General HotHardware Tech News

California Demands TVs Suck Down Less Power

News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:49:17 GMT

Love the Earth? Sure, we all do--after all, we live here. Love it enough to throw out your current TV and buy one that meets heightened energy requirements? Um....

Just this week California regulators adopted the "nation's first energy-efficiency standards for televisions," with hopes of reducing energy drain during a period where many Americans are looking to buy larger, more energy-dependant sets. Of course, the Golden State has always been one to watch energy usage, and the 5-0 vote by the California Energy Commission isn't all that surprising.

Reportedly, the new rules will be phased in starting in 2011, and given that California residents purchase around 11% of the TVs sold each year in America, this ruling could have a serious impact. When the rules go into effect, all new 42" sets sold in the CA must use less than 183 watts, and less than 116 watts by 2013. Wondering just how wild that is? A sample 42" Hitachi plasma that was sold in 2007 uses 313 watts, while a 42" Sharp LCD drew 232 watts.

This obviously means that television makers will be forced to really take a good, hard look at power consumption, and of course it could end up costing consumers more as they shoulder some of those R&D costs. Oh, and there's also nothing stopping you from heading over to Nevada or ordering a set online, so many are saying these wild new rules will only hurt California's own economy. Needless to say this is bound to be a hot topic, particularly if this idea spills over to other states.

Sony's Reader Daily Edition Up For Pre-Sale At $399

News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:33:02 GMT

It may have been Kindle's world for awhile, but that's hardly the case any longer. Amazon has seen stiff competition from both Barnes & Noble (with its Nook) and Sony (with a variety of Readers), but the latter is finally stepping up its game in a big way. The Reader Daily Edition, which is Sony's most serious rival in the connected e-reader market, is now up for pre-sale at SonyStyle.com.

The Daily Reader includes integrated 3G from AT&T, giving users the opportunity to download books over the air so long as an AT&T tower is nearby. The device itself will include a menu-drive, 7" touch panel that can be used with a finger or stylus, and there's even a built-in Oxford American English Dictionary. We're hearing that some shipments may not make it out before Christmas, so if you're hoping to get one under the tree, you could probably go ahead and snag your place in line ASAP.

Sony’s new Reader Daily Edition is now on sale at SonyStyle.com.
o          The Reader Daily Edition provides wireless access to Sony’s eBookstore from most of the U.S.
o          Wireless access is provided by a 3G mobile broadband network.
o         The Reader Daily Edition’s seven-inch wide, full touch screen displayprovides intuitive navigation and comfortable layout of content,including newspapers and magazines, in portrait or landscapeorientation.
o         In portrait mode, about 30-35 lines of text are visible, making theexperience very similar to that of a printed paperback book.
o          A high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale ensures that text and images are crisp and easy to read.
o          The Reader Daily Edition features an attractive aluminum body with an integrated protective cover.
o          Easy access to the embedded dictionary with a simple double-tap on a word for its meaning.
o         The Reader Daily Edition has enough internal memory to hold more thanone thousand standard eBooks and expansion slots for memory cards tohold even more.
o          It will sell for about $399.
o          Newspaper and magazine content providers to be unveiled within the next month.

Asus Introduces Eee Box EB1501 With Ion, Windows 7

News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:58:48 GMT

Asus has been dishing out quite a few new devices here lately, with a 3D laptop and a TS mini NAS server heading things up. The company looks to close out the week with the introduction of an Ion-based nettop, which looks mighty stylish and includes a dual-core Atom N330 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, an HDMI output, and a slot-loading DVD drive. The full specifications are below, with availability set for December 7th and an MSRP of $479.

Eee Box EB1501 Nettop
Key Takeaways:
1)     A new standard in home entertainment nettop:
a.       Performance
                                                              i.     Intel dual core Atom N330 procesor
                                                            ii.     NVIDIA ION graphics with CUDA support
                                                           iii.     Windows 7 Home premium
b.      Highdefinition multimedia
                                                              i.     Full HD 1080P + HDMI
                                                            ii.     Built-in slot loaded DVD drive
                                                           iii.     5.1 audio with SPDIF out
                                                          iv.     Built-in media player supporting a wide range of mediaformats
c.       Richconnectivity
                                                              i.     802.11N + gigabit LAN
                                                            ii.     eSATA, USB
                                                           iii.     VGA, HDMI
d.      Greencomputing
                                                              i.     Max power consumption: 65w
                                                            ii.     Space saving design
                                                           iii.     Includes VESA mounting kit
2)     Official launch with immediate availability: Dec 7
3)     Introductory MSRP: $479 USD

MSI's Wind Top AE2220 All-In-One PC Now Shipping

News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:41:24 GMT

The desktop may not be selling as well these days compared to the notebook, but the all-in-one PC sure has been keeping up with the times. More than ever, people are interested in acquiring PCs that handle the basics well and take up a small amount of space. MSI's AE2220 looks to be a perfect machine if you fit into that category, boasting an HD LCD, Windows 7, and NVIDIA Ion graphics technology.

As of today, the Wind Top AE2220 is available in the United States, bringing with it a 21.5" display, 5.1 channel audio, the latest Intel Core 2 Duo/Pentium Dual Core processors, VGA / HDMI outputs, and of course a load of touch-panel applications to take advantage of this machine's ability to recognize finger inputs.

The baseline machine includes Windows 7 Home Premium, a 2.2GHz T6600 Intel CPU, NVIDIA Ion GPU, a 1080p multi-touch display, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi, 500GB hard drive, a Blu-ray burner, 1.3MP camera, two speakers, six USB ports, eSATA, audio in/out, a 6-in-1 card reader and VESA mount support. There's even an optional TV tuner if that suits your fancy, but the standard config will cost you $749.99.

MSI US Launches High-Performance Wind Top 21.5-inch Multi-Touch Screen All-in-One Desktop PC

MSI Wind Top AE2220 Features an HD LCD, Windows® 7, NVIDIA ION, and Combines Intuitive Multi-Touch Screen Control to Deliver Theater-Quality Multimedia Experience for the Entire Family

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. – Nov. 18, 2009 – MSI, a leading manufacturer of computer components and systems, today announced the U.S. availability of the Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one desktop PC. As MSI’s new flagship all-in-one computing system, the AE2220 extends the award-winning Wind Top line with new levels of performance, usability, energy-efficiency, and functionality in an affordable, stylish and eco-friendly design for today’s PC-centric families.

Featuring a 21.5-inch screen with 16:9 widescreen display, full HD (1080p) resolution and high-fidelity 5.1-channel SRS Premium Sound, the Wind Top AE2220 is designed to provide home users with theater-like multimedia entertainment. Powered by NVIDIA ION graphics and the latest Intel® Core 2 Duo/Pentium Dual Core processors, it can effortlessly run HD movies, resource-hungry applications and sophisticated 3D games. The AE2220 also includes VGA and HDMI input ports, enabling the device to serve as the primary home computer, television or a widescreen display device for game consoles and other video-capable devices in the home.

The Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one PC is available in a variety of configurations, and is priced starting at $749.99.

“The MSI Wind Top is an awesome all-purpose family PC. Share photos, edit videos, play games, watch HD video – our ION graphics processor means you can have it all,” said Drew Henry, general manager for ION and GeForce products at NVIDIA.

The AE2220 incorporates MSI’s exclusive graphic interface, enabling users to take advantage of “One Touch” convenience to browse the Web, instant message, use VOIP software, play music, and much more. With native support for multi-touch capabilities in the new Windows® 7 operating system, the Wind Top AE2220 dramatically improves the multi-touch experience by making it more intuitive, precise and easy to use for simple tasks, such as enlarging photographs and writing text in different languages, as well as for more complex applications, including professional photography editing.

“The Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one PC provides the perfect combination of processing power, easy to use multi-touch technology, and stunning graphics and HD video in a sleek, modern design that is sure to appeal to today’s tech-savvy families,” said Andy Tung, vice president of sales for MSI Computer. “Even better, the price of MSI’s Wind Top won’t break the bank, making it a great addition for any home this holiday season.”

Like other Wind Top products, the AE2220 is designed to meet all computing performance needs while reducing energy consumption. The AE2220 meets the latest efficiency requirements of ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 Specification for Computers, and can reduce electricity costs by approximately 35 percent compared to conventional PCs.

Special Wind Top Promotion at WIRED Holiday Store 2009 in NYC

MSI Computer will be showcasing the new MSI AE2220 all-in-one PC at WIRED magazine’s fifth-annual holiday retail store in New York City from Nov. 21 to Dec. 27. Those who visit MSI’s display at the store will receive a $50 gift card that may be used for the purchase of a new Wind Top all-in-one PC. For the WIRED Holiday Store location, directions and hours of operation please visit: http://www.wired.com/promo/wiredstore/aboutus.html.

Wind Top AE2220 Specifications

    * Operating System -- Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
    * CPU -- Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 (2.2GHz) / Pentium dual-core T4300 (2.1GHz)
    * Chipset -- NVIDIA® ION™ Graphics Processors
    * LCD Panel -- 21.5” (54.61cm ) 16:9, 1920 x 1080, Full-HD Multi-Touch Screen
    * Graphics -- NVIDIA GeForce 9300 Integrated Graphics with 256MB VRAM
    * Memory -- 4GB DDR2 800MHz
    * Wireless LAN -- 802.11 b/g/n WiFi
    * Hard Disk Drive -- 500GB SATA2
    * Optical Drive -- Blu-Ray/Double-layer DVD Super Multi
    * Speakers -- Two 5W 5.1-channel surround speakers with SRS Premium Sound
    * Video Input -- 1.3-megapixel webcam and microphone
    * I/O Ports -- VGA in, USB (x6), eSATA, RJ45, mic, headphone, HDMI in, SPDIF
    * Card Reader -- Built-in 6-in-1
    * Expansion Slots -- Two Mini-PCIE
    * IR Receiver -- Yes, with MCE remote control
    * Wall Mount -- Supports standard VESA Wall Mount
    * Keyboard/Mouse -- Wireless
    * Adapter -- 200W
    * Optional -- TV tuner

About MSI

Founded in 1986, MSI strives to design and manufacture superior technology and innovative products, while offering outstanding customer service. MSI has continued to uphold a business philosophy that stresses “award-winning product quality and outstanding customer service.” MSI specializes in the design and manufacture of motherboards, graphics cards, desktop PCs, all-in-one PCs, wireless communication products, and notebook PCs. To learn more about MSI and its product lines, please visit: http://us.msi.com. You may also connect with MSI Computer on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MSI.ComputerUS) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/msiUSA).

Casio Unleashes World's Slimmest Shock-Resistant Camera: The EX-G1

News — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:33:49 GMT

Earlier this year, Panasonic, Fujifilm, and Canon announced rugged cameras that could withstand drops, water, and much more. When these models were announced, we couldn't help but notice that Casio was absent from the list, especially since the company has its own G-SHOCK brand that already offers shock-resistant timepieces and a water-resistant mobile phone.

Fast-forward a few months, and Casio is now ready to join other manufacturers in offering a shock-resistant, waterproof, and dustproof camera. In addition to being rugged, the new EX-G1 offers many of the same features you'd find on today's newest digital cameras. For instance, this 12.1 megapixel camera can capture video in widescreen format at a resolution of 848x480 pixels. Thanks to its thin, 0.78-inch profile, the EX-G1 is also touted at the world's slimmest shock-resistant digital camera.

Click to enlarge

The EX-G1 also features an interval shooting function that can automatically take still photos or movies at fixed intervals. This feature is designed for people with active lifestyles who want to capture great shots while engaged in an active sport such as snowboarding or cycling.

The EX-G1 has a two-layer construction with a stainless steel outer-casing to help protect against shock and water. Near the shutter, a polycarbonate cover absorbs shocks to the body's side. A resin ring surrounds the glass casing to ease shocks to the lens area. In its tests, Casio claims the EX-G1 has been designed to survive multiple falls from seven feet and depths up to 10 feet for 60 minutes. The camera can also withstand temperatures as low as 14°F.

Click to enlarge

Like many of Casio's other point and shoot models, the EX-G1 offers BEST SHOT functions to help you easily capture the best photo in a variety of situations. The camera also offers an Intelligent AF function as well as Casio's Dynamic Photo function which lets you create composite moving images in camera.

On the back of the EX-G1, you'll find a 2.5-inch monitor with 230,400 dots of resolution. The camera's non-extending 3X zoom lens has a range of 38-114mm (35 mm film camera equivalent). The EX-G1 accepts microSDHC and microSD memory cards and has 35.7MB of built-in storage.

The EX-G1 will hit shelves in December with an MSRP of $299.99. It will come in black and red.

V-Moda Vibe II Earbuds Marry Style With Technology

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:33:27 GMT

OK, so they might not sense when you take them out, but V-Moda's Vibe II earbuds are a little bit earphone, a little bit microphone and a little bit nice jewelry.

The nifty part is that you can switch between calls and your music with an easy click of a button.

The cords are reinforced with Kevlar; the plugs plated with 24-karat gold. At $119, they're not the cheapest earbuds on the market, but they're not the most expensive,either. The plug has a flexible design that lets you twist it 45degrees, no problem, and is designed to give the listener the "sense ofa live music experience." It even comes with eight sets of siliconefittings (four black, four clear) to make it conform to your ear, nomatter how big or small, as well as detachable ear hooks.

The specs:

Frequency Response: 12 Hz – 22 kHz
Speaker Driver: 8mm V-MASQUE dynamic technology, neodymium rare earth magnet
Cables: Kevlar reinforced 32” plug to y-connector, 13.5” even-length earphone cables
Plug: 24k gold-plated, 3.5 mm (1/8”) stereo plug
Weight: 22g
Warranty: One year V-MODA premier warranty

Themanufacturer says that whether you're using them as a phone headset ormusic earphones, the BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone)technology in the earbuds reduces outside noise - "premiumnoise-canceling technology for award-winning sound," as they put it.(The brand did get honors for innovation at the 2009 CES.) And as thename indicates, the bass is accentuated, allowing for deep bass soundsto come through clearly. (Especially helpful if James Earl Jones shouldcall.)

V-Moda's other selling point is that they're made by anaudiophile brand back by DJs who do their own custom mixes. Think"Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes can't be remixed into a great dancetune? Think again.

The headphone'smic and call/music button control are compatible with all iPhonemodels (1G, 3G, 3GS), iPod nano (4th gen), iPod touch (2nd gen), iPodclassic (120GB), MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro (2009 models),as well as with VOIP, Skype, iChat and other audio recordingapplications. The audio is compatible with all iPhone models (1G, 3G,3GS), iPod, BlackBerry Smartphones, MP3 players, CD players, DVDplayers and computers.

CNet did a full review of the earbuds here.

Google Snaps Up Gizmo5, Could Rival Skype In VoIP Game

News — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:59:15 GMT

It may sound somewhat wild, but Google could very well take over theworld. We know, you're thinking we're crazy, but the evidence ismounting. It has taken over the search market (and improved usabilityall the while), it has crafted its own mobile operating system (onethat actually rivals the mighty iPhone), it's currently developing itsown computer operating system in Chrome OS, it already has a Chrome webbrowser that's easily better than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, it hasa chat tool that may trump Campfire in Google Wave, and now it's fixingto replace your phone company. Who's laughing now, right?

Google's GrandCentral (and Google Voice) has already taken thetalkative generation by storm, providing forwarding numbers and thelike for anyone who applies and gets accepted. Evidently that's justnot good enough, as now it looks like Google has Skype in its sights asthe next major company it hopes to challenge. Skype has long since beenthe go-to company for VoIP calling, and by and large, it's a greatapplication. But Google has just picked up a small outfit that wasdoing VoIP long before VoIP was a buzzword: Gizmo5. Gizmo5 providesInternet-based calling solutions for mobile phones and PCs, and whileGoogle isn't disclosing the purchase price nor any official plans forthe acquisition, it has noted that it will be bringing some Gizmo5employees on staff in order "bring more useful features to GoogleVoice."

Just think about it: if Google can really nail VoIP, and somehowprovide it free of charge like it does with most of its services, thephone companies could be in trouble. Granted, phone companies arealready seeing lots of disconnections as more and more people go tocellphone-only setups, but if Google gets in the game, you know it'llget even more interesting--and fast.

Support For 1080p High-definition Videos Coming To YouTube

News — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:47:43 GMT

Soon, YouTube will support the same high-resolution video that can now be enjoyed on flat screen TVs. Starting next week, YouTube's HD mode will add support for watching 1080p HD videos in full resolution. You'll still be able to view videos in 720p as well though the resolution will depend on the resolution of the original source.

YouTube has been supporting HD videos for over a year now. Today, the maximum output of YouTube videos is limited to 720p. The video-sharing site explains the upgrade on its blog, "As resolution of consumer cameras increases, we want to make sure YouTube is the best home on the web to showcase your content. For viewers with big monitors and a fast computer, try switching to 1080p to get the most out of the fullscreen experience."

Videos uploaded from regular users will still be limited to 10 minutes, although the maximum file size will likely receive a boost from 2GB. If you've already uploaded a video at 1080p, you won't have to re-upload since those videos will automatically be re-encoded to play back at the higher resolution.

Since even the 720p HD mode can tax some of the regular PCs out there, support for 1080p targets users with big monitors and a fast computer. If your PC can't handle the new 1080p clips, you'll be glad to know the 720p HD mode will still be available as an alternative.

Here's a comparison for how 1080p will compare in size to 720p:

HD - 720p

HD - 1080p

Ricoh's GXR Camera To Take On Micro Four Thirds Rivals

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:33:37 GMT

Ricoh isn't as big a name in the digital imaging arena as a company like Canon or Nikon, but it's still making some pretty big waves this year. Shortly after announcing its CX1 and GR Digital III, the company is now going after the Micro Four Thirds rivals with its GXR. The camera, which boasts both a simple name and a simple design, is most interesting due to its interchangeable slide mount lens units, which are described as "ealed modules containing both optics and sensor, meaning it can switch from a large (APS-C) 12 MP CMOS with a fast prime lens to a tiny 10 MP CCD (with a 24-70mm lens)."

Ricoh says that this camera is the planet's smallest and lightest with the ability to change lenses, and while we know that other MFT cameras are small, we'll take their word for it for now. The GXR is an interchangeable unit camera system in which lenses are changed by using a slide-in mount system to attach camera units to the body. The lens, image sensor, and image processing engine are integrated into the camera units so the body itself does not contain an image sensor. It's not too different if you're used to how DSLRs work, but it's a slightly different mechanism.

The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, and we're seeing pricing near the $600 mark online for this. That's a tough spot to be in when entry-level DSLRs are selling for less than that, but who knows, maybe Ricoh expects you to pay a premium for size here.

Distinctive characteristics
Lens, image sensor, and image processing engine comprise an integratedunit which can be changed to match the scene being photographed.
World's smallest and lightest* digital camera with interchangeable lenses
System potential expanded through use of interchangeable units

Main features of the new GXR
Ideal form for an interchangeable lens camera: The interchangeable unit camera system
Byintegrating lens, image sensor, and image processing engine into asingle optimized unit, we were able to created a compact camera withinterchangeable lenses.
The adoption of thisnew system has made it possible to achieve both "pocket size forgo-anywhere portability" and "the highest image quality for everyphotographic situation and subject."
Sincethe image sensor is not exposed when lenses are changed, the camera'sstructure makes it inherently difficult for dirt and dust to getinside.
Putting image processing engines in both the body and the camera units, our focus was on achieving the highest image quality.
Elegant design
Forthe exterior, we utilized die cast magnesium, which has a strong trackrecord in the GR series, and we covered the surface with acorrosion-resistant "pear-skin" coating. The end result is a body withsuperior levels of durability, light weight, and feel in hand.
Buildingon the operation control designs of the GR series and GX series, theGXR has several types of customizable buttons as well as the new DIRECTbutton, which the photographer can use to see many current settings ata glance. Sophisticated shooting settings can now be made faster thanever before.
The directional pad, the three MySettings, the ADJ.lever, and the function buttons all contribute to theeven greater operability achieved by the GXR.
Thegrip form allows the GXR to be firmly held despite its small size, andthe suitably yielding rubber material on the grip surface enables thecamera to feel like an integral part of the hand.
Even greater power of expression
The automatic exposure modes include program shift mode, shutter priority mode, and aperture priority mode.
Picture settings can be customized with nine setting levels for easy creation of a diverse range of images.

ISO3200 facilitates shooting in low light conditions.
Enhanced rapid shooting capabilities help capture fleeting shutter chances
The Pre-AF function accelerates focusing speed by adjusting the focus to match subject movement.
The full press snap function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter-release button.
Whenshooting subjects up close, the camera automatically switches to macromode so macro photography can now be enjoyed without having to worryabout switching modes.(Auto macro setting)

High-definition 3.0-inch 920,000-dot VGA LCD picture display
Thehigh-resolution LCD picture display provides a wide viewing angle andhigh contrast. The screen has a fluorine coat to prevent soiling, ahard coat to prevent scratches, and an anti-reflection coat to giveexcellent visibility even outdoors in bright sunshine.
With 100% sRGB coverage for color reproduction, the picture display vividly reproduces image colors.
Wide range of functions
Tilt indicator utilizing an acceleration sensor.
Three grid guides useful for framing images while shooting.
Imageflag function to enable the quick display of specific images from amongthose in the camera. Up to 20 images can be flagged.
The new DIRECT screen enabling current settings to be displayed and changed.
Features of the GR LENS A12 50 mm** F2.5 MACRO camera unit
Thiscamera unit uses a 23.6 mm×15.7 mm (APS-C size) CMOS sensor withapproximately 12.30 megapixels. In combination with image processingengine GR ENGINE III, it achieves high-image-quality photography withhigh definition, low noise, and smooth tonal gradations.
Anewly developed GR LENS with an 8-group, 9-element configuration(aspherical lens: 1 element, two surfaces) is featured. Representing afurther advancement in the GR tradition of high image quality, the lensthoroughly corrects for various types of aberrations. Despite thecompact size, it is also a full-fledged macro lens with a floating lensstructure. At shooting distances from infinity down to the 1/2x maximummagnification macro range, it achieves strong imaging power all the wayto the edge of the frame. In addition, the low level of vignettingmeans that the photographer can enjoy rich and genuine bokeh effects.
Themanual focus ring is perfect for use in macro photography as it makeshighly precise focusing possible. It can also be used to make finemanual adjustments to the focus after autofocus is done.
Features of the RICOH LENS S10 24-72 mm** F2.5-4.4 VC camera unit
Thiscamera unit uses a 10.00 megapixel 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor boastinghigh-sensitivity capabilities enhanced through the adoption of an newprocess. In combination with advanced image processing engine SmoothImaging Engine IV, it achieves high-image-quality photography with highdefinition and low noise.
The lens is a 24 mmto 72 mm high-performance 3x wide-angle zoom with superior usability.Utilizing a 7-group, 11-element configuration (aspherical lens: 4elements, 4 surfaces) that includes special low-dispersion lenses, thislens achieves high dimensions of both compactness and imaging power.
A camera shake correction function (image-sensor-shift type) is used to reduce hand- motion blur.
The self-retaining lens cap has been a popular GX series option, and a GXR version is available as option LC-2.
New options enhance series expandability
Two soft cases, one for each camera unit.
The GXR can use the GR DIGITAL III external flash (GF-1), which can do TTL flash using auxiliary flash.
Convenientfor shooting in bright outdoor situations, the newly developed920,000-dot- equivalent high-definition LCD viewfinder is removable andcan be tilted up to 90 degrees. With a 100% field of view, it displaysinformation in the same way as the picture display, thus enabling thephotographer to shoot in a film camera style.
Functions expanded using firmware
Function-enhancingfirmware releases for the GR DIGITAL series have proved very popular,and this practice will be continued for the GXR. By updating theirfirmware, GXR owners will be able to use the latest functions.

Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End All Antitrust and IP Disputes

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:11:22 GMT

AMD and Intel haven't been the best of friends over the years. Like any true rivalry, the two have seen things differently for about as long as we can remember, and today things have seemingly come to a head. Way back in 2005, AMD filed an antitrust case against Intel for their anti-competitive actions in the processor market. Of course, that's not the only battle the two outfits have seen in court, and it looks as if Intel is just tired of paying its lawyers as this whole debate draws out.

Today, the two companies are announcing that "all" antitrust and IP disputes between the two are done and over with. Just like that. The reason? Intel has agreed to pay AMD a staggering $1.25 billion dollars, and while we've heard that money won't buy happiness, it obviously solves major legal problems with ease. According to AMD's release, the two have "announced a comprehensive agreement to end all outstanding legal disputes between the companies, including antitrust litigation and patent cross license disputes." That sounds pretty clear-cut to us, and in some weird way, we're a little sad that this battle is over. What will the world do with AMD and Intel not punching each other in front of a judge? Here is the full announcement from both companies:

AMD and Intel Announce Settlement of All Antitrust and IP Disputes
SUNNYVALE/SANTA CLARA, Calif. --11/12/2009
Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) todayannounced a comprehensive agreement to end all outstanding legaldisputes between the companies, including antitrust litigation andpatent cross license disputes.
In a joint statement the two companies commented, "While therelationship between the two companies has been difficult in the past,this agreement ends the legal disputes and enables the companies tofocus all of our efforts on product innovation and development."
Under terms of the agreement, AMD and Intel obtain patent rightsfrom a new 5-year cross license agreement, Intel and AMD will give upany claims of breach from the previous license agreement, and Intelwill pay AMD $1.25 billion. Intel has also agreed to abide by a set ofbusiness practice provisions. As a result, AMD will drop all pendinglitigation including the case in U.S. District Court in Delaware andtwo cases pending in Japan. AMD will also withdraw all of itsregulatory complaints worldwide. The agreement will be made public infilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technologycompany dedicated to collaborating with customers and technologypartners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphicssolutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation,develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advancehow people work and live. Additional information about Intel isavailable at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Das Keyboard Presents First-Ever Ultimate Typing Championship

News — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:39:00 GMT

“Game On” – Das Keyboard Presents First-Ever Ultimate Typing Championship

Nationwide Typing Competition to Award $2,000 Grand Prize to Fastest Typist; Final Bout to Take Place at SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas

AUSTIN, TEXAS (November 11, 2009) – Das Keyboard has launched its search for the nation’s fastest fingers on a keyboard, announcing today the launch of the first-ever Ultimate Typing Championship.

From geeks and gamers to soccer moms and plumbers, the Ultimate Typing Championship (UTC) is an opportunity for individuals to prove they have the fiercest typing skills around. Conceived by the makers of the award-winning Das Keyboard, the UTC will award $2,000 to the competition’s fastest typist—a person who also will receive the distinct honor of being crowned as the nation’s first Ultimate Typing Champion.

“Typing may not yet be considered a competitive sport, but we think that perception will start to change once everyone begins to experience the intensity that this competition promises to deliver,” said Daniel Guermeur, founder of Das Keyboard and brainchild of the Ultimate Typing Championship. “We expect to see competitors sweating like gladiators engaged in the heat of battle. And even though trash talking is perfectly acceptable, we really prefer that participants let their keystrokes do the talking for them.”

Competing in the UTC
The UTC is open to individuals who are at least 18-years-old and legal residents of the United States at the time that they register for the competition. The general UTC online competition runs through December 31, followed by a semi-final “Round of Six” that happens online in early January 2010. The final round will take place in person at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas, during which two individuals will compete head-to-head for the grand prize and UTC crown.

An online typing application called TyprX was created specifically for the UTC and will be used to conduct the competition’s typing races. The application tracks an individual’s progress as they type through a random paragraph of text, then calculates their final words-per-minute (WPM) typing speed once they’ve completed a race. Individuals can take a typing test as many times as they’d like during the general UTC online competition. Top race results will be shared on the UTC website’s leader board in near real-time, enabling participants to track their performance and keep a close eye on their competition.

“People are going to get hooked once they start competing in the UTC,” added Guermeur. “Their fingers will ache; they’ll dream about winning; they’ll become attached to their keyboards like they never have before. Let the typing begin, and may the best typist win!”

For more details on the Ultimate Typing Championship and to participate in the competition, please visit

www.ultimatetypingchampionship.com.

Microsoft admits violating GPL... will release source for Win7 USB/DVD tool

3vi1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:16:48 GMT

The power of the press wins again. Microsoft acknowledged that their Win7 USB/DVD Tool incorporates GPL'd code from another application, so they'll have to remove the restrictions they added to its use and offer the source - just like the original app did.

http://port25.technet.com/archive/2009/11/13/update-on-the-windows-7-download-tool-or-microsoft-to-open-source-the-windows-7-download-tool.aspx

For those not in the know, Microsoft has copied code from free sources many times before: just look for copyrights from the regents of the university of california in the srings of popular TCP/IP apps (That's BSD code).

Some Universities Dissing Kindle DX Due To Blind-Unfriendliness

News — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:48:41 GMT

The first thing that popped to mind when Amazon issued its Kindle DX was this: textbooks! The size makes it perfect for using in place of those dusty old books, and we're guessing that most students would much rather lug around a single electronic device versus a sack full of heavy books that they'll only read a page or two from in any given class (after class is another story, right kids?).

But it seems as if not everyone is too keen on the Kindle DX replacing the textbook, and the National Federation of the Blind has today come forward to bring some attention to the matter. Both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University have elected not to rollout the Kindle DX as a means of distributing electronic textbooks (e-books) to their students, despite the fact that it features text-to-speech technology that can read textbooks aloud. Naturally, the Federation is applauding these decisions, but why? Here's the quote:

"The menus of the device are not accessible to the blind, however, making it impossible for a blind user to purchase books from Amazon's Kindle store, select a book to read, activate the text-to-speech feature, and use the advanced reading functions available on the Kindle DX. Both universities have experimented with the Kindle DX to learn whether e-book technology is useful to their students. But the schools will not adopt the device for general use unless and until it is made accessible to blind students."

We guess that makes sense on some level. What good is a book reader that reads to you if you can't tell it to start reading, right? But on the other hand, it's tough to expect Amazon to make an e-reader specifically for those with damaged or no sight. We can certainly see both sides of the argument. At the end of the day, we highly doubt Amazon will take offense. What's more likely to happen is that another startup will see this as an opportunity and will fill the niche by creating an e-reader that's suited to the blind, yet not the best option for those with sight. We'll close with a quote from Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind:

"The National Federation of the Blind commends the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University for rejecting broad deployment of the Kindle DX in its current form because it cannot be used by blind students and therefore denies the blind equal access to electronic textbooks. We do not oppose electronic textbooks; in fact, they hold great promise for blind students if they are accessible. But as long as the interface of the Kindle DX is inaccessible to the blind -- denying blind students access to electronic textbooks or the advanced features available to read and annotate them -- it is our position that no university should consider this device to be a viable e-book solution for its students."

Netflix Now Playing On Sony's PlayStation 3

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:37:35 GMT

Netflix is taking the world by storm. Blockbuster stores are shaking at the thought of being dominated by by-mail DVD outlets, and with "Watch Instantly" bringing Netflix titles to users on-demand over broadband, one really does have to wonder if there's any limit to just how popular this company will become.

For the longest while, Netflix streaming was reserved (on consoles) to Microsoft's Xbox 360, but now--soon after Sony issued its cheaper $299 PlayStation 3 "Slim"--that service is being ushered onto another game console. Starting now, PS3 owners can apply for a streaming disc from Netflix (so long as they have an account that includes unlimited streaming), and a Blu-ray Disc will come in the mail that enables the service on the machine. Unfortunately Netflix streaming on the PS3 will block your optical drive, but hey, if you're watching a flick, you should probably just sit back and relax, anyway.

If you've got a PS3 and you want in, you can get an $8.99/month account and patiently await your disc.

The partnership between Netflix and PS3 was announced late lastmonth and makes a broad range of entertainment options available to11.1 Netflix members and close to 9 million PS3 system owners in theUnited States.
Thepartnership solidifies the PS3 system as the most complete homeentertainment hub on the market today, allowing consumers to playhigh-definition games, watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, viewphotos, browse the Internet, and download games, movies and TV showsfrom PlayStation®Network. PS3 system owners will now enjoy anunparalleled experience watching their favorite movies and TV showsstreamed instantly from Netflix.
Foronly $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimitedmovies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers via Netflixready devices such as the PS3 system and can receive unlimited DVDsdelivered quickly to their homes.
Watchingmovies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system is enabled byan instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available free toall Netflix members. The free instant streaming disc leveragesBlu-ray's BD-Live(TM) technology to access the Internet and activatethe Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online viaWi-Fi or Ethernet.
Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now receive a free instant streaming disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3.The instant streaming disc will be delivered for free by first-classmail, generally one business day after members request it.
Netflixmembers simply slide the disc into their PS3 systems to reveal moviesand TV episodes that can be watched instantly. These titles areconveniently organized into a variety of categories based on members'personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members'individual instant Queues. Members can use the Netflix Web site ornavigate directly on their PS3 systems to add movies and TV shows totheir Queues. With the PS3 system's Wireless Controller, members canchoose a movie to watch from their instant Queues or just play directlyfrom any of the lists. They also have the ability to read synopses andrate movies. In addition, they have the option of fast-forwarding andrewinding the video stream via the Wireless Controller.

No Way! Advertising On Google's Home Page?

News — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:47:49 GMT

It's the third day in a row that Google has celebrated the upcoming 40th anniversary of Sesame Street with a different Google Doodle, but that's not what drew our attention to their home page. Google has always said it wants to keep their home page sparse, yet today, there was a rarity: an ad.

It's not as though Google has never put an ad on their home page (think back to Chrome, and the T-Mobile G1), and of course, this is Motorola Droid launch day, and there's nothing like highlighting your well advertised and much-hyped product, is there?

Granted, it's really Motorola's and Verizon's product, but still ...

At any rate, there's a hard limit of no more than 28 words on Google's home page, and this one weighs in at 27 words, so ad or no ad, it's OK by Google's standards.

AMEX Digital Upgrade Kit Adds Blu-ray To iMac or Mac mini

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:55:21 GMT

Apple makes a lot of fine products, but what they don't do is offer true media PC solutions. One of the main reasons is that the company refuses to acknowledge the existence of Blu-ray. None of Apple's machines offer Blu-ray as an option, so anyone hoping to use their machines as the centerpiece of a home cinema system will be sorely disappointed.

Until now, it seems. AMEX Digital has just announced a new Mac mini Blu-ray Drive Upgrade Kit, which targets Apple's most promising mini HTPC. Many users feel that the Mac mini's size makes it the perfect OS X option for connecting to one's PC, and now, with the inclusion of a Blu-ray drive, you could actually use it as a high-def movie playing machine. There's still no internal TV tuner, but we suppose an external one could be attached if you get really desperate.

The kit comes with a slot-loading Blu-ray drive that'll work in any new Mac mini (With NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics or higher) and any new iMac (With NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics or higher). For $199, that's not really bad if you're looking to make a home theater work around a Mac mini. Many standalone BD decks are around the $200 mark anyway, but you best be comfortable with a screwdriver before purchasing this.

What's in the Box
Blu-ray Super Multi Drive
Dimensions
Size: 126 x 128 x 12.7 mm
Weight: 220 grams
Interface
SATA connection
System requirement
New Mac mini (With NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics or higher)
New iMac (With NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics or higher)Blu-ray Software requirement for Mac
Roxio Toast® 9 + (HD/BD Plug-in)
The new HD/BD plug-in for Toast 9 gives users the ability to author high definition video content on to Blu-ray, or even standard DVD discs! Take high-def video footage from AVCHD camcorders, TiVo and EyeTV and create Blu-ray discs that can be played on any standard Blu-ray set top box or Playstation3 game console. Did you invest in HD DVD? The HD/BD Plug-in even supports HD DVD formats and disc players.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 with Encore
Create DVDs; deliver high-definition Blu-ray discs with pop-up menus, dual-layer burning, and subtitles; and output interactive web versions with Adobe® Encore® CS4 software.
As high definition (HD) has become the new standard for video, and Blu-ray Disc has won the high-definition format war for storing HD content, it's more important than ever to be able to author professional-quality Blu-ray discs. Included with Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4 and Adobe Creative Suite® 4 Production Premium software, Adobe Encore® CS4 software makes output to a wide range of industry-standard media formats, including Blu-ray Disc, easy and efficient.
VLC media player
The cross-platform media player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (H.264 Blu-ray HD video, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...)
Blu-ray Software requirement for PC
SONY Vegas Pro 8
The Vegas Pro 8 software you can burn a Blu-ray Disc directly from the timeline. Blu-ray Disc burning allows you to create a disc similar to a "single movie" DVD — the movie has no titles, menus, or buttons. Blu-ray Disc burning in Vegas Pro 8 software provides an alternate distribution option for high-definition content, rather than traditional file-based hard disk or streaming media formats. You can also use the Blu-ray Disc burning feature to create high-definition discs that can playback on a set-top Blu-ray Disc player or on a Sony PS3 gaming system.
PowerDVD 8/9 Ultra Blu-ray
The High-definition movie content -The best video quality out there, with support for video formats like AVCHD and Blu-ray Discs.
Corel® WinDVD® 9 Plus Blu-ray
DVD and video playback for Blu-ray Disc, For movie lovers looking for the best that high-definition has to offer, WinDVD® 9 Plus Blu-Ray delivers superior picture quality and audio performance on your PC. Maximize your DVD viewing experience with Blu-ray Discs, the new standard in high-definition. Enjoy standard DVDs with HD-quality upscaling, play home movies in HD and watch movies on the go with advanced laptop enhancements.
AnyDVD HD™
AnyDVD HD comes with same functionality as AnyDVD, but with additional features for full Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD support, including decryption of Blu-ray (BD+ and AACS) and HD DVD (AACS) movies.
Allows you to watch movies over a digital display connection, without HDCP-compliant graphics card and without HDCP-compilant display. No need to buy an expensive monitor.
What can do your Mac with Blu-ray
Direct Recording, Editing and View the Blu-ray movie on Mac OSx with Toast® 9, Premiere Pro and Final Cut.
Direct playing the Blu-ray "HD Video Files" on Mac OSX with VLC media player.
BootCamp into Windows on the Mac
Direct Recording and Editing the Blu-ray movies on WinXP, Vista and Win7 with SONY Vegas Pro 8.
Direct to Rip a Blu-ray movies to Blu-ray HD Files to the hard drive on WinXP/Vista with AnyDVD HD.
Direct Play a Blu-ray movies on WinXP, Vista and Win7 with PowerDVD and WinDVD.

Dell's Inspiron Zino HD Is Small But Mighty

News — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:06:15 GMT

Dell's pulling out all of the stops as it rolls into the holiday season of 2009, first with the Adamo XPS and now with the most powerful mini PC we've ever seen. The Inspiron Zino HD is small in stature but remarkably powerful, with options for up to 8GB of RAM, 1TB of hard drive space, a Blu-ray drive, TV tuner and HDMI out. The measurements are right at 7.75" x 7.75" x 3.5", and while it starts at just $229, things can get pricey if you start piling on the extras. It's available to order today, with the full details below.

DELL INSPIRON ZINO HD PUTS DESKTOP COMPUTING BACK ON THE DESK
·        BringsCompact Size, Versatility and Power to Home Computing
·        Expandsto a powerful High-Definition home media center
·        Personalizedwith different lid colors, range of options

ROUND ROCK, Texas,Nov. 12, 2009 – Dell today introduced the mini-sized Inspiron Zino HD,which is versatile enough to handle tasks from basic computing chores todriving a big-screen, High-Definition video media center. With a choice ofcolors, the Inspiron Zino HD can be easily personalized to add flare to any roomin the home.

The News:

Starting at $229, the Inspiron Zino HD includes standardHD-capable integrated graphics, HDMI output and built-in networking that makeit smart for typical home and student computing activities such as wordprocessing, e-mail, organizing photos and music, and surfing the Internet.

The economical Inspiron Zino HD with optional additionalmemory, hard drive storage, combo Blu-ray disc player, wireless remote controland Windows 7 Media Player and turns into a powerful home media center computer.In that capacity the Inspiron Zino HD display high-definition content from theInternet, and store and deliver music, video and photos very well.

The Inspiron Zino HD is also ideal as an additional householdPC that can fit in tight spaces and make home networking a cinch. It measuresabout 7.75 inches square and 3.5 inches tall. While small in size, the InspironZino HD is a big performer with:

·        Ultra-small form factor designed to fit almostanywhere.
·        Easy personalization with nine color choices forInspiron Zino HD.
·        Choice of AMD processors or dual core Athlon NeoX2 6850e.
·        Up to 8GB dual channel DDR 2 memory.
·        Up to 1TB internal hard disk storage.
·        Combo DVD/CD RW drive with optional Blu-ray Disccombo.
·        Integrated 10/100/1000 networking with wirelessoption.
·        Optional wireless keyboard and mouse.
·        Built in 2.1 high-definition audio and 4-in-onemedia card reader.
·        Integrated ATI graphics adapter with standardHDMI and VGA video connections, and optional 512MB discrete graphics adapter.
·        Four USB ports (2 front/2 rear); two eSATA ports(rear).
·        Energy-Star 5.0 compliant.

Abasic Inspiron Zino without High-Definition capability or upgrade options willbe offered in some regions.
Quote:

“The Inspiron Zino HD proves again that great things can reallycome in small packages,” said John Terwilliger, Director of consumer products.“It is a fashionable and functional computer that is small enough to fit almostanywhere in the home and can be personalized for the style-minded.”

The Inspiron Zino HD is available today directly from Dell atwww.dell.com with a choice of operatingsystems from Windows Vista Home Basic through Windows 7 Professional.

Intel Reader To Help Visually Disabled

News — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:23:35 GMT

Intel on Tuesday introduced a new e-book reader, one designed for the visually impaired, which can read digital files of books aloud, as well as capture images from printed material via a 5-megapixel digital camera and similarly read the text aloud at a variety of listening speeds.

Additionally, the Intel Reader, as its called, has a 4" display that will show the text in large fonts, for those impaired, and not blind. The $1,499 device may seem expensive when compared to the Kindle 2, which can also read aloud, though in a robotic voice, but this new device is designed specifically as a reader for the visually impaired, as opposed to a consumer device.

In fact, you may recall that the Kindle 2's "Read-to-Me" feature, brought it criticism by The Authors Guild, saying it poached on audiobook sales, despite its obvious negatives when compared to professionally read audtiobooks. Eventually Amazon.com backed down to the Guild and added functionality that would allow publishers to decide on a title by title basis whether they want Text-to-Speech enabled for any particular title.

Obviously, with its more narrow focus, the Intel Reader should not run afoul of this sort of criticism.

The Intel Reader will be sold by resellers such as CTL, Howard Technology Solutions and HumanWare. Intel also makes a "docking station" (the Intel Portable Capture Station) that can hold and power the device while it is scanning a large number of pages. The company will introduce a U.K. version of the Reader in a few days and plans to roll it out in other countries as well, with localized voices (yes, the U.K. version will have a British accent).

The Intel Reader has an Intel Atom CPU and 2 GB of storage (flash RAM). It can store about 500,000 pages of text or 600 scanned book pages. With a fully charged battery, the Reader can read continuously for four hours.

Ben Foss, who lead the project, noted that there are exceptions from copyright law for the visually and otherwise disabled, that will allow users to make copies of books, as well as access other repositories such as The Gutenberg Project. Interestingly, as a side note, Foss grew up with dyslexia, giving him a personal interest in the project's success.

Watch a video demo of the Intel Reader below:

Got HDTV? Get Ready For UHD-TV

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:10:42 GMT

While everyone's still trying to replace their DVD players with Blu-ray and their standard def TVs with HDTVs, the industry already is worrying about the market for UHD — Ultra-High Definition.

Apparently, UHD will debut in the next five to 10 years (if that seems like a long time, remember how long HDTV was being talked about and then how it felt when it "suddenly" hit), but is expected to take a long time before it reaches a "critical mass," deemed to be taking up residence in 5 percent of households globally, according to market research firm In-Stat.

UHD will come in two resolution levels: 7680 x 4320 pixels (8K) and 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) and provide four to 16 times the resolution of Blu-ray or 1080p high-def. And "22.2 multichannel three-dimensional sound."

In-Stat's study concluded that high resolution digital cinema would drive consumers to UHDTVs so they could experience the same quality on their home television sets and that broadcasters would start providing content in the lower-resolution UHD by 2017 and the high-resolution technology by 2022. The market in Europe is expected to hit 5 percent penetration by 2021 and then zip up to more than 28 percent by 2025. According to the In-Stat survey, UHDTV, aka Super Hi-Vision will follow a similar track of adoption as HDTV did:

The rising popularity of high resolution digital cinema will expose consumers to high resolution content. Then, early UHDTVs will be made available to provide a digital cinema high resolution viewing experience in the home. Ultimately, broadcasters will start offering UHD content to an addressable market of UHDTVs, between 2017 and 2022.
In-Stat expects the total installed base of UHDTVs Europe to approach 5% household penetration until 2021, and increase to over 28.2% penetration by 2025.
In Asia-Pacific, Japan will be among the early adopter countries.

Super Hi-Vision UHD Theater - Image courtesy: NHK Japan

Ultra HDTV Requirements: (credit: UltraHDTV.net)

Ultra HDTV requires 300Mb/second transmissions using a compressed image at 24 FPS, while 60 FPS will require a new compression system to meet with realistic household fiber-optic connections.
In addition, Ultra HDTV displays will require new electrode materials to power the 4x high-speed pixel requirements.
Processing power is also a major requirement with Ultra HDTV. Current technology is unable to effectively process the Ultra HDTV signal. At 60 FPS, this signal requires processing power at 2400 GOPS.

Image credit: UltraHDTV.net

Globally, the "mass market" for UHD is expected in 2023 or 2024, when about 10 percent of consumers will have sets at home.

New Three-Tuner Moxi HD DVR Treads On TiVo's Ground

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Ah, the DVR. Easily one of the most game-changing devices to be created over the past decade or so. If you own one, you'd probably have a tough time going back to life without one, as there are few things cooler than being able to record shows when you're not around and watch them when you are. It's TV your way, and even though it seems that everyone wants one, relatively few players are in the market.

There's TiVo, the obvious oddball, and then those plain 'ole DVRs offered by your cable company. Granted, those cable company DVRs have somewhat of a monopoly considering just how difficult it is to setup a third-party DVR, but there's still room for competition. And that's where the Moxi comes in.

Digeo is a little known company that has actually been in the DVR game for awhile now, but only recently has it decided to emerge from the shadows and really get some attention on itself. The newest Moxi is a three-tuner HD DVR, which allows for recording of three channels simultaneously while watching a fourth recorded program. Unfortunately, such a device will cost you $799 with a Moxi Mate bundle.

The price of the two-tuner Moxi HD DVR introduced earlier this year has been reduced to $499 MSRP (formerly $799).
Inaddition, ARRIS is introducing a three-room multi-room bundle option--athree-tuner Moxi HD DVR plus two Moxi Mates that collectively servethree rooms for $999.
Thecompany also announced plans to deliver live TV on the Moxi Mate viathe Moxi HD DVR. The Moxi HD DVR will receive the update automaticallythrough a software download. Additionally, the price of the Moxi Matehas been reduced to $299 (formerly $399).
"We'veheard from consumers that they love the Moxi products but are lookingfor different price and component options to serve their individualneeds," said Marc Beckwitt, VP of CPE Video Business Development,ARRIS. "The recent acquisition by ARRIS brings the market presence andleverage required to drive cost out of the product, and consequently,we're able to offer these very competitive prices to consumers."
ARRIScontinues to stand by the commitment to deliver the Moxi "all in", withno monthly or lifetime DVR service fees. Moxi also has no in-menuadvertisements.
The MoxiHD DVR is designed to appeal to the most demanding digital cableentertainment enthusiasts. Some of its key attributes include:
A native HD interface and Emmy® award-winning Moxi Menu
Upto 75 hours of HD recording space or up to 300 hours at standarddefinition, and expandable to 6.5 Terabytes for up to 1000 hours of HDrecording with an external eSATA drive
Access to many Internetservices consumers already use, such as Rhapsody®, Flickr® and onlinevideo from Netflix®, Hulu(TM), and YouTube(TM) via DLNA server softwaresuch as PlayOn(TM) (currently provided at no charge) running on their PC
Multi-roomviewing with the Moxi Mate and the ability to record three channelssimultaneously while watching a fourth recorded program on thethree-tuner version of the Moxi HD DVR
Remote and mobile browser scheduling to set recordings while away from home
MoxiNetfor full-screen web browsing and Superticker(TM) --a ticker widget thatprovides information, such as weather, sports scores and news along thebottom of the screen
TheMoxi HD DVR makes it effortless for consumers to discover, experienceand share high definition media from their digital cable provider, PCson the home network, and the Internet.
Alsoscheduled for release later this month are additional software upgradesto Moxi, which include new search and record option menus. Thesesoftware updates will enable users to specify preferred record settingsthat can be applied to any new recorded TV shows or TV series. The newmenu structure delivers easier access and better visibility related tothe DVR function of the Moxi HD DVR, such as available hard drive spaceand other Moxi HD DVR related recording and scheduling functions.
Softwareupgrades, which have been delivered each quarter since unveiling theMoxi at CES in January 2009, continue to be delivered to the consumerautomatically and at no charge.

Gyration Hand-Recognizing Air Mouse Elite Ships Nationwide

News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:02 GMT

Ever dreamed of connecting your Wii remote to your computer? We can't say that Gyration's latest device will give you the exact same experience, but it's about as close as you can get without hacking or modifying your Wiimote. The Air Mouse Elite, which was introduced a little while back, is finally making its way into retail stores.

Available now nationwide, the device is the latest in the Air Mouse lineup, and it's equipped with MotionSense technology that enables it to recognize hand gestures rather than forcing users to keep it planted on the table as most mice do. Granted, $99.99 is somewhat steep for a mouse that lets you wave it around, but for presentation artists looking for that "wow-factor" to keep potential clients awake, this may be a smart investment.

Gyration Announces Retail Availability of New, Elegant Air Mouse Elite™

Wireless Air Mouse Now Available To Purchase Nationwide; Equipped with Improved MotionTools™ Software

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Movea, Inc., the pioneer in motion-sensing technology for business communications, home entertainment and mobile computing, today announced the retail availability of its latest Air Mouse, the Gyration Air Mouse Elite with MotionSense™. The mouse is available for purchase with a suggested North American retail price of $99.99 or $149.99 when bundled with an ultra-thin, low profile keyboard. It can be purchased on Gyration’s online store at www.gyration.com or at retailers such as Amazon, CircuitCity.com, CompUSA and TigerDirect.com, among others.
The sleek and stylish Air Mouse Elite brings the intuitive simplicity of motion to your digital life: recognizing hand gestures allowing users to deliver more energetic presentations, it also enables users to effortlessly control digital media, casual games or PC applications with a flick of the wrist. Movea’s proprietary motion-sensing technology, MotionSense, frees users from being tethered to a desk, although a precision laser sensor is also included for desktop use.
“We are excited about how our mouse products have evolved over the years, most recently the Air Mouse Elite,” Bryan Hoadley, Executive Vice President for and General Manager, Movea, Inc. “We’re confident the new mouse and the much-improved MotionTools suite will offer unequaled capabilities for interacting with and controlling presentations, rich media and other digital applications.”
The new and improved MotionTools software provides the advantage and the versatility to enhance presentations by offering the right tool at the right time for different content and audiences. Using natural and intuitive hand movements, presenters in the classroom or boardroom can orchestrate and deliver more powerful presentations. A lecturer, for example can turn the mouse cursor into a highlighter, laser pointer or pen, or gently swipe it in-air to activate embedded media and other special effects.
For more information on this and the family of Gyration motion-sensing products, visit www.gyration.com.
About Gyration
Gyration, the leading brand name in motion-sensing consumer electronics, is owned by Movea SA. Gyration’s computer peripherals and digital media controllers are offered by Movea Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Movea SA, and are sold through traditional and online retail consumer electronics stores, value added resellers, system integrators and OEM partners worldwide. Additional information about Movea and its range of Gyration consumer electronics products can be found at www.gyration.com and www.movea.com.

OOMouse Is Built For Hardcore Office Users (Yeah, Seriously!)

News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:12:34 GMT

Razer's Naga had an awful lot of buttons. But with all due respect,those buttons had a purpose. For avid gamers that spent the most oftheir time within a MMO such as World of Warcraft, those extra thumbbuttons sure come in handy. But seriously--is there anyone out therewho would actually confess to being an avid Office user?

The OOMouse is easily one of the most unique (and odd) mice we haveever seen, and frankly, one of the ugliest as well. We had to doublecheck in order to make sure this mouse didn't actually first see thelight of day in the mid-90s, but amazingly, it just launched this pastweek. It was designed and built by WarMouse, and it's said to be the"first multi-button application mouse designed for a wide variety ofsoftware applications, including Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk AutoCAD,Microsoft Office, and OpenOffice.org."

So, what does a mouse catering to Office users require? Apparently itrequires 18 buttons, an analog joystick, and support for as many as 52key commands, as that's exactly what this mouse offers. Supposedly,this layout provides a faster and more efficient user interface formost complex softwareapplications than the conventional icons, pull-down menus, and hotkeyspresently permit, but it sure seems to us that this array of buttonswould complicate matters. Of course, maybe we're just simple mindedfools, but this seems like a crazy amount of buttons to remember. We'restruggling to remember Copy and Paste, we're pretty sure 18 commandswould slip our minds.

It'll cost you $74.99, and it'll run on Linux, Windows and Mac systems. Anyone crazy enough to splurge?

The OOMouse includes default profiles for the five coreOpenOffice.org applications based on 662 million datapoints compiled bythe usage tracking facility incorporated into OpenOffice.org 3.1. Theseprofiles can be easily customized to suit the user's preferences usingthe included OOMouse setup software. The setup and customizationsoftware is an application that will be released as an open sourcesoftware project under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 3in the first quarter of 2010. Default profiles for 20 other games andapplications are also included; the OOMouse supports up to 63 profilesto be stored simultaneously in the mouse's memory.
The OOMouse is one of the first computer mice to incorporate ananalog joystick and the first to permit the use of the joystick as akeyboard. In the three joystick-as-keyboard modes, the user can assignup to sixteen different keys or macros to the joystick, which providesfor easy movement regardless of whether the user is flying through thecells of a large spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel or on the back of anepic flying mount in World of Warcraft.
The features of the OOMouse include:
18 programmable mouse buttons with double-click functionality
Three different button modes: Key, Keypress, and Macro
Analog Xbox 360-style joystick with optional 4, 8, and 16-key command modes
Clickable scroll wheel
512k of flash memory
63 on-mouse application profiles with hardware, software, and autoswitching capability
1024-character macro support.
Open source support software for creating, managing, and customizing application profiles
Import and export of custom profiles in XML format
Optional audio notification of profile switching with customizable wave files
PDF export of profile button assignments
Adjustable resolution from 400 to 1,600 CPI
20 default profiles for popular games and applications, includingOpenOffice.org 3.1, Adobe Photoshop, the Gnu Image ManipulationProgram, World of Warcraft, and the Call of Duty series.

Panda Offering Free, Cloud-Based Antivirus

News — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:01:54 GMT

Panda Security released the public beta of its Panda Cloud Antivirus today. The company claims this is the first free cloud-based antivirus thin-client. Panda Cloud Antivirus consists of a lightweight antivirus agent that is connected in real-time to PandaLabs’ Collective Intelligence servers. PandaLabs’ Collective Intelligence servers work to automate the malware protection cycle by collecting samples, analyzing, categorizing, creating detection and disinfection routines, and delivering protection to each node.

The local portion of the Panda Cloud Antivirus requires about 50MB of hard drive space and consumes about 17MB of RAM. By the time Panda Cloud Antivirus exits the beta stage, Pedro Bustamante, Panda Senior Research Advisor, hopes to lower the RAM consumption to 12MB.

By combining local detection technologies with cloud-scanning capabilities and applying non-intrusive interception techniques on the client architecture, Panda believes it can do a better job at protecting your PC than a traditional virus scanner. In a recent blog post, Bustamante claims Panda Cloud Antivirus detects more malware than traditional signature-based solutions because traditional solutions take longer to detect the most recent variants.

One of the benefits to Panda’s approach is that users don’t need to worry about updating signature files. In addition with cloud-based detection, Panda claims the time from detection to protection has been shortened considerably. According to Panda, it takes Collective Intelligence under 6 minutes to analyze and classify a new file that it receives.

Panda Collective Intelligence uses correlation to further improve the detection of new variants. By using information from different nodes, Panda Collective Intelligence can protect against new strains of malware by linking activity that has been detected in one of the nodes.

The downside to relying on a cloud-based antivirus is that when you’re without an Internet connection, you’re also without antivirus protection. Bustamante quells any worries about this by explaining that a local cache copy of Collective Intelligence is kept on the PC for these situations.

Panda Cloud Antivirus scans files in the local PC based on Collective Intelligence and its local cache copy. The software uses three different types of on-access scans to provide protection. An on-access scan is the maximum priority resident scan that is applied to files which are being executed or used. A Prefetch Scan launches an asynchronous local & cloud query on files that have a high probability of being executed. The Prefetch Scan will scan files “as soon as possible” without impacting performance. If a file is called to be executed before it is scanned, the file will be intercepted and an on-access scan will be applied. Finally, a Background Scan runs on files located on the hard drive while the PC is idle.

With its Panda Cloud Antivirus, Panda believes it has delivered a solution that will protect a user’s computer without impacting performance. To download Panda Cloud Antivirus beta, visit http://www.cloudantivirus.com/.

Analysts Claim PC Market Grew Substantially in Q3

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:48:51 GMT

Back when Intel reported its third quarter results for 2009, analysts expressed some concern that the company's strong numbers might not be fully supported by later market analysis. Research firm IDC has recently released data indicating that such concerns were unnecessary—sales in Q3 were up dramatically compared to earlier this year and stronger than is seasonally typical.

Sales in Q3 were up 23 percent over Q2, while PC processor revenue grew by 14 percent quarter-on-quarter. Intel was the primary beneficiary of the growth, with an estimated 81.1 percent of world PC processor sales, while AMD took second place at 18.7 percent (down two percent) and VIA held 0.2 percent. IDC broke out numbers by segment as well; said figures are particularly interesting given consumers' strong continued demand for Atom-based netbooks. In mobile, Intel held 88 percent (up 1.1 percent), AMD clocked 11.9 percent (-0.7 percent), and VIA again took 0.2 percent.

The workstation/server market showed a similar slight shift towards Intel and away from AMD. Here, Intel held 90.4 percent to AMD's 9.6 percent (a 0.5 percent shift respectively for each company). AMD remains strongest in desktops, at 27.4 percent of sales, but lost ground to Intel here as well (1.9 percent). It's hard to characterize Sunnyvale's losses as even a glass half-full/half-empty scenario, but the company's comments during its Q3 webcast indicate that improved factory utilization and a lower cost-per-processor will help AMD reach (and hopefully remain) in the black even as new 32nm Westmere products bring additional competitive pressure to bear on the smaller company.

IDC expects processor shipments to be "well over" 300 million units for 2009, but is still holding off on forecasting a strong 2010 at this point. Atom's strong performance is expected to continue to drive sales, but variation in consumer demand and that processor's lower ASP in terms of actual dollars could also drive price erosion into next year.

HD Radio Comes To iPod touch and iPhone Via Gigaware In-Line Control

News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:27:08 GMT

HD Radio has been around in the United States for a few years now, but it is still struggling to gain mass adoption. Part of that has to do with the general decline of radio listening in general, as more and more individuals turn to their portable media players, iTunes accounts and subscription services. That said, one of HD Radio's biggest hurdles has been breaking into the handheld market; it's one thing to get HD Radio equipment installed in homes and cars, but getting it into hands that walk down streets is another.

Today, HD Radio is landing on two of the most popular handheld media devices of all time: the iPod touch and iPhone. There are certainly other options for getting HD Radio on-the-go, with Insignia's NS-HD01 being one and Microsoft's Zune HD being another. But for those who have already purchased an iPod touch or iPhone, neither of those options seem all that appealing.

Gigaware's in-line controller solves the problem, bringing an actual HD Radio receiver to Apple's two hottest products. You simply plug this into your device's dock connector, download the free app from the App Store and start listening to your nearby HD Radio and FM Radio broadcasts. The app allows you to bookmark your favorite stations and even tag songs for purchasing later in iTunes. Users can use the dial on the screen to change the station, or simply use the control wheel on the in-line dial if you have your favorites established.

The adapter is selling now at RadioShack for $79.99, and the app to use it is available for free.