After a brief respite, Netbooks came to the foreground again this week. Virtual unknown Raon Digital grabbed everyone's attention with the dual-core, touch-screen Everun Note. Asus showed off its new brushed-metal design with the Eee PC 1002HA (pictured at right). And Dell launched new colors and graphic designs for the Inspiron Mini 9.
Meanwhile, a new iteration of MSI's Netbook was spotted on display in China. The company followed up with an official announcement of the Wind U120. No word yet on pricing or availability, though the Netbook should be on display at CES 2009.
The final minilaptop of note is so costly it's hardly a Netbook at all: the ubermenacing, $890 Hello Kitty C1.
In other news, HP launched the first multitouch consumer laptop, the 12.1-inch TouchSmart tx2; Samsung began mass-producing 256GB solid-state drives; and we found another laptop sleeve styled like an interdepartmental envelope.
Also, with Thanksgiving in the U.S. next week, we Cravers took a moment to reflect on which gadgets we're most thankful for. Turns out we're a grateful bunch; the story had to be broken into two parts. Read Part 1 and Part 2, and don't forget to tell us what gadget will be counted among your Thanksgiving blessings.
Minggu, 23 November 2008
Blogging from 25,000 feet
Virgin America kicks off in-flight Wi-Fi on Saturday.
Click on image for more photos.
For an aviation geek like me, the simple act of flying is more then enough reason to get on a plane.
So when sassy airline Virgin America offered CNET the chance to test its new Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi service, I jumped at the chance. And yes, I'm writing this 25,000 feet or so (we're still climbing) above the Northern California coast. We're cruising on an hour-long demonstration flight out of the San Francisco International Airport. Check out the slideshow for more shots.
After passing 10,000 feet, I was able to find the sky-high Wi-Fi signal and create an account within minutes. The service works faster than I expected--not as quick as my cable Internet service at home but zippy nonetheless. Yahoo and CNET loaded relatively quickly, and CNET's Kara Tsuboi was able to stream videos. I went straight to blogging, so I didn't take much of an online tour, but it looks promising.
So far the service is available on one of Virgin America's uber-hip Airbus A320 aircraft. That plane (registration N638VA, "My other ride is a spaceship") will begin flying scheduled service on Thanksgiving Day. The service will be rolled out to the airline's entire fleet by the second quarter of 2009.
Of course, the Wi-Fi service will cost you. You'll pay $9.95 for flights of three hours or less and $12.95 for flights more than three hours. I think that's a pretty fair price (particularly if you're on a company expense account) for the privilege of browsing, chatting, and e-mailing while aloft.
The service is available through Aircell, which powers the in-flight Wi-Fi technology. Radio towers through the continental United States transmit EV-DO Rev A signals to the planes. Three antennas on the outside of the aircraft pick up the signal, which is then transmitted throughout the cabin.
Thankfully, cell phone service in the air is still an no-no due to FAA regulations. VoIP services also will be banned, but you will be able to text if you have a Wi-Fi-enabled cell phone. What's more, Virgin America says it will not filter Web sites.
In this photo--transmitted Saturday from a Virgin America Airbus A320 about 35,000 feet above San Francisco, passengers hold up their wireless devices at the launch of in-flight Wi-Fi.
Kernel vulnerability found in Vista
A flaw in Vista's networking has been found that can crash the system, but no fix is expected until the next service pack
A flaw has been found in Windows Vista that could allow rootkits to be hidden or denial-of-service attacks to be executed on computers using the operating system.
The vulnerability was found by Thomas Unterleitner of Austrian security company Phion and was announced Friday. Unterleitner told ZDNet UK on Friday that Phion told Microsoft about the flaw in October but that he understood a fix would only be issued in the next Vista service pack.
According to Unterleitner's disclosure of the flaw, the issue lies in the network input/output subsystem of Vista. Certain requests sent to the iphlpapi.dll API can cause a buffer overflow that corrupts the Vista kernel memory, resulting in a blue-screen-of-death crash.
"This buffer overflow could (also) be exploited to inject code, hence compromising client security," Unterleitner said.
Unterleitner told ZDNet UK via e-mail that the "exploit can be used to turn off the computer using a (denial-of-service) attack." He also suggested that, because the exploit occurs in the Netio.sys component of Vista, it may make it possible to hide rootkits.
Using a sample program, Unterleitner and his colleagues ascertained that Vista Enterprise and Vista Ultimate were definitely affected by the flaw, with other versions of Microsoft's operating system "very likely" to be affected as well. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are vulnerable. Windows XP is not affected.
Asked about the severity of the flaw, Unterleitner pointed out that administrative rights were needed to execute a program calling the function that would cause the buffer overflow. However, he also said it was possible--but not yet confirmed--that someone could use a malformed DCHP packet to "take advantage of the exploit without administrative rights."
"We have worked together with Microsoft Security Response Center in Redmond since October 2008 to locate, classify and fix this bug," Unterleitner wrote. "Microsoft will ship a fix for this exploit with the next Vista service pack."
Microsoft told ZDNet UK on Friday that it had investigated the issue, but was "currently unaware of any attacks trying to use the vulnerability or of customer impact." It could not, however, confirm the inclusion of a fix for the problem in the next as-yet-unreleased service pack for Vista, nor give the release date for that service pack.
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Jumat, 21 November 2008
Mr. Blurrycam reveals the updated MacBook Pro, $899 laptop model shows up in Apple inventory systems (Updated)
Well, maybe -- we're not calling it official until Steve pulls the cloth off himself tomorrow morning . Still, there's no denying the similarities between this image and all those other case leaks we've seen, and the list of specs we've been given matches up as well -- that "metal and glass" enclosure now houses an NVIDIA GPU, but no FireWire 400, and video-out is apparently through a connector "more compact" than MicroDVI. We'll find out soon enough -- oh, and just to amp up expectations, Boy Genius says he's confirmed the existence of an $899 part number in Apple's retail systems. Counting down...
Update: Our source just hit us with another pic, this time from the side -- it's after the break. We're also told that there's not one, but two NVIDIA GPUs inside --
Update 2: Our source just hit us again to say that it's two full-on NVIDIA GPUs -- sounds like a hybrid SLI setup to us, which is pretty wild. Wilder still, they say the MacBook and 17-inch MacBook Pro aren't getting refreshed tomorrow, which we find hard to believe, but we'll see when we see.
Update 3: John Gruber over at Daring Fireball, the first to accurately predict today's launch event, has confidentally chimed in with many more details. The button-less trackpad is indeed glass, and "is a button itself" which opens the door for a few hours of trouser-heated speculation about the trackpad doubling as a BlackBerry Storm-like display (Gruber doesn't say and it doesn't appear to be in that image above so don't count on it). Gruber also claims that none of the new laptops will reach the rumored $899 price point -- the part number spotted earlier seems to be associated with a new 24-inch LED Apple Cinema Display with DisplayPort according to MacRumors, not a low-end MacBook. To support this, Gruber says that the aluminum MacBooks will indeed be announced in $1,299 (2GHz, 2GB memory, 160GB disk) and $1,499 (2.4GHz, 2GB memory, 250GB disk) configs and will ship by the end of the week along with new 120GB HDD and 128GB SSD configurations of the MacBook Air. While CPU clocks will remain pretty much the same, all new MacBooks -- regular, Pro, and Air -- will feature the new NVIDIA 9400M GPU -- the 15-inch MacBook Pro (the 17-inch will remain unchanged albeit with 4GB of memory and bigger 320GB disk) will feature a second 9600M GT GPU making it a true graphics powerhouse as previously speculated. Lastly, the current 2.1GHz white MacBook remains in the line-up but will be cut to $999.
Xbox Experience now available to all who signed up, Netflix HD streams too
Microsoft's new Xbox Experience dashboard doesn't officially launch until Wednesday the 19th. But if you signed up for the preview (and who didn't?) with a valid console ID then it's available now according to Major Nelson. What's more, Netflix has confirmed its Xbox 360 launch details: more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes and 300 streaming HD titles. Remember, streaming is free for Netflix members who are also Xbox Live Gold members. The HD video streams will be limited to SD audio, however -- multi-channel audio is in the works as are additional HD titles. Now get outta here kid, NXE awaits.
BlackBerry Storm vs. Apple iPhone: 8 reasons pro and con
Who says you can’t have it both ways?
With RIM’s (RIMM) touchscreen BlackBerry Storm set to be released in the United States next Friday, CIO.com has published eight reasons to choose the Storm over Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone.
The same day, it published eight reasons to pick the iPhone over the Storm.
Both pieces are by Al Sacco, who probably doesn’t pay for the phones he reviews.
Here’s why he prefers the Storm:
- Stereo Bluetooth capability
- Removable battery
- Expandable memory
- Video recording
- Works as a tethered modem
- Tactile feedback
- Copy and paste
- Multitasking
Here’s why he prefers the iPhone
- It’s now second-generation
- Built-in memory
- iTunes App Store
- iTunes integration
- Full QWERY (virtual) keyboard
- Wi-Fi support
- iPod media player
- Safari browser
To learn more, click here for why you should pick the Storm and here for the iPhone.
Xbox 360's lack of Sony Pictures films streaming on Netflix "unrelated" to competition
You probably recall that two days ago, when the new Xbox Experience launched, sadly, about 300 Sony Pictures films were unavailable for Netflix Watch Instantly on NXE, thus quashing your hopes of streaming The Karate Kid series. At the time, it seemed possible that missing titles were due to the fact that Xbox 360 manufacturer Microsoft and Sony are direct competitors. Well, according to a Sony spokesperson, the problem isn't specific to the Xbox, nor is their beef competition-related in any way. Sony also says it is in talks with the several "relevant parties" to work out these vague licensing issues, though there was no word on when the issue would be resolved. We really do hope it's soon because we're dying to see how everything turns out with the Cobra Kai.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
Apple 2.0
The iPhone’s midnight update
A major update to the iPhone’s firmware arrived at the stroke of midnight Thursday, surprising Apple (AAPL) watchers and taking just a little steam out of the launch of Research in Motion’s (RIMM) BlackBerry Storm Friday.
iPhone 2.2 contains dozens of fixes and improvements — most of which had been telegraphed in advance through leaks from the developer community. Apple’s handy checklist:
- Enhancements to Maps
- Google Street View
- public transit and walking directions
- display address of dropped pins
- share location via email
- Enhancements to Mail
- resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of e-mail
- improved formatting of wide HTML email
- improved stability and performance of Safari
- Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
- Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
- Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
- Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
- Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings
No. 1 on that list — Google Street View — is the first new feature we tried out. It also happens to be the most conspicuous trick that Google (GOOG) Android phones performed that iPhones couldn’t.
Well, now they can. For example, here’s the street where Steve Jobs works, as seen through an iPhone sitting 2,944 miles away:
One caveat: The iPhone lacks an internal compass, so it still can’t deliver Google’s vaunted Compass Mode, where the view changes as you swing your smartphone left and right (see here).
For more on what the update offers, see here. To download it, plug your iPhone into your computer and click on Check for Update. iPhone 2.2 weighs in at 246 MB and installs in less than 10 minutes.
Companies recall 100,000 laptop battery packs
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Computer makers are recalling 100,000 laptop battery packs made by Sony Corp. after 40 reports of overheating, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notice Thursday.
Sony also recalled nearly 10 million of a different model of battery in 2006 and 2007.
The voluntary recall applies to certain Sony 2.15Ah lithium-ion cell batteries made in Japan and sold around the world in laptops made by Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Toshiba Corp.
Some incidents involved smoke or flames, according to Sony. Twenty-one of the reports claimed minor property damage, and small burns were reported in four cases.
Sony blamed two factors for the defects: adjustments on its manufacturing line from October 2004 to June 2005, which may have affected the quality of cells in certain production lots; and a possible flaw in the metal foil for electrodes.
The company said no reports have been filed for batteries made after 2006, and noted that the recalled units are a small fraction of the more than 260 million it has shipped over six years.
This also pales in comparison to the recall of nearly 10 million of a different model of Sony batteries in 2006 and 2007, which affected almost every major PC manufacturer, including Dell Inc. and Apple Inc.
In this batch of problematic laptops, the bulk of the 35,000 affected computers in the U.S. were sold by HP between December 2004 and June 2006, according to the safety commission, including HP Pavilion, HP Compaq and Compaq Presario models.
Some Dell Latitude and Inspiron models shipped between November 2004 and November 2005 are also covered by the recall, as well as some Toshiba Satellite and Tecra laptops sold from April 2005 to October 2005.
An additional 65,000 of the flawed batteries were sold outside the U.S. The PCs and separate batteries were sold directly by the computer manufacturers, electronics stores and online retailers worldwide, not by Sony.
Sony said its own Vaio laptops don't use the battery in question. Last month, however, the company recalled 440,000 Vaio notebooks worldwide because of a wiring flaw that can cause overheating.
The safety commission said PC users should remove laptop batteries immediately and contact the manufacturer to request a replacement. Details, including laptop model numbers and contact information for Dell, HP and Toshiba, have been posted on the commission's Web site.
Best PlayStation 3 games of 2008
PS3 hits its stride with games like 'Metal Gear Solid 4' and 'LittleBigPlanet'
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Five ways to keep Alzheimer's away
(CNN) -- Blanche Danick may be 86 years old, but she's pretty hip. She keeps up with all the latest health news, and a while back, she called her daughter wanting to know whether she should start taking the herb ginkgo biloba. She'd heard it might stave off Alzheimer's disease.
"I told her not to bother, that it wouldn't make much of a difference," says her daughter, Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles. "On the basis of what I've read, I don't think it staves off dementia."
London's advice makes a lot of sense, according to a study out this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Ginkgo is a top-selling herb and has been hailed by some as a memory-booster, but the new University of Pittsburgh study found it didn't help prevent Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in more than 3,000 elderly study subjects.
Ginkgo manufacturers say this isn't the first -- or the last -- word on the herb. "There is a significant body of scientific and clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ginkgo extract for both cognitive function and improved circulation," said Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council.
London's still skeptical. "But I do tell my mother there are other things she can do," says London, who's studied the brain and aging. "I tell her to go out and do things and see people every day and be active." Studies have shown that physical exercise, the kind that keeps the heart healthy, also keeps the brain healthy, according to the National Institutes of Health's Cognitive and Emotional Health Project. 
People are like rats, London says. "If you put a rat in a cage by itself, it won't do well on cognitive tests. But if you give it toys and put other rats in its cage, they're going to be smarter rats."
In addition to playing with toys and hanging out with your fellow rats, here are five other tips for keeping your memory sharp. London says they help work on memory centers of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, identified in the diagram above.
1. Antioxidants
London makes sure her mother takes vitamins A, C, and E. They're antioxidants, which prevent cell damage and are believed by some to slow down diseases of aging. "There are studies that suggest antioxidants might prevent dementia," she says.
2. Fish oil supplements
Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging, says aging brains show signs of inflammation, and fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Phosphatidylserine supplements
Phosphatidylserine is a lipid found naturally in the body. Small says he's not 100 percent convinced these supplements will help stave off dementia, but they're worth a try. "If I start having memory problems when I get older, I'll give them a trial run and see if they help," says Small, author of the new book "iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind."
4. Curry
Small, who's 57, says that as he gets older, he might also try eating more foods with curry in them. "Some studies in Singapore show that those who ate curry once a week had better memory scores," he said.
5. Cross-training your brain
"Our brains can be made stronger through exercise," says Andrew Carle, assistant professor of in the department of health administration and policy at George Mason University. "In the same way physical exercise can delay many of the effects of aging on the body, there's some evidence cognitive exercise can at least delay the onset of Alzheimer's."
Health Library
But Carle says it's not enough to do just one kind of brain exercise. "Doing a crossword puzzle every day is good, but it's the equivalent of doing only pushups -- your arms will get strong, but not the rest of your body."
He recommends doing other activities in addition, such as computing numbers in your head instead of using a calculator, or using one of the "brain gym" computer games designed to enhance brain function.
As for London, who's 60, she thinks her best bet at staving off dementia doesn't come in a bottle, or on a dinner plate, or in a computer game. "I'm going to keep working on my research, and surround myself with young people, and do a lot of exercise," she says. "I'm going to be a happy old lady. That in and of itself is going to do a lot
Nokia smartphones get IBM's Lotus Notes
Announcement comes against a backdrop of falling demand for cellphones.
HELSINKI - Nokia smartphones will be able to access IBM Lotus Notes corporate email starting from next month, the two firms said on Thursday, as the world's top handset maker battles Blackberry-maker RIM.
Nokia said thanks to the new software more than 80 million users of its smartphones can access IBM's Lotus email. In September Nokia signed a similar deal with Microsoft, the leading corporate email provider.
"With this partnership we are able to mobilize close to 90 percent of corporate emails without any extra investments from corporations," Ilari Nurmi, VP at Nokia, told Reuters.
"A lot of companies have servers in place and a lot of Nokia devices on the premises. It's an important factor in cost-conscious times," Nurmi said.
Nokia dropped development of its own corporate email product this year, choosing to look for partners instead while focusing on developing phones for business users to better challenge RIM, the leading mobile email vendor.
"Since revising its business strategy, Nokia has sharpened its focus and is turning up the heat on RIM and Microsoft, particularly in the SMB segment," said Geoff Blaber, analyst with research firm CCS Insight.
"Adding support for Lotus Notes is a huge step forwards. The move gives Nokia the capability to target a much broader market and a segment where RIM has dominated to date."
The announcement comes against a backdrop of falling demand for cellphones worldwide as the global economy falters, with Nokia warning last week that it expects industry volumes in 2009 to contract.
Some analysts have tapped smartphones as the market segment with the best hope for growth in 2009.
In the third quarter Nokia sold 1.1 million of its new sleek, full-keyboard E71 phones, outselling RIM's business user-targeted Blackberry Bold by five-to-one, according to Nokia.
However, Blackberry Bold went on sale in its key United States market only in the fourth quarter.
Last week Nokia unveiled a somewhat stripped-down version of E71, the Nokia E63, which is expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks for an estimated retail price of 199 euros before taxes and subsidies -- almost half the E71s estimated retail price unveiled in June.
BlackBerry Storm is good iPhone challenger
RIM's touchscreen smartphone offers copy-and-paste, video and cool factor
 Research In Motion The BlackBerry Storm costs $199.99 after committing to a two-year contract with Verizon Wireless and a $50 mail-in rebate. |
Is it an iPhone killer? Depends on whether you lose sleep at night thinking about such things. Folks at RIM and Apple do, of course, and there might be some in Cupertino counting sheep with the release Friday of the BlackBerry Storm 9530, as it’s officially called.
Apple and RIM are in a heated battle to have their phones appeal to opposite ends of their markets. BlackBerrys are a staple in the business world, and Apple wants the iPhone to capture a good chunk of the briefcase set. With the Storm, RIM is obviously reaching deep into the iPhone’s lifestyle territory, not only matching the iPhone in some areas, but exceeding it as well.
The Storm has some features the iPhone could really use in its nifty bag of tricks. Among them: a video camera, and the ability to text or e-mail video files, built-in voice-activated dialing and a virtual QWERTY keyboard that can be used when the phone is held horizontally.
There’s also copy-and-paste functionality with text, something all BlackBerrys have.
Easier for thumb texters
Texters and e-mail users will thrive on the Storm. It’s designed for two-thumb action, something the iPhone isn’t logistically suited for, although it can be done.
Those who relish Web surfing on the iPhone will find it good on the Storm, but not quite as good as on the iPhone. It still commands the lead when it comes to the best mobile Web browsing experience, especially on its 3.5-inch screen.
The Storm’s 3.25-inch screen is sharp and clear, with a 480-by-360 display, compared to the iPhone’s 480-by-320 display.
Photos and video look excellent on the Storm, but Web site viewing falls a little short compared to how sites are rendered on the iPhone. The browsing experience itself — getting from one site to another — is easier and more facile on the iPhone.
iPhone is simpler to use
The newest BlackBerry has dazzle, but it’s also a BlackBerry, first and foremost. That means it’s a solid piece of equipment. But it’s one that requires a bit of time to learn how to operate, making your way through a maze of drop-down menus, options and screens.
The iPhone is just a simpler device to use. I’d mentioned this recently when comparing it to Google’s new Android phone, the G1, saying that with the iPhone, all roads lead back to one button on the front of the phone.
That means no matter how you’re using the phone, or what screen you’re in, if you press the one round button on the front of the phone, your other programs pop back up on the screen, waiting for you to choose where you want to go next. That’s true ease of use.
The Storm is not quite as simple. Similar to the G1, there are four physical buttons on the front of the Storm. One is specifically for the phone, the next offers a drop-down menu of options, depending on the program you’re in; the third is a “back” button, and the fourth is a combination home/end call button.
Touchscreens, ubiquitous now mainly because of the iPhone, aren’t for everyone. Few touchscreens are graceful in the way that the iPhone is, with users needing to only lightly touch, pinch or flick to get where they want using Apple’s Multi-Touch Technology.
 |
Verizon Wireless The virtual QWERTY keyboard on the BlackBerry Storm is at its best in horizontal, or landscape, mode, where there's one letter or number per "key." |
The Storm has some flicking, highlighting, tapping and scrolling, but mainly touch with a slight feeling of a dip in the screen and a low-key click sound to let you know you have indeed touched a letter or number or icon on the screen. That can be reassuring. However, it also takes a little practice to remember how to touch what and when.
Practice, too, is required on the three different keyboards available on the Storm, compared to the iPhone’s one. In vertical, or portrait, mode, there’s RIM’s SureType keyboard, with two letters to a key, or a “multi-tap” keyboard that resembles a dial pad. In horizontal, or landscape, mode, there’s a QWERTY keyboard, with one character per key, and my favorite of the three.
Senin, 17 November 2008
nokia comunicator 9500
Key features
- Full keyboard and two 65,536-color displays
- Tri-band operation for use on five continents
- 80 MB built-in memory, support for additional memory with MultiMediaCard (MMC)
- High-speed data connectivity with EGPRS (EDGE)
- Wireless LAN access (WiFi, IEEE 802.11b, 2.4 GHz)
- Mobile e-mail with attachments*
- E-mail and Personal Information Management featuring calendar, contacts and to-do list with PC synchronization
- HTML 4.01 / XHTML browser
- Business applications: Document, Sheet, Presentation editor and viewer**
- Security solutions: Device Lock, MMC Password Lock, OMA DRM 1.0 Forward Lock, SSL 3.0/TLS 1.0, Ipsec, 802.11 WPA 1.0/WEP, Operator WLAN/EAP SIM for Wireless LAN security, Java MidP 2.0 Full Security Domain, Cisco CCX Compliance and Nokia mobile VPN client
- Integrated VGA camera, video recorder and multimedia messaging (MMS)
- Symbian 7.0S OS, Series 80 platform, Java MIDP 2.0 and Personal profile 1.0
- Advanced voice features: integrated handsfree speakerphone and conference calling
- Bluetooth wireless technology and Pop-Port™ interfaces for versatile enhancement support
* Nokia 9500 Communicator supports email with attachments compatible with the file formats supported by the device.
** Nokia 9500 Communicator supports the most common features of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Microsoft Office 97, 2000, XP and 2003).
- EGSM 900, GSM 1800/1900 networks in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, and South America where these networks are supported
- Automatic switching between bands
- Cover display: active matrix with 65,536 colors in 128 x 128 pixels
- Communicator (interior) display: transflective LCD with 65,536 colors in 640 x 200 pixels
- Five-way scroll key on the cover and nine-way scroll key on the (interior) Communicator side
- Full keyboard with 8 shortcut keys
- Symbian operating system version 7.0S
- Series 80 platform
- High-speed, flexible data connections with Wireless LAN, GPRS and EGPRS (EDGE)
- IPv4 and IPv6 (dual stack) support
- Bluetooth wireless technology
- Infrared
- USB 2.0 connectivity (Nokia Connectivity Cable DKU-2)
- Pop-Port™ interface
- Multimedia messaging (MMS): combine image, video, text, and voice clips and send as MMS to compatible phone or PC; use MMS to tell your story as a multi-slide presentation
- Email: access your email accounts to send and receive emails with attachments*; supports SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols
- Text messaging: supports concatenated SMS; picture message receiving and SMS distribution lists
- Fax: send and receive faxes through your GSM number
* Nokia 9500 Communicator supports email with attachments compatible with the file formats supported by the device.
- Camera: 640 x 480 pixel resolution; Viewfinder in cover, digital zoom and support for recording video clips
- Video player: RealVideo, MPEG4, and H.263 formats supported
- Music Player: AMR, WAV, MIDI, AAC, MP3 and AWB formats supported
- 80 MB built-in memory for saving contacts, messages, files, images, sounds, applications and more
- MultiMediaCard (MMC) slot with hotswap functionality for additional memory
- Document, Sheet, Presentation editor and viewer**
- Other applications: Calculator, Voice Recorder and Music Player
- Applications in product CD-ROM: Nokia mobile VPN client, Zip Manager, Converter, Bounce and Adobe Reader
** Nokia 9500 Communicator supports the most common features of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel (Microsoft Office 97, 2000, XP and 2003).
- Opera Internet browser
- Support for HTML, XHTML, and JavaScript™
- Macromedia Flash plug-in version 5.0 and earlier
- WLAN 802.11b (Wi-Fi, 2.4GHz)
- GPRS/EGPRS (EDGE) multi-slot class (MSC) 10 (4+1, 3+2)
- HSCSD (2+2, 3+1)
- Log Viewer for communication incidents retrieval
- Advanced contacts database with support for multiple numbers and addresses (email, Web and street) per contact, also supports thumbnail pictures and groups
- Easy contact copy from SIM to device and vice versa
- Contacts and calendar data transfer over Bluetooth wireless technology or Infrared between compatible Nokia devices
- Handset and handsfree options for convenient call handling
- Integrated speakerphone
- Conference calling with mute functionality enables usage of several applications at the same time
- Bluetooth wireless technology audio headset connectivity enables handsfree communication
- Use MIDI, WAV, AMR or AAC/MP3 files as ringing tones
| Battery | Capacity | Talk time | Standby | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLAN off | WLAN idle | |||
| BP-5L | 1500 mAh | Up to 4.5-11.5 hours | Up to 240-400 hours | Up to 210-300 hours |
Variation in operation times will occur depending on SIM card, network settings and usage. Talk time is increased by up to 30% if half rate is active and reduced by 5% if enhanced full rate is active.
Toshiba Qosmio X305: Triple threat graphics
We've seen laptops with dual SLI graphics, such as the recent Alienware M17. We've seen laptops with switchable discrete and integrated graphics, such as the new MacBook Pro. But Toshiba has announced two new versions of its Qosmio X305 gaming laptop that incorporate three GPUs: two Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS cards in a scalable link interface and one integrated GeForce 9400M.
Nvidia is calling the new triple-card solution 'Hybrid SLI'. Like other laptops with hybrid graphics, the Qosmio X305 can switch from discrete to integrated graphics, with the former offering better gaming performance and the latter offering better power efficiency for lower-level Windows tasks.
The lower-end version of the laptop, the Qosmio X305-Q706, costs $1,999 (£1,260) for a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive and of course the two 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS cards, plus GeForce 9400M integrated graphics.
For those unaffected by the economic downturn, the $4,199 (£2,655) Qosmio X305-Q708 offers a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 quad-core processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, both a 128GB solid-state drive and a 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive, and two 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS cards, plus GeForce 9400M integrated graphics.
The new Qosmio X305 models feature the same red-flame design, 17-inch display and stereo speakers with subwoofer found on their predecessor, and both are available immediately in the US. We'll check on UK prices and availability and get back to you.Netbook showdown: The top 10 mini laptops rated
So you want a tiny laptop, but you're not sure which one to get? It all seemed so clear in the beginning -- you had your mind set on an Eee PC 701 or 900, but then half the laptop manufacturers in the world suddenly went and made copycat machines.
Fear not, be-puzzled reader, Crave has seen nearly all these Eee-type machines and we're pretty well-placed to tell you which one might be best for you. We've locked ourselves in a room, gorged ourselves on Red Bull, analysed the pros and cons of each, and can now bring you the fruits of that labour.
Over the following pages you'll find our unique assessment of the Eee PC 700, 1000 and S101, MSI Wind, Acer Aspire One and more.
As you can see there's a fair bit of choice. Get stuck in and see if your opinion matches ours. If it doesn't, you're probably wrong. Regards.
Update, 30 October 2008: We've updated the list to reflect the best new netbooks on the market.
AT&T Takes Away Unlimited Wireless Data Access Plans from Go Phone Customers
I was a happy user of AT&T GoPhone for the past three months. That ended today.
Up until November 12, AT&T provided unlimited monthly data service as a pay-as-you-go option for $19.99 per month. Once you bought this service, you could use either the 3G or EDGE wireless data networks.
I was gladly buying this service package each month because I was able to use the really fantastic JoikuSpot application to turn my Nokia E71 into a 3G-powered ad hoc WiFi access point that I carried in my pocket.
I guess enough bloggers talked about what a great deal the Go Phone monthly data service package was, because AT&T did away with this package on November 12. Some people in the blogosphere heard about this in early October, as evidenced by the article AT&T hangs up on unlimited data GoPhone option that appeared on jkOnTheRun.com. I missed it because, as you know, I've been really busy.
My monthly data service plan ended over the weekend, and I can't renew unlimited data now via GoPhone at any price. Now I will either have to replace my iPhone with an iPhone 3G and buy the tethering package that AT&T is planning to offer, get some sort of data-only plan for my E71, or buy a wireless data card. All of these options will be a lot more expensive than $20 per month. Bummer.Minggu, 16 November 2008
sony ericsson XPERIA XP
At long last, the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 has a firm date for its launch into the topsy-turvy
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X1 Available in U.S. for 2008 Holiday Season
Pre-orders for the premium converged device begin today at SonyStyle.com
Research Triangle Park, N.C. – November 12, 2008, Sony Ericsson North America announced the arrival of the highly anticipated Xperia™ X1 to the U.S. marketplace. The Xperia™ X1 delivers a range of multimedia and communication experiences that have long been coveted and in demand by consumers.
The Xperia X1 will be available unlocked through Sony Electronics and its authorized retailers beginning on "Black Friday," November 28. Pre-orders of the Xperia X1 will be available through the Sony Style Web site at www.sonystyle.com beginning November 13. This premium device will be sold unlocked for the MSRP of $799.99, giving consumers the freedom to choose their own mobile operator and data plan.
"The Xperia X1 continues the Sony Ericsson tradition of delivering the highest quality experiences and the most advanced technology available today," said Karen Morris, vice president of marketing, Sony Ericsson North America. "The most exciting scenarios enabled by the Xperia X1 will be created by consumers – enabling them to customize and personalize their device and content to fit their lifestyle and personality."
The Xperia X1's unique panel user interface is at the heart of the device's ability to create and adapt consumers' personal choices. With up to 9 panels, it's easy to find and enjoy the information and entertainment content they want. Sony Ericsson is busy working with third-party developers to create a wealth of new applications and new panels that will soon be available for download.
By incorporating the Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional operating system, the Xperia X1 frees consumers from their home and office, allowing them connectivity to their content wherever they are.
"Windows Mobile gives people the ability to easily navigate between their business and personal lives," said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. "The panel user interface found only in the Xperia X1 is bringing unique experiences to consumers who want more from their converged devices."
As Sony Ericsson's most advanced phone to date, the Xperia X1 brings together a large, 3-inch wide VGA display touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard all wrapped into a sleek silver metal- finished arc slider handset. The Xperia X1 supports fast 3G networks, enabling audio and video streaming, high-speed internet surfing, multimedia messaging and email on the go. In addition to delivering 3G mobile broadband speeds, the Xperia X1 supports WiFi to meet the needs of consumers' always connected lifestyles.
In the tradition of Sony Ericsson, the Xperia X1 offers consumers the ultimate multimedia experience with a 3.2 megapixel camera, video streaming, video playback and video recording, and the ability to enjoy all their digital music.
"The Xperia X1 complements Sony Electronics' family of Windows-based devices and leverages the company's heritage of providing beautifully designed, highly functional, portable electronics," said John Kodera, vice president of product marketing, Sony Electronics. "The Xperia X1 delivers the highest quality entertainment, communication and personalization options for consumers."
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X1 – At a Glance
Camera
• Auto focus
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Photo light
• Video recording
Multimedia
• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)4
• Media player
• Music tones
• Windows Media® Player Mobile
• 3D games
• FM radio
• Java™
• Video streaming
• Video viewing
Internet7
• Internet Explorer® Mobile
• RSS feeds
• Opera™ 9.5
Communication and Messaging
• Polyphonic ringtones
• Speakerphone
• Vibrating alert
• Video calling3,8
• Email
• Picture messaging (MMS)9
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)9
Design
• XPERIA™ panels
• Optical joystick navigation
• Navigation key
• Picture wallpaper
• Touch navigation
Organizer
• Alarm clock
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Document editors
• Document readers
• Flight mode
• Handwriting recognition
• Notes
• Phone book
• Tasks
• Touchscreen
Connectivity
• aGPS
• Bluetooth™4 technology
• Modem
• Synchronization
• USB support
• WLAN
Windows Mobile® Operating System
• Microsoft® Outlook® Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks
• Microsoft® Office Mobile: Word Mobile, Excel® Mobile, PowerPoint® Mobile
• Windows Live™
• Microsoft® ActiveSync®
• Voice control
• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes
Facts and Figures
Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm (approx.)
Weight: 145 grams (approx.)
Available colors: Silver
Main screen: 65,536 color TFT
Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels
Size: 3 inches (approx.)
Phone memory5: up to 400 MB
microSD™ memory card support
Networks:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/1900/2100 MHz
Legal Information
1) Facts and features are subject to change without notice and/or may vary depending on local variant.
2) Talk and standby times are affected by network preferences; type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. games. Kit contents and color options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market.
3) Compatible service required. Some features may not be supported by all operators or in all markets. Additional charges may apply.
4) Ability to use this Bluetooth™ enabled product with other devices may vary as not all Bluetooth™ devices are compatible.
5) Actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration.
6) 3G not available in all areas or from all service providers.
7) Internet services may require a fee.
8) Both parties must be in a 3G area, have a phone enabled for video calling, and have a video calling service plan to use this feature. Video calling not offered by all service providers. Additional charges may apply.
9) Standard messaging rates apply.
© 2008 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (USA) Inc.
Screen images are simulated or enhanced. Music tracks displayed are for demonstration purposes only and are not included. The Liquid Identity logo, XPERIA(TM) , and the XPERIA(TM) logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is a trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
Microsoft, Windows, PowerPoint, Windows Media, Windows Mobile, Office, ActiveSync and Internet Explorer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Bluetooth is a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc. and is used under license. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Wi-Fi is a trademark or a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in
Jumat, 14 November 2008
Apple updates Safari with 11 security fixes
On Thursday, Apple released Safari 3.2. Although the update affects both Mac and Windows users, many of the Mac updates were provided in Apple's October update for Mac OS X users. The update includes eight fixes specific to Safari and three specific to Webkit.
Safari 3.2 is available via the Apple Software Update application, the Apple Software Downloads page, or Apple's Safari download site.
Safari-1
This patch affects Safari users on Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses multiple vulnerabilities in zlib 1.2.2 detailed within CVE-2005-2096. Apple credits Robbie Joosten of bioinformatics@school, and David Gunnells of the University of Alabama at Birmingham for reporting the vulnerabilities.
Safari-2
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue in the libxslt library detailed within CVE-2008-1767 in which processing an XML document may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits Anthony de Almeida Lopes of Outpost24 AB, and Chris Evans of the Google Security Team for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-3
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. The update addresses the heap buffer overflow issue that exists in the CoreGraphics' handling of color spaces detailed within CVE-2008-3623 in which viewing a maliciously crafted image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits itself for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-4
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue detailed within CVE-2008-2327 in which viewing a maliciously crafted TIFF image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits itself for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-5
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. The update addresses the vulnerabilities detailed within CVE-2008-2332 in which viewing a maliciously crafted TIFF image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Specifically, a memory corruption issue exists in ImageIO's handling of embedded ICC profiles in JPEG images. Apple credits Robert Swiecki of the Google Security Team for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-6
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue detailed within CVE-2008-3608 in which viewing a large maliciously crafted JPEG image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits itself for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-7
This patch affects users of Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue detailed within CVE-2008-3642 in which viewing a maliciously crafted image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits itself for finding the vulnerability.
Safari-8
This patch affects users of Mac OS X v10.4.11, Mac OS X v10.5.5, or Windows XP or Vista. The update addresses the vulnerabilities detailed within CVE-2008-3644 in which disabling autocomplete on a form field may not prevent the data in the field from being stored in the browser page cache. This may lead to the disclosure of sensitive information to a local user. Apple credits an anonymous researcher for finding the vulnerability.
WebKit-1
This patch affects users of Mac OS X v10.4.11, Mac OS X v10.5.5, or Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue detailed within CVE-2008-2303 in which visiting a maliciously crafted Web site may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Apple credits SkyLined of Google for finding the vulnerability.
WebKit-2
This patch affects users of Mac OS X v10.4.11, Mac OS X v10.5.5, and Windows XP or Vista. The update addresses the vulnerabilities detailed within CVE-2008-2317 in which visiting a maliciously crafted Web site may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. Specifically, a memory corruption issue exists in WebCore's handling of style sheet elements. The issue has already been addressed in systems running Mac OS X v10.5.5. Apple credits the TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative for finding the vulnerability.
Webkit-3
This patch affects users of Mac OS X v10.4.11, Mac OS X v10.5.5, and Windows XP or Vista. This update addresses the security issue detailed within CVE-2008-4216 in which visiting a maliciously crafted Web site may lead to the disclosure of sensitive information. This update addresses the issue by restricting the types of URLs that may be launched via the plug-in interface. Apple credits Billy Rios of Microsoft, and Nitesh Dhanjani of Ernst & Young for finding this vulnerability.
Google's iPhone app gets a voice
iPhone. The new version works much like the old one, letting users query Google outside of the mobile Safari Web browser, as well as search through contacts and narrow down results by their current location. The big change is the addition of search-by-voice, which lets you skip the keyboard entirely.
Google has found a really neat way to distinguish between voice and keyboard input. Using the phone's accelerometer and proximity sensors, it can tell when you're lifting the phone up to your face. Once you do, all that's left to do is speak, and your voice will get processed then turned into a query similar to what's been done with Google's GOOG-411 service--including suggestions of what it thought you said. This works for both Web searches and contacts, which makes the application double as a voice-powered contact search. You cannot, however, dial a result without clicking on it.
It's worth noting a few companies have already beat Google to the punch with voice-activated search tools. Excuse Me Services has two applications: Say Who and Say Where, which let you dial contacts and search for local Web services using nothing more than your voice. Say Where in particular is the more interesting of the two since it can use voice queries to find directions, gas stations, restaurants and traffic maps.
Also, early Monday rival Yahoo launched voice support for its OneSearch product, however instead of using internally-built technology it uses Vlingo for the the voice recognition and processing.
The updated, voice-ready version of Google's application will be available on Android and Blackberry devices in the coming months. iPhone users with the application already installed will find the updated version in the updates tab of the app store.
Move over quad-cores, Intel's ready to ship 6-core chips
Chip maker announces at IDF that 'Dunnington' server processors are set to launch in September
The quad-core chips that have sat at the top of the microprocessor heap for two years are about to begin to be replaced by their bigger, burlier older brother - the 6-core processor.
Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, Wednesday afternoon announced that the company is set to release its 6-core Xeon processor for expandable servers in September. Dubbed Dunnington, the Xeon processor X7460 will be built with Intel's new 45-nanometer Penryn technology, the company said.
"The big cache and six cores will give customers a nice bump in performance," Gelsinger said previously. "We're quite excited about it."
Moving beyond quad-core processors, which to date have been the high-water mark in the semiconductor industry, is a major step - one that keeps Intel well ahead of rival Advanced Micro Devices, according to Dan Olds, principal analyst with the Gabriel Consulting Group.
"This is a big deal," said Olds. "It looks like, at least from the benchmarks we're seeing, that six-core chips offer more performance than quad-cores. So, yes, customers are going to want them. What we don't know is how much power the chips consume and how much heat they will dissipate, and those are key concerns. But, all in all, this is a pretty big advance in the state-of-the-art and all the major vendors are on board."
AMD, which has been getting its feet under itself after a rocky 2007, has shipped a lot of new products this year, including triple-core Phenom processors, along with quad-core Phenoms, graphics chips and chipsets.
But AMD hasn't yet launched its 45nm processor and it's not slated to release its upcoming 6-core Istanbul server processor until the second half of 2009 - about a year after Intel version ships.
"This will put a bunch of pressure on AMD," said Olds. "These chips outperform anything AMD has and probably win on price/performance too. This could cut AMD's share of the server market considerably."
And with Intel ahead of AMD in terms of market share, nanometer manufacturing and core-size, it's pressure that AMD could do without right now.
"Intel doesn't have to crank up chip performance right now to thwart AMD," added Olds. "Their current products handily outperform AMD on server products. From my own research, I can tell you that x86 server customers have moved away from AMD and towards Intel. So Intel didn't need to release this stuff now to catch up to AMD or to top them, but they're doing it anyway -- just to keep the pressure up on AMD and on themselves."
While it may be a shot at AMD, are customers eagerly waiting to buy 6-core machines? Maybe not, according to Jim McGregor, an analyst at In-Stat.
"If software can't take advantage of it, what does it buy you," said McGregor, noting that a lot of software today still isn't designed to take advantage of quad-core processing. "You still have software partitioning issues and when you put more cores on a chip, you have to run it slower or increase the power consumption budget or thermal limitations."
He added that if he had a choice, he would bypass the new 6-cores and hold out to buy 8-core machines. Intel's Nehalem, which is expected to go into production in the fourth quarter of this year, is designed to scale from two cores to eight cores.
Olds, however, said more server software than desktop applications are designed to take advantage of multi-cores.
Intel hasn't announced when it might release 6-core chips for the desktop and laptops.
Mozilla fixes 11 new flaws in Firefox, six critical
It also patches Firefox 2.0; just one more update coming for older browser
Mozilla on Wednesday patched 11 vulnerabilities in Firefox 3.0 -- and 12 bugs in the older Firefox 2.0 -- that could be used to compromise computers and steal information.
Wednesday's update patched virtually the same number of vulnerabilities as the last security upgrade seven weeks ago.
Firefox 3.0.4, the fourth update since Mozilla launched the browser in June, fixes six flaws marked "critical," two "high," two "moderate," and one "low" in Mozilla's four-step scoring system. Most of the critical bugs could be used by hackers to introduce their own malicious code into a vulnerable system.
Among the most serious were a trio of vulnerabilities in the browser's layout and JavaScript engines, while others included a buffer overflow bug in the HTTP index format parser and another flaw -- pegged as moderate -- in the file: protocol handler. Mozilla repeatedly patched protocol handler bugs in Firefox starting in July 2007.
That vulnerability was judged moderate by Mozilla because of extenuating circumstances. "It requires an attacker to have malicious code saved locally, then have a user open a chrome: document or privileged about: URI, and then open the malicious file in the same privileged tab," Mozilla said in its advisory .
Mozilla also updated the nearly-retired Firefox to 2.0.0.18, patching all but two of the same vulnerabilities fixed in 3.0.4, and several others for good measure. Of the dozen bugs, six were rated critical. The 2.0.0.18 update will be the next-to-last for the older Firefox 2.0, which will be dropped from support next month.
Before that happens, Mozilla will make one last effort to convince Firefox 2.0 users to upgrade. In two to three weeks users will again be prompted to upgrade in a repeat of an offer first extended in August. Mozilla has been very successful in convincing users to upgrade; as of the end of October, 73 percent of users were running the newer Firefox 3.0, reported Web metrics firm Net Applications.
Not updated on Wednesday was Thunderbird, which remains at version 2.0.0.17. It's not unusual for the e-mail client to lag behind Firefox in patching vulnerabilities; as in the past, several of the issues in Firefox are also present in Thunderbird. Because the most dangerous of the six shared vulnerabilities are in various elements of the browser's JavaScript support, Thunderbird users can protect themselves in the interim by disabling JavaScript.
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