Month: February 2008

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Symbian cuts off the impotents of iPhone and Android

 symbian_os

More than 22 million Symbian phones shipped in the fourth quarter of 2007, making a total of 77 million in the year, and bringing in $349 million in royalties for the year

The Symbian operating system grew 50 percent over 2007, and is well placed to grow in future, according to the Symbian chief executive Nigel Clifford – who shrugged off Google Android, Apple iPhone and Microsoft Windows phones at Mobile World Congress.

But Symbian is making its operating system cheaper, in order to reach beyond the smartphone sector to lower-cost phones, which are expected to grow much faster than any other kind of device in the next few years.

source:pcworld 

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Vista SP1 Prerequisites Rolled up in Patch

Vistas1

Microsoft included a set of nonsecurity updates that prepare customers to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 as part of its monthly “Patch Tuesday” security fixes.

Two of three prerequisite updates needed to install SP1 are hitting Microsoft’s Windows Update for the first time today, along with the usual batch of security updates it releases every month.

KB937287 is an update to Vista’s servicing stack, and KB938371 is a multicomponent update, according to the blog post attributed to Nick White, a product manager on the Vista team. Both must be installed before a machine can successfully be updated to Windows Vista SP1.

The technologies — called KB937287 and KB938371 — are marked “Important” and will install automatically if a Windows user has Windows Update set to the recommended configuration, according to a post on the Windows Vista team blog.

The third prerequisite to installing SP1, KB935509, also is being released through Windows Update Tuesday. However, that technology is an update of a previously released technology, not a brand new release.

source:pcworld 
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Sony Ericsson W980i Walkman Phone

sony-ericsson-w980i

Sony Ericsson has announced a new addition to its Walkman phone family – W980i, which designed to allow users to listen to music as it should be heard, featuring Clear Stereo to play music just like the original recording, and Clear Bass to deliver distortion free sound even at higher volumes.

According to the company, “The Walkman on Top feature on the W980 gives you the full functionality of a Walkman player without even having to open your phone. The entire Walkman player that would normally be displayed on the inside of your clamshell is also replicated on the outside of the phone, so navigation through your music library is effortless.”

“The W980 Walkman phone really sets a new standard for music on your phone,” said Ben Padley, Head of Music Marketing, at Sony Ericsson. “We wanted to design a leading music player that we could combine with a feature-packed phone, all the while pioneering an audio experience that always left you wanting more. The W980 will surpass all expectations.”

The new Sony Ericsson W980i Walkman phone which measures 3.6 x 1.8 x 0.7 inches will be available in coming Q3 2008, and the package-included Stereo Portable Handsfree HPM-77 will hit the selected markets from June 2008.

 source:mydigit

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Nvidia Launches Apx-2500 Processor for Windows Mobile

APX 2500

Nvidia Corporation, a world leader in visual computing technologies and inventor of the GPU, has just introduced the APX 2500, an applications processor that enables intuitive 3D user interfaces and high-definition video on connected Windows Mobile phones.

The APX 2500 applications processor can apparently deliver up to 10 hours of 720p HD playback – which would be an industry first for video quality and power consumption on a mobile device. It’s capable of HD video recording with an HD camcorder, and offers ultra high-resolution photo imaging capabilities.

Nvidia has worked closely with Microsoft on the development of APX 2500. The combined engineering efforts of these two industry mammoths will ensure that next-gen versions of the Windows Mobile OS will harness the capabilities of the APX 2500 applications processor to the fullest extent.

Maybe this is what Windows Mobile 7 will be all about!

source:tech2 

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Asus low cost mini-notebooks,Tangent ePC

epc

Wow after HCL’s mini-notebooks, Business and education technology company Tangent has begun selling through computer manufacturer Asus a mini-notebook computer.It is called the Tangent ePC and pricing starts at around $300.

The Tangent ePC, which looks like it will sport the Asus logo on the cover, comes in a variety of colors and incorporates a seven-inch screen. Dimensions are on the small size, with the four models in this line up measuring 8.86- x 6.3 x 0.79-inches and weighing just over two pounds. These are not laptops designed for heavy business use but rather casual applications like Web browsing and word processing.

Other features set to be available on the Tangent ePC include up to 8GB of solid state disk flash storage, 1GB DDR2 memory, Linux, a Web cam, mouse and carrying case. These of course vary depending upon the model. Availability should be now.

source:reuters 

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Free File Clean-Up Tool ‘CCleaner’

 ccleaner

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it’s fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware!

I use CCleaner and I strongly recommend you do, too. That’s because the free utility scrubs your system and removes computer-clogging junk, including files in the temp folder and Internet cache.

What makes CCleaner so cool is that you can customize it so the tool deletes specific files and folders every time it runs. For instance, I have a junk folder that I use for files I need for the day, but want cleared out when I run CCleaner.

Customizing is easy. Choose the Options icon on the left, click Include, and add a file or folder using the buttons on the right. Another handy trick is in Settings: Add a “run CCleaner” context menu to your Recycle Bin icon. That way you don’t even have to open CCleaner; just right-click the Recycle Bin icon and choose “run CCleaner.”

I strongly recoment you to use CCleaner

source:CClean 

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Xperia X1 would put iPhone to shame?

 X1

One commentator hailed Xperia X1 as the new reference in terms of productivity and entertainment, and “the most exciting Windows Mobile phone since the Blackjack 2.”

Sony Ericsson execs call it a “premium” convergence device and forewarn that it won’t be cheap.

But they promise the Xperia X1 mobile phone will be worth every cent you spend on it.

That, of course, is an assertion that is yet to be verified as the device will only be available in North America in the second half of 2008.

However, the information and preview provided during the product’s launch at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday created a buzz that resonated across the Web.

Another observed that X1’s “luscious aluminum shell” and “amazingly sharp display” would “put Apple’s [iPhone] to shame.”

source:pcworld 

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Nokia Struggles With Touch Screen?

Nokia

Nokia is still working on bringing out touch, the company told a disappointed audience at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Apple wasn’t mentioned, but the message was clear–the Mac-maker had an easy time of it developing an iPhone as its first ever telephony product, while the Finnish handset maker has more work to do.

The company also denied a move to Linux following its acquisition of Trolltech, and added pedestrian-focussed GPS to its products.

“We are platformising touch and will bring out touch products this year,” said Niklas Savander, head of software and services at Nokia. He said it was important not to bring out “guinea pig” (other reporters heard “gimmicky”) touch products–and promised a smooth migration path from Nokia’s existing products and the 5000 applications running on mobile phones.

Nokia executives denied the company had any plans for Windows Mobile machines, despite Sony Ericsson announcing support for the Microsoft operating system in a phone announced today.

source:pcworld 

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Demonstrate prototype Google Android phone

Andriod

Google’s Android software platform for mobile phones is coming to life in Barcelona, with a number of chip manufacturers showing it running on prototype or proof-of-concept phones at the Mobile World Congress today.

Freescale, Marvell, NEC Electronics, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments all had Android on show. Most of them expect to see Android phones based on their chips on the market in the second half of this year.

The device will also allow for the integration of different applications, a capability mostly limited to desktop computers. For example, a real-estate agent could combine information from its database with mapping software to let customers easily locate properties on the go, TI said.

The hardware ranged from bulky development boards with daughter cards sticking out at unlikely angles to more compact devices small enough to slip into your pocket. All were built around chips containing processor cores designed by Arm, a British fabless semiconductor company.

Google had said on Friday that while a number of companies would demonstrate Android products at the wireless trade show, the prototypes would give no real indication of the actual devices customers would ultimately be able to buy.

source:pcworld 

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New Sony Digital SLRs With Two Image Sensors

Dslr-sony

Sony’s latest digital SLR models, the and the Alpha DSLR-A350, introduce an innovative, dual-sensor approach to previewing your image in real-time on the LCD screen, just as you can do today with digital point-and-shoot cameras.

Although Sony is not the first company to use two sensors to generate a live preview, the company is the first to offer both live preview and full control of the auto-focus system, including during rapid-fire burst-mode shooting.

Live view remains a relatively new feature on digital SLR models. By definition, with a digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, you see what the lens sees; but, the actual image is captured when you flip up the mirror and open the shutter. In order to offer a live preview of an SLR model, manufacturers have typically had to preview the image off of the same sensor that handles capturing the image.

The first digital SLR with a live LCD preview–Olympus’ $1000 (with 14-45mm lens) EVolt E-330–came out about a year ago. Now, several other manufacturers–including the $1300 (body only) Canon EOS 40D and the $4500 Canon EOS 1D Mark III, and the $1800 (body only) Nikon D300 and $5000 Nikon D3 and Nikon D3–are offering this feature; and the recently introduced Pentax K20D ($1300 body only) that does so as well. The Sony A300 costs $800 for the body only, or $900 for the body plus an 18-70mm lens.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 specifications:

Sensor 14.2 megapixel, 23.6×15.8mm CCD
Lens/Zoom Minolta A-type bayonet mount (Alpha mount)
LCD/Viewfinder 2.7″, 230K-pixel tiltable TFT LCD; Penta-mirror optical viewfinder
Sensitivity ISO 100-3200
Shutter Speed 30-1/4000 seconds
Shooting Modes Not Specified
Scene Presets Not Specified
White Balance Settings Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Flash, Color Temperature/Color Filter, Custom
Metering Modes 40-Segment, Center-Weighted, Spot
Focus Modes 9-point AF system, mode not specified
Drive Modes Normal, Burst
Flash Modes Auto, Fill, Rear Flash Sync, Slow Sync, High-Speed Sync
Self Timer Settings
 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
Memory Formats Compact Flash
Internal Memory
 None
File Formats JPEG, RAW
Max. Image Size Not Specified
Max. Video Size
 N/A
Zoom During Video N/A
Battery STAMINA rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 730 shots
Connections USB 2.0
Additional Features Dynamic Range Optimizer, Super SteadyShot, Live View, Bionz Engine Processor

source:pcworl, digital..