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samsung-p2370l-23+inch-lcd-display-led-backlight-great-design-a-steal-for-400

2009-01-14T09:45:00.000-08:00

We know that Samsung makes a fine LCD, whether it be a computer display or an HDTV, and this new P2370L looks no different: LED backlight, 16.5mm-thin, 1080p resolution, all for $400.

The only thing missing is HDMI, but in this package, that's everything you can get in Apple's notoriously overpriced displays and more for less than half the 24-inch LED Cinema's $900 price tag, albeit without the built-in webcam or speakers. Release has no size, but we are assuming 23-inches here from the model designation.

Samsung Launches Super-Thin LED Monitor as Part of Its “Touch of Color” Family for Optimal Viewing

The P2370L is a High-End Display Delivering More Vibrant Color and Eco-Friendly Features in an Ultra-Thin, 16.5mm Footprint
2009 International CES

LAS VEGAS—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, the number one monitor brand in the world, announced today the addition of a super-thin LED monitor to its “Touch of Color” (ToC™) family – the P2370L. This new high-end, model has a Light Emitting Diode Back Light Unit (LED BLU), instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) found in standard LCD displays, and reproduces more vibrant color and higher contrast ratios than other monitors. With its sophistication-meets-high technology form factor, the P2370L display will ship in late first quarter with an MSRP of $399.

The monitor’s ToC design technology has an ultra-thin wrapper of just 16.5mm (0.65-inches) and is a great fit for any home or office environment, helping to maximize desktop real estate and minimize its physical and carbon footprint reduced. Key eco-friendly benefits of the P2370L model include LED fluorescent lamps that do not contain harmful elements such as mercury or lead, consumption of 30% less energy and a longer life than a standard CCFL backlit unit. In addition, the ToC manufacturing process eliminates harmful paints and sprays to enhance the recyclability of the entire monitor.

“As one would expect from Samsung, the P2370L represents the pinnacle of premium display craftsmanship as a high-end monitor that is sophisticated in not only appearance, but in the quality and performance it offers and in how it impacts the environment,” said R.A Atanus, Vice President of Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics’ Information Technology Division. “This monitor is truly a leadership product that will further solidify Samsung’s position as the foremost authority in the design, engineering and performance of displays worldwide.”

The P2370L uses white LEDs and has a ultra-high contrast ratio of 2M:1. The monitor also has an ultra fast 2ms (GTG) video response time and offers a 1080p full-HD experience.

The P2370L display’s transparent, crystal-like, bezel frame has blue gradation that gives it a glass-like appearance, and helps to reduce the reflection of light to decrease glare. The model also has a unique glass stand neck that gives the illusion that the monitor is floating. It is also equipped with Samsung’s dual-injection technology that lends it a smooth, finished appearance without any screws or joints.

The P2370L is designed so that there are no obtrusive buttons on the front or sides on the panel. Instead, each display features Samsung’s unique Startlight Touch Controls which integrate the On Screen Display (OSD) buttons into the bezel for a seamless look and feel.

P2370L LED BLU Monitor

* White LEDs
* Ultra-thin, 16.5mm design
* Ultra-high contrast ratio of 2M:1
* Ultra fast 2ms (GTG) video response time
* DVI-I Input
* Offers a 1080p full-HD experience
* Touch of Color” (ToC™) technology
* Crystal-like bezel frame to help reduce glare
* Swivel stand for optimal screen positioning
* Starlight Touch Controls

All monitors are available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, which can be located by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG or by visiting www.samsung.com. Samsung Power Partners receive special promotions, lead referrals, training and technical support, as well as collateral and marketing materials. To find out more about becoming a Samsung Power Partner, visit www.samsungpartner.com

microsofts-first-windows-7-beta-patch-fixes-mp3-bug

2009-01-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has issued it's first patch for the Windows 7 beta—a fix that focuses on correcting a flaw that shaves several seconds off edited MP3s.

Up until now, this patch had to be found and installed manually—but if you missed it, a recent Microsoft patch article notes that it may be possible to restore any corrupted MP3 files by right-clicking into "Properties" and clicking "Restore" in the "Previous Versions" tab. Even so, its a good idea to back up all of your MP3 files before doing an upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. [Computerworld]

Sony's Complete New Line of 70+ Products Announced at CES

2009-01-12T06:08:00.001-08:00

Just how many new products does a company like Sony announce just at CES? Over 70. That's 18 different models in camcorders alone, but if you enjoy punishing your brain, read on for the deluge.

NEW PRODUCTS

VAIO Notebook

VAIO® P Series Lifestyle PC

Currently available for pre-orders at www.sony.com/pr/pseries and at select retailers next month for about $900

* Chic, compact design measuring about the length of a business envelope and weighing 1.4 pounds
* Integrated wireless WAN, LAN, and Bluetooth® technologies, making it easy and efficient to connect wirelessly
* Built-in GPS technology for navigating even the most unfamiliar places— no internet connection required
* High-resolution 8-inch ultra-wide LCD for viewing entire web pages on one screen— no horizontal scrolling necessary
* Available in five fashion-forward colors including garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black

Television

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-52XBR-lcd-hdtv-reviewed

Available this spring

* 52-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Live Color Creation featuring WCG-CCFL
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-46XBR9

Available this spring

* 46-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Live Color Creation featuring WCG-CCFL
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-40XBR9

Available this spring

* 40-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Live Color Creation featuring WCG-CCFL
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-32XBR9

Available this spring

* 32-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo and music player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-52Z5100

Available this spring

* 52-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-46Z5100

Available this spring

* 46-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-40Z5100

Available this spring

* 40-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 240Hz motion compensation technology
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* Ethernet network capable
* Integrated BRAVIA® Internet Video
* BRAVIA® Widgets enabled
* DLNA and USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 3
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-52VE5

Available this summer

* 52-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Eco-design with outstanding energy efficiency
* High Efficiency HCFL backlight reducing power use by almost 40 percent compared to previous Sony LCD HDTVs
* Zero-watt standby power switch
* Presence sensor that turns off TV when user forgets
* Light sensor with dynamic backlight control
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo and music player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-46VE5

Available this summer

* 46-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Eco-design with outstanding energy efficiency
* High Efficiency HCFL backlight reducing power use by almost 40 percent compared to previous Sony LCD HDTVs
* Zero-watt standby power switch
* Presence sensor that turns off TV when user forgets
* Light sensor with dynamic backlight control
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo and music player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-40VE5

Available this summer

* 40-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Eco-design with outstanding energy efficiency
* High Efficiency HCFL backlight reducing power use by almost 40 percent compared to previous Sony LCD HDTVs
* Zero-watt standby power switch
* Presence sensor that turns off TV when user forgets
* Light sensor with dynamic backlight control
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo and music player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-52V5100

Available this spring

* 52-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-46V5100

Available this spring

* 46-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-40V5100

Available this spring

* 40-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Motionflow™ 120Hz motion compensation technology
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-52S5100

Available this spring

* 52-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-46S5100

Available this spring

* 46-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-40S5100

Available this spring

* 40-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) flat screen LCD HDTV
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* USB photo, music and video player
* BRAVIA Engine™ 2
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-32L5000

Available this spring

* 32-inch 720p flat screen LCD HDTV
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Sony BRAVIA® KDL-26L5000

Available this spring

* 26-inch 720p flat screen LCD HDTV
* Energy Star 3.0 compliant
* BRAVIA® Link compatible
* BRAVIA® Sync (HDMI CEC)

Digital Cameras

Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-G3 Digital Camera

Available in January for about $500

* 10MP / 3.5” wide touch panel LCD / 4x Carl Zeiss® optical zoom lens
* Advanced camera features: Face Detection, Smile Shutter™ technology and Optical Steady shot
* Great communication device: upload and share images on the go. With Wi-Fi capability and Easy Upload Home Page, connect at home or to any public hotspot and easily upload the images on your camera
* Easily upload to popular photo and video sharing sites. View all images posted on photo sharing sites
* Limited web browsing capability allows to connect to a public hotspot even if terms and conditions or payment is needed, like using a PC
* Portable photo album holds hundreds of pictures and allows easy management and sharing

Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-S950 Digital Camera

Shipping in March for about $130

* 10MP / 2.7” LCD / 4x optical zoom
* Face Detection technology identifies eight faces and adjust focus and exposure
* Steady Shot™ image stabilization and High ISO to prevent blur
* 7 scenes modes

Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-W220 Digital Camera

Shipping in March for about $190

* 12MP / 2.7” LCD / 4x Carl Zeiss® optical zoom lens
* Face Detection and Smile Shutter™ technology capture faces naturally and smile the moment it happens
* Optical Steady Shot™ image stabilization to prevent blur from camera shake
* Intelligent Scene Recognition detects five scenes and adjust camera settings
* Sharing features include HD Output to view in HDTV, and PMB software for PC to manage and share images

Digital Photo Frames

Sony DPF-X1000 Digital Photo Frame

Available in March for about $300

* 10-inch digital photo frame with SVGA (800x480 pixels) resolution LCD screen, 15:9 aspect ratio
* 2GB of internal memory to store up to 4,000 photos
* HDMI output for viewing photos in high definition on an HDTV
* Alarm clock feature
* Auto dimmer automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on time of day
* Calendar or clock can be viewed in different slide show modes, including scrapbooking
* Automatically corrects the white balance in digital photos to provide the best photo quality
* Bluetooth® ready for importing images wirelessly from other devices with Bluetooth capability (required optional Bluetooth adaptor)
* Supports most flash memory cards and Compact Flash

Sony DPF-V1000 Digital Photo Frame

Available in March for about $250

* 10-inch digital photo frame with SVGA (800x480 pixels) resolution LCD screen, 15:9 aspect ratio
* 1GB of internal memory to store up to 2,000 photos
* HDMI output for viewing photos in high definition on an HDTV
* Alarm clock feature
* Auto dimmer automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on time of day
* Calendar or clock can be viewed in different slide show modes, including scrapbooking
* Automatically corrects the white balance in digital photos to provide the best photo quality
* Bluetooth® ready for importing images wirelessly from other devices with Bluetooth capability (required optional Bluetooth adaptor)
* Supports most flash memory cards and Compact Flash

Sony DPF-D92 Digital Photo Frame

Pricing and availability will be announced later this year

* 9-inch digital photo frame with VGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution LCD screen, 15:9 aspect ratio

* 1GB of internal memory to store up to 2,000 photos
* Alarm clock feature
* Calendar or clock can be viewed in different slide show modes
* Supports most flash memory cards and Compact Flash
* Bluetooth® ready for importing images wirelessly from other devices with Bluetooth capability(required optional Bluetooth adaptor)

Sony DPF-D82 Digital Photo Frame

Pricing and availability will be announced later this year

* 8-inch digital photo frame with VGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution LCD screen, 15:9 aspect ratio
* 1GB of internal memory to store up to 2,000 photos
* Alarm clock feature

* Calendar or clock can be viewed in different slide show modes

* Supports most flash memory cards and Compact Flash
* Bluetooth® ready for importing images wirelessly from other devices with Bluetooth capability(required optional Bluetooth adaptor)

Camcorders

Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $1500

* Full 1920x1080 high-definition video recording and 12-megapixel still image capture
* Large capacity 240GB hard drive holds up to 101 hours of HD video (LP mode)
* New back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor improves sensitivity in low light conditions

* Photo and video geo-tagging using built-in GPS receiver and NAVTEQ® digital maps

* Improved Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
* Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control

Sony HDR-XR500V 120GB High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $1300

* Full 1920x1080 high-definition video recording and 12-megapixel still image capture
* Large capacity 120GB hard drive holds up to 46 hours of HD video (LP mode)
* New back-illuminated Exmor R™ CMOS sensor improves sensitivity in low light conditions

* Improved Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
* Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control

Sony HDR-XR200V 120GB High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $1000

* Full 1920x1080 high-definition video recording and 4-megapixel still image capture
* Large capacity 120GB hard drive holds up to 46 hours of HD video (LP mode)

* Photo and video geo-tagging using built-in GPS receiver and NAVTEG® digital maps

* Improved Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
* Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control
* 15x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Sonnar® T* zoom lens

Sony HDR-XR100 80GB High-Definition Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $750

* Full 1920x1080 high-definition video recording and 4-megapixel still image capture
* Large capacity 80GB hard drive holds up to 30 hours of HD video (LP mode)
* Improved Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
* Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control
* 10x optical Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® zoom lens
* Records in Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound with built-in zoom microphone for clear recording of subjects

Sony DCR-SR87 80GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in February for about $500

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and built-in 80GB hard drive, which can hold up to 84 hours of video (LP mode)
* 1-megapixel CCD imager for excellent video and 1-megapixel photos
* 25x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* Records in Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound with built-in zoom microphone for clear recording of subjects
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen

Sony DCR-SR67 80GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in February for about $450

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and built-in 80GB hard drive, which can hold up to 84 hours of video (LP mode)
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* Records in Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound with built-in zoom microphone for clear recording of subjects
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen

Sony DCR-SR47 60GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

Available in February for about $400

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and built-in 60GB hard drive, which can hold up to 41 hours of video (LP mode)
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen
* Available in three colors including red, blue and silver

Sony HDR-CX100 High-Definition Flash Memory Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $600

* Full 1920x1080 high-definition video recording and 4-megapixel still image capture
* 8GB embedded memory plus expandable storage capacity via Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media
* Ultra-compact design in three colors including red, black and silver
* Smile Shutter™ automatically takes photos when subject smiles, even while shooting HD video
* Face detection technology recognizes up to eight faces and automatically corrects focus, exposure and color control
* 10x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos

Sony DCR-SX60 16GB Flash Memory Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $370

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and 16GB embedded memory, which can hold up to 10 hours of video (LP mode)
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen

Sony DCR-SX41 8GB Flash Memory Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $300

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and 8GB embedded memory, which can hold up to 5 hours of video (LP mode)
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen

Sony DCR-SX40 4GB Flash Memory Handycam® Camcorder

Available in March for about $270

* Hybrid movie recording on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and 4GB embedded memory
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens
* Direct connection with DVDirect® Express DVD writer (sold separately) for easy memory archival and playback
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen
* Available in color variations including red, blue and silver

Sony DCR-DVD850 DVD Handycam® Camcorder

Available in February for about $430

* “Hybrid Plus” recording on three separate media including 16GB of internal memory (more than 10 hours of video in LP mode), Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and 3-inch DVD disc
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens with Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen
* Records in Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound with built-in zoom microphone for clear recording of subjects

Sony DCR-DVD650 DVD Handycam® Camcorder

Available in February for about $300

* Hybrid movie recording options on Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and 3-inch DVD disc
* 60x optical Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® zoom lens
* Steady Shot® stabilization for smooth video and photos
* 2.7-inch wide, touch panel LCD screen

Sony MHS-CM1 Webbie HD MP4 Camera

Available now for about $200

* Captures high-definition MPEG-4 video and 5-megapixel photos for easy transfer to the computer
* Optical 5x zoom lens gets you close to the action without sacrificing picture quality
* Equipped with PMB Portable software for quick content upload to popular video and photo sharing websites
* Slim horizontal body with 2.5-inch LCD screen that swivels up to 270 degrees
* Expandable storage capacity via Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media
* Available in three fashionable colors including eggplant, orange and silver

Sony MHS-pM1 Webbie HD MP4 Camera

Available in April for about $170

* Captures high-definition MPEG-4 video and 5-megapixel photos for easy transfer to the computer
* Vertical 4-ounce body slips easily into a pocket or purse so it can be taken anywhere
* Equipped with PMB Portable software for quick content upload to popular video and photo sharing websites
* Rotating swivel lens instantly powers device and makes it easy to self-record
* Expandable storage capacity via Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media
* Available in three fashionable colors including eggplant, orange and silver

Camcorder Accessories

Sony ECM-HW2 Bluetooth Microphone

Available in February for about $230

* Record audio up to 300 feet away from the camcorder
* Microphone unit and receiver unit are both equipped with a headphone jack for two-way communication between subject and camcorder operator
* Ability to record both subject and camcorder operator voices or subject voice only
* Compatible with all Handycam® camcorders with Active Interface Shoe

Sony GPS-CS3KA GPS Unit

Available in March for about $150

* Equipped with GPS IC for effortless geo-tagging while capturing videos and photos
* Long battery life provides up to 15 hours on one AA battery
* LCD display shows current position, GPS signal strength, battery life and clock display
* Built-in Memory Stick™ and SD™ card slot for simple photo data synchronization with your digital imaging devices
* Supplied Picture Motion Browser software offers easy upload to online map album services

Sony LCS-CMA case for Webbie HD MHS-CM1

Available now for about $20 in black, orange and purple

* Designed color case to match Webbie HD MHS-CM1 camera
* Sporty design
* Measures 2 3/8 x 5 1/8 x 3 3/8inches
* Includes adjustable velcro strap

Sony LCS-CSVC case for Webbie HD MHS-PM1

Available now for about $20 in black, pink, blue, silver, orange and purple

* Designed color case to match Webbie HD MHS-PM1 camera
* Sporty design
* Measures 3 1/4 x 4 3/4 x 1 1/8 inches
* Includes carabineer

DVDirect Recorder

Sony VRD-MC10 DVDirect® Recorder

Available in March for about $300

* Transfers home videos and digital photos to DVD quickly and easily – without a PC
* Transfers AVCHD video to disc from Sony Handycam® camcorders, playable in Blu-ray Disc™ players
* Digital Video (DV), S-Video, Composite Video, and Analog L/R stereo inputs
* Handycam USB Input for Sony HDD/DVD/Memory Stick Handycam camcorders only
* Memory card slots for Memory Stick Duo™, Multi card slot (Memory Stick™/Pro, SD Memory Card, xD Picture Card™) and Compact Flash
* First DVDirect model with outputs for connecting to TV via HDMI, Component, or Composite Video to playback DVDs created by VRD-MC10

Sony VRD-P1 DVDirect® Express Recorder

Available in January for about $150

* Transfers home videos from compatible Handycam® camcorders to DVD quickly and easily – without a PC
* Compatible only with new Sony Handycam® camcorders DCR-SR47, DCR-SR67, DCR-SR87, DCR-SX40, DCR-SX41, DCR-SX60
* Transfers standard definition video to DVD; playable in most DVD players
* Built-in USB cable for connecting to Handycam camcorder and is USB bus powered; no AC adapter
* Can be used to playback DVDs when connected to TV via the Handycam camcorder

Personal Audio and Audio Accessories

Sony W-series Walkman® MP3 player; NWZ-W202 (2G)

Available in April for about $70 in black or pink

* Unique cord-free design integrates digital music player functionality within an active headphone solution that is compact, light weight and comfortable
* New ”ZAPPIN” function with Jog Dial Operation for easy song search
* Superior Sound Quality with 13.5mm EX Headphones
* Multi audio codec supports security-enhanced Windows Media Audio (WMA), as well as non-secure AAC, WMT and MP3 music formats
* Quick charge: 30 minutes to fully charge battery for over 12 hours of battery life

Sony X Series Walkman® video MP3 player; NWZ-X1051 (16GB) and NWZ-X1061 (32GB) Available in early summer in black, price TBD

* High quality 3” wide OLED touch screen display（WQVGA)
* Superior sound quality utilizing 13.5mm EX Headphones and Sony’s Digital Clear Audio Technologies: Digital Amplifier ”S-Master,” Digital Noise Canceling and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE)
* Touch panel operation with hybrid button system
* Integrated WiFi delivers content from internet and other services including Podcast auto download, YouTube™ Streaming and Music Meta Link
* FM and Multi Audio/Video Codec support for MP3/WMA/AAC/L-PCM and AVC(H.264/AVC)/MPEG-4/WMV DRM

Sony Extra Bass Headphones MDRXB300

Available in February for about $50 in black

* 30mm XB diaphragm driver units for Powerful Bass
* Frequency response: 5-22,000 Hz
* Sensibility: 100dB/mW
* Power handling capacity: 1500mW
* Over the head, on-the-ear wearing style (supra-aural closed) with king size ear cushion (diameter: 3.1”, thickness: 1.2”) and 1.2m flat cord

Sony Extra Bass Headphones MDRXB500

Available in February for about $80 in black

* 40mm XB diaphragm driver units for Dynamic Deep Bass
* Frequency response: 4-25,000 Hz
* Sensibility: 104dB/mW
* Power handling capacity: 1500mW
* Over the head, around-the-ear wearing style (circum-aural closed) with king size ear cushion (diameter: 3.7”, thickness: 1.8”), 1.2m flat cord and carrying pouch

Sony Extra Bass Headphones MDRXB700

Available in February for about $130 in black

* 50mm XB diaphragm driver units for Big Booming Bass
* Frequency response: 3-30,000 Hz
* Sensibility: 106dB/mW
* Power handling capacity: 3000mW
* Over the head, around-the-ear wearing style (circum-aural closed) with king size ear cushion (diameter: 4.3”, thickness: 2.0”), 1.2m flat cord and carrying pouch

Sony Extra Bass Headphones MDRXB20EX

Available in February for about $40 in black

* 9mm high sensitivity driver units for Powerful Bass
* Frequency response: 5-24,000 Hz
* Sensibility: 103dB/mW
* Power handling capacity: 100mW
* Angle-structure style, hybrid silicone earbuds (S,M,L) with 1.2m flat cord and carrying pouch

Sony Extra Bass Headphones MDRXB40EX

Available in February for about $60 in black

* 13.5mm high sensitivity driver units for Booming Bass
* Frequency response: 4-24,000 Hz
* Sensibility: 105dB/mW
* Power handling capacity: 100mW
* Vertical in-the-ear style, hybrid silicone earbuds (S,M,L) with 1.2m flat cord and carrying pouch

Sony PC Speakers SRSZ50

Available or white in March for about $60 in black

* Slim size speaker with bass reflex type system for full bass sound
* Total output power: 5W (2.5W+2.5W); built-in amplifier and 39mm driver unit
* Color options to match Sony Walkman and VAIO products
* Headphone out with power on/off and volume control
* Magnetically shielded
* Supplied accessory: AC power adaptor

Sony PC Speakers SRSZ100

Available in March for about $100 in black

* 3 way speaker system (speaker + tweeter + passive radiator) with Bass Boost Function for powerful sound reproduction
* Total output power: 20W (10W+10W)
* Headphone out/dual input with power on/off and volume control
* Magnetically shielded
* Supplied accessory: AC power adaptor

Sony PC Speakers SRSD25

Available in March for about $70

* Kelton type speaker system for sub-woofer with powerful bass sound despite compact size
* Total output power: 25W (Satellite: 2.5W+2.5W, Sub-woofer: 20W)
* Headphone out/stereo mini jack with built-in controller for power on/off, volume control and HP jack
* Also suitable for DVD / game entertainment
* Colors: Black, Red, Pink, White

Sony PC Speakers SRSDF30

Available in March for about $200 in black

* Wood pattern satellite design for stylish, powerful music listening from PC
* Total output power: 40W (Satellite: 10W+10W, Sub-woofer: 20W)
* Headphone out/stereo mini jack with built-in controller for power on/off, volume control, tuning and preset channels
* Also suitable for DVD/game entertainment
* Features AM/FM radio with operation on satellite, large LCD with backlight and sleep timer

Sony Muteki LBT-ZX66i

Available in March for about $450

* iPod-ready features including charge, play and control functions
* Total Power Output: 540W
* 5-Disc CD changer with Play Exchange and CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 playback
* 3-way, Bass Reflex speaker system featuring 6.7” (17cm) Dual Hybrid Woofers and 1” (2.5cm)
* Horn Tweeter
* Game Sync: Front A/V Input
* AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets and large, vivid display
* Remote control with full iPod menu control

Sony Muteki LBT-ZX99i

Available in March for about $650

* Total Power Output: 720 W
* 5-Disc CD changer with Play Exchange and CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 Playback
* 2-way, Bass Reflex speaker system featuring 8.7” (22cm) Woofer and two 2” (5cm) Tweeters
* Game Sync: Front Video In, Audio L/R
* Party Features: D-Light Sync, X-ROUND (Balance, Fader, Wave)
* Remote control with full iPod menu control

Sony CMT-LX20i Micro Shelf System

Available in March for about $100

* iPod-ready features including charge, play and control functions
* Single disc slot loading CD player with CD-R/RW and MP3 playback
* Audio-in For Use with MP3 Player or PC
* AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets and LCD display with ID3 tag
* Remote control with full iPod menu control
* Clock/Timer (Play/Sleep)

Sony MHC-EC99i Mini Shelf System

Available in March for about $200

* iPod-ready features including integrated iPod dock and dedicated iPod button with charge, play and control functions
* Single disc CD player with CD-R/RW and MP3 playback
* Total Power Output: 530W
* AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets and audio-in for use with MP3 player or PC
* Remote control with full iPod menu control
* Clock, alarm and sleep timer

Sony Clock Radio with iPod Dock ICFC7iP

Available in April for about $70

* Clock radio for iPod & iPhone with hidden sliding dock tray
* Dual alarms allow consumers to wake to iPod, iPhone, radio or buzzer and preset alarm volume
* Digital FM/AM tuner with 15 Presets
* ATS (Automatic Time Set) and Automatic Daylight Savings Time
* Charges iPod & iPhone via 5V power supply and comes with a remote control

Car Audio

CDX-GT930UI Head Unit

Available in January for about$230

* Rear USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a rear aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+
* Motorized, detachable faceplate
* Flourescent 4 line display

CDX-GT730UI Head Unit

Available in February for about$200

* Front USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+
* Detachable flip-down faceplate
* Flourescent 4 line display

CDX-GT530UI Head Unit

Available in February for about $140

* Front USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+ Advanced
* Detachable faceplate

CDX-GT430U Head Unit

Available in January for about $130

* Front USB for USB device (no iPod) as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, , Passenger Control, and DM

MEX-BT5700U Head Unit

Available in June for about $300

* Bluetooth audio streaming / hands-free calling capability
* Front USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+
* PBAP (Phonebook Access Profile) allows head unit to link directly to BT mobile phonebook
* When streaming audio via Bluetooth, meta data (artist, album, etc) of the music is displayed

MEX-BT3700U Head Unit

Available in February for about $200

* Bluetooth audio streaming / hands-free calling capability
* Front USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+

MEX-BT2700 Head unit

Available in January for about $160

* Bluetooth audio streaming / hands-free calling capability at affordable price

CDX-GT77UI Unit

Available in February for about $250

* Larger double-din style designed for compatibility with most newer model cars
* Front USB input for iPod and other digital music players as well as a front aux-in
* Compatible with all of Sony’s latest audio technologies, including ZAPPIN™, Quick-BrowZer™, Jump Mode, Passenger Control, and DM+

Memory Stick

Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 16GB Media Card

Available in February for about $140

* Sony Memory Stick™ PRO-HG Duo HX MS-HX16G 16GB Media
* Compatible with many of Sony’s latest generation of Handycam® camcorders
* Captures nearly two hours of high-definition video (1920 x 1080) in AVCHD video format
* Data transfer rate of 20MB/s in read mode with supplied MSAC-UAH1 USB adapter
* Transfers approximately two hours of HD video in 12 minutes with USB adapter

SONY BOOTH ENVIRONMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS

Corporate: Consumer demand for companies to be more eco-friendly has increased, and Sony is taking strides in these efforts by not only producing eco-friendly products but also leading as an environmental corporate citizen.

* Sony is working with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
* We set a goal of a seven percent reduction in facility emissions by 2010, with the year 2000 as the baseline, and are right on target.
* Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures and Sony Corporation of America have new buildings in construction that are expected to be LEED Certified.
* Sony is working aggressively to lower the annual energy consumption of most of its products and reduce energy-use and waste from its daily operations.

Recycling

* The national Sony Take Back Recycling program in partnership with Waste Management was the first-ever nationwide recycling program
o Collected more than 12 million pounds of e-waste to-date.
* Hosted approximately 100 recycling events nationwide where consumers recycled any brand of electronics for free
* Established more than 130 permanent drop-off locations where consumers can recycle Sony-branded products for free

Product

* BRAVIA VE5 Series TV – available July ’09. Super energy efficient features:
o High efficiency HCFL backlight – almost 50% less power
o Zero-watt standby power switch
o Motion sensor turns TV off when you forget
o Light sensor with dynamic backlight control

* Two Sony products are honorees for CEA’s Innovations Eco-Design and Sustainable Technology award:
* BRAVIA KDL-40V4100 for using considerably less power than its predecessors. Available now for about $1,400.
* Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc player with improved power consumption, low transportation emissions and use of recycled packaging materials resulting in the reduction of the product's carbon footprint. Available now for about $250.

PREVIOUSLY-ANNOUNCED PRODUCTS

Home Audio and Video

Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray Disc™ Player

Available now for about $400

* Blu-ray Disc™ player with interactive capabilities including Bonus View (picture-in-picture) and BD-Live
* Ethernet port for access to Internet-based interactive content features and firmware updates
* External USB port for local storage and included 1GB USB flash drive
* 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output
* 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus decoding and bit-stream output
* 7.1 channel dts-HD™ High Resolution Audio and dts-HD™ Master Audio decoding and bit stream output
* 7.1 channel analog audio output

Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc™ Player

Available now for about $2,000

* Blu-ray Disc™ player with interactive capabilities including BD-Live and BonusView
* Ethernet port for access to Internet-based interactive content features and firmware updates
* External USB port for local storage and GB Micro Vault™ storage media included
* 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output
* HD Reality Enhancer (14 bit video processing)
* Super Bit Mapping (Smooth color gradation)
* Precision Cinema HD Upscale
* 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, dts-HD™ High Resolution Audio and dts-HD™ Master Audio decoding
* 7.1 channel analog audio output

Sony STR-DA6400ES ES Series Home Theater Network A/V Receiver (7.1 Channel)

Available now for about $2,500

* Multi-room capable audio and HD video Receiver
* 6 HDMI™ inputs, 2 HDMI outputs
* Faroudja DCDi Cinema® 1080p upscaling technology
* Ethernet connectivity for streaming music, photos and video from PC and downloading network upgrades
* Xross Media Bar™-inspired GUI

Digital Imaging Accessories

Sony LCS-CSVA Genuine Leather Case for Cyber-shot® W, T and S Series Models

Available now for about $40 in black, red, white and brown

* Designed color case to match Cyber-shot® 2009 models
* Compatible also with other W, T and S series camera
* Made of genuine leather
* Includes matching colored hand strap

Sony LCS-CSVB Case for Cyber-shot® W, T and S Series Models

Available now for about $30 in black and pink

* Flip top case Cyber-shot® case
* Compatible also with other W, T and S series camera
* Includes matching colored hand strap

Sony LCS-CSVC Case for Cyber-shot® W, T and S Series Models

Available now for about $20 in black, pink, blue, silver, orange and purple

* Designed color case to match Cyber-shot® 2009 models and vertical type of Webbie HD MHS-PM1
* Compatible also with other W, T and S series camera
* Sporty design
* Includes carabineer

Sony ACC-CMFG Accessory Kit for Cyber-shot® W Series Models

Available now for about $60

* Best accessory kit for Cyber-shot® W series models
* Compatible also with other W and T series camera
* Includes optional battery NP-FG1, camera case LCS-CSQ,
Memory Stick Duo reader/writer for USB and extension cable
for Memory Stick Duo reader/writer

It's amazing we even noticed the Vaio P given all this stuff. I mean, that thing is tiny!

Intel Classmate 2 Already For Sale, Priced at $550

2009-01-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Intel's Classmate 2 was never intended for manufacture by Intel; the PC was simply a reference design provided for OEMs. Well, the first one is here: meet the Computer Technology Link 2Go PC.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

Computer Technology Link has the presumptive first manufacturer of the Classmate 2 for some time now. The final unit specs are the same as the demonstration model we've been playing with since the Intel Developer Forum—and which, in a later incarnation, we found quite palatable at CES—barring the replacement of the 802.11n wireless card with a b/g unit.

The price is a steep $550, but could well be lower for bulk orders. That is, assuming there are other sales channels, as CTL's site only allows one laptop per customer. You know "OLPC". [CTL via NetBux—Thanks, Johannes!]

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on intel. Compare what you've learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of intel.

Who's Watching You on the Web?

2009-01-12T02:22:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to have instant information about any trackers used by a website you visit? Then take a look at Ghostery, a Firefox extension that alerts you to any Web Bugs present on a site by placing a Pac-Man type icon in your status bar and providing a list of all trackers found.

Currently tracking 115 web bugs, ad networks and trackers, Ghostery is a simple extension that works by searching for patterns in the source code of pages you visit. With all the matching happening in your browser, you can rest assured it won't be grabbing your data - remember, it's been made to give you information.

ghostery1_jan_09.jpg

An icon is displayed in your browser status bar when a tracker is identified

ghostery2_jan_09.jpg

Ghostery lists all trackers found on a site

Ghostery 1.3.1 has been given a clean bill of health by Softpedia meaning it is free of spyware, adware and viruses. Designed by David Cancel, the product is relatively new so feel free to offer suggestions and as always, please let us know what you think.

Google Helping Bloggers with Data Portability

2009-01-12T02:07:00.000-08:00

Want to move your blog to another publishing platform? Well now Google has made it easier for you. Last Friday, the Data Liberation Team announced the Google Blog Converters project on their Open Source Blog.

Google made data portability a lot easier for Blogger users a month ago and with this announcement it appears they are offering easier portability solutions to WordPress, Movable Type, and LiveJournal users as well.

Friday's release provides Python libraries and runnable scripts that convert between the export formats of the above platforms. Future plans include synchronization tools between services that don't offer import/export features as well as support for BlogML.

Google has also released templates for hosting the conversions on Google App Engine.

bloggertowordpress_jan_09.jpg

Take a look at the examples hosted on Google App Engine:

* Blogger to WordPress
* WordPress to Blogger
* LiveJournal to Blogger

But beware the caveat noted in the readme file:

"There is a limit to the size of a downloaded file on appspot.com of 1 MB of data. Thus, these hosted applications should only be used for reference or for the conversion of small blog export files."

If you're interested in getting involved with the project, take a look at the source code or join the discussion group here.

Bilgrimage: Who Reads, Who Doesn't?

2009-01-11T02:26:00.000-08:00

Bilgrimage: Who Reads, Who Doesn't?

the joshua blog: Conservative Bloggers Apoplectic re GOP Cooperation w/ Obama

2009-01-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

the joshua blog: Conservative Bloggers Apoplectic re GOP Cooperation w/ Obama

DIY Filmmaker Sujewa: Tickets for Indie Film Blogger Road Trip World Premiere now available through Amazon

2009-01-11T02:03:00.000-08:00

DIY Filmmaker Sujewa: Tickets for Indie Film Blogger Road Trip World Premiere now available through Amazon

Extraordinary Observations: Columbus: Up and Coming Cycling City?

2009-01-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Extraordinary Observations: Columbus: Up and Coming Cycling City?

Short URLs for Google

2009-01-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Net at Night we came across a great little app for shortening Google search query URLs. Gog.is, developed by Norwegian Mr. Calzone, offers the simplest method to create and send a short URL via e-mail and IM. No downloads, no site to visit, no ambiguous URLs, simply type in http://gog.is/ followed by your query and the link will automatically redirect to the corresponding Google search result page.

If you've ever needed to e-mail or IM a link to a Google search results page you'll know that there are various problems that can arise; links can break in IM and e-mail and some of the shortening services mask the ultimate link location.

We've written about our favorite link shortening services before, and Gog.is works in much the same way as most of them; the exception being it only shortens Google search queries

How Gog.is works
Type in http://gog.is/ and add any search query. That's it!

For instance, the Google search results for the query lenajasminee.blogspot.com would have the long URL:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lenajasminee.blogspot.com&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Using Gog.is would deliver the same results page, yet would come from the URL:

http://gog.is/lenajasminee.blogspot.com Gog.is seems to also work with a variety of Google operators such as site:, link:, info:, etc. If you need a refresher on operators, take a look at Google Guide's Google Cheat Sheet.

Gog.is was made in part as a joke for a friend that Mr. Calzone was constantly "slapping" with Google searches, but we think it's an efficient and useful resource.

What do you think?

Samsung Goes Long and Wide with High End Point-and-Shoot

2009-01-11T01:16:00.000-08:00

Samsung's new 10.2 MP HZ10W has some features you might not expect: an ultrawide Schneider lens and a whopping 10x optical zoom. It's a point-and-shoot that's managed to learn a few high-end tricks.

The HZ10W features an "ultra-wide angle" 24mm Schneider lens and a 10x optical zoom with telephoto capabilities up to 240mm, which according to Samsung is equivalent to a 35mm film camera. All we'll say is that fancy-pants lens will let you fit more into the shot, and capture items way further away with greater clarity. It'll also capture 720p video at 30fps, and compress it if desired to H.264 to save some space. It's definitely an advance in its category, especially as it'll come in at a very reasonable $300. It should be released sometime this month.

Asus Eee HTPC-In-A-Keyboard Specs :Includes Wireless HDMI,5"Display,Our Collective Drool

2009-01-11T01:03:00.000-08:00

We got a look at Asus' so-crazy-it's-brilliant HTPC keyboard concept earlier this week, but now we've got the important specs save the big two: pricing and availability.

The keyboard is packing a 5-inch built-in display, a 1.6 GHz Atom proc, 1 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB SSD, WiFi, and Bluetooth. As far as ports, it's got wireless HDMI, 2 USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, and audio in/out. It's running Windows XP home, which is an odd choice for something that's asking, nay, begging to be a home theater PC, although it's not packing a TV tuner either. No word on price or release date, but the Asus CEO claims it'll be available in the next 3 to 6 months

Acts of Faith In Love and Life: Warhol Meet Palin: There's the Door!

2009-01-11T00:58:00.000-08:00

Acts of Faith In Love and Life: Warhol Meet Palin: There's the Door!

Viliv S7 Takes On the Sony Vaio P With a Tablet Twist

2009-01-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

Specs for Viliv's S7 UMPC/netbook/tablet/whatever have popped up, and while the gadget's guts are similar to other netbooks, the physical design— including a jumbo keyboard and battery and a swiveling touchscreen— sets it apart.

We already knew about the S7, but when it was announced this summer, no specs or hands-on time were released with it, so it's nice to get some solid data on the little guy. The S7's 1024x600 screen is only 7 inches, but the sides are stretched out to a nearly Sony Vaio P-esque length:width ratio to make room for a usable keyboard and a very substantial battery. The screen itself is a swiveling touchscreen, like a traditional tablet, and Viliv brags that the battery can last a whopping 7 hours of video playback.

Besides that, it's got the standard netbook guts: Atom proc up to 1.86 GHz, 1 GB of memory, 60 GB HDD/16 GB SSD, and Windows XP. Price and release date are still unknown, but it'll probably hit Korea before making its way west. UMPC Portal got a hands-on, embedded below

Linksys Media Hub Hot Swappable

2009-01-10T10:43:00.001-08:00

linksys media hub hot swappable

Dv2 First Look

2009-01-10T10:37:00.001-08:00

dv2 first look

Movit Mini Tablet Youtube

2009-01-10T10:35:00.001-08:00

movit mini tablet youtube

Cisco Media Hub Rev

2009-01-10T10:32:00.001-08:00

cisco media hub rev

Laser Pointer Secret Audio

2009-01-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

laser pointer secret audio

Remote Media Streaming Hp Mediasmart

2009-01-10T10:30:00.001-08:00

remote media streaming hp mediasmart

Mark Hamblin Iphone

2009-01-10T10:28:00.001-08:00

mark hamblin iphone

The Recessionista™ Blog, frugal fashion trends

2009-01-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

The Recessionista™ Blog, frugal fashion trends

masterwordsmith-unplugged: ACTIVATE YOUR INTUITION

2009-01-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

masterwordsmith-unplugged: ACTIVATE YOUR INTUITION

2009-01-10T06:12:00.000-08:00

masterwordsmith-unplugged: ACTIVATE YOUR INTUITION

Drinking Liberally in New Milford: Today is the day for Marriage Equality in CT

2009-01-10T06:07:00.000-08:00

Drinking Liberally in New Milford: Today is the day for Marriage Equality in CT

sennheiser-hd-800-headphones-german-engineering-at-its-finest

2009-01-10T00:37:00.000-08:00

Sennheiser's latest entry into the world of uber premium headphones comes to us in the form of the stunning HD 800. New features include a completely new type of transducer and ear cup design.

On the transducer design:

The HD 800 sets new standards with its innovative transducer technology. Measuring 56 mm, the transducer in the HD 800 is the largest that can currently be found in a dynamic head-phone. In simple terms: the more transducer surface area that vibrates, the purer the headphone sounds at low frequencies. However, transducers with a large surface area have the disadvantage that, at high frequencies, undesired resonances occur at the diaphragm, resulting in distortions in sound reproduction. The new design principle of the HD 800 resolves this dilemma. "Sennheiser's patented ring design for the diaphragm minimises the distortion of the sound image, even with a transducer as large as 56 mm," explained Axel Grell, acoustics developer at Sennheiser. The result is impressive: the HD 800 has brilliant trebles, precise bass reproduction and an exceptionally clear sound image. The frequency response is an unprecedented 6 to 51,000 Hertz.

On the ear cup design:

Audio recordings do not become a true listening experience until we they are perceived with spatial extension - as if we were sitting in a concert hall or listening to a live jazz session. The new HD 800 offers precisely such a sound experience. "Today, most music is made to be reproduced by two loudspeakers, which form an equal-sided triangle together with the listener. This results in a sound field close to the ears that is at a slight angle to the head," explained Axel Grell. This causes the sound to be reflected into the ear canal with slight time differences. The HD 800 simulates this effect by directing the sound wave to the ear at an angle of 45 degrees. No other manufacturer comes as close as Sennheiser to achieving a spatial listening experience with headphones.

Throw in top quality build materials and all of a sudden you are staring at the $1400 price tag going what the f—! [Sennheiser]

Technical innovation and meticulous attention to detail:
The new HD 800 is Sennheiser's latest sound sensation
LAS VEGAS - January CES 2009 - The new standard in premium headphones, the HD 800 from Sennheiser, offers an extraordinarily brilliant sound image and stunning spatiality. Their dynamic, completely open-back design combines innovative technology with carefully selected materials and the pinnacle of German workmanship. The result is a level of performance, quality and attention to detail that is clearly audible. The key components of the HD 800 are a completely new type of transducer and the innovative ear cup design. In total, this new sound sensation features no less than three distinguished patents.

Patented technology: transducer with a ring design
The HD 800 sets new standards with its innovative transducer technology. Measuring 56 mm, the transducer in the HD 800 is the largest that can currently be found in a dynamic head-phone. In simple terms: the more transducer surface area that vibrates, the purer the headphone sounds at low frequencies. However, transducers with a large surface area have the disadvantage that, at high frequencies, undesired resonances occur at the diaphragm, resulting in distortions in sound reproduction. The new design principle of the HD 800 resolves this dilemma. "Sennheiser's patented ring design for the diaphragm minimises the distortion of the sound image, even with a transducer as large as 56 mm," explained Axel Grell, acoustics developer at Sennheiser. The result is impressive: the HD 800 has brilliant trebles, precise bass reproduction and an exceptionally clear sound image. The frequency response is an unprecedented 6 to 51,000 Hertz.

Natural listening experience: the new ear cup design
Audio recordings do not become a true listening experience until we they are perceived with spatial extension - as if we were sitting in a concert hall or listening to a live jazz session. The new HD 800 offers precisely such a sound experience. "Today, most music is made to be reproduced by two loudspeakers, which form an equal-sided triangle together with the listener. This results in a sound field close to the ears that is at a slight angle to the head," explained Axel Grell. This causes the sound to be reflected into the ear canal with slight time differences. The HD 800 simulates this effect by directing the sound wave to the ear at an angle of 45 degrees. No other manufacturer comes as close as Sennheiser to achieving a spatial listening experience with headphones.

Wearing comfort: top-quality materials and finish
Their circumaural ear cups fit comfortably around the ears without aggressive lateral pressure for hours of music enjoyment. The material used for the ear pads is Japanese Alcantara, which is particularly friendly to the skin and easy to clean. All other materials have also been carefully selected - not least to optimally support the outstanding acoustical properties of the HD 800. "We allowed ourselves a lot of time to perfect the HD 800," said Maurice Quarré, Product Manager Home Audio at Sennheiser. "Not only to develop the technical intricacies but also to select the finest materials to make it perfect in every detail." As a result, the HD 800 has an exterior design that perfectly reflects its outstanding sound quality: a puristic design language and a black/silver finish give the headphones a look of exclusive elegance, turning them into a true designer object. And all this is 'Made in Germany': the HD 800 was developed and designed at Sennheiser's corporate headquarters in Wedemark, Germany. The new headphones will be produced there too - with the usual meticulous attention to detail.

Sennheiser
Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Sennheiser's pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

For more information, please visit www.sennheiserusa.com.

Hava's Sociable TV Shares Live TV With Everybody

2009-01-10T00:31:00.000-08:00

Hava, the lesser-known video streaming system, is going to be doing some crazy social TV sharing called Sociable TV.

Zatz Not Funny says that their upcoming service will be able to share live or DVR content with either a group of people or the entire world, just via their web portal. This brings us one step closer to my dream of being able to watch East Coast TV at the same time as my friends on the East Coast, with me on the West Coast.

Sociable TV is supposed to hit mid-year, and they've got an iPhone client in the works as well.

CES Day One: Our Top 10

2009-01-09T03:12:00.000-08:00

Today, with the floor open, is the first real day of CES. By now we've seen a good deal of gear from the big companies, and here's the best so far.

Palm Pre : Number one with a bullet. If we told you three months ago that Palm would own CES, would you have believed us? But this phone is for real, and from the looks of it right now, it very well could be the morale lift Palm so badly needed.

And the rest, in no particular order:

Samsung BD-4600 Blu-ray Player: Wall-mountable, networked, 1.5-inches thick, and really, really nice looking.

Samsung Luxia LED TV Lineup: Samsung loosed a whole series of ultra-thin, LED-backlit, network-connected LCDs, winning the Battle of the TV Announcements hands down.

Vizio Connected HDTVs: These Vizios stream just about everything possible over wireless-N: Amazon, Blockbuster and Netflix VOD, Pandora, Flickr, Rhapsody, plus any other Yahoo web widget.

Sony Vaio P: Sony's Vaio P is something we haven't seen before: a 2.08:1 aspect ratio (1600x768) on a 1-inch thick portable. Something different in the very, very generic netbook field.

Casio 1,000fps Point and Shoot Cameras: Both the EX-FC100 and the EX-FS10 bring the EX-F1's slo-mo capture goodness to a point and shoot. Casio's still the only folks in the super slo-mo field, and they're continuing to kill.

LG's GD910 Watch Phone: It was a non-working, behind-the-glass prototype last year, but one of every gadget head's boyish dreams will come true later this year: A watch that's a phone.

Eee Keyboard: Asus took the crazy cake with their still-shadowy home theater keyboard. With an onboard processor (of some kind), a touchscreen and keyboard and wireless HDMI, it makes perfect sense as a unique home-theater machine.

Sony Cyber-shot G3: We're all about putting web browsers on as many things as possible, and Sony's found another way to get one into our pants: A super-slim wi-fi-equipped Cyber-shot G3 that's the world's first to surf the web.

Panasonic Portable Blu-ray Player: Panasonic's DMP-B15 is the world's first portable Blu-ray deck. Your laptop probably doesn't have a BD drive, but this will ensure you can watch hi-def 1080p on a tiny, tiny screen on your next flight.

And there you have it. Good stuff you may or may not be able to afford in '09? Disappointment of disappointments? Discuss

NIMble: $300 Android Desktop Phone Designed by iPhone Engineer

2009-01-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

We've all heard about the prospects of Android in the mobile-phone market, but the NIMble is an Android phone meant for actual desktops.

By Touch Revolution, the NIMble features a 7-inch multitouch screen (800x400)—that's roughly 4x the screen area you'd see in the G1 loaded with 2.5x the pixels. In person, that's sharp enough to my eyes.

Other features include a 624MHz Marvel processor, SD expansion (to supplement unspecified internal storage), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

As for Android itself, that's fully functional. But Touch Revolution has built their own software on top of the platform for entertainment and home networking stuff.
Operating the NIMble was speedy enough, though I had some responsiveness issues from the glass touchscreen. I'm pretty sure these issues will be fixed by the device's September release, since Mark Hamblin, Product Design Lead on the original iPhone's touchscreen, is busy ironing out the kinks. He explained that the touch gestures within Android need to be scaled to a larger screen.

So what about multi-touch? Hopefully the NIMble will have that capability at launch as well. But right now, Touch Revolution is busy building multi-touch architecture into Android itself. They're also pretty eager for others to jump on the bandwagon.

The photos here aren't of the final NIMble unit, but the finished product will look very similar...though we're fairly certain that we'll see a handset attached at launch. Coming this September, the NIMble will run $300, or free with a $10-$20/month phone home service contact.

Skype Lite Heading to Android, iPhone Not Far Off

2009-01-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

T-Mobile G1 users will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of Skype with the addition of the "lite" version to the Android Marketplace—and an iPhone version may not be far behind.

Unfortunately, you are still subject to your standard carrier rates when calling with Skype Lite (no Wi-Fi or 3G required), but it does provide power users mobile access to their contact lists while on the go. The app should appear in the Android markeplace sometime in the next few days, while versions for other Java-enabled handsets from carriers like Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, LG, and Samsung should be available starting today. As for the iPhone, it seems that Skype reps at CES hinted that it is in development, but when we might actually see it is anyone's guess. [Skype via PC World and azstarnet]

ZPower's 40% Better Silver-Zinc Batteries Coming in Laptops This Year

2009-01-09T02:57:00.000-08:00

The folks at ZPower, who make the silver-zinc batteries that get 40% better run-time than Lithium-Ion, just told us that a major laptop and a major cellphone manufacturer will use the technology this year.

Still no details on which manufacturer and cellphone provider will do this, but ZPower did say that they're going for a same-size method of batteries. In that the silver-zinc batteries will be the same size as lithium-ion batteries and will be swappable in the same laptop.

Since the price is more for the silver-zinc, it'll be a premium option in machines, but will definitely be useful for long airplane rides, long car drives and long bathroom breaks.

Microsoft Says Less Phones Will Have WinMo in the Future

2009-01-09T01:17:00.000-08:00

With increasing competition—most recently from Android and Palm's promising new WebOS, how is Microsoft planning on helping WinMo

With increasing competition—most recently from Android and Palm's promising new WebOS, how is Microsoft planning on helping WinMo survive in the mobile operating system world? By putting it on less devices, naturally.

Todd Peters, VP of marketing for the Windows Mobile Division said that while Microsoft was looking into beefing up WinMo's features, its strategy for the new year was to limit the number of devces using the OS.

Right now about 140 cellphones use WinMo. Peters said Microsoft is hoping to shrink that number in order to not "have its efforts diluted over too many devices."

I'd rather have fewer devices and be more focused," he said. That way "we get better integration" between phone and operating system.

Peters wasn't clear about the criteria Microsoft was going to use to limit Windows Mobile roll-outs. Will they restrict it to more powerful phones that are capable of running WinMo without the lag (kind of like that Vista ready label, only... actually ready) or is it Microsoft making more of an effort to actually design the OS to every specific phone its licensed on? [New York Times]

Sony Vaio P Super Don't-Call-It-a-Netbook Hands On

2009-01-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

The keyboard? It rocks. The screen? Beautiful. The trackball is just the right amount of gritty, so your finger sticks to it and doesn't slide off onto the keyboard. The instant-on OS? Classy.

The keys are small, but just the perfect amount of small—you'll only have a problem if you have fingers the size of fried carnival pastries. It took me about 15-30 seconds of mistyping to adjust and type just about perfectly, though your hands won't feel as loose as they are on a full size keyboard by means. They're really punchy, though shallow, too. Overall, good. The trackball is a little oversensitive, but adjustable too. What I do hate are the mouse buttons. They're too small and not distinguished enough, so easy to miss. Oh, and it's a smudge magnet.

The form factor looks weird in the press shots, but in person, it works—incredibly well. It's very clearly a Porsche compared to the Chevy-esque standard netbook. In fact, Sony guys insist it's not a netbook, which is true. It's officially throw-it-in-your-bag-and-forget-it-sized, which netbooks are not.

I like the instant-on OS. It's essentially a Sony XMB that gives you access to photos, internet and movies, much like other instant-on OSes, but the P's seems exceptionally classy.

Every SKU has the same 1.33Ghz Atom inside (the Z series not the pokier N)—not incredibly speedy, and 2GB of RAM, which lets them all run Vista okay. Screen is, duh, gorgeous thanks to that incredible pixel density. The built-in 3G is Verizon only, and they wouldn't comment on a GSM version. Oh, and that $900 pricepoint? That's for Vista Home Basic—you've gotta drop a grand to get real Vista. Otherwise, the 4 different SKUs vary based mostly on storage—60GB starting up to a 128GB SSD in the $1500 model.

You'd almost think you could work on it, but we're not so convinced yet—that'll take some much more extensive hands on time, a couple days at least. At the very least, you'd have to widen and shrink your workflow. But we're definitely curious to find out. Overall, it's certainly an interesting machine—not a netbook, UMPC or laptop, but something in between all of those. What exactly that is, we'll have to figure out in the longer haul.

Navigon Offering Red Light Camera Warnings For GPS Devices

2009-01-08T06:35:00.001-08:00

After announcing their partnership with Rand McNally yesterday, Navigon has announced more downloadable content for their GPS devices—including data on red light cameras.

NAVIGON Red Light Cameras give drivers the information they need by providing an advanced
warning when the driver is approaching dangerous intersections monitored by traffic cameras. These alerts make the driver aware of upcoming intersections and potentially avoid costly traffic tickets. The estimated MSRP for this content is $29.99.

•Thousands of traffic camera locations across the country
•One year subscription
•Monthly database updates to stay current with new installations

This offering is slated for release sometime this Spring.

Logitech G19 Hands On: I Watched YouTube on a Gaming Keyboard

2009-01-08T00:43:00.000-08:00

I just greased on Logitech's G19 gaming keyboard with its full-blown, full-color LCD display, and it feels just like the G-keyboards you love, but you know, topped a pretty YouTube-playing, widget-powered display.

GALLERYEND So the 320x240 GamePanel LCD runs a whole bunch of widgets out of the box, like for Twitter, images, VOIP, system info, game data or yes, YouTube, and you can add more. It's nice, and video playback is surprisingly smooth, but it's too small to really do any serious video watching—fine for the other stuff like IM though, and definitely more versatile than the monochrome displays in the earlier G keyboards.

The trademark Logitech key squishiness/punchiness is there, so if you're upgrading from one of the current G-series keyboards, you'll feel at home. Backlighting color is customizable, and you've got a respectable number of macro keys.

Here's the rub—It needs its own power brick to power the display and the Linux computer inside of it. This would be more tolerable if it also had audio ports in the back (like Razer or SteelSeries' keyboard) to help cut down on the wire mess, but it doesn't. Also, um, 200 bucks.

* GamePanel LCD requires software that supports Logitech® GamePanel™ technology
Logitech® G19 keyboard for gaming
An arsenal of advanced gaming technology
Announcement Date: January 6, 2009 Shipping: March 2009
Price: $199.99 Available at: www.logitech.com
Product Overview
As a gamer, you never compromise – not on your team, not on your weapons and certainly not
on your hardware. The Logitech G19 keyboard features a tiltable, color GamePanel ™ LCD to
show game stats, VOIP communication data, and many other favorite items. With customization
capabilities such as user-selectable character backlighting color, 12 fully programmable G-keys,
two high-speed USB ports and multi-key input, the Logitech G19 keyboard is the perfect
weapon for your gaming rig.
Key Features
 Color GamePanel LCD* can show game stats, system information, communication data,
video playback, image slideshows, or other information, without leaving the game.
 Twelve programmable G-keys with 3 shift states (or modes) means that you have 36
programmable macros per game or application
o Use the MR (macro record) key to record new macros on-the-fly.
 Multi-key input allows you to use up to five keys at once to perform multiple complex actions.
 Two high-speed, powered USB 2.0 ports give you the ability to connect you mouse to the
keyboard or to transfer data to and from peripherals such as MP3 players and flash drives.
 User-selectable character backlighting color lets you personalize the keyboard to
complement the rest of your computer and gaming equipment.
System Requirements
 Windows® XP or Windows Vista®
 Mac® OS X 10.4 or later
 High-speed USB 2.0 port
 20 MB of available hard disk space
 CD-ROM drive
Product Specifications
 Length: 19.5 inches
 Height: 2 inches
 Width: 10.5 inches
 Weight: 4.86 lbs
 Display: Color 320-by-240 pixel display
Warranty

Hands On: Lenovo\'s Dual-Screen Laptop Has Basically Every Feature Ever

2009-01-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

I just played around with the new Lenovo W700ds laptop, complete with two screens and built-in Wacom tablet, and it's a monster. It's not exactly portable, but it's as feature-filled as laptops get.

Lenovo W700ds

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Of course there's the secondary screen, clocking in at 10.6 inches and popping out of the side of the 17-inch screen. But there's also the built-in Wacom digitizer. And the fingerprint scanner. It is, frankly, awesome. But the cost of said awesomeness is size: this thing is an absolute tank.

Weighing in at about 11 pounds, this is more desktop replacement than portable computer. Sure, you could carry it around with you, but expect back problems if you try to do it too often. Oh, and the battery life? Two hours. Er, yeah. But for people who are looking for a boatload of functionality (not to mention two screens) in a laptop, there are few peers to the W700ds out there.

Police Use Google Street View to Solve Kidnapping Crime

2009-01-08T00:24:00.000-08:00

Usually when we hear Google Street View news, it's over kitty-cat privacy issues or people peeing in the street. But this time around, the mayhem monitor actually helped solve the kidnapping of a young girl.

Police in Massachusetts were trying to track down a missing 9-year-old girl who had allegedly been kidnapped by her grandmother. They had managed to find the girl's cellphone coordinates and traced it to an intersection in Virginia.

Since they were nowhere near Virginia, the policemen turned to Google Street View to help them round up possible hiding-out locations. They identified a building that looked like a motel, confirmed it was one with a subsequent Google search and then called the Virginia State Police, who visited the motel and found the grandmother and the girl.

The moral of this story is: Police know how to Google now. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

TomTom Go 740 Live: Their Connected GPS

2009-01-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

TomTom's Go 740 Live GPS is their first to have a cellular connection built-in, used to download traffic weather and friend finder information.

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Old TomTom's had cellular data capabilities with very limited models, over bluetooth, through your cellular handset, but model support, but having this service built in, free for a year. The unit also records map data corrections, and in Wikipedia style. And I really have been liking TomTom's advanced lane guidance, which draws a pretty nice illustration of complicated turn offs.

This TomTom also uses "IQ Route" tech to measure arrival times, based on time of day and weekend vs weekday traffic patterns, gathered from users who dock and sync their navs with software. But, unlike Dash and Telenav Shotgun, it can't upload in real time, so you're not getting real time data for traffic jams from other users. (You get it from other providers.)

The device works on a GPRS network, leading me to believe its on AT&T, since they've been very into providing service for devices lately.

You can't really preview a GPS while sitting in a show room, but this seems like a decent device, given TomTom's move towards connectivity in it, and the hardware design is stellar, with a twist grip for the compact suction cup, and speaker grill in the back.

I would like the device to perhaps get some live uploading of traffic, but as we saw with Dash, that is a hard thing to master

Windows 7 Beta Now Available

2009-01-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned perhaps all too subtly in my Ballmer keynote post, Windows 7 Beta is now available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, with wide availability on Friday, January 9. [Microsoft]

Hands On Giinii Movit Mini The Android Tablet

2009-01-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

The idea sounds so sexy: An Android tablet. Remarkably thin, with over four inches of touchscreen, like an Android iPod touch. Actually, that's a lot what it's like.

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Namely, 'cause there's no cellphone—Wi-Fi only. But since it's Android, you can obviously VOIP out of the box, so it's not THAT big of a deal. At $149, with no carrier contract to deal with, it's comparable in that way too.

Software, we know what we're dealing with, so let's talk input and hardware. The soft keyboard itself—necessary since there isn't a hardware one—is excellent: great layout, perfect size, even for massive, hulking gorilla hands. But the resistive touchscreen left a lot to be desired—not nearly as responsive as the capacitive screen on the G1, it was hard to push buttons, and an epic feat to scroll more than once.

Obviously, it's a prototype, so we can't be too harsh on it, but it definitely has a ways to go before it's ready. But the idea: an Android tablet in an fantastic form factory is so, so sexy.

PicClick: Look for What You're Looking for

2009-01-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

We all use search engines day in and day out to find things that we're seeking. And while traditional searching techniques are great, sometimes you can't quite put what you want into words. But you're sure that you'll know it when you see it. At those times, a picture is worth a thousand word-based searches. If this sounds familiar, PicClick - a new visual search engine for eBay and Amazon listings - may be your answer.

To use PicClick, simply choose either the Amazon or eBay tab, enter a basic search term or drill down using pre-selected topics, and add price information if you like. Then, hit search and - voila - your browser is suddenly filled with a series of thumbnails, giving you a visual representation of the available products matching your criteria.
PicClick Search

Aside from being visually compelling, PicClick is fast. It manages to return relevant results exceedingly quickly. Plus, flying through hundreds of entries seems a great deal easier without having extemporaneous information cluttering the page.

Clicking on any of the thumbnails takes you directly to the product page on the respective site. Thumbnails too small? There's a slider that dynamically changes the size of the images.

According to StartupSD, the service is the latest brainchild of the prolific Ryan Sit, the developer who created FavThumbs - a similar visual browser for delicious bookmarks, Favtape - which Frederic Lardinois called "Muxtape on steroids," and Swlurl - which RWW's Marshall Kirkpatrick described as "your lifestream made beautiful."

To start - literally - looking for what you're looking for on Amazon and eBay, visit PicClick.

Wibe7.tv: Visually Oriented Search for YouTube

2009-01-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

Searching by terms is great. But some things are just easier to find when you can actually look at them - especially if you tend to be more visually oriented. Book dust jackets, album covers, and product packaging, for example, tend to register with some people far more easily than names. And, then of course, there's video. When you're looking for a video, you're likely looking for that video. So, wouldn't it be great if you could quickly scan thumbnails to find that YouTube video you were seeking? Now, you can with Wibe7.tv.

Wibe7.tv allows you to perform YouTube searches and return results based on relevance, views, rating, or publish date. Granted, nothing earth-shattering there. Instead, it's the way the results are arranged that makes finding that video you're seeking much easier. It's strikingly similar to PicClick, a visual search of Amazon and eBay we reviewed last year.

Rather than present an obtrusive column of thumbnails coupled with large blocks of text - like YouTube's search results - Wibe7.tv discards the text, opting instead for a mosaic of thumbnails - giving you the visual content you were seeking. Suddenly, scanning the screen for your favorite video becomes a great deal easier.
imgWibe7Mosaic.jpg

Just as important, Wibe7.tv's matrix of thumbnails helps you weed out the inevitable duplicate videos that crowd YouTube. (In fact, I found myself entering a number of search terms just to see how many duplicates existed for popular videos.)

Once you find the video you want, clicking on the thumbnail begins playing the full-size video in the lower corner of your browser window. Or, you can always click through to YouTube.

While the mosaic is a helpful first pass, I found myself wishing for some mouseover functionality to deliver additional information on the content. Having to play each video to get more information becomes a bit laborious if you don't see what you want right off the bat.

Still, the ability to quickly scan for the video - instead of scrolling through multiple pages of YouTube results - made the service a welcome improvement over searching on YouTube for content.

To start looking for those YouTube videos you've been seeking, visit Wibe7.tv.

Lenovo IdeaCentre 600 All-in-One and Motion Controller Hands On: Ain't No Wii

2009-01-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

In person, Lenovo's IdeaCentre 600 all-in-one PC is not as beautiful as we'd hoped, with a bulbous ass. But its do-it-all remote, with Wii-like gaming, is exactly like we expected: crap.

We tried to play the IdeaCentre's motion tennis game for the most direct Wii Sports comparison, but no one knew how to get it going, and the remote's confusing, schizo layout didn't help. The remote does work okay as an air mouse (it's a little laggy), but performance in the ping pong game that we did get to play was still nowhere near Wii level—and it's not like the Wii's controller is ultra-precise. It's hard to tell if it's a hardware, firmware or software problem, but it's thoroughly mediocre, as we suspected it'd be. (Swiss Army Knife gadgets usually suck.)

Other impressions of the IdeaCentre: It's another solid, glossy piece from Lenovo's consumer design side—maybe too glossy, it was hard to see what was on the screen sometimes. We also really wish it had a skinnier ass, so we could love it like our girlfriends. Overall, not bad with a nice keyboard and mouse combo, but not a total upheaval of the all-in-one playbook, either.

Linksys Media Hub Babysits Your Video, Music and Pics, Streaming Locally and Remotely

2009-01-07T07:15:00.000-08:00

The Gadget: Linksys' Media Hub seems like a server, since it backs up data, gathers your media files automatically, and streams media over IP, but it's more like a super functional NAS drive.

The Skinny: The Media Hub NAS drive is built on top of a custom linux platform that works with Mac or PC, complete with automated backups, remote access, and specific functionality, such as iTunes Server. Simillar to theHP MediaSmart Server, it presents music, photos and video in a browser based UI, that can be accessed over both local and remote connections. That means you can stream all your media from your web browser without any additional apps. It also plays nice with Linksys' new Wireless Home Audio system.

The Linksys Media Hub comes in three configurations—the 500 GB NAS without a navigation LCD screen will cost $350. The 500 GB NAS with an LCD screen will cost $400, and the 1 TB NAS with an LCD screen will cost $430.

Wilson got a chance to check it out, and here are his shots and basic impressions:

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Setup was easy, provided you have a Windows PC. Even gaining remote access to files over the web required nothing more than a quick sign-up on Cisco's server website. While you can't configure it on a Mac, you can access it via Bonjour or DLNA, so moving files is reliable and fast.

The Media Hub web interface controls the system, and comes in two flavors, a full featured one you can only access locally, and a more content-oriented one you can reach anywhere. The interface has its own media player, so you can queue up music and play away, right there. You can also play movies and photo slideshows if you run IE on a PC. If you're running Firefox or any other browser, you can get at your videos and photos, but you tend to have to download them to view them. The same goes for AAC audio, which can be played back via your browser, but currently can't play from the hub media player.

Remote interface:

Dumping files directly from a memory card or USB stick was a cool feature—it auto detects, then it's just a simple matter of clicking OK. I did have trouble with an 8GB SDHC card from SanDisk, but Linksys tells me that shouldn't be the case generally, that SDHC is supported, so I assume it's just a temporary bug.

In all, the system does a fair amount—solid backup, good media accessibility. The biggest differentiator might be the direct access to the drive from the card slots and USB. Linksys promises future features like Time Machine backup and better media handling, but for now, it's a solid product for the PC world.

Cisco Simplifies Digital Media Access for Consumers 
Linksys by Cisco Media Hub helps consumers enjoy all of their digital photos,
music and video anytime, anywhere

Las Vegas – January 7, 2009 – Cisco® today announced the Linksys by Cisco Media Hub at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Designed to simplify access to and interaction with digital content, the Media Hub gathers, organizes, and presents all the digital video, photos and music that users have spread amongst various devices in the home. With a Media Hub consumers can enjoy all of their media through an easy to use interface that is not only accessible in the home, but throughout the world via a web browser. The Media Hub is the perfect solution for consumers with extensive digital media libraries who are looking to eliminate the complexity of managing their collections.

Facts/Highlights:
Centralized Access to Digital Photos, Music and Videos Sharing media on multiple devices within the home is easy with the Media Hub’s media and iTunes server capabilities. The Media Hub automatically searches the network for other media devices to present all available digital media to the user in a single location.
Easy Graphical User Interface
Content accessible to the Media Hub is presented in a browser-based, simple to navigate user interface. Music albums are consolidated and presented together with the appropriate Album Art, regardless of where the tracks reside within the network, eliminating the need to know which device music is stored on. Photos and videos are presented using thumbnail images that are easily organized by date or name. All available media, regardless of type, can be located by using the available search function.
Simple Remote Access  Remote Access can be enabled on the Media Hub with just a few clicks of a button. Users are not required to install any special software or change their network configuration. The Media Hub takes care of everything with the exception of choosing its Remote Access name. Whether accessing the Media Hub on a PC at home, or through a web browser anywhere in the world via www.ciscomediahub.com, consumers are presented with the same easy to navigate user interface that enables them to access their digital media and upload or download files from a remote location.
Backup Automated backup software is included with the Media Hub to help ensure that even the most treasured memories and digital libraries are protected. Folders on a computer within the network that contain Digital Media can be set to automatically copy any new files to the Media Hub for added piece of mind.

Consumer Friendly Design
The product's sleek design makes it possible to place the Media Hub virtually anywhere in the home and with its near silent operation it will not disturb daily life. With two drive bays and external USB ports consumers can easily expand their Media Hub if and when their Digital Media storage needs grow.

Configurations and availability:
In the US, the products are available now from authorized Linksys by Cisco retailers, resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in Canada, UK, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands during the first quarter of 2009.  The Media Hub comes in both the NMH300 Series and the NMH400 Series. The NMH300 series is a cost-effective solution that offers all of the core features of the Media Hub, and is designed to be used primarily with a PC or Mac to interface with the device. On the NMH400 Series, an LCD screen that displays information such as available space, drive usage by type of media, and network status teams with a 6-in-1 card reader to enable the simple transfer of new media and entertainment onto the Media Hub without the need for a computer. Firmware upgrades and instant backups can also be initiated via navigating the LCD.

The following configurations of the LinksysMedia Hub will be available from launch:
NMH305 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub (500GB hard drive) MSRP: $299.99/ €299.99

NMH405 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (500GB hard drive) MSRP: $349.99/ €349.99

NMH410 – Linksys by Cisco Media Hub with LCD and 6-in-1 card reader (1TB hard drive) MSRP: $429.99/ €429.99

Linksys Wireless Home Audio System Streams All Around Your House, Secretly Aspires to Kill Sonos

2009-01-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

Linksys' new Wireless Home Audio system is very similar in function to Sonos' streaming home audio system, and on specs alone, manages to out spec the latter in some areas.

The Wireless Home Audio system comes in a variety of form factors, including standalone CD players with touch panels, hubs that connect to your home theater system, iPod docks and systems with detached speakers. They all have the ability to interface with one another, play music simultaneously according to designated zones, and since they're all DLNA 1.5 compliant, they can pull music from the same digital libraries and connected devices. The components also play nicely with the new Linksys Media Hub NAS.

• The Conductor (DMC350) is an all in one player that has it's own speakers, a seven-inch touchscreen for navigating digital libraries and a CD player.
Price: TBD

• The Director (DMC250) is a stand alone receiver with a 100 watt amplifier that has RCA and Speaker out to connect to your existing sound system. Price: $450

•The Player (DMP100)is intended to be plugged into an existing home theater system, merely relaying digital audio via RCA cables to your sound system. Price: $300

• The Controller (DMWR1000) is similar in function to Sonos' controller but this unit works over Wireless-N, has touchscreen functionality, as well as a D-pad. This is how you would navigate your media library with The Player connected to your stereo. There's even chatter of possibly offering an iPhone controller app down the road. Price: $350

• There are also a smattering of accessories such as speakers ($150), an iPod dock ($80), and a basic IR remote ($30). When the iPod dock is plugged in, any of the other devices can access the content on the iPod, as long as a wi-fi connection is present.

As far as bundles go, there will be three bundles offered—the Premier Kit, the Trio Kit and the Executive Kit. The Premier includes 1 Player, 1 Director, 1 Controller and 2 IR remotes for $1000. The Trio includes 2 Players, 1 Controller and 2 IR remotes for $850. The Executive includes 1 Director, speakers and an IR remote for $550. The entire Wireless Home Audio system, except the Conductor, should be available immediately. The Conductor is slated for a Q1 release.

Cisco Multi-Room Home Audio Solution Enhances and Extends
the Listening Experience for Consumers

Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio makes it easy to play music
from a variety of sources wirelessly throughout the home

Las Vegas – January 7, 2009 – Cisco® today announced the Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio system at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. From the world leaders in networking, the Wireless Home Audio system utilizes Wireless-N technology to deliver a rich audio experience to any room in the home. Users can create a party atmosphere with immaculate synchronization when listening to the same song throughout the entire home, or send different music to customized “zones”. The Wireless Home Audio solution also puts millions of songs at your fingertips through integrated Internet services such as Rhapsody, AudioLounge, and RadioTime. An optional Docking Station for iPod enables your content on Apple iPods™, including Podcasts, Audio Books, and purchased iTunes content, to be played through any Wireless Home Audio device on the network. Wireless Home Audio products also work great with the newly announced Linksys by Cisco Media Hub that gathers and presents the available media on a network.

Facts/Highlights:

Complete Solution
The Wireless Home Audio product family includes three available options for playback devices that allow consumers to bring wireless audio to any room – the all-in-one Conductor, the Director with powerful amplifier and the Player which is the ideal addition to existing sound systems. A Wireless-N Controller enhances the Wireless Home Audio experience by providing touchscreen access to all available audio from anywhere in the home. Consumers can easily unleash audio from their iPods by simply slipping it into the available Docking Station for instant access to all of the songs, playlists, and other audio content on the device. In addition, with millions of songs available from Rhapsody in the US and AudioLounge in Europe, Wireless Home Audio users can search for tracks, discover new artists, and create playlists to be sent to any room. A “Favorites” function gives one-touch access to any content from any source.

Great Audio Quality, Precise Synchronization
Cisco, the world’s leader in networking technology has applied its years of knowledge and expertise to develop an amazing lossless digital audio delivery solution that preserves the full depth and richness of the recording, as originally intended by the artist. Through distributed decoding technology, each Wireless Home Audio device receives unmodified audio source material without any trans-coding or compression. The audio is then reproduced and synchronized to within microseconds, virtually eliminating echo artefacts so often evident in other wireless audio systems.
Wireless Simplicity With Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio, music can be unleashed from existing digital libraries that are stored on a PC or other device, integrated Internet services, or even an iPod, with no need to run new wires around the home, or undergoing complex home renovation to install the devices. As a complete wireless solution, Wireless Home Audio products enable consumers to fully equip their homes with a world of music that is at their fingertips.
Standards-Based Compatibility  Following Cisco’s standards-based approach to networking, the Wireless Home Audio products utilize Wireless-N technology to provide greater value to the consumer by allowing each device to achieve its full potential as an extension of the solution rather than requiring that one of the devices be hard-wired to a router. Wireless Home Audio products have been built to utilize the DLNA 1.5 standard, extending the value of the solution by making it accessible to and from a broad variety of devices. The products are compatible with standards such as HomePlug, Wireless-G, and Ethernet to allow consumers to choose the mix of networking technologies that is right for them.

Products

Conductor DMC350 Wireless-N Digital Music Center
The Conductor is a complete, portable, self-contained wireless music system with integrated speakers that can be used to bring music to any room of the home. All it needs is a power outlet. It features a seven inch LCD touch screen for easy navigation through your music library and an integrated CD player to play those songs that you have not digitized yet. An individual IR Remote is included.

Director DMC250 Wireless-N Music Player with Integrated Amplifier
Features a 50-watt per channel integrated amplifier powerful enough to be placed in any room as a more permanent solution to access digital music, and includes a line in and out to connect to speakers. Its full color LCD display makes navigating through your music library simple. An individual IR Remote is included.

Player DMP100 Wireless-N Music Extender
Allows you to access digital music from existing stereo or surround sound systems in the home. Its compact design allows it to blend well with any décor making it an ideal option to extend music to any room in the home utilizing your existing audio equipment. An individual IR Remote is included.

Stereo Speaker Kit DSPK50  designed to compliment the Director - Wireless-N Music Player. Pair them to create a complete, high-quality wireless sound system and experience your digital music all around your home, at your control.

Controller DMWR1000 Wireless-N Touchscreen Remote
Designed to control the complete Wireless Home Audio system wirelessly. It features a large, color touchscreen, thumbwheel, and engaging interface designed to let you easily control any one or every one of your Linksys by Cisco Wireless Home Audio devices, including a docked iPod, from anywhere in your home, even when they’re out of sight.

Docking Station for iPod MCCI40
Allows consumers to extend their available Wireless Home Audio library to include all of the content on their iPod, including Podcasts, Audio Books, and purchased iTunes content.

IR Remote DMRIR500
Comes standard with the Conductor, Director, and Player. Its simple button layout and slim form factor allows you to easily control your audio devices when you do not have a Controller nearby.

To simplify the purchasing process, three Wireless Home Audio kits are available:

Premier Kit:
A two-room starter kit that includes Director and IR Remote, Player and IR Remote, and Wireless-N Controller.

Trio Kit:
A kit for consumers looking to add the power Wireless Home Audio to their existing audio systems, the Trio Kit includes 2 Players, 2 IR Remotes, and a Wireless-N Controller.

Executive Kit:
An easy way to add a Wireless Home Audio capabilities to any room, the Executive Kit includes a Director, IR Remote and matching speakers.

Supporting Quotes:

Greg Memo, vice president and general manager, products, Cisco Consumer Business Group.
“After years of research and testing, we are answering the consumer’s call for a wireless home audio system that seamlessly consolidates music content from all of their sources into one solution with incredible audio quality. By both expanding the amount of accessible music and simplifying the experience, we have developed a family of products that work together to greatly enhance the experience of enjoying digital music throughout the home.”

Mike Wolf, director, Digital Home, ABI Research
“We believe that today’s home usage paradigm for digital music will transition from being PC-centric to one that is networked and accessible throughout the home. Cisco’s products allow consumers to enjoy their digital music collections over the network and point to where we believe this market is going.”

Worldwide Market Trends:
In a recent IDC survey, 46% of home network owners and 27% of non home network owners were interested in streaming music from their computer or the Internet to their stereo. (IDC, June 2008)

ABI forecasts total worldwide networked audio shipments will grow from 6.4 million to 38 million with a CAGR of 68%. (ABI, 2007)

Nearly a fourth — 22% — of US households have at least one iPod. That’s nearly 25 million households that currently have an iPod. Thirty percent of them have more than one iPod. (Forrester 2008)

Pricing and availability:
The Wireless Home Audio products are available in the United States from authorized Linksys by Cisco retailers, authorized resellers, and VAR partners. Cisco anticipates availability in stores in Denmark and The Netherlands during the first quarter of 2009. The Conductor will be available in the first quarter of 2009.
 Estimated street prices are as follows:

Premier Kit - $999.99/ €999.99
Trio Kit - $849.99/ €849.99
Executive Kit - $549.99/ €549.99
Conductor – Pricing available at launch
Director - $449.99/ €449.99
Player - $299.99/ €299.99
Stereo Speaker Kit - $149.99/ €149.99
Controller - $349.99/ €349.99
iPod Dock - $79.99/ €79.99
IR Remote - $29.99/ €29.99

Garmin's New Nuvis, Maps for Life and Eco-Friendly Driving Software

2009-01-07T07:06:00.000-08:00

Garmin just dropped a couple new GPS units on us, the 855 and 855T. Both of 'em bring lane assist and voice control together and cost as much as a used car.

The two units are essentially the same, with the one difference being that the 855T has MSN Direct, which loads your maps up with local businesses, weather, traffic, news and all sorts of other things to distract you from driving. The 855 will set you back a tidy $699.99, while the 855T ups that price to a whopping $799.99.

In addition to the two units, Garmin also announced ecoRoute, which is a free software update that helps save mother earth by telling you which routes are the most fuel efficient. Strangely enough, it never suggests public transportation or buying a bike.

Lastly, nuMaps Lifetime lets you pay a single fee to always get the latest maps for your navigator. You'll pay $120 for North America, $140 for Europe or $150 for both. It seems to me that updated maps should just kind of come with the product, but maybe I just don't understand business. In any case, you can give Garmin your money for this starting on January 21st.

Modbook Pro Is Secret Son of an iPod Touch and a MacBook Pro

2009-01-07T06:59:00.000-08:00

No XL iPod touch pro or fabled Apple tablets at the Philnote. Too bad, because I want one badly. Maybe the new pen and touch-enabled Modbook Pro will do.

The new, upgraded version of the Modbook is made of machined aluminum, finished in black. While its design is not very Apple, the 0.93-inch Modbook Pro is thinner than the Macbook it is based on, and more elegant than their previous model.

The new guts include a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Nvidia GeForce® 9600M GT graphics, but the most important thing in a tablet computer is the surface itself. At 15.4-inch WXGA display, it is larger than the 12-inch Cintiq Wacom I reviewed and it has something that the Wacom or the original Modbook don't have: It's touch sensing.

The Modbook Pro uses a technology called Synergy Touch, which combines the pressure-pen Wacom system with direct and simultaneous touch input. They don't say if it supports multitouch gestures in Mac OS X or Windows, but the multiple input is good news. If Apple ever supersizes their iPod touch, I hope they go the other way around and add pen input as well. axtron

Skype 2.8 for Mac: Your Online Demo Is Calling

2009-01-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

the latest version of Skype for Mac - Skype 2.8 - will include the ability to share your screen during a Skype call. And that's a feature that is sure to change the way many of us engage in Web-based demos.

Given that we're big Skype users around here and we see more than our fair share of Web-based demos, we're excited to see Skype finally offering the the ability to combine the two. No more setting up WebEx or LiveMeeting. Just share your screen via Skype during your next briefing call.

In addition to screen sharing, Skype 2.8 promises to offer a number of other features including improved chat and per-minute calling access via wifi hotspots like Boingo.

Granted, screen sharing has been available through Skype add-ons, but having the features core to the client - and easily accessible - will only help increase the use of Skype for these kinds of online conversations.

Perhaps more importantly for Skype, it's something which is sure to attract new users. At five years old, Skype is among the old guard of this generation of Web apps. This long-awaited screen sharing feature could help revitalize the product, encouraging a whole new crop of business users to add Skype to their cadre of online tools.

And when you couple these new features with Skype's latest hire, it leads one to wonder if 2009 could be a comeback year for the company.

The latest version isn't available for download yet, but it is slated to be released on Tuesday, January 6.

Report: Intranets Increased Collaboration Support in 2008

2009-01-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

Every year old-school web design guru Jakob Nielsen releases a survey of the world's top Intranets. This year's report has some interesting comments on the use of 'web 2.0' techniques in company intranets. However Nielsen continues to take petty shots at the latest social web technologies. We were critical of this last year, but frankly it's just tiresome now. Thankfully his report has some very useful information for enterprises especially, so let's check that out.

First some context. Jakob Nielsen has produced a number of highly influential books about web design. When I started out as a webmaster back in the 90s, Nielsen's books were a constant companion. But as the years have gone by, Nielsen has turned into something of a 'grumpy uncle' of the web design community. He rails against web 2.0 design theories, calls most Internet users "bozos", and he steadfastly refuses to update the design of his own website - despite it looking like something from 1995. However despite his eccentricities, Nielsen's reports are usually thoroughly researched and unearth some useful nuggets.

Last year Nielsen noted that enterprises "took a pragmatic approach to many hyped "Web 2.0" techniques". This year he wrote that this year's Intranet winners "showed a substantial increase in both collaboration support and social networking features". He can't of course resist his standard potshot at the social web:

"Although inspired by the open Internet's "Web 2.0" sites, these features often have a much stronger business model within the enterprise, simply because they're more useful and less subject to noise and information pollution by bozos."

Some of the top features that Nielsen identified in the winning intranets:

•Teams adding "Facebook-like features" to employee directories to enrich the profiles.
•CEO blogs featuring in the vast majority of the winning intranets.
•Employees adding their own videos to the corporate TV network.
•Interactive forums achieving mission-critical status in some cases - e.g. "allowing consultants to post urgent requests for advice from their colleagues around the world."
Nielsen also noted that "intranet personalization is becoming increasingly sophisticated." He said that the leading application of personalization is to "provide each employee with news updates focused on their job role and personal interests."

Enterprise intranets have traditionally been built on a combination of large CMS systems, such as Vignette or Interwoven, and a patchwork of bespoke software. This year, Nielsen noted that there were fewer pieces of software used in the winning intranets - "the 10 winners were built on 26 different products -- substantially fewer than the 41 used in 2008 or the 49 used in 2007."

He also pointed out that Microsoft's SharePoint, "especially the recent MOSS platform (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007)", was used in half of the winning intranets.

However Nielsen stated that other software is being used a lot too - multiple winners used Autonomy, Google Search, and WebTrends.

Now please let us know in the comments what web technologies and software you're currently using in your company Intranet.

World's First Internet Radio Would Go Perfectly in KIIT's Dashborad

2009-01-06T01:16:00.000-08:00

Satellite radio is dead. The world's first internet car radio, from Blaupunkt and miRoamer delivers thousands of internet stations integrated with a standard AM/FM/CD dash console worthy of KITT.

All of your preferences, providers and searches are customized on miRoamer's site, and you can instantly flip back and forth
between internet or terrestrial radio stations in the console. The secret sauce is 3G GSM. Since it's just a plug-n-play SIM, it theoretically means you could get the Australia-based service working in the States on AT&T, once it goes from being built-in equipment to a setup you can buy separately.

Even if it's not available over here immediately, just because it's the first doesn't mean it'll be the only one like this—this is just the beginning of car internet radio, for sure. Plus, I'm pretty sure someone will find a way to hack the 3G to use it tether it to your laptop over the system's built-in Bluetooth (as long as it has the right protocols built-in, anyway).

miRoamer Partners with Blaupunkt to Introduce the World's First Internet Car Radio
Drivers can access largest and most diverse global selection of Internet radio from their car stereo

(Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, NV North Hall Booth #5418 – January 8, 2009) – miRoamer, a global innovator in the Internet radio industry, is announcing a partnership with Blaupunkt, one of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers and specialists in car multimedia, at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The partnership will introduce the world's first Internet car radio, giving drivers access to the world's largest and most diverse selection of Internet radio content through their car stereo.

"The beauty of Internet car radio is the customized user experience," said George Parthimos, Founder and CEO, miRoamer. "Today, users want to jump in their car and go – no pulling out third-party devices or plugging in cords to access their music and information. miRoamer's development with Blaupunkt is the first seamless Internet radio solution. Now, with the simple push of a button, users can access AM/FM stations or Internet radio's thousands of music, entertainment, news and talk stations from around the world, all from the same car stereo."

The world's first Internet car radio by Blaupunkt will enable drivers to tune into miRoamer's tens of thousands of radio stations and really feel like they're there. Users' favorite Internet radio stations can be easily chosen via clearly arranged information on a large screen display, enriched by state-of-the art performance in terms of car multimedia and consumer electronics connectivity.

"The move to develop an Internet car radio solution is a new paradigm and a real starting point for in-car digital media," said Robert Demian, Head of Global Sales, miRoamer. "miRoamer was the first and remains the only true digital media platform. By partnering with Blaupunkt, who has always been recognized as the first to introduce new and innovative products to the car audio markets, consumers now have access to all of the great benefits of Internet radio in their car, while experiencing unparalleled sound quality and reliability that is far superior to what they are accustomed."

"Integrating Blaupunkt stereos with miRoamer technology was a logical step in creating a truly multimedia driving experience," said Dr. Gerhard Pitz, Head of Product Center, Car Radio, Blaupunkt. "Drivers will be able to use all the features they're familiar with, such as phone, address book, Bluetooth and navigation, but with the first Internet radio, driven by miRoamer, we are able to offer them the ability to tune into the world."

miRoamer also offers the ability to browse genres or stations and customize preferences, providers and search options online at miroamer.com. The Internet portal also allows users to add media that is not currently offered on miRoamer, by simply providing the URL and adding it to their favorites.

Availability
Blaupunkt Internet car radio stereos, driven by miRoamer, will be rolled out as built-in original equipment. For more information on currently available miRoamer software, content or technology, please contact Robert Demian at +61 401-674-123 or visit www.miroamer.com.

About miRoamer
miRoamer is an Australian-based subsidiary of Mi Media Holdings Limited. Their miRoamer technology is a category-leading software for enhanced Internet radio entertainment, which can be installed in a variety of consumer electronic products, including car radios, smart phones, digital picture frames, and audio-visual equipment from televisions to home stereo systems. Users have access to media content from a common platform, using as many electronic products as they wish. The miRoamer Internet portal allows users to access favorite content providers and stations, as well as customize how they access them. For more information, call 317-806-1900 x120 or visit www.miroamer.com

Sling Updates: HD Streaming on the Mac at Macworld

2009-01-06T01:12:00.000-08:00

As opposed to a standalone desktop client, Sling has opted to introduce SlingPlayer for Mac HD as a web-based app that runs through Sling.com. The move makes sense, as Sling has been gradually moving into the webspace over the last year with Sling accounts and their web TV portal.

As for the iPhone app, it has undergone some visual changes since the last time we saw it in June, and is now optimized for iPhone 2.0 software. In addition, it has some new features, such as a new remote control interface that changes according to your cable or satellite box, Sling.com account integration and new finger gestures that let you change channels with a swipe of the finger.

SlingPlayer for Mac HD will be available for free sometime in Q1 this year, while the iPhone Sling app will be submitted to Apple for approval around the same time (keep your fingers crossed on that one).
Sling Media to Demonstrate SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and Slingbox HD Streaming on the Mac at Macworld

San Francisco — Macworld — January 6, 2009 — Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), is demonstrating a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone being developed for the iTunes store at this year’s Macworld. Sling Media will deliver a version of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone to Apple for certification in Q1.

Sling Media is also unveiling a prototype of a new SlingPlayer for Mac HD which allows Slingbox PRO-HD users to stream HD to their Mac desktop or laptop computer. The new SlingPlayer for Mac HD is a web-based version of the SlingPlayer software that will be accessible from Sling.com, Sling Media’s recently launched video entertainment web site.

“SlingPlayer Mobile is ideally suited for the iPhone’s large touch screen display and I know iPhone users are eagerly anticipating the application’s availability,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. “Add to that HD streaming support for Slingbox PRO-HD customers and live TV support on our video entertainment site, Sling.com, and you can see Sling Media is committed to delivering great solutions for Mac users.”

SlingPlayer Mobile gives consumers their entire home TV experience, including local channels, local sports teams, video on demand, pay per view, etc. Any program that you can watch on your sofa back home, you can now watch via your iPhone using a standard network connection (3G Cellular, WiFi). In addition, SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone users can also control their home digital video recorder (DVR) to watch recorded shows, pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or even queue new recordings while on the road.

Pricing and Availability
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone will be submitted to Apple for testing and approval in Q1. The price has not been determined at this time. SlingPlayer for Mac HD will be available for free via the web-based SlingPlayer within Sling.com later in Q1. Mac customers will be able to use either Safari or Firefox web browsers to get both HD streaming and Live TV within Sling.com.

HP Mini 2140 Netbook Outdoes the 2133 with Atom Processor and 16:9 LED Screen

2009-01-06T01:09:00.000-08:00

The Gadget: The HP Mini 2140 is the update to the education and business oriented Mini 2133 netbook. HP says they bumped the 2140's specs to cater more to the road warriors
The Skinny: The most notable changes in the 2140 is the 10-inch, LED-backlit, 16:9 screen (1366x768!) and the 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. Visually, the 2140 is pretty much identical to the 2133. HP also tacked on support for 802.11n wi-fi. Other than that, it still offers up to a 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM and your choice of Windows Vista, FreeDOS or SuSE Linux. The HP Mini 2140 will be available this month starting at $500.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2009 – Building on its award-winning portfolio of Mini products, HP today unveiled a new HP Mini designed for mobile professionals that require a rich computing experience in a small, portable package.

The HP Mini 2140 Notebook PC features a simple, refined all-aluminum case for a sleek yet lightweight design. Starting at 2.6 pounds,(1) the fully functional and durable HP Mini 2140 is an ideal companion PC for the on-the-go professional. It features a large 10.1-inch diagonal scratch-resistant HP Illumi-Lite LED display available in either standard or high-definition(2) resolutions, a user-friendly 92 percent of full-size QWERTY keyboard, and a range of hard-drive options including an optional high-capacity 80-gigabyte (GB)(3) solid-state drive.

“HP continues to enhance its portfolio of Mini products to ensure we offer customers choices that meet their personal performance and style needs,” said Dan Forlenza, vice president, Business Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “The sturdy, lightweight HP Mini 2140 integrates innovative functionality to keep on-the-move executives connected without weighing them down.”

The HP Mini 2140 keeps mobile professionals ultra-productive by including a small, low-power Intel® Atom processor to enable the unit to run cooler, use less power and improve battery life. It includes a suite of wireless technologies such as integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN(2) and optional Bluetooth® 2.0, allowing a variety of ways to access the Internet for email, IM, chat and blogging. An integrated VGA webcam allows for easy still-image capture, web-conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging(4) with no additional hardware to buy or carry.

The HP Mini 2140 is also a great tool for the classroom. The suite of wireless,(5) multimedia and security capabilities allows students to learn wherever they have Wi-Fi access – from the classroom, to the library, to their homes. The HP Mini 2140 can change how students learn today and is the practical answer to providing each student continuous access to a notebook in one-to-one computing.

To meet the needs of both mobile professionals and students, the HP Mini 2140 underwent the HP Total Test Process, which included more than 95,000 hours of extensive testing and product validation to ensure designs, materials and components meet the highest standards.

The product is packed with a combination of innovative features to boost productivity and improve the overall mobile experience, including:

A large 10.1-inch diagonal LED display with 16:9 aspect ratio available in either standard-definition (1,024 x 576) or high-definition (1,366 x 768) resolutions. User-friendly 92 percent of full size keyboard (QWERTY) and touchpad.

HP DuraKeys, featuring a clear coating applied over the notebook keyboard that protects the finish and printed letters and characters. HP DuraKeys offers 50 times more resistance to visible wear than keyboards without it.

HP 3D DriveGuard, featuring a three-axis digital accelerometer chip that sends a signal to shut down the hard drive upon sudden movement or shock.

HP Panel Protection System with a scratch-resistant acrylic LCD cover and magnesium hinge bracket for added durability in demanding environments. Ability to view video, still-image capture, web conferencing or video-enhanced instant messaging with no additional hardware to buy or carry.

The integrated VGA webcam enables video and still-image capture to allow the addition of photos and video clips to presentations, documents and email.(4)

Two battery solutions – three-cell for lightest-weight configurations or six-cell lithium-ion battery for longer life.(6)

Optional Absolute Software’s Computrace,(7) which allows IT professionals to work with local law enforcement to track and help recover stolen or missing computers, inventory computers district wide, and detect changes in hardware and software.

New accessories designed for the Mini include an HP USB Docking Station, USB-powered HP Mobile Audio Speakers and HP USB optical disk drive that can read and write CD and DVD formats, as well as offer HP LightScribe capability to burn content directly onto discs. A lightweight, functional messenger bag designed specifically for the HP or a neoprene slip case offer added protection for professionals while on the go.

More information on HP Mini 2140 product specifications, images and other HP mobility solutions is available in an online press kit at http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press_kits/2008/mobility/index.html and at http://www.hp.com/personal.

Pricing and availability
The HP Mini 2140 starts at $499(8) and is expected to be available later this month

Samsung HMX-H106 First Camcorder With 64GB SSD, Looks Like a Thermos

2009-01-06T01:06:00.000-08:00

It, along with its 32GB and 16GB brothers, the H105 and H104, respectively, have a 10x zoom lens with optical stabilization and storage expansion via SDHC card slot. They all shoot with H.264 compression, giving you 12 hours of "full HD" footage on the 64GB H106, and six on the H105, and so on. No word on pricing, but you can buy the H106 in April.

SAMSUNG EXTENDS FULL-HD CAMCORDER FAMILY
WITH INTRODUCTION OF NEW H-SERIES

New HMX-H106 is the World’s First Camcorder to Feature a 64GB Internal SSD

LAS VEGAS, N.V., January 5, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today extended its family of full-HD digital camcorders with four new models - the HMX-H106, HMX-H105, HMX-H104, and HMX-H100. Samsung’s new H-Series offer users high-performance, full-HD video, a renowned Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens with Optical Image Stabilization, and industry leading design; however, most notable is the use of internal Solid State Drives to provide onboard memory.

The HMX-H106, Samsung’s new flagship full-HD digital camcorder, is the world’s first to feature an internal 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD)*. Samsung’s renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder, providing consumers with higher performing and more durable internal memory. In comparison to HDD, Samsung’s SSD technology is more lightweight and compact, operates silently with very low heat emission, and features no moving parts, which significantly reduces overall power consumption and enhances reliability. No moving parts also make SSD technology more durable and resistant to shock and vibrations, which pose a considerable threat to the performance of HDD based digital camcorders. Additionally, Samsung’s SSD technology is faster than HDD, including quicker boot-up and read/write speeds which is required for the amount of data recorded in full-HD resolution. When actively reading and writing data, Samsung’s SSD technology consumes approximately 1/8th of the power of a comparable HDD**.

The HMX-H105 and HMX-H104 offer 32GB and 16GB SSDs, respectively, and like the HMX-H106, also allow consumers to expand memory capacity using an SD/SDHC memory card. The HMX-H100 does not feature an internal SSD and requires the use of a SD/SDHC memory card.

The new H-Series full-HD digital camcorders also utilize H.264 compression, which significantly increases recording time. At full-HD resolution and when set to fine mode, users can record up to three hours directly to the 16GB HMX-H104, six hours to the 32GB HMX-H105, and an unparalleled 12 hours to the 64GB HMX-H106.

Producing a high-quality image starts at the lens, which is highly regarded as one of the most important components of a camcorder. Precision optics are paramount in helping produce inspiring video and Samsung’s H-Series camcorders underscore this assessment by incorporating world renowned Schneider optics. The camcorders’ Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens features a 10x optical zoom and is paired with Samsung’s new Optical Image Stabilizer to help reduce the blur found in footage as a result of vibrations and hand shake.

The Schneider lens also features a 37mm wide-angle focal length. Unlike other camcorders offering a typical angle of view of 40~50mm, the H-Series’ 37mm wide-angle Schneider lens allows users to fit more of their desired scene into the frame, making the camcorder ideal for recording large groups of family or friends, breathtaking landscapes or even capturing all the action at sporting events.

The trusted Schneider lens also helps capture remarkably clear and sharp video with accurate color reproduction. The H-Series’ direct HDMI connections allow consumers to effortlessly enjoy their full-HD content on their HDTV without the need for proprietary docking cradles. Consumers can also utilize the camcorders to take more than just stunning high-definition video, as each offers a built-in strobe flash and the ability to capture 4.7 mega-pixel digital still photos.

“This new series of high-definition digital camcorders clearly speaks to Samsung’s commitment to providing today’s consumers with the most advanced and highest-performing digital imaging technology,” said Tony Sorice, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Digital Imaging at Samsung Electronics America. “Our ability to leverage the synergies that exist across our various businesses in the design and manufacture of digital camcorders and cameras, allows us to better meet customer demands and bring higher-performing digital imaging solutions to market faster and more efficiently.”

At the heart of Samsung’s new H-Series of full-HD digital camcorders is a high-performance CMOS imaging sensor. Measuring 1/4.5 inches, the CMOS sensor boasts 2.2 mega-pixels and yields impressive light sensitivity helping enhance the overall imaging experience for the end-user. The camcorders also offer a large 2.7 inch touch-screen LCD, which serves as the gateway to the camcorders’ comprehensive suite of features. The swiveling LCD also gives users access to key camcorder controls, including record and zoom. When utilized in conjunction with Samsung’s proprietary swivel grip, the additional placement of controls on the LCD screens allow users to effortlessly control the camcorder at low or high angles.

The camcorders also feature a HD Time Lapse recording mode that will give consumers the ability to experiment with their creativity. When shooting in the Time Lapse recording mode, the camcorder will record a single image at an interval pre-selected by the user, either 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, or 30 seconds, and will save each image as one single movie file.

A cable modem termination system or CMTS

2009-01-05T23:26:00.000-08:00

A cable modem termination system or CMTS is equipment typically found in a cable company's headend, or at cable company hubsite and is used to provide high speed data services, such as cable internet or Voice over IP, to cable subscribers.

In order to provide these high speed data services, a cable company will connect its headend to the Internet via very high capacity data links to a network service provider. On the subscriber side of the headend, the CMTS enables the communication with subscribers' cable modems. Different CMTSs are capable of serving different cable modem population sizes - ranging from 4,000 cable modems to 150,000 or more, depending in part on traffic. A given headend may have between half a dozen to a dozen or more CMTSs to service the cable modem population served by that headend or HFC hub.

One way to think of a CMTS is to imagine a router with Ethernet interfaces (connections) on one side and coax RF interfaces on the other side. The RF/coax interfaces carry RF signals to and from the subscriber's cable modem.

In fact, most CMTSs have both Ethernet interfaces (or other more traditional high-speed data interfaces) as well as RF interfaces. In this way, traffic that is coming from the Internet can be routed (or bridged) through the Ethernet interface, through the CMTS and then onto the RF interfaces that are connected to the cable company's hybrid fiber coax (HFC). The traffic winds its way through the HFC to end up at the cable modem in the subscriber's home. Traffic going from a subscriber's home systems go through the cable modem and out to the Internet in the opposite direction.

CMTSs typically carry only IP traffic. Traffic destined for the cable modem from the Internet, known as downstream traffic, is carried in IP packets encapsulated in MPEG transport stream packets. These MPEG packets are carried on data streams that are typically modulated onto a TV channel using Quadrature Amplitude Modulation.

Upstream data (data from cable modems to the headend or Internet) is carried in Ethernet frames modulated with QPSK, 16-QAM, 32-QAM, 64-QAM, or S-CDMA. This is done at the "subband" portion of the cable TV spectrum (also known as the "T" channels), a much lower part of the frequency spectrum than the downstream signal.

A typical CMTS allows a subscriber's computer to obtain an IP address by forwarding DHCP requests to the relevant servers. This DHCP server returns, for the most part, what looks like a typical response including an assigned IP address for the computer, gateway/router addresses to use, DNS servers, etc.

The CMTS may also implement some basic filtering to protect against unauthorized users and various attacks. Traffic shaping is sometimes performed to prioritize application traffic, perhaps based upon subscribed plan or download usage. However, the function of traffic shaping is more likely done by a Policy Traffic Switch. A CMTS may also act as a bridge or router.

A customer's cable modem cannot communicate directly with other modems on the line. In general, cable modem traffic is routed to other cable modems or to the Internet through a series of CMTSs and traditional routers. A route could conceivably pass through a single CMTS.

A CMTS provides many of the same functions provided by the DSLAM in a DSL system.

Comcast's Internet Slowdown System Fully Armed and Operational (and Avoidable)

2009-01-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

Comcast's bandwidth throttling system that slows you down for using too much bandwidth is now fully armed and operational in all markets. Here's how it works, and how to not get stuck on the short bus.

The golden rule—which we covered a bit here—to keep in mind is this: If you use more than 70 percent of your downstream or upstream bandwidth for more than 15 minutes, you'll be slowed down for at least 15 minutes, or until you're brought back down to using 50 percent of your bandwidth. The other, more esoteric way to bring on the sludge is actually a pair of conditions: If a certain CMTS port—cable modem termination system, the hub your cable modem, along with those of up to 15,000 (but probably fewer) runs to—is congested and if you've been targeted as the asshole why.

By slowed down, it means all of your packets are assigned "Best Effort" quality of service, a lower tier than Priority Best Effort. Which means this, according to Comcast:

If there is no congestion, packets from a user in a BE state should have little trouble getting on the bus when they arrive at the bus stop. If, on the other hand, there is congestion in a particular instance, the bus may become filled by packets in a PBE state before any BE packets can get on. In that situation, the BE packets would have to wait for the next bus that is not filled by PBE packets.

This all happens in a compressed time frame though—missing 50 buses would mean being delayed by about a tenth of a second, but it is possible to have your packets dropped in "extreme cases." (See? The bus metaphor was theirs.)

Don't forget your bandwidth counter either, guys. You wouldn't wanna zoom past your 250GB cap and get slowed down, would you? Enjoy your internets, and don't hog it all!

Gallery: Check Out the HP Firebird 803's Liquid-cooled Innards

2009-01-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

News of HP's Firebird 803 may have leaked out over the holidays, but now that its been officially announced, we have a batch of photos, including the freakishly tidy insides, as well as pricing details.

As you can see, HP put some work in getting the internal layout of the Firebird to be as simple and clean as possible. A couple of interesting details not revealed in the leak are that the Firebird actually has 3 GPUs—two discrete Nvidia cards in SLI configuration for performance needs only, and one integrated GPU for Windows to run on. The external power supply is a big reason why the machine is 80% less power hungry than most gaming PCs, while the hot-swappable drive bays and sub-30db noise level are also nice touches.

But even more impressive is the price. Considering you're getting a 2.83 GHz Core 2 Quad, 640 GB of storage, Blu-ray, 4 GB RAM dual SLI graphics cards and liquid cooling, it's not bad that the Firebird 803 will only run around $2100 when it becomes available. There will also be a Firebird 802 available which will lack the Blu-ray and only have 500 GB of storage for $1800

LaCie Hard Disk MAX Stores 2TB in Shiny Black Box

2009-01-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

LaCie's newest Hard Disk MAX storage system doesn't depart from the company's history of sleek-looking computer peripherals. It delivers up to 2TB of storage in an ebony-glazed cuboid designed by Neil Poulton.

The Hard Disk MAX includes two 1TB disk drives that can be set in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration. A front USB 2.0 port can link it to another external drive for data backups, and a blue LED stripe will change to red if potential problems come along.

Hard Disk MAX also ships with LaCie setup software, Genie Backup Assistant for PC and Intego Backup Assistant for Mac. With the $270 price tag, you'll also get a year of online backup service.

LaCie Hard Disk MAX: Expanding More Than Just Capacity

* Simple and efficient dual-disk USB storage
* RAID for high-performance and maximum reliability
* Hub port feature
* Complete software bundle for easy formatting and backup

Today LaCie announced its Hard Disk MAX high capacity storage system for users who want advanced RAID features with consumer-level ease of use and style. Designed exclusively for LaCie by award-winning industrial designer Neil Poulton, the Hard Disk MAX delivers 2 TB (terabytes) of ultra-reliable storage capacity in a stunning package that will satisfy high-performance requirements for the discriminating user.

The Hard Disk Max includes two large-capacity disk drives that can be set in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration with the simple flick of a switch on the back panel. RAID 0 stripes data across both disks for the fastest data retrieval response time, while RAID 1 mirrors data exactly on both disks for maximum data reliability.

"Our Hard Disk Max is the ideal mass-storage product for users looking for high performance and data protection," said Lise Manteau, LaCie's Consumer Hard Disk Drive Product Manager. "Its elegant design and ease of use, combined with its competitive price, will appeal to users who have ever-growing data storage requirements."

Users can effortlessly configure the pair of high-speed 1 TB drives in the RAID setting of their choice. Included with the Hard Disk Max is the LaCie Setup Assistant for quick, easy and customizable formatting of the disk drives. The system also ships with Genie Backup Assistant for PC and Intego Backup Assistant for Mac.

The front USB 2.0 expansion port on the sleek, all-black polished-mirror enclosure can be used to link to another external drive for data backups. The multi-purposed blue LED stripe provides ambient light and changes to red to warn of potential problems.

The Hard Disk Max comes with the exclusive LaCie One Year Unlimited Online Backup service, which provides unlimited online backup for one full year after installation is a complete.

Availability
The LaCie Hard Disk MAX designed by Neil Poulton is available worldwide through the LaCie Online Store or LaCie Resellers at the suggested retail price starting at $269.99 USD. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.

About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poulton first came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageing pens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes color and form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com

About LaCie
Located in the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for PC, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday users easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology. Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext under FR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

HP Pavilion DV2 Notebook is HPs first 12-inch, Full Functioning Consumer Laptop

2009-01-05T22:54:00.000-08:00

All of HP's 12-inch (and under) laptops have either been tablets, netbooks, or products aimed at the business crowd—until now. The Pavilion DV2 is HP's new 12-inch consumer laptop that is under an inch thick.

The DV2 is powered by a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 processor, supports up to 4GB RAM (only one slot, however), offers up to 500 GB storage, and comes with HDMI-out. It also has an 8x DVD burner, webcam, 802.11n wi-fi, Bluetooth and WWAN configurations available. The DV2 will hit stores in March, costing between $600-$800.

The HP Pavilion DV3 is also out and has an LED-backlit, 13.3-inch screen. It's pretty much identical to the DV3500t, except that it has a 2.3 GHz AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra ZM-84 Dual-Core Mobile Processor, and an ATI Radeon HD3200 video card. The DV3 should be available for pre-order immediately, and will sit in a price range between $800-$1200 dollars, depending on configuration. hp dvz notebooks

JVC 32-inch LCD Prototype's 11-pount Weight and 7mm Thickness To Be Ogled At CES

2009-01-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

The CES countdown is nearing its end, and JVC has let loose details on its Japanese site of a prototype LCD TV that will be more waifish than even the most figure-conscious booth babe.

JVC is claiming the world's lightest 32-inch LCD TV here, and by the looks of this somewhat sparse press release, they're achieving that with a modular design (meaning, as many components as possible offloaded to a companion box), and a "new optical system" covering the backlight. They're also pushing the green message with "50% less materials and 10% fewer LCD module parts." We'll have more from Vegas in just a matter of days. Yikes, is it really that soon? [JVC Japan (translated)]

JVC Develops Next-Generation Super-Thin LCD Technology
Super Thin and Light at .28 inch (7mm) and 11lbs (5kg)
Energy Efficient LCD Makes Possible Flexible Visual Environments

Tokyo, Japan, January 5, 2009 - Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) is pleased to
announce that it has developed next-generation super-thin LCD technology for 32-inch television
displays. The significant reduction in thickness and weight allow greater flexibility in the design
and layout of commercial and household visual environments.

1. Integrating a new optical system and modular LCD construction, JVC technology has made
possible the company’s thinnest and lightest LCD television display at just .28 inch (7mm) in
depth and 11lbs (5kg) in weight.

2. The technology uses approximately 50% less material resources and approximately 10% fewer
LCD module parts than current comparable JVC displays, while maintaining optical, intensity and
low-heat radiation performance. Notably, use of LED as the light source eliminates the need for
mercury.

3. JVC developed new optical elements to realize this new LCD technology, overcoming
technological restraints on thin displays to deliver an energy-efficient, high-resolution display
exhibiting high contrast and luminance uniformity and a wide color palette.

JVC will be exhibiting a 32-inch LCD TV prototype equipped with the technology at a private
venue in Las Vegas, Nevada from Wednesday, January 7 through Saturday, January 10. The
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s biggest home electronics exhibition,
is also held at this time.

Palm's Nova-Powered Last Stand a Slider With "Large" Touchscreen

2009-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

CrunchGear says they've got the dirt on what Palm is launching at CES, which, let's face it, better be awesome if they wanna stick around. According to their source, that may just be the case.

They say that the Nova OS is "amazing" and will have an app store at launch. And it'll have media playback (uh, kinda like every other smartphone OS). The touchscreen is portrait-oriented—CrunchGear calls it "large," but a screen that's large for Palm and for everybody else has historically been fairly divergent. That said, it's being sourced to HTC, so maybe it'll be legitimately biggie-sized, at least 480ishx600ish. The more life-like mockup comes from Rob at BoingBoing Gadgets, created "assuming that Palm has no imagination."

I'm hoping it really is amazing, but I guess we'll see on Thursday

Kodak Z980 Megazoom Camera Shoots HD Video; Refreshed Zx1 Mini-Camcorder Is Cheaper, Weatherproof

2009-01-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

Kodak's recent digital offerings have been decidedly entry-level products. The new Zx1 camcorder and Z980 Megazoom point-and-shoot keep to Kodak's short tradition of low prices, but look like they might be solid performers too.

The Z980 is a low-to-midrange bridge camera, primarily marketed (like its predecessors) for its formidable 24x zoom. The 12MP sensor is exposed through a 26mm fixed lens, and comes with a now-standard set of P&S features. What makes the Z980 interesting, though, are the few pro(ish) features thrown in. HD video recording at 720p, assuming it isn't a shaky, noisy mess, is a big plus. And the hot flash shoe and vertical shutter release and grip gives the camera some photog cred that you usually don't always see at this price ($400) and form factor.

As for Kodak's miniature video camcorder range, the Zx1 is interesting successor to the fantastic Zi6 Flip-killer. The main difference? It's weatherproof, and slightly cheaper at $150. The camera will mercifully support a full range of SDHC storage, meaning that you can carry up to 32GB or HD video around in your pocket.

These products are set to be demonstrated (and were originally intended to be unveiled) at CES, where they'll be accompanied by a range of point-and-shoot pocket cameras that were slightly too boring to write about just now. STAY TUNED

10 Mobile Social Networks to Check Out

2009-01-05T03:33:00.000-08:00

Earlier today we covered a mobile social network called Buzzd, which will be featured at the music festival Bonnaroo. In this post we outline 10 mobile social networks to keep your eyes on. It's a developing field - and there are issues such as hardware compatibility to overcome - but we expect some of these services to make a big impact in the next year or two. Because, as Sarah Perez recently noted, with 975 million mobile web users expected by 2012, this is a potentially very lucrative market.

Dada is a mobile SNS that enables users to update personal blogs with pictures and video, download mobile entertainment, connect with and meet other local singles in real time and stay in contact with all their friends. Dada can be used on both PC and mobile, and dada.net is its portal destination page. The 3 main products within the portal are Dada Dating, Dada Life (personal space and social networking), and Mobile Entertainment.

See: Dada Leads Mobile Social Networking Charge
Strands

Recommendations company Strands started out as a music discovery mobile social networking service. Its mobile features include a mobile Web portal, a personalized radio station, and a personal version of partyStrands (its service for party organizers, bars, clubs and DJs). Strands' mobile social networking service basically enables its users to find music and network with their friends via their mobile phones.

See: MyStrands Revamp - More Integration Between Mobile, Online and Physical Worlds
Itsmy

The itsmy.com mobile community wants to be MySpace for your phone. By connecting people and content in both the U.S. and E.U., itsmy has already gathered up more than 1 million registered mobile users with 4 million mobile home and content pages and continues to grow. Recently, itsmy announced they've now launched 100,000 personal mobile TV channels - one for each of its top 10% of content-uploading customers.

See: itsmy Launches Personal Mobile Broadcasting
Frengo

In April mobile social networking company Frengo released a toolkit for development of Open Social and Facebook applications on mobile phones. The Open Social Mobile Toolkit supports MySpace, Hi5, Bebo, and Facebook and allows developers of applications on those networks to extend them to the mobile phone. In addition to extending support for the Open Social and Facebook platforms to the mobile phone, the Frengo toolkit allows developers to monetize applications via the company's social advertising platform or via premium SMS.

See: Frengo Launches Mobile Open Social Toolkit
Twango

In July 2007 Nokia acquired the media sharing service Twango. Twango combines online storage with social networking, allowing users to organize and share photos, videos and other personal media. ReadWriteWeb wrote an in-depth profile of Twango in January '07, in a post entitled Twango Tackles Lucrative Media Sharing Market. Nokia planned to use Twango to enable users to share multimedia content through their desktop and mobile devices.

See: Nokia Acquires Media Sharing Startup Twango
Shozu

Shozu is not strictly speaking a social network, but it enables you to share your videos and photos via your mobile phone - e.g. from your Flickr account, YouTube, Facebook. RWW reader Honor said in a past post that "it allows me to send the pictures I take with my n80 to Facebook and share with my friends, or email people pictures while I am at an event, shopping for stuff for them etc..."

The final 4 services are from Corvida's post on ReadWriteWeb entitled: The Future of Mobile Social Networks: 4 Promising Services
Brightkite

We recently profiled Brightkite as a winning mobile social network in the arena. Brightkite allows for your network of friends to keep track of where others may be at any moment. Since no GPS is required, users can send updates to the service via text messaging or email, to update their profile with location updates, pictures, and notes. With a host of privacy settings to prevent any form of stalking, Twitter users are increasingly using the network to update friends with status locations sent to their Twitter streams. Brightkite may be one of the best mobile networks to use, especially when going to a conference or big event in town.
Zyb

Taking a different approach from Brightkite, Zyb aims to be a mobile contact organizer for your social network. While we already have our address books for this, Zyb looks to provide a way for you to backup and synchronize your contacts online. You can store your phone numbers, calendar and texts, manage this information online, and transfer your information to a new phone if there ever comes a time. You can also use Zyb to find out who has you in their phones as a contact and even discover friends of friends. Think of Zyb as an expansion on your Facebook pictures and contacts, only more mobile.
Groovr

Groovr is your mobile network's night out on the town. Post a picture, message, or video to your Groovr profile and have it sent to all your friends too. Instant chat? Groovr's got you covered. However, some of these features are redundant. Can't we already send messages, pictures, and videos to our friends without a third party? The only feature we found remotely unique is a city's Explore page on Groovr. All of your posted items are sent to the corresponding cities Explore page. Here's a peek at San Francisco on Groovr:

Fon11

Developed by MoBlast Technologies, Fon11 could become the hottest mobile social network for the iPhone. With a nice UI (of course) and great features like the ability to see just how far away your contacts are from you, availability status messages, visibility settings and more, it seems Fon11 has a lot more to offer than the rest of the pack. Fon11 has already been ported to Android and Nokia Web Runtime with development plans in the works for J2ME and Windows Mobile platforms. While GPS remains an issue through no fault of Moblast, we've been assured that there are many strategies in development to find a resolution.

We hope you enjoyed this look at 10 interesting and exciting mobile social networks. The information in this post came from a variety of past ReadWriteWeb articles and we will continue to explore this promising market. In the meantime, please list your favorite mobile social networks in the comments below.

LG Bundling Netflix Streaming Directly Into HDTVS,At a PremiuI

2009-01-05T03:23:00.000-08:00

To borrow a sentiment from Hershey, there's no wrong way to watch some Netflix. With a veritable slew of other viewing options, built-in capability for TVs was inevitable. So here it comes, courtesy of LG.

LG hasn't broached the subject of specs or prices yet (mostly), but the TVs will support instant-start streaming and HD content, though it's not clear whether or not Netflix will account for the whole of the networked TV experience, or if LG plans on leveraging the connection tech for Yahoo and Intel's WebTV-like widgets, or if this connection will come via Wi-Fi or wires.

In any case, director of product development Tim Alessi told the AP that customers can expect a $200-$300 cost for the TVs over unequipped products. How integrated Netflix manages to cost that much more than the standalone Roku box is unclear, but prices like that—assuming there aren't some killer features we haven't yet heard about—leave the only real advantage to such a setup being less living room clutter. Expect more details (and probably similar announcements from other manufacturers) at CES

Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 Is Thinnest, Lightest 16-Inch Notebook Thanks to Carbon Fiber

2009-01-05T03:14:00.000-08:00

Lenovo's IdeaPad Y-series consumer notebooks are all going 16:9 widescreen, teed off by the 16-inch Y650, which is the thinnest, lightest notebook in that class, thanks to carbon fiber.

Rounding out the series are the Y550 and Y450, which are the 15 and 14-inch versions of the same notebook. They're all LED-backlit, and weirdly, at least according to the spec sheet all have the same 1366x768 resolution. Also bizarre is that the 15.6-inch Y550 weighs more than the Y650—6 pounds to 5.6. Blu-ray and discrete graphics options in all (though not the kind you can turn off or off like in the unibody MacBook Pros or some of Toshiba's notebooks).

Still, they do start fairly cheap: $1200 for the Y650, $830 for the other two when they roll out in March.

IdeaPad Y650, Y550, Y450 Laptops
Lenovo’s latest IdeaPad Y Series laptops deliver powerful Hi-Definition entertainment in new sizes that are smaller, thinner and lighter than the previous generation to give more choices to consumers. The three Y Series laptops – the Y650, Y550, and Y450 – share the same modern soft black design featuring an interlocked hexagon pattern on the top cover along with a discrete copper accent around the perimeter of the laptop.

Lenovo delivers its first 16-inch widescreen laptop, the IdeaPad Y650, to the distinction of being the thinnest and lightest laptop in its class1. In fact, the laptop weighs even lighter than many 15-inch laptops, providing users with an additional inch of screen space without compromising on mobility. Making use of special materials like carbon fiber, as used in the aerospace and automotive industries, Lenovo has engineered the laptop down to a slender one-inch at its thinnest point with a weight of just 5.6 pounds.

The expanded Y Series add three new 16:9 screen sizes: the 16-inch Y650, the 15.6-inch Y550, and the 14-inch Y450 laptops. The new Y Series laptops are configurable with up to 500GB of hard drive storage space and up to 4GB of DDR3 memory.

Designed for HD and Multimedia
To provide an exceptional Hi-Definition entertainment and multimedia experience, the Y Series laptops are equipped with 16:9 format glossy widescreen panels, optional latest generation NVIDIA GFX graphics for gaming and smooth HD video playback and Dolby® Home Theater™ surround sound. The IdeaPad Y650 laptop also features JBL speakers for a rich, resonate sound.

The Y Series includes the new Lenovo OneKey™ Theater software to enhance the audio and visual experience. By pressing a button, OneKey Theater gives users an easy way to adjust the PC’s display and sound effect settings. Users can switch from normal mode to movie mode on the fly to optimize the picture when watching movies or playing games. The Y Series also includes Lenovo Desktop Navigator so users can toggle between shortcuts, files and other frequently used programs just by placing their finger along the touch-sensitive slide bar. For extra convenience, users can simply use the multi-touch touchpad below the keyboard and use their fingertips to enlarge or reduce image size. Additionally, an ambient light sensor on the IdeaPad Y650 laptop automatically adjusts screen brightness based on surrounding light conditions, helping to reduce eye strain.

Lenovo has added new levels of performance to its Y Series by equipping them with the latest Intel processors as well as DDR3 memory to help applications respond more quickly under multi-tasking conditions. Now users can burn DVDs in less time, compress and open large documents more easily and enjoy smoother, more realistic gaming. Y Series laptops have several wireless connectivity options including WiFi and optional Bluetooth.

For added convenience, Lenovo’s latest VeriFace™ facial recognition technology combines Windows log-in and file encryption for logging onto the PC and for password-protecting individual files.

The new Y Series also features Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System to help users to recover their data and restore critical system files after system failures, viruses and other mishaps.

IdeaPad S10 Netbook
Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10 netbook – an affordable secondary PC for the home or for the first-time PC user – is ideal for connecting to the Internet, messaging with friends, completing homework or even making Skype calls. Lenovo is updating the popular IdeaPad S10 netbook with new multimedia and networking tools for social networking enthusiasts ranging from newbie’s to the most social of socialites.

While many early adopters are familiar with the world of social networking, some mainstream consumers are only taking the first steps. Through a new Lenovo tool called LenovoSocial, that comes preloaded on the netbook, users can easily connect to a resource portal that will help them navigate the vast options for participating in social networking.

Other new features on the IdeaPad S10 netbook include Lenovo Quick Start. With this functionality, users will have the ability to access a number of frequently used applications including a web browser, music player, photo viewer, instant messaging tools and Skype. New to the netbook is Lenovo’s VeriFace™ facial recognition technology, a convenient tool for easy log-in. Similar to the IdeaPad Y Series laptops, the netbook features multi-touch functionality on the trackpad and Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System.

The new IdeaPad S10 netbook’s 10.2-inch LED backlight display, 0.9 inch thick frame and 2.4 pound weight make it an ideal companion to tote in a backpack or shoulder bag. Color choices include black, white, red, blue, or pink.

Pricing and Availability4
The new IdeaPad Y650, Y550, Y450 laptops and S10 netbook will be available beginning in March. Manufacturer suggested retail pricing (MSRP) for models starts at $1,199 for the IdeaPad Y650, $829 for the IdeaPad Y550 and Y450, and $349 for the IdeaPad S10 netbook. The IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one desktop will be available beginning in April with MSRP for models starting at $999.

IdeaPad Y650
16:9 16-inch HD 1366 X 768 WLED type display
Intel Centrino 2 – Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 1066 MHz FSB and 6 MB L2 cache, Intel GM45 Chipset, Intel GMA 4500 MHD graphics
Memory - Up to 4 GB, DDR3 800/1066 MHz DRAM
Graphics - Up to Discrete nVidia N10M-GE1/256M GDDR3 VRAM
Storage - Up to 500 GB, 5400 rpm
Battery – 3.5 hours with UMA, 2.5 hours with discrete, 6-cell 2000mAH
Weight – 5.62 pounds
Dimensions – 390 X 260 X 26.1 mm
Intel® WiMax/ WiFi Link 5100 a/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Bluetooth® (Option)
9.5 mm SATA Optical (DVD Rambo, Optional Blu-Ray Combo & Rambo)
Dolby Home Theatre sound
Lenovo Desktop Navigator
Ambient Light Sensor technology
VeriFace 3.5 facial recognition
2 X 2 watt JBL speakers
Integrated 1.3 megapixel USB 2.0 LCD camera
6-in-1 multicard reader
2 USB 2.0 ports, E-sata, RJ45, VGA, Mic-In, Headphone, HDMI, TV, optional 34 mm Express Card slot, mini-PCIe slot (WLAN)
VeriFace™ 3.5, EasyCapture 3.5, Power2GOBD 5.5 (w/ BD optical support), Power2GO(W/O BD optical support), PlayMovie 1.51.3928(For Home Premium and BD optical), WinDVD(For Home Basic w/o BD Optical ), Dolby control center, OneKey Theater, Napster 4.1.0.4(Only for US), Wild Tangent, Norton Internet Security 2008, Lenovo Energy Management Software 3.1, OneKey Rescue System, Lenovo ReadComm 4.0, Carbonite, Microsoft/Lenovo Portal, Microsoft Office Ready, Adobe Reader 8.1, Windows Live 1.0, Office Ready 2007, Lenovo Desktop Navigator, DDNi (Only for USA)

IdeaPad Y550
16:9 15.6-inch HD/full HD, 1366 x 768 display
Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 800 MHz FSB and 2 MB L2 cache, Intel GM45 Chipset, Intel GMA 4500 MHD graphics
Memory - Up to 4 GB DDR3 800/1066 MHz DRAM
Graphics - Intel GMA x4500, Up to Nvidia NB10P-GE1 w/512 MB GDDR3 VRAM
Storage - Up to 500 GB, 5400 rpm
Battery – 4.5 hours with UMA, 3.5 hours with discrete
Weight – 6 pounds
Dimensions – 385 x 255 x 26-37 mm
Latest 5100 a/g/n wireless, Ethernet, optional Bluetooth
Dolby Home Theatre sound
Lenovo Desktop Navigator
VeriFace 3.5 facial recognition
Touch sensitive controls
One Key Theatre, One Key Rescue software, Easy Capture 3.5, Power2Go, Lenovo Ready Comm 4.0, Win DVD, Dolby control center, Napster 4.1.04, Wild Tangent, Norton Internet Security 2008, Lenovo Energy Management Software 3.1, Carbonite, Microsoft/Lenovo Portal, Microsoft Office Ready, Adobe Reader 8.1, Windows Live 1.0, Office Ready 2007, DDNi
Home Premium SP1 32/64 bit

IdeaPad Y450
16:9 14-inch W LED 1366x768 display
Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 800 MHz FSB and 2 MB L2 cache, Intel GM45 Chipset, Intel GMA 4500 MHD graphics
Memory - Up to 4 GB DDR3 800/1066 MHz DRAM
Graphics - Intel GMA x4500, Up to Nvidia NB10P-GE1 w/512 MB GDDR3 VRAM
Storage - Up to 500 GB, 5400 rpm
12.7 mm SATA optical (DVD Rambo, optional Blu-Ray Combo and Rambo)
Battery – 4.5 hours with UMA, 3.5 hours with discrete
Weight – 4.6 pounds
Dimensions – 340 X 232 X 21-34.8 mm
Dolby Home Theatre sound
Lenovo Desktop Navigator
Touch sensitive controls
VeriFace 3.5 facial recognition
One Key Theatre, One Key Rescue software, Easy Capture 3.5, Power2Go, Lenovo Ready Comm 4.0, Win DVD, Dolby control center, Napster 4.1.04, Wild Tangent, Norton Internet Security 2008, Lenovo Energy Management Software 3.1, Carbonite, Microsoft/Lenovo Portal, Microsoft Office Ready, Adobe Reader 8.1, Windows Live 1.0, Office Ready 2007, DDNi
Home Premium SP1 32/64 bit

Fake:French Site Posts Dubious Photos of 16GB iPhone 3G(RED) Edition

2009-01-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

French site Nowhereelse has their hands on some photos that look suspiciously like a (RED) version of the 16GB iPhone 3G. However, it's lacking the telltale (RED) badge, making this pic dubious at best.

Also, it could be the way the pic was taken, but the red color just doesn't seem right. Or maybe I'm starting to go color blind. Either way, it could be a case or a legit (RED) iPhone 3G. Or maybe it's just a nice, glossy paint job by someone who wishes there were a (RED) 3G out there in the wild.

Regardless, this kind of simple announcement is one we could easily expect to see Apple making at MacWorld this week. [Nowherelese]

Rumor: 17-inch Apple MacBook Pro Finally Recieving Update,Better Battery

2009-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

Word from Asia today is that the 17-inch MacBook Pro, which conspicuously lacked the aluminum update its smaller brethren and cousins received earlier this year, will finally receive its refresh at MacWorld—with a twist.

The big news isn't the aluminum unibody construction—it's that the portable rig is getting a slimmer, more efficient battery. But, and this is a big (unconfirmed) but, the battery will apparently be inaccessible, a la the iPhone and iPod. What's the deal with that?

Expect more at MacWorld, which may or may not have big or small announcements of any kind

Hyperlinking the Real World

2009-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

European researchers working on the MOBVIS project have developed a new system that will allow camera phone users to hyperlink the real world. After taking a picture of a streetscape in an urban area, the MOBVIS technology identifies objects like buildings, infrastructure, monuments, cars, and even logos and banners. It then renders relevant information on the screen using icons that deliver text-based details about the object when clicked.

This project goes beyond today's mapping applications like Google's Street View, for example, which first identifies your location either via GPS or triangulation and then shows you pictures of that area. Instead, MOBVIS actually lets you "see" the world through your mobile phone. This is computer vision, or rather, mobile vision.

There are obviously numerous potential applications for such a technology. On the MOBVIS homepage, they offer up some scenarios for how their application could be used, including the following:

Tourism/Augmented City Maps: The MOBVIS technology could be used to inform visitors about the objects in an area be them buildings or landmarks. The images could also be annotated with additional information like history, event information, or information about nearby shops.

Visual Localization: For phones without GPS technology, triangulation could be combined with the computer vision technology to locate a user's position and orientation in a manner that would be comparable to GPS and just as accurate.

Motion Estimation: Also comparable to GPS, MOBVIS could enable continuous position updates to determine the location of objects in motion as well as their speed.

Incremental Map Updates: MOBVIS supports incremental updating of maps which would allow for the automated authoring of the urban infrastructure. No longer would Google need to send their vans around taking pictures of streets - the data could be uploaded from users' phones as they took their photos.

Picture-Driven Search Engine: Because the mobile phone could now "see" the surrounding landscape, the world - reality - becomes the backdrop for a sort of picture-driven search engine in which the objects in the world are all hyperlinked and annotated like a real-life semantic web.
How It Works

The MOBVIS system begins with a pre-populated database of geo-referenced panoramas (such as Google's Street View, perhaps). The objects in the images are then manually annotated with information. Once that's complete, the system is ready for search queries from mobile users. After a user takes a picture, MOBVIS compares the photo to the photos in its database and returns the relevant links.

The challenge here is getting a mobile phone picture to match up with the more pristine photos found in the database. The database photos would likely be clear, crisp, and detailed, but a user's photo could be grainy, taken on a dark and cloudy day, or taken from an odd angle.

The MOBVIS system's main strength comes from its feature-matching algorithm developed by the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, one of the partners of the project. This algorithm can very accurately detect minute differences between similar objects. In real-world tests, its reported that this system was highly accurate, detecting the right building 80 percent of the time.

Aleš Leonardis, head of the Ljubljana team, believes that number can be improved, too. He also notes that that the system, though not always right, was never wrong. "It was remarkable that there were no false positives," he says. "Sometimes the system couldn't identify a building, but it never put the incorrect link on a building."

You can read more about the research here on the MOBVIS project's homepage.

Wakoopa: Most Used Apps of 2008

2009-01-04T05:14:00.000-08:00

Wakoopa, a social network for software enthusiasts, has released a list of the most used applications of 2008 based on the usage of its members.

Wakoopa has not just collated the most popular Windows, Mac, and web applications, but it's also identified newcomers that showed prolific growth during 2008.

Two important points to note before viewing the results:

1. Wakoopa is a relatively small community, composed primarily of tech fanatics and early adopters. The statistics reflect that.

2. The applications mentioned aren't necessarily the most frequently visited applications, but rather those that people have spent the most time actively using; that is, those with the highest user engagement levels.
PC

On Windows, it's no surprise to see Firefox and Internet Explorer as the top two most-used applications. Google Chrome is the only new release of the year to have made the list, showing extremely impressive growth from the moment of its release in September. Chrome does, however, still sit behind Opera in terms of overall usage, while Apple's Safari seems to have been left behind, at least on Windows.

The most popular new application of 2008 has been instant messaging client Digsby, with steady growth throughout the course of the year. Games such as Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead, and Trackmania have all shown positive growth, though primarily at the time of their release, with growth cooling off rapidly thereafter.
Mac

Once again, we see browsers Firefox and Safari leading the way on the Mac, closely followed by instant messaging client Adium. iTunes is a surprising miss on the most-used applications list for Windows (in fact, no media player made it); however, on OS X, iTunes is the platform's most popular media player, landing in fourth place on the list. VLC and QuickTime follow in a respectable 6th and 7th place.

Mail, the Mac's email client, remains popular in 5th place, impressive considering the rapid growth of web-based email clients such as Gmail. The one common application on both the Windows and Mac lists is World of Warcraft; clearly the game is both "a Mac and a PC."

In terms of new apps, the Mac welcomed a host of wonderful applications in 2008. Desktop media player Plex has shown impressive uptake, closely followed by the Pro-Tweeters Twitter client Tweetdeck. Although still in private beta, cross-platform media player Boxee has seen superb success thus far, and that looks set to continue upon its public release in early 2009. Other newcomers include social browser Cruz and recently released social media tool Eventbox, both very creative social applications in their own rights.
Mac vs. PC

There are a number of notable differences in usage between Mac and PC applications. First, the exclusion of any web development tools from the Windows list could highlight web developers' preferences for other platforms: OS X and Linux. The most notable absentees on the Mac list are word processors and desktop publishing tools; however, TextMate and Adobe Photoshop's appearance corroborates the general preference among creatives for the Mac as a platform.

Another difference is the number of media players on the Mac list, yet not a single mention of one on the PC's -- perhaps further indication that the PC is used primarily for its enterprise and office applications. It's also interesting to see the iPhone Simulator make an appearance on the top 10 newcomers list for the Mac, yet no mention on Windows. Evidently, Mac users are the iPhone's primary source of developers.
Web

The top ten most-used web-based applications are no surprise. Facebook ranks highest, beating heavyweights Gmail, Google Search, Wikipedia, and YouTube. Gmail is the only web-based email client to make the top ten list, highlighting its popularity over other web-based email services, particularly among early adopters and tech-minded individuals. The most significant appearance on the web's most-used list is FriendFeed, ranking higher than both MySpace and Flickr; clearly 2008 has been a great year for FriendFeed.
Summary

The biggest cross-platform winners come from the online gaming sector, with Spore and World of Warcraft both showing incredible growth and sustainability. While clearly it's no surprise that Mozilla's Firefox leads the desktop applications on both platforms, rival browser Chrome is likely to show strong growth, especially once Linux and OS X versions of the browser are released.

Online, Facebook usage reigns supreme. The social network's user engagement levels are astonishing. With 2.6 billion minutes spent on Facebook each day, over 50% of users logging in daily, and 140 million active users, it's easy to see why Facebook is Wakoopa's most-used web application. However, despite Facebook's ranking at number 1, it is Google that should be crowned overall online leader, with four of the top five most-used applications on the web.

2009:Predictions Across the Web

2009-01-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is typically a time for prediction posts. We have our own thoughts on what we expect the future to bring (which we will publish this week), but in this post we'll take a look at what some of our friends are discussing about the Web. While not everyone offers a prediction for 2009, we hope their wishes for the future of the Web and their thoughts on what's important right now inspire thought and discussion.
Chris Brogan Looks Forward to a 'One Ring' Profile
After asking some of the Web's brightest minds to predict the future of social media, Peter Kim compiled Social Media Predictions 2009 [PDF]. One of the predictions is by Chris Brogan who believes that 2009 will bring an end to the fight over a single sign in system.
Moving beyond OpenID, we'll have a sliced profile for social networks that will carry both our full profile plus the ability to break out specific segments for specific sites. I might not share my passion for beer on my church network, and I might not want to bring religion to my business social network.
There will be some kind of "one ring" profile that will allow data pass through to the various places that use it. The reason this hasn't happened is that each company wants to own the database on the back end. Someone's going to win in 2009.
Ionut Alex. Chitu talks Google in 2009
From the blog that watches Google's attempts to move your OS online, Alex Chitu offers 16 predictions for Google in 2009. Here are our favorite three:
Google's search engine will lose a significant amount of market share as Live Search's position will consolidate.
OneGoogle - a new interface that merges all Google applications so you can quickly switch between Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs without opening a new tab or losing your work.
GrandCentral will be publicly available in the US and the interface will integrate with Gmail.
Dave Kellog Advises Corporate Bloggers to Get Real
Dave Kellogg, CEO of Mark Logic, suggests that many corporations have latched onto the blogging phenomenon as a means to regurgitate their standard corporate messages. Blogging this way doesn't work and if you're considering doing it - don't. As a CEO who has been blogging for over three years, Dave's words are well worth noting. His blogging style is also well worth emulating.
Dave's recommendations:
If you're going to make a corporate blog, go real or go home.
There is no point in ghost-written or PR-written blogs.
In my view, corporate blogs shouldn't exist. If you want a corporate blog, go find a few corporate bloggers instead.
Encourage those bloggers to write openly and honestly about your industry.
Let them ramble off-topic once in a while. You might discover something.
Om Malik: Tip'd Could Be a Daily Destination
Cautiously optimistic, Om sees great potential in the online community Tip'd, the site that brings together the best news on the Web relating to all things finance.
From Om's post:
I find 3-5 headlines that grab my attention each day, of which maybe two are worth reading. Rarely do I find an article I would archive, as truly quality content is sparse. But this is a new service (it had 100,000 visitors in November, according to Compete), so I'm willing to be patient.
If it can get itself embedded into the financial blog ecosystem the way Digg has plugged in the tech world, Tip'd could become a daily destination.
Matt Mullenweg wants Blog Posts to Become More Interactive
Talking with Robert Scoble about Twitter and FriendFeed, Matt talks about the addictiveness of instant gratification, and how he's looking forward to real time RSS and more interactive blog posts.
This is a partial transcript of the interview (at approx 03.33):
What I love about those two platforms is the instant gratification. You get that instant hit where people are replying to you right then, or you can drive a couple of hundred people to a link within 30 seconds. I think what they've done beautifully is the coupling of the writing and the reading.
RSS is fantastic but it's a pull in technology. It's not real time. And so for years people have been talking about making RSS real time. I think that I'd like to get to a point where Twitter and FriendFeed are mechanisms for this, where blog posts become a lot more interactive. Like when you do a blog post, there is no reason that as many people that see your Twitter within the first five minutes shouldn't see your blog post in the first five minutes. But how it works now, is I go to my Google Reader twice a day and I see your new post - you don't get that hit that we're all becoming addicted to.
The complete video can be found here.
Duncan Riley: The Year of the Uber Blog and New Media
Duncan predicts that Uber blogs, blogs that combines different content streams into one large blog with one primary top level URL, will explode in 2009.
In 2009 big will be better. Not big networks of many sites, but big blogs that break out of the narrow niche focus that has been typical of commercial blogging until now, and instead go wide in content but focused on one brand and one URL.
The rise of the uber blog will also mark the beginning of the time new media starts to surpass old media.
Pew Internet and American Life Project: The Future of the Internet 2020
Rather than making predictions for 2009, the Pew Internet and American Life Project canvassed Internet specialists for their take on what we can expect in the year 2020.
Some of the predictions: The mobile phone will be the primary tool for connecting to the Internet; Voice recognition and touch technology will become more common, and Internet architecture will improve not by starting over, but by next-generation engineering of the network.

Xbox 360 Mod Gives Keyboard and Mouse Support At Long Last

2009-01-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

I know that no matter what controller I use, I'm awful at video games not involving Mario or Karts, but XIM's new mod'll surely be of interest to hardcore Xbox 360 gamers.
The XIM 2 gives Xbox 360 owners the ability to use a plug-and-play keyboard and mouse with their console. It's available from XIM's site for a steep $180, but then, the ability to shoot more things even faster and more accurately has to be priceless to somebody, right? It's available to order from their website, though you'll have to wait a bit for shipping

SkiGym Beats Wii Ski For Realism, Simulated Danger

2009-01-03T12:21:00.001-08:00

The SkiGym simulator looks like it's going for realism rather than the silly fun offered by the Wii, but some people probably want an accurate depiction of brief exhilaration before the inevitable faceplant.
The SkiGym hooks up to a PC to use the included game Alpine Ski Racing, or it can be used as a standalone gym. The game includes 32 different courses from 18 real-world mountains, just to add to the realism. It's available for a bank account-crushing $2300, which if I'm not mistaken could purchase a pretty sweet ski trip, but if you're loaded and scared of crashing, give it a look.

HP MediaSmart EX487 Server Has Remote MP3 Streaming, Mac Time Machine Compatibility

2009-01-03T03:14:00.002-08:00

HP's EX485/7 iteration of their MediaSmart Server now comes with a revamped UI, remote music and photo streaming capability, and is the first non-apple NAS product to support Time Machine.

Though it looks the same on the outside, the hardware received a bump, now using a 2.0 GHz Celeron processor and 2GB DDR2 RAM. It comes in 2 storage configurations— a 750GB server or a 1.5TB server. The MediaSmart server is still built on top of the Windows Home Server platform, but makes use of a couple of additional software to enhance functionality.
First, HP tapped Twonky Media to handle their remote streaming backend. As such, you can access all your audio files and photos from any web browser with a broadband connection. You can either enter your home IP address or set up a free custom HP domain that will quickly forward you to your server. From there, a media player UI appears and your entire library is at hand. The only downside is that, when not streaming over LAN, it transcodes your MP3s at a 128kbps bitrate, apparently to minimize choppiness in streaming (bleck).

A couple of other nice features that are new for the EX485/7 are the media collector feature, which will scan and watch any folders or drives from your computer, and will gather them on the MediaSmart Server. Also new is that you can connect to Amazon's S3 cloud, and gain another layer of data protection.
Secondly, HP worked with Apple to get MediaSmart Server up and running OSX. Not only is there a Mac version of the software, but they also got Time Machine working with the device, which can do scheduled backups over the air. However, being that it is Windows Home Server, you still need a PC to set up the server, and cannot carry out any admin functions from a Mac.
That aside, much of the same functionality from the last version of MediaSmart Server is still there, such as UPnP streaming of video, photos and music, photo albums that can be published directly to the web, downloadable add-ons (like a bittorrent client), and storage in a RAID-esque, "balanced" configuration. It also has 4 drive bays, 4 USB drives and an eSATA port for adding additional storage.
As far as availability and pricing goes, the updated MediaSmart Server will be available for order on January 5, with the 750 GB EX485 selling for $600, while the 1.5 TB EX487 costs about $750. [HP MediaSmart Server on Giz]
HP Launches New Home Server for PCs and MacsHP MediaSmart Server centralizes digital media and files for backup, remote access, sharing and uploading to social media sites
PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 29, 2008 – HP today launched a home server designed for use with both Windows and Mac computers.
Based on the Microsoft Windows® Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.(1)
The MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all PCs, streams media across a home network and the Internet,(2) and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites.
“A growing number of digital-savvy households have both Windows and Mac computers, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of media files and documents scattered across these devices,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of strategy, Worldwide Attach Group, HP. “The HP MediaSmart Server protects, stores and organizes this content from anywhere on a network so consumers can access and share it any place they are connected.”
“HP continues to innovate on the Windows Home Server platform giving consumers even more options to enjoy and protect their precious memories and valuable data,” said Charlie Kindel, general manager, Windows Server Solutions, Microsoft. “We believe consumers will embrace the new MediaSmart Server as one of the most exciting computing products for the home.”
MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 features include:
· HP Media Collector: conveniently schedules the MediaSmart Server to copy and centralize digital files and libraries from networked PCs
· Media Streaming: remotely streams photos and music to any Internet-connected PC or Mac
· Server for iTunes: centralizes iTunes music libraries on the server for playback to any networked Mac or PC running iTunes
· HP Photo Publisher: easily upload photos to Facebook®, PicasaTM Web Albums and Snapfish(3)
· HP Photo Viewer: allows easy sharing of photos with friends and family
· PC Hard Drive Backup: backs up networked PCs via the Windows Home Server backup feature
· Mac Hard Drive Backup: backs up Macs running Leopard using Apple Time Machine software
· Server Backup: duplicates designated shared folders to a separate hard disk drive
· Online Backup: duplicates designated folders to Amazon’s S3 online backup service for an additional layer of protection
· Smart Power Management: can schedule times for server to go to ”sleep” and ”wake up,” saving on energy costs
· Processor: Intel® Celeron®, 2.0 GHz 64-bit. Two gigabytes (GB) of 800-MHz DDR2 DRAM now standard on MediaSmart Server
· Expandability: additional drives can be added for up to 9 terabytes (TB)
"Customers are always looking for the right mix of features and ease-of-use when choosing digital home products," said Danielle Levitas, group vice president, consumer, broadband and digital marketplace at IDC. "HP's focus and investment in software allows it to deliver a home server with compelling features for Mac and PC users while offering a great customer experience that helps simplify the complexity of the connected home. This unique offering will help expand the home server market."
Pricing and availabilityManufacturer’s suggested retail price for the HP MediaSmart Server ex485 with 750 GB of hard disk storage is $599 while the HP MediaSmart Server ex487 with 1.5 TB is $749.(4)
The HP MediaSmart Server can be pre-ordered beginning on Jan. 5, 2009, from Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Buy.com, Frys.com and NewEgg.com; it is expected to ship in February.
The first 200 consumers who visit HP Home & Home Office (www.hpshopping.com) or call +1 888 271 2982 between Jan. 5 - 11, 2009, to reserve a MediaSmart Server and use coupon code “AC5674” will receive a $50 savings off their purchase.(5)
More information is available at www.hp.com/go/mediasmartserver.

Google Street View Captures Prototype Porsches

2009-01-03T03:14:00.001-08:00

First Google Street View captures a person peeing on the street, and now they drive right by a bunch of Porsche prototypes in Colorado.
We're not sure how old these photos are, but they're supposedly of updated "Boxters, Caymans and even a 911". Is nothing safe? Do I have to put on my pants when I leave my house? I, for one, will not stand for this. [Street Maps! via Garage 419 via Jalopnik]

Kobe Bryant Can't Live Without DVR

2009-01-03T03:09:00.001-08:00

It's no surprise that Kobe Bryant is a huge game film addict, but the LA Times's look at the tech Kobe uses to feed himself massive amounts of video daily is a great read.
Aside from the awesome dash-mounted screen in his Range Rover here, Kobe's primary window into getting into his opponents heads is a portable DVD player and custom-made "KB"-monogrammed headphones (eat that, Dr. Dre). He gets custom 8-12 minute montages of every player he may guard for every upcoming game, and watches them religiously.
Just like the Daily Show, the Lakers staff employs five laptops, eight DVRs and 18 DVD burners to crank out the footage for Kobe and the rest of the Lakers. Sure beats splicing together 8mm reels and getting mountains of VHS tapes in the mail; we live in a privileged age.

iPhone 3G Software Unlock Updated, Seems to Work Now

2009-01-03T03:08:00.003-08:00

The iPhone Dev Team has updated yellowsn0w, the iPhone 3G software unlock program, to version 0.9.4. It's still a beta, but it has worked for me after some fiddling. Using Vodafone now

Turn your laser pointer into a private communicator

2009-01-03T03:06:00.001-08:00

If you have a laser pointer you’re not using, how would you like to turn it into a pseudo-spy gadget? With a few more parts from RadioShack, you can set up your own laser communication system to talk covertly just like these bowtie-wearing spy wannabes.
How it works: The audio signal from a microphone varies the power feeding the laser, so that its brightness changes, following the shape of the original sound wave. At the receving end, a solar cell or photo-resistor converts the oscillating light signal back into the original sound. Sound cool? Make your own with step-by-step instructions here.

$50 for a lifetime of anonymous internet access: too good to be true?

2009-01-03T03:04:00.001-08:00

VPN4Life is a new site that is promising a lifetime of private and anonymous access to the internet through their servers for a one-time fee of $50. Their mission statement is to “free the world from ISP monitoring, government restrictions, and capitalism’s growing influence on the Internet.” Pretty bold words there, but how else are you supposed to sell the lowest tier of what appears to be a pyramid scheme?
A private VPN with unlimited bandwidth will probably run you at least $20 per month. Torrentfreak asked one VPN provider and found that the reason for that is simply that passing all that traffic requires purchasing a certain amount of dedicated bandwidth. For a decent speed line, that’ll run from $10 to $20 a month. So how is VPN4Life planning on providing unlimited anonymized data service for a flat one-time fee? No matter how many people sign up, their investment in the service is eaten up by cost in a matter of months. And unfortunately, it’s likely that the people who are most likely to want a VPN service are also the most likely to check into it, as it’s hardly a product for your average Joe Six-Packet.
Is it possible they know something we don’t about the sustainability of their business? Given the simple fact of the cost of their service and their pricing model, it would have to be a pretty big secret. Of course, if you get in on the ground floor, you might just get your money’s worth, especially if you take advantage of the $29 limited offer that’s good for the next 50 people or so. You may be party to a new generation of internet fraud, but I’m guessing it won’t be the first time.

Internet Explorer bleeding market share

2009-01-03T02:51:00.000-08:00

Preliminary statistics from Net Application show that Internet Explorer is losing more ground in the internet browser battle. It’s not really surprising as Firefox, Safari and Chrome are all gaining popularity.
Internet Explorer usage dropped from 71.27 percent in October to 68.15 percent in December. Firefox went up to 21.34 percent, up 1.37 percent from 19.97 percent in October. Safari market share moved from 6.57 to 7.93 percent and Google Chrome from 0.74 to 1.04 percent. Opera did not move though, staying at 0.71 percent.
Net Applications does warn that the results may be skewed by the decrease in workplace use of computers. Still, there was a definite drop in IE market share. One thing that might have fueled this drop is an increase in Mac OS X and iPhone usage, both of which spark increases in Safari usage. Also, with Google discouraging use of IE market share will only continue to go down, as it has for years.

Smart-Leaf aims to put a touchscreen PC in your wall

2009-01-03T02:46:00.000-08:00

Smart-Leaf is the latest company shooting for the casual PC user that needs a space saving designed ‘puter. The company seems to think that a touchscreen model with fold-out keyboard would fit-in nicely into your kitchen. Maybe they are right. I kind of want one.
Two model will make a debut at CES ‘09 next week: one for home users and one for business kiosks. The Oasis (home) is loaded with everything needed to make a killer kitchen rig: TV tuner, WiFi, webcam, touchscreen and fold-out keyboard. Plus, look, it makes chicks so happy. No word on pricing or availability just yet.

Originatic to Release the Smart-Leaf
Originatic LLC announced today, its upcoming release of the Smart-Leaf, an innovative, wall-mountableall-in-one computer. The Smart-Leaf will be released at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegason January 8, 2009.
At last year’s CES, Originatic unveiled its prototype of the Smart-Leaf, followed by designenhancements and positive reaction from market testing. Smart-Leaf Oasis and Mountain models willbe available for ordering in January with first shipments scheduled for March.
The Smart-Leaf features both wall and desk modes, anintegrated, fold-out keyboard, and a flare for style. In thewall mode, the Smart-Leaf provides ‘on the fly’ access toinformation. Originatic incorporated a suite of features intothe Smart-Leaf to maximize durability and ease of use, suchas touch screen, scratch resistance, spill-proofing, TV tuner,and power lock, all packaged in a unitary form with a slimprofile.
The Smart-Leaf was designed with an aim to make life andwork easier for today’s high-paced demands for connectivityin homes and businesses. Originatic’s market testingindicates that the Smart-Leaf will resonate well with homeusers looking for convenient, ‘out of the way’ computeraccess in kitchens and other areas of the home. Forbusinesses, the Smart-Leaf provides a cost-effective, spaceefficient alternative to traditional kiosks.
According to Reno Smith, Originatic’s Chairman, “We have had a strong response to the Smart-Leaffrom both consumers and businesses. The Smart-Leaf appeals to consumers because it providescomputer access in high traffic areas, like the kitchen, without taking up counter space. The Smart-Leaf enables businesses to deliver solutions to customers and employees in places previouslyconsidered too crowded.”
For more information, visit www.smart-leaf.com.
About Originatic LLCOriginatic LLC is engaged in the ongoing invention, development, and commercialization of new andpatentable technologies to meet the needs and desires of consumers, businesses, and markets aroundthe world. Originatic is a limited liability company, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

2009 Web Predictions

2009-01-03T02:16:00.000-08:00

It's time for our annual predictions post, in which the SurfJunkie look forward to what 2009 might bring in the world of Web technology and new media.
Looking back at our 2008 Web predictions, we got some of them right! "The big Internet companies will [embrace] open standards" (Google, Yahoo and others did this); "Mobile web usage will be a big story in 2008" (check!); "Web Services platforms will be a fierce battleground" (Microsoft Azure and Google App Engine were released and AWS grew). We also got some wrong, including most of our acquisition picks! Digg, Twitter, Zoho, Tumblr - all remain independent. Not to be deterred, we've made new acquisition predictions for '09... although the names will be familiar ;-)
So check out our predictions for '09 and please contribute your own in the comments.
Surf Junkie
iTunes adds social networking features; but it's still a closed development system.
Facebook signs up to OpenSocial; whether or not this happens, there's no doubt that Google will continue to collect big name supporters for the various open standards initiatives which it has started in the last couple of years.
Yahoo sells to a big media company, but it won't be Microsoft; Yahoo getting bought is a big call and I hope I'm wrong about it - but e.g. I could see the likes of Rupert Murdoch swooping in if things get much worse for the former dot com high flyer.
Microsoft releases a cool online version of Office, but then Google releases an amazing new version of Google Docs; Microsoft promised the first bit at PDC '08, but when that launches I forsee it being trumped soon after by Google releasing a more powerful version of its browser-based Google Docs. One that is comparable in user experience (but not features, because that is unnecessary) to MS Word. This new version of Google Docs may be limited to Chrome at first, but it will get a lot of attention and scare the bejeebers out of Redmond.
Health web apps start getting attention from mainstream people and media; big breathless profiles from the likes of CNN, Time magazine, etc. Unfortunately health system red tape remains a tangly mess, for another year.
Apps that do filtering, inferring and recommendation have a great year; several will release plug-ins for Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook and other 'sipping from the firehose' apps.
The usual suspects will remain unacquired in '09: Digg, Twitter, Technorati. The one that does get bought is FriendFeed - by Google probably, given that it was created by ex-Googlers.
Media properties prominently experiment with different and innovative types of online advertising; in other words the move beyond CPM starts to actually happen, due to the down economy, after years of CPA type predictions. Related, a stunning new metric will emerge that accurately determines the success of media properties beyond mere page views (ok that one's wishful thinking maybe!).
Surf Junkie
Lifestreams will continue to evolve; From the explosion of the newsfeed-powered Facebook to the experimental polling technology of FriendFeed, 2008 was a big year for the "lifestream" - the technology of aggregating data from all your activities on different social networks around the web. No one summed it up better than Mark Krynsky in his Lifestream Blog post The Year in Lifestreaming for 2008. In 2009, I'll be watching the parties above, but also MovableType's Motion, social media ping server Gnip, Strands on the iPhone and Chris Messina and friends' new working group on Activity Streams.
Facebook will continue to surprise; I love to hate Facebook, but Mark Zuckerberg and company keep bringing me back to a state of...impressed. I wish open standards ruled the world, but Facebook Connect is so compelling that it can't be ignored. I'd like to see Data Portability prioritized a touch above full-blown privacy, but Facebook's relatively tame version of portability is getting real traction while others are stuck in the land of promises and proofs of concept.
Big companies will have incentive to give OpenID more support because of Facebook's domination; Support has been relatively tepid in the past. When you're winning, open standards aren't in your interest. When you aren't, they become much more appealing. MySpace, AOL, Yahoo - all have made meaningful moves to support OpenID before, but now that Facebook is clearly dominating them all, I expect to see these companies make bigger moves towards OpenID and other standards.
Have cake and eat it too solutions will emerge as a strong option; Have you seen JanRain's RPX plug-in? It lets users log in to a website using OpenID or proprietary methods, like Facebook Connect, through the same interface. It's really pretty, too. There are other examples of this kind of paradigm, but I expect to see them proliferate in the coming year.
One or two interface developments will blow us away; The iPhone inspired countless people about user interfaces, unlike anything else has in a long time. Somebody's going to blow our minds again. Information overload alone demands radical innovation, and it's in the works all around the world. Maybe it will be Mozilla, maybe it will be in gaming, perhaps in Adobe AIR, or it could be in Microsoft's Silverlight. May it not be a brain implant.
Surf Junkie
Twitter announces they have a plan to make money. They do.
New iPhone is released with video recording capabilities.
Facebook Connect becomes new de facto way to login to web sites.
Google Reader gets themes.
Digg still not acquired by anyone.
New real-time web app launches that integrates Twitter, FriendFeed & more in ways we never could have imagined.
Out of work journalists band together and create some killer blogs.
Google Chrome adds plugins...one of them is a Google plugin that lets you integrate Google Mail, Reader, & other Google products/services right into the browser.
Netbooks stay hot...get lighter, faster, thinner, but thanks to variable pricing from manufacturers, line between notebooks and netbooks blurs.
Google backlash begins.
Apple backlash does not.
New iPods released...now with VOIP app built-in. AT&T concerned.
Professional twitterer becomes a real job.
Surf Junkie
VCs jump onto the SAAS bandwagon, but most ventures don't need the cash.
More Indian start-ups go global with price-smashing strategy.
2009 will be like 2002 for raising money or exiting.
P2P shows value for reducing cost of server farms.
Consumer and regulatory backlash make online privacy into a key differentiator for major players.
Surf Junkie
Digg still won't be bought.
Twitter will start to embed advertising into its users streams as it slowly becomes mainstream.
Google will finally offer a comprehensive online storage solution and some kind of travel product.
Lifestreaming apps like FriendFeed will remain niche products that only serve the early adopter market.
Streaming web video to the living room will go mainstream.
If Apple finally enables its push server, mobile social networks and geolocation enabled apps will become a major topic next year.
Surf Junkie
Google loses goodwill, Yahoo gains.
Microsoft resurrects WebTV after buying out Netflix.
Mixx concentrates on usability and starts gaining ground on Digg.
Facebook has one security incident too many, leading to a decline in popularity.
The value of having a unified system for data portability and single sign-in services becomes unmistakable after a significant privacy breach.
Surf Junkie
Twitter will be acquired (probably by Facebook--but multiple suitors will compete for the deal).
Due to new leadership and a slow economy that has people more focused on their professional network, LinkedIn will grow in the public's consciousness and more importantly grow their revenue dramatically.
Exciting new open source projects will emerge and grow due to a growing number of un/under employed engineers.
Unfortunately, Facebook Connect authentication will become dominant method for authentication on the web (while this is my prediction, I'm still rooting for a more open solution).
Microsoft will launch a competing platform with Apple's App Store. The reaction from the market will be underwhelming.
Surf Junkie
Twitter is going to continue to grow and eventually get acquired, while Facebook is going to see further decline.
Amazon will further strengthen its position in the cloud computing market, by launching more of its Web Services and gaining more clients for existing ones.
More contextual browsing technologies will hit the market powered by improved top-down semantic recognition engines.
The browser wars will further heat up, with Google throwing marketing dollars and distribution deals behind Chrome.
Surf Junkie
With the economy continuing to tank, Microsoft will double-down on its Facebook investment, garnering more control of the company - and more access to the data being gathered through Facebook Connect.
Google will finally solve the issues that have prevented its adoption of OpenID logins for all Google services. That, combined with EAUT, will make Gmail accounts the de facto login credential on the Web.
One of the major gaming platform companies - Nintendo, Sega, Sony - will begin acquiring small iPhone development shops in an effort to translate titles to the iPhone format and to corner the market on iPhone gaming.
Under pressure from iPhone, Android, Symbian, and RIM; Windows Mobile will attempt to reinvent itself. Unfortunately for Microsoft, it will be about as successful as Vista and the Zune.
eBay - the Yahoo! of 2009 - oscillates between break-up and acquisition. After a great deal of drama, it will eventually be acquired by Amazon and incorporated into its seller storefront offering.
There you have it, the picks of the ReadWriteWeb team; what about your predictions? Let us know in the comments, so we can check who among us all has gloating rights at the end of 2009.

$6.2 Million: Wikipedia Reaches Fundraising Goal for 2008

2009-01-03T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization behind the immensely popular Wikipedia online encyclopedia, just announced that it has reached its fundraising goal for 2008, which will allow the foundation to cover its operating expenses for the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2009. Overall, a total of 125,000 donors gave over $6.2 million during 2008, though in December alone, after a personal appeal from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, 50,000 individuals contributed more than $2 million.
According to Jimmy Wales, these donations will be used to pay for the day-to-day operations of the Wikimedia Foundation, including the costs of hosting and bandwidth, as well as the salary of its small staff of only 23 people. The Wikimedia foundation will also use these funds to support outreach events like the Wikipedia Academies and to help its volunteer community.
No Advertising
The Wikimedia Foundation has always declined to run advertising on its pages. Given that it is one of the most popular destinations on the Internet, it could surely make more than $6.2 million in revenue every year, but the organization, and Jimmy Wales in particular, have always vehemently rejected this idea in favor of direct donations from users.

Firefox Tops 20% in November, IE Now Under 70%

2009-01-03T02:01:00.001-08:00

According to the latest data from Net Application, in November, Mozilla's Firefox browser surpassed 20% market share for the first time in its history, while Microsoft's IE7 now only commands under 70% of the browser market. Google's Chrome, which had been hovering around 0.75% after its initial release, saw a small growth spurt at the end of 2008, while Apple's Safari made significant gains during the last year.
Even though Net Applications' global data for December is still preliminary, IE's decline during 2008 is remarkable, especially given its former dominance of the browser market. During the last year, every other major browser gained market share at the cost of IE. Firefox grew from 16.98% in January to over 21% in December, Safari gained 2 points, and while Opera's slow growth seems to have stagnated at the end of the year, it still gained 0.1% over the year. Only the deprecated Netscape browser saw its market share decline to under 0.5%.
Net Applications thinks that that the U.S. election, the Thanksgiving holiday, the rising unemployment in the U.S., and the extra weekend in November led to an increase in residential browsing during that month, but the general trends clearly also continued during December.
Will IE8 Make a Difference?
It will be interesting to see if the upcoming release of IE8 will be enough to turn Microsoft's fortunes in the browser market around. While we like the beta version of IE8 as a general purpose browser, it still doesn't have the extensibility and speed of Firefox. Google is also working on an extension architecture for Chrome, which will allow developers to port their Firefox plugins over to Google's browser and give users even more alternatives to IE7 and IE8.

Million Dollar Border Security Machines Fooled With Ten Cent Tape

2009-01-03T01:05:00.000-08:00

So much for biometrics and immigration security: A South Korean woman managed to fool a million-dollar fingerprint reading machine in Japanese border controls using a simple piece of tape stuck to her fingers.
It happened at Tokyo airport. The woman has repeatedly entered Japan using the same trick without anybody noticing. Japanese officials say that they suspect many others have been doing the same things, demonstrating that the biometric systems they installed in 30 airports in 2007—to the tune of $45 million—are completely useless. The woman was deported in July 2007 for illegally staying in Japan as a bar hostess in Nagano, but she entered again with the system, using the tape and a fake passport allegedly provided by a South Korean broker

The First Look at Sony Ericsson's C510(Kate) Cybershot Phone

2009-01-03T00:40:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson's upcoming C510 (Kate) Cybershot phone has been floating around for a while now, but these images from Daily Mobile represent the first decent look at it.
In case you missed it, here is a rundown of the features:
•3.2 MP AF camera and LED•Face detection•Smile shutter•Auto rotation when viewing•Cyber-shot™ UI 2.0•3.2 MP AF camera•Active lens cover•2.2” QVGA display•QVGA video•Picture light•160 MB in-built memory•Dedicated shutter key•Illuminated imaging shortcut keys•Face detection, Photo fix•Direct blog short cut key•Smile shutter•Illumination by different theme/mode•Print service Snapfish•Blue illuminated imaging short cuts•Download and upload to YouTube
It doesn't appear to be a huge jump from the K770 series, apart from a bigger screen and a bump up in internal memory. Still, it should be a decent lower-end Cybershot handset when it is released in February

Leak: Everything Microsoft is Announcing at CES

2009-01-03T00:13:00.000-08:00

TechCrunch has a quick rundown of everything that Steve Ballmer will supposedly be announcing at Microsoft's CES keynote. Surprise (well, not), it's all stuff we already know:
• Windows 7 will hit public beta (or just grab the torrent now)• Windows Mobile will get Flash by March (weeeeee!)• Two Halo games for Xbox 360 (this one and this one) this year• Less terrible home networking ("I'm not kidding" says TechCrunch's Erick Schonfeld.)
It's hard to be exciting when everything you're announcing is an open "secret." The Windows 7 public beta would be a biggie, except we've already touched, groped and licked it, as has everyone else who really cares at this point. So, Ballmer, please, please, please pull a Zunephone out of your pants. I actually want one. Well, not the one from your pants, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

Garmin Nuvi 880 Voice-Controlled GPS Lightning Review

2009-01-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

The Gadget: One of Garmin's flagship Nuvis, the 880 responds to commands from your voice, triggered by a little remote control you attach to your steering wheel.
The Price: Garmin says $800, but you can find it online for $690.
The Verdict: It's the best all-around GPS on the market, but there are too many halfway decent Garmin models for less than half the price

The 880 isn't the first GPS with voice command, but it's definitely the best. The remote button that you strap to your steering wheel makes activating it easy, and being able to dictate addresses including obscure street names is only part of the fun. When you're in POI search, you can name popular locations ("Starbucks") or categories (it actually understands synonyms like "Fuel" and "Gas"). Most importantly, you can tap the button and say things like "Cancel Route" or "Volume Up," commands most likely to be issued while driving, ensuring you stay safer than if you were to try to do these things with your fingers while keeping your wheels on the road. The only problem with voice command is that, to function, it requires the remote (pictured above). If somehow you break off the remote or lose it, you will forever lose the ability to talk to your 880, so be careful.
As you can see in the video, with the exception of its inability to understand "Cancel" or "Exit" while performing certain functions, it responds extremely well to natural speech:
newVideoPlayer("/garminnuvi880_giz.flv", 475, 376,"");

We've said repeatedly that Garmin is the best bet for anyone shopping for GPS, and the 880 demonstrates this to be the case. It doesn't mean it's perfect, it's just by far the least infuriating navigator on the road today. Garmin often adds features later than others, but this only strengthens its predominance, since those like TomTom and Magellan—not to mention the innovative but ailing Dash—rush revolutionary features without spending time on core interface issues, and fail because of it.
Some of the 880's perks do not get me excited: I have yet to meet a Bluetooth speakerphone that doesn't result in people yelling that they can't hear me, a problem having as much to do with every different phone's cheap-o Bluetooth chip, no doubt. I also am very underwhelmed by the MSN Direct service that the 880 offers ("free" for 3 months). Its main feature is the traffic reporting but that information, even in massive metro areas, has proven to me to be absolutely useless. The 880 is as dumb as the lowliest GPS when it comes to awareness, and my hope is that historic traffic trends will soon be better integrated at the map database level—i.e. with Navteq and Tele Atlas—in order to make routing more smart even without the need for connectivity or any kind of realtime guesswork.
Some of you may realize that this review is long overdue. One reason is that, when I first got the 880, it had some bugginess that I'm glad to say has been fixed with a firmware update. Another reason for the delay is that I wanted to see how long it would take to stop using the voice commands. Sadly, it didn't take very long, but in prepping for this review, I started using the voice commands more, and realized that it's an asset I shouldn't so readily overlook. Just don't lose the remote, or you lose the feature

A Decent-Sized OLED TV

2009-01-02T12:18:00.002-08:00

The Sony XEL-1 OLED television rocked our world when it was released this year, but there was a catch. Its screen size was a measly 11 inches. And while we can't expect 50-inch Kuro killers just yet, we do anticipate a very expensive mid-sized set—27 to 32 inches—to hit the market in some form this year. (Sony actually showed off a prototype that was 27 inches at CES 2008. Stay tuned for what we see at CES this year.)

Wireless HDMI
A multitude of companies have various wireless HDMI technologies, but there's no set standard (two warring factions need to settle the fight before we can have interoperable products). The technology is there, now it's just a matter of logistics and handshaking. With luck, by next Christmas, you'll be able to add it to a sub-$2000 1080p projector for the ultimate no-mess home theater.

USB 3.0 Devices

2009-01-02T12:18:00.001-08:00

Wireless HDMI may not be quite cooked yet, but the eSATA-crushing USB 3.0 standard is ready to roll. Look for a multitude of products announced within the next week with blazing transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps (moving a 25GB file in under a minute). They'll also benefit from USB 3.0's higher electrical power output. [Image]

A Great Android Phone
The T-Mobile G1 was the necessary first step, but with Google amping up their Android development staff and interest coming from other major phone makers like Motorola, we assume we'll see a truly great Android phone soon. Motorola promises that their own offering will be better and cheaper than the G1, but it's not hitting before next Christmas, so we assume HTC's own follow-ups will come first.

And Your Best Guesses
These picks for 2009 are pretty sure things, but what wilder guesses do you have for best of 2009 products? A new PSP? A BlackBerry with a touchscreen that isn't crap? Real light sabers? Ketchup and mustard in one container?? Dogs and cats living in harmony??? If you don't offer up some kind of prognostication in the comments, you can never tell everyone, "I told you so."

Windows 7

2009-01-02T12:13:00.001-08:00

Microsoft can do better than Windows Vista. And with Windows 7—expected sometime before the year is up—they will. Whether it's the new features or the less taxing system requirements, Windows 7 promises to be a vast improvement on Vista, and hopefully enough to coax most of us still clutching XP for dear life to finally upgrade.

$99 Blu-ray Player...That Does More Than Play Blu-ray
The $99 part is only slightly wishful thinking, but if LG's recent announcements are any indication, we can expect more players with expanded services like Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow...and who knows, maybe even Amazon VOD, Hulu and Rhapsody. Let's watch as these companies compete for our digital download dollar.

Premium NetBooks

2009-01-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

We've seen the first wave of unusable netbooks with tiny screens. Then they got an upgrade to 8.9, 10 and even 12-inch screens. Now it's time for netbooks to get WiMax and HSDPA connections as a standard. Hopefully they can still stay half-way affordable...
Wii MotionPlusWhen I tested the Wii MotionPlus attachment at E3, I felt that Nintendo had fulfilled the promise of the Wii, finally offering a motion controller as accurate and responsive as we'd all hoped the Wiimote to be originally. If Nintendo can coax developers to support Wii Motion Plus, we can expect some killer Wii titles in '09 (on top of Wii Sports Resort in spring), but it might be 2010 before we see all that many compatible games.

Android On An Eee PC

2009-01-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

lMaking good on Google's continued pledge to not imit Android to just phones, two guys at venture beat got Android up an running on their Eee PC 1000H. But a question comes to mind: why?
Apparently it was a piece of cake to get Android to support everything you'd need for functional computing, including sound, graphics (at the Eee's native resolution) and wireless internet. And it's not the first time this has happened—a Google developer showed off his successful Eee701 port a few weeks ago.
But why would you want to run Android on a Netbook, when in most cases, a more traditional flavor of Linux or even Windows works just fine? The opportunity opens the door for even less powerful (and cheaper) MIDs, like Nokia's Internet Tablets. Also, the potential for a fully web-delivered OS via Chrome (which is not yet a part of the Android project, but definitely within the realm of possibility) is kind of exciting; Chrome was built primarily for web applications, after all.
Apparently the port only took around four hours, and many references to MIDs and other non-phone applications can be found in Android's source code. So whether it makes sense on an Eee PC or not, this is definitely a direction for Android we'll see more fleshed out in 2009

Hp Firefly Has Two Screens,Multitouch,Big Huge Butt

2009-01-02T04:25:00.000-08:00

HP is finally joining this weird, new multiple display party with the Voodoo DNA-ed firefly, which carries a secondary screen, an oddly-placed multitouch trackpad and guts comparable to its powerful desktop counterpart.
LaptopMag has a full hands-on with a prototype unit, which should be on display at CES. They're generally impressed, as for all the bold changes in form factor, this hunkering monstrosity still seems to retain its usability.
The secondary screen got mixed reviews. It's sharp, at 800x480, but a bit too small for displaying such finely resolved text. The Voodoo's multitouch trackpad has evolved, and it's apparently lovely and the placement is a welcome change for occasional mouseless gaming.
The Firefly concept is not currently slated for production, but seeing as Voodoo and HP don't currently have a desktop replacement notebook of this caliber, we'll probably see something similar ship before too long

new

2009-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Make Money Online With Dosh Dosh

A Viral Garden

Connected Internet

Blog-Op

Can I Make Big Money Online

Blogtrepreneur

Blogging to Fame

Million Dollar Experiment heads Down Under

Kumiko’s Cash Quest

Calico Monkey

Internet Bazaar

Shotgun Marketing Blog

BrandSizzle

bizsolutionsplus

Customers Rock!

Being Peter Kim

Pow! Right Between The Eyes!

Billions With Zero Knowledge

Working at Home on the Internet

MapleLeaf 2.0

Two Hat Marketing

darrenbarefoot.com

The Emerging Brand

One Reader at a Time
One blogger’s experiment in building and engaging with online communities.
Ruminate this site
Reviews blogs and sites so that we don’t have to.
SMogger Social Media Blog
The ethical use of social media for bloggers and other web users.
SuccessCREEations
Blog Consultant bringing the twin passions of business and blogging together.
Successful Blog
The legendary Liz Strauss, blogger extraordinaire and creator of the SOB award.
Troy Worman's Blog
Focus on writing, ideas and connections
Copywriter's Crucible
The importance of copy in corporate blogging
Copywriting Tuneups
How to measure reading effectiveness and why it is important in the blogosphere
Dipping into the Blogpond
Blogging about starting an Internet company in the Sutherland Shire.
BrandSizzle
Broad and deep insight into the branding process.
Own Your Brand!
Blog to help businesses re-imagine their brands.
The Emerging Brand
Corporate branding blog focused on leadership.
The Engaging Brand
Using technology and marketing knowledge to improve business communications.
What is Brand?
Japanese readers/speakers? Anyone?
Presentation Zen
(Site in English) Tips for great presentations, marketing, and business communications.
Dummies Guide to Google Blogger Beta
Complete help on the new blogger. Blogger Hacks, Blogger templates. Adsense. Search engine Optimization.
Bob Sutton
Discussions of “jerks” in business.
Perspective
Health, wealth and the freedom to choose. Archived blog. New one is jugaad (http://www.nitibhan.com/jugaad).
Ramblings from a Glass Half Full
Views on business life.
Simplicity Mary’s Blog
Business development, marketing troubleshooting
Funny Business
Wide ranging discussion on business with a funny and pictorial approach.
Creative Think
Fun Ideas to stimulate your creativity.
The Copywriting Maven
Marketing and SEO copywriting tips.
Brain Based Biz
Tips for stirring creativity in business.
Experienceology
How to create great customer experiences on the web and in the “real” world.
Creating Passionate Users

raving lunacy

Anne 2.0
Emily Chang - eHub
Darren Barefoot - Vancouver Technologist, Writer, Raconteur, Miscellanist
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas ...
ALLIED by Jeneane Sessum
Presentation Zen
good to know
Logic+Emotion
gillianic tendencies
Steve's 2 Cents
Listics - Frank Paynter's Voice and Vision
Escape from Cubicle Nation
Blog Sisters: Where men can link, but they can't touch
Designers who Blog
E-Commerce Blog by Solid Cactus
Brand Autopsy
Unconventional Thinking
The Boomer Chronicles
Renovate Your Life with Craig
I Dream of Kimchee
The Moronosphere
SYLVIA HUBBARD'S STORIES
Paula Mooney
Inspiration Lane
me,myself & me
A Gota de Ran Tan Plan
How Can I do That
Bonnie Writes

Flee the CubeStarting up a small business in web design.
Community Guy
Online and offline community building tips and tricks.
A Free and Decent Blog Host
Technology news focusing on blogs and blog software
Billions With Zero Knowledge
Changing the world with little bits of knowledge
Connected Internet
All things to do with technology, mobile phones and gaming.
darrenbarefoot.com
Tech news, writing and marketing
Deepak
Focuses on the technology of the Internet and loves Google.
MapleLeaf 2.0
Tech news stories relating to Canada
Scott Burkett's Pothole on the Infobahn
Musings on technology, IT management, and online community.
Small Surfaces
Interaction design, user interface design, user experience, usability and social trends related to mobile devices.
TechBuzz
Tech new and reviews written by 17 year old in India. Awesome.
Masey.com
Design and photography blog.
Through the Lenses
Travel/photography blog includes stunning shots and photography tips.
Travel And Vacation On Blog
Lightweight travel guide/destination information on selected cities. Needs more.
The Best Guides to eCommerce with Favor
Viral marketing tools, memes and SEO tips.
Web Metrics Guru
Web analytics, in particular for blogs
The Future of the Web
Use of new technologies for the web.
Social Media on the fly

new hp touchsmart

2009-01-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

watch and discover the new hp touchsmart pc

Technorati Profile

2008-12-31T11:09:00.000-08:00

Technorati Profile