Personal Computing
First Gates/Seinfeld Microsoft commercial airs
The new Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld advertisement has received a somewhat bemused and (understandably) confused response after hitting the airwaves late last week. The main point of contention, apart from the sheer awkwardness of the clip, seems to be the lack of direct hard-sell on Microsoft products... Read More
USB stick bottle opener
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The list of things you can do with your USB memory stick just keeps getting longer. The latest 2-in-one effort from TrekStor will ensure you don't get caught short at your next BBQ - the USB stick CO is a high-speed data storage device which doubles as a bottle opener. Read More
The PC monitor designed to cure the wintertime blues
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Have you noticed a decline in your energy levels over winter? Find yourself needing more sleep, feeling depressed or overeating? You may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (appropriately abbreviated to SAD), a phenomenon which is becoming better understood through research. The most common form of therapy for SAD is light therapy, in which the patient is exposed to specific wavelength lights to trigger the biological processes that keep us more upbeat in summertime - and this is the theory behind the LightFrame from Philips, a computer monitor with a switchable bright blue-lit frame that gives workers the ability to self-administer a mild form of light therapy as they work. Read More
Google takes on Microsoft and Mozilla with new Chrome browser - launching today!
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September 2, 2008 Google-philes will be delighted to find out that the company has officially confirmed it's working on a completely new Web browser to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox. Because Google Chrome is a completely new product, and not an incremental update of an existing piece of software, it is able to completely re-conceive the web browsing experience - and as a result, we can expect some very cool new features out of it. Oh, and Chrome will be completely open-source. Read More
Samsung's lightweight X360 laptop
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With Apple’s Macbook Air firmly in its sights, Samsung was showing off the new X360 laptop at IFA in Berlin and touting the new model as, “fully featured and lighter than air”. Both claims turn out to be true with the X360 claiming the title of the world’s lightest 13.3-inch laptop coming in at just 2.8lb, (1.27kg), which is just under the Macbook Air’s 3lbs, (1.36kg), while featuring 3 USB ports, HDMI and VGA out, ExpressCard/34 slot, a 7-in-1 memory card reader, Ethernet socket and a 128GB SSD. Read More
Apple planning touch screen tablet
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August 30, 2008 Apple was the company that first took the mouse and the Graphical User Interface to market and it has continued to lead the world in CHI design ever since, with its iPod scroll wheel and iPhone touch screen interface triumphs just some of numerous significant contributions since then. Rumours of a touch screen Macintosh have been rife recently and AppleInsider report earlier this week of a raft of new patent applications seem to indicate a new and no doubt elegantly usable interface is nigh. AppleInsider believes the applications pave the way for tablet Macs that display a near full-sized multi-touch keyboard and run an undiluted version of the Mac OS X operating system. Read More
Logicube SuperSonix 2nd Generation SATA Hard Drive Duplicator
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August 28, 2008 Hard drive duplication technology specialist Logicube has launched the SuperSonix, the successor to its highly successful Sonix portable, hand-held hard disk drive duplicator. The SuperSonix is the fastest hand-held duplicator on the market, delivering cloning speeds approaching 6GB/min. It features a new color touch screen and an intuitive Wizard function to step novice users through key cloning processes. Built-in support for SATA and PATA hard drives, USB connectivity and support for Firewire 1394B is featured. eSATA and microSATA drive support is also available with optional cables. Read More
New ultra-portables join HP’s EliteBook range
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The release of new ultra-portable laptop computers continues unabated with HP’s introduction of three ultra-portable laptops designed to lighten the load for business travelers, including an ultra-thin, convertible tablet, a budget unit and HP’s smallest and lightest laptop with a built-in optical drive. Read More
Logitech V550 Nano clip-on cordless mouse
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Logitech has introduced its new V550 Nano cordless mouse which is designed to go where your laptop goes by means of a Clip-and-Go dock that attaches the mouse to your computer. Read More
BenQ's environmentally friendly widescreen LCDs
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Two new 19” LCD monitors from BenQ replace the traditional four-lamp apparatus with two without affecting the brightness of the monitor screen. The energy saving technology used in the E900HD and G900HDA allows users to cut down power consumption by 25%, decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 25% and cut mercury emissions by 50%. Read More
New Latitude laptops from Dell
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Dell’s new line of Latitude laptops provides something for just about every business scenario - from high performance users looking for a desktop replacement to road warriors looking for an ultra portable or, for those whose laptops cop a bit of abuse, a semi-rugged laptop. The range includes the lightest ultra-portable in the company’s history and for the first time Dell will offer colors on the new Latitude laptops, which feature full-frame magnesium alloy construction and all-metal hinges. Read More
Logitech targets Mac users with diNovo Edge keyboard
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August 18, 2008 Logitech has released quite a slick new wireless keyboard designed and optimized for use with Macs. Made from brushed aluminum and a single piece of Plexiglas, the keyboard features keys with longer travel than typical notebook keyboards despite its slimline (1/2-inch) profile, a fast scrolling circular navigation pad and single-button access to Mac applications like iTunes. Read More
Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation with built-in digitizer
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Lenovo’s $2,978 ThinkPad W700 will be available in September, offering consumers a high performance mobile workstation with a great capacity for graphic design and digital content creation. The laptop incorporates a built-in digitizer and color calibrator, NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M 1GB graphics, the Intel Centrino 2 processor, dual hard drives with RAID configuration, up to 8 GB of memory, wireless connectivity, and an optional Blu-Ray DVD player. Read More
miniStack v2.5 storage hub solution
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Designed for data intensive tasks like video editing, the latest incarnation of NewerTech's miniStack storage hub caters for multiple connection of digital peripherals via three FireWire 400 and four USB 2.0 ports and offers up to 1.0TB of storage capacity and 32MB of disk cache. Read More
Micron's next-Generation RealSSD Solid State Drives
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August 8, 2008 Solid State Drives (SSDs) have found a happy home in laptop computers in recent times due largely to their size, durability and low power consumption compared to traditional hard drives. Now, with SSD capacities increasing, Micron Technology believe SSDs can also find a new home in enterprise server systems where historically hard disk drives have reigned. Read More
IEEE approves next generation FireWire specification
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August 1, 2008 Since its introduction in 1995, IEEE 1394 (better known as FireWire, Apple's name for the interface) has become the go-to interface for high-bandwidth applications like professional audio and video production. The IEEE has approved the IEEE 1394-2008 specification, adding support for bandwidth up to 3.2Gbps. Read More
Targus’ airport friendly zip-thru laptop case
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Targus upcoming Zip-Thru laptop case allows travelers to get through security checks without having to remove their laptop from its case by virtue of a The zip-thru case splits down the middle which exposes the laptop and allows security staff to get a clear x-ray image of it without risking damage or theft. It has plenty of room for accessories, files and other devices, is made of durable nylon and features a padded ergonomic shoulder strap. Read More
Dell's $499 Studio Hybrid mini-PC is their smallest, greenest PC yet
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July 30, 2008 Dell's answer to the Mac Mini ups the ante with an HDMI output, optional Blu-ray drive, and some seriously green credentials. Read More
Sony’s new VAIO FW laptop is sexy in silver
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July 29, 2008 Sony’s upcoming VAIO range includes the FW laptop, which features a Macbook-style keyboard, built-in Blu-ray drive and a 16.4-inch display. Read More
Intel's 2.33GHz Core 2 Quad Q8200 set for August release
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July 28, 2008 According to Fudzilla, Intel’s new quad core 2.33GHz CPU called the Core 2 Quad Q8200 is set for an August 31 release. The CPU has a 1,333MHz FSB, 4MB of cache memory and should be selling at a wholesale price of US$224, which means you’ll have to buy a few thousand or so of the chips if you want them at this price. Read More
Jive multi-platform computer built with OSx86-compatible components
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July 29, 2008 Want a PC that will run Windows, Linux and OSx86 with minimal fuss? RSOL PC have built the Jive multi-platform computer with you in mind. Read More
Kingston updates their DataTraveler line of flash drives
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July 25, 2008 Kingston has introduced the security- (and fashion-) conscious DataTraveler 101, alongside 16GB variants of their DataTraveler 100 and DataTraveler 400 flash drives. Read More
Brando's 16-port USB hub can share your stuff between two computers
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July 25, 2008 Brando's new "Super" USB hub packs a whopping sixteen USB ports, and gives you the ability to use all the connected peripherals on a second machine at the flick of a switch. Needless to say, if this thing can't quench your thirst for USB ports, you can't be helped. Read More
BookEndz Docking Station for the MacBook, MacBook Pro
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July 24, 2008 Is the mStand a little too "form over function" for your taste? The BookEndz Docking Station allows you to plug your PowerBook, MacBook or MacBook Pro into (or out of) everything on your desk with one pull of a lever. Read More
Review: Rain Design mStand for the MacBook, MacBook Pro
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July 24, 2008 Prolonged use of a laptop placed flat on a desk is guaranteed to lead to neck and back strain. The mStand is an attractive way to bring your MacBook or MacBook Pro six inches off your desk and closer to your eyes. Read More
CherryPal releases $249 “cloud” desktop computer
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July 22, 2008 The popularity of so-called subnotebooks such as the Asus Eee PC has led to PC maker CherryPal releasing a low-spec, low-cost desktop computer called the CherryPal C100. CherryPal have dubbed the C100 a “cloud computer” as instead of accessing programs and data from the desktop computer, the majority of information is processed and stored on the web in a secure environment called the CherryPalCloud. Read More
Art. Lebedev unveil the 15-key Optimus Pultius
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July 22, 2008 We've been following the Russian-based design studio Art. Lebedev for some time now, starting with the Optimus keyboard. We've since seen the Upravlator, the Optimus mini three and the Optimus Tactus. Meet the newest addition to the Optimus family, the 15-key Pultius. Read More
SanDisk WORM secure memory card
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In order to bring both security and longevity to data storage, SanDisk has announced the SDTM WORM (Write Once Read Many) Card, a digital memory drive that preserves important data for up to 100 years, and prohibits alteration or deletion. 128-megabyte SD WORM cards are currently available, with the capacity expected to increase with time. Read More
Panasonic improves Toughbook
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Panasonic’s Toughbook has been given a substantial boost in capability. The desktop replacement CF-52 and field-use CF-74 have been given new Intel Centrino 2 processors, expanded graphics capabilities, 160GB of hard drive space, and 802.11 Draft N Wi-Fi connectivity. The rugged Toughbooks are resistant to shocks, spills, dust, and vibration. Read More
Pioneer's 400 GB Blu-ray Disc
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Pioneer has announced a 16-layer read-only optical disc with a capacity of 400 gigabytes which it will unveil at the International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage 2008 (ISOM/ODS2008) on July 13. The disk’s per-layer capacity is 25 gigabytes, which is the same as that of a Blu-ray Disc and this multilayer technology will also be applicable to multilayer recordable discs. Read More
RazorBook 400 Mini Notebook fits in the palm of your hand
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The RazorBook 400 Mini Notebook from 3K Computers may be tiny, but it’s packed with features. The hand held PC weighs less than two pounds and comes fully internet ready. Read More
Acer claims world’s first 50000:1 contrast ratio HD LCD monitor with the G24
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July 6, 2008 Acer’s new G24 LCD monitor is the first in the world to claim a 50000:1 contrast ratio courtesy of Acer’s Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM), which Acer claims produces dramatic improvements in gradation and detail, especially for dimmer and brighter scenes as well as enabling the G24 to use less power. Designed to entice PC gamers, the G24 supports high-definition (HD) graphics in a high contrast orange-black colored package that matches the Aspire Predator desktop PC. Read More
Global PC Installed base passes 1 Billion
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For all the talk of convergence centered on the computer, it is lagging far behind the mobile phone as the world’s go-to information machine for the masses. We reported a few months ago that half the world’s humans now carry a mobile phone and soon the number of active mobile services in the world will touch 4 billion. Gartner’s latest figures put the number of installed PCs worldwide as just having surpassed 1 billion units and at a growth rate of just under 12 percent annually, will surpass 2 billion units by early 2014.
Flash file format becomes indexable
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In a move that will inevitably lead to a richer user experience on the internet, Adobe is teaming up with Google and Yahoo! to enhance search engine indexing of the Flash file format (SWF). This will dramatically improve search results of dynamic Web content and rich Internet applications (RIAs) because for the first time they will be discoverable by search engines. Read More
Toshiba launches world's lightest laptop with 128GB Solid State Drive
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In the world of laptops slim is definitely in. Toshiba’s Digital Products Division has announced the addition of a 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD) to the latest incarnation of its Portégé laptop series. The 2.4 pound Portégé R500-S5007V with a 128GB SSD is billed as the world’s lightest laptop, beating the much hyped Macbook Air, which weighs in at 3 pounds and, unlike the Macbook Air, even manages to include a built-in optical drive into a unit that measures as thin as 0.77-inches. This does mean that the Macbook Air 0.76-inch high Macbook Air retains its world’s thinnest title and it does feature a slightly bigger display – 13.3-inches to the R500’s 12.1-inches. Read More
