Windows 7 RC Downloads to Close Thursday
Run, don't walk to the nearest browser if you want to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC). Downloading will be allowed until 11 AM ET this morning, and that's not far off. The pipeline opened for the Windows 7 RC on May 4th. While originally stating that downloads would cease in late July, Microsoft has twice extended it, first to August 15th, and later to August 20th. That would be today, if you're calendar-phobic. The RC gives you a chance to run Windows 7 for free, at least until next year. Naturally
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EU Already Thinking About LTE Advanced: 100x Faster Than 3G!
LTE, or Long Term Evolution, isn't looking to be very "long term." The next generation mobile broadband protocol, or 4G, isn't even being deployed commercially yet, and already the European Commission is looking to spend some big bucks in order to research the next-next big things.Starting on New Year's Day 2010, the EU will release right around $25 million in order to research "ultra high-speed" mobile internet, which it hopes will act as the underpinning on the next generation of mobile services. Details are
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TomTom Not Worried Over Smartphone Navigation Apps
One of the first things we thought when TomTom announced that it would finally be making an honest-to-goodness iPhone app was this: "what will this do to standalone GPS sales?" It's a reasonable question--TomTom has long since made its profits by selling hardware with routing software built in. The app within was just a portion of the equation, while the actual device was where the money was.With smartphones becoming ever more pervasive, one has to wonder if profits will sink as individuals purchase cheaper
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Palm's Paid App Beta Program Goes Live
You've got to hand it to 'em here, Palm sure is doing a bang-up job in reviving itself. Around this time last year, many pundits wondered if the company famous for creating the Palm Pilot and Treo smartphone would live to reach the next decade. The Palm Pre turned things around for the California-based company, but it's still struggling to contend with Apple's almighty App Store.You see, no matter how swank the Pre's webOS is, it still lags badly in the app quantity department. Apple has well over 50,000 apps
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MSI's X-Slim X340 Sees 8-Cell Battery, Better Keyboard, Lower Price
Back in the day, it was somewhat unusual for a company to issue revamped versions of popular machines. Instead, they'd simply pop out another model so it was quite clear that an update had taken place. These days, consumers seem to "get" that technology changes frequently, and that models are updated from time to time with new hardware.Such is the case with MSI's drop-dead gorgeous X-Slim X340. The ultraportable's name hasn't changed, its design is the same and even that attitude is still in place, but a newer
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Acer's Atom-Powered Veriton N260G Nettop Can Ride Your LCD
It's hard to say at this point if nettops will ever become as popular as netbooks, but if Acer has anything to say about it, they'll come close. The planet's third largest PC vendor has today introduced its new Veriton N260G-U2802CP, a product that sounds like it's straight out of a Transformers movie. The ultra-compact nettop is aimed specifically at the US professional market, but it should mount just fine on any LCD that's hungry for some attention. The device is housed in a one-liter chassis and can be placed
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CDs Are Still The Leading Music-Delivery Format
Although paid music downloads are certainly popular these days, CDs comprised 65% of all tracks sold in the first half of 2009 according to the NPD Group's MusicWatch survey. Paid digital music downloads increased from 30% market share in all of 2008 to 35% of tracks purchased by U.S. consumers in the first half of 2009. For the purposes of the survey, digital sales included downloads to the PC and over-the-air full-track downloads to cell phones, but they did not include cell phone ringtone downloads. The survey
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Sony's ALTUS Audio Line To Make Music In Best Buy
As if Sony's week couldn't get any better, the company responsible for issuing a new, slimmer PlayStation 3 is also announcing a new audio product line that'll soon be gracing the shelves of Best Buy locations. The ALTUS range will initially consist of just a handful of kits, all of which are tied to the company's S-AIR wireless protocol in some form or another. Up first is the ALT-SA31iR multi-room iPod package, which features three separate components: a docking station for iPod/iPhone and two high-output
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Canon Intros First Touchscreen PowerShot & Five Other Cameras
Canon announced six new PowerShot cameras today, including the new flagship PowerShot G11 and Canon’s first ever touchscreen PowerShot. All of the new cameras feature Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization and use the DIGIC 4 Image Processor. The cameras also have an upgraded version of Canon’s Smart AUTO technology that can track moving faces and detect 22 different shooting situations. Some of the new models also have the ability to capture 720p High-Definition video. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key
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iTunes Smashes Other Online Music Stores, Takes 25% Of All Sales
With all the talk of music piracy clouding the airwaves these days, it's rather refreshing to hear some positive news about music in the digital age. And despite what the RIAA or anyone else may have you believe, music sales are still happening. Just not in the same way that they were when your mother was buying records. According to a new report, compact discs only accounted for 65% of US music sales in the first half of 2009, while digital downloads are expected to "nearly equal CD sales" by the close of 2010.
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StarTech First to Market with DisplayPort KVM Switch
StarTech.com First to Market with DisplayPort KVM Switch -- New DisplayPort KVM Switch supports next generation display resolutions and audio capability, ideal for high definition imaging, graphic design, CAD and other demanding display environments -- Groveport, OH - StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity and technology parts has announced the upcoming release of a DisplayPort KVM Switch (SV231DPU) – the first KVM Switch available with support for direct connections to DisplayPort
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Logitech Mice Even Work On A Clear Glass Table
Logitech today announced two new mice that can be used almost anywhere, even on clear glass.The glass must be at least 4 millimeters thick, but I'd imagine it would be a little stressful to be computing on a table where the glass top was thinner, wondering if you're going to press too hard and bring the entire tabletop crashing to the ground in a pile of glass shards.The Logitech Performance Mouse MX and the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX use Darkfield Laser Tracking to achieve their goals and are supposed to be
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Windows Users In U.K. Will Pay Less Than In The U.S.
For a change, Microsoft Windows users in Great Britain aren't going to be charged more than their American counterparts.In fact, they're going to pay less for Windows 7 than folks in the U.S., according to a report on CNET UK.Full versions of Windows 7 Home Premium, in fact, will cost British buyers about half as much as it will Yanks. The full version (i.e., not just an upgrade) will cost about £65 (about $105). Americans will be paying $119 for the upgrade version and $199 for the full version. (Unless
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Samsung Dishes Three New Bluetooth Headsets, Still Can't Make 'Em Cool
We're still not convinced that we could comfortably walk around with a Bluetooth headset hung around our ear in public, but for those who don't mind making others think that they're talking to them whilst walking down the street, Samsung has a smattering of new options that look pretty darn stylish. The flagship device is the WEP870, which actually combines a Bluetooth headset with earbuds in order to make you look just a bit smarter while using it. We kid, we kid! The WEP870 is a mono-style headset with chrome
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Seagate BlackArmor NAS 440 NAS Device Review
With the growing popularity of cloud-based storage solutions, such as the Amazon S3 and Nirvanix services, many businesses--both large and small--are eschewing traditional onsite file servers, and instead opting for offsite, third-party storage solutions. But the ongoing cost of maintaining cloud-based storage as well as the often unproven reliability of it makes it a less than ideal solution for some businesses; and this leaves those businesses with the conundrum of how to store and serve files, provide safe
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TomTom Not Worried Over Smartphone Navigation Apps
One of the first things we thought when TomTom announced that it would finally be making an honest-to-goodness iPhone app was this: "what will this do to standalone GPS sales?" It's a reasonable question--TomTom has long since made its profits by selling hardware with routing software built in. The app within was just a portion of the equation, while the actual device was where the money was.With smartphones becoming ever more pervasive, one has to wonder if profits will sink as individuals purchase cheaper navigation apps over a new, dedicated personal navigation device. According to TomTom's own VP of marketing, there's no heavy sweating going on at the TomTom labs. In fact, he's excited about the notion to push TomTom's routing platform to those who may have been avoiding a standalone PND thus far.
And given the wildly high prices of all dedicated nav programs in Apple's App Store, we guess we can see why. The US and Canadian version of the iPhone program from TomTom rings up at $99.99. That's just a few dollars less than a bottom-end TomTom GPS device, and may be even more than used devices on the secondhand market. And with the iPhone app, you've got to worry about your phone battery dying and you've got to exit the app should a call come in while you're driving. Fairly annoying to say the least thanks to the iPhone's inability to truly multitask.
When asked if he thought the emergence of phone-based nav programs were a threat to standalone devices, Mr. Murray replied with the following:
"We’re trying to make TomTom navigational systems available to people across all platforms that are important to consumers. We continue to see a robust demand for [portable navigation devices] going forward. This is an opportunity to grow, not a threat to us, especially in the short term."
From experience, we'd say the usability of a dedicated NAV system is far better than iPhone applications. You can multitask, the UI reacts more quickly and the screen is generally larger. We definitely see the smartphone stealing away a sliver of market share eventually, but we think we agree with Tom here in that it won't be significantly negative. Do you care to agree or disagree?
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Palm's Paid App Beta Program Goes Live
You've got to hand it to 'em here, Palm sure is doing a bang-up job in reviving itself. Around this time last year, many pundits wondered if the company famous for creating the Palm Pilot and Treo smartphone would live to reach the next decade. The Palm Pre turned things around for the California-based company, but it's still struggling to contend with Apple's almighty App Store.You see, no matter how swank the Pre's webOS is, it still lags badly in the app quantity department. Apple has well over 50,000 apps to choose from. The Pre has less than 50. All that could begin to change in the near future, however, as this week Palm opened up its e-commerce beta program for the Palm App Catalog.
If you're curious, that's Palm's version of a paid app store. Starting today, developers who wish to charge for their webOS applications can begin submitting them for consideration in the App Catalog e-commerce beta program, which will begin in mid-September. Devs who make the cut will have the opportunity to have their applications, both free and paid, featured in the Palm App Catalog ahead of the next wave, and to be among the first to be paid for purchases of their Palm webOS applications.
What's in it for coders? Cash, naturally. Palm will hand over 70% of the profits to devs, while 30% remains with Palm to cover all those expenses we common folk don't even want to think about. Customers will be able to easily purchase applications using Visa and MasterCard credit cards, though the program won't begin until this fall in the US at the earliest. We hate to be brash, but we definitely hope more free apps show up before we start focusing on paid apps. You've got to build a following before asking 'em to pay, right?
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CDs Are Still The Leading Music-Delivery Format
Although paid music downloads are certainly popular thesedays, CDscomprised 65% of all tracks sold in the first half of 2009 according to the NPDGroup's MusicWatch survey. Paid digital music downloads increased from 30% marketshare in all of 2008 to 35% of tracks purchased by U.S. consumers in the firsthalf of 2009. For the purposes of the survey, digital sales includeddownloads to the PC and over-the-air full-track downloads to cell phones, but theydid not include cell phone ringtone downloads. The survey also excludedmusic-subscription services. NPD defined a full-length CD as offering 12tracks.
"Many people are surprised that the CD is still thedominant music-delivery format, given the attention to digital music and theshrinking retail footprint for physical products," said Russ Crupnick,entertainment industry VP. "But with digital music sales growing at 15 to20 percent, and CDs falling by an equal proportion, digital music sales willnearly equal CD sales by the end of 2010."In terms of music downloads, Apple’s iTunescontinues to enjoy great success, having expanded its lead in the market to 69%of all digital music sold in the first half of the year; AmazonMP3 held 8%. Walmartleads the pack in terms of physical CD sales with a 20% share followed by BestBuy at 16% and Target and Amazon with 10% each. If you combine physical anddigital sales, iTunes still leads in the U.S. with 25% of all music units sold.
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fsft x4 965 updated
Brand spanking new x4 965 in box never opened. Sale price on the egg is $249...so $230 shipped or will consider trade for ssd drives (wanting to buy intel X25-M 80gb with the money anyway) or possibly something else so if ya have something interesting fire away.
Also would consider a velocicraptor
Price drop for the sale $220
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EU Already Thinking About LTE Advanced: 100x Faster Than 3G!
LTE, or Long Term Evolution, isn't looking to be very "long term." The next generation mobile broadband protocol, or 4G, isn't even being deployed commercially yet, and already the European Commission is looking to spend some big bucks in order to research the next-next big things.Starting on New Year's Day 2010, the EU will release right around $25 million in order to research "ultra high-speed" mobile internet, which it hopes will act as the underpinning on the next generation of mobile services. Details are pretty vague about what it hopes to accomplish by doing this, but given the size of the investment, we suspect it's not just doing this on a whim. EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding had this to say about the ambitious project:
"Europe's research know-how will continue to set the tone for the development of mobile services and devices around the globe, just as we did in the past decades with the GSM standard."
If you'll recall, the a number of nations have already put forth plans to get all of their citizens connected via broadband within a few years, so this could just be the EU trying to one-up everyone else. Regardless of the scenario, Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced technology will be at the forefront of the EU's mind in early 2010, with hopes of it providing speeds up to 100 times faster than existing 3G networks. 100 times!
Currently, the normal version of LTE is being testing in Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Britain and is expected to be commercially available in Sweden and Norway in the first half of next year. LTE Advanced promises lower prices and mobile broadband speeds up to one gigabit per second, though there's no clear-cut answer to "when?" Ah well, at least you can have a great deal of confidence that the iPhone 4G you buy next year will be outdated as soon as you place your pre-order.
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MSI's X-Slim X340 Sees 8-Cell Battery, Better Keyboard, Lower Price
Back in the day, it was somewhat unusual for a company to issue revamped versions of popular machines. Instead, they'd simply pop out another model so it was quite clear that an update had taken place. These days, consumers seem to "get" that technology changes frequently, and that models are updated from time to time with new hardware.Such is the case with MSI's drop-dead gorgeous X-Slim X340. The ultraportable's name hasn't changed, its design is the same and even that attitude is still in place, but a newer edition definitely brings a few twists to the table. As of now, MSI is offering the X340 with an extended 8-cell battery, which is said to more than double its battery life to a reported 8 hours and 48 minutes. Better still, the updated version rings up for even less than the original (it's now $799 versus $899 to start), though we get the feeling that early adopters are probably upset.
Of course, the extended cell does increase the overall weight from 3.4 pounds to 2.9 pounds, but when you're talking about a notebook that lasts for over one-third of a day, that's a compromise we're willing to accept. Oh, and if you'd like to join in on the fun, MSI is offering owners of the original X340 an 8-cell upgrade for $99. Pair that with the original 4-cell, and you've got around half a day of life on two battery packs--not too shabby!
The only other change to the "new" X340 is one that's small yet significant. The keyboard has added rigidity, meaning that key presses won't sink down as far and the whole typing feel just seems more sturdy. We're all for improvements, but getting improvements for less is what it's really about. Kudos, MSI.
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Seagate BlackArmor NAS 440 NAS Device Review
With the growing popularity of cloud-based storage solutions, such as the Amazon S3 and Nirvanix services, many businesses--both large and small--are eschewing traditional onsite file servers, and instead opting for offsite, third-party storage solutions. But the ongoing cost of maintaining cloud-based storage as well as the often unproven reliability of it makes it a less than ideal solution for some businesses; and this leaves those businesses with the conundrum of how to store and serve files, provide safe backups, and enable remote access, without breaking the bank.
For such businesses, maintaining an onsite Network-Attached Storage (NAS) solution is often the best answer. NAS devices are much less expensive to own and maintain than traditional file servers, and are often much easier to manage--sometimes even requiring very little networking knowhow. Business-level NAS devices typically differ from consumer-level devices (which are meant for home networking environments) in that they often offer greater data reliability in the form of RAID, and they sometimes even offer data encryption options to keep your files safe from prying eyes.
One such NAS device that is geared for small-businesses is the Seagate BlackArmor NAS 440. The 440 is a four-bay NAS device that comes with four, user-serviceable, internal SATA drives, which can be configured as RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10 arrays, or as JBOD (just a bunch of disks). Depending on which RAID mode is being used, drives can be swapped out without needing to shutdown the device--commonly referred to as hot-swapping. The 440 also includes a total of four USB 2.0 ports, which can accommodate additional storage in the form of external hard drives or for attaching a USB-based printer to make the printer accessible to users over a local network. Another feature of the 440 is that it includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports for port-failover or aggregation.
Seagate BlackArmor NAS 440 NAS Device Review
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An important question regarding processsor heat sink paste
I'm a newbie to building system so I'm having a guy that has built some systems help me the first time out but I'm wondering if he's right or wrong in regard to heat sink paste.
I bought a new Intel Core I7 920 CPU and I assumed that it came with heat sink paste but when we opened the box there wasn't any. The guy that was helping me said I would need to buy some at the local parts store which isn't the issue. Today I was speaking with another associate who said none was needed as the cpu fan that came with the processor already has the paste applied as 3 thin strips of gray material. I contacted the guy helping me and he said that what is there isn't enough and a bit more would be needed if I was ever going to overclock the machine. I talked to yet another associate who said that putting more paste on top of what was already there was the wrong thing to do as it would not spread evenly and create hot spots.
So my question is who's right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Canon Intros First Touchscreen PowerShot & Five Other Cameras
Canon announced six new PowerShot cameras today, includingthe new flagship PowerShot G11 and Canon’s first ever touchscreen PowerShot.All of the new cameras feature Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization and usethe DIGIC 4 Image Processor. The cameras also have an upgraded version ofCanon’s Smart AUTO technology that can track moving faces and detect 22different shooting situations. Some of the new models also have the ability tocapture 720p High-Definition video. Let’s take a closer look at some of the keyfeatures for each new camera.Canon PowerShot G11
As the latest addition to Canon’s flagship PowerShotG-series line, the new PowerShot G11 is designed for users who want apocket-sized camera with SLR capabilities. The PowerShot G11 is a 10 megapixelcamera that incorporates Canon’s High Sensitivity System. This system workswith the DIGIC 4 image processor to offer a faster shutter speed and helpreduce subject blur and camera shake.
For the first time in a G-series model, the PowerShot G11incorporates a 2.8-inch vari-angle PureColor System LCD for easy previewing ofimages from nearly every angle. An optical viewfinder is still available aswell. Like other G-series models, the PowerShot G11 is compatible with a numberof optional accessories, including Speedlite flashes, an underwater housing, anda tele-converter lens.
The PowerShot G11 has a 5x optical zoom lens equivalent to28-140mm and provides easy access to ISO and exposure compensation settingsusing two mode dials. The camera supports a full range of shooting andrecording modes including RAW + JPEG.
The PowerShot G11 is scheduled to be available in Octoberfor $499.99.
Canon PowerShot S90
The PowerShot S90 blends the looks and design of thePowerShot Digital ELPH line with the high-end functionality of the PowerShotG-series. The PowerShot S90 features Canon’s High Sensitivity System as well asa 28mm wide-angle f/2.0 lens and a 3.8x optical zoom.
This 10-megapixel camera has a customizable control ring foreasy access and operation of various shooting settings. The PowerShot S90 also hasa 3-inch PureColor System LCD and supports a range of shooting and recordingmodes including RAW + JPEG.
Scheduled to be available in October, the PowerShot S90 willcost $429.99.
Canon PowerShot SX20IS and SX120 IS
Canon’s SX series is designed to offer a powerful zoom in alightweight package. The 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SX20 IS and the 10-megapixel PowerShotSX120 IS continue this tradition with optical zoom capabilities of 20x and 10x,respectively.
The PowerShot SX20 IS can capture 720p (30 fps) HD video.Thanks to the camera’s HDMI output, you can easily share this video with familyand friends using an HDTV. For on-camera viewing of images and videos, thecamera has a 2.5-inch vari-angle PureColor System LCD.
The PowerShot SX20 IS uses AA batteries for power. It shouldbe available in September for $399.99.
The PowerShot SX120 IS also operates on AA batteries. Thiscamera offers a 3.0-inch LCD for framing and viewing images and incorporates anEasy Mode to simplify taking pictures.
Also expected in September, the PowerShot SX120 IS will cost$249.99
Canon PowerShot SD980IS and SD940 IS Digital ELPH Cameras
Canon’s ELPH line is known for its sleek, stylish looks anda compact form. The PowerShot SD980 IS is the first camera in the ELPH line toincorporate a 3.0-inch touch panel PureColor System LCD with a new userinterface for easy navigation. This camera can capture 720p HD video and offersan HDMI output connector for easy playback of images and videos on a HDTV.You’ll also find a 24mm, 5x optical zoom lens on the 12.1 megapixel PowerShotSD980 IS.
The PowerShot SD980 IS will be available in October insilver, blue, purple, and gold for $329.99.
Canon’s PowerShot SD940 IS offers a 28mm wide-angle lenswith 4x optical zoom capabilities and a 12.1 megapixel sensor. This camera canalso capture 720p HD movies and offers an HDMI output connector. You can reviewimages and movies on the PowerShot SD940 IS’ 2.7-inch PureColor System LCD.
The PowerShot SD940 IS will come in blue, black, silver, andbrown for $299.99 in September.
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StarTech First to Market with DisplayPort KVM Switch
Groveport, OH - StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity and technology parts has announced the upcoming release of a DisplayPort KVM Switch (SV231DPU) – the first KVM Switch available with support for direct connections to DisplayPort monitors and computers without using a converter. “Current users of DisplayPort technology have had to rely on converting to and from more common interfaces such as DVI and VGA for KVM control of high resolution PCs†commented Jon Arnett, Senior Product Marketing Manager for StarTech.com. “In most cases, that conversion has meant sacrificing the advantages of DisplayPort for the sake of compatibility, as well as adding cost and complexity to the initial setup. The SV231DPU KVM switch supports direct DisplayPort connections, with no compromisesâ€. Other features of StarTech.com’s SV231DPU include: The SV231DPU KVM Switch is available for pre-order directly from StarTech.com, and will be available for purchase from StarTech.com’s channel partners, including CDW, PC Connection and Insight and will also be distributed by Ingram Micro, Tech Data, D&H and SYNNEX as well as directly from StarTech.com.
StarTech.com First to Market with DisplayPort KVM Switch
-- New DisplayPort KVM Switch supports next generation display resolutions and audio capability, ideal for high definition imaging, graphic design, CAD and other demanding display environments --
The DisplayPort KVM Switch enables users to control two DisplayPort-capable computers using a single keyboard, mouse and monitor while capitalizing on the impressive graphical and audio capability of the DisplayPort interface.
The 2-port DisplayPort KVM switch offers a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 (@60 Hz, 30 bpp) as well as 7.1 channel HD digital audio, making it a suitable solution for professional multimedia and high definition content development applications.
DisplayPort supports a maximum bandwidth of 4 lanes at 2.7 Gbps each, which allows for resolutions of up to 3840 x 2400 at reduced refresh rates, ideal for “extreme†resolution applications that require less dynamic graphical capability such as MRI and X-Ray medical imaging and digital signage server control.
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Missing in action
Hey guys just a short line. I did,nt want you guys think I abandoned ship but I,ve been pretty sick here lately and havent been able to get involved in the forum.Really hate missing out on the forum but just really havent been up to doing much of anything.Besides I have to go to my friends house to get online.Hope to get back soon .Ya,ll have a good time!
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iTunes Smashes Other Online Music Stores, Takes 25% Of All Sales
With all the talk of music piracy clouding the airwaves these days,it's rather refreshing to hear some positive news about music in thedigital age. And despite what the RIAA or anyone else may have youbelieve, music sales are still happening. Just not in the same way thatthey were when your mother was buying records. According to a new report, compact discs only accounted for 65% of USmusic sales in the first half of 2009, while digital downloads areexpected to "nearly equal CD sales" by the close of 2010. What'sremarkable about this is how quickly the shift in culture has takenplace. Generally speaking, it takes quite some time for individuals tostop buying a mainstay and start buying another, particularly when anew technology steps in to confuse those who didn't grow up with amouse in one handle and a rattle in the other. The research is beingput forth by the NPD Group, with one Russ Crupnick even stating thatmost folks are still "surprised that the CD is still the dominant musicdelivery format, given the attention to digital music and the shrinkingretail footprint for physical products."
Indeed, that's one way to look at things. But another is to be thankfulthat the digital format is catching on. For years, iTunes and othermusic services battled the stigma of DRM. Every digital download hadsome sort of copy protection tacked on, making the files incompatiblewith certain machines and audio players. Now that the iTunes MusicStore sells all of its music with no DRM (meaning that the files can becopied to any music player that reads standard AAC files), there's aneven greater chance that adoption will soar in the coming months andyears.
The report also notes that "paid digital music downloads accounted for35% of all music salesin the first six months of the year, up from 20% in 2007 and 30% lastyear." Just think about it--one out of every three music trackspurchased in America go through some sort of digital sales outlet, nota physical disc. Imagine if someone said that would be the case back in2000. Would you have laughed them out of the house?
Crazier still is the in-depth research into iTunes. Apple's prevasivemusic software has obviously taken the world by storm, and it hascaptured quite the loyal audience. Reportedly, iTunes has made up 25%of all music sales in 1H 2009. Just stop and give that some thought.One in four tracks purchased anywhere (in store or via the Internet)went through iTunes. iTunes is competing with online stores fromMicrosoft, Rhapsody, Napster and countless mini-stores available oncellphones and smartphones, not to mention oodles of establishedbrick-and-mortar locations. Even still, it has an incredible 25% marketshare, and with new iPods rumored for September, we suspect that figurewill just keep on climbing.
To really put things in perspective, consider this: Walmart--theworld's largest retailer--only made up 14% of all music sales, and BestBuy was behind even it. iTunes topples Walmart? What kind of crazyworld are we living in? If you want an even wilder statistic (yes, itgets wilder still!), consumer downloads from all of iTunes made up 69%of the digital music market, followed by AmazonMP3 at 8%. We'd say "adistant second" doesn't even do this situation justice.
So, how often do you visit iTunes for your music fix? Are you still one of those folks who can't live without the actual disc?
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Sony's ALTUS Audio Line To Make Music In Best Buy
As if Sony's week couldn't get any better, the company responsible forissuing a new, slimmer PlayStation 3 is also announcing a new audioproduct line that'll soon be gracing the shelves of Best Buy locations.The ALTUS range will initially consist of just a handful of kits, allof which are tied to the company's S-AIR wireless protocol in some formor another.Up first is the ALT-SA31iR multi-room iPod package, which featuresthree separate components: a docking station for iPod/iPhone and twohigh-output wireless speakers. This multi-room package also features anAM/FM tuner and S-AIR remote commander with an LCD display, on whichusers can see metadata (title, artist, track name, etc.). The systemcan be used to transmit audio without wires to all other S-AIRcompatible receivers should you own one, and if you pick this up, it'scertainly incentive to outfit the rest of your home with S-AIR-friendlywares.
The AIR-SW10Ti docking system for iPod consists of a compact dockingstation with two built-in speakers and a wireless subwoofer that can beeasily concealed. The rig packs 60 watts of RMS power and includes anIR remote and FM tuner. The AIR-SW10Ti system can also be used totransmit wireless audio to compatible ALTUS and S-AIR products. TheALT-SA31iR system will retail for approximately $700 and the AIR-SA10Timodel will retail for about $400, and both are available for pre-ordertoday through SonyStyle.com if you can't wait for them to show up inBest Buy next month.
Moving right along, there's the ALT-SA32PC multi-room audio package,which is also a three-piece set featuring an -AIR transmitter thatconnects to your PC (via USB input) and twohigh-output wireless speakers. The USB transmitter streams audiowirelessly from the connected PC to the two included speakers for asimple multi-room solution. The ALT-A33PC package has an identical USBS-AIR transmitter, butincludes a universal receiver that can connect to a variety of audioproducts with its analog audio inputs. This enables users to streammusic wirelessly from their computer to most existing music systems.Both of these bundles ship with music management software that has theability to tap into existingplaylists on your computer in programs like iTunes and WindowsMedia Player, with the former selling for $500 and the latter foraround $200.
Bringing up the rear, there's the ALT-SA34R Socket Speaker Package.This ALTUS product is compatible with all S-AIR enabled transmittersand features two small, unobtrusive S-AIR wireless speakers that plugdirectly into any power outlet in the home. The speaker system alsoincludes an S-AIR remote commander highlighted by an LCD display forviewing music metadata. Sadly, such a nice concept won't be cheap, withthe MSRP expected to hover around $350 when it ships in September.Finally, the BDV-E500W 5.1 Channel Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System isavailable to new home theater junkies looking for a simple, all in onesetup to bring BD functionality and surround sound into their home. TheBD-Live capable system can be found now for around $800, which includesfive surround speakers and a dedicated subwoofer.
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Logitech Mice Even Work On A Clear Glass Table
Logitech today announced two new mice that can be used almost anywhere, even on clear glass.The glass must be at least 4 millimeters thick, but I'd imagine it would be a little stressful to be computing on a table where the glass top was thinner, wondering if you're going to press too hard and bring the entire tabletop crashing to the ground in a pile of glass shards.
The Logitech Performance Mouse MX and the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX use Darkfield Laser Tracking to achieve their goals and are
supposed to be useful on even high-gloss surfaces that most mice are useless on.The mice are wireless, with a teensy receiver (about the size of a nickel) that stays in your computer.
Other details:
• Hyper-fast scrolling, which allows you to zip through a long document with one spin. Click-to-click scrolling also is available, however, so you're not going to zip through an entire slideshow if you don't want to.
• 2.4 GHz wireless for "fast data transmission and virtually no delays or dropouts."
The folks at Logitech are so jazzed about their new mice that they even created this video:
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Samsung Dishes Three New Bluetooth Headsets, Still Can't Make 'Em Cool
We're still not convinced that we could comfortably walk around with aBluetooth headset hung around our ear in public, but for those whodon't mind making others think that they're talking to them whilstwalking down the street, Samsung has a smattering of new options thatlook pretty darn stylish.The flagship device is the WEP870, which actually combines a Bluetoothheadset with earbuds in order to make you look just a bit smarter whileusing it. We kid, we kid! The WEP870 is a mono-style headset withchrome trim and a graphite finish that can be worn on either ear, andthanks to the multi-connection technology, it can be paired with up totwo BT devices at once. The headset also features a stereo earbudlanyard that can be attached to the headset and worn comfortably aroundthe neck, and if you receive a call while listening to music, the tuneswill gently mute in order to let you take the call, and then it rampsback up once you disconnect. Finally, it also boasts dual-microphonesand active noise and echo cancelation technology, not to mention anLCD screen that shows battery life, call status and BT connectionstatus.
Moving on, there's the WEP850, which is described as a sleek mono-styleheadset with a minimalistic design. This one also features multipointtechnology and advanced dual-microphone noise cancelation, as well asecho reduction. The WEP740 is a small and lightweight headset thatblocks out background noise and sports a LED battery level, a dedicatedon/off switch and a detachable crystal ear hook.
Starting today, the WEP870 is available for $89.99, the WEP850 for $69.99 and the WEP470 for $39.99.
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Windows Users In U.K. Will Pay Less Than In The U.S.
For a change, Microsoft Windows users in Great Britain aren't going to be charged more than their American counterparts.In fact, they're going to pay less for Windows 7 than folks in the U.S., according to a report on CNET UK.
Full versions of Windows 7 Home Premium, in fact, will cost British buyers about half as much as it will Yanks.
The full version (i.e., not just an upgrade) will cost about آ£65 (about $105). Americans will be paying$119 for the upgrade version and $199 for the full version. (Unlessthey bought 'em before July 11, in which case they saved boatloads.)
Amazon.co.uk,which has the full version listed for آ£65, including Internet Explorer8, told CNET the price should be considered "indefinite," meaning theydon't plan on increasing it anytime soon.
Granted, Microsoft had an advance deal, where anyone who preordered the upgrade by July 11 got a cut rate
Theupgrade packages will be available at retail stores after Windows 7 isreleased Oct. 22. The online upgrade option fromwithin Windows 7 will be available to users in Australia, Belgium,Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
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