Sep 30 2008
The Logitech MX Air rechargeable cordless mouse tracks motion even after you lift it in the air, making it great for home theater PC users and presentations.
In the air, it works like a cross between a remote control and a wand as you simultaneously wave the mouse in all directions and press its buttons to navigate.
Sep 28 2008
Here is the world’s smallest PC, the fit-PC Slim which has surpassed the earlier fit-PC! The world is going small and energy efficient!!
As you can see, the fit-PC is incredibly small. It measures 4.3 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches and weighs just 13 ounces and uses 6 watts of power. That’s why it is very energy efficient. It is powered by AMD Geode LX800 500MHz processor, has 512MB of RAM and if you want you can add a 2.5 inch HDD. The fit-PC Slim also manages to feature a Wi-Fi and Ethernet, as well as 3 USB ports. That is quite a lot in something so small!
fit-PC Detailed Specifications
- Processor: 500MHz AMD Geode LX800
- Memory: 256MB or 512MB of soldered-on RAM
- Display: VGA output
- Storage: Accepts 2.5-inch hard drive internally; factory offers pre-installed 60GB version
- LAN: 10/100 Ethernet with RJ45 connector
- WLAN: 802.11b/g (optional)
- 3 x USB 2.0 (2 front-panel, 1 rear)
- 1 x serial (with proprietary connector)
- Operating temperature – 0 to 45 deg. C
- Dimensions – 4.3 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches (110 x 100 x 30mm)
- Weight – 13 ounces (380g)
How much does the world’s smallest PC cost?
Well, it doesn’t cost much. You can buy a barebone version of fit-PC aka the world’s smallest PC at Rs.12000/- which is a little more than what your Apple iPhone costs!
The fit-PC also offers a variety of customization and here it is.
- fit-PC Slim Barebones (256MB, no WiFi, no HDD) – Rs.12,000/- fit-PC Slim Diskless (512MB, WiFi, no HDD) – Rs.14000/-
- fit-PC Slim Linux (512MB, WiFi, 60GB hard disk with Ubuntu and Gentoo pre-installed) – Rs.16000/-
- fit-PC Slim XP (512MB, WiFi, 60GB hard disk with Windows XP Home SP3 pre-installed) – Rs.17000/-
Sep 28 2008
If you’ve been sick, gone, or needed to access any of your computers from another computer, you know how infuriating it can be. It can make you want to throw your mouse across the room, or worse. But before you turn to throwing mice, try some of these easier solutions to access and control your computer remotely.
LogMeIn
Out of every remote access service I’ve used, this one is by far the simplest. You simply sign up for a free account at LogMeIn and download a small program on the computer you want to remote-control and presto. You can now remotely access that computer from any other computer with Java.
There is also an ActiveX control for Internet Explorer and a plug-in for Firefox that gives you a bit more control (faster, better image quality, etc.) over the remote access.
LogMeIn’s free version is absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, it has its limitations though. First of all, only three computers can be part of any one account if the free version is being used. You also can’t transfer files from one computer to another. If you want some of these more advanced features, you are going to have to shell out about $70 a year per PC or Mac.
LogMeIn works with PCs and Macs.
uVNC (Windows only)
uvnc reviewThink of LogMeIn Pro for free, but you’re going to have to know your IP address and what your open ports are.
uVNC (that u stands for Ultra) is extremely full featured and easy to set up. The quality of the image coming across is wonderful, it feels as if you’re sitting right there in front of the computer. Full of awesome features, one of the most useful ones is file transfers, where you can drag and drop files on to the remote computer.
Another nice feature is to be able to chat with the user of the other computer – this especially good if you are collaborating on a project or giving support.
My only two gripes about uVNC is that 1) it can be a bit of a drag to connect to a remote computer. You need to type in the IP and port settings and ACK! Nothing beats just clicking on the computer name and not having to worry about dynamic IPs or anything like that. Also 2) some anti-virus software apps will not let you use it.
FolderShare (Windows and Mac)
FolderShare’s motto is “keep your latest files with you, no matter which computer you’re using.” and that is exactly what it does. The general setup process is similar to LogMeIn: download a small setup file, create an account, and presto, you’re done.
To access your files you simply navigate to FolderShare, login and… wait a minute! It says I can’t access my computer! Don’t worry, you see the little blue F in the lower right hand corner of the screen? Right click and under ‘more’ click ‘Settings’, under ‘computer information’, there is a check box that says “Allow remote access to this computer” simply check it, click ‘OK’ and you’re done. You can now download any file on your computer from any other computer.
This feature compliments LogMeIn free, giving you access to your files. But wait there’s more! A very useful feature of FolderShare is the ability to create “libraries” both public and personal. Public library allows anyone or just the people you specify, to view and download (or even upload) to that folder. This is great for sharing pictures with family or collaborating on a project. Personal libraries give you the ability to sync that folder between two computers. This is absolutely great for anyone who uses two or more computers regularly, you set a folder in say My Documents (or just Documents on a Mac) and tell FolderShare you want to make a personal library and that folder will be the same on all of the computers.
Sep 25 2008
In today’s world, we usually do not own just one cool gadget. Besides our daily used cellphones, we may own a business cellular, MP3 player, Media player, PDA, and other new technology gadgets. While these gizmos are great to have, their battery time varies, and we usually do not choose when the battery will die and unfortunately need to charge them at different times (usually when away from home). The one advantage is that many of these tech toys are able to be charged using a USB adapter, but who carries all the adapters for all their gadgets?
Instead of having to carry a number of various cables, so we could always be a plug in away from charging the batteries, this great multi gadget USB charger is available. It consists of 5 different plug ins, so you can charge your cellphone, Sony psp, Nintendo DS, iPod, and more of your various gadgets. Now that is what I call convenience!
Previously there was the Chargepod, which is a similar idea but within a single charging station that is small and may be easily carried everywhere. In addition, the chargepod is also customizable, so you may select up to 6 different adapters that are needed for your personal devices. Both of these chargers are practical, convenient, and definitely lighten our overwhelming daily load.
If you notice the great advantage of such a multi gadget USB charger cable, it runs for only $14.
Sep 10 2008
Microsoft loves tablets. Here is CEO Steve Ballmer holding up the new ThinkPad X41 Tablet, from China’s Lenovo Group, at Microsoft’s TechEd 2005 back in June. Ballmer was quoted as saying that the tablet will run on Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005.
Credit: Microsoft
Gateway’s new CX2600 notebook family, starting at $1,349, has a 14-inch wide screen that swivels around on a titanium frame. The 6-pound tablet comes with a flash card reader, wireless networking and slots for batteries that last for up to nine hours.
Credit: Gateway
Think tablet PCs are too expensive? Prices for Hewlett-Packard’s Compaq tc4200, which was first released in February 2005, start at $1,599, which is $44 less than a similarly outfitted Compaq nc4200 notebook.
Credit: Hewlett-Packard
Lenovo’s X41T tablet is the first ThinkPad with a screen that swivels around to make a tablet PC. Retailing for $1,899, the tablet is Lenovo’s first offering following its purchase of IBM’s PC business earlier this year.
Credit: Lenovo
At just 2.2 pounds, the Fujitsu Siemens P1510 LifeBook convertible manages to squeeze in an 8.9-inch wide screen, 1.2GHz processor, 60GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi and Blue tooth. The notebook was released on Aug. 8 and retails for $1,499.
Credit: Fujitsu
Acer was one of the first computer companies to make a tablet PC. Its fourth-generation TravelMat–the C310–retails for $1,649.99 and features a 14-inch screen, an Intel Pentium M processor, 8.5 hours of battery life (when the battery extender is used) and a two-spindle convertible tablet design.
Credit: Acer
Convertibles may be the new fashion trend, but slate tablets have some sizzle too. Motion Computing’s LE1600 is used by hospitals and insurance agents. The tablet retails for $2,049 and comes with a 1.5GHz Intel processor, 512MB of RAM and a 30GB hard drive.
Credit: Motion Computing
Sep 09 2008
Hewlett-Packard (HP) will release a laptop next month that can run for to 24 hours using a high-capacity battery — but only if it’s running Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system.
The long-lasting notebook will be a special configuration of the 6930p, part of HP’s EliteBook line that the company targets at businesses.
The allure of a battery that can last a day is incontestable, as anyone who has spent time in an airport searching for a power outlet knows. The secret to the 6930p’s long battery life is new technology — and some old technology too.
To get the best battery performance, the 6930p will have to run Windows XP rather than Windows Vista, Microsoft’s latest operating system. Vista has been criticized as being a power hog, although some of its flashy, power-draining features such as the translucent Aero windows can be turned off.
Although Microsoft has been heavily pushing Vista, HP has said it will offer downgrades from Vista to Windows XP on business laptops through next year.
The 6930p will also need a 12-cell Ultra-Capacity Battery, which sells for US$189. The battery lasts about 10 hours longer than the regular-capacity one.
The new laptop model will also have HP’s Illumi-Lite LED (light-emitting diode) display, which the company says adds four more hours to a battery’s life than a traditional LCD (liquid crystal display) screen.
Further power savings will come from the use of an Intel SSD (solid-state drive), which uses power-saving NAND flash memory rather than a rotating magnetic disk to store information. Use of an Intel SSD enables the battery to last around 7 percent longer, HP said.
HP is one of Intel’s partners and will soon being incorporating Intel X25-M and X18M Mainstream SATA SSDs in its products.
HP lists the current available version of the 6930p as starting at $1,199 on its Web site, although the company has not listed how much the 24-hour battery life configuration will cost.
Sep 08 2008
Could this metal PC actually be the world’s smallest working PC out there? Is the Space cube really a functioning computer within a miniature sized cube? After searching, we find that this science fiction product may be an amazingly convenient and compact computer that we may want to take to space with us.
How small is the world’s smallest PC? The space cube measures at approximately 2 inches for each of its sides. The pictures provided also compare it with other items, so you can see the size proportion for yourself. This time you do not have to take anyone’s word for it, it truly is a magnificent miniature space cube.
The specifications included may not be up to par to what we are mostly using on a daily basis, but it doesn’t make the Space Cube any less desirable.
It runs on a processor of 300MHZ, has 16MB of flash memory (also a slot with a 1GB Compact Flash card) and runs Linux’s Red Hat. With only 64MB memory, it will definitely not run like you are used to when using Youtube but still cool for such a small PC.
Two of its sides have all the ports necessary to attach what’s needed: a specified VGA output for a monitor and using a USB hub, you may increase the number of peripherals you may add such as keyboard, mouse and more. The actual cube’s casing is made of metal, so the feel is true and respect is well deserved.
An amazing addition to this tiny PC is the Space Wire Port, which is the kind of interface similar to the likes NASA uses. Different processing units and sensors may be attached to the Space Wire Port, which allow the metal Cube additional functionality. Moreover, the Space Cube may also be used to interlink between separate electronics at different places; kind of like a mediator between computers.
This miniature PC may not be something that we would all flock to, since its specs are cute for its size but more is truly desired. Still, it presents wonderful progress and may challenge actual computer geeks to create something better and more practical for daily individuals. Either way, the pricing is a tad high for many, speculated to be approximately 1500 pounds ($2700).
Sep 08 2008
Do you still think the iPod Nano is the slimmest portable media player in the world? Well, you may be surprised to know that is not the case anymore. The Slimmest Mp4 player in the world is currently this 4 GB MP4 player available from Component Warehouse.
This MP4 Player is a mere 4.5 mm thick media player whileas the iPod nano is 6.5 mm thick. I am not comparing it with iPod Nano which is a masterpiece in itself, but am simply mentioning it here because many think (myself included), that iPod Nano is the Slimmest music player available on the market today.
The Thinnest MP4 player sports touch buttons, a 1.8 inch screen and 4GB of memory. The Screen Resolution is 160×128 Pixels and it has has built in Microphone and Radio. With Dimensions of Just 85×54×4.5mm, it is surely the world’s thinnest MP4 player as of now.
In addition, it has rechargeable battery and supports MP4, MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV formats for music playback through the bundled earphones. Compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, it uses USB 2.0 as the transfer interface.
Sep 03 2008
In an effort to rev up profits and explore new territory, Google released Chrome, its new, free Web browser, on Tuesday. Take that, Microsoft.
Google (nasdaq: GOOG – news – people ) announced the news of its release on Labor Day, after it prematurely sent out a comic book drawn up to herald the new browser’s arrival. Chrome will be available in more than 100 countries for computers running on Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Google is still working on versions compatible with Apple’s Mac computer and the Linux operating system. (See “Google’s Shiny Moment.”)
Google’s shares gained 0.4%, or $1.96, to close at $465.25, while Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT – news – people ) lost 0.7%, or 19 cents, to $27.10.
“What we want is a diverse and vibrant ecosystem,” Google co-founder Sergey Brin told reporters Tuesday during Chrome’s unveiling. “We want several browsers that are viable and substantial choices.”
Among other features, Chrome’s navigation bar–where you type in an Internet address–will serve a dual purpose. Users can either enter an address into the space or enter a search request that will be processed through their desired search engine.
Although Google made no explicit comments on the matter, the announcement was immediately viewed within the context of its battle with tech icon Microsoft, which is still the solid industry leader in Web browsers. To keep its top spot, it’s upping the ante (see “Browser Wars”) in part by launching a new version of its popular Internet Explorer 8.
Although Google made no explicit comments on the matter, the announcement was immediately viewed within the context of its battle with tech icon Microsoft, which is still the solid industry leader in Web browsers. To keep its top spot, it’s upping the ante in part by launching a new version of its popular Internet Explorer 8.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s most aggressive competitor, Mozilla’s Firefox, has extended its relationship with Google, which sets the search engine as the default homepage and default in the search bar.
For all the talk about Microsoft vs. Google, Cowen analyst Jim Friedland said he believes that Google’s main goal with the new browser is to drive development and innovation in the search-engine field, not directly diminish Microsoft’s browser market share. If Internet Explorer or Firefox adopt Chrome’s new features, Google will still come out ahead, and the importance of the operating system, the basis of Microsoft’s strength, will wane, he said.
Friedland compared the strategy with Google’s Android project to create software for cellphones, which is seen both as a way to steer search revenue to the company, and as a prod to other software makers. The first Android phones are expected later this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
