Last Tech News

What are AMOLED screens?

2009-01-14T09:55:00.003-03:00

Among the many acronyms that have been part of the Consumers Electronics Show one has called attention to represent a technology that allows the development of ultra televisions and even folding screens, with high image quality: AMOLED.

This strange acronym that means a free translation Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode, is the technology that should be present at the next generation of displays, high definition television sets, which can already be found in gadgets such as mobile phone Nokia N85.

Currently, top-line computers as the new Macbook and Macbook Pro have retroilumanados with LED displays, which provides greater clarity and economy of space.

But what that means?

The AMOLED technology promises to combine the advantages of the three major types of technology, CRT, LCD and plasma in one.

Although they are relatively cheap and spend little energy, the small LCD screens still have problems, as the contrast of their color, viewing angle and a few blots that can appear in images very fast, as in sports, for example.

CRT and plasma screens, still widely popular in equipment above 60 inches, has a better contrast of colors and higher refresh rate, but suffer from respectively occupy much space or have high energy consumption.

The AMOLED screens, in turn, offer vibrant color screens on ultrafine at a cost lower than current technology. Moreover, this type of display is three times the response time of less than an OLED screen, because its pixels fine screens are installed in glass or plastic, and the images are activated from electrical impulses.

The result is brighter images with high contrast of image, color and without blots.

As a relatively new technology, the AMOLED displays still have a long way to get their prices competitive and they are out of international exhibitions for the room of your house, but maybe this change is closer than you imagine.

Manufacturers expect the AMOLED screens market to move U$$ 4.6 billion until 2014.

Plasma TVs may be banned in Europe

2009-01-14T09:34:00.001-03:00

Although much used in devices with screen more than 50 inches, the plasma televisions must now face a competitor much more powerful than the LCD: the law. The new European Union legislation should prohibit the sale of plasma televisions in their countries, arguing that their high energy consumption, goes against its environmental policies.

A plasma TV has power consumption approximately 60% more than an equivalent LCD. If the law is approved, the devices with the technology will come out of line or on a diet to consume less energy.

How to mount a GPS vehicle with little money

2008-11-16T16:30:00.005-03:00

An iPaq (PDA HP's) former, a software maps and a Bluetooth GPS module. Together, the three devices have become a GPS vehicle in the hands of the marketing manager Fabio Kazuo Ohashi.

A year and a half, Ohashi decided to join the on-board computers to help guide the streets. In an era where the equipment were not yet popular, the price of GPS modest even more was the average of U $ $ 661.00, the marketing manager spent just $ $ 62.00 to mount his own.

"The iPaq was already old and the high price of GPS. It was then I decided to create my device, with a saving of almost 90%. It was only need a Bluetooth module and a map," says.

In 18 months of use, the coordinates only failed once. "I needed to stop the car, look up the address in the Guide to Streets and find an alternate route." Today, the equipment is now used in the car of the manager, sometimes in the car of the wife.

How to do

The first step to mount the "low price GPS", was seeking a GPS module to give navigation function to the PDA. The model chosen was the Holux M1000, purchased for U$$ 50 in the auction site eBay. Today, 18 months after purchase, the price of the device that weighs just over 50 grams and measures 6.5 x 4.3 cm not significantly reduced, varying from U$$ 39.00 to U$$ 55.00.

"The only thing to buy a piece of equipment over the Internet is that you never know if the seller will actually deliver it," warns Ohashi. Some manufacturers already offer similar devices, but the price is much higher. The LD-3W of Nokia, for example, cost U$$ 163.00. The Motorola T815, U$$ 264.00.

To complement the new device, we had to find a map updated with the coordinates of Brazilian routes. Again, Ohashi turned to online auction sites. This time, he found a version of Route 66, for U$$ 18.00.

Please note that the price of the software when purchased directly from the developer, is more expensive (59 euros). So if you choose these sites for auction, check if the product is pirated or used.

"I knew that the program would run on devices from HP, so the choice," said the manager. In most tests, maps of other software, called Destinator (U$$ 132), also functioned correctly.

The connection

Place the new equipment to work is quite simple: just install the software maps the PDA, connect the GPS module and put the devices for pairing (via Bluetooth). Do not forget that by doing the pairing, you need to leave the module in an open place, pointing to the sky.

The program offers options to trace new routes and store-is the most common type only the name of the street and ask the search.

Support was also improvised with a Velcro tape in double-face. "A support for GPS is also expensive. The way was to adapt." With the tape stuck to the glass (for the module) and the center panel (for GPS), you can remove the equipment at any time.

Europe restricts price of a text message

2008-11-16T16:14:00.002-03:00

The price of a text message sent and received in Europe will limit of 11 euro cents, according to draft Viviane Reding, member of the Telecommunications Comission European Union.

The phone calls will be charged per second and competition from mobile operators in offering Internet access will be intensified.

The European Parliament and 27 EU member states agreed to the proposal and the new tariffs will be implemented next year.

Nifty mp3 players (Part 1)

2008-10-18T22:36:00.000-03:00

Zune

Probable biggest rival iPod, the Zune comes with its third generation innovations as the ability to buy songs heard through FM radio (using the Wi-Fi connectivity available throughout the line) and MusicView, a music's service recommendation which enables a mosaic of artists to the listener. In the United States, prices for Zune players range from U$$ 129.00 for the player with 4GB capacity and $ 249.99 for the model 120 GB.

Zen Mosaic

Another brand which competes with Apple is the Creative. Zen Mosaic, a product of the company's line of players, is available in storage capacities of 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB and has controls designed in the shape of a square aligned, and embedded speakers. The player's measures are 4.1 cm wide by 7.9 inches in height and 1.3 cm thick. Prices in the U.S., starting at U$$ 60.00 for the 2 GB version and comes to U$$ 150.00 for the 16GB version.

If design is a key issue in selecting an MP3 player, Samsung has a choice: the player YP-P2. When it's off, he sets minimalist lines. When it's on, shows a 3-inch touchscreen that displays videos. The price of the gadget that has Bluetooth connectivity, is U$$ 500.00.

Rubik

Another player with attractive and innovative design is the Rubik from designer Hee Young. The format of the player is inspired by the classic toy magic square, and its operation is triggered with the handling of the modules that make up the geometric shape. Despite beautiful, Rubik is still a prototype and can not be acquired.

Car Cassette MP3 Player

Do you know someone that like of the 80s or that still uses tape in the car? A good gift for that person can be the player's picture on the right. With entry to SD cards and output for headphone, he works both as an MP3 player as Cassette, just need to insert the gadget on the deck of the audio tapes.

Nifty mp3 players (Part 2)

2008-10-18T18:45:00.020-03:00

Bello touchscreen

One of the features added to the new line of iPods is the exchange of songs with a shake of the player. In Bello touchscreen, a prototype from the designer Ryan Han, the tracks may change depending on the movement, as so the data can be transferred from one player to another by the proximity of gadgets.

Brix

The idea that "unity is strength" is taken seriously by Brix, a phone prototype and digital player designed by Seokwon Hong. By combining the player to another identical model, the screen will expand the content and allows you to see full size. The more Brix are combined, more larger size display the videos.

Flashlight Inspired Multimedia Player

The format of a flashlight inspired the design of the prototype of authorship of the designer Can-Hong Huang. To control the MP3 player, simply rotate the rings of the "flashlight", which can still be plugged to a base that carries the gadget and contains speakers. A pair of wireless headphones attached the project.

No Touchscreen

Nothing of touchscreen. The project of the designers Mathieu Pesmes and Jeff Castel not embark on the wave to be an iPod Touch II and uses a small screen OLED (organic emitting diode of light; the current industry trend of television) to view the contents. For those who like a visual basic, restricted to what really matters.

Mini Boombox

The GSM cellular Mini Boomboxes imitates the look of a portable Microsystem, those adored by fans of hip hop. Slider format, the unit contains two small boxes of sound in front of him, used to play audio stored in his memory expandable up to 2 GB. To make a rapper style, even in small proportions.

How to curb theft of mobile

2008-10-15T01:01:00.008-03:00

The billions of cell phone owners don't know a technical detail that could make the theft of the device much less painful for victims and much less easy for the thief. Nobody walks to open the wallet and purse out there, but few people have the same caution with regard to cell phones, which can cost up to U$$ 2000.00. They are objects of value, seized upon by robbers.

Cell phones stolen need to be unlocked, a service that's easy to do and often do not check who is the owner of the unit. Theft of cars is a serious problem for the police, but imagine how much this type of crime would increase if it were possible, as well as cell phones, simply unlock a stolen car and go out driving quietly. Almost nobody would be afraid of being arrested.

This scenario fueling the growth of theft of mobile phones, but there's a solution. The cell phone operators have some sort of blacklist which includes the serial numbers of stolen phones. The victim has to tell the number that is on the appliance or at the chit. Those who are on that list can no longer be used, they have no value. But only after making a bulletin to occur in the police is that the phone is locked forever.

It is important that people use this feature because it is an efficient way to inhibit this type of crime. This process worth it, because if the phone is stolen, becomes useless, it will be possible to say that this crime does not pay.

Extend the desktop using two monitors on a single PC (Part 1)

2008-10-12T02:25:00.002-03:00

If you are with the crowded bar full of Windows programs open sometimes occupies more than one line and does not have much patience to stay by using Alt + tab all the time to switch between applications running, already should have thought that screen of your monitor is not big enough.

For this problem, there are two possible solutions. The most fast and easy it is to acquire a large display, such as LCD, 22 inch w2207h (HP), W2452T or 22LS4R (LG). Of course if you're willing to spend good money on that.

Another alternative is to connect two monitors to your machine. Thus, you multiply by two the size of your desktop and do not have to be alternating between windows, because you can display more items. And there is nothing complicated install and configure the new.

In addition to the two monitors (it is very likely that there is a monitor left on your company), you will need a graphics card that has at least two video outputs. If your computer is more or less recent, do not worry, as virtually all newer video cards have two exits - idependentemente of options are more expensive or cheaper.

The main concern is to identify what kind of output offered by the board, as well as the cable used by its monitors, because there must be compatibility between them.

There are basically three types of connection: VGA, the 15-pin port that makes transmission of analog signal, DVI, which transmits a digital signal, and HDMI for data in high definition

Extend the desktop using two monitors on a single PC (Part 2)

2008-10-12T01:10:00.008-03:00

If your monitor is an older model, called CTR (or pipe), it is likely that it uses VGA connection. Already the most modern of LCD, using the DVI or HDMI outputs, depending on the case.

Even if your video card does not provide the outputs that require their monitors, stay calm. For this there are the adapters. So if you have a VGA monitor and a card with only DVI outputs, you will need a DVI-VGA, which costs from 60 reais. But if your card has only one video output, unfortunately you will not have choice: you must replace it with another that offers two connections

Installation and setup

With the equipment checked, just plug everything. Connect the monitors to the video card and plug in your computer. Probably only one of the monitors will be active after startup. Right-click on the desktop monitor in operation and choose Properties in XP or Personalize, in Vista. Click the Settings tab (or video settings) and you'll see two icons - one for each monitor, but one of them is disabled.

Extend the desktop also to the second monitor

In the dropdown menu that appears with the names of models of monitors, select one that is turned off and then check the option to extend the desktop to this monitor.

Now the next step reduce to a matter of preference of the user. You can position the monitors side by side or, depending on the shelf where is your PC, you can put them one above the other. Do not forget to set this position also in display properties, allocating the icons the same way as we had the monitors. Just click and drag any of them.

With two monitors side by side, when you put the mouse pointer right at the edge of the screen from left, for example, the arrow will migrate to the monitor from right. The same mechanism occurs in a manner similar when we have a monitor at a level above the other.

The result: two applications open in two different ways of positioning the monitors.

You can still change the resolution of each monitor independently, using the slider that appears. But it is advisable to use two monitors at their native resolutions, even if they are of different sizes.

Ready: Now you have a much larger area to work and can leave, for example, an open window on each monitor, working on both simultaneously.

Apple will replace the defective adapters iPhone

2008-10-07T18:13:00.004-03:00

Apple Inc. reported that some of DC adapters for the latest version of the iPhone, may break up and bring risk of electric shock. So she invites users to exchange them, yet that does not have information on injuries.

Apple reported that the USB adapter ultra compact, have metal's teeth that may break up. They equip the iPhone 3G models sold in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico and several Latin American countries.

The replacement adapters will be available to those users as of October 10, according to the company.

Details are available on Apple's page on the Internet (www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/).

The launch of the latest high-speed iPhone in July this year, was one of the most anticipated events in the United States by the consumer electronics segment, despite the problems of activation and complaints from some customers about the connection speeds of the unit to Internet.

Upgrades at 3G iPhone (Part 1)

2008-10-03T22:28:00.000-03:00

The 3G networks are the most expected feature in the new iPhone, but the upgrades not be summed up this. Check out the following, 10 reasons that make the most desired mobile of all time even more irresistible and 10 things that are still missing.

Reason 1:

The new version operates in bands of 850, 1 900 and 2 100 MHz in the GSM / UMTS with HSDPA, protocol that allows a theoretical speed of up to 14.4 Mbps. In practice, navigation in the third generation networks with HSDPA was tested and made an average of 200 Kbps. According to Apple, you can surf the web and downloading while are talking by phone.

Reason 2:

The original iPhone can help who is lost and need to find an address, but it works precariously on the user's location based on triangulation of cellular towers from. With the incorporation of assisted GPS, the upgrade's position of 3G iPhone is made with precision, and download the maps from Google Maps becomes faster. But to become a real GPS, with suggestions of routes in real time, the iPhone depends on maps of others.

Reason 3:

Integration with servers such as Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to sync e-mail, contacts and calendars was the most awaited feature by corporate users. Remote access to information businesses can be done in a secure solution through Cisco IPsec VPN. With this, the iPhone 3G becomes a powerful competitor in a market hitherto dominated by Blackberrys.

Reason 4:

The synchronization of messages, contacts and calendar in the iPhone is not a novelty only for the corporate user with Exchange. Apple also announced the MobileMe, an online service that will do the same, except that between iPhone, iPod touch, computers with Mac OS and Windows. Any change made in one of the devices is recognized by the server MobileMe, takes care of automatically applying the changes in other equipment synchronized. The MobileMe still has a gallery to share photos and a virtual HD, the iDisk. To use the service will need to make an annual subscription of 99 dollars, with the right to 20 GB of space for storage. Who is user of the .Mac service will have automatically your account migrated to the MobileMe.

Reason 5:

The iPhone 2.0 software will allow the installation of programs from independent developers distributed by App Store. Until now, Apple tried to prevent all forms of the free installation of applications. But this effort (as well as to lock SIM cards from carriers outside the list of Apple's partner) never had very end. There are various methods developed to "liberate" the iPhone and the enormous variety of applications installed easily on any device unlocked. Rather than continue this game of cat and mouse with the creators of applications, the company has released a development kit for the iPhone applications and took part in the distribution (and on the profits, of course) of the softwares.

To be continued...

Upgrades at 3G iPhone (Part 2)

2008-10-03T22:27:00.000-03:00

Reason 6:

The dimensions of the iPhone (6.2 by 12.3 by 1.2 cm) are virtually the same, as well as the weight (133 grams). The main change is in the finishing. The back of silvery aluminum has been replaced by plastic pieces of black or white. In addition, a small blunder of the first iPhone has been corrected. The area around the connector on the headset has been redesigned, now allowing the use of any headphone with the plug default P2.

Reason 7:

Before it was necessary to scroll through the list of contacts to find a name, there wasn't a search engine. With 3G iPhone, simply type the name for the device accurately locate the desired contact.

Reason 8:

The images received as an attachment in e-mail messages, can be saved directly to the library's photo unit. Also you can copy to the iPhone 3G images published on the Web.

Reason 9:

The owners of iPhone will not need more delete item by item in a list of files. Now, just select multiple items and perform the operation on a single shot.

Reason 10:

With the visual voice mail, the user recovers the scraps on your voice mail from a very practical way. Rather than hear one by one, simply select the desired message in an inbox, similar to e-mail and SMS.

To be continued...

Upgrades at 3G iPhone (Part 3)

2008-10-03T20:57:00.005-03:00

Prices

The price of the 3G iPhone, 8 GB is 199 U.S. dollars. The previous version cost 399 U.S. dollars. The 3G iPhone, 16GB is around 299 U.S. dollars. Both prices are coupled to two-year contract with AT&T.

What remains

»Internal memory of 8 GB or 16 GB

»3.5 inch touch screen technology

»Wi-Fi networks compatible with 802.11g/b

»Functions of the music and video player

»Camera with a resolution of 2 MP

»No edit, just displays Office's files

»It depends on methods of non-official release of chips to work with any carrier.

10 missing features

MMS - The most popular feature to share pictures made by mobile phone is ignored by Apple. To use it, only resorting to independent developers

Bluetooth - Unable to send pictures by MMS? Sorry. Nor will achieve through Bluetooth.

FM radio - We'll never be able to tune songs and news in a unit of Apple?

Second camera - For video calls, is a basic item even in 3G mobile phones simple.

Dial by voice - It is a practical resource that helps and let the screen of the iPhone with less marks of fingers.

Flash able - It is one of the few shortcomings of Safari, responsible for the best browsing web on mobile phones.

Stereo Bluetooth - The iPhone does not let you get rid of the wires to listen to music with a wireless stereo headset.

Copy and paste - Why force the user to type instead of simply copying and pasting text?

Camera upgrade - In addition to more resolution, a flash of xenon and the video recording would be welcome.

Card slot for - Without MMS and Bluetooth limited, would be good for the rapid exchange of files and backup data.

About 5 luxury electronics

2008-09-26T23:10:00.021-03:00

Crystalline sound

At their site, Philips promise a crystalline sound. This earphone and three other models, produced in partnership with Swarovski are selled at Swarovski's online shop for up to about $500.

Midas touch

Inspired on the character Midas, that with just a touch transformed everything in gold, some greek mythology's lover created this keyboard. It's completely bathed in pure gold and cost about U$$359.

Stars

Angel of stars is a mobile phone with 1.700 natural diamonds and white gold, there is also a model with black diamonds. It couldn't cost less than U$$ 276.360, or could?

Pen-drive-pocket-knife

If you've been paid U$$ 25 at your last pocket-knife, know this pen-drive-pocket-knife. Are you confused? Well, this pen-drive come disguised of swiss pocket-knife, but the knife was replaced by a pen-drive. It's made of gold, encrusted with diamonds and cost more than U$$ 1.400. If you prefer, you can ask to write your name with the diamonds.

iPod Swarovski

Now, Apple session. If you think the company's products are expensive, knows that may be even more so. The iPod craze entered the Swarovski and is fully clothed with the crystal. If you want to take risks, the edition created by Selfridges is limited and prices begin in U$$ 1500 (Nano) and U$$ 1800 (Touch).