Archive for April, 2005
Apple is on the receiving end of a law suit for a change, with the news that Florida-based computer retailer, Tiger Direct, is sueing the makers of the OSX ‘Tiger’ operating system, alleging the company engaged in trademark infringement and unfair trade practices.
A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, but Tiger Direct also asked for a temporary restraining order in addition to the injunction against Apple to “stop further damage to Tiger Direct’s well-known Tiger brand.”
However, the lawsuit came too late to dampen the spirits of those queueing outside the new Apple store in the Bullring Shopping Centre, in Birmingham, UK who joined the rest of the world in purchasing the software at 6 p.m. in each time zone.
April 30th, 2005
Too much hassle carrying that iPod around with you? Convergence devices your thing? Take a look at the Oakley THUMP 256MB MP3 Player Sunglasses.
Bona Fide Reviews has taken a closer look at a pair and seems to think that they are the real deal, saying that “the glasses are comfortable, the ear buds sound great, and the player is generally extremely simple to use.”
We think that they look a little too….much, coming from the school of thought that sunglasses shouldn’t look like an alien facehugger attached to the side of your head. We’re especially put off by the $499 price tag for a 256Mb version.
Technical features include 256 MB NAND flash memory (a 128MB model is available too), -85.058 dB signal-to-noise ratio, dual automatic EQ with static and noise correction, an audio range of 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz, highly adjustable ear buds, USB rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery with up to 6 hours of playback time, USB 2.0 connectivity, MP3 / WMA / WMA with DRM / WAV audio file support, sequential and random playback, power save mode, and total weight of 52 grams (1.8 oz).
The sunglasses themselves have distortion-free vision at all angles of view, Oakley Plutonite lens material that blocks 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light, and impact resistance that exceeds ANSI Z87.1-2003 requirements.
April 30th, 2005
The latest release of Laplink Everywhere brings greater choice and flexibility to people who need to connect to a remote PC. By combining superior remote control and a unique web interface for streamlined remote access, Laplink Everywhere 4 lets you connect to your remote PC quickly and easily from the widest range of computers and handheld devices, delivering true “Anytime, Anywhere Remote Access to Your PC”.
Unlike ordinary web-based remote control applications, Laplink Everywhere 4 gives you the option of selecting a remote access interface that gives you streamlined access to your files, email, calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, and Internet favorites. You can also perform swift and accurate remote desktop searches using any web browser.
“Laplink Everywhere 4 brings you the best of both worlds,” explains Thomas Koll, CEO. “The remote control component compares with major brands such as GoToMyPC, but the product also includes a remote access web interface that extends the product’s functionality far beyond anything our competitors offer, allowing you to remotely access your PC through any device that has a web browser such as PDAs and Smartphones.”
This latest release continues to make security a priority, offering connectivity through firewalls and routers with no configuration while maintaining 128-bit SSL encryption along with “zero footprint” technology keeping your identity and data safe, even on a shared or public computer.
Laplink Everywhere 4’s advanced functionality includes:
Web-based remote control to access your remote PC. Regardless of what operating system or browser is on the computer you are using you can remotely control your PC. Includes native integration of Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol to extend Microsoft Remote Desktop’s capability allowing you to remote control Windows XP Professional and Windows Server 2000/2003 machines over the Internet and through firewalls with no configuration.
Remote Google Desktop Search. Now you can quickly locate files, email, and even archived instant messages you need from your remote PC using the power of Google Desktop Search even with your web-enabled mobile device. You can then act on the search results via the browser to view and respond to emails or to open or securely send any size/type file as click-and-download
links.
Remote access from local computers that don’t allow plug-ins or ActiveX Control Downloads. When a remote control plug-in or ActiveX Control can’t be downloaded to the computer you are using to connect to your remote PC, you can use the web interface to access data such as files, email, and Outlook data.
Extended handheld compatibility. Laplink Everywhere 4 brings remote PC access to any web-enabled Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Palm or Symbian device.
Fast remote access, even with a dial-up connection. Instead of launching a data-heavy remote control session, which requires a broadband connection for optimal performance, you can access your files, email, and Outlook data from any web-enabled device using the streamlined web interface.
Laplink Companion for handheld devices. Download email and Outlook data from your remote PC while online and respond while offline. All offline activity is automatically executed when you’re next online.
“The remote control functionality in Laplink Everywhere 4 matches the competition for speed and responsiveness,” says David Hayden, President/CEO of MobileWeek. “But what makes the product unique is the feature-rich remote access web interface. Having both options available in one product make this a compelling, all-purpose solution to the challenges of staying connected to
your PC.”
Laplink Everywhere 4 remains a cost-effective remote control solution, with prices starting at $8.95 per month or $44.95 per year. Laplink Everywhere 4 is available as a 15-day trial from http://www.ll2go.com or http://www.laplink.com.
April 29th, 2005
AOL has had enough of sticking its aging instant messaging client together with spit and a bit of luck, and is rewriting the software from scratch for its 6.0 release.
A limited-release beta, known as Triton, is available at the moment that shows the improvements in the interface that AOL is planning, including a form of ‘tabbed navigation’ so that multiple chats can occur within the single window, unlike the present situation where windows spawn all over the desktop. There will also be a tool to catch the IM equivalent of spam.
The biggest changes are under the hood where Triton has been built in a modular way so that new features can be bolted on, rather than retro-fitting into the existing software.
Chamath Palihapitiya, general manager of AIM, said the original software was designed in 1996 with text-only in mind.
“Would you ever have thought in 1996 that this computer is going to be used for … sending stuff to mobile phones and initiating calls over the Internet?” he asked.
TechSmec.com wasn’t around then, but if we had been we reckon we’d be blown away by the IM of 2005.
April 29th, 2005
Turtle Beach today announced the availability of its new white TBS-1105 noise-canceling ear buds, designed to complement consumer electronics such as the Apple iPod, Sony PSP, and other audio playback devices.
“There’s no reason that noise canceling headphones can’t be stylish,” said Dominick Pagnozzi, Vice-President of Sales of Turtle Beach. “These buds are perfect for silencing annoying background noise while you travel on airplanes or trains or even to quiet down noisy areas such as at the office, workplace or noisy room at home.”
Each ear bud includes a built-in microphone with special circuitry that monitors noise in the listening environment and subtracts its signal from the sound fed into the ear bud diaphragms. Unlike simple passive ear buds, the ear buds’ high-quality diaphragms are driven by an internal audio amplifier to provide high-efficiency, full-bandwidth audio reproduction for crisp highs and deep lows. The comfortable and lightweight design rests comfortably in your ear and can be worn for extended listening sessions without fatigue. A volume control lets you set the level to suit your taste, and the noise-canceling feature can be shut off with a convenient switch.
The package also includes an extra pair of ear bud cushion pads, a carry bag, an airline adapter plug and an AAA battery, and has an expected street price of $49.95.
www.TurtleBeach.com
April 29th, 2005
The last few days have been Nokia-filled, Friday is already shaping up to be PSP-day. Our friends at Sony-PSP-Review.com have drawn our attention to PSPWebBrowser.com which aims to turn your little box of Sony tricks into a PDA using rhe Wipout Pure browser hack and some specially formatted web applications.
After you point your primary DNS to PSPWebBrowser.com, those helpful chaps will provide you with a customizable free web portal.
The site provides you with tools that will turn your PSP in a PDA. PSP Memo Pad, PSP Contacts, PSP Calendar, and PSP Calculator are free tools they’ve developed for your PSP.
Other free services:
* Select sites from our pre-selected channels
* Add your own sites
* Add a calculator to your PSP
* Upload any text file to your PSP - great for E-Books
* Online Address Book
* Schedule Events on your PSP
* Check your Mail
* MSN AND AOL Instant Messaging on your PSP
* Play simple online games on the web including PSP Othello, PSP Tic-Tac-Toe, PSP Peg Puzzle, PSP Towers of Hanoi, and PSP Tetris
When you sign up, PSPWebBrowser.com asks you for your location so they can make sure that the information shown to you is information that applies to your area. When you add our weather channel for instance, they will automatically show you the weather for your area.
Looks like a nice piece of work that can only grow as time goes on. Wonder when Sony will get around to releasing native applications to do all this stuff?
April 29th, 2005
Word reaches us via Gamesradar of what they call the “best ever PSP peripheral”. That isn’t much of a claim at the moment of course, but even we think this sounds rather cool and could be the device that really kicks off the PSP as more than a games machine.
The Media Recorder VRX-02 from RockRidge Sound Japan hooks up to your TV or DVD player and directly records programmes onto Memory Stick Duo cards in the PSP-friendly MPEG-4 format.
And before you PSP owners start crowing about how this will finish off the Nintendo DS, hold your horses! It can save files for the Nintendo Play-yan adapter for the GBA and DS as well. It probably makes the tea for good measure.
The Media Recorder VRX-02 (they must come up with a better name if they plan to sell this in the English speaking world) will be launched in Japan in July, priced at around 15,000 yen (approximately £75).
April 29th, 2005
EarthLink Wireless has announced the availability of the Treo 650 smartphone, which like most devices of its type offers full-featured mobile phone with email, a Palm OS organizer, messaging, web access and digital camera.
The all-in-one device is pre-bundled with EarthLink’s exclusive TotalAccess software, designed to deliver a range of personalized content to the Treo 650. TotalAccess software includes server-side spamBlocker and Virus Blocker, which eliminate virtually 100 percent of spam and protects the users’ inbox from unwanted viruses. EarthLink Wireless offers wireless, over-the-air synchronization between the Treo 650 and EarthLink’s server to keep the users’ address book updated without cradle-based synchronization.
In addition, users can get fast and easy access to email, information, and favorite features in a simple, integrated interface. Accessing EarthLink’s Personal Start Page on the Internet allows users to set up customized content to be delivered wirelessly, such as news, stock prices, sports scores, weather, directions, maps and more.
“We are delighted to offer our customers the powerful Treo 650 smartphone, representing the latest in wireless technology,” said Brent Cobb, executive vice president of Strategy and Business Development at SK-EarthLink, and general manager of the EarthLink Wireless service line. “We are confident that the full-featured Treo 650 coupled with EarthLink’s award-winning services, content and its exclusive TotalAccess software will provide mobile professionals with everything they need to be productive.”
The Treo 650 from EarthLink Wireless operates on the CDMA/1xRTT wireless network with nationwide coverage in the United States. It is scheduled to be commercially available in late May for a suggested retail price of $599.
This is more evidence of Palm trying to solidify its position in the USA as a mobile phone operating system provider. Recent reports have shown that it is third place behind Symbian and Microsoft, and that it has hardly broken into the lucrative European market at all.
April 29th, 2005
Microsoft has been ramping up the hype surrounding the Xbox360 in the last few days and today was no exception with the announcement that Samsung has come on board to help them promote what they call the “high-definition gamin era”.
The companies plan to place over 25,000 Samsung high-definition televisions in Microsoft Xbox retail kiosk locations across the globe.
“Gaming has become a primary force for innovation in the entertainment and
technology industries. Samsung has selected Microsoft Xbox as the best next-generation game console and a key driver in the global HDTV revolution,” said Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President Consumer Electronics & North America Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “Samsung is proud to expand the Microsoft relationship and stand with them at the forefront of the HD gaming century.”
“Samsung is a natural partner to showcase the richness of the next-generation Xbox,” said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Xbox at Microsoft. “Samsung HDTVs will provide Xbox enthusiasts with the truest high-definition gaming experience available.”
The new 23″ Samsung LCD TV (LNR238W) to be paired at retail with the new Xbox console offers a super-fast 12 millisecond pixel switching speed, which will enable intense action while overcoming any motion artifacts. In addition, the Fixed Pixel Device eliminates scan lines, further ensuring gameplay is smooth and flicker-free. Picture quality combines with advanced audio technology to create an incredible gaming experience. Samsung’s HDTV built-in speakers emulate the most realistic surround sound using SRS Tru-surround XT so the action feels even closer. Game enthusiasts will no doubt appreciate the sharper details, deeper contrast and rich sound that are standard on a Samsung HDTV.
April 28th, 2005
You may think that having those tell-tale white earphones plugged into your head while you ride the subway / tube / metro makes you look cool. Well, we’re not arguing, but it also acts as a big sign above your head saying “$400 iPod over here - please steal me!”.
Figures just released by the New York Subway show that although crime as a whole is down, theft is up with no less than 50 iPods reported stolen this year already. That may not seem like many, but it’s 50 more than were stolen in the whole of 2004.
The transit authority are so concerned about how their figures are skewed because of a wave of iPod theft that they are urging you to replace the white earphones with cheaper, less-distinctive models.
So, the thieves won’t know you have an iPod, but then neither will anyone else, and as 90% of the point of owning an iPod is showing off, you might as well have saved your money and bought an iRiver instead.
April 28th, 2005
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