Technology Mates

Apple changes its I-tunes

2007-04-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

Since Apple (AAPL) launched its wildly successful iTunes music store back in 2003, CEO Steve Jobs has adamantly refused to offer a monthly subscription service. If you want to buy music from iTunes, you do it either by the single or the album, that’s it. But that could soon change.

Les Ottolenghi, CEO of INTENT MediaWorks, a digital distribution system that works with peer-to-peer networks, said he’s had meetings with people from Apple and he believes the company will announce a subscription service for iTunes within the next six months. “I think Apple is seriously considering a subscription offering right now even though they will probably tell you otherwise,” he said. Spokespeople for Apple were not immediately available for comment.

So far though, it appears that Apple has made the right decision to spurn the subscription model. Rival online music stores, such as Napster (NAPS), RealNetworks’ (RNWK) Rhapsody and Yahoo’s (YHOO) Y! Music Unlimited, that offer monthly subscriptions have failed to attract a lot of interest. In fact, I wrote yesterday about how teens widely prefer iTunes to subscription-based music stores.

But Ottolenghi said that even though music subscription services have struggled against iTunes so far, he doesn’t think consumers are necessarily averse to paying monthly subscriptions. He argues that because Apple doesn’t offer a subscription product, that’s why music fans haven’t embraced the model.

Phil Leigh, a senior analyst with Inside Digital Media, an independent research firm based in Tampa, agrees with that assessment.

“The number one factor retarding the acceptance of the subscription model is the dominance of Apple. The idea of subscribing to music is new to most consumers so when the dominant player doesn’t talk about it, the idea seems out of the mainstream for most consumers,” Leigh said.

And as someone who buys from iTunes pretty frequently, I’d support a subscription model. For $15 a month, all I’d need to do is buy two albums a month to justify a subscription. I think many consumers would be amenable to paying a flat fee for unlimited downloads on iTunes.

That said, Leigh isn’t so sure that Apple is willing to do an about-face on subscriptions just yet…even though the record labels clearly would be overjoyed if Apple did begin to offer a monthly iTunes plan.

“Record labels would like a subscription service. They, like anyone else, like recurring revenue. Ringing the cash register every month is a beautiful way to run a business,” Leigh said. “But I don’t think they are going to do it because Jobs has said he’s against it and I believe that most of the time we should take people at face value unless we have compelling evidence not to.”

Plus, chatter about an iTunes subscription service is hardly new. BusinessWeek wrote about the possibility of a subscription model in August 2005 and CNET revisited the speculation last May.

Still, Ottolenghi was fairly confident that Apple will soon reveal an iTunes subscription service. He thinks Apple realizes that in order to attract more customers, particularly those that are using peer-to-peer file sharing services, Apple has to be more flexible.

“With peer-to-peer, there are 2.5 billion downloads per month compared to Apple taking three years to sell 1 billion songs on iTunes. That’s a big difference,” he said.

So maybe, just maybe, Steve Jobs will introduce an “all you can eat” iTunes 8.0 in the near future.

Panasonic TH-103PF9 103in Plasma TV

2007-04-21T04:35:00.001-07:00

Everything about the Panasonic TH-103PF9 is massive. Truly, gargantuanly, humungously massive!

For starters, its screen acreage measures in at a frankly terrifying 103in from corner to corner. This makes it not only the biggest TV we’ve ever tested here at TrustedReviews, but also the biggest TV ever sold commercially in the UK. To give you some idea of just how big 103in of TV really is, the 103PF9’s screen will accommodate four 50in TV screens, and still have a few inches spare. Phenomenal.

The screen is as heavy as it is large, too, weighing in at 220kg – an already mighty figure that turns into 350kg if you also use the optional heavy-duty stand.

The next massive thing about this plasma screen is the headache involved in getting it installed in your home. Panasonic uses a professional team of AV installers to deliver 103PF9s, but even so it took well over three hours – including an hour with a special ‘interior’ crane - to get the TV installed. And that’s on the ground floor with a door big enough to take the vast box. Any problems of access to where you want the screen to go could potentially add hours to any install – or even present the very realistic prospect of having to get in builders to knock down or reinforce walls.

The last truly huge thing about the 103PF9 is, inevitably, its price. At £46,600, it’s clearly the sort of product that’s only within reach of the mega-rich – or your average Premiership footballer. Then again, adding £50k to our mortgage might not really hurt that much we guess, especially if you go for an interest only deal…

Realising there’s not really any way to make a 103in screen subtle, Panasonic has kept things simple by just sticking a fairly – though not excessively – chunky frame around it and leaving it at that.

The situation regarding the 103PF9’s connections is ‘fluid’, in that you can pick and choose the connections you want as they’re all available on slot-in modules. Options include, of course, HDMI/DVI, component and PC jacks.

Snoop Dogg chooses video games over charity event

2007-04-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

When west coast rapper Snoop Dogg told us that it ain't no fun if the homies can't have none, we never imagined that he was referring to gaming consoles, but apparently the talented MC and occasional criminal defendent refused to perform at a recent UNICEF charity event if they would not provide his posse and himself an Xbox to play with. According to AHN, someone at the event eventually snatched their kid's Xbox (we assume a 360) to placate Snoop, but the troubles didn't stop there, as he apparantely got so caught up in the game that he was an hour late appearing on stage -- this despite a reported $150,000 paycheck for the appearance. While we can't be certain, we suspect this may all be the result of the charity's refusal to pay Snoop in achievement points.

Memorex Poker Chip USB flash drive knows when to fold 'em

2007-04-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

While the poker sharks in the crowd are probably elated about the recent WSOP in HD news, we're going double or nothing with Memorex's Poker Chip Flash Drive. This 1GB device sports a design that any chip stacker would appreciate, and aside from giving you something to flip between your nervous fingers when pondering a fold, it also includes "software to play Texas Hold 'Em right from your PC." Additionally, a blue LED lights things up when data is being accessed, and while we're not exactly sure how much you'll have to wager in order to claim one as your own, they'll be situated in Target stores by the end of the month.

To subscribe or not,that is the Itunes Question

2007-04-18T04:18:00.000-07:00

With rumors abounding that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will turn the iTunes store into a subscription format, I'm wondering how much more the consumer will be forced to pay because the record labels will not acquiesce to the demands of the market. Forgive me if I sound resentful, because I am. In my opinion, Apple's iTunes makes the interface and purchase of digital music far easier than other services and while switching to a subscription service does not alter the interface or how you can listen, it drastically alters the ownership.

The record labels own the music, or at least the copyright and broadcast aspects of it. But if you buy a CD or an album, do you also own that music in some way? I would say that you do, but unfortunately that ownership comes with restrictions and guidelines that you, the consumer, must follow. Otherwise, the industry may come down on you with the force of a mighty storm. Consider how large the FBI warnings against copyright infringement are on CDs these days; not only the jewel case and digipak (cardboard) packaging but the actual CD.

Since I learned that iTunes may become a digital service, my outlook on whether to buy digital or physical formats has changed. Before the end of May there are about four new albums that I care to purchase (that's actually a low number for me if you are shocked by this value). When I knew they were going to be released, it was no question in my mind that I was going to buy the CD. That has changed now. I find myself pre-ordering on the iTunes store for the first time in the less than two years I have been a customer there. Fortunately, iTunes is nice about bonus and pre-order only tracks, so I can buy the albums at a lower cost for more music than if I went and purchased a CD.

However, I can see the benefits that a subscription service on iTunes would offer. The major benefit is the cost of the music and its reduction for the consumer. That may sound like an enticing offer, but it negates the ownership that I mentioned earlier. A subscription service acts as little more than a leasing agreement, where the consumer rents the tracks or albums they want to hear and must return them if they decide to end their subscription. For the consumer that has no issues about this matter, the deal is rather nice. But for the consumer who likes the aspect of purchasing the album (like me, for instance), the prospect of losing that edge in a digital world is unwanted.

The option to purchase a CD will theoretically always be present, but as the industry drifts more toward the digital market, those bonus and pre-order only tracks will make purchasing a CD pointless, unless similar measures are added to the discs. That ownership dilemma fuels this debate for me, because my CDs are my CDs. They may rightfully be the record labels or the artists, but I'd like to see them try and take an album like Revolver by The Beatles away from me just because they say it is theirs. Of course, the prospect of iTunes going digital at a time when The Beatles may become available for download scares me more than anything, because I want both the digital and physical formats that will hopefully be released.

If iTunes does go digital, I will likely follow. If the pre-ordering has shown me anything, it is that sometimes iTunes offers so much more than the CD on the shelf of a local retail store. It also makes my record collection less cluttered and I can hide the music that I like which may not be as "reputable" in the eyes of the "cool" people around me.

R.I.P. PlayStation 3 20GB is officially no more

2007-04-18T04:07:00.000-07:00

Straight from Sony: The 20GB PS3 will no longer be offered to retailers for sale in North America. The decision was made based on consumer and retail demand favoring "the 60GB model 10 to 1."

Dave Karraker of Sony America states, "At launch, we offered two separate models of PlayStation 3 to meet the diverse needs and interests of our PlayStation fan base. Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of ninety percent in favor of the 60GB SKU, so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly. Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model here in North America. In addition to the larger internal hard drive, the 60GB PlayStation 3 features added storage media slots and built-in Wi-Fi not found in the 20GB system. Based on retailer and consumer feedback, we have decided to focus our current efforts on the more popular 60GB model."

This follows mounting evidence that the 20GB was on its way out the door at Best Buy and even the Sony Style store. And so we say goodbye to the PlayStation 3's 20GB model. Goodnight sweet Prince, we hardly knew ye.

Nokia N800 Gets Orb MyCasting

2007-04-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Nokia and Orb Networks has announced that Orb MyCasting will be available for use on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. Orb MyCasting allows consumers to access digital media stored on their home computer directly from their mobile multimedia computer.

Orb's solution streams a person's own content from their home PC using the Web browser and media player of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet thus creating a "personal media portal" from which users can instantly access and enjoy home photos, videos, music, and even TV, from anywhere, anytime. With MyCasting, consumers can also remotely record TV programs using Orb's Digital Video Recorder (DVR) function and then play back those recorded programs on the Nokia N800.

"The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet was developed to make it easy for people to access their favorite internet sites, content, and entertainment from the couch, airport or coffee shop- anywhere there is WiFi. Orb's MyCasting is an excellent use of the device making it a jukebox of personal media," said Ari Virtanen, vice president, Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia.

"Nokia offers a quality mobile web experience for users with the rich functionality being introduced in the N800 Internet Tablet,' said Joe Costello, Chairman and CEO of Orb Networks. "When Orb unlocks that personal digital content on the home PC, the N800 becomes the one connected device to enjoy it all whenever and wherever you want.The combination offers a new level of media freedom and control for the customer."

The MyCasting service which will be demoed on the Nokia N800 at Nokia's booth (# 402) at Web 2.0 Expo this week is free of charge and is immediately available for download from www.orb.com/n800 as well as from the Tableteer site, which can be accessed via the Nokia N800. Using the built in media player and browser, Orb works instantly, so there's no need to download additional software for the N800.

Nokia's 8800 Gold Edition is announced

2007-04-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

An addition to the Nokia 8800 series of exclusive and rather valuable mobile phones—enter the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold edition. The phone is named after The Sirocco wind—originating in the Sahara desert. This model is encased in 18-carat gold plating and it's also enhanced with white gold with a sapphire-coated, scratch-resistant glass display.

The design itself has not undergone much change since the previous Diamond edition, though the color may not seem as bright as its predecessor. The reason being, that 18-carat gold has a paler complexion that 24-carat. Its slider is said to be extremely smooth and the overall form factor is a piece of exquisite craftsmanship.

"The Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold is set to continue Nokia's strong legacy in exclusive and highly desirable style accessories," explains Heikki Norta, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "The Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold remains true to the "form follows function" mantra of Nokia designers and engineers—a tradition built upon decades of experience in mobility."

The Sirocco Gold Edition of the 8800 is equipped with a 2 megapixel (high-resolution) camera and accompanied by the 262k color display, image quality will rest assured be really good. The phone also has quite a few messaging functions. Another plus for the phone is that apparently it comes with a coordinated desk stand and color-matching Bluetooth headset. Also considering the fact that 18-carat gold is more durable that 24-carat, the chances are that this phone might actually last longer as well.

The Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold is available in select markets and is priced at approximately Rs. 57,650 (EUR 1000), before taxes or subsidies.

Nokia announces launch of 6120 Classic

2007-04-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Nokia's new 6120 classic phone is exactly that, a truly classic candy bar design but with a few technologically superior download capabilities. Nokia has taken into consideration the fact that these days more and more people seem to be downloading information on to their mobile phones, so their 6120 classic model is equipped with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), that offers almost 10 times faster downloading than your normal networks.

The phone uses Series 60 OS and is also loaded with quick step guides and Set-Up Wizard so all connections can be set up with ease by following the simple steps the wizard offers. The 6120 also sports 2 cameras, a 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and a second camera for video calls.

"Mobile phones have taken on a much larger role in our busy lives," said Peter Ropke, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. "We recognize that having the capability to utilize the mobile phone in many ways gives consumers a better balance between work and play. With the HSDPA technology, S60 operating system and the wide range of features of the Nokia 6120 classic, consumers will be able to make their daily lives more manageable."

Syncing the phone with other devices is also quite easy—contacts, schedules, reminders etc. can be transferred either form an older phone or from the back up on your PC. This also makes it extremely easy not to loose out on any important information or having to struggle entering data manually.

The 6120 classic is expected to begin shipping somewhere in the second quarter of 2007 and is priced at approximately Rs. 14, 412 plus taxes.

Apple to launch Wi-fi equipped Ipods

2007-04-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

According to the rumor mills, Apple is planning on introducing a Wi-Fi version of three popular models of iPods, in the second half of 2007.

News reports reveal that Universal Scientific Industrial (USI) will produce the Wi-Fi modules and Foxconn will perform as the OEM system assembler. According to the reports, USI will begin shipments later in April, while Foxconn may do so in the third quarter.

Analysts say Microsoft's Zune has led to increasing development of Wi-Fi portable music players, with Singapore-based Creative and SanDisk showcasing such players at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show. Also, Digitimes reveals that Samsung and Sony are also planning to offer similar products soon.

N95 included with complete Interceptor Software

2007-04-16T04:28:00.000-07:00

The most advanced Spyphone available on the market in the superb Nokia N95.

This phone allows you to listen to room and phone conversations from anywhere in the world. Receive all text message received and sent from the Spyphone. You can get the location of the phone to the nearest cell site and notification,by text, any time the Spy Phone SIM card is changed.

Samsung BD-P1200 reviewed

2007-04-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

Samsung’s BDP-1200 is the latest Blu-ray player to hit the market. It is also the earliest second-generation machine in the format to appear, beating out Sony and other Blu-ray supporters by about three months. The BD-P1200 includes a number of performance enhancements not available in the first Samsung player or in any of its competitors. These include faster boot-up, load times, better upconversion of standard definition DVDs and with some discs, improved HD performance.

The all glossy black finish provides an understated quality to the BDP-1200’s exterior. It is one of the smallest high definition disc players I have encountered measuring only 16.9 (w) x 12.8 D x 3.1 inches high. The remote control is similar to the unit that is supplied with Samsung’s first generation model the BD-P1000, though it is just a tad longer. Like the earlier version it’s not backlit, making it impossible to read in rooms with low ambient lighting. Samsung supplies only a stereo audio/composite video cable. Before overpaying for an HDMI cable at one of the big electronics retail chain stores, read my article on HDMI cable at http://hdguru.com/?p=12

The BDP-1200 is the first Blu-ray player to be equipped with the Silicon Optix (SO) HQV Reon signal processor. To test the player’s upconversion (converting standard definition 480i DVD up to 1080p) and deinterlacing (converting native 480i SD DVDs and 1080i Blu-ray discs to progressive) capabilities I used the newly released HD HQV Blu-ray “Benchmark” test disc from Silicon Optix and the SO SD DVD test disc.

The HD HQV Benchmark includes tests for video noise, video resolution, “jaggies” and film cadence detection—all recorded in 1080i video. The resolution test may also be used to test if a player or display properly deinterlaces 1080i sources, the most common format for video-based content seen on broadcast and cable networks’ HD programming.

The Samsung also incorporates a longer list of features than its first generation Blu-ray player (the BD-P1000). However, like all other Blu-ray players the latest Samsung lacks a number of functions that the Blu-ray format is capable of performing. On the audio side the BD-P1200 supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS but does not support DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD.

On the video side, the BD-P1200 (according to a Samsung spokesman) does not allow pop-ups such as the director’s head overlaying a movie when the commentary track is activated. The BD-P1200 has an Ethernet connector but it can only be used for firmware upgrades. It will not permit downloadable applications such as new movie trailers or interactive games. To date, none of the Blu-ray players have this capability.

In additon, it is not possible to access the “Easter Egg” video test patterns found on Sony Pictures Blu-ray discs. The code is 7669. The BD-P1200 does not permit the entry of more than a three digiit number. A Samsung executive told the HD Guru adding this functionality may be possible in the future via a firmware upgrade.

What capabilities does BD-P1200 possess? It will output 1080p and will play at either 60 Hz or 24Hz via its HDMI output (the player also has component video output up to 1080i). The Samsung will play discs in the following formats: BD-ROM, BD-RE and BD-R (25GB or 50GB), DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW discs as well as audio CD discs including ones recorded using the MP3 codec.

For most of my image quality evaluations I used the superb Pioneer PRO-FHD1 1080p plasma monitor. This is a full 1920 x 1080 panel that features dot-for-dot display of 1080i/p sources (in this mode the players output is not scaled within the monitor). The Pioneer was set at 72Hz output for judder free viewing when using discs recorded at 24 frames per second (movies).

Evaluations began with the timing of Blu-ray disc boot-up and loading. The Samsung wins the Blu-ray speed race with “off” to full boot-up in just 30 seconds. Once booted up the BD-P1200 required as little as 23 seconds (the time varied slightly using different BD-ROM discs) to begin playing a disc. One note, using the Pioneer monitor I occasionally encountered issues with the copy protection (HDCP) using the HDMI connection. This produced a “snow screen” followed by a black screen and audio pops until the disc’s content appears. This was only experienced with the Pioneer plasma, other HDTVs connected to the BD-P1200 via HDMI functioned properly. I cannot determine if the compatibility problem lies within the Samsung or the Pioneer plasma, though I have not had this issue with any other HD disc player I have used with the Pioneer monitor.

Viewing a number of recent Blu-ray movie releases, including Babel, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Wild and Rocky Balboa confirmed the player’s phenomenal high definition performance. However, the HD Guru finds that all of the latest high definition players including the Sony BDP-S1, Panasonic DMP-BD10 and the Pioneer BDP-HD1 perform equally well with the latest film-based Blu-ray discs. By the way, the discs mentioned were beautifully transferred with none of the scratches, dirt or artifacts that marred many of the early Blu-ray releases such as The Fifth Element.

The Blu-ray HD “Benchmark” confirmed the Samsung’s flawless video HD performance, with the player passing all of the tests. The content on the Benchmark is video based 1080i (as opposed to film based 24p) which allowed me to confirm the BD-P1200’s ability to properly deinterlace native 1080i disc content currently found on concert videos such as John Legend at the House of Blues. For comparison, I repeated the resolution loss test using the Sony BDP-S1 and was surprised to discover the Sony player drops 1080i to 540p using its 1080p output mode. This means 50% of the resolution within the disc is lost. The reduction was clearly apparent when viewing the test disc’s video sequence of a stadium where the upper deck’s seats disappear and form moiré patterns. This resolution loss was also noticed when viewing the John Legend disc using the Sony player set at 1080p output. (For more on this test see http://hdguru.com/?p=17)

Fortunately the Pioneer PRO-HD1 can properly deinterlace a 1080i signal, so changing the Sony player’s output from 1080p to 1080i recovered the full resolution 1080 lines.

With the high definition tests completed I moved on to the standard definition HQV test disc. The Samsung passed all the tests and verified the player’s noise reduction circuits are highly effective (they only function with standard definition discs). The DVD SD version of Babel appeared sharper than on any other Blu-ray player I sampled. Its performance is only equaled by the Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player, which uses the same Silicon Optix Reon chip set.

The Samsung BD-1200 provides a high definition image equal to the best Blu-ray players I have tested. Its SD DVD performance sets a new standard for Blu-ray players. If you desire a Blu-ray player and don’t feel the need for the features the player lacks (such as Dolby TrueHD output), its performance and low price ($799 retail) makes this Samsung a fine choice for viewing all DVDs and new Blu-ray discs.

NVIDIA's next-generation mid-range offerings are just 10 days away

2007-04-16T01:23:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week review publications received their test kits for the GeForce 8300 through 8600. The bulk of these cards, the GeForce 8500 GT, GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8600 GTS will launch on April 17, with the GeForce 8300 GS and GeForce 8400 GS following soon after.

GeForce 8600 GTS -- 256 MB GDDR3, 675 MHz core clock, 1000 MHz memory clock
GeForce 8600 GT -- 256 MB GDDR3, 540 MHz core clock, 700 MHz memory clock
GeForce 8500 GT -- 128 to 256 MB DDR2 or GDDR3, 450 MHz core clock, 700 MHz memory clock
NVIDIA claims these three cards will be available at launch. The 8600 GTS will fill the $199 to $229 price point, followed by the 8600 GT ($149 to $159) and the GeForce 8500 GT ($89 to $129).

The GeForce 8400 GS and 8300 GS will bring up the rear with 450 MHz core clocks and 400 MHz memory clocks. However, these two GPUs will only show up in OEM systems and will not likely make an appearance in your local hardware store.

HD-DVD may be feeling a little blu

2007-04-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

I’d be feeling a little blue too, if I were competing against the world's leading electronics and media giants that include Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson).

All of these manufacturers will be bringing to market Blu-ray also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), the next-generation optical disc format developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA).

This super high capacity format provides rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc.

It may prove to be an effective and efficient way to back up artwork files, our small web and graphic design studio process can manage to generate up to 25 GB of data each week. I’d be happy pay up to $2.00 or more to back up the week’s works – “cheap insurance”, as Matt would say! (by the way, Matthew is one of our highly regarded designer’s, an established member of the Cyber team). Sorry!, I digress, back to the story.

Backward Compatibility a big +

Most players will be able to read/write CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs using a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical head, so you don't have to worry about your existing DVD collection becoming obsolete. In fact, most of the Blu-ray players coming out will support upscaling of DVDs to 1080p/1080i, so your existing DVD collection will look even better than before. While it's up to each manufacturer to decide if they want to make their products backwards compatible with DVD, the format is far too popular to not be supported. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) expects every Blu-ray Disc device to be backward compatible with DVDs.

Blu-ray v/s HD-DVD

Although both Blu-ray and HD-DVD are similar in many aspects, there are some important differences between them.

The first is capacity. Because Blu-ray utilses a lens with a greater numerical aperture (NA) than HD-DVD, the laser spot can be focused with greater precision to fit more data on the same size disc. This allows Blu-ray to hold 25GB per layer (50GB on a dual-layer disc), whereas HD-DVD can only hold 15GB per layer (30GB on a dual-layer disc). Blu-ray has also adopted a higher data transfer rate for video and audio (54Mbps vs 36.55Mbps). The greater capacity and data transfer rates for Blu-ray will allow the movie studios to release their movies with higher quality video and audio than the HD-DVD format.

The second is content. The Blu-ray format has received broad support from the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Seven of the eight major movie studios (Warner, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate) have already announced titles for Blu-ray, whereas HD-DVD only has support from three major movie studios (Warner, Paramount and Universal). This is an important difference because some of the studios might only support one of the formats, so you won't be able to get your favorite movies in the other format. Choosing the format with the most content support minimizes this risk.

The third is hardware support. The Blu-ray format has broad support from the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers, including Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Pioneer, Sharp, JVC, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, TDK, Thomson, LG, Apple, HP and Dell. The Blu-ray format will also be supported in the next-generation PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game console. This means that you will have a lot of choice when it comes to players and hardware. The HD-DVD format has far less supporters, so the amount of players and hardware will be very limited. So far, Toshiba is the only company to officially announce a HD-DVD player and it will only support 1080i output, while the announced Blu-ray players will support 1080p.

Anyone remember Betamax?

In the early eighties, there was a stoush between two video formats Betamax and VHS, Betamax proved to be the better format, however, I recall, Sony and Toshiba were the only manufacturers that provided this format, where as the VHS format was offered to the market, by the likes of JVC, Phillips, NEC, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, Pioneer and Hitashi, resulting in Betamax (the better format) losing out, it simply couldn’t get market penetration.

At this stage it appears that Blu-ray will have the leading edge over HD-DVD, it also appears it will have longevity due the vast amount of electronic manufacturers in the market providing the same format.

But there’s one thing I know for sure, I will not be paying $1,300 for a unit, I’d be happy to wait for a year or more when I’ll be able to buy one for a tad over $200.00 or maybe less.

Samsung launches HD DVD player

2007-04-13T02:20:00.000-07:00

Seoul, Korea – April 13, 2007 : Samsung Electronics Co., LTD., a leader in consumer electronics and digital media technologies, and the first company to introduce a Blu-ray disc player will introduce a dual format High-Definition (HD) optical disc player in time for the holidays.

Samsung’s Duo HD player (BD-UP5000) will fully support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats and their interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java. With the Duo HD consumers can enjoy additional studio content such as trailers, director’s comments, more elaborate interactive menus and behind the scene footage. The new Duo HD joins Samsung’s next generation DVD line-up which includes Samsung’s second generation Blu-ray player available at retail this month. Together, these two models offer the consumer a strong line of High-Definition players to match Samsung’s award winning, and best selling, line of HDTVs.

"We welcome Samsung's Duo HD player as another solution in the marketplace that will help reduce consumer confusion and buyer hesitancy towards HD media," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "This is an innovative product that can move us closer to mainstream consumer adoption of HD technologies."

“We are very pleased to announce the upcoming release of our Duo HD player. Consumers are hungry for more HD content but are currently confused about competing formats. Samsung’s Duo HD player will allow consumers access to every HD movie title available regardless of the authoring format. Samsung is committed to making life simpler through technology and will market next generation DVD products which will satisfy the consumer and market requirement. This is a big win for the consumer.

As a member of the DVD Forum and contributor to the DVD Industry, we recognize that both HD-DVD and BD formats have merits. As such, we have decided to market a dual format player. Samsung is flexible to market a stand-alone HD-DVD player whenever consumers demand it. Our main concern is not technology but consumer choice” said Dongsoo Jun, Executive Vice President of the Digital AV Division at Samsung Electronics.

Philips and Swarovski make sweet music

2007-04-13T02:04:00.000-07:00

Philips and Swarovski have teamed up to create a line of techie treats that your missus is guaranteed to hanker after…

The duo has spawned ‘Active Crystals’, a collection of polished silver earphones and flashy USB memory keys that come standard with a smattering of sparklies.

There are four pairs of noise-isolating ‘phones in the range, both in-ear and ear-hook, as well as four 1GB USB keys that she’ll be able to string around her neck or attach to her keychain.

The GadgetCandy girls said we should think of the bejewelled goodies as an investment: a ‘get out of the dog box free’ card, if you will. But you’re going to have to wait until the kit launches in August to cash in on their advice.

Keep it here for more on pricing.

Intel Centrino Pro Announced

2007-04-10T01:48:00.000-07:00

Intel is expanding its Centrino branding today with the announcement of Centrino Pro. Centrino Pro will take its place beside the existing Centrino and Centrino Duo brands in Intel's mobile lineup.

Centrino Pro is analogous to Intel's vPro platform on the desktop. Centrino Pro is based on the Santa Rosa platform and supports Core 2 Duo processors with Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) running on an 800MHz front side bus. Intel's 965 Express chipset (GM/PM) is paired with the ICH8M-Enhanced southbridge, which also features Intel Active Management Technology 2.5 (AMT).

AMT works by storing vital software and hardware information in non-volatile flash memory. IT administrators can then access vital system information or "heal" systems that have been taken out of commission due to an OS failure -- remote management is possible even when a system is powered off. AMT also incorporates System Defense, which actively blocks incoming threats while also quarantining infecting machines before they are allowed to infect others on the network.

Wired networking duties are handled by Intel's 82566N GbE controller which supports AMT; wireless networking is handled by the Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. The 4965AGN was announced in late January and can provide data rates of up to 300 Mbps. Intel also managed to double the operating range of its 802.11n solution over existing 802.11g solutions while also increasing battery life due to enhanced sleep states.

"Intel Centrino Pro processor technology brings the best of our offering with Intel vPro processor technology and adds it right into our highly successful Intel Centrino brand for laptops," said Mooly Eden, Intel's vice president of Intel Mobile Products Group. "This is an ideal time for this product as we continue to see notebook penetration rates increasing in business."

Intel will launch its Centrino Pro brand during Q2'07.

In Q2'08, Intel will launch the next iteration of Centrino Pro based on the Montevina platform. It will support Penryn processors with Intel VT-x/VT-d and Intel Trusted Execution Technology. Intel's Cantiga GM/PM chipset will feature Intel Turbo Memory 2.0 and an ICH9M-Enhanced southbridge supporting AMT 4.0. Networking duties will be handled by the Boaz GbE adapter, Echo Peak WiFi/WiMAX combo adapter or the Shirley Peak 802.11a/g/n WiFi adapter.

Microsoft:$179 is fair for Xbox 360 Hard Drive.

2007-04-10T01:45:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has listened to the negative response that it has gotten from the press and gamers regarding its 120GB external hard drive for the Xbox 360. The company contends that the price is justified and that consumers shouldn't compare the price of the 120GB Xbox 360 hard drive to a standalone 120GB 2.5" notebook hard drive.
"What we have done is release a smaller laptop size drive. If you compare what we are offering with a real plug-and-play drive the closest thing would be to take a 120 gig self-powered external PC drive," said Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg. "In that case we are seeing those retail at anywhere from $160 to $200 for comparable laptop sized external hard drives"
I decided to take Greenberg up on that offer and do a quick search over at Newegg for 2.5" 120GB 5400RPM USB 2.0 hard drives. In less than a minute, I found 4 units that were less than $100 before any rebates were even taken into consideration. The cheapest was the Aluratek AHDUB250120 which rings up at $79.99 after a $10 mail-in rebate.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking. "That's some no name company, no wonder it's so cheap." Right you may be, but not far off the Aluratek's price is a Seagate unit for $93.99 and a Western Digital Passport for $94.99.
So at the most we're looking at around an $80 to $100 price differential between a credible USB 2.0 hard drive and Microsoft's 120GB Xbox 360 hard drive. So what gives with the price difference?
"I know it sounds expensive to a lot of consumers but we are comparable to those types of drives and also we have to go through a lot more testing and security," Greenberg continued. "When we buy from suppliers we require a lot more spec reports and tests because that drive has to be able to perform at specific speeds all the time in order to support our environment and our gameplay experiences. Those are not the same specs that they are able to deliver to with off-the-shelf drives."
Is the security and testing worth $80 to $100? In my opinion, it’s probably not. But it's not like we have a choice. Microsoft has locked down the Xbox 360 so tightly in comparison to Sony's relatively open PS3 that it's their way or the highway. You're either forced to buy their expensive hard drive if you need the extra space or hack your existing enclosure and void your warranty.
Note to Microsoft: Just give us the option to use external USB hard drives and all we be forgiven.

SanDisk and Yahoo Music are working together to compete against the Apple iPod and iTunes service

2007-04-10T01:40:00.000-07:00

SanDisk today announced that its new wireless music player, the Sansa Connect, will be paired with Yahoo Music. The partnership will allow Sansa Connect owners to wirelessly connect and listen to LAUNCHcast Internet radio. Sansa users will also be able to browse photos on Flickr and see what Yahoo Messenger buddies are listening to.Financial details of the deal between the companies have not been released. The Sansa Connect was first introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show and costs $250 -- the 4GB, flash-based MP3 player has an additional slot for an additional SD memory card. When not connected to a WiFi network, the Sansa Connect acts like a regular MP3 player which is able to be connected to a PC.The release of the Sansa Connect comes at a time when SanDisk owns 9 percent of the U.S. MP3 player market, with Apple recently selling its 100 millionth iPod. Microsoft's Zune MP3 player is the only other music player that has wireless capability. Users cannot purchase songs through the Microsoft Zune Marketplace. SanDisk also is working with ZING, a company designed to create and offer mobile entertainment technology and services. The ZING Mobile Entertainment Engine will provide the MP3 player with new technology and services.

Apple sells its 100 millionth Ipod

2007-04-10T01:38:00.000-07:00

CUPERTINO, California—April 9, 2007—Apple® today announced that the 100 millionth iPod® has been sold, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history. The first iPod was sold five and a half years ago, in November 2001, and since then Apple has introduced more than 10 new iPod models, including five generations of iPod, two generations of iPod mini, two generations of iPod nano and two generations of iPod shuffle. Along with iTunes® and the iTunes online music store, the iPod has transformed how tens of millions of music lovers acquire, manage and listen to their music.
“At this historic milestone, we want to thank music lovers everywhere for making iPod such an incredible success,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPod has helped millions of people around the world rekindle their passion for music, and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”
“It’s hard to remember what I did before the iPod,” said Mary J. Blige, GRAMMY Award-winning singer. “iPod is more than just a music player, it’s an extension of your personality and a great way to take your favorite music with you everywhere you go.”
“Without the iPod, the digital music age would have been defined by files and folders instead of songs and albums,” said John Mayer, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist. “Though the medium of music has changed, the iPod experience has kept the spirit of what it means to be a music lover alive."
The iPod has also sparked an unprecedented ecosystem of over 4,000 accessories made specifically for the iPod that range from fashionable cases to speaker systems, and more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.
“I take my running shoes and my iPod with me everywhere,” said Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. “I listen to music when I run. Having my music with me is really motivating.”
Every iPod features seamless integration with iTunes 7. The iTunes Store (http://www.itunes.com/) features the world’s largest catalog with over five million songs, 350 television shows and over 400 movies. The iTunes Store has sold over 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and over 1.3 million movies, making it the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store. BULLET

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

N95 makes its way to the US shores

2007-04-10T01:33:00.000-07:00

Expected to be superior to every other phone out there, owners are saying otherwiseMobile phones are more powerful today than ever, and even best some of the old computers of the early 90's. Nokia this week officially made its "superphone", the N95, available on U.S. shores. The N95 was released in Europe earlier this year, but reports suggested that Nokia was already giving out samples of the N95 to several U.S. publications.The N95 lands first at Nokia stores in the U.S. carrying a price of $749.99. Although it's a steep price for a mobile phone, the N95 has been long in waiting among phone enthusiasts. Nokia first made waves with the much anticipated release of its N80, which came out last year. The N95 is a highly upgraded version of the N80, sporting a new double-sliding face that reveals the numeric keypad as well as audio playback controls at the top. Like the N80, the N95 supports 802.11b and 802.11g Wi-Fi standards is is based on Symbian OS 9.1 S60 release 3.1 -- the N80 was release 3.0. Like its predecessor, the N95 is capable of real-time 3D graphics, but as previous user of the N80, much of the N95's interface is similar. That being said, often time's user interface elements would show lag on loading. Some N80 users complained that the phone often froze while ending a call, which I myself did experience. Nokia responded and mentioned that it would be ironing out the kinks in the N95. However, users who have N95's are already noting that music playback is poor as is battery life.

AMD cuts prices on its high end processors

2007-04-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

AMD has cut prices on its high-end dual-core desktop processors after the launch of Intel’s quad-core Core 2 Extreme QX6800. AMD also announced its new restructuring plans to compensate for reduced quarterly revenue today. The price cuts affect AMD Athlon 64 X2 for single processor desktops and Athlon 64 FX Quad FX processors.

Quad FX Athlon 64 FX-74 and FX-72 processors prices drop to $799 and $599 from $999 and $799 respectively. AMD sells the Athlon 64 FX-70-series in pairs for its Quad FX enthusiast’s dual processor platform. AMD no longer lists the Athlon 64 FX70, the lowest priced pair of Quad FX processors, in its price list.

AMD Athlon 64 FX

Previous Price New Price

FX-74
$999 $799
FX-72
$799 $599

The Athlon 64 X2 6000+ that AMD released in February receives a drastic price cut to $241 as well. AMD previously priced the X2 6000+ at $464. Other Athlon 64 X2 processors including the X2 5600+, 5200+, 5000+, 4800+, 4400+, 4000+, 3800+ and 3600+ receive price cuts as well. With the new price cuts, all AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors are now priced under $250.

AMD Athlon 64 X2
Model Previous Price New Price

X2 6000+
$464 $241
X2 5600+
$326 $188
X2 5200+
$232 $178
X2 5000+
$222 $167
X2 4800+
$217 $136
X2 4400+
$170 $121
X2 4000+
$144 $104
X2 3800+
$113 $83
X2 3600+
$102 $73

Intel expects to cut prices on Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors later this quarter as well. Intel also plans to aggressively cut prices of its entire processor lineup in Q3’07 before AMD launches Barcelona and refresh its Core 2 Duo product lineup.

Expect retailer pricing to reflect AMD’s new pricing structure in the upcoming weeks. AMD’s pricing is per processor, in 1,000-unit quantities.

Lawsuit against Microsoft

2007-04-10T01:26:00.000-07:00

A lawsuit alleges that Microsoft Corp. engaged in deceptive practices by letting PC makers promote computers as "Windows Vista Capable" even if they couldn't run the new operating system's "signature" features.
The proposed class action, which Microsoft disputes, was filed on behalf of personal-computer buyer Dianne Kelley of Camano Island. It focuses on efforts by Microsoft and computer makers to avoid a lull in PC sales by assuring consumers that the machines they were buying last year could run the delayed operating system upon its January release.
Machines carrying "Windows Vista Capable" stickers included those that only met the requirements for Windows Vista Home Basic -- which lacks the "Aero" on-screen appearance, Media Center PC interface, Flip 3D window-switching and other features available in advanced Windows Vista versions.
"All the 'wow' stuff that Microsoft is selling and marketing is present in (Windows Vista Home) Premium, but it's not present in Basic," said Michael Rosenberger, one of the lawyers representing Kelley in the case.
Microsoft said Monday that the suit wrongly overlooks its efforts to make clear the differences between the different versions.
The company "conducted a very broad and unprecedented effort" to help PC makers, retailers and consumers "understand the hardware requirements to run the various flavors of the Windows Vista operating system," said Linda Norman, a Microsoft associate general counsel. "We feel as a company we went beyond what we've ever done to try to educate people so that they understood and could make the right purchase decision," she said.
Among other things, Microsoft created the additional designation of Windows Vista "Premium Ready" to indicate that a machine was capable of running the operating system's advanced features, meeting premium hardware requirements including a full gigabyte of system memory.
That "premium" designation was made available for PC makers and retailers to use in places such as computer boxes and in-store marketing materials, said Mike Burk, a Windows product manager. Microsoft also detailed the hardware requirements for the various Windows Vista versions in places including its own Web site.
However, the distinction wasn't made in the general "Windows Vista Capable" stickers.
The suit alleges that it was deceptive to include that logo on machines not capable of running all the features Microsoft was touting as capabilities of Windows Vista in general.
"In sum, Microsoft engaged in bait and switch -- assuring consumers they were purchasing 'Vista Capable' machines when, in fact, they could obtain only a stripped-down operating system lacking the functionality and features that Microsoft advertised as 'Vista,' " the complaint says. As a result, the suit said, people were buying machines that couldn't run "the real Vista."
The suit also alleges that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates contributed to the company's "deceptive marketing" during a Jan. 29 appearance on the "Today" show, when he said that PC users could upgrade to Windows Vista for less than $100.
"In fact, one can only 'upgrade' to Home Basic for that price, which Mr. Gates and Microsoft know is a product that lacks the features marketed by Microsoft as being Vista," the suit said. The suit alleges that Gates' statement "furthered Microsoft's unfair and deceptive conduct."
Norman disputed the notion that Windows Vista Home Basic isn't a true Vista version.
"Anybody who purchased a PC that had the Windows Vista Capable logo got the core experience of Windows Vista," she said.
"We have different versions, and they do offer different features. ... The Windows (Vista) core experience is a huge advance over Windows XP, we believe, and provides some great features, particularly in the area of security and reliability, and just general ease of use."
The complaint, filed last week, seeks class certification and unspecified damages.

Apple Mac Pros: now with 8-cores

2007-04-10T00:59:00.000-07:00

Meet the latest addition to the Mac Pro family: The world’s first 3.0GHz, 8-core Intel Xeon-based Mac Pro. Consider the bar officially raised.

Performance standard
No matter which Mac Pro model you choose — 8-core or quad-core Intel Xeon — each delivers advanced performance, workstation graphics, and unparalleled expansion in so many possible configurations, your imagination has finally met its match.

Eight cores or four
Opt for the 8-core Mac Pro and you get the power of two Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Clovertown” processors running at 3.0GHz. Or choose a quad-core Mac Pro featuring two Dual-Core Intel Xeon “Woodcrest” processors and decide how fast they fly: 2.0GHz, 2.66GHz, or 3.0GHz. At 3.0GHz, the quad-core Mac Pro runs up to 2x faster than the Power Mac G5 Quad.1

Unparalleled expansion
Mac Pro accommodates up to four drives and 3TB of storage, offers eight DIMM slots to fill with up to 16GB of RAM, and provides up to two SuperDrives. It also gives you four PCI Express slots and lots of I/O options for ultimate flexibility.

Killer graphics
Looking for high-performance workstation graphics? You’ve come to the right place. Three graphics card options let you choose the card that meets your specific needs. And every one lets you connect up to two displays, including at least one 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
More than 33 million possible configurations
You’re the expert. With build-to-order options available for processors, graphics cards, memory, hard drives, optical drives, and other features and components, the über-configurable Mac Pro lets you build your personal dream machine. The Mac you’ve been waiting for.

2007-04-09T02:04:00.000-07:00

Today Nokia announced the intriguing Nokia 5700 XpressMusic and the affordable Nokia 5070 bar. The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic looks like a mix between 3250 and 5300 models while the Nokia 5070 widens the Nokia portfolio in the budget segment with new... colors.

The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is the latest in the Nokia music-oriented range dubbed XpressMusic. It offers the same twisting design that made the Nokia 3250 so popular. With a mere twist you switch among four modes of operation - music player, digital camera, video telephone and a smartphone.

Nokia 5700

The 3G-enabled device features a number of music-oriented features such as a dedicated audio chip, a standard 3.5 mm audio jack, built-in stereo loudspeakers, and stereo Bluetooth support. The device is also equipped with a 2.2" 16M colors TFT display with a QVGA resolution, a microSD memory card slot and a standard miniUSB connector.

The 2 megapixel camera and the FM radio only add to the vast array of multimedia features that this pup can offer. Last but not least, the device is no ordinary phone but a smartphone powered by the latest Symbian OS 9.2 with the S60 3rd edition user interface.

The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic is expected to hit the market in Q2 2007 at an estimated price of 350 EUR.

The Nokia 5070 is a device much simpler and bears a fresh design but we got to admit that it may fail to freshen up the Nokia budget line of mobiles. The primary reason for that is that the Nokia 5070 is functionally identical to the already available Nokia 6070. The 5070 would have only made a difference if it had Bluetooth support - something that it doesn't have. Anyways, it's up to the user to decide and our guess is that looks is going to be main selling point of the Nokia 5070 as its primary distinguishing point in comparison to the other Nokia budget mobiles.

Nokia 5070

The Nokia 5070 will be available in the Q2 2007 at an expected price of EUR 100.

For more Info visit Nokia.com