Survey Grades Laptop OEMs On Tech Support; Parental Discretion Advised
One of the toughest reader questions to answer when it comes to hardware recommendations is "Which vendor gives the best support?" In theory, as journalists, we have both direct access to corporate staff and a wide reader base to poll from. In practice, companies claim this sort of information constitutes trade secrets and lock it down tighter than Ft. Knox. Laptop Magazine recently set out to rank the various major laptop vendors (Acer, Apple, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Sony, and
Read More ...
Getac Offers Core i7 In A Rugged Convertible PC With V100
Generally speaking, the main name in rugged portable computers is Panasonic. Their Toughbook line has long since been viewed as the one-stop shop for a computer that can travel with you yet still withstand the elements. But Getac has been offering similar machines for awhile as well, and their new V100 offers some pretty compelling reasons to look at it over a Toughbook. It all starts with the Core i7 (1.2GHz) processor, which is rarely found in rugged/tough notebooks, and is called the quickest dual-core convertible
Read More ...
Super Talent Rides the SuperSpeed Bus with New USB 3.0 Express Drive
So what if Intel is taking its sweet little time adopting the USB 3.0 spec, let the transition begin. Sure, it sucks that the world's largest chip maker isn't on board yet, but when Intel finally comes around, at least we won't be complaining about a lack of SuperSpeed devices. The latest piece of USB 3.0 hardware to come to market is Super Talent's new Express Drive, an ordinary looking USB thumb drive with extraordinary transfer capabilities. The new drive comes in two capacities, 16GB ($69) and 32GB ($119).
Read More ...
T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant Ships Ahead of Schedule
Go ahead T-Mobile customers, toss that slow-as-molasses HTC Dream (G1) phone into the river, the same one that enticed you get locked into a 2-year agreement back before all the cool Android phones made their way to other wireless carriers. You won't be needing it anymore, not with the Samsung Vibrant now being offered, an Android phone you can finally be excited about. Yes, this is coming from a bitter T-Mobile customer who watched in envy as the Motorola Droid, HTC Incredible, and other awesome smartphones
Read More ...
PayLo Offers Contract-Free $20/Month Mobile Plan
It's getting easier and easier to avoid the major four mobile carriers in America, and more importantly, to avoid those long-term contracts that lock you in and refuse to let go. Of course, the biggest and most cutting-edge smartphones will continue to go to AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, and all of them will require those 2-year contracts, but if you don't really care about what phone makes and receives your calls/texts, Virgin Mobile has a tempting new offer. PayLo is an all-new pay-as-you-go brand
Read More ...
iOS 4.1 Beta "Fixes" Signal Display, Little Else
Apple released the iPhone 4.1 SDK and beta OS on Wednesday, and it includes the much-hyped signal bar indicator fix that Apple said would fix the "death grip" problem shown when bridging the gap on the iPhone 4's external antenna system. It indeed changes the signal bars, but it does not fix the antenna problem (as we assumed it would not). Gizmodo has a nice graphic showing the change (above). Apple had previously said that: a) all phones exhibit signal attenuation when gripped b) the signal bar level indicator
Read More ...
Microsoft COO Calls Apple's iPhone 4 "Their Vista"
Wow. Just wow. Sometimes, there's just nothing more to say. And this is one of those times, but we'll try to elaborate anyway. Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, probably pulls home a nice paycheck. He's right up there beside Steve Ballmer's corner office, and when he speaks about Microsoft, people understandably listen. He's the COO, after all. So recently, when he spoke at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington, D.C., it made it impossible for us to ignore. What exactly did
Read More ...
Flipper USB Enables Upside-Down USB Connections
Well, isn't this just useful? If you're an avid computer user, particularly a mobile computer user, you've probably dealt with sticking a USB flash drive or USB cable into a USB port "the wrong way." And by that we mean upside-down. Best case scenario, you simply pull it back and try again; worst case, however, you could ruin either the device/cable or the connector itself. UltraTek has a solution to a problem that has haunted (or at least annoyed) computer users for years. The Flipper USB is a male USB end
Read More ...
SwiftKey Predictive Text Keyboard Learns Your Lingo
SwiftKey recently introduced a new application for Android users that promises to predict your next word with "incredible accuracy." To do this, SwiftKey uses TouchType’s Fluency technology in order to predict the next word you are likely to type. SwiftKey has been two years in the making. Now, it's available in beta version through the Android Market. According to the British start-up company TouchType, SwiftKey can increase writing speeds by up to 50% with its powerful prediction engine. Although SwiftKey
Read More ...
Things are Really Bad: Letterman Skewers iPhone 4
You know things are really bad when David Letterman takes time out to skewer you with his Top Ten (either that, or things have become really good). In this case, things are really bad, as David Letterman's Top Ten List on Wednesday was the "Top Ten Signs You've Purchased a Bad iPhone." Of course, Mel Gibson received some air time, too, so the iPhone 4 wasn't the only thing Letterman felt was worthy of ridicule. Here's the list (video below): Top Ten Signs You've Purchased a Bad iPhone 10. To make a call, you
Read More ...
Microsoft Woos Developers In An Attempt To Catch Apple & Google
It's no secret that Microsoft's Marketplace is struggling in comparison to Apple's App Store or Google's Android Market. If you browse through these three online application stores, you'll see that Apple and Google have many more applications to offer compared to Microsoft. In fact, Apple has about 225,000 apps and Google has 65,000 in their respective app stores. To make matters worse for Microsoft, because the software giant is completely overhauling its mobile OS, programs developed for previous generations
Read More ...
Apple Hosting iPhone 4-Related Press Event This Friday: Reception Issues To Be Addressed?
Some would say "Well, this had to happen." But did it, really? What companies really hold entire press conferences just to address the howling public? Toyota certainly did with their whole "brake" issue, and BP has done the same with the oil mess going on in the Gulf right now. But both of those situations were far, far more significant in the grand scheme of life than a phone that has reception issues. Either way, Apple has always been a company that values their image, and no other gaffe in recent memory has
Read More ...
HTC Droid Incredible Video Review
Verizon Wireless and HTC have a hit on their hands with the Droid Incredible. It's not only a very good Android phone, it's also one of the better smartphones on the market today. Verizon Wireless customers have some really great phone options, and the Incredible deserves to be at the top of the list. Certainly there are, and will be, a lot of powerful new phones coming to market in the coming months, including the Motorola Droid X, but when it comes to current high-end smartphones, the Droid Incredible is now
Read More ...
Intel Expects Strong Demand For Sandy Bridge; Hints at Early Launch
One other additional tidbit of information from Intel's recent conference call offers some tantalizing rumors about the upcoming Core i7 architecture, codenamed Sandy Bridge. Officially, Intel isn't expected to launch SB until the end of Q4, but the chip is ramping well enough that Santa Clara might opt to pull the launch forward slightly and ship for revenue earlier. For those of you who aren't up on Intel's latest codenames, Sandy Bridge is a "tock" in Intel's Tick-Tock model. Intel splits its processor releases
Read More ...
Canon Adds Dual Memory Camcorder To VIXIA Line
Sony isn't the only company making noise with new camcorders. Canon expanded its VIXIA lineup with a new model that features 64GB of internal flash memory and an expansion slot that supports the SDXC format. The new VIXIA HF M32 Dual Flash Memory camcorder can record up to 24 hours of high definition video on its internal storage. The VIXIA HF M32 Dual Flash Memory camcorder features a touch panel LCD that lets you select a subject on the LCD to recognize and track it. The camcorder also features Canon's DIGIC
Read More ...
Seagate Targets Small Business With New Network Storage Server
Seagate introduced the new BlackArmor NAS 400 network storage server. Targeting small businesses and households that want data storage protection, performance, and flexibility, the new BlackArmor server has a four-bay storage enclosure that supports a variety of Seagate-certified disk drives. The BlackArmor NAS 400 is scalable, letting you add extra drives when and if you need them. In addition to space for four drives, the BlackArmor NAS 400 comes with backup and protection tools that include full-system remote
Read More ...
OCZ Technology Intros World's Fastest High-Density 4GB DDR3 RAM Modules
In need of new memory? There's never enough is there? OCZ Technology doesn't think so, and if you've been thinking of adding a bit of headroom to your main gaming rig, there's now a new option to consider. OCZ has just introduced the world's fastest high-density 4GB DDR3 modules operating at 2133MHz, perfect for those who "demand both performance and bandwidth in one memory solution." The new modules are aimed at prosumers and enthusiasts, and it's not often that high density and high performance go hand-in-hand
Read More ...
Amazon Offers New Cloud-Based High Performance Computing
Amazon has long touted its ECS (Elastic Compute Cloud) as a flexible service for companies that need a certain amount of server time to test programs or features, but don't want to invest the time and effort themselves. Now, the company has added additional HPC (High Performance Computing) capabilities that are typically targeted towards large-scale enterprise or university buildouts. These are precisely the sorts of organizations that typically can afford to invest time/money, but Amazon is targeting potential
Read More ...
Windows 7 SP1 Beta Now Available for Mass Consumption (Sort Of)
When the first Service Pack shipped for Windows Vista, it was a pretty big deal. After all, it took several performance and reliability updates to turn what debuted as a buggy OS into a serviceable platform, all of which were rolled into SP1, and then some. Windows 7 has gotten off to a much smoother start, but hey, if you're at all curious what the first Service Pack will bring, by all means, go find out - the beta is now available for download (as well as for Windows Server 2008 R2). Keeping in mind that this
Read More ...
LaCie's XtremKey USB Drive Is Ultra Rugged Yet Beautiful
The world's most adventurous USB flash drive? That's a fairly bold claim to make, particularly when you're a finesse company like LaCie. We have seen quite a few rugged flash drives grace our pages, but the company that is generally known for producing the best looking storage products is now looking to produce the best looking and toughest USB flash drive. Can there really be a product with the best of both worlds? The LaCie XtremKey actually is pretty extreme, with versions available that hold up to 64GB of
Read More ...
Toshiba Dotes on Mac Users with Canvio Backup Solution
Don't let it ever be said that Toshiba doesn't love its PC and Mac brethren equally, lest how would you explain the Canvio, Toshiba's latest portable backup solution for Macs? The thing comes in 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB capacities, each one pre-loaded with Mac specific backup software. "Toshiba develops personal storage devices that combine the latest, high quality designs with top-notch performance and an intuitive, easy to use interface," said Manuel Camarena, product manager for consumer storage at Toshiba Storage
Read More ...
Another Quarter, Another Revenue Record For Intel
Intel released its quarterly earnings last night, revealing yet another record-breaking quarter. This is the third time in four quarters that the company has managed to break one record or another; the results imply that the IT industry continues to recover slowly. All of Intel's financial indicators were up; the company earned $10.8 billion in revenue with a net income of $2.9 billion. The PC Client Group (think desktops, netbooks, and notebooks) grew by two percent in Q2 with record mobile shipments. Server
Read More ...
HTC Droid Incredible Video Review
Synopsis by HotHardware Editor, Jennifer Johnson: Verizon Wireless and HTC have a hit on their hands with the Droid Incredible. It's not only a very good Android phone, it's also one of the better smartphones on the market today. Verizon Wireless customers have some really great phone options, and the Incredible deserves to be at the top of the list. Certainly there are, and will be, a lot of powerful new phones coming to market in the coming months, including the Motorola Droid X, but when it comes
Read More ...
Microsoft COO Calls Apple's iPhone 4 "Their Vista"
Wow. Just wow. Sometimes, there's just nothing more to say. And this is one of those times, but we'll try to elaborate anyway. Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, probably pulls home a nice paycheck. He's right up there beside Steve Ballmer's corner office, and when he speaks about Microsoft, people understandably listen. He's the COO, after all.So recently, when he spoke at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington, D.C., it made it impossible for us to ignore. What exactly did he say? "It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I'm okay with that."
Yes, "their" refers to Apple, and the statement is true. It's somewhat hard to believe that this was said, but we're guessing that it was either said in a joking fashion or in a heat of rage. Either way, it's pretty comical. There's no doubt that Apple has taken (and continues to take) a pretty severe bashing for the issues that shipped with the iPhone 4, and much like Vista, it continues to sell well regardless. Of course, Vista was hit pretty hard by critics who couldn't get over the quirks of the system, and it'll definitely reside up there with Windows ME for one of Microsoft's most hated operating systems. But will the iPhone 4 really be remembered as a "hated phone?" We kind of doubt it.
Still, it's pretty great to think that Microsoft feels that the iPhone 4 could be Apple's Vista. Even though this statement essentially confirms that Microsoft knows how bad the world hates Vista...
Read More ...
Getac Offers Core i7 In A Rugged Convertible PC With V100
Generally speaking, the main name in rugged portable computers is Panasonic. Their Toughbook line has long since been viewed as the one-stop shop for a computer that can travel with you yet still withstand the elements. But Getac has been offering similar machines for awhile as well, and their new V100 offers some pretty compelling reasons to look at it over a Toughbook.It all starts with the Core i7 (1.2GHz) processor, which is rarely found in rugged/tough notebooks, and is called the quickest dual-core convertible on the market today. The V100 convertible PC is built like a tank, offering a 1200 NIT QuadraClear Display, a multi-touch panel, magnesium alloy case and a 5-year warranty. The display itself can be viewed in broad daylight without any trouble, and the 10.4" panel can even withstand finger presses from roughed up gloves.
Weighing five pounds, the V100 is MIL-STD-810G and IP65 compliant and ready for almost any environment or extreme working conditions, and there's also a full-size waterproof, 83-key membrane keyboard, a 320GB shock-mounted hard drive, sealed I/O ports, integrated 200 degree reversible 2.0MP webcam, PCMCIA expansion slot and SD card reader and Bluetooth. Optional features include MIL-STD 461F, SATA 80GB SSD drive, integrated 3G Gobi card and a GPS system, but considering that even a base price is left out here, we're sure that the upgraded machine will cost an arm and a leg, at least.
 Getac Upgrades Its Popular V100 Convertible PC with up to 47% Higher Performance
Intel® Core™ i7 Processor, 1200 NITs QuadraClear™ Display, Glove-Friendly Multi-Touch Display All Protected with Magnesium Alloy Casing and 5-Year Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Getac Inc., a leading innovator and manufacturer of rugged computers that meet the demands of field-based applications, is upgrading its popular V100 fully rugged convertible with several new features and upgrades, including an Intel® Core™ i7 1.2 GHz processor, the fastest dual-core processor of any rugged convertible on the market.
   “With better performance, memory, storage and wireless capabilities, the new Getac V100 is more advanced and flexible as ever and even better suited for mobile field workers and users of rugged notebook PCs.â€
Tests show the new V100 clocks in at up to 47% faster than its predecessor by combining Turbo Boost Technology for processor-intensive applications and a 4MB Intel Smart Cache, readily available to each of the processor cores, to ensure maximum performance whenever and wherever it's needed. For field workers who find themselves in dangerous and extreme environmental conditions, system speed and performance is a critical and mandatory feature and the V100 convertible now offers the fastest in its class.
Another important feature of a rugged mobile computer is the ability to view the display in direct sunlight. The V100 offers Getac's exclusive QuadraClearâ„¢ technology, which allows easy viewing in direct sunlight by incorporating special anti-reflective coatings, linear and circular polarizers, and a 1200 NIT LED display. In addition, the V100 provides glove-friendly, multi-touch technology for easy operation of its 10.4-inch display in extreme environments where industrial gloves are essential.
“The V100 fully rugged convertible has always been very popular because of its advanced feature set and super bright 1200 NITS screen,†said Jim Rimay, president, Getac. “With better performance, memory, storage and wireless capabilities, the new Getac V100 is more advanced and flexible as ever and even better suited for mobile field workers and users of rugged notebook PCs.â€
Weighing a comfortable five pounds, the V100 is MIL-STD-810G and IP65 compliant and ready for almost any environment or extreme working conditions. Its Magnesium alloy case, shock mounted 320GB hard disk drive and sealed I/O caps and doors prevent damage from solid particles, moisture, and sudden impacts often associated field applications.
The V100, which easily transforms into a rugged tablet PC with one quick rotation of the display, includes a number of additional standard features including a full-size waterproof, 83-key membrane keyboard for ease of use, Windows 7 (downgradable to Windows XP), an integrated 200 degree reversible 2.0MP webcam, PCMCIA expansion slot and SD card reader, wireless Bluetooth and the industry-leading 5-year, bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Optional features include MIL-STD 461F, SATA 80GB SSD drive, dual-touch mode 1200 NITs QuadraClearâ„¢ sunlight readable LED display (multi-touch and digitizer), 83-key waterproof backlit rubber keyboard, fingerprint scanner, 3G Gobiâ„¢ 2000, and GPS system.Â
Read More ...
Super Talent Rides the SuperSpeed Bus with New USB 3.0 Express Drive
So what if Intel is taking its sweet little time adopting the USB 3.0 spec, let the transition begin. Sure, it sucks that the world's largest chip maker isn't on board yet, but when Intel finally comes around, at least we won't be complaining about a lack of SuperSpeed devices. The latest piece of USB 3.0 hardware to come to market is Super Talent's new Express Drive, an ordinary looking USB thumb drive with extraordinary transfer capabilities.
The new drive comes in two capacities, 16GB ($69) and 32GB ($119). In exchange for the pricing premium (compared to USB 2.0 drives), Super Talent promises transfer speeds over 125MB/s on USB 3.0, and over 43MB/s on USB 2.0. In other words, buy it today and take full advantage of it tomorrow (unless you're rocking a board with one of those groovy NEC USB 3.0 chips).
Press release below.
Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced that they will begin offering SuperTalent’s USB 3.0 Express Drive.   Â
When attached to a USB 3.0 port, the new Express drive reaches speeds of over 125MB/s, but when attached to a USB 2.0 port it performs faster than any other drive in its category; maxing out the bus with speeds up to 43MB/s. It’s “future proof.†Utilize the product as a USB 2.0 flash drive and take advantage of its best in class performance today; and as the USB 3.0 standard proliferates, the performance of your drive will increase to over 125MB/s.
“The SuperTalent USB 3.0 Express Drive is the answer for anyone looking for an affordable USB 3.0 drive and we are proud to announce that they are available at SuperBiiz first.†– SuperBiiz Director of Marketing, James Yu.
Part Number Description SRP
ST3U16EDK – USB 3.0 Express™ Drive, 16 GB – $69
ST3U32EDK – USB 3.0 Express™ Drive, 32 GB – $119
“The Express Drive is an exciting addition to our growing USB 3.0 product family. By hitting the critical balance point between performance and price, it creates a value-line USB 3.0 product offering that our customers have been waiting for. Now USB 3.0 performance is within reach of everyone. We are committed to our relationship with SuperBiiz and look forward to their continued growth with this new product.†– SuperTalent COO, CH Lee.
About Super Talent Technology
Super Talent Technology Corporation (supertalent.com) based in San Jose, California, designs and manufactures a full range of DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memory modules and Flash based storage devices for computers and consumer electronics. An ISO 9001 certified company, Super Talent utilizes its state-of-the-art factories and leading-edge components to produce award winning products with outstanding reliability. Super Talent is an active member of the JEDEC and ONFI standards bodies. With over 250 patents, the company was ranked 38th in the 2009 Wall Street Journal’s Patent Scorecard™ for the IT industry.
Read More ...
iOS 4.1 Beta "Fixes" Signal Display, Little Else
Apple released the iPhone 4.1 SDK and beta OS on Wednesday, and it includes the much-hyped signal bar indicator fix that Apple said would fix the "death grip" problem shown when bridging the gap on the iPhone 4's external antenna system. It indeed changes the signal bars, but it does not fix the antenna problem (as we assumed it would not).
Gizmodo has a nice graphic showing the change (above).
Apple had previously said that:
a) all phones exhibit signal attenuation when gripped
b) the signal bar level indicator was incorrect, which led folks to think they were in a high-strength area, when they were not
c) thus, fix the signal bars, and people would not get the mistaken impression that their signal was dropping so much when gripping the iPhone 4
Basically, b) sort of throws the blame at AT&T again, doesn't it? At any rate, here's the real question: if you grip and iPhone 4 and it drops a call, and in the same area, grip a Nexus One that supports AT&T 3G frequencies and it doesn't drop a call, doesn't that say something?
At any rate, it doesn't appear the fix really fixes anything, except to let users know exactly when a call will drop when they hold the iPhone 4. MobileCrunch and our own testing shows no change in how easily the iPhone 4 drops signal with iOS 4.1 vs. iOS 4. Of course, it's just a beta, right?
Watch a MobileCrunch demo of the "new" issue:
Read More ...
Amazing Car Crash
Tell me how fast you have to be going to do this to a car...
http://www.kcoy.com/Global/story.asp?S=12792890
Read More ...
Things are Really Bad: Letterman Skewers iPhone 4
You know things are really bad when David Letterman takes time out to skewer you with his Top Ten (either that, or things have become really good). In this case, things are really bad, as David Letterman's Top Ten List on Wednesday was the "Top Ten Signs You've Purchased a Bad iPhone."
Of course, Mel Gibson received some air time, too, so the iPhone 4 wasn't the only thing Letterman felt was worthy of ridicule. Here's the list (video below):
Top Ten Signs You've Purchased a Bad iPhone
10. To make a call, you have to insert a quarter
9. Automatically answers every call with a computerized, "Yello!"
8. Operates on 20 "D" batteries
7. Pre-loaded with naked photos of Steve Jobs
6. You keep getting anonymous texts reading, "iPhone kill you"
5. "Apple Store" looks suspiciously like some dude's trunk
4. Looks, smells and tastes like a Pop-Tart
3. There's no lather when washing your cornea (Sorry, that's a sign you've purchased a bad eye foam)
2. You check your email and it shocks your nuts
1. Only accepts calls from Mel Gibson
Read More ...
Flipper USB Enables Upside-Down USB Connections
Well, isn't this just useful? If you're an avid computer user, particularly a mobile computer user, you've probably dealt with sticking a USB flash drive or USB cable into a USB port "the wrong way." And by that we mean upside-down. Best case scenario, you simply pull it back and try again; worst case, however, you could ruin either the device/cable or the connector itself.
UltraTek has a solution to a problem that has haunted (or at least annoyed) computer users for years. The Flipper USB is a male USB end that accepts a USB device or cable regardless of which side is inserted up or down. It's not that complex, but it looks like you'll need a Flipper for each USB port you want made "universal." There's no price being made public right now, but if this is really so simple, why aren't these integrated right into computers? Anyone?
UltraTek Introduces the New Patented Friendly & Safe Flipper (flip-able) USB
Connections for all computer users
Torrance, CA June 25, 2010 – UltraTek, a technology research company, is pleased to
announce their new Flipper USB products which are available to computer users.
“Unlike conventional USB products†said Douglas Walker, VP of Marketing & Sales for
UltraTek, “our patent (US 7717717) Flipper USB can plug into your computer in either
orientation. It is flip-able and that‘s what USB should be!â€
Flipper USB has many advantages over the traditional non-flip-able USB devices. Flipper
USB is user-friendly and safe. With Flipper USB, it fits into the computer port either
way. The user simply plugs in his/her USB device without looking, trying, thinking or
guessing. It simply just works. This could save the user tremendous time and frustration.
Furthermore, since Flipper is “flip-ableâ€, the computer users will never make the mistake
of pushing the device too hard in the wrong orientation, therefore avoiding damage to the
computer or the USB device.
In addition to the above “Friendly & Safe†features, the Flipper USB offers spare/backup
connections. In case of damage to one side of the connector, the computer user can
simply “flip it over†and use the other side of the USB device without loss of data or
connections.
With all the features and advantages, Flipper USB products won’t cost more, thanks to
the advanced smart design which makes Flipper truly affordable.
UltraTek offers Flipper connectors for all USB related products. USB flash disk, Wi-Fi,
BlueTooth, mouse, keyboard, camera, cables and adapters. In addition, the Flipper
adapter converts the regular, non-Flipper USB product to a Flipper USB product. For
ordering Flipper USB or more information, please contact Alex Levy at (310) 408-9711
or e-mail flipperUSB@gmail.com . * * *
Read More ...
Microsoft Woos Developers In An Attempt To Catch Apple & Google
It's no secret that Microsoft's Marketplace is struggling in comparison to Apple's App Store or Google's Android Market. If you browse through these three online application stores, you'll see that Apple and Google have many more applications to offer compared to Microsoft. In fact, Apple has about 225,000 apps and Google has 65,000 in their respective app stores. To make matters worse for Microsoft, because the software giant is completely overhauling its mobile OS, programs developed for previous generations of the software won't work on Windows Phone 7. In other words, Microsoft is starting from scratch.Microsoft is working hard on its upcoming mobile OS known as Windows Phone 7, and the company knows it needs to offer a respectable app store to go along with the highly touted OS. To achieve this, Microsoft is using a few different tactics to ensure its app store will be filled with apps that are enticing and appealing to users. To that end, Microsoft is reportedly offering free test hardware to certain developers to help them ensure their software will run on the new OS. In addition, Todd Brix, a senior director at Microsoft who works with app developers said the company is providing financial incentives ranging from free tools and test handsets to funds for software development and marketing. In some cases, Microsoft is even providing revenue guarantees and will make up the difference if apps don’t meet their sales goals in the Marketplace.
Really, there's nothing wrong with Microsoft using a number of tactics in an attempt to gain support for its ecosystem. Microsoft certainly has the money, and given the fact that the company desperately needs to catch up to its competition, it makes sense that Microsoft would want to use any and every avenue it can to ensure a successful launch.
Read More ...
Apple Hosting iPhone 4-Related Press Event This Friday: Reception Issues To Be Addressed?
Some would say "Well, this had to happen." But did it, really? What companies really hold entire press conferences just to address the howling public? Toyota certainly did with their whole "brake" issue, and BP has done the same with the oil mess going on in the Gulf right now. But both of those situations were far, far more significant in the grand scheme of life than a phone that has reception issues.Either way, Apple has always been a company that values their image, and no other gaffe in recent memory has shaken their reputation like this. Of course, iPhone 4 handsets continue to fly off of store shelves at a record pace, so it's not as if reports of signal issues are really hurting the company's sales figures, but their stock price has definitely slid the past few days and it's just about all that anyone in the tech industry is talking about.
We never found too many signal issues with our own iPhone 4 test unit, but the sheer amount of complaints surrounding the infamous "reception problem" has evidently led Apple to host a sudden press event at their campus in California. It's unclear now just how many outlets have been invited, and there's no published agenda. The only thing that is certain is that the event will surround the iPhone 4. That's it. There's no proof that Apple will address the issue, offer free bumpers to all buyers in an effort to calm the pundits demanding a free solution, or even initiate a recall (highly unlikely).
But it's not hard to read between the lines here. Apple has been dealing with a constant flow of criticism ever since the iPhone 4 launched, and all of that came to a head in recent days with Consumer Reports removing their Recommendation to buy the iPhone 4 after being able to replicate the signal loss issues in their testing lab. In reality, nearly every cellphone can lose signal if held a certain way, but Apple's products are magnified. The good looks better, and the bad looks worse. It's just how it goes when you're Apple.
The real question is this: what will be said? What could Apple possibly say at a press event addressing the iPhone 4? Will they recall the phone? Will they offer to sent out cases to everyone in order to combat the issue? Will they demonstrate in front of the world how to correctly hold the phone? It's anyone guess as of now, but we'll certainly be watching closely when the event kicks off at 10:00am PT on Friday, July 16 from Apple's Cupertino campus in Northern California.
Read More ...
Poll suggestion
I have noticed many times when polls are posted there are often no choice for "none". For example there is an active Smart Phone poll which asks which phone you use but there in no choice for none.
Read More ...
Intel Expects Strong Demand For Sandy Bridge; Hints at Early Launch
One other additional tidbit of information from Intel's recent conference call offers some tantalizing rumors about the upcoming Core i7 architecture, codenamed Sandy Bridge. Officially, Intel isn't expected to launch SB until the end of Q4, but the chip is ramping well enough that Santa Clara might opt to pull the launch forward slightly and ship for revenue earlier.For those of you who aren't up on Intel's latest codenames, Sandy Bridge is a "tock" in Intel's Tick-Tock model. Intel splits its processor releases along these lines; a 'tick' refers to the launch of a new process technology, a 'tock' is a new CPU design. In this case, Intel isn't focusing on clock speeds (early projections have Sandy Bridge shipping at 2.8 - 3.4GHz w/out Turbo Boost), but on increased execution and power efficiency. The CPU's major new feature that addresses both concerns is its support for AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions). Think of AVX as a standard SIMD instruction set pumped full of monster-creating radiation and Vitamin X. Intel is predicting that a CPU that makes full use of AVX instructions could be up to 4x faster double-precision FPU workloads compared to traditional x87 code. Even if we toss that number out as a theoretical maximum, AVX could still easily deliver a sizeable boost to FPU performance.
Other changes include the fact that Sandy Bridge-derived CPUs will include the GPU on-die (as opposed to on-package as with the current lineup of Clarkdale/Arrandale processors). Cache sizes will stay the same (256K L2 / 8MB L3) but in this case, the L3 cache will actually be shared with the integrated
GPU. How much of a performance boost we can expect from this is unclear—even if the GPU had priority over the L3 cache, 8MB of L3 makes for an awfully slow frame buffer. It's also possible that Intel will introduce other improvements that deal with the CPU's ability to pass data between its various cores. Intel isn't talking much about its plans at this point, but it's possible the CPU manufacturer will launch Sandy Bridge a bit early to take the wind squarely out of AMD's Llano. Unlike Nehalem, which first launched at the high end of the midrange and then graduated to lower price segments very slowly, Sandy Bridge should hit multiple price points as soon as it drops. With Llano, AMD is targeting both high frequency and low power consumption; Intel's SB architecture could make it even harder for Sunnyvale to hit its performance goals—as if existing Clarkdale/Arrandale processors weren't tough enough to beat.
We expect AMD's Llano will target relatively high frequencies on both GPU and CPU (while maintaining reasonable performance). Since Llano is designed to be flexible (2-4 cores on-die, in addition to the GPU), it's logical to think Sunnyvale will continue its tactic of challenging Intel's superior IPC (instructions per clock cycle) with additional cores. This philosophy has paid off fairly well for the Phenom II X6 product series; a lineup of quad-core Llano parts at 3GHz priced against Intel's dual-core chips could keep AMD squarely in the game even if it doesn't put the CPU manufacturer over the top.
Read More ...
HTC Droid Incredible Video Review
Verizon Wireless and HTC have a hit on their hands with the Droid Incredible. It's not only a very good Android phone, it's also one of the better smartphones on the market today. Verizon Wireless customers have some really great phone options, and the Incredible deserves to be at the top of the list. Certainly there are, and will be, a lot of powerful new phones coming to market in the coming months, including the Motorola Droid X, but when it comes to current high-end smartphones, the Droid Incredible is now arguably the Android smartphone to beat...HTC Droid Incredible Video Review
Read More ...
Seagate Targets Small Business With New Network Storage Server
Seagate introduced the new BlackArmor NAS 400 network storage server. Targeting small businesses and households that want data storage protection, performance, and flexibility, the new BlackArmor server has a four-bay storage enclosure that supports a variety of Seagate-certified disk drives. The BlackArmor NAS 400 is scalable, letting you add extra drives when and if you need them. In addition to space for four drives, the BlackArmor NAS 400 comes with backup and protection tools that include full-system remote backup functionalities, user-configurable RAID, and JBOD capabilities. The system also offers a full system recovery option in the event of failure. The BlackArmor NAS 400 is available for an MSRP of $399.99.
Seagate Unveils Customizable Small Business Network Storage Server
New BlackArmor® NAS 400 Server Delivers Protection, Performance and Flexibility
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. - July 13, 2010 - Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) today introduced the BlackArmor® NAS 400 network storage server, a secure, scalable and reliable 4-bay network storage enclosure designed for the growing storage needs of small businesses and households. This newest addition to the Seagate BlackArmor family of storage solutions allows customers to customize the box to meet their specific requirements and add more storage as needed. Available immediately through Seagate.com and CDW, the BlackArmor NAS 400 server can be purchased for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $399.99. The BlackArmor NAS 400 server gives customers the option to install the disk drives of their choice, selecting from an variety of Seagate-certified products including Seagate Barracuda® low power drives, Barracuda 3.5-inch 7200 RPM drives or the new Barracuda® XT hybrid drive for maximum performance. A scalable solution, the BlackArmor NAS 400 server allows customers to start by inserting one drive and add up to three more as their business grows.
- Backup and protection tools for up to 50 network-connected PCs with incremental and full-system, automatic backup.
- User-configurable RAID 0/1/5/10 & JBOD capabilities, providing a variety of data protection options to help avoid data loss due to hard drive failure.
- Hot-swappable drives — no tools required.
- Microsoft® Active Directory 2003/2008 support.
- Secure remote access with intuitive, web-based management interface, allowing customers to designate user access manually or integrate with Microsoft® Active Directory 2003/2008.
- Windows 7 certification.
- Ability to centralize, stream and share media files and documents from computers on a network, share them with other DLNA® compliant devices and computers on the network running iTunes® software.
- Full system recovery of the operating system, programs and settings, in the event of a system crash or failure with SafetyDrill+â„¢ software.
- Event notification to help prevent and manage drive errors or disruption.
- Four additional USB ports to connect extra USB storage, share a USB printer or connect an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to safeguard from power failure.
- A 3-year limited warranty.
Read More ...
Windows 7 SP1 Beta Now Available for Mass Consumption (Sort Of)
When the first Service Pack shipped for Windows Vista, it was a pretty big deal. After all, it took several performance and reliability updates to turn what debuted as a buggy OS into a serviceable platform, all of which were rolled into SP1, and then some. Windows 7 has gotten off to a much smoother start, but hey, if you're at all curious what the first Service Pack will bring, by all means, go find out - the beta is now available for download (as well as for Windows Server 2008 R2).Keeping in mind that this is beta software (the Service Pack, not Windows 7), we'd advise against downloading this on mission critical rigs. But really, we're not expecting too much quirky behavior here. Rather than add a bunch of new features, Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 is essentially a bundle of all the previous patches since the OS launched, plus a few more.
Still interested? Good, but there's just one caveat. This isn't intended for home users -- not yet, anyway -- and you'll need an RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of Windows 7 to run the Service Pack.
More info here.
Read More ...
OCZ Technology Intros World's Fastest High-Density 4GB DDR3 RAM Modules
In need of new memory? There's never enough is there? OCZ Technology doesn't think so, and if you've been thinking of adding a bit of headroom to your main gaming rig, there's now a new option to consider. OCZ has just introduced the world's fastest high-density 4GB DDR3 modules operating at 2133MHz, perfect for those who "demand both performance and bandwidth in one memory solution."The new modules are aimed at prosumers and enthusiasts, and it's not often that high density and high performance go hand-in-hand like this. From the Flex EX and Reaper HPC Series for experienced overclockers and high-end users to the Platinum Series for entry-level enthusiasts and gamers, OCZ 4GB modules are configured for a variety of needs and budgets. Modules are available in either 8GB dual channel or 12GB triple channel kits and reach industry-leading frequencies up to 2133MHz. All OCZ 4GB modules operate at a low-voltage specification of 1.65V and are tested and qualified on the latest AMD and Intel platforms to ensure performance and stability, and thy're also covered by a lifetime warranty.
OCZ Technology Offers the World?s Fastest High-Density 4GB DDR3 (Double-Data Rate) Modules Operating at 2133MHz
Solution Adds Strength to OCZ?s Memory Division and Offers Prosumers Industry-Leading Frequencies
SAN JOSE, CA?July 12, 2010?OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) and memory modules for computing devices and systems, unveils new high-speed 4GB (4096MB) modules for users who demand both performance and bandwidth in one memory solution. Giving enthusiasts and prosumers access to not only high-density but also to high-frequency memory kits ensures the system RAM will never be the bottleneck during intensive multi-tasking, gaming, or home server environments.
?Usually high speed and high density don?t go hand in hand, but our newly introduced high density 2133MHz memory solutions are engineered to do exactly that,? said Alex Mei, CMO at the OCZ Technology Group. ?Designed for more than just raw speed, these new kits deliver an excellent blend of performance, density and reliability for a wide range of applications ranging from rendering video to smoother gameplay on the latest titles.?
As large, high-definition multi-media files are becoming progressively more ubiquitous in all facets of entertainment, OCZ is addressing the steady need for increased system memory combined with maximum speeds for users looking to take their gaming or productivity to the next level. Engineered for intensive design and editing applications, these 4GB solutions will enable graphic designers, CAD engineers, and music/video professionals to benefit from increased memory resources.
From the Flex EX and Reaper HPC Series for experienced overclockers and high-end users to the Platinum Series for entry-level enthusiasts and gamers, OCZ 4GB modules are configured for a variety of needs and budgets. Modules are available in either 8GB dual channel or 12GB triple channel kits and reach industry-leading frequencies up to 2133MHz.
All OCZ 4GB modules operate at a low-voltage specification of 1.65V and are tested and qualified on the latest AMD and Intel platforms to ensure ultimate performance and stability. Each module comes backed by the industry-leading OCZ Lifetime Warranty and technical support for unparalleled peace of mind.
About OCZ Technology Group, Inc.
Read More ...
T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant Ships Ahead of Schedule
Go ahead T-Mobile customers, toss that slow-as-molasses HTC Dream (G1) phone into the river, the same one that enticed you get locked into a 2-year agreement back before all the cool Android phones made their way to other wireless carriers. You won't be needing it anymore, not with the Samsung Vibrant now being offered, an Android phone you can finally be excited about.Yes, this is coming from a bitter T-Mobile customer who watched in envy as the Motorola Droid, HTC Incredible, and other awesome smartphones shipped to Verizon and, well, everywhere but T-Mobile. But Samsung did all of us a solid by offering up its Galaxy S smartphone across the board, with each wireless vendor slapping their own name on the device (Vibrant for T-Mobile).
Initially scheduled to ship next week, the Vibrant is now available for order. The thing runs $200, and yes, you do have to re-up with another 2-year agreement. But hey, with the way smartphone makers have been pumping out Android phones left and right, it's unlikely the next two years will see the same kind of drought on T-Mobile as the past two have.
In any event, Samsung's Vibrant sports a spiffy feature-set, including a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, spacious 4-inch AMOLED screen, 16GB of internal memory, 5MP camera with Zoom, 3.5mm audio jack, and the list goes on.
Any T-Mobile customers planning on buying the Vibrant? What smartphone are you rocking right now?
Read More ...
No comments:
Post a Comment