Computers Stuff

What Is Modem ?

2009-01-27T23:19:00.000-08:00

Modem comes from the abbreviation MOdulator DEModulator. Modulator is part of the signal information into the carrier signal (Carrier) and is ready to be sent, while the Demodulator is a separate information signal (which contains the data or message) of the carrier signal (carrier) so that the received information can be well received. Modem is a merging both, that means the modem is a two-way communication tool. Each communication device remote two-way general use which is called the "modem", such as VSAT, Microwave Radio, and others, but the term is generally known as a modem device that is often hard to use for communication on the computer.

Data from the computer in the digital signal to the modem to be converted to analog signals. Analog signals can be transmitted through several media such as telecommunication and radio telephone.

Arriving at the destination modem, the analog signal is converted into digital signal and sent back to the computer. There are two types of modems are physical, that is an external modem and internal modem.

Type of modem
Abbreviation of Modulator and demodulator. Modem functions to include the information signal to carrier wave; Instead demodulator take back the information signal from the combined signal. Modem divided into:
1. Amplitude Modulation (AM), which is a series of electronic waves that change the amplitude of the signal amplitude in accordance with the information.

2. Frequency Modulation (FM), which is a series of electronic waves that change the frequency of changes in accordance with the frequency information signal.

3. Pulse Modulation (PM)

TIPS : DON'T Put Laptop On the Bed

2009-01-27T23:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we want to leave the bed light laptop. Then put a laptop on the mattress. Do not do this again!

At the bottom of the laptop there is often air circulation holes. When the laptop is on, from the hole will blow the wind from the processor cooling fan.

If the laptop placed on the mattress or other soft objects, the air circulation becomes obstructed. As a result, a laptop will heat faster.

Symantec Norton Antibot Symantec Norton Antibot

2008-12-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

Symantec Norton Antibot The Latest In Norton Computer Protection Software
by: Lisa Carey
It seems like every other month a new “program” comes along to make our lives that much easier. For example, first we could bookmark favorites, and then RSS feed them, and then came widgets and now “bots” which are robots that do a lot of our computer work for us in the background. Examples of friendly bots are weather bots, game playing bots, instant messaging and my favorites are those on AOL Instant Messenger which do all kinds of functions for me like shop, find movie times and even give updates on the Wall Street Journal.

Unfortunately not all bots were created “equal.” Some are friendly and some are not. The ones that are not friendly can be a form of malware that allows control of your computer to be released, providing hackers with the opportunity to access your information and spread harmful bots to others. This type of computer virus can then be used to spread spam and commit various types of identity theft and other online fraud.

So with new threats to our computers and information, new methods of protection are required. One of the oldest and most well known software protection designers has recently released a new protection program, Symantec Norton AntiBot. This is a software product designed to prevent the hijacking of one’s personal computer by bots and uses the bots on design programs against them, to located and destroy them.

Many people already employ some form of protection on their personal computer, such as increasing the protection level from internet information to “high.” But these cannot detect some of the most recent bot programs and may not be the most efficient means of information protection, especially with the Internet being used more and more frequently for online shopping, ticket purchases, travel and other “high risk” activities.

A more effective method of detecting and eliminating threats caused by bots is to install software designed specifically to detect, destroy and prevent bots from having access to your computer. With Symantec Norton AntiBot software, protection against bots is enhanced several times and the threat of bot attack is greatly diminished. It’s program protects against bots by blocking bots from entering your computer through downloads and e-mail attachments (two of the common ways bots enter a personal computer), checking for any unusual behavior on your personal computer and eliminating it, and detecting malicious bot software at all levels; keeping your personal, financial and credit card information safe and stopping identify theft before it can occur.

Because bots operate in the background and are not detectable by antivirus or antispyware programs, many computer users are completely unaware that their personal computer has become infected. Many problems caused by bots go undetected until it is too late. Warning signs that your computer may have been accessed include: slowness of computer speed and unusual or irrelevant error messages. However, many times com these symptoms are sporadic and computer users will take little notice. Many people will continue to use their personal computer, unaware that bots have hijacked their personal computer and are slowly at work; looking for credit card numbers, passwords, and logon information which can be used for identity theft and in committing other types of online crime. This program scans your personal computer on a continuous basis, closing the gaps that could allow bots to infect your personal computer and better ensuring that bots do not invade and gain control.

The use of Symantec Norton AntiBot to determine what a harmful or useful bot and allows you to continue using those bots you love and have come to depend on for information and services. It can be used in addition to several other antivirus and antispyware programs. Its compatibility is not limited to only Norton products.

The cost of this software is $29.95 for one year of service. It was awarded PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award (2007) and underwent rigorous testing which included using AntiBot on computers with existing threats as well as allowing threats to try to access the computer after installation.

With the growing threat of identity theft and credit card fraud Symantec Norton AntiBot offers an additional level of protection needed to combat the threat of bots and prevent them from turning one’s personal computer into a robotic that turns into an instrument of destruction to both your personal and financial well-being.

Acer AL2216WBD review

2008-12-09T05:59:00.001-08:00

CRTs monitors have given way to LCD monitors and that has led to a steep decrease in there prices. With drop in prices the bigger size monitors have become affordable and are now value for money. Also the drawbacks of LCD monitors such as ghost effect have not been rectified and now offer rich display quality. Acer makes good displays and Acer AL2216WBD is an 22″ offering from them.

Acer AL2216WBD specifications :

Dimensions : 20.2″ x 7.8″ x 16″
Color : Black
Display size : 22″ diagonal
Max resolution : 1680 x 1050
Color support : 24 bit
Response time : 5 ms
Signal input : DVI-D,VGA
Approx. price : $230

The price of the display is extremely attractive but that can also be attributed to the fact that it does not have any extras such as USB ports,speakers etc. But then it is better to have separate components for individual tasks if you do not want to compromise on quality.

The display is a simple looking display without anything flashy. The monitor has few ports and a power cable. The stand is very shiny and is extremely small and slim but sturdily built to keep the monitor in its place firmly. Being light weight, makes moving the monitor easy. The controls on the display are easily accessible and are very operable.

So one question that will come to your mind after seeing its attractive price is: “How will it perform?” but I will put that to rest by saying that the display performs above average and is a great buy at that price. The display has a response time of 5 ms which is fast and hence there is no ghosting effect on the monitor.

The picture quality is quite good and the brightness is high for viewing movies on a DVDs. The text readability was average and scaling down the font size reduced the readability considerably. The saturation levels were appropriate, no issues with that. The contrast could have been a bit higher but nevertheless it is very acceptable.

Overall the display performs above average which is good enough for home users who need it for day-to-day purpose such as watching movies, surfing web etc. It certainly is not recommended for graphics oriented users. Also remember you do not get any extras such as USB ports or speakers.

Samsung SyncMaster 305T

2008-12-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

Samsung SyncMaster range of LCD Monitors is quite popular in the market. There are only few companies that make large displays for monitors and Samsung is among one of them. They aim at making great displays at a relatively lower price. Samsung SyncMaster 305T is a 30″ LCD Monitor which an attractive price tag.

Samsung SyncMaster 305T specifications :

Display type : TFT active matrix
Dimensions : 27.2″ x 11″ x 19.8″
Color : Black
Diagonal size : 30″
Max. Resolution : 2560 x 1600
Refresh rate : 60 Hz
Response time : 6ms
Signal input : DVI-D
Image brightness : 400cd/m2
Image Contrast : 1700:1
Approx. price : $1300

The 305T is not a feature rich set, if you are looking for one, but having said that, it has all the basic features that most of us require. The display has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 which requires you to have a good graphics card to utilize it to full capability.

The monitor has minimal controls on the bezel as you can only change the brightness of the display which is a bit weird. The contrast, saturation etc is locked by Samsung before shipping the monitor. The monitor only features a DVI-D port for connection, so make sure your device supports it before getting one. Some of the other ports include a set of four USB ports and a HDCP port. No VGA and HDMI ports limit the connectivity options.

The monitor has adjustable height and can also be tilted. The monitor has a black bezel running all round it which has a smooth finishing to it. As always, the display looks simple and elegant. The low response time is quite suitable for gaming on your PC.

The performance on the display is the strongest point of the display. The display produces colors brilliantly and also the sharpness is great. The contrast ratio was the same as mentioned by Samsung in its specifications. High brightness on the display ensured that there was no backlight bleed with dark screens. Also the viewing angle was quite impressive which is good enough for a LCD monitor of its size. And to top it all, Samsung includes a 3-year warranty with the display.

Dell Latitude E4300 Review

2008-12-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

Dell Latitude E4300 Specs:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SP9400 at 2.40 GHz with 6 MB L2 Cache, 1066 MHz FSB
Display: 13.3 inch WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) LED Backlit Matte Display
Memory: 4 GB DDR3 1066 MHz RAM
Hard Drive: 80GB 7200 RPM HDD
Optical Drive: 8X DVD+RW
Graphics: Intel GMA X4500 MHD
Operating System: Windows Vista Business
Other Features: ExpressCard slot, WebCam, Microphone
Battery: 56 Whr, 6 cell battery

Design :

The Dell Latitude E4300 sports a very simple, yet superb design. You would be amazed at how good it actually looks, considering there are no flashy design elements in it. You just know that it is sturdy and reliable by just looking at it. It has exactly what business users should be looking for, subtle style with superb build quality. It sports a brushed metal exterior which looks great in black. The magnesium alloy chassis is very tough and holds the body together with very little flex, even near the display and the palm rest area which normally have some flex even in high end notebooks.

The Latitude E4300 is extremely durable and sturdy. You won’t have any complaints on the build quality front atleast. The hinges at the back are also solid and look strong. The 6 cell battery looks a bit out of place and protrudes a bit from the back, but it isn’t much of an issue.

Mark Cuban Claims Internet Is Dead

2008-03-31T04:21:00.001-07:00

Famed internet-made billionaire and blogger Mark Cuban raised quite a stir this week when he announced dramatically, "The Internet’s dead. It’s over." The comments made by Cuban at the CTAM summit will likely strike many as eerily familiar of Michael Bay's HD DVD trashing rants.

Cuban became a billionaire when he sold Broadcast.com, originally Audionet, to Yahoo for $5.7B. Cuban built Broadcast.com into an online powerhouse after co-founding it with earnings from the sale of his company MicroSolutions in the 80s, an early reseller of Lotus Notes. Broadcast.com at its peak featured 420 radio stations and networks; 56 TV stations and cable networks; and live game coverage of over 450 college and professional teams.

He used his wealth to buy the Dallas Mavericks and while a blogger himself, has recently taken a rather scornful attitude to the internet, which made him wealthy. He recently created a stir when he became the first team owner to ban bloggers from an NBA locker room.

At the CTAM conference, Cuban's new anti-internet sentiment became vitriolic. He addressed the panel which consisted of cable systems providers stating, "The Internet’s for old people."

Cuban claims the internet has stagnated and that the only new invention on the internet was YouTube. Cuban, however, went to argue that YouTube is nothing more than a sham based on copyright infringement and represents little real creativity. Cuban feels that cable and satellite networks have overtaken the internet in providing complex interactive services. Cuban says he once thought the internet would be superior for providing such services, but remarks, "I was wrong."

He points to the openness of collections of cable networks versus networks built by telephone companies like Verizon, which are stymied by problems talking to each other. Cuban envisions cable services offering users suites of office applications or other complex utilities, something he says would allow them to leverage their superiority to "outgoogle” Google.

While Cuban believes strongly that cable intranets are superior to internet, most experts think his claims are very off base. They state that his proposed cable systems applications sound remarkably similar to the cable television network flop @Home, which attempted to market a higher-speed "private" internet, that was separate from the normal internet.

While Cuban is known for a flare for histrionics and outbursts, his collected, deliberate speech about his animosity for the internet is sure to stir up a great deal of controversy.

Comodo Firewall 3.0.21.329

2008-03-31T04:18:00.000-07:00

Comodo claim that their firewall is unique in that it passes all known leak tests to ensure the integrity of data entering and exiting your system. Comodo has put firewall through all kinds of sophisticated tests to ensure its firewall powerful enough to ward off these attacks with default settings. No other firewall has had to work this hard.

PC Magazine Online's Editor's Choice
Secures against internal and external attacks
Blocks internet access to malicious Trojan programs
Safeguards your Personal data against theft
Delivers total end-point security for
Personal Computers and Networks

2008-03-31T04:17:00.000-07:00

uTorrent is an efficient and feature rich BitTorrent client for Windows sporting a very small footprint. It was designed to use as little cpu, memory and space as possible while offering all the functionality expected from advanced clients.

Multiple simultaneous downloads
Configurable bandwidth scheduler
Global and per-torrent speed limiting
Quick-resumes interrupted transfers
RSS Downloader
Trackerless support (Mainline DHT)

RocketDock 1.3.5

2008-03-31T04:15:00.000-07:00

RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha-blended application launcher that is similar to ObjectDock. RocketDock renders quickly like MobyDock, has the visual sharpness of Y'z Dock, and the stability that neither seem to possess.

It is compatible with every dock skin format we are aware of. In fact, if you have a skin that doesn't load properly, send it to us, along with a screenshot of what it should look like and we'll see what we can do about integrating the format... Features:

Compatible with Y'z Dock, Mobydock, and ObjectDock skins
Basic ObjectDock Docklet support
Unicode compliant
Simple drag-n-drop interface
True multi-monitor support
Supports alpha-blended PNG icons
Items zoom on mouse over
Auto-hide
Popup on mouse over
Layering options
Fully customizable
Runs great on slower computers
Supports many languages and can easily be translated
And best of all....it's FREE

AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.1.43

2008-03-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

Anti-Virus programs offer insufficient protection against urgently growing threats like Trojans, Worms, Dialers, Hijackers, Spyware and Keyloggers. That's where the protection of ewido anti-spyware begins and supplements existing security applications to create a complete security system - because only a complete security system works effectively.

* NEW Completely renewed user interface
* NEW Possibility to create exceptions
* NEW Shredder for secure file deletion
* NEW XP Antispy
* NEW BHO Viewer
* NEW LSP Viewer
* Heuristics to detect unknown threats
* Scanning and cleaning of the Windows registry
* Support for NTFS-ADS scanning
* Daily database updates
* Patch proof by using strong signatures
* Analysis tools (startup, connections and processes)
* Intelligent online-update
* Scan inside archives
* Secure detection and deletion of DLL-Trojans
* Generic crypter detection through emulation
* Generic binder detection
* Free E-Mail Support
* Automatic Clean Engine
* Quarantine for suspicious files
* Multilingual User Interface

Additional features of the Plus-Version

* NEW Scheduled scans
* Real-time monitoring of the entire system
* Memory Scan detects active threats
* Self-protection at kernel layer guarantees gapless monitoring
* Automatic online-update

This setup contains the free as well as the paid version of ewido anti-spyware. After the installation, a free 30-day trial version containing all the extensions of the full version will be activated. At the end of the trial, these extensions will be deactivated and the program will turn into a feature-limited freeware version. The purchased license code can be entered at any time.

This product was formerly knows as Ewido Security Suite

DAEMON Tools Lite 4.12.2

2008-03-31T04:10:00.000-07:00

DAEMON Tools is a virtual cd/dvd-rom emulator and is able to emulate nearly all known copy protections on the market today.

The application mounts ISO images to a virtual drive without having to burn them to a CD.

It is further development of Generic Safedisc emulator and incorporates all its features. This program allows running Backup Copies of SafeDisc (C-Dilla), Securom, Laserlock, CDCOPS, StarForce and Protect CD (and many others) protected games. Also included is a Virtual DVDROM drive (Generic DVD-ROM) enabling you to use your CD images as if they were already burned to CD! DAEMON Tools works under Windows9x/ME/NT/2000/XP with all types of CD/DVDROM drives (IDE/SCSI) and supports nearly any CD protection.

DAEMON Tools supports the following image files:

* cue/bin
* iso
* ccd (CloneCD)
* bwt (Blindwrite)
* mds (Media Descriptor File)
* cdi (Discjuggler)
* nrg (Nero)
* pdi (Instant CD/DVD)
* b5t (BlindWrite 5)

Notes:

* DAEMON Tools needs a 1:1 Copy to run!!
* DAEMON Tools is used to RUN GAMES, NOT TO BURN THEM!!! Means emulation must be active while you want to play a game, not while burning the copy (except for you want to use DAEMON Tools' "fastdump" feature on a safedisc protected CD).
* If you want to run a copy protected application from an image mounted to a Generic DVD-ROM enabling the copy protection emulation(s) is NOT necessary!!
* Generic DVD-ROM is able to run nearly every protected or unprotected CD image (Safedisc®, Securom®, Laserlock®, Lockblocks® etc.) like it was the original CD! Just do an image file using one of the supported burning programs and mount it with Daemon Manager!

Google Executive Hypes Android Even More

2008-03-19T20:04:00.001-07:00

Google's AndroidOS, the development and operating platform for smartphones, is stated to be one of the most powerful platforms in the mobile market. The AndroidOS is built on the Linux platform and allows third-party developers to create mobile applications on top of the Java framework.

Some wireless carriers and mobile device makers such as T-Mobile, HTC, and Motorola are accepting this open platform with open arms while others such as Verizon and AT&T are shying away from it as they feel it will hurt their proprietary platforms.

One Google high-up is confirming the threat Android is going to be to one of the largest selling mobile platforms on the market today, Apple's iPhone. Rich Miner, Google's group manager for mobile platforms, stated after a presentation he gave at the Emerging Communications Conference that devices utilizing the Android platform will be in good position to outsell the iPhone.

Google and its Android platform are leading the Open Handset Alliance with some of the biggest names in the mobile industry such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Texas Instruments among the semiconductor crowd; T-Mobile, Sprint, and Japan's NTT DoCoMo in the mobile operator arena; and HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Motorola on the handset manufacturer scene. The purpose of this forum is to promote openness in the mobile community through third-party software development without boundaries that proprietary platforms have set.

With the number of members within this alliance and the participation of four of the major handset makers, the Open Handset Alliance could give Apple and other mobile operating systems such as Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Nokia's Symbian OS a run for their money if Android takes off.

"Once you have devices out there from Motorola, HTC, Samsung, and so on, there's a much larger potential market on Android than for the iPhone," said Miner who then went on to state, "There's a single manufacturer, it's targeted at a particular demographic, and it falls far short of the 1 billion mobile phones sold every year worldwide."

Additionally, Miner remarked that with the launch of the Android SDK, "There are things I saw people doing with the first version of the Android SDK that it seems like you can't do with the iPhone at least at the moment."

Miner, however, does not try to lure consumers away from those proprietary platforms, but goes on to present the opportunities and potential out there for developers of the various mobile platforms. "[If I were a developer] I'd certainly be looking at the iPhone, and if you believe there will be lots of Android phones out there, as we do, I'd be developing for both platforms."

Nvidia Partners Launch Pricey New 9800 GX2 Cards

2008-03-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

Graphics cards based on the new Nvidia GeForce 9800 GX2 architecture have hit the street – and boy, what a price tag.

Depending on the configuration, the new cards are roughly $200 more than the GeForce 8800 GTS (512 Mbyte) configurations, the next step down in performance in the Nvidia graphics card line. Nvidia claims that the new cards will be 50 percent faster than the GeForce 8800 Ultra.

The new cards complement Nvidia's release of the Nforce 790i motherboard, also announced on Tuesday.

Manufacturers Asus, Foxconn, and PNY both announced their GX2 cards on Tuesday, each priced over $500.

The GX2, as the name suggests, packs two GeForce 9800 GPUs on a single printed circuit board. The reported default clock speed is 675 MHz, according to Nvidia, with 256 shaders running at 1.69 GHz and the memory clock operating at 1.1 GHz. The GX2 family also allows gamers to pair tow GX2 cards together, allowing 4X SLI.

Asus announced the EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G SLI-ready PCI Express graphics card on Tuesday, with a suggested price of $599. For that price, buyers will receive a card with a full gigabyte of frame buffer memory, as well as the game Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts. A "SmartDoctor" software tool allows tweaking the engine and memory clocks without the need to reflash the BIOS, the company said. Unsurprisingly, the card also supports HDCP.

Microsoft to Make Exceptions for Xbox Live Arcade Limitations

2008-03-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

When Microsoft launched Xbox Live Arcade, it imposed a 50 MB size cap on all releases on its service. The reason for this was to maintain compatibility for Xbox 360 owners who do not own a model with a hard drive.

At the time, a 64MB Memory Unit was the only alternative, explaining the need 50 MB limit. A year ago, Microsoft released a 512 MB Memory Unit, which paved the way for the Xbox Live Arcade game limit to grow to 150 MB. A 256 MB Memory Unit is now standard issue on all HDD-less Xbox 360 consoles.

Even with the current Xbox Live Arcade limit three times what it used to be, some developers are finding 150MB simply not enough to fit in all game assets, particularly those intended for 1080p resolutions.

In particular, Capcom’s two upcoming re-imaginings of classic games Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix and Bionic Commando Rearmed were unable to fit inside 150 MB without sacrificing graphical fidelity. For this reason, Microsoft has made an exception for these highly anticipated games – perhaps as a favor to the hardcore gaming crowd, or simply to be comparable to the PS3 (for which Sony has set no size limits) versions.

“With great help from the guys at Microsoft, we will be able to offer the same features on both platforms to the same quality as each other,” wrote Seth Killian on the Capcom Blog.

Microsoft confirmed the news to DailyTech in a statement: “Given the sizeable content in Bionic Commando Rearmed and Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Microsoft allowed Capcom to work with a larger file size limit for both of those titles in order to provide gamers with the game experience that Capcom desired, such as full hi-res textures or 1080p support. The Xbox LIVE Arcade versions of both titles will have complete feature and graphical parity with the iterations that will be available on other platforms.”

Although both upcoming Capcom downloadable games will live outside of the 150 MB limit, Microsoft won’t be changing its rule anytime soon.

“On the whole, our partners are happy with the size limit framework currently in place, and we do not anticipate the need to change the 150 MB size limit policy,” said a Microsoft representative. “We will continue to work closely with our partners to bring the best games to Xbox LIVE Arcade, and if a game warrants a file size limit exception, we will provide one on a case by case basis.”

WD Ships 640-Gbyte Hard Drives

2008-03-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Storage provider Western Digital is set to begin shipping 640-Gbyte 3.5-inch hard drives, known as the WD Caviar SE16.The new high-capacity drives are based on the 320GB-per-platter technology the company introduced in January.

The new platform was designed for cool and quieter computing. Western Digital is rolling out the new technology across its product lines, including desktop, enterprise, and external hard drives.

The drives are targeted toward users of data-intensive applications, thanks to "performance with their extreme areal density, 3GB-per-second transfer rate, and Native Command Queuing (NCQ)," according to the company.

"The 640GB capacity point will be an important one for our desktop customers, and WD is leading high-volume shipments to the channel and OEM customers," said the general manager and vice president of the company's desktop business unit, Don Bennett, in a statement. "Two-platter hard drives have always been the perfect balance of value, capacity and performance for many of our customers. Today's common two-platter drives are limited to 500 GB, but we are expanding capacity by 28 percent on the same design with WD's leading technology heads and disks."

The new 640GB drive is available now for a suggested price of $139.99.

Microsoft, EA Extend In-Game Advertising Agreement

2008-03-19T19:49:00.001-07:00

For better or worse, the videogames industry is slowly embracing the concept of in-product advertising. Massive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, announced that it inked a new deal with Electronic Arts to provide dynamic in-game advertising for EA video games.

The new agreement expands upon the previous deal and extends it to 2010. Microsoft and EA last summer agreed to a deal whereby Massive would provide in-game ads to EA Sports games Madden NFL 08, NASCAR 08, NHL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and Skate. Presumably, the new deal would cover the next two iterations of EA’s sports franchises, and other games such as Need for Speed ProStreet and Burnout Paradise.

“EA strongly believes that dynamic in-game advertising is an important growth area for our business, and is one of many opportunities we are pursuing in growing the advertising market,” said Kathy Vrabeck, president of the Casual Entertainment Label at EA. “We selected Massive because they are the industry leader in this space with a global sales footprint, solid brand recognition and in-depth experience in video game advertising.”

“Our latest agreement with EA expands advertisers’ unprecedented access to EA’s world-class franchises to reach young male gamers around the world,” said Cory Van Arsdale, CEO of Massive. “This multiyear partnership reflects both the maturity of the dynamic in-game advertising medium and the benefits that our network continues to deliver for both publishers and advertisers.”

Earlier this year, EA announced Battlefield Heroes, a cartoony new entry into its Battlefield franchise, which would be free to play and be ad-supported. It’s unclear, however, if Massive will be involved in the game.

EA’s extension of its commitment to in-game advertising improves the validity of the secondary revenue stream model. Research firm Yankee Group estimated that the in-game advertising market could reach $732 million by 2010.

Windows Vista SP1 Now Available to the Public

2008-03-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

As reported by DailyTech yesterday, Windows Vista SP1 is now available for download from the Microsoft Download Center.

The long-awaited service pack for Microsoft's latest consumer operating system is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The 32-bit download weighs in at 434.5 MB while the 64-bit download is a bit larger at 726.5 MB -- both versions include English (US), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish (Traditional) languages.

SP1 ushers in a number of updates for the Windows Vista operating system including the following:

* Adds support for new UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) industry standard PC firmware for 64-bit systems with functional parity with legacy BIOS firmware, which allows Windows Vista SP1 to install to GPT format disks, boot and resume from hibernate using UEFI firmware.
* Adds support for Direct3D® 10.1, an update to Direct3D 10 that extends the API to support new hardware features, enabling 3D application and game developers to make more complete and efficient use of the upcoming generations of graphics hardware.
* Adds support for exFAT, a new file system supporting larger overall capacity and larger files, which will be used in Flash memory storage and consumer devices.
* SP1 addresses issues many of the most common causes of crashes and hangs in Windows Vista, as reported by Windows Error Reporting. These include issues relating to Windows Calendar, Windows Media Player, and a number of drivers included with Windows Vista.
* Improves the performance of browsing network file shares by consuming less bandwidth.
* Improves power consumption when the display is not changing by allowing the processor to remain in its sleep state which consumes less energy.
* Improves responsiveness when doing many kinds of file or media manipulations. For example, with Windows Vista today, copying files after deleting a different set of files can make the copy operation take longer than needed. In SP1, the file copy time is the same as if no files were initially deleted.
* Improves the copy progress estimation when copying files within Windows Explorer to about two seconds.
* Service Pack 1 includes supported APIs by which third-party security and malicious software detection applications can work alongside Kernel Patch Protection on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista. These APIs have been designed to help security and non-security
* ISVs develop software that extends the functionality of the Windows kernel on 64-bit systems, in a documented and supported manner, and without disabling or weakening the protection offered by Kernel Patch Protection.

A full list of updates/fixes related to SP1 can be found on Microsoft's Windows Vista TechCenter.

Sahara TufTab Tablet PC

2008-03-06T21:32:00.001-08:00

Sahara TufTab Tablet PC from Tablet Kiosk can withstand of rain, dust, humidity, extreme temperatures and vibration. It is powered by Celeron 1.0 GHZ and features 1GB of RAM, a 12.1-inch widescreen LCD touch panel display that is viewable under sunlight, Bluetooth connectivity and even a biometric fingerprint scan among others. The Sahara TufTAb will run on Windows XP with an option for SUSE Linux. The retail price is $2099.

Via Ubergizmo

Hello kitty Epson Laptop Computer

2008-03-06T21:29:00.001-08:00

Sanrio partners with Epson to offer a laptop. It fetures a 12.1-inch display, a Intel Celeron M423 processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard disk. This Helo Kitty laptop measures 281 x 23 x 3.5mm and weighs 6.6-pounds. It costs $1640 (189,000 Yen).

Samsung SPH-P9000

2008-03-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

Most of the people love having a PDA, mobile phone and UMPC. But hate to carry all three? You have to check out Samsung SPH-P9000. It is one of the first viable convergence devices to hit market. It features a 1-GHz processor, 256MB of memory, 5.0-inch TFT screen, CDMA EVDO, WiMAX and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Toshiba MK1011GAH 100GB 1.8-inch HDD

2008-03-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Toshiba has announced MK1011GAH, a 100GB 1.8-inch Hard Disk for mobile devices that spins at 4200rpm. It measures 54 x 71 x 8mm and weighs 59g. No word yet on pricing and availability.

Dell Launches XPS 630 Gaming Desktop

2008-02-27T00:58:00.001-08:00

Dell is expanding its line of gaming systems today with the new XPS 630 desktop. According to Dell, it's the first OEM PC to support the Enthusiast System Architecture (ESA).

The XPS 630 features an NVIDIA nForce 650 SLI chipset, two PCIe x16 slots, four internal HDD bays, Corsair DOMINATOR memory, four DIMM slots, Light FX 2.0 technology and a 750W power supply. Optional hardware includes an AGEIA PhysX physics accelerator and a Blu-ray drive.

Given that Dell is aiming the XPS 630 at gamers, the company fully sanctions overclocking of the processor and memory subsystems. In addition, the XPS 630 comes with a brushed-aluminum chassis and can be ordered with either a red or black bezel.

"Since its inception, the Dell XPS line has been committed to delivering aggressive, competitive and attractive options for a broad spectrum of PC gamers," said Dell gaming head Arthur Lewis. "With the Dell XPS 630, we have the unique and exciting opportunity to offer a system that brings together the needs of enthusiasts and casual gamers."

Pricing for the XPS 630 starts at $1,299 and will skyrocket from there. The base configuration will get you an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, GeForce 8800 GT 512MB graphics card and a two-year warranty and in-home warranty service.

For a review of the XPS 630, head over to PC Magazine. The publication gave the desktop 4 out of 5 stars.

Intel Roadmaps Outline Centrino 2 Platform This June

2008-02-27T00:54:00.000-08:00

You could set your clock to Intel's mobile platform roadmap. For the last three years, the company announced its new processor lineup in January, followed by a chipset and processor refresh in June. June is always a critical month for notebook manufacturers, as the impending school semester spurs the largest volume orders on the year.

This year Intel announced its first generation 45 nanometer desktop, mobile and server processors. New roadmaps issued to notebook partners claim the company will replace its Santa Rosa Centrino platform with the Montevina Centrino 2 platform this June.

The June refresh includes new Penryn-based processors boasting a 1066MHz front-side bus and new motherboard core logic. Together, the chips will form the Montevina Centrino 2 and Centrino 2 vPro platforms.

On the processor front, Intel will launch a slew of dual core processors covering a wide range of market segments.

Penryn Core 2 Duo (Performance)
Model	Core Frequency	TDP	FSB (MHz)	L2 Cache
T9600	2.80 GHz	35W	1066	6MB
T9400	2.53 GHz	35W	1066	6MB
P9500	2.53 GHz	25W	1066	6MB
P8600	2.40 GHz	25W	1066	3MB
P8400	2.26 GHz	25W	1066	3MB

The Txxx processors are labeled as "Performance" parts and feature a TDP of 35W. The Pxxx parts are labeled "Power Optimized Performance" and feature a lower TDP of 25W. The P9500 strikes a fine balance between the two market segments by retaining a 2.53GHz core clock and 6MB of L2 cache while still managing a TDP of 25W.

Penryn Core 2 Duo (Small Form Factor)
Model	Core Frequency	TDP	FSB (MHz)	L2 Cache
SP9400	2.4 GHz	25W	1066	6MB
SP9300	2.26 GHz	25W	1066	6MB
SL9400	1.86 GHz	17W	1066	6MB
SL9300	1.60 GHz	17W	1066	6MB
SU9400	1.40 GHz	10W	800	3MB
SU9300	1.20 GHz	10W	800	3MB
U3300	1.20 GHz	5.5W	800	3MB

The processors above are lumped into Intel's "Performance Small Form Factor" segment and feature a TDP of 25W at the high end for the SP9400 and continually fall until we reach rock bottom with the U3300 which touts a TDP of 5.5W.

An Intel engineer hinted to DailyTech that the U3300 will be reserved for the "slimmest of slim" notebooks and tablets. By comparison, the 1.6 and 1.8 GHz processor found in the MacBook Air has a rating of 20W TDP. The same Intel engineer, speaking on conditions of anonymity, detailed that all of these small form factor processors will find their way into Apple and PC mobile products -- as indicated by other Intel representatives in previous interviews.

On the chipset front, Intel will launch three SKUs during the second quarter: the GM45, GM47 and PM45. The GM45/47 will feature Intel's new X4500 HD integrated graphics processor which promises DX10 support, increased battery life, integrated HDMI and DisplayPort.

The GM45/47 support 667MHz and 1066MHz FSBs, DDR2/DDR3 memory, and the ICH9M/ICH9M-Enhanced south bridges. The two parts only differ in the clock speed for the graphics core -- the GM45 features a 533 MHz core clock while the GM47 has a faster 640 MHz core clock.

Intel marketing materials claim GM47 performs twice as high on 3DMark as GM965 found in the current Santa Rosa chipsets.

The PM45 supports all the features of the two aforementioned chipsets minus the integrated graphics core. The PM45 thus will be used with integrated mobile graphics solutions from ATI and NVIDIA.

While the processors and new chipsets are important, we must also take a look at Intel's supporting cast of characters with the Centrino 2 platform. Centrino 2 notebooks will be available with 2GB of Turbo Memory -- Windows Vista ReadyDrive and ReadyBoost compliant.

Networking upgrades are plentiful for the Centrino 2 launch. Intel will launch the 82567LM and 82567LF Gigabit Ethernet controllers for LAN connectivity. Customers will also have a choice of two Shirley Peak-based WLAN controllers with the Intel WiFi Link 5100/5300. Finally, Intel will offer two WiMAX/WiFi controllers in the form of the Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150/5350.

Apple yesterday launched revised MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks that incorporate Intel’s first run of Penryn processors. Apple insiders confirmed the company will refresh its notebook lineups in June, which comes as no surprise since all Centrino partners indicated they will announce notebooks based on the new Montevina Centrino 2.

Don't expect just the same old notebooks from January this June. The upcoming second-generation Penryn mobile processors require the new Socket B motherboards. However, since the thermal envelopes will not change between Penryn revisions vendors will be able to keep the existing form factors, like that found on the ultra-compact Lenovo X300, with minimal changes to the motherboard design.

Nero Burning Rom 8.2.8.0

2008-02-21T21:45:00.001-08:00

Nero is a flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use application designed to write both data and CD audio to CD-R and CD-RW discs. It supports ISO 9660 images as well as ISO mode 1 and XA mode 2, and allows for on-the-fly disc recording in addition to overburning (if supported by hardware). Nero also supports multisession and mixed-mode recording, HFS, ISO/HFS hybrid, UDF, PSX, OFAS (optimal file access speed), track-at-once (TAO) and disc-at-once (DAO) writing, digital audio extraction, and more. In addition, Nero can dynamically disable automatic-insert notification, offers support for multiple languages, and works with all major models of CD-R and CD-RW drives. This download also contains Nero's standalone Cover Editor for designing and printing CD covers.

The latest version now has the capability to burn multiple CDs, Super Video CD, improved audio filters, and much more.