Acer Aspire Ethos Trackpad Functions As A Touchscreen As Well
In general, notebooks have remained the same for well over a decade. They've grown thinner, they've become more powerful, and more ports have emerged, but the general premise hasn't changed much. Apple took a nice step in the right direction with the button-free, multi-touch trackpad, but Acer may have just taken things to the next level.The Acer Aspire Ethos range makes itself special with a touch-screen trackpad; yes, a trackpad you can actually see on. The display isn't 1080p or anything, but it does have
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Asus To Debut "At Least Two" Tablets To Rival Apple's iPad
If there was any question on just how popular the tablet PC world would become this year, take a look at the hype surrounding the iPad launch. And then take a look at Asus, who firmly believes they can challenge Apple in this arena. It makes sense when you think that it's Apple who is entering PC territory here, and just as Asus toppled the netbook market, they're clearly hoping to do the same in the tablet market. Jonney Shih, chairman of Asus, recently admitted that the company is planning to reveal not one,
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Microsoft And Ford Team Up To Intelligently Charge Electric Vehicles
Microsoft is into all sorts of things these days. Operating systems are just the tip of the empire, as gaming consoles, MP3 players, search engines, mapping systems, 3D sensing and even energy management are all also in the cards. Wait, energy management? It's no April Fools--Hohm is a legitimate branch of Microsoft, and while few have really paid attention to it thus far, a partnership with one of the world's most recognizable automakers could definitely change that.In order to advance the electric car industry
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New PeeWee Power Laptop Designed With Kids In Mind
PCs built for kids aren't all that different from the netbooks and notebooks you and I carry around today. Take the latest PeeWee Power Laptop, for example. This 3.5 pound machine features an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of memory, a 10.1 inch LCD screen, and a 6-cell battery. It runs on Windows XP, but also has PeeWee Patrol and PeeWee Privacy software to help ensure your kids are safe on the net and don't get into files they shouldn't access. Recognizing that kids and accidents often meet, the laptop also
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NVIDIA Showcases Ion's Capabilities In GPU-Intensive IE9 Tests
If you've managed to glance through any of our recent netbook reviews, you'd know that we're big fans of NVIDIA's Ion. This technology has enabled netbooks to handle multi-media in a way they never could using older integrated GPUs, and we honestly wish there were more options out there just like it. One area that often gets overlooked is just how important a GPU is when browsing the Web, particularly when viewing graphically intense sites like Bing Maps or YouTube HD. Believe it or not, the GPU is becoming
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Asus Introduces Eee PC 1001PX With Atom N450
Will the Eee PC netbook line ever end? It's a reasonable question, but at the current point in time, we can't see it ever fading completely away. Asus helped to make the netbook popular as a segment, and the Eee PC is still widely known as the go-to netbook line. The new Eee PC Seashell line is the company's most recent attempt to overhaul the original, and these are generally viewed as the "stylish" netbooks, slim and sleek and packed with long battery life. The Eee PC 1001PX is the newest in a long line of
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Sprint Changes The Game With "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" Plan
In the same way that people "view" AT&T in one sort of light, people tend to "view" Sprint in another. Sprint is oftentimes seen as the "laggard" of the bunch when it comes to viewing the major U.S. cell phone operators, regardless of whether or not that's legitimate. But the company has done a lot over the past few months to turn things around. For starters, the "Simply Everything" plan cannot be beat, and the smartphone selection is second to none (or Apple, if you really need the iPhone).Now, Sprint is
Read More ...
Linksys Ships Fancy, Stylish New Wireless N Routers
Cisco made news earlier in the month by claiming to give the Internet more room to grow, but obviously, boxes that are larger than most trucks can't easily be integrated into the home. Today, the company is introducing a few items that can actually be easily moved into the home. The company's Linksys branch has just revealed some of the neatest routers we have ever seen, and undoubtedly the most stylish. We've often wondered why routers were so ugly, yet there's no good way to hide them. Linksys now has the
Read More ...
Apple Shows Off iPad Features & Functions
The iPad goes on sale this weekend. If you're getting anxious to see what an iBook or YouTube video will look like on the device, check out Apple's guided tour page. Here, you'll find a number of videos that provide a walkthrough of the various features of the device. Apple has created guided tours for the following applications: Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, iBooks, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Each of the videos shows how the app works and provides information about what you can do with
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Microsoft Announces 64GB Zune HD
Microsoft plans to launch a 64GB version of its Zune HD on April 12th via the Zune online store. With this new model, Microsoft claims you'll be able to store up to 16,000 songs or 20 hours of high definition video on the media player. With the announcement of the new model, Microsoft is also lowering the estimated retail price for the 16GB and 32GB models by $20, making them $199.99 and $269.99, respectively. Microsoft also mentioned a v4.5 firmware update that will add the ability to browse, stream, and acquire
Read More ...
New PeeWee Power Laptop Designed With Kids In Mind
PCs built for kids aren't all that different from the netbooks and notebooks you and I carry around today. Take the latest PeeWee Power Laptop, for example. This 3.5 pound machine features an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1GB of memory, a 10.1 inch LCD screen, and a 6-cell battery. It runs on Windows XP, but also has PeeWee Patrol and PeeWee Privacy software to help ensure your kids are safe on the net and don't get into files they shouldn't access. Recognizing that kids and accidents often meet, the laptop also features drop-proof construction and a spill resistant keyboard. 
PeeWee PC Announces Availability of New PeeWee Power Laptop
Built for kids ages 4-8 the durable, spill resistant notebook ships with 15 educational games
Miami, FL – March 31, 2010 – PeeWee PC, the leading manufacturer of computer products and accessories for children, is excited to announce the availability of the new PeeWee Power Laptop. The rugged 3.5 pound PeeWee Power features a durable drop-proof construction and spill resistant keyboard, making it the ideal first computer for children aged 4-8. PeeWee PC loads each computer with 15 educational software titles providing the young end users access to different games as they progress from pre-kindergarten into early elementary and finally upper elementary students.
PeeWee PC places an emphasis on security and also includes its PeeWee Patrol and PeeWee Privacy software on every computer it builds. PeeWee Patrol provides parents with an aggressive internet watchdog program that both monitors their children’s activity and blocks websites flagged as inappropriate. PeeWee Privacy allows parents to restrict access to certain files and folders on the laptop’s hard drive and enables moms and dads to set time restrictions on how long and when their children are using their computer.
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NVIDIA Showcases Ion's Capabilities In GPU-Intensive IE9 Tests
If you've managed to glance through any of our recent netbook reviews, you'd know that we're big fans of NVIDIA's Ion. This technology has enabled netbooks to handle multi-media in a way they never could using older integrated GPUs, and we honestly wish there were more options out there just like it. One area that often gets overlooked is just how important a GPU is when browsing the Web, particularly when viewing graphically intense sites like Bing Maps or YouTube HD. Believe it or not, the GPU is becoming a more and more important part of browsing as the Web advances, and that trend isn't slowing down soon.
NVIDIA managed to get an early build of Internet Explorer 9 onto a pair of netbooks, one with Ion and one without. They then ran a series of tests on them to show how much difference the Ion chipset made, and it's all shown in the video just below. They're all pretty stunning. A map zooming test showed the non-Ion machine lagging way behind, while the 3D rendering test showed the Ion machine hitting around 44FPS and the non-Ion machine hitting around 3FPS. A big difference, obviously. The Ion machine in question is actually the Asus Eee PC 1201PN, due out this month in America, and if this video is any indication, it'll be quite the little powerhouse when it starts shipping.
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Block: Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
I've noticed that a recurring spambot apparently tries to put this XML in the body of all of its messages. How about if we discard all messages that have this as text in the body?
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Acer Aspire Ethos Trackpad Functions As A Touchscreen As Well
In general, notebooks have remained the same for well over a decade. They've grown thinner, they've become more powerful, and more ports have emerged, but the general premise hasn't changed much. Apple took a nice step in the right direction with the button-free, multi-touch trackpad, but Acer may have just taken things to the next level.The Acer Aspire Ethos range makes itself special with a touch-screen trackpad; yes, a trackpad you can actually see on. The display isn't 1080p or anything, but it does have enough pixels to show some basic functions and allow for certain tweaks right from the trackpad. It's certainly an amazing idea, and if executed well, it could change the way we think about keyboard shortcuts on the go.
The Aspire Ethos 8943G is loaded in other ways as well; there's a 1080p display, HDMI output, Blu-ray drive, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 (or 5650) GPU, a fingerprint reader, Core i5 or i7 CPU, up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM and a lovely overall design. The trackpad is still more notable than all of that; users can press a toggle button, and the mouse function vanishes while touch sensitive buttons for controlling media pop up. In the future, these commands could correspond to just about anything. Ideas from the crowd, perhaps?
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Asus To Debut "At Least Two" Tablets To Rival Apple's iPad
If there was any question on just how popular the tablet PC world would become this year, take a look at the hype surrounding the iPad launch. And then take a look at Asus, who firmly believes they can challenge Apple in this arena. It makes sense when you think that it's Apple who is entering PC territory here, and just as Asus toppled the netbook market, they're clearly hoping to do the same in the tablet market.Jonney Shih, chairman of Asus, recently admitted that the company is planning to reveal not one, but two iPad rival machines within the next couple of months, likely at Computex in June. In a recent interview with Forbes, Shih revealed the following: "Netbooks are the best combination of personal computing and cloud computing, but between netbooks and smartphones and e-readers, we think there will be a space for something like a tablet or slate PC."
That sounds a lot like Apple's take on things as well, but the company's not trying to make an iPad clone. Instead, they're tablet(s) will probably run on Google's Android OS, or possibly a Microsoft platform of some sort. He noted that "there will be an Apple camp [in tablets], but Asus always tries to address the open camps of Google and Microsoft."
He also stated that media will be huge in the tablet's functionality, likely alluding to the fact that it will probably handle Flash whereas the iPad cannot. We'd love to see a few Tegra 2-based tablets hit the market to take on the iPad, and hopefully pressure Apple into creating a next-gen model with a few necessary extras (like an SD card slot, USB port and support for Hulu without any fancy workaround).
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Microsoft And Ford Team Up To Intelligently Charge Electric Vehicles
Microsoft is into all sorts of things these days. Operating systems are just the tip of the empire, as gaming consoles, MP3 players, search engines, mapping systems, 3D sensing and even energy management are all also in the cards. Wait, energy management? It's no April Fools--Hohm is a legitimate branch of Microsoft, and while few have really paid attention to it thus far, a partnership with one of the world's most recognizable automakers could definitely change that.
In order to advance the electric car industry (and probably give some real credence to Hohm, which has yet to land a killer application in the real world), the two have announced a "new solution that will make electric vehicle ownership easier and more affordable for consumers." Sure sounds good, but what's in it? It means that they're teaming up to implement the Microsoft Hohm energy management application for Ford’s electric vehicles, with next year's Focus being the first. What this will do is help owners determine when and how to most efficiently and affordably recharge battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV, and in turn, it could help utility companies manage the added demands of electric vehicles on the electrical grid. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, summed it up well:
"Electric vehicles will play an important role in the global effort to improve energy efficiency and address the issues of climate change and sustainability. But as the market for electric vehicles expands, it will have a significant impact on home energy consumption and demand across the nation’s energy grid. With Microsoft Hohm, Ford and Microsoft will deliver a solution that will make it easier for car owners to make smart decisions about the most affordable and efficient ways to recharge electric vehicles, while giving utilities better tools for managing the expected changes in energy demand."
If you're interested, here's a brief video explaining the partnership. It's great to see these two thinking so far ahead; today, it doesn't really matter when the handful of owners charge their electric cars, but when "everyone" owns one, it will.
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Microsoft Announces 64GB Zune HD
Microsoft plans to launch a 64GB version of its Zune HD on April 12th via the Zune online store. With this new model, Microsoft claims you'll be able to store up to 16,000 songs or 20 hours of high definition video on the media player. With the announcement of the new model, Microsoft is also lowering the estimated retail price for the 16GB and 32GB models by $20, making them $199.99 and $269.99, respectively.Microsoft also mentioned a v4.5 firmware update that will add the ability to browse, stream, and acquire music from Zune Marketplace on your TV; Smart DJ auto-playlists; and expanded codec support. Unfortunately, the company didn't give us a release date, only saying more news about the availability of the 4.5 firmware will be available in the coming days.
We’re excited to share that Zune fans will be able to purchase a new 64GB version of the popular Zune HD device for $349.99 starting April 12th through ZuneOriginals.com. By increasing the Zune HD capacity to 64GB, users will be able take up to 16,000 songs, or 20 hours of high definition video from Zune Marketplace, or 25,000 pictures* on the go! Customers will be able to customize their Zune HD 64GB through ZuneOrginals.com, available in their choice of Platinum, Black, Blue, Red, Green, Purple and Magenta colors.
In addition to introducing the new 64GB capacity, we are also reducing the prices of the 16GB and 32GB devices. Starting today, new price lists are being distributed bringing the estimated retail price (ERP) for the Zune 16GB device to $199.99 and the Zune HD 32GB device to $269.99.
With its OLED multi-touch screen, built-in HD radio, HD video out capabilities and Internet browser, Zune HD is a full-function media player which has received accolades from press and consumers. We’ve also announced details of an upcoming firmware update which will add even more features to the device, such as Smart DJ auto-playlists capability directly on the Zune HD, ability to browse, stream and acquire music from Zune Marketplace on your TV (while the device is connected to a TV set through the A/V dock) and expanded codec support allowing users to play more video formats natively from the device.
We are excited to be offering a great range of storage capacities for the Zune HD at competitive price points and will be sharing more news on the availability of the 4.5 firmware in the coming days.
*Music estimates based on 128 Kbps WMA files with length of 4 minutes each. Pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; video estimates based on 500 Kbps WMV files with 128 Kbps WMA audio tracks.
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Sprint Changes The Game With "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" Plan
In the same way that people "view" AT&T in one sort of light, people tend to "view" Sprint in another. Sprint is oftentimes seen as the "laggard" of the bunch when it comes to viewing the major U.S. cell phone operators, regardless of whether or not that's legitimate. But the company has done a lot over the past few months to turn things around. For starters, the "Simply Everything" plan cannot be beat, and the smartphone selection is second to none (or Apple, if you really need the iPhone).
Now, Sprint is topping all others with a knock-out money-back guarantee that is tops in the industry right now. In order to give potential customers a chance to really try out the Sprint netword, despite what they've heard, users will be able to test drive their service for a full 30 days with any penalties if they aren't satisfied. Honestly, we can't find any strings attached. Listen to this:
Beginning tomorrow, the Sprint Free Guarantee gives any customer opening a new line of service the chance to try Sprint for 30 days. If a customer isn’t completely satisfied, they can get reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get the early termination fee waived, get a full refund for service plan monthly recurring charges incurred and get all associated taxes and Sprint surcharges associated with these charges waived. In addition, Sprint will waive the restocking fee for new customer exchanges as part of this policy.
Sprint's really making a case to become America's best carrier, potentially rising from worst to first. We aren't ones to easily buy into hype, but these bullet points sure do help to drive things home. Now, if only that silly iPhone were made available, Dan Hesse might just have a full-scale 180 in progress.
The Sprint Free Guarantee is one of several game-changing policies, services and products Sprint has announced over the last couple of years that has revolutionized the industry. Its award-winning device line-up, great voice and data networks, and its unmatched value in pricing plans are the reasons why Sprint is confident customers will want to give the company a try.
- Pricing plans – Plans such as Sprint’s Everything Data, featuring Any Mobile, Anytime, offers an unlimited wireless experience starting at just $69.99 per month. This means Sprint customers can get unlimited calling to and from any mobile phone in America, unlimited messaging and unlimited Web, including GPS navigation, for the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for unlimited talk only. In addition, with the Sprint Right Plan Promise, customers can move to any rate plan at any time without requiring a contract extension or any fees.
- Network Advantages: 3G & 4G services – Sprint is the first national wireless carrier to launch 4G. The service is available in 28 cities today, providing a new and improved Internet experience through the next generation of services. Sprint is extending its 4G leadership by launching the HTC EVO 4G this summer – the world’s first 3G/4G Android phone. Sprint also has the largest voice calling and the second largest 3G data network (inclusive of roaming).
- Device Line-up – Whether customers want the latest Blackberry smartphone, an Android phone like HTC Hero with Google or Samsung Moment with Google, or Palm Pre or Pixi, Sprint has an award-winning line-up of Smartphones and devices to fit any budget. The upcoming launch of its HTC EVO 4G, will offer one of the most robust multimedia experiences on a wireless phone today. It won “best of CTIA†earlier this month.
- Sprint Premier – Sprint celebrated the one-year anniversary of Sprint Premier, its exclusive rewards program in 2010. Sprint Premier provides annual upgrades, anniversary rewards, accessory discounts, “Just Because†perks like trips and tickets to events, and many other benefits to members. Customers with Sprint Everything Data plans are automatically enrolled in Sprint Premier.
- Ready Now - Sprint offers a personal trainer-like service free of charge called Ready Now. This exclusive Sprint experience offers hands-on device training and set up for customers at Sprint stores nationwide. A Laptop magazine study last Fall gave Sprint first place in a tie for in-store customer service.
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Linksys Ships Fancy, Stylish New Wireless N Routers
Cisco made news earlier in the month by claiming to give the Internet more room to grow, but obviously, boxes that are larger than most trucks can't easily be integrated into the home. Today, the company is introducing a few items that can actually be easily moved into the home.The company's Linksys branch has just revealed some of the neatest routers we have ever seen, and undoubtedly the most stylish. We've often wondered why routers were so ugly, yet there's no good way to hide them. Linksys now has the solution to that problem, with a new, streamlined product lineup that highlights a new piece of software: Cisco Connect.
Obviously typing the strong-suits of the two companies together, Cisco Connect enables users to easily customize and control their home wireless experience, which has generally been reserved for DIY enthusiasts who didn't mind tinkering with their settings or installing some patch that gave them special access to the Linux build beneath. A whole new range of Wireless N routers have been created to best take advantage of the software, all of which are explained in detail below.
Product Descriptions and Pricing
Thenew Linksys E-Series line offers a full range of technology options tohelp users find what works best for them. The new line, including a USBWireless-N Adapter, is available immediately at Amazon, Staples,Linksys.com, and soon at Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and other leadingretailers. Â
Linksys E1000 Wireless-N Router (MSRP: Â $79.99)
- Wirelessly connects computers and other devices at transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps Â
- Uses four Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports to directly connect wired devices
- Ideal for general wireless Internet usage and home office productivity
Linksys E2000 Advanced Wireless-N Router (MSRP: Â $119.99)
- Includesfour Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports for faster file sharingwith other Gigabit-enabled devices, including computers, hard drives,and servers
- Features selectable dual-band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)technology to help avoid interference, allowing for smoother filetransfers and media streaming
- Ideal for connecting computers,gaming consoles, Internet-enabled HDTVs and Blu-Ray players, and otherwireless devices at transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps
Linksys E2100L Advanced Wireless-N Router with Linux OS: Â (MSRP: Â $119.99)
- Utilizes the Linux operating system for flexibility to customize the network
- Uses four Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports to directly connect wired devices
- Built-in UPnP AV Media Server streams entertainment content to an Xbox 360, PS3 or other compatible device
- USB port provides connectivity to storage devices for file sharing at home or over the Internet
Linksys E3000 High-Performance Wireless-N Router (Dual-Band): Â (MSRP: Â $179.99)
- Featuressimultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), high-performance Wireless-Ntechnology for smoother HD video streaming, wireless gaming and filetransfers
- Includes four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps)ports for faster file sharing with other USB port and providesconnectivity to storage devices for file sharing at home or over theInternet
- Built-in UPnP AV media server enables streaming of entertainment content to an Xbox 360, PS3 or other compatible device
- Optimizedfor entertainment, ideal for connecting computers, gaming consoles,Internet-enabled HDTVs and Blu-Ray players, and other wireless devicesat transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps
Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter: Â (MSRP: Â $69.99)
- Provides Wireless-N capability to Windows desktop computers and laptops
- Selectable dual-band wireless-N - connects to either a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless network
- Includes USB extension cable and adapter base for improved wireless connectivity - ideal for hard-to-reach USB ports
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Apple Shows Off iPad Features & Functions
The iPad goes on sale this weekend. If you're getting anxious to see what an iBook or YouTube video will look like on the device, check out Apple's guided tour page. Here, you'll find a number of videos that provide a walkthrough of the various features of the device.Apple has created guided tours for the following applications: Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, iBooks, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Each of the videos shows how the app works and provides information about what you can do with the app. For example, the iBooks video demonstrates the virtual bookshelf, turning of pages, and the built-in dictionary.
Although many of the walkthroughs aren't that exciting—most of the apps work as you would expect—it's still fun to get a glimpse at what we can expect from this new device. Apple has already sold its allotment of preordered iPads, so these videos will be most helpful to users who are on the fence about buying the device or for those who are considering picking one up at Best Buy this weekend.
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