Monday, May 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Pocket Surfer 2
The mobile web browser from Datawind it is very thin, lightweight and fits your pocket.
You can use it for web surfing and the navigation is better than on your mobile phone as the display is large enough at 5 inches and 640 x 240 pixel resolution to show web pages perfectly clear with full graphics and Java, wirelessly, and via an ergonomic QWERTY keyboard on which you can type as much as you please even in low light conditions, thanks to the backlight technology.
Besides this cool design, Pocket Surfer 2 comes with built-in GPRS modem and is powered by a Li-Ion battery which lasts up to 5 days in stand-by mode or 4 hours of operating time.
You can use the pocket PC navigator for Internet navigation, writing and reading emails, update your social network profile, or read the latest news, all these from your palm.
The mobile Internet handheld is compatible with all networks and displays a web page in less than 7 seconds.
It is available at $322.2 on Iwantoneofthose.com with 20 hours of free surfing every month for the first year.
HP 2133 Mini-Note PC
It’s HP’s turn to launch a mini portable PC for students through the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC.
This model will be affordable at a starting price under $500 and equipped with the right components for the educational sector, such as wireless connectivity, multimedia tools, communication applications, data security, and a lightweight and small form factor at 2.5 lbs.
A student can use the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC for Internet connectivity, email messaging, Instant Messaging, blogging, watch videos, web conferences, still-image capture, use VoIP, and connect with other Bluetooth-compatible devices.
HP covered it in an anodized aluminum shell to be light, added an ergonomic full QWERTY keyboard with HP DuraKeys, and a large, scratch resistant 8.9-inch WXGA display.
When it is moved suddenly or suffers an unexpected shock the HP 3D DriveGuard sends a signal to shut down the hard drive using a three-axis digital accelerometer chip.
You can choose either a 3-cell battery or a 6-cell version for the mini notebook that will be available soon this month.
The Golden Keyboard
You probably can’t afford the $560,000 gold desktop computer case but if you like this metal you can try to get a ZIP-ANG keyboard which features 86 gold-plated keys.
It is 19 mm thin QWERTY type, uses USB and PS/2 interfaces, and is compatible with Windows operating systems up to Vista.
This cool gadget is handmade and affordable too as I think that $214.21 doesn’t sound expensive for something made of gold.
I don’t know, you may try it and tell us how it feels like to type on gold.
Sporty Protection For 3G Nanos
Did you miss iPod accessories we talked about here some time ago? I don't know about you, but I know I did, and after all, it's more than just spending some money for another useless piece of plastic, leather, or other material - it's about keeping your favorite music player safe, and that's what really matters, after all. Today, I'll tell you about a silicone case for the 3G iPod Nano, coming from GizMac, under the "DuraSport" label...
As you can see in the image above, the GizMac DuraSport case is a discrete case, so it won't shadow your player's beauty at all. In fact, each DuraSport case comes in two different colors, so you shouldn't get bored with this case anytime soon. Other than that, you get a clear polycarbonate shield for the front side of your iPod Nano, while the silicone skin will take care of the rest of your player, including the scroll wheel.
For now, the price of the DuraSport is $30, but you won't simply get the case for your money, because the package also includes an armband, a carabinier clip, as well as a lanyard, so you can secure your Nano the way you like it. If you want to know more about these cases, or even order one, feel free to visit the official product page, here. That's it, folks!
The iPhone In China
Despite the fact purchasing power in China is lower than in most other parts of the world, think about the fact they have no less than 565 mobile phone users! Even more, Chinese consumers are trend-conscious, and the iPhone is pretty well known to them already, as a recent study has proven...In Pearl Research's study, interesting facts emerged, and I will only quote a few:
- Obviously, the high price tag of the iPhone is the main reason for disinterest in purchasing it, as well as Apple's lack of experience in the mobile phones field, but...
- ...around 68 percent of those intereviewed heard of Apple's mobile already.
- Leaving aside "trendiness" and "design," quoted by women as reasons to grab the iPhone, and "utility," quoted by men, it seems the ease to use the Internet on the iPhone won't make many Chinese users go "Wow," because local carriers have "WOW!!!" prices for such services.
- At last, almost 90 percent of the iPod owners have shown their interest in the iPhone, so Apple managed to have some loyal followers in China, too!
Unfortunately, considering the $200-$300 iPhone clones available on the local market, Apple is going to face a really serious challenge, once they release the iPhone in China, but I guess we should wait and see what happens, and when.
Updates And 3.5G iPhone
Well, since none of the updates issued by Apple in the last 24 hours doesn't come with any accurate information, I'll simply tell you what is this all about, and give you the links to the official update pages. After all, you know it already - "stability improvements" and "other issues," that's what Apple usually says for its most updates...
Being given the above, here you have the latest updates: iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.3, MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.2, MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 1.0, MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5, and the Aluminum Keyboard Update.
At last, there's the iPhone SDK Beta 3, available here. This time, it's only a 1.4GB download, compared to over 2GB, the previous version, and an examination of this SDK has shown that code in this software development kit suggests the next iPhone will have "3.5G" HDSPA functionality, including a bunch of advanced features, and a maximum connection speed of 7.2 Megabits per second. As usual, Apple didn't comment anything yet, so we'll have to wait and see - June isn't that far, after all...
ASUS MS-71 UltraMini ماوس من
Asus launched the MS-71 ultra small 2.4GHz wireless mouse which became the world’s smallest model measuring 68.8 x 25.1 x 17.5 mm.
It is also power saver at just 75% compared with other mice and operates at 5mA current.
The recharging time is very short of 1.5 hours, so the mouse can operate for about two days.
Asus MS-71 mouse features include 800dpi optical resolution, detachable USB receiver dongle with charging dock, 30 meters operating range, Windows compatibility, two keys plus a scroll wheel, and two available colors: black and white.
Yahoo to Test Google Search Ads
Yahoo will test displaying Google search ads in a small number of its search engine queries, a move likely to be interpreted as the latest in a series of Yahoo maneuvers to resist Microsoft's acquisition attempt.
The test, expected to last up to two weeks and be limited to up to 3 percent of Yahoo search queries in the U.S., is specifically for Google's AdSense for Search service. In other words, Yahoo would be acting as one of the Web publishers that carry pay-per-click text ads from Google. The ads will appear only in Yahoo.com.
Yahoo noted that "the testing does not necessarily mean that Yahoo will join the AdSense for Search program or that any further commercial relationship with Google will result." Yahoo will not comment on the nature or timing of any potential relationship with Google.
Microsoft, whose acquisition offer was rejected by Yahoo's board in February, on Saturday said it will launch a proxy fight to attempt a hostile takeover if Yahoo doesn't agree to the acquisition in the next three weeks.
On Wednesday, Microsoft blasted the Google-Yahoo announcement, saying that a broad outsourcing deal would inevitably run into regulatory trouble because it would give Google more than 90 percent of the search advertising market.
"This would make the market far less competitive, in sharp contrast to our own proposal to acquire Yahoo. We will assess closely all of our options," said Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, in a statement.
"Our proposal remains the only alternative put forward that offers Yahoo shareholders full and fair value for their shares, gives every shareholder a vote on the future of the company, and enhances choice for content creators, advertisers, and consumers," Smith said.
Google has a share of between 70 percent and 75 percent of U.S. search ad spending, and Yahoo has about 15 percent, said Karsten Weide, an IDC analyst. If Yahoo fully outsourced its search ads, Google would have a monopoly in this segment of the market, but such a deal wouldn't give Google a monopoly on overall ad spending, he said.
With Yahoo's search business, Google's share of the U.S. online ad spending would have been around 36 percent in 2007's fourth quarter, Weide said. This could be an argument against antitrust concerns, along with the fact that Yahoo would likely get most of the money per click, and that while Google rules search advertising, it is a minor player in other online ad segments, like display ads such as banners, he said. Still, it's clear that a search ad outsourcing deal would attract a lot of regulatory attention.
Beyond the regulatory issue, this deal wouldn't be good for Yahoo in its attempts to compete broadly against Google, he said. Yahoo should have its own search ad business, Weide said.
"The question is: Is this real? Is Yahoo seriously considering replacing [its search ad system] with Google's?" Weide said. "Or is Yahoo doing this merely to annoy Microsoft and drive Microsoft away from its acquisition attempt? It's not clear."
Eric Goldman, assistant professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, points out that the potential outsourcing deal again brings up the often-discussed issue of how to delineate the relevant online ad market that would be impacted. Should the regulatory bodies narrow their focus to the online search ad segment, expand it to the overall online ad market, or open it up widely by considering the ad market in general, including radio, TV, print and the like?
"I'm torn about this," said Goldman, who is also director of the university's High Tech Law Institute. While Google leads in search advertising, there are plenty of opportunities for competitors to come up with a system that puts Google's dominance at risk by offering ad targeting that gives advertisers a better return on investment, he said. On the other hand, scale is also key, and Google has a massive distribution network, which it can use to trump competitors that offer better ROI results, Goldman said.
The announcement was first reported Wednesday afternoon by The Wall Street Journal, quoting anonymous sources. A broader agreement to outsource its search ads to Google could let Yahoo increase its cash flow, because Google ads generate more revenue per search, the Journal reported, referring to a consensus belief among financial analysts and Yahoo investors.
Since Feb. 1, when Microsoft made its US$44.6 billion offer, Yahoo's CEO Jerry Yang and the members of Yahoo's board have been reportedly trying to come up with an alternative deal. In addition to this Google plan, Yahoo has also held discussions with AOL, News Corp. and Disney, according to various reports in the past two months.
Should Yahoo enter into this deal with Google, it would be an acknowledgement that it has failed to attain its goals in search advertising, despite numerous efforts, including a significant upgrade of its system called Panama.
It's not clear what would happen to Yahoo's search marketing division, which runs the company's search advertising, in the event that Yahoo outsourced this business to Google. For Microsoft, it clearly wouldn't be palatable to have an agreement of this sort bundled in with its acquisition of Yahoo.
Google reiterated Yahoo's announcement, saying the deal is a limited test and doesn't necessarily mean that Yahoo will join the AdSense for Search service.