Archive for April, 2008

Devotec Industries are proud to announce their smallest and lightest charger yet! Weighing in at a slim 80g and measuring about the same as a 1st gen Ipod Nano, the new solar charger still packs enough energy in its 1800mAh Lith-ion battery to charge a phone/blackberry/mp3 player 2 times or more before needing to be re-charged. And when the Solar Charger does need to be toped up, you can charge the device via its solar panel, or use either the supplied AC adapter or USB cable.

Retailing at a fantastic £19.99, ($40) this fully featured pack has a higher spec and more connectivity than solar chargers costing twice as much. And for added convenience, the Devotec USB Travel Plug can be added to the pack, giving access to charge the unit in over 180 countries!

Connectivity comes courtesy of the included adapters, with tips for Nokia (old and new), Motorola/Blackberry/mini USB, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, PSP/Digital Cameras and Ipod all being part of the package.

Lasting up to 3 months on a single charge, the Devotec Solar Charger has been extensively tested and re-engineered to include all the necessary accessories straight out of the box, including a stylish pouch to keep the solar panel scratch free when not in use.

The Devotec Solar Charger is a great way to keep safe and not have to worry about your phone or Blackberry losing battery when you are away from home.

Alex Devoto, founder and MD, said: “We are really excited about this release. After working to perfect this concept for three years, we feel we have a finely tuned product ready to meet the needs of the mobile consumer, with the widest selection of compatibility at an unrivalled price-point.”

Microsoft have always aimed to help computer users do tasks better with their software, while Windows XP and Vista have been loved and hated by some, I am sure investigators and law enforcement will love the new plug-in device called “Microsoft COFEE”. It does not contain caffeine, but it does contain 150 commands that will help investigators work faster when gathering digital evidence.

The quicker they can extract forensic data from computers, the faster crimes can be solved and maybe it could save more lives. We have pointed out it’s not Coffee, but what COFEE really stands for is “Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor”. This plug-in device (basically a small USB hard drive) can analyze data stored on a computer, analyze Internet activity and decrypt passwords.

Last June the Microsoft COFEE device was distributed to a handful of law-enforcement agencies, but today we hear that over 15 countries and 2,000 officers are using this gadget. While we do not know how much this will help stop crime, you can count on it helping a lot…well done Microsoft.

So what do you think of Microsoft making the COFEE device free to law enforcement agencies and how much do you think this will help in real world crime?

Source: Read

X-OOM Software, a leading publisher of digital media software for mobile devices, has launched X-OOM Movies on iPod 2. This innovative software enables users to turn their iPod™ and iPhone™ into a mini mobile cinema to watch favourite films on the go.

Ideal for passing the time on long train journeys, commuting and flights, X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 means any non copy-protected films, TV programmes and video clips can be viewed anywhere. The software allows single or multiple files to be converted to an iPod compatible format. The high speed video encoder supports formats such as; DVD, SVCD, VCO, DivX, AVI, WMV, MPEG, and FLV, all which can be quickly converted.

X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 will record and transfer any web-TV shows onto an iPod™ or iPhone™, to avoid missing favourite programmes. The software searches through over 1000 sports, music, comedy and entertainment channels, as well as sites such as YouTube and MySpace, so programmes and clips can be downloaded to an iPod™ or iPhone™ in just a few clicks. There is also the option to regularly subscribe to the 1000 frequently updated video podcasts, to ensure favourite shows aren’t lost.

A new integrated media library provides a helpful solution for collectively viewing all video files stored on a computer. The library includes customisable pre-defined settings, to allow straightforward transfer and modification of video clips. X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 also includes the option to rip just the audio from a video file, so favourite music from films and TV programs can be saved and listened to when on the move.

Features include:
· Conversion of single or multiple files, such as movies, TV programmes and video clips to an iPod™ or iPhone™ specific file format for ease of viewing
· 5 file conversion settings to customise options such as file size, quality and compression, ensuring films can be effortlessly transferred
· High speed encoder to enable quick conversion of movies
· Subtitle support
· Expert mode to quickly and automatically complete video cutting and processing

X-OOM Movies on iPod 2 is priced at £19.99 and is available from X-OOM.com and amazon.

Miniweb Interactive, a UK headquartered company that is changing the economics of the interactive TV industry, today announced the availability of its new ‘TV Key’ service on the Sky Digital TV platform, making TV Key enhanced programming available to over 8.8 million Sky users and all TV channels.

At the same time, Miniweb has also announced a content acquisition programme, aimed at providing the services required to enable advertisers, brands, channels and content owners to quickly, easily and cost-effectively launch video rich interactive applications on the Sky platform.

“Today’s launch on Sky makes TV Key functionality available to over 8.8 million TV viewers in the UK and can be used by any broadcaster or channel on Digital Satellite. It is the first step on our interactive road map,” said Ian Valentine, CEO, Miniweb Interactive. “Our mission is to change the economics of interactive TV so the industry can deliver video rich interactive services over broadband to multiple types of TV device. Through the use of on-air TV Keys and content delivered via Freefone, this new service is a more economical approach, more aligned to a broadband world, making interactive TV affordable for all broadcasters, advertisers and channel owners. These online services will seamlessly migrate to broadband enabled TV devices as they become available in the market. I urge anyone who previously saw the economics as a barrier in leveraging the power of interactive TV to get in touch.”

The TV Keys service is now delivering the economies and interactive capabilities of the web to the TV and has already gained the interest of a number of brands, channels and content owners. Miniweb expects to announce new content from household names in the coming weeks and months.

The Miniweb platform makes it easy to re-purpose and successfully deploy internet content as an enhanced TV service with continuation of channel video. Miniweb has also produced the tools and templates that make it easy and quick to design, build and publish interactive TV Sites. Miniweb’s standards based and open interactive platform enables next generation interactive 2.0 experiences through low cost author-once publishing and low cost deployment with maximum viewer reach.

TV Sites are interactive destinations that are made available to the consumer through the TV Key homepage on the Sky EPG. Sites are easy to use with a remote control and are often associated with TV programming. A specific TV Site can be accessed directly by entering a numeric shortcut known as a TV Key, which can be used as an on-screen interactive prompt and connects a viewer directly to a TV Site.

TV Keys are the best on-screen response mechanism for content owners as unlike phone numbers or web URLs, they are easily remembered and immediately usable with a remote control, as well as being free to use. Viewers of any channel can enter a TV Key at any time, by pressing ‘Interactive 0 2’ on the Sky remote.

Content or channel owners and developers looking to launch interactive applications should contact Miniweb: info@miniweb.tv or call +44 (0) 20 8232 2020

Five days after doing our first hands-on with the Nintendo Wii Fit, I can now report that I have quit the gym for the Wii Fit and amazing yet simple Balance Board. In the last five days, my whole family has been using the Wii Fit everyday and we have all seen improved results in not only weight, but also our core balance and this has led us to save money by leaving the gym.

The reason we choose to use Wii Fit and the Balance Board instead of the gym, is because the amount our bodies have improved in this short time, it’s amazing and something that was not expected from a games console. The Nintendo Wii has proven itself to be much more than its competitors (The Sony PS3 and Xbox 360), one example is just last night when we had a group of friends over, our Sony PS3 did not get touched and I had just purchased GTA 4 as well.

As summer is approaching I will be outside jogging, but with one hour of step, hula, muscle workouts, yoga and more, this is more than enough to burn calories, increase muscle and strength and improve our balance. If you have used the Wii Fit for a week and everyday you will know what I mean, if you have not then I suggest you go to a friend or buy the product to see how good Wii Fit really is.

This is just one story of how our gym has been replaced by a better product, although we will still jog outside. Tell us your story and experience with Nintendo’s Wii Fit. Also let me point out that our local health club/gym does not let children use the gym (only swimming), so my son and daughter are getting more exercise at home thanks to Wii Fit.

LG unveils its extremely light mobile phone named LG KP215. The LG KP215 phone weighs as light as 78 grams and is packed with the best of the features in it.

The clamshell phone that supports GSM Dualband, GPRS and 2.0 WAP browser proudly displays its Dual LCD display screens. The LG KP215 clicks its pictures and videos through its 300K resolutions digital camera and plays off its FM radio and an efficient media player which plays formats as MP3, MPEG4, AAC, and AMR very well. With an internal storage of 4MB, the phone also accepts external memory via its MicroSD/TransFlash card expansion slot.

The phone does not show any advancement in its specifications but it does seem to be an above average phone that allows entertainment and internet combined together in synchrony and presents itself well in a compact and sleek form. There is no word on its release date or pricing as yet.

Hewlett-Packard is preparing to refresh its lineup of Compaq business notebooks that will coincide with the release of new mobile platforms from Advanced Micro Devices and Intel later in the second quarter.

The company is preparing to launch five updated Intel-based Compaq business notebooks and four laptops based on AMD chips, according to a non-disclosure agreement sent to eWEEK. EWEEK does not sign NDAs.

These new notebooks will likely leverage the updated processors, chip sets and graphics technology that Intel and AMD will include in their new platforms, and an IT manager might want to hold off buying older models until HP and other vendors detail some of the specifics behind these new platforms.

The NDA does not give specific details of the new notebooks, although it does note that all of the laptops will launch sometime in June, which coincides with the release of the new Centrino platform from Intel and AMD’s “Puma” platform.

The launch of the HP Compaq business laptops are part of a larger product push that the company is planning for later this year that will include several updated consumer notebooks in the Pavilion and Presario portfolios, a new tablet and some other products.

The new Intel machines include the HP Compaq Business 6730b, the 6530b, 6730s, 6530s and the 6830s. The AMD models include the Compaq Business 6535b, 6535s, 6735b and the 6735s.

Within HP’s number scheme, the “0” indicates an Intel laptop and a “5” means AMD.

The “s” is a standard business notebook that is meant more for a desktop replacement, while the “b” means a lighter laptop that is geared for employees or workers who travel more often. HP is also debuting what it calls an HP Elitebook 6930p Business Notebook, which is based on Intel chips and is a light-weight notebook with more security features and additional wireless broadband technology.

The Intel Centrino 2 platform will offer users dual-core processors from the chip maker’s line of 45-nanometer Penryn processors before a switch to quad-core chips microprocessors later in the year. The platform will also include a new technology dubbed “Eco Peak,” which will integrate WiMax and Wi-Fi technology onto the silicon itself.

The AMD platform includes a new dual-core processor that the company calls Turion Ultra, along with a new chip set and ATI Radeon graphics. On April 28, AMD introduced a new desktop platform that also includes its own processors, chip set and graphics geared toward corporate clients.

Among the different vendors offering the new AMD platform, HP announced a pair of new desktops for small business customers and enterprise users.

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the launch of a beta version of the VIA Linux Portal as part of an initiative designed to extend collaboration with the Open Source community.

The VIA Linux Portal will initially offer graphics drivers for the VIA CN896 digital media IGP chipset for the new Ubuntu 8.04 LTS distribution. Documentation and source code for these drivers will be released over the coming weeks, with official forums and bug tracking scheduled for implementation later this year. The VIA Linux Portal will also adhere to a regular release schedule that is aligned with kernel changes and the release of major Linux distributions.

Sponsored by Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu is released every six months, with Ubuntu 8.04 LTS the latest release in what has been consistently rated among the most popular of the many GNU/Linux distributions in the PC space.

“We welcome the steps being taken by VIA to improve its support to the Open Source community,” said Chris Kenyon, Director of Business Development at Canonical. “We look forward to working with VIA to ensure these drivers get built into Ubuntu by default and that Ubuntu developers and users enjoy a great experience when using VIA platforms.”

“VIA is excited to be taking a more active role within the open source ecosystem,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Opening the VIA Linux Portal is an important step in our long term open source initiative and offering support for Ubuntu, one of the most widely known of the Linux distributions, is an ideal place to start.”

The beta version of the VIA Linux Portal is located at linux.via.com.tw and currently offers driver files for Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 Service Pack 1 for the VIA CN896 chipset with two south bridge options.

The UMPC seems to becoming a more popular choice for people who are on the move as they are much easier to transport around with you while traveling. There are a few Ultra Mobile PC’s on the market however; there is only one that has had all the attention, and that is the ASUS Eee PC. Asus has not really had much competition in this area, but this could be about to change with the release of the MSI Wind notebook.

So what has the Asus Eee PC got to offer? Well firstly Asus have two models of their popular UMPC Eee 700 series and the Eee 900 Series. The 700 series was the first out and did prove popular however; at only 7-inches It seemed to be a little on the small side. The standard Eee PC 700 only had a 2GB solid-state drive and just 256 MB, but a later model see this increased to 512 MB of RAM.

Asus learned a lot from their first attempt which was great news for when they released the larger Eee 900 Series, as you would expect the new model had a more popular larger screen and a full size keyboard with a multi-touch trackpad. This new machine now had the choice of either Linux or Windows XP OS.

The new Asus Eee 900 comes with a 20 GB SSD on the Linux version and a 12 GB solid-state drive on the Windows XP version, It seems strange that the more resource hungry windows gets a smaller hard drive. The new Eee 900 has had a few problems from the start, like a battery that does not last as long as it should do. Do not despair though as Asus are now rectifying this with a more powerful battery.

So will the new MSI Wind notebook be able to compete with the Asus Eee PC, and the first to try and take the fight to the Eee PC is the U100. As with the Eee PC the U100 comes with the choice of either Windows XP or Linux OS. The processor used to keep things running will be the Intel Atom 1.6GHz and 2GB of DDR2 RAM. One area that the U100 will lose out on is the standard 80GB 2.5” SATA hard drive; this will use a lot more power than a SSD. The screen is a 10-inch so a little larger than the biggest Eee PC, so getting towards a normal size laptop.

The MSI U100 Wind notebook will come with a choice of either a 3 cell or 6 cell batteries, not sure what the difference between the two is not known.

The future of computers is changing fast so many people seem to be dumping their bulky desktops for laptops, but then again laptops sales have been affected with the increased in sales of the much more portable and lighter UMPC’s. And sales will increase even further once larger SSD’s are developed and processors get more efficient.

Thanks to TweekTown for MSI Wind Notebook Images