Geek Blog

A Bamboo Notebook?

2010-07-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

Asus is going green.
Yes, the new Asus Bamboo U33Jc has a cover made of bamboo.
Bamboo, as many of the eco-conscious community already know, is one of the "greenest" materials there is.
This is primarily due to its fast growth, which makes it easily replenished. Its use is especially widespread in the building industry (particularly for flooring and other hard surfaces such as counter tops, doors, etc). The laptop PC, aka, notebook is the first of its kind, but probably the natural direction we should have expected.

The new U33Jc balances eco-friendliness with technology.
The Asus Bamboo runs on an i3 Core Processor and sports superior graphics(NVIDIA Optimus enabled).
As Engadget points out though, that there are a few gripes, one being that this new notebook has no optical drive.
Read the full review by Engadget.

2010-07-22T02:07:00.000-07:00

RIM, the makers of the Blackberry recently announced a free service for all users of Blackberry devices.
The app is now in beta. Blackberry Protect is a web-based service that has been available only to the corporate customers in the past. All customers will now be able to locate lost phones, back up and restore their information, or wipe their phones wirelessly in case of phone loss or theft.

This service may prove to be a pace-setter in the world of smartphones and mobile devices and mobile technology et al. RIM, a company that was once the leader in smartphone sales, and still one of the top, may yet again reclaim their spot under the sun.

The Tablet PC

2010-07-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

In 2010 the common theme with computers seems to be the tablet PC.
Though tablets existed long before the launch of the iPad earlier this year, that launch seems to have touched off the tablet PC market frenzy.
Among others, last month Dell released the touchscreen Dell Streak. Small enough argue for classification as a smart-phone, yet it sports a beefy tablet sized 1GHz processor and runs on Android.
Another of the latest is a business tablet, the CIUS from Cisco, unveiled last month, which runs on the Google Android platform.
The Toshiba Libretto, running on the full version of Windows 7 is yet another tablet PC, said to offer more than its competition.
ASUS, the company famous for introducing us to the Netbook , introduced the Eee Pad and the Multi-Touch Tablet.

At this pace, the summer is sure to get hotter.

2010-07-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

Is the new 4G Apple iPhone hitting a bit of a snag?
Since the launch of Apples latest smart-phone a couple of months ago, there have been widespread complaints of dropped calls and issues with phone reception. Youtube and other venues are ablaze with complaining customers and parody videos of late. Recently, there have been lawsuits from customers dissatisfied with their iPhones citing these same issues.

Apple for their part, have acknowledged that there is indeed an issue. While at first the company seemed to suggest that the problem could be fixed by holding the phone in a particular way(as demonstrated by Steve Jobs) and with a software update, they now offer a different solution.
It involves purchasing a case for the phone.

In spite of this, Apple iPhone's appear to still be in high demand.

2010-06-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Less than three months after the launch of Apple's iPhone, sales have hit the 3-million mark.
In the first month alone, Apple sold 1-million iPads.
Reports of connectivity issues and other minor, or perhaps not-so-minor issues have done nothing to slow down sales.
With the sales of both the iPad and the new iPhone 4 through the roof, Apple seems to be riding high with the wind on their backs lately..
Look for more iPad and iPhone apps at the Apple App Store.

2010-06-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

The makers of the netbook will soon be launching more devices expected to compete with the iPad.
The devices will be similar in size but more functions & connectivity are expected.
Watch for Asus devices this summer.

2010-06-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

Netbook or Tablet PC or the iPad?
That is a question mobile device shopper's may find themselves asking lately.
So how does the iPad stack up agains the Netbook and tablet PC's?
Which offers more options, more power, more versatility?
Which one is supported by which carrier and which offers the best connectivity?

Readers, owners and shoppers are free to weigh in.

Thin Laptop Notebooks

2010-05-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

Word on the circuit is that Toshiba will be coming out with the thinnest laptop yet. The 13" Toshiba is expected to run on two batteries, one a supercharged ion battery. Initial models will likely run Intel i3, i5 or i7.
Details such as pricing, a full list of features and photos of this new notebook have not been
revealed as yet, however, the Toshiba website does show other products running the same advanced battery.
The new Toshiba is expected as early as this summer.

2010-05-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

In yet another advance for Mac users, Steam, the online gaming platform from Valve software now also caters to Mac OS x customers. Windows users have long had access to Steam, now Mac users, and reportedly Linux users (soon) will have access and with it, a larger selection of games. Steam is a multi-player platform that offers more than 1100 games and is available in various languages. Some popular game titles are Half-Life and Counter-Strike.

2010-05-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

There's a new media player in town, and this time it's for Mac users. Windows users have a variety of media players to choose from. Mac users on the other hand have relied heavily on Apple related software, as most other options available are not compatible with the Mac OS platform. Users of devices, other than those made by Apple (iPhone, iPod, etc), have found that syncing
can often be quite a challenge.

Instinctiv has launched a media player with Mac compatibility. It is currently in beta launch and is designed with full media player capabilities. Smartphone owners who use Mac should now find it easier to sync their devices, download and store and perform functions Microsoft users have been able to do all along.

2010-04-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

By all appearances, the iPad seems to be as popular as many expected.
The scattered reports of several campus bans due to network connection problems, appears not to be putting much of a damper on the iPad's popularity.

Mobile devices are gaining even more momentum this year.
Coming to stores soon, expect to see competition for the iPad:

HP is rolling out the Slate, which will run on Windows 7. This is said to have some features absent in the iPad; a built in camera, an SD card slot, a USB port, and a SIM tray for 3G networking.

The Asus, the company widely credited with introducing netbooks, is said to be planning at least two tablet PC releases in the coming months, one of which will run on the Windows platform and the other likely on Google's Android, the mobile operating system.

Apple...Ipad Trademark Holder ...Launching Soon!

2010-04-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Fujitsu was the initial owner of the iPad trademark, and previously launched a hand-held device (computer) under the this trademark. Fujitsu has been selling their iPad since 2002. The device was mainly popular inside the world of retailing & customer service.

Not until recently, after the Apple's iPad became widely known to consumers, and just days before launching, did Apple actually acquire the trademark from Fujitsu.
The Apple iPad appears to be a popular device already and has been receiving favorable reviews from pre-launch reviewers. Apple has newly added iPad apps to its App Store.
The Apple iPad is expected to run about 150,000 apps from their app store. On April 3, 2010, when the Apple iPad officially launches, the apps will be available for purchase from the online store, as will the iPads.
Mark your calendars.

Smartphones - The Various Makers of Smarthones

2010-03-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

RIM (Research in Motion), as far as smartphones go, has held on to a large market share with its prolific line, the Blackberry. Smarthones from RIM include:
Blackberry Storm
Blackberry Bold
Blackberry Curve

Nokia has been a leader in the manufacture of mobile phones for years, so it is no surprise that in 2008 the company would release the E71 to compete in the smartphone market. Nokia smartphones include:
Nokia N900
Nokia Nuron
Nokia 5800 Xpress Music
Nokia E63

When Apple exploded onto the scene with its ihone in 2007, many expected that it would quickly gain market popularity. In this sense, the iPhone did not disappoint. Though some in the field make a distinction between the iPhone and smartphones, for the purpose of categorizing here, the argument is moot. Apple has brought us phones that include:
iPhone 3G
iPhone 4G

HTC broke away from its Windows based phones and teamed with Google to bring us the Android. HTC smartphones include;
EVO 4G
Android
HD2
Nexus One

Samsung is a well known name in electronics and technology. Samsung smartphones include:
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung BlackJack
Samsung Omnia
Samsung Wave S8500

Palm, makers of smartphones such as the Palm Pilot and the Palm Treo round off the smarthone giants.
Their smartphones include:
Palm Treo
Palm Pilot

On a related note, Microsoft which has only competed in this market in the capacity of supplying the operating software recently announced plans to compete with Apples iPhone. They will be launching an online marketplace for smartphones and apps.

Computers: Hyperthreading VS Duo Core and Quad Core

2010-03-10T01:34:00.000-08:00

If you are in the market for a new computer, you may have heard the terms:

hyperthreading
core solo
core 2 solo    > duo core, with one core disabled
duo core    > two core
core duo
dual core
core 2 quad
core 2 extreme
quad core
core i3
core i5   > Similar to core i7, introduced in 2009
core i7   > Top of the line of the core, introduced in 2008/2009

These terms are all specific to Intel Computers.

2010-02-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month Intel Corporation unveiled its Intel Core vPro Processor family.
These come with new safety measures for theft prevention such as facial recognition and anti-theft technology which can disable a computer remotely, should it be stolen.
Faster encryption and decryption is now possible through Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
The vPro technology also enables IT administrators to manage and secure wireless or wired PC's using hardware-based technologies.

The new vPro platform will have Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors and will be able to solve more problems than prior vPro technologies.

4 G Phones

2010-02-17T01:27:00.000-08:00

Fourth Generation

Though there is currently no 4G Coverage in the US, it is available in more than a hundred other countries. 4G coverage will be arriving in the US shortly. Providers such as Verizon, Sprint and Comcast anticipate coverage within weeks or months.

Savvy cell phone makers such as Sony have positioned themselves to take

advantage with phones and netbooks such as:

Sony Erickson

Nokia

Samsung Mondi

HTC Android

The Samsung N510 Netbook

How Do Tablet PC's Stack Up?

2010-02-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

How do some of the popular tablet pc's stack up? Tablet PC's have been around for a while, but failed to rise to the level of mainstream popularity enjoyed by notebook computers and desktops. They have mainly been used by businesses for accounting functions. Since the release of Apples Ipad, it seems that tablet pc's are gaining momentum. Computer shoppers are now adding a new device to their wishlists. Some of the more popular tablet pc's are; the new Ipad from Apple and Fujitsu's Lifebook, Lenovo, HP and Gateway.

2010-01-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Latest Gadgets & Electronics

The New Apple Ipad
How does it stack up to other tablet computers?
The tablet pc is not a new concept. For years there have been tablet pc's on the market;
notably the Fujitsu line of tablet pc's,

2009-11-10T09:39:00.001-08:00

The Motorola Droid
Google's Droid

2009-10-05T03:23:00.001-07:00

Mobile Phones

Unlocking Cellphones: Unlock codes

Iphone
Blackberry
Palm Treo
SmartPhones

Phone Apps:
Maps
Ebooks
Games
Dictionary
Email
GPS
Calculator
Themes
Live TV
Radio
Sync
Twitter
Google
Iphone
Blackberry
PalmTreo

PDA's

2009-10-01T09:51:00.001-07:00

Electronics, Gadgets and Mobile Devices that fit your lifestyle.

2009-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

Geek Speak

What to consider before purchasing a Laptop or a Mobile Device

Prices on electronics have come down considerably over the past couple of years

while technology has continued to advance.

Todays market offers a wide array of affordable, user-friendly electronics.

But how does one decide between one brand and another; or even between

one model and another under the same brand name?

There are several factors to take into consideration when shopping for electronics:

~Is it a long-term investment or a short term solution:

...Even in the world of technology there are fads.

Popular trends that are soon forgotten or become obsolete.

If your main goal is to be fashionable, then you could probably flip to any page

of a fashion magazine and your see what the celebrities are toting around.

...On the other hand, if you seek a long-term device, it might serve you well to

do a bit of research and make a mental note of the features you need.

Dell Studio Notebooks
Vaio Laptops
Apple Macbook
HP Laptops
Fujitsu Tablets
Dell Mini