wannabetechie.com Blog: Technology simplified.

Ramping up to CES 2013

2012-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

An example of an invite to a cocktail party at CES

It's that time of the year again -- done with the turkey coma and on to the Christmas shopping and New Year's champagne with a culmination of a tough and rewarding year of work at our jobs.

It's time to getting psyched about CES 2013 in Vegas.

What biggest change do I see forthcoming in our working space?

Proliferation of touch enabled ablet pcs in our workspace. PC at the desk, touch enabled tablet at meetings, lunch and in the evening.

Here's what I'm sure to see at CES this year

1080p HD phones
Bigger, Thinner TVs
Obnoxious 3D TVs and Cameras
4x HD devices
New Tablets and Touch enabled Laptops

A lot of this is the regular annual junk that's sort of boring.

Here's what I'm looking forward to this time:

Our team at Wannabtechie is growing a bit more and so three of us are heading that way this year including our new lifestyle specialist who will post on the blog before we go up there for work
See what interesting software and interaction environments will emerge prior to the democratisation of tablets in the workplace
Convergence of DSLRs, Mirrorless, Compacts and Smartphones
Smarter Toys
Next Generation Consoles (Xbox 1080, PS4?)
Generally have fun in Vegas
Maybe we'll go check out Grand Canyon

Source(s):

www.wannabetechie.com

Home Theater Success: An End to PowerDVD Issues

2012-12-07T23:21:00.000-08:00

After a hard day's work, facing problems with your home TV can be a pain.

Are you like me? See how many of these things you can check.

Did you buy a a BluRay drive like this?
Did you hope to connect your desktop to your TV as part of a cut the cable move?
Were you frustrated with so many issues that you thought you should buy a blu-ray player?
Could you not utilise the full power of your 5.1 or 7.1 surround system?

If any of the above, this post is for ya.

BluRay Drive
I actually bought what you call an OEM BluRay drive with bundled PowerDVD software. BluRay technology tries to keep itself ahead of pirates by constantly updating encryption and security technologies. So with newer and newer discs you buy or rent, your drive firmware needs to be updated for the drives to play correctly. If you're reading this, you probably came across the pain of upgrading firmware - it is just as complex as trying to compare Serta mattresses.

In short -- when you get PowerDVD bundled with your drive, it is the responsibility of the drive manufacturer to maintain the hardware firmware and its compatibility with the specific bundled version of PowerDVD. Of course manufacturers stop at some point. I did everything I could, contacted PowerDVD, Samsung and they kept passing the batton between each other. The hardware firmware is of course being updated but I was forced into finally buying a copy of PowerDVD Ultra 12 for the Christmas special of $39.99.

Still a rip-off, but hey I already had sunk cost in my home theater setup and it is still cheaper than cable. Now I can rely on PowerDVD to keep this version up to date for a few years.

HDMI Connection Issues
I would often come home to two very common problems.

No sound.

This was frustrating. Took me forever to figure out. My desktop audio is connected to my TV via an optical out as well as HDMI. Depending on the order of which I turn things on, TV, audio receiver, computer wake -- it picks HDMI or optical. And the desktop has a default playing device. Had to do some brute force restarting to figure this one out.

This error message that says my computer is incapable of playing BluRays. A similar one would blame a missing AC3 codec.

Well this was kinda stupid. Of course my computer can play BluRays. But PowerDVD thought I was trying some creative technique to rip the BluRay via a bypass tunnel of the HDMI cable. I downloaded the tool, did all sorts of tests. Had to restart the computer to fix. It took me some time to realise that if I turned off and on the receiver, it would self-fix. This is a weird issue with HDMI-sleep/wake. You can literally read thousands of articles like this on the topic. Skip it, just switch off/wake 2 seconds/switch on the receiver.

True Surround Sound (>2.0)
It seems like by default my computer outputs audio to 2 channel PCM. And if you have the HDMI AC3 issues above, you definitely saw this.

Read this article about how when you use SPDIF you will definitely see 2 channel output for sure and if you use HDMI you are very likely to see a default to 2 channel output.

What does this mean? Well you're watching the latest Dark Knight Rises BluRay and the annoying thing is playing the surround and background sound on the front speakers. It also kills any multiple frequency toning that your speakers are capable of. So why bother buying 5.1 in the first place?

This one took me many after work nights as well to fix. When using Windows Media Player or Xbox 360, the receiver would happily default to Dolby HD to play using my 5.1 setup. That quickly localised the problem to the default PC output settings or PowerDVD. Since Windows Media Center (TV stations) were running 5.1 on channels like CBS, that means the default audio device was capable of 5.1 and therefore the problem had to be in the new version of PowerDVD 12 that I bought.

PowerDVD settings is very compact and light, but can be very misleading. In the image below you see there is a setting for # of speakers. I played around with this for a while to realise it is futile. I moved back to the default HDMI setting and in the ouput mode - voila - I changed from default to Dobly and TrueTheater Surround.

Finally, PowerDVD 12 Quick Review
What I bought was bundled with some movie and photo editor software that I will never use, but a video player for android which is actually pretty powerful. It also comes with the PowerDVD remote software which is very handy.

Great remote. It provides windows media controls as well as movie progress controls

As for the software itself, I like the colours and layout of the user interface. Given my problems above clearly the UX is subpar and this is probably because the PowerDVD team is focused on monetising product rather than improving customer experience (clearly highlighted by the # of ads I see on an expensive paid version of software).

As for playing BluRays and using the remote - I like it. Compared to PowerDVD 9, version 12 seems to do a lot more to accomplish the same. It is slow to start, goes into all sorts of screen modes before starts playing the BluRay and sometimes I wonder if it may actually crash my computer because of the commotion it creates. In weird times it doesn't play anything and a quick close and a restart of the software does the fix.

On one occasion the crazy screen size fixing left me in a mode where I couldn't close PowerDVD or go back to my desktop. If I played the movie I would see horizontal bars of my desktop on the top and the bottom. I switched to theater move via Windows Media Player and I saw the whole software experience significantly improve.

All the best WannabeTechies!

Source(s): my experience, unlimited internet help posts

www.wannabetechie.com

Connecting a Macbook (or Laptop) to your TV. Better than Roku/Boxee?

2011-05-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve definely been able to use Hulu right on the laptop and it is fine. When it comes to Netflix, it gets a bit challenging for the top quality 1080p HD content. To fix this I use the computer on a cooling pad like this. All Mac laptops run very hot especially the newer ones which are faster and this is a required investment to not scorch your floor, desk or laps.

When talking about projecting to a TV I think you need to buy a mini DVI to DVI adapter and then a DVI to HDMI (or DVI or VGA depending on your TV) cable. You also need to get a computer audio (3.5mm) to RCA audio (red/white) cable. After all that, there is no guarantee that the resolution will be great. It worked great on my flatmate’s TV a few years ago but text was blurry on a TV at another person’s place.

But here’s my honest recommendation: if you had a budget of around $385
• you buy a used mac mini if you really want a mac on your TV (~$350, +about $100 for wireless keyboard and mouse)
• if you’re willing to be fine with only a browser, then you will have a lot more access to channels and tv shows designed for TV consumption with a boxee ($200) or a roku ($100) and if you really needed a mouse in addition to the remote keyboard, something like this ($50)
• $150 blu-ray player that comes built in with apps like Hulu and Netflix

I connected my super human desktop (insane core i7 config) to my <1 yr old 1080p HD tv and it looked OK for text but was awesome for video. It’s all about the light levels. A computer screen is able to manage the text on white background without burning your retina but for a TV which is set to be naturally of high dynamic range you’ll end up having to manually set the colour levels for the TV when using the computer and then go back for when watching just TV. And after about 2 weeks it became annoying trying to type for things with a wireless keyboard. It just seemed to be too much interaction for TV. I was so used to a very simple TV remote. My TV has online apps and with <3 button presses I can get to the Hulu app or the Netflix app and that is what I always use and have moved my desktop back to my desk, where it belongs. And for boxee and Roku you haves apps for each channel. You don’t need to go to comedycentral.com or whatever. Just pick the app (channel) and the show and it takes you right to the video. It is truly customised for the couch and cheaper. Source(s): www.wannabetechie.com

TravelSmart: Renewing your H1b Visa in Toronto

2011-02-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

Looking to renew your H1b? Low on vacation time and don't want to spend the money and time to go to your home country? Considering Toronto/Canada for renewal? I'm here to help mate!

1. Go here and apply for your visa and get your appointment date. File the application form online, pay the $150 fee online and also submit your photos digitally. I took my photos myself.

2. Get an appointment date about 3 weeks in advance so you have time to buy your flight tickets (plan for around 7 business days in Toronto), prepare documents and apply for a Canadian visa if necessary. Consider also that Toronto is a big city and the DHL pickup locations and the consulate are not close to each other and so make considerations for travel time and planning.

3. Go to Canada for your interview and on approval the visa will be stamped in your passport and sent to a DHL office for pickup.

Other notes assembled from frequently asked questions:

Employee vs. Contractor

I’m a full-time employee (not contractor), so that affects experience. Contractors/consultants need to prove the vendor-client relationship. Most employers give employment letters for only 3 months out and it worries the consulate to approve a 3 year visa on a 3 month employment guarantee. But it's all the documentation you have. Take photos and letters to prove employment and length of actual projects and engagement. Just be prepared, that's all you can do.

Documents

As for documents they only asked for my previous passport with the old h1b stamp. They didn’t ask for any other documents (I had bank statements, wage records, tax records, offer and employment letters, performance reviews, office photographs, all old passports and visa stamps)

Immigration Clearance on Return to US

When entering the US (immigration) they asked for the old passport, h1b stamp and company letter and a lot of the same questions asked during the interview.

Interview

(my responses shortened and in bold)

1. Tell me about your employer and your job. Petition says address of home company, you say you work in SF. Explained

2. What degree do you have. EE. How is this relevant to your current job. Explained my current roles and how the degree helps me in my daily job

3. Tell me about your previous H1b and employer. Talked about previous job and why I left it for this job and how they are related.

4. Asked about life in San Francisco and how it is to work for employer continued to chat about life and work

--He issued me a provisional visa.

Timing

Visa interview was on Monday, issued visa on this day (no PIMS). Sent to DHL office on Thursday, I picked up on Friday. They recommend 7 business days from interview to receipt. In the case of PIMS nothing is certain.

Many people think you need to renew H1b in your resident country. While it is preferable especially for your first H1b stamping, you actually don’t have to. I did my first H1b in London (was a resident there) and the second in Toronto. My home country is Sri Lanka.

I’ve been hearing though that depending on your home country and city consulate the success rates may be different. Some people who have gone back to India have not been able to come back. Toronto is a tough consulate. Vancouver and Tijuana (I have heard) are easier. London definitely was easier. Essentially there was a time when it was easier to renew in the home country. It isn’t the case anymore. It’s fair chance wherever – you just need to have your documents. It is cheaper to renew at a border consulate (Canada or Mexico) vs. India because of the cheaper flight cost.

The end to end time in Toronto from interview to Passport receipt was 5 business days (can be sometimes 7 days). In Mexico it is around the same. I am hearing it is much longer in India.

Source(s): my experience

www.wannabetechie.com

TravelSmart: Applying for a Canadian Visa from San Francisco

2011-02-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

Straying away from the topic of hot technology, I thought I'd share some valuable information surrounding visa applications similar to an older post about applying for a UK visitor visa.

San Francisco residents are faced with a lot of consulates operating out of LA or Seattle, making the application process and timelines a little tricky. I'm here to help!

If you're already here, you just want the details so I'm going to get right down to it.

You need to apply for a canadian tourist visa (TRV – temporary resident visa).

Type up a letter that lists of all the documents required for an applicant who is currently a US resident with H1b status (or whatever status you are in --this will slightly affect the documents required to prove residency in the US).

Here are the links that I found very helpful:

· Comprehensive visa guide: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5256ETOC.asp

· Photo specifications. I was able to take and print the picture for the US visa myself but the Canadian consulate has more stringent requirements. On some parts of their website they have even asked it to be taken by a professional photographer:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5256EB.asp

· Fee schedule. Single entry visa will be given for period of trip and multiple entry visa will be given for two years. Cannot make payment online. Must be (drawn in US dollars) a money order/cashier’s check or bank draft payable to “Canadian Consulate General”http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5256E5.asp

· Application by mail. If you cannot make it to the Seattle or Los Angeles consulate for same day service (apply 9am, receive visa by 3pm – keep in mind arriving at the consulate after 11am will classify your application as apply by mail and will not have same day service), you can apply by mail. Use USPS Express Mail – most convenient for you and the Canadian consulate. Add a paid self addressed express mail envelope in your package that you will be sending to the consulate. Once you get the visa the consulate will send back your passport and requested documents in the self addressed express mail envelope. As for costs, this ran me about $40 including tracking (delivery confirmation) and signature service. Express mail is fast – overnight service.

· Timing. Technically it takes 14 business days for a mail application to process (additional days are added if you have a passport from this list of countries http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/los_angeles/imm/visa_temp.aspx?lang=eng#MANDATORY). The real timing for me was 3 business days. I sent out the package on Thursday evening and I received the USPS express mail by the following week Wednesday morning 9am.

Source(s): my experience

www.wannabetechie.com

Apple iPhone 5 Rumors: What's Coming July 2011?

2011-02-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

Premiership News writes:

Apple’s expected to release its 5^th generation iPhone in a traditional fashion as usual to new product launch policy new product for many years which is at July 2011. In this article, we will try to understand what the iPhone 5 will bring to the market by depending on the tips and taking advantage of the official sources and sources close to Apple.

Firstly the hardware will be redesigned for sure due to improve the signal problem occurred with the previous version and obviously for style purposes.

The company behind the chipset was Infeneon, but have been changed to Qualcomm and it is expected to have GSM / CDMA / UTMS support. It could be said that the 5^th generation iPhone will not have LTE

Apple said in a statement made previously, and indicated that the current stage of transition to 4G currently. They have also stated that this year will not be the iPhone 4G year because of the unstable equipment.

A new processor called A5, (double-Cortex A9 processor) with 1.2 GHz clock speed is to be used. Therefore it is possible to say that the new iPhone will be faster and higher performance.

Source(s): Premiership News

www.wannabetechie.com

Nintendo 3DS Coming March 27th - Real 3D; No Glasses Necessary

2011-01-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

Despite the health warnings, the March 27th launch of the Nintendo 3DS is still anticipated by most of the gaming community. I've listed a few of the new features below -- hit the links to get more in-depth descriptions.

3D screen
3D depth slider
Motion sensor
Gyro sensor
2 screens
3D camera
Adjustable stylus
Street pass
Spot pass
And many more features

http://www.nintendo.com/3ds

http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hardware

Source(s): Nintendo

www.wannabetechie.com

Motorola Atrix Launching March 1st on ATT?

2011-01-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

We've heard rumors that this amazing, dual-core, Android phone might be hitting shelves sooner than we know it.

See our earlier post for more details on the actual smartphone, or go straight to the source.

Source(s): Motorola

www.wannabetechie.com

Macworld 2011: $10* Groupon Deal of the Day (1/12/11)

2011-01-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

Couldn't go to CES 2011? Get a deal for Macworld 2011 Expo in San Francisco (today-only, 1/12/11) on Groupon. Starts at $10 for a three-day pass.

Source(s): Groupon

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Motorola Atrix 4G = Phone + Laptop

2011-01-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

Loaded with all the goodies, including a front facing camera and a dual-core Tegra chipset, the new Motorola Atrix 4G smartphone doubles as a laptop processor, CPU, hard-drive -- whatever you want to call it. It's truly game changing. Motorola's dock, seen below, is basically just a screen, keyboard, mouse pad and battery. When docked, it runs Android's 2.2 (upgradeable to 2.3) software (browser along with a few apps). On the left side of the screen is what you would actually see on your Atrix screen, which you can access 100% from while docked. It can also be docked and connected to your TV, where the screen of the Atrix can be used as a mousepad.

Only downside is that this will only be available on ATT (at least for now, we hope).

Read more at cnet CES.

Source(s): cnet CES

www.wannabetechie.com

Top iPhone Apps for 2010

2011-01-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

GizmoCrunch's top iPhone apps for 2010 are as follows:

Angry Birds
The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the green pigs who stole the Birds’ eggs. Use the unique destructive powers of the Angry Birds to lay waste to the pigs’ fortified castles. Angry Birds features hours of gameplay, challenging physics-based castle demolition, and lots of replay value.

Fruit Ninja
Fruit Ninja is a juicy action game enjoyed by millions of players around the world, with squishy, splatty and satisfying fruit carnage! Become the ultimate bringer of sweet, tasty destruction with every slash.

Cut The Rope
A mysterious package has arrived, and the creature inside has only one request…CANDY! Help get the candy to Om Nom, the adorable monster, in this highly innovative and addictive puzzle game. Combining outstanding physics, devilishly tricky levels, and bright colorful visuals, Cut the Rope is one of the most original and fun-filled games on the App Store.

Hipstamatic
Digital photography never looked so analog. The Hipstamatic brings back the look, feel, unpredictable beauty, and fun of plastic toy cameras of the past! The Hipstamatic keeps the the quirks of shooting old school but gives you the ability to swap lenses, film, and flash settings all with the swipe of a finger.

Skype
With Skype on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, you can make and receive calls (including video calls), and instant message anyone else on Skype, wherever they are in the world. You can also save on international calls and text messages to phones. Skype is free to download and easy to use. With the latest version, you can now call over 3G*, and keep Skype running in the background.

Google Goggles (Google Mobile)
Originally introduced in the Android, Google Goggles is now a feature of the Google Mobile App for iPhone. Google Mobile App already lets you speak your queries, and it can also use your phone’s location to give you more relevant search results. In the new version of Google Mobile App just tap on the camera button to search using Goggles. Goggles will analyze the image and highlight the objects it recognizes!

Word Lens (our addition)
It's one of the most unique and useful apps out there, especially if you're a traveler. Just recently released by Quest Visual, it translates text in Spanish to English, and vice-versa. What's so cool about it? It does it in real-time, as you can see in the video below. It may not be 100% accurate and complete yet, but we're assuming its future updates will create improvements, as well as added features. One main functional element we think is missing is a screen shot button to save the image.

Source(s): Gizmo Crunch

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Panasonic Releases 3 New 3D Cameras

2011-01-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Still aimed for professional use, Panasonic has just pushed some new 3D/2D cameras out. The three new models are the HDC-TM900, HDC-HS900 and HDC-SD800 and all feature 3 MOS image sensor system with 1080/60p recording, Hybrid OIS, Intelligent Auto, and Eco-Mode. Additional specs:

* F1.5 Leica Dicomar lens
* 35mm wide-angle capability
* 20x optical zoom
* Crystal Engine PRO processors
* Hybrid Optical Image Stabilizer
* Intelligent Auto functions
* Record to SDXC/SDHC/SD cards

Source(s): Panasonic, Tech Digest

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: D-Link WiDi: Display Media from A Laptop onto an HDTV Wirelessly

2011-01-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

WiDi. Get familiar with it because you'll be hearing it more often. D-Link just announced new, 1080p capable wireless display technology to those currently using a WiDi enabled TV or have the MainStage add on. Pricing hasn't been released yet, but it's said to be available Spring 2011.

From the press release:

D-Link Integrates Intel® Wireless Display Technology (WiDi) into D-Link MainStage™, Enabling Home Users to Display Any Media from Their Laptop onto an HDTV Wirelessly

D-Link’s whole-home connectivity push at CES 2011 includes a special announcement about Intel’s Second-Generation Wireless Display technology. Intel® WiDi enables consumers to share virtually any content from an Intel® CoreTM processor-based notebook to their big screen TV. If the HDTV doesn’t currently include the Intel WiDi technology (some new HDTVs have the technology built in), D-Link MainStage can be added to the TV for instant wireless connectivity to a WiDi-enabled notebook.

D-Link MainStage is a discreet solution for adding Intel® WiDi to a customer’s HDTV via HDMI or component video connections. D-Link MainStage enables extremely low latency playing of Internet (or locally stored) videos, family pictures and stored music via the big screen without connecting any wires. The laptop wirelessly transmits content to the display adaptor hooked to the TV.

With Intel® WiDi, there’s no need to crowd around the small laptop screen when friends and family want to show off videos. Plus, you can send D-Link home network content from the laptop to the big screen (via NAS storage devices, miiiCasa™ connected content, and desktops throughout the house).

It’s all available via one simple button on the laptop desktop.

Source(s): D-Link

www.wannabetechie.com

Motorola Tablet: Running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)?

2011-01-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

Breaking News: Google just released an Android 3.0 honeycomb video. The video is private so we can't see it yet, but BGR has a screenshot. It looks beautiful!

The tablet market just got interesting. If you're currently shopping for one, it may help to wait a bit longer. In the YouTube video released today (below), Motorola mocks competitors (Samsung Tab and the Apple iPad) for not having an optimized operating system, which are both made for smartphones. The setting of the teaser takes place in a museum, where old and current tablets are archaically displayed. Pay attention to the insect hovering over the Moto logo in the end. Looks like they'll be creating some buzz at CES. Here are the rumored specs:
* 1.0 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM
* 10 inch multitouch screen, 1280 x 760 resolution
* Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
* Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system

Source(s): addictivetips, YouTube, BGR, Engadget

CES 2011: LG's Smart Web-Connected Home Dream via THiNQ

2011-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

LG seems to believe in a world of smart appliances. Pretty sure this was a running joke at some point but when we look at most of our appliances today running on Android or Windows CE, it really isn't a joke anymore.

LG's dream definitely has positive benefit for us. Preheat the oven on the way home or run the washer while you're commuting -- all right from your handheld device. Check what's in your fridge while you're at the grocery store and keep an eye on your home via the HOM-BOT. On top of all this, the devices communicate with a smart-meter to ensure you're energy usage is optimised. Wannabe Techie, i'm pretty sure you're salivating at the possibilities if this is just scratching the surface of smart home devices.

Source(s): LG Press Release

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Hot Hot Smartphones

2011-01-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is an updating post for the week of CES 2011. Check back for updates.

Sony Ericsson

Experia Arc. 4.2" Android 2.3 1Ghz beauty.

Optimus Black. "world's thinnest smartphone" coming in at 9.2mm thick. Android 2.2 upgradeable to 2.3.

Samsung

Infuse 4G. HSPA+ handset, 1.2Ghz, 4.5" Super AMOLED plus screen. Android 2.2.

Motorola

Droid BIONIC. 1Ghz dual core =2Ghz. 4G LTE (10x 3G). 4.3" qHD display.

Source(s): Gagadget, BGR, Motorola

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: More Tablets from ASUS

2011-01-05T10:06:00.000-08:00

Vizio just hit the stage with their latest tablet and smartphone yesterday. We should have waited knowing that this is the CES of tablets so that we could do it in one post :)

Asus is announcing four tablets at CES 2011.

7" Asus Eee Pad MeMO running Android3.0, available June 2011, $499
10.1" Asus Eee Pad Transformer running Android 3.0 available April 2011, $399-$699
10.1" Asus Eee Pad Slider running Android 3.0 available May 2011, $499-$799
12.1" Asus Eee Slate EP121 running Windows 7 available January 2011, $999

This is why it is a good idea to manufacture a tablet this year:

Source(s):BGR, Techcrunch

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Live Press Events

2011-01-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Live Press Event 1pm PST Jan 5 2011

highlights: Windows on ARM processors, Windows TV

Samsung Live Press Event 2pm PST Jan 5 2011

highlights: 3D technology, 4G AMOLED mobile handsets

Motorola Live Press Event 4pm PST Jan 5 2011

highlight: Android tablet

Sony Live Press Event 5pm PST Jan 5 2011

highlights: 3D technology, Playstation phone

Microsoft CES Keynote: Steve Ballmer 6:30pm PST Jan 5 2011

highlights: Kinect, Windows 7

Verizon Live Press Event 9am PST Jan 6 2011

highlights: LTE, tablets, new Droid

We'll add more links as we find out. Be excited, wannabe techies!

Source(s): CNET, BGR

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Eye-Fi Announces Direct Mode - Connect Directly to Your Wireless Device, Smartphone or Tablet

2011-01-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

Eye-Fi, the innovators of the wireless memory card, announced today that they will be releasing "direct mode" wi-fi enabled storage cards. According to the press release: "With Direct Mode, photos taken with your digital camera can immediately be sent to your smartphone or tablet." Talk about convenience and ease of transfer.

Source(s): Eye-Fi

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Fling iPad Game Controller

2011-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

I've played some great games on touchscreen devices and one thing that has always bothered me was the on-screen touch controls. You can never really feel them or know exactly where they are without looking at it ... until now. Ten One Design just announced an easily (suction cup) attachable analog (conductive) joy stick. Only time will tell what changes this will have on the tablet/smartphone gaming industry. We can't wait till it comes out on other devices. It's expected to have a U.S. price tag of $24.96 when it's released later this month.

Source(s): Ten One Design

www.wannabetechie.com

CES 2011: Iomega Announces Personal Cloud Storage

2011-01-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

We're at CES and we've just heard about Iomega's Personal Cloud Storage solution. Available in 1TB and 2TB models, users can easily share and access files (photos, videos, documents, etc.) from anywhere, like they're right on the local network. Iomega claims it's a breeze to set up and that it'll support up to 250 users. If you're worried about security, access is only granted to those with appropriate permissions, and 128-bit encryption is used to protect your data while in transit on the Internet. It should be available worldwide later this month: $169.99 for the 1TB model, and $229.99 for the 2TB model (U.S. suggested retail).

According to Iomega:

Iomega Personal Cloud is a patent-pending technology that connects desktop Iomega network storage devices to other devices—like PCs, Macs®, iPhones®, iPads®, and more*—via the Internet. Unlike public and private cloud applications, the Personal Cloud is completely self-owned and managed, so the content and accessibility is always under your control, and there are never any usage fees or subscription charges.

*Availability of iPhone/iPad application is expected in early 2011.

Source(s): Iomega Cloud, Iomega Press Release

www.wannabetechie.com

4gb vs. 250gb... or Upgrading your Xbox 360 Hard Drive

2011-01-03T18:15:00.000-08:00

I bought an Xbox 360 a few months ago. Like any other buyer out there, I faced the "4GB or 250GB" dilemma.

Which one do you get?

What's better?

Specifications?

Cost?

Here are some things to consider.

Differences

1. Specifications

Storage: the 250GB version of course has 250 gigs of memory (hard drive) while the 4GB version has 4 gigs of memory (flash). A hard drive upgrade of 250gigs is available.
Finish: the 250GB version has the piano black finish similar to the Kinect accessory while the 4GB version has a matt finish.

2. Price

The 250GB version is $100 more. A 240gig hard drive upgrade right now sells for $109.99. So the price difference is $10 if you want the matt finish.

3. Usability

Something you don't realise is that game demos and downloads take a significant portion of space. With a 4GB Xbox 360, you actually have 3.2gigs of usable space. When a demo is on average ~500 MB, that gets you 6 demos. Less if you buy game discs and much less if you have an on demand game (digital download).

Another important realisation i discovered was that some games just require an existing hard drive for 'complete performance'. One of the Kinect games that came in my bundle refused to save content on the flash memory. It required a flash drive. I've also read online that many other games require a hard drive for multiplayer or plain gaming.

So what's the decision?

For most wannabe techies it is possibly just picking the 250gb xbox 360. Less to worry about in the future. If you really wanted the matt finish, pickup the hard drive add-on. But for some of us, paying $110 for a 250gig drive seems like daylight robbery to conform to the custom spec of the Xbox 360 drive bay. There must be a way, right?

any instructions you follow below will void the warranty of the hard drive and hard drive bay and not the entire console. remember, if you needed up fix/upgrade your hard drive you'll have to do it somehow! that said, don't follow the instructions if you're not confident it is easy for you. you could damage your hard drive bay / computer permanently.

What you need:

1. An old Xbox 360 hard drive, or a laptop hard drive that are of the same model number as those used in the Xbox 360 units. For example, a WB Scorpio Blue Series BEVT size 250gig (it has to be this size) works.

2. A desktop computer or computing environment where you can connect a hard drive for flashing

3. A printout of excellently written instructions courtesy of InsaneNutter

4. {optional} A case for the laptop hard drive. You can get one here or here.

The Xbox 360 checks the firmware of the drive to see if the particular model is OK by Microsoft. Essentially what you're doing is taking a compatible hard drive and then flashing it to ensure it matches Microsoft's specifications so that it works with the Xbox 360 console and data can be stored on it safely. Hit me up if you had any questions regarding the instructions. The tail end of the instructions talk about transferring data from an old hard drive. If you're a new Xbox 360 buyer this doesn't pertain to you and so you can skip.

Need a little bit more help? Here's a video from Youtuber SiddGoneWild which can help you orient yourself with what you need to do.

All the best, Wannabe Techie!

Vizio Back Again: VIA Tablet and Smartphone running Android

2011-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

Another thing to look forward to CES Jan 6-9 2011 is Vizio's launch of the VIA Tablet and Smartphone, say the folks at BGR.

The last time Vizio did a 'first', was to release a high quality - high value Television set. I remember telling some friends about this company Vizio and how good their TV was and everyone I knew got one. The rest is history. Vizio both took a fair market share and lifted total category dollars, making it easier for people to trade up and buy a flat panel television.

Tablets are nice toys; smartphones are becoming our next necessity. Let's see how these devices standout at CES and if they're capable of repeating history, resulting in increased tablet and smartphone adoption globally.

HC EVO 4G Shift = Droid Incredible + Epic 4G

2011-01-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

BGR just sent out a blast about the revelation of the latest HTC 4G phone with a slide our qwerty. To us it looks like Droid Incredible and Epic 4g have been mashed up to create this phone.

Of course no AMOLED screen but it has 4g and a slide out keyboard. Ian and I are both EVO users -- swype's really great but it isn't like using a keyboard. The Droid Incredible had a great screen size and snappy performance. Walmart Wireless has it here.

update 1.1: Radioshack isn't wasting any time. They're launching this phone on Thursday Jan 6th for $149.99. Details here.

Here's a video from Wirefly:

source:BGR, Wirefly

Big Tech Bets for 2011

2011-01-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

2010 was a big year, but what's in store in the tech industry for 2011? PCMag provides an in-depth look at the following big bets:

1. Smartphones: iPhone 5, Android (3.0 -Honeycomb, 2.3 Gingerbread), Dual-Core Processors, NFC
2. Tablets: iPad2, Nook, Motorola Tablet
3. High-Speed Cellular Networks: 4G, LTE, WiMAX, HSPA
4. 3D: Gaming, Television
5. Cloud Computing: Storing it all online (Google Docs, Microsoft)
6. Social Networking: Facebook and Twitter
7. Graphic Hardware: Integrated Graphics Solutions

Read more about it at the source: PCMag

If you've got something to add, feel free to express yourself in the comment section below.

Happy New Year!