Nov/090
Facebook for PlayStation 3 ‘begins’
Okay, pretend to be surprised if you want, but Facebook and PlayStation 3 are coming together, sort of. We saw the tiniest bit of teaser last week via leaked photo, and now we’ve got details and a release date. Users will have the option of sending status updates for PSN purchases and Trophies whenever the user syncs up the account to the PlayStation servers, and developers can now integrate automatic updates when certain game events occur, similar to what we saw with the recent Uncharted sequel. Unfortunately, some of the very basic functions you’d come to expect from Facebook apps, such as writing your own status updates, aren’t there yet. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more integration sooner rather than later, as the company’s noting this is just the beginning of the integration with the social network. Integration hits with firmware 3.10, which as we heard from a previous Sony Poland leak is this Thursday, just one day after Xbox Live’s Facebook integration debuts (how very convenient, indeed). Also in the update? New photo navigation and PSN gamer card options. Video after the break.
Nov/090
xpPhone Now with More Customizations, Windows 7
You know, I have been writing about the xpPhone for quite a while and it still never ceases to amaze me. Every time a few days pass, this phone seems to be even better looking especially where specifications are concerned. Believe it or not but this has all the makings of a winner, now that it has been made extremely configurable with new CPU clock speeds, a choice of screens and so on.
And seeing how most of them have either changed or have had some interesting extras added, how about we check out the full spec list regarding what the ITG xpPhone will be outfitted with? First of all, the processor. It seems that it will still be using the AMD Neo processor but the user will get a choice of speeds, namely anywhere below or above the 1G standard speed. As far as network connectivity is concerned, it comes with WiFi 802.11b/g/n, optional WiMax, Bluetooth and, of course, GPS.
It is compatible with 2G, 3G and 4G networks, and handles GSM, GPRS, EDGE or WCDMA as well. I have to admit this is the first dual-SIM phone that I am actually impressed about. As for storage, prepare to really be amazed seeing how this phone can be outfitted with an SSD with sizes ranging from 8GB to 64GB or an HDD whose size ranges from 30GB to as much as 120GB.
You also get a 5-megapixel camera (but you can go for a lower quality one as well) and can opt for a 4.3-inch, 4.8-inch or 7-inch TFT liquid crystal display (800 x 480 or 1024 x 600 resolution). Next up is the memory, which starts at 512MB and reaches an interesting size of 2GB (DDR2, I think). Should you desire to know what operating systems it can be outfitted with, you’ll be happy to know that you can choose MS DOS, Windows XP Professional/ Home/ Embedded or Windows 7. If they throw an option to go for Windows 98… I am sold.
Nov/090
Channel 4 showing some 3D programmes
Sony and Panasonic are both hellbent on convincing us their forthcoming super-duper 3D television sets are the future, but before we all start selling off the children and re-mortgaging our homes, how about a little taster of what it might be like? Channel 4, the British answer to a question nobody ever asked, is about to offer up a selection of 3D programming this month, which it dubs as a return to “good old fashioned fun.” The menu includes a documentary about the Queen’s coronation (in other words, ancient history), a magic show, and even a couple of goodies like Flesh for Frankenstein and Friday the 13th, Part III. If we find can remember to get down to the local Sainsbury’s and grab ourselves a free pair of those rad-looking three-dee glasses, you might even be treated to our eyes-on impressions. Watch this three-dimensional space!
Nov/090
Samsung Omnia II (I8000) Smartphone with WinMo 6.5 Gets Live Handling
Ever since we witnessed the slew of accusations and bad reviews plaguing Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5, we’ve been dying to get a chance to try it out for ourselves and see whether there was any truth to those reports or not. So, when the opportunity presented itself at a local Samsung-related event, we quickly took the smartphone the respective OS was running on, the Omnia II, for a brief spin, in order to see what the device and its integration with the Microsoft OS is all about.
First of all, we’ll have to tell you that we can’t help but analyze this device from two different points of view, namely that of the hardware itself and the user interface (TouchWiz 2.0 UI) added by Samsung, and a second one, related directly to the underlying operating system, Windows Mobile 6.5.
From the first point of view, we can say that the Omnia II has left us with a very good impression. I mean, the device has a very large AMOLED touchscreen display (3.7 inches), which is able to both render colors at a very good quality and resolution (480 x 800 pixels) and respond very fast and accurately to any commands. Plus, its external design is elegant, despite the fact that the black rear-side can be described as way too fingerprint-friendly.
Nov/090
Getting the best audio from PS3, without HDMI
Once you’ve actually decided what hardware to purchase, avoided the perilous purchasing decisions involved in finding cables, but actually setting it up can trip up the newbies among us. Suck is our friend David’s problem, trying to figure out if lossless audio is a possibility for his HDMI-less receiver:
“I read your article and I would like further advice. I have the brand new PS3, which I’m going to use with a 1080p Sony Bravia – the video is fine..HDMI to the tv. The problem is that I have an ONKYO THX 7.1 system (really 5.1), and there is no HDMI, so I plan on using an optical audio cable from the PS3 into the receiver. How do i get the best sound? Will the PS3 decode the trueHD (or whatever it is) and send the full spectrum of sound across the optical to the receiver? Will NOT having the HDMI to the receiver affect my sound, or will the PS3 internal decoding send a perfect lossless sound to my non-HDMI receiver?”
Just in case our HD 101 explanation wasn’t enough (First off, S/PDIF transmission — over either optical TOSLINK or coax — does not have the bandwidth to carry Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA signals. If you connect your Blu-ray player to your receiver with optical or coax, the audio will “fall back” to Dolby Digital, DTS or two-channel PCM — lossless, but only two channels,) any tips on how David can get the highest audio quality possible out of the equipment he has? Of course, if you think replacing one of the components is a better choice, that’s always an option as well.
Nov/090
NETGEAR Presents New Configurable Switches
The success of building a great network of linked computers lies in the hardware you use. Whether you’re referring to the computers, routers, cables or switches, everything contributes to the quality of your network. And because NETGEAR has recently launched a new series of configurable switches for business use, how about we check them out a bit and see what’s what? Especially since this fresh ProSafe Plus Switch family is said to even allow non-technical users to monitor and configure their networks like the best of them.
“Businesses are relying more heavily on their networks as they deploy more Ethernet-based technologies such as VoIP, as well as Internet-based applications for email, calendaring and collaboration,” said Maggie Wu, NETGEAR’s product line manager for SMB Switching Products. “To support this trend, NETGEAR has created this simple yet powerful network switch for businesses. The ProSafe Plus Switch, as an upgrade from the simple connectivity of an unmanaged switch, offers our customers essential network features such as enhanced security, troubleshooting, traffic prioritization, segmentation and monitoring, all at an affordable price.”
The ProSafe Plus Switches sport easy-to-use configuration tools, QoS features, VLAN support as well as other features of a more greenish nature such as auto power-down or auto cable length detection. Seeing how every SMB out there is searching to save even the smallest amount of money, this could definitely be a winning series of devices. Pricing starts from 70 USD to as much as 110 USD depending on what device you want from the ProSafe Plus series.
I’ll leave you now with Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst of enterprise voice and data at Infonetics Research, an international market research and consulting firm specializing in data networking and telecom, “With many business users running multiple, real-time applications on their networks, they need to be able to segment and prioritize traffic to ensure consistent performance. […] NETGEAR’s new line of ProSafe Plus Switches gives SMBs greater control over their networks at only a modest premium over unmanaged switches, thereby providing a good balance between features and price.”
Nov/090
SkyCross Buries the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth’s Hatchet with the iMAT Antenna Solution
SkyCross, one global antenna designer and manufacturer, has announced today that it will expand personal connectivity and enhance end-user satisfaction by enabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to operate simultaneously in netbooks. The problem is this, the two protocols work at the same frequency, namely 2.4GHz, therefore interference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth made the two nearly impossible to run at the same time, although I do remember using my roommate’s laptop with Wi-Fi enabled (I was actually on YouTube) and I did send a couple of files via Bluetooth to my phone.
The press release tells that nowadays’ chipsets and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo Mini-cards are capable of supporting both operation simultaneously so what kept developers from improving was the industry’s roadblock, namely the antenna. Clearly, this is the point where SkyCross jumps in, and unveils the iMat antenna, the first in the industry single-antenna solution that provides more than 38dB of isolation between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, thus enabling coexistence even in compact devices such as netbooks.
“Chip makers are very encouraged by this breakthrough, and manufacturers are already planning to use the SkyCross iMAT solution in their future products,” said Joe Gifford, Vice President of SkyCross. “Our antennas differentiate netbook brands by maximizing their connectivity range and enabling optimal simultaneous functionality at an equivalent price, which pleases consumers. Seamless Wi-Fi and Bluetooth coexistence opens the door for new applications and a user experience that will propel netbook brand loyalty.”
If many designers tried to relieve the device of the Wi-Fi – Bluetooth problem by physically separating the two, then SkyCross approached the whole scenario completely differently, via the iMAT antenna that is a design technique enabling a single antenna element with multiple feed points to behave like multiple antennas, while also maintaining very high isolation, just like they were physically not just decoupled, but even very wide apart. Among the other benefits of the iMAT, we find included reduction of specific absorption rate (SAR), elimination of RF components and more.
Also, SkyCross’ solution demonstrated an improvement in data throughput, further range and nearly perfect Bluetooth audio, when showcased using 802.11n Bluetooth Mini-Card modules in several brands of netbooks in an office environment.
Nov/090
Samsung’s TV combination monitor with inbuilt TV tuner
Remember the Samsung P2370HD monitor? Well, this is it at 27 inches. How’s that for concision? Oh, you want more — well, Samsung must’ve expected you to, because it’s also added a TV tuner and a HDMI input to its latest Full HD display, to go along with a 5ms response time and a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. There’s also a pair of 3 watt stereo speakers that can simulate 5.1 channel sound — good for emergencies or if you just can’t stand speakers cluttering up your desktop. Filling out the goodie bag are Picture In Picture and Picture By Picture modes, which should make good use of the extra real estate on the screen by combining, for example, your desktop with a TV source. The price is set at 549,000 Won (or about $473) for Korea, though global availability looks imminent so don’t rush to import it just yet.
Nov/090
Eight displays with a single-slot PCIe – Matrox
Matrox M9188 supports up to eight DisplayPort or DVI Single-Link outputs and can be combined with a second M9188 to drive up to 16 displays, all from a single workstation
Matrox Graphics, the leading manufacturer of specialized graphics solutions, today announced the launch of the Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 Octal graphics card, capable of supporting eight DisplayPort or DVI Single-Link outputs from a single workstation. The Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 offers 2GB of memory, resolutions up to 2560×1600 per output, and advanced desktop management features—such as independent or stretched desktop modes—to drive energy, transportation, process control, financial trading, and other mission-critical environments with exceptional performance.
“The M9188 is designed specifically for professional monitoring environments that require visualization of large amounts of data at once to enhance mission-critical decision making,” says Ron Berty, Business Development Manager, Matrox Graphics. “The expansive multi-monitor configuration allows system operators to accurately manage energy grids or train dispatch applications, while ensuring maximum performance across all displays.”
The Matrox M9188 offers robust support for Microsoft Windows XP, as well as for Linux, which is critical for energy and transportation applications that commonly use display configurations of more than eight monitors.
Matrox also announced a second addition to the M-Series product line with the Matrox M9128 LP PCIe x16, DualHead DisplayPort graphics card. This dual-monitor add-in board is the economical choice to drive business, industrial, and government applications across two displays at resolutions up to 2560×1600
Matrox M9128 and M9188 Key Features
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Native PCIe x16 performance
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Single-slot graphics cards
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1 GB (M9128) and 2 GB (M9188) of memory
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Drive two (M9128) or eight (M9188) DisplayPort monitors at 2560×1600 per display or DVI Single-Link monitors at 1920×1200 per display
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Can be combined with other M-Series products (multi-card support)
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Support for stretched or independent desktop modes across all monitors
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Easy deployment and wide enterprise flexibility with unified driver package
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Support for Microsoft Windows 7 (32/64bit), Windows Vista (32/64bit), Windows XP (32/64bit), Windows Server 2003/2008 (32/64 bit) and Linux
Matrox M9128 and M9188 Availability and Pricing
The Matrox M9128 and M9188 graphics cards will be available in Q4/2009.
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Matrox M9128 LP PCIe x16
Part number: M9128-E1024LAF
$259.00 USD
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Matrox M9188 PCIe x16
Part number: M9188-E2048F
$1995.00 USD
Nov/090
Centon Electronics Launching Major League Baseball Licensed USB Keychain Flash Drives
Centon Electronic Incorporated, another manufacturer and designer of DRAM and Flash-based memory products, just announced its release of the officially licensed MLAB Key chain USB Flash Drives. The above named maker is authorized by Major League Baseball Properties to release the officially licensed Key chain USB drives that feature the logos of all 30 Major League Baseball teams.
Having an officially licensed MLB USB Flash drive is just another way of showing your fan support, but in a more fun and unique way than the regular t-shirts, caps and others alike. Come to think about it, this is even a useful thing, considering that you can store, share and transfer data with your friends, or just your own – from school to home and vice versa, for example. Adding the reliability and the compact form factor to all of the above makes the MLB Key chain USB flash drives an easy and convenient way to keep important files with you on the go.
“We’re always looking for new ways to allow our fans to express their devotion to their team and to Major League Baseball,” said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball. “Our fans also are very quick to embrace technology, so we’re happy to partner with Centon to offer these exciting products that will enhance our fans’ connection to the game.”