Consumer Electronics Blog

2011: The Year of the Personal Robot?

2011-05-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

I only posted ONE page of the article so to complete the and read the SECOND page just click on the "original article" link :) it was FAR too long to post.

What does 2011 hold for the field of robotics? Plenty, if 2010 is any indication. This will not be the year that mobile, artificially intelligent robot nurses assume the responsibility of caring for the world's growing elderly population, but it does promise to be a pivotal time for the development of the underlying technology that will enable safe and reliable automated elder care, not to mention other services that robots are expected to perform in the coming decade.

Thanks to a standardized platform introduced in 2010, roboticists can now collaborate as never before. Last May, Willow Garage, a Menlo Park, Calif., maker of robot hardware and software, released a test version of its personal robot platform. The PR2 includes a mobile base, two arms for manipulation, a suite of sensors and two computers, each with eight processing cores, 24 gigabytes of RAM and two terabytes of hard-disk space. The out-of-the-box robot, which costs $400,000, also features an operating system that handles the robot's computation and hardware manipulation functions.

"There are a lot of innovations in the PR2, but the most significant thing from my perspective is that it is a standardized, well-designed, well-tested platform that has a whole bunch of software that works right out of the box," says Charles Kemp, an assistant biomedical engineering professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. "You never had that situation before."

Kemp and his team at Georgia Tech's Healthcare Robotics Lab, which he formed in 2007, are focused on creating robots that can safely and effectively help care for senior citizens. The machines would go beyond current efforts to create bots able to follow the elderly around their homes to provide them with Internet access and remind them to take their medicine. For starters, the Healthcare Robotics Lab researchers want their robots to be able to open doors and drawers to retrieve objects such as pill bottles while being guided by a laser pointer, radio signals or touch.

Kemp's lab is one of 16 institutions that experimented with the PR2 during the latter half of 2010. South Korea's Samsung Electronics is using the PR2 to enhance the company's existing robotics research in a country that hopes to put a robot in every home by 2020. The Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif., part of electronics and appliances maker The Bosch Group, has begun a two-year project to integrate its advanced sensor technology—including microelectromechanical system (MEMS), accelerometers, gyroscopes, force sensors, and air-pressure sensors—to improve the PR2's performance and reliability. Other beta-testing sites include Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the French National Center for Scientific Research's (CNRS) Laboratory of Analysis and Architecture of Systems.

Great GATSBII*
Kemp sees the combination of his PR2, named GATSBII, and a free and open-source robot operating system as a way to accelerate his lab's work with the help of a standardized platform and a budding community of roboticists working with the same tools who can now offer more practical advice to one another. "We're actually releasing things that other people can use, and we're using other people's things," Kemp says.

Prior to GATSBII, Kemp and his team used parts from a variety of suppliers to build three different mobile manipulators. The first EL-E, built in 2007 to perform assistive tasks for sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which impairs physical motor functions. The researchers have since built two more robots: Dusty, which has a lift tray designed to pick objects up off the floor; and Cody, whose two arms and omnidirectional mobile base resemble those of GATSBII. Unlike GATSBII, Cody is the product of many different manufacturers, including Meka Robotics, which supplied the arms, and Segway, which delivered the omnidirectional mobile base. In the cases of EL-E, Dusty and Cody, Kemp and his team designed the robots and then found the parts they needed to actually build them.

Original Article.

Cancer Testing? There's an App for That

2011-05-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

It wouldnt surprise me, if this was the next step. there is basically an app for everything! whats next online grocery shopping through your iphone!

Many people already use their smartphones as far more than mere telephones—as gadgets for Web surfing, e-mailing or listening to music. Some scientists are now turning them into handheld tools to diagnose cancer or infectious disease, track treatment progress or check water safety. Given that the handsets are so common, they could bring cutting-edge health care technology to the developing world.

Diagnosing cancer is a challenge because it requires expensive, time-consuming assays. But in a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine, Ralph Weissleder and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School used a cell phone and a lunch box–size machine to diagnose cancer from tiny pieces of tissue, taken via needle from the abdomens of patients with suspected metastatic cancers. Researchers mixed the samples with antibodies that bound to four known cancer-related proteins. The machine analyzed the samples using nuclear magnetic resonance—measuring levels of the antibody-bound proteins based on their magnetic properties. It then sent the results to the smartphone, which, using an app that the researchers designed, displayed the data. Because doctors don’t need a laptop or desktop, it would be easier for them to assess patients outside the clinic. In comparison, results from more traditional diagnostic methods are typically not available for three days and require more invasive tissue sampling.

By using different antibodies, doctors could use the device to diagnose any form of cancer, says Harvard systems biologist and co-author Hakho Lee. They could also track treatment progress. “If there is a decrease in either the number of cancer cells or the expression levels of certain disease markers, then that means the treatment might be working,” he says. He expects a product within five years.

Other researchers are taking advantage of smartphone cameras to create diagnostic microscopes. Electrical engineer Aydogan Ozcan and his colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed a 4.5-centimeter-long phone attachment that shines LED light on biological samples, producing holograms of each cell based on how the light scatters. The phone’s camera then snaps a photograph, compresses the image and sends it to a clinic for evaluation. With the ability to decipher details as small as 1/1,000th of a meter, the microscope could identify sickle-cell disease or malaria from blood samples and perform blood cell counts. The devices could bring an elegant simplicity to nations that struggle with infectious diseases.

Original article.

Zuckerberg Somehow Qualifies for Mortage, buys house!

2011-05-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

I like mark Zuckerberg, i don't know what it is.. i don't know if the social network helped and i just grew to admire his hard work, and all the slack he takes for his action, but i don't know there is something about him that i like. anyways he finally bought a house apparently he has been renting.. which is cute haha but yeah if you click on the real article it will show more pictures of the house he just purchased.

Must be nice! Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has the financial wherewithal to get a home mortgage, as evidenced by his recent purchase of a $7 million spread in Palo Alto, California. Zuck had apparently been renting a house up until now, which is adorable.

Let's take a look at his new digs, shall we?

Article.

Oil steadies after 10 percent drop

2011-05-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Currently right now in my city gas is 4.30 a gallon. RIDICULOUS!! honestly i remember when gas was 236 and i thought that was bad it just keep rising every week it seems like. poor middle class America, soon it will only consist of two classes.

Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Friday following a torrid 10 percent slide the previous session, as shellshocked traders mulled market fundamentals and the frenzy this week that wiped out half the year's gains.

Upbeat U.S. jobs data aided crude's early rise from Thursday's shock-inducing collapse, when Brent fell by as much as $12, a record, in a furious, high volume session that saw waves of selling as key techinical levels were broken.

Crude eased off the early gains on Friday as the dollar rose.

"I think it's just a little reaction to the way oversold conditions we got into yesterday, it was quite a bloodbath," Mike Zarembski, senior commodities analyst for optionsXpress in Chicago.

"Traders are still a bit shellshocked from yesterday."

Selling pressure on oil and other commodities came on several fronts this week, with investors weighing factors from the death of Osama bin Laden to the impact of higher fuel and commodity costs on the economies of consumer nations to monetary policy in major economies.

Brent crude traded up 30 cents to $111.10 a barrel at 1:50 p.m. EDT in heavy trade, with volumes already 83 percent over the 30-day moving average.

U.S. crude futures fell 57 cents to $99.23 a barrel. U.S. crude was off earlier highs of $102.38, pressured by the dollar's gains against the euro, which can support prices for dollar-denominated economies.

A German news report, later denied, suggested Greece had raised the possibility of leaving the euro zone. The euro fell to its lowest in more than two weeks and headed for its biggest weekly decline against the dollar since January.

Data from the Labor Department showed U.S. private employers added jobs at the fastest pace in five years in April, pointing to underlying strength in the economy, even as the jobless rate rose to 9.0 percent.

"The jobs data wasn't so out of kilter that it justified the sell-off or a huge bounce, but investors will want to lighten their load ahead of the weekend if they are on the short side," said Richard Ilczyszyn senior market strategist at Lind-Waldock in Chicago.

"The market got ahead of itself on the way up and now is bouncing after the sell-off."

Thursday's sell off saw U.S. crude oil futures set a record high for open interest, while open positions also rose for Brent crude, and volatility surged as traders rushing to load up on $95 to $100 put options fearing further losses ahead.

Chicago Board Option Exchange's oil volatility index fell nearly 5 percent on Friday, after briefly spiking to the highest levels in almost a year in the previous session.

Oil prices have rocketed this year to levels not seen since the record spike in 2008, driven by supply disruptions in Libya and ongoing loose U.S. monetary policy, with Brent hitting a high of $127 a barrel and U.S. crude over $114.

Goldman Sachs, which in April predicted this week's major correction in oil prices, on Friday said that oil could surpass its recent highs by 2012 as global oil supplies continue to tighten.

"It is important to emphasize that even as oil prices are pulling back from their recent highs, we expect them to return to or surpass the recent highs by next year," Goldman Sachs' analysts said in a research note.

"We continue to believe that the oil supply-demand fundamentals will tighten further over the course of this year, and likely reach critically tight levels by early next year should Libyan oil supplies remain off the market."

(Reporting by Gene Ramos, Robert Gibbons, Matthew Robinson in New York; Jessica Donati-Bourne in London and Francis Kan in Singapore; Editing by David Gregorio)

Article.

Royal wedding a top destination for Web users

2011-04-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Im posting two blogs today so its okay if one of them is about the royal wedding and the billions of ppl who have been search it online! it happens once every 30 years!

The royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton went off without a hitch today--both in Westminster Abbey and online.

According to global CDN provider Akamai, "early data" has revealed that the number of concurrent users streaming the royal wedding around the Web outstripped the highest peak of concurrent users who watched the World Cup last year. Akamai plans to provide final numbers on that later today.

Even so, comparing the royal wedding's performance with other major events can be difficult. For one, workers in the U.K. were given today off, which means many of them were likely watching the festivities at home from their televisions. Moreover, the event occurred when many in the United States were still sleeping, which could have negatively affected the live feed of the event, but buoyed viewership figures on videos watched later in the day.

"There are a lot of factors involved with these live events, which is why we can't call one event the biggest or larger than another," an Akamai spokeswoman told CNET in an e-mailed statement today. "It's like comparing apples and oranges sometimes."

At 3:30 a.m. PT today, Akamai said that it saw traffic to global news sites spike in Europe with 1.6 million page views pelting pages every minute. As North American viewers started joining in this morning, page views hit nearly 5.4 million per minute to the news sites it services. At that time, worldwide traffic to news sites was 64 percent higher than it is normally.

Broadband analyst Sandvine reported today that "real-time traffic in North America" was up 20 percent at 3:30 a.m. PT this morning, compared to the same time period last week.

Users have also taken to social networks to discuss the royal wedding. Both worldwide and in the United States, the royal wedding and items related to Prince William and Kate are trending topics on Twitter. A quick search on Twitter for royal Wedding-related tweets reveals people are still updating the site every few seconds with comments on the festivities.

YouTube, which partnered with the royal family to deliver the official live feed to the Web, told CNET today that it doesn't have any numbers to share just yet.

Original Article.

Free Movies, TV, Seinfeld Available on Crackle App

2011-04-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

OO i love watching Tv shows! just bring the Office next and I'm sure lots will tune in! haha I'm sure its already on there but its a slow news week because the white iphone, playbook, and all the other tablets being released.

Other video services may be raking in the eyeballs and subscription dollars with their movie and TV offerings for the iPhone and iPad, but Sony's new Crackle app may become master of its domain for one simple reason: It has Seinfeld.

The Crackle app launched on Monday with hundreds of movies and TV shows from Sony properties such as Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star, Screen Gems, and Sony Pictures Classics. But it might be Seinfeld--which remains popular in syndication and in DVD sales 13 years after it went off the air--that gives Crackle an edge over the competition: The show isn't available from Hulu, Netflix, or iTunes. The downside? Only 10 episodes of the sitcom are currently available.

The upside? Unlike other video services, the content on Crackle is free for viewing--there's no subscription fee required to view shows and movies. You can choose to create a user account that offers some of your personal information to Sony, which comes with the ability to create a viewing queue that's available both on the app and at Crackle's online home.

Original Article.

Facebook hops aboard T-Mobile's Bobsled service

2011-04-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon! well i was checking my forms as well as google news and besides the white iPhone coming out and the blackberry playbook theres really not many other releases, but i was able to find something i thought was pretty interesting, i don't know how interesting it might be to you but I'm sure i probably wont use it but still its a cool little feature.

Facebook's 500 million-plus customers are now able to make live voice calls via Facebook Chat across the world.

T-Mobile's new Bobsled service lets PC and Macintosh users make calls between Facebook pages, add voice to any Facebook Chat and leave voice messages and wall posts on Facebook.

"We're bringing a voice to social networking," says Brad Duea, senior vice president of T-Mobile USA.

The service is fairly simple. No download or log-in is required. All of the calls are free. (Eventually, the service will be available to iPhone and iPad users.) T-Mobile may bring Bobsled to other social networks, Duea says.

"It's a good service for PC, but will be more valuable when it's available on mobile phones," says Yankee Group analyst Tole Hart, who has been briefed on Bobsled. "It should be pretty useful for Facebook's (more than 250 million) mobile users. And it fits T-Mobile's user demographic of young, heavy-duty data users."

Users interested in Bobsled need to go to www.letsbobsled.com. It's also available for free download from Facebook's application page.

Original Article.

Report: Finally, Nintendo to Announce Wii 2 This June

2011-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

I love my WII!, i love just dance super Mario bros and all the wii resorts and fit games, i mean its simple i use it probably once a week or so and its the perfect console for me, so i think it all depends on the buyer. anyways im sure i wont buy the wii 2 but it will ne neat to see what they have come up with.

So it comes as no surprise that on Friday, the blogosphere was rife with reports, led by IGN and Game Informer, that Nintendo is announcing its next-generation console at the E3 Expo on June 7-9.

French tech publication 01.net reports that the console is codenamed "Project Café" and will feature an in-built sensor bar, dual analog sticks, a standard d-pad, and trigger buttons. Game Informer said the new Wii will have HD support, while Kotaku reports that the console's specs will be "more powerful" than an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Nintendo "declines to comment on speculation or rumors," but IGN and Game Informer both cited anonymous sources claiming that Nintendo will announce the next-generation console in at E3 this year and launch it in 2012.

Targeting casual gamers with its novel motion sensor technology, the Wii was once the hottest console in the U.S. but has seen its popularity dip considerably as newer motion sensor technology, like the Kinect for Xbox 360, launched. In February Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said Wii sales dropped 31.5 percent in January (usually a big month for console purchases), more than rivals Sony and Microsoft. It's a far cry from the time PCMag editor called the Nintendo Wii the Best Product Ever.

For more, see PCMag's review of the Wii, which was launched in 2006.

Original Article.

Android: Over 3 billion apps installed; 350,000 device activations per day

2011-04-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hello! Happy Friday! Ive never been happier for Friday to come, even tho i have a busy weekend ahead i just want to sit back relax, turn on the office and just enjoy the weekend,anyways recently got an android phone.. probably about 3 months ago, and I'm loving it, love all the apps i had a blackberry and the app market wasn't too great. hope you enjoy the article!

Android falls short in the apps category when compared to Apple’s trademarked App Store, but current figures show the Android Market is doing pretty well. According to Google there have now been over 3 billion apps installed from the Market. Most impressively the last billion apps were installed in the last three months, a huge jump in activity (11 million/ day). The app numbers are accompanied by an update from Google that there are now 350,000 activations of new Android devices every day. That puts the platform on a pace to hit over 127 million activations in a year.

Google didn’t share any information in the financial conference call about how many of those apps are free apps. Most likely most a few of them but if even a low percentage of the apps installed from the Market are paid, there is some money to be made by app developers. These figures from Google don’t include any app installation numbers from the young Amazon Appstore. The Amazon storefront doesn’t have many apps on the shelves and likely isn’t selling enough to include in Android numbers.

Android tablets don’t factor into these numbers in any numbers as companies are only just getting them to market. This year will see a lot of Android tablets go on sale, and it will be interesting to see how it affects these two key metrics for the platform.
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Original Article.

Guys more likely to cheat on high-earning women

2010-08-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Baffled by how Jesse James could have cheated on his superstar wife, Sandra Bullock ? Or why Eric Benet stepped out on Halle Berry (Halle Berry!)?

A new study may help explain it. Men who earn significantly less than their female partners, or who earn nothing, are far more likely to cheat than those in relationships where incomes are more or less equal, the study found.

In fact, men who were completely dependent on their partner's income were five times more likely to cheat than men who contributed an equal amount of money to the relationship, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.

You’d think such men wouldn’t want to risk their meal ticket. But lower-earning men may be self-medicating their inner macho guy, says Cornell University sociology graduate student Christin Munsch, who conducted the study.

“Having multiple sexual partners may be an attempt to restore gender identity in response to these threats,” she writes. “In other words, for men, sex [outside their relationship] may be an attempt to compensate for feelings of inadequacy with respect to gender identity.”

In fact, says Munsch, we finally have scientific support to the enduring cliché about why any man would drive a Hummer: he’s overcompensating.

But if you’re a woman, here’s the lousy part: “At the other end of the spectrum, those making a lot more are also more likely to cheat,” said Munsch. Men can be bad whether we’re broke or filthy rich.

Original article.

Google, Verizon make Net neutrality proposal

2010-08-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

IDG News Service - Google and Verizon Communications have released a proposal that suggests the U.S. Federal Communications Commission should enforce network neutrality rules and fine broadband providers up to $2 million for violations.

Officials from the two companies, in an announcement today, said they hope to move the often-contentious Net neutrality debate ahead with the recommendations. Under the proposal, broadband providers could not block or degrade Web traffic, although they could provide "differentiated online" services apart from the public Internet.

The announcement comes after days of rumors and news reports that the two companies had reached an agreement on how Verizon would handle Google's traffic. But the proposal is a set of recommendations to U.S. policymakers and broadband providers, and the proposal would not allow for any prioritization of Google's traffic on the public Internet, said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon's chairman and CEO.

"There is no business arrangement, and reports that there was a business relationship are false, misleading and incorrect," said Eric Schmidt, Google's chairman and CEO.

Under net neutrality, or open Internet, rules, broadband providers would be prohibited from selectively blocking or slowing Web traffic.

"The original architects of the Internet got the big things right," said Alan Davidson, Google's director of public policy, and Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president of public affairs, policy, and communications, in a blog post. "By making the network open, they enabled the greatest exchange of ideas in history. By making the Internet scalable, they enabled explosive innovation in the infrastructure."

The proposal is an effort to "find ways to protect the future openness of the Internet and encourage the rapid deployment of broadband," Davidson and Tauke wrote.

original article.

Brother intros iPhone app, allows users to scan to and print

2010-08-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Printer specialists Brother UK has launched what the company says is the world's first iPhone application that allows users to scan to and print from their smartphones.

Brother iPrint&Scan allows customers to wirelessly print from and scan to their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad - with a compatible printer from Brother's latest inkjet multifunction printer range."Smart phones are becoming an essential modern day business tool and we are pleased to be able to offer even more convenient features for our customers," said Phil Jones, sales and marketing director at Brother UK announcing the application.All of Brother's latest inkjet multifunction printers introduced from 2009 onwards that have a wireless interface will be fully compatible with the application. Models with network interface are also compatible when connecting to a wireless network."iPhone users have been waiting for an app like this for quite some time. We're really pleased to be at the forefront of innovative printing technology, providing businesses with the means to succeed," Jones adds.Available from the Apple iTunes App Store, Brother iPrint&Scan is free and requires the iPhone 3.0 Software Update or later and a compatible Brother printer.

The application is initially launched in English, with plans to introduce French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch versions by the end of 2010. Brother also has plans to develop similar applications for other smartphones including Google-based Android 1.6 handsets.

Original Article.

Postal Service Seeks 2-Cent Rise in First-Class Mail

2010-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

July 6 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Postal Service proposed raising the price of first-class stamps by 2 cents, to 46 cents, while rates for periodicals increase 8 percent and parcels 23 percent to narrow a deficit projected at $7 billion this year.

The increases would generate $2.3 billion in the first nine months of 2011, the service said today in a statement. Increases, which must be reviewed by Postal Regulatory Commission, would take effect Jan. 2.

“We’re doing this because the Postal Service really faces a serious risk of financial insolvency,” said Stephen Kearney, a senior vice president with the Postal Service.

The commission has 90 days to rule on the proposal, one of several steps the Postal Service is considering to cope with a decline in mail volume as Internet use increases. The service also is seeking approval from Congress to end Saturday delivery, provided since the Post Office was founded in 1863.

“The Postal Service is wrong on the law, wrong on the economics, and wrong as a matter of public policy,” James Cregan, executive vice president of government affairs for the Magazine Publishers of America, said in an interview before the announcement. The increase will drive away profitable mail, heading the service toward a “death spiral,” he said.

Mailers of catalogs, magazines and newspapers are prepared to fight the rate increase, Cregan said. The group’s members include Time Warner Inc. and Meredith Corp.

‘Exceptional, Extraordinary’

The Postal Service is using a legal provision that lets it propose increases greater than the rate of inflation under “exceptional or extraordinary” circumstances, Kearney said. The average increase would be 5.6 percent, compared with inflation of 0.6 percent, he said.

Express mail and priority mail, such as the flat-rate boxes advertised by the Postal Service, are excluded from the current proposal, and higher prices for those offerings will be announced in October, the agency said.

A 23 percent increase would apply to parcels under one pound, said Maura Robinson, a spokeswoman. Heavier packages typically used to ship books, videos and merchandise face an average increase of about 7 percent, she said.

The Postal Service’s parcel charges “will remain competitive, which shows how underpriced they are now,” Kearney said.

The Postal Service lost $1.6 billion in its recent quarter as customers continued to use the Internet to pay monthly bills and read publications that previously were delivered by mail. The service projects a deficit of $238 billion through 2020.

Mail volume dropped 6.3 percent from Oct. 1 through March 31, the service said May 6. Profitable types of mail are falling faster than less-profitable categories, which include bulk advertising mail, Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett said.

The agency also has asked Congress for permission to delay a required retiree health benefits payment and for more flexibility to close facilities.

--With assistance from Angela Greiling Keane in Washington. Editors: Steve Geimann, Larry Liebert

To contact the reporter on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at Tshields3@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Larry Liebert at lliebert@bloomberg.net.

original article.

HTC EVO 4G In Short Supply

2010-06-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Sprint says demand for the 4G smartphone has been greater than expected.

By Esther Shein
InformationWeek
June 30, 2010 01:12 PM

Sprint HTC EVO 4G SmartphoneDue to higher than expected demand, the HTC EVO 4G smartphone is in short supply, said its carrier Sprint Nextel.

More Hardware InsightsWhitepapersA Mobile Software Quality Framework RSS Mobile Reader AnalyticsVirtual Servers, Real Risks Private Clouds On The Horizon Videos
Data Warehouse Appliance Promises Database Transparence, Mixed BI Workload, Massive ScalabilitySprint CEO Dan Hesse acknowledged this week that sales of the device, which was launched at the beginning of June and is widely viewed as the carrier's answer to the Apple iPhone 4, have been far greater than they anticipated. Both Hesse and HTC said they believe the issue has more to do with underestimating the demand for the 4G phone than a lack of available components.
"We're certainly doing everything we can to ensure we're supplying devices as quickly as possible. We're seeing greater demand for our products than we ever have in the past," HTC spokesman Keith Nowak said in a statement to Reuters.

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The news follows the rocky start the EVO 4G has experienced since its debut on June 4. On Monday, HTC and Sprint began offering an update for the device after reports surfaced about bricked phones. And some users also complained about the device's touchscreen, claiming that it separates from the device and causes light leakage.

Sprint also caught some flak for overestimating early sales, after announcing that the $199.99 phone set a single-day sales record.

The HTC EVO 4G also runs on Sprint's 3G network if the phone is used in places that don't yet have 4G. The Android 2.1-based device has a custom Web browser designed for the 4.3-inch touchscreen.

Its long list of features include simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G or Wi-Fi coverage areas for Web surfing; Google Goggles, which provides the ability to search anything from books and DVDs to barcodes and logos using pictures instead of words; 1-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor; two cameras: an 8.0-megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3-megapixel camera; built-in mobile hotspot functionality allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G or 4G speeds; and integrated HD video capture so users can capture and share live video via the Qik Web site and social media sites.

The EVO 4G also comes with the ability to transmit video from the device to an HDTV via a separate HDMI cable; a built-in kickstand in the back to watch videos; Adobe Flash technology; and pinch-to-zoom and automatic text reflowing for Web page views.

HTC's Droid Incredible, sold at Sprint's biggest competitor, Verizon Wireless, is also in short supply, according to Verizon's website, which says that due to high demand the device will ship by July 28.

Virtualization and cloud computing have taken over the mantle of hottest technology that only a few years ago was held by unified communications, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to align the cloud with UC--or any major initiative, for that matter. Download our report here (registration required).

original article.

Texting While Driving: Everyone's Doing it

2010-06-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

The stereotype of a teen texting while driving has been challenged by new research from Pew, which found that adults engage in the high-risk behavior as much as younger age groups do. Laws banning texting behind the wheel don't seem to be having any impact at all, noted Russ Rader, a spokesperson for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

Adults are at least as likely as teenagers to text and engage in other distracting behavior behind the wheel, according to a survey released Friday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Twenty-seven percent of adult survey respondents said they have sent or read text messages while driving. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds reported a texting-while-driving rate of 26 percent in the same survey, which was conducted in May.

Adults 18- to 33-years-old were the most likely to report texting while driving, with 59 percent saying they've done so. Half of 34- to 45-year-olds admitted texting behind the wheel, while 29 percent of those 46-65 reported such behavior. And half of all passengers said they've been chauffeured by a texting driver.

"Even those of us who make a conscious choice to put down our cellphones while driving may still be at risk when we are passengers simply sharing the road with other distracted drivers," Pew Senior Research Specialist Mary Madden told TechNewsWorld.

Forty-four percent of adults have been in a car while the driver recklessly used a cellphone in a way that could have hurt them or someone else, the survey also found. One in six respondents, or 16 percent, said they'd been so distracted by their phones that they actually hit something as a result.

Disparate Results
The Pew survey's findings on adult texting run counter to some other research suggesting that teens are much more likely to engage in what is generally viewed as a predominantly teenaged activity. For instance, a February report released by the Insurance Institutes of Highway Safety found that incidences of reported texting-while driving were highest with 18- to 24-year-olds and declined consistently with age.

Regardless, there's evidence that texting-while-driving may be on the increase, despite a spate of legislation seeking to stop the practice, as well as a federal Department of Transportation summit and subsequent ban on texting behind the wheel by federal employees.

In January, Pew found that 34 percent of texting adults had sent or received a message while driving, while about 47 percent of all texting adults reported texting and driving in the May survey. Although the wording in the two surveys was somewhat different, it is likely evidence that such activities are becoming increasingly common, Madden said.

Laws Ineffective
Legislation doesn't seem to be having any impact at all, noted Russ Rader, a spokesperson for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

"If politicians think laws against texting and handheld phoning are going to be a big boon for safety, it isn't coming," Rader told TechNewsWorld.

The Pew center doesn't take policy positions and didn't include any recommendations in its report. But it's likely that technology may turn out to be the best solution -- not just to texting while driving, but all forms of distracted driving.

Technology exists to block cellphone signals while a vehicle is in motion, and automakers are increasingly beginning to equip cars with collision warning systems, equipment that automatically applies the brakes if an accident seems imminent, and even sensing technology that can tell when a driver is falling asleep.

"We have to realize that distracted driving is much bigger than anything we do with our phones, and it's nothing new," said Rader. "People have been driving distracted since Henry Ford -- whether it's checking out the driver in the car next to you, scolding the kids at the wrong time, or just daydreaming."

original article.

Starbucks Offering Free Wi-Fi starting July 1st

2010-06-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Starbucks Corp. will make wireless Internet service free at all U.S. stores starting July 1, eliminating a previous fee of $3.99 for two hours of access.

The move comes after McDonald’s Corp. earlier this year dropped all access fees on wireless Internet service, as the fast-food chain sought to make its restaurants a more suitable place to hang out.

Starbucks had offered wireless Internet service at its stores through provider AT&T Inc. under an array of options.

Customers who had a registered Starbucks loyalty card could get two hours of free wireless Internet service a day, while users of AT&T mobile devices that had Wi-Fi capabilities received unlimited access to the service.

Customers who subscribed to AT&T’s DSL service could also use Starbucks wireless Internet service free of charge. All other Starbucks customers were charged $3.99 for two hours of access.

Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz disclosed the changes Monday at the Wired Business Conference in New York. Starbucks customers using the in-store Internet will also, starting in the fall, be able to have free access to various paid sites, including WSJ.com, through a network developed with Yahoo Inc.

original article.

Apple introduces iPhone 4

2010-06-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

okay okay so its finally here the Iphone 4. and it does look pretty cool . i personally do not have an i phone i have a blackberry but still I'm a little jealous and if i could have it my way i would love an iphone too bad its not offered to tmobile customers.

Apple on Monday announced the next version of the iPhone, called the iPhone 4, during Steve Jobs’s keynote to kick off the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

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Jobs described the phone as, “beyond a doubt, the most precise thing and one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever made” before highlighting a number of its new features.

Updated design
Apple says the iPhone 4 is 9.3mm thick, or 24 percent thinner than the iPhone 3GS. It includes new camera with an LED flash on the black, but a second, front-facing camera as well. There are new volume buttons, a mute button, plus a second microphone on the top for noise cancellation. Just like the iPad, it now incorporates a micro-SIM tray.

Apple has also engineered three integrated antennas into the design: one for Bluetooth, one for WI-Fi and GPS, and one for UMTS and GSM.

Improved display
A new screen technology called a retina display add much higher precision to the iPhone. In fact, at 326 pixels per inch, it’s double the 163 pixels per inch resolution of the iPhone 3GS.

The new display is the same 3.5 inches diagonally, but at 960 by 640 it has four times as many pixels as the previous model. And the 800:1 contrast ratio is also four times that of the iPhone 3GS. It uses the same IPS display technology as the iPad and the iMac for good color fidelity, brightness, and viewing angle.

New processor
Designed by Apple, the A4 chip is tiny and has good power management. Apple went with the micro-SIM design to save space, mostly for a new battery that—coupled with the new chip—Apple says provides 40 percent more talk time. The company says talk time is up from 5 hours to 7 hours; 6 hours of 3G browsing; 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing; 10 hours of video; 40 hours of music; and 300 hours of standby.

Environmentally, the new iPhone is arsenic free, BFR-free mercury-free, PVC-free, and made from highly recyclable materials.

It comes in sizes up to 32GB of storage (the same as the iPhone 3GS) and includes quad-band HSPDPA/HSUPA networking with a maximum of 7.2Mbps down and 5.8 Mbps up.

“That’s theoretical because the carriers don’t support it yet,” said Jobs.

There’s also 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking, an improvement from 802.11g in the previous model.

Gyroscope
The iPhone 4 add a three-axis gyroscope for measuring angular velocity. It can figure out pitch, roll, and yaw; and rotation about gravity. The gyroscope plus the accelerometer provide six-axis motion sensing. There are also new CoreMotion APIs that developers can call for extremely precise position information—ideal for games.

New camera system
The iPhone 4 has a new, 5-megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and an LED flash. It also adds 720p HD video capture at 30 frames per second. To go along with the new video capabilities, Apple has created a version of its iMovie consumer video-editing application for the iPhone. With it, you can record or edit you videos (and add photos as well). You can add titles, changes themes, and use music from your iTunes library.

iMovie for iPhone will be available for $5—“if we approve it,” Jobs joked, in reference to the App Store.

Video chat
For Jobs’ patented (well, probably not, but it should be) One More Thing moment, he sat down on a chair to show off the iPhone 4’s video chatting capabilities. Using either of the two cameras, you can make video calls—a feature called FaceTime—between iPhone 4 phones over Wi-Fi only—at least through 2010. Jobs said Apple needs to “work a little bit with the cellular providers in the future”. You can switch between cameras and chat in landscape or portait mode.

Pricing and availability
The iPhone 4 will come in black and white, at $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB (with the same qualifications and two-year contract with AT&T as in the past). Apple will also have an 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99.

Jobs said that AT&T is going to make “an incredibly generous upgrade offer.” If your contract expires any time in 2010, you’re immediately eligible for that pricing, for up to six months early eligibility.

The iPhone 4 goes on sale in the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., and Japan on June 24, with pre-orders starting on June 15. It will ship in 18 more countries in July, in 24 more in August, and in 40 more by the end of September.

Apple also showed off some accessories: a $29 dock and a $29 case that comes in different colors

original article.

Woman sues Google over Utah walking directions

2010-06-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY — A pedestrian injured by a motorist while following an online route has filed a lawsuit claiming Google Inc. supplied unsafe directions.

Lauren Rosenberg filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking more than $100,000 in U.S. District Court in Utah. It also named a motorist she says hit her.

Rosenberg used her phone in January to download directions from one end of Park City to the other.

Google Maps led her to a four-lane boulevard without sidewalks that was "not reasonably safe for pedestrians," according to the lawsuit filed by the Northridge, Calif., resident.

The case has become a sensation on tech blogs, websites and cable television channels, with critics assailing the woman for ignoring her own safety to blindly follow online directions. Her lawyer, Allen Young, said the truth was different.

Rosenberg believed she could reach a sidewalk on the other side of Deer Valley Drive and tried to cross the boulevard, but didn't even make it to the median, he said.

She was struck by a speeding car on a pitch-black night and received multiple bone fractures that required six weeks of rehabilitation, Young added.

"We think there's enough fault to go around, but Google had some responsibility to direct people correctly or warn them," Young said. "They created a trap with walking instructions that people rely on. She relied on it and thought she should cross the street."

Rosenberg is seeking compensation for medical bills, plus more for lost wages and punitive damages. The lawsuit provided no other information about the woman, who has been misidentified online as a Los Angeles publicist by the same name.

Young said the woman is a native of Northridge in her mid-20s and is unemployed. No phone listing could be found for her.

Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo said the company had not received a copy of the lawsuit and couldn't discuss it, but she disputed Young's assertion that Google Maps provides no warning that walking routes may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

Every software version for desktop computers and mobile devices has had that disclaimer since Google Maps was launched in 2008, she said.

Park City police said some segments of Deer Valley Drive have sidewalks but not the stretch that Rosenberg reached. The boulevard has a walking path on the side Rosenberg failed to reach, police Capt. Rick Ryan said.

Young said the walking path was "totally snowpacked" and of no use to pedestrians in January.

original article.

Brittany Murphy's Mom Discovered Simon Monjack's Body

2010-05-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Just before he died, Simon Monjack was making plans for a European getaway and a new book project.

Speaking to PEOPLE on May 14, just nine days before his death at age 40, the onetime screenwriter said he hoped to travel to Europe with Sharon Murphy, the mother of his late wife Brittany.

"Of course I’ll take her with me – I can’t leave her, " he said of Sharon. Planning to begin work on a photography book about ballet, he said he hoped the project would be therapeutic given Brittany’s love of ballet. "It seems fitting to do it, " he said.

A friend of Sharon's confirms that it was she who found Monjack dead in the Hollywood home where the pair continued living after Brittany's death. Already fragile in the wake of her daughter's death five months earlier, a devastated Sharon is "not well at all," says the friend.

"Brittany's mom made the 911 call. He was unresponsive when responders arrived and was pronounced dead at the house," L.A. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter tells PEOPLE. "It's being reported [by the responding fire department] as a possible heart attack. We're not sure if it is natural causes or a possible accident maybe because of the prescription medication found there."

Late last month, Sharon spoke to PEOPLE to vehemently refute rumors that she and Monjack were romantically involved.

"That's disgusting," she said. "We're close friends and we're family. It's an awful and ridiculous thing to say."

A History of Health Problems
Still, the British-born Monjack was no stranger to controversy. During his three-year marriage to Murphy he drew fire from critics who said he was controlling of her. The scrutiny only intensified after her death at age 32 in December from pneumonia, a low-blood count and multiple drug intoxication.

"Every story needs a villain,” he told PEOPLE. "I don't understand why people say such horrible things. "

Monjack’s own health had long been fraught with problems – and mystery. In January, Monjack's mother, Linda Monjack, told PEOPLE that her son was "unwell” and that he had suffered “a slight heart attack" a week before Brittany’s death.

LAPD spokeswoman Mary Grady says there was no sign of foul play surrounding Monjack's death but that a coroner's investigation is underway. "There were some prescription meds found, " she says. "I don't know if they were involved. They will have to do an autopsy and toxicology report."

In February, Monjack told PEOPLE that he had survived a battle with oral cancer. (Something Linda had claimed she had no knowledge of.) He also noted that an anti-seizure medication found at the house at the time of Brittany's death was intended for his use but did not elaborate.

Having gone up and down on the scale frequently over the years, Monjack had packed on weight since his wife’s death and struggled to regain his footing.

"Some days he wants to kill himself and other days, he seems to be coping better," Linda Monjack said in January, noting that her son’s closeness with his mother-in-law was helping them both to heal. "I think they are really clinging to each other for support."

original article.

10-year-old Brooklyn girl watches in horror as father gunned down in street

2010-05-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Terrible story and i feel for this 10 yr old girls. its horrible. i wish her and the family the best and i hope she can over come this in her life and grow up to be something soo wonderful.

A 10-year-old girl watched in horror as her father was shot to death outside their Brooklyn home while on his way to the corner store.

Ashley Lopez was watching her father, Jose Lopez, 27, from the fourth-floor window of their Cypress Hills home around 9:25 p.m. Sunday when the shooting occurred, her mother said.

"She was just watching him go to the store," said Melissa Delgado, 26, the mother of Ashley and Lopez's two other children, Jose Jr., 5, and Alana, 6 months.

"All of a sudden, I heard a gunshot. It sounded like a firecracker. Then Ashley started screaming, 'Daddy! Daddy! Leave my daddy alone!'" she said. "She said the shooter looked up, right at her. That's what really scared her. She saw him."

Lopez was transported to Brookdale Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Delgado's uncle, Ismael Ortiz, 38, was visiting the family and tried desperately to save Lopez.

"I heard Ashley screaming, ran downstairs so fast. I came out and saw Jose lying on the ground. He wasn't moving."

"I tried to give him CPR," Ortiz said, "but he took his last breath and just died in my arms.

"I don't understand why this happened."

Police said Lopez had a criminal record dating to 1994, including robbery, criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of stolen property.

In 2007, he was busted for reckless endangerment, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license, and disorderly conduct.

But Delgado insisted that "his kids always came first."

"He was crazy about them, always with them, for their appointments, everything," she said. "He never missed out on anything. I don't know what we're going to do now without him."

Friends and family lit candles at the crime scene on Eastern Parkway and left a cigar and a bottle of Hennessey cognac.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/05/17/2010-05-17_10yearold_brooklyn_girl_watches_in_horror_as_father_gunned_down_in_street.html#ixzz0oD6GEpeS

original article.

Facebook Denies Hiring Former FTC Chief Muris

2010-05-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

Facebook on Monday denied that is has hired former Federal Trade Commissioner Chairman Timothy Muris as an official staffer.

"Tim Muris has not joined Facebook," the company said in a statement.

News reports earlier today suggested that Muris was hired to help defend the social networking site against privacy inquiries. Consumer groups, members of Congress, and privacy watchdogs have filed separate complaints against Facebook with the FTC regarding recent changes to the site's privacy settings.

Muris served as chairman of the FTC from 2001 to 2004. Since 2004, he has worked as an attorney at private firm O'Melveny & Myers, where he is co-chair of the firm's antitrust and competition practice. His profile is still listed on the firm's Web site.

Separately, it was revealed this weekend that Facebook board member Jim Breyer was the victim of a recent hack, which resulted in his personal Facebook account sending phishing e-mails to his friends.

Facebook blocks "malicious links from being shared and work[s] with third parties to get phishing and malware sites added to browser blacklists or taken down completely," a Facebook spokesman said in an e-mail. "Users whose accounts have been compromised are put through a remediation process, where they must take steps to re-secure their account and learn security best practices. This appears to be what happened with Jim Breyer's account."

Facebook urged users not to click on strange links "even if they've been sent by friends" and to be wary of sites that ask you to download or upgrade software.

This post originally appeared on AppScout.

original article.

The once ubiquitous floppy finally being axed by Sony

2010-05-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

The 3.5" 1.44MB HD floppy may finally be going gentle into that good night. Sony, one of just a few companies that still produce the archaic computer storage media, has announced plans to end production of floppies in March 2011.

The company sold about 12 million 3.5" floppies in Japan last year, which represents 70 percent of that market (and incidentally, about 17TB of data capacity). Floppies are still used with legacy equipment in education and research sectors, according to Sony. However, the company cited dwindling demand as the reason for ending production.

The 3.5" floppy largely replaced the 5.25" floppy by the early '90s, but other storage mediums had begun to replace it by the late '90s. Apple's original iMac was the first mass-market computer to come without a floppy drive in 1998, and Windows PCs gradually followed suit. Iomega's 100MB Zip disk format became quite popular for larger file transfer for a short while, before succumbing to cheap 650MB CD-Rs early last decade. Today, most file transfer happens via the Internet, USB flash drives, or relatively low-cost, high-capacity portable hard drives.

Memorex and 3M offshoot Imation still offer floppies for sale for the time being, but with Sony ending production, we expect the floppy will rage no more against the dying of the light. Frankly, we're a little surprised it raged this long.

original article.

Android Market hits 50,000 apps

2010-04-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Launched in October 2008, the Android Market now has 50,000 apps to choose from in its application marketplace.

While not nearly as quick as the iPhone to 50,000 apps, which Apple achieved within a year, the Android Market is proving to be the alternative market for mobile apps. The Android Market was announced on August 28, 2008 and was made available to users two months later. This weekend, it passed the 50,000 app mark.

Apple currently has almost 200,000 apps in the App Store, and notably has started purging certain types of apps, like the those in the "sexy-to-porn" category. In fact, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in an email to a customer, "You know, there’s a porn store for Android. You can download nothing but porn. You can download porn, your kids can download porn. That’s a place we don’t want to go – so we’re not going to go there".

Google (GOOG) has also been forced to remove tethering apps in its US Android Market due to contractual agreements with T-Mobile, though developers who enable their phones for development can get those applications running on their Android phones.

With hot new Android devices like the Dell Mini 5 and Sprint Evo waiting in the wings, the market for Android apps shows no sign of slowing.

original article.

10 Breakfasts that Slim and Energize

2010-04-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

Did you eat breakfast today? If your answer is yes—good job!—you’ve already done something pretty fantastic for both your weight and your health and your desire to slim down for spring! Breakfast eaters consume fewer calories and less saturated fat through the day than those who don’t have a morning meal, research shows. Morning munchers also have flatter abs and a lower risk for heart disease.

For these reasons and others, I’m a big fan of breakfast. In fact, I sometimes have two—a quick bite before my workout and then a fiber- and calcium-filled “second breakfast,” such as my favorite parfait of Greek yogurt, granola and fruit, at the office a couple of hours later. A high-fiber, calcium-rich mix of whole grains, protein (including eggs and dairy) and fruit keeps my energy up and my weight down.

If you want quick, healthy breakfasts you can whip up before dashing out of the house, post this list of 350-calorie meals on your fridge door. (Don’t let cholesterol worries keep you away from the egg options—research shows you can eat up to three eggs daily without raising LDL, the harmful cholesterol.) Get set to rise and shine—and slim!

SPEEDY WEEKDAY BREAKFASTS (about 350 calories each)

Breakfast Burrito
Cook 1 Amy's Breakfast Burrito as directed on package. Top with 2 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt. Serve with 1 orange.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Order 1 Starbucks Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon and Egg Whites English Muffin sandwich.

Cream Cheese, Fig and Nut Wrap
Roll up a whole-wheat wrap with 2 tbsp light cream cheese, 4 dried fig halves and 2 tbsp chopped walnuts.

Cherry-Vanilla-Almond Smoothie
Blend together 1 cup frozen cherries, half a medium banana, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt and 1 tbsp sliced almonds. Add a few ice cubes to make it more frothy.

Strawberry Almond Oatmeal
Prepare 1 packet instant plain oatmeal with 1/2 cup skim milk instead of water. Top with 3/4 cup frozen strawberries, thawed; 2 tbsp sliced almonds and 1 teaspoon brown sugar.

Apricot, Almond and Ricotta Toast
Spread 2 slices whole-wheat toast each with 2 tbsp part-skim ricotta and 1 tsp apricot preserves; top each slice with 1 1/2 tsp sliced almonds.

5-Minute Egg and Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Crack 1 egg into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a paper towel and microwave until egg is cooked through and not runny. Layer 1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light cheese, egg, 2 oz smoked salmon and 1/4 cup raw baby spinach on a Whole Wheat Arnold Sandwich Thin. Serve with 1large apple.

LEISURELY WEEKEND BREAKFASTS (about 350 calories each)

Portobello and Pesto Egg Scramble
In a medium sauté pan, cook 1 sliced portobello mushroom cap with 1/4 cup chopped red onion in 1 tsp olive oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk 4 egg whites with 1 tbsp water and add to pan. Scramble mixture over medium heat until eggs are no longer runny; add salt and pepper to taste. Just before removing from heat, fold in 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella and 1 tsp prepared pesto. Serve with 1 slice whole-wheat toast.

Peanut Butter Waffle-wich
Top one toasted whole-grain waffle with 2 tsp peanut butter, 2⁄3 cup sliced apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Top with another whole-grain waffle. Serve with a café au lait made with 4 ounces coffee mixed with 4 oz steamed skim milk.

Spinach and Smoked Gouda Egg Sandwich
Sauté 1 cup fresh spinach with olive oil cooking spray until wilted (add pepper and garlic powder if desired); set spinach aside. In same pan, fry 1 egg plus 1 egg white in cooking spray until no longer runny. Top eggs with 2 tbsp shredded smoked Gouda. Sandwich eggs, cheese and spinach between 2 sides of a toasted whole-wheat English muffin. Serve with 1 orange.

original article.

Microsoft debuts 'social' phone

2010-04-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

morning!

The software firm says the phones have been created specifically to help people who like to stay in touch with friends and share content.

Fitted with a high-resolution camera, the phone is also the first to access Microsoft's Zune music service.

The launch is designed to counter rivals such as Apple, Google and Research In Motion's Blackberry.

Made by Sharp, the two Kin handsets will go on sale in the US in May. In Europe, the Kin models will be available on the Vodafone network and will be launched in Autumn 2010. No prices have been given for the phones.

"This is a phone that knits together a tight community of kindred spirits..., the phone personifies true kinship between people, technology, friends and customers," said Robbie Bach, president of the entertainment and devices division at Microsoft.

Both phones have a multi-touch screen and a slide-out keyboard. The home screen of the device is always on and shows the latest events, such as text messages, tweets, or shared images, happening among someone's group of friends

The phone has an area dubbed the "spot" onto which owners can drag content, such as videos, and then decide how to share it and who to share it with. The phone works with popular social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Also, anything created on the phone is mirrored online and organised into a timeline and can be accessed from any web browser.

"Social is the DNA of this phone," said Microsoft's Derek Snyder, one of the product marketing managers who worked on its development. "Social is the fabric of this experience."

The Kin marks a departure for Microsoft which has typically offered its software to phone makers. With Kin it will have control over both hardware and software.

One question being asked after the launch was if Microsoft was coming too late to the feature-phone party.

Blackberry maker Rim has a firm grip as the market leader for business smartphones and Apple's iPhone is the one to beat among consumers.

"Sure, Microsoft has fallen behind in this space but there is a lot to like here," Van Baker, vice president of research at analyst group Gartner, told the BBC.

"They are not deemed to be very competitive in the marketplace and deemed largely to be an enterprise play and this is their effort to get into the consumer space in a very good way," he said. "I think it is a good entry."

According to research firm Canalys, Microsoft's software currently has about 9% of the smartphone market. That puts it fourth in the global market behind Symbian, Rim and Apple.

In early 2010, Microsoft launched the latest version of its mobile phone operating system, called Windows Phone 7 series.

It will replace Windows Mobile. The next OS will integrate the company's other products including its Bing search engine, Zune media marketplace and Xbox Live video-game network.

original article.

Apple owners eyeing iPad but leery of buying

2010-03-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Survey: Apple owners eyeing iPad but leery of buying
by Lance Whitney
Font sizePrintE-mailShare46 comments Yahoo! Buzz
.Share6 Apple hasn't had any trouble getting attention for its forthcoming iPad among Apple loyalists, but convincing Mac, iPhone, and iPod users to actually buy another device poses a challenge, according to the NPD Group.

Interest in the iPad, which hits store shelves Saturday, was 40 percent higher among existing Apple owners than among non-Apple users, said NPD's survey report "Apple iPad: Consumers' Perceptions and Attitudes."

(Credit: Apple)
NPD found that 82 percent of current Apple users are aware of the iPad. Among people with incomes $100,000 of higher, 80 percent said they're familiar with the iPad. And among consumers between 18 and 34 years of age, 78 percent know about the new tablet.

Those results, however, only gauged awareness of the Apple iPad. How many consumers may actually order one? Only 18 percent of all those surveyed said they're extremely or very interested in owning an iPad. That compares with 27 percent of those 18 to 34 years of age, and 24 percent of Apple owners.

Separately, however, some sources have reported that preorders by eager customers have already reached the hundreds of thousands.

A major reason some Apple users may buy an iPad is simply because it's from Apple. Among existing Apple owners surveyed by NPD, 37 percent said they're interested in the iPad because they like the Apple brand. Those in the 18-to-34 age range said they're most excited by the multitouch screen and would primarily use the tablet to play music and surf the Web.

The iPad's $499 entry price is lower than some had been expecting, but it's still seen as too high by many of those surveyed by NPD. Among the 18- to 34-year-olds questioned, 57 percent tagged price as the main reason they're not ready to open their wallets for the iPad. Even 43 percent of Apple owners think the price is too high.

Many of those surveyed may also hold off on an iPad because they see it more as a notebook or Netbook replacement than a unique device in its own right. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, 51 percent said they'd rather use a notebook or Netbook, while 44 percent of Apple owners echoed that sentiment.

"Considering what people are planning to use the iPad for, it's not hard to understand why people who have these capabilities on other devices, such as the iPod Touch or a notebook/netbook, may not want to spend $500 or more on a similar device," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD, in a statement. "This points to the need for Apple to close the content deals that focus the iPad on what is likely to be its best long-range value proposition around high quality media consumption."

Even people most interested in the iPad may not scoop one up right away. Among all those surveyed, only 9 percent said they were extremely or likely to buy the device in the next six months. That was the same percentage for Apple owners, while just 10 percent of those aged 18 to 34 said the same.

Among all consumers, 66 percent said they were not very likely or not likely at all to buy an iPad in the next six months. That percentage held true for those 18 to 34 years of age, while 60 percent of Apple owners felt the same.

NPD compiled its report based on a survey of around 2,000 consumers 18 years or older conducted from February 24 through March 3.

original article.

30 healthy picks

2010-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Not really a related topic. but i thought it was pretty interesting especially since I'm trying to eat a little more healthier these days.. especially since its getting hotter and we will be spending a lot of time at the beach this summer.

30 healthy picks
Great snacks with less than 200 calories
By Wendy Giman
From the November 2006 Issue
More from this story
A guide to slim snacking
Beat office candy cravings
10-calorie snacks
Eat and stay satiatied
Upgrade your diet
Eat to beat fat genes
Healthy TV snacks
Your snacks by the numbers
Healthy vending machine snacks
Avoid beverage diet sabotage
Eat your breakfast and drop pounds
How healthy are energy drinks?
Chose diet-friendly snacks
How smart is your favorite snack?

Craving salty?
•5 olives (any kind) (45 calories)
•1 small Martin's pretzel (50 calories)
•2 oz Applegate Honey and Maple Turkey Breast wrapped around 2 bread-and-butter pickles (80 calories)
•1/4 cup hummus, 3 carrot sticks (80 calories)
•1 Laughing Cow Light Swiss Original wedge, 3 pieces Kavli Crispy Thin (85 calories)
•One 1-oz package tuna jerky (90 calories)
•1 oz buffalo mozzarella, 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes (94 calories)
•1 bag Baked! Cheetos 100 Calorie Mini Bites (100 calories)
•15 Eden's Nori Maki Crackers rice crackers (110 calories)
•1 cup unshelled edamame (120 calories)
•50 Eden's Vegetable Chips (130 calories)
•One 1-oz package of Planters NUT-trition almonds (130 calories)
•1/4 cup Trader Joe's Chili con Queso, 18 baked tortilla chips (140 calories)
•1/2 cup pumpkin seeds in shell (143 calories)
•2 pieces (30 grams) prosciutto, 4 dried figs (154 calories)
•1 Subway Turkey Breast Wrap (190 calories)

Craving sweet?
•1 package Original Apple Nature Valley Fruit Crisps (50 calories)
•1 packet O'Coco's Mocha cookies (90 calories)
•1 Jelly Belly 100-calorie pack (100 calories)
•One 100-calorie pack Trader Joe's Chocolate Graham Toucan Cookies (100 calories)
•One 100-calorie Balance Bar (100 calories)
•1 Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino bar (120 calories)
•1 package Back to Nature Honey Graham Sticks (120 calories)
•1/2 banana rolled in 1 tbsp frozen semisweet chocolate chips (123 calories)
•2 tbsp Better 'n Peanut Butter, 4 stalks celery (124 calories)
•1 bag Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Butter Mini Bags topped with a spritz of butter spray and 1 tsp sugar (126 calories)
•24 Annie's Chocolate Chip Bunny Graham cookies (140 calories)
•Half of a 1.08-oz container of M&M's Minis mixed with 1/3 cup lowfat granola (145 calories)
•1 McDonald's Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait (160 calories)
•1 container Fage Greek Total 2% fat yogurt, 2 tsp honey (173 calories)

original article.

Best Companies for Job Growth

2010-03-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Not really on the topic but still i thought it was pretty neat because well i want a new job and i know ive been looking and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been. so yeah it would be great anyways here's the article.
Best Companies like the Scooter Store and DreamWorks notched some impressive job growth last year and are showing no signs of slowing down.

1. Scooter Store
The Scooter Store

Job growth: 51%
U.S. employees: 2,173
2010 Best Companies rank: 38

Not to be confused with those zippy little rides for kids, the Scooter Store specializes in medical power chairs for seniors -- and is no fad. The company notched some impressive job growth last year thanks to the aging baby boomer population and a strategic marketing shift.

Instead of relying on television advertisements, the Scooter Store bulked up its sales force to court doctors and assisted living facilities directly, with much success. New positions have also opened up for those who provide delivery, service and administrative support across the country.

Although Executive Vice President Mike Pfister doesn't anticipate the same level of growth that the company experienced last year, he estimates it will remain in the double digits. "We try to provide an alternative for going to a nursing home," he said, and "people believe in our ideology."

2. Brocade Communications Systems
Brocade Communications

Job growth: 39%
U.S. employees: 2,873
2010 Best Companies rank: 61

After the acquisition of Foundry Networks at the end of 2008, the Silicon Valley equipment supplier focused its energy on hardware and software development, which meant adding more technical jobs, mostly overseas.

This year, the company is focusing its hiring primarily on sales and customer support positions worldwide. "We'll probably grow about 20% to 30%," estimates Lisa McGill, vice president of human resources. Many new opportunities will be concentrated at the company's offices in Plymouth Minnesota and Broomfield Colorado as well as the research and development center in Bangalore, India.

3. Scottrade
Scottrade
Job growth: 22%
U.S. employees: 2,409
2010 Best Companies rank: 27

Last year the online investing firm opened 58 branch offices across the country and has plans to open a little more than 60 in the year ahead, which means more staff in the offices and at the company's corporate headquarters in St Louis.

Plans are also in the works for a new business operations center in Denver, which will fuel more job growth going forward. "We currently have 230 job openings, not including the Denver openings which have not been posted yet," according to Kelly Doria, a spokeswoman for the company.

Available positions are mostly concentrated in information technology, including developers, network engineers, infrastructure specialists and computer operations specialists but there are also openings for managers and stock brokers at the new office sites.

4. Salesforce.com
Salesforce.com

Job growth: 21%
U.S. employees: 2,361
2010 Best Companies rank: 43

Salesforce.com, which makes software to help companies manage customer relations, has thrived thanks to two hot sellers: Sales Cloud and Service Cloud. The latter, geared for call centers, is the company's core product and its fastest growing. A key selling point is that Salesforce's software integrates with Twitter and other social media channels, "taking the old service model and bringing it into the 21st century," said a company spokesman.

CEO Marc Benioff says the company is hiring more sales people worldwide to meet increased demand and is expecting growth to continue in the year ahead because of overall improvement in the information technology environment.

5. Chesapeake Energy
Chesapeake Energy

Job growth: 20%
U.S. employees: 7,720
2010 Best Companies rank: 34

Increased activity at one of the company's most promising projects, the Marcellus Shale, has uncovered new job opportunities for engineers, superintendants, foremen and field laborers as well as supporting positions in human resources, accounting and information technology. Currently there are over 420 positions still open companywide, which means hiring is showing no signs of slowing.

"We expect job growth to exceed last year," said Kip Welch, the director of recruiting. "We could as much as double the job growth from last year if we continue hiring people at the rate we are today," he added.

6. Scripps Health
Job growth: 15%
U.S. employees: 11,444
2010 Best Companies rank: 40

The San Diego-based hospital system has been growing its workforce consistently over the last few years as the industry overall has flourished along with Scripps itself, thanks to cutting edge programs like robotics surgery and human genetics research.

Scripps currently has about 400 positions open for registered nurses, imaging techs, laboratory and pharmacy staff as well as clerical and support staff. As a large corporation with expanding businesses, Scripps is also recruiting managers and professionals in accounting, finance, information technology, human resources, compliance, biomedical and quality assurance.

original article.

3d tv.

2010-03-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

Morning all!
going to keep it sweet and short.. i think that's the saying haha well anyways i hate really long articles and i know i have posted some in the past but this one is super shirt and about a 3d television.. I'm guessing for all the 3d movies that have been made recently. haha enjoy.

Reuters) - Panasonic Corp will launch its 3D televisions in the United States on Wednesday, and work with top U.S. electronics retailer Best Buy Co to promote the products, the Japanese electronics maker said.

Entertainment

The maker of Viera flat-panel TVs said it expects a 50-inch model to retail for $2,500, and aims to sell 500,000 3D TVs in the United States in the first year of their launch, half its annual global sales target.

Under the joint promotion, Best Buy will set up special sections at its retail outlets, where prospective customers can try out Panasonic's 3D TVs.

Panasonic, the world's No.4 flat TV maker behind Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp, holds high hopes for 3D TVs as it aims to turn its TV business profitable in the year starting April.

The sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" and other recent titles have sparked massive interest in 3D movies, raising TV makers' hopes for a strong debut of 3D models.

Shares in Panasonic closed up 2.8 percent at 1,307 yen on Monday, outperforming the Tokyo stock market's electrical machinery index, which gained 2.1 percent.

original article.

Greener Gadgets You’ll Love

2010-03-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Green Green green.. we have all gone or at least attempted to go green. and let me tell you. trying to find articles on this topic is getting harder and harder so if there are any suggestions on there on maybe certain products that would be greaat! hope everyone had a good weekend.. if not well then try again next weekend haha :D

The Greener Gadgets event in New York City was a stark contrast to its Las Vegas counterpart, the Consumer Electronics Show. The venue was vastly smaller, the visual appeal was significantly absent, and the huge techie crowd was lacking (but we’ll blame that on the snowstorm).

But there was one compelling dissimilarity about Greener Gadgets, and it was perhaps the reason we made the cross-country trip: undiscovered ingenuity.

While there were no elaborate booths with devices for us to test, Twitpic and geek out about, the ideas were concrete through illustration and avid speakers, making us even more excited about how the future will better merge both technology and sustainability.

As keynote speaker Yves Béhar poignantly put it, “If a design is not ethical, it cannot be beautiful. If it cannot be beautiful, it probably shouldn’t be at all.”

Fuseproject founder Yves Behar presents his idea of a super-simple, "hackable" car that can be utilized in developing countries. Photo: Inhabitat
The Hackable Car
Béhar is the founder of Fuseproject and designer of several other greener gadgets. He opened the show with a theme that we would later see throughout the program: Green should be available to the wider world.

Using the One Laptop Per Child project as an example, Béhar said greener design can be both simple and crave-worthy.

“When Nicholas Negroponte contacted me about the One Laptop Per Child Project, I was so over designing laptops. They are all the same, there is no innovation [...] But Nicholas really wanted to do something different and groundbreaking, and he really became an ambassador for design.”

“We learned a lot of things, and the rest of the world learned a lot of things through this process. For instance, we learned that a laptop could be made light and cheap and that people would find that desirable.”

Springboarding off that idea, Béhar presented his dirt-simple electric vehicle design that would make sense in a developing country. It’s tough, versatile and “hackable,” meaning that you can build your own functions on top of its basic frame.

The car is completely symmetrical – the front and back component pieces are interchangeable, and the roof is covered in photovoltaics. While the setup is basic, the portions can be changed to suit a wide array of needs ranging from a car to a truck, van, taxi, delivery vehicle or ambulance.

The design is still in its initial phase, but we think it definitely has potential as “electric” continues to become a buzzword for the automobile industry.

Ecovative Design
We remember Ecovative founders Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre when their EcoCradle design was simply an ambitious idea from insanely gifted students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. But the two entrepreneurs are making their design idea an actual product.

An alternative to hard-to-recycle polystyrene foam packaging, EcoCradle is made from agricultural byproducts such as seed husks, which would normally be landfilled. Once the seed husks are wet, they are combined with mushroom roots, which act as a binding agent.

Part of Greener Gadgets Sustainable Showoff event, Bayer explained that the compostable fibers can literally be put in your garden to improve your topsoil. It is the ideal shipping and packaging material for products weighing more than 15 pounds.

And manufacturers will not incur an added expense to make the switch. Bayer said the price is comparable to its widely used polystyrene foam counterpart. You’ll be able to purchase furniture and consumer electronics packaged in EcoCradle starting this spring.

Read more
Ecovative Design: Making Magic Out of Mushrooms

ANDREA absorbs toxic gases, such as formaldehyde, from home and office environments by enhancing the absorptive properties of living plants. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com The ANDREA Air Filter
Who doesn’t love a good houseplant for the office? (They’re all over Earth911’s space.) We’ve heard of the air quality improvements of keeping plants indoors, but the process has never been timely one when compared to commercial air purifiers.

But a new design called ANDREA actually accelerates this. In fact, its general gas removal rate is, according to the RTP Labs data, more than 1,000 times faster than plants alone.

Invented by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur along with Harvard professor David Edward, ANDREA transforms household plants into air cleaners which effectively rid indoor air of toxins and pollutants to purify any room in the home or office.

ANDREA’s fan system pulls dirty air through the holes in the top of the plastic casing, swirls the air around the leaves of the plant, sucks it through the soil, roots and water, releasing cleaner air through its vent.

It will cost you about $200, but the ANDREA is 44 times more efficient than a standard HEPA or carbon filter and works with any household plant. The ANDREA is now available in the U.S. and can be purchased on Amazon.

AUG/Living Goods Program
How would our purchasing habits change if we could actually see a product’s complete lifecycle in-store, on demand?

The winner of the Greener Gadgets Design Competition, the AUG/Living Goods Program is a concept that encourages the localization of Living goods (produce, meats and dairy) through the use of a barcoded “Producers” directory.

The mobile application scans products’ barcodes and generates information for the consumer by using a geo-location system that tracks the product’s origin and how many miles it traveled to be placed on store shelves. According to the designers, the app’s benefit is three-fold, a positive impact on the farmer, the grocer and the consumer.

The judges loved this design because it is practical and mobile, two things that other designs lacked this year. This project is still in development and is not yet available to the public. It also doesn’t specify if the app will be made for just the iPhone or if it will also include multiple formats for other cell phones with Internet access.

While judge Sarah Rich pointed out that this design is very similar to the GoodGuide app for the iPhone, the audience loved it, as evidenced by the massive applause it received

original article.

Behavior: Napping Can Prime the Brain for Learning

2010-02-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

well i couldn't find anything remotely interesting on this topic.. as usual but i do like research on naps.. because lets face it we all love naps. especially the ones that you literally only slept 15 minutes but it feels like hrs and after you wake up you feel well rested.

Behavior: Napping Can Prime the Brain for Learning

It turns out that toddlers are not the only ones who do better after an afternoon nap. New research has found that young adults who slept for 90 minutes after lunch raised their learning power, their memory apparently primed to absorb new facts.

Other studies have indicated that sleep helps consolidate memories after cramming, but the new study suggests that sleep can actually restore the ability to learn.

The findings, which have not yet been published, were presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego.

“You need to sleep before learning, to prepare your brain, like a dry sponge, to absorb new information,” said the lead investigator, Matthew P. Walker, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley.

The study recruited 39 healthy young adults and divided them into two groups. All 39 were asked to learn 100 names and faces at noon, and then to learn a different set of names and faces at 6 p.m. But 20 of the volunteers who slept for 90 minutes between the two learning sessions improved their scores by 10 percent on average after sleeping; the scores of those who didn’t nap actually dropped by 10 percent.

original article.

Already! in only 2 days.Spammers already targeting Google Buzz

2010-02-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

wow! that was fast this article makes a Good point. it did take twitter a few months i think before it started sending out spam. because i remember i even had to to change My password to prevent it from happening. so yeah that was pretty fast 2 days.

Spammers began targeting Google Buzz just days after it was launched, according to security company Websense, Inc.

The security company issued an alert on Google Buzz late last week noting that the first spam attack, which was about smoking, hit the new social networking hub last Thursday.

Websense noted that its analysts expected spam messages to pop up on Google Buzz, just not so soon.

"When Twitter was launched, it took a while before it was used to send spam and other malicious messages," Websense said in its alert. "In this case, it only took two days. It's clear that the bad guys have learned from their experience using social networks to distribute these type of messages."

Last week, Google added social networking tools to its Gmail e-mail service. Google Buzz is designed to help users more easily and quickly find the most important information contained in their flood of social posts, pictures and videos.

Last Friday, Google rolled out several tweaks to Buzz in an attempt to address privacy concerns. Then over the weekend, Google said that over the next several weeks it will offer up more tweaks to deal with privacy issues.

original article.

Google tweaks Gmail to challenge Facebook, Twitter

2010-02-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

GOOGLE! we all love google.pshh at least i know that i do.. I'm always googling things! so yeah lets see what google can now offer us! gotta love them over there at google. great thinkers!

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb 9 (Reuters) - Google Inc (GOOG.O) injected social networking features into its popular Web email product as the world's No. 1 search engine seeks to fend off competition from Facebook and Twitter.

Google introduced a new product dubbed Google Buzz on Tuesday that allows users to quickly share messages, Web links and photos with friends and colleagues directly within Gmail, the company's popular email product.

And the company unveiled a handful of new products designed to make the new social networking features suited to mobile devices, like smartphones based on Google's Android operating system.

Google's new social networking technology mimics some of the key features of popular social networking services like Twitter and Facebook, which are increasingly challenging Google for web surfers' online time.

Gmail is the third most popular Web based email in the world, with 176.5 million unique visitors in December, according to comScore. Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo Inc's (YHOO.O) Mail were No. 1 and No. 2, with 369.2 million unique visitors and 303.7 million unique visitors respectively.

In addition to the Buzz features for Gmail, Google said it is launching a special mobile application for Buzz, as well as weaving Buzz technology into the mobile versions of its flagship Web site and its maps products.

Google has tried to ride the social networking wave before, launching the Orkut social network in 2004. But while Orkut is big in certain overseas markets, like Brazil, it has failed to attract as many users as social giants like Facebook and MySpace in the United States.

In building a social network on top of an email product, Google is following in the footsteps of Yahoo, which has taken a similar approach in efforts to keep up with Facebook. (Additional reporting by Ian Sherr, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

Google Chrome

2010-02-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

i use Google Chrome at home i love it.. i really think its alot faster then the Internet exploer but i guess there are some new updates i havent read the article yet so i cant really go into detail but i'll post it so you can see for yourself. hope you all have a great weekend,or had a great weekend i should say.

The latest browser market share numbers are out and, judging by the headlines, Google is crushing the competition with the Chrome Web browser. Chrome is "on a roll", or even "skyrocketing" depending on the source.

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•Apple Releases Firmware Update for IMac Screen Flickering 30200484 You may be surprised to find that, behind the hyperbole, Chrome is the third place Web browser with a meager 5.2 percent market share. Chrome has only about one-fifth the market share of second place Firefox, and a miniscule one-tenth of the still-dominant Internet Explorer.

I am not sure that 5.2 percent and "skyrocketing" really go together. Chrome "jumped" almost six-tenths of a percentage point--a whopping six-hundredths of a percentage point more than the drop experienced by Internet Explorer.

Microsoft should just fold up its tent and get out of the browser business now. Its demise is obviously inevitable judging by the sensational assessments being made throughout the media.

Wait. Perhaps that is a tad premature. At the rate of a six-hundredths of a percent gain each month, Chrome will pass Internet Explorer....carry the three...divide by the co-efficient--never mind. It will be a long, long, long time--like after I'm dead and buried.

But, here's the real question: who cares?? Honestly. The browser wars are the technology equivalent of following celebrity stories in the tabloids, or worrying about who will take home the Grammy award for "best female artist". It captures headlines and makes for some passionate debate around the water cooler, yet matters not one iota in the real world.

From the perspective of the vendors making the browsers, the only thing really at stake is bragging rights. The software is distributed for free. There is no profit motive to the browser wars. Winning the browser wars is, at best, a hollow victory.

Google and Microsoft generate revenue from other Web-based ventures, particularly online and search-based advertising, but that revenue is browser-agnostic. Google and Microsoft get paid for the ads no matter which browser is used to surf the Web and view the ads. If Microsoft could capture a dominant share of the Web advertising revenue, but lose the browser wars, that would be an acceptable exchange as far as shareholders are concerned.

As far as users are concerned, the Web browser is really a simple matter of preference. One may be milliseconds faster than another, or include a unique feature or two, but for the most part a browser is a browser is a browser.

The decision between using Firefox, or Chrome, or Internet Explorer is like the decision between buying a Mustang, or an Impala, or a Suburban, or like choosing whether to watch Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother. It's a matter of subjective opinion.

For businesses and IT administrators, there are some other, more practical considerations that go into the browser decision. Businesses have Web-enabled applications that may not work in some browsers, or may work better in one browser than another. Switching browsers could invite a massive undertaking to re-engineer those applications.

IT administrators also need Web browsers that are simple to deploy, configure, and maintain across the network. Web browsers that tie in with Microsoft Active Directory and provide the ability to manage via Group Policy have an advantage in a business-world that tends to be Microsoft-centric.

Aside from that, though, businesses don't really need to care about the browser wars either. As long as the browser works with the applications the business uses, and provides a means for centrally managing and maintaining it, IT administrators aren't going to lose any sleep over whether it comes from Microsoft, or Mozilla, or Google.

original article.

Wal-Mart Prepares to Sell Nexus One

2010-01-26T12:25:00.000-08:00

good morning! well as usual i cant really find a consumer electronic article that is semi interesting so yeah its probably going to be a boring one again.. maybe one that only the picture caught my attention haha if someone is and expert on finding good articles on this topic. don't be shy and send me tips!

Google's decision to exclusively sell the Nexus One may be short-lived.

Wal-Mart Stores has created a page on its wireless Web site featuring the Nexus One. It says the device is "coming soon," but does not include pricing information.

The blog AndroidandMe spotted the page, which is still live at the time this story posted.

Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The Wal-Mart page indicates that the Nexus One may soon become available for use on other networks besides T-Mobile. It says that the phone works on UMTS/HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System/High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) as well as 1xRTT and 1xEvDO. That means the phone could operate on the Verizon and Sprint networks.

While Google is selling the phone unlocked to users willing to pay US$530, the phone will only operate on 3G on T-Mobile's network. Unlocked phones will make and receive phone calls and deliver slower data speeds on AT&T's network. The current Nexus One phones won't work on the Verizon or Sprint networks.

When Google introduced the Nexus One in early January, it said that it would be available exclusively through the Google online store initially. The search giant had hoped to jump-start the market for unlocked phones sold without a subsidy. But it quickly became apparent that Google was not prepared to offer the kind of customer support that phone buyers expect.

original article.

4 Things that could keep 3d out of your living room

2010-01-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

This article is far too long and i know if i post it no one will read it so let me just post a small portion and then if your interested you can go back and read more about it.

3-D Glasses are a drag
Watching a clip of Monsters vs. Aliens or Avatar on a 3-D TV can be fun. But first you have to need to put on a pair of compatible glasses — either specially polarized ones, or active shutter glasses that contain electronics synchronized with the images on the screen to deliver a 3-D effect to your eyes.

Wearing glasses for a three-hour movie like Avatar is one thing. But doing it every day, day after day, can quickly become annoying.

Though active shutter or polarized 3-D glasses are getting more lightweight and sleeker, there’s no escaping that they are still a pair of glasses you’ll have to wear every time you want to watch 3-D video on your TV.

What’s also not clear is how 3-D glasses will work for those who already wear prescription eyeglasses. For now, you just have to put them on over your regular glasses — hardly an elegant solution.

The glasses will also cost extra. Consumers who spend $3,000 for a 3-D TV will have to shell out more to get a pair of glasses. Active shutter glasses can cost $50 a pop or more and for a big family, the cost can add up. Also, buyers need to factor in losses, because glasses can be misplaced easily.

TV makers will likely offer bundled deals where a pair or two of glasses are included with purchase of a TV set, but so far there have been no clear announcements.

And if you’re having friends over to watch a movie or a game, you’ll have to remind them to bring their own glasses. If they forget, they are out of luck.

Some companies, such as LG, Samsung and Mitsubishi, are showing prototypes of 3-D TVs that require no glasses. But in that case, the TV can be a very limiting experience. 3-D TVs without glasses have a very specific viewing range — four feet in some cases — and have very specific viewing angles, so they’re not well-suited to screenings with more than a small number of viewers

Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/3dtv-analysis/#ixzz0d6OAUKPs

original article.

Nexus One

2010-01-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

nexus ryhmes with my name? can you figure it out haha yes i know lame but im extremely bored! can you blame me. anyways couldnt really find anything on this topic today slow day for consumer electronics. but enjoy this one.

Q: In reviewing Google's new Nexus One phone, you said its memory is expandable to 32 gigabytes, but that the portion of memory used for storing apps is just 190 megabytes. Is the expandable memory unusable for apps? Is memory for apps expandable?

A: On the Nexus One, the Motorola Droid and other Android phones, there are two main types of memory: one internal, which is fixed, and the other external, in the form of removable memory cards, which the user can increase in capacity. In general, apps can be stored only in a small, restricted portion of internal memory, which on the Nexus One is a meager 190 megabytes. Although there are exceptions, apps can't generally be stored on the roomier removable memory cards, though some files they rely upon, like graphics, can be offloaded onto the cards.

Google acknowledges this is a limitation, but says it designed the system to protect apps from being copied by merely removing the memory card and inserting it into a PC which could duplicate its contents. The company says it is working on ways to secure the memory cards to the satisfaction of the app developers, so that apps could be stored on them. Meanwhile, Android phones can't hold nearly as many apps, especially sophisticated large apps, as some users might like.

Q: AT&T and Verizon are each saying that they have wide areas of coverage. Can you tell me who really has the widest area of coverage for cellphone signals?

A: If you are comparing basic cellphone signal availability, each of the two leaders has a very wide footprint. However, Verizon claims a larger geographic footprint when it comes to 3G networks, which are currently the fastest widely deployed cellular data networks. AT&T claims its 3G is the fastest. But, partly because AT&T has the iPhone, which is both popular and makes heavy data usage very easy, its network too often seems overwhelmed in large cities, in my experience. Verizon so far lacks a specific phone with similar popularity which users employ to consume as much data, and thus network capacity, as iPhone users typically do. However, iPhone-class phones like the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One, if they sell well, will test the Verizon network's robustness.

Q: Any idea how well or badly the new Google Nexus One syncs with Macs for things like Calendars, Notes, Address Books etc.?

A: The Nexus One doesn't come with software for syncing with computers, whether Macs or PCs. It is primarily intended to sync with online calendars and address books, not those stored locally on computers. It also lacks software for syncing even larger files, like music, photos and videos. Its method for transferring those files from Macs and PCs is to connect the phone via a USB cable, causing the phone to appear to the computer as an external hard disk. You then must manually drag and drop files onto the Nexus One's icon. In other words, Google doesn't supply any equivalent to Apple's iTunes or the BlackBerry media-syncing software. However, the third-party program doubleTwist, available at doubletwist.com, is designed to function as a sort of iTunes for syncing Android, Palm and BlackBerry devices. It runs on Macs and PCs and even looks a bit like iTunes. But it only syncs media files, not calendars or address books

original article.

Tracking your kids, stuff is the future, according to AT&T

2010-01-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

blahh! boring day for electronic"s .. how come people are always trying to find more ways to track there kids?? like come one give them a little freedom.. seriously.

More of your everyday stuff may be able to communicate with cell networks throughout 2010, at least if AT&T has anything to say about it. The company says that it plans to add services to a plethora of consumer products as part of an expansion of its mobile offerings, and that the first of these products may be available in the second half of this year.

AT&T head of emerging devices Glenn Lurie told Reuters about the company's plans during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, noting that AT&T is already in the process of inking deals to get into 20 consumer devices. These would include, among other things, entertainment systems in your car, your e-reader, your digital photo frame, or even your child (we assume something you strap onto your child, not put in your child). AT&T believes the venture might net the company as much as $1 billion more in annual revenue.

In theory, this would mean that users will be able to keep track of their items and locate them in case of loss or theft. Amazon's Kindle, for example, already has wireless tech built in for book downloading, but that that law enforcement could use to help track stolen devices—if it really wanted to. Though Kindle users have been somewhat frustrated in achieving that goal as of late, Lurie believes the future is definitely in tracking your things. "There's going to be more and more there in terms of anything you want to track, whether it's a parcel or a container or a kid," he told Reuters.

To many of us, being able to always find our electronics—a la Apple's "Find My iPhone" feature—would be wonderful. Imagine how much easier it would be to find your keys if you could pop onto a website and see where you last left them? But, as with most devices that have tracking capabilities, those worried about privacy are sure to be uncomfortable with the proliferation of these services. Gadget makers will have to be extremely cautious in making sure the tracking features are off by default and offered as an opt-in if they want to stay on the good side of organizations like the EFF.

Original article.

Verizon updates Droid software; Users hope it fixes echo problem

2009-12-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

The droid. i remember watching the commercials on this phone and then one of my close friends got it recently and its almost exactly like the g1. its funny lol because now the g1 is touch screen but im sure the droid has more apps.

Computerworld - An over-the-air software update to the Droid smartphone started yesterday, but it wasn't clear whether the 14 enhancements address a voice echo problem that hundreds of users complained about in online forums.

The much-anticipated update went to a "small percentage of handsets" yesterday and the update, identified as ESD56, will be phased in over the next week or so, a Verizon Wireless spokeswoman confirmed early today via e-mail.

The enhancements come from Verizon Wireless, Motorola and Google, which is behind the Android operating system that runs on the Motorola Droid. An update to the Droid Eris smartphone from HTC is "planned but a date has not yet been confirmed," the spokeswoman added.

The Motorola Droid update is based on Google's release of a software developer kit for Android 2.0.2 on Dec. 6. The most noticeable modifications improve the Droid's camera autofocus capability and the phone's voice reception, the spokeswoman added.

However, it remains unclear whether the list of official fixes offers any relief to hundreds of customers who have complained of a voice echo heard by recipients of calls made from Droid phones. At least 300 comments at a Motorola online support forum refer to the subject, "Droid phone sound quality is not great," and most comments refer to audio echo problems noticed by people whom Droid users are calling.

One Motorola Droid user, John Davis, said he has enjoyed all aspects of his Droid except for the phone itself. "Almost from day one there has been an annoying echo primarily with the person on the receiving end," he wrote in an e-mail to Computerworld. Davis, a physician, bought his phone the first day it was available at a Verizon store near Boston.

Despite the many online complaints of a similar problem from Droid users, he couldn't get Verizon store officials to listen to him, he said. "Each time I returned to the store, now three times, I have been treated increasingly like an Android from out of space until [a recent] Friday when I threw a nutty in the store and screamed out for attention," he wrote. "The techs were clueless."

Davis said his son, an engineer at Cisco Systems Inc., helped him decrease the echo somewhat by adjusting the phone's settings so that when the echo shows up, Davis must fidget with the speaker button to lessen the echo.

But Davis was still awaiting the update, which was rumored to start on Dec. 11, but now appears to have started four days earlier. Davis said his son believes the update is designed to address the issue, and so do many on an online forum. However, the official update documentation says only that one of the 14 improvements is listed as "audio for incoming calls is improved." A separate improvement says that Bluetooth functions are improved with "background echo ... eliminated" but only in reference to Bluetooth usage.

original article.

BLACK FRIDAY !!

2009-11-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

good morning bloggers!
its thanksgiving week. my all time favorite holiday. endless amounts of eating not to mention the pumpkin pie and stuffing yum! anyways after thanksgiving theres a little day i like to call blackfriday! mmm my favorite.. what are some of the items you guys are looking for?

personally i would like a new camera and not to mention all the nonstop sales for all the clothing items. haha its like a kid in a Candy store. i know im going to go crazy!
so bloggers remember. be careful it can get a little crazy out there and happy holidays!

electronic cars.

2009-11-17T14:41:00.000-08:00

i found this article.. thought it was kinda cool.. i mean i wonder what the world is going to look like next I'm waiting for the day that a car Can float.. be in water and drive all in one car haha that will be the day..

enjoy:]

LOS ANGELES--Driving Nissan's new Leaf electric car around Dodgers' Stadium in Los Angeles last week was not as glamorous as it sounds. There were a lot of journalists in line under a hot sun. But there were compensations, including a touch of Hollywood--actress Alexandra Paul, ex-Baywatch and a former General Motors EV-1 driver, was there.

This was the kickoff of a 22-city national tour for the Leaf, and it may be coming soon to a metro area near you. Go to this site, enter your zipcode and it will point you to the nearest stop. Or check the full list here. The tour ends in New York City February 14.

Nissan is the only automaker (through the Renault-Nissan Alliance) to actually build charging stations. In LA, it announced its 33rd alliance, this time with Reliant, a subsidiary of giant Texas-based utility NRG Energy. Like most utility executives these days, NRG CEO David Crane talked about the virtues of the smart grid and charging electric cars off-peak during evening hours. He said the current U.S. grid could easily handle up to 10 million additional EVs. "We don't get into trouble until we're talking about 50 to 100 million cars," he said.

The Leaf, which has a 100-mile range on lithium-ion batteries and will be out next year, was revealed in sky blue. It was a little bigger than I thought it would be, with excellent seat layout and some of the same eco-verities as the Toyota Prius. Not to confuse you, but the Leaf we saw was actually a styling model and not drivable. The "Leaf" we drove was in the body of the Nissan Versa, with the Leaf's drivetrain. This is what they call a "mule," and it gives a very good indication of what the production car will be like. Here's what it was like from the back seat:

THANKS GOOGLE! :Google's holiday gift: Free airport Wi-Fi

2009-11-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

ENJOY!! this wonder gift from google this holiday season.. perfect for all those who are traveling in and out of the country or Even states to visit distance family.. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL ! :]

hope you enjoy this article i found:

Google said Tuesday it will subsidize free wireless network access in 47 airports from now until January 15--and indefinitely in the airports of Burbank, Calif., and Seattle.

The promotion, in cooperation with Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, and Airport Marketing Income, is the latest effort to use free Wi-Fi to boost a brand. Among others: Yahoo is sponsoring Wi-Fi in Times Square in New York, and Google is sponsoring Internet access on Virgin America flights during the holidays.

Among the larger participating airports are those in Houston, Boston, Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego, Baltimore, and St. Louis. A full list of the airports is at Google's free holiday Wi-Fi site.

The move, though not cheap, is probably smart. Plenty of business travelers have a laptop and time to kill, and today's consumers are increasingly likely to be equipped with laptops, iPod Touches, or other devices that can use wireless Internet access. Google is spending some money for an opportunity to give a lot of people the warm fuzzies when they encounter the Google brand.

And in the big picture, Google gets to show people what the world might be like if there were more high-speed wireless Internet access--something the company has been aggressively lobbying for in Washington, D.C. Many people are used to wireless networking in their homes, but it's a different matter on the road.

There are downsides, though, too. Having been to dozens of conferences where the wireless Net access collapses as soon as the keynote speech begins, I'm acutely aware that providing large-scale wireless Internet access is technically demanding--and people get unhappy when a promised benefit evaporates. And public, anonymous places such as airports and urban population centers are great spots for hackers to launch main-in-the-middle attacks by offering "Free Wi-Fi," so exercise caution when logging on to these networks

T-Mobile users still reeling from outage

2009-11-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

"Tuesday's outage is the latest blow for T-Mobile, which is still working through a month-long ordeal for its Sidekick service, in which some customers have lost their address books and many more are still waiting to get back other data, such as calendars, to-do lists, and photos.

Of course, T-Mobile customers are not the only ones with cell phone issues. AT&T customers regularly complain about service problems with their iPhones. An outage last year interrupted service for BlackBerry customers on various networks across North America. Earlier this year a cut fiber line left many AT&T customers in Silicon Valley without service.

On Wednesday, T-Mobile customers by and large had their service back, but many were still looking for answers. Bystrom said that several hours after calling customer care he got a call back offering a $5 credit. "When I protested that it was unacceptable (I) was pretty much told take it or leave it," Bystrom said."

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Can Android Market Catch Up to the App Store?

2009-10-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

The number of applications such as games and calendars that developers have begun working on for cell-phone operating system Android has jumped 94% between September and October, according to Flurry, which provides in-app analytics software for mobile devices.

The increased developer hustle and bustle around Android comes as no surprise: In November, Verizon Wireless is expected to launch its first Android phone from Motorola, and the carrier has already started a major marketing blitz around the device. Android-based phones from other makers, like HTC, are selling well. About 20 Android-based devices are expected to come out this year, and 30 more in 2010, according to analysts. As more Android phones get into users’ hands, more people will start using these devices to download apps from the Android Market, which currently features more than 10,000 applications. Naturally, developers want to get in on the game.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Android Market catches up to the Apple App Store, which currently offers more than 85,000 apps, in the number of applications it carries in the next year or two. Consider: By 2012, Android should become the world’s second-largest mobile operating system, according to consultant Gartner. At that point, more people will be buying Android-based phones each year than the iPhones. And users of Android devices download as many applications — about 10 — each month as iPhone owners do. Since developers always want to make apps for the largest possible pool of users, Android Market’s applications count should skyrocket.

original article
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Apple's Mac Line Receives Massive Makeover

2009-10-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

"iMacs, a new unibody MacBook, the Mac mini, and a new wireless Mighty Mouse.
The iMac line has been totally reworked with 16:9 widescreens that are significantly larger than the previous 20-inch and 24-inch models. The new Mac mini looks the same, but of course has some new internals. The Mac mini is joined by a new server-based sibling: same case, but dual drives and no optical. Last but not least, the new iMacs come with a new, wireless multi-touch Magic Mouse."

I love how AppleMac is always coming up with new features on there products.. seriously the ipohone is great.. and it just keeps getting better, then there are the ipods, which are awesome, even the new nano with recording on it , and now this.. just keeps getting better and better at apple.

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Apple "No Refunds" Policy For Better & Worse

2009-10-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

Apple's "no refunds" policy for iPhone App Store purchase is both not as bad--and worse--than it sounds. Readers say Apple occasionally gives refunds, but also complain that Apple's own updates break apps for which no refunds are given.

These readers were replying to a story about the no-refunds policy I posted earlier today.

One reader said he got a refund for applications purchased that did not function with VoiceOver, an accessibility application used by the visually disabled.

"I sent a long and stern letter detailing the inadequacies of the app store for the blind community and how it was clearly unjust to force people to pay for applications that are completely unusable on their devices," the reader wrote in an e-mail.

"The result? Somewhat surprisingly, they promptly refunded the price of all the applications I had listed without any trouble at all. Clearly, their draconian refund policy is not set in stone and they are willing to consider requests on a case-by-case basis at least some of the time."

Another reader warned that sometimes Apple itself is to blame for non-functional apps, but offers no help in those cases.

"A problem that was not mentioned is that every time Apple updates firmware, as in v3.0 upgrade, an app can be broken," the reader wrote.

"A year ago, I bought a language app for $25. Today it is not working properly because of the update and Apple would not refund my money. The developer says they sent an update but Apple has not approved it.

"So, Apple can, at their discretion, keep an app from working properly and keep the money."

Still another reader says, "don't worry" because now that the refund issue has made the New York Times, lawyers will doubtless soon come to the rescue.

"Sounds like a bonanza for a class action lawyer," the reader wrote.

"The implied warrantee of fitness/merchantability means Apple is breaking the law when it does not refund the price on apps that don't work. This is not something Apple's lawyers can defend against!"

"The end result usually is that there is a large settlement; a huge percentage goes to the lawyers, and since "individual compensation is too cumbersome," the rest is sent to some charity," according to the reader

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iMacs are more affordable

2009-09-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

I found this article and I thought that it was pretty cool considering the fact that many people want an iMac but can't afford it at its price. Well now iMacs are more affordable to the daily consumer. The new iMac is a tad bit different, and some people will actually pay big bugs to have that difference. The power button and all the plug ins are on the back side of the monitor. As with the Mac Minis, the new iMacs also come with updated ports on the back side. You get the typical USB 2.0 jacks, FireWire 800 output, and Gigabit Ethernet, but the Mini DVI port has been replaced by a Mini DisplayPort. "As Mini DisplayPort is unique to Apple displays right now, you'll need to purchase an adapter if you want to connect a standard DVI monitor, at least until other monitor vendors catch up." so maybe if you guys were thinking about getting one, here's your chance!

Original Article

What Can Top iPods?

2009-09-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

No doubt, I think that many companies are trying to top an iPod and how popular it has become. Since Apple has came out with an iTouch of course someone would try to come out with a touch screen mp3 player for those who don't favor for apple. This Zune Player is the first one of its kind to have internet explorer on their itouch with the help of WiFi. I think that's pretty cool as well. Microsoft also unveiled plans to dramatically beef up the video download selection of its Zune Marketplace online store, and use the improved storefront to power the movie and TV downloads available to the Xbox gaming console. "The new storefront will support movie rentals that can be transferred to Zune hardware (similar to iTunes movie rentals) playable from either your computer or from the Zune HD. "

Original Article

HTC Touch Pro 2

2009-09-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

I honestly really like the phones that HTC makes. If you think about it, they have made a lot of really efficient phones. I believe that they were one of the first ones to make a touch screen phone. I don't know how Apple made it tens time better with their interface for touch screen phones. It's amazing how technology has grown. I love QWERTY keyboards on a phone, so this is a favorite phone. The keyboard is very roomy and it is very efficient. I would probably get this or the Palm Pre if I were under Sprint. At least there is GPS on the phone (which most likely you have to pay monthly). Messaging and touch screen phones are in now, so if you love text messaging, you should really get this phone! "Despite the jaw-dropping price tag, the HTC Touch Pro2 is a powerful smartphone that delivers in performance and features to make it one of the best devices for Sprint's business customers."

Original Article

Sony S-Series Walkman

2009-09-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not an Apple iPod lovers and are music lovers, there is Sony S-series Walkman. I think this is a pretty good steal considering the many features that is being offered in this device. I think that the look of this new MP3 player is very sleek and professional. From what I read, it is easy to use and very durable compared to most MP3 players. It has an 8 gb so far, unlike the iPod which offers more gb if needed. "The Sony S-Series Walkman offers excellent audio playback, a long battery life, a nice screen, a simple interface, and some decent extras for very little money--it's obviously a great value. Indeed, it's easy to recommend this player to budget-minded users who are looking for an introduction to the Walkman line. But those who have experienced the previous generation S-Series will be very disappointed by the successor to the line". I think this is such a cute mp3! I suggest you people buy it for people who are on a budget.
Original Article

Mac Rumors

2009-08-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

I honestly love hearing about new MacRumors thinking that it will come true someday. We finally got the landscape keyboard, cut&paste, and push notification. I still think that it's pretty sad that the most advanced phone ever does not have a video camera in it. Yeah sure the iPhone 3GS has it, but did it really take four different kinds of iPhones to establish a video camera when it should have been there the very first generation? One thing that I loved about this phone is the new Camera Genius Application that I just downloaded. It has Zoom (something that the iphone never had before the iphone 3GS), it has a big button shoot (click anywhere on the screen and it will take a picture, voice shot (where you could say anything and it will take the picture), anti-shake, a timer, and more ! I just can't think of anymore. haha And it's only 0.99! How lucky are iPhone users? Camera Genius also comes with a handy camera manual that is a great basic resource for the novice photographer. There are notes and tips on topics such as lighting, focal point, perspective and portraits as well as example photos in each.

Original Article

Portable LCD

2009-08-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Remember back in the day with the big blocks of "portable Tv's" That never did seem to have a clear picture? This was in the 90s and I remember having one and I was so excited that I could watch my t.v. shows ALMOST everywhere. haha I actually remember watching family matters series on that thing. Now they have a portable LCD that seems to be a lot clearer than our 90s product! Cnet actually says that the LCD is "Affordable, compact portable LCD digital TV with 7-inch wide-screen display; built-in rechargeable battery; receives analog and digital over-the-air and unscrambled cable channels; clear picture quality when you can get a signal; includes remote and second, more powerful antenna; built-in kickstand for easy table viewing." I'm actually thinking about getting this in the near future, I know I'm going to need it. The only thing that sucks about it is that the battery life is kind of weak for a tv show. I'm guessing from what I read, that you could only watch about 4 sit coms and it'll die. haha

Original Article

3D Coming to Your Home!

2009-08-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

So what's next for American's to expect for the latest invention? I'm pretty sure that someone has come up with this invention of a 3D illusion for your very own home. I thought in this picture that I found that you could use it to make an illusion of a fire that is actually happening. I think with this kind of invention, you could watch DVDs that are available in 3D at home (movies like for example UP!) I think that this is a great new thing that could be added to the family home. This could add more family time because it's such a new thing. Other than that, I do believe that this will be a little pricey for today's downfall of economics. But as the economy worsens, the forecast for the TV market is looking grim. The LCD TV market is only expected to grow about 17 percent in terms of units shipped in 2009, according to research firm DisplaySearch. This is down from growth of about 29 percent in 2008. Plasma TV growth is also expected to suffer with the market only expected to grow by about 5 percent in 2009 compared with a 24 percent rise in 2008, DisplaySearch said.

I really do like this idea and hope that it comes out soon! (=

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Wii Fit

2009-07-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've had this game for awhile now, and I absolutely love it. I always put off writing about it. Me and my brother got it for my mother's birthday, but everyone can benefit off from it. It has yoga (yoga mat is separate), snowboarding, skate boarding, and aerobics. I was pretty excited when we bought this, and couldn't wait to try it out. The Wii Fit is for everyone who basically needs to get in shape, and you can cheat on here, but why would you want to? I admit I cheated the first couple of times. haha Only because I was out of shape. If anyone of you has a Wii or is thinking about getting a Wii, take Wii Fit into consideration! It's an awesome program and Nintendo has outdone itself dramatically. "Wii Fit takes the whole concept of games as exercise to a new level with the inclusion of a balance board peripheral that can tell you on the fly exactly how well--or how poorly--you're doing with its various activities." -Cnet

Original Article

Honda's sexy new CR-Z Hybrid

2009-07-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. That's really what I said when I first saw this picture. I didn't even read the article first but gazed at the picture with amazement. Honda is doing it big for sure. It doesn't even look anything like a Honda anymore! It's different from any other cars you see on the road. I'm not a big fan of the wide mouth in the front but hey that's just me. I'm not a car person but if I saw this on the freeway I would have thought it was a sister car of a Lamborghini! Okay a little over the top with that part but still, it looks so futuristic!
This Honda CR-Z Hybrid will be launched in Japan in February 2010. After a year later or so, it will be launched in North America and Europe. How exciting!
The CR-Z is seen as a modern interpretation of the popular CR-X of the 1980s which in HF trim was the most fuel efficient car available in America for several years. It's not known whether Honda will use the same 1.3-liter engine/IMA combination from the Insight or something a bit more powerful. We can probably expect to learn more at this fall's Tokyo Motor Show.

Original Article

App Store Turns 1

2009-07-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

I think that the App store opened a lot of possibilties to the phone. Now the iPhone isn't just a phone anymore, it's more than a phone. It could be your calculator, your camera, your decision on where to eat, your gps, your time consumement, etc. The list goes on. There is tons and tons of applications that you could download that will better satisfy the the consumer. There are many categories for the app store not just games. There's something for everyone! The app store has over 50,000 apps (personally I thought that it would be more) haha but the list goes on on what you could do with your phone. I don't think that Tmobile's G1 can deal with that, they might come close to the app store out of everyone else, but I don't really think that everyone could out do Apple

Bluetooth Bike Speaker

2009-06-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

In today's society, just about everything is hightech, even when it comes to your bike. Yes, believe it. I couldn't! haha As a person who rides her bike a lot for exercise, this is a great invention and very handy. I hate working out while having my earphone wires in the way. It's such a hassle! I think that there are many ways of putting those wires away, but you know it will never work. The only downfall is if you're riding around with your music on, all the music can be heard by everyone around you. On Cnet.com, they state that it has loud enough speakers to drown out the sound of traffic, but the sound isn't all great. Anyways, I think that this is a great invention that new technology has shown us. I can't wait to see what ordinary people will think of next! (= Enjoy.

Things Still Missing from the Macbook

2009-06-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

As a Macbook owner, I don't think a lot things are missing from it. When I found this article, I just thought first, what could be missing from the Apple Macbook? The only thing I could think of is a memory card insertion for cameras and such. But as for a touch screen genius company, we are all still waiting for Apple to come out with a Macbook that has touch screen features. I wish that they could have it so we could use windows as well (which you can, but not for free). I've had my Macbook since November, and it still runs pretty fast. I'm very impressed on how fast it is compared to a PC. They don't mention that in those PC commercials! Which piss me off, because the only reason why they are cheaper is because Vista sucks ass, and they catch viruses easily. Simple enough MAC > PC. I think another thing that is missing from the Macbook, is the backlights for the keyboard. Now I didn't go ahead and say the Macbook Pro, I said the Macbook. I was totally unaware when I bought the Macbook, there wasn't going to be any back lights. Other than that, I pretty much can't think of anything that is obvious missing from the Macbook.

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Smartphones

2009-06-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

You have to admit, that smartphones have taken over our society! If you don't have one, it probably means that you don't socialize often. I just think that There are many ways of socializing through a smartphone. You have your phone, text message, picture messaging, AIM, ICQ, Blackberry messenger, Email, etc. Phone companies have made it easier for you to communicate in different ways in order to make life easier for you. An average person could afford a smartphone, but not all the time. That person could get a sidekick rather than a blackberry, or a samsung over an iPhone. Not the greatest alternative, but it's somethng that anyone could get. Do me a favor, don't kill yourself trying to get a smartphone. Most smart phones have many bugs and take forever for the company to realize that there are problems

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Smartphones

2009-06-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

MMS is certainly the most compelling technology for people who don't have a smart phone. If customers do not have their email sent directly to their phone, then it's harder for them to send pictures since it will cost them whatever it is on their plan. I just think that in today's technology, that the average person can't afford to buy smartphones. Of course there are affordable ones more than others. A person could get the the sidekick over a blackberry. Or a Samsung over a iPhone. Simple enough, I think that there are many alternatives as to how an average person with a budget could get through to a smartphone.

LG enV Touch

2009-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

This phone is from Verizon Wireless. I love all their messaging phones. They are great phones that could handle a simple text message and more. I'm not sure but I would like to know, is Verizon Wireless the very first phone company to ever make a messaging phone? I would like to think so with their LG enV Touch. You might think that the LG enV Touch looks like the LG Titanium, or LG Dare, or even the very first touch from Verizon Wireless, the LG Voyager. haha Like all touch screen phones that aren't the iPhone or G1, the touch screen interface needs a little bit of improvement. Overall this is a great phone to have if you're not looking for too much. I wouldn't consider this a smartphone, but it sure looks like one..almost. haha

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DSi

2009-06-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

I really want one of these! The camera on the DSi actually has good quality when it comes to taking pictures. I love the featured where you could do the funny face photoshop type ordeal. It's really good that all the former DS owners could upgrade for just a certain price. Remember to recycle or sell them off if your DS is still good! (= I didn't know on the new DSi, that there is internet connection, but I heard that it's not that great or safe. You can download games on the new DSi, and it comes at an affordable price. You guys should check it out when you're at a local store that sells them! I suggest looking online on youtube or something (= While not all previous DS owners should upgrade, the DSi is an ambitious and solidly designed portable gaming system.

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Cheap Flat Screens

2009-05-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that everyone wants a flatscreen tv, but you have to admit that they are expensive! Nowadays, if you have a bulky television, prepare to be laughed at! haha I know i know, but it's 2009 and that's "keeping up with the jones" ordeal. When I went on cnet.com I saw an article that has pretty great prices for flatscreens. I know some people may think I copy in paste, but hey at least I'm not passing it off as my own work ! "The good: Produces relatively deep black levels; accurate color; very good dejudder processing; sleek styling with 1.2-inch thick panel; extensive picture controls; extremely energy-efficient.
The bad: Expensive; less-uniform screen than other LCDs; poor off-angle viewing; backlight fluctuates with program brightness; dark areas tinged bluer; shiny screen can cause reflections in bright rooms; red frame isn't for everyone.
The bottom line: Although it delivers fine picture quality, except for a few flaws, the ultrathin Samsung UNB6000 series will appeal mainly to style seekers who don't mind spending more money."

Original Article

AT&T will cut iPhone costs by $10

2009-05-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Seriously? Ten little old dollars. That's ridiculous. Ten dollars is like nothing! haha AT&T itself does not have great plans. They're not as flexible and cheap than verizon or tmobile. The price cut would likely help make the iPhone, which now retails for $200 with a two-year service plan with AT&T, more appealing to more mainstream customers. I've been saying for quite some time that the biggest hurdle to widescale adoption of the iPhone or any other smartphone in the mainstream market is the high price tag of the service contracts.
Consumers have shown that they are willing to pay anywhere between $100 and $200 for a sophisticated smartphone device. But the monthly service charge, which starts at $69 for the iPhone, is much harder to swallow.
It puts the real cost of the iPhone 3G over the life of the two-year contract at a whopping $1,856, which includes the price of the 8GB phone and 24 months of the most basic iPhone voice and data plan. It doesn't include the activation fee or taxes and other fees associated with the account. For subscribers who need more voice minutes or unlimited texting, the price tag is even higher.

Original Article

MP3s!

2009-05-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that there are so many different kinds of mp3 players, but the ones that seems to stand out is the apple ipod and zune. But more apple ipod. haha I decided to look at more kinds of mp3's developed by different manufacturers. I think this is pretty handy because the apple ipod don't do this! haha this is very handy for people who love to exercise! "There's more than one way to make a wireless MP3 player, and building it directly into a set of headphones may seem like the easy way out, but it gets the job done. Plus, there are none of those audio-fidelity issues you might run into with technologies such as RF and Bluetooth, which is probably why Sony elected to take this route with its new W-Series Walkman. This 2GB MP3 player is built into a set of impressively small earbud-style headphones and sports a palatable price tag of just $69.
We've got to give props to Sony for the design of the W-Series Walkman, which is available in a choice of two colors (black or pink). Two rectangular audio modules--measuring roughly 2-inches long by 0.8-inch wide and 0.4-inch deep--attach to one another via a flexible, twisting neckband. It's the smallest all-in-one MP3 player/headphone we've ever seen, and it's impressively lightweight, as well (1.3 ounces). Of course, with any such device made specifically for active pursuits, a secure fit is a chief concern. Luckily, the W-Series Walkman is up for the task: we tested the player walking, jogging, and doing jumping jacks and found it quite capable of staying in place during all of these activities. Still, comfort is somewhat of a concern--the fact that the earbuds are integrated will no doubt cause issues for some, despite Sony's inclusion of three sizes of silicone eartips. "

Original Article

Oh Cameras

2009-04-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

My have we gone a long way from capturing the perfect moment have we? I am glad we have digital cameras yet I miss the old school polaroid! I found the cheapest digital camera (professional), it's called Casio Exilim EX-FH20 Digital Camera. And it ranges from $499.99 - $599.99. Yeah It's expensive, but it's cheap to the other cameras! Trust me on that. But here is what cnet had to say about it... "The Casio Exilim EX-FH20, like most all megazooms, is basically a puffed-up point-and-shoot camera. However, it's what Casio puffed it up with that sets it apart: the ability to shoot at 40 frames per second and 1,000fps video capture. In fact, these are really the only reasons to choose the FH20 over another megazoom. The camera can be a bit trying to operate, and its photo quality, even at its full 9-megapixel resolution, is just OK, leaning toward mediocre when you factor in the FH20's price tag. Unless you need the speed and the long lens more than you need great-looking photos, you'll probably want to pass on the FH20. "

Original Article

EARTH DAY COMING INTO AN EFFECT

2009-04-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy the fact that people are involved in helping out the environment! I see on Television channels that they are helping out as well, and that's great progess if you ask me. Since most of America watches t.v., that is a great pull in effect. I found this article on cnet.com

It's the 2010 Honda Insight. It seems like a really great car.
The good: The 2010 Honda Insight EX with navigation features excellent fuel economy and a hybrid power train that offers good torque and throttle response. Honda's satellite navigation system features one of the best voice-command systems in the price range and comes equipped with Bluetooth hands-free and USB/iPod connectivity.
The bad: The Insight's "me-too" styling too closely apes the Toyota Prius. Additionally, the Insight features less power and slightly lower fuel economy than the competition from Toyota. While better than most in this segment, Honda's DVD navigation system is beginning to show its age.
The bottom line: While the 2010 Honda Insight EX with navigation may not be as mileage-friendly as the Prius, it represents a much better value and is more fun to drive.

Original Article

Verizon? Getting the iPhone?

2009-04-20T10:29:00.001-07:00

Hmm, I guess the Voyager and the Blackberry storm didn't please Verizon at all with it's results that they would have probably wanted the iPhone. Yet, every phone company wants to distribute the iPhone!

A leading Apple blog posted a rumor Sunday that the iPhone — which is currently available in the United States only through AT&T Wireless — could be coming to Verizon, perhaps as early as January 2009.
Cleve Nettles, writing in 9 to 5 Mac, says “negotiations between Apple and Verizon are ongoing but they expect to hammer out agreements by the end of the year.”
According to a “tipster” whom Nettles says “seems to know way too much about Verizon-Apple politics,” an announcement that a deal has been struck could be made at Macworld 2009.
That would be big news for millions of would-be buyers who are either locked into their Verizon accounts or reluctant to switch to AT&T (formerly Cingular), believing that AT&T’s wireless network is less mature.
But beyond the word of this unnamed tipster, Nettles’ argument rests on some pretty slender evidence.
He cites Apple job postings for engineers with experience in EVDO and CDMA, the wireless standards used by Verizon (and, for that matter, many foreign carriers). But he acknowledges that these skills overlap with those needed to work with AT&T’s GSM-based technologies and “could mean absolutely nothing.”
He also quotes Apple COO Tim Cook’s remarks that Apple “wasn’t married to the one carrier/country model.” But Cook wasn’t necessarily talking about the U.S. market; in fact, Apple has already abandoned that model in several foreign countries.

Original Article

HP Mini 2140

2009-04-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am not a real huge fan of a pc anymore. But I really do like this cute little HP Mini. I got this from Cnet.com of course. They have like the best reviews! They are very thorough. Ok, let's get to talking about the HP. I hope this has great coverage when it comes to viruses? I hope windows has that fixed! Even though the HP Mini 1000 is only a few months old, Hewlett-Packard was actually an early player in the Netbook field. The company's business system side came up with the Mini-Note 2133 in spring 2008, with a solid, brushed-metal chassis and a nearly full-size keyboard. Unfortunately, this predated Intel's Atom CPU, and rather than using the Celeron processor that came with the very first Netbooks, HP went with an underpowered Via C7-M, which pretty much killed any chance it had of becoming a mainstream product.
Now that the plastic-clad, Atom-powered consumer version has become a hit, HP's business side is taking another crack at the Netbook market with a radically updated version, the $499 HP Mini 2140.
It keeps the aluminum construction and big keyboard, but updates the components to an Intel Atom CPU, and adds an accelerometer for the hard drive, and a full ExpressCard/54 slot--a Netbook first (Lenovo's S10 has a smaller Express Card/34 slot).

Original Article

Nissan EV-02

2009-04-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

I am really enjoying the fact that electric cars are 60% cleaner than fuel efficient cars. I wouldn't necessarily think this car is HOT, but it does help save the world and helps us get around at the same time. It's a cute little car that reminds me of the xB! Nissan is under pressure from government regulators to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050. While Perry stated that Nissan does have plans of bringing a hybrid vehicle to the market soon (potentially a plug-in), he also made it clear that Nissan views electric vehicles as the only way to meet emissions requirements. This is where the EV-02 comes in. The key, according to Perry, to making the promise of EV-02 a reality lies in the battery tech and the recharging infrastructure.
EV-02 uses a laminated lithium ion battery tech that crams twice the power and twice the range of more conventional lithium ion batteries into a package that's half the size and half the weight. The battery was developed by Nissan in partnership with semiconductor manufacturer NEC. Nissan will most likely use this same battery tech in its upcoming hybrid.

Original Article

Write on! Review

2009-04-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

I thought this was pretty cool for people who have roommates or live in a dorm or something. This is awesome. I don't necessarily put this under a electronics category, but I just thought it would be nice for a little change. haha I'm guessing this thing is very compact and convenient for most people. I love it! Here is what cnet had to say about this. (of course I always go to cnet, they have the best reviews out there!) Shared offices and dorm rooms are places where space is at a premium. Products that do double duty are a given, as are compact versions of important appliances. The Write Fridge from Haier meets both needs.
Its small size fits into tight spaces, and the integrated dry-erase board, included markers, and specially designed marker storage make it a truly useful addition to your room or office. Think about it: you can scribble threats ("Eat my Chinese food and die") or more practical notes ("Buy milk!!!") the moment you think of them, and you have a place where you know everyone will look.
As expected in a fridge this size, you'll get a half-width freezer compartment, a full-width slide-out shelf, and full- and half-width door storage. You can even fit 2-liter bottles inside and serve cold soda to a crowd.

Original Article

Acer Aspire One

2009-04-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

These things are becoming more popular by the minute. I'm not sure if it's the price or how small it is. You would figure that a regular laptop would be good enough to carry around, but these things are ultimately small! At least one person in my classes has this tiny little thing, so I decided to do a little more research on it! Here is what they had to say: Despite owning a huge chunk of the growing Netbook market, the popular Acer Aspire One has been saddled with a 9-inch screen, rather than the bigger 10-inch type we prefer. At long last, Acer now has a 10-inch model, the Aspire One AOD150. Even better, it's keeping the starting price at $349, which is about $50-$100 cheaper than similarly configured systems from other PC makers. The Aspire One series has been neither the best nor the worst Netbook out there, and Acer's market share to date has largely been based on its lower retail-price strategy.

See! It is very inexpensive! I could grab one right now if I wanted to. This is great for people who need a laptop, but can't afford one because of the economy!

The Macbook

2009-03-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

I recently just got a MacBook around last october and I'm in love with it! It's been a couple of months and it is still fast! There's a product summary on it, and that's what I love on CNET! haha The good: New aluminum construction looks good, feels solid; giant touch pad; attractive edge-to-edge glass on display; improved integrated graphics; backlit keyboard on some models; thinner than previous version.
The bad: Still no ExpressCard or SD-card slot; loses FireWire port; all-clicking touch pad is a bit awkward, at least initially; $1,299 now gets you a slower CPU than it did before; no matte-screen option.
The bottom line: Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces.
Specifications: Environmental & energy standards compliance: EPEAT Gold , EPA Energy Star ; Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (2.4 GHz) ; RAM installed: 2 GB DDR3 SDRAM ;

Original Article

Sony Vaio JS190J (silver)

2009-03-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Out of all the desktops, I thought this was the one that looked the most futuristic. haha I think that Sony is somewhat of a good brand when you first buy it, but afterwards, overtime the product gets slower (just like any ordinary PC). I guess this was supposed to run like the iMac. I like how this looks though. It doesn't take up a lot of space wherever you put it. Finally, a Windows-based all-in-one computer earns our admiration. We've seen new all-in-one PCs from Hewlett-Packard and Averatec this year, and Apple also refreshed its popular iMac. None of them deliver as much in the way of features and performance as Sony's new, $1,499 Vaio JS190J. A full-size desktop processor helps make the Vaio JS190J faster than comparable standard desktops (as well as the fastest all-in-one), and its combination of a 20-inch LCD and a Blu-ray drive deliver on the promise of the all-in-one desktop as a self-contained secondary home entertainment system. Throw in a refreshing lack of bloatware (yes, from Sony), and it becomes easy for us to recommend the Vaio JS190J to anyone looking for a powerful, midrange PC for work or for playing digital media.
The Vaio JS190J starts at $999, but the Blu-ray drive and other upgrades kick the price of our review unit up to $1,499. We're happy that someone is finally offering a sub-$1,000 all-in-one PC, but we also think our review unit is perhaps the best deal going in all-in-one PCs. You'll find the Vaio JS190 in black, silver, and light pink variants, and the box also includes a wired mouse and keyboard set, but no remote control.

Original Article

Logitech Harmony One Remote

2009-03-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

I'm sure all of you have many remotes in your house just for one room. For instance, your living room may have a TV remote, a satellite remote, a DVD remote, a fan/light remote, and the list goes on! haha Well I found this HIGH TECH remote that is named one of the top ten must haves on CNET. When I read about it, it seemed pretty nice! I enjoyed it. It has a screen and of course many buttons on it. It doesn't look too big in size, probably just how long it is. Width is not a problem! On top of that, the LCD screen is touch screen! Here is was CNET reviewed: For the past year or so, Logitech has been treading a bit of water with its line of well-regarded Harmony remotes. Sure, it made some incremental improvements--and even came out with higher-end tablet touch-screen model, the Harmony 1000. But part of the reason behind the lack of advancement seems to have been that Logitech's designers were focused on developing the product reviewed here, the Harmony One. If you think the moniker's a departure for a company used to putting out remotes with model numbers like 880, 890, and 720, it is. But clearly Logitech thinks so highly of its new remote that it's gone with a single number--as in this is The One, the ultimate universal remote. And so long as you don't mind paying the $250 or so it costs--or its lack of an RF option that would allow you to command components behind walls or doors--the Harmony One is arguably the best consumer remote control currently available.

Original Article

2009-03-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

cameras cameras cameras. basically everyone has a camera these days don't they?? and there so many different types of styles and brands it hard to just pick one you really like. i have a camera and i recently have been using it alot.. just different events have been popping up.. well one day i was in a car with a few of my friends and i took a picture of them and sent it to each of the, ( ohh this was on my camera phone) so i sent the pictures and like a day later one of them had uploaded it on to there myspace... i was looking at it and its crystal clear! seriously looks like i took it with a regular camera.. and i thought wow.. this camera is amazing.! ( i recently got a blackberry) and before my old camera phone as terrible.. didn't even have a flash( it was a sidekick slide). anyways. cameras and camera phones have come a long way haven't they??
especially if you cant even tell the difference between a picture taken with your camera or a picture taken on your phone.

i personally think this is amazing because if you don't have your camera on you.. then you have your phone and if your in an accident and need a clear shot.. these camera phones are soo sophisticated now that its perfectly clear. how convenient is that???
i love technology!

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Trendnet Wireless Camera - Retail

2009-03-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

My parents has had a survellience camera for awhile. I think it is a good product, but on the other hand it has gotten me in trouble a couple of times when I was younger. My mom could see who drops me off or who is picking up when I'm going out. That's what sucks about it. But other than that, I'm pretty much going to get one myself when I move in my own place. It is a great idea for someone to have when they feel like they aren't safe. I found this cool wireless camera that does the trick.

The TV-IP400W pan/tilt IP camera is a full-featured surveillance system that provides high quality video over a wireless network connection. Built-in CPU and Web Server allow the camera to function as a stand-alone device, allowing users to access the camera anywhere in the world by using a Web browser. Users can also move the camera remotely in almost any direction, scanning sensitive locations for intrusion, and zoom up to 4X. The IP Camera comes with a CMOS sensor to deliver clear and crisp images, and its powerful IPView software gives users enhanced security options, such as archiving streaming video straight to a computer's hard drive. IP View software can also monitor multiple cameras on a single screen, enable motion detection to trigger automatic recording, and send email alert notification. Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g supports Infrastructure and Ad-Hoc Modes, and WEP 64/128-bit Encryption (ASCII & HEX). Supports TCP/IP networking, SMTP e-mail, HTTP and other Internet related protocols, Web Configuration with Password Protection, and operation in mixed browers such as Internet Explorer (5.0 or above) or Netscape Navigator (6.0 or above).

Original Article

Review: The iPod Nano

2009-03-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

I've had the iPhone for awhile before I got rid of it. I never really had an iPod before that (I know I'm old fashioned). I would have really liked one, but never thought it was a necessity. I really need one now though! Maybe sooner or later I coudl get one. This iPod Nano is very sleek and more attractive than the ones before since it comes in different colors. I thought it was very easy to use and I loved the whole thing. The only thing that concerned me was whole thin it was. I was scared that I was going to drop it (like the iPhone).

The good: The fourth-generation iPod Nano is more attractive and colorful than its predecessor and includes Apple's new Genius playlist tool, a tilt sensor, and accessibility features for the visually impaired.
The bad: To use the new Nano, you must upgrade to Apple's iTunes 8 software with its laundry list of hardware requirements; the rounded screen invites glare; sound quality is only average.
The bottom line: The fourth-generation iPod Nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before committing.
Specifications: Device type: Digital player ; Flash memory installed: 16 GB ; Digital player supported digital audio standards: WAV , AIFF , Audible , MP3 , AAC , Apple Lossless

Original Article

Fanatec Porsche 911 Carrera Racing Wheel

2009-02-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I saw this invented awhile back. But look at it! it's a Porsche for crying out loud haha. This was made for videogamers who actually gets the real feel of racing and driving. I remember I always wanted something like this when I was a little kid but never got around to asking my mom because it probably was expensive. I seriously wonder how much this is since it's a Fanatec Porsche. haha I love the gear shift and everything. This whole piece of work is very fancy! Porsche has lived up to their name once again! haha I guess it gives you control of the car when you are playing racing your way through the game.

To get that extra feeling to the best car games you really need a steering wheel. With the help of Fanatec’s Porsche 911 Carrera Racing Wheel for PS3 and PC you will come as close to reality as you possible can. This will give you an incredible control of the car and add a lot of fun. After you have tried this racing wheel you will never be able to go back to using the mouse or keyboard for these kinds of games. The Fanatec racing wheel is not very expensive as you can see below, however not all game support the hardware yet. Not many people own anything with the Porsche badge on it and this cool racing wheel got it. If you want to experience authentic car racing experience this is the deal for you.

Original Article

2009-02-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

If i could have it my way i would have one remote for everything. haha i know what your thinking there is such thing as a universal remote. but still i want one for my dvd player, tv, my light switch and my radio. the reason i bring this up is because at home i have about 4 different remote controlers , 4! for one room and i hate it when i lose one and i only find all the other ones.. ( also on a side note it would amazing if there was a remote finder!) anyways back to losing the remote.. if i had one big one ( not too big) for everything life would ne alot easier.. im not typically a lazy person but sometimes i find myself just wanting to relax and when i do finally lay down on my bed i realize that the romote to the t.v is on the other side of the room and i have to get up and get it. then i lay back down and realize that i need mt light remote too!! so needless to say its a pain .

soo if your with me .. universal remotes are amazing i just wish i had one!!

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DTV Converter Box

2009-02-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of the DTV Conversion you probably don't need to worry about it, because you probably don't watch television. But if you do watch television, then you have heard of it. If you have heard of it, then you probably either have cable, HDTV, or the converter box. Orginally planned for February 17, 2009, the date for the mandatory conversions to HDTV digital broadcast has been moved to April 7, 2009. Unfortunately for me, I do not have cable and I don't have a HDTV. I had to resort to the converter box. I didn't have an opinion or any feelings at first when I got the box. It was just a necessary step so that I can watch television. Suprisingly, once I got the box hooked up, I was very happy with the results.

Once the converter box was hooked up to my tv, and the channels were programmed. I found my picture quality to be sooooo much better. Not only is my picture quality better, but I have much more channels than before. There is even a blockbuster movie channel coming soon on channel 5.2. Although there are times when signal fades are the picture gets a little fuzzy because it still uses attennae, I am overall happy with the converter box. I don't exactly remember which one I got, it's was one of the more expsensive ones, but it is well worth it if you don't have cable or a HDTV.

Among the list of channels I received, my favorite is probably the create channel which is on 58.3 and 28.2. The Ion channels is also pretty good, which sometimes aires movies. Ofcourse there are still those times when walk into a store like Costco and see the beautiful High Def televisions and I can't help but wish I had one. I'm sure anyone who has HDTV, which is probably most are happy with their purchase. As for me untill I have enough money to purchase a high quality, big screen HDTV, this converter box will suit me just fine.

Orginal article

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Fight Identity with Shredders

2009-02-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

Identity theft is a serious crime. If it's ever happened to you, it's not a great feeling. It's that feeling you get when you go to your car in the morning and you see that it's been broken into, or when you walk into your home from work only to find that it's been broken in and ransacked. You'll feel violated, angry and vulnerable. So prevent this terrible feeling from happening to you. Lock your car, club your car, take out valuables. As for your home, get an alarm system and if you can't then just pray for the best. And for your identity, you can protect this also. Protecting your identity is important because people who still your identity can use it to be many fraudelent activities such as apply for credit cards under your name and information. This can be devastating to your credit history.

Some tips I can give is to never give out your social security number unless you know exactly what it's for. Be especially wary of giving out personal information online or over the phone. If you're ever in doubt, don't be afraid to ask questions or speak to someone higher up such as manager or supervisor. Never ever sign any document unless you're sure of its contents. And maybe the most importat but easy to step to forget is to discard of personal information properly. Unfortunately, there are people who go through trash to find personal information, which they will use to commit identity theft.

In an article on fightidentitytheft.com. It discusses what you should shred and what you should not shred. They state that you should shred, "anything that has a signature, account number, social security number, or medical or legal information (plus credit offers)." They also give you a more complete list on the website, which I will link below. When in doubt if you should shred or not, I think it's always better safe than sorry. If you're going to throw something away, just shredd it. What does it hurt? You only have your identity to protect.

Orginial article

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Blackberry Bold Review

2009-02-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

I originally came from the iPhone for about 2 years and I just got over it! I needed some buttons in my life! haha So I decided to get the Blackberry Bold from AT&T. I was a little skeptical at first but I found it really easy to use! Before I bought it I looked on CNET's review on it. Here is what they had to say: It's been a good six months since Research in Motion first announced the RIM BlackBerry Bold (aka RIM BlackBerry 9000). Originally slated for a summer release on AT&T, the launch date kept getting pushed back...and back. Frustrated with the delays and wooed by other new smartphone releases, we moved on (and so did many of you) and nearly gave up on the Bold. However, now that we finally have it hand, the love affair has begun all over again.

The BlackBerry Bold delivers on a number of fronts. Its half-VGA display is one of the sharpest screens we've seen on a smartphone, which, combined with the stereo speakers, really boosts the multimedia experience. The Bold also ships with the latest BlackBerry operating system, new productivity applications, and support for HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. This is on top of all the great messaging capabilities. Of course, it's not perfect. The smartphone isn't the sleekest device on the block, and the Web browser could use more work. It's also not going to have the mass appeal of an Apple iPhone 3G, nor would we recommend it to the general consumer. With its feature set and strong e-mailing capabilities, the BlackBerry Bold is very much a business-centric smartphone, but what is offers mobile professionals is a premium device that can handle work and play. The RIM BlackBerry Bold will be available November 4 for a slightly pricey $299.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.

Original Article

2009-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

I hate it when my zune dies, and since i don't have a wall charger like for my phone i cant just plug it in and charge it. i have to wait until im at home and i plug the USB cord into my computer.

lets be honest.. this isn't convenient, especially when you really want to listen to music for example like in your car or on a long car ride.
and i know there's wall chargers out there.. but its just so hard to find one for my zune. i see ipod chargers everywhere!

so after going to store to store and not being able to find one i decided that i was gonna have to search online for one.
of course i wasnt shocked when i found one, cause you can basically find anything on the internet which is always wonderful.

anyways i found a wall charger a car charger.. and so many other zune accessories it was incredible. not to mention nothing the prices were amazing was well.. the car and wall charger was only like 7 dollars separate of course.
so if you have a zune and your having trouble finding something you need.. i recommend you check out the 1st links below.

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Are Juicers Worth The Money?

2009-02-14T17:01:00.001-08:00

Why do people use juicers? Well, mainly for the health benefits I assume. Juices of apples, carrots, celery...etc are great for you. You always hear about the significance of increasing fruits and vegetables into your diet. Making juice out of them is easy and very tasty. Often you don't even need to peel the item being juiced, you just wash then push it right through the juicer. My favorite thing to juice in apples, because their juice taste good with just about any other type of fruit or vegetable.

The thing with juicers is that you have to buy one that's right for you. Juicers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. I first bought a juicer for about $30-$40, and it worked fine. It was small but efficient and extracted a good amount of juice. My dad, being the over-enthusiastic person he is, convinced me to return that juicer and buy a $100 one. It was bigger and better looking,and probably a little stronger, but was so big that I didn't want to use it. It was too tedious to take out and use and clean, while my smaller one would have been perfect for me. Now I have a juicer sitting at home, not being used.

The bottomline is juicers are worth it. They add variety to your intake of fruits and vegetables and are relatively inexpensive. The only thing is, like rice cookers, you have to find the juicer that fits your lifestyle and personality. If you do decided to get a juicer you can find tons or recipes on the internet but here's one below for you to try out courtesy of championjuicer.com :

COCKTAIL DELICIOUS

2 apples, cored

3 carrots

1 stalk celery

Juice together in the order given.

ENJOY!

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Rice Cookers are Time Savers

2009-02-14T16:40:00.000-08:00

Have you ever watched the Rachel Ray 30 minute meals or Sara's Weeknight Meals? The basis for their shows is that for normal working people, it is hard to come home from work and quickly cook a quick and healthy meal. I like watching their shows because while they do give me some good ideas at times, most of the time, it's just amusing to watch and think that I could actually accomplish their "30 minute meals".

When I moved out to live by myself, one of the most useful cooking instruments that I bought was the rice cooker/veggie steamer. Although I don't use the veggie steamer that much, the rice cooker has save me a ton of time and effort. If you've ever cooked rice in a pan or pot, you would most likely agree that it isn't simple. You get rice stuck to the bottom, or the rice never comes our right. The rice cooker has allowed me to to cook a main dish while cooking my rice to perfection.

My rice cooker is the Aroma brand, I don't recommend it. I bought it for about $30, and can serve more than enough rice for me and my significant other. The downside is it still sticks rice to the bottom of the cooker. Despite this, I still love having a rice cooker. I like to have carb, protein and veggie for all of my meals and some days I get tired of pasta or I just don't have time to clean and cook potatoes. My rice cooker allows me time to cook up some protein and prepared some veggies while my rice is cooking. If you're looking into getting one, do some research and get one that is the right size and value for you.

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2009-02-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

Wired's Great Gadget Lab DIY Super Hero Suit Challenge

2009-02-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that most of you guys have seen the movie Iron Man. Now, LG (a large cell phone manufacturer) has made a phone based on the Iron Man. It has great features, and it looks very sleek. I really like this phone because it looks classy in many ways. I found this on gadgetmadness.com

Wired Magazine is giving away a gold-plated special edition LG Iron Man phone that's worth 2G's. There are only ten phones like this in existence, and the price for admission is this: send them "a pic of your finest superhero suit facsimile, be it Stark's Mark III or Banner’s purple pants."

Original Article

Sony Cyber Shot

2009-02-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

I have had my sony cyber shot for a couple of months now, and I love it! It is a very good quality camera. It comes in different colors of red, pink, black, silver, and more! Sony has been around for years and so far it is the best quality.

The Sony DSC-T300 offers excellent performance and an elegant, sophisticated design. It includes Face Detection technology to optimize focus, exposure and color for up to eight faces. It works great, it catches all the moments that you want it to catch.

The compact body houses 10.1-Megapixel resolution and a beautiful, wide 3.5" touch-screen LCD for easy operation. A Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens give you the power to get even closer to the action, a real benefit for distant landscape views and dramatic portraits. A huge 3.5" widescreen Clear Photo LCD Plus LCD display includes an anti-reflective coating that provides for excellent visibility to help you compose, view, and share photos with superb clarity and color reproduction, even in bright sunlight. Also there are different backgrounds that you can choose from to make the picture look even better!

With high sensitivity of ISO 3200, you can shoot effectively in low light without flash to preserve the mood, while the Sony Clear RAW Noise Reduction system helps suppress the color noise that can degrade low-light shots. Works great in sunlight and in the dark.

Projector Screens Great for Big Screen

2009-01-31T16:32:00.000-08:00

One time I went over to a friend's house and she was giving me a tour of her family's brand new house. It was quite impressive, two story, nicely decorated, with an impressively landscaped back yard complete with a refreshingly looking pool. But what I remember most clear that day was walking through the glass doors into the family room, where they were watching a movie on a relatively big projector screen. This was a completely new concept to me and I was in awe.

Although I do not yet have a home of my own, I let myself have some fun, and I dream about what type of entertainment system I would like for my own house. While LCDs and Plasmas have the spotlight lately because of the whole TV conversion thing, a home projector system is something you may consider if you're looking for a new type of home theatre system.

On www.wisegeek.com, it states that there are two types of home theatre projectors, film and digital. While film is harder to come by for the consumer, the quality of the picture is better. The digital home projector processes the image through a chip. You will also need something to project the image on, a projector screen. Projector screens range from a sheet you can hang up on your wall to a specialize projector screen. Once you complete your home theatre system, it can be quite expensive, but many would feel the price is worth it. A home theatre system will allow you a theatre-like movie experience in the comfort of your own home.

Original article
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Zune Good Alternative for iPod

2009-01-31T16:12:00.000-08:00

If you think iPods are the only great MP3 players out there you're mistaken. While ipod reputations are backed behind Apple, there are many good alternatives out there for mp3 players. Microsoft has introduced the Microsoft Zune which have been compared to the iPod and has received great reviews.

According to consumeresearch.com, the first Microsoft Zune did not compare well to the iPod, however, newer models have seemed to be rid of it's kinks and now the Microsoft Zune is on the consumer research's website as one of the "best reviewed"! According to professional reviewers, the Microsoft Zune has more features than the iPod, such as wireless synching and sharing.

While the Microsoft Zune is worth the money and consideration, this is by no means a suggestion that you should discard your iPod and run out and buy a Zune. The website makes the reminder, that if you already have an iPod and an extensive collection of music on your iTunes then the iPod is still a great player. This is only a reminder that there are other options and the Microsoft Zune is a serious one.

Original article
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Official Sony PS3 Bluetooth Headset

2009-01-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

I really want to check out this! I want to get one for my brother and this seems like a really cool bluetooth. It really looks up to date! Sony have officially unveiled their new PS3 Bluetooth headset which will not only be bundled with the up and coming SOCOM Confrontation but will also be made available as a stand-alone product and which, certainly from an aesthetic standpoint, certainly looks rather more appealing than the Bluetooth headset that previously came bundled with the Warhawk title. Offering compatibility with any game that supports in-game voice chat, the new PS3 Bluetooth headset – which Sony advise is a work in progress (meaning this may or may not be a faithful representation of the final article) - comes complete with integrated mute button and USB docking cradle which will charge the device though, at the time of writing, no details concerning battery life or charge times have been made available.

No word at this juncture concerning unit pricing either as part of the SOCOM Confrontation bundle or as a standalone purchase.

Original Article

best iPod Touch Protectors

2009-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

We all know if we have something expensive, we want to protect it from any harm right? For example: scratches and dents. Yeah you can find almost any kind of cover for any phone or music device. But then you have to think will it really protect my device? Best Screen Protection: ZAGG invisibleSHIELD
The new iPod Touch 2G has one issue that will irk the OCD Type-A personality in all of us - an easily scratchable smooth reflective body. As a matter of fact, there are some protective cases out there that will actually scratch the reflective body of the Touch 2G! This is where the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD system comes in. Advertised as a military grade, scratch-proof skin that covers the entire surface of the iPod Touch, invisibleSHIELD is our choice for screen & body protection for the iTouch 2G. Installation of this skin requires some patience but is fairly simple.

A few things we learned while installing our invisibleSHIELD: always keep your fingers wet with the included spray, use a hair dryer on cool setting to dry corner pieces more quickly, and remember that "perfect is the enemy of good." You will want to set aside 15 minutes to install properly, and don't rush. You can always keep wetting the shields and your fingers with the included spray until your shield is lined up correctly. If you have bubbles under your shield that won't squeegee out, simple lift the shield with wetted fingers and start again.

Best Protective Case: Speck PixelSkin
Now that your iPod Touch is properly shielded head-to-toe from scratches, you will want something to provide some extra cushion protection. This is where we chose the Speck PixelSkin for iPod touch 2G. Speck has a long history of making oversized rubber cases with extra cushion protection and we feel they really hit the mark with their PixelSkin line. Prior Speck cases we've used with the iPod Nano and Zune 30GB were hard to install and remove, however their new PixelSkin line is super simple to install and remove and adds just the right amount of bumper without adding significant bulk or weight. (They also come in other colors than black, like blue and red and "clear" - if clear's a color.)

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Rear Observation System: Making Driving Easier

2009-01-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

When I was first learning to drive, backing up was one of my most difficult task. "Don't go to fast! Don't go to slow!" My dad was probably just as scared as I was. While I attempt to manuver my car backwards, he threw criticism after critism, "Keep you eye on the back. But use your side mirrors also." Man...it was tough. Even during my driving test I was knocked off points because I didn't back up correctly. I remember in highschool, one of my classmates got in her first accident. She backed up her car from the driveway, into the street and right into another car. I've had my liscense for nearly 8 years now, and I still have a hard time looking behind me to back up my car.

I mean, it's akward, you have to twist your body, turn your head and strain your eyes to make sure the path is clear, all the while keeping your eyes on the side and rear view mirrors AND the front of your car to make sure you don't hit anything. Fortunately for us, technology has made it easier to back up and driving less hazardous. Audiovox has developed a product called, "Rear Observation System." Although it came out in 2004, I'm sure there are many people out there who have not heard of this item yet. This could be the answer to many people's driving fears and could also be great prevention tool for accidents.

Audiovox has introduce a rear observation system with LCD screens. It allows you to see in clear color images right in front you, while still providing the ability to use your rear view mirror if needed. In a statement by Audiovox, Melvin Clapman of public relationship states, "Rear observation gives the driver peace of mind." It can prevent a situation everyone dreads and hopes to avoid. Leaving the mall, grocery, school, work, backing out our cars and suddenly our lives are disrupted by terrible accident.

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BBQ Thermostat- oh so important.

2009-01-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

So maybe in the middle of January it's a little too early to talk about Bar-b-ques...or is it? As far as I'm concern, it's never too early to talk about bbqs. BBQs are great! There's family, friends, and ofcourse the food...Ohhh the food. But sometimes the food is the most complicated and troublesome part of the day. Because BBQing requires such high heat, your results are sometimes burnt crispy on the outside and disgustingly rare on the inside.

Watching food related and cooking shows are probably my most favorite past-time, and these shows have taught me a valuable lesson. With the right tools, most anyone can be a decent of not good cook. So among the many invaluable tools required to make a decent meal, a thermomter is one that I have seen cooks use and discussed over and over again. There's candy thermometers, meat thermometers, and ones for frying also.

So why so important? Well, thermometers can help maintain the consistency of foods cook. They also are indication of doness on meats which can help prevent food borne bacteria and illness. Ever heard of Salmonella? Yea, not so pleasant. It is better to just use a reliable thermometer than gamble with your health. Using a a good thermometer to get your bbq right will save you the trouble of moving your meats prematurely and will also save you time and energy. Do your research and find out what's out there. I'm telling you, invest in a good thermometer for your bbq, and enjoy your bbqs even more!

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MSI BK100 Foldable Universal Bluetooth Keyboard

2009-01-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

I thought that this was a pretty good idea. I know they have something like this for the iPhone. Indeed it is great for traveling! (= This does look like it's fit for someone who is in the business field or something close to that. haha It's also a really good price too. I think that it's reasonable (=

If you’re one who travels a whole lot and do not want to tote around a large notebook, chances are the netbook’s keyboard will take some getting used to. Brando is more than eager to help you out here with the MSI BK100 Foldable Universal Bluetooth Keyboard. This low keycap notebook keyboard comes with just 65 keys which doesn’t sound like much, but it’ll do the job pretty well. It operates on the 2.40GHz and 2.4835GHz frequencies across 79 channels, ensuring you’ll be able to use it no matter how many people there are in the room who’re Bluetoothing at the same time. Powered by a couple of AAA batteries, the MSI BK100 Foldable Universal Bluetooth Keyboard’s greatest strength is its ability to fold up into something that’s super compact. Not too sure if some people are willing to pay 10% of a netbook’s price to bring this one home though at $54 a pop.

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Nissan Offers Electric Car in 2010

2009-01-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

I think that Nissan is a great Car company who really cares for their customers. I recently have a Nissan sentra 08 and Nissan workers help me out a lot. They are friendly and they always give me a complimentary car wash (=. haha While Honda and Toyota prepare to battle for hybrid supremacy, Nissan has decided to simply skip that step and become the first major automaker to sell a mainstream electric car.

The AP reports, "Nissan showed on Wednesday a spiffy electric car packed with a battery developed by the Japanese automaker to deliver more power than the type common in today's hybrids. The electric vehicle, set for sale in 2010, carried a 300 kilogram (660 pounds) lithium-ion battery and still zipped around a Nissan Motor Co. test course, accelerating more quickly than comparable gas-engine cars."

We have no idea, however, what the production car will look like. The model shown to the press was a Nissan Cube -- a small wagon resembling a Scion xB that Nissan hopes to bring to the U.S. market in 2010. But the automaker said in a press release, "The production vehicle to be introduced in 2010 will have a unique body style and is not based on any existing Nissan model."

Edmunds Inside Line adds, "Details such as cruising range are yet to be determined." While automakers often release new technologies in Asian or European markets first and bring them to the U.S. several years later, we may get Nissan's electric car early. "The Nissan electric vehicle is set to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in 2010 and globally by 2012."

That puts it in direct competition with the next-generation Toyota Prius, and Chevy's hybrid Volt.

For auto junkies, the biggest surprise in the debut was the sight of a working lithium-ion battery. The Washington Post explains, "Better known as the energy source of choice for most laptop computers, cell phones and other portable electronic gadgets, lithium ion batteries are now being eyed by the automotive industry for use in vehicles." While many manufacturers are believed to be developing lithium-ion cells, they have proven notoriously difficult to tame. Built large enough to power a car, they tend to overheat. Nissan, however, says it has developed a new series of li-ion cells that are nearly ready for production. This new battery is constructed of "laminated cells that are stacked on top of each other inside batteries." The cells "are just a few millimeters thick," enabling the automaker to build batteries of varying sizes and capacities easily. "The laminated batteries also run cooler so they are much less likely to overheat."

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Apple's New Store in Melbourne

2009-01-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Apple is already a huge company. They wanted to expand their horizons by opening another great store in Melbourne. I never would have expected it to look like this though. I was shocked (not in a bad way) when I first saw the pictures.

Apple is expanding their store all around the world in order to keep up with Microsoft. Now they will soon open a new, modern and stylish Apple store in Melbourne Australia. This new store is part of a $200 million redevelopment proposal in Melbourne,Australia. The store features stylish glass atrium ceiling, and will be adjacent to a hotel and shopping complex. According to the design documents, this new cubed-style Apple store will consume the largest chunk of place in the retail plaza and is reminiscent of the company’s flagship location in San Fransisco. If this development proposal get approved , it will be the second Apple store in Melbourne. Watch more of the Apple Store pic after the break.

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World's Smallest Camcorder

2009-01-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that there are millions of camcorders out there, but this one claims that panasonic launched the world's smallest camcorder. I'm pretty sure that Japan made probably the smallest camcorder, because they make EVERYTHING SMALL! I've seen their cell phones as small as a "tamagutchi" (I think that's how you spell it haha). There is no price on this though... yet! We all just have to wait.

When Camcorder joins our daily life, capture all our precious moments, even company us traveling around the world however because of the size of the oldies camcorder which was big, we got trouble in taking care of it. However now, Panasonic launched SDR-S10 “The World Smallest Camcorder” measures 1.2 x 2.5 x 4.5 inches, 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD. With the ability to record on SD/SDHC format, Panasonic reveal that a 4GB SDHC memory card will allows 100 minutes recording time whereas the 2GB SDHC memory card will allows 50 minutes recording time. SDR-S10 designed in a stylish look, easy shooting that allows you to shoot your precious moment comfortably in the palm of your hand. Watch the stunning pic of the smalles camcorder after the break.

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GPD Child Locator Watch

2009-01-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

I remember writing an article about cell phones and how parents could track their children through their cell phone. I thought that was pretty much invading their privacy. I mean this could be good if you are going to the park or somewhere where it is easy for someone to take a child. But never for older kids. I think that they would feel trapped or imprisoned. On occasion as a parent you get stuck in situations where you’re more worried than usual about keeping track of your children. Well Lok8u is releasing a gadget to help you out in such situations. It’s a set of watches that incorporate GPS, so that you never lose track of your little ones. Likely this won’t be ideal once your kids get a fashion sense of their own, but it will work for at least the younger kids. That is unless you can pitch the watch to them in a way that they won’t mind that it’s a bit on the unfashionable side.

Hopefully you don’t always have to be wearing the watch either, because even the adult version is a bit unattractive. I’m not sure specifically what situation would make you want your kids housed with a GPS unit. However, the watch is an interesting concept. It also has a handy function that lets you know when the watch has been removed, either by your child or someone else. Besides being not so attractive, this is a bit expensive. You can pick up the pair for £149.99 or about $228.

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