Technology

Features of Onsite and Remote IT Support

2011-09-12T01:42:00.001-07:00

There are many options to thinks about whenever you are going to choose an IT support provider for your business. The solutions provider should be reliable and affordable and professional in terms of services. The company should be able enough to meet the business needs. It should be clear whether the customer needs onsite support or remote support. There are some merits and demerits in both processes and you should choose between these two according to your business requirements.

Remote Support

Remote support is very efficient; most of the providers are good in such service for minor problems occurring daily. The response time is also good and an engineer takes the control of the desktop and manages the issues. Many times the issues are finished very fast and without having disruption to the business operations.

The remote support solutions are affordable because they save a lot of money on IT infrastructure. It also saves conveyance cost on the engineer spends in travelling to the destination. In this case you only have to pay for the service time spent to fix the issue. It is beneficial for the provider also, their technicians cover a short time span in travelling and no need to sit with doing nothing onsite. Hence they can spread their skills on efficient service for a large number of clients. This allows the providers to save their cost also. Most companies offer support solutions like server management, network management and can select remote services for them in order to save time and money.

Onsite Support Service

The basic advantage of onsite support is face to face contact between the client and the technician. There are many issues occurred which are difficult to handle via phone or web, in this case an onsite engineer is required which can take the initiative to solve the problem quickly. It provides a confidence within the system and improves the relationships among the workforce.

As time passes the technician becomes familiar with the business and become an asset for your company. The onsite engineer ensures that the systems are maintained and lined according to the company business plans which will make the company grow. He can also provide required training to your staff as well.

But not every time all the problems can be handled remotely, there can be some issues related to hardware occur, company needs someone to look over the problem. As there are many advantages in both the processes but according to the business objectives to be met the client should select remote or onsite option carefully which can benefit the business.

The author Fateh Kumar Singh is currently working in ProVal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. as a Marketing Executive. He is constantly sharing updates about technical services like Server Management and other IT Support by his writings.

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an envelope absolutely, positively has to be there overnight

2009-11-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

an envelope absolutely, positively has to be there overnight

ETD for Ebook

2009-05-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

Ebook is one of the devices on the internet that allows us to spread information to the reader. The system can be use for personal or public need such as university. The ebook gives alternative method on reading book or journal in an easier way. With the ebook facilities on the internet, we must check our computer facilities before we open it, whether it has the supported program or not.
The File Extension ETD is the file extension that holds important role when we want to open the ebook data. This file extension is used by two programs, the Adobe ebook Reader and Digital Edition. If we use the Adobe, we have to make sure that we have version 8 or 9 Adobe Reader, because we will not be able to open the data if we use previous version. The File Extension ETD gives contribution if we want to download or open the data on ebook, but if we find problems on the operation, we can visit Fileextensionetd.com.
From the website, we can find lots of information related to File Extension ETD and the tips to fix it if we find some problems. Not only the .ETD, we can also find various file extensions we need on the page. If we have no clue on where the error is, we can use the free scan and download facilities provided.

File Extension MODD for Sony Digital Equipment

2009-05-30T02:11:00.000-07:00

We might love to capture or record video to be saved and edited in the computer. Some of us might use Sony digital camera and recorder but we are not able to open or edit the recording on our computer. Sony has specific file extension for their recording equipment it is called as .MODD
Actually, the File Extension MODD is consisting of time and date information when the video was taken, but it also save additional information in an XML file type that show us complete information of the video. To open video on File Extension MODD it needs .m2t file extension and Motion Picture Browser. Since we use Sony, then we automatically use Sony Motion Picture Browser, and it can only opened with Windows program.
Just like the other file extensions, some error might occur to this File Extension MODD. To handle the error, we can directly visit Fileextensionmodd.com. The website gives complete information and tips to solve the problems that might be occur. When we are accessing the website, we should not miss the free scan and download facilities given. If we have problem with file extensions, whatever it is, from the simplest to the most complicated file extension, we can directly visit on the website to get the guide.

Repair Your File extension XML Now

2009-05-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Computer becomes a part of people’s life. If you have a computer, you can do anything by using your computer like make a photo edit, make a report, browse the internet, and many more. There are a lot of files that you can find in your computer like XML files. When you find something wrong happen with your XML files, you need something to repair it.

File Extension XML is a general specification for creating what is known as a markup language. The common extension of the markup language is HTML. So, when your file extension XML is broken, you will not able to browse the internet. To repair the file extension XML, you should open Fileextensionxml.com. This website allows you to download the file extension XML and you also will get the guide to use the file extension XML. You don’t need to worry if you never repair the file extension XML before because the guide will make you know what you have to do to make your file extension XML work properly.

When you find an error with your file extension XML, you don’t need to worry because you can find the tool to repair it easily now. All you have to do is just visiting the website and download the file extension XML then you can use it then.

iHome is not bad for IP1 iPod dock strike packages Bongiovi

2009-05-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

We are not what you call music - coming dangerously close to 128Kb MP3 or two in our lives, and once even tried Internet radio - still seem to prefer something that sounds good. "This eliminates the majority of iPod docks on the market, which, for the price, size and know-how, difficulties in some favors for the Lo-Fi music, usually they serve.

Enter the new iHome dock IP1, which began the new series Studio "with the manufacturer, and as" Bongiovi Digital Power Station therapy to increase quality. Tony Bongiovi, sound engineer and a cousin of John Bon Jovi, has developed DSP technology to improve the sound in a "commitment" environments such as cars (used by JVC in-car systems), aircraft and low-quality speakers, and especially attentive to the output. The result is that volume provides IP1 and clarity of the high and low audio levels, especially in the old records that were not compressed to high heaven, in detail, and charm, not because of lack of equipment. Of course, the result is not "correct "there has been - is needed to make studio monitors - but most of the things that makes the sound" good "without adding the ruin of many methods for improving the digital audio, and take a couple of details in my song favorite, who was in the rotation of our house. It also had the perverse consequence of making some songs of Bob Marley firecrackers (and "Could you be loved at the club, if you want), but fortunately can be turned off by pressing a button.

In the dock is fixed at 100 W Ampere, two 4-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters. The remote control can handle the custom EQ Bongiovi, plus connection and disconnection, and there is also a component video output and full support for the iPhone. There are success stories in mid-July for about $ 299.

The Best Online Digital Camera

2009-05-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

Having digital camera is very useful in this time since you can take the picture every time you want and you can transfer the picture to your computer easily. There are so many products of digital camera out there and choosing the best digital camera is not easy since there are some of the products cannot give satisfying results. The other problem is that the price. There are a lot of shops which offer you digital camera but every shop has different price. If you want to get the best price, you have to search the shop one by one and it will make you very exhausted and spend a lot of time.

There is a better and easier way in doing this. Shopping through internet is so much easier since you do not need to go anywhere or even wear anything. You just need your computer and your internet connection. You can go to the Shopwiki.Com.au if you are interested in shopping through the internet. In this online shop, you can find many products including digital camera and ultra compact digital camera. There are many kinds of digital camera that you can get from this site. Besides having a complete collection of goods, this online shop can also give you with the best price which means you can get better price ever.

This price comparison site will be helpful for you in getting new digital cameras with the good references of the best price. You can also get some explanation and advices on digital camera so this site is also the best site for learning.

PS3 to get Wii-like motion?

2009-05-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

Sony has said that the development of his own death-stick controller Wii

There are many rumors that Sony would unveil in the coming games E3 Extravaganza. We have an idea of what goes hand in front, but with the PSP Go!, The Japanese technology giant could also lift the veil on a new PS3 controller too

The idea behind this is simple: to win Nintendo Wii proxy in their own game. The new peripheral to be a wall-like motion, much Akin to the Wii Remote. The difference, say sources, is that it will be much more accurate in measuring the movements of the current technology to Nintendo.

Controller Sony apparently used LEDs (light emitting diodes, mainly small electrical light sources) and a small web camera to track the movements of the device, "says Ras Court Scene blog. "Because the camera can see different colored lights and the shape and angle of each light is much more accurate than the Wii-Mote."

According Kombo.com, the first prototypes are already Cree in the hands of a few developers, the task of developing a series of new games with motion in support of the launch of the new controller. It is still unclear what the final product will look like this - look at the prototypes reported "a little funky - but it will be safe to assume that a significant difference of the current SIXAXIS and Dual Shock 3 controller. The device is the right picture actually a Gametrak freedom, but we will probably look at something in the same direction.

These are all rumors and speculation even today, so you have the season with a normal amount of salt. There is some good evidence backing up, but in the form of a patent that Sony already purchased a motion sensing controller that looks like a Wii Remote.

Interestingly, Sony would not only take the lead in Wii - Microsoft also believes the company motion technology. So far, Sony has most of the pre-E3 hype, but Microsoft still has a few tricks his sleeve for the Xbox 360 with a quiet year so far. Meanwhile, Nintendo is doing to their own Wii remote updating, on a Wii motion Plus.

from:t3

TAC-15 Tactical crossbow makes me wish for a Zombie Outbreak

2009-04-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hunt will be interesting when it published next month in CT-15 PSE crossbow. Is directly on top of an AR-15 rifle with which you can switch between the two branches with a minimum of tinkering.

Why do we need a crossbow, if you are already in possession of an AR-15? I can not imagine a scenario that makes sense, unless you are invited to a series of islands outside the law where men are hunted for sport. You will not be easy, so that hunting crossbow. In addition, we have the most dangerous game of all; you have the high-powered rifle as backup. Speaking of backup, you may want to add GRAD ,22-Cal knife to kill his arsenal double case. Click on the link below to view a video of the TAC-15 in action.

from:Gizmodo

Ultrasound imaging smartphone is now possible with

2009-04-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

The engineers at Washington University in St. Louis, the minimalist approach to health care and information technology by coupling the ultrasonic probe USB technology with a smartphone, so that a compact platform, mobile computing and medical imaging device that fits in the palm of the hand .

William D. Richard, Ph.D., WUSTL associate professor of computer science and engineering, and David Zar, a research fellow at the Institute for computer science and engineering, have the commercial ultrasonic probes USB compatible with Microsoft Windows Mobile smartphones, thanks a $ 100000 grant Microsoft in 2008. Ultrasonic sensors to deliver the work with USB smartphones researchers optimize every aspect of the probe in the design and operation, energy and data transfer rate for the formation of image algorithms.

Therefore, it is now possible, smartphones compatible with USB Ultrasound probe images of the kidneys, liver, bladder and eyes, the probes endocavity of prostate and cervical cancer screenings and biopsies, and probes for imaging vascular veins and arteries for the formation IVs and central lines. The world of medicine and the use of computers will never be the same.

"You can wear a sensor and a cell phone and the image on the fly now," said Richard.

"Imagine these smartphones in ambulances and emergency rooms. In a larger scale, this type of mobile phone is a computer that runs Windows. It could be the core of the computer in developing countries where trained medical personnel are scarce, but most of the population, less than 90 percent has access to a cellphone tower.

"Twenty-first century medicine, the medical imaging," Zar said. "But 70 percent of the world's population has no access to medical imaging. It is difficult, a MRI scanner, or a rural community without electricity."

The decline in electronics, more than 25 years

Zar said the vision of the new system is to provide people in remote areas of the Third World, based on data with the phone and send them to a central unit for many miles, or half a world from where experts analyze the image and make a diagnosis. Czar, says the phone software and firmware for the probes, Richard came with the probe of low-power electronics design. He started working on the design of the ultrasound system 25 years ago, and that he came from the electronics firm, for the size of a small printed circuit board a tariff of three inches. Typical portable ultrasound system could cost up to $ 30000. Some of the USB-based sensors for sale for under $ 2000 with the objective of price as low as $ 500

Another promising application is for the careers of patients with Duchene muscular dystrophy. A degenerative disease that often strikes boys and takes them to their lives through their late 20s, DMD is a degenerative disease for which there is no cure. The treatment of the slowing its development is a daily dose of steroids. Often, some patients suffer from side effects of steroids, which are related to dose. These side effects are behavioral disorders and weight gain. Researchers now know that physical changes in the muscles, the effectiveness of corticosteroids. Measure these changes in the muscles and can be achieved with ultrasound can allow researchers to optimize the dose of steroid to achieve maximum effectiveness while reducing side effects.

"The idea is that the nurses who otherwise would transport a young person, often a wheelchair, a hospital or a clinic at regular intervals for the test, can be trained to the ultrasound to monitor the condition of the muscles," says czar. "This could be the height of the lowest effective dose for improving the quality of life of patients and the carer and hopefully prolong life. We are very pleased about that application. Carer would be only a minute to scan the data collected at the clinic, and the results back to the caregiver. A group at the WUSTL School of Medicine study of Duchene muscular dystrophy is very interested in our products, and hopes to include them in their research plans. “
Field trials in the Third World

Richard Tsar and about a possible collaboration with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the field of integration of their probe smartphone concept in a series of field tests for medical applications in developing countries.
"We are at the point when it comes to use what we have done with this technology and find as many applications as possible," said Richard.

Such a request may be his way to the army. Physicians could rapidly diagnose the wounded soldiers and the small, mobile and sensor to detect the side of the shrapnel injury to the decision for the transportation of soldiers and the treatment he has the box.
Richard and Zar showed fully functional smartphone USB ultrasound probe at Microsoft Research Tech Fest in February 2009, Tsar and technology at the 2009 World Health Care Congress in Washington, DC, April 14-16.

Hulu application for the iPhone soon

2009-04-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Silicon Alley Insider reports that Hulu dedicated application is indeed on the way to the iPhone and should be here in a few months.

SAI said the application will run on Wi-Fi AT & T's 3G network, which means that users can view anywhere in connection with programming information quickly.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone version of Hulu swirl around this time last year, however, that preceded the launch of the App Store, and refuse to have worked flat Hulu.

This time, however, is much more plausible, with the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 software update, allowing developers the means to cook in their applications. For Hulu, meaning that advertising can be trapped in the flow of motivation and that users can watch videos without leaving the application.

One of the things that prevent the conclusion of this rumor is that water is in direct competition with Hulu Apple iTunes business. Users can see Hulu ad support, long-term television and movies on their personal computers for free, instead of paying Apple to download a copy offline.

If such an application are available on the iPhone, but also offers mobile TV and see the movie, something that does not yet offer its own mobile application from Apple iTunes, which is limited to video podcasts. In the past, cases of this, the company simply refused to podcaster applications through the application approval process, to run in the first part of the functionality later.

Moreover, some of its competitors Hulu have already received a foot in the door, including CBS and Joost TV.com property, which has its own content in the flow of the iPhone application in pieces. In addition, Google YouTube, whose application is preinstalled on the iPhone, has recently concluded an agreement with major studios including Sony Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment and CBS (the editor of CNET News), offers visitors long, with TV movies .

Hulu withdraw advertising if not in food, using this system would be simple enough to force users to move through the advertising clips.

Lenovo Thinkpad X200

2009-04-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

This outstanding notebook PC offers all the features of performance, great battery life and a good keyboard.

Equipped with the new Centrino 2 processor, Lenovo ThinkPad X200 looks like an ultra-light, but can jump and charge a single job. Its battery life is phenomenal, and the keyboard is huge. In short, it is much better than the ThinkPad X61 notebook, which it replaces, and a sure winner for the term executives.
Because they have fewer model, one can imagine that this is a less potent version of the ThinkPad X300, X200, but reality has a newer processor. The X300 has a 13.3-inch screen, however, while the X200 has a 12.1 inch screen. Ah, but what you see when you fire this baby!

In just under 3 pounds with its lightest battery, the X200 weighs a few oz. less than the ThinkPad X61, despite offering the same 12.1-inch wide screen and larger keyboard. The bright little screen has an easy to read, 1280-by-800-pixels resolution, which makes it very comfortable to work on the fly. And integration of the camera keeps you in visual contact with their colleagues.

The new keyboard is as big as the members of the Lenovo ThinkPad T Series, and has all the same services: resistance to spills, and the page devoted to the keys, and important ThinkVantage button. The ThinkVantage application suite offers access to the card user's manual and recovery, security, and other essential public services. A fingerprint reader completes the set. What is missing: a touchpad. Many ThinkPad offers a touch and aneaserhead as pointing devices, but not the X200.

The review unit Lenovo sent us came with 2GB of RAM and a 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400, and notched WorldBench 6 score of 88, which is only 14 points behind the fastest laptop we've tested to date. As expected, the X200 integrated graphics can handle only simple games. But the battery life of the new X200. Lenovo has expanded its line of battery options to three, dominated by the powerful nine-cell model that our X200 carried. Despite this battery extends the back of the computer for about half an inch and the unit weight of 3.7 pounds (adapter not included), the gain of nearly nine hours of juice on a single charge.

Unless you already have a USB port into the optical drive, you'll pay $ 219 additional for installment Lenovo UltraBase docking for an internal drive bay. (Blu-ray an optical drive costs even more). On the positive side, the modular bay accepts other devices like a second battery or second hard drive. However, the portion of coupling also offers some nifty new connections, including a place to charge an extra battery and a DisplayPort display interface that combines high-definition audio and video in a single connector.

Of course, ultraportable ThinkPad notebooks have always used the space they save by omitting a form of optical drive for laptops add many features that are not within the competence of the same size. The X200 has three USB ports, headphone and microphone ports, a VGA port and an Ethernet connection. You can choose a modem with a five on a memory card slot, or a less expensive configuration offering an SD card slot but no modem.

The X200 feels tough as nails, with a magnesium alloy lid and beyond. An accident-proof solid-state 64GB hard drive is optional (we have a plateau of 160 GB hard drive-based standard, however). For the future improvement of the X200 two slots for memory chips are in a bottom compartment for easy access, and the hard drive can be removed from the right side of the device after a low to unscrew the screw.

A full range of wireless communication is based on 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN, and even GPS. Later this year, Lenovo offers WiMAX - and a compressed version of the X200. But if all you need is the world's best travel laptop right now, you're looking for in this area.

Little House on the Moon? First robot created Project

2009-04-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

Mälardalen Luna Construction University works with the multi-artist Mikael Genberg to create a robot to send to the moon to build a house. The house on the Moon is a project to bring home a reading on the moon as a symbol of what man can achieve. Genberg robot deployment of the cabin space rocket, to find a vacant building stable and the construction of the first planet.

"We want to train students to think creatively, to work together, using the latest technologies, and to dare to above. The most important thing is not always reach the goal. If you aim for the stars in at least reaching to the tops of trees, or even the moon, "says Lars Asplund.

By working together, students go from concept through construction and planning to finally have a real robot. "We are here for Mälardalen University," says Professor Lars Asplund, the main inventor of the robot and a good model in the program.

The aim is that the robot - which has the working name of Roony - to set the hut on the moon in 2012.

Mikael Genberg is an artist of Västerås, which is best known for their alternative livelihood. Today Carpenter Hotel is 13 meters high above the trees in the park in Västerås Vasa. In Lake Mälaren, one kilometer from the port, there is a building with a living room under the name Otter Inn Hotel. The little house on the moon is barn red with white cut-off - after all, the first on the moon, this period will be Swedish.

from:sciencedaily.com

Apple iPod Shuffle third generation

2009-04-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

The runt of the litter, the pampered youngest child, the little clip on a tie is random trick that none of his brothers and sisters can handle most popular. He can talk. Yes, the world smallest MP3 player with an impeccable lineage, but the power of words between the 3rd generation of all other random music player.

Trick? Well, not most of the conversation, talking, but all, all dancing is random "speak" of information on monitoring and battery life to you at the touch of a button on the headset lead with a new feature called VoiceOver. Stan Ng, Apple product manager, said that the T3 and eliminates the need for a heavy power LCD screen and gives the user a maximum of 10 hours of music - a feat that we have tested on a long train journey to the weekends.

This also means you can hear other options from the menu and navigate with ease. Continue to strengthen the hull to drive and had read all your playlists, eliminating the pressure in the head and the playlist you choose to start playing. "This eliminates the need for a lot of buttons too rough" said Ng T3, further improving the design philosophy of Apple.

One point of disagreement we have with VoiceOver is that the voice depends on whether the random synchronization to a PC or Mac. Mac voice is quite acceptable for an electronic voice, but the PC returns to ballot shame. Ng When asked the difference between the two, he just laughs and says that the PC is the voice of Microsoft standard auto-generated voice, and nothing to do with Apple.

Anything you find in the little man himself escape the random and the smallest LED we have seen is a headphone jack that accepts any plug 3 mm. Here is the trick, though - due to the lack of buttons on the body of the Shuffle, which are locked in using the supplied headphones for Apple (or the first outbreak). Anyone who has a pair of headphones that do not work the paddle in the head to discover that you can not control the music - can not adjust volume or skip songs or change playlists. They have certainly not be able to turn on VoiceOver.

This is where the main fault lies with the Shuffle. The hull is good for Apple buds that are never very Saturday in his right ear, until Apple releases an adapter, you can not use the Sennheiser / Bose headphones. Think of it as the DRM, but in hardware form. It will not be long until the third part of the ecosystem Apple comes to action, but Ng said "pay attention to the third party headsets and adapters position in this way, I saw with Klipsch helmet and there will be random more "Even if any, shall require authorization by Apple to market.

However, we believe that anyone who chooses to spring £ 59.99 on an iPod shuffle is not too much on audio quality, or if you can use other brands of phones. Anyone who has a better quality helmet that provided by Apple is not very likely to choose a random or a more expensive iPod Nano.

May the size was halved, but somehow the iPod shuffle has doubled the capacity of 4 GB and the sound quality is very accurate and powerful. What future for all-singing and dancing in the iPod? Voice recognition? Let's wait and see.

from:t3.com

This range of Xploder Sony car audio

2009-04-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

Simply slot in your music collection

Anyone who has a long commute or a job in the way knows the importance of music to keep in reasonable spirits. But how all of you with its collection of all time? This should be possible with the car Xploder range of Sony.

It goes beyond having "just" or USB connectivity for iPod, which offers a USB cable for 1-feature that translates into more separate ports for different types of portable players. Therefore, you must use the device (USB memory drive, iPod, iPhone or any other brand of MP3 player), all connected through the USB port, and if necessary, get a load too. You can even transfer control of all in the head of the main unit as well. If only it was designed with such ease.

All offer CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Sony music playback with more advanced digital (Advanced + DM), and rapid technology Zappin browser to find the tracks, the track selection to adapt and improve their quality of mind Playback of digital formats.

Specifically, the CDX-GT930UI offers a top-down, detachable face and a large 4-line fluorescent display. Or has integrated Bluetooth and the MEX-BT5700U MEX-BT4700U MEX-BT3700U, the flow of calls (and music from your phone) on the speakers, music automatically pauses when a call comes in Thursday MEX-BT4700U also adds a directory access profile (PBAP) option, the transfer of your telephone directory information from your Bluetooth phone to your computer screen with 4 lines.

Available now, prices vary for all models to check the extent of your local Sony.

from:t3.com

A Website for the Entire Drivers

2009-04-11T04:16:00.000-07:00

Do you often work using computers? If you do, then you must have known about the importance of something called driver. What is that, actually? It is a thing that will manage your computer to work very well so that you can control the software you are running on correctly.

So, are you looking for several specific drivers that you cannot find in usual way? If you are, you can try to log on to the driverssoftware.com website. This website appears to be an online reference from where you can simply download the specific software of drivers that you might need on your works.

See, you can even try to find the drivers for your HP, Acer, or Toshiba computer easily from this website. It is designed completely simple as you can simply see the existed items categorized on the left side of the website’s page. There are two categories provided by this website which are based on the types or based on the operating system. So all that you would need to do is only to click a category where your software might be at. Or you can try to find your desired driver through the simplest way since you can only browse for it based on its name’s first letter.

Exclusive: HP Pavilion laptop dv2 complete

2009-04-10T04:32:00.000-07:00

HP fills the gap between NETBOOK and portable

Although it is technically classified as an ultra-portable Pavilion dv2 is the difference between the bridge size and low power portable NETBOOK.

This 12.1-inch glossy finish Lappi sport black, metal and some styles highlighted aesthetics. The end result is a laptop that looks stylish, but not the bank or the other. In just 500 pounds, has already taken a very reasonable start.

Although the screen size is larger than most NETBOOK Pavilion dv2 is very thin, measuring just 23.7mm in height in some points and 32.7 points in its thickest (the battery). The weight is not enough to weigh on your shoulder, or only 1.70 kg.

So what's on board? AMD Athlon MV-40 Neo manages the CPU for ultra-thin portable treatment of muscles, bringing the power of 1.60 and 512 KB of cache table. 1 GB of RAM DD2 (with the possibility of expanding up to 4 GB) SATA hard drive and 160 GB compatible with Windows Vista Home Basic operating system.

The screen - HP LED BrightView widescreen display - offers high resolution of 1280 x 800 and a brightness level used quite bright, even under daylight. Graphics are handled by ATI Radeon X1250 with 348MB of video memory.

During the performance is strong enough for such a diminutive notebooks. The dv2 could use one or two GB of RAM to really take full advantage of Windows Vista, AMD, but felt more space for the normal tasks that you ultra-portable like this, as well as through more intensive tasks such as HD video playback.

We were particularly impressed by the quality and design of the keyboard. Most ultra-portable should compromise on the size of your keyboard, resulting in overcrowding fiddly typing. The HP Pavilion dv2 however, has a keyboard that is 92% in size.

It does not offer the pure isolated keys Sony Vaio P Series, and now has over Apple products, but slightly concave keys proved to be a real pleasure to write, and probably will not interfere in its writing speed in any way remarkable. The tactile feedback is excellent and it looks like a good solid keyboard.

Unfortunately, the quality has not led the trackpad mouse. It has a shiny silver is combined with the chassis, but looks like a case of style over substance. Slide your finger a little too easily on its surface polished, and at the same time, the mouse buttons are a little too sticky for comfort.

On a more positive note, if you do not want to use the pad and connect via USB or Bluetooth mouse instead, is a handy button on the trackpad that can stop it, it will not interrupt your wrist as it passes.

A major commitment to building ultra-thin is not only space for one optical drive. You always get one in the box, but the LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD ± RW drive is a USB device. We can not consider that fact against it - given the number of disks we use today and that is packaged in an elegant case for your own, that ticks all the right boxes.

The additional space also allows HP to pack a decent set of ports. You have three USB 2.0, HDMI connector, VGA output, Ethernet, microphone and headset plugs. Wi-Fi too, of course, but the older 802.11g, rather than the last 'n' standard, and there is a webcam and integrated 5-in-1 card reader.

Battery life is the only weak point, the 4-cell is only available for a few hours of calculation common, even with screen brightness down to the series. Unfortunately, you will not find all the days of computers here yet.

The HP Pavilion dv2 is a little too much for giving much more power than other ultra portable and NETBOOK of the type used for portability will be reserved for more expensive mini-laptops. If you are serious computing muscle you want, you should look elsewhere, but for everyday computing tasks, along with some entertainment features to keep you busy while you are away, is ideal.

from: t3.com

Innovation: 100-mpg car contest starters orders

2009-04-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

Last night in California, a list of 111 teams have been announced - one in May are the key to the green car of the future. Participants are enrolled in the Progressive Auto X Prize, a contest that will award a total of $ 10 million for vehicles that can go 100 miles of power equivalent to one gallon of fuel.

By its absence has been one of the largest automobile manufacturers - india company Tata bar - which did not seem interested in participating. The black list is diverse encompassing the implementation of electric cars in California, less sophisticated efforts to complete new projects.

View the gallery of some of the vehicles entered in the Auto X Prize

But you can be sure that the automotive giants would be very closely the progress of participants through the design and evaluate the performance of the test phases, scheduled for this year and that the tests should begin in 2010. The competition provides an opportunity for smaller players to shake an industry long dominated by giants, the companies established in their ways.
New Beginnings

"This is an opportunity for niche players to make a big difference," Nick Carpenter, technical director of the small British firm Delta Motorsport, told New Scientist. Delta is finalizing the design of a low, four-seat sports coupe, which will use a single, lightweight electric motor developed at Oxford University and is planned to continue the trial in late 2009.

"If we or any of the other small teams may become the next GM or Ford, is another matter," says Carpenter, "but the competition gives us the opportunity to take a new approach emerged from history." Some of these new ideas was broken in May by the largest fish, he says, but even those who do not yet have the opportunity to shine and to influence the future of the mass of the vehicle.

The price seems to be to provide entertainment and technology advances. Participants are a diverse mix ranging from innovation, proven and frankly even wild ideas, but rules for the more serious efforts are producing vehicles that are far from ready to use on our roads.
Demanding tasks

This is because although it is relatively easy to make a road vehicle travel 100 miles at the equivalent of a gallon of fuel, the price comes with other criteria, for more than a challenge.

The principal of $ 7.5 million for the models with four-wheeled bag, carrying four people forced to travel 200 miles on a single charge of fuel of your choice - the goal of efficiency - and should accelerate 0 to 60 mph in 12 seconds and a speed of 100 miles per hour.

The lesser of 2.5 million dollars to the price of any design vehicles carrying two or more people forced to go 100 miles on a principle and for at least 80 mph. The two categories to limit carbon emissions and the demand for realistic plans to manufacture 10,000 vehicles a year.

Down-to-ground restrictions, combined with the target height, the mentality of the participants seem to provide a kind of contest is worth seeing. Who knows, may even change the road in the world.

from:newscientist

Advanced Features on Web hosting

2009-04-08T02:03:00.000-07:00

In every aspect of our live, we have to consider the impact which will be delivered by our decision. What I’m trying to say is, the energy crisis which makes us have to deal with a lot or environmental problems is actually caused by ourselves, what we are using and how we use it. This also works if you are looking for a webhosting provider for your website. Do you know that servers are actually energy consuming? It will be way much better if we can start fixing the problems in our environment by reducing the energy consumption.

Take a look at the Webhostinggeeks.com if you are looking for a webhosting provider which will provide you support for this effort. This website is providing you the reviews on various web hosting providers including green webhosting and the detailed information. You might be wondering how we can contribute our effort in energy saving cause through our choice of webhosting? This website has the complete explanation so don’t forget to see it first before you make any decision.

You can also take a look at the top rated web hosting provider as a reference. His feature will be able to provide you reliable reference on good webhosting service which will support your website. If you have particular requirements on your webhosting needs, just browse from the categories and find the right choice here.

Google Maps for mobile gains voice

2009-04-05T22:59:00.000-07:00

Explore the new search capabilities, voice connected to Google Maps for mobile. This feature is experimental and, for better or for worse, the evidence to limit participation to property owners in the U.S. 8110, 8120, 8130 and BlackBerry Pearl models. If you are one, just press "0" in the center of your map view and then "take the left of the button that says ... While the name or type of business you're looking for results of According to a post on the Google Mobile blog. Must cross your fingers, and - promises of improvements in May not much about the technology of the current situation - but the risk of spread, and this is an important step for Google.

Greg Sterling notes that the voice of Google search is very similar to the current Windows Live Search for Mobile service with voice or Tellme for Blackberry (including Microsoft). Yahoo recently integrated Vlingo's speech technology oneSearch. Chacha is something in this area, too, that all means Google extreme afternoon. In the mobile market more and more important - the research office and advertising seems to be wrapped a little, after all - will host Google talkative people.

Clara Luciana, YogyakartaCheck voice of the new search capabilities connected to Google Maps for mobile. This feature is experimental and, for better or for worse, the evidence to limit participation to property owners in the U.S. 8110, 8120, 8130 and BlackBerry Pearl models. If you are one, just press "0" in the center of your map view and then "take the left of the button that says ... While the name or type of business you're looking for results of According to a post on the Google Mobile blog. Must cross your fingers, and - promises of improvements in May not much about the technology of the current situation - but the risk of spread, and this is an important step for Google.

Greg Sterling notes that the voice of Google search is very similar to the current Windows Live Search for Mobile service with voice or Tellme - BlackBerry (including Microsoft). Yahoo recently integrated Vlingo's speech technology oneSearch. Chacha something in this area, too, that all means Google extreme afternoon. In the mobile market increasingly important - the office of research and advertising - the advertising appeared to be almost complete, after all - Google will host talkative people.

from:Clara Luciana, Yogyakarta

Enjoy HDTV Channels with DirectSATTV

2009-04-05T02:27:00.000-07:00

Being tired of watching the same boring TV program offered to you all the time? Well it is about the time you would take the best act in order to make you able getting the more qualified TV channel that will certainly support your needs on being well entertained right away. Here is a suggestion for you: get yourself right into the Directsattv.com website.

After you have entered this website you will see an interesting offer of new experience in watching TV with the HDTV channels which takes form of the Direct TV. It has been something people really like when it comes to the fact that they need to be supported by the best TV channels. This Direct T V is a complete package of entertainment which will surely be able to fulfill your needs on having the better thing to watch.

Once you have logged the website on, you can learn the list of the offers given by this DirectTV. We can see there that this TV program has tried to give you the enjoyment in watching through easier 5 steps. Moreover, it specifies the interest of people such as those who like to watch movie can apply for the directTV movie package from it. Also, you can simply compare the existed cable TV with Direct TV to eventually notice what the best thing you can get for HDTV by choosing DirectTV.

Sony HDR-Tg5 makes world's smallest Full HD camcorder adds smallest GPS

2009-04-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

The problem with previous Sony's world smallest pistol-grip camcorder Full HD - aka HDR-TG1, the TG3E - was not large, was the ease of use. Therefore, we are pleased that Sony has a user interface Tg5 pinch between updates. And although Sony does not say in the press release, the button panel Tg5 is much more sensitive (capacitive perhaps?) That the previous generation of finger Bender.

Other improvements are the media Geotag your GPS (assuming your software supports), Navteq maps, improved image processing, the smile shutter technology, and integrated 16 GB of storage (up to 8GB) all traveling in a bit smaller and lighter chassis. Other characteristics have not changed: 1920 x 1080 AVCHD video, 2.7 inch touch screen and a 10x stabilized optical zoom exposure of a 2.4-megapixel CMOS sensor. Cher? Oh no doubt: $ 1000 from May Check the video after the break.

form:engadget

Repair Your File Extension

2009-04-03T20:22:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of things that you can do with your computer. You can write the report or homework with your computer, you can browse the internet, and many more. Maybe you love to playing game in the computer and you always update a new game. Sometimes, when people install a new piece of software without remove the old one, it can cause the registration error.

You can repair the error by using file extensions. You can get the file extension from computerfileextensions.com. If you open the website, you will see a lot of file extension that you can choose to repair your file extension depend on your need. You can use file extension MDI if your file have a MDI format. If you choose the file extension JAD, you can scan computer for problem with JAD. And if you need a file extension TORRENT, you also can get it and use the torrent repair to solve the registry conflicts with torrent files.

If you want to repair your file extension and make it work properly, you have to open the website now and choose the right file extension for your files. You can download the file extension and use it to repair your file extension problems.

iPhone wins gadget of the year, Smartphone of the Year Awards Engadget

2009-03-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, the iPhone won Engadget gadget of the year and the Smartphone of the year, not only to editors, readers, but also good. For these honors quadrupal keeping score at home.

Of Engadget Awards, in general, the editors selected the unibody MacBook and iPod touch (hand-held and portable) and gave the worst storm BlackBerry gadget honors. Readers, while much of the Apple iMac, MacBook unibody, 24 "LED Cinema Display, iPod touch (hand-held and portable), the Time Capsule and storage. Zune gadget was worse.

TiPb Editor your own price and the Reader's Choice Awards were presented at the New Year and Oscar Sunday, respectively.

from:theiphoneblog.com

Robots murderers would be allowed to use their own

2009-03-30T05:33:00.000-07:00

The terrorists who often cause unintended civilian casualties in Pakistan, are a step closer to a generation of robots-lethal hunters murderers working on little, if any, human control.

The Department of Defense is funding independent research or self-administration, the army of robots that can find and destroy targets on their own initiative. Edge of computer programs, not real people, wondering if the fire of their weapons.
"The trend is clear: the war will continue and autonomous robots may be subject to their conduct, Ronald Arkin, a robotics expert at the Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, wrote in a study commissioned by the Army of the earth.

"The pressure to increase the battlefield is forcing the pace more and more autonomy to the point where robots lethal final decision," he predicted. "The time available to make the decision to shoot or not shoot back at a distance too short for him to make smart decisions."

Autonomous robotic systems is likely to be armed operation in 2020, according to John Pike, a defense and intelligence expert and director of security Web site GlobalSecurity.org in Washington.

That prospect alarms experts, who fear that machines will not be able to distinguish between civilians and legitimate targets in a war zone.

"We are sleepwalking into a new world where robots decide who, where and when to kill," said Noel Sharkey, an expert in robotics and artificial intelligence at the University of Sheffield, England.

Human operator thousands of miles away in Nevada, using satellite communications, control of the current generation of missiles fired robotic planes known as Predators and Reapers. Robots armed land, such as the Army's Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System, also need a manufacturer of men before shooting.

Already, about 5,000 lethal and nonlethal robots are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides targeting the Taliban and al-Qaida, the exercise of supervision, disarm bombs, to transport supplies and carry out other military tasks. So far, none of these machines are self-employed, all are under human control.

The Pentagon plans for its future combat system, taking into account the increasing levels of independence for their robots.

"Every business independently without human intervention should also be considered under the conditions defined by the user," he said in 2007 the Army requested proposals for the future robots.

For example, the Pentagon said that the air-air combat in May occur too quickly to allow remote control of a fire in one of the unmanned aircraft weapons.

"There's really no way to a system that is remotely controlled can effectively operate in an offensive or defensive air combat environment," Dyke Weatherington, the Pentagon's deputy director of unmanned systems working group, said in a press conference on December 18, 2007. "The requirement that is an autonomous system," he said. "It will take many years to find."

Many have armed phalanx autonomous rapid-fire, which is designed to shoot down enemy missiles or aircraft that have penetrated the outer defenses, not wait for a man of decision.

At Georgia Tech, Arkin concludes a three-year contract from the Army to find ways to ensure that the robots are used properly. His idea is an "ethical governor" system that robots must obey the internationally recognized laws of war and U.S. rules of engagement.

"Robots should be obliged to adhere to the same laws as humans or that they should not be allowed on the battlefield," Arkin wrote.For example, a robot from the computer "brain" is designed to block a rocket in a hospital, church, cemetery or cultural history, even if enemy forces were grouped closely. The presence of women or children is also a no-no robot.

Arkin concludes designed a robot could act with more restraint that soldiers of the man in the heat of battle and cause fewer victims.

"Robots can be built that do not show fear, anger, frustration or revenge, and ultimately, a more human than humans, even in tough circumstances," he wrote.

Sharkey, critic of British armed autonomous robots, ethics Arkin said the governor is "a good idea in principle. Unfortunately, it is doomed to failure, because at present, no robots or AI (artificial intelligence) systems to discriminate between a combatant and an innocent person. CEC This simply does not exist. "

Selmer Bringsjord, an artificial intelligence expert at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, is also concerned.

"I am concerned. The stakes are very high," said Bringsjord. "If we give power to the robots to do unpleasant things, we must use logic to teach them not to do something unethical. If we can not understand this, one should not build these robots."

Apple joined AT & T iPhone without contract

2009-03-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

Apple has teamed with AT & T in offering iPhones without a contract at a high price.

Last week, AT & T announced plans to sell the iPhone without a contract 3GS two years for $ 599 and $ 699, but Apple has not responded to questions about whether he had the same idea in mind. Now AppleInsider reports that the company launched the bid, even without contact with its shops, which makes sense, given the tight association between the two companies.

It's a little difficult to get an idea of how many people jump on this offer. These offers are very common in other parts of the world, but buyers of mobile phones in this economic climate they prefer their savings to move ahead, because all iPhones sold 3GS this way will always be locked to AT & T network.

The movement, however, are probably just another sign on the road for the next iPhone. AppleInsider Another report on Friday that AT & T began offering the $ 199 / $ 299 subsidized price to existing customers with iPhones that are not yet eligible for the upgrade price seems to be a strong signal that the carrier wants to clear inventory of a new model.

Last year, Apple and AT & T iPhone inventory are essentially zero before the launch of the iPhone 3G. They can do something similar this year, because if the plan is to announce a new iPhone at the Worldwide Developers Conference in early June and send it later (perhaps the time of the summer "The launch of the iPhone 3.0 software), applications for iPhone 3G to fall off a cliff after the announcement.

Lenovo Debuts X1 touchscreen slide-out keyboard

2009-03-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Lenovo has launched a new touchscreen phone, the X1, with a 3.2-inch WQVGA screen and a slide out keyboard. The company seems to have taken inspiration from several competitors, the labeling of the user interface "Touch Dream." The X1 is also used in reference to the Sony-Ericsson XPERIA X1 phone. The brand offers a Sony device arc sliding QWERTY keyboard, however, and an interface based on Windows Mobile.

The phone also supports GPS and offers a MicroSD slot for memory expansion. Dimensions closely related to the iPhone, which measures 115 mm long and 12.5 mm thick, while offering a slightly narrower width of 55 mm.

The X1 runs on tri-band EDGE network and is set for an initial launch in China. Details remain unknown
from:electronista

Ready Peek and Peek into Google Maps for development?

2009-03-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

It seems as if they are to develop Peek feature of Google Maps, or to the current Peek email device or for your next Peek Pronto. A reader spotted SlashGear Peek a user browsing Google Maps on the subway of New York City, something that the current Emailer is unable to do.

Peek, also confirmed that a new device, the Peek Ready, is under development and will soon be announced, after the teaser image in the gallery below was leaked to Engadget. According to Peek, the device will be "much, much faster in every way possible":

"I do not have much to say, but I will give away a leak .. is much, much faster in every way possible.

The time to open a menu on 1 / 08 is 09 seconds. The time to open a menu in Ready,, 04 seconds !!!!" Peek official blog

Our contacts with the company had nothing official that could tell us, but this seems to be not only a new device, but a new feature-set, and possibly even 3G connectivity to help achieve those all-round speed increases. It is unknown if the Pronto will have GPS, or just online access map. What also remains to be seen is whether Peek existing owners can upgrade to Google Maps app, as it has been spotted on what appears to be an original device, we hope the answer is yes.

from: slashgear

Robot Teacher Makes Debut in Japanese School

2009-03-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

In what could be a harbinger of the future, students of elementary school in Tokyo are being taught by a robot.

Saya is the result of 15 years of research and is being tested as a teacher after working as a receptionist.

She - or her - is multilingual, you can organize the tasks set for students, call the roll and angry when the children misbehave.

Saya is just one example of Japan's determination to put a robot in every home by 2015.

The robot was originally developed for businesses that want to reduce costs by replacing workers, such as office secretaries and receptionists with an android that had a range of human expressions.
from: foxnews.com

Piaggio MP3 trike Hybrid hits the streets in early 2010 for about $ 9k

2009-03-07T23:24:00.000-08:00

It is certainly a strange monster, but Piaggio's MP3 Hybrids "scooter / trike / what the actual window of a ship and a wave pricetag. Piaggio expects to start selling the vehicle in the U.S. in Q1 2010 with a price ranging around $ 8000 or $ 9000. The plug-in hybrid can run off a standard charge for 40 miles and has a gas-powered generator (like the Volt) for extra power, with a promised 141 mpg overall. It is packed in with some regenerative breaking, high performance battery-driven way to make a pretty hot scooter - if you can get on the eyes and the extra wheel.

From: engadget

Apple’s new 17-inch MacBook Pro: ‘Insanely fast, stunning’

2009-03-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

"There's no point in going as in-depth on this model of MacBook Pro as we did on the 15-inch version. In terms of hardware, build quality, and general patchwork inside, this is the same computer (albeit somewhat more gigantic). The same unibody construction is used here, and Apple calls the laptop the 'world's thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook.' We won't argue -- it compares favorably to the smaller entry in the family, and besides it's obviously larger footprint, we didn't feel it was excessively heavy for a device of this size (it actually weighs 6.6 pounds, just a little over a pound heavier than the 15-inch version)," Joshua Topolsky reports for Engadget.

"The version we received was the fully kitted out iteration of the laptop. The base configuration (a not-super-cheap $2,799) is outfitted with a 2.66GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and the switchable NVIDIA GeForce 9400M / 9600M GT GPUs. The version we have came fully loaded with a 2.93GHz CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and (yes) an anti-glare display. Needless to say, performance wasn't much of an issue -- but the final cost ($4,899) might be a little extreme for most," Topolsky reports.

"Performance on our system was insanely fast... The new display is stunning. Not only is the thing massive in terms of resolution, but the color depth and contrast are stunning. Apple seems to have really honed the art of light sensing, and we found the display accurately adjusting itself to a room's light. When cranked up to full brightness, the screen beams -- it's crisp, clear, and colors pop," Topolsky reports.

"The new [built-in] battery bests the typical lifespan of a MacBook Pro removable by almost double... the huge stretches of time between charges we saw on the new 17-incher are extremely encouraging, and likely long enough to make the system viable for field use," Topolsky reports.

from: macdailynews.com

LG Arena KM900 unboxed far away from trade show crowds

2009-03-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

We already saw every angle of LG's newly launched Arena (or KM900, if we're being formal) at Mobile World Congress last month, but there's just something calming about witnessing an unboxing free of nearby gawkers and devoid of spiraled cables tethered to alarm systems. Seriously, you can't grasp the significance of it without giving the read link a visit, so here's what you do: click, indulge, then return and admit that we told you so.

by Darren Murph

LG VX9600 Versa hits store shelves today

2009-03-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

Right on -- well, the predicted -- schedule, LG's unique Versa handset hits Verizon Wireless stores nationwide. We've specced, reviewed, and generally fondled this set enough to give us a pretty warm fuzzy feeling about it and if you've about made up your mind by now, plonk that cash down. Pricing is set at $199 on a two-year, $269 on one-year (both after online $50 rebate), and a whopping $449 if month to month is more your thing. Admittedly, while cool and we're really digging where it fits in the market, it is still a feature set and the off contract price is a bit heavy. If anybody has been dying to get their hands on this phone or picked one up today, do let us know what you think.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

CirculaFloor robot floor tiles keep you moving in virtual reality

2009-02-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

One of the big problems facing VR is the issue of mobility -- how do you allow users unrestricted movement in virtual reality, while keeping them relatively static in real reality? Omni-directional treadmills have been tried in the past, and now researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have developed something called CirculaFloor. The system uses four robotic tiles that constantly shift position, ensuring that there's always a tile in the direction you're headed. Additionally, the entire assembly moves slowly backwards, giving one the impression of movement while they're actually standing relatively still. The tiles also incorporate lifts, for simulating staircases and the like. While this research is promising, there's still plenty of work to be done -- for instance, the tiles still move awful slowly, and while they seem sturdy enough for a leisurely stroll, a Left 4 Dead implementation is not likely to happen any time soon. Video after the break.

By: Joseph L. Flatley,

Satellite Collision May Have Endangered All Future Space Launches

2009-02-23T04:24:00.000-08:00

Remember when those two satellites collided the other day? Seems that they'll be the space junk gift that keeps on giving, as their 800-km debris orbiting field could hamper all future space launches.

"Future launches will have to be adjusted with regard to the fact that the debris [from the collision] has spread over an 800-km area and will gather at a common orbit in 5-6 years," said Alexander Stepanov, director of the Pulkovo Observatory in St. Petersburg.

According to NASA this massive cloud of human failure joins the 19,000 other objects that currently pollute the low and high orbit space around the planet. As we reported last week, the Hubble Space Telescope is already in danger.

On a related note, anyone who criticized the Pixar movie Wall-E for "liberal bias" or for "unfairly" depicting future humans as slovenly creatures that polluted Earth and space to the point where it was uninhabitable is a dufus. And so ends my personal rant for the day.

from: GIZMODO

Judge pares back Vista Capable suit, no longer class action

2009-02-20T05:20:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, February 18, Judge Marsha Pechman issued an order reversing her earlier decision to grant the collection of various lawsuits against Microsoft and the company's "Vista Capable" campaign class action status. Her decertification effectively ends the Vista Capable lawsuit when discussed as a monolithic endeavor—Microsoft is understandably pleased—but stops short of granting Microsoft the summary judgment it requested.

In her 17-page decision (PDF), Pechman describes the history of the case to date, the relevant statutes and court decisions, and the two motions Microsoft presented for consideration. While the plaintiffs in the case allege that Microsoft's Vista Capable campaign constituted deceptive marketing, the actual (and novel) legal argument was that Microsoft's vigorous advertising campaign around Vista Capable had led OEMs to charge a premium for systems labeled as such. Had these systems simply carried a standard Windows XP logo, the suit contended, they would have sold for lower prices. Although it wasn't part of the legal argument, the class action centered around the idea that Windows Vista Basic wasn't the "real" Windows Vista, and that customers who bought Vista Capable machines found themselves stuck with hardware that did not perform as advertised.

The original request for class certification was based on two points: first, that Microsoft had violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act (CPA) or the equivalent in other states, and second, that the company had benefited from unjust enrichment.

In order to qualify as a class action under the CPA, a plaintiff must show that the defendant engaged in an unfair or deceptive act that occurred in the conduct of its main trade, affected the public interest, and injured the plaintiff. The act in question must also be the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injury, an act which "in direct sequence...produce[d] the injury complained of and without which such injury would not have occurred." That's a high bar, but Pechman originally granted class action status in her decision last year in order to give the plaintiffs time "to further develop their 'price inflation' theory."

Arrested development

Given the novelty of their argument and the court's stated willingness to allow them time for development, you'd think the plaintiff's would have attacked Microsoft with a full battalion of economic analysis—and you'd be wrong. Pechman notes that cases that alleged economic harm ultimately failed due to their inability to demonstrate how and where that harm occurred, despite having gathered extensive economic data and performed multiple statistical analyses. "Plaintiffs' evidence fails to establish class-wide causation because it does not attempt [to] identify a specific shift in the demand for Vista Capable PCs," wrote Judge Pechman. "Dr. Leffler did not attempt any regression analysis, much less an econometric analysis of the impact of 'Vista Capable' on demand." (Dr. Leffler served as an expert witness on behalf of the plaintiffs.)

Instead of attempting to demonstrate class-wide causation, the plaintiffs based their arguments on anecdotes, gathered testimony, and the batch of e-mails Microsoft was forced to release back in early 2008. Leffler attempted to argue that the Vista Capable campaign succeeded based on internal Microsoft documents, but Pechman notes that said documents do not give any hard data on whether Microsoft actually hit any specific targets. Even if it did, there's no accompanying evidence to illustrate that the growth in question was driven solely by the Vista Capable program rather than by holiday discounts, OEM promotions, or a general uptick in laptop sales. It certainly doesn't help that the laptop market has been growing steadily for years, that fact alone could easily have obscured the theoretical impact of the Vista Capable campaign.

Leffler falls equally short when tasked with demonstrating that the Vista Campaign actually had a demonstrable and particular impact on system price. Rather than offering economic analysis, Dr. Leffler relied again upon precampaign discussions within Microsoft itself and sworn testimony from certain plaintiffs. The good doctor ultimately concluded that "fundamental and non-controversial economic principles" imply that the Vista Capable campaign increased the price of applicable systems. Judge Pechman evidently didn't attend the prestigious economic school that discovered these principles, and notes: "It does not appear as if Dr. Leffler tested this assumption against any real pricing data."

Not entirely off the hook

Given that the plaintiffs presented no real evidence to support the continuation of the Vista Capable class action, Judge Pechman opted to decertify the case. She did, however, note that her decision should not be taken as a ruling on the validity of specific individual claims. "While the Court decertifies the class today, it is careful to note that this ruling makes no comment on the merits or veracity of Plaintiffs' individual CPA and unjust enrichment claims. Defendant is mistaken to equate Plaintiffs' failure to provide class-wide proof of causation with a failure to present an issue for trial."

Pechman also dings Microsoft for missing the plaintiffs' point when it defends Vista Home Basic as a valid Vista distribution. "The question is not whether Basic can be called 'Vista' based on computer code similarity or whether Microsoft as a software developer has the right to offer multiple permutations of its product; it is whether Microsoft's use of the 'Vista Capable' designation had the capacity to deceive...In this sense, Microsoft's internal communications raise a serious question about whether customers were likely to be deceived by the WVC campaign." For this reason, the judge opted to deny Microsoft's motion for summary judgment, and will allow individual complaints to to press onward.

The Vista class action lawsuit may be effectively dead, but the suit has been a fantastic success in terms of the information about the run up to Vista's release turned up through discovery. The documents (PDF) Microsoft was forced to disclose were a fascinating goldmine of information, even if they represent just the merest fraction of the thousands of e-mails Microsoft employees and representatives exchanged throughout the development of the Vista Capable marketing program. Thanks to those documents, we discovered how Microsoft first stuck to and then flip-flopped on its decision to require Windows Vista Device Driver Model (WVDDM)-compatible video hardware, why the company made that decision, and how the fallout caused waves within the seemingly monolithic corporation. Of equal interest was the fact that early NVIDIA drivers were substantially to blame for Vista's instability and undoubtedly contributed to the general perception that Windows Vista was buggy, undesirable, and a step backwards from stable, yummy, Windows XP.

By Joel Hruska

Nintendo DSi comes to America April 5

2009-02-20T05:03:00.000-08:00

Nintendo announced today that the third edition of its DS handheld video game system will be released in the United States on April 5. The handheld unit was originally scheduled to be released sometime in the summer, but Nintendo decided to push the release date up for gamers.

The DSi has two digital cameras, music player, voice recorder, stereo headphone output, and an SD card slot. Owners will also have the chance to download new video games and applications using WiFi hotspots, though applications will begin at 200 points, $2, with the price going up depending on which game is being purchased.

The DSi will be available for $169.99, and interested consumers will be able to purchase the system in blue or black. Nintendo's DS Lite -- already available in the U.S. -- costs just $130, and is extremely popular among gamers.

The Nintendo DSi has been available on the Japanese market since late 2008, and U.S. consumers have been anxiously awaiting to learn when it would land in North America.

Nokia Unveils Ovi Store, Application Sales To Debut In May

2009-02-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

At the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, Nokia has unveiled its initiative to try and repeat the runaway succes of Apple’s App Store with its own mobile storefront dubbed Ovi Store. This was an expected move as the rumors about the Finnish mobile juggernaut’s mobile applications store already spread last week; they were late confirmed to Reuters by industry sources.
Here’s how they pitch it:

“Offering a range of content including applications, games, videos, widgets, podcasts, location-based applications and personalised content, Ovi Store will be available on S60 and Series 40 devices. The first device to include the mobile storefront on board will be the Nokia N97, set to launch in June. Meanwhile tens of millions of existing S60 and Series 40 devices will be able to take advantage of the store from May. Ovi Store is unique in its ability to target content based on where you are, when you’re there, why you are where you are and who else has downloaded similar content.”

That last part, as well as the geo-location features, seems interesting. Ovi Store will include what it calls a ’social discovery’ feature which will enable users to find out which content is being used by their social network peers, as they will automatically be highlighted and made available for download on their devices.

Nokia, still the number-one maker of mobile phones until further notice, expects that the store will reach 300 million users by 2012. According to The Guardian, Nokia also said 70 percent of revenues from the store would go back to software developers.

As from today, content publishers and developers will be able to register for the Ovi Store here, but they will only be able to upload starting next month. The application store will be gradually rolled out, starting next May in nine countries.

Could You Go to Jail for Jailbreaking Your iPhone?

2009-02-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

There is something deeply exasperating about the debate, spotlighted Thursday, about whether unlocking an iPhone violates Apple’s copyright on the cellphone’s software. There’s a real issue at stake, but it isn’t fundamentally about copyrights.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, in a filing with the Copyright Office, argues that the government should allow iPhone owners to circumvent technical barriers meant to keep them from changing the phone’s software, a process called jailbreaking. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act bans people from defeating technical protections for copyrighted materials (such as the encryption on DVDs). The act requires the government to consider exemptions to this ban every three years.

Apple, not surprisingly, filed an objection, saying that jailbreaking a phone indeed violates copyright law and that no exception should be granted.

One of the key legal arguments is whether installing software on an iPhone that is not sold through Apple’s iTunes store is an infringement of Apple’s copyright. The E.F.F. argues that it does not and that Apple’s motivation is simply to preserve its revenue from software sales.

Apple argues that its copyright is infringed, in part because its reputation and potential to profit from iPhone sales in the future is hurt because jailbroken phones may be more subject to bugs and security flaws. The copy protection scheme enforces a “chain of trust” that allows Apple to make sure that harmful software does not get onto the phones. Here is a key summary from its argument, which refers to T.M.P.s, or technical protection measures, the software meant to keep people from jailbreaking the phone:

It should be clear that the iPhone ecosystem Apple has built is good for developers, good for iPhone users, good for Apple, and good for the policies underlying the copyright laws to encourage the creation of works of authorship. That ecosystem depends upon the “chain of trust” implemented in the iPhone through its T.P.M.s. The proposed exemption would destroy that chain of trust and threaten many of the benefits the ecosystem affords, and should therefore be rejected.

Stepping back, one of the big issues here is whether Apple has the right to tell people who buy iPhones to use them only in the way it wants them to. Why shouldn’t I be able to run buggy software if I choose to?

But it’s not quite so simple. Jennifer S. Granick, a lawyer for the E.F.F., said that Apple can force buyers of the phone to agree to any conditions it wants to write into a user agreement. But those agreements would be governed by contract law, which would force Apple to sue users and prove actual damages.

Under copyright law, Apple would have the right to claim statutory damages of up to $2,500 “per act of circumvention.” People who jailbreak phones, might even be subject to criminal penalties of as long as five years, if they circumvented copyright for a financial gain.

“Apple is bringing the hammer down in a way that Congress never intended and is really severe for something that is just not wrong,” Ms. Granick said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment beyond its legal filing.

The issue will be decided by the Library of Congress by this fall after several hearings in the spring. This is the exasperating part. It’s hardly clear that the Library of Congress, which does look after copyright law, is the right place for this debate. After all, the copyrighted software is really a small part of a cellphone and not really part of the fundamental issue.

This is an issue that Congress may have to take up. Ms. Granick also pointed out that Congress has from time to time limited the ability of companies to use contract law to limit what buyers of their products can do with them. For example, car companies are not allowed to void warranties for people who chose to have repairs done somewhere other than at dealers. By Saul Hansell