News & Updates on Latest Gadgets & Gizmos

LCD TV Glossary

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:10:00 +0000

LCD TV Glossary of Terms:

LCD: Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are used in LCD TVs to create color. The liquid crystals in each cell on the TV screen are charged with electricity, which changes the way that light passes through them. A fluorescent light bulb shines light through the crystals, which change color to generate video on the LCD TV screen.
TFT: TFT stands for "thin film transistor." In LCD TVs, these transistors are so tiny that they are included in the pixels themselves, allowing pixels to talk to each other. So, an LCD TV listed as a TFT display is better able to deal with fast-moving video with lots of action, such as sports or action movies.
DTV: Digital television signals replaced analog TV signals in 2009. All televisions built after March 2007 can receive DTV. If you have a pre-March 2007 TV, you will need to buy a new TV set or an adapter that will translate digital signals into analog.
Pixels: These are individual points of color making up a TV picture. Pixel-count determines a LCD TV's resolution, described as the number of pixels forming the picture. LCD TVs will advertise the resolution as either the horizontal by vertical pixels, such as "1920 x 1080," or as the number of horizontal lines displayed (480, 720 or 1080). The number of pixels on LCD TVs continues to grow as HDTV manufacturers push for better detail.
Interlace scan: This is the "i" you'll see in "1080i" on LCD TV descriptions. Abbreviated 480i, 720i or 1080i, interlace scan means that a LCD TV lights half of the lines on the screen in one pass and the other half on the next pass. Interlace LCD TVs show less blur in moving images by scanning twice as often, but they actually only project about 30 complete frames per second.
Progressive scan: Abbreviated 480p, 720p or 1080p, progressive scan LCD TVs light every line in one scan. Progressive scan LCD TVs show greater detail by using every pixel each time the screen refreshes, which can be anywhere from 60 to 240 times a second.

U.S. Launches Wireless Public Safety Network

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The U.S. government and the country's top mobile phone service providers on Tuesday launched a public safety program that will allow people to receive emergency alerts via text message.

New York will serve as the launch market for the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) service, which will be operational in that market by 2012, according to Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who spoke at a press conference. The remainder of the country will receive the service at the midpoint of 2012, he said.

Out-of-band-technology should allow the text messages to go through even if mobile phone networks are experiencing heavy traffic. People in the area of the emergency will receive text messages of 90 characters or less about the situation.

People will receive messages based on location, regardless of where their phone is registered. For example, a person with a New York area code would not receive an alert about a crisis in Manhattan when traveling in Chicago.However, people with a Miami area code would receive a text message if they were in New York during an emergency there.

U.S. carriers must provide the service by 2012, but major carriers AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Sprint and Verizon Wireless have already adopted it prior to New York roll out.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski joined Fugate at the press conference. Executives from the mobile service providers also appeared at the event. AT&T Wireless President and CEO Randall Stephenson, Sprint's president of network operations Steve Elfman, T-Mobile USA's President and CEO Philipp Humm; and Verizon Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam joined the government officials.

PLAN will serve as an adjunct to the television emergency alert system, which is managed by the FCC and FEMA.

Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service.

Google enters mobile phone market

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:56:00 +0000

People will be able to access Google maps and Google Earth on their mobile phones from as early as next year, the world's largest search engine has announced.

Google has joined forces with some of the biggest handset makers to allow all of its applications to be installed on mobile phones.

News that the multi-billion dollar company is entering the lucrative mobile phone market comes only days before the UK launch of Apple's eagerly-awaited iPhone.

There had been widespread rumours that Google was developing its own handset, known as the Google phone or Gphone, to rival Apple's combined phone, iPod and internet browser.

Nokia unveils five new phones, shooting for 40 percent market share despite increase in competition

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:52:00 +0000

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - Nokia unveiled five new phone models Monday, saying it was confident it could regain ground in the mobile phone market and reach 40 percent of the global market share.

Chief Executive Jorma Ollila said the Finnish company's market share had fallen to 32 percent, losing ground to competitors, including Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

A report by market researcher Gartner Inc., however, calculated Nokia's market share even lower - at 28.9 percent in the first quarter of 2004, down from 34.6 percent during the same period last year.

Launching five new mid- to high-market phones, Ollila said Nokia was confident it could reach its 40 percent target, but did not say how long it would take. He declined to give details of the company's 2004 forecast.

He said the company expects to sell 600 million phones this year, one-third of them camera-phone models, which are expected to become more popular as the prices come down.

Following Monday's announcement, Nokia shares fell 2 percent to ?11.69 (US$4.42) in trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

Nokia's news conference in Helsinki was connected to another in Singapore, where Nokia unveiled the five new phone models, including what Nokia says is the world's smallest 3G, or third-generation, phone - the 6630.

The 6630 - just 127 grams (4.5 ounces) - features a 1.2-megapixel camera, an MP3 player and will support broadband Internet transmission 40 times the speed of second-generation cell phone technology, Nokia said. It will be available the last quarter of 2004 and cost an estimated ?500 (US$600), the company said.

The new models also featured clamshell phones, a new look for Nokia's portfolio but also one competitors and consumers have already embraced.

Nokia plans to roll out 35 new products this year in an effort to fill gaps in the market.

The company also recently slashed prices for several models, following the lead of competitors whose phones have consistently been cheaper than Nokia's. Ollila said the new pricing would not significantly affect the company's margins.

Nokia remains the market leader for handsets, but earlier this month analysts said it was losing ground. U.S.-based Motorola has 16 percent of the market, and South Korea's Samsung has 13 percent.

Nokia, based in Espoo just outside the Finnish capital, has a market capitalization of ?54.4 billion (US$65.3 billion) with sales in 130 countries with 53,000 employees.

Nokia Already Working on First Microsoft Based Smartphone

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:37:00 +0000

Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop says that the company has already started work on the company's first Windows Phone 7 based smartphone, just a few weeks after the company announced its shift from Symbian to the WP7 operating system. Although the company aims to deliver a handset by the end of this year, the first sales are still not expected until next year.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency, he also squashed rumours that Microsoft could launch a takeover bid for the company.

"I'm not aware of a strategic interest that Microsoft would have in the rest of the business," Elop said. "To the extent that a partnership has been formed around what they're really interested in, then what would an acquisition bring other than a good year of anti-trust investigation, huge turmoil, delays?"

He also dismissed rumours of a further shake-up of the senior management team following the recent reshuffling of the directors.

As recently noted, the final terms of the Microsoft-Nokia alliance are still being sorted out, but Elop said that he expects the final deal to be signed within the next couple of months.

Nokia Shows Off Two New Symbian Based Smartphones

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:21:00 +0000

Nokia has shown off two new smartphones - running its now legacy Symbian software - the Nokia E6 and the Nokia X7. The two devices are the first Nokia smartphones to contain the updated Symbian software, with new icons and usability enhancements such as improved text input, a faster browser and refreshed Ovi Maps.

"We are further strengthening Nokia's smartphone portfolio with these two new devices, both of which offer a more beautiful and intuitive user experience that will soon also be available for the Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01," said Jo Harlow, head of Nokia's Smart Devices business.

Following on from Nokia's E71 and E72 devices, the Nokia E6 is a business smartphone with a full Qwerty keypad and touch screen display.

The Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused smartphone with a large 4" display and an 8 megapixel camera.

The Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 are also the first smartphones to contain the complete update of the Symbian software user experience. This update offers a host of usability enhancements, including fresh, new icons, improved text input, a faster internet browsing experience and a refreshed Ovi Maps application with improved search and new Public Transport routes. The renewed software also offers a strong set of new features aimed at business users in particular, including true enterprise grade security with hardware accelerated encryption, and new e-mail features such as full meeting request support.

In coming months the software update, which is nick-named Symbian Anna, will also be available as standard on newly shipping Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01 devices, as well as available to download on previously purchased models of those same smartphones.

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS review

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:12:00 +0000

The Canon PowerShot SX220 HS is a 14x zoom camera, the follow on from the neat PowerShot SX210 IS of last year. The travel zoom category is more competitive than ever, with all the major manufacturers having their take with some great models to choose from. Thanks to increasingly compact designs, the travel zoom category sees long zoom lenses packed into a body that in many cases is only fractionally larger than regular compact dimensions.

So is the case with the Canon PowerShot SX220 HS. It measures 105.7 x 59.3 x 33.2mm and weighs 215g including the battery (good for around 210 shots). It’s still pocketable and light enough to port around with you but still manages to pack plenty of features and controls into its frame. Inevitably this means there is no real grip for your right hand - you’ll end up with your thumb lying over the controls, resting on the shooting mode dial. The left hand is equally foxed by the pop-up flash, which sits on the left shoulder of the camera, so pretty much where your left index finger will be sitting.
This is something we complained about on the SX210 as well, although the camera doesn’t complain if you resist the flash opening, it just accepts that it can’t deploy - the flash can be thereafter flicked open and closed as needed, with the on-screen icon telling you that the flash has moved from http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifcancelled auto.

Otherwise the design is fetching, the concave silver waistband contrasting nicely with the dark grey of the body of our review model. As mentioned the controls lie to the right-hand side of the 3-inch 16:9 widescreen display, with only the shutter and encircling zoom control sitting on the top.

The power button finds its way onto the back slope which we found to be conveniently placed to hit when needed and avoid when not. The mode dial on the rear instantly grabs your attention, set slightly to an angle and offering up a knobbly grip to make changing modes quick and easy. Below sits the instant video capture button above a dial incorporating a four-way controller with a central function/set button and finally you get display and menu buttons. It’s certainly busy, but the abundance of controls lets you know that this is a little more than just a point and shoot camera.

Samsung Multi-Proof W200 Pocket Cam gets us wet

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:10:00 +0000

Having just announced its new ST93 compact camera, Samsung is to launch something a little bit tougher in the shape of the Samsung Multi-Proof W200 Pocket Cam.

The rugged W200 is designed to be taken into the toughest conditions and features a 5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor along with a F2.2 Bright lens.

Although shockproof from 2 metres, the emphasis is firmly on its underwater capabilities, as the W200 pocket Cam can be submerged up to 3 metres in depth and has features such as an anti-water drop and anti-fog coatings. An Aqua Mode setting automatically sets the ideal parameters for the bright and clear underwater video.

The camcorder delivers Full HD video and has, what sounds like, a handy Record Pause feature which means after pausing you can resume at the same moment bundling the footage on the same file after filming - removing the hassle of merging footage from different files. Fish eye and vignetting features are also included.

The Samsung Multi-proof W200 Pocket Cam will be available in May for $159.

Nikon Coolpix P300 review

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:01:00 +0000

The Nikon Coolpix P300 looks to fill a gap towards the top end of the compact camera market that hasn’t been occupied with a worthy Coolpix model to date. Enter the Nikon Coolpix P300: a small, 12.2-megapixel compact with a 24-100mm F/1.8-4.9 image stabilised lens.

For a long time the high-end compact market has been dominated by Canon’s hold - with models such as the recent PowerShot S95. At a glance, the Nikon P300 is almost a visual carbon copy: it’s roughly the same size, shape and of a similar layout. Although this is seemingly the “inspiration” of the P300’s birth, it would be wrong to assume the two models as direct competitors. Alike though they may appear, but on the inside the P300 doesn’t quite match up to its competitive Canon model. Why? It’s all down to sensor size: the Nikon P300 has a 1/2.33 inch sensor, smaller than the 1/1.7 inch one found in the Canon S95.
A series of other features may also find those seeking truly high-end control looking elsewhere: there’s no manual focus capability, no hotshoe for an external viewfinder and no RAW capture option either. However, step down a notch in product positioning and the P300 is a tough cookie in the enthusiast sector. Look for the likes of the Samsung WB2000 and there’s a more immediate comparison in terms of control and layout as well as price sensibility.

When the P300 gets it right it really delivers. The top mode dial means immediate selection of shooting modes is a breeze and the twin thumbwheel-like controls (thumbwheel on top; rotational d-pad on the rear) make setting up manual shooting equally as simple. Aperture and Shutter Priority meet Program Auto and full Manual modes, plus Auto, Easy Panorama and Scene settings, in addition to both Backlighting and Night Landscape on the mode dial itself.

There are few controls on the rear and, although there’s a one-touch movie button, there’s no Function (Fn) button to be found anywhere on http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthe body for quick adjustment of settings. As few settings show on the camera’s screen itself this feels like a drawback - even more standard compacts have on-screen quick menus to dash between ISO, metering setup and the like (including other Nikon Coolpix cameras). While those physical mode dials and thumbwheels are certainly on point, the P300 could really do with that extra user-assignable button for yet more control.
Design-wise the camera may look a tad “boxy”, though its small, trim size will easily slip into a bag or pocket to be carried anywhere - and that’s one of the prime features of a camera such as this. On the rear is a 3-inch, 920K-dot LCD screen that’s of a good resolution, though no viewfinder is built in or available for the camera. This may pose an issue in bright sunlight where the screen’s visibility may be reduced due to reflections or fingerprinting on the screen itself. This is a common feature for any compact, however, not just the P300.

Motorola Droid X2 squares up to the competition

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:54:00 +0000

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Motorola had thrown all of its Android eggs into the Atrix basket, as we haven't heard a whisper about any Droid action for a few months.

But now a spec sheet has turned up for the Motorola Droid X2 (pronounced X squared) proving that there's life in the old Droid yet.

First pictured on blurrycam back in February the spec sheet suggests that the X2 could be a decent mid-level Android contender.

The X2 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, with 512MB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage (expandable with microSD).
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Its display is 4.3 inches, 540x960qHD with a 240dpi pixel density and there's a 8-megapixel camera on the back capable of 720p (26-30fps) recording.

It can playback 1080p content at the same frame rate and has an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, a gyroscope and a barometer.

Connectivity options are plentiful (the usual suspects; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G) and there's USB and HDMI options too.

The only downside we can see - it's lacking Gingerbread. It's listed as a Android 2.2 device, although we'd be surprised if it came to market 0.1 down on the competition

Xerox ColorQube 9300 Series Introduced

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:38:00 +0000

Xerox unveiled the second generation of their high speed solid ink multifunction printers - the ColorQube 9300 Series - featuring Xerox's flexible Hybrid Color Pricing Plans this morning.

The ColorQube 9300 Series is a follow up on the ColorQube 9200 series, the series that first introduced the unique color pricing plans that allow customers to pay only for the amount of color on a given page, saving them up to 50% compared to laser printers. The company bases the Hybrid Color Pricing Plans on three standard levels of color:

Useful documents - For when businesses want to use only a small amount of basic color, think a company logo or a single color highlighting important text
Everyday color - Pages with moderate color coverage, so adding images to the initial small amount of color
Expressive color - A high color coverage, think full page color with photos, etc.

The ColorQube 9300 Series features Xerox's unique solid ink technology using solid ink sticks offering 90% less waste than the traditional ink because the solid ink sticks have less packaging and no cartridge body.

The non-toxic solid ink sticks - made from resin - resemble large crayons (for more information, check out our solid ink article or Xerox Phaser 8560 review). The sticks are also designed for easy loading. And thanks to the solid ink technology, there are no fuser kits or drums to replace, just one simple cleaning unit that is only replaced every two to three years depending on the work flow.

The ColorQube 9300 series offers three models: the ColorQube 9301, ColorQube 9302 and the ColorQube 9303.

All three models feature print, scan, copy and fax capabilities along with a 160GB hard drive, 1GB of system memory, 1.5 GHz processor, 100-sheet automatic duplexing document feeder, a standard paper capacity over three trays of 3,200 sheets with a 100-sheet bypass feeder, front side USB port, built-in networking and automatic duplexing.

The ColorQube 9301 features print speeds up to 50 ppm in black and 38 ppm in color with a print resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi and a monthly duty cycle up to 150,000 pages.

The ColorQube 9302 features print speeds up to 55 ppm in black and 45 ppm in color with a print resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi and a monthly duty cycle up to 225,000 pages.

The ColorQube 9302 features print speeds up to 60 ppm in black and 55 ppm in color with a print resolution up to 600 x 600 dpi and a monthly duty cycle up to 300,000 pages.

Xerox offers several standard solutions with the ColorQube 9300 series including Color by Words, Mobile Print, user permissions, embedded videos on the user interface for troubleshooting, new security options and advanced scanning.

The ColorQube 9300 Series is available for order now through Xerox direct sales and authorized resellers starting at $22,299 for the base model.

HP Veer 4G First-Look Review

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:35:00 +0000

AT&T's HP Veer 4G is a webOS smartphone in a tiny little package. It has a 2.6-inch 320 x 400 touchscreen, a 5 megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi b/g/n plus mobile hotspot capability.

It will be available from AT&T on May 15 for $99 with a new two-year service contract, but we were able to get an early review unit so we could give a sneak peek and learn more about this interesting new phone.

BUILD & DESIGN

The Veer is best described as a pebble-shaped slider phone. When closed, the device is smaller than a credit card, which is a definite contrast to many of today's larger phones. All of the edges are rounded and it feels really good to hold in your hand. You'll hardly notice that it's in your pocket, since it weighs under 4 ounces.

Slide up the screen to expose the physical QWERTY keyboard; it's incredibly tiny, but I was surprised at how well I was able to use it right out of the box. There's a good amount of space between each key and strange as it sounds, I strongly prefer this keyboard to that of the HP Pre 2, even though this one is smaller.

The screen looks nice, though it's not terribly bright and is somewhat hard to see when you're standing in direct sunlight. Since I just got this phone today, it's hard to say whether it's a major issue with the screen or a case of my just not having found the brightness control yet.

PERFORMANCE

The HP Veer is snappy, responding to my every touch by launching the relevant app, switching between apps, etc. That's a nice surprise since it's powered by just an 800 MHz processor. I am slightly concerned about network reception, however, because I haven't been able to connect to 4G at my office. I will test this further in other locations to get a better idea of whether it's a concern about the Veer or just another example of my office as a dead zone.

The external speaker is plenty loud enough and the sound quality is good when listening to music. I'm quite concerned about the headphone jack though, which isn't actually part of the phone. In order to plug in headphones, you have to use a separate accessory that magnetically attaches to the side of the phone. It's an elegant solution to the problem of where to put the headphone jack when you're trying to design an ultra-small phone, and I'm glad it's included instead of requiring consumers to make a separate purchase, but I'm not sure how well it will work in real life.

The 5-megapixel camera takes nice photos with good detail, though it does seem a bit slow to focus and actually take the shot, especially when compared to a photographic powerhouse like the HTC Droid Incredible 2 I'm also reviewing. I didn't see any obvious problems with exposure or graininess though of course I will have to test the camera more thoroughly before I can make any definite conclusions.

PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION

I'm surprised by how much I already like the HP Veer 4G, even though I've only had it for a few hours. After reviewing so many gigantic smartphones it's nice to use something more petite that takes up hardly any room in my pocket.

I'm not sure whether my initial infatuation will last, however, because the Veer is the smallest phone I've ever used. The keyboard is surprisingly usable, but I do have to do a lot of scrolling to see entire email messages, for example, so there are some obvious downsides to the small form factor.

New China Mobiles available in Indian Market

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:21:00 +0000

China Mobile C2000 - Touch Screen + Gaming

PRICE : Rs. 6,700.00
Product Features : Sliding, Games & Free TV Mobile Phone 3.0" Touch Screen

120 x 58 x 20mm, 110g
Dualband, GSM 900/1800
Unlocked and ready to use in any GSM network in UK, Europe, Australia & Asia Pacific
Does not work in USA, Canada & Mexico's networks
Sliding screen for TV & Games
TV tuner for free TV program, FM Radio
Dual SIM cards Switching
3.0" LCD touch screen
Hand writing recognition
Bluetooth
MP3 audio player
3GP & MP4 video players
MP3 Ringtone, 3D Sound
Digital video recording
2 & 1.3 mega pixel dual cameras (front & back)
T-Flash memory card support
Calendar, calculator & organizer
Built-in games
Plug & play with Windows XP & Vista, no software needed
English, Italian, Malay, Portuguese, Spanish & Persian multi-languages support
In the box

Samsung Launches Samsung Galaxy Ace, Samsung Galaxy Fit, Samsung Galaxy Pro And Samsung Galaxy Mini

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:19:00 +0000

Samsung has launched all new Galaxy smartphones namely Samsung Galaxy Ace, Samsung Galaxy Fit, Samsung Galaxy Pro and Samsung Galaxy Mini officially although they were available for sometime now.

All these smartphones comes loaded with Android 2.2 operating system and some attractive features. These phones have Wi-Fi connectivity and Social Hub facility in common.

Users can easily view their emails, contacts and SMSs in a single page layout for these handsets. Also, the users will be able to access more than 100,000 Samsung and Android apps.

Samsung Galaxy Ace- it is decked with a 3.5” HVGA display, Google Voice search, ThinkFree document viewer and runs a 800 MHz processor.

Samsung Galaxy Fit- it has a 3.31” QVGA display and a 5MP camera. It has office viewer and runs a 600 MHz processor.

Samsung Galaxy Pro- it has a 2.8” touchscreen, a 3.2MP camera and runs an 800MHz processor.

Samsung Galaxy Mini- It has a 3.14” QVGA display, Quick Office document viewer and runs a 600 MHz processor.

RIM Unveils BlackBerry Bold 9900 And 9930 Smartphones

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:17:00 +0000

At the annual BlackBerry World conference, Research In Motion (RIM) launched two BlackBerry Bold smartphones named BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930.

The company also launched the BlackBerry 7 operating system which will run on its upcoming devices. According to sources, these two new models are the most efficient and thinnest smartphones by BlackBerry till today.

Both the models are adorned with a touch screen along with BlackBerry keyboard and works on BlackBerry 7 OS. It runs on 1.2 GHz processor. Its stylish design accommodates both BlackBerry keyboard and also a seven-centimetre touch screen.

Mike Lazaridis, RIM president and co-CEO said, "The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 operating system are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style. These fully-loaded and beautifully-crafted smartphones offer a highly refined user experience with blazingly fast performance, a brilliant touch screen and an outstanding typing experience."

Lenovo Optimizes Start-Up Speeds on New ThinkPads

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:10:00 +0000

The instant-on feature of tablets and smartphones is one reason why people love them. Laptop users could definitely benefit from faster boot up as well, since every second counts these days.

Lenovo has engineered its newly introduced ThinkPad T420s to boot in 10 seconds or less, thanks to BIOS and hardware optimizations coupled with solid state storage. The RapidBoot Extreme technology is part of Lenovo's Enhanced Experience (EE) 2.0 program. Other features include reduced time for shutting down or resuming the laptop as well as speedier application launch times.

Lenovo says its RapidBoot Extreme is the company's fastest hardware configuration available. Besides booting in under 10 seconds, you'll also see applications open up two times faster than normal. This is thanks in large part to the speed advantages of solid state drives.

A video on Lenovo's website showcasing the technology (and starring race car driver Danica Patrick) reveals some of the start up optimizations, like bypassing a logo boot screen. The ThinkPad T420s even beat out the MacBook Air, known for its fast start and wake times.

Side view of Lenovo T420 laptopFast start times are also promised in other Lenovo laptops that have EE 2.0 but not the solid state drive. Those PCs will start up on average in 20 seconds and shut downs will be 28 percent faster than a typical Windows 7 PC. Resuming Windows, even without an SSD, will take less than a second (36 percent faster than average).

The ThinkPad T420s also boasts a 14-inch HD+ (1600-pixel by 900-pixel) display and a slim, lightweight profile: it clocks in at 3.94 pounds and is 0.83 inches thin. Other features include a second-generation Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, a DVD recordable drive, 250GB HHD, and up to 8GB of memory. The T420s is available for customizing and ordering now, with prices starting at $1,630.

Look for RapidBoot in future Lenovo laptops, including an IdeaPad Y570 laptop expected in June.

Aluminum Laptop Cases Molding the Way of the Future

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:05:00 +0000

MEZZI, world renowned aluminum case manufacturer, is noticing a dramatic increase in the number of reviews for its lines of aluminum laptop cases. From the virtual mouths of bloggers and video reviewers, the online world is buzzing with positivity for the dependability and portability of the MEZZI aluminum laptop case.

“In this modern day and age so many people are carrying laptops, either for business or pleasure or both,” explains MEZZI President, David Mezzi, “and the online community has seemed to latch onto the quality and reliability they find in our aluminum cases. Bloggers, reviewers and freelance writers who rely on their laptops for their business need something to protect their equipment. In fact, their laptop is their number one tool, so those who have experienced the quality of our cases are feeling inspired to spread the word to others.”

Unlike the soft, minimal protection of a stylish leather laptop bag or, perhaps worse, the zero-protection of throwing a laptop into a backpack, the lightweight, molded durability of MEZZI’s aluminum laptop carrying cases have impressed a growing number of online reviewers.

“I am loving my new MEZZI laptop case,” says one reviewer at TheDirtytShirt.com. “Not only is it the most sturdy case I have ever used but it also seems very roomy even with my laptop in it. I took it to a meeting I had recently and the first thing, even before I shook the man’s hand, he commented on my case and asked where to get one. I love when that happens because not only do I get to tell my readers about the wonderful products I have tried out but I can also tell complete strangers about them and point them in the right direction to get one for themselves.”

Roomy, spacious and secure – these are only a few of the descriptors the online community has used to explain the value they found in MEZZI’s aluminum laptop briefcases. Standard in every aluminum laptop case is customizable padding, so different sizes of laptops can be given a snug fit. And in order to accommodate a wide range of personal tastes and styles, MEZZI’s laptop cases range in color and covering, from simple jet black to gold or a high-grade wood finish.

MEZZI aluminum cases, however, have been no strangers to attention. Several of its aluminum cases have appeared in high-profile movies, television shows and music videos. Very recently, a MEZZI aluminum case was used in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Also MEZZI was featured in Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got” music video and on the television game show, “Deal or No Deal.” At the box office, MEZZI cases have appeared in the hands of Jason Statham in 13 and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III.

MEZZI’s full line of aluminum laptop cases can be found at http://www.MEZZI.com/Laptop-Cases/. MEZZI can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About MEZZI
MEZZI has been manufacturing and retailing fashionable, affordable aluminum cases for more than 15 years. In that time, MEZZI has grown its business from only a handful of briefcases to a full line of cases suitable for a variety of uses, including metal gun cases, art portfolio cases, travel cases and business card cases. The company’s cases are frequently sought by celebrities and producers for movies, television shows, music videos and high-end gifts.

Nielsen Study: Tablets Replacing Laptops and eReaders

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:00:00 +0000

New survey results from Nielsen show that users are ditching their laptops, abandoning their ereaders, and leaving their MP3 players behind. For a large, and growing segment of the population, the tablet is the new primary computing and entertainment device.

According to the Nielsen data, about one third of the tablet owners who were surveyed indicated that they use their desktop PC less--or not at all--since getting a tablet. The same is true for laptops, netbooks, ereaders, and even portable music players. Across the board, the tablet is making more than a little dent in the way people use technology.

This Nielsen chart illustrates the many reasons users cite for choosing the tablet over other devices.It makes sense. Is it a better computer than your laptop? Probably not. Is it a superior platform for reading electronic books? Not necessarily. Is it the most convenient method of carrying and listening to your music collection? No. But, it has an advantage in that it is capable of doing all of those things--and doing them quite well in most cases--in one portable device.

If you go on a trip and you can only take one device, which would you choose? If you take the laptop, good luck reading a book by the pool, or rocking some tunes on your headphones while you take a walk. If you take the ereader, you will have the pool thing covered, and can probably listen to some music in most cases, but checking Facebook, writing an email, or editing an Excel file could be problematic. If you have a portable music player, you're probably stuck listening to music unless you have something like the iPod Touch. In that case, you essentially have a mini tablet, but the diminutive display is not ideal for reading books or getting any productive work done.

Why is the tablet chosen over its mobile gadget rivals? According to Nielsen, the number one reason given is that is "easy to carry / take with you". Other reasons cited include: light weight, convenience, fast speed, fast startup and shutdown, and size. I am surprised that exceptional battery life wasn't listed as one of the top reasons.

The tablet is the natural winner in the "if you could only take one device, which would it be?" challenge. There are some gadgets like the Nook Color, that can come close. But, although it is technically an ereader, its Android-based OS, and Barnes & Noble app store make it closer to an iPad than a Kindle.

Of course, in order for the tablet to truly be a ‘post-PC' device and replace desktop or laptop PCs, Apple needs to cut the cord and not require a PC for activating, syncing, and updating the iPad. There are rumors that Apple is hard at work developing over-the-air updated for iOS 5 that might do just that.

As tablets become more powerful from a hardware perspective, and the tablet OS and culture evolve, the trend away from traditional PCs will probably continue.

Get a refurbished 17-inch HP laptop for $350

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:51:00 +0000

Sometimes I wonder just how much cheaper laptops can get. I mean, I can recall a time when if you wanted a desktop replacement, a system with a big screen and keyboard, you could plan on spending at least $1,000.

Today, Radio Shack is offering a refurbished HP G72-B63NR 17.3-inch laptop for $349.97, plus sales tax in most states and $6 for shipping.

That is just plain unreal, people. (It's also just plain online: this deal isn't available in stores--though you can save the six bucks on shipping by opting for free ship-to-store.)

The G72 isn't the spec champion of the world, but it's loaded well enough to satisfy most home users. It comes with a dual-core 2GHz Intel Pentium P6100 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a 17.3-inch screen.

That screen tops out at 1,600 x 900, which is a bit shy of full 1080p, and it's powered by integrated Intel graphics--not fabulous for higher-end video. On the plus side, the system does include an HDMI port in case you want to connect to an even bigger screen.

All the other specs are about what you'd expect, including a DVD burner, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Windows 7 Home Premium x64. Because this is a refurb, however, the warranty expires after 90 days.

And the deal itself will no doubt expire long before that--possibly even today. So if you're looking for a big, big laptop for a low, low price (one of the lowest I've seen, in fact), act fast.

Report: Google to sell Chrome laptops

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:46:00 +0000

Google is getting ready to begin selling a laptop running its Chrome operating system in a $20-per-month "student package" that combines hardware and online services, according to a Forbes report that cited an unnamed senior Google executive.

Google representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The package is likely a precursor of similar products for businesses and developers in the offing, as the executive reportedly hinted at.

"Small and medium-size businesses are banging on our doors to get something like this," the executive told Forbes.

The offering could prove valuable for Google as a product testing mechanism and lay the foundation for a future market as the students using the Chrome laptops graduate to the workforce.

Chrome OS, Google's browser-based operating system, is in a tough position. It was supposed to debut last year for Netbooks, but Google only delivered a prototype for developers, and the software remains a work in progress.

The announcement would likely be made tomorrow during Google's keynote address at day two of its I/O developer conference in San Francisco.

Panasonic Toughbook 53 gets smaller, faster

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:43:00 +0000

Panasonic's new Toughbook looks a lot like its old Toughbook. That is to say, it's bulky, is rated for MIL-STD-810G tests including drops up to 30 inches on its sides or 12 inches on the corners, and has a magnesium-alloy case, a shock-mounted hard drive, and spill-resistant keyboard.

The differences, however, are many: the new Toughbook 53 has lost over a pound of weight, dropping to a reasonable 5.6 pounds and downsizing its screen from 15.6 inches to 14 inches. The track pad has gotten larger, and added multitouch. 4G LTE service is now offered--a first for Toughbooks--as an alternative to still-available Gobi2000 3G broadband. The Toughbook 53 now comes with a choice of second-gen Intel Core i3-2310M or Core i5-2520M CPUs, increased hard-drive capacities, and an optional touch screen with CircuLumin technology, which offers a wide range of brightnesses from 2-800 nits as well as antiglare and polarizing for viewing in bright daylight. There are a few new ports as well, including an SDXC card slot, HDMI, and USB 3.0, catching up to the current standards in consumer laptops.

The prices aren't as expensive as you'd think: the Core i5 Toughbook 53 starts at $1,899, and ships in June. A Core i3 model, available in August, will cost $1,599. The touchscreen Core i5 will cost quite a bit more, at $2,499.

We can't say we'd personally consider buying one, but there are plenty of contractors and government workers who will. Are you one of them?

HP to offer branded mobile broadband service to HP Elitebook business laptop users Read more: HP to offer branded mobile broadband service to HP Elit

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:38:00 +0000

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) plans to package its own branded prepaid mobile broadband service with new HP Elitebook business laptops.

HP will resell service from Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel's CDMA EV-DO service, and will offer what it calls DataPass service plans that will start at $5 for 75 MB of data over five hours, $10 for 150 MB of data over three days, $20 for 450 MB of data over 15 days, or $30 for 1 GB of data over 30 days. Purchasers of HP's Elitebook laptops can select an HP DataPass or use an existing mobile broadband service plan from Sprint or another operator.

An HP spokesman told PC World that the company does not have greater aspirations to be a wireless service provider but is only offering this service as a convenience to its customers.

HP unveils New Laptops: HP Mini 210, HP Envy 14, HP Pavilion dv4

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:32:00 +0000

HP releases three new laptops into the computers market, NetBook-size Mini, and even a few professional-level ProBooks and Elitebooks.

One of These new laptops have been named as HP Envy 14 part of HP’s premium Envy line, this device is built in with Intel’s Sandy Bridge CPU’s which gives more efficiency to battery life rather than the last year models, and its view is similar to the previous editions and HP promises that the large clickpad is more user-friendly (with multitouch gestures were a little wonky on the current versions), and USB version 3.0 fits in good, and it will be coming out with a reasonable price tag of $999.

Second one is called HP Mini 210 is a NetBook built in with Intel Atom processor same as the earlier edition, but the new model has added some new lid colors like sweet purple, charcoal, crimson red, luminous rose, and ocean drive and the best part is Mini 210 has got NetBook version of the same Beats Audio technology found in the high-end Envy laptops and this NetBook will be costing around $300 to $330 available in June.

Third one is HP Pavilion dv4 is equipped with the latest version of HP’s Cool Sense technology which is generally a user control panel for the cooling fans, and the HP Pavilion will come out for $599 starting May 18th.

It is not the end but for Corporate and business users series of new ProBook and EliteBook models, the ProBook 5330m is slim 13-inch with Intel’s newest Sandy Bridge CPUs and a backlit keyboard, as well as TPM and Intel vPro technology and this really helpful in Corporate IT departments.

The EliteBook 2560p and 2760p is graphed over the high end business users with its stylish metallic finishes and thin designs, with a price tag of $1,100 12.5-inch 2560p is a traditional clamshell, and $1,500 12-inch 2760p has a swiveling convertible touchscreen all these models should be available in May.

All these devices are equipped with 3G antennas and Hewlett-Packard is offering 3G Mobile Broadband Service for Laptops.

Panasonic Upgrades Toughbook 52, Releases New 53 Rugged Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (1shoppingpoint) — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:29:00 +0000

The Toughbook line is fairly self-explanatory given its name, however, the beauty of achieving a reliable and ruggedized laptop is all in the details. Unveiled today, but not rolling out until June, the Toughbook 53 utilizes Intel's 2nd generation Core i5 and i3 CPU technology for a more modern and battery-efficient laptop (up to 10 hours, according to Panasonic).

Its chassis is made of magnesium alloy—a material that is more difficult to manipulate than plastic or aluminum. The 14-inch screen has a 1,366-by-768 resolution (720p) and Panasonic's technology has enabled the screen to be viewable in the great outdoors. The 2-800 nitt adjustable screen brightness undoubtedly also helps, however, this option is only available if you've selected to configure your model to have a touch screen. For the business-end users that use their car as their office, an optional 1.3-megapixel webcam can be installed above the screen along with a digital mic for video conferencing. Wireless connectivity options include 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Optional integrated 4G LTE, Bluetooth 2.1, Gobi2000 (3G broadband from Qualcomm), and dual-antenna pass-through are available for road warriors.

Security features include a fingerprint reader and a more advanced Smartcard reader for those with more sensitive material. An ExpressCard, SDXC, PC Card, HDMI, VGA, audio jacks, FireWire (optional), Ethernet, one USB 3.0, and 3 USB 2.0 are included to connect you to your media or peripherals. The hard drive spins at a slower 5,400rpm than the faster 7,200rpm to prevent damage during travel and accidental drops. If you're looking for that extra edge in performance, Panasonic also has a 128GB solid state drive (SSD) as an option.

The Toughbook 53's rugged features are the main contributors to its 5.6-pound weight. Panasonic has put the laptop through its own torture tests, dropping it on six sides from 30 inches. The keyboard is spill resistant and I was told you could use it in the shower, but not in the bath. So, if you're looking to test the Kramer shower lifestyle depicted in that Seinfeld episode, this computer will likely oblige.

The Toughbook 53 has a shock-mounted feature that allows it to be a more passenger-friendly carpooler; the vibrations across highway and "rugged terrain" will be less likely to damage your internal hardware. Covert operation users will appreciate the MIL-STD-810 tests Panasonic has put the Toughbook 53 through, including altitude (up to 15,000 ft), humidity, and dust.

The three-year warranty adds to its reliability (as this is the usual lifespan of laptops nowadays). The Intel Core i5-2520M goes on sale first in June, with a starting price of $1,899; the Intel Core i3-2310M model will be sold in August with a starting price of $1,599; and the touch version will be sold starting in July at the base price of $2,449 (only with Core i5 processor and 4-8GB of RAM). For those who want a larger screen, however, the 15.4-inch Toughbook 52 will still be sold with the upgraded to the current 2nd gen Intel Core i CPUs and discrete GPUs.

Sony: PSP Update Version 4.05 "Coming Soon"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:19:00 +0000

From the official PlayStation blog comes word this evening that the PlayStation Portable is set to receive a firmware update to version 4.05 very soon. E3, which started unofficially today and begins in earnest on Monday, is probably a safe bet for a more official Sony announcement. The folks at the PlayStation blog hinted the update is music-focused, and would feature new visualizers for music playback, among other unannounced features.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5024751/sony-psp-update-version-405-coming-soon

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