ECS, Asus, MSI to have tablets at CES, Android 3.0 in March?

Elitegroup Computer System (ECS), Asustek Computer, and Micro-Star International (MSI) are planning on showing off their latest tablet PCs at CES 2011. We already knew this about Asus, but the ECS and MSI parts are news. In addition to all this, DigiTimes also specifically says that Google will release Android 3.0 in March 2011.

ECS is set to announce 6-, 8- and 9.7-inch e-book reader models, featuring capacitive touch screens, support for Android and Linux, as well as built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G. The company also hopes to showcase several Windows 7 and Android tablet PCs. Some models will feature 10.1-inch multitouch panels with Intel Atom CPUs, while others will have ARM-based processors from Marvell or Samsung in order to get eight hours of battery life. The company will also display 7-inch models at the show as well as several power-saving 14-inch or 15-inch LED enterprise notebooks with USB 3.0 and ECS' exclusive power saving software Super POSH.

MSI will show off a 10-inch Intel-based tablet PC running Windows as well as engineering samples of its ARM-based model running Android. MSI is also prepared to sell an Nvidia Tegra 2-based model in April or May.

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eBay tells late shoppers to go elsewhere

eBay is telling shoppers to go shop elsewhere. The San Jose-based website has introduced a new local shopping tool GiftsNearby, which, as its name implies, shows users where to find gifts at nearby stores. GiftsNearby shows local retail prices for each item, directions to the closest store with inventory availability, and an option to browse eBay for the gift, according to The New York Times.

If you ordered a gift from eBay today, it's very unlikely you'll get your purchase under the Christmas tree by Saturday morning. If you enter a zip code on the eBay site, you'll see if it's in stock at a store down the street, be able to compare prices between local stores, and even get driving directions. Unfortunately, this will require having to leave your computer and make the purchase the old-fashioned way, but it's better than telling your loved ones that Santa just couldn't get you a gift on time.

GiftsNearby is powered by Milo.com, a shopping search engine eBay acquired earlier this month for $75 million. Using Milo's existing partnerships, the feature only shows products that are actually in-stock at 25 national retailers. Best Buy is the only retailer that is working with eBay to let users reserve and purchase the gift online; they can then skip the line, pick up the item up at their local store, and earn eBay Bucks in the process.

It looks like eBay would rather have potential customers get their gifts from elsewhere than be unhappy that the website can't deliver on time. eBay has also added Milo technology to its RedLaser barcode scanning app, which lets consumers comparison shop, for iOS and Android.

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Facebook passes Yahoo, becomes world's third largest website

It was only a matter of time, and now it's finally happened. Facebook has passed Yahoo in traffic to become the third largest website in the world, according to recent numbers from Comscore. Facebook only just surpassed Yahoo, grabbing 648 million visitors compared to 630 million for Yahoo in November 2010, but the overall trend is the impressive part.

The top two spots are still held by Google (970 million worldwide visitors) and Microsoft (869 million worldwide visitors), respectively, though Facebook is rapidly gaining on them. Microsoft has clearly been growing much more steadily in recent months; Google's traffic seems to be flattening out. Facebook is undoubtedly growing the fastest while Yahoo simply isn't growing at all. It looks like the top three spots are going to be changing in the next few months. How and when they change might end up shocking some people.

Three months ago, Facebook passed Yahoo to become the second largest video site. Two months ago, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz admitted that Facebook could one day become Yahoo's number one competitor.

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Financial Times names Steve Jobs Person of the Year

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been named Person of the Year by The Financial Times. Love him or hate him, it's pretty much widely accepted that Jobs has managed to make Apple very successful in the last few years.

"When Steven Paul Jobs first hit the headlines, he was younger even than Mark Zuckerberg is now," according to The Financial Times. "Long before it was cool to be a nerd, his formative role in popularising the personal computer, and Apple's initial public offering on Wall Street ? which came when Mr Jobs was still only 25 ? made him the tech industry's first rock star. Now, three decades on, he has secured his place in the foremost ranks of the West Coast tech titans who have done so much to shape the world around the turn of the millennium. Long-time nemesis Bill Gates may be richer and, at his peak, arguably exerted greater sway, thanks to his monopoly over the world's PC software. But the Microsoft co-founder has left the stage to devote his life and fortune to good works. It is Mr Jobs who now holds the spotlight."

Last week, Time Magazine named Mark Zuckerberg Person of the Year. Which publication do you agree with, if either?

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IP Telephony and VoIP-Some Questions Asked

Although this is a techhnology dedicated blog, I decided to start a series of tutorial posts about a general technology which is not directly related to Cisco but it is a field in which Cisco is again a major player. This is IP Telephony and Voice over IP (VoIP). The two terms, IP Telephony and VoIP, are related around the same concept but in my opinion they are not exactly the same thing. Many people refer to these two terms interchangeably but they are not exactly the same. So, before moving on lets clarify the difference between IP Telephony and VoIP.


The truth is that despite the long presence of the VoIP technology, its penetration is not very widespread. According to In-Stat/MDR company, in 2004 VoIP was used only by 12% of U.S. businesses, a figure which is estimated to reach 70% this year. At international level the percentages are even lower. It is worth noting that large companies have the highest penetration. Factors related to delay the penetration of IP telephony are issues related to attitude (commitment to traditional technology), while clearly related with the technological immaturity of the technology in some places and the high cost of transition to IP platform. The technology is now mature enough and affordable, so it will also have higher rates of market growth compared to previous years.

VoIP can also be used by legacy TDM based PBX systems to transport voice calls over an IP WAN network or even over the Internet. Special voice gateways are used to connect to the legacy PBX telephone system on one end and to the IP network on the other end in order to translate the TDM voice stream into IP voice packets. So to summarize, IP Telephony is the overall concept of the modern form of voice communication which harnesses the power and features of VoIP technology in order to offer the overall experience of communicating effectively and with lots of extra features.

Bandwidth requirements are critical and are determined not only by the transmission rate of the codec used (from 3-4 to 64 Kbit / sec), but the extra load on the network, called IP headers, and other factors. Due to the presence of pauses during conversations, a technology was developed for detecting voice activity (Voice Activity Detection, VAD). With VAD, bandwidth requirements are reduced roughly in half. Thus, for example, for the G.711 codec with bandwidth of 64 kbit / sec, with the use of VAD technology the total bandwidth for a voice channel will be about 40 kbit / sec.

IP Telephony systems are those using entirely IP packets for voice communication, as explained before. In contrast to packet switched telephone systems (those based on IP protocol), conventional telephone systems apply the logic of direct connection between the two communicating voice parties through a dedicated circuit reserved exclusively for each contact. Thus the term Circuit switched telephone systems. In packet switched systems, however, the same communication line can be used to simultaneously pass different kinds of packets. Thus, the voice packets of one or more conversations may travel through the same route as other packets transferring data, video etc. This is the main difference between traditional telephony which is implemented to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and telephony implementation on IP networks (or more generally to packet switched networks).

MP4 Video Format Makes The MP4 video editor Popular

With advancing technology, digital formats of video and audio in conjunction with their standards are constantly improving to become much improved and efficient form of media files. MP4 is one such recent standard, which uses compression of the improved degree to make quality of video and audio much more enjoyable. What's special is the reduction in size than that of previously popular standards such as MP3. The Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG), the regulatory body for digital media, developed Mp4, the recent development in the compression of AV files. The dynamic capabilities of mp4 enable many different forms of digital media such a still images, audio, video etc to be combined , while concurrently utilize disk space efficiently, ensuring that the available disk memory is not overly used. With Mp4 it is also possible for live video streaming of TV broadcast on Internet and for podcasts.

Mp4 is a compression standard that is way ahead in terms of technological standards of compression when compared to Mp-1 and Mp-2 (MPEG-1 and MPEG-2). Mp4 files are the standard format to store video and audio files in some famous media devices such as , iPhones, iPod, and other related gadgets. The .mp4 file format is an indicator of Mp4 or MPEG-4 files group. The devices using the Mp4 format are versatile to support other formats other than the .mp4 files like the files with 3GP, .Avi can be played. Other applications associated with MP4 format are Winamp, QuickTime and iTunes. Mp4, being the recent addition, can also be edited, by using a editor.

Editing mp4 files means cutting, trimming, and adding. Files containing video and audio can also be separated, so that the audio files can be enjoyed without the video. Mp4 video editors can also edit mp4 files and save them in .avi format, MJPEG, MPG, DVD, 3GP formats are supported, and MP4 video editor can save, and convert from one file format to the other.

There are numerous MP4 video editors found in the market today. Every one of it claim to have its own unique features and benefits. There are a few free versions doing the rounds on the internet, easily available for download but with limited features. But, in general, one is allowed to try the trial version before being prompted to purchase the full version software, only when you are happy with the working of the trial version .
To edit mp4 files sequentially different steps are followed among the different MP4 video editor software. Not all are easy to do but still there are some which may be easy to follow with a wizard to prompt and guide, there are others which require you to manually operate the editing functions. The most popular operating systems- Mac and Windows operating systems as well as other OS support this format. Mp4 files can be played on pplications for instance iTunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and VLC. The avs4you video editor is one of the most popular software out there. Check out the following avs 4 you review for more info and to get a discount coupon.

The benefits of mp4 becomes more obvious when considered how easy it is to send, receive and view video and streaming live pictures on the internet in real time; and also the ability to save such files for future use.

The mp4 file extension has been around since 1998, and by 1999, it became the file extension of choice for internet related transfers. Since then, it has continued to enjoy attention and more followership and usage. And it is an open source system, meaning that anyone that wants to write a program or build hardware is free to use its source codes in such a venture.

Samsung adds USB 3.0, 7200RPM rotation to S2 portable HDD

Samsung has updated its S2 portable hard drive line, adding a quicker interface and spindle speed. The series was bumped to 640GB last year, and this refresh doesn't seem to change anything capacity-wise. However, the company has dropped USB 2.0 in favor of USB 3.0 connectivity.

That probably won't affect real world transfer rates much (if at all), but Samsung says "the on-board USB technology reduces the size of the hard disk casing and delivers reduced power consumption." What will boost performance is the drive's quicker 7200RPM rotation (up from 5400RPM).


The 2.5-inch S2 Portable 3.0 drives come preloaded with software utilities including Samsung Auto Backup, as well as SecretZone and SafetyKey for data encryption and password protection. Both 320GB and 640GB units will begin shipping this month in Europe. Word is mum on pricing and US availability.

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SanDisk unveils stamp-sized 64GB SSD

SanDisk has revealed a new class of solid-state drives that supposedly offers more speed and storage than any competing solution. The firm's integrated SSD or "iSSD" crams up to 64GB of memory into a BGA package measuring 16mm x 20mm x 1.85mm and weighing less than one gram. In more relative terms, SanDisk says that's about the size of a postage stamp and lighter than a paperclip.

Performance-wise, the iSSD peak at 160MB/s sequential read and 100MB/s sequential write rates, which isn't far behind most full-size 2.5-inch SSDs. It actually surpasses a handful of the budget drives listed on Newegg, and it's rather speedy for storage that is largely aimed at compact devices such as smartphones as well as tablets, portable media players, netbooks and smartbooks.


Samples of the iSSD are currently shipping to OEMs in capacities from 4GB to 64GB. The press release notes that pricing is dependent on the order quantity, but avoids mentioning any numbers. The company didn't say when its new drive will enter mass production, nor did it spill the names of any buyers, but you can bet Apple and other large players are preparing their checkbooks.

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Rumor: Nvidia GeForce GT 430 coming in a few weeks

After a less than stellar debut of the Fermi architecture Nvidia finally won us over in the $200 price segment with the GF104-based Geforce GTX 460 graphics card. We've heard a flurry of rumors about lower-end (read: more affordable) derivatives for quite a while, and now, Fudzilla brings word of the latest rumored addition to the lineup: the GeForce GT 430.

The new card will reportedly arrive "in a few weeks" featuring a 700MHz core clock speed, a 900MHz memory clock, and a 128-bit memory interface. Although the number shaders is not mentioned, the GT 430 is most likely to be based on the GF108 graphics core, which is believed to sport 96 shader processors and should be targeted at the sub-$100 market. That said, Fudzilla is still trying to find out whether the card will be a retail product or an "OEM only" card available in pre-built PCs.

Other products reportedly in the pipeline include a 512 SP card based on the original GF100 core, as well as the GTS 450, 440, and 445 cards powered by the mainstream GF106 chip, with the GTS 450 expected to arrive in mid-September.

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AMD defends CPU market share with new round of price cuts

AMD has quietly reduced prices for a handful of its desktop Phenom II and Athlon II processors this week in an attempt to defend its market share against competition from Intel. The discounts apply mostly to the higher-clocked options in each processor class. For example, those looking to build an affordable quad-core system can now get their hands on the 3.0GHz Athlon II X4 640 for just $100 -- an 18% drop from the previous price of $122.

The Phenom II X4 955 and 965 Black Edition processors are also getting $20 price cuts to $145 and $165, respectively. The latter of these already ranked among the top choices in our recent $100 - $200 CPU round-up, but the new price could certainly help it compete against Intel's well-regarded Core i5 750. Meanwhile, the 3.2GHz Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition has dropped from $105 to $93, the Athlon II X3 445 now costs $76, and a pair of Athlon II X2s also received minor cuts.

AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 CPUs remain unchanged, however. Overall, there isn't much to get excited about, but it's always good to see AMD keeping the pressure on Intel with aggressive pricing on their budget and mainstream parts.

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AMD makes small gains in notebook CPU market

Market research group IDC has put out a new round of quarterly numbers for the x86 processor market, which Intel continued to rule all across -- no surprise there. Worldwide shipments and revenues in general showed uncharacteristic growth during the second quarter of 2010, according to IDC, with mobile units rising while desktop parts fell. AMD did particularly well in the first segment due largely to the arrival of its Nile and Danube mobile platforms.

Specifically, AMD's share of laptop processor shipments increased to 13.7% in the second quarter, from 12.1% in the first quarter and 12.6% a year earlier, while Intel's share dropped 1.7% sequentially and 0.8% year-on-year to a still dominant 86.1%. It was a different story in the desktop and server segments, where despite aggressive pricing and good price vs. performance ratio AMD continued to lose ground while Intel further cemented its No. 1 position.

Taken as a whole, AMD actually gained slightly to an overall x86 market share of 19%, thanks to its strong performance in the notebook segment. Intel saw a similarly small drop to 80.7% and Via accounted for a small 0.3%. IDC forecasts a major yearly growth of 19.8% for the CPU industry in 2010 after a recession hit 2009. It'll be interesting to see how -- or if -- these numbers are affected a few months from now with the release of Intel's Sandy Bridge and AMD's Fusion chips.

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ADATA announces USB 3.0, SATA II dual-interface SSD

ADATA has announced the release of a new solid-state drive equipped with both USB 3.0 and SATA II interfaces. Like Super Talent's recently announced UltraDrive MX, the new N004 can double as an external or internal drive, allowing users to install it as their primary drive or take it on the go. However, the latter stands out for its support of USB 3.0, which means you'll be able to take advantage of faster transfer rates when using it as a portable storage device.

According to ADATA the N004 boasts blazing transfer rates up to 200MB/s and 170 MB/s in sequential read and write performance, respectively. It is housed inside a 2.5-inch 'plush' aluminum case colored in sapphire blue, offers up to 256GB of storage capacity, and comes bundled with ADATA's UFDtoGO and a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2010. Unfortunately, no pricing or availability information has been announced at the moment.


As Super Talent pointed out when releasing their UltraDrive MX, one particular area of usage where dual interface drives might come in handy, is for users looking to transition from traditional storage to SSD, allowing them to create an image of their internal HDD using the USB connection and then swap it out with the much faster SSD.

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Amex Digital intros tiny 1080p media player

Amex Digital has introduced what it says is the world's smallest 1080p media player, the MP-501. The gloss-coated device measures a discrete 175mm x 128mm x 15mm (around 6.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches) and weighs 250 grams, but still packs the basic functionality of larger media players.

The MP-501 is powered by an ARM Cortex-A8 processor and it seems to be compatible with seemingly every major media file, including MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG, AC3, JPEG, GIF, TIF, BMP, PNG, AVI, MPEG, VOB, MKV, as well as playlists and subtitles. Supported drive formats include FAT32, NTFS, and HFS+.


The front has an SD card slot and a standard USB 2.0 port, allowing you to attach portable storage devices, while the rear is populated with HDMI and composite audio/video outputs, as well as a mini USB port. There doesn't seem to be any network connectivity, but that's forgivable with a $49 price tag. No word on when or where it'll ship.

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Apple looking to identify iOS users via heartbeat, more

Apple has applied for a patent on a method to differentiate between users of an iOS device. Titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unathorized Users of an Electronic Device," the patent describes various ways a device could recognize users, including voice print and heartbeat analysis, facial recognition, and even some form of detection system for "suspicious behavior" (read: jailbreaking, unlocking, hacking, or removing a SIM card).

Such a feature would have many practical applications, not least in security. For instance, an iPhone could lock itself if it detected an unauthorized user and notify the owner by calling or sending an email, not to mention the ability to provide GPS coordinates. It might also be handy on shared devices, like iPads, which are commonly used by more than one person. Different settings and profiles could be applied on the fly for each person.


On the less innocent side of things, Apple is generally recognized as a control freak and you have to wonder whether such a mechanism would be used against jailbreakers. The US Library of Congress recently updated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with various exemptions, including a few lines that effectively legalize jailbreaking and unlocking cell phones. Apple responded by reminding users that jailbreaking an iPhone voids its warranty.

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Microsoft unveils Age of Empires Online, Microsoft Flight

Besides announcing the first wave of Xbox Live games to arrive for Windows Phone 7 devices this holiday season, Microsoft also took the opportunity at GamesCon 2010 to revive some classic PC franchises. First up is Ensemble's popular Age of Empires series, which will return set in a persistent online world shared with friends and rivals around the globe, combining old school real-time strategy with massively multiplayer online game elements.

That means player-versus-player mode as well as cooperative multiplayer quests, trading, and a level-based system that lets you progress at your own pace. The free-to-play game is themed around Ancient Greece and features a more colorful, cartoony visual style compared to previous games in the series -- presumably to keep system requirements low.

Development is being handled by Robot Entertainment, which is staffed almost entirely by ex-Ensemble Studios developers, who in turn made all previous Age Of Empires titles before Microsoft shut them down in 2008. Go figure. Age Of Empires Online will launch exclusively for Microsoft's Games for Windows - Live platform some time in 2011, but you can already sign up for a chance enter the public beta set to begin later this year.

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Another classic making a comeback after being shut down early last year is the popular Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. Not much has been revealed other than a short teaser trailer and a name: Microsoft Flight. We are not sure what the axing of the word "Simulator" from the title means for flight enthusiasts who cherished the series' realism and customizability, but it seems Microsoft may be aiming for a broader audience with this release.

According to the company's own words: "Microsoft Flight will bring a new perspective to the long-standing genre, welcoming everyone, including long-time fans, to experience the magic of flight."

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Rumor: Google Chrome OS tablet coming November 26

It was rumored in May that Google was developing an iPad rival, and an unnamed tipster cited by Download Squad has shed more light on the project. The device will supposedly use Chrome OS and it's being built by HTC, the same folks who made Google's Nexus One smartphone. Unsurprisingly, the tablet will use Verizon's wireless network, and it could be heavily subsidized or even free when purchased with a data contract. Note: the picture is a mock-up.


Download Squad speculates Google's slate will use Nvidia's Tegra 2 platform and carry a 1280x720 multitouch display, two gigs of RAM, a 32GB SSD (at least), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE connectivity, along with GPS functionality, a webcam and expandable storage -- but that's not from the source. However, the insider did say the release date would be November 26, which just so happens to be Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in the US.

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Shuttle ships ultra-compact XS35 nettop series with Ion 2

Shuttle has launched its latest ultra-compact nettop PC, the XS35. Already on virtual shelves around the Web, the 1.5-inch thick machine comes in three preconfigured flavors to accommodate various budgets: one "made for every day" ($220) another "for media" ($280) and the last is "for HD" ($380). They're all outfitted with a dual-core 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 CPU, built-in 802.11n wireless, five USB ports, VGA-out, and a 4-in-1 card reader.


The least expensive model (XS35-702) uses Intel's integrated GMA 3150 graphics and has 1GB of memory, 160GB of storage, and an empty optical drive bay. At the midway point, the XS35-704 gets you 2GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, and a DVD drive, while the XS35GT-804 throws in Nvidia's Ion 2 GPU and a 500GB hard drive. All are passively cooled (no fans), can be mounted behind a flat panel display, and the latter can handle 1080p video.

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Toshiba storage breakthrough could bring 10TB HDDs

Toshiba has announced a storage breakthrough that it will demonstrate today at a conference in San Diego. By using a technique called bit-pattern recording, the prototype to be shown boasts an areal density of 2.5Tb per square inch. That's about five times more than the company's existing products, meaning three-platter 10TB hard drives are entirely plausible, and Toshiba is working on doubling that density to 5Tb per square inch -- just when we thought HDDs were on their way out.


Today's drives have a uniform magnetic coating that makes up the recording surface and each bit of data is stored in hundreds of grains across the disk. Bit-pattern media is more efficient. It breaks that recording surface up into numerous magnetic "bits" consisting of a few magnetic grains. Each "bit" holds one bit of data and they are organized into rows. The gaps between those rows act as markers, allowing data to be located quickly. Toshiba expects the technology to appear in hard drives as early as 2013.

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Weekend game deals: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. SoC & CoP for $10

It's Friday again, and you know what that means don't you? It's time for digital game peddlers to seduce you with bargain basement prices! As usual, we've collected sales from a handful of popular online stores. If you'd like to see another dealer included in the listings, let us know about them in the comments. Oh, and be sure to share any game sales you spot.

Steam
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat and Shadow of Chernobyl $10 (75% off)
Global Agenda $30 (25% off)
Avencast: Rise of the Mage $5 (50% off)
DogFighter $8.49 (50% off)

More game deals after the jump.

Impulse
Resident Evil 5 $25 (50% off)
Street Fighter IV $15 (50% off)
SimCity Societies $10 (50% off)
Flatspace I & II $6.49/$12.49 (both 50% off)
Zombie Shooter 2 $6 (40% off)

Direct2Drive
Men of War $7.50 (50% off)

Good Old Games
Gamescom weeklong promo, up to 40% off the following titles: Gothic 2 Gold Edition, Painkiller Black Edition, Realms of Arkania 1, 2 and 3, Spellforce Platinum, and The Guild Gold Edition -- all for $32.94, or $19 off.

EA Store
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 $20.07 (33% off)

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Valve: Steam for Linux isn't being developed

Evidence of a Linux Steam client surfaces every few months, sprinkling hope throughout the neglected penguin gaming community. The proof is usually limited to a trace of Linux code in Valve's software or a seemingly related job listing. A pending Linux release seems plausible because Steam was recently brought to Mac OS X, but the developer's lips have been sealed until now. In a recent sit-down with GameIndustry.biz, Valve marketing VP Doug Lombardi commented on the hearsay.

"There's no Linux version that we're working on right now," said Lombardi. Of course, there could be plans for a Linux port down the road, but don't expect anything to materialize in the very near future. Valve's Jason Holtman also partook in the two-page interview, which covers topics ranging from Steam for Mac to Portal 2's launch expectations. You'll have to register to read the complete dialogue, but it's free and only takes a moment.

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Valve sets February 9 release date for Portal 2

Countless release dates have poured out of Gamescom in the last week, including Crysis 2, Rage, Dragon Age II, and now Portal 2 has joined the party. After delaying the title from holiday 2010 to an ambiguous 2011 release window and cancelling its E3 press event, Valve has finally secured a precise launch day for the first-person puzzler: February 9, 2011. That goes for all platforms, including PC (both Windows and OS X), Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

The sequel takes place hundreds of years after the original, but players will still control the same character, Chell, who was apparently in stasis for that timeframe. Awakened by one of GLaDOS' personality cores, Chell inadvertently wakes GLaDOS and thus begins the twisted journey of dodging personified turrets and escaping deathtraps. Besides polished graphics and co-op, Portal 2 features new gameplay elements including tractor beams, paint-like gels and more.

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Weekend Open Forum: The most underrated video games

It's a cold hard fact of life: we can't all be winners. No matter how fun or unique a video game may be, the reality is, there's a chance it's destined for the eternal void that is Best Buy's bargain bin. Those odds increase substantially if the title isn't backed with media hype or the marketing budget of a multi-billion dollar publishing conglomerate. Even then, undeservingly harsh critics can steer consumers in the wrong direction. And sometimes, by the mysterious workings of an unjust universe, awesome games just slip between the cracks.


Whatever the case may be, we know there are hundreds, if not thousands of gems that have been tragically overlooked -- and you've undoubtedly come across at least one. A few examples from the last decade include Psychonauts, No One Lives Forever, and more recently, The Saboteur. Although we generally favor PC game discussions, all platforms, generations and genres are welcome in this edition of our Weekend Open Forum, so grab your soapbox and tell the world why a certain under-appreciated game deserves a little more attention.

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Tech Tip: Run Firefox 3.6 and Firefox 4 Beta Simultaneously

It's been a few weeks since Mozilla released the first beta of Firefox 4, a major overhaul of the world's second-most used web browser. While we're pleased to report that the performance issues plaguing earlier versions seem to be gone, the latest build isn't flawless ? but what software is, let alone in beta stage?

You will find that a handful of sites and many extensions don't work properly yet, and although that's mostly a non-issue, you'll undoubtedly need a working browser at some point. Sadly, you won't be able to
use your preexisting version of Firefox without closing the beta first, and that can be annoying.


Of course, you could just hop on Internet Explorer, but what orange-blooded Firefox advocate would stoop to such a level? Chrome and Opera are other obvious choices, but if you must have Firefox, there's a very basic workaround that will let you run multiple instances and versions of Mozilla's browser simultaneously. We are using v3.6.8 and the newly released Firefox 4 Beta 2 for testing.

Read our Tech Tip of the Week.

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Amazon overhauls Kindle, adds $139 Wi-Fi model

Facing increased competition, Amazon has revamped its Kindle e-reader, making improvements all around and adding a cheaper Wi-Fi-only model. The new device is 21% smaller with the same 6-inch reading area, 15% lighter (8.7 ounces), 20% faster at page turns (with quieter page turn buttons), and supposedly offers 50% better contrast than any other e-reader. Additionally, it can last for up to a month on a single charge with wireless disabled ? twice as long as before ? and up to 10 days with wireless on. Internal storage has been doubled to 4GB, which equates to around 3,500 books.

There's a handful of software improvements too, such as Twitter and Facebook integration, new functions like dictionary lookup as well as notes and highlights, and it even has an "experimental" WebKit-based browser. In case you're unfamiliar with the Kindle, it's worth noting that it has access to over 630,000 paid books and 1.8 million free out-of-copyright works, and any material downloaded is accessible on iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and Android devices via Whispersync. If you're more into audio books, it also has a text-to-speech option that reads content to you.


The premium model is priced at $189, which includes both Wi-Fi and free 3G connectivity over AT&T's network. Alternatively, there's a Wi-Fi-only model for $139 (which undercuts the Nook Wi-Fi) that doesn't have access to 3G, but can still hop on AT&T's US hotspots. Both iterations will ship to customers worldwide on August 27 in graphite or white, and case options will include one that has a built-in, retractable LED light for late night readers.

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AMD overtakes Nvidia in second quarter GPU shipments

AMD has managed to pull ahead of rival Nvidia in GPU shipments for the second quarter of 2010, according to a new report by Mercury Research. The company was able to grab 24.5% of the total graphics market versus 19.8% for Nvidia. And while Intel remains the undisputable champion, with its integrated graphics chips capturing 54.3% of the market, this is a huge turnaround for AMD compared to the same quarter in 2009, when it held just 18.2% against Nvidia's 29.6%.

Referring specifically to the discrete graphics cards market, the researcher said AMD commanded 51% of shipments during the quarter while Nvidia grabbed a 49% share. Again, just last year they were at 41% and 59% respectively. There are a number of reasons for this role-reversal, starting with the fact that AMD released its first DirectX 11 cards several months before Nvidia. Also, it probably didn't help that the GeForce GTX 480 and 470 cards were heavily criticized for their noise and heat output, while their performance wasn't a great deal better than AMD's offerings.

It should be interesting to see if the trend maintains next quarter with both manufacturers expected to have a fair range of DirectX 11 cards on the market. The GeForce GTX 460 was certainly a step in the right direction for Nvidia.

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Apple intros Magic Trackpad, updates iMac and Mac Pro

Putting an end to weeks of speculation, Apple today released an update to the iMac line while also introducing what it calls the Magic Trackpad, a wireless multi-touch surface that brings MacBook-like gestures to the desktop.

The new iMac all-in-ones sport the same cosmetic design as their predecessors, but they now support Intel's latest dual-core i3 and i5 processors, as well as quad-core i5 and i7s. They also come with discrete ATI Radeon HD for graphics, and if you buy the higher end 27-inch model, there's the option of including a 256GB SSD as your primary or secondary drive. Base prices for the new models -- including a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4000 or 5000 graphics and either a 500GB or 1TB hard drive -- range from $1199 to $1999.


As for the Magic Trackpad, the device is an external surface featuring a smooth glass and aluminum design that basically looks like a bigger version of the trackpad on the MacBook. It connects to a Mac using Bluetooth and enables things like pinch to zoom, two-finger scrolls, rotating an image with fingertips, three-finger swiping back and forth between web pages, and four-finger Expos? triggers. The Magic Trackpad can be configured for single or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. The mouse replacement (or companion) costs $69 and is shipping now.

Last but not least, Apple also unveiled a new 27-inch LED Cinema Display which will be available in September at a suggested retail price of $999, updated Mac Pro desktops with support for up to twelve cores using a pair of hexa-core Xeons, and introduced a AA battery charger for $29 -- yes, you read that right.

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Motorola's Droid X debuts, includes self-bricking 'protection'?

The greatly anticipated Motorola Droid X has officially launched today on the Verizon network -- and it seems the timing couldn't be better for both the manufacturer and the carrier. With so much controversy revolving around iPhone's reception problems and talk of a possible recall, some current or potential AT&T customers may instead turn to this high-end Android smartphone.

The device sports a huge 4.3-inch touch display, a fast 1GHz OMAP processor, 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording, HDMI output, GPS navigation with full turn-by-turn directions, FM radio, 24GB of storage capacity out of the box (8GB on-board plus a 16GB microSD card), and Swype support which lets you "type" faster by sliding a finger from letter to letter.

The Droid X ships with Android 2.1, the second most recent version of Google's mobile platform. But, like many Android phones, it comes with a modified version of the operating system that's exclusive to the manufacturer. There has been some talk that Motorola is using a chip called 'eFuse' to verify that your Droid X is running approved software at bootup or else it could be deactivated.

While the chip is indeed under the hood, there's no evidence that it will be used to brick your handset should you want to root your phone and load Android 2.2 "Froyo" before a Motorola-sanctioned version is out. In fact, the same 'eFuse' chip can reportedly be found on a number of previous Motorola handsets. In any case, the Droid X is available now for $199 after rebate with a two-year contract, and it seems plenty of units will be available to avoid any shortages.

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Apple releases fix for iPhone 4's miscalculated bars

Apple has released an update for its mobile operating system that fixes a buggy algorithm which supposedly causes the iPhone 4 to miscalculate the number of bars it has. The company maintains that iOS 4.0.1 will resolve a problem users have dubbed the "death grip," whereby holding the new smartphone with your finger on a certain spot can degrade, and ultimately drop calls. This has caused quite a stir, even prompting an open letter from US Senator Charles Schumer telling Apple to fess up and provide a real, free solution for the call quality issues.


Despite countless user testaments and a video by Consumer Reports' engineers confirming some form of hardware-based design flaw, Apple insists that you're just imagining things and the new patch will solve your troubles � at least until tomorrow, when the company plans to hold a press conference to further address the matter. In the meantime, you can download the update through iTunes and be sure to share your findings in the comments.

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Συνεργασία Kaspersky-M86 Security

Η M86 Security, με εξειδίκευση στη real-time ασφάλεια και προστασία email, προχώρησε στην επέκταση της συνεργασίας της με την Kaspersky Lab.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, η M86 θα μπορεί να προσφέρει τις δυνατότητες antivirus ελέγχου της Kaspersky Lab στους χρήστες των λύσεων Μ86 MailMarshal SMTP, M86 MailMarshal Exchange και M86 WebMarshal products.

«Η συνεργασία με την M86 είναι πολύτιμη για εμάς, καθώς επεκτείνεται η απήχηση της καινοτόμου τεχνολογίας antivirus ελέγχου της Kaspersky Lab. Η τεχνολογία αυτή ήταν ήδη διαθέσιμη στους χρήστες της λύσης M86 Secure Web Gateway και προσφέρεται πλέον σε ολόκληρη τη γκάμα λύσεων ασφάλειας της εταιρείας», δήλωσε ο Peter Merkulov, Vice-President of the Technology Alliances Business Division της Kaspersky Lab. «Η κοινή προσπάθεια των δυο εταιρειών προσφέρει στους χρήστες των λύσεων της M86 ένα προηγμένο και αξιόπιστο εργαλείο για την εξουδετέρωση απειλών όπως ιοί, worms, rootkits, spyware και άλλα είδη κακόβουλου λογισμικού», συμπλήρωσε.

Η Kaspersky Lab προσφέρει τεχνολογίες antivirus ελέγχου στην Μ86 από το 2006. Η πρώτη λύση της Μ86 που αξιοποίησε τις τεχνολογίες αυτές ήταν η M86 Secure Web Gateway.

«Η συνεργασία μας με την Kaspersky Lab αποτελεί μέρος της δέσμευσης μας για την ανάπτυξη συμμαχιών και την αναζήτηση τρόπων για την παροχή ακόμη πιο ολοκληρωμένων λύσεων στους πελάτες μας», δήλωσε ο Werner Thalmeier, Vice-President of Product Management της M86 Security. «Έχοντας προσθέσει αυτή την κορυφαία τεχνολογία στο «οπλοστάσιο» της M86, είμαστε σε θέση να προσφέρουμε μεγαλύτερη ποικιλία επιλογών στους πελάτες που ενδιαφέρονται να αξιοποιήσουν τις λύσεις ασφάλειας και ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου που διαθέτουμε», συμπλήρωσε.

AMD Socket AM3 Budget Motherboard Shootout

The AMD AM3 platform appears to be the way to go for budget-minded users, and best of all there's a huge range of affordable motherboards to choose from. Because of the way AMD has been forced into playing their cards, it is easy to find and purchase an AM3 motherboard capable of supporting even the latest Phenom II X6 processor for less than $100. Many of these motherboards also boast newly released technologies such as SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0, making them even more attractive.

Today we are putting together a few of these affordable AM3 motherboards to see just how much bang for your buck they offer. The contenders include the Asrock 880GMH/USB3 ($85), Gigabyte 870A-UD3 ($95) and MSI 870A-G54 ($90).


Also as part of our evaluation, we will attempt to unlock the Phenom II X2 555 processor ($100) on each board, essentially obtaining the performance of a $160 part without shelling out the extra cash for it.

Read the complete review.

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Increase 40% profit Nokia

Nokia made its profits rise by 40% compared to a ’ quarter of 2009, reaching in 322 million. euro.

Sales were made at 9,52 billion. the euro, while analysts estimate that it will reach the 9,69 billion. euro.In free fall, the share of Nokia, with losses of 12%, due notice lower earnings estimates but erode forecasts by the group.

The company announced that it expects sales gains 6,7 and 7.2 billion.for the second quarter, while ’ stated that there will be an important limitation of profit margins in manufacturing mobile unit, and lower prices.The profit margin for this unit placed between 11% and 13% from 12% to 14% in the previous estimate.

Study names Avast Free the most popular antivirus

A new study by OPSWAT suggests that free antivirus applications outrank paid versions in popularity among users. While not shocking, it's an interesting discovery considering the fact that most large system builders ship their machines with Symantec or McAfee preinstalled, leaving smaller companies to rely on after-market installs. It's unclear what percentage of the usage is consumers and how much is enterprise-based.

Avast Free is supposedly the most popular software, taking 11.45% of the pie. Avira AntiVir Personal follows with 9.19%, AVG Free has 8.6%, and Microsoft Security Essentials has carved out a handsome 7.48% since debuting late last year. Below the freebies is Avast (paid) with 5.4%, Kaspersky had 4.48%, Norton at 4.24%, and ESET NOD32 claimed 3.84%.


OPSWAT combined different version numbers for each application, but most vendors have a few separate products, which makes the antivirus software chart a bit confusing. That said, things don't change much when you look at vendors. Avast leads with 19.14%, Avira has 11.39%, Symantec takes 10.06%, Microsoft claims 9.29%, while AVG is just below that with 9%.

The research firm also graphed the location of antivirus vendors. Apparently, 52% of those in the study are European, including Avast, Avira, AVG, ESET, Panda, BitDefender, G Data and Sophos. Meanwhile, 31% are located in the US, including Symantec, Microsoft, McAfee, PC Tools and Sunbelt. Numbers aside, what's your preferred antivirus and why?

In addition to using a free antivirus software which is a good starting point in terms of security, another popular option among users includes free or paid vpn tools. These products allow the user to connect to the internet via a vpn server or a proxy server (for HTTP traffic) and thus hide your actual IP address from the websites that you visit.

There are quality VPN products that provide strong encryption and no-logging policy in order to ensure that your privacy remains strong throughout your browsing activities.

The differences between VPN and proxy services is that VPN will encrypt and protect the whole communication from your computer towards the Internet with AES256 encryption (including HTTP, email, ftp access etc). On the other hand, proxy products hide only your browsing activity (HTTP).  

Pentax Optio I-10

Mία καλαίσθητη ρετρό έκδοση της ψηφιακής μηχανής compact PENTAX Optio I-10 δημιουργήθηκε σε μαύρο-ασημί χρώμα.

Μέσα στο εργονομικό μικρό της σώμα ενσωματώνονται προηγμένα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά που προσδίδουν ποιότητα στη ψηφιακή φωτογράφιση. Ο αισθητήρας των 12 Megapixels, η μεγάλη φωτεινή οθόνη των 2,7″ και ο ισχυρός φακός zoom 5x που καλύπτει ένα εύρος από 28mm ως και 140mm συνθέτουν τη βασική τεχνολογική δομή της PENTAX Optio I-10.

Επιπλέον, διαθέτει ισχυρή αντικραδασμική προστασία με κύριο χαρακτηριστικό το σταθεροποιητή με μηχανισμό μετακίνησης του αισθητήρα, λήψη Video High Definition 720p, λειτουργία επέκτασης του δυναμικού εύρους για πρόληψη υπερ- και υπο- εκφωτισμένων περιοχών στην εικόνα, δυνατότητα τηλεχειρισμού και Super-Macro. Η μοναδική λειτουργία Auto Picture της Pentax, αναγνωρίζει το είδος της σκηνής (τοπίο, κίνηση, πορτρέτο κλπ.) και φροντίζει αυτόματα τη σωστή ρύθμιση των λειτουργιών της μηχανής για τα βέλτιστα φωτογραφικά αποτελέσματα.

Δοκιμή δικτύου LΤE στα 1800 Mhz

Για πρώτη φορά στην Αυστραλία, η Telstra μαζί με την Huawei παρουσίασαν με επιτυχία το Long Term Evolution Technology στα 1800 MHz.

Τα 1800 MHz χρησιμοποιούνται για τις υπηρεσίες 2G GSM παγκοσμίως και αποτελούν αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της τεχνολογίας LTE. Καθώς οι πάροχοι προσπαθούν να αναπτύξουν δίκτυα LTE, είναι αναμενόμενο ότι αυτό το φάσμα των 1800 MHz θα συμπληρωθεί από το φάσμα των 2600 MHz και των 700 MHz όπου αναμένεται να γίνει διαθέσιμα μέσω του ψηφιακού μερίσματος.

Ο Michael Rocca, Chief Operations Officer της Telstra, δήλωσε: “η έρευνα των επιδόσεων της τεχνολογίας LTE σε μία ποικιλία από ζώνες συχνοτήτων, παίζει καθοριστικό ρόλο για τη δημιουργία επιλογών ανάπτυξης που θα φέρουν τα καλύτερα αποτελέσματα για παρόχους καθώς και για τον τελικό πελάτη”.

Η Telstra και η Huawei συνεχίζουν να δοκιμάζουν την τεχνολογία LTE προκειμένου να κατανοήσουν τα χαρακτηριστικά και τις εφαρμογές που μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθούν στην εξέλιξη δικτύων «Next G».

Η αξιολόγηση στα 1800 MHz θα περιλαμβάνει δοκιμαστικά στα οποία θα χρησιμοποιούνται κεραίες MIMO καθώς και πολλές κορυφαίες προηγμένες τηλεπικοινωνιακές λύσεις, όπως Inter Cell Interference Coordination για την μείωση των παράσιτων των δικτύων και τη βελτίωση της απόδοσης, και Self Organising Networks, όπου η τεχνολογία LTE βελτιστοποιεί αυτόματα την απόδοση μειώνοντας σημαντικά τα λειτουργικά έξοδα, ενώ παράλληλα βελτιώνει την εξυπηρέτηση πελατών.

Seagate adds BlackArmor NAS 400, ships sans storage

Seagate has added the NAS 400 to its line of BlackArmor servers, which is already home to the NAS 110, 220, 420 and 440. The 400 is identical to the 420 and 440, except it ships without storage, giving you full control over what drives are installed. It supports up to 8TB of storage, Windows, Mac and Linux systems as well as RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and JBOD configurations.

The BlackArmor NAS 4xx products have dual gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, four HDD bays, hardware-based encryption, remote access via any popular web browser, and various business-minded features. For instance, they ship with 10 licenses for backup software along with support for Active Directory 2003/2008 and up to 50 workstations.

Seagate is charging $400 for the NAS 400 and you should save a bit of cash by purchasing hard drives separately. The company tacks on between $200 and $300 for every 2TB HDD, which is far more than you'll pay for something like the Seagate Barracuda LP, Western Digital Caviar Green or similar "eco-class" drives.

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Navigation Smartphone from Garmin-Coldplay

The Garmin-Asus announced its cooperation with the u.s. telecoms T-mobile this spring for the release of Garmin-Asus A50.

This is the first Android-powered smartphone that carries a fully integrated navigation experience.With Garmin, Asus and t-mobile navigation, leadership in innovation of devices and wireless telecommunications respectively, the A50 is ready to provide users the best experience on the location-based services (lbs).

Is The Garmin-Asus A50 gathers two increasingly popular products into a package of State-of-the-art, carrying a rich and unique experience that no other Smartphone or no autonomous navigation device cannot offer ” said Vice President of marketing product innovation of the t-mobile, George Harrison.Is The t-mobile customers looking for smartphones increasingly more and deep integration of Garmin navigation in smartphone features this device helps to do more with one device and ploigiThoyn more simply in their busy lives ”.

Additional information for the series products Garmin-Asus is available at www.garminasus.com.

AMD delivers six-monitor gaming with new Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6

Looking to bring users' gaming experience to a whole new level, AMD today introduced the ATI Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition graphics card. Equipped with six mini-DisplayPorts and 2GB of total frame buffer, this card will allow a massive multi-monitor setup capable of rendering more than 1 billion pixels per second, with each output supporting resolutions of up to 2560 x 1600 -- though six 1920x1080 displays adding up to 5760x2160 seems like the sweet spot.

The Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 is clocked at the same 850MHz core/1200MHz memory as the original card, but with the added memory comes a higher power draw as the Eyefinity 6 board's max TDP increases to 228W. That's 40W more than the Radeon 5870 1GB, but still a fair bit lower than Nvidia'a 250W for the GeForce GTX 480.


To accompany the announcement Asus released its own take on the card and called it the Republic of Gamers 5870 Matrix. As the ROG branding suggests, you can expect some souped-up specs compared to AMD's reference design. Although the memory runs at a standard 4,800MHz, the GPU is pre-overclocked to run at 894MHz, and Asus' Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) will reportedly deliver an average performance boost of 19% whilst gaming at high detail.

Providing the overclocking crowd with a little extra control, Asus has included independent voltage controllers and card-mounted voltage measurement points, as well as a custom cooler that promises greater air flow and temperature drops of at least 13% compared to AMD's reference design. No pricing or availability has been announced.

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Fix Windows XP or VISTA Start-up Problems with Spotmau Powersuite 2010 Tool

If you are facing startup problems with your computer’s Windows Operating System, then Microsoft is providing us many tools to fix the startup problems. For Instance, in Windows NT you can use Emergency Recovery Utility, in Windows 98 you can use MS Config tool, in Windows 2000 you can find Recovery Console, and in Windows XP you can use the System Restore. The only problem however, it is very difficult to understand the working processes of these tools. To fix any start up problems with your computer we suggest you to use Spotmau Powersuite 2010 tool, which will fix the start up problems in all Windows Operating Systems.

What type of problems does Spotmau Powersuite 2010 repair?

As you know very well, a problem related with Windows startup is one of the most difficult problems to troubleshoot and sometimes if you want to fix a startup problem, then you just need to reinstall the OS, but this process is time consuming. To avoid all these headaches, you can simply use Spotmau Powersuite 2010 tool, it will take care of your startup problems.

The Spotmau Powersuite 2010 can repair the following startup problems
• Incompatible/Corrupt/Missing drivers
• Corrupt/Missing System Files
• Corrupt/Missing boot configuration settings
• Corrupt registry files
• Corrupt disk metadata such as boot sector, partition table, master boot record
• Problematic installation updates

How does Spotmau Powersuite 2010 Tool work?

If your Windows Vista, XP or any other Microsoft OS is experiencing a startup failure, you can use the bootable CD which comes with Spotmau Powersuite to boot-up the system. Just insert the CD in the drive and restart your system. You might need to get into the BIOS first to enable booting from CD ROM drive. Spotmau Powersuite 2010 tool is automatically activated and it analyzes the startup log files to find out the problem source and runs some tests to find out the cause of the startup problem. Once it detects the problem, then it fixes the problem automatically.
After successfully fixing the startup problem, it will reboot the system automatically and then update the log file to identify the startup problem and the solution for that.

In case it can’t repair the startup problem itself, then it will guide you how to fix the problem manually.
Spotmau Powersuite 2010 Tool will save you time as well as money.

If you are using Spotmau Powersuite 2010 tool to fix the startup problems of your system, then it will save you from expensive technical support services. If you decide to call for a PC technician or even bring your computer to a repair center, it will cost you hundreds of dollars and several days before you get your PC fixed.

Additional options in Spotmau Powersuite 2010

It has many options such as
• Repair errors and search for missing files
• Increase the hard disk performance
• Uninstall any unwanted programs
• Clean the system obsolete trash and redundant files
• Lock any programs for your personal use only
• Many more features

Conclusion

Spotmau Powersuite 2010 is designed to solve many Windows problems usually faced by us while reducing the burden of user’s as well as administrators. It is not a “miracle CD” but I can guarantee you that it will help you to fix and optimize the majority of computer errors that you may experience over time.

Fujitsu intros super slim LifeBook MH330

It's hard to get excited about a company releasing a new netbook model anymore. After all, most of them feature pretty much the same hardware under the hood. But with a thin and light chassis weighing 1.1kg and measuring less than an inch tall, the Fujitsu LifeBook MH330 might get your attention anyway. The netbook is powered by an Intel Atom N450 processor (1.66GHz, 512 L2 Cache, at 667MHz) and is packing a 250GB hard drive along 1GB of RAM.


It has a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display (with a maximum resolution of 1,024 x 600), GMA 3150 integrated graphics, and plenty connectivity options such as 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 5-in-1 card slot, three USB ports and VGA-out. Fujitsu also included a spill-resistant keyboard, as well as a DVD Sharing application that allows the MF3300 to access the DVD drive on your PC.

Perhaps the biggest turn offs besides the paltry gig of RAM are its 3-cell battery and the fact that it uses Windows 7 Starter. Available in black or red color options, the Fujitsu LifeBook MH330 will start shipping in Asia this month for around $500. Interestingly, on a separate note, while Fujitsu is still betting on the 10-inch netbook market, it seems HP and Dell might be cutting back on their investments due to disappointing sales of Pine Trail-based systems.

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PQI launches USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Following up on their Cool Drive U366 announcement late last year, PQI is expanding its line of USB 3.0 compatible devices introducing what they claim to be the world's first 2.5" portable hard drive to support this technology -- though obviously they haven't heard about Seagate's BlackArmor PS-110. Anyway, the drive is called the PQI H566 and theoretically can reach speeds of up to 5Gbps while providing backwards compatibility with USB 2.0.


Real life performance won't be able to get anywhere near that figure, but PQI's H566 should still provide a nice speed boost for those who push around large chunks of data. The drive itself features a sleek metallic silver casing, is available in 320GB, 500GB and 640GB storage capacities and comes with data encryption software Ur Fortress. No word on pricing or availability yet but it shouldn't be long before the PQI H566 starts showing up on various online retailers.

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Voice Recognition Software-Dragon Naturally Speaking 10

Working on the computer all day long can lead to quite a few problems. While there is not much that can be done about tired eyes, Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 can help with sore fingers, wrists and the possibilities of getting carpel tunnel syndrome. Moreover, creating documents with 4 to 5 times faster rate than typing them is another great advantage of Dragon. Speech recognition software is becoming more and more popular, and this is one of the best on the market. Before continuing with our Dragon Naturally Speaking Review, let's talk a little bit about speech recognition software and what you should expect from such a program.

Understanding voice recognition software is all about having the right expectations. While they will eliminate the need to type, they will also have to be trained, and this can take some time. When we talk about "training" we mean to make the voice recognition software understand our voice better and convert our speech into written words with better accuracy. This means that if your speech is not clear enough or your annunciation is not good, the software will have a hard time to get the word right. There is some training that happens right out of the box, but the program will more than likely continue to make some mistakes. The more the program is used and that corrections are made, the more likely it is to get better. So keep in mind the training factor when using Dragon Naturally Speaking 10, although the company touts a 99% accuracy for this particular product (which I believe is valid with the proper training).

Out of the box, Dragon Naturally Speaking is pretty easy to use. The installation goes relatively quickly and the setup does not take very much time at all. The software works on all modern Windows versions (XP, Vista, Win 7). As far as hardware resources needed, the software comes with a microphone headset but requires a PC with 16-bit sound card and a DVD. Even the training process will go fairly quickly. Pay particular attention when training to see how easy the program is actually picking up what you are saying, as this will give you a better idea of the speed at which you can talk when using the program for real.

The software’s pricing depends on which product edition best fits your needs. There are five major editions available: Standard, Preferred, Professional, Legal and Medical. If you only need the tool just for its basic functionality (that is, to type words as you talk using the most popular word processors like MS Word, WordPerfect, Outlook etc), then go for the cheapest Standard Edition. The Preferred Edition includes software voice commands and support for mobile devices. Professional Edition is for office use with its networking and security capabilities, support for filling out forms and for custom commands etc. The Legal Edition and Medical Edition are for lawyers and doctors respectively, as they include extra preconfigured vocabularies with legal and medical specific terms.

I think the biggest drawback of Dragon NaturallySpeaking is the microphone headset that comes with the product. It is recommended that if you do not already have a good headset, get one. You can find a good noise-cancelling microphone for under $20. The quality of the microphone will go a long way in making this software much more effective. The one that comes with the program is of low quality, but that is par for the course with these programs. Do not let the added cost of the microphone deter you from buying the product because it will be the same regardless of the program that is being used. I suggest you to try the included microphone first to see how it works for you, because some people found it ok.

Accuracy is pretty good, but you are going to have to take your time when speaking. They tout 99% accuracy, but this is going to take some time to achieve. Very few of us speak clear enough for the program to truly be able to recognize every word that we say. If you take your time and annunciate every word, after a few weeks the program will do a great job of picking up just about every word. It may not be so much a matter of training the software as it is retraining you on how to speak.

Overall, Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 is about as good as it gets. We consider the microphone inconsequential because every program out there that included one is of low quality. While this headset will serve its purpose, the software is much more effective with a high-quality headset. There is also the price to consider, but you do truly get what you pay for when it comes to voice recognition software. It will take some training, but the software offers the best alternative to typing. Once you become proficient in speaking to the software, 100-120 words a minute with few or no mistakes is very achievable. Actually, this article was created by dictating using Dragon. It made a couple of mistakes but overall I'm very satisfied with this software.

UK research regarding the influence of mobile

A sample of 250,000 people from five countries of Europe will investigate the issue of the effects of radiation of mobile phones.

The long-standing European research examines the relationship between the use of mobile phones with long-term health problems, such as cancer and neurological diseases.

With the organizational research group says that it is the largest group in this research subject, the sample survey for 250,000 people aged 18-69 years old, from Britain, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.

Professor Paul Craig, head of research, said that the previous investigations because it lacked the assurance relating to a period of 10 years."With many cancers to slow to occur with the use of mobile phones is a new on habit, Eliot," there was a need for a more long-term research '.

"COSMOS directed research on a 20, 30 years ', filled in.The World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society and the national Institutes of health around the world have found that the scientific evidence to date does not demonstrate sufficient challenge health problems from mobile phones.

Research will focus on users on the move, with emphasis on the use of the telephone (calls, messages, downloads the content), but also in a position that placed mobile, pants, and Pocket has been maintained or using hands-free.

Intel delays CULV refresh until third quarter or later

"Notebook players" cited by DigiTimes say that Intel has decided to hold off on launching new ultrathin notebook chips until the third quarter. The move was reportedly prompted in part by Acer's decision to reject the CULV chips in favor of Calpella-series processor for their TimelineX laptops. Intel may push the new CPUs back even further, depending on demand, which was lower than expected last year. The company declined to comment on unannounced products.

Ultrathins only accounted for about 10 to 15% of most notebook makers' total shipments in 2009 -- substantially lower than original predictions of 20 to 30%. For example, while ultrathins currently represent 40% of Asus' shipments in Taiwan, and demand is also strong in China, the range only accounts for 15% of the company's global sales. As such, companies are reducing orders to clear out existing stock, and sources expect prices to fall $32 to $95 in Taiwan during the second quarter.

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Sharp shows 3D screen likely used in DS successor

Like it or not, 3D technology is being rolled out this year, and it's not just destined for big screen TVs. Nintendo last month revealed plans to incorporate the technology in a new handset, the 3DS. Today, Sharp unveiled what could possibly be the display Nintendo is using in its DS successor.

Aimed at small devices, the display measures 3.4 inches (480x854), is touch-sensitive, and doesn't require special glasses to view 3D imagery. Looking past its 3D capabilities, the screen can be toggled to 2D, which has better-than-average specs, such as a 500cd/m2 brightness and a 1000:1 contrast.


Having a 3D-ready, glasses-free device in your pocket sounds fantastic, but the technology isn't perfect. Some folks point out that the screen must be viewed head-on and held around 30cm away for optimal 3D effects -- and images are a bit blurry regardless.

Naturally, people don't use handhelds at fixed distances or viewing angles, so using the display could become frustrating.

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Facebook is everywhere

Facebook expands its influence of the Internet through the integration of social services allover the Facebook website.

Speaking at the third annual Conference for developers, California, Zoykermpergk reported that today the Web is like a series of unstructured links between pages. The vision, which called it "open chart ', brings users at the Centre of the World Wide Web.

The example of a member of Facebook who visits the site of CNN, reads a story and then can be seen in a context by which your friends network read and comments on the news. Similarly, a user could visit an online radio station and automatically share the musical preference with the other members of the network.

Essentially, the open chart converts any Web page on the Web in a page of Facebook, he explained. According to the Vice-President of the company, Mike Srepfer, it could make the Web a place where everyone knows, or "like a restaurant that you visit regularly and knows your name. It is a better experience ".

The new Facebook tools enable developers to integrate essential functions relating to the interests of users and to automatically share with friends on other websites.' With such links, many nice things will be possible then", said Zoykermpergk. "People will be able to have direct social and personalized experiences wherever found.

Representatives of the online film database, IMDb, and Microsoft, who owns a small share of Facebook were among the seventy representatives plus other website owners controlling and studying the new tools.

The movement of the Facebook has the potential to bring the service center increasingly personal experiences, but also to divert traffic from other companies on the Internet for users ' attention and of course advertising for money.

Zoykermpergk stated that Facebook is not planning to use the new tools in order to undermine the revenue, but seeks to strengthen ties of human service within Facebook."The more they use Facebook, so it would be the strongest link", he explained.

Toshiba New TV Series

The Intersys S.A., the official representative of household products, Toshiba Entertainment announced today the release of new LCD television series METEOROLOGICAL.

The RV733 series is intended for consumers who value the experience of high-quality images, great usability and extensive connectivity products with an affordable price.The series includes three METEOROLOGICAL models 32RV733, 37RV733 and 40RV733, in dimensions 32, 37 and 40 inch respectively.

Toshiba TVs with screen series RV733 full HD 16: 9 ratio and 1920Ch1080, covering the consumer demands for high quality reproduction of images.The use of technology is feasible Resolution + with MetaBrain Toshiba and allows the label material from sources standard definition (SD) on quality that approximates the high definition, with an improved level of detail in outlines and texture images.

The realistic reproduction of color according to the film standards and high dynamic contrast ratio of 1: 50000 strengthens the feeling that accrues to the Viewer, which is close to the level of quality of high definition (HD), with vibrant images of exceptional clarity.

The processor also offers the operation MetaBrain AutoView ™, which automatically selects the optimal settings for brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpen and saturation of the colors of the image in its original configuration, while continuously adjusts the settings according to the ambient lighting and material displayed on the screen. This allows auto-configure even reducing power consumption.The leveling function of audio Dolby ® Volume ensures constant volume, chosen by the user, even during the advertising breaks or when changing channels.

To meet the increasing requirements for connectivity for consumer electronics, Toshiba has equipped models of series RV733 communication interfaces with numerous: all televisions series RV733 have built-in support for Wi-Fi wireless connection with WLAN USB port via stik.Support WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup allows you to easily add WLAN connections on the home network with a keystroke. Thanks to the certification DLNA (digital Living Network Alliance), the RV733 series devices can be used to share hardware with other digital devices to an existing home network.

In addition to wireless networking, all models of the series is equipped with two USB ports and two Scart, one PC, LAN port for connecting output jack for audio, digital audio output ports, component video input and DVB common interface slot. To receive uncompressed signals from a source, the television series RV733 is equipped with HDMI slots 1.4 (high definition Multimedia Interface).Finally, welcome CI + (common Interface) lets users track subscription channels.

Toshiba effectively reduces negative effects on the environment by restricting the use of lead, mercury and other hazardous substances.15% of plastic accessories made from recycled plastic.The packaging of products made from recycled and recyclable materials.The full disable models of RV733 series allows users to disable fully their televisions instead put into standby mode.The special construction of Toshiba Eco Panel ensures reduced energy consumption, even in a cold cathode tubes (CCFL).

The LCD Panel high semitransparency is lost of reduces by half the required light intensity for the rear lighting, compared with conventional panels.For this reason, the ECO panel works using fewer cold cathode tubes (CCFL) for the rear lighting from conventional LCD Panel.Because of all these efforts to integrate environmentally friendly technology, television series RV733 have the European eco-labelling Eco flower for sustainable products.

Characteristics

• Full HD LCD with 16: 9 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Processor MetaBrain
• Resolution + signal upgrade Technology
• Operation for optimized image settings AutoView
• Operation of Dolby Volume
• Sound Navi Mode
•: 4 X HDMI, USB, 2 × 2 × Scart, Component Video, LAN port
• Operation of REGZA Link (HDMI-CEC)
• Instaport
• DVB-T, DVB-C
• Welcome CI +
• Direct connectivity with wireless WiFi network and support WPS for easy configuration
• Support to the wall or placement at a fixed or rotating basis
• Full disable Option

Super Talent launches budget SSD line starting at $65

Super Talent has launched a new budget line of solid state drives that will compete against similar offerings from Intel, Kingston and OCZ. Starting at $65, the new VSSD range promises an affordable way into the flash storage world with "no compromise in performance" -- but before you get too excited we should note that there will be a compromise in capacity. That price will get you 8GB of storage, or half the minimum required for a 32-bit installation of Windows 7.


It won't exactly deliver on the performance promise either, with sequential read and write speeds of 90MB/s and 30MB/s respectively. A 16GB model will offer the same read and write speeds as the 8GB unit, while the larger 32GB drive will raise them to 150MB/s and 60MB/s, and a range-topping 64GB model offers 150MB/s and 100MB/s. You can expect to pay $175 for the latter, which puts the drive up against Kingston's equivalent SSDNow series offering.

Unfortunately, no specific pricing is mentioned for the models in-between. For your reference, Intel is offering the 40GB X25-V with read and write speeds of 170MB/s and 35MB/s for around $120, while OCZ has the 32GB Onyx delivering 125MB/s and 70MB/s speeds with a price tag of just under $100.

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Growth of 13% for IBM

Analysts estimate that Challenged IBM is presenting increased sales and profits which are more than expected, and despite the crisis.

Sales in the business sector in hardware and software went unexpectedly positive with the result that the net profit of IBM to experience enhanced 2.6 billion USD or $ 1.97 per share, from 2.3 billion USD or $ 1.70 per share for the corresponding period last year.

The company recorded revenue growth of 5%, reaching to 22.9 billion dollars. The gross margin stood at 43.6% from 43.4%. The Administration has upgraded the IBM estimates for the entire year by reason for profits which will reach the 11,20 dollars per share. The analysts in a poll of Thomson Reuters expected net profit of $ 1.93 per share revenues amounting to EUR 22.8 billion.dollars.

Memristors could make CPUs and RAM obsolete

Dubbed the "memory of the future," a new type of integrated circuit combining resistors with memory capabilities was recently shown off by HP and touted as a possible alternative to transistors in both computation and storage devices. Today, these functions are handled by separate chips, meaning data must be transferred between them, slowing down the computation and wasting energy. Could this new tech mean the unification of memory and CPU?


In simplest terms, transistors are the on/off mechanisms which allow CPUs to compute and memory to store data. CPUs are often made with tens or even hundreds of millions of transistors. As the performance and capacity of devices increase, so do the number of transistors. Memristors have the potential to fundamentally change circuitry by performing the same duties as the transistor, but more efficiently and occupying far less space.

They also provide some unique properties such as three-dimensional stacking, faster switching, retention of off/on states without power and a proven durability which exceeds hundreds of thousands of reads/writes.

Little more than theory in 1971, the development of actual memristors didn't become reality until 2008 by an HP Labs research team led by Professor Stan Williams. The idea may have been floating around for some time, but finding the processes and materials to physically engineer memristors have remained elusive. A detailed article on the subject can be found here, explaining some of the principles behind how memristors work. If the technology proves viable, it will no doubt become a hugely important breakthrough for our increasingly digital lives -- perhaps in as little as three years.

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NEC incorporates NEC Philips activities

NEC Corporation Announces the full integration of the former NEC Philips Unified Solutions in business, while the name changed to NEC Unified Solutions.

As someone who is no longer 100% in the NEC Group, the new company is the cornerstone of the strategy for the development of the activities of the communications and networking, as well as for the increase in market share in the region of Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).

Global development Strategy
NEC Unified Solutions leverages the powerful product mix UNIVERGE cater the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve the infrastructure of communications, with a view to adopting solutions based on unified communications.

Smooth transition
Regional and domestic sales organizations are expected to benefit from common solutions and synergy is the One NEC ”, around the globe use of Mobility and unified communications applications developed in Europe, such as the IP DECT and Business ConneCT.Also, research and development of the NEC Unified Solutions in line with those of NEC worldwide, forming a world development with land from Japan to Australia, the USA and Europe.

The integration of the former consortium of NEC Philips in the NEC Group was the intention of NEC Corporation and Royal Philips Electronics since its creation in 2006.Since then, the Consortium has been consolidated within the wider group of NEC that activities, the wider range of products and the long-term evolution to comply fully with the strategy and plans of NEC.The headquarters of the company remain in Hilversum, the Netherlands, while there were no changes at the level of administration.

Gateway FX 6831-03 Gaming Desktop PC Review

While many hardcore gamers and hardware enthusiasts will tell you it's better to build your own rig, some still choose to go with a custom-built model from a recognized brand name. These often come attached to higher premiums, but also to comprehensive customer support and warranties covering the entire system, plus the peace of mind of not having to deal with any troubles that may occur while assembling it piece by piece.

The Gateway FX 6831-03 on our test bed today features an Intel Core i7 860 processor operating at 2.8 GHz (up to 3.46 GHz with Turbo Boost), a whopping 16GB of DDR3 memory, 1.5 TB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive and an ATI Radeon HD 5850 graphics card with 1 GB of onboard memory.


Priced at around $1,650, the Gateway FX6831-03 is aimed at those who want a very capable gaming system that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. It is more of a "budget" system in the larger arena of gaming rigs, which can cost you upwards of $5,000, but its hardware should be able to deliver enough performance to handle any game you throw at it with little effort. Read on as we put this system through its paces and explore its features inside and out.

Read the complete review.

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New Sony headset for iPod/iPhone

Sony gives you the ability to choose between four high quality headphone models, which are specially designed for your iPod or iPhone.

Sony MDR-E 10ip

New models DR V150iP, MDR-E 10iP and MDR-ex 38iP, offer a major upgrade in sound quality when you listen music by headphones that came with your music player.

Additionally, all models have control over the connection cable (in-line) so you can have the main functions of iPod or iPhone literally at your fingertips, while you are jogging, you're on the road or resting. The small and discreet controller makes it easy to adjust the volume, play/pause functionality, skipping (skip track) and controls the unique operation VoiceOver of iPod shuffle. All this is complemented by a built-in microphone, you can use as a hands-free for you, if you have connected your iPhone.

Now there is a pair of headphones ‘ made for iPod ’ that matches exactly with the requirements of each lover of music, with in-ear design or over-the-ear and in a variety of colors. All models are compatible with: iPod shuffle (3rd generation), iPod Nano (4th and 5th generation), iPod classic 120/160GB (2009), iPod touch (2nd generation) and iPhone 3GS.

MDR-ex 38iP
The model MDR-EX 38iP in white or black color allows you to enjoy your favorite music with more style. The high-quality headphones with in-ear design and Neodymioy units of 9 mm. for rich, deep bass. The three levels of covers from hybrid Silicon pairs are of different sizes and ensure the safe and comfortable ear headset application.

Dr-V 150iP Sony MDR-v 150ip

Specially designed for DJ 's, Dr-V 150ip is a pair of headphones, dual-use items that return a lucid and striking sound when using them for mixing music tracks for possible Club.Away from the club have equally high-quality sound when connect with your iPod or iPhone.The unit of ferrite 30 mm. guarantee ample power and deep bass.There is a wide adjustable head for RESTful bracket using even boring appearance, while rotating DJ Headphones allow the use of a single unit when you're behind the decks.

MDR-E 10iP
Audible MDR-E 10iP, style, and in many colors, maintain excellent value for money, while enabling young filomoysoys to express their personal tastes, listening to their favorite music.There are four modern colors from which to choose (pink, Purple, blue and green) to match your iPod or iPhone.The unit Neodymioy of 13.5 mm. will your spare crisp sound, while the soft cushions for ears – designed to fit smaller ears – will enable you to have a very comfortable listening.

The new headset Dr-V 150iP, MDR-E 10iP and MDR-ex 38iP from Sony will be available on the market in May 2010.

Nokia offers free music

Noki will offer free music via their mobile phones in China, in an attempt to compete with the popular iTunes Apple in emerging markets.

The largest mobile phone company in the world offers free downloads of music, with a view to enhance sales of devices in the market of China and to support the prices of mobile phones.

However, the Finnish group is likely to be paying an amount in music distribution companies. With more than 700 million subscribers, China is the largest mobile phone market by users.

Apple iPhone OS 4.0 to finally enable multitasking

It's official: Multitasking is finally coming to the iPhone with an upcoming firmware update -- and therefore to the iPad and iPod touch as well. Speaking at their scheduled iPhone OS 4.0 event this morning, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs announced the long sought feature and acknowledged customer demands saying: "we weren't the first to this party, but we're gonna be the best. Just like cut and paste." Unlike other devices, their implementation will supposedly enable users to do more than one task at once without hurting battery life or performance.

Basically they are providing background services to applications for seven specific actions or areas: audio, voice over IP, location services, push notifications, local notifications, task completion and fast app switching. Although the method is not considered 100% true multitasking, it will enable things like streaming music through Pandora on the background while checking your mail, or receive calls from services like Skype even when they are not actively running.


Turn by turn navigation apps can use background location to provide directions, while continuing to perform other tasks, and location-aware social networking applications like Loopt won't require GPS to be always-on. A fourth and fifth enhancement relates to the company's existing push notification service and a new "local notifications" service that bypasses Apple's servers. Task completion will enable an app to start a job and finish it after the user has closed the app, and fast app switching allows an app to save its state, stop running, and then restart instantly where you left it.

For users, multitasking will reportedly work transparently and fast -- simply double-click the home button and a tray showing all running applications will open. The functionality was highlighted by Apple's chief executive as just one of the top seven "tent pole" features of the new release, along with hundreds of other user features and 1,500 new APIs for developers to leverage in their apps. Multitasking will work only in the iPhone 3GS, iPad and third-gen iPod touch.

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The new Twitter home page

The old home of Twitter, recently gave way to a new page, more dynamically designed and ready to attract more users.

While the previous design made it understandable what Twitter is, the new page in the form of a horizontal scroll with current discussion topics, recent tweets of best-rated users, and a description for the operation of the micro-blogging service is even better.

Nevertheless, there are few people who consider that the new theme looks a little strange: Twitter is a rich source of instant information. Stay informed. Keep informed with others. It is not a complex thing. You select and modify any part of the service. 'Many people. We would be happy if you join us … '.

Twitter gives rather less emphasis on dimensions of service as a social networking site. While the slogan is ' share and discover what happens here, now and throughout the world', with this communication they want to stress out that the status updates are not ' spearhead '. It is noted that the new homepage has links which refer to section frequently asked questions (FAQ) for entrepreneurs.

Reduction of the market share of Google

ComScore has released statistics data for traffic and usage of search engines for the month of March in the United States.

The total volume of searches for the specified period increased by 7.6%, reduced by 10.4% from traffic occurred in February. In addition, the overall growth in the first quarter of year decreased compared with the fourth quarter of 2009, from 15,8% to 10.1%.

The most important element resulting from the latest data from ComScore, is that Google's domestic market share declined from 65.5% in February, to 65.1% in March, despite an increase of total searches. Google however continues to grow at double-digit rates.

Next was the lost in Google's market share which is transferred to the two predominant competitors, Bing and Yahoo. The first saw the market share of it increased by 11.5% in February to 11.7% in March, while the second won 0.1% over the same period, reaching 16.9%.

From the other search engines, network Ask increased its market share to 3.8%, from 3.7% in February, while AOL's search engine remained stable at 2.5%.

EVGA unveils water cooled GeForce GTX 480 and 470

After a long wait and repeated delays Nvidia finally launched its next-generation Fermi architecture last week with the GeForce GTX 470 and 480 graphics cards. But while the company was able to regain the single-GPU performance crown, it came at the cost of a very high operating temperature. Therefore looking to protect your investment and help you avoid any hardware damage from overheating, EVGA is releasing a pair of water cooled solutions.


The GTX 470 and GTX 480 Hydro Copper FTW drop the large heatsink with the loud fan and will instead hook up to your liquid cooling system, while still featuring a rather high factory overclock -- and a premium price tag to go with it. Both cards get a 50MHz speed boost to achieve 650MHz and 750MHz core clock speeds, respectively. Shaders and memory have also been bumped to 1300/3402MHz on the GTX 470, and 1500/3800MHz on the higher end GTX 480.

It's interesting to see these cards announced already given that Nvidia said only models based on the reference design would be available at launch. In any case, the GTX 480 Hydro Copper FTW is set to sell for $650, while the GTX 470 HC FTW is $499 -- which is actually not too bad considering water blocks can easily reach prices around $70-100.

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