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

Sunday, June 29, 2008

XCPT Dental Software


Here’s a useful software for dentists, the XCPT (pronounced as accept) lets you see the end results of dental work.

The XCPT software could be powerful tool so dentists could let patients have a picture of what the end results of a dental work would be, whether it be invisalign, bone grafting, cosmetic dentistry, etc. The software was created in order for dentists to have a more personal and powerful communications tool via the computerized image of the treatment plan.

There are already several dentists in the US utilizing the software and also some in the UK. I wonder if dentists Glasgow already have this software? As a patient, I would feel much more comfortable if I have a hardcopy of what’s to come.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

2008 CES Best Booth

Speaking of the 2008 CES, with all the gadgets on display, I forgot to mention how impressed I am with some of trade show display booths. Most of them are intricate and well thought out. My personal favorite since I'm a laptop addict is Intel's booth showing a mountain of laptops. It was enough to make me drool. Check out the pic below. What I wouldn't give to have all those laptops right on my fingertips.

MotoROKR E8 to come to T-Mobile on July 7th

Not to be outdone by AT&T's iPhone 3G and Sprint's Samsung Instinct, T-Mobile is preparing to launch a cool mobile phone for their customers: the Moto ROKR E8.

The Moto ROKR E8 won the best of CES by CNET this year. Motorola sales has been on a decline and the company is hoping that the ROKR E8 might just be the mobile phone that could breath life into their sagging sales.

Check out this MotoROKR E8 Review for an in depth look and if you like what you see, then head over to your nearest T-Mobile store on July 7th.

2009 Nissan GT-R Supercar


Nice! Nissan has announced that the deliveries for their 2009 Nissan GT-R Supercar is set to begin on July 7, 2008. This powerful 480 horsepower, twin turbo, 3.8 liter V6 engine monster has been coveted since it was first announced and the first batch of pre-orders that was taken last January has all been spoken for.

And why wouldn't the Nissan 2009 Nissan GT-R supercar not be coveted? With it's sleek styling that uses advanced aerodynamics, body that utilizes steel, carbon fiber and die-cast aluminum, it would definitely turn any body's head. For those lucky ones that was able to bag this baby, get your garage ready.

And for those International buyers that just couldn't wait for the 2009 Nissan GT-R Supercar to arrive on their shores, you better contact an Auto Transportation Worldwide service so you can have this baby at your doorstep come August.

Oral-B Triumph 9900 Toothbrush with Smart Guide


So, can a toothbrush be considered a gadget? Yes, if it’s the Oral-B Triumph 9900 Toothbrush with Smart Guide. I didn’t know a lot of technology put on a toothbrush. The Oral-B Triumph 9900 will save you lots of visits to your dentists in Leicester.

The Oral-B Triumph has 40,000 pulsations per minute, both in and out, which can gently loosen plaque. It also has 8,800 side to side oscillations that sweep away the plaque. You can put the wireless display on the mirror to serve as a visual guide to the proper way of brushing your teeth. The Oral-B Triumph 9900 has a visual pressure sensor to let you know if you’re brushing too hard.

The brushing guide on the Oral-B Triumph 9900 will guide you through brushing the four quadrants of your mouth so that each section are equally clean plus four customized brushing modes and a brush head alert that lets you know when it’s time to replace your brush head.

Sure, the Oral-B Triumph 9900 may be a wee bit expensive for a toothbrush but who can put a price on a set of perfect teeth, right? Wanna bet that most dentists Southampton would recommend the Oral-B Triumph 9900?

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Sony STR-DA4400ES


Sony fanboy audiophiles looking for a high-end home theater solution might want to set their sight on the Sony STR-DA4400ES.

The Sony STR-DA4400ES receiver features 1080/24 p video signals, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts High Res Audio and dts HD Master Audio codes, and a Faroudja DCDi Cinima technology that allows users to upscale ALL video sources to 1080p when connected through HDMI TV.

The Sony STR-DA4400ES also features a xross media bar graphical user interface so users can easily navigate and sort through their content, includes Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration so you can get that perfect surround sound feel and BRAVIA Sync. Also included are various media ports so you can connect different sources through optional accessories like a Cradle for Ipod, Network Walkman cradle, PC client device, and Bluetooth adapter. The Sony STR-DA4400ES is also Sirius and XM Connect-and-Play Ready.

As for the audio features, the Sony STR-DA4400ES has a 7.1 channel receiver, a 120-watt amplifier, SIX HDMI inputs and DSD decoding through HDMI, and picture-in-picture for monitoring of multi-zone output or an external video source. The Sony STR-DA4400ES will be available in August for about $1,500.

Technorati Profile

Styla: the microlaser for dentists


Sure, dentists have boring jobs and a lot of people avoid them like the plague but it doesn't mean that they can't have nifty little gadgets. The styla is a micro-laser with a pen-like design that can make soft tissue incisions. Uses for the Styla include biopsies, removing tissues, and maybe some other cosmetic dentistry procedures.

The Styla measures 7 inches long and weighs just under 2 ounces. It can even sense if the user is right or left handed and has eight pre-programmed procedures. I wonder if any dentists Manchester already has this gadget?

The JVC KT-HDP1, first plug and play HD Radio Receiver


JVC has has introduced the JVC KT-HDP1, a plug and play radio receiver that can be used on your car or inside your home last year. The JVC KT-HDP1 is an AM/FM/HD Radio multicast tuner and can be installed on most vehicles. The JVC KT-HDP1 has three installation options and can be installed on your car without removing the radio, inside your home or you can install the JVC KT-HDP1 using the professional car kit that requires you to remove your existing car radio.

The JVC KT-HDP1 features a full dot matrix LCD display. Other Specifications of the KT-HDP1 includes white backlight and blue key illumination, 5 way navigation keys, 18 FM and 6 AM preset channels, HD Radio station scan and seek, and a 3.5 mini plug audio out.

With high definition radio, there's no need for monthly subscriptions. Other benefits of HD radio includes, iTunes Tagging, and more new radio stations.

The JVC KT-HDP1 will be available at Best Buy stores nationwide.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Contact Lens That Can Restore your Eyesight Overnight

Sure, it's not gadget and maybe not as cool as that bionic contact lens that I've previously blogged about but still, this is the first time I’ve heard of a contact lens that can boost your sight while you sleep. I also have a poor eyesight but I’m trying to stay away from contact lenses since I’m very forgetful and I usually forget to take them off at night. Well, this might be the answer to my problems, the i-Go lenses. According to mailsonsunday.co.uk, these contact lenses are specifically designed for people with short sight and it works by gently pressing the eye to restore it to the shape similar to those with normal eyesight.

Sounds good to me but maybe I’ll wait for more studies on this before I completely throw away my acuvue oasys.

Free Online Animation Sofware

Have you ever want to create your own cartoons? Well, good news, coz I found a site wherein you can watch all the animation you want plus also create your own through their online animation software.

The site called aniboom.com is like the youtube and MySpace of animators. No wimpy Disney characters here, just good, old school cartoons. If you've been doing your own animation for a while, this may be your chance to hook up with other people who's also into animation and could help you monetize your work.

Plus, their free online animation software called Shapeshifter will let you create your own 2D animated cartoons using just basic shapes. Here's a sample of what you can do with ShapeShifter.



Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at aniBoom

Pretty cool. This tool could even be useful in creating your own animated gif images for Avatars or send as Multimedia Messages (MMS) on mobile phones.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

The Audi A5


If you cross a sedan and a coupe, you'd probably get something like the Audi A5. Since I'm mostly into cars for their looks (hey, I'm a girl, so don't blame me), I'll just give you a run down of the Audi A5 in terms of its design.

The Audi A5 has a sporty yet sedan-like look. It isn't small as it can accommodate two adults in the backseat. This vehicle would make you do a double take because if it weren't for the four circles in the front, you could easily mistake it for a BMW. The Audi A5 includes an 18-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, foglights, tri-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power front seats, leather upholstery,10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a panoramic tilt-up sunroof.

You can find a full review of the Audi A5 over at netcars.co.uk. The site is like a one stop-shop for all of your automotive needs. It has a used cars search engine wherein you can buy car or look for cheap car insurance. They also have a sell my car page and you can display up to 6 photos of your car. Not too shabby. Of course, they cater more to UK audience so this site is more beneficial to UK residents.

But like I said, since this is a one-stop automotive website, it does more than list used cars; they also have different car news and reviews.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 is the latest addition to Panasonic’s HD camcorder line. This is one of Panasonic’s first AVCHD models with a 3MOS sensor.

The Panasonic 3MOS system is based on Panasonic’s 3CCD technology, which according to Panasonic: can provide “excellent color reproduction”. The 3MOS sensors have expanded light receiving areas which can improve image quality even in low light conditions. Panasonic’s 3MOS technology processes red, green and blue components separately so colors can be reproduced like the original.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 is capable of full HD recording and has a total of 2,070,000 pixels and records to a SD Memory card. Other notable features include: Optical image stabilization, 5 Microphone, 5.1-Channel Surround Sound System, face detection, high speed burst shooting and a wide angle viewing LCD screen.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 will be available in September this year with a suggested retail price of $1,099.95

Saturday, June 21, 2008

TomTom Rider Review


The TomTom Rider is the GPS device for your Motorcycle. Now while some of you would try to fit an ordinary GPS unto your motorcycle, there are disadvantages on trying to fit a car GPS device on a motorcycle. First, a motorcycle needs a GPS device that is specifically made for it since you really don't have a whole lot of dashboard on a bike. Second, you want your GPS device to withstand all weather conditions and an in-car GPS device isn't really designed to withstand weather conditions since it is mainly protected inside the car whilst a stand-alone motorcycle device should be able to withstand all weather conditions.

The good news is that the TomTom Rider has the two basic qualifications for a good motorcycle GPS. The TomTom Rider includes a mounting kit that should fit most motorcycles and it is waterproof.

The TomTom Rider has a large 3.5 inch touch screen that is responsive enough and is easily readable in direct sunlight. The TomTom Rider also comes with a SD card that is preloaded with maps of the United States and Canada, though be warned that some points of interest will be a little outdated since this device has been released way back in 2006.

The TomTom Rider also comes with a lot of accessories such as Bluetooth and wired headset, 12-volt power cable, an AC adapter, USB cable, carrying pouch, and a screen wipe cloth. However, the Bluetooth headset has crap sound quality so just use your own Bluetooth headset or buy a better one.

As for the GPS antennae, well, it took around 2-2.5 minutes to lock in my position which is really pretty fast but I guess you have to be on a place with a pretty good signal. It also has a text and voice guiding directions.

The TomTom Rider is a pretty solid enough device for those that just want to get directions while riding their bike. Try to upgrade to the latest firmware version though if you're encountering some problems.

Sony Ericsson J132


Looks like Sony Ericsson is trying to make its presence felt and doesn't seem to be contented with the no. 4 position..or is it three now? What was the name of that other manufacturer? Oh right, Motorola--are they still in business?

Anyways, this time, Sony Ericsson has their eyes set on the entry-level phones with the introduction of the Sony Ericsson J132.

The Sony Ericsson J132 is a no-nonsense basic mobile phone with just the added feature of an FM player and a flash light or what they aptly call, the torch function.

Since it is mainly a talk and text phone, it is imperative that the Sony Ericsson J132 has a long battery life and according to Sony, the J132 has a rated talk time of up to 9 hours or 450 hours of standby time. Phone book memory is set at 4MB.

The Sony Ericsson J132 will be available in selected markets in the fourth quarter of 2008.

How to save on buying gadgets

So, as you may know, I'm a gadget addict. I just can't seem to get enough of the latest in innovation and being a gadget fanatic would take a toll on anyone's paycheck. So what's a girl like me to do? That's when my shopping instincts come in...I hunt for the best bargain and use all my resources to my advantage.

Most of my gadgets are not yet fully paid. I always make use of financing offered by retail stores. Now the following techniques I'm about to impart requires that you have two credit cards from different credit card providers and one should be be from balance transfer credit cards provider.

If for example, I have my eyes set on a Macbook Air which costs around $1,799 at the Apple Store. Now if you opt for Apple's financing scheme, they say you can pay as low as $43 per month but if you read the fine print and do your computation, the total price you have to say is more than $1,799. So what I do is scour the internet for a cheaper price. Now I happen to find Macbook Air that costs $1,629. Now if I charge it directly to one of my credit cards then balance transfer it to my credit card with low APR (0% if you happen to be a new customer), then you will be paying the same price but you spread it over a year. You can now make better use of the money you have and put to mortgage payments, house improvements, or just save it in the bank, then the money you would have spent on a one time purchase would now be earning interest.

See? Credit cards can't be that bad. You just have to know how to make use of their full potential. So tech addicts, let the shopping begin.

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV740


The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV740 is the more high end amongst Sony Ericsson's recently introduced line of Bluetooth headsets. Designed for the business users, the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV740 has two carrying solutions, a headset desk stand and a USB charger.

The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV740 has a rated talk time of 11 hours and a standby time of 800 hours.

Other features of the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV740 include: status display, removble ear hooks, auto pairing, DSP, and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR. Availability is expected to be in the 4th quarter of 2008, selected markets only.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Cadex 12 Alarm Medication Watch


Tech geeks with medical condition would want to have this Cadex 12 Alarm Medication watch in their gadget collection. With the Cadex 12 Alarm medication watch, users can program up to 12 daily reminders which includes text message that scrolls across the display wherein you can program the name and strength of the medication (36 characters only). Of course, the Cadex Medication watch can still tell time, has a long alarm duration and can also act as a medical ID databank wherein you can program your medical condition such as allergies, blood type, etc.

Those not so savvy with technology can just go old school and opt for ordinary Medical Jewellery from some online stores with free engraving and free wallet cards.

Sony Bravia now has YouTube Content

Well, well, looks like Sony has taken a page out of Panasonic's Viera PZ850. It turns out that the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link now offers YouTube content. This increases video content offered via the SOny Bravia Internet Video Link to around 10.

Now if only Stage6 didn't close down, Sony and Panasonic viewers could be viewing streaming Hidef videos right on their TV.

Electronic Contact Lens


Imagine a spy movie wherein the spy uses a contact lens filled with telescopic vision or enables the wearer to have x-ray vision. Stuff like this can only happen in science fiction movies but with the advances in technology, this scenario could soon be a possibility. Researchers at the University of Washington have created a contact lens filled with circuitry and LEDs.

Unlike your ordinary acuvue oasys contact lenses, the bionic contact lens would do more than just make your vision 20/20. There are many potential uses for this bionic contact lens, avid video games fan would find it especially useful for projecting their video games, pilots could use it for virtual displays and soldiers could use this for telescopic vision.

Of course, it could be years away for this bionic contact lens to be tested on humans so until then, let’s just be content with our ordinary contact lens and think up of more uses for the bionic contacts.

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 Bluetooth Headset


Another Bluetooth headset that Sony Ericsson has recently launched is the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720. While the HBH-PV715 is geared towards more practical individuals, the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV-720 caters to the stylish crowd.

The HBH-PV720 Bluetooth headset has three style up covers with black and silver patterns to choose from plus a fashionable black metal necklace. Talk time of the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720, according to Sony, can last up to 11 hours with standby time of 800 hours.

The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 is Bluetooth 2.0 compliant with EDR, has DSP and automatic volume adjustment, removable ear hooks, and autopairing capabilities.

Third Quarter of 2008 is the expected availability of the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV720 Bluetooth headset.

HJC AC-12 Carbon Fiber Helmet


I have to say, though I know motorcycles can be dangerous, there's really something about motorcycle riders that makes me think they're oh so cool. Maybe it's just the leather jackets or their cool looking
motorcycle helmets but whenever I see a guy disembarking a Honda or Harley motorcycle, I always do a double take.

And speaking of cool-looking helmets, the HJC AC-12 carbon helmet is one of the cool looking helmets I've seen in a while. It has a very streamlined and sharp design and of course, it's not so bad as a motorcycle safety gear since carbon fiber helmets are one of the toughest gear around.

According to some online reviews, the HJC ac-12 is one of the lightest motorcycle helmets around. However, I’ve also read up on some customer reviews and some customers have complained that there’s chipping of the clear coat when the AC-12 is dropped. This does doesn’t say a lot about the helmet’s quality though some might argue that it’s only natural as carbon fiber helmets naturally bend when dropped to give more protection to the user.

Anyways, you can find the hjc ac-12 carbon helmet over at bikerhiway.com if you’re interested as well as some other motorcycle helmet brands and other motorcycle safety gear.

Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715


The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715 is just one of three Bluetooth headsets that Sony recently launched. Sony is marketing the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715 as the practical but stylish Bluetooth headset with talk time lasting up to 10 hours and 700 hours of stand-by time.

Other features of the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715 include: a removable ear hook, auto pairing, automatic volume adjustment, DSP, and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR. The Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715 will be available in two simple colors: black or white.

Expect the Sony Ericsson HBH-PV715 to launch in the fourth quarter of 2008 but only to selected markets.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Peekyou.com new people search engine


With people all over the world still discovering the wonders of the Internet, social networking sites are not the only websites that people can go to to search for old friends and classmates, there are now people search engines like PeekYou.com.

There are now 130 million people already listed on the site, probably more than other white directory pages. Peekyou.com’s interface is like any other social networking sites, you can post pictures, favorite bookmarks, etc. What’s different about Peekyou.com is that you can identify an individual’s online presence and be able to identify different usernames used by that individual. Your peekyou profile is open to editing by other people, however, if you’re concerned about privacy, you can opt to be unlisted.

With this complete freedom and information, Peekyou.com might become the wikipedia of people search.

Sony Ericsson MD400g


Mobile broadband is fast becoming an alternative to WiFi connection. It allow you to connect almost anywhere where there is a mobile phone signal plus it's cheaper since most carriers now offer unlimited data connection with their monthly plans. Maybe that's why Sony Ericsson has been churning out mobile broadband devices such as the SOny Ericsson MD400g.

The Sony Ericsson MD400g is the first USB HSPA modem with an M2 Memory stick micro and MicroSD slot plus a built-in GPS. You can download any GPS tracking software and your laptop will be converted into a navigation device. This is the more portable option rather than buying the Sony Ericsson EC400g. Compatible networks include: HSPA/UMTS 850/1900/2100 MHz and EDGE/GPRS bands 850/900/1800/1900 MHz.

New Domain

I have recently moved to a new domain name as you can glean from the address bar above. I was thinking of adding the word Game in my blog title so it can be: Game, Gadget, Reviews, and How-Tos but my blog title is already a mouthful as it is. Maybe I will just be adding more game reviews in order to go well with the overall theme of the blog.

As for purchasing webhosting for my blog, I’m still torn. I’m a happy camper with blogger, everything’s easy plus there are a lot of resources and tips regarding tweaking the Blogger platform but then again, I really want to learn more and be more hands on regarding my blog though I’m still not doing this full time.

I wish Google would just follow Yahoo’s footsteps and start selling web hosting. But I guess the big G already has their hands full, I mean with them buying off the whole internet and all.

Although I wish that before Google would venture into webhosting, they should really improve their Blogger platform first. Though I really find Blogger easier to use than wordpress, I envy wordpress bloggers because they have more control over their blogs plus a lot more widgets that they could add.

Anyways, for those linking back to my blog, kindly change my URL. Thanks.

Overview: Sony Ericsson C905


Sony Ericsson has just came up with a real digital camera replacement in the guise of the Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot phone.

Design

The Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot is the first cyber-shot slider phone. The design of the Sony Ericsson C905 mimics that of a true digital camera, from the lens cover, to the xenon flash, even its battery compartment. The side of the mobile phone even has a dedicated shutter button, just like on Sony’s Cyber-shot models.

Features

There’s no doubt about it, from its design, features, and name, the Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-shot phone is a true camera phone. The whopping 8.1 mega pixel is enough to make it a camera replacement but added features such as face detection, auto focus, image stabilizer, smart contrast, photo fix, 16x digital zoom makes the Sony Ericsson C905 a really advanced camera phone.

Added features such as GPS allow you geo-tagging of your photos, and a TV-out cable allows you to view your pictures right on your TV straight from the mobile phone. Connectivity options includes: WiFi and 3G with HSDPA.

Outlook

The Sony Ericsson C905 is an upgrade to the Sony Ericsson K850i in the cyber-shot models. If the SE C905 is able to deliver and outdo the K850i, then there’s no doubt that the Sony Ericsson C905 will rule the camera phone department.

How to Speed Up Your PC without spending

Let's face it, no matter how high the memory or the processor of your PC is, after a few months of use, it is usually not as fast as when you first bought it. The faster but not cheap way to speed things up a bit is to add memory to your PC, however, this would also depend on the motherboard if it could take additional memory. Anyways, here are just some simple steps in order to speed up your pc without you spending anything.

  • Clean up unused desktop icons, unused files, and registry entries. Cleaning up your desktop icons, unused files, and registry entries is like a Colon Cleanse for your PC: you’re trying to remove waste impacted on it that is bugging it down. The more desktop icons on your PC, the longer it would take for your PC to booth up. Unused files on your PC would slow down your navigation when you’re browsing documents or files while unnecessary registry entries also slows down boot up time. To remove unused registry entries, try easycleaner, it’s a free program and you can download it from download.com
  • Defrag your hard drive. Go to my computer, right click on drive c: select properties and click on the tools tab. Click on Defragment now. Defragmenting your hard drive would speed up browsing of files as well as boot up time.
  • Regularly scan your pc. Viruses and malware also affects the performance of your PC so be sure that you’re always regularly scanning your PC.


Cleaning up unused icons and files is like colon cleanse for your pc....

That’s it. You’ll notice the difference immediately.

Monday, June 16, 2008

LG Decoy


Verizon Wireless and LG has introduced a first mobile phone with detachable Bluetooth headset: the LG Decoy.

The LG Decoy features a unique docking station for the Bluetooth headset at the back of the device. Nice touch, LG. It's a pain to have separate compartments for your Bluetooth headset and your phone while you're traveling.

Other features of the LG Decoy includes, a 2.2 inch screen, microSD expansion slot, V Cast services, 2 mega pixel camera, and a music player. Of course, at this price point, don't expect the Bluetooth headset to be stereo A2DP compatible.

The LG Decoy will be available starting June 16th for $179.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Tech Deals of the Week


Here are some tech bargains for my Australian readers. Shopau.com.au has some coupons so you can save up to 34% on selected Lenovo Thinkpad products. You can chop off a huge $999.99 savings when you purchase a Thinkpad T61 6459A11. Specs for the Thinkpad T61 includes, a 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 15.1 inch screen, 2GB RAM, 160GB hard dis drive, and a NVIDIA NB8M-GS graphics card.



Shopau.com.au also has some promo codes so you can get $23 off the retail price of the Grand Theft Auto 4 for the Xbox 360.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The Sony XBR LCD HDTV


If you can't wait for the next SuperBowl, now might be the time to invest on a new HDTV so you can watch your favorite football team in clear, crisp HD. Sony has a new XBR HDTV lineup which might interest you. Leading the pack is Sony's XBR8 series which features a 55 inch and a 46 inch model. Read more about Sony's new HDTV line here. And while you're saving up on your new HDTV, don't forget to ready your football picks for next season.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

3G iPhone gets unveiled at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference

Well, the rumors proved true again, there is a 3G iPhone and it will be available on July 11. So what's the difference between the old iPhone and 3G iphone? Well, aside from its 3G/HSDPA capability (850, 1900, 2100 MHz frequencies), it also has an assisted GPS and a larger 3.5 inch screen. Aside from that, businessmen complaining about the lack of corporate email on the iPhone will be glad to know that the iPhone 3G also supports Microsoft Exchange.

Doesn't seem like much has changed but those who didn't jump into the iPhone bandwagon before because they're waiting for a better version, now is probably the time to buy one.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Video Classifieds


Ah yes, world oil prices are rising, all of the world’s largest economies are headed for a slow down but advertising companies are still churning out new ways to get consumers to part with their hard-earned dollars. With youtube getting gazillions of hits everyday, video classifieds is the new way of advertising.

Video classifieds are more useful and would probably yield better results than traditional classified ads specially if you’re listing cars, real estate, or other products that consumers need to have a 360 degree view of.

Listsaurus.com is a new site that features video classified ads. What’s different and probably interesting about the site is that they pay customers to list their ads. That’s right you get paid for listing your ads instead of the other way around! Of course, terms and conditions apply such as your ads should be non-commercial. According to the website, payment is .25 cents per listing. I haven’t actually used the site yet but I wonder how they select which ad is eligible for payment? If they have a very lenient standard, you can put up everything on your garage and get paid a pretty significant amount so I’m sure the website owner puts up a very strict standard.

Then again, the only real way to find out is to join and since their services are free, there’s no harm in trying, right? Let me know your experiences by commenting below.

Shuttle Fantasy: The Shopping Bag Mini PC


Shuttle has just made every girl's dream come true: a laptop that looks like a shopping bag. The Shuttle shopping bag mini-pc also called "fantasy" was spotted by Aving.net during Computex 2008. I can't find any specifications on the Shuttle Fantasy but since this is only a concept model, don't expect it to hit the stores any time soon. I guess girls will just have to make do with their hello kitty laptops.

Alternative to Gastric Bypass: Gastric stimulator


I was looking through the net for some weight loss gadgets that I might feature and I’ve come upon this Medtronic Transcend II gastric stimulator. According to popsci.com, the Transcend II gastric stimulator sends some painless electrical pulse into the stomach wall every six seconds which fools your brain into thinking you’re full. It’s already available in Europe however, I can’t find any pages stating if this is already available in the US. Oh well, better go find yourself a lap band physician if you’re really not keen about gastric bypass surgery.

Trace A Cell Phone Number

Cell Phone numbers are harder to trace than landline numbers. Those offering a free reverse cell phone number tracer are usually just sites that searches local listings and then refers you to a paid website, such as Reverse Phone Detective, that offers to trace the cell phone number for you.

Most of the time, the cell phone number may come up unlisted since there are a growing number of prepaid mobile numbers in the States and there's no way of tracing a prepaid card (those familiar with the show CSI would know that).

Those offering reverse cell phone numbers lookup usually gets their data from utility resources so different reverse cell phone number lookup companies may provide different information.

Tracing cell phone numbers is not as easy as landline numbers. Most people value their privacy and since a recent survey in the US found out that more people use their mobile phones rather than their landlines, more people would probably oppose any directory for cell phone numbers.

Telescope on a Walking Stick


In spy movies, walking stick serves a variety of purpose. You've seen walking sticks with retractable blades, hidden swords, chemicals, etc but I've never seen walking sticks with Telescopes.

The Telescope Walking Stick has a handle which when pulled out reveals a small retractable 4 1/2" telescope. Don't expect to go star-gazing with this baby since you will only get a 3x magnification with a telescope of this size. The Telescope can also be locked into place for extended viewing. Of course, it makes a pretty decent walking stick too since it features a 1" thick staff made from solid, African rosewood.

Via: Redferret

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Acer Aspire One: Look out HP Mini Note


If you still haven’t decided whether you’re going to get the Asus EEE PC 901 or the HP Mini Note, here’s another notebook to add to your choices: the Acer Aspire One. Before the Asus EEE PC, we all thought that ultraportable notebook prices will always be pegged at $900 and above but Asus sure proved them wrong.

Features

The Acer Aspire One has an 8.9 inch CrystalBrite LED display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The processor on this notebook is an Intel Atom processor, it can also be equipped with a 512MB or 1GB memory, and users can choose between an 8GB NAND Flash drive or a conventional 80GB hard disk drive. Probably what sets the Acer Aspire One apart from the other two cheap ultraportable laptops is that it has the capacity to read different memory cards such as Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, and xD-Picture Card whilst the other two is only restricted to reading SD and MMC cards.

Another good feature according to Acer (if Acer remains true to their word), is that the Acer Aspire One may be specified with 3G wireless technology, a feature that even some expensive ultraportables are lacking. The Acer Aspire One also has WiFi and an integrated camera.


The Acer Aspire one can be configured to have the Linpus Linux Lite or Windows XP Home. Pre-installed software depending on your OS includes: OpenOffice 2.3, one Mail, Messenger, Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security Suite, and Microsoft Office Trial 2007.

Pricing and availability

Price for the Acer Aspire One will start at $379 and it will be available in four colors: sapphire blue, seashell white, golden brown and coral pink. The Acer Aspire One is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2008.

Monday, June 2, 2008

IBM Opens its 11th Contact Center in Malaysia

IBM has announced the opening of its regional inbound call center in Cyberjaya – the future Silicon Valley of Malaysia. The new center is expected to support over 12,000 IBM-system users in the region, let alone customers from the Asia Pacific, the US, Europe and Africa. Now IBM already has 11 Malaysia-based contact centers, and the latest one is characterized by multilingual staff, serving customers in nine languages, including Thai, Japanese, Korean and Tagalog.

In his interview IBM Malaysia managing director Ou Shian Waei explains why such a center is indispensable: “The center highlights Malaysia's role as an important location in delivering total customer satisfaction.”

My take on why Blackberry still leads smartphone sales

A recent IDC report indicates that RIM still leads the smartphone sales with 44.5% of the market share while Apple followed with their iPhone with a 19.2% share in the market. Why is this so? It may be because more professionals still prefer to type on a solid QWERTY keyboard rather than a touchscreen phone for their emails.

Though the iPhone is sleek and sexy and would appeal to college students, its price tag may be a bit too much for some college student's budget whereas loaded yuppies would probably opt for Blackberry devices.

I have had my fair share of touch screen devices from HTC and typing your emails on them is just too much of a hassle compared with a device that has a QWERTY keyboard. That is why I opted to chuck my HTC P3600i over a Samsung i780.

HTC on the other hand has only 4.9% share in the smartphone market. Though most of HTC's products are smartphones, this could be due to the fact that HTC devices are mostly sold without contracts and thus command a higher price. It may also be due to the fact that professionals would rather opt to have a reliable Blackberry for their email needs rather than have a mini-laptop via Windows Mobile devices which is hardly reliable given the fact that most Windows Mobile Devices are prone to "hanging" or "freezing" (just like any other Windows product).

If Apple can come up with a device similar to the Samsung i780 or HTC TyTN II which have a tangible QWERTY keyboard or maybe partner with a third party to make a Bluetooth keyboard for the iPhone, then maybe they could further close the gap on RIM's market share.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Samsung Instinct


Sprint has at last came up with their own "iPhone killer" through the Samsung Instinct. At first, I thought the Samsung Instinct was the counterpart of the Samsung F490 which was released in Europe but it turns out, both have different features.

Instinct vs. iPhone

I think it's a really bad idea for Sprint to make their ads for the Samsung Instinct attack the iPhone. Sure, Sprint banked on all that is lacking on the iPhone such as 3G, GPS, Live TV, video recording, and the inability to quickly connect to the iTunes store, however, Sprint failed to make a comparison as to the strong points of the iPhone such as multi-touch capabilities, smooth and fast interface, Full web browsing capabilities, superior music playback capabilities. Instead of pointing out the enemy's weaker points, I think it's a better idea to show how your product is one step ahead of your competitor's by pointing out that you have better features than your rival's best features.

I will be basing this preview on the Samsung F490 since it is Samsung's recent attempt at an iPhone killer. If the Instinct is anything like the Samsung F490, then it is nowhere near an iPhone killer. The Samsung F490's interface is slow and sometimes unresponsive and audio quality is nowhere near the iPhone's. It also doesn't support WiFi which a lot of tech-savvy persons are looking for. On those points alone, the Samsung Instinct will never beat the iPhone. So if the reviews will start pouring in, Sprint will probably be sorry for making the iPhone comparison attempt.

Then again, Sprint did a good job of emulating Steve Jobs by making a good hype on the Samsung Instinct. They even have a release date and as far as I know, there are no reviews yet of the Samsung Instinct on the net, which means they will generate a lot of buyers on the first day of the release.

Conclusion

I hope for Sprint's sake, the Samsung Instinct is a better improvement over the Samsung F490. Then again, there are still a lot of Sprint users who didn't go over the AT&T side during the iPhone hype and these users might welcome the Samsung Instinct with open arms. Check out this Samsung F490 Review to get a better idea of what the Samsung Instinct might be like.