TechBozz - The Latest News in Technology World

Just Several Of The IPhone Features

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

by Clifford S. Magno

Many people have heard of the iPhone and some people own them. But for the vast majority of people that cannot afford an iPhone right now it looks like a high end tech toy that no one really needs but yet everyone really wants. So what are some of the iPhone features? What can this thing really do? What is all the hype about? Let's look at just a few of the iPhone features.

Surfing the Internet

One of the more widely publicized of the iPhone features is that you can surf the internet on a small, but extremely clear, screen in the middle of the iPhone. The iPhone does everything through its screen so the images are larger than on any other cell phone. Surfing the internet on an iPhone, with its clear screen and 8GB if memory, is an experience unlike anything else you have ever seen on any other cell phone. You can check your email or watch a Youtube video all from this wonderful little phone.

Synchronizing Your Favorites

A little known iPhone feature that goes along with the ability to surf the internet is the ability to synchronize your favorites list from your Mac or PC internet browser with your iPhone so that the websites you have bookmarked at home also appear on your iPhone. It is just one more way you can take your home PC or Mac out into the world with you on your iPhone.

Built-in Search Engines

As part of the iPhone features that are designed to make everything as one touch as possible the popular Google and Yahoo! Search engines are built in to the iPhone software. Getting to your favorite search engine is as easy as the touch of one button with this kind of an iPhone feature.

Don't Forget the Pictures

Another iPhone features is photo taking and storage. With the iPhone you have something that is much better than the grainy and hard to see screens that you have on other cell phones. The iPhone makes it so easy to take photos, store them, and then share them with other people. Plus the screen quality on the iPhone also makes it so much easier to see your photos than on any other cell phone.

Oh Yeah, it's a Phone Too

Through all of that it is easy to forget that even though it is called an iPhone that it is also a phone as well. You can talk on the phone while surfing the internet, looking at photos, or just as a phone conversation. The flexibility is pretty amazing and the quality on the iPhone for everything from phone voice clarity to picture sharpness is second to none.

About the Author:
If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article's author on uniden cordless phones and corded cordless phone.

Sony Ericsson Idou confirmed for release in October

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:19:00 +0000

by Matt Sharp

News has cropped up online that the highly anticipated Sony Ericsson Idou has finally been given a release date, in October. Let's take a look forward and see what competition this super-phone is going to face.

Sony Ericsson Idou - 12 megapixels of pure power

It's fair to say that the Sony Ericsson Idou is easily one of the most hotly anticipated phones of the year. On the face of it, the big reason for the excitement is its 12 megapixel camera, and whilst that is a force to be reckoned with, there's so much more to the Sony Ericsson Idou. It's the first 'Entertainment Unlimited' phone, and that doesn't just mean it combines Cyber-Shot and Walkman technology. On top of that, the Sony Ericsson Idou is also going to pull in social networking, high quality games and incredible video services to become a one-stop mobile entertainment hub. It promises far more than that, however, as the Sony Ericsson Idou is also powered by Symbian, giving it true smartphone capabilities, which will no doubt include its very own app store.

But it's a long time until October. Let's see what rivals the Sony Ericsson Idou will have to face down.

Samsung Omnia HD - true HD video

Whilst the Idou may be the undisputed king of still photography (for now), the Samsung Omnia HD must surely be the new king of mobile video. There's a very good reason for that, as the Samsung Omnia HD is the first phone in the world to record true HD video, at 720p resolution. Combine that with HSDPA and high speed uploads, and you have the makings of the perfect high-def Youtube phone, with the Samsung Omnia HD. Whether it will be enough to beat the combination of an ace camera AND Symbian that makes the Idou so compelling remains to be seen, but the Samsung Omnia HD is certainly set to make a big splash. Probably not big enough to topple the Sony Ericsson Idou, but it certainly will be worth checking out.

Nokia N97 - the other Symbian contender

So, with the Samsung Omnia HD unable to topple the Idou, it falls to something a bit more powerful. It may not have HD video recording, but the Nokia N97 does have Symbian, and that puts it on a more even footing with the Sony Ericsson Idou. So, the Nokia N97 has all the processing power to match its rival, and for its part, it includes a full QWERTY keyboard, and 32Gb of built-in memory, that the Sony Ericsson Idou lacks. So, in the end, the two phones are pretty evenly matched, and it's going to come down to what features you want, as to which you'd prefer. For the heavier messaging types, and people who want a full keyboard, the Nokia N97 is the obvious choice. But if you prefer a massive camera, and all your entertainment needs met in one phone, then the clear choice has to be the Sony Ericsson Idou.

About the Author:
Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.

Canon Powershot IXUS 85IS Digital Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:13:00 +0000

by Monty Alexander

The IXUS 85 IS is a 10MP digital camera from canon with a good zoom lens and all the features expected from a modern digital camera. Designed for comfort, this camera is aimed at the medium budget user who also needs a bit of creativity satisfaction while playing with his camera.

Design and Form The ultra compact camera from Canon is also ultra light weight. With a total weight of 130gms and a very slim built, it is an easy camera to carry around in your pocket. It comes in an interesting combination of black and silver color that adds to the crisp look. The build quality of the camera is excellent and beyond any challenges.

Key Features The Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS is capable of powerfully zooming at your subject with a 4x digital zoom and 3x optical zoom. Features like Stitch Assist, Face Detection, Motion Detection and Image Stabilization make it a well equipped camera to produce excellent results while capturing your subject perfectly.

Other Features The Camera sports a large LCD screen with a good resolution for pre/post capture viewing and editing. There are a number of modes to let your creativity take the upper hand in almost any kind of situation and a self timer to allow you to become a part of the pictures too! Later, using software like PIctBridge you can also make the printing of your pictures very easy.

Verdict The Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS has turned out to be a camera with excellent features and results. It gives you vivid colors and near real photography. It is easy to operate and if you use the functions on board to the fullest you are sure to be mistaken as a pro! Comparing it to the other cameras of its genre you do feel however that it is a bit expensive.

About the Author:
Monty Alexander has written many articles on many digital cameras - canon digital cameras, samsung digital camera, nikon digital camera etc.

3D Printing for Research and Development

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:21:00 +0000

by Danielle Marks

Individual 3D printing applications are diverse and so various fabrication materials used in prototyping will need research, development and distribution. Currently, fabrication materials used in rapid prototyping production range mostly from resins, polymers and plasters. Depending on a few key factors about the model to be produced will determine which choice of 3D printing fabrication materials designers and engineers use. Key factors that can influence the choice of materials used in 3 D printing prototypes are more durability, a longer lifespan or have complex designs features. Currently 3D printing materials range from liquid polymers as in fused deposition printers or granular substances such as powder and plaster in inject printers. Resins and polymers used in 3 D printing offer the most durability and versatility for producing rapid prototype models. Research and development in 3 D printing technology continues and new applications and fabrication materials are continually being developed.

• 3D Printing Prototyping Applications
• 3D Printing and Testing Prototypes

3D Printing Prototyping Applications

3 D printing technology also called rapid prototyping is a system utilizing computer assisted design software (CAD) in the creation of three dimensional models. Engineers and designers use 3 D printing to complete prototype production of new design models. Advancing technologies have been steadily developing and many advantages have resulted in advanced hardware, software and fabrication materials used in available rapid prototype systems. 3 D printing advancements today provides for faster and more cost efficient prototypes then the fabrication technologies of the past. 3 dimensional printing advantages include the elimination of expensive prototyping tools and the expense of retaining skilled craftsmen to produce design models. 3D printing has made the process of prototyping convenient, easy and more rapid.

The advantages of using (CAD) software in 3 D printing are numerous in relation to traditional prototyping technology. Traditional prototyping technologies employed plastic formers to create models required large, bulky equipment which required a major investment for the companies. 3 dimensional printing advancements have steadily produced systems that are more compact and cost efficient to purchase and operate. 3 dimensional printing has reduced set up time and simplified operation requirements. This has made them a popular choice for the creating hobby models and toys. 3 dimensional printing advancement is currently being stimulated by the hobby and toy industries that intend on marketing printers to small business and consumers. Requirements for continual 3 D printing technology advancements will be the development of new fabrication materials, applications and markets.

3D Printing and Testing Prototypes

Product development and marketing companies use prototypes and models produced by 3-D printing for the purpose of conducting consumer testing groups. These testing groups are seeking feedback from consumers and manufacturers during the product design process. At this stage of the process data gained is used to affect design changes as a product is prepared for manufacturing and distribution. 3 dimensional printing is a crucial tool for facilitating the design changes and rapidly producing a new product prototype. 3D printing applications for marketing research and development cuts the amount of time necessary for producing prototypes and preparing a product for market.

3 dimensional printing plays an important role in the production of prototypes for research and development testing. Prototypes can be produced, tested and redesigned until the engineering is almost perfect. Instead of gaining performance data on a product after it has gone out into the field of operation; 3D printing allows performance data and redesign to be performed more rapidly, efficiently and cost effectively.

About the Author:
For more information about 3D printing - 3D Printers by Objet.

What Are The Hottest Toys and Gadgets This Christmas Season?

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:15:00 +0000

by Cheap Canuck

With the recent economic downturn you might think that people are pinching their pennies and putting off buying the latest hot gadgets like the iPhone, iPod Touch, or Nintendo Wii. However, as record Black Friday sales of the Xbox 360 showed people are still willing to shell out their hard-earned bucks for gadgets this holiday season. But not just any gadget will do.

So what are the hottest must have gadgets this Christmas? Well, the Nintendo Wii is again topping everybody's wishlist. The little console from Nintendo has been selling like hot cakes ever since its launch in 2006, and every Christmas it becomes rarer than a Keanu Reeves Oscar nomination.

At number two on the list of gadgets most coveted this holiday season is Apple's iPhone. Leading up to the launch of the iPhone the hype surrounding the gadget was perhaps the highest in the history of any gadget launch. iPhone fever has cooled slightly, but the multi-purpose touchscreen device is still in hot demand this holiday season.

Apple scores another spot on the list with their iPod range of mp3 players. The iPod Touch, Nano, Classic and Shuffle between them are again coveted by shoppers of all ages this season.

At 4th place on the list is the Wii Fit. This half fitness/half game peripheral for the Nintendo Wii has the overweight crowd scrambling from store to store, searching in vain for this hot gift. Wii Fit has been a smash hit ever since its launch. Look for it to sell in record numbers this holiday season.

Microsoft scores a win as its Xbox 360 comes in at number 5 on the list of most desired gifts this holiday season. Though they still trail Nintendo in the console battle, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console continues to outsell Sony's Playstation 3, and only Sony's portable PSP is even keeping them in the game.

Honorable mention: Garmin's line of GPS navigators are another coveted toy this Christmas, and shoppers are flocking to pick up the Garmin Nuvi 660 in particular. It is a little pricey, but Garmin products are of the highest quality and always give great bang for the buck.

If you are still looking to get your mitts on one of these hot holiday gadgets, sorry to say you might already be out of luck. With such high demand these toys are pretty hard to find and your only recourse might be paying a premium for a used unit, or waiting overnight in line at an electronics store, hoping to nab one from their latest shipment. Good luck, and happy holidays!

About the Author:
Looking for great Christmas deals on and iPhone, iPod or Nintendo Wii? Visit our Hot Gadgets Store for great prices on all this season's hottest gadgets.

LG Mobile phones - The perfect combination of elegant style and superior performance

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:41:00 +0000

by Samuel Herick

The LG mobile phones are the most appreciated handsets in terms of their ultra-modern looks and user-friendly features. These devices are integrated with superb multimedia and business features. These handsets have manufactures by focusing on your requirements, interests and budget. An individual can purchase these handsets at very reasonable prices. There are a wide range of mobile phones by LG. A person can choose the right model according to his budget and requirements. Some of the famous mobile phone series, that are manufactured by LG are, the Chocolate series, LG Viewty, LG Prada and LG shine.

All these devices from LG are pre-loaded with the latest technologies, such as Bluetooth, GSM network compatibility, an outstanding camera, FM radio and many more features. The phones under LG chocolate series come with the sophisticated multimedia options which can be accessed easily. The LG KG800 chocolate, the latest phone from this series, comes with an unique and exquisite design. The gadget is also integrated with the great specifications such as a fantastic camera with flash, tri-band network and also enhanced with the Java technology. A hidden heat sensitive touch pad allows you to use this gadget with supreme ease. The screen of this product supports 256K colours along with high resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. This feature enables you to view the videos and images with supreme clarity.

The LG Viewty phones come with 5 mega pixels camera with the high resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. These handsets are available in various colours in the market. You can choose his favourite widget from a wide range of colours. These handsets are also equipped with a music player which provides high quality sound output. LG KU990 is one of the latest mobile phones from the LG Viewty. This phone also has 5 mega pixels camera which is capable to capture supreme-quality pictures. One can record videos at the rate of 120 frames per second. It has a large 3.0 resistive touch-screen that enables you to view the high quality pictures on the device.

There is another most popular series named LG Prada from LG. LG has introduced a touch-screen mobile phone into these phones. LG Prada handsets are well known for their designer and stylish phones. The main features of these phones are a powerful camera, music player, built-in FM radio and several more features. This gadget also allows you to share images and videos with other persons through Bluetooth and other connectivity technologies.

On the other hand, LG shine phones are power-packed with a combination of fascinated features and gorgeous design. They have an user-friendly keypad that allows the users to work with it in an easy way. The LG KE970, the fantastic phone from the LG Shine, has a built-in 2 mega pixels camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens. This camera phone enables you to take excellent photos with the help of auto-focus and flash features. One can also listen his favourite audio tracks with the help of music player that supports MP3, AAC and AAC+formats of files. This phone has a multi-function scroll key which would be highly useful for accessing the various applications, such as contacts, images, videos, messages etc.

Finally, we can conclude that LG Mobile phones are empowered with hi-tech features and latest advanced features. These gadgets can grab the interest of every person, just because of their exceptional qualities. These handsets are enriched with 3G network compatibility, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB and several additional functionalities. Every person can use these features without any hassles.

About the Author:
Read More LG Mobile phones and Mobile Phones.

BlackBerry 8310 Vs Sony Ericsson W910i: War between two giants

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:21:00 +0000

by daykevi

Mobile phones have a high demand because mobile phone users are increasing day-by-day and that too all over the world. By using a great mobile phone, we can change our whole life because phones are not only a communication device at that time. They have become as completely multimedia-oriented gadgets, which comes with many useful features.

Both the, BlackBerry and the Nokia are the leading mobile phone companies around the world. BlackBerry handsets are commonly known for their full QWERTY keyboard and easy-to-use Internet features. But Nokia is known for its latest technologies and user-friendly features. Now we come to discuss the results of a comparision known as the BlackBerry 8310 Vs Sony Ericsson W910i. Firstly, we talk about the BlackBerry 8310.

The BlackBerry 8310 is an attractive and a sophisticated mobile phone, which comes with a full QWERTY keyboard and the Trackball navigation feature. It is a lightweight mobile phone and weighs just 111 grams with sleek dimensions of 107 x 60 x 15.5 mm, which allow the users to carry it easily. It has a large colourful display, which provides a screen resolution of 320 x 240 pixels with a total colour support of 65K colours. The phone comes with 64 MB of internal memory and the users can expand the external memory through a microSD (TransFlash) memory card. It is a 'GPRS and EDGE technologies-enabled' mobile phone and, therefore, allows the users to easily access Internet at any time, without any trouble. The miniUSB and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP technology allow you to share multimedia files with friends and relatives. It comes with a 2 MP camera with flash feature that gives you amazing picture quality with a high image resolution. The phone also has features such as Integrated GPS, Java, BlackBerry maps, Media player, Organiser, Built-in handsfree and a To-do list, which make it into an extraordinary device in the global phone market. Now, we talk about the Sony Ericsson W910i.

The Sony Ericsson W910i is a sleek and an elegant mobile phone, which comes with a smooth slide opening mechanism. It has a vibrant 2.4 inches TFT colour screen, which provides a screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The total weight of the handset is just 86 grams and this feature allows the users to easily hold it. It is a 'Walkman' music player enabled mobile phone, which comes with 3G HSDPA capabilities. The phone comes with 40 MB of internal memory and its external memory can be expanded via Memory Stick Micro (M2) memory card. USB v2.0 and Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP technologies allow you to share multimedia files with other Bluetooth compatible devices. This stunning device is available in various vibrant colours include 'Hearty Red', 'Noble Black', 'Havana Bronze', 'Silky White', 'Lipstick Pink' and 'Prime Silver'. It comes with a 2 MP camera, which gives you sharp and beautiful still pictures. The phone also facilitates video recording option in QVGA format at 15 frames per second.

It is a completely music focused mobile phone, which comes with a 'Walkman 3.0 music player'. You can create a music play-list, which comes with a random music selection feature know as SensMe technology. The standard battery provides approximately 400 hours of standby time and up to 9 hours of talktime.

Both these handsets, the BlackBerry 8310 and the Sony Ericsson W910i come with numerous easy-to- se functionality. The Sony Ericsson W910i is a music based mobile phone and on the other side, the BlackBerry 8310 is a completely web focused handset. Both of these mobile phones have cameras that have the same resolution . The Sony Ericsson W910i is available in various stunning colours, which renders it with the feature of being attractive. Hence, we can say that, both these handsets are very good for the users.

About the Author:
If you like to get the latest mobile phones and phones for christmas with best deals, visit our on line mobile shop.

Easy Steps To Prevent PC Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:56:00 +0000

Every computer owner hopes that their computer will work as efficiently as it did when it was purchased.
However, you notice that your computer becomes slower as it gets older. Not only this, but your computer may also encounter occasional errors or system crashes. This could cost you a lot of valuable time and data, especially if you use your computer for important work.

Simply depending upon a good operating system may not be enough to deal with these problems. While it is true that newer operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows Vista are less prone to errors, many computer users still continue to face problems. Saving your data every few minutes may not help in the case of receiving many errors, as this will reduce your productivity and may still render you helpless in case your system crashes.

Would you like to be able to fix a slow computer and avoid PC problems without spending a lot of time and money? All you need to do in order to have a healthy computer is to follow a few simple guidelines to take care of your computer:

Ensure clean and uncluttered hard disk:

One of the main reasons your computer has become slow could be that your hard disk is unclean and cluttered. You need to clean your hard disk on a regular basis. This will allow your computer to access and process information faster. Make regular use of the two Hard Disk utilities provided in the System tools of your Windows operating system. These utilities are:
- Disk Cleanup
- Disk Defragmenter
These utilities will clean and make your hard disk contiguous so that your computer becomes more efficient and prevents PC problems.

Ensure a clean Windows Registry:

The Windows registry is a database that stores critical setting information that your system requires for day to day functioning. Every time a software or hardware is installed or uninstalled on your PC, its configuration information is added or deleted to your Windows registry. Many PC errors can trace their root to an unclean and bloated windows registry. Although it is possible to manually clean your Windows registry, it is not recommended as it carries important information.

A regular registry scan and repair through a reliable registry scan tool will make your computer faster and less vulnerable to PC errors. A good registry repair software will automatically scan and repair your registry at scheduled times in addition to taking a complete backup of your registry. This facility could prove very useful in case your computer crashes.

Remove unnecessary Programs

Some of the programs or applications which were used by us earlier but now have become obsolete should be removed completely from the system as they continue to occupy and use valuable computer resources. Similarly, some of the new programs like add-on browser tool bars may make internet surfing slower because these toolbars have a tendency to use a lot of space and make computers slower. So, to enhance the performance of your PC and to improve your Web browsing experience, it is advised that you uninstall toolbars that you no longer use by using a uninstall toolbar utility.

BenQ Joybook U101 launches, gives almost no joy

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:46:00 +0000

The BenQ Joybook Lite U101 we spied back when it was announced in September has just launched, and though there's nothing incredibly exciting here, we thought we'd give you a quick rundown, because we're just cool like that. The U101 boasts completely standard netbook fair -- an Atom N270 CPU, Intel 945GSE chipset, 1GB of DDR2 memory, with 80-160GB mechanical drives and 4-16GB SSD options. It's also got a 16:9 display with a 1024 x 576 resolution (rare for a netbook), a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and three USB 2.0 ports. The sassy little number comes in blue, pink, white and black, and it can be yours for €398 ($503) in Taiwan right now, but we've got no word on when it will be available elsewhere. Dip this puppy in gold or something and then maybe, just maybe we'll bite.

[Via Fudzilla]

Source: Engadget

Medion intros three new fingerprint-scanning GPS units

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:37:00 +0000

Medion has been cramming fingerprint scanners into its GPS units for a little while now, but it looks like it's now firmly committed to the technology, with its latest batch of models each packing the extra level of security. Those include the GoPal P5235, P5435 and X5535, which each boast a 5-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, and live traffic updates, plus a nearly identical appearance. The P5435 one-ups things slightly over the P5235 with some handsfree Bluetooth calling, while the X5535 goes all out with a built-in gyrometer that promises to pick up some of the slack when the GPS signals drop out. No word on a price or release date for any of 'em just yet, unfortunatley, but we wouldn't expect the base model to be too far off the $269 that the nearly identical model that just hit Europe demands.

[Via Electronista]

Source: Engadget

Pentax K-m (K2000) DSLR gets reviewed, deemed downright excellent

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Pentax's K-m (or K2000, as it were) may be geared towards beginners, but that's not to say it's lacking in the performance department. The DSLR was recently apprehended and tested at PhotographyBLOG, and apparently they had a really tough time finding anything negative to say. In fact, it was deemed "another excellent addition to Pentax's DSLR range, seamlessly slotting in below the K200D." With the combination of ease-of-use, mid-range features and a low price, critics found themselves in awe of the value proposition. It was also noted that the small size was appealing to those appalled by bulky high-end cameras, and the image quality is about as good as one could expect for under seven bills (with a lens). Don't take our word for it, though -- tap the read link and check out the drool for yourself.

Source: Engadget

Take the Hint: Motorola's newest slider phone comes to Alltel Wireless

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:20:00 +0000

Motorola have found the perfect way to keep customers connected to their social 'circle.' The Motorola Hint(TM), a vertical slider phone that keeps users in touch, will be available on November 28th in Alltel retail stores and at alltel.com.

The innovative slider design of the Motorola Hint includes a full QWERTY keyboard with dedicated keys for the 2 MP camera, MP3 player and Web access. The Motorola Hint puts the most frequently used features on the main screen giving easy access to e-mail, voicemail and messaging - letting users spend less time scrolling through menus and more time communicating with their family and friends. Even with a large 2.5" display screen, the compact 4.23 oz handset can easily slip into a pocket or purse.

"Wireless customers communicate in so many different ways, and they want their cell phones to be a portal to their social networks and the Internet," said Brian Ullem, vice president of device strategy at Alltel Wireless. "The Motorola Hint gives them a fun and sophisticated way to stay in touch with the people who matter most."

Preloaded with popular applications such as Alltel Navigation powered by Telenav, XM Radio Mobile and Aricent Celltop, the Motorola Hint gives users a complete mobile experience. Threaded messaging keeps users organized while the video capture and playback helps them stay creative. The phone also comes equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, advanced voice recognition dialing, a USB high speed port and 3.5 mm headset jack.

Music lovers will enjoy the powerful and versatile Motorola Hint, which features external music keys that allow for easy playback control and browsing of song files. The phone also features high speed EVDO internet compatibility and a microSD removable memory slot that can hold up to 8 GB - perfect for fast song downloads and file storage.

Beginning on November 28th, Alltel Wireless will be offering customers the Motorola Hint for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. This discounted price is for new customers on two-year service agreements, as well as existing eligible customers on qualifying rate plans.

Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and flexibility to the customer's wireless experience with its exclusive "My Circle" feature, giving customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless also offers Anytime Plan Changes, which give customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

To access the multimedia content associated with this release, please visit thenewsmarket.com/alltel. Registered members will find broadcast quality video for their purposes, free of charge.

Alltel Wireless is owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network and has nearly 14 million wireless customers.

Celltop is a registered trademark of Aricent Inc. Celltop is owned by Aricent and licensed to Alltel for use in the U.S. market.

Source: Alltel Wireless

Alltel Wireless, mFoundry Partner for Alltel Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:59:00 +0000

Alltel Wireless (Little Rock, Ark.), will leverage the extensible mobile wallet platform from mFoundry (San Francisco) to create the Alltel Wallet, which will initially provide access to a consolidated mobile banking experience, providing customers with access to a wide variety of U.S. financial institutions.

mFoundry's technology, which combines comprehensive mobile banking, mobile payments and mobile commerce capabilities, will provide Alltel the necessary platform to plug in enhanced financial solutions and other advanced functionality from select third party developers. mFoundry's platform allows the Alltel Wallet to rapidly evolve by giving third party developers an ability to easily add modules to the wallet. mFoundry's mobile wallet platform has pre-built modules for peer-to-peer remittances and other payment services to help developers deploy new features quickly and easily, according to mFoundry.

The Alltel Wallet will debut in 2009. Alltel Wireless recently launched Alltel Mobile Banking, a free service giving its customers mobile access to accounts from many of the nation's leading financial institutions. The Alltel Wallet will provide one-stop access to those financial institutions as well as access to many other payment services.

Source: Bank Systems & Technology Online

T-Mobile G1 now available in frosty white

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:18:00 +0000

We've heard that it's been showing up on doorsteps and in stores for a few days now, but T-Mobile has just officially given the word that the G1 is now available in white to complement bronze and the especially personality-free black (not to say there's anything wrong with that, black G1 owners). The price, hardware, and software are all the same, so if you thought this release might somehow magically bring a soft keyboard with it, think again. Any guesses what -- if any -- future colors we might see on this puppy?

Source: Engadget

DS Lite 'New Super Mario Bros.' bundle unboxing and hands-on

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Look, we know there's nothing especially fresh about the New Super Mario Bros. DS Lite bundle that's just been issued for the holidays, but we're absolutely a sucker for anything red and stamped with a big M. We have to say, after struggling with the packaging (c'mon Nintendo, it took a knife and a pair of scissors), we were a little disappointed by the lack of style inside the box. Hey, we can't all be the Omnia. Check out the really red action in the gallery below.

Source: Engadget

HP Pavilion G50 112 NR Notebook: Black Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:04:00 +0000

The HP Pavilion G50 112 NR notebook is being sold over on Office Depot for only $349.99 on Black Friday, that means you will save a staggering $250 discount off of the G50-112NR’s retail price.

This is one of the cheapest and most affordable 15.4-inch notebooks available this Black Friday, the G50-112NR features 160 GB hard drive, 3GB of RAM and an Intel Dual Core T3200 processor. The $250 in savings for Black Friday is split into a $200 discount and a $50 rebate, not the best laptop in the world but hey it is still cheap.

Christmas is coming, Black Friday is looming and as part of the Black Friday deals this laptop will sell like hot cakes. The HP Pavilion G50 112 NR Notebook would make the perfect gift for anyone’s Christmas stocking.

Source: Cheap Laptops

Why You Should Backup Your Data And How To Do It

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:27:00 +0000

Computers have changed the whole picture of today’s world by providing a source on which a large amount of data can be stored. The information that was once stored in a room full of files, can now be added to just one small PC. We now have paperless offices and even paperless monetary transactions with the help of computers.

Now, because computers are a medium to store your important and even confidential information, it is essential that you take measures to keep this data safe. This is because, if your computer fails, you stand the risk of losing a lot of your essential information. Some of the common causes that may lead to computer failures are:

Software errors.
Faulty and buggy applications.
Program install and uninstall problems.
Registry problems.
Virus and spyware infections.
User errors.
Hardware malfunction.
Natural disasters, such as flood and earthquake.
Other unavoidable problems, such as fire, theft, and physical damage.

The best and the most efficient way to keep your data safe is to perform regular data backups. Today, you can make computer backups that not only help to recover your lost data, but that can also restore your operating system and system settings to have your failed computer up and running in no time.

For example, if you have a Windows Vista computer, then depending on the Windows Vista edition you own, you can choose between from Automatic Backup and Complete PC Backup features to make your backups. The Automatic Backup feature, which is available with almost all Vista editions, enables you to back up your files and folders on different types of media, including writable CDs and DVDs, external hard disk, and even on a network location. The Complete PC Backup feature, available only with Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions, performs an image-based backup of your computer. Using this feature, you can back up almost everything that is on your hard disk, including your operating system, user configuration, installed software, and data. This backup feature is useful because if your system malfunctions, you just need to restore it from the last backup and you will have your system running normally in no time.

Windows XP and Windows Vista computers also comprise the System Restore feature. If certain conditions on your system are fulfilled, the System Restore feature is enabled by default. This feature takes regular snapshots of your system configuration, system files, and registry. The feature is helpful in restoring the system configuration in case your computer encounters an irreparable error. Although useful, one disadvantage of this feature is that you cannot use if the hard disk, on which the System Restore snapshots are stored, fails.

There are many third-party tools and backup utilities also available that you can use to backup your data and system configuration. For instance, you may use a good Windows registry cleaner to maintain regular registry backups. Because the registry stores all configuration of your Windows computer, you can use the registry backup to restore the registry, in case it fails due to some problem.

You may also choose to use the services of many third-party online backup services to maintain your backups. The main advantage of using an online data backup service is that even if your entire computer system is damaged due to a natural calamity or an unavoidable disaster, your data remains safe and can be restored as soon as you have your computer systems up and running again.

Platform As A Service: Cloudo

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:19:00 +0000

Platform As A Service, or PaaS is the latest development in virtualization. Where companies started to offer applications online (Saas, Software As A Service) and the use of virtual servers is becoming mainstream, more and more companies now offer a complete operating system as a service online.
Cloudo is the latest addition to platform providers. There are several others that have existed for a while now in the consumer market, but to be honest I have no idea if there is a consumer market for this technology. Virtualization is huge in the business market - after offering servers with virtual servers on top even SUN Microsystems now considers offering online platforms for businesses.

So what is so interesting about Cloudo? Why would we want a webbased operating system? Well, something that makes a huge difference is the option to sync your files to the operating system. Until now, nobody else offers this.

There currently is a private beta for developers only, so there's nothing for me there right now. But I will keep an eye on it.

Cloudo is here.

Source: Web 2.0

Skyfire Browser for Windows Mobile Smartphones

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:06:00 +0000

We know that web browsing is one area that is still in its premature stages due to the unavailability of user friendly browsers with powerful features. We also know that mobile manufacturers and mobile software vendors are trying to come up with browsers that are more powerful and would give a boost to mobile web browsing.

Apple's iPhone Safari browser is one browser that is doing well and offers many new user friendly features that have improved the way web browsing is done on mobile phones. Skyfire is an another company that is claiming that its revolutionary mobile browser would give a boost to mobile web browsing because it is faster than all other mobile web browsers, offers easier and simple navigation and supports almost all popular Web technologies such as Flash, Ajax, Java, etc.

They are claiming that it works like a PC browser and allows you to easily watch web videos, listen to web music, stay connected on any social network and do everything that you can do on your PC. The browser is free to download here and currently available for beta 2 testing on Windows Mobile Smartphones. Users that have signed up before 1st of March would be amongst the first batch of beta testers. Users who sign up after 1st of March would be amongst the second batch of beta testers. The skyfire symbian version is expected to be available for beta testing this summer. Visit Skyfire's website to find out more.

Source: The Smart PDA

Samsung L210

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:53:00 +0000

Samsung has taken another trek into digital camera territory with the L210, a point-and-shoot job.

The L210 has lots of great features including a 2.5 inch LCD display, as well as a 10.2 megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom. It also has two of Samsung's programs with Digital Image Stabilization and Intelligent Face Recognition technology. All of this is included with 10MB of internal flash memory as well as the ability to record MPEG-4 movies.

I don't have a source or availability date as yet, but the Samsung L210 should hit the market soon.

Source: The Gadgets Weblog

Locks On Microchips Could Reduce Hardware Piracy

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:49:00 +0000

Hardware piracy, or making knock-off microchips based on stolen blueprints, is a burgeoning problem in the electronics industry.

Computer engineers at the University of Michigan and Rice University have devised a comprehensive way to head off this costly infringement: Each chip would have its own unique lock and key. The patent holder would hold the keys. The chip would securely communicate with the patent-holder to unlock itself, and it could operate only after being unlocked.

The technique is called EPIC, short for Ending Piracy of Integrated Circuits. It relies on established cryptography methods and introduces subtle changes into the chip design process. But it does not affect the chips' performance or power consumption.

Michigan computer engineering doctoral student Jarrod Roy will present a paper on EPIC at the Design Automation and Test in Europe conference in Gera number of on March 13.

Integrated circuit piracy has risen in recent years as U.S. companies started outsourcing production of newer chips with ultra-fine features. Transferring chip blueprints to overseas locations opened new doors for bootleggers who have used the chips to make counterfeit MP3 players, cell phones and computers, among other devices.

This is a very new problem, said Igor Markov, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at U-M and a co-author of the paper.

"Pirated chips are sometimes being sold for pennies, but they are exactly the same as normal chips," Markov said. "They were designed in the United States and commonly manufactured overseas, where intellectual property law is more lax. Someone copies the blueprints or manufactures the chips without authorization."

A cutting-edge fabrication facility costs between $3 billion and $4 billion to build in the United States., said Farinaz Koushanfar, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University and a co-author on the paper.

"Therefore, a growing number of semiconductor companies, including Texas Instruments and Freescale (a former division of Motorola), has recently announced that they would cease manufacturing chips with finer features, and outsource production to East Asia. However, even in U.S. facilities, working chips are sometimes reported defective by individual employees and later sold in gray markets," Koushanfar said.

With EPIC protection enabled, each integrated circuit would be manufactured with a few extra switches that behave like a combination lock. Each would also have the ability to produce its own at least 64-bit random identification number that could not be changed. The chips would not be manufactured with an ID number, but instead with the tools needed to produce the number during activation.

In the EPIC framework, chips wouldn't work correctly until they were activated. To activate a chip, the manufacturer would plug it in and let it contact the patent owner over an ordinary phone line or Internet connection.

"All chips are produced from the same blueprint, but differentiate themselves when they are turned on for the first time and generate their ID," Roy said. "Nothing is known about this number before activation".

The chip would transmit its ID securely to the patent owner. The patent owner would record the number, figure out the combination to unlock that particular chip, and respond securely with the key.

The uniqueness of the activation key rules out the possibility that someone could observe it and reuse it without cracking it. Because the key is generated on the fly, it wouldn't make sense to copy it like you could copy software activation keys, which are printed on CD envelopes.

Theoretically, there are ways to illegally copy chips protected by EPIC, Markov said. But EPIC makes this very difficult.

"If someone was really bent on forging and had a hundred million dollars to spend, they could reverse-engineer the entire chip by taking it apart. But the point of piracy is to avoid such costs," he said. "The goal of a practical system like ours is not to make something impossible, but to ensure that buying a license and producing the chip legally is cheaper than forgery".

Source: University of Michigan

Magnetic levitation gives computer users sense of touch

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:32:00 +0000

Computers, long used as tools to design and manipulate three-dimensional objects, may soon provide people with a way to sense the texture of those objects or feel how they fit together, thanks to a haptic, or touch-based, interface developed at Carnegie Mellon University.

Unlike most other haptic interfaces that rely on motors and mechanical linkages to provide some sense of touch or force feedback, the device developed by Ralph Hollis, research professor in Carnegie Mellons Robotics Institute, uses magnetic levitation and a single moving part to give users a highly realistic experience. Users can perceive textures, feel hard contacts and notice even slight changes in position while using an interface that responds rapidly to movements.

We believe this device provides the most realistic sense of touch of any haptic interface in the world today, said Hollis, whose research group built a working version of the device in 1997. With the help of a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant, however, he and colleagues have improved its performance, enhanced its ergonomics and lowered its cost. The grant also enabled them to build 10 copies, six of which are being distributed to haptic scientists across the U.S. and Canada.

We have gone from the prototype to a much more advanced system that other scientists can use, Hollis said. Putting the instrument in the hands of other scientists is critical in a young, developing field such as haptic technology, he emphasized. Though haptic interfaces have uses in engineering design, entertainment, assembly, remote operation of robots, and in medical and dental training, their full potential has yet to be explored. Thats especially the case for magnetic levitation haptic interfaces because so few have been available for use by researchers, he added.

This is an affordable device thats also practical, said Hollis, who has started a spinoff company to build additional devices. Now other people can have this technology, and this represents technology transfer in the very real sense.

Six devices will be delivered to scientists at Harvard, Stanford, Purdue and Cornell, as well as to the universities of Utah and British Columbia. All are members of the Magnetic Levitation Haptic Consortium, an international group dedicated to fostering increased use of this technology.

Hong Tan, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University and a consortium member, studies human perception of fine surface textures work that requires simulation resolution at the micron level. This is beyond the capability of most commercially available haptic devices, but the maglev device developed by Dr. Hollis will make it possible for us to continue this research, she said.

The field of haptic research and development is expanding rapidly, said Rob Conway, project manager in Carnegie Mellons Center for Technology Transfer. Carnegie Mellons research opens new possibilities by joining the world of haptic feedback with a comfortable magnetic levitation interface. The magnetic levitation decouples the interface device from the mechanical world, eliminating friction, backlash, jump, sticking and other interfering effects, so that the user feels only the artificial environment in complete accuracy down to the micro scale.

The system eliminates the bulky links, cables and general mechanical complexity of other haptic devices on the market today in favor of a single lightweight moving part that floats on magnetic fields.

At the heart of the maglev haptic interface is a bowl-shaped device called a flotor that is embedded with six coils of wire. Electric current flowing through the coils interacts with powerful permanent magnets underneath, causing the flotor to levitate. A control handle is attached to the flotor.

A user moves the handle much like a computer mouse, but in three dimensions with six degrees of freedom up/down, side to side, back/forth, yaw, pitch and roll. Optical sensors measure the position and orientation of the flotor, and this information is used to control the position and orientation of a virtual object on the computer display. As this virtual object encounters other virtual surfaces and objects, corresponding signals are transmitted to the flotors electrical coils, resulting in haptic feedback to the user.

Hollis and colleagues will demonstrate the new maglev haptic interfaces at the IEEE 16th Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environments and Teleoperator Systems, March 13-14 in Reno, Nevada.

Source: Carnegie Mellon University

Students With Cell Phones May Take More Risks

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:24:00 +0000

Carrying a cell phone may cause some college students - particularly women - to take risks with their safety, a new study suggests.

A survey of 305 students at one campus observed that 40 percent of cell phone users said they walked somewhere after dark that they normally wouldn't go.

A separate survey observed that about three-quarters of students said that carrying a cell phone while walking alone at night made them feel somewhat or a lot safer.

"Students seem to feel less vulnerable when they carry a cell phone, eventhough there's not evidence that they really are," said Jack Nasar, co-author of the study and professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State University.

"If anything, they are probably less safe because they are paying less attention to their surroundings".

Nasar conducted the study with Peter Hecht of Temple University in Philadelphia and Richard Wener of Brooklyn Polytechnic University in New York. Their results were published in a recent issue of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research.

The study involved online or phone interviews with randomly selected students at Ohio State. One sample in 2001 included 317 students and a separate survey one year later included 305 students.

Women reported feeling a greater increase in safety carrying a cell phone than did male students, probably because they felt more vulnerable in the first place, Nasar said.

As a result, more women than men said that, if they had a cell phone they would be willing to walk somewhere after dark that they would normally not go (42 percent of women vs. 28 percent of men).

"Particularly for women, cell phones offer a sense of security that may make them more willing to put themselves in risky situations," Nasar said.

The biggest issue may be that when people are talking on the cell phone, they are not focusing on what is going on around them, as per Nasar. The possibility of crime is not the only problem.

In a separate study, Nasar and colleagues observed that 48 per cent of cell phone users crossed a busy road in front of approaching cars, in comparison to only 25 per cent of those not using phones.

"We know that cell phones pose a hazard for people when they're driving, but pedestrians may also be at risk if they are not careful," he said.

While these students were surveyed in 2001 and 2002, Nasar said the results still apply today, and maybe even more so. Back at that time, fewer college students had cell phones. In the 2001 sample, 38 percent reported they did not have a cell phone. One year later, that was down to 14 percent.

The scientists conducted an independent survey of 100 students at Brooklyn Polytechnic and found similar results, Nasar said, indicating that the findings could apply to a wide variety of students from across the country.

Nasar said the results suggest colleges may want to add to the safety lectures they usually give to incoming freshmen.

"Students need to be aware of their surroundings when they're out using their cell phone," he said. "In some cases, walking with a cell phone might make them vulnerable, either to crime or to an accident".

Cell phone users should also consider adding emergency numbers to the "speed dial" functions of their phone so it will be easier to summon help if needed.

Source: Welcome to Ohio State

Attack on computer memory reveals vulnerability

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:45:00 +0000

A team of academic, industry and independent scientists has demonstrated a new class of computer attacks that compromise the contents of secure memory systems, especially in laptops.

The attacks overcome a broad set of security measures called disk encryption, which are meant to secure information stored in a computers permanent memory. The scientists cracked several widely used technologies, including Microsofts BitLocker, Apples FileVault and Linuxs dm-crypt, and described the attacks in a paper and video published on the Web Feb. 21.

The team reports that these attacks are likely to be effective at cracking a number of other disk encryption systems because these technologies have architectural features in common.

Weve broken disk encryption products in exactly the case when they seem to be most important these days: laptops that contain sensitive corporate data or personal information about business customers, said Alex Halderman, a Ph.D. candidate in Princetons computer science department. Unlike a number of security problems, this isnt a minor flaw; it is a fundamental limitation in the way these systems were designed.

The attack is especially effective against computers that are turned on but are locked, such as laptops that are in a sleep or hibernation mode. One effective countermeasure is to turn a computer off entirely, though in some cases even this does not provide protection.

Haldermans Princeton collaborators included graduate students Nadia Heninger, William Clarkson, Joseph Calandrino, Ariel Feldman and Professor Edward Felten, the director of the Center for Information Technology Policy. The team also included Seth Schoen of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, William Paul of Wind River Systems and independent computer security researcher Jacob Appelbaum.

Felten said the findings demonstrate the risks linked to recent high-profile laptop thefts, including a Veterans Administration computer containing information on 26 million veterans and a University of California, Berkeley laptop that contained information on more than 98,000 graduate students and others. While it is widely believed that disk encryption would protect sensitive information in instances like these, the new research demonstrates that the information could easily be read even when data is encrypted.

Disk encryption is commonly recommended as a magic bullet against the loss of private data on laptops, Felten said. Our results show that disk encryption provides less protection than previously thought. Even encrypted data can be vulnerable if an intruder gets access to the laptop.

The new attacks exploit the fact that information stored in a computers temporary working memory, or RAM, does not disappear immediately when a computer is shut off or when the memory chip is taken from the machine, as is usually thought. Under normal circumstances, the data gradually decays over a period of several seconds to a minute. The process can be slowed considerably using simple techniques to cool the chips to low temperatures.

Disk encryption technologies rely on the use of secret keys -- essentially large random numbers -- to encode and protect information. Computers need these keys to access files stored on their own hard disks or other storage systems. Once an authorized user has typed in a password, computers typically store the keys in the temporary RAM so that protected information can be accessed regularly. The keys are meant to disappear as soon as the RAM chips lose power.

The team wrote programs that gained access to essential encryption information automatically after cutting power to machines and rebooting them. The method worked when the attackers had physical access to the computer and when they accessed it remotely over a computer network. The attack even worked when the encryption key had already started to decay, because the scientists were able to reconstruct it from multiple derivative keys that were also stored in memory.

In one extremely powerful version of the attack, they were able to obtain the correct encryption data even when the memory chip was physically removed from one computer and placed in another machine. After obtaining the encryption key, they could then easily access all information on the original machine.

This method is extremely resistant to countermeasures that defensive programs on the original computer might try to take, Halderman said.

The attacks demonstrate the vulnerability of machines when they are in an active state, including sleep mode or the screen lock mode that laptops enter when their covers are shut. Even though the machines require a password to unlock the screen, the encryption keys are already located in the RAM, which provides an opportunity for attackers with malicious intent.

None of the attacks mandatory specialized equipment. I think we're going to see attackers doing things that people have previously though impractical or impossible, Appelbaum said.

The scientists were able to extend the life of the information in RAM by cooling it using readily available canned air keyboard dusting products. When turned upside down, these canisters spray very cold liquid. Discharging the cold liquid onto a memory chip, the scientists were able to lower the temperature of the memory to -50 degrees Celsius. This slowed the decay rates enough that an attacker who cut power for 10 minutes would still be able to recover 99.9 percent of the information in the RAM correctly.

Hints of problems linked to computers retaining their temporary memory have appeared in the scientific literature, but this is the first systematic examination of the security implications, said Schoen.

The scientists posted the paper describing their findings on the website of Princetons Center for Information Technology Policy. They submitted the paper for publication and it is currently undergoing review.

In the meantime, the scientists have contacted several manufacturers to make them aware of the vulnerability: Microsoft, which includes BitLocker in some versions of Windows Vista; Apple, which created FileVault; and the makers of dm-crypt and TrueCrypt, which are open-source products for Windows and Linux platforms.

Theres not much they can do at this point, Halderman said. In the short term, they can warn their customers about the vulnerability and tell them to shut their computers down completely when traveling.

In the longer term, Halderman said new technologies may need to be designed that do not require the storing of encryption keys in the RAM, given its inherent vulnerability. The scientists plan to continue investigating this and other defenses against this new security threat.

Source: Princeton Engineering

Paper weighing scale is a featherweight

noreply@blogger.com (Martin) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:19:00 +0000

If the concept design for the paper weighing scale designed by Duck Image Studio sees the light of day, then I will no longer have to worry if someone else is looking down at the embarassingly high figures on my scale while I am standing on it.

Ask how? Because the paper weighing scale is different from other weighing scales - it is inconspicuous, almost like paper, and can be placed anywhere in the house as it is ultra-thin and flexible. The figures are depicted via large numerals flashed on an e-paper display - easy enough to let you steal a sly glance as you are walking down the hallway, for example. And you can leave the paper scale out on the floor through the day since it is waterproof and easy to clean. The flexibility aspect ensures that you can even roll it away for storage if you are not comfortable being reminded of your weight so a number of times in a day. Methinks this is a great design for something as simple as a scale.

Via Yanko Design.

Source: Popgadget Personal Technology for Women