Personal Computing
MSI unveil PR200 Crystal Laptop Collection
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December 4, 2007 Looking for an aesthetic edge in the portable computer fashion stakes? MSI Computer Corporation has launched a crystal-studded laptop finished in pearl white that just might fit the bill. Underneath the 120 crystal studs that adorn the lid, the PR200 Crystal Collection features an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, 12.1" TFT WXGA display, 160GB SATA HDD, plus a fingerprint reader, a 4-in-1 card reader and built-in 1.3 mega pixel webcam. Equally chic accessories are offered with the PR200 including two leather carrying cases in different sizes; a specially designed pearl white mouse and a 1GB crystal-studded flash drive. Read More
DeskUNPDF converts PDF files into a range of editable formats
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December 3, 2007 The venerable PDF document format has been around for about 14 years now – longer than most people have been using the Internet – and despite a few foibles it's proven itself as a highly effective means of distributing formatted content. But for the end receiver, the format leaves very little flexibility to get information out and re-use it, which is where Docudesk's DeskUNPDF software comes in handy. The software allows you to quickly and easily convert entire PDF documents (or selected bits of them) into a broad range of formats including Word and Excel files, HTML files and JPG images. Read More
New research highlights the environmental benefits of e-paper
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December 3, 2007 Computer screens aren’t really conducive to reading pages and pages of text so with the proliferation of online content has come new ways to view words electronically. E-paper is a display technology designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper - even its flexibility - and according to new research, reading the news on e-paper is more environmentally friendly than viewing via PC. Interestingly, the study by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm also showed that 30 minutes of reading an Internet newspaper has about the same environmental effect as reading a hard copy version. Read More
CDSoft-R Cryptex: self-recorable media with automatic encryption
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November 30, 2007 Soft-R Research LLC has released an “all-in-one” self-recordable CD with the added bonus of a in-built encryption technology. The CDSoft-R Cryptex "digital safe box" integrates a simple recording wizard with the ability to automatically encrypt and secure your data, removing any trace of your files on the computer used by destroying all Temp files when the CD is removed. Read More
Dell adds M1530 laptop to XPS range
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November 29, 2007 Following hot on the heels of the recently released XPS One, Dell has announced another addition to their ‘Xtreme Performance System’ (XPS) line of PC’s with the release of the XPS M1530. According to Dell, the XPS series aims to offer the latest PC technologies available at competitive prices and with distinctive styling and judging by the specs, the XPS M1530 goes a long way towards delivering: the 15.4-inch laptop features a built in 2 megapixel webcam, biometric finger-print reader for added security and fewer passwords to remember, and design accents such as polished chrome detailing, touch-sensitive multi-media buttons, brushed aluminum accents and a choice of colors. Read More
LaCie Hub plugs into style
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November 26, 2007 There are plenty of products out there that solve the problem of not having enough direct USB or FireWire ports on your computer, but few do it as effectively and with as much style as this Hub from LaCie. Read More
New industrial strength touch screen from Tangent
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November 23, 2007 Tangent Inc. has announced the release of a group of ultra slim, industrial strength touch screen PCs called the VITA K Series. The all-in-one PCs feature dust-free, water-proof front bezels, VESA wall-mount brackets, and 15, 17 or 19 inch LCD displays with NEMA 3/IP55 dust and water proofing. The metal enclosures not only look smart, they are also energy efficient and industrial strength for use in healthcare, industrial automation, digital signage, information kiosk and self-service check-outs roles, and other applications exposed to hostile environments. Read More
“Beautiful” XPS One is the Dell of the Ball
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November 21, 2007 Dell has placed an emphasis on aesthetics for their latest all-in-one desktop system – but the sleek XPS One is more than just a pretty screen. The computer includes a webcam with dual-array microphone, a 20 inch, widescreen, edge-to-edge tempered glass monitor that displays HD media, side mounted speakers, built in Wi-Fi, internal Bluetooth 2.0 peripherals, and a built in TV tuner and optional Blu-ray disc drive for U.S. models. Preinstalled copies of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, Premiere Elements 4 and Adobe Soundbooth CS3 for U.S. models cap off the multimedia friendly system. Read More
Samsung’s new TruDirect optical disc drive create DVDs without the need for a hard disk
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November 21, 2007 Korean Electronics giant Samsung has introduced a new optical disc drive - the TruDirect SE-S204S - which allows users to “directly” create DVDs and burn digital content through a PC without the need for a hard drive, providing easy and fast real-time recording from nearly any digital device. Read More
Swift40e downloads an entire HD DVD in 10 seconds
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November 19, 2007 In more news to emerge from Supercomputing 2007, the Pentum Group Inc. (PGI), has announced the Swift40e, the world’s fastest single-stream wide area network (WAN) interface card. Capable of downloading an entire HD DVD or Blu-ray DVD in just 10 seconds, the new Swift40e interface is designed to stream content across a WAN at a blistering rate of 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps). Read More
Panasonic’s new “business-rugged” Toughbook notebooks
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November 15, 2007 Panasonic has added three "business-rugged" notebook computers their Toughbook suite. The new trio is drop-and spill-resistant with strong magnesium alloy cases and chassis, shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs, and internal flexible connectors for additional protection. Read More
NEC Powermate P5010 all-in-one hybrid PC
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November 15, 2007 The miniaturization of PC components has paved the way for all-in-one designs such as Apple’s iMac which do away with the traditional bulky PC beige box and make way for space-saving, minimalist units. Embracing and expanding on this trend is NEC’s Powermate P5010, an all-in-one hybrid PC designed to combine the advantages of both laptops and desktops. Featuring an AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core processor, 2GB DDR2 Memory, 200GB SATA HDD and a slot-loading DVD Super Multi drive, the P5010's slim white chassis makes optimum use of space by incorporating a wireless keyboard and mouse, a clever gadget-pocket and a one-cable set-up that keeps the desktop footprint small, whilst its light-weight and the inclusion of an in-built carry bar enables easy portability.
SanDisk Vaulter Disk: flash-based accelerator to enhance PC performance
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November 14, 2007 In what could be seen as a stepping stone on the road to the replacement of traditional platter based hard drives with flash based drives, SanDisk has unveiled a solid-state storage solution that works in conjunction with a PC's hard drive to store and launch the computer's operating system and software applications. Presently the cost and size limitations of flash storage prohibit the complete replacement of traditional hard drives in PCs, but the new SanDisk Vaulter Disk offers the performance advantages of flash memory by tag-teaming with a PC’s existing hard drive. Both Vaulter and the hard drive are integrated into the PC and operate simultaneously, while maintaining a low cost per gigabyte. Read More
Intel release eco-friendly, high-performance 45nm processors
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November 13, 2007 Intel has unveiled sixteen new chips incorporating 45nm Hafnium-based high-k metal gate transistors that are smaller, faster and more eco-friendly than previous generations. Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel, has labeled the breakthrough as the biggest transistor advancement in 40 years with the improvement expected to further extend Moore’s Law, which he originally described in 1965. Read More
GETAC V100 ruggedized notebook-tablet
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November 7, 2007 GETAC's water-proof, shock-proof and drop-proof V100 features a 10.4-inch XGA LCD screen that rotates by 180-degrees, transforming the ruggedized notebook into a Tablet PC designed to withstand harsh use in industrial and field environments. Read More
New open standard for monitoring PC peripherals
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November 7, 2007 More than 15 leading PC OEMs, motherboard, and peripheral manufacturers have joined together to endorse Enthusiast System Architecture (ESA), a new, open and royalty-free standard for the monitoring and controlling of PC power supplies, chassis, and water-cooling systems. Backed by PC industry names including NVIDIA, Dell, HP, Alienware, CoolerMaster and Thermaltake, ESA specifies an information protocol that system components can use to communicate with each other to adjust operating parameters, and relay important system information back to the user. Read More
Sony's wall-mountable VAIO series panel PC notebook
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November 2, 2007 Aiming to merge the PC with a home entertainment center, Sony has added to their VAIO notebook lineup with the release of the LM series notebooks. The LM series features an eye-catching panel PC design reminiscent of Sony’s BRAVIA LCD TV’s with its’ 19 inch screen framed by a transparent bezel to blend into the surrounding environment. For ultimate integration, the VAIO LM series can be wall-mounted and features wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control. Read More
LapWorks Futura Laptop Desk
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October 22, 2007 Laptops can get extremely hot and become uncomfortable on your lap. One solution is to use a pillow or something similar between your lap and the laptop but this is a poor strategy - it might keep you cool, but a pillow conforms to the bottom of the laptop and prevents the escape of hot air resulting in parts overheating and in turn reducing the lifespan of the device. LapWorks Inc., the market leader in ergonomic and heat reducing laptop desks, has recently released their Futura model and Techwarelabs has been testing the device - read their review. Read More
Hitachi introduces simple data storage solution for small and medium sized businesses
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October 17, 2007 Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) Corporation has introduced the Hitachi Simple Modular Storage 100, a solution aimed at small and medium sized businesses which offers enterprise-class storage features scaleable up to 9TB along with complete data protection. Simple Modular Storage 100 (SMS 100) is intended for businesses looking for storage systems that are easy to manage, easy to grow, and easy to integrate with applications such as Microsoft® Windows and others common to the SMB marketplace. Read More
EDGE Tech Corp releases 32GB DiskGO Flash Drive
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October 17, 2007 The storage stakes just keep getting higher. Insatiable consumer demand for small form factor, high-capacity, affordable storage devices is being met by the market, with the latest example to cross our desk being EDGE Tech Corp’s new US$399.99, 32GB DiskGO™ Flash Drive. Read More
Hitachi flag 4TB Desktop PCs in 2011
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October 16, 2007 The exponential growth of digital storage capacity continues unabated with news that Hitachi has developed recording heads up to 2,000 times smaller than the width of an average human hair – a nanotechnology breakthrough that is expected to quadruple current storage capacity limits to four terabytes (TB) on a desktop hard drive and one TB on a notebook hard drive. Read More
RM releases PC weighing less than 1kg and costing £169
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October 12, 2007 RM, a UK based supplier of educational software, services and systems to schools, colleges and universities has teamed with its hardware partner, Asustek, to release a PC weighing less than 1kg and costing less than £200. Read More
Gresso release luxury USB flash drive range
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October 5, 2007 In another example of fashion meets function from the world of consumer electronics, manufacturer of luxury mobile phones and MP3 playersGresso has released an alternative to the dreary old plastic USB drive. The high-end collection of 1GB capacity drives called "Adam&Eve" are crafted from materials including African mahogany, blackwood, gold and white diamonds. Read More
STOP-Lock two-tiered laptop security system
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September 29, 2007 Until now most laptop security systems have either physically secured the laptop or helped track it down once it’s been lost or stolen. The STOP-Lock from security manufacturer Secure-It, Inc. has combined these elements in a laptop security system which combines a tracking system with a locking mechanism to help deter thieves. Read More
USB key adds physical element to enhance data security
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September 28, 2007 Where credit card and banking information is being processed, user authentication, accountability and data security are of paramount importance. The iKey 4000 is a USB device that authorized users carry with them at all times in order to gain access to secure systems. It adds an extra factor to the access control puzzle – you need to both have the physical key and know the correct password to get in, thus satisfying the highest Payment Card Industry security protocols. Read More
USB 3.0 on the horizon
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September 23, 2007 Details of the proposed next generation of high-speed USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors have been unveiled. The planned USB 3.0 system will target a transfer speed of 4.8 gigabits per second, ten times that of USB 2.0 models. Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, NEC and NXP Semiconductors have formed the USB 3.0 Promoter Group to make the high-speed connection a reality, with final USB 3.0 specification scheduled to be released in the first half of 2008 and backward-compatible products hitting shelves as early as 2009. Read More
Sandisk launches new high-performance Flash memory cards
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September 18, 2007 The rise and rise of Flash memory continues with SanDisk, the original inventor of Flash storage cards, launching its Express line of high-performance Flash memory products. Aimed at professional videographers and photographers who demand speed, durability and reliability the new 8GB and 16GB flash memory cards record high-definition video at 35 megabits per second. Read More
Logitech AudioHub notebook speaker system
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September 13, 2007 Long entrenched as the focal point of working life for many people, laptops are increasingly expanding their role to become a hub for personal entertainment with new solutions to accommodate this functionality emerging on a daily basis. This AudioHub Notebook Speaker System from Logitech combines a unique 2.1 one-piece speaker system and three integrated hi-speed USB ports in a compact design at just three and a half inches in height that's designed to fit neatly behind most notebooks. Read More
InPlay update FinePoint digital pen system
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September 10, 2007 InPlay Technologies has announced an upgrade to its digital pen input technology for tablet PCs. The FinePoint MPD-9xx uses RF technology in the digital pen (versus the analog pen used with many pen computing systems) and electromagnetic technology in the grid which according to InPlay, delivers enhanced accuracy for charting pen tip status, sensitivity and position. Read More
Learning to love the Matrox TripleHead2Go
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September 7, 2007 The quest to try new technologies hands-on is a vexing problem for working journalists in a magazine which exclusively covers emerging technologies, as conception to market times have shrunk to months rather than years and the advance of innovation grows faster each week, like a game of Pacman – it’s an exciting time to be alive, much less working in this industry, BUT, when it comes to trialing things, newer technologies often pop up before you’ve got the last one out of the box and onto the desk. We’re forever looking to use the technology we cover to assist in processing this explosion of information and a few months back I decided that more screen real estate was needed after trailing Apple’s 24 inch iMac and getting a productivity boost– the answer, I hoped, was to spread the array of web pages, email screens, RSS feeds, spreadsheets, word and Acrobat documents Photoshop and Final Cut Pro screens, calendars, to do lists, FTP windows, Skype beckoning regularly and my iTunes life soundtrack controller across an array of screens in the hope it would help me deal with what had become an endless set of layers on my MacBook Pro. So I called up Matrox and asked for the company’s TripleHead2Go system, enabling me to hook three screens to my MacBook, and … Read More
LaCie 5TB data storage solution
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September 5, 2007 Designed for producers of digital content, LaCie's five terabyte Biggest S2S 5-disk RAID system can reach burst transfer rates of up to 200 megabytes per second and can stream non-compressed HD Video in HDTV 1080i and 1080p format. Read More
Philips and Swarovski unveil digital bling
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September 2, 2007 Philips and Swarovski announced their intention to work together to fuse fashion and technology in April this year and the first fruit of the collaboration was shown today at IFA 2007 in Berlin. As digital technology becomes all pervasive, it is inevitable that there will be a market for luxury technology and the Active Crystals collection directly addresses this need, beginning with the release of four USB Memory Keys and four headphones. The only problem is … Read More
Samsung expands Q1 Ultra mobile PC family
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August 30, 2007 Samsung has released three new additions to its Q1 Ultra family of portable PCs, the Q1U-SSDXP, the Q1U-ELXP and the Q1U-XP. Labelled UMPC (ultra-mobile computing devices), the Q1 family is designed to deliver full PC capabilities, multimedia versatility and advanced connectivity when a desktop computer is not an option and a notebook PC is impractical or simply undesirable. Read More
Sandisk doubles capacity of Cruzer Micro Flash drive
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August 29, 2007 Not so long ago we were using floppy disks with a 1.44mb capacity to save and transfer documents, even more recently a 500Mb thumb drive seemed like a revolution, but now it's all a matter of routine to be counting in gigabytes. SanDisk has introduced an 8 gigabyte model (that's the equivalent to 5555 floppy disks) of its Cruzer Micro USB Flash drive, double the largest capacity previously available in the Cruzer Micro line. Read More
Sony's all-in-one High-Def PC/TV with Blu-Ray
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August 29, 2007 Sony has introduced a new high-definition PC/TV model with Blu-Ray Disc Technology. Featuring a floating glass design, the VAIO LT HD PC/TV is designed as a complete computer entertainment center where you can watch and record analog, digital and cable television programming, including premium HD channels. Read More
