" Version of site accidentally

2009-08-12T13:43:00.001-04:00

Facebook last night rolled out a service to selected users called Facebook Lite.

A significant amount of users last night logged on to Facebook and were met with a message from the site admin that said they had been selected to help beta test Facebook Lite.

"We are building a faster, simpler version of Facebook that we call Facebook Lite. It’s not finished yet and we have plenty of kinks to work out, but we would love to get your feedback on what we have built so far.

Check out Facebook Lite now at http://lite.facebook.com."

Unfortunately, it seems Facebook didn't mean for so many people to see the above message. TechCrunch reports that the vast majority of users who visited the URL didn't see anything that looked too different from the current version of Facebook. However, a select few users were given a sneak peak of the service earlier in the week and said it was like Twitter with comments enabled. Some even compared it to a simplified FriendFeed, a content sharing site that Facebook purchased on Monday.

Sony to Release Motion Controls for PS3?

2009-05-01T16:21:00.002-04:00

Rumors have been circling about a motion sensing "remote" controller for the PS3 for years. Since the release of the Nintendo Wii, Playstation gamers have been talking up the possibility of a controller with motion sensing capabilities (like Wii has) for the PS3. The latest rumors say we’ll see one by June of this year.

Sony applied for a patent for a “detectable and trackable hand-held controller” back in 2006 and reports doing the rounds this morning suggest that Sony will debut the device in just a few weeks, at E3.

According to "The Cut Scene", a good source saw a working prototype several months ago that largely fit what was in the patent documentation. Sony's controller apparently used LEDs coupled with a small web cam to track movements. Because the camera can read different color lights and the shape and angle of each light, it's much more accurate than the Wii controller.

Skype for iPhone to Be Released as Early as Next Week

2009-03-27T13:15:00.003-04:00

Exclusive Heads up: A few months ago, Skype CEO Josh Silverman was asked when was he going to launch the iPhone version of the P2P voice and IM service that has now been downloaded more than 405 million times. His response was, “Stay tuned.”

Now Skype is almost ready to launch that iPhone version, perhaps as soon as next week (reported by gigaom.com). CTIA Wireless, a large mobile industry trade event, kicks off in Las Vegas next Wednesday, so perhaps the announcement will be made there.

The biggest clue about Skype’s pending iPhone launch came when iSkoot decided to move on from its Skype-centric strategy. The company had been offering a client that allowed cell phone users to use Skype services. Skype already offers a Windows Mobile version of its client.

As I’ve said before, Skype will have to turn to mobile to keep its growth intact. In recent months, many services, among them Truphone and Nimbuzz, started supporting Skype in their communication clients. However, a standalone Skype client would get a lot of traction among the Skype faithful. In the meantime, I think Skype is slowly flexing its muscles and swatting away little VoIP players with some of its recent moves.

Sony Ericsson's iPhone Killer

2009-02-16T13:31:00.003-05:00

Well chalk up another iPhone competitor, this time it is Sony Ericsson hopping into this uber-lucrative market. Sony hope's to revive its 80's era blockbuster electronic product that invented portable music players by using the "WalkMan" name associated with this new smart phone. The new Walkman phone called the W995 and carries a code-name of "Idou". To say that we are impressed would be an understatement and with specs like this who isn't! To name a few, a 3.5-inch touch screen, an emphasis on entertainment, and–this feature isn’t the least bit iPhone-like–a 12.1-megapixel camera with flash! Okay enough already, feast your eyes on the press release photos.

Fujifilm Z200FD

2009-01-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

This new camera offers a few new features not seen on most cameras in this price range. One thing that sets this camera apart from others is its ability to take group shots (up to 4 people) without the need for anyone to hit a timer. The camera automatically detects the amount of faces it needs before taking the shot, and sets off a short timer before taking a picture. This allows you to avoid the awkward timer set / run over to the shot, which usually leads to the person running over not being in the frame. This feature actually works well, even better than expected. Additionally it takes “couple” pictures slightly differently, measuring how close the faces are to each other before taking a shot.

The camera is small, not as small as other super mini cameras, but at 0.8” thick it’s still not taking up much space. It comes in 4 color schemes; red/black, full black, pink, and silver. The sliding cover for the lens and flash is fun in concept, but moving diagonally rather than up/down or side to side makes it more awkward than fun.

For a basic small point and shoot camera the specs are fairly impressive. It’s a 10 megapixel camera, with image stabilization, and 5x optical zoom. However, the quality of pictures it takes is very lacking. Outdoor shots are clear, even though the image stabilization doesn’t work quite as well as other cameras. Indoor, or low light shots however the pictures end up fuzzy and faded, mostly because the flash blows the quality quite a bit. This really throws it off, because image quality is one of the most important things you need from a camera.

It normally goes for $300, but can be found for $270 online.

Rating 3/5

Build a Killer Gaming PC for about $700

2008-12-19T13:48:00.005-05:00

You want great gaming graphics and super smooth 3D play? Don't want to spend a couple grand on a gaming PC? Look no further. This is your lucky day! We did the research for you and put together this list of parts all available at NewEgg.com at rick bottom prices. One order and about a week later you'll be gaming at today's highest speeds!

We start with a great solid case. This Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case will set you back $59.95 but will be the backbone for your speedy gaming PC.

Next we add the brains of the operation to the shopping list. You don't want to skimp out on the CPU so we shot for the best in the "value range". Intel Core 2 Duo is still dominating the CPU wars and this Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor is a great value at less than $165.00.

Next up we need a GPU. With gaming systems, the graphical processing demand is usually high. Most gamers are looking to push their gaming experience to higher resolutions with higher screen refresh rates. All this takes a solid graphics card to handle today's hot 3D gaming titles. The ASUS Radeon HD 4850 512MB Video Card gets you into the 4800 series Radeon GPUs at a reasonable price at just under $150.

We opted for a Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive to fulfill your storage needs. Hard drives are cheap and at 13 cents per gigabyte you can't go wrong with this hard drive.

You got to have something to plug all these goodies into right! The motherboard is the backbone of any PC build. This is where you can spend money and need to plan on what you will upgrade in the future. We went for an MSI P45 Neo3-FR ATX Intel Motherboard. It won't break the bank but has most all of the bells and whistles of the best boards out there. $109.99

We like Samsung DVD drives for their ultra reliability. Nothing worse than having to deal with a bad DVD drive that doesn't like a particular format of DVDs. The
SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F is great taking advantage of SATA bus speeds.

Everyone repeat after me... "Don't skimp on a power supply!" Believe me, the last thing you want to deal with is a starved CPU and motherboard. Today's PC components need power and this SLI Antec Neo Power 500 500W Power Supply will serve you well. $89.99

Finally, throw in as much RAM as you can afford. Our budget brings us to this 2GB kit from Corasir. CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Desktop Memory is reputable and trusted by most over-clockers as some of the most robust chips you can buy. This kit is $40 but many have seen $10 and $20 rebates floating around. Google it and see if you get lucky.

There you have it! For a grand total of $704.88 (at time of this posting) you have a killer gaming PC. Okay you penny pincher, now go buy your kids a nice Christmas gift!

Merry Christmas to all!

Magic Jack is The Cheapest Phone Service

2008-12-12T10:15:00.004-05:00

We purchased a Magic Jack on a tip from a fellow tech blogger a few months ago. We were admittedly skeptical being that the only advertisements and marketing we saw of this product was on late night infomercials. The product claims to be a small, USB device that turns any computer with an available USB port and a broad band internet connection into a portal for ultra-low cost phone service.

The device is very simple. Slightly larger than a standard thumb drive with a standard phone jack on the other end. It really couldn't get any simpler than this. The software is embedded on the flash device and installs once the USB device is recognized. It will map two drives on your PC. You will be prompted the first time installing to setup your account and choose a new phone number. There are growing their list of available area codes and region exchange codes everyday. We found our local area code and were able to pick a number from a list of several dozen.

Once installed, you can operate your new Magic Jack phone one of two ways. A softphone software automatically installed, allows you to place and recieve calls from your computer using your PC's audio device (you will need a microphone and speakers). This works well with a decent headset with a microphone and is great for those extended calls with tech support.

The other method is to plug any standard phone into the analog jack and operate the phone as you normally would. We had a cordless phone set that broadcasts from the base to three handsets. This is an ideal setup for this type of phone service. You don't have to worry about re-wiring your house to push the phone signal from your outside phone company line to this new Magic Jack phone service. This allowed us to plug the master base station into the Magic Jack by the computer and place two other slave handsets throughout the office (or house).

Service quality was at first poor. We found the audio to be very low volume. After playing with the volume on the handsets we got it barely acceptable. Later we discovered there was a setting on the softphone software that controls the volume by clicking on the small "Menu" button. This brought the handset volume up dramatically.

Overall, this is a great alternative to home phone service and certainly your cable companies VOIP service. Most VOIP phone services will still run your between $20 - $30 / month. At less than $20 a year, the value is obvious. We found this to be a great solution to making international calls as well. Take the device with you when you travel internationally, and plus it in to a computer with high-speed internet and you can make calls as if you were still in the USA.

HTC Dream T-Mobile G1

2008-10-08T08:02:00.002-04:00

T-Mobile has entered the competition in a partnership with Google with their new touch screen phone. The first thing to note about it is unlike any of its competitors it has both a slide out keyboard and a touch screen. Both seem to function well. The keys are adequately spaced apart and have a great feel. Although the touch screen doesn’t measure up as well as Apple’s iPhone, it still gets the job done. The G1 uses an open source OS, which Google hopes will get developers to create software for the phone. It will feature applications similar to iPhone with Android’s market.

The phone features WiFi, a full html browser, and GPS functionality. It has one-click contextual search, which lets you search for anything simply by typing in something with the keyboard.
The phone comes with a 3.2 mega pixel camera that takes still images, but not videos. It also doesn’t have a headphone jack, if you want to listen to music you will have to get an additional adapter that plugs into the USB port. It comes with a 1 gig memory card that can be upgraded to an 8 gig, or even higher down the road.

This phone will be available in US retail stores October 22, 2008 for $179 with a contract.

Rating 5/5

Sony's E Reader

2008-09-22T20:00:00.003-04:00

Sony's new E-Reader is a lightweight, very slim device will hold and display books for you to read. The case is made of an aluminum-like material, and feels very nice to hold for what could be hours. At only 0.3 inches thick it is much smaller than any book you would carry around and most likely weighs less than a paperback. It comes with a leather cover adding a nice touch of style.

It features E-ink display which makes it very easy to read (similarly to a real book) and is touted to be better for your eyes than a computer screen. However there is no backlight so you're stuck reading with some sort of light on.

Book titles are purchased on your computer and transferred to your E-Reader via USB cable. Titles are easy to search for and the device syncs the books you buy similar to an iPod does with iTunes. Sony has 20,000 titles to choose from, but you can find an additional 170,000 on Amazon.

The downsides are that there is a noticeable lag when navigating menus. Also the price… $270 may seem a little steep when you factor in also that books can cost up to $20 themselves.

It's a very nice gadget though, if you have the money.

Rating: 4/5

Cell Phone Battery Meters

2008-09-16T13:54:00.022-04:00

I was talking on my cell phone the other night, when my battery died. I plugged my phone in for about 10 minutes, certainly not long enough for all of the "bars" to reappear... I unplugged it, however, and began using it again as if my battery were completely recharged, only to watch it die again within minutes of my next call.

You may have noticed that your mobile phone seems to spend an awful lot of time with its battery gauge saying it's full, or at least almost full. Once you get to the half-full mark, the battery seems to die very quickly.

This phenomenon isn't as obvious with today's low-power-consumption phones, but it is still pretty hard to find a phone that doesn't do it.

Some say, it's a marketing scam... Here's why that's true: Battery meters are controlled by software, and software is controlled by human beings.

Everyone knows that a battery that stays full for a long time makes a phone look good. When your phone appears to have a good bit of battery life left, you're more likely to use it. People who think their phone is about to die will make fewer or shorter calls and that is no good for the phone company.

This is one more illustration of the curse of a good marketing agent. Both phone makers and cellular service providers want you to think that your phone is still pretty much full of charge even if it's almost half empty. (DansData.com)

iPhone Nano

2008-09-15T13:39:00.003-04:00

Just in time for the holidays...

According to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1041006/Apple-launch-iPhone-nano-time-Christmas.html?ITO=1490
the iPhone Nano is expected to be in stores in time for the holidays.

"The product will be launched in the UK at up to £150 for pay-as-you-go customers by O2, the mobile phone group owned by Spain's Telefonica. 'This will be a big one,' said an industry source." "The iPhone 3G has been the fastest-selling phone ever in the U.K., but it is too expensive to be a realistic proposition in the pay-as-you-go market," the source told the newspaper. "However, a cut down version, with the candy bar shape of iPod Nano music players, would be a huge hit as a Christmas gift."

Picture Here... (attached)

"Based on the photos, the new Nano has a vertical display with a click wheel.
The Nano 4G will get the same screen treatment as the iPhone and the iPod Touch."

The new phone will cost less than $300 and will feature controller wheels instead of touch screens.

Happy shopping!

The New LG Dare

2008-09-11T20:54:00.002-04:00

First impressions say that this is LG's attempt to compete with the iPhone, and that is basically what it is. The major differences are that rather than Apple's software, you get the familiar VCast features. The Dare is also a little lighter (3.76oz. vs. 4.7oz) than the iPhone, and a little smaller (4.1"H x 2.2"W vs. 4.5"H x 2.4"W).

It comes with a 3 inch touchscreen that will recognize handwriting, but it doesn't come with a stylus so you will have to use your finger. The screen is a little smaller than iPhone, but that's expected on a smaller phone. It does however take up nearly the entire phone, and yet there are still call buttons for you to use. Since this is the phone's main feature you would expect it to perform as well or better than Apple, but sadly it does not. If you have never experienced iPhone's touchscreen you would think that it works fine, and it is by far than any LG out there to date, but they simply can't compare to Apple's streamless, easy to use touchscreen.

The LG Dare does come with Stereo Bluetooth, and allows you to access full html web browsing, but it lacks the applications that come with the iPhone.

The camera on the LG Dare is a 3.2 mexapixel that can also record digital movies at 640x480 resolution. It also comes with a LED flash that does work quite nicely (although it will make your pictures a bit blueish), which makes it considerably better than iPhone's 2 mexapixel camera without flash.

The battery on the Dare will last about 360 hours on standby, and 280 minutes while talking. The iPhone surprisingly lasts longer while making calls, or listening to music, but does not last as long on standby.

The LG Dare will run you $199 with a contract.

Final opinion, if you want better call quality and a more reliable network the LG Dare is the superior phone, but the iPhone delivers a totally different experience that seems more of a lifestyle with its Apps.

Sub $500 DIY Vista Screamer Desktop PC

2008-08-01T10:47:00.005-04:00

We get a lot of requests for updates on our sub $500 home built desktop PC builds. This certainly seems to be the sweet spot for entry level PCs. Sure you can click on that Dell ad that advertises a $499 special on a Vista Desktop but have you ever notices how the price magically ends up at $700+ after you add all the stuff you consider essential components? Yeah, us too!

Here is the answer... build one yourself! Never done one before? Don't sweat it, it is a lot easier than you might think. Read our "E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build" that has detailed pictures and instructions on how to assemble your desktop PC. You can do it... we can help! (Oh wait... didn't I just rip that off?)

CPU
The Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 is an excellent value at less than $130! It runs at a conservative 2.2Ghz with very low per consumption (you overclockers know what I'm getting at here). Plenty of brunt for your basic Vista PC.

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

Motherboard
We choose the GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L for GYGABYTE's outstanding performance/value reputation. This MB will give you expandability and the flexibility to expand later on if you find the need. It's a great value at about $60.

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory
This is one area that you do not want to skimp too much. Hence we went with tried and true CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) modules. These are bullet-proof and will give you years of reliable service! $47.50 - $10 mail in rebate. For our purposes today, $37.50.

CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Memory

Graphics Card
We wanted to utililze the powerful PCIE x16 graphics bus on our GIGABYTE motherboard so we choose this solid performer keeping in mind that we are building a "budget" PC and not a high-end gaming unit. The BIOSTAR V8402GL26 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB is a good fit with DirectX 10 support. This will allow you to use Vista's aero interface. $30

BIOSTAR GeForce 8400 GS V8402GL26 Video Card

Hard Drive
Storage is getting cheap and with SATA controllers, the Seagate Barracuda 250GB SATA Hard Drive should serve well as your storage device. $55

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Optical Drive
No Blue Ray for you! Perhaps later on when you are ready to upgrade this box, but for now a standard LITE-ON SATA DVD±R DVD Burner will do the trick. $24

LITE-ON 20X DVDÂ±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04

Case & Power Supply
I'm a big fan of Cooler Master cases. Everytime I've used them, I have been impressed with the build quality. You will appreciate this as you build and service your PC. The COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1 comes with a 350 watt power supply which should be sufficient for what we are using. $55

COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1 Black Computer Case

Finally, add the Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD and your legal!

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD

Our total with software is $500.50.

D-Link Goes Green with New Wireless Routers

2008-07-29T17:08:00.002-04:00

Wi-Fi home networking can now be environmentally friendly with the introduction of D-Link’s Xtreme NT line of wireless routers. This new green initiative adds eco-friendly features that have the potential of reducing the devices’ power consumption by 40% without sacrificing performance.

The new features reduce power usage by automatically detecting link status and network cable length then adjusting the power accordingly. The new routers, which connect through network cables, will also feature Wi-Fi scheduling which allows customers to program Wi-Fi radio signals that can be turned on and off to further save energy consumption. Although this aspect may not be original, D-Link has allowed this feature to be easier than competitive models and also provides a user-selectable radio shutdown option that is adjustable by day and start/end times.

These routers include:
• D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655)
• D-Link Xtreme N Duo Media Router (DIR-855)
• D-Link Xtreme N Gaming Router (DGL-4500)

These products are RoHS and WEEE-compliant. This means they are officially certified and safe from hazardous materials and made of recycled materials to be disposed of properly-also eco-friendly! Furthermore, the routers support IPv6. Prices range from $150-$350.

New Blackberry Touch 9500 to better iPhone Screen

2008-07-09T09:55:00.003-04:00

Rumors are starting to circulate quicker about the new Blackberry "Touch". The official model number is the BlackBerry 9500. One glance at the layout of this sleek new phone quickly reveals the intended competition for the incredibly popular iPhone.

The strong point of the iPhone has always been it's bright and high-resolution screen making it best of class amongst multimedia smartphones. The Blackberry 9500's touchscreen is a bit higher res than the iPhone's (360x480 to 320x480) making it a very strong competitor.

It will be running OS 4.7.0 (the Bold runs 4.6). As we inch closer to the September release date expect to hear a lot more details on this exciting phone!

What's an .HTACCESS file?

2008-06-27T08:53:00.008-04:00

Recently, I was forced to do a ton of research as a result of an unruly website I was working on. The problem turned out to be a small tidbit in the .htaccess file. Such a minor detail caused hours of delay in the project. I thought I would share all the details I compiled for your reference.

A .htaccess file is a file that works on Apache and other NCSA-compliant webservers. The name is actually a bit of a misnomer due to the fact that hyper-text access is only a small function of what it's capabilities are.

The .htaccess file affects the directory it is located in and all directories below it on the directory tree unless there is a .htaccess file contained within a directory, in which case it will take priority for that directory and all directories located below it in tree. Thus if a .htaccess file is contained within the root directory it will affect all directories on the webserver.

The basics are as follows. The .htaccess file is an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), these files are most easily generated through notepad or anything that can type in simple text format. One of the most common questions about .htaccess files are what to name them, unfortunately they can have no name, and the extension (although uncommon) really is 8 characters long.

Creating the file is somewhat tricky because programs like Windows Operating System will not allow you to have a file with no name and only an extension. In order to get around this what you must do is name the file whatever you would like and after it has been uploaded to the server rename it to .htaccess. At this point however the file will become invisible to browsers and ftp clients (although it can still be navigated to and the contents of it viewed), this is due to the fact that any file with a period at the beginning of it's name is considered a hidden file.

When uploading the .htaccess file it is very important to make sure that you upload it as ASCII and not as binary. Also when it has been uploaded there are a few precautions you take to prevent it from being read by a browser, one is to CHMOD it's permissions to 644 (or RW-R--R--). The other's will be covered later on in more detail. Due to the nature of the information stored in the .htaccess file it is usually of the utmost importance to keep it secure.
When creating a .htaccess file for the first time there is one quick note to keep in mind, this is that most commands are typically meant to be placed on one line, so if you are using a text editor which has the word wrap feature it may be in your best interest to turn it off as this can input syntax that Apache does not understand and will cause your scripts to fail. Also note that .htaccess files will not work on a NT or Windows platform, there are various other methods of accomplishing the tasks that .htaccess provides, but none that are bundled together in such a nice little package.

.htaccess files are not globally accepted. Due to the fact that they can be used for security that can become very serious security holes. Due to this some webhosting companies have either limited the use of .htaccess or removed it all together. Before you take the time to create a .htaccess file or series of them you should always know what you can and cannot do.

Custom Error Pages / Request Pages
There are various client requests and error pages that can happen when someone is navigating a website. A brief list of them is as follows;

200 - Okay
201 - Created
202 - Accepted
203 - Non-Authorative Information
204 - No Content
205 - Reset Content
206 - Partial Content
400 - Bad Request
401 - Authorization Required
402 - Payment Required
403 - Forbidden
404 - Not Found
405 - Method Not Allowed
406 - Not Acceptable
407 - Proxy Authentication Required
408 - Request Timed Out
409 - Conflicting Request
410 - Gone
411 - Content Length Required
412 - Precondition Failed
413 - Request Entity Too Long
414 - Request URI Too Long
415 - Unsupported Media Type

On this list I have included some good and some bad things that custom pages could be set up for in a .htaccess file. For instance if you set up a customer page for the 200 request everytime someone successfully typed in a URL or accessed your website and it was successfully bringing up a page then it would refresh to the page you specified in the .htaccess file, as soon as it was successfully brought up it would then redirect back to the page specified in the .htaccess file, and so on infinitely. This would be an example of a bad way to use this feature. However, if you were to set it up for error 404 then when someone typed in an incorrect url or a link to a page has become outdated then someone could be redirected to a nice professional looking page which could also be useful and provide links back to your mainpage or to a help section within your website.

The coding used to within a .htaccess file to redirect upon the completion of a request or error is as follows (and only goes on a single line);

ErrorDocument code /directory/filename.ext

For instance this could look like;

ErrorDocument 404 /errors/404.html

This would redirect anyone who got a 404 error on my website to a folder called errors and then to a file named 404.html.

You also have the ability to add html to the .htaccess file for these, for instance you could add;
ErrorDocument 404 " The page you are requesting is not here, please use your back button to return.

Notice that there are quotation marks before the html code but not at the end of it. This is as it should be for the Apache to read it correctly. Also make sure that it is all on one line so turn off your wordwrap when inputting it.

Password Protecting Folders
In order to password protect any directory you will require two files, .htaccess file and a .htpasswd file. The naming convention is identical to the .htaccess file.
Within the .htpasswd you will need to put in the username and password (although the password must be encrypted) you would like to use, for instance, if we use the username of username and the password of password it would look like this.

username:66yGQHg8KA7jw

In order to encrypt a password you can go to http://www.earthlink.net/cgi-bin/pwgenerator.pl or do a search on google for password encryptor.

For security purposes it is recommended that you do not place your .htpasswd file in a directory that is not web accessible, rather try and place it above your root www directory. And also make sure that you upload the .htpasswd file as ASCII instead of binary.

Now you must add the code to the .htaccess file which will be located within the directory you would like to password protect;

AuthUserFile /home/users/web/b2278/ph.dprouse/.htpasswd
AuthGroupFile /dev/null
AuthName EnterPassword
AuthType Basic

require user username

The AuthUserFile line deals with the absolute location (not the web location) of the .htpasswd file, there is no set standard for this so always make sure you double check with your webhost provider.

The AuthName line is arbitrary, it can say whatever you would like to put in there within reason (no spaces).

The AuthType is basic because we are using a HTTP login.
The final line is require user and then the customer's username, this is setup as though each user has their own seperate directory they can have access to, if you have multiple users that would like to access the same directory you change the last line to read;
require valid-user

Enabling SSI Through .htaccess

Many webhosts do not allow SSI access, this is due to the fact that there are many SSI hacks out there and it is a large vulnerability. There is a way to allow it, although you should always contact your host and make sure that this is permitted as it can be a breach of your terms of service.
The following lines must be added to your .htaccess file;

AddType text/x-server-parsed-html htm html

The AddType line adds a MIME type to the text category and the extension is .shtml. This allows them to be seen on the server, even though most hosts do allow this it is always better to add it to the code to make sure.

The AddHandler line makes sure that all .shtml files are server-parsed for server side commands.

If you do not feel like renaming all of your .html files to .shtml you can add this line between the first and second lines above;

AddHandler server-parsed .html

This line is not overly recommended as it will cause the server to parse every file with the .html file extension. This adds extra load time to every page you have as well as extra server strain, if you are worried about load time it is always better to only use the .shtml files.

If you are planning on using the .shtml extension and would like to use SSI on your index page you must add another line of code into your .htaccess file;

DirectoryIndex index.shtml index.html

This line of code will allow your index file to be index.shtml and if it does not find one it will automatically check for a index.html.

Blocking Users By IP Address
If you were to need to block someone or a group of people from accessing your website it would be as simple as adding the following lines of code to your .htaccess file;

order allow,deny
deny from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
deny from xxx.xxx.xxx
allow from all

The first line sets the order of steps, the first step is to allow, then to deny.
The second line is the first line of denials, there can be as many as you require. This line will prevent anyone from IP address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx from entering this directory (or website).
The third line will block everyone from an IP range, anyone at xxx.xxx.xxx.??? will be blocked, such as xxx.xxx.xxx.1, xxx.xxx.xxx.2 ... xxx.xxx.xxx.255.

The last line will allow everyone else to enter, however, if you chose to prevent everyone you could set this line to read;

deny from all

You may also allow or deny by domain name, such as;

deny from .purehost.com

This will prevent all users from this domain to be blocked, it also includes all sub-domains (such as username.purehost.com).

Changing Your Default Directory
If you have a problem setting your homepage to index.html you may want to look into using this piece of code in you .htaccess file;

DirectoryIndex filename.ext

What this will make happen is when someone accesses your website they will be directed to the filename listed instead of the typical index.html file. You can also setup priorities on this too, if you were to list multiple files it would check for the first one and if unable to find it, it would then move on to the second one and so forth.

For example;

DirectoryIndex danny.html index.pl home.php index.html

This would first check for the daniscool.html file and if unable to find it check for the index.pl file and if unable to locate it check for the home.php file and if unable to find it check for the index.html file. Once it has exhausted all of these then it would display a 404 error (hopefully you have already set up a custom one using your .htaccess file).

.htaccess Redirects
Although redirects can be coded through many different means, such as http-equiv, javascript, or any type of dynamic scripting it is typically more efficient to do it through a .htaccess file. The reason being that the coding for all your redirects can be done through a single file instead of having to add code to multiple files. This can save time, which ultimately can mean the difference between someone coming to your site and finding broken links or not seeing updated information.

htaccess uses redirect to look for any request for a specific page (or a non-specific location, though this can cause infinite loops) and if it finds that request, it forwards it to a new page you have specified:

Redirect /folder1/file1.html http://site.com/folder2/file2.html

Notice there are three separate yet required parts to this line of code. The first part is the Redirect command, this informs the browser that when a specific file or folder is accessed the browser is going to be redirected to a new location. The second part is the address of the file or folder you want to redirect from relative to your root directory. The third and final step is to indicate the file or folder that you want to redirect to, this should be indicated by the complete path to it.

As with most .htaccess commands all three sections of this are seperated by a single space but located on one line. This command will often be used if there are massive changes to a website, for instance you have created an entire new site, which is located in a separate folder. You would use the redirect command and specify the old folder and then specify the new folder.

Hiding Your .htaccess
Because your .htaccess file can often contain information that is very pertinent to your website or information that can be potentially a security risk it is always better to limit access to it as much as possible. If you have set incorrect permissions or if your server is not as secure as it could be, a browser has the potential to view an htaccess file through a standard web interface and thus compromise your site/server. This, of course, would be a bad thing. However, it is possible to prevent an htaccess file from being viewed in this manner:

order allow,deny
deny from all

The first line specifies that the file named .htaccess is having this rule applied to it. You could use this for other purposes as well if you get creative enough. If you use this in your htaccess file, a person trying to see that file would get returned (under most server configurations) a 403 error code. You can also set permissions for your htaccess file via CHMOD, which would also prevent this from happening, as an added measure of security: 644 or RW-R--R--.

Adding MIME Types
IF you are using a file extension that is not set on the servers, which can be a common occurrence with MP3 or even SWF files, you can specify what type of file it is by adding this line of code to your .htaccess file;

AddType application/x-shockwave-flash swf

AddType is specifying that you are adding a MIME type. The application string is the actual parameter of the MIME you are adding, and the final little bit is the default extension for the MIME type you just added, in our example this is swf for ShockWave File.
If you need to find the application string of the file you are adding most of them are located at filext.com. Also, if you want to have a file who’s extension is specified on the server to open with something and you would rather have that downloaded (for instance .xml) you can specify the application string as;

application/octet-stream

Preventing Hot Linking
Hot linking refers to someone outside of your website using the path to one of the images on your website. This is considered very rude for two major reasons; the first is that you may have spent many hours working on a particular image and do not want it used by someone else, and the second is that everytime someone accesses that other person’s page it uses your bandwidth. If the site were to have many visitors it could end up that your website actually goes down to bandwidth over usage.

Using .htaccess, you can disallow hot linking on your server, so those attempting to link to an image or CSS file on your site, for example, is either blocked (failed request, such as a broken image) or served a different content (for example a different picture) .

Here's how to disable hot linking of certain file types on your site, the case below takes into account images, JavaScript (js) and CSS (css) files on your site. Simply add the below code to your .htaccess file, and upload the file either to your root directory, or a particular subdirectory to localize the effect to just one section of your site;

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://(www\.)?domain.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule \.(gif|jpg|js|css)$ - [F]

Be sure to replace "domain.com" with your own. The above code creates a failed request when hot linking of the specified file types occurs. In the case of images, a broken image is shown instead.

You can set up your .htaccess file to actually serve up different content when hot linking occurs. This is more commonly done with images, such as serving up an alternate image in place of the hot linked one. The code for this is;

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://(www\.)?domain.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule \.(gif|jpg)$ http://www.domain.com/alternatepicture.gif [R,L]

Digital Wi-Fi Cameras

2008-06-27T08:28:00.001-04:00

First we had to get over the whole film thing after a nation of baby boomers had been raised on Kodak, Polaroid, and 35mm film cameras of various shapes and sizes. We were all use to the idea of sending in our film for developing and waiting for our pictures to come back.

Then along came digital cameras and the world was taken by storm with this cool new technology. Suddenly you could take a picture and see the results immediately. At first these cameras were slow and not such great quality but still kind of cool. Then things heated up and now we have fantastic digital cameras of all sizes and shapes that can take wonderful images which can be shared instantly with your family, or the rest of the world for that matter.

Now comes the latest in technology integration. WiFi and digital cameras. No need to even plug your camera memory card into a computer, or a printer at all. Now you can buy a digital camera that transmits the images via wireless technology. Yes, that is right, a wireless connection for your image uploads.

Now, you may be among those in the population that have not even gotten their hands around the whole digital image sharing thing yet. This promising new technology may lead us to a world of fewer cables to plug in, quicker transfer of our images, and in the case of events in the world, the ability to share images of news almost instantly.

Imagine cities that implement widespread WiFi access and photographers with WiFi cameras capturing images of news and other special events. They could transmit those images right away and let the world see them.

Here is how it works:
Nikon has released two models of digital cameras that are WiFi enabled. The idea is to be able to transmit your pictures straight from the camera to your computer or printer through a wireless adaptor. You bring up the images to transfer, hit “go”, and they get sent through the air to your printer. The Coolpix P-series will be in the $200-$550 range in pricing and the adaptor is extra.

They are competing with Kodak which released its own version of the WiFi camera in their Easy Share line of cameras this year. Kodak has already gone to making it easy to share photos by transmitting them at so called "wireless hot spots", usually cafes or stores where wireless access is sold or given away to customers. These efforts by the leading camera makers seem aimed at adding value to their already impressive digital technology.

Digital cameras continue to be hot sellers despite what some in the industry thought would be a slowing of sales this year. Many had predicted that cell phone cameras would slow digital camera sales, but this is not happening.

If you are a leading edge gadget buyer and have a wireless mindset then you may want to be first on the block to get one of these Wi-Fi digital cameras.

Digital SLR or Point & Shoot?

2008-06-26T14:10:00.002-04:00

Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that produce clearer, sharper and more colorful images than most point and shoot digital cameras available. With prices falling rapidly, they are now more affordable then ever. With the price gap between an entry model digital SLR camera and the most expensive compact digital camera narrowing; the question is… do I spend the extra money and get a Digital SLR camera? or save a few hundred dollars and purchase the best digital compact camera.

Well, it really depends on your budget; however if you do spend the extra money, here's what you get:
In addition to the price falls in the Digital SLR models, the performance on these cameras has increased year on year with the latest Digital SLR cameras being quicker and faster than ever before. They have improved to such an extent that power up or start-up time is near instantaneous with virtually no lag time. “Lag time is the time between you pressing the shutter release button and the camera actually taking the shot”. This delay can vary quite a bit between different camera models and it is one of the biggest drawbacks compared to a compact digital camera. The latest digital SLR cameras have virtually no lag times and react in the same way as conventional film cameras, even in burst mode. Compact digital cameras are catching up; however the difference is still significant. A lag time of ~0.5 seconds can result in you missing the heartbeat of the moment and hence that potential great picture.

Digital SLR camera also has a larger sensor versus a smaller sensor in a compact digital camera. This equates to higher sensitivity and less noise and results in the camera taking clearer pictures in low light. (They also have better autofocus speed in low light as well). A measure of sensitivity in a digital camera is ISO and a typical ISO range for a Digital SLR camera varies from ISO 100 – 1600 with the latter being more sensitive. The ISO range for a compact digital camera varies from ISO 50 – 400. In summary, the higher the ISO rating, the greater the sensitivity and the better the photo can be taken in low light.

The Digital SLR cameras have a much longer battery life due to the limited use of the LCD screen. Please note, that as the LCD screen is only used for viewing the image, the battery life of a digital SLR can allow up to 2000 shots per charge in some cameras compared to 500 for a good point and shoot digital camera.

Digital SLR cameras also allow you to interchange lens such as adding a zoom or macro lens when required.

On the negative side of a Digital SLR camera; they are usually larger and heavier than compact digital cameras, the image cannot be previewed on the LCD screen prior taking the picture. If you really require the image to be viewed on the LCD prior to taking the picture, there are third party manufacturers that produce LCD screens that attaches to the viewfinder and allow the scene to be view just like a compact digital camera. The other drawback is the inability to take videos and finally, lenses are expensive with the majority costing more than the camera itself.
Although compact digital cameras cannot compete on features with a Digital SLR camera, they are great value, have the ability to take videos and are portable. If you have decided to purchase a Digital SLR camera I recommend you visit other websites which has Information on Digital Camera and compare the features. If you are still undecided, purchase both.

Motorola releases Automotive Niche Bluetooth Headset just in time for California drivers

2008-06-20T09:11:00.002-04:00

Expect to see California and Washington drivers using cellular phone headsets come July 1 (click here for details on the law). New laws in these states restrict use of hand-held phones while in a motor vehicle. Drivers will start risking being ticketed if they're caught holding a phone to their ear.

These states join New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in restricting hand-held cell phones and require the use of only hands-free phones behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. California has the largest number of licensed drivers of any state (almost twice as many as second-ranked Texas) and so it is no surprise manufacturers of bluetooth hands-free devices are chomping at the bit at the promised spike in bluetooth hands-free devices.

Motorola announced plans to roll out a "car-specific" bluetooth headset in the coming months. The question is, "Is it better than a portable Bluetooth car kit?"

California Drivers! Get up to 80% off cell phone accessories before the July 1 law

Motorola says the new H620 Bluetooth headset is superior because it has noise reduction and echo-canceling technology as well as the ability to adjust the volume automatically to compensate for road noise. It comes with a car charger so you don't have to worry about draining the battery on long drives as well as a dashboard holder in order to place it in a convenient location. The new headset also has voice-dialing for entirely hands-free calls.

With bluetooth now being built into everything from portable navigation systems to car stereos, drivers in California and Washington have plenty of options. Even econo cars like the Nissan Sentra and Ford's Sync system have bluetooth technology as standard equipment making a hands-free system a no-brainer if you're buying a new car. If you drive an older car though, the Motorola H620 may be just the ticket for not getting a ticket.

Motorola said the new headset will be available soon but we're betting it will be released sooner rather than later and at a cost under $100 in order to take advantage to the expanded market for these products.

Microsoft Windows 7 to feature Touch interface

2008-06-19T13:16:00.004-04:00

Microsoft is going to feature a touch interface with it's next major release of Windows. This was demonstrated in the Windows 7 demo at the D6 conference on May 27. Microsoft is pushing this new "multi-touch" interface as the new way to interact with computers not only on the desktop, but in portable computers and even entertainment centers, appliance PCs and more.

A Micro soft spokes person is quoted in saying,

"During Bill Gates’ and Steve Ballmer’s keynote this evening, Julie Larson-Green, Corporate Vice President, Windows Experience Program Management, will take the stage to demo a new feature for the Windows platform: multi-touch. This feature will be available in the next version of Windows, Windows 7."

A new post on the Windows Team blog added this:

“Touch is quickly becoming a common way of directly interacting with software and devices. Touch - enabled surfaces are popping up everywhere including laptop touch pads, cell phones, remote controls, GPS devices, and more. What becomes even more compelling is when this experience is delivered to the PC –on a wide variety of Windows notebooks, in all-in-one PC’s, as well as in external monitors. In working with our broad ecosystem of hardware and software manufactures, we’re excited to be showing some of the great work and investments we are working on in Windows 7.”

A video of this Windows 7 multi-touch functionality is now available via the Vista team blog.

After using my new HTC Touch XV6900 for two weeks now with the new Windows Mobile 6 software, I can say that I am looking forward to this style of input and user interaction gaining traction in all other computing platforms. Anyone who has used an iPhone or any other intuitive touch interface device will agree!

Samsung announces development of 256 GIGABYTE SSD

2008-06-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

Samsung's announces their first 256 GIGABYTE SSD (Solid State Drives). The MLC-flash SATA II drive has speeds of 200MBps read and 160MBps sequential write. They will be available come September, with a 1.8-inch version due in Q4.

These leaps seem to be moving Moore's Law to the digital storage side of computing. We haven't seen this level of progress in the CPU side of things in 5 years!

Apple's New 3G iPhone - Shoulda's and Coulda's

2008-06-12T14:06:00.001-04:00

It's been almost a year now since the original iPhone hit the market with all the hype and fame that only Steve Jobs could generate. No doubt, this has been a paramount success for Apple as it has generate record sales and a cult following not seen since the first Razr model hit the market. So what is new in the updated model. Has Apple addressed all the short comings and made this into the perfect phone?

First, we look at the memory capacity. With now old-fashion 5th generation ipods rotting in most desk drawers topping 80GB hard drive capacities, the newest iPhone disappoints with a measly 8GB and 16GB models. Avid music and video fans will fill up there new gadgets before they even inflict the first smudge of the screen on their cheeks. Rumors are circling of a 32GB model in the works but for now, fans will have to live with either 8 or 16GBs.

Next the physical attributes. The 3G model is slightly thinner on the edges but at closer inspection it is actually a tad thicker in the center of the phone (0.48 inches vs 0.46 inches). This is hardly noticed by users as the new version is actually lighter as well than the old version by a tenth of an ounce. Owners upgrading from the first generation iPhone will be pleased with the elimination of the irritating recessed 3.5mm headphone jack.

Many had hoped the new iPhone would sport a better camera on the front in order to use it for video conferencing but this also fell on the list of ignored requests by Job's faithful.

On to the goodies!
3G means blazing fast internet and data access across three 3G bands (850, 1900, 2100) and both UMTS and HSDPA networks. This means that international travelers should be able to enjoy their uber trendy-ness in more than just the US of A. During Steve Jobs' keynote demo, he accessed a picture intensive website on this new model and the old model and showed drooling customers an improvement of 38 seconds in loading this page. Impressive no doubt, but real street use of this new technology will tell if this level of improvement is typical for most sites and applications.

Now we'll never stop and ask for directions!
One of the most welcome additions in technology was the inclusion of GPS technology in this model. With just about every new smart phone hitting the market sporting this feature in one fashion or another, this was almost a given. It uses Assisted GPS technology using the 3G network to help out the satellites. It promises many third party applications that will make the already cool, cooler.

Finally, Apple addressed battery life concerns by promising improvements to the note of 5 hours of 3G talk time, 10 hours of 2G talk time, 5 hours of 3G Internet time, 6 hours of Wi-Fi Internet time, 7 hours of video playback, 24 hours of audio playback, and 12.5 days standby time.

What is our thoughts overall?
The new price is certainly welcomed although we sense that most agree with us in that we would have rather seen more areas improved and more features added for the same prices as the last versions. We still feel Apple is leaving smart phone customers on the table by excluded important yet every-so-common features like multimedia messaging, voice dialing and video recording. Many were also hoping for a landscape keyboard, the capability to cut and paste, Flash support for the Safari Web browser, expanded memory, and additional Bluetooth profiles.

I think all in all, Apple will win over the tentative buyers with the decreased price and increased overall performance. The hard core iPhone and Apple junkies although will be disappointed as we were. A marketing mind will think this was a good move. The insider, I suspect will not agree. After all, aren't the Apple tech junkies what made Apples success so great with this and other technologies? We'll see...

Apple iPhone Review

2008-06-01T19:42:00.001-04:00

There has not been so much hoopla surrounding an invention since perhaps the introduction of sliced bread, but the Apple iPhone managed to surpass that. Released in 2007, the iPhone promised to be the best multimedia cell phone ever. And with an initial price tag of around $600, well, it had better be. Fast forward approximately a year and numerous updates later, and the Apple iPhone is actually starting to live up to the all the hype.

Apple is known for producing excellent computers and one of the best music players – the iPod – on the market today. It only makes sense that they would eventually attempt to merge the technologies into a new better product on cutting edge of technology, which is what Apple is known for. So of course, there was an outpouring of excitement with the release of the iPhone. The question that begs an answer, though, is if the iPhone is really worth all the excitement surrounding. After a review of the iPhone, the short answer is probably yes.

At first look, the iPhone sports a nice sleek design in high gloss classy black. As far as size is concerned, the Apple iPhone, it is approximately the same size as the 30 GB iPod, though a bit longer and narrower. The thickness and weight of the iPhone are about the same as the iPod also.

As far as it being “the best iPod we’ve ever made”, Steve Jobs was absolutely correct in his assertion. However, the part about the iPhone being a great cell phone that provides “the Internet in your pocket” – well, that part needs a bit of tweaking.

As an iPod, the iPhone is probably better than any other music player that Apple has released to date. There is no scroll wheel like the ones on the iPod, but is doubtful you will even miss it with the impressive touch technology of the iPhone. It may initially take of bit of greeting used to, but once you have it, you wonder why all iPods do not have this technology.

Viewing videos on the iPhone is an impressive experience – they look even better than they do on the 30 GB iPod, which is a feat within itself. Videos are viewed through a YouTube-like interface, which is pretty cool.

As a phone, the iPhone is not the greatest cell phone on the planet – the call quality is okay. Consider that this is Apple’s first attempt at a cell phone, though, and you realize that they have done pretty well. As more and more upgrades are released, the phone continues to improve. Those who love text messaging will enjoy the iPhone’s SMS client. Text conversations are collected into colored speech bubbles, which makes it easy to differentiate between responses.

As a smartphone, the iPhone does okay, and it will perform even better now that the developer’s kit has been released. Expect many wonderful applications from developers for the iPhone in the near future. However, inputting information is a little cumbersome with the touch keyboard – the autocorrect feature helps.

Accessing the Internet on the iPhone is either via WiFi or the EDGE network. The integrated Safari browser makes viewing the web a nice experience. Pages load pretty quickly and tables and CSS are rendered close to how they are on a desktop.

The iPhone has enormous potential and will likely become exactly what Apple has said – an all-n-one device that makes it unnecessary to lug around a case full of electronic devices. If the history of Apple’s other time tested devices is any indication, you can expect great things from the iPhone in the future.

The Verizon iPhone wanna-be... the HTC Touch (6900)

2008-06-01T19:30:00.001-04:00

The Verizon XV6900, which is also known as the HTC Touch, is a beautiful phone at first glance and boasts a sleek design with a glossy white paint job that sets it apart from other editions of the same phone carried by other wireless providers. This model is the progress in HTC models featured by Verizon (comparison chart).

Verizon has also made some subtle changes to the TouchFlo interface – the red accents and full color icons are much more appealing than the monochrome theme on other providers’ versions of the phone.

Though one of the main complaints that users have about this particular phone in general is that it tends to be unresponsive to touch (which is a definite hindrance for a ‘touch phone’), the Verizon XV9600 has proven pretty reliable when it comes to responsiveness. The interface that was created for the Verizon XV9600 is also more user friendly than the standard underlying Window Mobile interface, with its convenient icons and touch menus.

While the overall design of the Verizon XV9600 is good, the real question is how well the device functions as a phone. Users report that the call quality is good and that calls tend to be clear and static free. Even in areas where there is only one or two bars of reception, calls are not affected. Calling features such as an easy to activate speakerphone and Bluetooth for handsfree calling are included. A pretty cool feature that is included with the Verizon XV9600 is the contact screen, where you can arrange photos of your nine favorite contacts in grid form for easy access.

Internal memory is limited but this device does have a microSD slot that will support up to 8GB microSD memory cards. The access door was a bit difficult to open (you have to take the rear battery cover panel off before prying the side door open to reveal the microSD slot).

Get HTC XV6900 Accessories

One of the disappointments of the Verizon XV9600 HTC Touch phone comes in the form of instant messaging. There is no dedicated IM client built into the phone. The keyboard is difficult to use, especially if you have larger hands; and the auto completion feature is less than intuitive.

Another disappointing feature of the Verizon XV9600 is its multimedia capabilities, or lack thereof. Though the phone will allow you basic control of tracks playing in Windows Media Player, it is not the best music or video player. Plus, sadly, the Verizon XV9600 does not support the highly popular V Cast service.

If you will be surfing the Internet on the Verizon XV9600, the experience is adequate. Some of the pages do not load properly and the included Internet Explorer browser is not the fastest or most capable for viewing the Internet. Overall, though, it works okay.

Since many people who purchase the HTC Touch use it for business purposes, scheduling and productivity are of concern. You will be happy to know that you can view all of the standard items such as Office documents. However, once again, the keyboard may be a bit of a problem if you are going to do any extensive typing.

Overall the Verizon XV9600 is a pretty decent phone. Though some features are a bit lacking, its performance is solid. If you are willing to compromise on some features, such as instant messaging, and you do not need your phone to be a media player, then the Verizon XV9600 will probably work pretty well for you.

Dell Precision Mobile Workstations for 3D CAD

2008-05-21T15:35:00.002-04:00

3D CAD has been around for almost 50 years now in some form or fashion. It started as a tool reserved for programs that had more budgets than time to spend it. This usually meant government research or ultra-rich corporate research departments were the only ones that had the opportunity to utilize these powerful tools.

One of the major cost prohibitive measures was the hardware required to run such complex computations and mathematics. Even as late as the 1990s, workstations had to be specially designed on both the hardware and software ends to accommodate the system requirements of modern 3D CAD and solid modeling software packages.

At the turn of the millennium, Moore’s Law really began to introduce excess computing power into average PCs and workstations. Companies without the budgets of NASA and Lockheed Martin were able to deploy computing hardware powerful enough to have every engineer on their staff to efficiently use high-end CAD systems such as Pro/ENGINEER, NX and CATIA V5.

In the past 2 – 3 years, the industry has seen yet another trend in workstation performance. Mobile Workstations like the Dell Precision laptop series has introduced the concept of portable hardware with the power of yesterday’s engineering workstation that not only cost big money, but took up big space and big power. We tested two of the latest additions to the Dell line of Precision laptop workstations and compared them to an equivalently priced standard desktop workstation to see what the performance gap is.

Baseline Workstation – Dell Precision 390
This is as much engineering computation power that $3,000 buys you at Dell. We configured it with the Intel Core®2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz processor, 4.0GB RAM, a 500GB SATA (10,000 rpm) hard drive and 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX3500 video card. This took us right over the $3,000 budget.

Dell Precision M4300 (15.4” Laptop)
The Precision M4300 line of mobile workstations is the next evolution to the M65 series Dell Precision laptop. This seems to be the direct replacement to the M65. It is the mid-sized of the Precision Laptops pack featuring a 15.4” (1920 x 1200) screen. We configured this unit with the Intel Core®2 Duo T7700 2.4GHz processor, 4.0GB of RAM, a 120GB (7200 rpm) hard drive and the NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M video card with 512 MB. This laptop came in right under $3,000.

Dell Precision M2300 (14.1” Laptop)
The Precision M2300 workstation is the lightweight of the Dell Precision laptops. Starting at only 5 lbs (2.27 kg) it is geared towards the heavy mobile user. We configured this unit with the Intel Core®2 Duo T7700 2.4GHz processor, 4.0GB of RAM, a 120GB (7200 rpm) hard drive and the NVIDIA Quadro FX 360M video card with 512 MB. The cost on this laptop was well under $3,000 at about $2,600.

Benchmark Data
Since this test is strictly geared towards high-end CAD users, we decided to use the independent CAD benchmark written by Olaf Corten, OCUS (You can read more about it at this website: http://www.proesite.com/). This benchmark used Pro/ENGINEER to run through several tasks using a script and records time stamps prior to and after each task. The tasks are then broken down into categories to give a clearer picture of what is impacted (CPU, HD or video) by each task.

The chart below reports the results of the testing.
Results are reported in seconds (i.e. lower is better).

Workstation Description	Total Score	CPU Related Tasks	Graphics Related Tasks	Disk Related Tasks
Dell Precision 390	537	235	277	56
Dell Precision M4300	689	318	340	90
Dell Precision M2300	697	311	351	89

Given the cost of these three options, it is hard to not justify “going mobile” with your next engineering and high-end 3D workstation. The two Dell Precision laptops performed well along side what is a above average engineering workstation in the traditional sense. The added ability to take you design tasks with you wherever you need is a huge added benefit.

The decision between the M4300 and the M2300 should center on a couple of questions; 1) Will I be using this laptop on a docking station with an external (larger) monitor and 2) what is the ratio of time that this unit will be used in an office environment where power is available and outside locations where you will need to run on battery power. Due to the 14.1” screen size, the M2300’s battery performance is far superior especially when configured with the 9 cell extended battery as we did. We were able to run this mobile workstation at high cpu cycles for almost 5 hours before needed to connect to an external power source. The M4300 struggled to run 3 hours. If you plan on using the unit in an office environment with a docking station with an external monitor, then the small 14.1” screen becomes a benefit rather than a detriment. The occasions when you are undocked is when you will enjoy and appreciate the increased battery life, lighter weight and added overall portability of the M2300 and will not have to deal with any of it’s shortcomings while in a docked state.

In conclusion, I think it is a wise move for any CAD user to invest in a mobile workstation for their next hardware refresh. I’m seeing less and less reasons to justify a desktop workstation as the performance gap continues to narrow.

3D Connexion Space Navigator PE - $37.77

2008-05-06T14:11:00.001-04:00

For all you CAD and 3D design gurus out there if you have never heard of a Space Ball or a Space Navigator you are missing out! This nifty little gadget enables you to pan, rotate and zoom 3D models in space simultaneously. Once users get proficient using this device it is reported that productivity is increased dramatically. Many designers haven’t tried one of these because of their high price. The PE is a lower cost version and with this special on Buy.com everyone using a 3D design package (3D Studio Max, Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, etc.) should have one!

Buy.com Link - $37.77 FREE SHIPPING

Cheap Gary Fong LightSphere Alternative

2008-05-06T09:13:00.002-04:00

I recently purchased a Gary Fong Lightsphere for about $50 after reading a lot of hype about it on various photography message boards. I needed a good universal flash diffuser for my 580 EXII anyway so I went ahead and bought one. When it came in I was amazed at how simple this device was. It’s essentially a rubberized bowl with a plastic lid (optional) for extra diffusing. My first reaction was, “I bet there are imitations all over eBay for these!” Sure enough, eBay is filled with low-cost replicas.

As your tech review source, I decided it was my duty to get one of these and compare. I will be posting up a full review with sample pictures but let me give you the short. Nothing earth shattering here. The eBay clones are exact copies of this very simple device and so the resultant performance is identical. My advice, save yourself $40+ and get one of these sub $10 copies.

http://dan.ponjican.com/gary-fong-lightsphere-cheap-alternative.html

The one I picked up even came with an extra amber dome for added warmth effect. Can’t beat that!

Great price on Intel E6850

2008-05-03T22:32:00.002-04:00

This promotion ends in 4 days...

Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Dual Core Processor - $189.99 at Newegg.com

Photography Tech Tip: DIY Light Box

2008-04-07T14:27:00.002-04:00

A couple things inspired me as of late to experiment with some Photography equipment and led me to this great little DIY photography trick. It seems to be the rage on all the photography boards so I figured I would give it a shot aswell.

The other inspirer was my latest acquisition; a new Canon Speedite 580EX II flash. This is Canon's latest and greatest model designed to be used with the EOS digital SLR range of camera bodies.

At $400.00 (street price) these are a great value for any hobbyist or professional photographer. I had the opportunity to initially test it at a local charity event and was instantly impressed with the power and versatility of this flash (full review coming soon...).

On to our little experiment. Today we are looking at home-made DIY photography light boxes. These are great tools to have for any photography taking macro shots of single products/object. In my case the need arose from pictures taken of new products for one of my ecommerce sites (http://www.DetailingGurus.com/). I frequently need to get new pictures of new products being added to the store's website. Anyone who has taken pictures for web store fronts knows that it is a challenging task to keep the lightings and environment consistent between your shots. A light box is your answer.

We built our light box from a medium sized scrap cardboard box. I started out by cutting two 10" X 16" rectangle cutouts from the left and right sides of the box. I taped a sheet of 11" x 17" plain white copy paper over these "windows" on each side of the box.

Next I used white packaging paper to line the insides of the box to create good light diffusing surfaces. Finally, "drape" of white paper was curved to create a gentle, non-creasing background.

I used as much lighting as I could find around the house. Optimally, I would use two of the portable halogen lights like I have on the left side of this box setup. I didn't have a second light like this (I will pick one more up this week and shoot some more shots) so I used a regular lamp with the shade removed.

I shot these in auto mode with my 580EX II set to ETTL mode. Most of the shots were taken with a Canon F1.8 55mm lense. I used a Gary Fong Lightsphere as a difuser on the flash and set the flash at 45 degrees bouncing the light off of the top inside ceiling of the box.

Here are some sample shots.

Edge Industrial Adapter

Microfiber towel

SYSTEM ONE X3 Polish

Kit Lens

E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build - Part 4

2008-02-21T10:27:00.001-05:00

With everything pretty much in place, we now can install the power supply. We choose a Linkworld LPG2-43-P4-IO ATX12V 630W Power Supply.

We now connected all the cables (SATA, IDE, power, etc.).

We then installed our ATI SAPPHIRE 100195L Radeon X1650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card. This card was picked as a budget card. At only $52.99 we felt it would be a good baseline card to use before we can get our hands on a good DirectX 10 card to use the Vista Aero interface.

Once everything was connected, we closed up the case and mounted the external CPU cooler speed control to the side of the case routing the cable out the back through a bus port.

We're done!

Notice we had to move our second optical drive down one bay to accommodate a shorter IDE ribbon cable.

There'll be a whole lot more than "Intel Inside" that will be contributing to this workstation's performance!

The Cooler Master case has a couple USB ports and an IEEE 1384 port which we cannot use because this motherboard does not have a hookup for it.

Continued... Part 5 (Testing)

E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build - Part 3

2008-02-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

Once the GIGABYTE motherboard was installed, I moved on to installing the drives. I purchased a Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM with 16MB of cache. It has a transfer rate of 3.0GB/second and should be a solid choice for this build.

The Cooler Master Centurion case has quick release drive mounts. This is a great feature that saves you from having to use the very cumbersome screw mounts for drives. The slide-lock secured the drives in to place without and tools!

In order to mount the CD burner drive and the DVD burner drive that we scanvanged from an older build, we need to remove the front face of the Cooler Master case. This is a press fit so just use a flat tool to pry it off.

Once you have the face off, you can break off as many panels as you need to install your 5.25" drives.

We then slid the drives into place... (note: you need to re-install the front case face before sliding the drives in to place.

Before re-installing the front case face, we removed the metal mesh for the two 5.25" drive bays we are using. The come off with two screws each.

You are now ready to slide the drive(s) into place.

As previously mentioned, the drives lock into place by sliding the locker forward...

...and then locking it into place by pushing the tab down.

E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build - Part 2

2008-02-21T09:52:00.001-05:00

The next step was to prepare the case. I am using a Coolermaster case. Basically, it is an good solid case that doesn't break the bank. Build quality was impressive on this model. I liked the side duct that aligned with the CPU cooler that directs heat out of the case rather than dissipating it within the case.

I removed the cable plate as I noticed that the one supplied with the GIGABYTE motherboard was slightly different than the one supplied with the case. This just pops out.

The new plate pressing in to place.

With the new plate in place, you can see the difference in placements.

Next the motherboard was test fitted with special attention paid to which mounting holes should be used. The hole were identified so that we can install mounting posts.

Mounting posts were installed in each hole that aligned with the motherboard mounting holes.

The motherboard was then secured in to the case with the supplied screws.

We choose Corsair XMS2 memory. This is DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) memory and is supposed to be very reliable for overclocking applications.

The two 1GB chips were in stalled in bays 1 and 3.

Continued... Part 3

E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build - Part 1

2008-02-18T11:02:00.001-05:00

With all parts now delivered to my door I jumped right into it.

First impressions are good. The quality of all the components that was picked for this build seemed very good. The motherboard was packaged very well.

One area of note is the difference in coolers. The stock cooler included with the Retail box of the E6550 processor is a pretty nice unit, but the difference is obvious when placed next to the Zalman unit!

I decided to start by installing the Intel E6550 CPU in to the 775 socket on the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L motherboard. The Zalman CNPS7700-CU cooler required a top and bottom bracket (included) to mount this massive heat exchanger to the motherboard.

Once mounted, the E6550 is ready for the Zalman cooler.

This Zalman CPU cooler comes with an external fan speed control. This allows you to turn the speed on the fan down while note needed and up when heavier loads are presented to the CPU. Once at the highest setting, the motherboard controls the fan speed as it would normally.

The heat exchanger and fan assembly screw to the mounting bracket as show to hold it very snug against the CPUs top surface and the thermal grease.

Continued... Part 2

New E6550 Vista Overclock PC Build

2008-02-17T21:08:00.001-05:00

I'd been tracking prices on Intel's E6300 cpu for a while now, waiting for it to drop to "low-end" price points. I was running an XP workstation for my home office with an old AMD XP2600+ CPU that was not only getting frustratingly slow, but was becoming increasingly unstable (I suspect due to heat wearing on the core). Once I saw the current prices of the E6550 cpus almost at the same costs of the E6300, I pulled the trigger on all the gear for my latest build.

The goal for this build is to build a mid priced, entry level overclocked PC. From what I've read, I think we'll be able to achieve 3.5GHz at reliable temperatures for a solid 3 - 4 years of sevice.

My budget was $700 for this workstation which would include everything minus monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. Anything I would be able to scavenge from previous boxes. Below is a list of what was ordered and the price paid. To keep things simple, I used NewEgg.com for everything. I might have been able to shop a bit more intensive to find another dollar or two here and there, but simplicity and convenience was well worth a single source for me.

Item	Description	QTY	Unit Price	Extended Price
13-128-059	MB GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L P35+ICH9	1	$99.99	$99.99
	Gigabyte (626)-854-9338 option 4 www.giga-byte.com
NOTE	has Volume Discount	1	$0.00	$0.00

NOTE	35-118-115 has Volume Discount	1	$0.00	$0.00

NOTE	20-145-034 has Volume Discount	1	$0.00	$0.00

NOTE	11-119-068 has Volume Discount	1	$0.00	$0.00

17-165-004	PSU LINKWD\|LPG2-43-P4-IO 630W RT	1	$25.99	$25.99

32-116-202	S/W MS WIN VISTA 32BT HMPRE 1P DVD%	1	$109.99	$109.99
	Please Note CD keys are listed on the outside of the plastic wrap accompanying your product.
14-102-084	VGA SAPPHIRE 100195L X1650 512MB R	1	$52.99	$52.99

19-115-030	CPU INTEL\|C2D E6550 2.33G 65N 4M R	1	$169.99	$169.99
	Intel (800)-628-8686 Please Verify Processor matches order Prior to installation. IMPORTANT: Always pack you CPU well for return. We will refuse your RMA if we received it as DAMAGED!
11-119-068	CASECOOLERMAS\|CAC-T05-UW BLK RT	1	$39.99	$39.99

35-118-115	CPU FAN A/IZALMAN CNPS7700-CU RT	1	$39.99	$39.99

22-144-701	HD 250G\|WD 7K 16M SATA2 WD2500KS %	1	$69.99	$69.99
	This item is serviced by the Western Digital. Please call 800 832 4778 for service.
20-145-034	MEM 1Gx2\|COR 240P TWIN2X2048-6400C4	1	$74.00	$74.00


Subtotal				$682.92
Tax				$0.00
Shipping and Handling charge				$27.13
Amount Paid				$710.05

Stay tuned for pictures of the build, step by step instructions and finally overclocking with benchmarks!

Continued... Part 1