IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (Digital Trends) 21/08/2009

First US Internet Addiction Center Opens

Fall City, WA isn’t that far from Redmond, where some of the country’s major computer-related action happens. But it wants to be a world away, almost literally, since Heavensfield there is the site of reStart, the home of the country’s first Internet and gaming addiction recovery clinic. So, if you feel “guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed” as a result of your online activities and are “withdrawing from other pleasurable activities,” you might need their 45-day detox program. The only program is that the fees total over $17,000, including a $200 application fee. Internet addiction doesn’t come cheap, and your insurance prob

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Digital Trends Week In Review 08/21/09

Iran Wants To Be An International Games Player

Given the global political situation and the stance of the West, it won’t be easy, but Iran is hoping it has the juice to become a force in the games market. That’s why the country’s trade body for games, the Iran National Foundation of Computer Games, was showing its wares at Gamescom in Cologne, showing what they have to offer – and trying to find Western retailers to stock their goods. Amir Tarbyatjoui, head of Parsan Business Development Solutions told the BBC: "We are using this event to promote what is happening in the Iranian games industry." "We belie

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Windows 7 Trial Period Can Run For Four Months

Four months of Windows 7 free? It sounds unlikely, but those are the claims being made. Reports on the Windows Secrets say that the initial 30-day free trial can be extended three more times, much as what happened with Vista. If you install Windows 7 after it’s shipped on October 22, but don’t enter the installation key, the 30-day clock begins running. As your time almost runs out, Windows Secrets says, you can “click Start, All Programs, Accessories. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run As Administrator. Enter your administrator password.” After that type the command “slmgr –rearm&rdqu

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Amazon To Set PS3 Slim Limit

Amazon is so concerned about the anticipated demand and limited supply of the forthcoming PS3 Slim, which is due to arrive next month, that’s it limiting purchases to one per household. The company has said: “In an effort to provide as many customers as possible with the opportunity to purchase PlayStation 3 120 GB, we are limiting the total number of PlayStation 3 120 GB units that can be purchased. As a result, each household may only purchase one PlayStation 3 120 GB unit.” And for those who try to evade that limit and are caught, it could result in the cancellation of all outstanding orders, closure of all accounts – both national

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Alienware M17x

Alienware has been advertising its latest portable gaming rig as the “most powerful 17-inch laptop in the universe.” We’re not sure how to go about verifying the off-planet portion of that claim, but as far as Earthly laptops go, it’s hard to dispute. A fully tricked-out model like the one we had the opportunity to test comes equipped with Intel’s fastest mobile processor, a pair of NVIDIA’s quickest mobile graphics cards, and 8GB of the speediest memory around. It’s easily the best performing notebook we’ve ever tested. And, at over $5,000 fully loaded, it’s also one of the most expensive.

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PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies Invades Macs and PCs

Casual game maker PopCap seems to have another hit on its hands with the whimsical Plants vs. Zombies, a strategy-based game in which wacky zombies try to invade your house…and, of course, your only real defense is a garden of assorted zombie-destroying plants. We know it doesn't make any sense, and that's part of the fun—and lots of computer users would seem to agree, since the downloadable version of the game available via the Web has been PopCap's fastest-selling game in history during the last three months…and that's saying something for the company that also markets the Bejewelled franchise. Now, Plants vs. Zombies has made the jum

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Adesso Debuts WKB-4000UB Compact Wireless Keyboard

Peripheral and accessory maker Adesso has introduced its WKB-4000UB wireless keyboard—and unlike many wireless desktops, the WKB-4000UB is designed to provide all the functionality of a full keyboard and mouse setup while only consuming a fraction of the space, making it ideal for everything from presentation podiums and conference rooms to point-of-sales terminals, and—of course—living rooms everywhere. The WKB-4000UB features an integrated two-button trackpad so no separate mouse is needed, an embedded numeric keypad (using the right end of the QWERTY keyboard), and 12 function keys. The keyboard u

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The Future of Electronic Paper

We were supposed to get our "paperless office" over a decade ago. The prolifieration of Internet access and the birth of new file formats for distributing documents over the Web promised to finally banish paper from the desk once and for all. But look around a modern-day office and you'll still find desks plastered in pulp. The problem: computer monitors suck for reading. They flicker and flash, look blurry compared to paper, and suck down loads of power just to display the same simple text. Then came electronic paper. As the name suggests, it displays a steady image like paper, looks as smooth and readable as paper, and requires almost zero energy. But unlike the real thing, it changes in the b

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The Future of Eco-Chic Cars: Fisker Karma

The Future of Eco-Chic Cars: Fisker Karma - You've drooled over the legendary Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, now meet the man behind the car. We talk shop with Henrik Fisker, founder and CEO of Fisker automotive. Where does he get the inspiration for his timeless designs? Are electric cars the future, or existing cars powered by bio fuels? Does Chevy's upcoming Volt pose a threat to the Karma? Fisker shares his thoughts on the state of the industry, plus drops exciting new details on the Karma, like an optional animal-free interior and touch-screen center console with haptic feedback.

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Friday, August 21, 2009

IT News HeadLines (Digital Trends) 21/08/2009

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