The Pirado

Apple iPad 3 : Think twice about getting an iPad 2

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:10:00 PST

Yes, think twice about getting an iPad 2 for this Christmas - the iPad 3 is set to arrive in the first three month of 2012. The incremental nature of the iPad 2's improvements over the original iPad suggest a big leap forward is due from the third generation device. Expect an improved screen, greater performance, further weight reductions and improved pricing.

eReader for All

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:53:00 PST

eBook readers - the electronic way to read books - are gaining ground on their paper counterparts. Here are some of the best.

Amazon Kindle 3

Pros

The Kindle is fast becoming the iPod of the eBook world. Amazon may not have been the first, but each Kindle is slicker than the last and the third generation model is slimmer (8.5mm), lighter (241 g) and far cheaper than ever before. The 6in e-ink screen is still the best in its class, pages change extremely quickly, battery life is enhanced (9000 page turns) and integration with the Kindle eBook store is class leading. A further bonus is the ubiquitous Kindle app which works with every major mobile phone platform. This lets you wirelessly synchronize the progress of your reading between multiple devices on the move.

Cons

Extending the Apple analogy, the Kindle could be more open. The store may be well stocked, but the lack of ePUB support (the equivalent of the MP3 in eBook terms) means you are limited in where else you can buy eBooks.

http://kindle.amazon.com/

BeBook Club

Pros

Those looking for a simple, i eBook reader will find it is hard to beat the BeBook Club. It features a wide range of format support, including ePUB, and leads the way with an incredible battery life that lasts up to 12,000 page turns - enough to get you through War and Peace 10 times. A nice extra is that the Club also works as a simple MP3 player, capable of handling MP3 and WAV audio files. While internal memory is just 512MB, an SD card slot allows it to be expanded by 4GB.

Cons

The downside of Club's simplicity is that it's also rather basic. There is no WiFi or 3G, so all content must be transferred by USB cable, and budget cuts can be seen in a screen which only supports eight shades J of grey compared to the 16 of the Sony and Amazon readers. At 278g it also hasn't transferred its reduced functionality into weight savings.

http://mybebook.com

Sony PRS-650 : Touch Edition

Pros

For those with money to burn, the PRS-650 is the eBook reader to get. Build quality is outstanding and its tasteful mix of metal and plastics outclasses the Kindle while weighing less (215g). The 6in display is bright and sharp and, surprisingly for a touchscreen e-ink device, the screen is extremely responsive. Battery life is also excellent, lasting up to 10,000 page turns, and book selection is wide thanks to ePUB format support. For those who want to keep the touchscreen clean, a stylus is neatly fitted into the casing.

Cons

Price is the barrier here. Sony may have built a flashier eBook reader than the Kindle, but it is virtually twice the price. Worse still, it comes without both WiFi and 3G, meaning eBooks must be loaded by linking to a computer. The 2GB of native storage is also half that of the Kindle, though it does have an SD Card expansion slot.

http://sony.com

Mobile Broadband : Could it make cabled broadband redundant ?

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:27:00 PST

If you use a laptop, you may already have experienced mobile broadband. This uses a USB dongle to connect to the internet over the 3G network using a system known as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). This system has a theoretical connection speed of 7.2Mb, but unless you are extremely close to a mobile phone mast, you are more likely to see 1.5-2Mb. Mobile phone company 3 has been quietly upgrading its network to the super-charged HSPA+ system, increasing the top speed to 21 Mb, and this should be complete across the country by the end of 2011. 02 is following suit. They will offer speeds better than most existing broadband connections, without the need for a landline, or a separate router.

Orange, Docomo, 02, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile and 3 all have contract and pay-as-you go plans with USB dongles. Because the connection is tied to the dongle, it's harder to share between several computers but there's nothing to stop you unplugging the dongle from your desktop computer and taking it with you to use on your laptop when you leave the house. Mobile broadband monthly plans start at around 10$ but with that, the download limit is typically quite low. Most include just 3 gigabytes per month and costs rise steeply once you exceed this limit. If you opt for a pay-as-you-go plan, you can't exceed your budget and your connection will simply stop when your credit runs out.

A physical fiber-optic network will always offer higher theoretical speeds but it is much more expensive to roll out to remote locations. A combination of mobile broadband in rural areas and public Wi-Fi in towns could break our reliance on wired connections altogether, in the same way that the mobile phone is increasingly replacing the fixed landline.

4G : The next step for mobile communications

As fast as HSPA+ is, it's simply a stop-gap technology until the next generation of ultra-fast mobile networks, known as 4G, is implemented. These will offer speeds of up to 10OMb on a laptop dongle. That's amazing, but the 4G standard also specifies an even faster mode that will give ten times that speed to computers that don't need to be mobile. In a few years, your desktop PC could be using a mobile broadband connection at speeds of 1000Mb. 4G communications could also replace existing Wi-Fi networks by turning each house into its own private mobile phone base station.

South Newquay in Cornwall is piloting a 4G network from September to December this year and the mobile phone companies will bid for rights to the radio spectrum early next year. 4G should roll out across the whole country during 2014.

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE : Good USB 3.0 option

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:40:00 PST

I have loads of data on my computer and since i keep tweaking my MacBook. I have a risk of losing my data. So, I got one 1 TB external hard drive - Western Digital My Passport Essential SE from Malaysia. I have a wonderful experience with the drive since more than a year. Let's discuss about it in the following post.

The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE is a USB 3.0 portable storage, it has a 2.5in hard drive inside. This is the second generation of this series and is available in several capacities.

The drive comes bundled with a 48 cm long USB 3.0 cable and is reverse compatible with USB 2.0 ports. My tests show the performance is 2 to 3 times faster when using USB 3.0 instead of USB 2.0 ports. While transferring a 4.5GB HD video file, I achieved a speed of 85MB/s when using USB 3.0 instead of 35MB/s achieved by a USB 2.0 port. A synthetic benchmarking tool too gave a result of 90MB/s.

Western Digital bundles a software package, Smart Ware, which can manage data backups automatically from your PC to the external hard drive. You can also set filters on file types like documents, messages, videos, music, images. The feature is interesting and easy to use, but unfortunately not quite complete or customized to suit everybody's requirements.

Bottom Line : Good performance, slightly expensive

How will we Watch TV in the Future

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:05:00 PST

I look forward to the day when the internet is king of the television

I've never seen the last series of Frasier. I loved that show, and made sure I was in every Friday night at 10 to watch it on Channel 4. But then, inexplicably, it was moved to something like 11.30 on a Thursday. So I have no idea whether my favorite radio psychiatrist falls in love, moves on, or disappears into himself, at the end of the last episode.

Maybe that's why I'm a huge fan of Internet TV - when the net is used to deliver all our entertainment, we can watch whatever we want, whenever we want it. We won't be slaves to the channels' scheduling, and they won't need to try and juggle their shows to maximize some audiences, while sacrificing others. On-demand TV is the future.

The choice of content will be overwhelming, and so although we will be able to watch any of thousands of TV series past and present, and millions of user-generated videos from sites like YouTube, we'll stay in control by creating our own channels, or playlists. They'll contain our favourite shows, plus other stuff the TV thinks we might like, based on our viewing history. There are already hints as to what future TV may look like.

After all, anyone who has been series-linking programmes using Sky+ has been creating their own little on-demand channel for a while. And if you want the most futuristic experience right now, the Xbox 360 and PS3 are both on-demand entertainment hubs with a great range of streaming TV and movies. Tag on the Xbox Kinect, and you get to control your TV just by talking to it.

South Korea has possibly the most advanced internet TV service in the world. Speeds in excess of 100Mbps give viewers 120 channels, including HD and 3D, plus on-demand and interactive services like homework study videos, karaoke apps, news and weather and a bizarre form of in-programme shopping, where you can download a soundtrack, order the food being cooked, or buy the shirt the actor is wearing, while you're watching.

Opening up TV to the raw, untamed web is not such a brilliant idea. It'd be difficult to navigate and impossible to find the good stuff, so we're sure to see a lot of competition to build the best semi-walled-garden experience, and get it onto as many TVs as possible. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Sony are just some of the platforms already up and running.

And here there's danger for the existing broadcasters. As these new platforms replace TV channels, they'll steal all the advertising revenue too. Will ITV, Channels 4 and 5 and even the BBC be reduced to production companies, earning their keep by selling programmes to the platforms, or individually to us? They're trying to prevent this by teaming up to bring us their own platform, Youview. An exciting future beckons. Most of us will need much faster broadband first. But as long as the government delivers on that promise, TV will change forever. And I may get to find out what happened to Frasier.

Which Doctor ? Take Advantage of the Wide Range of Health and Medical Advice on the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:25:58 PST

The web is teeming with health advice and a growing number of us now look for information online instead of dusting down the family health guide or going to our GP. There's even a term -cyberchondriac - for people who frequently look-up their symptoms online. The ease and speed of accessing information means that health websites are hugely popular but which ones are trustworthy and how can you tell if the advice is objective?

There are plenty of excellent health resources online and it pays to discover them. Studies show that people who ask questions get the best possible treatment and most doctors welcome well-informed and proactive patients.

Whether you need the facts on a condition, want tips on healthy living or are just curious about an aspect of your health, we will show you how to get to the good stuff.

It's easy to see why more of us are turning to the web for medical advice. There's the convenience and immediacy of getting answers online, doing away with the wait for a doctor's appointment. Many people struggle to find the time to go to their GP's surgery, especially those with busy work schedules.

Some ailments seem too small to bother your doctor with. You may decide that a funny looking pimple or a dose of athlete's foot isn't worth a consultation so it's straight to the computer instead.
Anonymity is another factor that draws people to health sites. If you've got an embarrassing health problem it may seem easier to research it using the privacy of the web rather than discussing it with your family doctor. There are whole sites dedicated to embarrassing subjects, covering everything from incontinence to dandruff. Delicate topics such as sexual and mental health still carry a stigma for some people, who would much prefer to seek advice from the safety of their own home.

Even those who have consulted their GP often want to gather more information from the web. As most appointments are only 10 minutes it's understandable that patients follow up with their own research.

The pitfalls of medical advice on the web

The net is increasingly being used to get a second opinion or, more worryingly, a sole opinion. This is dangerous because health advice can sound authoritative, even when it's wrong. For people without a medical background it's difficult to judge the accuracy of information. Self diagnosis and subsequent treatment is particularly risky. Despite organizations such as the British Medical Association warning of the dangers, almost four out of 10 people have diagnosed themselves after consulting a website.

False conclusions can lead to the wrong medication or treatment and the real cause of the symptoms being left untreated. If it's something serious the consequences could be dire, so never use the internet as a substitute for seeing a doctor.

A recent study showed the perils of researching a child's medical problems on the net. Researchers from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust found that only around 200 of 500 sites offered correct information when they searched Google for advice on five common child health issues. The quality of advice varied significantly and only Government-run sites were completely reliable. The harshest criticism was aimed at the prominently placed sponsored links on the page, which often were only loosely related to the search terms and could be misleading.

Online adverts have come in for criticism before. In a report in the British Medical Journal last year, doctors warned that some contained worrying medical claims and inappropriate advertisements. Even sites not sponsored by advertisers included potentially damaging claims according to the report.

Who can I trust?

You'll find the most accurate and up-to-date advice and information on Government sites such as NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) and NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk). NHS Choices is one of the most popular health websites in the UK and offers a comprehensive range of useful information in plain English, covering 800 treatments and conditions in its Health A to Z section. It allows you to pick from an alphabetical index or browse through a range of topics, such as pregnancy or vaccinations. One of the most impressive aspects of the site is its extensive selection of videos where doctors, consultants and other medical professionals talk you through a particular condition or procedure while patients give an insight into living with that condition and describe their treatment.

Type in your postcode on the home page to find full details of all the services in your area, including GPs, hospitals, dentists, walk-in centers (where you don't need an appointment) and pharmacies. You can even compare the quality of various hospitals, read other patients' comments on GP surgeries and hospitals and leave your own feedback.

If you're interested or worried by a health story you've seen in the news the 'Behind the Headlines' section looks at the science behind it and cuts through the scaremongering to get to the facts.

NHS Choices also has detailed information on what to do if you've been unhappy about an experience with the NHS, what your rights are and who can help you. The Patient Advice and Liaison Service site (www.pals.nhs.uk) is a good place to start if you're dissatisfied with a healthcare professional or service.

If you want to look further than the NHS there are plenty of trustworthy websites that aren't run by the Government. Private healthcare company Bupa (www.bupa.co.uk) provides excellent health fact-sheets that are approved by relevant medical experts and split into easily digestible sections. Many of the fact-sheets include anatomical pictures and animations to demonstrate a condition or treatment. The site is particularly good regarding information on operations and other procedures, describing exactly what happens as well as making the risks clear, listing recovery times and alternatives to consider.

Although you should be wary of the sponsored links that pop up through search engines, don't dismiss every site that is funded through advertising as some of them provide useful, impartial advice. Net Doctor (www.netdoctor.co.uk) and Patient UK (www.patient. co.uk) are good examples of this. Net Doctor is an accessible, all-round site written by health experts and features an encyclopaedia split into helpful sections such as conditions, medicines, procedures and support groups. Topical articles appropriate to the time of year appear on the home page and fact-sheets give you advice on topics such as how to get the most out of a doctor's appointment or home visits and out-of-hours care.

Patient UK is a favourite with doctors and was launched by a husband and wife team, who are both GPs. Information leaflets give detailed guidance on every possible health condition. It's possible you have seen one before as they are the same ones printed out by many GPs for patients during a consultation. They feature a 'Top 15' most-requested leaflets section while diagrams and photos help bring the topics to life. All include details of support groups or associations for further advice.

A large team of medics provides the content and the site insists on editorial being unbiased and completely free from commercial interest. It is a great resource for anyone looking to find out the benefits and side effects of prescription and over-the-counter medicines on the web. It also has a useful section for finding qualified and registered non-NHS practitioners in areas such as osteopathy, acupuncture and psychotherapy so you don't end-up seeing a charlatan whose website you've stumbled across. One of the best reasons to visit Patient UK is its directory of more than a thousand pages of health information across a range of UK websites, all selected by doctors. There's a video directory and a popular patient experience forum too.

For serious or long-term health problems a great place for more help and advice beyond your doctors is a recognized and registered charity for your condition. Well-known charities such as the British Heart Foundation (www.bhf.org.uk), Cancer Research UK {yvww.cancerresearchuk.org) and Diabetes UK (www.diabetes.org.uk) will invariably have extensive information on the web including the latest news about cutting-edge treatments and results from clinical trials and research. Most charities will also have details of where you can get more help such as a support group or helpline. For anything related to mental health the Mental Health Foundation (www.mentalhealth.org.uk) or Mind (www.mind.org.uk) have good websites covering all aspects or you could visit a charity such as Depression Alliance (www. depressionalliance. org).

Prevention is better than cure

You don't have to be ill to benefit from health advice on the net. Many sites include extensive information on healthy living to help you ward off any problems in the first place.
NHS Choices is a good place to start but the BBC also has a health site (www.bbc.co.uk/health), which includes plenty of tips on nutrition, fitness and lifestyle. It includes sections on the different issues affecting men, women and people over 50 as well as looking at weight and how to diet sensibly if you're a little heavier than you should be.

You can find the right exercise for you using the guide to activities from running to badminton, or work out your body mass index with the calculator tool. Diabetes UK also has a tool where you can determine your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is influenced by factors including being overweight.

The Government-run Food Standards Agency (www.eatwell.gov.uk) is a goldmine of information on healthy eating, with advice on how to get all the vitamins and minerals you need, what to avoid during pregnancy, understanding food labels in supermarkets and guidance for specific age groups.

For help with giving up smoking try Quit (www.quit. org.uk) or find local stop-smoking services by putting your postcode into the NHS Choices website.

The golden rules

To avoid information that is at best patchy and confusing and at worst totally misleading or dangerous stick to well-known sites where the content is written by impartial experts. Patient forums are great for sharing personal experiences and finding emotional support but don't rely on them for accurate or unbiased advice. Sites with obvious commercial agendas or those promoting miracle cures should be given a very wide berth.

There's a great deal of valuable health information on the web as long as you know where to look. The good sites allow you to be well informed, and therefore more in control of your own health.

10 Typing Tips for iPad Power Users

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:10:02 PST

You don't need to have used an iPad since the First one hit world retail shelves back in June 2010 to impress others with your tablet savvy. Master the skills outlined below, and you'll have everyone convinced that you're an iPad savant, even if you didn't try one until the iPad 2 arrived this spring.

1. Put your iPad's punctuation keys to work

Typing on an iPad isn't always as convenient as using a real keyboard, especially when you want to access frequently used punctuation that isn't even available on the virtual keyboard's main screen. Thankfully, this little-known trick can help.

Quickly swiping upon the comma key will insert an apostrophe; while swiping up on the full stop inserts a quotation mark. That's one quick swipe on the specific punctuation key, and not the more traditional method of a tap on the '.?123' key, followed by a second tap on the specific punctuation mark you're after.

2. Using virtual keys

Other virtual keys have special features, too. Press and hold down a vowel, for example, and a popup window containing accented versions of the selected character will appear. Consonants such as C, Sand N also offer accented alternatives when you tap and hold on their virtual keys. Similarly, holding down punctuation marks can provide extra options. The '-' key offers an em dash and bullet point. The '£' sign also hides symbols for numerous currencies.

3. Use common shortcuts

When you connect your iPad to a standard keyboard, you can use some of the same shortcuts you've mastered on your Mac.

Text-editing key combinations - such as Cmd-C, Cmd-X, and Cmd-V for copy, cut, and paste, respectively - all work, as does selecting text with Cmd-Shift plus the arrow keys.

Other key combinations that work include Undo and Redo (Cmd-Z and Shift-Cmd-Z respectively), and cursor shortcuts such as Control-A, Control-E and Control-K.

4. Trust auto-correction

If you're slow at typing, then you probably make Frequent use of the backspace key. The easiest way to become a virtual typing pro is to use the iPad's auto-correct ion algorithm. We've trusted the iOS to fix typos in the past, so that when we type 'Dippieedl' the iPad recognizes we're after 'Supposedly'. Fix Fewer typos and your iPad typing speed will improve.

5. Avoid application exits

We've all been there-you've noticed something you'd like to checkout more closely in an app at the exact moment you press the Home button. Instead of letting the app close, then finding its icon and waiting while it relaunches, you can tell your iPad to abort your now-unwanted Home button press. If you hold down the Home button a Few seconds longer, your iPad will stop closing the current app and carry on as before.

6. Close background apps

Ever since iOS 4 introduced multitasking, some of your apps can run in the background, even after you've closed them. Generally that's Fine; the iPad does a great job of closing apps when it's forced to by memory limits. Some apps. however- particularly ones that use GPS or VoIP - can eat up quite a bit of memory and battery life if they remain open when you no longer need them.

To ensure these apps don't tan your battery, you can Force them to quit. To do this, double-tap the Home button to bring up the multitasking bar, then press and hold on anyone app until all the apps start to jiggle. In the multitasking bar, tap the red circle on each running app you'd like to quit. The selected apps will now close. Freeing up more memory.

7. Find the iPad's music controls

With the introduction of the multitasking bar. Apple made finding music playback controls a little bit trickier. After you double-tap the Home button, swipe the whole multitasking bar towards the right. Doing so will reveal several useful controls, shown at the top of the page- these are playback buttons (Reverse, Play/Pause, and Skip), along with individual sliders tot brightness and volume.

8. Search smarter

If you don't ever search For content within the iPad's calendar, audiobooks or podcasts. you can remove these from your Spotlight search results. You can also rearrange the orders in which Spotlight presents its search results.

Launch the Settings app, tap on General and then on Spotlight Search. Uncheck the categories you don't want to search, and then tap and drag on the right-aligned handles to adjust the sort order.

9. Fill your dock

Brand new iPads Feature Four apps in the Dock, and because of that, many of us don't think to add any more. The Dock can, however, hold six. To keep your most frequently accessed apps in the Dock, you'll need to move them there.

To do so, simply press and hold to jiggle, and then drag the one you'd like to move right into the Dock, where it will stay.

10. Launch apps quickly

If you've got a lot of apps on your iPad - so many that it's hard to distinguish one home screen from another-turn Spotlight in to a virtual app launcher. Tap the Home button to get to your first home screen, and then either tap it again or swipe to reveal Spotlight. Start typing the First few letters of the app's name, and then tap on the appropriate result to launch the app instantly. Spotlight will put your most frequently used apps at the top of its matching results.

Thunderbolt Display Makes Its Mark

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:52:22 PST

Apple's 27-inch Thunderbolt Display may just be the cleverest display ever. It's ideal for owners of the 2011 MacBook Air.

The Thunderbolt Display looks like the 27-inch LED Cinema Display released last year. Like its predecessor, the Thunderbolt Display has three USB 2.0 ports, but what's new is the addition of a Fire Wire 800 port, a gigabit Ethernet port, and (of course) a Thunderbolt port.

The display has a permanently attached cable, which splits into two connectors: a MagSafe adapter for charging laptops, and a Thunderbolt cable that feeds the video into the display and also provides all the connectivity between your Mac and external devices. For example, you can connect a FireWire 800 hard drive to the Thunderbolt Display, and that hard drive is then connected to your Mac via Thunderbolt. Ethernet and USB devices work similarly. Your devices won't perform any faster, however—although Thunder-horizontal viewing angles, a built-in mic, and a 49-watt speaker system—features found on the LED Cinema Display. The built-in camera has been updated from an iSight to a FaceTime HD device.

The Thunderbolt Display requires OS X 10.6.8 or later and a Thunderbolt-there are many different light sources can be problematic.

The Thunderbolt Display, like the LED Cinema Display, offers adjustments only in the Displays preference pane, which has a dated, squint-at-the-screen manual calibration process. You can also change the brightness, gamma, and target color temperature in Displays.

Making Connections

Systems with integrated graphics, such as the MacBook Air and the $599 Mac mini, can support two displays. The Air's built-in screen counts, so you can use it with one external Thunderbolt display.

Macs with discrete graphics can use three displays. If you have a Thunderbolt Display, you can connect a second Thunderbolt Display to it. You can't connect an LED Cinema Display to the Thunderbolt port of the Thunderbolt Display, but in our testing, when we attached Promise Technology's Pegasus R6 Thunderbolt RAID ($1,999; www.promise.com), we could connect an LED Cinema Display (which uses the Mini Display Port) to the Pegasus R6's second Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt Display makes the MacBook Air a more compelling choice for a computer. The display brings some seriously fast I/O connections to Apple's smallest laptop. Previously, connecting a MacBook Air to a wired LAN required an optional USB-to-Ethernet connector, and external drives were limited to poky USB 2.0 transfer speeds. Now, MacBook Air users can use gigabit ethernet and FireWire 800 devices through the Thunderbolt Display.

Image Quality

We used a ColorMunki Photo display calibrator to calibrate the Thunderbolt Display. For comparison, we also looked at the 27-inch iMac, the 27-inch LED Cinema Display, and an HP ZR30W monitor. The displays were set to a D65 (6500K color temperature) white point, a 2.2 gamma, and 100 cd/ m2 brightness. As expected, the Thunderbolt Display looked just like the LED Cinema Display. We didn't find any dead or stuck pixels, or light leakage from the edges. Uniformity across the screen was not a problem.

The wide viewing angle means that when sharing the screen, people next to you are seeing the same thing you are, colorwise. There is very little loss of contrast as you move left to right or up and down from the center. Grays were neutral after calibration, and the glossy screen helps photos look richer but not overblown, with deep blacks.

ThePirado's Buying Advice

For owners of the 2011 MacBook Air, the Thunderbolt Display is a fantastic way to get connectivity features while walking away with one of the lightest laptops available. If your Mac has Thunderbolt, FireWire 800, and gigabit Ethernet, the case for buying the comparatively inflexible Thunderbolt Display is a little less convincing.

$999; Apple, www.apple.com

Google And HTC Gear Up for War with iPhone 5

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:14:18 PST

The next iPhone is on the horizon and two of Apple's main competitors, Google and HTC, have been preparing for its arrival by splashing the cash, investing in high-end hardware, a catalog of patents and the audio expertise and reflected cool of Dr Dre. Can all this offer them a killer edge in the war against Apple?

Google buys Motorola & HTC buys a stake in Beats

The deal

Google has snapped up Motorola Mobility -the part of the business that makes handsets - for £7.66 billion, acquiring 17,000 unused patents in the process.

HTC has forked out a relatively paltry £181.5 million for a 51 per cent share of Beats Electronics. As part of the deal, HTC handsets will benefit from Beats by Dr Dre's "dope" audio.

What it means for :

Google

Google's senior vice president of mobile, Andy Rubin, reassured Android fans that, "Our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform." Motorola's Droid has been one of the biggest-selling platforms for Android, at least in the US, while the Atrix was truly innovative. Moto's vast catalogue of patents should also prove handy for future R&D and as ammo in the endless Tech Copyright Wars™.

HTC

"This represents a critical step in our continued mission to clean up the destruction of audio caused by the digital revolution," says "opinionated", legendary producer Jimmy lovine, chairman of Beats by Dre. HTC will hope the deal helps its handsets go up against the iPhone in the MP3-playing stakes. It also further positions the Korean brand as cool and "street", as opposed to Apple's icy, corporate hauteur. But is premo audio quality really a killer USP in a phone?

What it means for Apple

Google

Increased competition from improved Android hardware. Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson et al probably aren't overjoyed that Google is now in direct competition with them, but it seems too late for any of them to ditch Android now, so they'll just have to up their games... again.

HTC

Apple's title as the go-to brand for portable music is unlikely to be troubled - the iTunes ecosystem still boasts the foremost music store, and the best music management software, even if it is a tad bloaty.

iPhone 5 Rumours : Updated

Assuming the rumours which suggest a late September arrival are spot on, and we're going to take a punt and guess they are, some of you may be packing toothpaste and a flask of coffee for a long wait outside the nearest Apple Store as you read this.

As we go to print, however, we are still wallowing in the realm of speculation, with a faster processor, 1080p video capture and some Apple-centric variant on NFC among the most likely additions.

Release options seem to include either an iPhone 5 and a cheaper, 8GB, slightly tweaked iPhone 4 - as usually happens with new iPhone releases - and/or, just maybe, a much cheaper, PAYG iPhone...

Buy Mobile Phones from : http://www.mobilephones.org.uk/

The 10 Worst Ever Revamps

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:22:28 PDT

1. Robocop 3

When Peter Weller's gunned-down cop was turned into the world's most techy police enforcer, we cheered his gore-laden, 18-rated revenge. Six years later, everyone's favorite cyber-avenger was reincarnated as babysitter to a load of street urchins as film-makers whiffed the family-film dollar. Less "20 seconds to comply", more "20 minutes till bedtime, don't forget to brush your teeth". The less said about the bit where he flies the better...

2. Nintendo 3DS

Take one ridiculously successful handheld gaming console -150 million units sold - add a dash of 3D, the Marmite of the tech world, and hey presto: the most disappointing sales since Ringo's solo albums. At least Amazon isn't considering taking those off its virtual shelves.

3. New Coke

In 1985, Coca-Cola Company CEO Roberto Goizueta, previously one of the company's flavor chemists, launched "New Coke", proclaiming it smoother, rounder and bolder. In reality, it had just been made even sweeter by lab boffins. Coke received more than 400,000 complaints and a psychiatrist was hired to field calls from a devastated public. Three months later, old Coke was back. While there's a school of thought that this was a genius marketing ploy, we favor the cock-up theory.

4. Symbian Anna

The Symbian horse has a badly broken leg. Everyone knows that it's about to be taken around the back of the stable to be put out of its misery. It will be a sad end to a life of clunky performances, frequently changing jockeys and guilt at having nearly lost its owners the farm. But, while Symbian still breathes, and as Windows Phone 7 is busy loading the barrels, let's dress it up with some slightly rounder icons and start calling it a girl's name, shall we? Let it live its last moments as mutton dressed as OS lamb.

5. Myspace

The most popular social networking site from 2006 to 2008, Myspace was worth $12 billion in 2007. Then Facebook came along and that was the end of that - profits plummeted, staff were offed. The radical, company-salvaging solution? Change the word "space" in the logo to an actual space. Like when Gazza wanted to be called G8, but without the chance of even sympathy-vote usage.

6. Sonic The Hedgehog

The Sonic of the 90s was a hardcore, destroy-everything-in-its-path badass of a mammal who you wouldn't wish to ruck with. Fast forward to the present day and you find a rather more sedate Mr Hedgehog often being outpaced in Olympic events by fat Italian workmen. At one point he even rides a horse. A horse! A hedgehog on a horse?! What next, a plumber riding a dinosaur? Oh...

7. Digg

The democratic social news-sharing website had something of a revamp on August 25 last year. It removed numerous features that people actually quite liked and was accused of favoring stories from big, nasty corporate news sites rather than the little guys. August 30 became Quit Digg Day and CEO Kevin Rose's resignation was accepted earlier this year.

8. Most bands that go electro

U2 circa Pop; The Killers asking whether we are human or, in fact, er, dancer; Robbie Williams pratting about during his Rudebox disaster; the arthritic drum & bass stylings of David Bowie's 1997 Earthling album... Do us a favour, boys: leave the synths alone.

9. Sky TV's EPG

Where's the music gone? Why can the screen only manage to squeeze in a few channel listings at a time? Why does the little telly in the corner of the listings always manage to reveal who won the Grand Prix? But what makes us most sad about it all? No Christmas music from October till February. Boo.

10. Every Facebook tweak ever

Or so it would seem. Every so often the social networking empire pushes through a tiny update and, on cue, Facebookers start petitions en masse, as if Zuckerberg and co will just bow to public opinion and change it all back. A day later nobody has any clue what the "old Facebook"looked like, as they punch in status updates like massive goldfish.

10 Ways to Get More From Your Webcam

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:39:06 PST

Most people have one, but few know how useful it can be. We show you how to get more from your PC'

s webcam

1. High-Def Glory
High-definition cameras have been around for a while, but until now there was very little point in having one. With the rise of HD video chat services such as Skype HD, though, and processors that are fast enough now to handle high quality footage, you can start to reap the benefits, such as clear life-like chats with friends on the other side of the world or even posting your high-def videos online. Look for a webcam capable of recording in 720p high definition, such as the Microsoft HD-5000.

Top Quality : An HD webcam adds depth to video chat

2. Chat Like Never Before

Skype (which is free to download from www.skype.com) has now upgraded its service, so you can chat with friends and family across the world in glorious high-definition. To do this you need a broadband connection, and an HD capable webcam - there's a superb selection sold through the Skype website.

Super Skype : You can talk face-to-face with friends and family for free with the Skype service

3. Connect with Friends or Family

If you're a Windows Live user, you don't have to switch to Skype to enjoy chatting via webcam. Windows Live Messenger has a fantastic video chat feature, which enables you to catch up in the familiar surroundings of the most popular instant messenger in the world. If that wasn't enough, you can play games while you chat, making for a much richer experience. You can sign up to Windows Live by visiting https://signup.live.com.

Live Chat : Windows Live Messenger offers another superb way to keep in touch with your webcam

4. Power Up Facebook

Unlike Windows Live Messenger and Skype, you won't need to use a third-party app, which means you can use it to stay in touch when using internet cafes abroad, and even on tablets. With Facebook verging on ubiquity, video chat is an essential addition and a great upgrade. See www.facebook.com/videocalling for more details.

5. Hangout on Google+

One of the new features of Google+ (https://plus.google.com) is the ability to web chat as a group, which is a great way to stay in touch. Unlike Facebook, Google+ tends to be used in a more professional capacity, and this feature, dubbed Hangout, is good for discussing ideas. Google+ is similar to Facebook, but works around the idea of circles, which means you don't have to mix family, friends and colleagues. You can start a Hangout with any of your circles, and see everyone at once.

6. Show your Best SideTaking a few simple steps can improve webcam video no end. Firstly, make sure you have the right lighting. Many people don't light the room adequately, so use a soft light from above, and have a light shining on your face, out of sight of the camera. It can just be a desk lamp, but it will eliminate shadows and help keep you clear and bright on screen. While video quality of webcams has improved, movement is shoddy, so try not to move about much. Finally, turn off other bandwidth sapping programs, to make sure the stream is smooth.

Bad Show : Poor quality can make webcam chat painful

7. Be a TV Presenter
You don't just have to use your webcam to stay in touch with friends - you can broadcast to the entire world! Sign up to Justin.tv (www.justin.tv) and start your own broadcast, all from your PC. You can do anything from boring the world with your thoughts on the shortcomings of the justice system to presenting your own mini TV show. There's also a smartphone app, which means you can take your show anywhere with a 3G connection. Use Twitter and Facebook to promote it, and you might be a hit

Video Stars : Create your own TV show with your webcam

8. Become a YouTube Superstar
If you get bored fooling around on Justin.tv, why not start a show on YouTube? Loads of people have made it big on the site by showcasing their talents. One great example is Charlie McDonnell, whose video blog has over one million subscribers. Recent figures showed his YouTube channel gaining over 4,000 new subscribers daily. YouTube also offers a revenue share for content creators, which can rack up to a healthy amount if your videos are popular.

9. Turn Your Webcam into a CCTV SystemIf internet fame isn't your cup of tea, put your webcam to use as a security camera. There's been a host of cases where home-made security systems have caught burglars in the act, and it's free to set up. Get GotoCamera from www.gotocamera.com and hook up your webcam to your PC. Prime the software and it uses a built-in motion sensor to capture movement in your home. If you're not worried about crime, use it to keep an eye on your pets, and check they don't get up to mischief while you're out.

10. Add Fun to your Chats
Web chatting is a great way to stay in contact, but it can also be a fun way to keep kids entertained. Small children love playing with special effects, so giving them your webcam to play with will keep them quiet for a while. There's a free special effects toy at http://neave.com/webcam that uses your PC's webcam, and enables you to cycle though silly effects, and even take stills. If you have a Logitech QuickCam, you can use the built-in special effects while chatting with friends.

Skype (which is free to download from www.skype.com) has now upgraded its service, so you can chat with friends and family across the world in glorious high-definition. To do this you need a cheap broadband connection, and an HD capable webcam - there's a superb selection sold through the Skype website.

Ultimate Guide to Tablets

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:25:41 PDT

They're all the rage and are here to stay, but what exactly are tablet computers, what can they do and which one should you buy? Read our post to find out what all the fuss is about

The basic definition of a tablet PC is a portable computer that uses a touch-sensitive screen, rather than a traditional QWERTY keyboard and mouse, as the primary means by which the user inputs information, browses the internet or controls games, software and other applications on the device.

Indeed, the booming markets for cheap netbooks and smartphones have contributed to the emergence of the new market for affordable tablets. They are in many ways the next stage in the evolution of portable computers, building on the developments made by netbook and mobile phone manufacturers in creating ever more portable processors, flash-based storage, smaller, increasingly powerful batteries and improved wireless and mobile connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or 3G networks.

Tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Apple iPad use the latest versions of the ARM processor, which was previously only used in smartphones. This is now capable of powering a portable computer designed for browsing the internet, viewing photos and video or playing casual games.

While the netbook is sometimes described as little more than a smaller, cheaper and lower-powered version of a conventional laptop, the tablet computer gives increased value beyond promise users enhanced portability (by being far lighter and easier to carry, having jettisoned the keyboard altogether), as well as an entirely new way of interacting with work, web and entertainment apps.

For many computer users, particularly younger children and those who are not able to touch-type, touchscreen control that allows you to input using fingers on a screen, as opposed to controlling a cursor with a mouse or touchpad, is far more intuitive. The obvious educational value of tablet computers, both at home and within the classroom, is certain to drive forward this new technology in the coming years. And for those that do want to type using every finger, each new tablet PC operating system comes with a built-in 'virtual' QWERTY keyboard for knocking out the occasional email, word processor document or instant message to friends and family.

What can a tablet do for you?

A tablet computer is a superb device for those that want a portable machine to surf the web, enjoy music and movies, or just check and update their Facebook profiles. Basically, it's far easier to slouch on the couch with a tablet on your lap than it is to have a netbook or laptop precariously balanced on your knees. But what else can you do with a tablet that you might not want, or be able, to do with a netbook?

The emergence of new operating systems (OS) such as Apple's iOS and Google's latest tablet version of its Android OS (nicknamed Honeycomb) and their accompanying online app stores means there are lucrative new markets opening up for games and application developers to create ever better entertainment, media and productivity software.

Traditional 'old media' content producers, such as magazine and newspaper publishers, have also been quick to get in on the act. You can now get digital subscriptions to tablet-friendly versions of your daily newspaper or favorite magazine, providing you with a new way of keeping abreast of the news. These are all designed to be more appealing and offer more interactivity to the user than accessing a bog-standard website. All of this means that a touchscreen tablet is ideal for consuming information or multimedia content.

Added to this, the shift in the computing industry to what is often referred to as 'cloud computing' - whereby users store their data online instead of on a local hard drive, and access music, movies, TV and other multimedia content by streaming them from the internet- has also been an important reason why tablets are becoming increasingly popular. While the on-board storage of your touchscreen slate tablet might not match your desktop or laptop's capacious hard drive, the fact that you can watch TV shows and movies using services such as the BBC's iPlayer and Channel 4's 40D, or listen to music via music-streaming software such as Spotify, means that you are far less reliant on storing your favourite shows or songs on your own machine. What's more, there are apps for all these brilliant services, so you can use them in a manner that's intuitive, relaxing and comfortable.

Six ways that a tablet can improve your life

GREAT MOVIES & TV
With their portable designs and vibrant screens, tablets are ideal for watching films or TV shows. With most tablets packing a camera, you can also record and edit your own home movies and then connect to your HDTV to share the results with friends and family.

CHAT WITH FRIENDS
If you're looking to stay in touch with friends and family around the world, it might be time to ditch the phone and get a tablet instead. With apps such as Skype and Apple FaceTime, you can make video calls to anywhere in the world, often completely free.

AMAZING APPS
Perhaps the most fun feature of tablets is their ability to be enhanced by high-quality applications - often free. Whether you want your tablet to function as an HDTV, a home recording studio or a games console, you can be sure there will be an app to do it.

PLAY THE LATEST GAMES
Forget the Nintendo 3DS, the biggest name in handheld gaming is the tablet, home to the next generation of hit games. While tablets' low-powered graphics can't beat gaming laptops, their portability and unique interface makes them great gaming systems.

BOOKS & NEWSPAPERS
With their handheld design, gorgeous screens and intuitive interface, tablets are perfect for flicking through books and newspapers. Thanks to packed online bookstores, bestsellers are always close to hand and you can download them wherever you may be.

PHOTOS & MEMORIES
Thanks to their stunning screens, tablets are perfect for viewing your photos. And with most sporting a camera, you can even use them to snap and edit pictures on the go. Using multi-touch gestures, you can zoom in and out and spin pictures around for a better look.

Can a tablet replace a laptop?

If you are looking to replace your netbook or laptop and are considering buying a tablet, then you really need to consider what you are going to use it for. If, for example, you are going to need the machine for work purposes, then a tablet is probably not the right machine for you.

This particularly applies if you are looking for a single machine on which you can easily perform a wide range of work functions, such as writing text-heavy documents or compiling complex spreadsheets, while also using it for your personal entertainment and web use at home and on the move.

With no dedicated physical keyboard, you are likely to find that using a tablet's onscreen keyboard to type up long documents is far too fiddly and not at all conducive to long-term work.

If, however, you are looking for a second portable computer to use alongside your main machine and want to use it mostly to consume information and surf the internet, while listening to music or idly checking out what's popular on YouTube this week, then it's really worth considering investing in a tablet as opposed to a slightly more cumbersome netbook or low-end laptop.

The comfortable touch interface, large screen and easy usability make tablets accessible to the youngest or oldest of users and anyone can enjoy all that the internet has to offer, even if you have little or no experience of using a computer before.

While some users may miss the physicality of hitting keys while typing, many others don't seem to mind the lack of a keyboard. Plus, there are plenty of office-friendly apps being developed for the iPad, Android tablets and all other new slate PCs, which means that they are fine for occasional work use.

Basically, you need to decide which camp you are in before making your final buying decision. Are you going to value the lightness, interactivity and instant-on appeal of something like an Apple iPad or an Android tablet over the familiarity of a laptop's touchpad and keyboard to use your main applications and surf the internet? If so, then a tablet could be the ideal portable computer for you to buy.

Windows 7

Not one to miss out on the emergence of a new category of personal computer, Microsoft is busy developing tablet-friendly versions of its ubiquitous Windows OS. While several tablets are already available that use the existing Windows 7 operating system, there are also rumours that functionality can feel somewhat Microsoft is readying a tablet version of the forthcoming Windows 8 soon, in an attempt to compete with Apple's iPad and the many Android 3.0 tablets that are arriving on the market this year.

Microsoft Windows is already by far the dominant operating system, found on most of the world's desktop and laptop computers. It is clear that many users will greatly value the familiarity and connectivity of a Windows-based tablet, which will easily synchronise with their main home or office computer. The company is also making fast headway in the smartphone market, with its recently released Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system.

For now, Windows 7 already offers tablet users the option to ditch their mouse and keyboard, with Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions all offering touchscreen and multi-touch control support and handwriting recognition.

The main downside to choosing a tablet with Windows 7, however, is that the operating system wasn't designed strictly with tablets in mind. As a result, the touchscreen tacked on and you certainly get the sense that you're using an operating system that was designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard rather than with your hands. This is made even clearer when you compare it with tablets running iOS or Android and feel just how smooth and comfortably tablet-centric they both are in practice.

On the plus side, as Windows is the most used operating system in the world today, you'll find that the vast majority of software and hardware currently on sale is fully designed with Windows-based computers in mind. As such, anyone choosing to purchase a tablet running Windows can buy almost any computer-related product they come across, and be pretty much guaranteed that it will install and run with no problems at all on their tablet.

BlackBerry PlayBook

Designed for those users that want a tablet PC as a work tool as well as a casual entertainment, web-connected slate, Research In Motion (RIM) has released the BlackBerry PlayBook. It features RIM's own OS, honed to allow corporate users to squeeze the most from their tablet.

The BlackBerry PlayBook features a fairly nippy 1GHz dual-core processor, two built-in Full HD video cameras, HDMI output and Wi-Fi, as well as full support for Adobe Flash video and HTML 5. This is certainly one reason why many YouTube and internet video fans might prefer RIM's tablet OS to Apple's Flash-unfriendly iOS.

Whether or not BlackBerry's new 7-inch tablet can persuade consumers to switch may depend on how well the OS appeals to BlackBerry smartphone fans and waverers alike. For the corporate user or web addict, however, the mere fact that the PlayBook supports loads of web platforms and technologies may well be the factor that seals the deal.

HP web OS3.0

Tablets may well currently be dominated by iOS Ik and Android 3.0, but these are certainly not the only ones you can opt for.

Palm, recently bought out by HP, first introduced the webOS software back in January 2009. HP's new tablet version of webOS is set to compete with RIM's BlackBerry OS, more so than Android or Apple iOS, as it will appeal to the business user and those looking for a tablet device that can easily double-up as a work and entertainment machine. Users with Palm smartphones will no doubt be more inclined to invest in HP's TouchPad, as they will already be familiar with using webOS.

HP's new webOS will work seamlessly with a number of cloud-based services and will also sync with printers and other peripherals in your home or office. It's designed to be a workhorse with fast multi-tasking between a selection of productivity apps, as well as providing users with access to entertainment options.

Android 3.0

With a vast number of Android-based tablets unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Google's latest version of its mobile OS, (nicknamed Honeycomb) is set to give Apple's iOS a run for its money.

If you are already using a smartphone running Android, then it is likely that you will be keen to invest in an Android tablet, capitalizing on your familiarity with the OS, as well as being able to sync your mobile phone with ease.

Google has put considerable time and resources into ensuring its Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet OS is specifically designed for use on tablets. The new Motorola Xoom tablet is one of the first devices to appear on the market running Android 3.0. One of the main new additions is the arrival of the System Bar which sits at the bottom of the screen and is the user's primary way of navigating around the OS. There is also an application-specific Action Bar which appears at the top of the screen when an app is running.

Google has considerably improved the multi-tasking options available with Android 3.0, with
Honeycomb's Recent Apps feature giving you a list of thumbnails of currently active tasks to switch between easily. The company has also improved the on-screen keyboard, with larger keys and better copy and paste options. In addition to the Motorola Xoom, there will be numerous other Android 3.0 tablets to choose from, with many big name tablet manufacturers all planning to offer their own devices running the Honeycomb operating system as 2011 progresses.

Apple iOS

iOS was the first fully touch-focused OS to be released when Apple unveiled the original iPhone in 2007. Then with the release of the iPad at the start of last year, Apple not only brought the OS to a tablet, but kick-started the current tablet market in earnest.

The popularity of iOS for most users comes from how easy people find it to use. While Android comes in many flavors, the simple touch-based interface of iOS is almost identical, regardless of whether you use it on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Another benefit is Apple's excellent App Store, with thousands of apps all tested to meet Apple's strict quality standards. Even Android's growing Market app store cannot yet match the scope of Apple's offering. So if adding apps is something you're keen to do, then the iPad is arguably the best choice at present.

iOS is not without its flaws though. As with all Apple products, iPad users are tied into Apple's way of doing things and have little freedom to customise their tablet.

Discover How to Take Beautiful Autumn Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:44:03 PDT

This time of year is perfect for getting out and about with your digital camera and taking some stunning shots

The beautiful colors of autumn, combined with later sunrises and earlier sunsets, make the season a photographer's dream. Fantastic light means all manner of subjects are a treat.

Capture the changing seasons by heading to your local park, where you should find a palette of reds, yellows, oranges, greens and browns that will make your pictures sing. Be careful about your timing, though, because all it takes is one heavy storm for trees to be stripped bare. Make regular trips to ensure you catch the best colors.

With days getting shorter, it's easier to photograph sunrises and sunsets without getting up at an ungodly hour. It's also a great time of year to photograph moody, misty scenes, crisp mornings, dewdrops on grass and the first signs of frost.

Try to head out during the so-called golden hour, the hour or so before sunset, because the golden light, combined with gorgeous autumnal colors, will really bring your pictures to life.

landscapes, so you can keep shots steady and shake-free. It's also advisable to buy some gloves if you plan to spend a long time outside. Fingerless ones keep you warm while still freeing up your hands to use all the camera's buttons, while some companies, such as Lowepro, make dedicated photographer's gloves.

The soft, diffused light of autumn also makes it a great time to capture pictures of people. Take friends and family outside and photograph them, and if you have young children, try to capture them playing. Set your camera to take several frames per second and ask your portrait-sitter to throw a bunch of leaves in the air - this will ensure you have at least one good frame.

If you want to make photo alterations on your computer, try boosting the saturation to highlight autumn's lovely colors. Or for something completely different, convert to black and white for a classic look.

The Future of Hi-Fi

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:49:22 PDT

The way we find, store and listen to music has changed. It's time to upgrade to a next-generation sound system.

Until recently, the concept of listening to digital music stored on a hard disk drive or streamed from the internet was anathema to audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts. But now, through Naim's array of state-of-the-art systems, you can enjoy true high-fidelity sound and the choice and convenience that inspired the digital revolution.

Naim's state-of-the-art range includes high-end, upgradeable separates units as well as compact combined systems, ensuring there's a perfect solution for any home, large or small. Furthermore, they can easily be networked to form part of an exceptional-sounding multi-room system. This is simply the future of hi-fi.

High-End Separates

Naim's HDX and NDX prove that digital music really can exist in the audiophile domain. Taking control of all aspects of the digital music realm, these beautifully designed components have got ripping, storage, streaming and control covered. Just sit back, relax and browse your extensively cataloged music collection as your home listening experience is transformed - and you can even use them with Naim's intuitive apps.

Naim NDX : Stream superior quality audio

This versatile digital player allows you to access audio files from a wide variety of digital sources, including iTunes libraries and NAS drives via a wired or wireless UPnP connection, Apple devices via USB and internet radio stations through an existing internet connection. The NDX can also be controlled from Apple devices using the n-Stream app.

* Stream from music servers, NAS drives and PCs or MACs using Ethernet or WI-fi

* Compatible with high-resolution 24bit/96kHz streams and key file formats, including WMA, MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless(from iPod), WAV, FLAC, AIFF and Ogg Vorbis

* Onboard DAC with three independently selectable 24bit/192kHz-capable S/PDIF inputs

Ultimate Upgrades

If you want to experience and enjoy even greater performance from your digital audio system and gain access to further digital sources, Naim's carefully thought out upgrade path will take you there.

Naim HDX : The ultimate digital player

The HDX has a built-in CD drive and a hard disk drive, allowing it to rip, store, catalogue and play your music in superb quality. There's enough storage space for up to 1200 uncompressed albums, with full metadata support for track information, and the HDX will also scan for and then play music stored on devices on your network.

- 1TB hard drive, with Naim-designed ripping engine and Naim Extended Music Database.

- Playback of 24bit/192kHz files via front-panel USB

- An HDX-SSD variant is available for people who prefer to store their music solely on their network

- Control via the full-colour touchscreen display, remote, PC or MAC ot the n-Serve app

Naim DAC : An instant sonic boost

No matter whether your digital source is a PC or MAC, or an HDX, NDX or CD player, this superb DAC will sweeten its sound by eliminating annoying S/PDIF jitter and digital 'noise'. The DAC brings digital music to the audiophile realm.

- An ideal upgrade for HDX, NDX, S/PDIF-equipped CD players, Apple devices and more

- Eight 24bit/192kHz-capable S/PDIF inputs for device support and flexibility

- High-performance output stage

Naim Power Supplies : Purify your sound

Adding a separate power supply to your system will improve the timing, clarity and dynamic range of your music. The XPS (above) and 555 PS in particular are ideally matched to the HDX and NDX, as well as many other separate sources.

- Each power supply features a single large toroidal transformer

- Available with up to seven ultra-low noise outputs and power regulators

- Sleek, anti-vibration, resonance-controlling design

Google.com Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:17:23 PDT

Google has put rivalries aside to pay tribute to late Apple founder Steve Jobs on its homepage. Under the Google's search box, a message simply reads: “Steve Jobs, 1955-2011,” and directs to Apple’s homepage (which is a tribute to Steve).

Apple announced that Jobs had passed away on Wednesday. Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple back in August, writing at the time that, “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”

RIP Steve Jobs 1955-2011 : iMissYou !

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:45:53 PDT

Forget about the Macbook, iMac, and the iPod, and the iPhone, and the iPad. And whatever Apple is about to launching soon. The story of Apple ironic co-founder Steven Paul Jobs’ life has been quite a tale. Awesome, as the man himself might say. That tale ended Wednesday. Jobs was 56 when I was coding and tweeting. I just saw my friends tweet about this. Then, after Googling about this, I realized this hard truth. Site commenters, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ users alike are sharing their condolences for one of the most renowned tech innovators of our time.

"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."
As I sit here starring at my MacBook, glancing at the numerous “Did Steve Jobs die?” texts coming through on my Phone; I can’t seem to fully wrap my head around the fact that my hero has passed away.

At 7:34pm - (U.S. Time) this statement was issue by Apple’s Board of Directors:

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct 05, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

SOURCE: Apple

The front page of Apple.com displayed a picture of the late Steve Jobs, and the second page contained a tribute to the industry leader:

Steve Jobs

1955-2011

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve lost a dear friend and inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

Perhaps most influentially, Jobs in 2001 launched the iPod, which offered "1,000 songs in your pocket." Over the next 10 years, its white earphones and thumb-dial control seemed to become more ubiquitous than the wristwatch.

Bill Gates message for Steve Jobs

I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely. -

Mark Zuckerberg message for Steve Jobs

Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.

Thanks for the iLife Steve, you will always be remembered.
"If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please comment below or email rememberingsteve@apple.com"

10 Things that Waste your Money

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:26:23 PDT

With riots, inflation and stock market crashes putting the squeeze on your finances, now is not a good time to be frittering away your cash on foolish things. Luckily The Pirado has fashioned a handy list of the worst unnecessary-expenditure offenders. Avoid buyer's remorse and keep wallet set to: shut...

1. PRIORITY BOARDING

We're not talking business class here; this is the extra tenner required to gain a place at the front of the queue. Good luck: it's a lawless swarm and no mistake. Also, once you've fought into pole position, it may transpire you're only at the front of the queue for the landing strip bus; you'll have to scrap it out again at the plane door.

2. SHOPPING CHANNEL FITNESS KITS

The adverts are bewitching, with enough shiny American accents and honed flesh to trick you into believing that the Bicepatron™ will turn you into an Olympian. Unfortunately, it'll only have that effect if you have an Olympian's discipline to spend eight hours a day on said Bicepatron™.

3. SNOOKER-BASED COMPUTER GAMES

We all love a bit of baize-backed potting - it's hypnotic to watch and fun to play. Why wouldn't that translate into computerised form? The complete lack of action should have been a warning sign that it was no FIFA-botherer. That 2250 INR could have bought a few rounds of actual snooker at your local club, where beer and heroin are also available at very competitive rates.

4. EXPERIENCE DAYS

Stop! Step away from the mouse! Think! You're not giving someone a lovely, thoughtful present. You're making them drag themselves to Northampton on their own, at their own expense, on a rainy afternoon that they've had to book off as annual leave. We doubt that a day of ceramics on a barge is going to compensate.

5. MOST APPS

Just 50 INR? Where can you go wrong? Everywhere, it turns out, as so many apps fail to hit even the pathetically low goals they set for themselves. How about shelling out a princely 225 INR for the latest must-have app instead? At least you'll actually play with it more than once.

6. ALL IN-APP PURCHASES

So you've got the latest must-have apps - retro camera, virtual hedgehog and multi-player ferret-smashing game - up and running. What you do NOT now need to do is spend money on new virtual lenses, grooming accessories for the 'hog or a .45 Magnum for your in-game character. Don't get us started on Tiny Tower...

7. ANYTHING FROM THE HOTEL MINI BAR

In the heat of the moment, jet-lagged and dazed by the sun, you find yourself drawn to that tempting-looking, yet cleverly sensor-laden fridge. Seeing "can of Coke" next to "$17" on the hotel bill brings you back to your senses.

8. DELUXE ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

Your teeth are your food-devouring pals, so why wouldn't you treat the little fellas to a "satnav for the mouth" or even a "UV sterilization chamber"? Well, the 7000 INR premium and the fact that dentists almost always recommend the entry-level variety, that's why.

9. NEXT-DAY DELIVERY

Just ordered a laptop/tablet/phone online? You'll ideally want it in your hands that very nanosecond. We understand. But beware the side effects of haste. You'll have to wait around all day ("Deliveries are between 5.30am and 9.30pm. Sorry we cannot be more specific") only to realize on its arrival that another laptop/ tablet/phone was what you really wanted...

10. ANYTHING THAT CLAIMS TO BOIL OR POACH AN EGG "EASILY"

They lie. It won't. It just won't.

The Future of War

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:09:53 PDT

The structure of power is shifting, as futurist James Bellini told me, from the "pyramid to the pancake". And, as political theorist Joseph Nye describes it, from the "top of the heap" to "the centre of circle".

If they are right, I'm on the underside of the pancake or the outer reaches of the circle, because someone else decides what knowledge I impart to you - I'm going to tell you about the future of power. Since the ultimate expression of power is violence, I'll start with the future of war.

As US expert Peter Singer told me, the future of war looks pretty cool. It includes lasers like the ones on the Death Star, although in the move from science fiction to science fact they're now called "directed energy weapons".

It also includes increasingly advanced killer robots. "The Predator," savs Singer, talking about the military drone currently policing the air in Pakistan, "may seem advanced, but it's actually the Model T of the field."

Other exciting, nasty bastard future weapons include microbiotic, bio-agent, nano and electromagnetic pulse weapons.

"It all may seem straight from the realm of science fiction," says Singer, "but it is on track to be deployable well before most of us have paid off our mortgages."

Most interestingly, humans are busy turning themselves into the super-weapons of the future. The first pioneers are already enhancing the bodies they were born with.

The University of Reading's Kevin Warwick has taught himself to see like a bat, using a baseball cap fitted with ultrasonic tech. In a similar bid for bat-like powers, Todd Huffman at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation has implanted magnets in his hand. He's "saving up for the GPS implant next".

GPS tracking? Aren't some of us already doing that with geo-location tools like Geoloqui and Foursquare? Yes, actually, and this is fundamentally changing who and what we are - and making us more powerful.

"If you think of devices like Twitter and Facebook," says Professor Andy Miah. "You can see we're already becoming an informational species, our every activity becomes part of a communication loop."

Think of how important Twitter and Facebook have been to today's rebellions. They are placing us closer to the centre of the circle, or, indeed, the pancake.

Eight Feature Requests for iTunes

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:34:32 PDT

Fall is when the cycle of nature returns us to more comfortable temperatures, but it's also the time when Apple tends to release a new version of iTunes—generally when Apple unveils new iPods and updates iTunes with a handful of new features.

This fall will see the release of iOS 5, iCloud, and a new version of iTunes (currently called 10.5 for developers, but perhaps iTunes 11 when it rolls out publicly). Here are some small tweaks I'd like to see in a new version.

1: Add a Label Tag

I buy a fair amount of music because of the labels that release it; this is especially the case for indie classical labels. I would like to be able to add label-name information to my tracks in iTunes. You can certainly use the Comments field, but many people use that for other information.

2: Add a Column Browser Button

The iTunes Column Browser is a powerful—but mostly hidden—way to manage music in your iTunes library. It would be practical if there were a button to show or hide the Column Browser, at the bottom of the iTunes window, to help people discover the most powerful way to browse their music.

3: Allow for Label Searches

I would love to be able to search by label in both the iTunes Store and my iTunes library. If a Label tag were available, then a search by label should be possible. The iTunes Store already has the label info, so it simply needs to pipe it into a searchable tag.

4: Allow Sub-genres and Multiple Genres

iTunes lets you choose the genre of your music, but some genres are too broad. Is Jazz or Classical really sufficient? You may want to have 'Jazz - piano trio,' or 'Classical - opera.' Sure, you can enter your own genres—just type them in the Genre field. But if iTunes correctly managed sub-genres, you would be able to sort by both the main genre and its children.

Also, some music doesn't easily fit into a single genre; having multiple genres can be useful for people who have a lot of outlier music, and want to be able to find it in more than one way. Is Bob Dylan folk or singer-songwriter? Is Brian Eno's music alternative, electronic, ambient, or something else? Multiple genres would let you use multiple classifications for each of these artists.

5: Allow ePub Reading in iTunes

While I don't necessarily want to read ebooks on my Mac, I sometimes like to glance at the content of one of the ePub books in my iTunes library. iTunes displays PDFs by sending them to Preview; it should offer a display of cPubs as well, even within iTunes.

6: Allow Keyword Tagging

Programs such as iPhoto allow you to tag items with keywords. iTunes should offer this same capability. You might want to enter the names of artists, songwriters, or producers; you might want to add the venue where a live recording was made; or you might want to add other information that you could later use to create smart playlists.

7: Offer Smart Playlist Templates and Playlist Layout Templates

iTunes should let you save smart playlist templates so you can easily use the same conditions with a new playlist. Doug Adams' free Smarts docs this, but iTunes should be able to manage playlist templates.

Also, I find that for both smart and regular playlists, I tend to want certain columns to display. But 1 always have to make changes, as each new playlist takes on default display settings that I can't alter. I'd love to be able to copy the display settings from one playlist and apply them to another, or store default settings, as you can do in the Finder.

8: Provide More Font-Size Settings

With the advent of larger displays using smaller pixels, I find that iTunes' font sizes aren't always ideal. I'd like more flexibility so that my aging eyes could see the info in my iTunes library a bit more clearly.

The Future of TV : Watch, Surf, Chat and Share with Samsung's Smart TV

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:52:47 PDT

Smart by name and by nature, Samsung's stylish new range of Smart TVs is set to change the way you watch TV. From keeping in touch with friends and family via Skype through to accessing all the videos that the web has to offer, with Samsung's Smart TV you can watch, surf, chat and share together.

Samsung's Smart TV is not only intelligent in design but it also thinks for you. Having tonnes of content is fine, but no use if you can't find what YOU want to see. Smart TV solves that, letting you search content across the TV and multiple devices, giving recommendations based on your viewing habits.

Furthermore. Samsung's App store is the world's first HDTV-based application store and comfortably the biggest, with over five million apps downloaded worldwide. From LOVEFiLM to BBC iPlayer. YouTube and many more, there'll never be a dull TV moment again.

Samsung's Smart TV also lets you socialise via Facebook and Twitter. The Social TV function lets you watch shows while chatting with pals, sharing banter about EastEnders or pooling resources to work out which one is which out of Ant and Dec.

Factor in ultra-svelte good looks and the ability to stream content from your home computer and even push content to compatible mobile devices using AllShare and you have the ultimate, super connected, sexy lounge pal - get switched on.

Watch :

With web apps for LOVEFiLM, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Blinkbox, Muzu.tv, PictureBox and more, you can view what you want, when you want from the biggest blockbusters to the most obscure hidden gems.

Surf :

All of the web is available for you to view on big screen, thanks to the Smart TV's open web browser. There are also apps for incredibly easy access to key online content including in widescreen hi-def.

Chat :

For an additional cost, add a camera to your Smart TV and use Skype's video function to keep in touch with family. Natter with your pals via Facebook and Twitter while watching shows using Samsung's Social TV feature.

Share :

Samsung's AllShare easily connects multiple devices like cameras, PCs or tablets and transfer their content to the TV. Watching a film on TV but want to leave the room? Stream it to the Galaxy S II smartphone - it's seamless.

Google to Offer Opt-Out for Wi-Fi Data Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:03:00 PDT

Google has promised it will allow users to opt-out of having their Wi-Fi location data tracked, after its practices led to a global outcry and a class-action suit in the U.S.

The opt-out services will be offered globally, and Google promised to release more details on how it will work later in the fall.

Google relies on data collected from public Wi-Fi networks to provide location based services, like Google Maps on mobile devices. It prefers this over data collected via GPS, which isn't always available, and cell-tower data, which isn't always accurate.

Last year, Google admitted that equipment attached to its Street View cars had inadvertently collected personal information that consumers sent over unencrypted wireless networks. Initially, Google said it "collected only fragments of payload data," but it later said it collected entire e-mails, URLs, and passwords.

The revelation prompted inquiries from privacy officials all over the world. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission closed its investigation into the matter in October 2010, though in June, a California district judge refused to dismiss a class-action suit that accused Google of violating wiretap laws with the data collection.

Earlier this year, France fined Google $100,000, and South Korean officials said Google was breaking the country's laws. Those inquiries apparently prompted Google's announcement.

Unexpected Uses for the Tab Key [MAC]

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:46:52 PDT

Think the Tab key docs nothing more than adjust indents in a word processor? Then you're in for a surprise. These tricks work in Snow Leopard and (for the most part) Lion, too.

Select Items Alphabetically

In Finder windows, in all but Column view, pressing the Tab key moves you from tile to file alphabetically by name. (Shift-Tab selects files in reverse alphabetical order.)

In windows already sorted by name, that means Tab just moves you down the list of files. But Tab also navigates files in alphabetical order when they're sorted by some other criterion—size, kind, or anything else. (To sort files, choose from the View ► Sort By submenu; in Lion, press Option to change the Arrange By menu to Sort By. In List view, click a column header.) This works even when files arc grouped using Lion's Arrange By option: Tab jumps among groups, following the filenames.

Navigate with Your Keyboard

Keep your hands on your keyboard by using the Tab key to move from one window element (button, pop-up menu, text field, and so on) to another. Launch System Preferences, go to the Keyboard preference pane, click on Keyboard Shortcuts, and select All Controls from the options at the bottom of the window.

When you turn on that setting, though. you'll often find yourself tabbing through every control in every window, sometimes wasting more time than you save. You can turn this feature on and off as needed without repeated trips to the preference pane by enabling the Change The Way Tab Moves Focus shortcut. To do so, open the Keyboard system preference and click the Keyboard Shortcuts tab. Select Keyboard and Text Input in the list on the left; on the right, check the box in front of Change The Way Tab Moves Focus. To change the default shortcut, double-click on the existing one and press a new key combo.

Hop around a Safari Window

It's easy to navigate mouse-free in Safari. When you have Keyboard Shortcuts preferences set to the default Text Boxes And Lists Only, pressing Tab cycles you from the address field to the search field, and through any fill-in fields on the webpage. Safari also has its own setting for tabbing to elements other than fields. Go to Safari ► Preferences, click the Advanced tab and select the Press Tab To I Highlight Each Item On A Webpage option. While this is handy because it selects click-able items such as buttons that you can then trigger by pressing Return, it doesn't let you get at Safari-window elements: toolbar buttons, the Bookmarks bar, or your tabs.

Forget the Safari preferences and head back to OS X's Keyboard preferences. There, turn on the All Controls option for the Tab key. With All Controls option for the Tab key. With All Controls on, activate either Safari's address field (Command + L) or its search field (Command + Option + F) to focus Safari's attention on the title bar. Then press Tab on Shift-Tab to move through items in the toolbar, Bookmarks bar, and Tab bar. When an item is selected, press the spacebar to activate it. When a menu is selected, press the spacebar to open it, use arrow keys to highlight an item. If nothing is selected, pressing the spacebar closes the men.

Switch Applications in Exposé

In Snow Leopard, when Exposé is activated, pressing Tab opens the Dock, highlights your next open application, and shows all its windows. When you trigger the Application Windows feature (F10 or Fn-F10 by default), you see all the windows for your current application - a great way to overcome the problem of moving to a specific window on a cluttered screen.

If you want to view windows for another open application, press Tab while the current application's windows are displayed.

The Dock appears with the next open application highlighted against the Exposé background and its windows displayed. Keep pressing Tab to move to other open applications in turn; Shift-Tab moves you in the opposite direction. You can do this even if you've started with the All Windows Exposé option (F9 or Fn-F9 by default): Pressing Tab switches you into Application Windows mode and moves you to the next application. To switch to a displayed application, click in one of its windows (or select a window with the arrow keys and press Return). To return to the original application, press Esc.

Everyone's Talking About Windows 8

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:07:25 PDT

We're starting to find out a lot more about the successor to Windows 7 - the cunningly named Windows 8. Microsoft says, "A Windows 8-based PC will be a new kind of device, from touch-only small screens through to large screens, with or without a keyboard and mouse."

Indeed, the new operating system appears to have two completely separate interfaces - one, a traditional (and, on the surface of it, unchanged) Windows desktop, and the other a new touch-based interface that borrows heavily from Windows Phone. The demonstration videos we've seen can move seamlessly between the interfaces and even have both on screen at the same time.

"Fast, fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact, "says Microsoft's head of Windows Experience, Julie Larson-Green. "Although the new user interface is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse and keyboard. Our approach means no compromises - you get to use whatever kind of device you prefer, with the peripherals you choose, to run the apps you love. This is sure to inspire a new generation of hardware and software development, improving the experience for PC users around the world."

Expect a lot of touch-based Windows 8 laptops and tablets, especially as Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 will also run on the ARM-based processors used in mobile phones, and in tablets such as the iPad. Because of this, expect Windows 8 to not need any more resources than Windows 7 to run on your PC. There will also be a compatibility mode for Windows 7, so you'll be able to run all your current Windows 7 programs.

Among the features we've seen so far are the fast launching apps from a tile-based Start screen, live titles with notifications showing always up-to-date information from your apps, and fluid, natural switching between running apps. The new operating system will also feature Internet Explorer 10. Microsoft says it is aiming for Windows 8 to include "a fast on/off experience, responsiveness, and a great level of reliability from the start".

Microsoft is planning a Windows 8 app store and says the new OS will support "web-connected and web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript that have access to the full power of the PC".

So when will we see Windows 8? We're currently expecting the release to be in late 2012. Speculation is rife that a Windows 8 beta will surface at Build, a developer conference being held by Microsoft this month.

Expert Opinion

Steven Sinofsky

Windows President,

Microsoft

[I feel so lucky to tell everyone that he is my friend :)]

"Building the next release of Microsoft Windows is an industry-wide effort that Microsoft approaches with a strong sense of responsibility and humility. Windows 8 re-imagines Windows for a new generation of computing devices, and will be the very best operating system for hundreds of millions of PCs, new and old, used by well over a billion people globally. It is also important to know that we're 100 percent committed to running the software and supporting the hardware that is compatible with over 400 million Windows 7 licenses already sold and all the Windows 7 licenses already sold and all the Windows 7 [licenses] yet to be sold.
"So much has changed since Windows 95 - the last time that Windows was significantly overhauled - when the 'desktop' metaphor was established. Today computing is much more focused on applications and on people than on the operating system itself or the data. These changes in the landscape motivate the most significant changes to Windows, from chips to the experience."

Below are screenshots of the recently-revealed Windows 8 user interface and features.

Comments Invited :)

Apple Distributes Lion Online Only, Says Good-bye to Installation Discs

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:05:09 PDT

Apple announced in July that more than 1 million customers bought and downloaded Lion, the newest version of Mac OS X, in its first full day of availability on the Mac App Store. That's $29,990,000 worth of sales—ar.d 3,490,000GB of Lion, if you're keeping score.

The release of Lion was a true test for the Mac App Store. Lion is the first iteration of Mac OS X not available on an install disc at the time of its initial release. There had been a concern that Apple's online store would not be able to handle the massive increase in traffic. But Lion's release seemed to go off without a hitch, with no reports of major problems. It represented a milestone in the young history of the Mac App Store.

Upgrading to a new operating system can make people anxious, even under the best of circumstances. There's uncertainty as to whether it will work, and what it will do to an existing setup. Sure, those worries are offset by excitement about new features. But, at least in the past, all of those feelings could be directed at a physical object: the installation disc. If something went wrong, you could hold the culprit— which often also contained the solution to your problems—in your hand.

But with the initial release of Lion, there is no disc—just a software installer you download from the Mac App Store. That lack of an installation disc added to the anxiety over whether the new OS would download and install properly.

Fortunately, the Mac App Store seemed to handle the release swimmingly. It's true that downloading the installer could take a long time, but that was probably due to the size of the download and the tremendous demand suddenly placed on the online store. There were some reports of mishandled payments—customers complained of being charged multiple times when using PayPal. Otherwise, there were no major technical glitches with the Mac App Store or with the installer after it had been downloaded.

In many ways, this new distribution method turned out to be easier and more convenient than the old disc-based way. But it also raises some new questions.

Available Bandwidth

The most common obstacle in downloading the 3.49GB OS is Internet bandwidth. Though many ISPs offer plans that include unlimited data usage, those plans aren't within the budgets of many people. It's not uncommon to have a plan that caps the amount of data you tan use on the Internet each month. Lion's download could have pushed the total amount of data used in a month over an imposed cap.

Fortunately, there are other ways to get Lion. On Lion's release day—July 20— Apple announced that a $69 USB flash-drive edition of the OS would be available in August. The concept of an OS installer on a USB flash drive isn't new to Apple—such a device was introduced with the 2010 MacBook Air.

Another alternative is to lug your Mac to the nearest Apple Store and use the store's Wi-Fi to download Lion. However, you might have to wait a long time for the download, depending on the amount of activity on the store's Internet connection. The big upside is that Apple Store staff is available to check in with you during the installation, and can try to fit you into the Genius Bar schedule if anything goes wrong.

Businesses and Education

Still, there were more questions about the online-only distribution model. What would customers who have to install OS X on multiple machines—businesses and schools, primarily—do? Apple was ready with some answers.

Business customers can purchase Lion and Lion Server through Apple's online Business Store or by calling Apple's business line. Buyers will be able to purchase volume licenses for $30 a license (minimum 20 licenses). Maintenance contracts, which offer three free subsequent years of OS updates as part of Apple's Maintenance Program, will cost $50 a license (minimum 20 licenses). Lion Server will be available for an additional $50 from the Mac App Store; if you're currently running Snow Leopard Server, you'll have to buy both Lion and Lion Server at the same time to upgrade.

Education customers buying Lion for a school can upgrade through their Apple Education Account Representative or through Apple's online Education Store. Lion will be automatically bundled with iLife and iWork as part of the company's Apple Software Collection, which starts at $39 per license (minimum 25 licenses).

Online Only

With the Lion launch, Apple clearly made every effort to ensure the success of the online software distribution process. The company is also designing its hardware to wean users off the traditional installation disc: The SuperDrive, long a staple of the Mac, is not included in two Mac models, the MacBook Air and Mac mini (see pages 14 and 18, respectively for our reviews of these updated systems). The success of the online-only release of Lion—and other major apps—means the Mac App Store is here to stay and that the installation disc has gone the way of the floppy drive.

Three Steps to Gadgety Golf Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Adwait Sharma) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:18:14 PDT

I love playing golf with my Dad. But the moment when i have to choose between the Golf and Technology. I choose Technology (as usual :P). So, to overcome this i have selected Three most important gadgets which will add more fun in your game :)

1. Its in your hands - SensoGlove 3,500 INR

When swinging a golf club, if you don't get your grip right you might as well be playing with a soggy baguette. But rather than shell out 3,500 INR an hour to listen to a surly ex-professional bemoan your lack of talent, spend the same amount on a SensoGlove. Its built-in pressure sensors will warn you if you're gripping the club too hard, sending out a bleep that's likely to put you off your swing regardless. Still, at least this way you'll have something else to blame.

2. Ping when you're winning - Ping Cradle 1,500 INR

Despite what they' tell you, practice doesn't always make perfect. If you're doing it wrong every time, you'll get about as far as an amputee tortoise. Attach the Ping cradle to your putter, download the free app, and you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch's accelerometer and gyroscope to monitor the impact angle, tempo and stroke type of your putts. It may seem costly for an iPhone bracket, but trust us: it's much better than gaffer-taping your phone to the shaft.

3. Breaking the dress code - Puma Cell Fusion 2 12,000 INR

Golf clubs arc notoriously strict about the way members dress. For some reason they're not keen on Cannibal Corpse t-shirts and leather chaps - yet plus fours are perfectly acceptable. You do the math(s). Puma's latest shoes will turn a few heads while keeping to the rules. Worn by golf pro Rickie Fowler, the Cell Fusion 2s have teeth-like spikes to ensure decent traction, and in-sole cushioning to prevent Tiger Woods-style mishaps, No, not that kind.

The Pirado

Apple iPad 3 : Think twice about getting an iPad 2

eReader for All

Mobile Broadband : Could it make cabled broadband redundant ?

Western Digital My Passport Essential SE : Good USB 3.0 option

How will we Watch TV in the Future

Which Doctor ? Take Advantage of the Wide Range of Health and Medical Advice on the Web

10 Typing Tips for iPad Power Users

Thunderbolt Display Makes Its Mark

Google And HTC Gear Up for War with iPhone 5

The 10 Worst Ever Revamps

10 Ways to Get More From Your Webcam

Ultimate Guide to Tablets

Discover How to Take Beautiful Autumn Photos

The Future of Hi-Fi

Google.com Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

RIP Steve Jobs 1955-2011 : iMissYou !

Bill Gates message for Steve Jobs

Mark Zuckerberg message for Steve Jobs Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.

10 Things that Waste your Money

The Future of War

Eight Feature Requests for iTunes

The Future of TV : Watch, Surf, Chat and Share with Samsung's Smart TV

Google to Offer Opt-Out for Wi-Fi Data Collection

Unexpected Uses for the Tab Key [MAC]

Everyone's Talking About Windows 8

Apple Distributes Lion Online Only, Says Good-bye to Installation Discs

Three Steps to Gadgety Golf Heaven

Mark Zuckerberg message for Steve Jobs

Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.