Tech news, gadget reviews and how-tos on just about anything and everything.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Sony DPF-D80 and DPF-D100 digital photo frames


Sony has added to new models to their S-Frame digital photo frames, the Sony DPF-D80 with an 8-inch LCD and the Sony DPF-D100, with a 10 inch LCD display. Sony's new digital photo frame models feature a high quality SVGA resolution (800 x 600 pixels) and is the first amongst Sony's Digital photo frames to offer a 4:3 aspect ratio. This new aspect ratio allows you to display your photos without borders, making full use of the 8 or 10 inch LCD screen.

The Sony DPF-D80 and the DPF-D100 also has an advanced image processing feature that can quickly display images even those with 48 megapixel resolution or picture files that are 100MB. The Sony DPF-D80 and Sony DPF-D100 also has an internal 200MB of storage capacity but also supports most type of memory cards including: Memory Stick Pro, Pro Duo, SD Card, MMC, Compact Flash card, XD-picture card, and Microdrive. These models also support Jpeg and RAW picture file formats.

Other features of the Sony DPF-D80 and DPF-D100 includes an auto orientation sensor, which, like mobile phones with built-in accelerometer, can detect whether it has been placed vertically or horizontally and displays your pictures accordingly. Sony's new digital picture frames also offers up to 10 slideshow variations, a clock and calendar view, and two index modes. An auto power on/off feature is also included so that you can set it to automatically turn off at night and turn on in the morning so you can conserve energy. A remote controller is also included.

The Sony DPF-D80 digital picture frame is now available at all SonyStyle stores for $180 while the Sony DPF-D100 will be available in November for $280. You can check out more Sony Digital Photo/Picture Frame Reviews by clicking the link.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Don't Forget to Scour For Coupons for your Gadget Shopping

I was ready to buy a new Blu-ray internal drive online but after seeing some PerfectMatch.com promotional codes through email, I remembered to look for NewEgg coupons so that I'll be able to save money. Well a quick Google search was able to save me a few bucks off a Lite-on Blu-ray/DVD burner. The original price was $199.99 but a coupon code Bluray10off, I was able to acquire it for $179.99 plus free shipping. Not bad.

I would have spent more if I haven't thought about scouring the net for coupon codes. Those shopping for gadgets or even clothes should be patient enough and be a smart shopper by searching for coupons on the Internet. It's not so hard and it won't take you more than 10 minutes to do so. Those 5 to 10 minutes of searching will yield you around $20 savings or if you're lucky, even half price off your chosen items.

If you don't have a specific item in mind but you just want to save, then start by visiting websites that offer online coupons such as savings.com. I'm sure with the hundreds of coupon codes they have, you'll eventually find a specific item that would suit your budget.

The N97 is here


Yep, here's another thing to look forward to this upcoming year: the Nokia N97. The Nokia N97 is the latest of Nokia's touchscreen phones, right on the heels of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The Nokia N97 sports a 3.5 inch touchscreen though it's resistive rather than capacity and a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

Like Mobile Phone Reviews, I also have a good feeling about this one. It's such a nice phone. I wish HTC would make something similar, maybe an HTC Touch HD version with QWERTY would be nice. The Nokia N97 is expected to be released early next year. To know more about the Nokia N97, read the Nokia N97 review.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Best Webhosts

If you’re still looking for a good webhost, here’s a website that might help you narrow down your search: webhostinggeek.com. Webhostinggeek provides you with a detailed information about all the good webhosts on the Internet. If after looking over their list you’re still confused about which webhost to choose, look at the user reviews. Of course, some companies would hire third parties to bloat the user reviews on some web hosting sites with positive remarks. Anyways, here are just things you should watch out for when choosing your webhost.

Technical Support

Make sure that your webhost has 24 hours technical support since if you’re outside the US, it would be a hassle to contact them during business hours. Also, look for reviews regarding the companies’ technical support, whether they provide good service or their 24 hours service is a joke.

Server

Some webhosts have dedicated servers and some have shared. If you’re expecting a high amount of traffic, make sure that your webhost has dedicated servers, otherwise, if you’re just looking for something to host your blog then webhosts with shared servers will do.

Downtime

When reading reviews, keep count of how many users complain about the companies’ downtime. You’re likely to lose potential customers/readers if you choose a webhost that has an excessive amount of downtime.

Good luck finding your webhost.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Gaj-It Newsletter

Sigh! I long for the day when my gadget site is mainstream enough so that I’ll be able to give my readers the chance to win some prizes like what Gaj-it is doing. Anyways, I’ve always enjoyed reading Gaj-It’s blog and some of my posts are based on the news they find. Like me, if you subscribe to their newsletter, you may be able to get a chance to win cool prizes like an RC Ducati, an MP3 Player watch, USB microscope or a Playstation Portable.

But prizes aside, subscribing to Gaj-It’s newsletter will keep you up to date about the latest gadget news plus exclusive deals and discounts available only to Gaj-It subscribers. You can sign up here

Identity Verification Protection by PhoneConfrim.com

Today online transactions become integral part of any business. They give opportunity to make your business widely available, to save time and money. So everybody can see that Internet and online communication play more and more important part in our life. But the number of risks grows too.


This roll can be listened because it is too long. But here are some examples. Your subscribers have to log in to obtain access to any information or to make any operation. But usual login\password combination doesn’t guarantee absolute fraud protection of identity verification process. And you cannot be sure that person who interacts with your site is your subscriber.


To prevent any fraud and to guarantee maximum protection of identity verification process you have to include some additional threshold of security. Phone number verification and phone confirmation services can be such threshold. Verification by phone is powerful and reliable way to protect both your online business and end-user. It provides maximum security and gives an opportunity to you to sleep well). To integrate phone number verification and phone confirmation services to your business website you don’t need to do any serious changes in your code.


Usually service that provides verification by phone makes a call to remote end-user. To confirm transaction user has to verify phone number by inputting special PIN. Against the scheme this PIN is giving during the registration and user inputs it by means of phone’s keyboard or is spoken into headset and inputted is special window of web application.


As you can see phone number verification and phone confirmation services are very reliable and secure way to provide high level protection both of your business and subscribers. Besides they are to integrate and to use. In general such services automate an important online identity verification process and can be used for many types of confirmation of interactions and transactions.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Useful Freeware Apps

Yep, there are a lot of new software in the market but for those who're stuck in the good old days, there's no need for you to get left behind. Here are some simple freeware/shareware apps that you might like.

Konverter - If you're having trouble tring to convert your files with the file extension ABM, you might want to try this application. According to convert-extensions.com this application will do the trick. ABM files are associated with Hitplayer. Konverter is shareware.

UberNES - miss your old Nintendo Entertainment System? Well, this emulator will bring you back to the old days. Plus there are literally hundreds of sites that hosts NES files or ROMs which you can play on this software. UberNES is freeware.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Using HijackThis

I have to admit it, though I’m what you may call techno savvy, there’s one software that I just don’t get and it’s HijackThis. I’ve installed HijackThis.exe because I’ve heard great reviews about it being a good antispyware software. Well, I was having problems with one of the process on my PC: smss.exe since it was taking up a lot of my resources.

I was a bit afraid of ending the smss.exe process since I don’t know whether it’s a virus or a normal PC process. Well, I downloaded Hijackthis and all I got were a bunch of registry keys. Apparently, you need someone who’s adept with HijackThis to read whether the HijackThis report contains malware or spyware.

I really didn’t have much time to post the report on a forum and hope that somebody answers my query that’s why I’ve given up on HijackThis. I’m sure in time I will understand the software if I put a little more effort understanding it but I’m always looking for a quick fix that’s why I’ve already invested on a good Internet Security Suite so I don’t have to worry about spyware anymore.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Good-bye Circuit City

You've served me well. I remember all the gadgets I got from your occassional sale and promos. I loved scouring the net for coupon codes to be used for my online purchases but alas, you just can't take the heat and now we have to say Good-bye. I can't say I'll miss you but I'll miss the friendly circuit city salespersons and feel sorry for them that they'll be losing their jobs. Another point in favor of the Global Financial Crisis.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Epson WorkForce 600 Review

Okay, so up for review is the Epson Workforce 600 all-in-one printer. Paul helped me review this product since I couldn't physically review it, I had him lend me his hands and just fed him instructions through email. So first off, thanks to Paul and second, thanks to Epson for giving us the chance to review this product.


DESIGN


Anyways, according to Paul, the first time the Epson WorkForce 600 arrived in the mail, his first reaction was--"whoa, this thing's huge". He had trouble making it fit in his desk so he had to move things around. Though the Workforce 600 is massive, the design is pretty sleek. It has a 2.5 inch LCD in front so you can do some fast printing and copying without booting up your PC. My previous all-in-one printer from HP was white and after one year, it's now a grayish white even if I regularly dust it. The black color suits those who, like me, don't have time to clean up their printers.


FEATURES

Epson Workforce 600 box contents

I have to make this review short and quick so let's get down to the important details. First off, the Epson WorkForce 600 already has a built-in WiFi. In fact, I think Epson specifically made the WorkForce 600 to be used on WiFi networks since they didn't include a USB cable. You have to connect the Ethernet cable with your wireless network but set-up is basically a breeze, according to Paul, you just have to follow the step by step instructions. For those who still don't have a wireless network, you have to buy a separate USB cable in order to set this up but USB cables come pretty cheap, I'm just wondering why Epson didn't feel the need to include it.One of the features that Paul liked best about the Epson WorkForce 600 is that you can already view your pictures from the SD card directly on the LCD screen. And for those who'll ask if the Epson WorkForce 600 has the ability to print directly on CDs, sadly, no.



PRINTING SPEED



One of the most important feature that printer buyers look for when buying printers is: printing speed. Here's the print speeds of the Epson WorkForce 600 as well as pictures of the sample printout.All I have to say is that some printer manufacturers tend to exaggerate when bragging about their print speeds. Epson's claims versus the actual print speed is pretty close which, I have to say is pretty amazing.


Actual Print speed vs. Epson's claims:

Black text documents, draft: 36 ppm vs. 38ppm
black text documents, normal: 30 ppm vs. 27ppm (Epson's claim for laser quality prints)
Colored, draft: 35 ppm vs. 38ppm
colored, normal: 25 ppm vs. 19ppm (laser quality)


Print speed from first boot-up:

Black text document, normal - 4 seconds
Color graphics, normal mode - 11 seconds
Colored graphics and text, normal mode - 15 seconds
Print speed for photos using Epson's Premium Photo Paper – 2 mins and 15 seconds.

SCANNING SPEED: (Using the default settings on the Epson WorkForce 600)

Colored graphics: 46 seconds
Black documents: 40 seconds

COPYING SPEEDS:

Black text (normal) - 15 seconds
Colored docs (normal) - 17 seconds


OTHER THINGS WHICH YOU MIGHT LIKE

Aside from the Epson WorkForce 600 being a very fast printer, Paul wants to add that he really liked the fact that the ink dries quickly on this printer so you'll be able to get laser quality documents on an inkjet printer less the smudge. Also, he wants to add that like me, he likes the fact that the Epson WorkForce 600 is black in color so there's less stain visibility.

CONCLUSION

All I can say is that for $199.99, this is probably one of the best printers in this price range. Not only does it have good print quality but it's also fast as well. Kudos to Epson for being truthful about their product claims, I was surprised that the pages per minute of the black documents only showed a difference of 2 pages. Sure, there are already a lot of cheap monochrome laser printer out in the market but come on, during these times of financial crisis, would you settle for a monochrome laser printer that only does one thing or the Epson WorkForce 600 which does not only print laser quality documents but can scan, copy and fax as well?

For more information about the WorkForce 600 please click here.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

New Game Releases Oct. 19-26

This will be busy week for gamers as we have 3 new game releases. First off is the Spider-Man: Web of Shadows from Activision. This game features a new combat system and allows you to play as red or black spider-man. This game is rated T for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, and Windows PC, and rated E10+ for the Nintendo DS, Playstation 2, and PSP. Price for the Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is: $59.99 (Xbox and PS3), $49.99 (Wii), $39.99 (for the PS2 and PSP), and $29.99 (PC, and DS).

Backyard Football '09 has also been released by Atari for the Wii, Nintendo DS, Playstation 2, and PC. Backyard Football '09 has an updated roster of superstars from 32 NFL teams as kids and also features new play modes like Pro-Bowl and tournament modes which allows players to play the whole season with complete stats and standings. Backyard Football '09 is rated E and has a price range of $39.99 for the Wii, $29.99 for Nintendo DS, $19.99 for Playstation 2 and PC.

The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of Dragon Scorches is also available this week. The Dawn of Dragon Scorches is the final chapter of the Legend of Spyro video game trilogy and still includes the voice of Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman. Two new game plays is introduced in Spry: the Dawn of Dragon Scorches, Spyro can now fly at any time and a co-op feature is also included which allows gamers to play either as Spyro or Cynder. The Dawn of the Dragon Scorches will be available for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, Playstation 2, and Nintendo DS.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Patriot Triple Channel DDR Memory


Ugh, I hate this kind of news. I've just recently upgraded my PC and the motherboard that I've bought only supports DDR2 memory and now companies such as Patriot are releasing Triple Channel DDR3 Memory Kits. Your PC's memory helps speed up your PC's performance and a triple channel DDR3 would definitely do wonders especially if you're doing a lot of video editing. Patriot's tri-channel DDR3 is compatible with Intel's Core i7 and Intel X58 EXpress Chipset and available in an eye-popping 3GB and 6GB capacities.

Via: Gadget Advisor

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

iSkoot for Skype now available for the Google G1 Phone

Everybody's wondering whether it's true that Google will not allow an application that allows VoIP on your Google G1 Phone. Well, then why is iSkoot has announcing that it will be launching its mobile application, iSkoot for Skype for the Android Platform? Coz it's not really VoIP since iSkoot still uses data connection for you to connect to the Skype application and not actual V. iSkoot is also availabe for the Symbian, Windows Mobile, Java, Palm, and Blackberry platforms. See attached press release.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22 -- iSkoot, a leading provider of Web communication services made for mobile phones, today announced that its mobile application, iSkoot for Skype, is launching in the Android Market, Google's new mobile application store. iSkoot for Skype is the first VoIP solution available in Google's Android Market.

iSkoot for Skype makes it easy and affordable for people to keep in touch with friends, family and contacts with an always-on-the-go lifestyle. iSkoot for Skype leverages the voice-optimized circuit-switched wireless networks of mobile carriers, allowing for full operation even without access to WiFi or 3G networks and ensuring the best possible call quality. Normal carrier voice and data charges always apply.

"We are honored to be the first mobile VoIP application available in the Android Market because we are dedicated to bringing carrier-grade Web communications services to mobile phones and platforms around the globe," said Jim Hudak, iSkoot Vice President of Business Development. "iSkoot continues to work on delivering innovative products that give people a rich mobile experience so that they can cut the cord from their desktop."

Available immediately for download in Google's Android Market, iSkoot for Skype also runs on nearly all major mobile platforms, including J2ME,S60v3, UIQ, Palm, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry. Android is an open and compressive mobile operating platform developed by an alliance of leading technology and wireless companies including Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola, and many others.

iSkoot has built significant momentum during the past year with the recent acquisition of Social.IM, the social network IM client, which positions iSkoot to grow beyond mobile VoIP and create a compelling and valuable consumer solution with a growing lineup of Web communications that can be integrated and pushed to your phone.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Sony VAIO TT series


Looks like we have another expensive laptop from Sony. The Sony VAIO TT series sports a nice carbon fibre construction, has WWAN technology, and as if the carbon fibre construction isn't enough to drive up its price, it's also the world's lightest and smallest Blu-ray notebook. Now I don't know why Sony felt the need to add a Blu-ray drive on something which only has an 11.4 inch screen but I guess those who can afford it can use it as a portable Blu-ray player and connect it to their HDTV.

Quick Features of the Sony VAIO VGN-TT11WN/B

  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9300
  • OS: Genuine Windows Vista Business with Service Pack 1
  • Memory: 4096MB (2x2048MB)
  • HDD: 160GB
  • Others: VAIO Everywair WWAN (7.2Mbps HSDPA/2Mbps HSUPA), WLAN 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N, Motion Eye webcam
  • Screen: 11.1” X-black LCD with LED technology, Real Wide 16:9 WXGA (1366 x 768) resolution
  • Optical: DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM
  • Graphics: Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
  • Sunday, October 19, 2008

    The Mini E


    The BMW Group has recently announced in a press release a new line of electric cars for their Mini line: the Mini E. The Mini E is a two seater electric powered car that runs on a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Those familiar with the Mini cars would love the familiar yet new design. The BMW Group will only product 500 of these Mini E cars by the end of 2008. Attached is the press release for more information.

    Nice! Though don't jot it down on your Christmas wish list yet. Since production is only limited to five, BMW probably has filled up all their 500 orders. Nice looking car though. According to the specs on this baby, it has an acceleration of 0-100 km/h.



    Monday, October 13, 2008

    Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred

    Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred
    Now here’s a software which can actually be pretty useful (if it works), the Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred Software. I have to say “if it works” because I haven’t really tried out the software but the company claims can be pretty amazing.

    The Dragon Naturally Speaking is a transcriber which claims it can transcribe what you say with 99% accuracy! Well, if that’s true, then doctors wouldn’t need medical transcriptionists, right? Of course, the uses of Dragon Naturally Speaking are limitless. Businessmen and doctors are not the only persons who can use this, even persons with disability. Imagine surfing the web by just dictating to your computer! Wow! Imagine how many articles I can churn up with! I’ve not been updating my blog because I lack the time to type but with this software, I can already make a piece by reading and then dictating my thoughts at the same time! Now if only have $199.99 to spare. I’ve read up on some Dragon Reviews and it looks like this is really a winner. According to one review, it did pretty well even on windy days. Also, you might want to check out Dragon’s typing speed test! Video demos embedded for your reference.






    Thursday, October 9, 2008

    The iPhone's New Competitors


    It's as if the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic isn't enough, it looks like a busy week for the "let's compete with the iPhone" fanclub. Only a few days after the announcement of the Nokia 5800 and a few weeks after HTC announced their HTC Touch HD (incidentally, you can check the HTC Touch HD Review here), there's another competitor for the iPhone: the Blackberry Storm. The Blackberry Storm is Blackberry's first touch screen device and has there have been rumours of Blackberry creating a touchscreen device which as codenamed Blackberry Thunder. I guess Blackberry changed the name after a while.

    Anyways, it looks like we may have a REAL iPhone competitor in terms of interface. The Blackberry Storm doesn't only offer multitouch capabilities but also features an innovative "click through" feature which allows users to type on the keyboard with the same feel and sound as a real keyboard. Pretty nifty. Unfortunately, some say there's no WiFi for the Blackberry Storm. Now THAT's a real damper since this is supposed to be a smartphone. What gives, RIM?

    Friday, October 3, 2008

    Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Gets Official

    For months bloggers have been talking about Nokia's touchscreen phone called "the Tube", it was even featured in the Dark Knight but it wasn't until recently that Nokia got official with it and dubbed it as the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.

    According to Cellphone Reviews, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will get a worldwide release sometime this fourth quarter of 2008 though it would probably be later in the US if you're waiting for an official carrier to subsidize the device. Looks like a pretty cool phone, little bit on the thick side for me. Check out the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic Review.

    Thursday, October 2, 2008

    Sony VAIO JS1 Series

    I don't know about Sony but their Sony VAIO JS1 Series looks quite cool. The VAIO JS1 is an all-in-one pc which means the CPU is integrated into the screen. Speaking of screen, the screen size of the Sony VAIO JS1 is 20.1 inch. If I didn't know better, looks like Sony is trying to up the Mac.

    Anyways, more than good looks, the Sony VAIO JS1 series also offers the following specifications:

    Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
    Memory: 3GB
    Hard drive: 500GB
    Screen Size: 20.1"
    Optical drive: Multi format DVD rewritable drive
    Graphics: Intel Media Accelerator X4500HD
    Others: WLAN 802.11 b/g/Draft n & Camera

    Monday, September 22, 2008

    Sony HDR-FX1000


    I thought Sony is phasing out the HDV tape. Well, it looks like they're far from it. With the introduction of the Sony HDR-FX1000, an HDV video cam for the video enthusiasts, Sony is making sure that HDV is far from being phased out. The Sony HDR-FX1000 features Sony's G Lens with 29.5mm wide angle and 20x optical zoom and will be available this October.

    Sony HDR-FX1000 Specifications:

    • HDV 1080i recording with new 25p progressive scan mode
    • Exclusive Sony high-performance G Lens with 29.5mm wide angle and 20x optical zoom offers superb clarity and sharpness
    • 1/3 inch 3 ClearVid CMOS sensor with Exmor derived technology for excellent low-light sensitivity
    • Photo-realistic 3.2-type Xtra Fine LCD for detailed, high contrast framing and shot review
    • CinemaTone Gamma and CinemaTone Colour for rich, filmic tones
    • Optical SteadyShot for clearer handheld shooting
    • Advanced manual features with triple focus, zoom & iris rings

    Friday, September 19, 2008

    A way to vent the network admin's frustrations

    Here’s an interesting online competition game for network admins, PSTPanic. PSTPanic is an online competition designed for those who work with PCs, networks, servers, etc. In short, it’s for us, geeks. The website is not an online multiplayer game as what I first thought but it’s more of a social network/competition site. Network administrators will get a chance to vent their frustrations and at the same time, get a chance to win prizes. Hey, who says frustration doesn’t have its rewards?

    The game works this way, network admins will just have to submit a picture of themselves capturing their expression when their PC or server suddenly crashes. Before you trash your servers, hand someone a digital camera so that they can capture you in action and who knows, even if you have lost your job, you may still be able to win some prizes given by PSTpanic. So what’s the prize? The photo which is highly rated by other users will get $250 Amazon gift vouchers, 2nd place gets $150 Amazon voucher, and 3rd palce gets $100 Amazon gift voucher. And since PSTPanic is a new site, they’re giving away $10 Amazon gift vouchers for the first 50 photo submissions.

    At the end of the competition, PSTPanic will award 5 random participants a free copy of GFI MailArchiver.

    Sunday, September 14, 2008

    Sony VAIO AW Series


    Don't you just miss the days when laptops are supposed to be for your lap and companies were racing for the most ultraportable notebook? Well, that doesn't seem to be the trend nowadays as laptops now have screen sizes going from 17 and even 20 inches.

    The Sony VAIO AW series is one of these new breed of laptops. Having a screen size of 18.4 inch and full HD resolution with a 3LED backlighting system, the Sony VAIO AW series is the must have notebook of HD enthusiasts and photo/video editors.

    Aside from its full HD capability, the Sony VAIO AW series features Dolby Home Theatre audio and 2.1 channel speakers, HDMI port, Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 processor, NVIDIA 512MB GeForce 9600M GT graphics card, and a 500GB SATA drive.

    Tuesday, September 9, 2008

    Software for extracting audio files from video

    I used to be hooked on Spongebob episodes. I know that I'm a grown woman but there's just something about Spongebob that transcends generations. Anyways, going back to my topic, I was so hooked that I bought a DVD to watch previous Spongebob episodes. Now I'm also hooked on mobile phones and I've already put Spongebob's wallpaper as the theme on my mobile phone but I also wanted to get ringtones. I wanted Spongebob's song "ripped my pants" to be my ringtone so I wanted to go about extracting the audio file on my DVD so that I can make it as a ringtone.

    After a lot of Googling, I found out that Blaze Media Pro Software, a DVD software, can do this for me. I usually don't buy random software especially if I just wanted to rip some audio file but I thought I what the hey, I can probably make use of Blaze Media's video encoder to convert my various DVD collection into a more mobile friendly format so I can watch it on my windows mobile device. I also had a bunch of Quicktime videos so I guess I could make use of Blaze's MOV converter too.

    Anyways, I'm actually pretty happy with Blaze's interface. It's userfriendly plus their file conversion is fast. It usually takes me a long time to rip a CD on windows media player but Blaze can do that in a minute. Anyways, Blaze Media is definitely one of the better investments I've made.

    Friday, September 5, 2008

    One stop shop for your security system needs

    Whether you own a store or you just want to keep your precious gadgets safe, keeping your premises safe and secure can be a daunting task. It's a good thing that technology has made it easier. Securing your home or store the high tech way is really easy. There are a lot of gadgets out there that could help you do it. From sophisticated alarms or security camera systems, to novelty items such as a LED light that can fool burglars into thinking there's someone at home, there are a lot of options to choose from.

    ITPlanet.com is not your ordinary gadget website. More than offering gadgets, they cater more to businessmen and entrepreneurs who wants high tech solutions for their business needs. The site claims they offer the lowest price guarantee but I gues you have to check out their site to find out.

    The Honda Insight


    At the 2008 Paris International Auto Show, Honda will unveil the Honda Insight, a concept version of its new small hybrid vehicle. The Honda Insight borrowed the design of the Honda FCX Clarity.

    Honda expects the insight to be the most affordable hybrid vehicle when it will go on sale next Spring. Contributing to the affordability of the Honda Insight is Honda's cost reduction in their Integrated Motor Assist components. This technology includes a function which can assist the driver in developing more fuel efficient driving habits.

    The production Honda Insight will be a available as a four-door, five passenger hatchback.

    Port Numbers for Peer to Peer sharing

    Now just because this post talks about peer to peer sharing doesn't mean that I encourage software piracy. A lot of people uses peer to peer network for different reasons. There are a lot of non-copyrighted files that are shared in peer to peer networks. Anyways, if you're using peer to peer a lot, you may notice that you're not getting the usual high speed that your ISP should be providing you. This is because some ISPs block the port numbers that are usually associated with peer to peer networks. If you're using Azureus or other bittorrent clients, it is best to use port numbers in the range of 49152 and 65535. This is because some port numbers are already registered and used by other applications.

    If you head on over to PC Library, a website that has a huge database of port numbers and error codes, you can view which port number are already in use by some applications. If you've been using proxy sites or proxy software, you'll notice that most proxy address uses the port number 8080. This is because port 8080 is the most commonly used port number by proxy servers. Anyways, if you're curious about which application uses which port number, head on over to PC Library and research all you want.

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008

    The Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Player

    The Sony BDP-S350 has been available since last July. The Sony BDP-S350 is Sony's next generation blu-ray player which features Bonus View (a picture in picture feature), BD Live and the much awaited Ethernet Port. Sony's first generation of Blu-ray players doesn't feature an Ethernet port, something which its former competitor, the HD DVD has over the other. Consumers had to update the firmware by downloading the files in the internet, burning it onto a disc and then inserting the DVD on the Blu-ray player.

    During the initial release of the Sony BDP-S350, it retails at around $400. Now, you can buy the Sony BDP-S350 and other cheaper blu-ray players at buyblurayplayers.com. You can buy blu-ray player at a starting price of $324.99.

    Monday, September 1, 2008

    Epson Artisan 800


    Epson has recently introduced a new line of all-in-one printers. The Epson Artisan 800 has almost every features that can be fitted into an all-in-one printer. The Epson Artisan 800 has WiFi fax, automatic document feeder, 7.8" smart touch panel, 3.5" LCD, and capable of printing ultra HI-Definition photos. If you have kids in your home, the Epson Artisan 800 has a feature that can make your kids busy: it can turn photos into personalized coloring book pages.

    The Epson Artisan 800 will be available this September and has an estimated retail price of $299.99.izes to match users’ printing needs.

    Wednesday, August 27, 2008

    Webmaster Tips

    There are various forums and articles on the web that budding webmasters may use in order to help them in setting up their new web sites. A quick Google Search will almost always yield answers for them. Web sites such as web hosting review, which is not just another web hosting review website, is a great resource for budding webmasters.

    Their article: Tips for Choosing A Domain Name, is a good start for a webmaster wanting to build a good website. Domain Names is the home of your website so choosing a good one would contribute to the success of your website.

    There are other resources on the web. Like I said, webmaster forums is another good way to learn from other webmasters about the dos and don’t’s in building a website.

    Opening OGG and MKV files

    Now if you're an anime fanatic and if you've been searching anime forums for your favorite anime cartoons you must have come upon the file extension ogg or the file extension mkv (more info about these files on file-extension.com). These are the usual video files wherein your favorite anime cartoons or movie is converted to. Don't ask me why, but that's the way it is.

    Anyway's if you're looking for ways to play these kind of files you can either download codecs so that your windows media player can open it for you or you can do it the easy and popular way: download VLC media player. VLC media player is the best media player in opening almost all kinds of video files. The codecs are already inside the player so you don't have to download it anymore. Plus if you have subtitles to go with your anime video, VLC can also play it for you.

    Saturday, August 23, 2008

    Sony VAIO PCG-SRX87 Laptop


    Due to the vast usage of Laptop, most electronic companies bring their 'Best' in the market using the latest technologies. Likewise, Sony has launched Sony VAIO PCG-SRX87 Laptop in the market with the most advanced functions. Browse through the review websites and read Sony Vaio Laptop reviews and choose the right Laptop with suitable speed and memory.

    This Sony VAIO Laptop has 850 MHz Mobile Intel Pentium III Processor installed inside with 100 MHz System bus speed and the SD RAM storage capacity of this device is about 256 MB. One among the vital feature of this Sony Notebook is that it supports the operating system such as Windows XP Home Edition, and Bundled software comprises of Quicken 2002 New User Edition, Sony DV Gate, Microsoft word 2002, Sony Sonic Stage and Sony movie shaker. This Sony Notebook transfers the Data with amazing speed, so that you can avoid time consuming without any doubt. The Hard Drive size of this Laptop is 20 GB and has Intel 1815 EM Graphics Card, 11 MB Graphics RAM as well as this device is backed up using 1024 by 768 LCD Native Resolution. In addition to this, it has other remarkable features such as 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX Ethernet, 56 kbps Modem and more.

    Sony products are Trust-worthy for its quality and durable nature. The clarity of the images and the audio features are unbeatable in the UK market. Sony VAIO PCG-SRX87 Laptop grabs the attention of others due to its slim and long lasting nature. This Notebook is available in the market at reasonable prices.

    You can checkout reviews on latest laptops UK including Dell, Compaq, HP and Toshiba Laptops at Laptop reviews website.

    Friday, August 22, 2008

    Samsung PS-42P4 Plasma TV


    Ever heard of a 42” magnificence in the form of a TV? If not, then you have to see the Samsung PS-42P4 Plasma TV performance, for knowing what it means when I say magnificence! With sparkling clarity and razor sharp images produced, the ecstasy of TV viewing is understood better in this TV.

    An aspect ratio of 16:9, and resolution of a wonderful 1024 x 1024, the brightness peak for this TV comes to 1100cd/m2 with the contrast ratio coming to 1000:1. The viewing angle is 160 degree, which is a bit disappointing, compared to the size of the screen and similar models from Philips and other leading companies in the market giving higher viewing angles of about 176-178 degrees. The progressive scan option reduces the flickers produced in the TV, thus giving cleaner and distortion free images.

    A Picture in Picture mode helps in watching two or more channels in a single screen, thus optimising the use of the wide screen. An audio output of 15W each comes with each speaker, a total of 2, along with a Virtual Dolby Sound decoder and SRS TruSurround sound options also are available. Preset sound modes like Music, Floor, Cinema, Standard, personal etc are set previously itself in the TV.

    The TV also has a PC input that helps in viewing, multimedia and other contents in a PC, in the wide screen of the TV. The power consumption comes up to about 330W, which is again expensive, an affair. With the overall weight being about 35kg, it comes with a silver colour remote.

    Overall, this model is a good one with all latest features and Samsung’s state of the art technologies used. Ignoring certain drawbacks, which any model would have, like the power consumption, weight of the unit etc, this TV is definitely recommended and a good choice!

    You can read reviews of HD Plasma Televisions on Akai, Philips, LG, NEC and Pioneer Plasma TVs at Plasma TV reviews site.

    Thursday, August 21, 2008

    NEC LCD4620 LCD TV


    NEC LCD4620 LCD TV gives a ‘WOW effect’ on video and audio features with maximum impact. The ‘Digital Signage Technology Suite’ display touts an ultra thin bezel, a built in expansion slot and HD resolution with the most of the advanced features. The screen size is 46 inches.

    The technology type for NEC is TFT active matrix PVA LCD display technology. The resolution is 1366 x 768 pixels and the display format is 720p with the image aspect ratio of 16:9. The colour depth is 24 bit (16.7 million colours) and the image contrast ratio is 1200:1 with brightness of (700cd/m2).

    It has the widescreen format of 16:9 with pitch pixel of 0.648 mm and the pixel response time is 8 ms. The maximum H-Sync rate is 91.1 KHz hertz and maximum V-Sync rate is 85 Hertz. It provides a viewing angle of 178 degrees from all the corners of a room with colour temperature control.

    The video features of this NEC TV are analogue video input signals like NTSC, PAL and SECAM with input video formats like 1080/60p, 1080/50i, 480i, 480p and more. It accompanies with an infrared remote control. The sound output mode is stereo type with 30 Watt of external amplifier power.

    NEC LCD4620 provides internal power supply of AC 120/230 V (50/60 Hz) with power consumption of 300 Watt. It also contains video interfaces such as HDMI, S-video, component, composite interface and PC interfaces like DVI and VGA (HD-15). It is HDCP compatible.

    The dimensions of this product are 92 cm in width, 14 cm in depth and 53.2 cm in height. The weight of the product is 31.1 Kg and the colour available is pure black. The manufacturer warranty is provided for three years and the cost of this product is £1,944.87. With all 20 plus adjustable features, this NEC LCD TV offers an outstanding and unimaginable functions.

    Checkout LCD Screen Reviews on Dell, Hitachi, Goodmans and Sanyo LCD Televisions at LCD TV Reviews site.

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008

    Home Theater Set-ups

    I've been reading up about Home Theater set-ups and mulling over doing one myself. However, I still don't have enough savings to buy the equipment. My cousin, who's based in Atlanta on the other hand, already has enough money in his bank that he could set up his own within a week. The problem is that he's not really the do-it-yourself kind of guy so he's been browsing through directories for atlanta home theater providers.

    I told him if he just read up on it he can probably set up his home theater on his own but the guy doesn't even know one end of the hammer from the other. So if any of you guys can recommend Home Theater providers in Atlanta, drop me a comment so that we could help the poor guy out.

    LEXSOR LC20S15 LCD TV


    The LEXOR LC20S15 LCD TV provides an astonishing performance in image quality and sound quality. The screen size is 20 inches and this product is ideally suited for halls, kitchens and bedrooms. It has arrived with most advanced features and superior audio functions. The design is fabulous with silver and black colour. You can compare LCD Television prices from leading brands and make the right choice.

    This Lexor LCD TVs has the latest technology and provides resolution up to 1280 x 768 pixels. The contrast ratio is 500:1 and it has PIP (Picture in Picture) function to watch the multiple channels at the same time. The screen format is PAL (4:3).

    It can support frequency up to 50 Hertz and the reflection angle of the product is 85 degrees. The sound output is natural and realistic as it contains NICAM stereo technology. The stereo type speakers are integrated with the unit with two SCART connections and the teletext feature allows scheduling programs in separate channels.

    The manufacturer warranty and service support period are issued until one year. The cost of this LEXOR LC20S15 product is low and reasonable. It lacks some of the extra features and functions when compared with other LCD TVs. Anyhow; this LEXOR product offers the basic functionality of a LCD television.

    You can read LCD Screen Reviews on 32 inch, 40 inch LCD TVs and brands including Daewoo, JVC and Evesham LCD TVs at LCD TV reviews site.

    Monday, August 18, 2008

    Opening .BUP files and other .UNKNOWN file extensions

    I've been cleaning up some files on my hard drive as I'm getting ready to format it so I'm transferring some important files to my portable hard drive. I came upon the file extension bup. Now bup files are usually associated with DVD files. I may have ripped a DVD on my hard drive some time back, the proble was that some of the files were missing so I can't open it. Bup files usually comes with .ifo and .VOB files so you need to have a bunch of these files together in order to open it with a media player. Since the bup file was alone, I had to delete it since it was pretty much useless alone.

    I also came upon some files when the file extension unknown message dialog box popped up. Now no file extension library nor any searches in Google came up with results on how to open that file and when I tried to open it with Notepad, gibberish was what appeared so I guess that means the files were useless.

    Anyways, if you come upon any file extensions that you're not familiar with, it's always good to Google it first or visit a file extension library site since just deleting might cause a major problem with your PC.

    Sunday, August 17, 2008

    Start looking for an Auto Loan because the Lexus LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition is here


    For those of you with unlimited financial resources, you might want to start looking for an Auto Loan right away in order to get your hands on the new Lexus LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition. On my part, if I don't watch my gadget spending I might have to recourse to Bad Credit Car Loans in order to get my hands on this baby.

    Production for the LS 600h hybrid luxury sedan is limited to only 50. The Lexus Pebble Beach LS hybrid will come with the Advanced Pre-Collision System and the first Driver Monitor System. The Lexus LS 600h Pebble Beach Edition is also equipped with an Advanced Parking Guidance System, and Rear-seat entertainment system.

    Availability of the Lexus LS 600h Pebble Beach Edition is set on October 2008.

    Saturday, August 16, 2008

    More about the Bravia W4500 Series

    Just gotten a hold of this info pictures of teh Bravia W4500 Series. Aside from the previously mentioned specs, lookis the the Bravia W4500 series is made from 100% recycled materials and other energy saving features such as auto-power off, light sensors that automatically adjust backlight in accordance with your room lighting, plus other power-saving modes. Check out the infographics below (click to view larger image):

    Thursday, August 14, 2008

    2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5


    Chrysler recently introduced at the 14th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise the limited Edition 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser Series 5 model. The PT Cruiser series 5 comes in two fuel-efficient engines. The standard 2.4 liter, 16 valve engine which produces 150 horsepower and 165 lb. of torque and comes with a four speed automatic transmission and a 2.4 liter engine with a 180 horsepower engine which can produce 210 lb. of torque.

    The 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 model features new design elements such as a brilliant black crystal pearl painted roof and hoop spoiler. There's also a new cross-hatched, lower and uppoer solid billet aluminum grilles which is individually milled and machined. For those like me, who's never really into wordey description, here's some photos for you to peruse.


    Chrysler set production for the PT Cruiser only at 1,750 units which will retail for $22,700. Can't wait for this baby to hit the used cars for sale market though I'm not getting my hopes up. Speaking of which, if you're looking to rate some cars, head on over to www.auto123.com and rate your car and you can win a free vacation.

    Europe Gets the Bravia W4500 series


    The Sony Bravia W4500 series will soon be coming in European countries. Sony recently announced their new Sony Bravia line which will be availabe in 3 screen sizes: 40, 46, 52 inches.

    The new Sony Bravia W4500 series is of course capable of Fully HD 1080p plus smoother and faster moving scenes due to the Motionflow 100Hz with Image Blur Reduction technology. Simply put, this might be the best HD to get this upcoming Football season.

    Gadgets, your credit, and personal loans

    Now let's face it, there are just some people who are addicted in buying the latest gadgets. To some, it's like a video game addiction, smoking, or gambling. Harmless but could take a toll on your credit specially if you don't have the means to sustain your lifestyle and you rely on your credit card so that you can buy all your gadgets.

    Now here's a tip which I've been using to save on my addiction to gadgets. Some retailers offer financing terms when buying a gadget, they offer you an installment term payable via your credit card. Now interests are of course higher and if you compute your total payments during the installment period, it always exceeds the regular price of the gadget. What I do is I apply for a Personal Loan so and pay it using the same terms, say 12 months, but my interest is lower, specially if I have good credit. The problem arises when you have bad credit. Now while there are companies offering Bad Credit Personal Loans such as personalloansmania.com, you will of course be charged with a higher interest.

    The solution? Place your gadget addiction in the backseat for the meantime until you fix your credit.

    Wi-Fi Hotspot Software announced by FON and Joikusoft

    Joikusoft recently announced that they have collaborated with FON which led to an exclusive Wi-Fi hotspot software called FonSpot. Through the use of the FonSpot, your mobile phone will become a Wi-Fi hotspot. You may now use your iPod Touch, notebook computer, or any kind of Wi-Fi device to access the Internet with the help of the compatible mobile phone.

    There is no need to get tangled with your USB, use cables, or Bluetooth devices. The FonSpot will allow you to connect to the World Wide Web using your mobile phone and a connection to the 3G network. You can also control who will be accessing your Wi-Fi connection as well.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    Network Solutions for Businesses

    The Internet has changed businesses everywhere. Now, entrepreneurs can own businesses without having to set up any brick and mortar stores. Plus, it has widened their reach and customer-base. Every business in the US nowadays is sure to have a website of their own. A business that doesn’t have a website is missing out on the opportunities that the world wide web can offer.

    Because of the tools and software that developers came up with, setting up a website has now become very easy and you don’t even have to have HTML knowledge in order to set up a website. A quick tutorial plus with the help of Google or your favorite search engine, and all the information you need to start your own website is now at your fingertips.

    Of course, if you’re uneasy setting up your own website yourself, you are not without recourse. The Internet is brimming with companies eager to help you out. network solutions, for example, a company used to be dedicated to selling domain names is now offering different services for businesses, tools, and information to help a business grow. Whatever you have planned for your business, one of the first thing you should do is just register your own domain name before somebody else grabs it.

    Nikon COOLPIX S60


    Nikon recently announced that they have a new product with a cutting-edge technology as well as a sleek façade. The COOLPIX S60 has integrated a touch-screen feature on its 3.5-inch display. The whole controls of the camera are now just a tap away.

    Through the use of the touch-screen interface, users may also lock the exposure and the autofocus of their subject by tapping the location on the camera’s screen. If you want to have an excellent portrait, the COOLPIX S60 has a zoom function that commands the device to automatically capture photos of the subject. All these and more by simply using your fingertips!

    Saturday, August 9, 2008

    Film on Eyeglasses


    So, can’t get enough of Iron Man Movie and you’ve just purchased all of the movie merchandise? Well how about going a step further and buy eyeglasses made out of your favorite movie film? These trendy eyeglasses are designed by Zakarias Tipton and he calls his eyeglasses the Cinematique eyewear.

    Tipton together with his brother are based in Budapest and his eyeglasses collection is sold in Europe and North America. Tipton’s Cinematique eyewear frames are made using 35mm and 16mm movies. Customers can just order their favorite film on their eyeglasses and Tipton will ship the frames to them. He currently has a list of about 300 films to choose from.

    Of course, since the Cinematique eyewear is unique and custom-made, expect to shell out a lot of money on just one pair of eyeglasses. However, if you’re really not into designer-made glasses and you’re just looking for cheap prescription eyeglasses, Clark Howard actually recommends a company that sells cheap eyeglasses, ZenniOptical.

    ZenniOptical's $8 eyeglasses

    For as low as $8, you can get your own prescription eyeglasses, more than half price of ordinary glasses sold in optical stores. With the current economic crisis, just about everyone needs all kinds of savings and if you can save on your prescription glasses, your money saved can be put to other use such as your mortgage payments.

    Sony BDP-S550


    Recently, Sony has released two new products. One of which is the Sony BDP-S550. The latest Blu-ray disc player from Sony has a 24p True Cinema to give the users a different home cinema experience. Moreover, it also allows the users to access the special contents of the disc such as interviews and movie trailers.

    The Sony BDP-S550 also has a built-in BD-Java as well as BD-Live firmware. Users can also store their downloaded files from the Internet at the 1 GB USB storage as long as it is a BD-Live content.

    The latest disc player can be purchased in United States for only $500.

    Thursday, August 7, 2008

    New Cooking Game for Wii


    If you're waiting for the Wii Fit to become in stock again, why not just set your eyes on this new cooking game called Order Up! Order Up! Seems to be a service type game kinda like Diner Dash only of course, you have to do more than just click your fingers.

    The gameplay involves the player crafting dishes in their hectic kitchen. The player has different stations like the grill, range, cutting board, etc which they need to manage in addition to managing assistant chefs in the kitchen. Players need to rise from the ranks of cooks and become a world-class chef. Check out the Order Up! Trailer.

    Motorola MotoROKR EM30


    If you want a mobile phone that would meet your demands as a music lover, then the latest product from Motorola is just right for you. The Motorola MotoRoKR EM30 is not just a sleek mobile phone but a cool music player at the same time.

    The latest technology from Motorola called ModeShift allows the users to determine which phone feature they are currently using. The keyboard will illuminate with different colors depending on the feature. If your phone is red, this means that you are using the music features of the MotoRoKR EM30. On the other hand, if you are using the phone features of the MotoRoKR EM30, whether you are texting or calling, the keyboard will illuminate in color blue.

    A pretty cool phone and would probably be cheaper than the ROKR E8.

    How To Print Postcards at Home

    Because inkjet printers comes cheaper and cheaper, it's now easy to print your own postcards at home. However, before delving into your own DIY project try to think about whether it’s more costly to print your own postcards or if it would be easier to just order pre-made postcards from sites such as Vistaprint.com. If you need 50 or more postcards, doing it yourself will probably cost more than just ordering one since you have to take into consideration the price of the specialty paper plus the ink you’re going to use. VistaPrint’s postcards can cost around $30 for 100 prints which will bring your cost per postcard to around 30 cents. Some specialty paper would run you around $20 and does not even guarantee that it is enough for 100 postcards.

    Plus, ordering and customizing your postcard is easy enough using VistaPrint’s online tools. However, if you’re bent on this DIY project, here are just the things to consider:

    The first thing you need is a software where you can design your own postcards. If you have a copy of Windows Publisher with you, that's a good choice. Other free software can be found at download.com under desktop publishing. If you're making postcards for your children, then try Postcard Maker 1.1, it has cute templates though not recommended for business use.

    Next is choose the paper that you want to use. Do you want to use specialty paper, stationery, colored paper, etc? If using colored paper, be sure that the template you have used will be visible, it’s not a good idea to print the same colored template and paper. Also, be sure that your inkjet printer supports that type of paper. Try to see the documentation that came with your printer.

    After that, then you can just print away to your heart's desire. Or at least, until your budget permits you.

    Overview: Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700


    Sony is making digital cameras more intelligent. First there's face detection, then smil shutter, and now the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 camera has a new feature that will virtually eliminate any closed-eyed photos. Sony calls this feature the anti-blink function. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 takes two shots and using the face detection technology, it determines whether the subject has closed their eyes and only saves the one with the subject's eyes open. If both photos have the subject's eyes closed, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 displays a warning so you can take another shot.

    The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 can also double as a portable photo album. The DSC-T700 has 4GB of internal memory and users can search for photos by date, smile, or face and you can even share your photos through slide shows. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700's scrapbook function also lets you show off your pictures in a fun, scrapbook style.

    Another new feature on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 is the Picture Motion Browser which lets you downsize images from full resolution to VGA and export it to the camera's internal memory so that you can never run out of storage space.

    The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T700 will be available in late September and comes in red, champagne gold, pink, dark gray and silver. The price of the DSC-T700 will be around $400.

    Wednesday, August 6, 2008

    Dymo LetraTag Plus LT-100H


    Okay, while most gadget sites would list their top back to school gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, MP3 players, a new iPod, etc, some neglect to mention the very basic gadget that’s needed when going back to school. This gadget is specially useful for OC (obsessive-compulsive) individuals: a label maker.

    What better way to tickle an obsessive-compulsive’s fancy but give them Color labels so that they can be highly organize. My favorite label maker from Dymo’s products is their personal label maker letra tag plus LT-100H.

    The Dymo LetraTag Plus is an electronic label maker which features a large 13 character LCD display that lets you preview the font effects on the screen before printing. The Dymo LetraTag Plus features direct thermal print technology so you won’t need any ribbons or ink and also features a 2 line printing for those who really need to be specific when it comes to labeling. You can choose up to five font sizes, seven print styles and eight box styles for those who want to take labeling into an artistic level.

    Some cons about this labeler include poor battery life and difficulty of finding available cartridges. But aside from that, I’m sure that this will be an obsessive-compulsive’s best friend.

    Tuesday, August 5, 2008

    Kingston launched DataTraveler 101 and a few goodies in between

    Kingston recently launched new products for all the road warriors who need their files to be with them all the time. They have announced that the DT400 with MigoSync, the DataTraveler 100, and the DataTraveler 101 will be in the market in the next few days.

    The DT400 with MigoSync is the best solution for the travellers that needs to be update their files and other documents while they are on the road.

    Meanwhile, the DT100 can store large data depending on the size that you choose. The capacity of the DT100 starts at 2 GB and the biggest is 16GB. The price varies depending on the size. Choose from three colors namely red, blue and black.

    The DT101 can store as much as 8 GB only. It is available in 3 vibrant colors such as yellow, pink, and cyan.

    Web Hosting with Blue Host

    One of my domains parked with godaddy has gained a high PR. I've been updating that domain using Godaddy's quickblogcast but even though quickblogcast is easy, it's often times unreliable. Plus, I hate seeing Godaddy's big banner on top of my web site. Anyways, I've been checking out some of the web hosting reviews on the web and so far, most of them recommend Blue Host. However, based on web hosting geek's Blue Host Review, some users say that Blue Host is often down and has almost a non-existent customer service. Now while webhostinggeek.com gave Blue Host the second spot, user reviews just gave Blue Host 3 stars.

    I actually believe in customer reviews since customers actually experienced the service though Blue Host's package seems tempting with unlimited web space and bandwidth. Anyways, now it's a toss up between Blue Host and Yahoo but someone in the Google Forums warned against using Yahoo--or maybe that was just a Google moderator. Anyways, if anybody can give me a good advice, feel free to leave a comment.

    Monday, July 28, 2008

    How to play MKV files and troubleshooting tips

    I better jot this down right away before I forget again. I have a couple of mkv x264 files on my PC that I wanted to play. I know for a fact that VLC or VideoLAN is the best media player that can do that without having to install any additional codecs, however, if you want to have other options, it's best to download a universal codec pack so in case VLC is in the fritz, you can use Windows Media Player Classic. However, the best and most effective way for me to play h.264 mkv is using TheGreenButton's tutorial. AVC really does works wonders even if you only have a dual core laptop or less than 2.0 GHz core 2 duo processor.

    Another player which I found useful is the Windows Media Player Classic Home Theater Edition and they have a nice tutorial over at boxtorrents.com.

    PROBLEM: VLC and Media Player Classic plays sound but no video

    Here's one of the problems I've encountered which frustrated me and took me about three hours of googling before I finally found the solution. Boxtorrent's tutorials actually did the job the first time with no problems however, I really wanted to play my mkv files on VLC. It turns out the problem was with my settings on VLC. Just click on settings and then preferences. Click on the General Video settings without clicking any of the drop down menus. On the right, you will see that the "overlay video output" box is checked. Uncheck this and then you're good to go.

    Cuil Review: Why Cuil is not so cool

    Technology news site has been abuzz with a new search engine called "cuil" from a former Google engineer. I have tried a few search terms out just to try it out, sadly, my first search terms alone didn't yield any results. I typed in "Samsung i780 Review" since it's one of my main keywords on one of my other websites and I was surprised that Cuil didn't yield any results. Not even a single unconnected page was churned out...And they say that their search engine is comprehensive.

    I'm not saying that I'm a Google fanboy but even though Google most often of the time spews out junk they at least are able to spew out a few good sites out of those results. I guess I should give Cuil another try in maybe 6 months or so, that is, if they did anything new with their system. Maybe they haven't refined their search engine yet to include long term keywords. I know I always use long keywords in order to get more specific results and it seems more and more people are doing that too. If Cuil doesn't do well in terms of long term keywords, then therein lies one of their weaknesses.

    Also, the fact that Cuil doesn't have regional sites--yet, would make long time Google users wary to transfer.

    Thursday, July 24, 2008

    Girlsense.com

    Ah, to be young and have cooties. Girlsense.com is a website that caters to your girl tweeners. Everything about this website screams “I’m a teenage girl!”.

    Website Design

    The website itself is mostly colored pink, the color associated with teenage girls and even adult girls who likes to feel girly (i.e., Paris Hilton). You can browse the website with cute icons at the top most side of the web page.

    What the Site is about

    Girlsense.com is a site for girls, specifically, the fashionistas. Budding designers would love this site as it allows you to create your own clothes and share them with others or even sell your creations. Girlsense.com is also a social networking site for fashion designers. The site is like a virtual fashion community and members can view each others design, share or sell them. What’s great is that users don’t have to download any software as the site provides real Web 2.0 experience. Those with slow internet connection or those that haven’t updated to the latest flash player may have a hard time navigating the website.

    Free fashion games - GirlSense

    Aside from offering fashion design games, Girlsense.com also offers different kind of games for tweeners. These are flash based games which also blend with the whole theme of the site: fun, cute, and wholesome. One of the fashion games, bad hair day, allows you to earn G-cents which you can use throughout the site.

    Go Green

    Girlsense is also concerned with the environment. Right now, they’re trying to create a green awareness among their users. Users can design green fashion items, green games, as well as join green groups and view videos. Users are encouraged to create shirts with an environmental friendly theme, i.e., save mother earth, etc.

    Get discovered

    Girlsense.com allows you to create your own boutique wherein you can show off or sell your design. If you have many friends and if you’re lucky enough, you’re boutique could get featured on the homepage and who knows, you might be the next top fashion designer. Hey, every body has to start somewhere.

    Panasonic’s UniPhier Mobile Phone Chip

    While we’re still struggling with regular TV signals on our mobile phone, in Japan, it looks like companies such as Panasonic are refining their technology for watching HD quality TV shows on mobile phones. Panasonic has developed a mobile phone LSI based on their Uniphier digital equipment platform already used by Panasonic on their digital TVs. Panasonic’s new LSI is capable of functions such as graphics rendering, 1seg reception, and audio/visual content playback. Panasonic’s UniPhier 4MBB+ also reduces power consumption in mobile phones by about 25% and its communication function can support W-CDMA/HSDPA as well as GSM/GPRS standards. The LSI also supports 2D/3D graphics standards.

    Panasonic will start shipping samples of their UniPhier around the end of July 2008.

    TalkReviews.com

    Here's a new way to bash the website you hate the most, through talkreviews.com. If consumer products already have thousands of websites wherein consumers can review the product, how about a site that offers Web Site Reviews? One of the great thing about having sites like talkreviews.com is that those looking for reviews of a particular website, specially if that site is about shopping online, consumers can now review and share their experiences with that website. The bad? ANYONE can review your web site so there's a good chance that sour competitors would bash your site non-stop. Top Websites reviewed by users are also listed.

    Hmm, I wonder if I can submit a review of my own blog. If I can, the review would probably go like this: www.gamesourceonline.com doesn't only provide its readers with gadget news and reviews but game reviews as well. Occassionaly, the blog would make how-to articles for those not so technology savvy.

    Wednesday, July 23, 2008

    FakeTV a new anti-burglar system


    So how come this FakeTV reminds me so much of Home Alone? Some people, in order to deter burglars would leave the lights on in their houses, others put up a sensor wherein lights would automatically turn on when someone gets near their house. FakeTV has a rather crude idea and may be less expensive than just turning on your regular TV. This system works by making burglars think that there’s someone watching TV inside your house. FakeTV can simulate the light output of a real television, from scene changes, fades, and flicks or any on-screen motion, the unit turns on every dusk and can automatically switch off in four to seven hours.

    So, what’s the advantage of FakeTV rather than using a real TV? Well, if your TV doesn’t have an automatic on function or off function, this one has, FakeTV also consumes less power, and in case a burglar is not deterred, it’s cheaper to replace rather than a real TV.

    So, what will they think of next, FakePERSON a full sized cardboard cut out of a person that automatically passes through the window every hour or so? Hey, it’s also crude but probably more effective.

    FakeTV company site
    Press release

    Tuesday, July 22, 2008

    Chunky Cell Phone T-Shirt

    Ah, the nineties, a decade of Adidas windpants, somewhat good music, and chunky cell phones. If you want to relive the glory days of the nineties and if you're a mobile phone fanatic and why not 90s t-shirts that commemorates the era of nineties where in cell phones still have cells in them. This holla atcha boy with a picture of a chunky cell phone, your parents probably has one lying around somewhere in the attic (or worse, probably still using one). This shirt costs $25 at localcelebrity.com. I know what you're thinking, if you're the cheapskate type of person, you're probably going to grab an image then print it on an iron transfer and make a shirt yourself. Dude, that's infringement, besides, it probably won't last when washed.

    Anyways, if you want to find out where Hollywood stars are purchasing the cool t-shirts they're wearing, try and visit localcelebrity.com's celebrity fashion page and you'll see some of Hollywood stars wearing their shirts. Celebrities such as Tori Spelling, Elliot Yamin, Drew Lachey, Carrie Underwood, etc are wearing these shirts. Here are just some of the pics I've grabbed from the site together with the corresponding actual shirt.















    Above is Kevin Peake wearing the local celebrity T-shirt. Shirt costs $25.
















    RYM (respect your mother) organic cotton T-shirt being worn by Carrie Underwood (left). Price is $25.

    So if you're the kind of person who wants to have anything that the stars have, why not start with the affordable and buy the shirts they're wearing?

    Sony Ericsson MPS-100 Portable Speakers


    Sony has released some new speakers for your mobile phone. One of them is the Sony Ericsson MPS-100. Following the footsteps of its predecessor, the MPS-60, the Sony Ericsson MPS-100 is an affordable portable speaker that provides you excellent sound quality in its small body. Available in silver and black colors, the Sony Ericsson MPS-100 has an aluminum body and has a 3.5mm line in and weighs only 137 grams. The Sony Ericsson MPS-100 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008.

    Atlantic Global Time Management Software


    One of the widely used business management software is a Time Management Software. With a time management software, a company can have complete control of your human resources, projects, and costs by providing information real time. Atlantic Global's Timesheet Management Software is one of the most commonly used software around.

    Features

    Atlantic Global's Timesheet Management Software has a web-based interface which provies you with a summary and detailed timesheet report. Atlantic Global also offers an automated web timesheet approval functionality as well as user defined notifications. The administrator will also have the ability to assign to users particular projects or tasks to work on as well as easily manage holiday and sickness leave. Management will also gain a lot of information for top-level decisions since they can track a project's progress by comparing the work don with the budgeted and estimated work.

    Conclusion

    A Time Management Software is an essential software to have especially if your company relies heavily on your human resources. Lower rank individuals who have access to the system benefits from the system since they can easily justify workloads and deadlines. The management benefits from the system by identifying project costs so that they can easily control any costs that is beyond the allocated budget. The system can also speed up your billing cycle and payroll processes by providing real time information of actual time and cost spent.

    The Dark Knight's living room by Bang and Olfusen

    Since I still haven't found any screenshots of Morgan Freeman's mobile phone in Dark Knight movie, I thought I might start the gadget identification in the movie by starting with his living room.
    The LCD TV you see as well as some of the gadgets on their is by Bang and Olfusen. Take a look at the screenshot I've grabbed from the Bang and Olfusen website below. Pretty cool but I guess you also need the trust fund of Bruce Wayne to afford the whole set.