New gadget's

Nokia's N96 Now Official, Quad-Band and WCDMA

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:23:00 -0700

After much leaking of information, Nokia's N96 slider cellphone is now official. It's a quad-band, US 3G-enabled (WCDMA) phone with a 2.8-inch screen, 16GB of built-in memory, a 5-megapixel Carl-Zeiss Tessar lens, A-GPS and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. The media-player functions of the phone get their own dedicated slide-out keypad, as we knew. It's due out in the last quarter of the year, and pricing is estimated by Nokia at around $810. Full specs are below.

Technical profile:
WCDMA 850/1900 (HSDPA)
GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
4 x 2.2 x 0.7-inches (local depth up to 0.8-inches)
4.4 ounces
2.8-inch QVGA Display (240 x 320 pixels) with up to 16 million colors
Nokia BL-5F battery, 950 mAh

Media:
16 MB on-board memory
Expandable via microSD slot
MPEG-4/SP MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Up to 30 fps, up to VGA resolution
(scaled max QVGA on device, SDT on TV-out)
Windows Media (WMV9) up to CIF @ 30fps
Flash Lite 3.0 / Flash Video in browser
MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA

Main Camera:
Carl Zeiss Tessar lens
Up to 5 megapixels (2592 x 1944) JPEG/EXIF
MPEG-4 VGA (640 x 380) at up to 30 fps
F.28 Aperture
5.2mm Focal length
Dual LED camera flash and video light

Operating Times:
Talk time Up to 160 mins (3G), 230 mins (GSM)
Standby time Up to 200 hrs (3G), 230 hrs (GSM)
Video playback Up to 5 hours (offline mode)
Music playback Up to 14 hours (offline mode)

Connectivity & Data Services:
WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g with UPnP support
Micro-USB connector, hi-speed USB 2.0
3.5mm stereo headphone plug and TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
Bluetooth wireless technology 2.0 with A2DP stereo audio,
enhanced data rates
GPS receiver with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS)

Nokia N79 and N85 Roll Out Officially, With US 3G Aboard

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:20:00 -0700

After yesterday's dribble of info, Nokia's upcoming N79 and N85 are official now, and do indeed carry WCDMA support for US 3G goodness. The N79 has a 2.4-inch screen, 5-megapixel camera and comes with a 4GB microSD card in the box for storage, while the N85 has a 2.6-inch OLED screen, 5-megapixel cam and 8GB of microSD card storage shipped with it. Both also have FM transmitters aboard, for streaming your music over a nearby radio. Full specs below. Update: the N79 is due to cost around $515 and the N85 will be around $660, both expecting to ship in October.

Nokia N79

• Personalise your device with 3 Xpress-on™ smart covers
included inbox, with automatically matching wallpaper
themes
• Automatically change from portrait to landscape with
orientation sensor
• Easily navigate using the NaviWheel™
• Geotagging of pictures captured, and view them on a map
• Organize photos by albums and tags, and
synchronize with PC
• Upload and share pictures and videos directly toOvi and the web
• Enjoy great audio through standard 3.5 mm jack
headphones, built-in 3D stereo speakers or Bluetooth
technology
• Digital music player with support for playlist editing,
equalizer and categorized access to your music collection
• Synchronize and manage music with Nokia Music client
• Integrated FM transmitter and FM receiver
• Search, browse and purchase songs online inNokia Music Store
• Built-in GPS with A-GPS support and integrated 3-month
navigation license
• Multimedia city guides and navigation services available
for purchase. Drive: voice guided car navigation,
or Walk: pedestrian guidance for walking routes
Connectivity & Data Services
• GPS receiver with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS)
Full-screen video playback to view downloaded,
streamed or recorded video clips
• Access internet video feeds through Nokia Video Center
• Transfer videos from compatible PC,
using Hi-Speed USB 2.0
Games:
• N-Gage™ experience and one free game activation
voucher
• Try and buy from a broad catalog of innovative, made-for-
mobile titles that feature connectivity and stunning
graphics
• Titles developed by leading publishers

Technical Profile
System: WCDMA900/2100 (HSDPA), EGSM900,
GSM850/1800/1900 MHz (EGPRS)
User Interface: S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2
Dimensions: 110 x 49 x 15 mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 97 g
Display: 2.4 inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) with up to
16 million colors
Battery: Nokia Battery BL-6F, 1200 mAh

Media
Memory: Up to 50 MB internal user memory,
4GB in-box micro SD memory card
Video playback: MPEG-4, H.264/AVC, H.263/3GPP,
RealVideo 8/9/10, WMV
Up to 30 fps, up to VGA resolution
Music playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA orientation sensor

Main Camera
Lens: Carl Zeiss Tessar™
Image capture: Up to 5 megapixels (2584 x 1938)
JPEG/EXIF (16.7 million/24-bit color)
Video capture: MPEG-4 VGA (640 x 480) at up to 30 fps
Aperture: F2.8
Focal length: 5.2 mm
Flash: LED camera flash and video light• Enjoy great audio through standard 3.5 mm jack
headphones, built-in 3D stereo speakers or Bluetooth technology

Operating Times
Talk time: Up to 210 min (3G), 330 min (GSM)
Standby time: Up to 400 hrs (3G), 370 hrs (GSM)
Video playback: Up to 5 hours (offline mode)
Music playback: Up to 24 hours (offline mode) • Built-in GPS with A-GPS support and integrated 3-month
navigation license

Connectivity & Data Services
• WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP support
• Micro-USB connector, Hi-Speed USB 2.0
• 3.5mm stereo headphone plug and
TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
• Bluetooth wireless technology 2.0 and
enhanced data rates (EDR)
• GPS receiver with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS) • Access internet video feeds through Nokia Video Center

Nokia N85

• Watch high-quality video on the 2.6 inch OLED display
• Full-screen video playback to view downloaded, streamed
or recorded video clips
• Access internet video feeds through
Nokia Video Center
• Transfer videos from a compatible PC,
using Hi-Speed USB 2.0
• Enjoy great audio through standard 3.5 mm jack
headphones, built-in 3D stereo speakers or Bluetooth
technology
• Easily control playback with the dedicated media keys
• Integrated FM transmitter and FM receiver
• Search, browse and purchase songs online in Nokia Music
Store
• Assisted GPS (A-GPS) provides fast and accurate location
information
• Multimedia city guides and navigation services available
for purchase.
• Drive: voice guided car navigation, or Walk: pedestrian-
optimized turn-by-turn guidance. Integrated 3-month
navigation license inbox
• More than 15 million points of interest with Nokia Maps 2.0
• Geotagging of captured pictures, and online sharing
• Organize photos by albums and tags, and synchronize
with PC
• Upload and share pictures and videos directly to Share on
Ovi or 3rd party services directly to the web
• N-Gage™ experience.
• Try and buy from a broad catalog of innovative, made-for-
mobile titles that feature connectivity and stunning
graphics
• Titles developed by leading publishers
• At least 10 games preloaded and one free game activation
voucher

Technical Profile
System: WCDMA 2100/1900/900+GSM
850/900/1800/1900
WCDMA 2100/1900/850+GSM
850/900/1800/1900
User Interface: S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2
Multimedia Menu
Dimensions: 103 x 50 x 16 mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 128 g
Display: AM OLED 2.6 inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels)
with up to 16 million colors
Battery: Nokia Battery BL-5K, 1200 mAh

Media
Memory: Up to 74 MB internal dynamic memory,
up to 78 MB internal NAND flash memory,
8 GB in-box micro SD memory card
Video playback: MPEG-4, H.264/AVC, H.263/3GPP,
RealVideo 8/9/10, WMV
30 fps, VGA resolution
Music playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA

Main Camera
Optics: Carl Zeiss Tessar™
Image capture: 5 Megapixels (2584 x 1938)
JPEG/EXIF (16.7 million/24-bit color)
Video capture: MPEG-4 VGA (640 x 480) at up to 30 fps
Aperture: F2.8
Focal length: 5.45 mm
Flash: Dual LED camera flash and video lightMaps and Navigation:

Operating Times
Talk time: Up to 270 min (3G), 410 min (GSM)
Standby time: Up to 360 hrs (3G), 360 hrs (GSM)
Video call: Up to 160 min
Video playback: Up to 7 hours (QVGA, 15fps)
Music playback: Up to 30 hours (offline mode) Photos:

Connectivity & Data Services
• WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP support
• Micro-USB connector, Hi-Speed USB 2.0
• 3.5mm stereo headphone plug and
TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
• Bluetooth Specification 2.0 and
Bluetooth stereo audio support
• GPS receiver with support for assisted GPS (A-GPS)

Canon EOS 50D Official: 15-Megapixel Prosumer DSLR Is First With Digic 4 Processor

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:16:00 -0700

Canon's EOS 50D probably isn't the DSLR you were praying they would unveil at Photokina, but it does fill a gaping hole in their lineup between the low-end prosumer 40D and semi-pro 5D. The 15-megapixel shooter is their first DSLR with the Digic 4 processor, which has a few new light-oriented tricks up its sleeve, like lens peripheral illumination correction—it corrects for light fall-off at the edges of the lens—and it can more automagically brighten things, like pretty faces (and ugly ones, if you really want it to). Since you can crank the ISO speed up to 12,800—Canon's highest yet—presumably its noise-reduction capabilities are formidable, especially since Nikon has succeeded in making noise the new battleground in prosumer and higher level DSLRs.

Other basic specs:
•14-bit conversion rate
•6.3FPS bursts (up to 90 JPEG with UDMA CF card or 60 w/ a standard one, 16 RAW)
•three-inch, 920,000 dot screen w/ 160-degree viewing angle
•nine cross-type focus points like 40D
•HDMI
•same cleaning system as 40D but with fluoride coating for better dust resistance
•100,000 cycle shutter

New features:
•Live View gets a dedicated button, not buried in 700 menus deep anymore
•auto-focus micro-adjustment, which saves focus optimizations for lenses—a trickle down from pro cameras
•creative auto mode, a pretty consumer-y feature that dumbs down picture style settings and exposure compensation into plain English using a sliding scale (i.e., a wider aperture with a shallower depth-of-field with would be called "blurrier background," you get the idea)

Body only will go for $1399. And yes, they've got a new 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (as rumored), which will be $699. They both drop in October. [Canon]

CANON U.S.A. STIMULATES THE CREATIVITY OF EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW EOS 50D DIGITAL SLR CAMERA

Canon's New DIGIC 4 Image Processor Fuels the 15.1 Megapixel Resolution, Expanded ISO Range and Enhanced Noise Reduction of the New EOS 50D Digital SLR

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 26, 2008 – With the demand for digital SLR cameras reaching unprecedented levels, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is answering the call with the announcement of the next evolution in advanced amateur digital SLR photography, the EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera with 15.1 megapixel resolution and Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor. Designed to offer extraordinary quality and image control for the advanced photographer with a passion for the art, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera includes an expanded ISO range, improved noise reduction, and in-camera photo editing features. Canon has loaded the EOS 50D camera with a number of enhancements and some trickle-down technology from Canon's professional Digital SLR cameras, as well as a new Creative Auto Mode (CA) that gives users more creative flexibility to make image setting adjustments conveniently without the need to be a photo expert.

Canon has built upon the success of the popular EOS 40D model – which will remain in Canon's line – with the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera. Expected to be the camera body of choice for advanced amateur photographers this holiday season, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera carries over the EOS 40D's 14-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion process for smooth tones, and also includes enhanced noise reduction, especially at higher ISO ranges which will help bring those romantic nighttime shots into greater focus and clarity. Capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second (fps), the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports.

"Advanced amateur photographers blur the line between the hobbyist and the professional, looking for professional features and capabilities in their equipment that will allow them to capture that awe-inspiring image. Canon is constantly striving to provide these shooters with the most advanced imaging technology, like the new EOS 50D Digital SLR camera, to fuel their passion for photography, and help them achieve their creative potential," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

Improved Image Quality
The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's 15.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been improved thanks to the use of newly designed gapless microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 12800. The faster processing speed of the camera's DIGIC 4 image processor contributes to the fast 6.3 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGs or 16 RAW images on a UDMA CF card), to give shooters the tools they need to capture that perfect moment in perfect clarity.

The Canon EOS 50D camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 3200 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings – H1 and H2 – of ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, respectively. Along with a wide ISO range, Canon gives shooters more tools to help maximize clarity and color. The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera offers multiple levels of noise reduction during high-speed shooting. Users can choose from one of four settings– Standard/Weak/Strong/None – to help reduce digital noise that can result from poor lighting conditions.

As part of the camera's internal image processing, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera conducts peripheral illumination correction, which automatically evens brightness across the image field, making an image of a blue sky even toned throughout, a function previously accomplished through post-processing software on a personal computer. Thanks largely to the DIGIC 4 processor, this automatic adjustment can be made in-camera during shooting with JPEG images or corrected in post-photoshoot processing with RAW images through Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which is supplied at no extra charge.

Helping to ensure each picture's subject is clearly visible, Canon's enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, perfect for subjects in shade or in backlit situations. The Auto Lighting Optimizer on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera has been updated not only to optimize images while they are being taken, but can also optimize images post-capture, during playback, to help ensure the subject of each image does not appear too dark. This is especially helpful when an amateur photographer uses the camera, because post-capture enhancement can help maximize image quality without the need of a computer.

A significant upgrade to the Canon EOS 50D camera is its large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen which features 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 40D camera's screen, for better clarity and color. To help show off those fantastic shots, the EOS 50D camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV. The EOS 50D recognizes the needs of today's photographers, and the faster processing speed of the DIGIC 4 processor helps support UDMA cards for faster writing of image files.

The camera is also equipped with a high-performance viewfinder featuring 0.95x magnification and the same high-performance Autofocus (AF) system as the EOS 40D camera with nine cross-type sensors for accurate target subject acquisition with lenses possessing maximum apertures of f/5.6 or faster and a high-precision diagonal center cross-type AF point that's effective with f/2.8 and faster lenses, helping photographers ensure better focus of their targets. The AF Microadjustment feature, originally introduced last year with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional digital SLR camera, has also been added to the EOS 50D for maximum control over focusing precision.

Canon Gets Creative For Advancing Amateurs
Canon is taking steps to give advanced amateurs more flexibility with a new "CA" Creative Full Auto setting on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's mode dial. This new setting goes a step beyond Full Auto, by allowing users to make adjustments before shooting while still in an Automatic mode, without needing to know the meaning of technical terms such as aperture, shutter speed, etc. In this mode, the camera menu on the back screen spells out options in common language for average photo enthusiasts, allowing them to "blur the background" or "lighten or darken the image." These easy-to-comprehend image options will help amateur photographers improve the shots they are capable of taking, while helping them learn new techniques. When in the new CA mode, users will be able to adjust flash settings, brighten or darken images, blur the background, set the camera's drive mode, and select a picture style directly on the camera's LCD screen.

Better Live View
For photographers who prefer to frame their shots using the camera's 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen, Canon has improved the Live View function of the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera to include "Quick Mode AF," "Live Mode AF," and "Face Detection Live Mode AF" that detects up to 35 individual forward-looking faces for better focus and clarity when taking group or portrait shots. The camera's Quick Mode AF setting flips the mirror down and carries out regular phase-detection autofocus, while the Live Mode AF and Face Detection Live Mode AF use the camera's CMOS image sensor for contrast detection autofocus. Two detailed grid displays have also been added to Live View shooting as optional settings for easier composition.

Two Small RAW Formats
In addition to the RAW and JPEG image capture modes that photographers are accustomed to, the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera now offers more manageable resolution settings and file sizes with two sRAW recording formats, sRAW1 and sRAW2. At the sRAW1 setting, resolution is 7.1 megapixels with a file size that is approximately 25 percent smaller than a standard 15.1 megapixel RAW image. With the sRAW2 setting, resolution is 3.8 megapixels at less than half the file size of a standard RAW image, retaining all of the flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional RAW images. The EOS 50D is the first Canon Digital SLR that allows the use of RAW and sRAW settings in Basic Zone as well as Creative Zone shooting modes, even further improving the camera's flexibility.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the Canon EOS 50D has also been upgraded and now includes a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or shut down. The second part of the system includes a software component where sensor spots are mapped and saved as Dust Delete Data that is attached to the image file for removal during post processing using Canon's DPP software.

Pricing and Availability
The EOS 50D is compatible with the full lineup of Canon EF lenses as well as the Company's ever-growing line of affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors. The Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is scheduled for October delivery and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of $1,399.00*. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,599.00*.

New EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Canon has answered the call from advanced amateur photographers looking for a solid all-around lens with the introduction of the new EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens. With an incredible focal length range equivalent to 29-320mm in the 35mm format, the new EF-S 18-200mm lens will make an excellent addition to any camera bag, and it gives shooters a great lens to capture both standard as well as telephoto images. The new lens features Canon's built in Optical Image Stabilization system which gives the equivalent effect of a shutter speed roughly 4 steps faster, for better image clarity, even in shaky shooting conditions. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.45m/1.5 ft. at all zoom settings, this new lens should prove to be ideal for those situations where swapping lenses isn't an option. An ideal complement to the EOS 50D SLR camera and all other EF-S compatible EOS SLR cameras, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens is scheduled to be in stores this October at an estimated selling price of $699.00*.

Where Cellphones Go After They Die: A Photo Essay

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:13:00 -0700

Technology Review has a fascinating photo tour of a ReCellular facility, where many of the phones "traded in" for new ones end up. Dealing with thousand of phones at a time, the workers are charged with figuring out which phones can be reused, which can be broken down into their component materials and which are just plain useless. The photography is stunning, and you're just about guaranteed to see at least one of the models you used to carry (or maybe still do) nestled among of the piles and piles of disused handsets. Most interesting is the undignified, molten fate met by parts of the least lucky StarTracs and Nokia bricks, pictured after the jump.

iPhone Dev Team Releases PwnageTool 2.0.3, Jailbreaks Latest 2.0.2 Firmware

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:09:00 -0700

This release adds support for Pwning the 2.0.2 5C1 firmware on the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as an update to the latest version of Installer.app. Mac-only for now but, as usual, just sit tight for a few days.

Six Fun Things to Do With Serious Military Hardware at a Russian Armaments Show

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:06:00 -0700

The International Defense Exhibition of Land Forces went down in Moscow this past weekend, and it seems like it was a pretty a great time, judging from these photos sent in to our good friends at English Russia. First stop, obviously, is to strap on the Tevas and nautical print Hawaiian shirt for a quick sit in this bad-ass anti-aircraft (I think?) battery. And as you can imagine, that's not all the fun to be had for the whole family with all the heavy weapons around.

You could also have a refreshing break with a water bottle next to this Dok-Ing Croatian mine-sweeper.

Give the kids a chance to see what it's like to look down the firing sights of a shoulder-launched missile.

Or, better yet, the sights of this gigantic cannon.

Fondly stroke a grenade launcher, perhaps.

Or stand on the business end of some pretty demonic-looking UAVs on their launch sleds.

Plenty more fun to be had over at: [English Russia]

Would You Ever Consider Using a Palmtop MID?

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:03:00 -0700

At the Intel Developer Forum last week, a lot of the buzz on the demo floor was around new Atom hardware. There were the requisite netbooks and EeeClones floating around, but it seemed like peculiar little quasi-computers, or palmtop Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) stole the show. Sure, it's impressive to see a full, net-connected Vista or Ubuntu desktop running on something the size of a Sega Game Gear, but who exactly is supposed to use these? I played with as many of them as I could (see which ones in the gallery below), and they are impressive, as least as feats of engineering. But as usable consumer devices? Not so much. None of the manufacturers have figured out exactly how we are supposed to interact with these machines, implementing half-baked touch controls, keyboards that suit neither your thumbs nor multiple fingers, and hardware that is too small to use for a long period of time but too bulky to fit in your pocket. Oh yeah, and projected prices range from $500 to well in excess of $1000. That said, I've got a different needs than a lot of users, and I'm exceptionally curmudgeonly for my age, so I'll pass it it you.

The Ultimate Speed Bump: There is no Escape

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:42:00 -0700

While the city of Philadelphia is content with using 3D images to deter speeders, the authorities in ShanXi province, China are taking a far more drastic approach. They built a 100 foot long, 2 foot high, winding speed block smack dab in the middle of the Jing Zhuang highway. Sure, it scratches up cars, looks hideous and causes massive traffic jams, but hey—by screwing everyone it manages to screw the speeders. Suck on that leadfoot!

iPhone Game Pads Are Coming To Enhance Gameplay Tenfold

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:21:00 -0700

TouchArcade has found evidence of two upcoming iPhone control pads that add, at the very least, an SNES amount of buttons to the iPhone. iControl pad is the first, and has four face buttons, a D pad, Start/Select and an LED to show when it's in use. It may be ugly now, but it's just a prototype.

Another game pad design (below) was received anonymously and looks like a patent application. It has an analog stick instead of a D pad, and places the Start/Select buttons over on the left. Both seem incredibly useful for games that require precise control—something the tilt sensor is not good for. The upside is that these control pads can serve as a slightly large protective case as well. I, for one, can't wait to actually play NES and SNES games the way they were supposed to be played. [Touch Arcade - Thanks Arn!]

First Official Nikon D90 Images and Specs Leak

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:19:00 -0700

Nikon Rumors has more on the D90, well, mostly just these product shots being touted as "100% legit." That, and a few more "official" spces—12.3 megapixels, movie mode (still no resolution confirmation), 3" LCD, an ISO range of 100-6400 and 11 AF points (same as the D80). The confirmed AF-S 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens is not a big one, so the body is looking nice and compact here. The shots seem to match what we've already seen (the added GPS-in there on the bottom), all coming in at $1300, so yeah, looks like bona fide D90 release is just a few days away. Check out the rest of the shots over at: [Nikon Rumors]

A Professional Food Critic Samples Space Food

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:18:00 -0700

Bill Daley is the food critic for the Chicago Tribune, accustomed to differentiating the finer points of the expensive, aged steaks of Rush Street, not the freeze dried packets of astronaut cuisine. So when NASA sent him a few packets to test out (most of them cooked through injection with hot water) we were pretty keen on hearing just how well our men and women of the cosmos were eating (with no access to real Cosmos, of course). His verdict? Sometimes the food was quite good, other times, not so much.

Lunch went well...

I could easily have downed two packages of the shrimp cocktail, long an astronaut favorite. The six medium-size orange shrimp were just a touch chewy after their slapdash, 10-minute water bath, but they looked and smelled like what you get at the supermarket. NASA’s cocktail sauce is spiked with plenty of horseradish and salt. If anything can revive tired taste buds in space, this dish is it. I chased it with a pouch of powdered mango-orange drink. The lush but tangy mango flavor juiced up the orange’s sweetness, and the mango aroma was pronounced. It was delicious.

Breakfast, on the other hand...

The food scientists had also sent two breakfast items, freeze-dried “Mexican” eggs and a sausage patty. The eggs, colored a bright buttercup yellow, were bouncy and broke down into small, dry curds. Flavorwise they were like a reluctant suitor, vaguely sweet but unwilling to make the full taste commitment. Hot sauce, ketchup even, would work wonders here. Nothing, however, could have saved the sausage patty.

There's lots more foodie space fun where this came from, so hit the link for the complete article. It's a fun, quick and educational read.

Palm TX Handheld

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:12:00 -0700

The Palm TX allows you to perform a variety of wireless uses. It has built-in Wi-Fi to allow to surf the internet from cafes, airports, office or campus. It also allows you to check your email and run other cool applications. It runs on Palm OS operating system and has a 312 MHz Arm processor. It also has 128 MB of built in memory. The bright 16-bit Transflective Color TFT display has an output of 64k colors. The interface operates via Touch Screen or 5-Way Navigator. If your looking to expand your memory, there is a SDIO Slot, Secure Digital SD Card Slot and MultiMediaCard Slot.

Listen to music from the built-in MP3 Player through a speaker or a 3.5 mm Stereo jack. Wireless capabilities include Built-in Wireless, WLAN 802.11b, Bluetooth and Infrared FIR. Accessories included with your purchase are a USB Synchronization Cable, Flip cover and AC adapter. From a Gadget Addicts perspective, this slim and easy to use device will come in handy in your everyday life. It also has very cool features and great battery life. If your really in to the high end technology of hand held palms, then you should really consider this device.

T-Mobile Sidekick Black Phone (T-Mobile)

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:07:00 -0700

Product Description
Combining the best features of the earlier iD and LX models, the T-Mobile Sidekick is a great way to chat on popular instant messaging services, connect with friends on MySpace, and easily record and share photos and videos. This new model for 2008 sports a slightly smaller, thinner and lighter design than previous Sidekicks, and it offers a high-resolution 2.6-inch slide-out display and changeable custom covers. The new Sidekick also features an integrated Spanish user interface--the first for a Sidekick device. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder, MicroSD memory expansion (512 MB card included), digital audio player, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, Spanish language support, two interchangeable shells (black and green) and up to 5 hours of talk time.

The T-Mobile Sidekick features a swivel-out 2.6-inch screen, full QWERTY keyboard, and 2-megapixel camera/camcorder.

T-Mobile Service Options
This phone operates on GSM 850/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including video and music clips, full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

It's compatible with T-Mobile's myFaves service, which allows you to call up to five of your most common contacts--on any network, even landlines--without using any of your minutes. Learn more about myFaves from T-Mobile.

Download cool new games, HiFi Ringers (real songs by today's hottest artists), MegaTones (instrumental versions of songs), and wallpapers quickly, as well as stay connected via the Web, instant messaging, and email.

You can choose T-Mobile's Sidekick Unlimited service, which includes unlimited e-mail, AOL Instant Messenger Service (AIM), Web browsing, and text messaging.

Phone Features
When closed, the Sidekick has a candybar-style with an extra-large 2.6-inch LCD screen featuring a 400 x240-pixel resolution and a 65K color depth. You'll enjoy enhanced web surfing with the PC-like, full-size layout or standard Sidekick screen-size layout to scroll and read a page. Use the Mini Page function to zoom out on an overview of an entire Web page. You can even save images from Web pages to the microSD card. The mid-section of the phone with the screen swivels up to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard with chiclet-style keys, which makes typing out messages a breeze.

The phone has a 64 MB internal memory, which enables you to store up to 25 ringtones, add up to five slides to multimedia messages, and record up to 60-second voice messages. The memory can be expanded via optional MicroSD media. The phonebook can store a whopping 2000 contacts, with each entry providing multiple fields for phone numbers and email/IM addresses. It also provides support for caller groups and picture/ringer ID. You can transform the look of the Sidekick from standard black to metallic green with the included bonus shell.

For true individualization, you can design a completely unique shell unlike any other using a dedicated online Sidekick site via SkinIt at sidekickshells.com. Doing so is as simple as uploading a personal photo or graphic design, or selecting your own text, shapes, icons or logos. The final design is custom-printed onto the shell, then shipped. Once the design is complete, customers can share their work of art in a public gallery that will be hosted on sidekick.com.

The Sidekick comes with black and metallic green shells.

This phone provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 1.2), and includes profiles for mono and stereo headset, handsfree, dial-up networking, object push, file transfer, and basic print. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. It also offers USB 2.0 wired connectivity.

Other features include:

Digital audio player compatible with MP3, AAC, and WMA formats and support for playlists
Access to personal email (POP, IMAP) with support for push email
2-megapixel camera/camcorder
Share videos via email, Bluetooth or picture messaging
Quick Find searches across all applications
Speakerphone
3.5mm headphone jack
Built-in SyncML offers an easy way to sync your phone and PC's contact list and calendar via USB or Bluetooth
Instant messaging support: AIM, ICQ, Windows Live, and Yahoo!
Organizer tools: Calendar, to-do, alarm clock
Java J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) for downloadable games

Vital Statistics
The T-Mobile Sidekick weighs 4.5 ounces and measures 4.7 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches. Its 1030 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 96 hours (4 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Flexi Keyboard

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Computer novelties from area of periphery continue to surprise us daily. ShortlySoon keyboards can be used everywhere and moreover in most extreme conditions, whether it is weather conditions or location. Digital multimedia keyboards - it is not new. Each time such requirements as convenience and singularity, compactness and universality are more and more obvious. The necessity of these characteristics and certainly with the development of new kinds has allowed to expand understanding about the keyboard and to create universal gadget.

The offer is - a water-proof keyboard. It is made of silicone; this is what gives this keyboard water resistance. Such problem as a cup of coffee spilled on a keyboard is solved. Hardly anyone has managed to get his keyboard in normal condition after such incident. Soap and water became friends not only for us, but also for computer peripheries.

However its main advantage is that the keyboard is compact and portable. It occupies a little place it is possible simply to roll it up. And the buttons will not be hurt.
Functions of the usual keyboard are basically saved. It won't take you long to get used to this keyboard and the position of its additional buttons.

Flexi keyboard will work with any PC or Laptop via USB. And what if your PC would be rolling up as this gadget does? Bendable display would be a very good start.

Antro Solo - car of the future?

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:28:00 -0700

Nowadays, it is popular among car companies to announce one or two models that are fueled not with gas, but with electricity. It is unknown, why they mystically disappear after being announced, maybe because of low distance they can drive without battery recharging, maybe because of their ultra high cost. However, it is clear that this kind of engines will prevail above internal combustion ones in some time. It is a wise idea to combine these two engines, produce a hybrid that will be more versatile in nowadays conditions. This is exactly the idea behind this futuristic concept car that combines advantages of both engine types to obtain unique capabilities.

This car is named Antro Solo, and is engineered in Hungary. Apart from having a very futuristic design (it resembles a soapbox a little), it does have very futuristic parameters. While it requires gas to run, it uses only 0.01 liter of gas per kilometer! This was made possible by using electric engine, which accompanies combustion one. Power is gained through many solar batteries on the roof of this car, but even if you are driving in tunnel or rain, there is nothing to worry about - gas powered generator will charge car's batteries if there is no sunlight.

However, the most amazing and interesting innovation is that if you run out of gas, you can power up your car yourself! There are two pair of pedals in front of passenger seats, so if you run out of fuel during rain, you can always ask your passengers to help you out.

The body of this car is made of carbon fiber, which was made to reduce its weight. It weighs only 272 kg! More than that, carbon-fibered body will increase its durability. Unfortunately, there were no crash-tests yet, because only one car was produced, and it is shown today at the Budapest transport museum. Apart from many other concepts which exist only on paper, engineers of this one hope to begin mass-producing them starting from 2012, which is not so far. One of the most interesting parts is its price, which they claim will start from 18,000 USD. Let's wait and see, will it gain popularity or it will be forgotten as many other interesting car concepts.

Nokia N95 vs Samsung i8510 - which one is better?

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:27:00 -0700

Nokia N95 was, and actually is, the most advanced smartphone in the S60 lineup. After a while Nokia released updated version, N95-8 which had 8 GB of internal storage and a larger display. However it is a mistake to think that N95 will be unrivaled. Samsung Company recently announced its answer to Nokia N95 - Samsung i8510. This smartphone on S60 platform has amazing specifications, and has all chances to become a real "N95 killer". Let's look closer on both smartphones (N95-8GB version and i8510), compare them, and decide, which one will be the winner of this comparison.

Design and controls

Both phones look very similar, both are made in form-factor of sliders. However, while N95 can slide in two positions, revealing multimedia buttons or number keys, i8510 is limited to usual one way of sliding. It is hard to tell, whether this is an advantage of N95, but it definitely is an original way to control your music or other media functions on the phone. Aside from two soft keys and dial / reject buttons under them, there are two unlabeled areas that look like buttons. Even considering them as unknown buttons, N95 has two times more buttons on its front, 8 buttons opposed to 4 in Nokia i8510. Both phones have 5-directional navigational button.

Interesting enough, both phones have an indication of how much memory they have left, it is placed on top left corner of the front part. They are slightly different on the back part; Samsung i8510 camera can be closed to avoid lens damage, while N95 has no protection on camera lens at all. Samsung also has two holes for built-in dynamics on back.

Hardware

While looking similar, they are very different inside. Both phones have same display size and amount of colors they can show, but they differ in all the rest. Samsung i8510 has a twice bigger internal storage capacity - 16 GB, and a microSDHC slot, so you can double its capacity by using 16 GB microSDHC card, which will be enormous 32 GB! Shame for Nokia, they dropped expansion slot on their 8 GB model, which leaves you with only 8 GB with no ability to expand it.

While camera on N95 was considered one of the best phone cameras for now, Samsung tries to beat it not only with quality but also with the resolution - i8510 will have 8 megapixel camera on board, which makes it the most "megapixeled" smartphone. Every feature that is usual nowadays is present, such as autofocus, LED flash, even smile detection. Video recording is the same, QVGA and VGA resolutions supported.

On the multimedia side, both phones look very advanced, with a big list of supported audio and video formats and FM radio with RDS, both have the regular 3.5 inch headphone port. i8510 features internal graphics accelerator, which can be used later in games, and accelerometer just like the N95, so the phone can decide whether to display image in landscape or portrait mode.

Connectivity options are similar, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 support, such as 3G networks. We must notice that both phones are quad-band, so they will work all over the world. GPS feature is present in both of them, so there is possible to geotag the picture you made, and use many navigation programs available for S60.

The battery in both phones is of the same capacity - 1200 mAh. Official press release of i8510 states that it has an Optical mouse feature. What it can be? Could this smartphone be used as a mouse for your laptop? If it can, it will be a very interesting feature to have. It can be clearly seen, that in hardware battle Samsung i8510 is a clear winner, overdoing N95-8 in almost everything.

Software

On the contrary with the hardware, software side is what makes this phones look almost completely the same. Both are based on Symbian, which means that they have one platform and the same programs. However, it is still unknown which version will have this new Samsung smartphone. It will have two preinstalled games, FIFA 2008 and Asphalt, which fully use abilities of its integrated graphics chip. While it is unknown, will the software from N95 be compatible with i8510, the recently launched N-Gage 2 platform games will most likely do not work on it, making them exclusive to Nokia smartphones.

Conclusions

Of course the true conclusions can only be made when Samsung i8510 is revealed to the public, but even now we can see that Samsung is releasing a very strong competitor, which overcomes N95 in many domains. It is still too early to say that i8510 will be better than N95, but according to the specs it will most likely be the true long-awaited "N95 killer". Let's wait for the August, this is when this smartphone from Samsung is scheduled for release.

Voodoo Envy 133 Laptop vs MacBook Air

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:24:00 -0700

It is a well known rule, that every successful product will have its followers. Whether they are direct replicas or strong competitors, they certainly will cause much less impact than the original. Apple knows this for sure, because every now and then their products are replicated and followed by other companies. Let us not mention Chinese HiPhones and other cheap parodies, and try to concentrate on real and interesting competitors offered.

MacBook Air, when released, was a huge success. While it was pricey, it offered a unique experience of owning a world's thinnest laptop with Mac OS X inside. Of course, no other company has a chance to offer Mac OS X in their laptops; however the title of "world's thinnest laptop" will no longer be associated with Air. This title goes now to Voodoo Envy 133, new laptop from the HP. It beats its competitor in thickness, being 0.15 cm thinner that the MacBook Air. However, will it overcome Apple laptop in other domains? Let us see.

This new gadget from Voodoo certainly has its style. It definitely does not even try to copy MacBook Air design, it looks completely unique. While it seems not as slick as Air is, it definitely deserves a plus on this side. Its body is made completely from carbon fiber with custom micro-weave design, and looks very attractive. It comes in two different colors, black and white, with inner part always remaining black. Design is a very subjective thing, but it will be fair to say that Envy 133 has not failed at this point.

Envy's internal hardware does not fall behind MacBook Air either. It is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo SP7500 / SP7700 processor, has 2 GB of DDR2 RAM and 80 GB HDD (which can be replaced by the 64 GB SSD for additional price). Display resolution and size is the same as on MacBook, 1280 x 800, 13.3". Same as Air, it does not have any internal optical drive, so you can use external one that comes together with the laptop. As an answer to the Air's multi-touch touchpad, Envy 133 has large touchpad with multiple finger tracking and gestures support.

In terms of connectivity, Voodoo Envy 133 seems more powerful than MacBook Air. First, apart from wireless capabilities, Envy has Ethernet port, which gives you possibility to connect it to any wired networks available. Second, one of the very interesting features is Envy's integrated wireless personal access point, so you can use laptop as a Wi-Fi Access Point for all Wi-Fi capable devices - all thanks to the Voodoo Aura PowerConnect feature. It also has 2 USB 2.0 slots instead of one on the MacBook Air, so if you have external optical drive connected you will always be able to connect another gadget in remaining USB port without having to buy USB hubs. However, one of the slots is e-SATA, so you will have to use an adapter to connect USB devices there.

On the software side, it could be almost completely similar to other Windows based laptops, but it is not. There is one feature that makes this laptop unique in some sort: Voodoo IOS, Instant On Solution. It gives you the ability to boot up almost instantly in a special mode, where you can browse Internet, chat in IM or talk via Skype - without booting up Windows. It only takes 4 to 5 seconds to be completely usable - very interesting feature for those, who do not want to wait until Windows boots up. Of course, IOS offers only limited amount of programs, so if you want more you can press the button with Windows logo on it to boot directly to Windows Vista.

According to info on the Voodoo page, Envy 133 laptop can work 3 hours on one battery charge. Of course, battery time will depend on how intense you use laptop, so maybe it will be possible to increase this time a little. The biggest difference from Air is that the battery on Envy is replaceable, so you can always buy another one if you feel that one is not enough.

Does this newcomer from Voodoo (or is it best to say, from HP?) will overcome Apple's MacBook Air, but it certainly is a very interesting device. It offers a bunch of new features that are completely unique to this model, and it is definitely thinner that Air. Its price is 2099 USD, which is a bit more that the price for Air, but it seems reasonable for all the features Envy 133 has.

Top 10 Asus Eee PC killers

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:23:00 -0700

Inspired by the success of Asus Eee PC, many other companies began to announce similar laptop models with a variety of options. Eee PC is not just a small low-cost subnotebook, it started the whole new line of laptops called netbooks. Wikipedia claims, that the term netbook was introduced by Intel in February 2008 to describe a category of small-sized, low-cost, light weight, lean function subnotebooks optimized for Internet access and core computing functions (e.g., word processing) - either from directly from applications installed on the netbook itself or indirectly, via cloud computing. As Netbooks become more and more popular, their numbers increase and now almost every computer manufacturer announced its own Asus Eee PC rival. This top 10 Asus Eee PC killers list is made up from recently released or only announced models that have some chances to take the Eee PC's place as best netbook. So let's look at the competitors.

10. VIA OpenBook

Unfortunately, it is only a concept for now, but it is still worth looking at. So, what VIA wants to offer in its product? OpenBook will run on a 1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV Processor, have all modern wireless features (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiMAX, EV-DO /W-CDMA, HSDPA, GPS options), 80GB hard drive and up to 2GB of RAM. Very interesting indeed. If they incorporate all the announced wireless features in one laptop, and keep the price from going sky-high, this will be a huge hit, especially with integrated WiMAX and GPS functions. And if it is CDMA enabled, will it have the possibility to send and receive calls?

9. Classmate PC

Intel, world's biggest processor manufacturer, decided to enter to the netbook market from a very different side than VIA. While VIA packed its subnotebook with features interesting for advanced customer, Intel is working on a low-cost computer that will help children in developing countries be closer to Internet and information technologies. While the main side of this kind of product is its price, characteristics are pretty low. It will run on Intel Celeron M 915GMS mobile processor, will have 256 MB of RAM and small 800 x 480 LCD. To decrease its weight and cost, it will not be equipped with HDD, but with 1 or 2 GB of NAND memory instead. Of course, all the usual things as microphone, Wi-Fi and touchpad will be included. In a second generation of its Classmate PC Intel announced new features such as webcam, ability to increase RAM up to 512 MB and 9" LCD. To reduce its cost it will ship with Mandriva Linux, free and open source operating system. However, it is a possibility to install Windows if you like. Let us hope that children from many poor countries will have the possibility to be closer to modern technologies with such laptops.

8. OLPC XO-1

This famous netbook made much noise on the Internet from the very beginning. Its developers pursued the idea to help children of Africa and other developing countries with really cheap laptops - 100 dollars for unit. It seems unbelievable, but for this price gadget offers all modern features such as Wi-Fi, built-in webcam and touchscreen. Of course, the internal hardware is not very advanced, with only 256 MB of RAM and 1 GB of internal flash memory. Heart of this laptop will be specially crafted low-power processor from AMD - AMD Geode LX700. Its operating system is Linux distribution based on Fedora, which will help children to get acknowledged with the Open Source software world. Unlike the Intel's netbook, this one looks way more interesting, because of modern design and interesting features such as ebook mode and rotating screen. Unfortunately, it is currently sold for 188 dollars, which is almost twice as much than announced price, but manufacturers claim that they are working to bring the price down to estimated value. This netbook will only be available through One Laptop Per Child project and will not be sold for simple consumers.

7. One A110

From the educational programs let's return to usual customers. This netbook is another product by Quanta Computer, apart from OLPC XO-1, and this one's target audience is absolutely different. It is a modern small-sized laptop that incorporates all the most needed features that are used by laptop owners in a compact form. It runs on a VIA C7-M-ULV Processor (1.0 GHz, 400-MHz FSB, max. 3.5 Watt), have 7 inch 800 x 480 LCD, and in case you need bigger display it has an external VGA port. Wireless and Ethernet capabilities are also included, so does the microphone and webcam. Also, it has 512 MB of DDR2 RAM and 64 MB VX800 S3 integrated graphics card. Card-reader, opposed to Asus Eee PC, is 3 in 1 so you can use SD, MMC or MS cards freely. Design of One A110 is much more serious than in OLPC XO-1, maybe this is because of different target audiences. When it comes to the OS, Linux gives the manufacturers more flexibility to adjust it for their devices, especially for netbooks, which are usually limited on resources, so the choice is simple. However you can always install Windows by yourself, if the world of open source is not for you.

6. MSI Wind PC

This interesting device from MSI not even looks almost completely like new Asus Eee PC900, it comes very close on the hardware side. It has one of the biggest displays that netbooks usually have, 1024 x 600, which is a way bigger than that of original Eee PC 800 x 480. It also uses the brand new Intel Atom processor, which a step forward to even bigger battery time. While the base OS for this laptop is Novell Linux (SuSE), there is a modification with Windows installed. You can install Windows on a Linux laptop without any problems, difference is that Windows laptops come with twice amount of RAM, 1 GB instead of 512 MB that comes on Linux laptops. Windows version also has Bluetooth and extended battery. Of course it has Wi-Fi, card reader (it is 4-in-1 so not only SD format is supported), Ethernet and webcam - all these functions became standard of for netbooks. And the price is very reasonable - 399 dollars for linux version and 590 for Windows, so it is a very good opponent to Asus masterpiece.

5. Acer Aspire One

Acer Aspire One is the Acer's try to enter the netbook market. This stylish glossy black laptop is powered by 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, has 512 or 1 GB of RAM and an option to either include 8 GB SSD or 120 GB 2.5" HDD. Display is the same as on Asus Eee PC 900, 1024 x 600, and the set of functions is very similar - Ethernet, Wi-Fi, webcam and 3 USB 2.0 ports. Acer's collaboration with Linpus Linux made it clear that this netbook will feature one of the latest builds of Linpus made especially for Acer Aspire One. Interestingly though, users also ran the Linux version with Windows XP, several alternative Linux distributions like Ubuntu and also Mac OS X. Windows version of this netbook will come out in August and will be slightly more expensive. In the battle with Asus it has all the chances to win, because USA pricing for the the Acer Aspire One has been tentatively set at 9 USD for the basic model, comparatively lower than the price of 9 for the ASUS Eee PC 8G 701, which makes Aspire One cost less for same features.

4. Dell E

Dell E is a netbook that is set to contend with other low cost subnotebooks such as the EeePC and Aspire One. Like the MSI Wind, it is powered by the 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, and has 512 or 1 GB of RAM. The data can be stored on the 4, 8 or 16 GB SSD. The typical set of functions is still here: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, webcam and card reader. Dell's netbook has large 8.9" 1024 x 600 LCD and comes in two versions, Linux and Windows, with Windows version slightly more expensive. The release date is set to August 2008, so let's wait until it reaches the shelves to examine it more accurately.

3. HP 2133 Mini-Note PC

While this model is like Classmate PC, aimed at the educational market, it is way much expensive and powerful. It has a VIA C7-M ULV (1.0 - 1.6 Ghz) processor, up to 2 GB of RAM, biggest resolution among all other competitors - 1280 x 800, and ability to run Windows Vista from the box. It comes in two versions, with Linux or with Windows. Its wireless capabilities are extended with Bluetooth, it also has gigabit Ethernet card inside and an Expresscard 54 slot for expansions. Of course, it is more expensive than many other rivals, 499 dollars for Linux version, but it also is packed with more useful features. However, it is very questionable that all these features are truly needed for an educational PC. Maybe it will be better to strip some advanced features, so that price will be more like the OLPC? HP thinks opposite.

2. Everex CloudBook

Everex Cloudbook was the first Eee PC widely known opponent, and it comes very close to its rival. Everex made a very wise choice not copying the ideas Asus used, making their netbook look and feel completely different. First of all, it throws off the usual laptop design, making the looks more appropriate for ultra mobile laptop. You will not find touchpad at the usual place either - it is placed at the upper right side of the computer instead of at the bottom of the keyboard as is common for notebook computers. This move was made to make this laptop even more portable, so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb the small trackpad, both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen. So you can walk around with it and still have the ability to type - this is why this netbook is often sold as UMPC, even without touchscreen. Its technical features are almost completely similar to Eee PC, only real difference is that it features 30 GB HDD instead of SSD. It runs on VIA C7-M ULV 1.2 GHz processor, has 512 MB of RAM, 18 cm (7″) WVGA (800 x 480) TFT display, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 0.3 megapixel webcam, and card reader. Operating system is gOS, which is based on Ubuntu Linux. However you can always install Windows XP if you want more compatibility with your Windows software. Even though this netbook is a little different from Eee PC, they fall in the same category of netbooks, so the competition must be tough. The next generation of CloudBook, that is announced to release in 2009, will make it even tougher for Asus to keep up.

1. Asus EeePC 1000

If you are wondered, why the Eee PC is listed in the Eee PC killers list, then we'd like to clarify this position. This newly and slightly redesigned version of popular netbook has all the chances to become the star of the show. Keeping small size and weight it features big 10 inch 1024x600 display and comes with an Intel Atom CPU with 1GB RAM. It offers extreme battery life: 7.5 hours when doing simple tasks with your wireless connectivity off! It is possible because of new six-cell battery and small power usage by new Intel Atom platform. As you have already noticed, every netbook has Linux and Windows version. This helps to reduce costs from buying laptop with Windows preinstalled, however leaving the chance to buy Windows if customer wishes so. While Windows versions have always been more expensive, this time situation is completely opposite. Windows version is cheaper because of 80 GB HDD, while Linux version comes with more expensive 30 GB SSD storage. Overall, Eee PC 1000 is a very promising product, an example of good development of revolutionary ideas that original Eee PC introduced.

Brando's iPhone 3G Unlocker chip

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:21:00 -0700

It is a widely known fact that many cellular operators offer interesting propositions, which can help you buy expensive smartphones for 1 dollar, or a very small price. This is a very tempting offer, but there are some rules which you must obey if you want to use newly bought phone properly. These phones often are blocked for use with only one phone carrier, so you will not be able to use any other SIM card apart from those of that carrier. It is very disappointing that some phones are only available to use with certain phone carriers, and if you live in another country or just don't want to switch operators. Such as newly released iPhone 3G that is available only from AT&T and doesn't work in other networks. How about all Apple fans that are living overseas? Thanks to the Brando, they can enjoy the iPhone 3G in their home networks without any problems.

This new chip from Brando makes a very interesting thing - it tells to the phone that your SIM card is from needed operator, making it believe that you are using the right one. Just slide the attachment under your "normal" SIM card (the one that you wish to use), and that’s all! You can then use your usual SIM card with your number without any limitations. This Brando chip is very thin, so it minimizes the need to cut and trim SIM card, and manufacturer claims that it can be used with a variety of cell phones and smartphones, not only with iPhone 3G. The list of supported models include Alcatel, Blackberry, LG,

Terminator Skull DVD Player

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:19:00 -0700

No word on how you operate this Terminator head turned DVD player, but it sure would make a great center piece for my diamond plate inspried coffee table. Sorry, there really aren’t any details, but it would appear that the eyes glow Terminator red when on and running.

Darth Vader Tie Fighter Web Cam

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:19:00 -0700

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve got Star Wars fever. The Force Unleashed is out in about a month, and the feature length Clone Wars movie is hitting the big screen in a week. To tie it all together (ahhh, get it, sneaky huh), we’ve now got a limited production ‘Darth Vader Tie Fighter Web Cam’ on the way. Does the normal webcam tricks and also includes Star Wars official movie sound effects to make my Lightsaber glow with envy.

Preorder available here for about $42

Axioo Pico DJM 616 Netbook

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:16:00 -0700

With the famous netbook on the market, now Axioo launch its netbook series called Axioo Pico. It come with white lite color DJM 616 model. Come with Intel Atom processor N270 ~ 1.6Ghz, 512Kb L2 Cache, FSB 533MHz (On Board).

The Pico Netbook memory has only 1 pin SO-DIMM socket DDR2 which supporting DDR2-533/667 MHz (PC4200/PC5300) and the default come with 1GB DDR2 667 MHz PC 5300. Maybe to make it still slim and portable, so the slot memory only available one. The total support of the memory only up to 2GB.

The graphic card using Intel GMA 950 which still the same like other Axioo standard notebook and it’s already support Microsoft DirectX 9.0. The display has 10 inch TFT 1024×600 resolution WXGA. The USB has 3 ports with 1.1 compatible, external CRT, a headphone jack, microphone jack, RJ-45 for LAN, and DC jack. As the other notebook has 3 in 1 card reader support (MMC/SD/MS), 10/100 Mb Base-T Ethernet, and wireless 802.11 b/g.

The hard disk storage of Axioo Pico netbook come with SATA 160GB 2.5 inch and the video camera also already built-in on the top of LCD display. The battery only using 3 cells smart battery li-ion but also you can choose the 6 cells with more than 8 hours life time. The dimension is 260mm(w) x 180mm(d) x 19-31.5mm(h) with only 1.2 kg. The price is not available yet.

Bandai Ants Life Studio Virtual Ant Farm

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:15:00 -0700

Remember how cool ant farms were as a kid? The only problem once you got your kit home was getting the actual ants, which typically took about a month via mail order. On top of that if your ant farm was ever knocked over your pet ants would get out into your room, which typically lead to a choking cloud of ant spray and your ant farm being tossed in the trach.

Bandai Ants Life Studio is a virtual ant farm you can keep right on your desk without fear of your ants escaping! You can interact with your pet ants by giving them sugar, salt, pebbles, worms, and fruit to help them thrive and build their nest. Shaking your ant farm will result in your ants becoming stunned and confused! This cool new life sim is available now from Audio Cubes.

Bandai Ants Life Studio

Grow Your Own Nintendo Collectible Mario 1up Mushroom

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:14:00 -0700

Thanks to the latest advancements in genetic manipulation, Japanese scientists have created a new form of mushroom that you can now grow on your own. Just add standard potting soil, sunlight, and lots of love and in a few days you'll start to see your own vinyl 1up start to push up from the soil!

At least, that's what you'd convince your co-workers of when you bring in the vinyl pot full of potting soil that you water everyday. Then one day you'd come in early to place the vinyl mushroom in your pot to fool them! (Maybe that's just us - we like to play silly tricks on co-workers any chance we get!)

ThinkGeek.com

Pet's Eye View Digital Camera

ngandonikaa1@yahoo.com (JulisD) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:11:00 -0700

Sometimes we come across gadgets that really get us excited! However after we read the specs of said gadgets more closely our little gadget balloons get deflated. Case in point, the Pet's Eye View Digital Camera. This compact digital camera attaches to your your pet's collar and is made of ultra durable water-resistant ABS plastic. Photos are shot at 640x480 resolution at intervals of either 1, 5, or 15 minutes. Sounds great, so what's the catch? According to the product description there's only enough internal memory to hold roughly 35 photos, which means at best you're only going to capture a little over eight hours in the life of your pet before you'll run out of space. (No mention of a memory card slot to add extra memory either, bummer.)

Pet Eye View Digital Camera