New LifeStyle with Gadget

Upgrading Server HP, Sun, and IBM

2010-02-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - After a long-awaited, finally International Business Machines (IBM) to upgrade servers and other hardware to be more efficient in energy use.

In addition to more energy efficient, IBM wants to be more competitive products from rival products Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Sun Microsystems (Sun).

Earlier this week IBM announced they besutan latest system, POWER7 including microprocessor, storage and middleware will be able to process more data than its predecessor POWER6. IBM promises so that hardware will have more benefits to the electric grid or conducting electronic trading banks.

"Innovation starts from the chip level. Then they could adjust their electricity usage based on workloads," said General Manager of IBM's Power Systems Business Ross Mauri, quoted by Reuters on Monday (8/2/2010).

Over the last few years, IBM's business has now shifted from the field many hardware and software to services. But it does not necessarily make IBM's hardware business to ignore her.

"Innovation sophisticated servers still an important part of marketing strategy to compete with HP, Sun and the latest Cisco Systems, recently purchased by Oracle," said Mauri.

IBM is committed to offering a comprehensive range of products of competitive technologies, competing with its competitors.

Microsoft will Make XBOX Games

2009-06-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Corp. on Monday unveiled the answer to the Nintendo Wii. Microsoft in a campaign video, a woman who steers race car while playing the Xbox game-free control system. Software maker says will release technology that lets people play video games by moving their bodies, not the hand-held controllers.

Service that is tentatively called "Project Christmas" (pronounced Nuh-Tall), and will work with one of the company's Xbox 360 console, Microsoft said. "Before any barrier separating the video-game players from everybody," said Don Mattrick, Senior Vice President for Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "Now, with Christmas, everyone can join in using the best control ever invented: you." Microsoft shows before Christmas in front of the audience E3, the video game and entertainment conference officially begins Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. The show comes at the time of transition for the video game industry, after it is regarded as immune to the recessionary economy, but has shown signs of slowing.

Traditional game face new competition from developers who engineer video game for mobile phones and distribute them for free online. Do not Miss Video game industry in the flow such as E3 Microsoft does not use a Christmas, rather it relies on the camera to capture players' movements in 3-dimensional space. Said that the companies that make the system more intuitive and appealing to the masses. This system also recognizes the face, which allows players to enter it in the game automatically. He can identify and follow the voice commands, too. During the demonstration, players swung their feet to kick soccer balls and threw their hands in the air to try to block the goal.

Driving in the game, players put their hands on the wheel of their imaginary switch to steer the car on the television screen. Painting in a game, a man said the name of the color - "blue" or "light brown" - before he was swinging arm to splash paint on canvas digital. No launch date was announced for Christmas, and the price was not discussed. The announcement also comes as Sony and Microsoft will compete to capture the public who are interested to Nintendo's user-friendly Wii console. Microsoft has been seen as a place for the company a more hard-core gamers.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg is in hand for Christmas and said the event will help reach new audiences who may be daunted by complex joysticks and controllers. "Most of the people just too intimidated to take control the game," he said. "Although the size of the industry, is still 60 percent of households do not have a video game console." The Company said that there was no control-a format that will revolutionize gaming experience. Microsoft also says its facial-recognition software will make a video game character communicate with players by identifying emotions on their faces.

CEO MySpace Janjikan Perubahan

2009-05-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

CALIFORNIA - Pimpinan MySpace yang baru, mengatakan saat ini MySpace tengah membutuhkan beragam inovasi dan pembaharuan.Owen Van Natta tidak menyebutkan secara spesifik inovasi yang akan dikeluarkannya. Namun yang jelas, Van Natta mengatakan dia ingin memperbaiki kondisi MySpace yang saat ini tengah mengalami penurunan jumlah pengguna, demikian keterangan yang dikutip dari News Yahoo, Kamis (28/5/2009).

"Saya melihat begitu banyak kesempatan yang bisa dibangun dalam MySpace. Oleh sebab itu saya bersedia bekerja di MySpace, karena ada banyak hal yang bisa dilakukan dengan berbagai inovasi," kata Van Natta.Meski dipuji atas kelebihannya dalam konten hiburan, namun MySpace tak bisa menghindari kritikan atas keterbatasan teknologi yang kalah saing dengan rivalnya Facebook.Hal itu berdampak pula pada persaingan jumlah pengguna. Secara global, MySpace memiliki jumlah pengguna sebanyak 130 juta, sementara Facebook, 200 juta pengguna.

Van Natta yang merupakan mantan eksekutif Facebook mengatakan sebuah kesuksesan harus melalui proses trial and error, dengan risiko kegagalan dalam proses tersebut.Menurut Van Natta MySpace sangat berbeda dengan Facebook karena memungkinkan pengguna menjadi 'super-creative' dalam mendesain halaman situs mereka."Saya sangat percaya MySpace bisa memanfaatkan peluang dari kelebihan ini. Tugas kami saat ini adalah membuat MySpace sangat disenangi oleh setiap orang," tandasnya.

NSN Help M1 do modernization 2G Network

2009-05-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA - M1 do modernization 2G network to be on the high-speed mobile broadband in the future. MobileOne (M1) will increase the ability of Internet Protocol (IP) in the 2G network held as part of the network modernization initiative. This upgrade will allow operators to provide customers a better service for the high-speed mobile broadband, setting up the growth in the future with minimal cost and reduce carbon emissions. This modernization will be carried out by Nokia Siemens Networks and will be completed in 2011. Upgrade to the IP network is an important step towards a change in the M1 Long Term Evolution (LTE) and will provide a transition toward mulus 4g.

"Modernization network is in line with our strategy to invest in the future. This will allow us to be ready to meet the various needs of our customers in the future and continue to offer the optimal level of service for them as they felt for this. The introduction of new radio technology This will also allow us to use and manage energy resources and our spectrum more efficiently, "said Chief Executive Officer of M1 Karen Kooi, through the authorized information.

But, Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Base Station the reach of the award is also a radio system that the world's smallest and most power saver, which allows the operator to cut capital and operational costs. Nokia Siemens Networks also will provide network optimization services and maintenance related to ensure that the quality of the network remain high through the contract for five years. Christian Fredrikson, Head of Apac, Nokia Siemens Networks, said cooperation with the M1 has been started since a long time, including the development of 2G network more than 13 years ago. Being part of the evolution of M1 and to prepare the business for the future is the very moment that plume.

Nokia has launched its mobile Ovi Store

2009-05-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

Nokia launched its Ovi mobile phone store around the world, bringing the third-party applications for a number of Nokia devices. The shop has had its share of launch-day criticism, but will not be dealbreakers in the long run if the shop gathers steam.

Ovi Nokia Store is officially open for business, bringing users a Nokia App Store-like interface to download third party software. Applications range from practical to fun, and while some costs, many others are available free of charge. Extended reach with Nokia worldwide, the company has the potential to grow on Ovi App Store Apple Store proportions-while fixing some UI quirks and appeals to the community of developers.

Although technically Ovi Store is available on a wide range of Nokia devices, not all the applications available on any device running the selection for less capable devices certainly better as more developers to release software for the store. You can find the applications that work with phones that choosing a specific Nokia device on the main page Ovi Store. Like other mobile phone shops of its kind, the Ovi Store offers selections in a variety of categories, such as games, music, social networks, entertainment, utilities, and more, and users can search for content on the basis of keywords as well. There is also a section for "Recommended" applications that will download a selection of specially for the device and tailored to your specific location a useful feature when you're traveling.

As can be expected, the Ovi Store has had some hiccups in the world after its launch. Ovi's team has already recognized the store to slow down the performance on the Web after ET 2 this morning, though apparently the device Ovi Store client is performing "very well". Other hiccups include a number of applications that show up to two times the store listings and search for keywords, and general confusion UI. For example, clicking on a particular type of store on the page after searching, you do not just go to the category that you try to search in this category, often resulting in zero results. You can see everything in a category of compensation after a query manually or return to the home page.

File Extension DOT

2009-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

What do you know about the File Extension DOT? If you're anything like me, not much, honestly, I had never even heard of him before, but in fact is a small extension is very important! File Extension DOT is Microsoft Word file, but used as a model for other programs that are very useful.

On FileExtensionDot.org You can download a free program that will help you find and heal your computer has a problem in May. They have many testimonials on the site for the user and the software seems to have been served with the end goal.

Solve your QIF File Extension

2009-05-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

File extension QIF is ASCII text files created by Quicken financial software. This is more for Open Financial Exchange (OFX) and used for transactions, financial management, and other applications such as Microsoft Money, KMyMoney, GNUCash. File extension QIF themselves that the use of the data transfer protocol. Although the QIF file format was originally developed by Intuit, but non-exclusive and is supported by several programs and accounting. QIF is an acronym for Quicken Interchange Format. but some people in the May QIF stands QIF QuickTime Image File that has been made and packed by Apple QuickTime.

If you have a lot of QIF files with the extension, you must have software that can store all your files. You should also easy to use, fast and reliable. All the features that I speak before available in the software fileextensionqif.com. File size 1 MB and supports Windows Vista. Other features is a software update can find important, to make your computer run faster and avoid crashing. You do not need to register for fileextension.qif to download the software. I like the best, it's free. You do not need to buy software that has many features.

Dell offers lesson in Intel-AMD rivalry

2009-05-13T21:28:00.001-07:00

Chip option that Dell is on the PC business lines offer an insight into the problems of Advanced Micro Devices, after the decision of the European Union Wednesday against Intel.
Dell has no AMD-based notebooks in the Business Line

"At the moment we have an AMD desktop, but not AMD notebooks, Darrel Ward, director of product management for Dell Business Client Product Group, said in a telephone interview on Wednesday the issue is not with the EU case. "If you talk with us year from now, it is likely to be different. As we try to do is to optimize our portfolio outside, where we see where supply and demand, we can take the best ROI (Return on Investment) for our engineering dollars. "

Sun, Dell is in secret negotiations with the corruption in the interests of Intel in the AMD box? We do not know the answer to this question, but most likely not. Dell is simply to offer what it considers best for its customers.

AMD in 2001, a complaint with the European Union in 2005 and the subsequent antitrust case against Intel have driven many of the allegations against Intel. And AMD argument was quite clear by the decision of the EU: that is to say, Intel is the strengthening of a dominant position in the illegal manner, without competitors in the PC processor market.

But what AMD competitiveness? And as a result, why manufacturers such as Dell to choose AMD over Intel?

"Partly it's because Intel production is so beautiful," said Dan Hutcheson, CEO and chairman of VLSI Research, a marketing research. "And the fact that Intel has such a large scale. It was one of their big advantages."

Hutcheson said that many companies have tried to run on Intel over the years and not - but not necessarily because Intel behave in illegal ways. "Transmeta said they knock Intel Foundry (factory-) model. And then there was Cyrix," said Hutcheson. "We had dozens of companies in recent years, it said that it is cheaper (than Intel). AMD is the only one in the vicinity."

AMD tries to gain market share is not so rooted in the behavior of Intel, but AMD's own strategies. "I 'm not sure how much luck from AMD in recent years really trace the behavior of Intel," said Charles King, Punda-president and the top IT analysts. "Should we largely missed the growing market for mobile computing, because the decisions that you receive. Notwithstanding AMD Intel May suffered discounts and rebates on programs the company has really hurt more than the same period."

File Extension ICA

2009-04-07T07:10:00.001-07:00

Driver detective is amazing software for search computer driver. I spent hours to find and try one by one install a computer driver. But the result is zero!

By browsing in the internet, i search program that can help me to find driver that match with my hardware. And the result is i found Driver Detective. A software can find about hardware that we have used.

Just download Driver Detective Program at www.fileextensionica.net and install it to the computer which having problem. And just follow simply step that given by Driver Detective. And enjoy your computer with match driver.

System Requirement :
Operating System : Any Windows Version (including Vista)
Download Size : 1 MB (10 seconds on most Internet connections)

OK, lets go to File Extension ICA website. And try to your PC and solve your problem.

Note :

Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) is a technology that was developed to allow multiple users to access applications hosted by a central server. Technology has evolved to the point where each workstation computer may be replaced by compact. Log in to the terminal with the Citrix server and run everything (including the quasi-OS) from there. For this application, then. Ica file storage configuration file required to connect to different servers. The files are just text files and can be opened and edited with Citrix Presentation Server Client, ICA Client Editor, Citrix Easy Connect Manager or a text editor. Due to the nature of a text file, an error message with Citrix. Ica can be caused by a bad configuration data or data corruption. In both cases, this error will be subject to a connection with the server. The problem can be corrected by changing the configuration file contains the correct information. It is recommended that these files can not be changed by anyone not completely familiar with the server's configuration. While editing Citrix. Ica files, care should be taken and saved a copy before editing begins.

Compass is the profile of the identity and evaluation work that is used to help choose the proper training of personnel who are most productive. It is different from most other profile system, which assesses how candidates think and make decisions in the normal working environment. The. Ica (Kompas Best Identity) file system is encrypted file that contains the data to the user responses. Software to create this file when the session profile, and then use it later in the analysis phase. The file format is the property of the Identity Compass system, which means that the file can not be accessed or modified outside the environment of the original software. In addition, the data is encrypted to prevent access as hackers increasingly ingenious. Large-scale errors with these files are not reported, but it is assumed that all data files, as they may be damaged and subject to the operating software. May I also will be the latest software to create. Ica file is incompatible with the version. Compatibility in the other direction should not be a problem.

Find Your Things Here

2009-04-05T23:58:00.001-07:00

Shopwiki.com.au is a site that records sites online store on the internet. The principle work is same as google crawle.

Some of the benefits that you can get is : You do not need to clear and dispose of waste of time just to find the goods you want. Simply visit www.shopwiki.com.au you can find any items that you want in the online store that has been in crawle by ShopWiki.

For example, search about digital camera. Just type in the search form that available on the site, then you will be directed to the page you want. So you select the desired item. Price also can be set / sort according what we expect. So, what will you waiting for?

For examples of the findings that you can visit just simpy click (Cameras):

http://www.shopwiki.com.au/Sony+Digital+Cameras
http://www.shopwiki.com.au/Nikon+Digital+Cameras
http://www.shopwiki.com.au/Canon+Digital+Cameras

Nintendo Wii

2009-03-01T04:16:00.000-08:00

Wii is the revolutionary generation, the home video game console from the game giant Nintendo. With the introduction of Wii, Nintendo has changed the face home video game ever. Wii is now the top selling home video system without going through the Xbox 360 competitors and Playstation 3. A unique feature of the Wii console is the wireless called WiiConnect24. WiiConnect24 enables Wii to receive messages and updates over the Internet. Wii has attracted a new type of game that has not been playing video games. Nintendo has introduced a new Wii console with Wii Sports included. Wii Sports is a game that is suitable to bring fun new console motion sensor controls. It is time to swing away in the room like a madman in Wii Sports.

ASUS RILIS LAPTOP TOUCHSCREEN WINDOWS 7

2009-02-22T02:14:00.001-08:00

If you see a lot of users that criticize Windows Vista, it is possible that Microsoft makes a hurry for the release date of the next generation operating system. To date the problem, Microsoft has berujar that Windows 7 will be released in 2010. However, the CEO of Asus, Jerry Shen has been planned that the company will offer a laptop that will run on Windows systems 7 in the second year in mid-2009. I think in the future soon, in the mid-second year, our system will put Windows 7 on Eee PC laptop., Shen Shen said that Asus in Taiwan is bermarkas this, so do not use Windows Vista in the system and then proceed laptopnya system with Windows XP or Linux prainstalasi, until Windows 7 arrives. Shen also explained, in some Asus laptop bersistem that Windows 7 will feature touchscreen interface, with the power of the new OS. Asus laptop that will offer light weight and range in price that low, under the Eee PC brand. Microsoft has a little secret on the reveal Windows 7, where the application is not compatible with Vista, it also can not run on Windows 7. This is because between the two operating systems have some share the same basic architecture. Because Windows Vista has less popularity, then Microsoft finally mentioned the name newest operating system, and there may be pressure to accelerate the launch of Windows 7. Windows XP is the version before Vista, chosen more for most business, but Microsoft plans to make Windows XP retirement a few months in the future. However, customers who already use terlanjur can still mendowngrade Vista PC to XP.
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Go Green With Digital Printing in New York

2008-12-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Go Green, Use Green, 100 percent Organic, or Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle are common catchphrases you see in bold prints and commonly hear from environmentally friendly groups in New York City. Despite being the most urbanized city in the U.S., New York has eco-friendly groups that absolutely uphold the convictions and idealisms that they promote. In fact, the principle they are endorsing is not their own responsibility, but each and every one’s duty to protect our natural resources. Everyone and everything is encouraged to go green, including the printing industry. The revolutionary transition to the computer age has likewise made a similar shift in how printing gets done—prints made by the traditional offset printing press versus new digital printing technology.

Paving the Way for “Green” Digital Printing

Information technology brought us significant changes in almost all aspects of our lives, including printing services that paved the way for the development of digital printing. Environmental awareness has caused all of us to find ways to have less of an impact on the environment. Digital printing compared to traditional printing is a much less wasteful print process. While it does not totally eliminate the need for traditional printing presses, digital printing provides a cost effective alternative which is more environmentally friendly for businesses today. Digital printing offers high quality, fast turnaround printing for booklets, postcards, brochures, catalogs, or business cards with much less impact to the environment. In the past we have all been guilty of overlooking the consequences of the choices we make in our daily lives, but in the long run we must make more “green” choices. Digital printing is a more “green” alternative to other forms of printing and a good place to start in our quest to make more “green” choices.

Win-win Solution

Digital printing employs processes that involve more eco-friendly operations. Less waste is produced and recycled materials are used thus leading to minimal or no harm at all to the environment. It also encompasses the use of inks that do not utilize highly volatile organic compounds, which are the primary cause of air pollution as the compounds easily evaporate at room temperature. With the use of environment-friendly print processes, less air emissions are processed and there is less material consumed. It is a win-win situation with digital printing. Printing costs and wastage are reduced and at the same time elicit a positive impact to our environment. So go green with digital printing in New York. It will help conserve and preserve resources, and the Earth in entirety.

Go Green Act

Environmentally friendly groups in New York embrace the environmental responsibility that the digital printing has introduced to the printing industry. The onset of digital printing displays the social awareness and consciousness they have undertaken to avoid the detrimental effects of pollution and depletion of natural resources. Here is why digital printing is a go green act.

v The digital print process does not require the manufacture of a printing plate.

v The ink utilized in go green printers do not utilize highly volatile organic compounds that may cause birth defects and cancer.

v It uses recycled paper or post consumer waste products that saves landfill space and reduces energy and water usage in the paper manufacturing process.

Influence Graphics is the best digital printing shop in New York that promotes environment-friendly products. Printing jobs are done with less waste and less damage to the environment because Influence Graphics is a totally digital print shop.

Fenomena Cincin Kawin

2008-11-30T18:08:00.000-08:00

(Sorry, post this time is Out Of Topic [OOT])

Ada yang pernah berpikir nggak kenapa cincin kawin ditaruh di jari manis ? Ada yang berpikir juga nggak kenapa sih cincin kawin itu gak ditaruh jempol, telunjuk, tengah, ataupun jari kelingking ? Kalo ada, berikut penjelasannya :

Jangan dianggap serius banget sampe gak bisa tidur 3 hari 3 malam loh yha! Ini hanya sekedar share mitos kok (hehehe). Ada niat nulis blog ginian karena kemarin (30 November 2008) dapet obrolan gak serius tapi bisa dianggap serius bareng temen-temen.

Sebelum ke penjelasan, siapkan kedua tangan Anda! Jika sudah, ikuti instruksi berikut!

Jika tangan Anda sudah siap, tempelkan kedua tangan Anda hingga jempol tangan kanan bertemu jempol tangan kiri dan seterusnya sampai kelingking kanan bertemu kelingking kiri.
Jika sudah, tekuk kedua jari tengah (kanan dan kiri) ke dalam.
Coba pisahkan kedua jari. Mulai jempol, telunjuk, sampai dengan jari kelingking secara satu persatu.
Apakah jari manis bisa Anda pisahkan ? Jika bisa, Anda adalah orang yang hebat. Berdasarkan obrolan guyonan kemarin, yang bisa memisahkan jari manis adalah orang yang gak bakalan bisa nikah (heuheuheuheuheu)

Maknanya, kenapa cincin kawin ada di jari manis ? Ya karena jari manis tak bisa dipisahkan. Kenapa harus jari tengah yang ditekuk ? Karena jari tengah adalah lambang ketidak senonohan (ingatkah akan lambang FU*C*K ? Menggunakan jari apakah itu ?) *Sekali lagi ini adalah mitos

Thank's to : rekanz2 Jojoran kontrax (Adi a.k.a Homrenk [Homo Brengsek], Andit, Windra, Yudhol) yang udah ngasih ni penjelasan kemarin. Lumayan kocak broo ... Tak lupa terima kasih banyak ke Nokia 6680 yang udah ngabadiin ni gambar :D.

The Coming Age Of HDTV - What Does It Mean To Me?

2008-10-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

HDTV - high-definition television: it is something that has been discussed for some time now, however not everyone has a strong sense of what it is and why he or she would want to have it.

Because all television stations will be required to broadcast a digital signal after February 17, 2009, many viewers are beginning to ask a lot more questions about how the new digital age of television will affect their personal viewing experience. They want to know whether or not their television set will be compatible, whether or not they will have to replace it, and what steps they will have to take in order to keep watching their favorite shows.

How To Identify If Your Television Is An Analog TV

Analog television has been with us since the inception of television broadcasting. Analog is the old way of processing a television signal.

Television technology took a big leap in the 1960's with the transition from television tubes to circuit boards, but that conversion failed to bring with it any major strides in the quality of the television picture.

If your current television does not have a logo on its front that indicates DTV (Digital TV), EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV), or HDTV, then your television set is an analog TV.

Understanding The Transition From An Analog Signal To The New Digital Signal

Digital image processing is a technology that began in earnest during the 1970's, when Japanese technology companies began to explore the concepts of HDTV. The Japanese TV manufacturers were exploring ways to improve the picture quality of the television image, as a way to find more customers for their television products.

While Americans were busy playing with building the computer industry, the Japanese were hard at work trying to build a better television set. The first HDTV systems developed by the Japanese still relied on the old analog system of sending a broadcast signal to their televisions, but they were still able to produce a better television viewing experience.

When initially introduced to the U.S. Government, the new HDTV system produced a myriad of concerns, which included the issue of an analog HDTV-system needing more bandwidth than what was currently allotted to the television broadcasters.

In 1993, a consortium of American researchers and manufacturers (known as The Grand Alliance) joined forces to find a way to bring HDTV-quality to the American public, while keeping the bandwidth requirements of broadcasters within the existing limits.

Researchers soon understood that they would need to push at least part of the television signal in a digital format to make sure that HDTV could be transmitted within the limits currently allotted to the television broadcasters. By the time they had finished their work, the Grand Alliance had created a system that was 100% Digital.

In 1995, after considerable opposition from the television broadcast industry, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission officially set the standard for completely digital HDTV broadcasting system. This put into motion the events that are just now coming to fruition, with the rollout of the new Digital Television broadcasting system.

Although most television stations have been broadcasting a Digital Television Signal now for a few years, analog television owners have been none the wiser. But that will all change on February 17, 2009.

Will My Analog Television Stop Working In 2009?

The simple answer is "yes", but that does not mean that you will have to buy a new television in order to get the new digital broadcasts. While you may not need to replace your television set, you may have to make changes in how you get your television signal.

There are in fact three ways that the average consumer can continue to get a television signal using their old television set:

1. Subscribe to a cable television service (and use their digital television converter);

2. Subscribe to a satellite television service (and use their digital television converter); or

3. Buy a DTV converter (Digital TV Converter) to receive signals from your analog antenna and to convert that signal back to analog, so that you can continue to use your analog television. (If you receive your television signal over-the-air, the Federal Government has implemented a Coupon Program to help consumers offset the cost of the DTV converter boxes: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html )

Understanding The Three Facets Of The New Digital Technology

1. Lines Of Resolution

The newer digital technology is all about Lines Of Resolution. With more lines of resolution, the viewer will receive more image information, therefore bringing the viewer much more picture clarity and detail.

When the Japanese rolled out HDTV on the Japanese mainland, the lines of resolution numbered 1080. To put this into perspective, the standard analog TV signal exhibits 330 lines of resolution. This makes it more than clear that the original analog HDTV format really was a real issue for television broadcasters in the United States. To produce a resolution of 1080 lines on a system designed for 330 lines would have literally required three times the bandwidth of the current analog system.

Here are the standard television resolutions:

* Analog Television - 330 Lines of Resolution

* VCR's - 240 Lines of Resolution

* DVD's - 480 Lines of Resolution

* EDTV - 720 Lines of Resolution

* HDTV - 1080 Lines of Resolution

There is a caveat to this chart though. The minimum requirement of the FCC is that broadcasters must produce a minimum of 720 Lines of Resolution. As a result, some broadcasters like ABC chose the 720-resolution, and yet they can still legally call their programming standard, HDTV.

Other broadcasters like PBS opted for the higher 1080 format. Good for them.

In 1998, when the first HDTV's became available to the buying public, the Headline News newscasters were joking that with the rollout of HDTV, we the audience would be able to see every blackhead and blemish on their faces. Of course, they were probably correct in that assumption. The detail of the HDTV-signal is absolutely amazing.

2. Aspect Ratio

Another factor connected to the new HDTV-format is the Aspect Ratio.

In a standard analog television, the Aspect Ratio is a 4-by-3, which nearly looks square. The 4-by-3 ratio means that it can be measured 4-parts wide to 3-parts high.

With the new HDTV format, the Aspect Ratio has been changed to the same format seen in the movie theatre - a 16-by-9 Aspect Ratio, or 16-parts wide to 9-parts high.

3. Sound Quality

The third factor connected to the new HDTV-format is Sound Quality. In fact, most HDTV programming will carry with it Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, as frequently heard on DVD's. So long as you have a surround sound unit attached to your television set, the surround sound will enable to the television viewer to be immersed in the sound, so much so as it often feels as if you are in the middle of the action happening on your television set.

In Conclusion...

While it is true that you do not need to upgrade your television from the analog format to the new digital format, you might seriously consider doing so anyway.

Now that we are quickly approaching the end of the analog-television era, the cost of HDTV television sets has fallen considerably. Whereas five years ago, the average HDTV cost in the range of $3-4,000, the cost of most HDTV's has fallen to under $1200 today. After February 17, 2009, the cost of HDTV should drop again, making it much more affordable to the general public.

Although it will be possible to convert the digital television signal to analog, you will lose the extra picture detail on the conversion. So, if you stick with your analog television, you will be restricting yourself to the quality of picture you are currently receiving, even after the change in television broadcasting formats is complete.

Although color-technology was first introduced to audiences with the release of The Wizard Of Oz in 1939, color television did not become mainstream until the late-1960's. And although the technology of color was mainstream, black-and-white televisions were still being manufactured and sold well into the 1980's.

Fortunately, this transition will be a bit quicker than the conversion from black-and-white to color. Under the FCC rules for the transition to digital television, television manufacturers were required to include a digital tuner in all television sets manufactured after March 1, 2006.

This conversion is much like the transition from AM to FM as the standard listening medium in the radio industry. Radio listeners could not listen to FM stations until which time they had upgraded their radio from AM to the AM/FM format. The same thing will happen here as well. If you want to receive the beautiful, high-quality HDTV images, you will need to upgrade to a television set capable of displaying the HDTV images.

If you have any lingering doubts about the better HDTV standard, all you need to do is to visit your local television store and see for yourself just how awesome of a picture HDTV actually produces. Just as Dolby Digital Surround Sound enables the listener to feel as if they are in the middle of the action on the television, HDTV permits the viewer to feel as if they are standing in the same room as the actors, on the sidelines at the football game, or on the same beach as the models - it really is that good of a picture.

source : http://www.articlecity.com/articles/gadgets_and_gizmos/article_1029.shtml
by: Lloyd Howard

Axioo Pico DJJ

2008-10-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA - After previous launched a successful class Netbook Pico DJM Model, Axioo re-launch his newest collection through a series Axioo Pico DJJ model with the view that more interesting and stylishly. Axioo Pico DJJ new model also offers the largest capacity harddisks Netbook among the market at this time, namely 2.5? SATA HDD up to 160 GB.

Axioo Pico attend the five-color chic and trendy, namely White, Black, Pink, Green and Blue.

"Axioo Pico DJJ model is specially designed for users who want the experience of the learner-computer fun and entertaining for users in the network connect with any network and wherever they are," said the manager of research and development Axioo Michael Sugiarto, at the launch of five new product generation netbook Axioo, in Jakarta.

Axioo Pico DJJ model with dimensions of 258 (w) x189 (d) x28 (h) mm, the LCD monitor has a 10.2 "with resolution of 1024 x 600 (WXGA). Specifications offered Axioo Pico DJJ models, among others, the Intel Atom N270 Processor 1.6 Ghz, 512 Kb L2 Cache, 533 MHz FSB (on board). Memory is used by Pico Axioo DJJ model of the past DDR2-533 / 667 Mhz PC chipset 5300 up to 2 GB and Graphics Card is equipped with Intel GMA 950 up to 128 Mb allows users to do multi-tasking for the good work documents, email, browsing, or networking, such as chat, messenger, social-networking and entertainment function properly even play games and listen to the collection, even personal music collection.

Users Axioo Pico DJJ model is not only able to save documents And also a collection of music files, movies and photos with up to an 30,000-thousand. unique capabilities that are owned by the Netbook Axioo Pico DJJ model that is not owned by the numbers Netbook other.

Axioo Pico DJJ other models have a distinctive Video Camera with 1.3 Megapixels (built-on) that allows users to make live conference, live chat where and kapapun, because Axioo DJJ also supported model for the Internet connection on the panel connection communication 56kb modem available Wireless and the Wireless anywhere, anytime.

Axioo Pico DJJ model has a sound system installed directly High Definition Audio and supported Direct 3D Sound Compatible, where the voice sounds clear and without doubt better to listen to music, although even in a crowded.

In addition to reliability in the System Processor, Memory and other features that are available, Axioo Pico DJJ model is very energy efficient. Li-on battery Axioo Pico DJJ model can survive 180 minutes for standby and 120 minutes without the need for worktime charging back again.

With heavy-owned by Pico Axioo DJJ model will be supported only 1.275kg Operating System for both Windows XP and Windows Vista, making it appear and stylishly compact, lightweight and easy to carry.

Axioo Pico DJJ model is available in the market began in October 2008, with price ranges 4-5 million rupiah.

Motorola ZN200 clears FCC

2008-07-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

Whew! It’s been a busy week at the Federal Communications Commission. We combed through more than 350 filings to bring you the cell phone gems. The Motorola ZN200 was on the list, as was the Palm Treo 800w, which Bonnie Cha reviewed this week. Only the most passionate cell phone geeks know that the FCC holds a treasure trove of information on upcoming handsets. Because the FCC has to certify every phone sold in the United States, not to mention test its SAR rating, the agency’s online database offers many sneak peeks to those who dig. And to save you the trouble, Crave has combed through the database for you. Here are a selection of filings from the past week on new and upcoming cell phones. Click through to read the full report.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4

2008-07-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Ears has been a familiar name to musicians and other audio professionals for a decade, but the company has gained quite a following with its consumer line as well. Earphones in its Metro.fi, Super.fi, and Triple.fi lines range in affordability and scale nicely from discerning listeners to audiophiles. Falling in toward the middle of the bottom is the $129 Super.fi 4, a stylish, low-profile set that comes with a reasonable array of accessories. The earphones offer some of the clearest audio we’ve come across, but getting a secure and comfortable fit is a challenge for some users.

Upon first laying eyes on the Super.fi 4 earphones, we were immediately smitten with the sleek and compact design. The earpieces are admirably small and are encased out in a blue-tinged metallic housing. However, the apertures are relatively large and cause some discomfort for the small-eared among us. Ultimate Ears includes a variety of silicone ear tips, but achieving a proper seal with the ear can be a challenge–we would welcome a foam option. It would also be nice if the earpieces were detachable from the cord, as with other Super.fi models. The cable measures about 46-inches long and is all black. A slider where the Y meets helps to prevent tangles when the headphones aren’t in use.

The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4 earphones are capable of delivering excellent audio quality–if you can get a proper fit. If not, music has a distinctly anemic quality. However, anyone who can get a seal with the ear will be rewarded with impressively clear and even sound. Bass is understated, but still present and tight, and mids are warm and encompassing. High-end response is particularly good, with shimmery acoustics and sparkling details. Even given the potential fit and comfort issues, the Super.fi 4 earphones live up to the company’s reputation of providing high-quality products. These ‘buds are a worthwhile consideration in the $125 range.

Nokia E71 has hit the stores

2008-07-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

Probably the greatest release of July 2008 – Nokia E71 has been already put up for sale and now is available at Nokia Priority dealers. We have heard a lot about it when it was yet upcoming. As expected, it is another step in evolution of the Nokia E series processed to suit business needs of all Nokia customers. This gadget has an impressive list of options to correspond to any, even the most exigent pretensions.

From the very first glance Nokia E71 charms with its fabulous slim body (114 mm x 57 mm x 10 mm), very pleasant tactile sensation. But don’t think about it only as a stylish gadget. Take it seriously. Acquaintance with Nokia E71 starts with two-part QWERTY keyboard and large 2.36″ screen with 320×240 pixel resolution. Both of those will help you to explore internet support commodities. Gmail, yahoo mail, hotmail and many more Internet Service Providers are now working closely with Nokia.

Internet speed limits are outrageous 3.6 Mbps. Nokia E71 HSDPA data connection will deserve your entire attention. Business trips are no longer a problem. In this gadget we have built-in GPS assistant (A-GPS), Nokia Maps function allows downloading maps of more than 200 regions in very high resolution. Maps hold local points of interest and city guides for any needs. Nokia E71 is equipped with 3.2 Megapixel AF camera, which is not bad at all, though video recording time is bounded.

How to Change Windows Theme

2008-06-17T00:50:00.000-07:00

6 step to make your windows display is looking good. Lets simply follow this step

1. Download and install UXTheme Multipatcher (Neowin Edition) 4.0
2. Restart your computer
3. Download Ms Style file that you want at www.studiotwentyeight.com
4. Extract file Ms Style to directories C:\Windows\Resource\Themes
5. Open Display Properties > Appearance > Windows and Button
6. Choose Theme Ms Style that you want and click Apply button

Just try on your windows computer, and you can enjoy it.

Acer Predator Gaming PC

2008-06-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

According to Acer’s dramatic tagline, their new Predator gaming PC range is “Faster. Deeper. Harder. Further.” The metallic orange desktop certainly catches the eye, though I’m not sure everyone will appreciate the looks (or the mechanical drive bay cover, which reminds me of a trash lorry mechanism); however what will likely impress is the guts of the beast. An overclockable quad-core Core 2 Extreme CPU with liquid cooling, up to 8GB of DDR2 800/1066 RAM and three NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX video cards.

The odd mechanical codpiece covers up two 5.25-inch bays, ready and waiting to be spec’d with a DVD burner, BD/HD DVD drive or both if your budget extends. There’s also a multiformat card reader and a total of eight USB 2.0 ports (four up front, four round the back). Gigabit ethernet is par for the course, but the WiFi is only b/g, not draft-N, which seems unusual compared to Acer’s rivals at Alienware.

Storage is ample, though, with four easy-access 3.5-inch SATA bays that can be set up for RAID 0, 1, 5 and 1+0. Acer offer up to 1TB of total capacity. Audio is the usual surround sound with all the digital gubbins, and there are two eSATA ports and an optional TV tuner.

Acer are keeping quiet on price and availability details so far, but expect it to be high-end just like its rivals.

Apple iPhone 3G

2008-06-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that Apple and AT&T are planning to introduce a 3G iPhone sometime in the future, but now evidence is mounting that the formal unveiling will be at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9.

In a report issued Thursday, Citi investment research analysts Richard Gardner and Yeechang Lee suggest hopes are high for the announcement and refer to the date as "D-Day for 3G."

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"We expect a steady stream of new products beginning on 9 June (the likely date for Steve Jobs' keynote at the Worldwide Developers Conference) with a 3G iPhone and iPhone/iPod touch SDK, continuing with a refresh of the complete laptop line in July/August and concluding with a complete refresh of the iPod line in August/September," Gardner said in the report to investors.

A representative with Apple was initially unavailable to comment on the report. Apple does not typically talk about products before they are released.

A possible 3G iPhone announcement during Steve Jobs' keynote is not unlikely. Several sources are suggesting the same. For example, AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson promised a new 3G iPhone sometime in 2008. In March, Apple and AT&T stock jumped up after a Bank of America analyst research report about the third-generation phone indicated that an announcement could come by the end of June.

Another indicator of a June 9 "D-Day" for a 3G iPhone are reports that AT&T has delayed the launch of the BlackBerry 9000 from June to August to allow the iPhone launch to take center stage.

So can iPhone fans who have suffered through the slow speed of AT&T's EDGE network look forward to a speedy UMTS/HSDPA network? AT&T's advanced network is available in 272 metro areas and runs along the 700-MHz spectrum. The UMTS/HSDPA network initially will support data speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps.

However, with a new network in place, consumers may question whether the offering will be backward compatible. Current iPhone owners also will want to know if they'll be able to use the 3G network.

"An iPhone using UMTS/HSDPA will operate at much higher data rates and cover wider geographical areas" than current iPhone models, network spectrum expert Joe Nordgaard said in an interview Friday. "AT&T has been rolling out UMTS/HSDPA for a long time now."

In a sense, a UMTS/HSDPA network will just be a stop on the way to a superfast LTE network. In recent months, AT&T has bought wide swathes of spectrum that are expected eventually to be used for LTE.

In announcing AT&T's first-quarter financial statement earlier this week, Stephenson, who has said the iPhone will be a cornerstone around which AT&T will build its future, cited the advantages of the new spectrum. "AT&T is moving quickly to create the next generation of wireless," he said. "The future of wireless has never been more promising, and I am very pleased that through our transaction with Aloha Partners and our successful bids in the recently completed auction, we have assembled the industry's premier, high-quality wireless spectrum position. This spectrum will provide a terrific foundation for new wireless and integrated services, and it significantly advances AT&T's long-term growth potential."

Nordgaard, who is managing director of wireless consulting firm Spectral Advantage, noted that he has no inside knowledge of Apple's or AT&T's plans, but the capability of the UMTS/HSDPA spectrum will dictate some paths the companies will likely take. (IPhone users have been able to get relatively high-speed access on their handsets through their Wi-Fi capability.)

"Given Apple's reputation for user-friendliness, I would expect them to have some capability for current iPhone customers" to access UMTS/HSDPA, he said, adding that the use of the UMTS/HSDPA networks could offer possibilities for the 3G phones to utilize networks in the United States and Europe. Nordgaard said there are frequency differences between the two continents, but they are slight enough that workarounds might be able to be built to make iPhone usage compatible on both sides of the Atlantic.

source : http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/iphone/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207402178

Google-NASA Kerja Sama Bangun Kampus Canggih

2008-06-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

CALIFORNIA - Google Inc dan Badan Antariksa Amerika Serikat (NASA) berencana mengembangkan sebuah kampus baru berteknologi tinggi di NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California.

Dalam kontrak selama 40 tahun, Google akan menyewa lahan seluas 42,2 acre lahan yang tak terpakai di Taman Penelitian NASA untuk membangun kompleks perkantoran serta fasilitas penelitian dan pengembangan seluas 1,2 juta kaki persegi (110.000 meter persegi). Bangunan itu akan didesain berbentuk sebuah kampus.

Dilansir Associated Press, Kamis (5/6/2008), Google akan membayar biaya sewa awal sebesar USD3,66 juta per tahun kepada NASA dan akan memperpanjang kontrak untuk tiga dekade. Setelah itu, NASA dan Google akan menyepakati dua tambahan perpanjangan kontrak untuk masa 10 tahun.
source : http://techno.okezone.com/index.php/ReadStory/2008/06/05/56/115789/google-nasa-kerja-sama-bangun-kampus-canggih

Pembangunan akan berlansung dalam tiga fase. Fase pertama rencananya akan dimulai akhir September 2013. Sedangkan fase kedua pada 2018, dan fase ketiga pada 2020.

Sebelumnya, NASA dan Google telah menandatangani memorandum of understanding (MoU) pada 2005 untuk membangun NASA Research Park. (jri)

MWg ATOM V

2008-06-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Atom V is MWg's first phone out since it changed its name from O2. The MWg Atom V has all the features of the former Atom Life but with a slimmer profile.

Design

I've seen my share of PDA Phones from O2 but so far, the Atom V is the slimmest PDA Phone I've seen. Though not really super thin like most smartphones out in the market, *cough*iPhone*cough*, it is still pretty slim compared with the previous Atom Life. Though it is slimmer, the MWg Atom V is noticeably wider than the Atom Life, making it less compact than its predecessor. The MWg Atom V is HTC Touch Cruise's main competitor. The MWg Atom V did away with the raised bezel, making this device more “finger-friendly”. Ever since Apple introduced the iPhone, using a stylus for your PDA seems so 10 years ago.

The MWg Atom V, like the HTC Touch Cruise, has a circular directional pad, however, it lacks the circular motion that the HTC Touch Cruise has. I don't know why there's a need to make the directional pad circular, it takes up too much space on the device and MWg would have done better if they made it smaller and increased the screen size to 3 inch instead of the regular 2.8 inch.

Features, Performance, and Complaints

Though the MWg Atom V looks like a better version of the Atom Life design-wise, underneath the device is another story. While the Atom Life runs on a 624MHz processor, the Atom V only has a 520MHz processor which seems like a downgrade considering that both device have 64MB of RAM. MWg could have done better by upping the RAM to increase performance. Atom Life users would find that the MWg Atom V is less responsive compared with their previous device. Add to the fact that there seems to be a somewhat delayed response time with the touchscreen LCD.

Comparing the swiping motion on the HTC Touch Cruise and iPhone, the MWg Atom V is in last place. There's a noticeable lag when swiping through the buttons on the homescreen and it is not as responsive compared with HTC Touch Cruise and of course, the iPhone. Maybe it's my own personal bias but I always find that O2's PDA phones suffer from more freezing and resets compared with HTC's PDA phones.

One major update that the MWg Atom V has over the Atom Life is GPS. This is one of the deciding factors why I have purchased my Dopod D810 (HTC P3600i) over the Atom Life. The MWg Atom V has a SiRFStar III chipset. Since GPS is just an added feature on this device, obtaining satellite signals takes quite a while which is something that I'm used to with my HTC P3600i. This would probably frustrate those who are used to a stand alone GPS device.

Aside from the slow response time, low RAM, and slower processor, another thing I hated about the MWg Atom V is that it lacks an internal camera for video calls. I won't even bother reviewing the camera. Like the camera on every PDA phones, it sucks so if you're after a good camera phone, look elsewhere other than the MWg Atom V.

Conclusion

I have to give the MWg Atom V points for design. At first glance, this device is definitely mouthwatering. However, since HTC Touch Cruise offers almost the same specs with a higher RAM, I'd point you in that direction unless of course, the design of the MWg Atom V really got to you.

Zlinx Wireless Modbus I/O (Modular)

2008-05-30T01:46:00.000-07:00

Modules flexible enough to fit your application
Features
Benefits
DIN Rail Package
Easy installation, conserves panel space (versus panel mount modems).
3 Ranges Available
Short, Medium, Long range. Don’t spend more money on longer distance radios if you don’t need the distance.
Active Repeaters
Place I/O modules where they need to go, by the sensors. With repeater built-in functionality, you can build up a security path for all your critical communications.
Modular
Customize it to your application. Just snap on your I/O and you're ready to go.
10-48 VDC Power Input
Rugged input power circuit allows insertion to most control power configurations. Can utilize industrial power supply.
Wide Temperature-Industrial Grade
Meets most indoor or outdoor applications. Rugged circuitry prevents signal degradation versus lower temperature rated wireless devices.(-40°-80° C)
Modbus Compatible
Interface using industry standard Modbus protocol. Connect to Wonderware, Labview or any other Modbus compatible software. Allows data to be directly brought into most PLC systems.
Additional Features
Automatic I/O mapping for wire replacement applications
Transmission FHSS - Frequency hopping spread spectrum on MR and LR DSSSS - Direct sequence spread spectrum on SR
Frequency - ISM band, 2.400 to 2.4385 GHz
Modulation -FSK, Frequency shift keying
Antenna - Reverse polarity SMA 2.1dB _ wave dipole (included)
Easy Installation LEDs for wireless links and local bus communication Signal strength indicators for easy placement

SMC SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N router

2008-05-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

You may not be familiar with SMC, but you should if you're shopping for a Draft N router. The company's SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N router finished at or above the average of the group of recent Draft N 2.0 routers we've tested while exhibiting impressive range. It also boasts a generous set of features, a practical design, and an always-appreciated intuitive Web interface. In short, we strongly recommend this router for home users looking to setup an .11n network. The only feature we wish were present is the ability to broadcast at the 5GHz frequency; it operates only on the crowded 2.4GHz band.

The SMC Barricade N router provides nearly the same features as the D-Link GamerLounge DGL-4500; the SMC router doesn't include anything akin to the D-Link's GameFuel technology for prioritizing bandwidth for games (and the D-Link supports either 2.4GHz or 5GHz), but it can generally be found online for $30 to $40 less at around $140. We prefer the design of the SMC Barricade N router and found it to provide a more reliable signal. While the Netgear WNR854T RangeMax remains a favorite of ours for general home use, the SMC Barricade N router serves up additional features including a USB port and Wi-Fi Protected Setup, while delivering better range than the RangeMax.

1. Device type: Wireless router
2. Network standard: 802.11n (draft 2.0), 802.11b/g
3. Bandwidth: 2.4GHz
4. OSes supported: Linux; Mac OS and Windows
5. Security options: WEP; WPA; WPA2
6. Features: Four Gigabit LAN ports; one Gigabit WAN port; Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS); DHCP support; NAT firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI); USB 2.0 multifunction print server.
7. Notable design features: Compact case with the antennas placed on the side away from the network ports.
8. Support: 24-7 toll-free phone support; e-mail support form; FAQs; knowledge base; driver and software downloads.

The SMC ships in very economical package. Inside, you'll find only the bare necessities: the router itself, a base for positioning it vertically, a power cord, an Ethernet cable, and a CD that contains an electronic version of the manual along with an installation guide. In fact, we found the Quick Installation Guide is a little bit too economical: two letter-size pages of setup information with illustrations in 15 different languages. While we could have used a magnifying glass to read the small print, we experienced no problems during the simple, four-step installation process. We got the router up and running within a few minutes.

The design of the SMC is similar to that of the LevelOne N_One: straightforward and practical. The three antennas are placed on the side of the device, away from the network ports that are located on the back. On the front are the status LEDs, each marked by a tiny icon indicating the corresponding port's connection status. There's also a LED showing the status of the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) push-button features. WPS is a feature that makes adding other wireless clients a simple, painless process. This LED lights up when the WPS button on top of the router is pressed, indicating the four-minute window when other WPS-enabled devices are automatically added to the network by the router.

The SMC's design does have one minor shortcoming: The USB print server port is located on the front. We'd rather see this port on the back, since a printer is generally permanently connected to this port. Having a USB cable coming out from the front of the router only adds to the cable clutter on your desk. A front-mounted USB port would be perfect if it were for Windows Connect Now (WCN), a feature that allows for adding wireless clients to the router using a USB thumb drive. Alas, the SMC doesn't support this feature.

Once set up, the router can be configured via a Web-based interface that resembles that of the D-Link GamerLounge DGL-4500, which we found to be among the best. All sections are well organized and intuitive, with great response. Most changes can be applied instantly without restarting. One difference between these two otherwise very similar routers: the D-Link uses WCN while the SMC uses WPS Push Button as the primary method of quickly and securely adding wireless clients to the network.

The two routers differed in performance, however, with the advantage slightly leaning toward the SMC. In labs testing, the SMC scored 83.7Mbps in our short-range maximum throughput test, which was imperceptibly faster than the D-Link while trailing the Netgear WNR854T RangeMax by roughly the same minuscule amount. On our mixed mode test, where the router was set up to work with both 802.11n and legacy 802.11g clients at the same time, the SMC's score was 52.4Mbps; less impressive but still faster than that of the D-Link and in the middle of the pack. On our long-range test, the SMC again scored toward the top of the pack when broadcasting its signal at 200 feet. In all, the SMC offers more than acceptable throughput, particularly if you don't have older wireless devices on your network.

In anecdotal testing, the SMC was able to maintain its signal over long ranges. In our test environment, which has a lot of walls and other interference, we were still able pick up stable signals from the router at 300 feet, an impressive distance. By comparison, the Netgear WNR854T RangeMax started to drop its signal at around 270 feet.

SMC backs the SMCWGBR14-N Barricade N with a generous lifetime warranty, provided you register the product within 30 days of purchase. The only catch is that the lifetime warranty lasts only as long as the product is an "active" SMC product, meaning that it hasn't been replaced with a newer model. Given the lifespan of a router, we think this arrangement is preferable to the industry standard one-year warranty. The company's Web site is as intuitive as the router's Web interface, where you can find firmware, manual downloads, and FAQ pages, as well as contact SMC support by e-mail. Toll-free phone support is available 24-7; we dialed the number listed and quickly got hold of a representative who was helpful and patient. All in all, we had a very pleasant experience with the company's technical support.

Vye's mini-v S37B

2008-05-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

Vye's mini-v S37B: challenged by Vista

Review The Vye mini-v S37B is another player in the increasing number of sub-notebooks appearing on shop shelves, spurred on by the runaway success of the Asus Eee PC.
However, where the Eee is a little compact runaround, the mini-v aspires to be the seven-seater people carrier with the collapsible seats and all the bells and whistles.
The S37B's most obvious attribute is its 7in, 1024 x 600 touchscreen mounted on a swivel which allows the S37B to be turned into a tablet PC. The little laptop also includes a 120GB hard drive, compared to the 4GB of solid-state storage found in the Eee.

At first glance, the device looks a little cheap and plasticy but once you have it on your hands the build feels solid, and the swivel is well made and should withstand some punishment.
Although the S37B is more powerful than the Eee PC 701, like most people carriers it's a little underpowered for the job it's trying to do. It packs in a single-core 800MHz Intel A110 processor, the predecessor to the 'Silverthorne' Atom and essentially and old Pentium III.
To that add 1GB of 400MHz DDR memory which, when the makers shoehorn Windows Vista into this little device, means it starts to feel a little clunky when you try and run more than one or two apps at the same time.
Trying to run the Vista interface on the integrated graphics core built into the S37B's Intel G945 chipset doesn't help either. It's got access to just 64MB of that 1GB memory. It does the job a lot better than you might expect looking at these specs but we can't help but think that Vista was a poor choice of operating system on Vye's part.