Technology Blog

Tech Talk...

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:33:00 +0000

What started as a company named after a small town in Finland, Nokia mobile phones are the rage right now. Known for their Stunning cutting edge Technology, combined with astonishing functions and applications, these phones are more of Coolest Gadget. Taking picture becomes much simpler, besides creating and posting to your blog and surfing for other blogs standing on the roadside. Or while taking a bus ride. Like a mobile office that moves with you. That includes surfing for other Technology Blogs to see what’s next in the pipeline. Sony makes some distinguished Gadgets you can count PS3 is one of them.

Digital Hour Glass Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:47:00 +0000

Sand+Time Watch is a project that unites modern technologies and old ways of measuring time. Sand+Time offers its wearer the time in modern electronic hours, but the form of the interface has also been borrowed from an old sand hourglass. The watch functions in two modes. The first, the screensaver, takes the form of a sand hourglass counting a certain time unit set by the user to their preference. (The default setting for the hourglass is to count one minute.) The second mode displays the time in numbers – the most common electronic interface for the modern person.

Modular chair

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:29:00 +0000

This is probably the funniest Gadgets I've ever Seen, have a look at it

20GB PS3 Discontinued by Sony

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 06:01:00 +0000

Apr 13, 2007

According to reports, Sony has confirmed the discontinuation of the 20 GB model of PlayStation 3.

The official announcement from Sony reads,

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.

The announcement further reads,

Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model 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.

Apparently, the reason behind discontinuing of the 20 GB model has much to do with pricing and lack of certain features in this model vs-a-vs the 60GB one. The 20 GB model was available for a price of $499, where as the 60 GB model is available for $600.

It's obvious most buyers would prefer buying a bigger and better PS3 for a few dollars (read: $100) more...

However, those who already own a 20GB model need not worry, as the company has reportedly assured these customers of continued support the same as promised upon purchase.

Toshiba Qosmio G40 LapDesktop

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 05:57:00 +0000

Here s a sneak peek at the specs for one of Toshiba s Qosmio GXX line of desktop replacements:
The Qosmio G40. Not only does it have a 17 1920 x 1200 screen, its dual 200GB hard drives, T7300P Core 2 Duo processor (Santa Rosa) and 2GB of RAM make it rocking!

The other usual basic necessities for such a high configured system are obviously included, but with the 512MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics, an HD DVD-R drive and HDMI 1.3 in the mix makes it even more interesting. The laptop will most probably be out initially in Europe sometime in June, with a whopping price of around 3000/$4000 (Rs.1, 71,070). So this one is just a look-but-don t-touch item for now.

Motorola Adds One to Mass Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:07:00 +0000

Motorola has launched its stylishly sleek entry level phone, the W205, in the country.

With the promise to offer a vibrant, colourful, and innovative experience, W205 boasts a 65K colour CSTN display, enabling mobile users experience one of the richest user interfaces on a mobile device.

The handset is only about 14.9mm thick, supports phonebook memory up to 500 contacts, and can store up to 750 SMS.

Speaking at the launch, Malcolm Dawe, Vice President and General Manager for Mobile Devices, Motorola India, said, "As Motorola looks to connect the next billion handset users, we are continuing to raise the bar for mobility, with innovative features and a rich colour experience for Indian mobile consumers."

The W205 enables users download 32 channel polyphonic ring tones, and features iTAP predictive text messaging with Hindi read/write capability. The phone offers 1MB of storage, and an office quality speakerphone.

It also features a multi character phonebook search function with up to 12 characters, menu colour personalization, lantern capability for dark environments, a calendar, currency converter, and talking alarm clock.

The phone battery supports talk time of up to 470 minutes, with standby time up to 307 hours.

The new Motorola W205 is immediately available on the market at an affordable price point of Rs 2,449.

Xbox 360 QWERTY thumb Keyboard

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:45:00 +0000

Rumors about a QWERTY keyboard to support the Xbox 360 have been around for quite some time now and I am sure you will be glad to know that Microsoft has come up with a thumb keyboard for the 360, adding this to its ever growing list of peripherals.

There are a few things you must know before you decide to get one of these:

* The thumb keyboard plugs into the headphone/data jack on the bottom of the controller.

* It comes bundled with its own headset since it doesn't pass the signal through, and
cannot work with current peripherals.

* The keyboard is backlit; the chat bubble icon in the photos is an MSN icon.

Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:20:00 +0000

Although it was first displayed at E3 in 2006, the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows is finally now made available for purchase. The adapter lets you use your standard wireless 360 peripherals, such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset, with your Windows PC which means Windows users, who can finally enjoy some wireless play, and it'll only cost them $20.

It also means much more wireless action for upcoming games for Windows titles such as Shadowrun, UNO and Halo 2, along with generic game controls and VoIP functionality. Microsoft is also releasing a $60 package which includes the receiver as well as a wireless controller. Both items are available in the market, although we don't know if its out in India yet.

Imate's New Windows Mobile Device

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:01:00 +0000

i-mate has announced its newest Black JAQ3, calling it a must have tool for every professional on the move.

The JAQ3 is a mid-range Windows Mobile device, designed to appeal to a wider audience. It is a dedicated messaging device with a full QWERTY keyboard, and a 2.4-inch QVGA touch screen display.

The device offers high data download rates with packed GPRS, EDGE, and Wi-Fi connectivity. With Microsoft Direct Push email, attachments can be viewed/edited in real time.

The JAQ3 has buttons and keyboard keys that are nicely domed and raised with tactile feedback, so that users can concentrate on the road while driving instead of having to fiddle with the keys. The rough texture of the keys keeps users' fingers from slipping off of them.

The JAQ3 weighs just 160 grams, and features multi-lingual 24/7 support through www.clubmate.com; built in i-mate suite; i-mate device management and file sharing solution for IT support; and secure access/transfer of information on the go; among others.

Other interesting features include: i-mate Configurator that detects the SIM card, and configures GPRS and MMS settings according to the network as soon as the device boots up; Search Application that searches the device for various files, messages, calendar entries, notes, emails, etc; and Voice Commander that recognizes voice prompts without storing voice tags in the i-mate JAQ3.

Speaking at the launch, Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of i-mate India, said, "A perfect combination of technology and design, JAQ3 is also one of the slimmest Windows Mobile, & is amongst the technically sound Windows Mobiles available in the market."

i-mate JAQ3 is immediately available across the country through the company's wide distributor/dealer network for a price of Rs 25,500.

Razer Pro Type Keyboard

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:55:00 +0000

Razer has finally entered the iPod accessory market with a release date and price for their Razer Pro Type Keyboard. which will be out in mid-April for $130 (Rs.5850).

As expected of Razer, the keyboard features media buttons, 10 programmable keys with backlights, two USB ports and a line-out jack and 10 customizable profiles for setup switching. So if Razer fans are hungry for something new, this is it (Though we have no info on whether it will come to India).

Live Messenger Comes to Xbox 360

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:53:00 +0000

Xbox 360 owners can now experience Windows Live Messenger on their gaming consoles, Windows-based PCs, and Windows Mobile-powered devices.

This announcement comes as part of Xbox 360's spring update, bringing Xbox 360 owners worldwide - access to Windows Live Messenger features on their TV screens through their gaming consoles.

With this update, friends and families can connect directly from their televisions using Windows Live Messenger, and enjoy voice or video chat. The service can be used to text chat with up to six people at one time, while playing games, listening to music, or watching movies.

According to Microsoft, current relationships on Windows Live Messenger and Xbox Live will be unified on Xbox 360, and users will be able to see at a glance if their existing friends on Windows Live Messenger have gamertags, expanding the breadth of connected experiences they can share online.

Users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. Microsoft will be launching a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly to the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.

Apart from Windows Live Messenger, the spring update for Xbox 360 includes some more features and enhancements such as a richer achievement notification pop-up that will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value; enhanced family settings for Xbox LIVE enabling defaults for video and voice chat; a new Xbox Live Marketplace blade that lets Xbox Live members access the content from one place on Xbox Live.

In addition, users will be able to quickly see which Xbox Live Arcade games their friends are playing, and join in the fun. Another new feature is faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox Live Arcade games. The new progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options, by allowing fast-forward, rewind, pause, and resume as the video is downloading from Xbox Live Marketplace.

All Spring updates, including that of Windows Live Messenger, will be available for free - beginning the week of May 7th.

MasterSeek : Business Search engine and Import Export Directory

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:01:00 +0000

First, in building a successful company, one must have a good reputation in the corresponding area of activity. The easiest and most popular manner of achieving this goal in these modern times is by means of the Internet.

If you are the manager of a newly founded company, you can hire a specialist to design an Internet site, buy a domain and wait for the customers. Nevertheless, there is an easier way to get onto the online market. You can enter your company’s data and information on a business search engine.

In order to have an account on an export import directory, for example, the manager of a company needs to provide a brief description of the enterprise, including the number of employees, area of activity, and whether there are other places, in which the company is active. In addition, pictures and images of the company’s products should make the object of an upload over the Internet.

The purpose of a business search engine is to familiarize people with your company’s profile and area of activity. It provides a chance for companies from other countries to begin a partnership with new enterprises. Searching for partners is very easy. You just have to search for the country that has caught your interest and for the domain of activity where you want to collaborate, and you will obtain a reliable inventory of potential partners. Next, all you have to do is make the selection that suits you best.

Naturally, a reliable business search engine will be available in a certain variety of languages. This will make things a lot easier for both of the partners involved. In this manner, you may be certain that a potential foreign partner will understand your expectations and, of course, you get to understand their expectations in your turn.

Of course, searching for partners abroad is not the only option on a business search engine. You can also search for potential partnerships within the borders of your own country. Nevertheless, an export import directory is useful in such situations, as it saves a lot of time that you would have otherwise spent on doing research on other companies with the same area of activity as yours.

On such a site as an export import directory, one can find, apart from the useful data about companies worldwide, other information. If you are looking for partners in a specific area of the globe, after you have found them, it is easy to find accommodation in the area, by using the same Internet site. You can also find out how you can reach that certain country, by way of plane, train, boat or car – whichever suits you best.

Search results are always reliable on an export import directory. As companies need that their image forms the object of very serious consideration from potential partners and / or potential customers, they work hard in improving their offer and their account on the export import directory. They keep their page up to date and the information presented there is accurate and reliable.

Commerce and business over the Internet is currently one of the most flourishing areas of activity including niche areas like restaurant supplies. It renders partnership between companies – foreign or not – a lot easier and faster. It also provides a chance for expansion for many companies. Finding partners abroad has become a much easier task due to the implementation of business search engines.

Online Business Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:09:00 +0000

If you have ever wanted to start your own online business, you then know that although there is an abundance of information out there, it is often confusing or contradicting. I came across an eBook the other day which I feel is a pretty good guide for both the begginer and expert. It is the Online Business Guide and the thing I really liked about this book is how step by step it is.

When you usually buy an eBook it is either cram packed with Ads or horribly out of date. This guide however is nearly 50 pages of pure content. I definately reccomend it for my readers that might be toying with the idea of starting their own Online Business.

First Woman to Win Turing Award

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:04:00 +0000

For the first time in the 40 years history of Turing Awards, a woman (Frances E Allen) has won the prestigious computing award.

Turing Awards are considered the "Nobel Prize of Computing". They carry a $100,000 (Rs 4500,000) prize with financial support provided by Intel Corporation.

Since 1966, when the Turing Awards were first instituted, the winners have always been men. With a woman winning the award, this year marks a new beginning.

Frances E Allen (75) has been given the award for her work at IBM on techniques for optimizing the performance of compilers, the programs that translate one computer language into another. Programming code has to be converted into binary zeros and ones that are actually read by a computer's colossal array of miniscule switches.

Allen joined IBM in 1957, when the company was recruiting women by circulating a brochure on campuses that was titled "My Fair Ladies." She joined the company to teach 'Fortran', a revolutionary high-level programming language, to the scientists there.

According to Ruzena Bajcsy, Chair of ACM's Turing Award Committee,

"Frances Allen's work has led to remarkable advances in compiler design and machine architecture that are at the foundation of modern high-performance computing. Her contributions have spanned most of the history of computer science, and have made possible computing techniques that we rely on today in business and technology."

Bajcsy added,

"It is interesting to note Allen's role in highly secret intelligence work on security codes for the organization now known as the National Security Agency, since it was Alan Turing, the namesake of this prestigious award, who devised techniques to help break the German codes during World War II."

Allen, now retired, still plays an active part in programs to encourage girls/women to study Computer Science.

Asus Reveals Gaming LCD Monitor

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:59:00 +0000

Asus India has introduced its latest gaming LCD monitor, the PG191, which incorporates the power Bass System and the fastest 2 milli-seconds gray-to-gray response time to deliver audio and video performance demanded by hardcore gamers.

The PG191, which is a 19-inch TFT-LCD panel, comes in Black and Silver color along with a Sleek Aluminum alloy neck and circular base and glared panel frame. And for gamers, the display contour is based on stealth bombers, and the subwoofer speakers at the back look like tank cannons.

The PG191 comes with 2.1-channel speakers (2 x 10W speakers and 15W super bass system) to deliver an exhilarating audio experience when battling in the virtual world. And complemented by SRS Lab's Flagship TruSurround XT audio technology, the display supports the latest game titles' 5.1 and 6.1 channel sound standards.

The PG191 incorporates the 'Trace Free' technology, which accelerates gray-to-gray response time to 2 milli-seconds to enable smooth video quality whether it is football matches, 3D gaming, or DVD playbacks.

The built-in 1.3 Web cam and headphones and microphone jacks together offer a total interactive solution for online gaming. Gamers can also battle online, and strategize with teammates through video conference. And the bundled 'Life Frame' video communication software further lets users take snapshots and record video with ease.

The PG191 also offers 6 convenient hot keys to activate its special audio and video modes. There are 5 audio modes, including Standard, First-Person Shooting Games, RPG Games, Theater and Music; and 5 splendid image enhancement modes, which include Standard, Scenery, Night View, Theater, and Gaming.

This LCD monitor also has 'Splendid Video Intelligence' technology that detects activation and usage of video applications, and automatically optimizes image quality for the best visual results. Besides the five modes (Standard, Game, Theater, Scenery, and Night), this innovative technology also enables users to select three skin tone options for the best visual results in different video applications.

The other key features of the PG191 include resolution of 1280 x 1024, 800:1 contrast ratio and 320nits brightness, 3 USB 2.0 ports, touch sensor key controls and power on/off melodies, flexible tilting and swivel angle adjustment, support for both DVI-D and D-SUB inputs, 3-year system and panel warranty, and 1-year Zero Bright Dot Warranty.

Meanwhile, this Asus PG191 LCD monitor will be available in the India market at an approximate end user price of Rs 29,500 plus taxes.

You Can Now Click On Your Own Google Ads!

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:54:00 +0000

Google's AdSense is currently a popular service on the Internet because it helps users earn money by placing ads on their websites. Every time a user visits the site and clicks on a Google ad, a certain amount of money is transferred into your account so, more users, more money. Because the service works with financial data, it imposes several terms of service to registered clients that must avoid infringing them or they can get their account banned. One of the most known rules is that users are not allowed to click on their own Google ads because the search giant records the user's IP and, if it's similar with the owner's, it represents a click fraud.

Some time ago, the company released another type of adverts meant to increase their appearance but also display more products and an attractive commercial for a specific solution. Google Video Ads is not being implemented to a limited number of users but some of them are now encountering some simple issues with the adverts. In a discussion published on the WebmasterWorld forum, a webmaster reported that some video ads by Cadillac were included on his site but he avoids clicking on them because he's aware of click fraud. AdSense Advisor, a preferred member of the forum, posted a reply to the message, saying you can play the ads to view the content of the commercial.

The AdSense Advisor said in the WebmasterWorld discussion.

“Actually, you're welcome to watch the click-to-play video ads that appear on your site by clicking the Play button. We want publishers to be able to check the content of video ads playing on their sites, so we only count clicks that lead a user to the advertiser's site, such as a click on the display URL or on the video while it's playing. Clicking only the Play button will let you watch the ad without generating invalid clicks”

Commercials from Gmail

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:32:00 +0000

Here are the Commercials by Gmail as they have gone free now :D. Have a look and enjoy

Gmail Theater : Act 1 (Why use Gmail)

Gmail Theater : Act 2

Gmail Theater : Act 3

Gmail Theater : Act 4

Google Search Engine Improved Again

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:08:00 +0000

Google's Search Engine provides access to a variety of functions that help you find multiple types of information using a single keyword typed in the search box. Take the example of the Plus Box that provides you additional details about a website by clicking on the plus sign displayed under the link. Some time ago, the search giant removed map links to other rivals' services to allow you to view a tiny map displaying a certain business. This time, the company updates the search giant with a brand new feature meant to return stock quotes about a specific firm.

The procedure is quite simple: all you need to do is to type your desired keyword, let's say “computers”. After you'll press search, the Google technology will return you multiple weblinks to companies from all around the world. Then, you should be able to see a plus sign connected to the link of the page that provides you stock information given by the Google Finance solution.

“Google tests a new Plus Box for stock quotes. If a site is connected to a business listed on a stock exchange, you'll see a link that says: "stock quote for GOOG", for example. If you expand the box, you'll get information from Google Finance about the stock and the company. Unlike the OneBox results that show up at the top of the search results or at the bottom of the page, Plus Boxes are connected to individual search results and give more information about the context of the site. We can expect to see more expandable boxes in the months to come,” Ionut Alex, Google blogger, sustained about the new function.

This is not the first attempt of the search giant to provide additional results based on the OneBox technology. You can also find more information about music, movies, news, weather, travel, shopping and many other search services designed by Google.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:05:00 +0000

The first commercial version of Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 has been released by Adobe.

For more than a year, the photographic software has been available as a free downloadable beta. The current beta 4.1 is due for expiry on Feb 28, after which users will have to purchase the full version if they want to continue using it.

The 1.0 version is an improvement over the 4.1 beta in terms of advanced keyword tools in the library module that help photographers filter through large collections; more flexible file handling in the import dialogue that allows greater choice while determining file location; and a new and improved key metadata browser that offers quick access to key information tags, with color labels plus a pick/reject system.

This apart, the develop module now features virtual copies and snapshot tools for providing multiple versions of the same image for comparison, sans the need to save physical versions. Besides, a new tool gives precise control over hue, saturation, and luminance; and Clone and Healing brushes are provided for sensor dust removal.

In Photoshop Lightroom 1.0, support for a number of raw image formats has been added, including those used by Nikon D80 and D40 and Pentax k10D.

The new version runs under Mac OS X 10.4 or Windows XP, and requires: a 1GHz Power PC or an Intel Pentium processor, 768MB RAM, and a 1024 by 768 resolution screen.

The Mac version of Photoshop Lightroom is a universal binary application that runs natively on PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.

The software is available in the US for $199 (Rs 8,955) initially; after April 30, the price will rise to $299 (Rs 13,455). Lightroom will not be included in the current or next versions of Creative Suite, Adobe said.

Virtual Reality Goggles for Consoles?

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:11:00 +0000

If you were to see this picture at a distance, you'd probably say that the woman is doing something indecent and her face is partially censored.Well, it's not, you pervert! Yeah, I know I said it but you were thinking it too, all right? All right then. The device looks neither out of the ordinary nor common but everyone can guess what it is. That's right, it's a Virtual Reality device from Icuiti and it's called iWear VR920.

It is said to work on every machine that outputs video and whether it is a laptop, or a gaming console, the iWear VR920 will work the same. Oh, and if you were wondering why is the girl smiling, it's not because she's playing a game and it's fun, she's just been instructed to, she's a model-another reason for which we should believe she's doing anything else except playing a game. I'm kidding...

Anyway, the iWear VR920 will literally let you "step inside" the game as it uses a 3-degree-of-freedom head tracker. Virtual reality is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, be it a real or imagined one. Most current virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some simulations include additional sensory information.

The simulated environment can be very similar to the real world and sometimes a person's perception of that can be dangerous for them, if the program is running something intense and the person is afraid. Of course, this has nothing to do with getting trapped in Virtual Reality like many movies say, it's just a device that basically projects 360 degrees of environment around you. Icuiti's VR920 is the winner of the 2007 CES innovations award so maybe it's the next big thing concerning gaming.

Yahoo Plans 100 Entertainment Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:56:00 +0000

The entertainment is surely one of the most popular domains on the Internet because more and more users are attracted by the latest news about celebrities, games, movies and many other topics. Because Yahoo is currently the best portal on the Internet, its entertainment area is improved periodically but now, it seems like it becomes the main concern for the Yahoo's employees. The giant portal now plans to develop almost 100 entertainment sites especially for a single topic such as movies, celebrities, games and television shows.

As you might know, Yahoo currently owns a special page designed for the Nintendo Wii fans that provides quick access to news, photos, videos and other useful information about the game console. The company aims to create 100 more similar services for multiple products, announcing only 6 of them: Harry Potter, The Sims, Halo, The Office, Lost and The Transformers.

Broady said,“We don’t connect the dots for our users around those brands”. The Financial Express reported,

“Brand Universe is designed to fix that problem. What we are really trying to do is create environments where fans of brands can hang out when they are online. Among all the entertainment categories, hopefully, we have found 100 willing partners, but if not, we’ll move on to other brands.”

The Yahoo employee sustained all the topics will be announced next week while all of them will be available by the end of this year. Although the products will attract an impressive number of visitors, the giant portal plans to share the revenue with the brand owners to avoid potential problems caused by the copyright infringement.

If you want to preview the numerous products planned by the giant portal, you can visit the Nintendo Wii page available on this link.

Carl Zeiss's 1700mm Telephoto Lens

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:23:00 +0000

Lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss has made one of the world's largest telephoto lenses. I know you are still thinking of it as a "lens", then you're in for some shock. This lens is so big in fact, that you nearly need 10-15 titanium tripods to support it. Weighing about 256 kg (yeah that's KG), this baby has a focal length of 1700mm (over 5.5 feet!), a speed of f/4, and has 21x magnification. It will be displayed in this year's Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany starting September 29.

Based on the company's press release, it sounds like it was custom-built for a client who wanted to shoot wildlife at a distance on the very high-end Hasselblad 203 FE using 6 x 6 medium format film -- in other words, some rich dude might've wanted to impress his girlfriend. No word on if it will be ever made available to us normal people. I didn't even look for the price.

Games2win Announces 'Temple of 7'

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 14:23:00 +0000

Games2win India has announced the launch of 'Temple of 7'.

'Temple of 7' or T7, said to be the first of its kind talent platform for gamers, is a team of professional gamers, exclusively signed up by Games2win in order to compete in all key gaming tournaments in India and abroad, and compete against some of the best teams nationally and internationally.

Alok Kejriwal, CEO and Founder, Games2win.com, says,

"There are talent platforms for all kinds of professionals in India, and given the momentum that gaming is picking up, we believe that the time is right to create a gaming talent platform. Our mission is to make gaming a great profession that gamers, their parents, and society will recognize."

Kejriwal added,

"Indian youngsters who are passionate about gaming need to have their expertise and energy channelized into the right direction, and T7 will do just that. We will provide training, equipment, travel, and boarding for tournaments, and also make sure that our gamers are well represented to corporates for the purpose of sponsorship and endorsement."

T7 has identified two most popular games played in the country, 'Counter Strike' and 'Need for Speed' and the members of T7 team are known as experts at these games.

The T7 gaming clan has Mikhail Mehra, Ben Verghase, Amar Ratnam, Ritesh Shah, and Hasnain Sayed for 'Counter Strike', and Dhruv Mody and Arun Singh Ravi for 'Need For Speed'. Besides, the company says it is constantly enlisting new members in the team.

T7 Need for Speed champion, Dhruv Mody, said,

"Unlike other companies who force gamers to play games they don't want, T7 lets us play the games we want to, this venture is an ideal platform for top gamers across the country, and I am sure T7 will be very popular with gamers across the country."

T7 members sport special gaming gear and T-shirts with logos around Gothic Rock that have an underground look and feel - that have a great youth connect.

Five New WM6 Handhelds from i-mate

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 05:40:00 +0000

I don't know about you but this photo gives me high hopes and a lot of time to think about why i-mate hasn't thought of applying this design line in their handsets. I know they are just renderings and not the real thing but they really look as sweet and beautiful as a handheld can be.

This new series i-mate is going to launch very soon on the mobile market known as the “Ultimate”, a line-up of handsets with pretty much the same spec sheet but with different designs that, hopefully, will satisfy every user’s opinion on how a cellphone should look.

Beginning with the top left one, these are the culprits: the 5150, the 6150, the 7150, the 9150 and the 8150. They will feature the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 operating system, will have tri-band 3G radios, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and FM radio tuners.

The 5150 already has a leaked photo on his resume (the one you can see on the left) and is the only one with a more detailed spec sheet available. It has an Intel Bulverde 520 MHz processor, quad-band GSM/EDGE, tri-band UMTS/HSPDA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/e/i WLAN (according to some sources), 256 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM memory, microSD memory expansion card slot, a 262k colors VGA LCD touchscreen display, miniUSB and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, direct XGA video out, a 2 megapixel digital camera and an FM radio, all running smoothly on a Windows Mobile 6 OS.

The 6150 is 15.7 mm thick and adds in a 2.8 inch display, the Ultimate 7150 PC Tablet features a 3.8 inch internal screen, a 2.2 inch external OLED one and measures 18 mm in thickness.

The last two in the Ultimate line-up are the 8150 and the 9150, two handsets that both have a 2.6 inch display and a spec sheet still remaining a mystery(until an official launch that is).

The final word is this: whatever i-mate is doing right now and whatever they work on, they should leave it aside for just one moment and get those pretty looking things on the stores' shelves please.

LG Unveiled the Internet Loving Smartphone KS10

noreply@blogger.com (Aadi) — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:49:00 +0000

If you like the Nokia N80, I'm sure you'll also fancy the looks of the recently unveiled LG KS10 smartphone. It seems to be N80's step brother and this impression will probably follow every one of its future buyers.

However, this is not a thing you should mind because LG has learned its lesson and has come with enough features not to let anyone down. They added to the recipe a Symbian Series 60 operating system (a Nokia favorite as we all know, could this be a coincidence?), a 2, 4 inch QVGA display that is supposed to let the phone's user enjoy a totally new kind of Internet browsing experience with the aid of its advanced browser.

Using this piece of software, you will be able to record browsed web pages, sort and capture web images and according to what LG has said there is a lot more still to be found.

The KS10 also provides a tri-band GSM radio (900/1800/1900 MHz networks), this being a good hint that we're not going to see it on the US market,HSPDA for high data transfer rates of up to 1.8 MB/s, Bluetooth 1.2 connectivity, a built-in music player with support for MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA audio files, a microSD memory expansion card slot, a 2 megapixel digital camera with auto-focus and a secondary VGA one for video calls.

This spec sheet makes it a good catch for every user with an Internet surfing mania because, if LG's promises are true and it really has “full Internet browsing capability”, you'll be a very happy mobile Internet surfer after buying it.

One thing is for sure: this device looks good enough to catch a lot of attention from the mobile users worldwide and, although its price tag is yet unknown, I bet there will be a lot of you ready to pay the money necessary to get it home.