Geek With Laptop

Sony to introduce new online service to encourage “brand loyalty”

Sasha — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:15:44 +0000

Sony has plans to launch a new online service next year that will enable people to download all sorts of content across a range of gadgets in order to help build Sony brand loyalty and improve sales.

The online service is part of Chief Executive Howard Stringer’s goal of pulling together all of Sony’s electronic products and content from its movie studio and music label into one place and capitalise on Sony’s strengths.

Sony already has 33 million registered users for their Play Station Game Network alone and plan to expand this service.

Sony acknowledges they maybe haven’t communicated their strengths very well in the past but under the revamped management team put in place by Howard Stringer, they hope to change all that.

“We want to increase the value, or the brand loyalty of our Sony products. There is no question about it,” said Sony Executive Vice President Kazuo Hirai.

“This is something I’d like to get off the ground as quickly as possible,” said Hirai, who is also head of the company’s game division.

Although the new service won’t be available until some point in 2010, the quicker the better as far as Sony is concerned. “Earlier in the year would be obviously a lot more preferable in my mind” said Stringer.

According to Kazuo Hirai, the service will highlight the advantage Sony has over its rivals who don’t produce their own content like Sony does.

Sony’s business covers electronic gadgets such as phones and digital cameras, eBook readers, gaming consoles, movies and even music.

“That’s the kind of combination that I think is not seen anywhere else,” Hirai said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo.

Sony believes that by producing their own content and making an online service available to download that content to a whole range of gadgets, is what will set them apart from their competitors.

“That I think is where our core competence lies, and that’s a differentiator for Sony” said Hirai.

“One of the things we really need to get into is the whole concept of user-driven content,” Hirai also said in the interview.

“There already are a lot of services out there but we want to try to bring something that is uniquely Sony to the experience.”

As to whether the Sony experience will live up to the hype and pay off for Sony remains to be seen, but it sounds cool. I’ll be checking it out.

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So what do you think of the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk?

Sasha — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:05:47 +0000

Some folk are raving about it, others find it hilarious and there are those who haven’t even heard about it yet but one thing’s certain, the laptop steering wheel desk is causing quite a stir.

Basically the AutoExec WM-01 Wheelmate as it is called is a tray that you can attach to your steering wheel on which you can easily write or use it for holding your drinks or snacks when taking a break from driving. Well that’s what they say anyway.

However, in case you hadn’t noticed, the wheel mate also happens to double up very nicely as a perfect platform for a laptop or a netbook, and apparently people are going mad for it according to the reviews it has been getting round the web.

The laptop steering wheel desk has actually been around for several years but it hasn’t really caught on until now, and I’ve got no idea why, it’s like folk have gone insane.

It’s being dubbed the laptop steering wheel desk but of course you cannot possibly use a laptop whilst at the wheel and Amazon.com, which has the device for sale on their site, recommends that “For safety reasons, never use this product while driving” but we know that don’t we.

How many times have we been told not to text or use our mobile phones when driving? Enough said.

If you have your laptop on your tray and yet at the same time both hands on the steering wheel, then you are of course also hands free, and technically would be able to watch the latest news streams, keep an eye on your social networking site updates, check the odd email, and continue driving at the same time.

Now obviously this is not a good idea just in case it happened to cross your mind.

What’s really amazing about this gadget though is the number of other uses people have apparently found for it.

One reviewer on the Amazon site said he uses it to prop up his music so he can play the guitar. Another uses it to twitter at every road market, and yet another apparently uses it as a mini bar.

One commenter would like to see a two shelf model so they can install their Xbox 360 and play modern warfare 2 too.

If nothing else the laptop steering wheel desk, which has been hailed as “the greatest thing ever invented” by one happy reviewer, has given us all a laugh.

Nokia’s first Netbook is attracting corporate interest

Sasha — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:49 +0000

The first Netbook produced by Nokia, a world leader in mobile phones, could by the sounds of things end up doing quite well in the highly competitive Netbook market, particularly if the business community take it on.

Heikka Norta, head of Nokia corporate strategy recently told a seminar that Nokia were seeing some corporate interest for its Netbook, which is bound to please the Finnish based company.

“When we launched the Booklet 3G … we thought it to be primarily a consumer device, but after the launch a big, growing interest is coming from companies,” said Norta.

“No one knows yet if a booklet kind of device is the next device that will be used by millions, or hundreds of millions, of people, but right now it looks like, if not for mass market, there is clear demand,” Norta added.

Nokia originally announced the Nokia Booklet 3G, back in August so why would a company that specialises in mobile phones want to break into the Netbook market?

Quite simple really, Netbooks are popular, and at a time when mobile phones are becoming more like mini computers in their capabilities, it would seem a natural step forward.

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices in a press release at the time.

“We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

Ok but what most of us want to know is how much we’ll have to pay for it.

Last month AT & T Mobility announced that it would be selling the Nokia Booklet 3G Netbook for $300 to customers who took out a 2 year contract. For those who just want to buy the Booklet 3G outright with no commitment, then they can expect to pay double that.

So what are we getting for our money with the Nokia Booklet 3G?

The 10 inch Netbook offers up to 12 hours battery life, 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor and runs with Windows 7 Starter or Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

It also comes with integrated GPS, A-GPS and Ovi Maps Application and in colours Black, Ice or Azure.

Are Netbooks are likely to do well this holiday season?

Sasha — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Netbooks, those convenient ultra portable devices, which are great for quick access to the web when out and about, just won’t go away.

Ok so you can’t quite do everything on a Netbook that you can do on a laptop but you can still perform simple processing tasks, watch videos, listen to music and update your status on Facebook.

Netbooks also happen to be cheaper than laptops so does that mean that more people are likely to put a Netbook than a laptop on their shopping list next month?

According to Iowa based Low Cost Cells, Netbooks haven’t really been affected by the recession and consumers will continue to snap them up throughout the coming holiday season.

“A lot of business travellers are attracted to netbooks because they’re lightweight and are loaded with all the basics,” said Nate Schmidt, president of Low Cost Cells.

“Netbooks are also a good choice for those who want to buy starter computers for their children” said Schmidt.

Netbooks might have been attracting a lot of attention but opinions on them are very much divided into two camps. It would seem that consumers love them because they’re inexpensive; computer manufacturers hate them for much the same reason.

Regardless, they have caused a storm ever since they appeared and there’s no sign of public interest in these cheap and cheerful web access devices waning any time soon.

When it comes down to it, Netbooks are “easy enough to use and cheap enough to lose” as the techies used to say when they first came out. So of course they’re going to be a popular choice for consumers, particularly in these troubled economic times.

“Netbooks are getting extremely popular, and I would expect a lot of people will be interested in buying them as gifts this holiday season,” said Schmidt.

“All of the netbooks we offer cost less than $200 when purchased with a plan from Verizon or AT&T.”

“For those who want the convenience of a smart phone and the features of a laptop, a netbook is the perfect choice,” said Schmidt.

Although Netbooks represent a relatively small percentage of overall PC and Laptop sales, the figures have been rising dramatically over the past two years.

ABI Research forecast that nearly 35 million Netbooks will have shipped by the end of this year.

Looks like Netbooks are here to stay for a while yet.

Geek With Laptop Weekly Roundup 11.20.09

Mike — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:30 +0000

The Geek With Laptop weekly roundup of the web’s best tech news includes the fantastic looking Dell Zino, Steampunk’s latest sweet project (a metal web-head), a listing of top Windows applications and a really cool looking and eco-friendly sign. Geek with Laptop has found the web’s best, check ‘em out!

Dell Inspiron Zino HD HTPC

If you’ve been eying for a compact and budget media server or nettop for your home, the Dell Inspiron Zino HD (Inspiron 400) nettop PC or HTPC should be one of the best choices. It just gets released in the US market which starts at a price of $299.

T Mobile data breach is biggest of its kind

Sasha — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:54 +0000

There’s a new data breach hitting the headlines and this time it affects customers of mobile phone company T Mobile.

Members of staff at the mobile giant have apparently been passing on millions of customer records to third party brokers without the knowledge of T Mobile. These brokers can then sell on the info to other phone companies.

Mr Graham, who was recently appointed to his role as watchdog responsible for safeguarding personal information said it was the biggest breach of its kind and that his office was preparing to prosecute.

When the news first broke, Mr Graham wouldn’t divulge the name of the phone company involved as it could jeopardise criminal proceedings.

Understandably, given the serious nature of the breach, the other major players in the mobile phone industry such as Orange, O2, Vodafone and Virgin quickly came out and said it wasn’t their companies being investigated.

T Mobile finally confirmed that they had reported suspicions that their data was being traded unlawfully. Investigators then obtained search warrants to enter the premises and interviewed staff.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said the sale of the data had been “deeply regrettable” and also explained that they had been asked to keep it quiet. “T-Mobile takes the protection of customer information seriously” he said.

“When it became apparent that contract renewal information was being passed on to third parties without our knowledge, we alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office” said the spokesman.

Information on customers contact details, their current and past contracts, their contract expiry dates and so on can prove priceless for competitors if they can get their hands on it, they can then jump in and try to nab new customers as their contracts expire.

“Many people will have wondered why and how they are being contacted by someone they do not know just before their existing phone contract is about to expire” said Mr Graham.

“We are considering the evidence with a view to prosecuting those responsible and I am keen to go much further and close down the entire unlawful industry in personal data.

“But, we will only be able to do this if blaggers and others who trade in personal data face the threat of a prison sentence.

“The existing paltry fines… are simply not enough to deter people from engaging in this lucrative criminal activity. The threat of jail, not fines, will prove a stronger deterrent” says Mr Graham.

Manufacturer is the most reliable indicator of how long a laptop will last says study

Sasha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:05:46 +0000

Laptops don’t come cheap and we don’t buy them every day, so the last thing you want to hear after you have spent a small fortune is that your new laptop could break down on you in the first thirty six months.

A recent study buy SquareTrade, an independent company based in San Francisco that specialises in providing warranties, found that one in three laptops will fail within the first three years and that netbooks break down more often than laptops.

Ok so we generally don’t pay out a lot for Netbooks but that’s not the point, we still rely on our devices for business, pleasure and for keeping in touch.

So let’s take a closer look at the study and see what is likely to go wrong and if any particular brand is more likely to fail than another.

SquareTrade based the study on 30,000 randomly chosen laptop and netbook computers that they had provided warranties for and only included break downs that were reported to them under warranties, not ones that may have been reported directly to the manufacturer.

Apparently most of the failures recorded in the study, two thirds of them in fact, were actually due to hardware malfunctions. The other third failed as a result of accidents.

The most reliable laptops and netbooks according to the results of the study came from Taiwan and Japan courtesy of Asus and Toshiba. Less than 16 percent of these laptops had hardware malfunctions of any kind in the first 3 years of use.

Next in the line up for reliability were Apple and Dell. Laptops and Notebooks from these companies had an 18 percent hardware failure rate in the first three years.

Finally bottom of the list for reliability and top of the list for breakdowns were Hewlett Packard laptops, with an embarrassing result of more than 25 percent of their laptops having shown a hardware failure in the first 36 months.

As for Netbooks, well the news is not so good either. For the purposes of the study, SquareTrade classified a Netbook as any laptop that cost less than $400 which is as fair a classification as any.

Netbooks failed more often than laptops in the first 12 months of ownership.

The study found that if you’re looking for a laptop or a netbook that will last the pace, the manufacturer is the most reliable indicator.

New Wi-Fi sticking plaster could monitor our health

Sasha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:40 +0000

Nowadays if you’re in hospital being monitored by technology then you could find yourself wired up to all sorts of machines to do the job.

Not only are you restricted in movement as a result of the wires, you have to listen to constant bleeping and ticking too, which can be a bit unnerving for anyone.

Imagine then if you could say goodbye to the wires and just wear a sticking plaster all day that looked just like an ordinary plaster but which actually had sensors embedded into it?

These sensors could monitor your vital signs and wirelessly send that info back to a central point for immediate analysis? Sounds a much better option doesn’t it and you don’t have to be bedridden.

This is exactly the technology that Professor Chris Toumazou has developed at Imperial College, London and clinical trials are now underway to test it out.

The trials, which will be led by clinical research fellow at Imperial College’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Dr Nick Oliver, will look at how the gadget performs in different scenarios and will also test the accuracy of the readings given by the plaster.

“We’ll look at the data in far more challenging circumstances,” said Dr Oliver. “We need to challenge the device a little bit and make sure it is reliable.”

Professor Toumazou, the creator of the Wi-Fi enabled plaster, who incidentally recently received the World Technology Award for Health and Medicine 2009, has a vision of the “Smart” plaster eventually replacing the wired monitors we currently have.

He wanted to increase the amount of data that could be obtained from a patient without having to wire them up to yet more machines.

Professor Toumazou’s creation could continuously monitor blood pressure and heart rate and could be used to identify other much more subtle indications of a person’s condition.

According to Keith Errey, co founder of Toumaz Technology, the company that is developing the product, the wireless plaster is a “platform” that can be loaded with sensors.

For example it could also monitor blood pressure in various parts of the body, glucose levels, and tiny indicators in the body that could show if an individual was improving or getting worse or it could even be used to monitor the location of a patient.

According to Mr Errey, professional sports stars have also shown an interest in using such a device so that they can monitor their body’s responses during training regimes.

Cool stuff!

Email targeting Vodafone and Verizon customers is a Trojan

Sasha — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:25:34 +0000

Spam emails are commonplace these days, we all know that, and most of the time our spam filters or our own eagle eyes can spot a spam message without too much difficulty.

The problem with spam is that the spammers are always thinking of new ways to dupe us into believing that their latest attempt is the real deal. Complacency can have dire consequences so anyone using email has to always be on guard.

The latest dodgy spam email doing the rounds is aimed at Verizon and Vodafone customers so look out for an email arriving in your inbox telling you that your account is over the limit.

The email looks like it has come from either Verizon wireless or Vodafone with the subject heading “Your credit balance is over the limit” and will offer you a “balance checker” to review your payments but the attached zip file is actually a Trojan that can do more damage than any over the limit account ever could.

The body of the email to both Verizon and Vodafone customers is the same except for the references to the mobile service operator.

“Please use the attached [Operator Name] Balance Checker Tool to review and analyze your payments,” it reads.

“If you run the tool, obviously, your computer is toast” said Nick Bilogorskiy, the manager of antivirus research at SonicWall.

“You get infected with a Trojan that SonicWall catches under the name of Regrun.”

Anyone who does happen to download the so called Balance Checker will open up a backdoor in their computer where other malicious software can be downloaded from the Zbot botnet.

“There is a danger that unsuspecting mobile phone owners might fall for the trap, perhaps convinced by the use of Vodafone’s logo which is embedded in the email, and launch the file attachment, thus infecting their computers” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos,

The version of this Trojan is detected by Sophos’ products as Mal/Zbot-P.

The Zbot botnet is infamous for capturing online banking details and emptying bank accounts, which can be highly lucrative for the spammers.

Recently the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said that around $100 million USD has been withdrawn from bank accounts in the US using this method.

This latest billing cycle scam is simply the latest tactic that criminals are using in order to trick people into downloading their software Bilogorskiy said.

The usual advice always applies. Be suspicious of any unsolicited emails containing attachments or asking you to download something.

Dell’s first SmartPhone to be launched in China and Brazil

Sasha — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:03:50 +0000

Rumours of Dell’s new SmartPhone have been surfacing for months but now it is official, Dell’s first SmartPhone device is about to be launched.

Traditionally a computer company selling desktops, laptops and netbooks, it isn’t such a leap in the dark for Dell to move into the SmartPhone market as these days SmartPhones operate more like mini computers.

Consequently, phone companies too, Nokia as an example, are starting to produce mini computers in the form of Netbooks, it’s sort of a natural progression as the boundaries between these devices start to merge.

What is surprising for some though is that Dell’s first mobile phone will be launched not in the USA or in Europe but in China later this month and in Brazil next month.

So why launch it in these two countries first? According to a Dell blog post, it’s because these two countries have a very large subscriber base and Dell already has existing partnerships in these countries.

It’s true, China Mobile who will be carrying the phone in China has a huge subscriber base that amounts to nearly double the market in the whole of the US.

In Brazil too, America Movil, the parent company of the mobile phone carrier that Dell will use in Brazil, has more subscribers than both Verizon and AT & T put together.

The problem is of course that in the US and in Europe, competition will be tough, and as it is Dells first tentative steps into the SmartPhone market they probably want to be more sure of a solid start.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for anybody without a big wealthy software and app base of support to get customers interested, at least in the U.S. and Europe,” said Avi Cohen, managing partner of Avian Securities.

Dell already has partnerships with AT & T and Verizon in the US and with Vodafone in Europe which will no doubt give them more opportunities in the future.

“This is a global strategy” said Dell spokesman Matt Parretta.

Dell’s Mini 3 as the new SmartPhone is called, uses Android, Google’s operating system software and this too may be part of the reason they chose China and Brazil first.

According to Hapoalim Securities USA analyst Kevin Hunt, Dell will find it difficult to compete with established phone companies already using Android such as the likes of Motorola, HTC and Samsung.

“They could have modest success. I wouldn’t see it being a big driver” Hunt said.

We don’t know yet when the Mini 3 will be available in other countries but will keep you posted.