Personal Computing
BlogWorld & New Media Expo: the world’s largest gathering of Bloggers
August 22, 2007 Thousands of bloggers, vloggers and podcasters are set to descend on Las Vegas for BlogWorld & New Media Expo, the world’s first industry-wide blogging tradeshow. The inaugural event is to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday – Friday, November 8 – 9, 2007, with pre-show seminars on Wednesday 7th November. Read More
Flash Padlock offers physical security solution for portable data storage
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August 17, 2007 With Flash drives becoming a necessity these days, the need to protect sensitive data from theft or simple misplacement is increasingly critical. The new USB 2.0 Flash Padlock from Corsair offers a physical security solution while on the go and addresses the need for secure data storage through hardware technology rather than software. Read More
Pinnacle’s portable USB High Definition TV tuner and PVR
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August 16, 2007 Given the size and quality of desktop and laptop displays these days, it’s no wonder more and more people are using them as another television for the home and office. Pinnacle has released a USB High Definition TV tuner stick complete with Personal Video Recorder (PVR) capability and the ability to grab a HDTV feed out of the air using the tiny antenna included in the package. Read More
LaCie 2TB Ethernet Big Disk network storage
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August 16, 2007 LaCie has boosted the capacity of its Ethernet Big Disk to a massive 2TB in a compact 2x7x11” solution. The 2TB LaCie is designed for centrally storing and sharing files over a network via Ethernet or as a personal hard drive off the network using USB. When connected to a home network, the Big Disk can stream multimedia content to compatible AV adapters and enables simultaneous music and movie playback on a networked theater system. Read More
Newertech's miniStack NAS network storage solution
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August 15, 2007 Latest offering from Newertech, the miniStack NAS, is a shared local drive for wired or wireless networked storage that offers up to 750GB between as many as 20 users. Based on the award-winning miniStack v3, the minStack NAS features drag and drop sharing, the ability to stream multimedia and HD files and an easy set-up that eliminates complicated network TCP/IP configurations. Read More
World's first exclusively solar powered computer mouse
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August 9, 2007 Anyone who has used a wireless mouse will know that although they don't use much power, it's enough to drain a battery quite regularly and it always decides to run out of power at the most inopportune times. Now comes news of the world's first exclusively photovoltaic-powered computer mouse currently undergoing trials in the Netherlands. Read More
Cable Lock Attachment protects against keyboard and mouse theft
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August 8, 2007 The loss of a keyboard, mouse or any other cable-attached PC device due to theft could be a considerable inconvenience. Not only is there the cost of replacing the item, but when on the road they may not always be easy to replace. That’s where the Targus Cable Lock keyboard and mouse attachment comes in – the small (9 x 4.5 x 3cm) unobtrusive security device is designed to protect cable-attached items and ensure that your PC is stays fully functional. Read More
Apple's sleek new all-in-one iMac in 20 and 24 inch designs
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August 8, 2007 The unveiling of Apple’s new all-in-one iMac comes on the back of several other notable product releases including a new slimline aluminum keyboard design – available in wired and wireless versions – and a Bluetooth wireless “Mighty Mouse” that boasts enhanced laser tracking, four independently programmable buttons and a new scroll ball that lets users scroll in any direction. Read More
Haptic glove to be exhibited at SIGGRAPH 07
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August 7, 2007 Man-machine interfaces have predominantly targeted the aural and visual senses but improving technology has opened up the potential for new levels of interaction based on touch. At SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group for Computer Graphics) this year, Haptic Telexistence will be demonstrating its latest sophisticated touch interface and providing a glimpse of the huge potential for haptic interfaces. Read More
Keyspan release USB 2.0 Server
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August 3, 2007 This clever USB server from Keyspan provides network users with the ability to connect remotely to USB devices via Ethernet and WiFi and removes the need to use a dedicated computer to run printers, scanners, digital cameras and flash-drive memory sticks. The USB 2.0 Server enables multiple users to share two Hi-Speed USB devices on a network and is suitable for PC and Mac users - and at a US$129 price point, it looks to be a particularly useful addition to home office set-ups. Read More
Toshiba introduces ultra-light Portégé notebook computer
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August 3, 2007 Toshiba has announced the new Portégé R500 business notebook computer featuring an impressive 12 hour battery life, 7mm optical disk drive and a transreflective LED backlight display for enhanced screen visibility. The ultra-portable Portégé R500 weighs in at just 999grams and is only 19.55mm thick, making it the world's lightest and thinnest 12.1-inch notebook according to the manufacturers. Toshiba has also updated its retail and business notebook ranges, including the flagship consumer notebook, the Qosmio G40. Read More
Bargain or baloney? Medison Celebrity, the US$150 “laptop for everyone”
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July 27, 2007 A brand-new laptop PC for US$150 including a 1.5GHz Intel Celeron processor, 14” screen, 256MB of RAM, wireless connectivity and a Fedora Linux operating system pre-installed. If you think it sounds to good to be true, you’re not the only one – and its 6-week lead time on deliveries means the Medison Celebrity has almost 2 months in which to make blind sales before the first orders actually hit buyers’ doorsteps and we can find out whether the company delivers what it promises. Still, if it’s true, this has to go down as one of the most amazing pricing offers of recent times, and if positive customer reviews start coming in, you’ll have to get in line behind us! Read More
Logitech VX Nano cordless mouse
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July 26, 2007 With a growing number of laptop users abandoning the touch pad in favor of a cordless notebook mouse, the bulky and often intrusive USB receivers required for these devices have become an issue. In response to this problem Logitech have introduced the "plug and forget" VX Nano cordless notebook mouse which has the world’s smallest USB receiver. The unit is small enough that it sits nearly flush with any notebook (protruding just 8 mm from the edge) and can remain plugged in and ready to use at all times, eliminating the need to constantly remove it when in transit. Read More
Ultra-fast wireless data transfer – download a whole DVD in 3 seconds
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July 26, 2007 Just how fast does wireless data transfer have to get before it ceases to be a limiting factor in application design? Researchers in Georgia are working on new ultra-high-frequency radio technology that has already achieved a phenomenal 15 gigabits per second (Gbps) over short distances. For reference, that’s a whole DVD worth of data transferred in a little over 3 seconds – and they’re hoping to double that speed within 12 months. With such transfer rates available, high-definition media streaming and file sharing becomes a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it affair. Backups and full hard drive synchronization between different machines will be quick and painless, and distributed application and file sharing around networks will become, for the most part, something the user will simply not have to think about. It’s estimated at about three years from hitting the market, but this amazing technology is set to make big waves. Read More
Sandisk releases its Extreme Ducati Edition thumbdrive and memory cards
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July 20, 2007 Sandisk evidently believes its time as a sponsor of the championship-leading Ducati Corse MotoGP team has taught it a thing or two about speed and style. The company just launched the Sandisk Extreme Ducati range, including its fastest-ever CompactFlash and SD cards, as well as a high-speed USB flash drive, all co-branded with Ducati Corse logos. While the cards will spend much of their time hidden in digital cameras and other devices, the USB key is dressed to impress, faired in Ducati red and black like the exotic Italian racebike. Ducati fans, much like the Ferrari fans of F1, have never been afraid to wear their passion on their sleeve - now they can wear it on their keyrings too. Read More
Moving forward, looking backward: the Steampunk PC
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July 18, 2007 The sleek, white, minimalist theme that dominates modern design speaks volumes about the age we live in. Plain, clean furniture and devices are deliberately sterile and devoid of any sort of character, in a nod to the fact that they'll be obsolete, broken or replaced within a few short years anyway. The Steampunk movement looks back fondly to the early 1900s when steam was the technology of the day and new devices were celebrated with beautiful and ornate wood and brass craftsmanship, giving a feel of permanence, durability and preciousness that's missing from today's designs. A couple of designers have teamed up to muse on what the personal computer might look like if it hadn't been denied its "Golden Age." We found their resulting artworks, as well as the underlying principles and construction methods, quite inspirational. Read More
Belkin's N1 Vision wireless router - helping to flush out bandwidth hogs
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July 18, 2007 The humble wireless router is an unglamorous device, sitting sheepishly out of sight somewhere in the house and only getting any attention when somebody's angry that their YouTubing is being interrupted. Belkin's N1 Vision, on the other hand, is designed to take pride of place on the computer desk. As sexy to look at as anything Apple have released, the N1 boasts an LCD screen that gives you an instant snapshot of your upload/download speeds, network bandwidth usage, guest access keys, and a nice time/date display. It can also pinpoint exactly which devices on your network are hogging all the downloads, which will be a fun feature in share-houses when it comes to bill-splitting time. Read More
Lapworks laptop stands: ergonomic comfort on the lap or desk
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July 17, 2007 The amount of time we spend on computers these days, and the damage that poor posture can cause combine to cause some big problems. Laptops, for example aren't really a lot of fun to operate on your lap top. The fiddly mouse-replacement pads and knobs are a big compromise, they don't sit very steady on your lap, and the heat buildup underneath them can really stew your plums on a long plane flight. What's more, put them on a desk and they don't offer decent ergonomics either. Which is why Lapworks have come up with a range of ergonomic laptop mini-desks to give you full and comfortable use of your computer and mouse on your lap, and neck-and wrist-saving ergonomics when it's on a desk or table. Read More
The blogosphere reaches equilibrium?
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July 16, 2007 Slashdot is reporting on a WSJ news story that blogging turns 10 years old around now. We’re a little less certain on the origination of the blog, as is Wikipedia, but given that nobody is certain and it wasn’t very long ago that the first blog started, it’s perhaps a time to reflect on this phenomena. By 2005, blogging became so popular that estimates ranged upwards to 60 million blogs. But blogs go out of date if they’re not regularly updated and one of the most interesting recent analyses of the blogosphere from BusinessWeek signifies that the number of live blogs is beginning to plateau at around the 16 million mark. Though new blogs are being launched every minute, there are just as many falling dormant. Witness David Sifry’s musings on the subject here.
The DuelAdapter Cradle - ExpressCard to PCMCIA and CardBus Adapter
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July 14, 2007 Duel Systems makes a range of really useful adapters and its latest could solve a few problems for some readers - the DuelAdapter Cradle is an ExpressCard to PCMCIA and CardBus adapter. The US$50 DuelAdapter Cradle enables users of computers that only have PCMCIA or CardBus slots to use a new ExpressCard device (for memory, audio, video, broadband, etc.) without upgrading their computer. Read More
Mouse meets remote control: Logitech release cordless air mouse
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July 13, 2007 As part of a shift towards navigation devices that cater for the new digital media era where computers and home entertainment converge, Logitech have released a laser mouse that works in the air like a television remote as well as on the desk. The MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse incorporates several different motion sensing and wireless technologies that enable the mouse to be held in any orientation and pointed in any direction, facilitating intuitive “flick of the wrist” cursor control and distinguishing between intentional and unintentional hand movements so that an involuntary shake wont result in stopping playback by accident. Read More
Diamond ring sold online for $412K
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July 12, 2007 When the internet business was in its infancy a bit over a decade ago most reasonable folk thought it impossible that someone would ever buy something online without having seen the item in the flesh first. That was pre-ebay, pre-amazon and pre-paypal, and now people buy diamond rings for presumably very intimate purposes – in this case a $412K, 10.50 carat square emerald cut diamond ring - despite never viewing them in person. How wrong we all were. Read More
Netgear speeds up its networked storage solution for home users
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July 11, 2007 As laptop and PC ownership rises, households are more and more frequently running wired and wireless networks between several PCs, laptops, printers, and other devices. Bulk broadband downloads and growing amounts of home media production all take up a lot of hard drive space, and external storage devices can be quite fiddly - which is why Network-Attached Storage (NAS) devices are growing in popularity. Netgear's latest NAS device aimed at the home market is the SC101T Storage Central Turbo. It's quicker than its predecessor - operating at fast Gigabit Ethernet transfer speeds - and houses up to two fast 3.5" SATA hard drives of any capacity to provide a networked storage solution for home and small business networks. Read More
The Porsche USB 2.0/FireWire buspowered portable hard drive
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July 3, 2007 The LaCie Porsche mobile hard drive is a Road Warrior’s delight – it’s gorgeous, small, built to withstand hard knocks when travelling, holds 250GB and doesn’t need a power adaptor. There is also no software to configure on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS X because it’s driver-free and it’s preformatted for immediate use on PC or Mac. With plug and play convenience, one-click back-up software and a sexy Porsche-designed case and nameplate, one of these babies will set you back US$339 (USB 2.0) or US $359 (FireWire). Read More
Adobe announces Creative Suite 3 Production Premium and Master Collection
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July 2, 2007 Completing the largest software roll-out in the company’s 25 year history, Adobe has announced the imminent release of Creative Suite 3 Production Premium and Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection. Providing cross-platform tool for post-production in video editing, Production Premium CS3 is designed as a solution for video professionals in film, broadcast, DVD, Web and mobile device content while the CS 3 Master Collection incorporates 12 of Adobe’s design and development products in a single box.
1 terabyte portable storage solution
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July 2, 2007 The advent of data hungry formats like digital video demand big, fast, practical storage solutions and this latest release from Newer Technology fits the bill. Designed for audio/video editing, digital photography, MP3 libraries and high-speed back up, the miniStack v3 is a quad interface storage device offering transfer rates of up to 150 Megabytes per second and a capacity of up to 1 terabyte (1000GB) – enough for 350,000 MP3 songs. Read More
Gateway updates convertible notebook with pressure sensitive stylus
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June 29, 2007 Gateway has updated its professional convertible notebook series to include a new pressure sensitive stylus and biometric security features. Tailored as durable electronic palette for digital art applications, the E-295C facilitates direct input onto its swivelling 14-inch screen and recognizes 256 levels of sensitivity to achieve the simulation of paint on canvas.
The first washable computer mouse and the very clever mouse trap
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June 29, 2007 Kurzweil’s Law (aka “the law of accelerating returns”) suggests that in an evolutionary process, positive feedback increases order exponentially, meaning that the speed and cost-effectiveness of a process increase exponentially over time, both for biology and technology. It’s a complex way of saying that we’re seeing unprecedented (20,000 years of change this century) and accelerating change, and in part explains the remarkable oversight that Belkin’s new washable mouse overcomes. With such rapid penetration of new technology, we’re bound to overlook some of the possibilities. For example, 13% of all people are left-handed, yet the first mouse designed just for left handed computer users was not created until 2006. The computer has invaded our world so quickly that 80% of Americans use a computer daily, all handling a mouse that until now, never gets cleaned. Read More
IBM triples performance of World's Fastest Computer and breaks the "Quadrillion" Barrier
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June 26, 2007 The world of computing continually throws up feats that are difficult to comprehend. If the world’s fastest car or world’s tallest building were suddenly to be outperformed by a factor of three, we’d be incredulous, yet such quantum leaps have become routine in the world of computing. IBM’s new Blue Gene/P is the second generation of the world's most powerful supercomputer. It triples the performance of its predecessor, Blue Gene/L while remaining the most energy-efficient and space-saving computing package ever built. Blue Gene/P scales to operate continuously at speeds exceeding one petaflop (one-quadrillion operations per second) and can be configured to reach speeds in excess of three petaflops. The system is 100,000 times more powerful than a home PC and can process more operations in one second than a stack of laptop computers 1.5 miles high (don’t try this at home folks). Read More
World record WiFi transmission
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June 22, 2007 If you’re feeling frustrated because your Wi-Fi link wont work from the balcony this might not help. We learn via David Becker at Wired that a new world record WiFi transmission of 237 miles (382km) has been set in Venezuela by Ermanno Pietrosemoli and his team.
Universal Card-Reader supports xD and SDHC
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June 21, 2007 EDGE Tech Corp has released an All-In-One Digital Card Reader that’s compatible with xD and SDHC formats along with other digital media including Multimedia, Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SD Memory Card, and Mini SD. The release bundles the Reader with the latest SDHC Card which is now available in larger capacities of 4GB and 8GB. Read More
GoBook - the quarter-sized rugged laptop
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June 21, 2007 Rugged laptops with wireless connectivity are well suited to a lot of professions, from industrial and military to environmental and emergency services. As such, they've been gaining in popularity, with Panasonic's Toughbook, Sahara's Tufftab and even a Hummer laptop muscling into the market. General Dynamics now takes the rugged, go-anywhere laptop one step further, by reducing it to a quarter of the size with its GoBook MR-1, which meets the toughest standards for humidity, temperature, vibration, dust, rain and drop-resistance. Read More
Your desktop on any PC: the web application revolution
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June 21, 2007 Why do we still store all our applications and data on our local PCs? It ties us to our machines, leaves our files vulnerable, and frankly it's such a last-millennium way to do things. Thankfully, since the advent of broadband, companies are starting to take real steps toward a world where accessing anything on your hard-drive will be as versatile as checking your webmail. Disk storage, applications, processing - everything could eventually be moved off your local PC, which would become merely a display terminal - and the model holds a lot of advantages. Gizmag takes a look at where we're at with the Web Application revolution. Read More
Quantum leap – researchers achieve milestone for next generation computing
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June 15, 2007 The already breathtakingly rapid evolution of the computer is moving towards a completely new level with Researchers at Delft University of Technology successfully carrying out calculations using two quantum bits, the building blocks of a possible future quantum computer. A concept that has been investigated on a theoretical level since the early 70s, Quantum computers promise problem solving capabilities that far outstrip those of current transistor based machines. The Delft researchers have published an article about this important step towards a workable quantum computer in this week’s issue of Nature. Read More
USB drive gets new form factor
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June 11, 2007 Small, convenient, but often very easy to lose, USB drives have a knack for wedging themselves at the bottom of briefcases or sliding behind car seats. So why not make them the same shape as something we are very used to carrying safely - a credit card. That's the solution offered by this 2GB wallet-sized USB drive from CA, which has used the drive for the release of its latest security software packages. Once the CA software is installed, wallet-size flash cards can be used to transport music, photos and documents - a much better option for the consumer that being left with a useless CD. Read More
