Gadgets Groove

Reviews praise Apple iPad battery life, ease of use

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:10:00 +0000

Reviewers at both papers said the tablet computer, which goes on sale Saturday, works nicely for Web surfing or using media such as video and books, but it may appeal less to people who need laptops for more heavy-duty chores.

The iPad won largely upbeat reviews from other blogs, newspapers and magazines, including USA Today, the Houston Chronicle, PC Magazine and Newsweek, while so-called tear-down firms are preparing to take apart the gadget on Saturday for an even more detailed look inside.

Apple shares, which have been on a run ahead of the iPad launch in hopes it will be a hit, closed up 97 cents at $235.97 on Nasdaq Thursday afternoon.

Even if the device launch goes well on Saturday, there is a good chance its shares will trade down the week after because they had gained ground ahead of the launch, analysts said.

"These stocks like Apple tend to trade up into events and trade down after," said Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst.

This would likely be temporary as the shares have more room to rise because Apple's valuation does not reflect that its earnings growth is about 10 times economic growth, he added.

The Journal's Walt Mossberg -- one of the most closely followed tech columnists -- said he prefers the iPad as an e-reader to the popular Kindle e-reader from Amazon.com Inc. Amazon shares closed down $3.96, or almost 3 percent, at $131.81 on the Nasdaq on Thursday.

David Pogue from The New York Times said the device's 1.5 pound weight is too heavy for reading compared with Kindle's 10 ounces. "You can't read well in direct sunlight" and "you can't read books from the Apple bookstore on any other machine, not even a Mac or iPhone," he wrote.

Both reviewers were impressed with the gadget's battery life because it lasted longer than Apple's claim of 10 hours.

Pogue said he was able to use the device for 12 hours before it needed a charge, while Mossberg said iPad withstood 11 hours and 28 minutes of continuous use.

The device could only replace laptops for a certain kind of computer buyer, the reviewers said.

"If you're mainly a Web surfer, note-taker, social-networker and emailer, and a consumer of photos, videos, books, periodicals and music... this could be for you," Mossberg said.

"If you need to create or edit giant spreadsheets or long documents, or you have elaborate systems for organizing email, or need to perform video chats, the iPad isn't going to cut it as your go-to device," he wrote.

Pogue, who wrote a review for techies and one for "everybody else," highlighted shortcomings versus laptops.

"The bottom line is that you can get a laptop for much less money with a full keyboard, DVD drive, USB jacks, camera-card slot, camera, the works," he wrote.

Mossberg said the device was "wicked fast," but had "annoying limitations."

"For instance, the email program lacks the ability to create local folders or rules for auto-sorting messages, and it doesn't allow group addressing. The browser lacks tabs. And the Wi-Fi-only version lacks GPS," he said.

Both noted iPad's support for the popular Flash video technology and questioned consumers' willingness to carry another device along with their laptop and phone.

"If people see the iPad mainly as an extra device to carry around, it will likely have limited appeal," Mossberg said.

But they admired iPad's speed and ease of use.

"The iPad is so fast and light, the multi-touch screen so bright and responsive, the software so easy to navigate, that it really does qualify as a new category of gadget," Pogue said, adding it would appeal to less tech-savvy users.

"Some have suggested it might make a good goof-proof computer for technophobes, the aged and the young; they're absolutely right," he said.

Another influential reviewer, Edward Baig at USA Today, summed up his thoughts on the iPad by proclaiming it "a winner" in his latest column.

"Apple has pretty much nailed it with this first iPad, though there's certainly room for improvement. Nearly three years after making a splash with the iPhone, Apple has delivered another impressive product that largely lives up to the hype," Baig wrote.

Finally Michael Dell showed Dell Mini 5

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Computer products and the latest electronic sprung up in the first quarter of 2010. Predicted, this year, the trend Tablet computers will increase. Tablet computers are well liked because of the increased quality of graphics, processing power, and broadband Internet access. After yesterday appeared Aplle with the latest product iPad Tablet, a new competitor shown in Shenzen is a prototype Dell Streak or Mini 5, arrived with a 5-inch touchscreen display, operating system Android 1.6, the processor used a 1GHz CPU, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, a camera 5 megapixel camera with a duel-LED flash. Offered at a price of about $ 1,098
source

Finally Michael Dell showed true form after a Dell Mini 5 or Dell Mini Streak 5 Tablet Prototype Shown in China. This Mobile Internet Device (MID) comes in red and this gadget looks pretty. As we write here that the Dell Mini 5 will use Android Operating System and have 5-inch touchscreen display. what Is Dell Mini 5 will be able to take tablets market increasingly filled with more and more new tablet products? we are just waiting for the release date.

NOKIA N95 YOUR VERY OWN MINI COMPUTER

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:41:00 +0000

After the launch of a series of multimedia phones in its N series category, Nokia has again added a new phone in the same line-up, the Nokia N95, which is simply a multimedia computer. Built on 2-way slide concept, the phone is feature packed with GPS for easy navigation, a 5.0 mega-pixel digital camera for excellent picture quality, multimedia features for unlimited music, mobile internet to pick up email on the go.

The Nokia N95 brings many multimedia applications together including an excellent display, quality photo and video capability, connectivity ease; making it one of the vying gadgets, which can otherwise called as multimedia computer. This stand alone gadget can replace your music player, digital camera or PDA and navigation device.

With 2-way slide concept, the Nokia N95 makes it easy to switch your phone in different modes – reading maps to watching video is a real pleasure with a simple slide. With 3D graphics, the phone provides an excellent interface to find the features and applications you are looking for. Finding way is now easier with GPS. The Map database includes maps of up to 1000 countries – that enables users to explore the world on the move.

The Nokia N95 with an integrated 5.0 mega-pixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics captures quality pictures as well as DVD quality video clips. Pictures and video clips can also be seen on a compatible TV, thanks to the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology. Enriched with more advanced technology including HSDPA, WLAN, EDGE, and WCDMA – the phone provides and excellent coverage and speed for downloading video, browsing the internet, and reading emails with up to 10 times faster speed than with 3G.

With the Nokia N95, you can get first class entertainment experience. The phone with a large 2.6 inch QVGA 16 million colour display, 3D graphics and built-in stereo speakers gives a pleasant experience. Supported with microSD mini card and Bluetooth and USB for data transfer, its really a good experience with the Nokia N95.

Based on the leading S60 software, the phone enables you to personalize your device with an array of applications that can be downloaded including games, entertainment, and other software applications. Being a 3G phone, users can enjoy video calling and other exciting features on the go. Overall, the Nokia N95 is an excellent phone.

Eastman Kodak sues Apple, RIM over digital cameras

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:11:00 +0000

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Eastman Kodak said Thursday it is suing Apple and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion over technology related to digital cameras in their iPhone and BlackBerry smart phones.

Kodak filed a complaint before the U.S. International Trade Commission alleging the iPhone, Apple's hottest gadget, and Research in Motion's camera-enabled BlackBerry devices infringe on a Kodak patent covering technology for previewing photos.

Kodak is asking the federal agency that oversees trade disputes to bar Apple and RIM from shipping the phones. The agency has the power to order Customs to stop imports of products and parts made with the disputed technology.

Kodak also filed separate lawsuits against Apple in U.S. District Court in Rochester claiming an infringement of patents related to digital cameras and certain computer processes. The company is asking for unspecified damages.

Sales of iPhones and BlackBerrys aren't immediately threatened. Patent cases can take months or years to resolve, and agreements over licensing and royalty payments often emerge.

"We've had discussions for years with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue amicably, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement," said Laura Quatela, Kodak's chief intellectual property officer.

"Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the use of our technology," Quatela said.

Apple and RIM officials did not immediately return messages for comment.

Kodak has licensed digital imaging technology to about 30 companies, including mobile-device companies such as LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson, all of which pay royalties to Kodak.

On Monday, Kodak said it will draw royalties from South Korea's Samsung Electronics under a licensing pact that gives the companies access to each other's digital-imaging patents.

Samsung had already agreed in December to pay Kodak an unspecified amount as the two sides worked to settle a dispute triggered by technology used in Samsung's camera phones. That payment will be credited toward Samsung's royalty obligation, the terms of which were not disclosed.

Kodak has amassed more than 1,000 digital-imaging patents, and almost all of today's digital cameras rely on that technology. The photography pioneer spent $3.4 billion from 2004 through 2007 converting the bulk of its business from high-margin film to electronic imaging.

NJ Sheriff Tests Latest High-Tech Gadget: Plate-Scanning Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Two sheriff’s patrol cars in Passaic County, N.J., are equipped with the latest high-tech police gadget: rooftop cameras that automatically scan as many as 500 license plates per minute by taking a picture of the vehicle and the tag, then feeding the information to computer mounted on the front seat, reports the Bergen Record. An alarm sounds if the tag is expired or its owner is wanted by authorities.

Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale said his department bought the cars and the technology, known as PIPS (short for Pearpoint Image Processing Systems), for about $86,000. The cars were bought with proceeds from drug seizures by his department and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Bergen County is testing the technology and will decide whether to keep it based on its effectiveness, officials said. Sgt. Michael Hoeft, a sheriff’s officer who patrolled in a PIPS car recently, said the cameras had scanned 3,412 vehicles on his shift, resulting in 35 alarm “hits.”

Link: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/bergen_safety/81084547_Eyes_on_the_street_.html

The Best Five Gadgets in 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:18:00 +0000

Year of 2009 has passed and now we are in year of 2010. If we take a technology and information development highlight in 2009, we will find a lot of high technology and rich features gadget born last year. We can enjoy all the grandeur of technology development last year. Because of that, T3.com said that 2009 has been a vintage year of tech.
Of course the tight rivalry between tech corporations born a lot of technology products, like gadget, smartphone, netbook and even all-in-one computer that firstly launched in 2009. From this rivalry process, there were several tech products that less of consumer’s interest and some of them got jazz up response. And according to T3.com there are best five gadgets in 2009, the following:

1. Apple iMac 24-inch
Specifications for this all-in-one computer is so amazing, there are 24 inch screen, Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB memory.

2. Canon EOS 50D
This is the best SLR camera with 15 meg sensor, ISO speeds up to 3200, 6.3fps motordrive and DIGIC 4 image processor.

3. Nokia 6210 Navigator
The best navigator cell phone from Nokia. You can enjoy compass, numerous POIs and optional city guides, slick voice guidance and of course Nokia Maps.

4. HP Touchsmart IQ522
Like Apple iMac once, this is also all-in-one computer from HP. The specifications is not defeated with Apple iMac, because HP Touchsmart IQ522 powered by Nvidia GeForce graphics and touchscreen available.

5. Aplle Mac Mini
This is nettop from Apple that has strong features, like Core 2 Dua processor,320 GB hard drive and 2GB RAM.

If we look from the history, this year will be new battle field for tech corporations to develop and launch their brand new product with brand new technology. Which is yours?

3-D Televisions Bring Added Dimension to Consumer Electronics Show

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Las Vegas -- The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), one of the largest conferences in the world, is ground zero for every new gadget coming in 2010 and thereafter. From the latest in HDTV, mobile phones and just about anything with a microchip, CES is a technology wonderland.

Three-dimensional HDTV is far and away the hot product in 2010. High-def, it seems, is no longer enough for the best TV watching experience. Virtually every company that manufactures displays is getting into the 3-D game. Most sets require 3-D glasses, though the eyewear has been updated for modern tastes. Sharp, Sony, Samsung and Panasonic each offer their own 3-D technology. Sharp also is upping the HDTV ante with the launch of a new technology that adds yellow to the tradition red-green-blue display. A Sharp spokesperson said the additional pixel means its TVs can produce over a trillion colors.

Other newsmakers included Intel, which launched Thursday its new line of I5 and I7 processors. The chips are designed to give users computing power on demand. When a task requires extra computing muscle, the chips automatically go into overdrive. The chip architecture has been structured to accommodate the extra heat the power boost adds without sacrificing space.

Sony wowed audiences with new software for its PlayStation 3 gaming and Blu-ray console. Using a camera attachment called the Eye, a user can draw a figure -- a robot, an animal, a ball, etc. -- and the Eye will capture the image. Once captured, the software animates the image and users can play with it on screen using only their hands. The software is the next step in the burgeoning "alternate reality" software market, which layers computer-generated images over real images. The technology was popularized recently by several iPhone apps.

On the mobility side, Research in Motion (RIM), makers of the BlackBerry smart phone, debuted a Bluetooth-enabled device that allows BlackBerry users to wirelessly display PowerPoint presentations stored on their phones. The device connects to any projector and users can run a meeting or give a presentation from their BlackBerry.

One other major development at CES today was the advent of USB 3.0. The new technology transfers data 10 times faster than high-speed USB 2.0. The drawback, however, is that the next-gen USB is not backward compatible, meaning USB ports and USB cables all need to be 3.0 for a user to experience any benefit.

Dell's M11X delivers truly portable Alienware gaming

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:21:00 +0000

If you’ve always fancied upping your prowess in the PC gaming arena by bagging a sexy Alienware system – but have perhaps balked at the associated price points – then the lovely folk at Dell have just what your gaming skills andbank account have been waiting for.

Meet the really rather gorgeous Alienware M11X portable. Unveiled by Dell at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the impressive M11X packs a significant punch in terms of specifications and garners even more appeal thanks to its seriously tempting sub-$1,000 USD price tag.

Built with true portability in mind, the M11X comes complete with an 11-inch notebook body, which hides a muscular Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Graphics are handled by a combination of NVIDIA’s capable GT35M – which juggles heavier demands – while a more modest integrated solution can be selected (on the fly) for simple Web browsing and other basic softwareapplications.

Other elements include a somewhat cosy screen that displays in 720p and a resolution of 1366 x 768, alongside the likes of USB connectivity, FireWire, VGA, support for HDMI and DisplayPort, and also a built-in card reader.

Prospective buyers can expect 6.5 hours of single-charge battery life when utilising the notebook’s integrated graphics, with graphics-intensive tasks and hardcore gaming via the GT35M set to deliver around two hours of operation when the system is separated from a power outlet.

Although Dell has not yet confirmed the CPU speed or RAM allocation supporting the diminutive M11X, performance is unlikely to be an issue given that the little system can apparently run Modern Warfare 2 at more than 30fps without any trouble whatsoever.

Expect the M11X to come tethered to a price of $999.99 USD when Dell finally unleashes it.

Gadgets to make the world go ga-ga

noreply@blogger.com (Sweet Teddy 299) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:25:00 +0000

Las Vegas is a curiously old-fashioned place; a city that pursues pastimes long since frowned upon elsewhere; where the drinks are long and the waitresses’ skirts short. It’s a place where smokers, gamblers and drinkers can do what they please among the fake gondoliers and faux Eiffel Towers along the Strip.

But for one week Sin City is transformed into the most cutting- edge venue on the planet. More microchips and semi-conductors can be found within a three-mile radius than even in Silicon Valley.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in full swing this weekend, is a chance for the Japanese, Korean, Israeli and American gadget-makers to show off the products they hope will end up on retailers’ shelves over the next year or two. And among 2,400 companies exhibiting there a fair number of British firms revolutionising the industry, too.

Remember something called the video cassette? That was first launched at CES in 1970. Those impossibly shiny compact discs? Unveiled here in 1981. So if you want to know what will end up in our pockets and in the living room, Vegas in the first full week of January is the place to be.

Tablets, netbooks, hybrid laptops, ebooks, 3D televisions, panoramic video cameras, tweeting cars, high- definition streaming, femtocells, networked data storage, breath-controlled nanotechnology were only some of the innovations that made an appearance this year. It’s technology that is not just difficult to comprehend but sometimes hard to pronounce.

There is no guarantee that all of it will take off. More than 500 of the 2,700 exhibitors last year are no longer around. The recession has been hard on both technology companies and Vegas – which has one of the highest bankruptcy rates in America. But survivors have flourished by inventing devices that many of us cannot live without.

More and more people are using technology on a daily basis, thanks to the profound effect mobile phones have had over the past decade. Numbering 76 million, there are more mobile phones in the country than people. And most of them have greater memory and stronger processing power than you could find in a home computer 10 years ago.

Kat Hannaford, contributing editor to Gizmodo, the gadget website, is a long-time attendee of CES. “The last couple of years have been amazing,” she says. “A far wider range of people are using technology each and every day, in a way they never did before – in their car, in their kitchen, and, of course, with their phones.”

The iPhone, with its ability to run apps, has encouraged thousands of software developers to create widgets that allow users to shop, play games, check the weather and communicate with each other.

One of the big hits at this year’s CES was the LED 9000 television unveiled by Samsung, which puts apps on a 55-inch screen television, rather than the three-inch screen of a phone. Years after the telly was written off as a relic, it has become the main piece of technology families gather around every day in a way they have not done since the 1970s.

That’s not just because of shows such as The X-Factor that have helped different generations enjoy programmes together, but because of the sets themselves. Television was under threat from the power of the laptop. The portable computer, hooked up to the internet, was becoming the main entertainment hub – a place to view photos, surf the net and catch up on programmes with services such as the BBC iPlayer.

But television sets will, by the end of this year, offer all these extras. Models from LG and Panasonic even allow you to make telephone calls over the internet, using the television as a giant video conferencing device. Others will come pre-loaded with YouTube and the BBC iPlayer. The television has wrested control back from the computer.

John Kempner, a senior buyer at John Lewis, is also at the show, being wowed by the televisions. “What we are realising is that people can use televisions as a focal point for the family. It is becoming a communications centre not just a set you use to watch television programmes,” he said.

And he confirmed that by next Christmas, John Lewis – alongside the likes of Currys and Argos – will be offering 3D sets. At first, they will come with a hefty price tag of at least £2,500 or so. But the stuff of science fiction will become part of many families’ everyday lives within a matter of months, once Sky starts broadcasting football and documentaries in 3D.

For every sceptic who refuses to don the necessary 3D dark glasses, such as Kat Hannaford, who believes the sets “are no more than a passing fad”, there are at least two believers.

Michael Brook, editor of T3 gadget magazine, said: “Even if consumers don’t really want it, there has been so much investment poured into 3D, not just from the manufacturers, but also from the broadcasters, such as ESPN in the States and Sky in Britain. Too much money has been bet on 3D for it to fail.

“Give it another year and the price will fall to £2,000 and then lower. That’s when they will take off.”

And if the sofa, in front of the telly, is the heart of family life in Britain, the upholstered driver’s seats of a car is where many Americans feel most at home. Not surprising, then, that manufacturers in the US have started developing cars that are connected to the internet, so you can tweet while on the road.

Ford, who is pioneering in-car entertainment with access to the internet via a Wi-Fi card that slots into the dashboard, insists drivers won’t use the technology to send messages to the Twitter site while waiting at a red light. “But while you are driving to Grandma’s house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles,” said Mark Fields, of Ford.

Cars, televisions, and even electronic books, are now hooked up to the internet. It’s a disturbing thought for some. But for Brook it is a sign of how far the hi-tech industry has come.

Ebooks outsold paperbacks on Amazon over Christmas, suggesting there is an insatiable demand for gadgets that make life simpler.

“There seems to be less technology for technology’s sake. And that has to be a good thing. Just five years ago electrical products were being designed by engineers for engineers. Apple changed all of that and encouraged everyone else to put the consumer first.

“Gadgets are just easier to use.”