Archive for June 2nd, 2005
Luxpro has already fallen foul of Apple once this year when it exhibited its ‘Super Shuffle’ mp3 player at CeBit. With a good kicking from Apple’s lawyers no doubt still ringing in its ears, Luxpro has come back with the MX-585D. The name may be different, but it still bears more than a passing resemblance to the iPod Shuffle.
In fact, it ‘improves’ on the Shuffle as it has a 64×48 OLED display. Supported file formats are MP3, WMA and WAV and it has support for DRM as well. According to Luxpro, the MX-585D offers 10 hours of play on a full charge.
However, to confuse matters, Luxpro also seems to be selling what it calls the ‘Super Tangent’. Whether this is the MX-585D or a renamed Super Shuffle, we can’t tell. Whatever the answer, the write-ups aren’t good with one disgruntled buyer telling iPodlounge that the buttons do not work well, battery life is terrible, and the recorder simply did not record.
For a photo of the Shuffle…sorry the Tangent…sorry the MX-585D, see Digitimes.
June 2nd, 2005
AOpen has debuted its full series ePCs at the Computex Taipei 2005. Because ePCs are designed for home entertainment, the look-and-feel of the ePCs are designed to look like consumer electronic products which can be arranged in a rack for home audio and video equipment.
“The ePCs are based on digital entertainment platforms which can fit ideally in different users environments,” said Bernie Tsai, president of AOpen. “AOpen Media Center Server 400/410 is an ideal choice for the main living room, while AOpen XC REC6 is a model for the sitting room,” Tsai elaborated. The various models of ePCs form AOpen’s digital home entertainment solutions and are used in different scenarios. The ePCs are showcased in different scenarios at Computex Taipei 2005.
The AOpen Media Center Server 400/410
AOpen Media Center Server 400/410 is designed to look like a conventional audio amplifier. The housing of the innovative product is designed with storage space for seven hard drives. The system is developed with the functions to receive video streams from multiple TV channels. A user can record video streams or TV programs of up to three different TV channels with built-in hard drives. The user can manage, edit, browse, or play back the recorded video streams or TV programs recorded in the system hard drives.
The system also supports multiple screen output. A user can display the video output of different TV channels to separate video output devices such as a HDTV or plasma display. The Media Center Server 400/410 is ideal for a home with multiple TV sets.
The system is built with vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) panel which shows the system playback status clearly. The remote control of the system enables users to operate the system conveniently.
“Powered by the functions of high performance AOpen Media Center Server 400/410, the users can watch and record TV programs, play music CDs and MP3 music, play VCD and DVD movies,” explained Vincent Cho, VP and GM of Solution Products Business Unit. “As the most powerful digital home entertainment platform in the IT industry, the product is expected to start a digital home entertainment revolution in the near future,” Cho predicted.
Features of Media Server 400
* Built with large size VFD which shows system playback status clearly.
* Designed with dual-channel TV tuner – the user can watch the program of a TV channel while recording the TV program of another TV broadcast station.
* Supports Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition.
* Supports 7.1-channel surround sound.
* Supports Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz 820 processor which is designed with dual core and Hyper-Threading technology.
* Supports dual channel DDR II 533/667 MHz and expandable to 4 GB.
* Provides PCI-Express x16 and PCI expansion slots.
* Provides one ATA and six Serial ATA connectors.
* Built-in 250 GB hard drive.
* Built-in DVD Combo drive.
* Built-in 10/100/1000 Mb LAN interface.
* Full function remote control.
* Provides S-Video, YPbPr, and D4 video output connectors.
AOpen XC REC6 – AV system for sitting room, a combination of bed room AV system and conventional PC
Although AOpen XC REC6 is also designed for providing digital home entertainment, the look-and-feel of XC REC6 is totally different from that of AOpen Media Center Server. The stylish and super slim XC REC6 is only 6.9 cm (2.72”) in height, making it ideal for sitting room.
Despite its compact size, the product features the VFD panel and the push buttons which allow the user to operate the system easily and examine its operation status. Even though it is one of the slimmest desktop PCs in the world, the small size does not mean performance sacrifice. It supports nearly all important audio and video interfaces including S-Video, YPbPr, and D4 connectors for displaying video output to HDTVs or LCD screens.
AOpen XC REC6 is designed to be driven by Intel Pentium M processors, which consume less electric power, generate less heat, and run quietly.
EP915-M
* The size of the product is only 8.9 liters – nearly the same as home electronic products.
* Provides one 5.25” and one 3.5” drive bay.
* Built with a stylish VFD panel to show operation status.
* Supports Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition.
* Supports multiple-channel audio outputs.
* 275W power supply.
* Dimensions: 69mm(H) x 300mm(L) x 430mm(W); 2.72” x 11.81” x 16.93”
* Supports Intel Pentium M Dothan processors.
* Supports Intel i915G and ICH6 chipsets.
* Supports dual channel DDR II 400/533 MHz.
* Provides PCI-Express x16 and PCI expansion slots.
* Provides ATAand Serial ATAconnectors.
* Provides S-Video, YPbPr, D4 video output connectors.
* Provides USB, IEEE1394, and HD Audio 7.1-channel sound.
* Built-in 10/100/1000 Mb LAN connector.
June 2nd, 2005
Samsung have launched two laptops equipped with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology that almost doubles the data transfer speed over a wireless network and boosts the usable range to 900ft.
The X20 and X25 use a wireless chipset from Airgo Networks instead of Intel’s Centrino which is popular in wireless-equipped notebooks at the moment. This will be seen as a blow to Intel who had marked both laptops down as users of Centrino technology.
KH Uhm from Samsung, said, “Given their significant technology lead, Airgo’s True MIMO is the best fit for embedded wireless in our new high performance Samsung X20 laptops. Together, we are enabling the mobile office by offering a standards-based platform with wireless connectivity that outperforms all other embedded solutions on the market.”
MIMO works by making better use of the available radio spectrum by sending several data signals over a single 20MHz radio channel. The MIMO laptop must be used in conjunction with MIMO routers which are manufactured by Netgear, Linksys and Belkin, amongst others.
June 2nd, 2005
An enduring frustration for remote and mobile workers is that text messages sent from their laptop or notebook computer via a 3G or GSM data card don’t have the same originating number as their mobile phone.
It causes three problems. Recipients see a message from an unfamiliar number and may ignore it. They may text a reply to a laptop or notebook that is turned off or no longer with the user. And if they try to reply by voice, the data-only card rejects their call.
Text and voice expert Telsis has solved all three issues in one move with its SMS Data Card Identity System. Simply added to any mobile network, it automatically replaces data card numbers with customers’ phone numbers. Recipients see a familiar phone number and can reply immediately by text or voice to a handset that is almost certainly turned on and within reach of the sender.
The Telsis advance represents a significant revenue-building value-add for operators, stimulating both message and voice traffic, and is typically expected to pay for itself in less than 12 months.
Data card usage is growing in Europe at around 50% a year, mostly among business customers. Enhancing the utility of data cards for these high ARPU users is a logical next step according to Telsis chairman Jeff Wilson. “Research from Ericsson shows that 60% of text messages are replied to by SMS, 21% by voice call and a further 6% by both SMS and voice call. We calculate that the extra messaging and return call traffic stimulated by an SMS Data Card Identity System could be worth as much as 100 Euros annually per user. Operators will quickly cover their costs and generate new revenue.”
The first of its kind in the world, the Telsis SMS Data Card Identity System is a small footprint, stand-alone solution that can be simply added to any mobile network. From a low cost starter package the system can be easily and inexpensively upgraded to cope with network and traffic growth.
June 2nd, 2005
Microsoft has made an interesting announcement about the next version of Office, not due until some time in 2006, namely that it will replace its propriety file format with one based on XML.
In the long term this is good news for software developers who have struggled to backwards-engineer the existing formats as Microsoft is notoriously tight-lipped about the current structure. Software such as Open Office has got better over the years at reading and writing in Office formats, but it has never quite got it right, especially with Powerpoint.
The new XML-based format will use what Microsoft calls ‘Microsoft Office Open XML’. Note that it isn’t open source and Microsoft will no doubt maintain tight control over the schema, but they do promise detailed documentation so that developers can easily integrate Office files into their products. There will of course be a delay after the new version of Office is released before other software companies can reproduce the format, unless Microsoft announces any early details of the schema - very unlikely.
Microsoft also promise that the new format will be more robust. If a section of the file becomes corrupted it will be easier to rebuild the file from the unaffected fragments. They also predict smaller file sizes as in addition to the inherently smaller XML overhead, the files will be compressed.
“Making XML the default Office file formats is, for me, the culmination of a 35-year dream,” said Charles F. Goldfarb, the inventor of the markup language technology and author of “The XML Handbook.”
“In 1970 we had just one system that could share documents between an editor, a back-end database and a publishing package. Now Microsoft is enabling hundreds of millions of people to routinely create XML that can interoperate with every kind of back-end system and Web service. I foresee a whole new range of advanced information- sharing scenarios, with improved workflows and enhanced individual and organizational collaboration.”
“Microsoft Office Open XML Formats have the potential to make a hugely positive impact on workers’ effectiveness and productivity without requiring a minute of additional training,” said Steven Sinofsky, senior vice president of Office at Microsoft. “Customers have asked us for improved file and data management; improved interoperability; and open, royalty-free, published file format specifications — without sacrificing backward compatibility. We’re confident that by adopting XML-based default file formats, we are delivering the tools that will help IT professionals address these challenges, while enabling developers to integrate Office even further into their customized solutions.”
June 2nd, 2005