Category Archives: General

General

5 Important Things to Know about Arc Flash

Arc flash is a dangerous type of electrical accident caused when current jumps between voltage levels in an unintended way. The result is a powerful explosion that can lead to serious consequences. These are five important things to know about arc flash:

 

Human Error Is the Most Common Cause of Arc Flash

Some estimates say that about two-thirds of all arc flash accidents are caused by human error. The most common of these situations is when a worker doesn’t follow the protocol for ensuring equipment isn’t carrying a charge. When most people make a mistake at their job, they can just fix it. Arc flash doesn’t give you a second chance. This is an unfortunate reality of working with electrical equipment.

While mistakes on the worker’s part—either due to fatigue or simple oversight—are the most prevalent causes for arc flash, there are several other factors that can lead to it. Faulty components are another major risk. It’s important for enterprises to update any equipment that doesn’t adhere to OSHA standards. You can easily get any replacement parts from a company like Schneider Electric, which will help reduce the likelihood of arc flash.

 

Arc Flash Can Generate Temperatures Hotter Than the Surface of the Sun

Some people simply don’t understand the magnitude of an arc flash explosion. Electrical shock actually isn’t the primary danger of arc flash; burns are. On average, there’s more than one death every day associated with arc flash burns in the United States. Thousands are injured every year by these burns.

Arc flash is capable of creating incredible heat. In some cases, it has peaked at over 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To give you some perspective, the surface of the sun is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

You Need to Wear Special Clothing to Protect Against Arc Flash

Based on the previous point, it’s pretty obvious you don’t want to enter a situation where arc flash might occur wearing shorts and flip-flops. It’s essential for people working on electrical equipment to wear arc flash-protective clothing.

Even though having the proper clothes can help prevent burns, it doesn’t protect workers from all the dangers of arc flash. Hearing loss is a major concern in these accidents, as well as projectiles coming from the explosion area. It’s important for everyone within the immediate area of a potential arc flash site to take precaution.

 

Several Arc Flash Accidents Happen Every Day in the United States

Arc flash isn’t some once-in-a-lifetime event that you don’t really need to take seriously. This phenomenon happens multiple times every day in the U.S. All organizations that use electrical equipment need to consider the risks of arc flash.

The potential damage caused by arc flash can be devastating to individuals and organizations alike. Severe burns, broken bones, deafness, blindness, and death are all possible with arc flash. Even in the fortunate circumstances where no one is hurt in an arc flash explosion, it can still cause massive damage to equipment.

 

Arc Flash Is Almost Always Preventable

As mentioned earlier, human error is the most common culprit of arc flash accidents. While this can seem like a negative thing, there’s actually a positive element to it. Since mistakes are by far the most-cited reason for arc flash, there are steps that can be taken in order to reduce the likelihood of these incidents.

Better training for workers is one of the best ways to reduce the likelihood of arc flash. Make sure anyone working on electrical equipment has a thorough understanding of how to avoid an accident. Fatigue is one of the elements that leads to human error. Implementing protocol that limits workers from having to get into situations where they’re prone to making mistakes can help mitigate arc flash. It’s also management’s role to stay on top of updating and replacing equipment as necessary.

No one wants to deal with arc flash or its aftermath. But this is just a reality when it comes to working with electrical systems. Knowing more about arc flash, however, can help to lower its occurrence.

General, Mobile

The Rise and Power of a Comprehensive Customer Driven Digital Platform

What do the tech companies of today and digital-born organizations all have in common?  

Yes, Amazon, Google, and Alibaba all had a keen understanding of the sheer power of digital technologies. Dig a bit deeper.  Many of the digital companies of today disrupting legacy industries are based on platforms. 

The success of these unicorn companies are based on some core elements: the technology platforms they’ve built, and perhaps more importantly, the innovative business models these platforms enable.

As digital businesses shift away from the traditional business models towards interconnected ecosystems, technology is responding in a similar manner by progressing from siloed technical infrastructure to an ecosystem of enabling platforms.

Platform Takes Center Stage

Digital is increasingly the agent of disruption to the old commercial order and in the hyper-competitive digital economy; enterprises that excel are those that are harnessing the power of platform economics. Google, Apple, Amazon, and Airbnb are all platform companies. In fact, in its 2018 report, Gartner ranks digitalized ecosystems among its top five trends. So, as emerging technologies continue to develop, they will require support from more dynamic ecosystems that are based on new business strategies and platform-based business models.  

These platform-based business models are quickly becoming the foundation of business innovation, with emerging technologies providing the means to develop increased value and create new business models performing at optimal levels of efficiency.

While all of these companies have thrived, the challenge has been to define the platform.  Third-party analysts give various descriptions of the platform. Traditional and ICT manufacturers have launched a variety of “platform” models, but the industry, as a whole, lacks a clear definition.

 

Huawei is positioned as the digital technologies enabler and initiator in the digital platform and uses its digital platform to support the partners’ platforms.

In an effort to define and enable a clearer model of successful transformation, Huawei Technologies recently presented the company’s “power of the platform” approach at Huawei Connect 2018 in Shanghai. Huawei’s new digital platform strategy will enable governments and enterprises to accelerate digital transformation and achieve new levels of innovation and growth.

The X Factor in Digital Platform

Digital transformation cannot be achieved with any one single technology, and the value of the cloud cannot be realized without other technologies. To capitalize on the value of the cloud, terminals need to collect vast amounts of data and utilize networks for transmission. For Huawei, it is this collaboration that is dependent on its cloud-pipes-devices collaboration ability. It also represents the company’s most powerful capability.

With the goal of offering customers a long-term strategy to accelerate digital transformation, Huawei offers a “Digital Platform + X + Ecosystem” approach. This unique method puts the digital platform as the foundation, with new capabilities (the “X”) such as AI, IoT, Big Data, security, ICP, and videos.

Lu Qi, President of the Marketing & Solution Sales Department of Huawei’s Enterprise Business Group, stated at the event that the company’s digital platform offers three core advantages. “It is full-stack, open, and supports enterprises across multiple industries; our digital platform can be used in a wide range of scenarios, as it supports both private cloud and public cloud.”

By incorporating their products and solutions with those from other providers, Huawei is actually able to create an open, win-win ecosystem that offers customers the freedom to use the best solutions for their unique requirements.

Huawei’s Digital Platform Enabling Growth

At Huawei Connect, Yan Lida, President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group, said: “Digital transformation is a complex process which requires a systematic approach and convergence of various technologies to integrate the physical and digital worlds. Huawei is committed to enabling our customers’ platform-based businesses with an ICT platform that allows partners to integrate industry-specific applications. In this way, Huawei’s platform serves as the ‘fertile soil,’ enabling the growth of the industry ecosystem, and promoting digital transformation of various industries with our ecosystem partners.”

Partnerships and Design Thinking

For several years, Huawei has been at the forefront of digital transformation. Huawei is committed to working with customers in the long term and takes a future-oriented approach to drive enterprise digital transformation through the power of the platform. So far, 211 of the Fortune Global 500 companies (including 48 Fortune Global 100 companies) have selected Huawei as their digital transformation partner. This list includes SAP, Accenture, Deutsche Telekom, Volkswagen, Oracle, Honeywell, GM, ABB, Intel, Sony, the Russian Federal Savings Bank, and more.

In the digital transformation journey, Huawei has embraced the vision that partnership and collaboration will be a bigger driving force than the technology itself. By partnering and guiding its customers in their digital transformation journeys, Huawei is strategically guiding each enterprise to their destination. The goal is to be connected, intelligent and cloud-based. Huawei is uniquely positioned to take enterprises on this journey because the company is able to provide a holistic suite of solutions from devices, to infrastructure, to services based in the cloud equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities.

Huawei teams up with customers and partners to create a vibrant ecosystem, meeting customers’ requirements in increasingly complex application scenarios, creating value for customers, and achieving a win-win situation for continuous growth.

Customer-Driven Digital Platform

Achieving positive digital experiences serve as the foundation for successful transformation. Customer experiences serve as the impetus for businesses to innovate, create and measure its overall digital platform strategy.

Designing a successful digital business needs to focus on innovating and attaining new business value, aimed at creating an optimal user experience. Consumers today, demand a faster, simpler, and enhanced digital experience that provides the best product and combines it with stellar service and most advanced technologies. These are all digital platforms that can provide enterprises for agile innovations.

Conclusion

In the next three decades, digitization will reshape every industry, and intelligence will have a profound impact on every enterprise. Digital transformation constantly impacts the way in which companies approach and operate their business. The speed and agility that attract many companies to shift towards digital platforms – which Huawei has done – have spawned new business models that have disrupted the way companies approach the consumer, delivering consistent value to the customer, inspiring enterprises to see beyond short-term gain, opting for long-term value.

In the coming years, the digital platform will continue to revolutionize traditional businesses models. While the digital platform model is still young, it is forcing enterprises to make strategic decisions that will undoubtedly impact the future success and viability of their business.

 

Disclosure: The author is a Huawei Key Opinion Leader and has benefited from their products and services. The opinions of this article, however, are completely his own based on experience.

General, Hardware

5 Battery Myths Debunked

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Your Smartphone, Tablet and Laptop all have one thing in common, a battery. Without it, you wouldn’t even be able to use your device. Because of this, taking care of your gadget’s battery should definitely be a priority. Here we debunk all those myths surrounding batteries and we’ll teach you the proper way to keep your gadget’s battery in tiptop shape.

Myth #1

You shouldn’t keep your gadget charging overnight 

False. I’m sure we’ve all heard about batteries expanding, overheating or even exploding but with the latest technology, this shouldn’t happen anymore. According to Popular Mechanics, “Something that’s not an issue is overcharging. Contrary to what you might think (or have been told), leaving your phone or laptop plugged in all the time is not bad for its battery. That’s because your gadgets, the batteries in them, and the chargers you attach them to are actually pretty smart about the way they do business.”

That means your device is now smart enough to determine when its battery is at capacity that even if you leave it plugged in, it will stop charging once it’s full.

Myth #2

You shouldn’t use your device while it’s charging 

False. People believe that using your phone while it’s charging will make the phone explode or even electrocute the user. An instance of this occurrence happened back in 2013 when a Chinese flight attendant died while using her mobile phone. According to The South China Morning Post, Ma Ailun died of electrocution when she answered her iPhone 5 while it was charging. Although, upon further investigation, they discovered that she was using a knock-off charger. So if you’re using the manufacturer-approved charger and battery then it should be safe to use even while it’s charging.

Myth #3

Heat will destroy your battery 

True. Actually, different temperatures can affect your battery’s health. Leaving your gadget in a warm place can overheat your battery especially when it’s charging since Lithium-ion batteries heat up when they charge. Meanwhile, storing your gadget in a cold place can also affect battery life. A cold battery can die faster than in low temperatures. The best practice is to keep your device stored within its recommended temperatures.

Myth #4

It’s best to turn your gadget off once in a while 

True. Your phone or laptop, like a machine, needs to rest once in a while. According to an article from CNET, the best way to prolong a smartphone’s battery is to turn off the device from time to time. With Apple phones, a weekly shutdown is optimal for your gadget to get its much-needed rest while Android phones can do a simple reboot to restore battery life.

Myth #5

Always do full charge before using it

False. People think that when they get a brand new smartphone, the first thing to do is to immediately charge it until it’s full. Actually, the optimal performance of any smartphone is when the battery is between 40%-80%. So the next time you buy a brand new phone or tablet, you’re usually good to go from there. Also, don’t believe it when they say that you should drain your battery before charging it. There’s no truth in that. Again, like my response to Myth #1, our batteries have now become smarter and more efficient to use.

There you have it! Now you’re more knowledgeable about your device’s battery. The next time someone tells you it’s bad to charge your phone overnight, you can definitely teach him or her a thing or two about battery life.

How about you? Any battery myths you’d like to debunk? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! To avoid battery problems, why not invest in gadget insurance? Guarantees repair or replacement for your smartphone, tablet, etc. in case of battery malfunctions. Invest in gadget insurance today!

 

————————-

Joel Ekstein

Author’s Bio: Joel Ekstein is an eCommerce retail expert with over 12 years experience in the industry. He has had experience in buyer and inventory forecasting, marketing, and expanding customer base in new markets. Instead of the notion that offering 100% customer satisfaction hurts 20% of profit, Joel has proved that 100% customer satisfaction increases customer engagement and customer base which leads to 25% profit increase. http://protect-o.com/| twitter.com/Protect_O

 

 

General, Video

How To Choose Your Next TV

 

With so many options out there, and technology that changes so fast, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the choices.  In this article, We’ll give you advice for deciding on the best TV for you to purchase.

There are three things to look out for when deciding on your next TV set, and those are:

  • 3D
  • size
  • internet connectivity.

In addition to that, with so many 1080p and 4K TVs, and now UHD TVs, choosing  the right size TV is more difficult than ever before.  You also need to consider the size and weight of the TV very closely. However, no matter what television set you have, you can enhance it with Direct TV for your home to get the most out of your viewing experience. Conversely, you must select a package keeping in mind the kind of television set you have. For example, there is no point in paying for 4K content if you do not have a television that can display such such quality.

With older big screen TVs, the clarity was lost the closer you got to them.  Now, technology has advanced so that high-definition big-screen TVs look just as good or better close up.  Screen sizes are getting bigger and bigger.  Now you can get good deals on TVs as large as 90 inches with HD, and 110 inches with UHD.  Consider one of these if you have an extremely large living space to take full advantage of what they have to offer.  You’ll also need a pretty large bank account though.

 

How Do You Measure Up? 

Break out the tape measure before you head to the electronics store.  You need to know just how big a TV your living space can accommodate before you make a choice.  Keep in mind that televisions are measured diagonally, so even a couple of inches can make a large difference in terms of both height and width.

Measuring before you go shopping will also help you in keeping perspective.  It is very difficult to guess which TV will work best when you are faced with an entire wall of them if you have no numbers in hand.  When you approach things in this manner, you are less likely to make a mistake.

In most cases, a bigger screen is better, as very few people spend a lot of time wishing they were watching a smaller screen.

 

Weight 

You need to know if you want to mount your TV, or place it on a stand.  If you are planning on putting it on a stand, you need to know how much surface area you have on the stand, and must be sure that it can support the weight of any TV you have in mind.

If you want the TV mounted on your wall, there are several other factors you must take into account.  You must have a wall mount that is strong enough to support the weight of any TV you are considering.  That mount may also need the wall mount to be anchored to studs in your wall.  The last thing you need is your your expensive new TV to fall and break because your drywall gives way.

In general, you can expect most flat screens to weigh around 45 pounds.  That number can increase with larger screens and display size.  Edge-lit LEDs are the lightest, around 25 pounds, while UHD displays will add more weight to the equation.

Take all of these factors into account when you go shopping for a new TV. There is a number of options out there which is why it is important to act wise.

 

[Image by Adrian Black via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/5ggqca]
General

MtGox Finally Makes a Public Statement About Its Shutdown

bitcoins

MtGox, the bitcoin exchange site that handled most of the bitcoin transactions online, and whose website went down on Tuesday after a ‘Huge Theft’ has just released a new statement clarifying the current situation. Here is the short statement in full:

Dear MtGox Customers,

In the event of recent news reports and the potential repercussions on MtGox’s operations and the market, a decision was taken to close all transactions for the time being in order to protect the site and our users. We will be closely monitoring the situation and will react accordingly.

Best regards,
MtGox Team

While it’s difficult to measure actual effects of the aforementioned text on the future of global bitcoin market, MtGox exchange has apparently decided to take its website down without ever taking responsibility for what may affect the outcome. From now on, and until a new notice is made, the Bitcoin-related payment processing company will suspend any further activities concerning the trade in the bitcoin.

Update1: According to a somewhat “authentic” yet unofficial slide that is floating around the internet and is called “Crisis Strategy Draft,” Mt.Gox has lost roughly 744,408 bitcoins due to theft, worth around $350 million. In addition, it says that the digital currency exchange has a future plan to rebrand itself as Gox.

Update2: The guys over at  Fox Business have just confirmed with Mt. Gox CEO, Mark Karpelesthe, the authenticity of the slide (PDF) that recently leaked.

Update3: Mt.Gox has officially filed for bankruptcy protection ater losing 750,000 of its customers’ bitcoin savings plus 100,000 bitcoins of its own, worth together more than $450 million. In a press conference held after the bankruptcy filing, Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpeles said that regretfully, all the bitcoins are GONE “due to weaknesses in the system.”

Update4: Mt. Gox source code just leaked  by a Russian hacker with the nickname of nanashi_. It. The code, which has approximately 1700 lines, includes the Bitcoin class for Mt. Gox exchange and the  transaction processing system that used to drive the online activity. The hackers also  say that they have managed to obtain a 20GB treasure trove of customers’ personal data information, including passport scans and contact information (some belongs to the company’s employees).

Update5: Mt. Gox has filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings in the United State.

Check out the video for this action:

[youtube id=”NeuCuM9CkBc”]

[Image credit: Antana]

General

Steve Jobs Apple Co-Founder Dies at The Age Of 56

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Today, the world mourns the loss of a true visionary and a tech legend. Steve Jobs passes away at the age of 56, only few weeks after stepping down from Apple’s CEO position, leaving 317 Apple patents listed under his name and an amazing cultural experience we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Here are some of the tributes from those who knew him:

President Obama:

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.  By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.  And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last.  Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook:

Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email [email protected].

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

 

Please hit the break to read even more tributes, along with Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address video that would truly inspire and motivate one and all.


[Apple]

Continue reading Steve Jobs Apple Co-Founder Dies at The Age Of 56 →

General, News, software

Here’s what Steve Jobs Really thinks About Flash

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Steve Jobs has just posted a defying letter on Apple’s website, where he explicitly explains the reasons why his company has eventually decided to ditch Flash and not to support it on Cupertino devices, such as  iPad, iPhone and the iPod Touch. In general, what Steve Jobs says in here is that the use of Adobe’s most favorable Flash platform is considered in his point of view obsolete and literally belongs to the past. In his words “Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice.” and more about that from Jobs: “the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.”

But that’s just the bottom of the line of Steve Jobs thoughts. If you break them down to very small pieces, they might fall through the grid of pure rational argumentation. In a nutshell, the father of the iPhone claims that Flash technology is not open. In other words, Adobe’s Flash products, even if widely available, are still controlled by Adobe itself and not by any other entities – meaning, Flash is a closed system. As for the lack of “full web” experience allegations in Apple products, says Jobs that the new web is adjusting itself to Apple’s latest standards and for that matter big websites like Youtube, Netflix, Facebook et al already supporting the cause. As for “Reliability, security and performance” Steve thinks that Flash is the main reason for Mac crash and argues that Adobe has never been able to provide good Flash plug-in/add-on for Apple mobile phones. Steve Jobs also refers to the problem of fast battery drain and the pesky multi-tasking issues that Flash can actually cause.

And then there’s “the most important reason” why Apple has given up on Flash. Apparently, Apple doesn’t want letting “a third party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform”, or in our words, Apple wants to give more freedom and direct access to its unrelenting developers, and willing to do so over Adobe’s personal expenses. So there you go guys, a thorough and sincere letter, containing  Steve Jobs thoughts. Jump straight after the break, read it, and then decide which side to support.

Continue reading Here’s what Steve Jobs Really thinks About Flash →

Computers, General, Mobile, News

HP To Acquire Palm For 1.2 Billion Dollars

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Hewlett-Packard has just announced that it would buy Palm for a staggering price of $1.2 billion dollars, roughly about $5.70 per share of common stock. The merge and acquisition, which are planned to close by July 31, can give the Palo Alto computer giant a great opportunity to get a bigger slice from the hot and trendy smartphones market, valued at $100bn alone and with annual rapid growth of 20% . HP executive vice president Todd Bradley said that “Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices” and also added that “Between smartphones, slates, and potentially netbooks, there are a lot of opportunities here.” And he’s right, just think about the endless potential  possibilities of having Palm’s stunning WebOS integrated in HP’s future multi-touch devices, whether these are mobile phones, tablets or other portable machines – it’s HUGE and HP, in our opinion, has clearly taken a few significant steps in the right direction, especially now when strident voices, complaining about a sluggish HP Slate performance, start floating around – WebOS can definitely improve speed reaction dramatically –  and someone at the HP headquarters has probably figured this one pretty well. Brian Humphries, HP’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development quoted saying “our intent is to double down on WebOS”. That’s very important, considering the months of speculations where Palm was desperately looking for a buyer. And given the fact that HP is getting over 1500 patents that Palm currently owns (that probably has considerable value as well, isn’t it?), along with a very good team of young talented engineers and one relentless chairman and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, who is expected to remain with the company another few years long, this very complex deal that few months back, could easily have seemed impossible, can all of a sudden turn into a nice and promising bargain. PR announcement after the break.

Update: Digitimes says that HP Taiwan VP, Monty Wong has officially confirmed a webOS tablet to go live somewhere around October of this year. Stay tuned for more to come.

Continue reading HP To Acquire Palm For 1.2 Billion Dollars →

General, Internet, software

Twitter ‘Anywhere’ Platform Goes Live

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Twitter has just launched its latest Anywhere platform which lets developers start developing their own Twitter apps and install them on their websites right away. First introduced at SXSWi, by Twitter’s founder @EV, the new package provides embedding tools and new integration methods, delivered by Twitter itself, that aims to increase its massively growing traffic with more engagement and more users to take part in the service, sign-in, connect, and share their feeds. It’s literally paralleled to Facebook connect, if you still try to figure out what it means – the more you connect, the more active you are the more buzz created and more publishers are getting happy out of this thing.

You get four features in Twitter’s Anywhere package: Hovercards, Connect, Sign-In, and the Tweetbox, with no special need to open new accounts or sign for a different service – simply use your very own Twitter username and password to log. This way, you will help Twitter to increase interaction between websites and tweet messages in a way that eventually would make the service even stronger.

Twitter says that popular websites such as AdAge, Amazon, Bing, Citysearch, Digg, Disqus, eBay, Foursquare, Gawker, Google, Gowalla, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, Hunch, Mashable, Meebo, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Salesforce.com, WSJ.com, Yahoo!, and YouTube have already pledged to the new service and about to install its tools onboard.

We’ve already installed the HoverCards feature into our website. Just move your mouse over the following names and see how it works (feel free to follow as well): @niron, @EV, @Scobleizer, @Biz, @Anywhere.

Computers, General, News

Apple Says Over 300,000 iPads Sold On Launch Day (Update: 1,000,000 In First Month)

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Whether you do agree with Steve Jobs saying his new tablet machine – The iPad – is “magical” and “revolutionary” or whether you don’t, one thing’s for sure, you can’t argue with numbers – and the numbers, according to Apple itself, are pretty impressive. Apparently, over 300,000 iPads were sold in the US on launch day alone, on April 3rd that is, including both retail sales (Best Buy and Apple Stores)  and pre-ordered deliveries to customers across the States – that’s 30,000 more, compared to iPhone’s 270,000 pieces that Cupertino sold (in first 30 hours). In addition, Apple says that iPad users already downloaded over a million apps from its App Store and over 250,000 e-books were downloaded as well from Apple’s iBook store during first day of launch – that’s an average of…”more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad”, says Jobs himself. Can they hold up with those numbers? Time would tell.

Meanwhile, make sure you check out our long list of Free Cool iPad Games.

Update: Now we learn that Apple has sold one million ipads over the past 28 days of existence, with 1.5 million ebooks already been downloaded, joining the 12 million apps that users have snagged. Full PR after the break.

apple-ipad-tablet-images

Continue reading Apple Says Over 300,000 iPads Sold On Launch Day (Update: 1,000,000 In First Month) →

General

MSI Teases With a 10-Inch Android Tablet At The CES (Update: Now Official)

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It looks great, it sports a 10-inch capacitive display, runs a powerful Tegra 2 chipset and called Harmony. That’s pretty much what we  know about MSI’s new Android tablet that recently showed up at the CES show in Vegas. The platform is actually an Android 2.1 and the slate is literally tagged as an E-book machine.  It has both WiFi and 3G WWAN connectivity included, and apparently, wants to be “your office to go” solution.  Check out the videos we’ve added half past the break.

Update: MSI finally gets official with the new 10-inch Android-powered tablet, we’ve recently bumped into at CES 2010 in Vegas. And despite the scarce details at the moment, we do know it would pack a Tegra 2 chipset under the hood, and that buyers will get to choose between different “flexible” configurations. Availability is yet to be determined , but prices are said to be high, around the $500 barrier. Stay tuned.

msi-harmony-tablet

[via phandroid]

Continue reading MSI Teases With a 10-Inch Android Tablet At The CES (Update: Now Official) →

General

Aluratek's 8.9-inch Cinepal PMP Is Too Big To Be True

We’re not used to such big players, the kind that recently announced by Aluratek at the CES show in Vegas, but that’s probably the fun part of discovering new gadgets, isn’t it? Well, maybe, depends who you’re asking and how portable it is. This one, the 8.9-inch Cinepal media player, doesn’t look so handy, especially when it’s hard to determine whether it’s a digiframe, a tablet, a PMP or just an e-reader. The answer probably falls somewhere in between. Anyway, you can get it next month for $179, that will grant you 4GB of internal storage, together with an SD / SDHC expansion slot, a 6 hours of battery time and wide range of codecs compatibility, including DivX DRM, AVI, VOB, DAT, MPEG, H.264, MKV, MP3, WMA and JPEG files support. It would also run your 720p video files wherever you go, but frankly, we can’t imagine ourselves taking it for a journey or a quick short walk. PR stuff after the jump.

aluratek-cinepal-pmp

[via laptopmag]

Continue reading Aluratek's 8.9-inch Cinepal PMP Is Too Big To Be True →

Games, General

Sony's PS3 Gets a Michael Jackson 'This is It' Special Edition Package

The King of Pop is dead, but his legacy is live N kickin’, and it seems like it’d get even bigger as time goes by. One company that has recognized Jakson’s extremely attractive merchandising potential is Sony Japan that recently announced it would release a limited edition This is it! package of the king that suppose to include a slim PS3 console, boasting a 120GB storage and a nifty Blu-ray drive. This special pack – a result of the collaboration between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment Japan – is set to go live on January 27, either in Black or White colors, priced at ¥33,500 (about $361), nothing a fan can’t afford these days.

sony-ps3-this-is-it-package

[via SCEJ]

General

Camangi WebStation Android Tablet Sets To Go Live In The Coming Months

Tablets, Androids, portable devices, we keep hearing them a lot, everywhere we go, in/off cyber world. The latest, is from Camagni, a Taiwanese group that brings us the Webstation, an Android-based tablet device which sports a 7-inch 800 x 480 glass touchscreen, paired with a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (expandable up to 8GB capacity) and a nice slick whitish frame, that comfortably fits the palm of your hand. Communication wise, you’ll find the Webstation equipped up to date with 3G WWAN, 802.11b/g WiFi and even a GPS navigation system, that was tucked in order to guide your way out there. Price suppose to stand at $399 in Japan while availability dates are still a mystery – although we do know – that basic white flavor is not alone and Pink or Black hues will hit the shelves as well. Hands on videos were added after the jump, hit them up and catch with the updates.

Update1: Turns out you can pre-order the Webstation Android tablet right now from Camagni’s online store, equipped with that 7-inch glass touchscreen, a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 and 256MB of flash storage, for $389 in case you’re one of those “early birds” or $399 if you decide to do a thorough market research before getting now.

Update2: Looks like Camangi’s Android-based Webstation has finally landed on US shores and the guys at Gear Diary have taken it for a series of unboxing shots. Hit the break to see the results (third video).

Update3: It seems the guys at Laptop aren’t pleased with Camangi’s  performance, stating it’s sluggish and a bit limited at the moment. Design wise, they were very satisfied.

Update4: Apparently, Camagni just pushed down the Webstation price from $399 to only $275. Now, Whether it’s the fear from Apple’s iPad which suppose to come out next month or the growing toll of Android tablets available around, hard to tell – but it’s up to you to decide – we’d like to see some software and hardware improvements before trying it out.

[via engadget]

Continue reading Camangi WebStation Android Tablet Sets To Go Live In The Coming Months →

General

HP Mini 311 ION-based Netbook Hits The Online Shelves

2 Comments

While most Nvidia ion-based netbooks are scheduled to go live at the end of this year, HP seems to be the one to take matters into its own hands and be the first to hit the scene with a graphics-boosted netbook device. The model we’re talking about is the Mini 311, which recently showed up on HP’s online shop with an HD compatible 11.6-inch (1,366 x 768) display, Atom N270 processor, an integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and built-in VGA and HDMI ports for external image use. Microsoft’s Windows XP stuffed inside to handle this powerful system, while a near-full-size (92%) keyboard, three USB hubs and Altec Lansing speakers are all part of the deal. Starting price looks pretty attractive, at $399, but any add-on will set you back an extra cash. Thus, an Atom N280, Bluetooth and 802.11n will charge you $25 each, while white flavors are listed for another $20 and 3G WWAN connection is set for $125 more. Nevertheless, we still think it’s a good bargain, especially when it runs a 720p flash video flawlessly. See for yourself after the break.

Update1: It’s not that we needed any further proof to make us believe that HP’s Mini 311 netbook is capable handling advanced high-def media files better than others, but just in case, here are some facts – risen from LaptopMag’s benchmark tests – to maintain our claims: on the PCMark 05, the 311 has scored 1,917 points, that’s 500 points above the average, while the PCMark 06 review has given the 311 a 1,386 score, which is  1,200 on top of the ordinary and just about the same score as a MacBook Air. Very impressive, isn’t it?

Update2: If you have any plans on getting one, the guys at MyHPMini discovered interesting details from HP’s service manual. In general, the 311 will soon be out in different Windows 7  versions, including Windows 7 Starter, Basic, Premium, and Professional flavors. Additionally, you’ll also get a chance to upgrade your netbook and stuff inside cool specs like:

  • NVIDIA ION, the FULL platform, only with Windows 7
  • 1GB RAM (plus 1GB on-board ram), total 2GB
  • 2GB RAM (plus the 1GB on-board), total 3GB
  • 80GB Solid-State-Drive (SSD)
  • 250GB Hard Drive, 5400rpm, only with Windows 7
  • 320GB Hard Drive, 5400rpm, only with Windows 7

Now that’s what we’re looking for.

hp-mini-311-netbook

[HP]

Continue reading HP Mini 311 ION-based Netbook Hits The Online Shelves →

General

Asus Eee PC T91GO Is The Same Tablet Netbook, Only With 3G Capabilities

Remember the Eee PC T91 tablet netbook that showed up at the CES show back in January? Turns out Asus has even a newer version, which was recently introduced in Cebit and answers the name T91GO. This latest tablet device sports a slim and impressive design, together with an 8.9-inch swivel touchscreen, 1GB of RAM, 16GB SSD and Atom Z520 processor. But one thing that distinguish the T91GO from its older version is the integrated quadband 3G HSPA modem that lets you hook up to the internet from any place you want, without the need to be around hotspots. Other than that, you get the same WiFi / Bluetooth connections, battery that can provide up to 5hrs time and Windows XP, combined with a designated Eee PC Touch UI. Still no word on priceor availability, but you can checkout the video from UMPC Portal after the break.

[via Eee-PC.de]

Continue reading Asus Eee PC T91GO Is The Same Tablet Netbook, Only With 3G Capabilities →

General

Kohjinsha To Launch a "Gachapin & Mukku" Netbook Edition

2 Comments

For many of us, Gachapin (Dinosaur) and Mukku (Bigfoot) are totally strangers, but for the vast majority of Japanese kids they are huge TV stars, that conquer their screens for long hours. To leverage these characters, Kohjinsha and Bandai Creation have decided to bring the two into an ML-based netbook edition, boasting a vivid green chassis, combined with a whitish keyboard. Other than that, it’s just another regular netbook with Intel ATOM N270 processor inside, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi connection and the usual outputs. Interestingly, this new device will sport a 1Seg Digital TV Tuner, to let the children watch their heroes on the new lappy, rather than your telly. Still no word about price or availability but we like the idea of teenagers hanging with netbooks, instead of just books.

Update: Shockingly, you’ll have to spend ¥79,800 ($866) in order to get this one for your kids.

[via akihabaranews]

Continue reading Kohjinsha To Launch a "Gachapin & Mukku" Netbook Edition →

General

Lisse S10 Player From MyRacer Comes Clean And Simple

We know many users who wish to have a simple mp3 player, the kind you take in your bag wherever you go and simply connect whenever you want, without any tricks or complexity, just pure music. For this target specifically, Korean manufacturer MyRacer has launched its latest Lisse S10 player which packs a four lines 128 x 64 OLED display, together with an FM tuner, a microphone, 2GB/4GB internal storage and a four-way pad to navigate the menu. Although we have no details concerning price or availability, this small 46x40x10mm DAP is promised to be released in a wide batch of colors to choose from, so stay tuned.

[via gmp3]

General, Media Players, News

iRiver Spinn Gets Price Cut

We’re not sure either it’s just a holidays gift or recession circumstances, but Korean company, iRiver, has decided to cut the Spinn‘s expropriated prices and make them more affordable for the audiophiles. Thus, you get a chance to buy the 4GB player for $189.99 ($10 cut) or the 8GB version for $229.99 ($20 cut). Expect changes to take place starting from today.

Update: it seems these price cuts will include the E100 and the LPlayer.

[via Crave]

Computers, General, Hardware, News

AMD To Announce a Break Up

1 Comment

AMD is expected to announce a break up tomorrow morning, due to growing demand for independent, leading-edge foundry production capabilities and increasing R&D costs. According to sources, the giant chipmaker will be splitting up into two companies, as the first one will be responsible for chips designing and the second, for the manufacturing. Additionally, the company has issued a PR release, saying:

“AMD and Advanced Technology Investment Company of Abu Dhabi to Create New Leading-Edge Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Mubadala increases investment in financially-stronger AMD, which is simultaneously unlocking the value of its manufacturing assets”

The meaning is that Advanced Technology Investment Company will strengthen AMD’s financial position by purchasing 55.6 percent of The Foundry (manufacturing company), for $5.1 billion dollar, and both sides will cooperate together, in order to create a clear stand alone leader in global semiconductor manufacturing, that will be able to equally confront Intel. Stay tuned.

[AMD]

General, Internet, Music, News

Best Buy Acquires Online Music Service Napster For $121M

Online digital music market is getting warmed up, as US retail giant, Best Buy, announces it will acquire Napser for an astonishing $121 million price tag. The transaction is set to be accomplished in Q4 of this year and we have no doubt it was carried out in order to try snatching a substantial share from iTunes’ market dominance. Napster allows its 708,000 subscribers to access an unlimited library of music or using the “Napster Mobile” platform, on their mobile phones, for a small monthly fee of $15. Having said that, the company has never turned a profit, during its long years of existence.

Best Buy president Brian Dunn confirms the company’s desire to expand Napster services and to use “Napster’s capabilities and digital subscriber base to reach new customers with an enhanced experience for exploring and selecting music and other digital entertainment products over an increasing array of devices.” Be sure it’s just the beginning and we expect more developments to take place in the near future. We do hope this move will increase the competition and at the end of the day, will be profitable for the consumers.

[via ZDNet]

Accessories, General, Media Players, Music

Logitech To Get Into The Earbuds Market, Buying Ultimate Ears

Although earphones are no stranger to Logitech, the company has announced it’s aquiring US-based company Ultimate Ears, a market leader in custom in-ear monitors for on-stage musicians and iPod or iPhone consumers. The $34 million price tag is fairly reasonable, as it gives Logitech the abillity to strongly penetrate the mp3 players niche with quality in-ear earbuds, and to expand its portfolio of digital audio products. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August.

[via Ultimate Ears]

General, Mobile, Phones

Orange Dance Charge Lets You Dance And Charge At Once

Summer is the festivals season, where thousands of groupies gather around stages, equipped with camping tents and cellphones, dancing all day long, as the music rocks and the beer pours down for 3 days of euphoria. To keep your mobile devices charged, telecoms company Orange has decided to test a new mobile phone dancing charger at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. This experimental Dance Charger prototype works on kinetic elements, allowing to convert your movements into generated energy in order to charge your attached handset. Designed as an arm strap, the 4.25 x 2.5-inch velcro and elastic band houses weights and magnets that produce an electric charge, once you wave with your hand or shake your body. As mentioned, it was presented at Glastonbury 2 weeks ago, but you might find it in some other places, so if you happen to be in one of those summer festival and need to charge your phone, just hand it to Orange’s Dance Charging Man to see if it works.

Orange-dance-charge

[via smartplanet]

Continue reading Orange Dance Charge Lets You Dance And Charge At Once →

Games, General, Music

John McCain Snatches a Piece Of Music, Made By an Obama Supporter, For His Campaign Ad

Originally written on June 22nd:

John McCain is a war hero, no doubt, but if you have seen his latest campaign ad, you might have had a deja-vu feeling. The reason for that is the commercial’s background music, originally created for EA’s Medal Of Honor:European Assault by Christopher Lennertz, an Obama supporter, who wasn’t pleased to see his videogame composition, used in McCain’s campaign, without any granted authorization. Still, Lennertz made it very clear that there was just a mix-up over rights, and nothing illegal took place. To read Lennertz official statement on the McCain ad, hit the jump.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/J1OUxBvlLr0" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

[via kotaku]

Continue reading John McCain Snatches a Piece Of Music, Made By an Obama Supporter, For His Campaign Ad →

Games, General

Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition Watch Hits The UK

After the game comes the watch, as Metal Gear Solid 4   limited-edition wristwatch is up for pre-order at UK online retailer Gamestation, featuring stailess steel body, exclusive serial number along with a certificate of authenticity from Konami, all packed in an adorned black box with a silver MGS4 logo on top. Mind you, there are only 500 pieces to be released on October 31st for estimated price of £99.99 ($196), so hurry up!

 mgs4-watch

[via Tech Digest]

Games, General

Greenpeace Alerts From Dangerous Chemicals In Game Consoles

4 Comments

I don’t want to put you into panic, but i guess it is important for gamers to be aware of the possibility that game consoles might contain some hazardous chemicals with an impact on their memory and learning capabilities for the long term. The source for this latest alert is Greenpeace, who tested 3 major gaming consoles, including Xbox, PS3 and Nintento Wii. The organization has found those dangerous materials, like phthalates and bromine, in each one of the consoles, on different parts, so next time you crash your car on GTA IV, just think of the consequences. Mind you, Greenpeace offers a direct contact to the manufacturers in order to put some pressure and demand a clean up consoles. Interestingly, only Nintendo’s email has worked out.

game-console-controls

[via slashgear]

Audio, General, Music

The CD-T300 Pro Has a Sci-Fi Design And a Soaring Price

I really like the new CD-T300 Pro, it has a unique illuminated “out of space” design and aluminum alloy body that turns it into a 2 ton heavy thing, well to be more accurate it weights “only” 24lbs, but you got the message – very heavy. The CD player is equipped with two remote controls, gold plated tube legs, and four amplification valves, but the most juicy piece of info is the $12,000 price tag, which makes the T300 unaffordable for most of us, so I guess I’d stay with the ipod after all.

CD-T300-Pro

[via slashgear]

Audio, General, Music

Hercules Wireless Mobile DJ MP3 Controller Goes Live

If you’re a DJ or someone who wants to mix, scratch, pitch shift, beat match, crossfade, and even add special effects, all wirelessly, you can do it with the new Hercules Mobile DJ MP3 Controller that enables mixing and organizing stored computer tracks via wireless networks. This up-to-date DJ device is equipped with 2 jog wheels (emulating 2 CD/vinyl decks), 2 deck controller, 1 cross fader, 2 volume & pitch sliders, 25 control buttons and 2 backlit LCD screens that display artist, track name, BPM, elapsed time, or track length. In addition, it has “AutoMix” function that can automatically create the mix, as you seat on the couch, controlling the action with the on-board wireless USB. The Mobile DJ Controller supports MP3 and WMA formats, to seamlessly synchronize with your PC or laptop, so you can draw a nice party to your friends wherever you are. To get this cool DJ equipment, you can visit J&R stores and snack one for merely $99.

Hercules-DJ-Mobile-MP3

[Hercules via engadget]

General, Media Players, Phones

WildCharge Provides a Revolutionary Way To Charge Your iPhone or iPod Touch

1 Comment

WildCharge wants you to get rid of all the annoying cables, attached to your cellphones or MP3 players. The company has developed a groundbreaking metal plate that will fully charge your iphone or iPod Touch devices, by simply placing them on the magnetized surface – wires free – and start charging automatically. The new WildCharger pad can simultaneously charge and power up to five devices, thanks to a special electronic chip module, attached to the back of the designated silicon/gel skins, covering your handsets and protecting them (similar to those “skins” you can find in Apple stores). The company plans to release (next month) a wide variety of case-skins colors, including black, blue, pink, clear and many more. Each skin-case, equipped with the WildCharching adapter, will cost you $34.95, as the metal WildCharger pad is already available and priced at $59.95. All- in-all, it looks pretty impressive and a great solution for those who wants to depart from the cluttered wires and the bulky AC power adapters. Checkout the video and the pictures after the break.

wildcharger-pad-1

[phonebuzz via slashgear]

Continue reading WildCharge Provides a Revolutionary Way To Charge Your iPhone or iPod Touch →

General, Hardware, News, software

Is Microsoft Planning To Open Unique Retail Stores?

Headstrong rumors claiming that Microsoft considers the opening of unique retail stores that will conspicuously market its own products. There is no doubt that Microsoft managers jealously squint at Apple’s success, thinking they can do the same, if not better. The only problem is that Apple has more hardware products to sell rather than Microsoft’s dominant software-based assortment. I mean, it’s not that Microsoft doesn’t have tangible things to offer, after all it does sell some great products like the Xbox 360 console, the Zune player, or complementary goods like video games and the accessories involved, not to mention the other peripherals such as webcam, keyboard or mouse. In addition, Microsoft sell retail software like Windows Vista and Microsoft Office, via affiliate partners and retailers. However, I’m not so sure it is the same variety as Apple’s products, including Mac, iPod and iPhone, with all the assorted accessories. Still, these are just rumors and I haven’t seen some major steps, coming from Microsoft direction, to carry out this project, but I am more than sure it crossed some Redmond minds. True or false, great or wrong, only time would tell.

microsoft-retail-store

[via macobserver]

General, Media Players, Video

Colombian Police Like The Archos PMP

Police motorcyclists squad from Magdalena Colombia, really like the Archos media players, specially the ability to film and record felonies during their ride. The Archos device is their daily instrument to enforce the law, as they attach the camcorder to their helmet, connect it to the media player and go out the roads to catch the criminals. One thing though, someone should tip them there’s a new series of Archos players, its the fifth generation lineup, so they should update their stocks, i’m sure they’ll get a good price. Check the video after the break (in Spanish).

archos-police

[via ArchosLounge]

Continue reading Colombian Police Like The Archos PMP →

General, Media Players

Nike + SportBand Trainer Goes Live Officialy

After many rumors floating around, the Nike+ SportBand device is coming up on April 10, for $59. This cool device provides (for those who’d prefer not to have an iPod player when they run) a real-time performance feedback during a run, including distance, pace, time and calories burned, in order to assist improving the training results by providing a simple link to the world’s largest running club on nikeplus.com. Furthermore, runners can get access to their own personal online trainer with Nike+ Coach, to build their own training programs and empower their levels. I just hope this new Nike product will make you all, couch potatoes, get  on your feet and start training.

nike-sportband

[via gizmodo]

Audio, General, Video

Microsoft Surface To Hit The US Market On April 17

1 Comment

Now it’s official, the Microsoft Surface is coming out stateside in 2 weeks from today, and will be available in AT&T stores around New York, San Antonio, San Francisco and Atlanta. We are talking about a 30-inch multi-touch screen table that can display photos, videos, interactive coverage maps and more. At first, costumers will be able to get a demonstration of Samsung BlackJack II, by placing it on the surface, later on, AT&T is going to add more cellphones to the Microsoft Surface data, and enable visitors to make comparison between them. In addition you will be able to drag ringtones, graphics and videos to the phone, once it is atop the Surface, which is pretty amazing. To learn more about this great device, check out the video here.

microsoft-surface

[via engadget]

General

Greenpeace Guide Marks The Greener Within Electronics Companies

Every year, Greenpeace releases the “Guide to Greener Electronics”, indicating the “green” level of electronic companies and placing them on a 0-10 analog meter scale. The guide, which rates performance based on policies and practices on toxic chemicals and electronic waste, shows that Asian companies like Samsung and Toshiba have won the highest score, gaining 7.7 points, while Nintendo has scored only 0.3 points, “earning” the most feckless e-waste company of 2008. Other 18 tech companies in the guide, include Microsoft, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, Philips, Acer, Hp, Motorola, and more. According to Greenpeace toxic waste campaigner, Iza Kruszewska, “The challenge is clear. To be truly green, the IT industry needs to commit to designing products that are free of toxic chemicals, are energy efficient, durable, and recyclable while taking full responsibility for them globally, including when they become waste“, and we say – Amen.

 Greenpeace-green-guide

[via slashgear]

General, Media Players

Creative Zen 4GB/8GB Get a Price Cut

Creative wants to increase the competition, the company has decided to cut down the prices of the Zen 4GB and 8GB models, in order to place an alternative to the costly players, and when we say “costly” we refer to iPods. The 4GB model is now $99, and the 8GB model drops to $149. That’s an impressive move that might influence other manufacturers to go all the way down with their prices.

creative-zen-32gb

[via creative]

Audio, Computers, General, Video

Reigncom Introduces The Dicple D30 Multimedia Electronic Dictionary

Korean corporation, Reigncom, has released its new multimedia electronic dictionary lineup, housing 82 different dictionaries in one box. The Dicple D30 features a 4.3-inch LCD screen, SRS WOW HD speakers, T-DMB, FM radio, Micro SD slot, PDF and CSD viewer. There are two main models – The D30C for Chinese learning, and the D30E for educational purposes. Both versions include three storage sizes: 2GB($346), 4GB($367) or 8GB($367$, without DMB tuner), all available in Korea. We can’t be sure they will hit our shores but one thing is certain, those machines resemble to UMPCs, period.

Dicple-D30

[via Aving]

Accessories, Audio, General

E-Light Sports A Lamp And Stereo Speakers In One Place

E-Light is an indoor/outdoor entertainment light, featuring  high-output LED lights, providing 6 – 12 hours of glowing illumination. This cordless light clamps onto your umbrella pole for a convenient outdoor decoration or indoor design. The E-Light has a standard headphone jack, allowing you to connect your iPods and listen to your favorite music via acoustically balanced stereo speakers, delivering high-quality sound. The E-Light comes with 4 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries and you can get yours for $99.50.

E-Light

[via gmp3]

General, Mobile, Video

Motorola Launches A New 4.3" TV With GPS

Motorola wants to go all the way with the new DH01n portable 4.3-inch DVB-H TV, sporting GPS navigation system and Tele Atlas maps. The new DH01n is a personal DVR device, including pausing and playing back live TV signals, automatic channel scan, High-quality widescreen LCD display with stereo sound, SD/MMC slot and more. No details concerning price and availability.

 motorola-dh01n

[motorola via engadget]

Computers, General

MacBook Surface Gets Whiter With Toothpaste

Macbook users tend to complain about those ugly marks and dark smudges, decorating their surface as a result of palm contact or dust accruement. To solve the problem and get back to the original shiny white color, Lifehacker posted an interesting solution: All you have to do is spread on some white toothpaste on the given area, let it dry, clean it with a damp clout and…voila ! back to the first days when the white was bright glowing.

 stains-macbook-clean

[via Lifehacker]

Accessories, General, Media Players, Mobile, Phones

Novodio Miniplug Helps Charging Your iPod On The Go

This new USB mini-plug adapter from Novodio can easily connect your iPod player (or your iPhone) into the wall and charge it without other accessories. The tiny plug has a USB hub on one side and an outlet connection on the other side, for direct charging. Being so small, it takes no place in your luggage and costs around 22$.

novodio-usb-miniplug-adapter

[via gmp3]

Another picture after the break.

Continue reading Novodio Miniplug Helps Charging Your iPod On The Go →

General, Video

Holocube 3D Display Goes Down To Home Users

To all of you, star trek fans, wishing you could hologram yourself and your items, Holocube created this holographic projector. The device features a 20″ display with a 40GB HDD, capable compressing up to 18 hours of 3d hologram presentation with 1080i content. Designed for home users, it can be a nice piece of technology to flaunt with. No details about price or availability.

holocube-3d

[via slashgear]

Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Holocube 3D Display Goes Down To Home Users →

Audio, Communication, General, Mobile, Phones, Video

Garmin Nuvifone Gets Two Video Commercials

A week after we’ve reported the announcement of the Nuvifone by Garmin, the company released two commercial videos that gives you a glimpse to what they call the new revolution. Though the following promo videos ain’t the greatest we have seen, they expose us to some of the applications the Nuvifone features but it’s not enough and we expect some improved presentations to be released.

Check out the video.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/YtD4USzpoLI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

[via navigadget]

Another video after the break.

Continue reading Garmin Nuvifone Gets Two Video Commercials →

Audio, General, Media Players, Music

iPod Firmware 1.1 Brings Electric Pulses To Your Ears

Firmware version 1.1 can be a dangerous escapade for iPod Classic owners, as we hear the headphones are getting damaged once the update is installed and the device is turned off. For some reason, the latest update sends electric pulses, up to 500mv, causing a real danger to the users and to their earbuds. I guess you should wait with this update until it gets fixed by Apple. If you ran out of patient and already installed it, you should dowgrade to an earlier version.

apple-ipod-classic

[via slashgear]