TECHNOLOGY

Belkin Surf Wireless Router Price

2012-01-31T02:29:00.001-08:00

Belkin Surf Wireless Router Features:

Designed for Web Surfing, email, and IM
up to 300 Mbps Speed
Wider Coverage with MIMO Technology
WPS/WPA2 encryption for your network security
Easy Setup – wireless network up and running in minutes

Belkin Surf N Router Technical Details:

Bandwidth: 20MHz and 20/40MHz auto
Ethernet ports: 4
WAN Ports: 1
NAT and SPI Firewall
Dynamic, Static, PPOE, Telstra BigPond ISP Supported
Max. No of WLAN Connections: 16
Max. Operating Range: Up to 365m
Quality Of Service: 802.11e / WMM Quality of Service
Radio Frequency Band: 2.4GHz
Radio Frequency Channels: 1 – 13
Specifications Standards: IEEE 802.11b (up to 11Mbps*) , IEEE 802.11g (up to 54Mbps*) , IEEE 802.11n (up to 300Mbps*)
Easy Start, Preset Security, Self Healing
Web-based password-protected advanced UI
VPN Support PPTP, IPSec pass-through

Belkin Surf N Router Price in India: Rs. 3,099/- Indian Rupee (INR)

Belkin Play Max Router Price – Dual Band N-Wireless Router

2012-01-31T02:28:00.001-08:00

Belkin Play Max Wireless Router:

Dual Band Wireless-N
Maximum speed and performance
Speeds of up to 300 Mbps
3D Dual-plane antennas and MIMO technology
Torrent Genie: Easily upload and download files without leaving your PC turned on

Belkin Play Max N Wireless Router Specification:

Encryption Types Supported 256-bit WPA /WPA2 encryption, 64/128 WEP encryption
Firewall NAT and SPI
Gigabit Ethernet (4xLAN, 1xWAN), 2x USB 2.0 A Female (Storage or Printer)
LEDs:1x network status LED, 1x WPS LED
Max. No of WLAN Connections: 16
Max. Supported Clients: 4
Maximum Users: 253
Network: 802.11a/b/g/n
UPnP Server
USB printer
Quality Of Service 802.11e / WMM Quality of Service
Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz ISM
Supporting Software: Music Mover, Daily DJ, Music Labeler, Print Genie, Memopry Safe, Self Healing
User Interface: Web-based password-protected advanced
VPN Support: PPTP, IPSEC, and L2TP VPN pass-thru
WPS Push Button Security: Yes

Belkin Play Max Router Price: Rs. 8,199/- Indian Rupee (INR)

DDR 3 RAM Price List

2012-01-31T02:25:00.001-08:00

DDR3 RAM Prices – New generation DDR 3 Offers many improvements over DDR2 memory like Higher bandwidth, up to 1600 MHz, lower power consumption and most importantly higher data transfer rate.
Prices updated on 10 August 2009

Transcend 1 GB 1300 MHz DDR3 Ram Price – 1000/-
Transcend 2 GB 1300 MHz DDR3 Ram Price – 1900/-
Kingston 1 GB 1300 MHz DDR3 Ram Price – 1050/-
Kingston 2 GB 1300 MHz DDR3 Ram Price – 1950/-
OCZ 2GB DDR3 1600MHz Gold Edition RAM Price – 2750/-
OCZ 3X1GB (Core i7 Edition) 1600MHz DDR3 RAM Price – 5900/-
OCZ 6 GB (3X2GB) Core i7 Edition 1600MHz DDR3 RAM Price – 2,750/-
Corsair XMS3 2x1GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM Price – 3350/-
Corsair XMS3 Classic 3x1GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM Price – 4750/-
Corsair Dominator 3x1GB 1600MHz DDR3 RAM Price – 7,250/-

HP Omni 220-1020in Price – All-In-One Computer

2012-01-31T02:22:00.001-08:00

HP Omni 220-1020in All-In-One PC Features & Technical Specification:

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
21.5″ Inch LCD Display Screen
Intel Core i5-2400S Processor
AMD Radeon HD 6450A/Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Graphics Card
LavacaSB Motherboard
2GB DDR3 RAM
1TB Hard Disk Drive
6-in-1 Card Reader
Optical Drive: Slim Tray 8x Supermulti DVD Drive
Audio: 2 x 2.0 Stereo Spekers with Microphone
Integrated Webcam
HP Wireless Keyboard with Beats Key
HP Wireless Mouse
Wireless 802.11 b/g/n PCI-E Mini Card
Gigabit 1000-Base-T LAN
Ports: 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, RJ-45, Audio Port, TV Tuner Port, Headphone Out, Microphone In
180W Power Adapter

Seagate FreeAgent Go Portable Hard Disk Price – 250GB/320GB/500GB Hard Drive

2012-01-31T02:20:00.001-08:00

Seagate FreeAgent Go Portable Hard Disk Features:

Store photos, music, and other files and Carry your data anywhere you want
Sync data between computers
Multiple colors to suit your style
Automatic backup
Encryption technology keeps your files safe
Fast data transfer with USB
Five-year limited warranty

Seagate FreeAgent Go Portable Hard Disk Price in India – in Indian Rupee (INR)

Seagate FreeAgent Go 250GB – Rs. 3,250/-
Seagate FreeAgent Go 320GB -Rs. 3,600/-
Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB -Rs. 4,800/-

Seagate Momentus XT Hard Disk Price List – Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive

2012-01-31T02:19:00.001-08:00

Seagate Momentus XT Hard Disk Features:

Hybrid technology (Hard Disk with Solid State Drive functionality)
Affordable & More Powerful
Adaptive Memory Technology
Quick Boot
80% Faster than normal 7200rpm Hard Drive
Available in 250/320/500GB Capacities
5 Year Warranty

Seagate Momentus XT Hard Drive Technical Specification:

4GB SLC NAND solid state memory
7200-RPM
32MB Cache
SATA 3Gb/s with Native Command Queuing
USB 3.0, eSATA Support
Average latency: 4.17ms
Random read seek time: 11ms
Random write seek time: 13ms
I/O data transfer rate: 300MB/s
Unrecoverable read errors: 1 in 1014
Average idle power: 0.8W
Average operating power: 1.1W
Average seek power: 2.2W

Seagate Momentus XT Hard Disk Price List India: Indian Rupee (INR)

250GB: Rs. 6,800/-
320GB: Rs. 7,400/-
500GB: Rs. 8,100/-

ATI Radeon HD 6850 Price

2012-01-31T02:17:00.001-08:00

ATI Radeon HD 6850 is High performance graphics card and will replace popular Radeon HD 5850 at same price point.

ATI Radeon HD 6850 DirectX 11 Graphics Card Technical Specification:

Manufacturer: ATI
Series: Radeon HD 6000
Core Clock: 850 MHz
Memory Clock: 1600 MHz
Interface: PCI-E 2.0 x16
Memory Bandwidth: 4.2 Gbps
Memory Type: GDDR5
Memory Size: 1GB
DirectX: 11.0
OpenGL: 3.2
Process: 40 nm
Texture Units: 48
Raster: 32
Max Power Consumption: 160 Watt
Expected Release Date: Q4 2010

ATI Radeon HD 6850 Price in India: Approx 20,000/- Indian Rupee (INR)

AMD Radeon HD 6670 Price

2012-01-31T02:16:00.000-08:00

AMD Radeon HD 6670 is lower-mid range graphics card, designed for casual gamers @ affordable price and will replace ATI Radeon 5670 gfx.

AMD Radeon HD 6670 Graphics Card Technical Specifications:

480 Stream Processing Units
24 Texture Units
32 Z/Stencil ROP Units
8 Color ROP Units
800 MHz engine clock
1GB GDDR5 memory
64 GB/s memory bandwidth
768 GFLOPS Single Precision compute power
TeraScale 2 Unified Processing Architecture
128-bit GDDR5 memory interface
PCI Express 2.1 x16 bus interface
DirectX 11 support, Shader Model 5.0
OpenGL 4.1 support
DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4a, Dual-link DVI with HDCP

AMD Radeon HD 6670 Price in India: Approx Rs. 5,000/- INR

AMD Radeon HD 7950 Price

2012-01-31T02:12:00.001-08:00

AMD Radeon HD 7950 is latest DirectX 11 Graphics cards, built on 28nm technology and offers lower power consumption, excellent performance @ attractive price.

AMD Radeon 7950 Graphics Card Technical Specifications:

GPU Speed: 900 MHz
Total number of stream processors: 1792
3GB Memory
Memory Type: GDDR5 (5000 MHz)
384-bit Memory
PCI Express 3.0
DirectX 11(Shader Model 5.0)
OpenGL 4.2 support
AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology
2 Mini Display Port + 1 Display Port
1 x Dual-Link DVI Port
1.4a HDMI port with 3D support
Dimensions: 275 x115 x 42 mm
28nm GPU with new GCN Architecture

Compaq Presario CQ3559IN Price

2012-01-31T02:09:00.003-08:00

Compaq Presario CQ3559IN Desktop PC Features & Technical Specifications:

Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Basic 64
Intel Core i3-550 Processor (Up to 3.2GHz)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD (up to 1243 MB)
Intel H57 Chipset
3GB DDR3 RAM
Up to 500GB SATA Hard Disk
Card Reader: 6-in-1 Card Reader
Optical Drive: SuperMulti SATA Drive
Audio: High Definition Audio 5.1
Keyboard: USB keyboard
Ports: 6 x USB 2.0, Line-in, VGA, DVI-D, RJ-45, 2 Microphone in, 2 Headphone out
Integrated 10/100 BaseT Ethernet
Dimension: 415 x 381 x 167 mm
Weight: Approx. 8.5 kg
Warranty: 1 Year
Included Softwares: Norton Internet Security 2010, Recovery CD Creator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Windows Live Applications, Microsoft Office Starter 2010

Compaq Presario CQ3559IN Desktop PC Price: Rs. 31,164 /- INR.

HP TouchSmart 610-1120in Price – All-In-One Computer

2012-01-31T02:09:00.001-08:00

HP TouchSmart 610-1120in All-In-One PC Features & Technical Specification:

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
23″ Inch TFT Touchscreen
Intel Core i5-2310M Processor (Up to 2.9GHz)
ATI Radeon HD 5570 Graphics Card
Intel H67 Chipset
4GB DDR3 RAM
1 TB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive
6-in-1 Card Reader
Optical Drive: SuperMulti Blu-Ray Burner
Audio: High Definition Audio 5.1
TV Tuner: HP TV Tuner Mini PCIe Card
Remote Control: HP Media Center Remote Control
Integrated Webcam
HP Wireless Keyboard with Beats Key
HP Wireless Mouse
HP Wireless Wlan 802.11b/g/n Mini Card
Integrated 10/100/1000 BaseT Ethernet
Ports: 6 x USB 2.0, RJ-45, Line-in, Line-out, Audio Line-Out, Sub-Out, IR Blaster, Headphone Out, Microphone In
Dimensions: 58.5 x 10.3 x 45.1 cm
Weight: 11.2 kg
Warranty: 3 Years
Embadded Softwares: HP LinkUP, HP TouchSmart Suite 4.0, Norton Internet Security 2010, Microsoft Windows Live Applications, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Starter 2010

HP TouchSmart 610-1120in All-In-One PC Price in India: Rs. 84,999 /- INR.

HP TouchSmart 610-1110in Price – All-In-One Computer

2012-01-31T02:07:00.001-08:00

HP TouchSmart 610-1110in All-In-One PC Features & Technical Specification:

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
23″ Inch TFT Touchscreen
Intel Core i5-2310M Processor (Up to 2.9GHz)
AMD Radeon HD 5570 Graphics Card
Intel H67 Chipset
4GB DDR3 RAM
500GB SATA 3G Hard Disk
6-in-1 Card Reader
Optical Drive: SuperMulti SATA Drive and Double Layer
Audio: High Definition Audio 5.1
TV Tuner: AVerMedia DVB-T/PAL A326 Hybrid
Remote Control: HP Media Center Remote Control
Integrated Webcam
HP Wireless Keyboard with Beats Key
HP Wireless Mouse
HP Wireless Wlan 802.11b/g/n Mini Card
Integrated 10/100/1000 BaseT Ethernet
Ports: Audio Line-out, 6 x USB 2.0, IR blaster, Microphone-In, Headphone-out, Line-out, LAN
Dimensions: 585 x 451 x 103 mm
Weight: 11.2 kg
Embadded Softwares: Recovery CD Creator, HP TouchSmart Suite 4.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Starter 2010, HP LinkUP

HP TouchSmart 610-1110in All-In-One PC Price in India: Rs. 71,999 /- INR.

Cooler Master SMPS Power Supply Price

2012-01-31T02:04:00.000-08:00

Cooler Master offers wide range of SMPS for Budget users to Serious gamers

Cooler Master Extreme power plus SMPS Price

Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 390W – 1,800/-
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 460W – 2,400/-
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500W – 2,800/-
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 600W – 3,400/-

Cooler Master Slient Pro Modular SMPS power supply price

Cooler Master Silent Pro M500 Price – 5,900/-
Cooler Master Silent Pro M600 Price – 6,900/-
Cooler Master Silent Pro M700 Price – 8,000/-

Cooler Master Real Power Pro SMPS Price

Cooler Master Real Power Pro 550W – 5,400/-
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 650W – 6,500/-
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W – 8,100/-
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W – 9,900/-
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W – 13,000/-
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1200W – 15,000/-

Cooler Master Real Power Modular SMPS Power Supply Price

Cooler Master Real Power Modular 520W – 5,500/-
Cooler Master Real Power Modular 620W – 6,500/-
Cooler Master Real Power Modular 700W – 8,000/-
Cooler Master Real Power Modular 850W – 10,900/-

Computer Cabinets

2012-01-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Cooler Master Computer Cabinet Price

Cooler Master Mid Size Computer Cabinet Price

Cooler Master Elite 330 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Elite 331 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Elite 332 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Elite 333 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Elite 334 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Elite 335 Price – Rs. 2,200/-
Cooler Master Ammo 533 Price – Rs. 4,500/-
Cooler Master Selio 500 price – Rs. 4,300/-
Cooler Master Centurion 590 Price – Rs. 4,200/-
Cooler Master CM 690 Price – Rs. 4,000/-
Cooler Master CM 690 Nvidia Edition Price – Rs. 6,500/-

With 390W Extreme SMPS Cooler Master Elite cabinets cost you around 3,700/- Indian Rupee
and with 500W it will cost you 4,700/-

Cooler Master Full Size Computer Cabinet Price

Cooler Master Cosmos Price – Rs. 14,000/-
Cooler Master ATCS 840 Price – Rs. 15,000/-
Cooler Master CM Stacker 832 Price – Rs. 14,500/-
Cooler Master HAF 932 Price – Rs. 9,500/-
Cooler Master Sniper Price – Rs. 10,500/-
Cooler Master Sniper AMD Dragon Edition Price – Rs. 12,500/-

services

2012-01-30T06:13:00.000-08:00

DTH Service Providers »

Tata Sky-Actve Cooking Pack Market Price: Rs. 15	Tata Sky-English News Pack Market Price: Rs. 20
Tata Sky-Sports 3 Pack Market Price: Rs. 20	Tata Sky-Music Pack Market Price: Rs. 20
Tata Sky-Actve English Pack Market Price: Rs. 30	Tata Sky-Hindi Movies Pack Market Price: Rs. 35
Tata Sky-English Entertainmen Market Price: Rs. 35	Tata Sky-Knowledge Pack Market Price: Rs. 35
Tata Sky-Actve Games Pack Market Price: Rs. 40	Tata Sky-Sports 2 Pack Market Price: Rs. 40
Tata Sky-Topper Pack Market Price: Rs. 45	Tata Sky-Kids Pack Market Price: Rs. 45
Tata Sky-Sports 1 Pack Market Price: Rs. 65	Dishtv-South Silver Cricket Market Price: Rs. 125
Tata Sky-South Economy Pack Market Price: Rs. 150	Tata Sky-South Sports Pack Market Price: Rs. 150
Reliance-Bronze South Value P Market Price: Rs. 152	Reliance-Bronze Value Pack Market Price: Rs. 152
Dishtv-South Silver Saver Market Price: Rs. 160	Tata Sky-Economy Pack Market Price: Rs. 160
Dishtv-Silver Saver Pack Market Price: Rs. 160	Dishtv-South Gold Market Price: Rs. 160
Reliance-Bronze South Plus pa Market Price: Rs. 165	Reliance-Bronze Plus pack Market Price: Rs. 165
Dishtv-Family Pack Market Price: Rs. 176	Tata Sky-State Pack Market Price: Rs. 185
Reliance-Silver South Pack Market Price: Rs. 199	Reliance-Silver Pack Market Price: Rs. 199
Reliance-Silver Plus Pack Market Price: Rs. 221	Reliance-Silver South Plus Pa Market Price: Rs. 221

How to Buy a Laptop

2012-01-30T06:03:00.000-08:00

Picking the right laptop can be downright daunting, given the mind-numbing selection available in the market today. That's why we're here to help.

Go online or walk into any store's electronics section to find a laptop and chances are you will feel paralyzed at the sheer variety of models available. Most shoppers have a general idea of what their laptop should look like and what they want in terms of features, but are often intimidated by the sheer number and baffling complexities of the laptops available, which have grown to include types such as netbooks, ultrabooks, and small business (as opposed to enterprise) notebooks.
But don't lose heart. This buying guide will point you in the right direction, whether you're shopping for an ultraportable or for something big and powerful enough to replace your desktop. We're here to help you get into the right mindset, spot the trends, and finally bring home that perfect laptop for you.
Laptop Design is a Key Differentiator
Plastic is still the most commonly used material in laptop frames, and while inexpensive, manufacturers have managed to turn them into art forms. The most common technique is called In-Mold Decoration (IMD)—a process made popular by HP, Toshiba, and Acer— in which decorative patterns are infused between plastic layers. This process has evolved into textures and etched imprints, where the patterns can be felt by running your fingers over them.
In the end, though, plastics are often associated with cheap laptops. What you should be on the lookout for are designs that employ metal. The most common choice is aluminum, found in laptops such as the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Thunderbolt), Dell XPS 15z, and HP Pavilion dv6-6123cl . Aluminum has a more luxurious look and can be fashioned into a thinner chassis than plastic. In fact, a PC manufacturer would find it difficult to compete in this market without using this material in many of its laptops. Magnesium alloy is more commonly found in business laptops that place a strong emphasis on durability (check out our business laptop buying guide). Carbon fiber, which was used on the lid of the Sony VAIO VPC-Z214GX, is yet another attractive material, but is less used than aluminum and magnesium, as it is expensive to make.
Bigger Screen, Heavier Weight
Weight and screen size are directly correlated to one other. Generally, the cutoff point between a laptop that should stay permanently on your desk and one that can be a commuting companion is a 14-inch widescreen. There are exceptions, of course. The Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (late 2011) and Samsung RC512-S02 are two of the lightest 15-inch laptops—lighter, in fact, than some of the 14-inch models on the market. A 13- or 14-inch widescreen means that you can be productive without sacrificing portability. The Toshiba Portege R835-P50X and Sony VAIO VPC-SA2FGX/BI are prime examples of superb 13-inch laptops. Fourteen-inch models like the Asus U46E-BAL5, Samsung QX411-W01, and Gateway ID47H02u offer a terrific blend of features and components, but won't weigh you down. Smaller than that, you'll be venturing into netbook and ultraportable territory.
Get a screen larger than 14 inches and you'll have to contend with deeper and wider dimensions, which your laptop bag may not have room for. Screen sizes that range between 15 and 18 inches are usually reserved for media centers, gaming rigs, and desktop replacements, such as the HP Pavilion dv7-6163cl, Acer Aspire AS8950G-9839 (18 inches) and Alienware M17X (Sandy Bridge). Particularly in the 17- and 18-inch segment, these massive systems often have luxuries like high screen resolutions, hardcore gaming graphics, dual hard drives, and a wealth of state-of-the-art features.

What to Look For in a Laptop
Even today's cheapest laptops come with many of the features you would find on a $2,000 portable. Ample USB ports (three to four minimum) are pretty standard nowadays. USB 3.0, which offers faster transfer speeds and greater connectivity bandwidth than USB 2.0, can already be found in laptops of all sizes. The port is usually colored in blue or has the letters "SS" (Super Speed) labeled next to it. Apple, meanwhile, is touting its Thunderbolt technology, which boasts data transfer rates that are even faster than USB 3.0. Look for a laptop with one of the USB ports doubling as an eSATA port, so you can expand storage capacity when the internal hard drive isn't roomy enough—although you may never need to, since most laptops nowadays come with at least 500GB of storage (netbooks are averaging 250GB to 320GB). Upgrading to a 640GB or 750GB hard drive won't cost you an arm and a leg either, but do so only if you're a video junkie or an aspiring video content creator. Most people don't need all that hard drive space.
Although VGA is still the most common way to present PowerPoint slides on a big screen, technologies like DisplayPort and HDMI are better equipped to stream high-quality videos and audio. With the exception of netbooks and sub-$500 laptops, most laptops have an HDMI port or DisplayPort. The Dell XPS 15z and Lenovo Thinkpad X1, for example, have both.
Aside from 802.11 Wi-Fi, Mobile Broadband (3G), and Bluetooth, wireless technologies have grown to include two new ones. The first is called WiMAX, a wireless broadband access technology that provides performance throughput similar to Wi-Fi, except the coverage area spans an entire city rather than one occupied by a house. These embedded chips can literally replace your current Internet package for less than you're paying now. You can find these chips in the Samsung NP700Z5B-W01UB, Dell Latitude E6420, and Lenovo ThinkPad X220.
The other up-and-coming wireless technology is Intel's Wireless Display 2.0, or WiDi 2.0 for short (the second generation supports 1080p video streams, protected content, and 5.1 surround sound). It's very similar to a wireless version of HDMI, except there's no dongle or piece hanging off the USB port—the technology is built into the laptop. With WiDi 2.0, you can wirelessly connect your laptop to an HDTV without the use of clunky VGA or HDMI cables. You do, however, need to purchase the Netgear Push2TV HD (PTV2000), a $100 receiver that has to be tethered to your HDTV. WiDi 2.0 is available in laptops like the Asus U56E-BBL5, Toshiba R835-P50X, and Toshiba Satellite P745-S4320.
Unless you're talking netbooks, a DVD burner is the de facto standard for internal optical drives. Blu-ray drives are coming down in price, and you can find one in laptops like the Dell XPS 15, Samsung RC512-S02, and HP Pavilion dv7-6163us.
Of course, the lack of an optical drive isn't a deal-breaker anymore, especially if you're intent on minimizing weight. The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (Thunderbolt) and Samsung Series 9, for instance, give you everything but an internal optical drive. A Webcam and a media card reader are already integral parts of any laptop or netbook, as video conferencing and digital photography are as common as surfing the Web.
Once you check off all of these standard features, you can go on to look for ones that are specific to your individual needs.

Buying an Extended Warranty
Most laptops are backed by a complimentary one-year parts and labor warranty; Asus and Costco sell laptops that come with standard two-year warranties. The standard warranty is a limited one, so it won't cover accidents that stem from a spilled drink, a key scraped off by a fingernail, or a drop to a hard surface. Extended warranties are also available.
Most laptop manufacturers also sell accidental coverage as a separate plan, on top of extended warranties that work on top of a standard one, so you might end up spending close to $300 for three years of comprehensive coverage. Apple offers a maximum 3-year extended warranty ($250), while most Windows-based laptop manufacturers will offer up to four years.
Our rule of thumb is that if the warranty costs more than 15% of the laptop, you're better off spending the money on backup drives or backup services that minimize downtime. Of course, you can't put a price tag on peace of mind. There are instances when the logic board or the display—the most expensive pieces of a laptop—fail, and while rare, such a catastrophe can cost you half of what the laptop is worth. Faulty components usually break down during the first year; anything after that is probably your fault.

Weighing Netbook and Ultraportable Options
A popular fad a few years ago, netbooks—those under-$400 little laptops with 10-inch screens, small keyboards, and a skimpy 1GB of RAM—are still passable Web surfing and word processing devices, but have been increasingly upstaged by Apple's iPad 2 and other tablets. More capable minis sell for less than $500 today; the HP Pavilion dm1z, Asus EeePC 1215N, and Lenovo ThinkPad X120e have screens that range between 11 and 12 inches, a full-size keyboard, and an HDMI port.
The classic netbook recipe includes Intel's Atom, a not blazingly fast but extremely battery-friendly processor available in single- and dual-core flavors, and Windows 7 Starter Edition. Netbooks with AMD processors often offer higher performance (with lower battery life), 2GB to 4GB of memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium. Netbook batteries start with 3-cell (~30Wh) units, but many netbooks are now standardizing on 6-cell batteries. Our battery tests have shown that the smaller packs will get you anywhere from three to four hours of battery life on a single charge, while the bigger ones range between seven and nine hours.
Netbooks' high-end (and higher-priced) cousins are ultraportables—extra-thin and -light 11- to 13-inch laptops with all the features and processing power of larger models. Examples include the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (Thunderbolt), Samsung 300U1A-A01, and Toshiba Portege R835-P50X. At this writing, manufacturers were rolling out models based on Intel's answer to Apple's popular MacBook Air line—so-called "ultrabooks" like Asus' Zenbook UX31, which are not only super-svelte but combine solid-state drives with onboard flash memory to allow near-instant on and resume, in mid-work session, from many days of standby.

New Intel Technology
As for the rest of the laptop market, the most dominant processor chips come from Intel. You can pick one that maximizes performance or one that favors battery life. Or you can choose one that plays to both strengths: The company's Second Generation (codenamed Sandy Bridge) Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 are currently the most popular processor brands and have the benefits of both power and battery efficiency. If you desire all-day battery life, it's best to go with a low-voltage or an Atom processor, such as those found in the HP Pavilion dm3t and netbooks, respectively.
Intel also has quad-core Core i7s for laptops, which are ideal for performance enthusiasts and avid gamers. AMD has its own triple- and quad-core processors as well, called Phenoms. Most of these CPUs can be found in desktop replacement, media center, and gaming laptops.
Unless you're a part-time gamer or a CAD user, you'll likely find that an integrated graphics subsystem is more than enough for graphics-related tasks, even more so now with Intel's Sandy Bridge (which quadruples the graphics performance of Intel's previous integrated graphics technology). High-end, discrete graphics cards are terrific for 3D games, transcoding 1080p video, or watching a Blu-ray movie, but like fast processors, they also feast on laptop batteries. Nvidia (Optimus) and Apple (Automatic Graphics Switching) have technologies that leverage two graphics chips—an integrated and a discrete version—and the switch is done seamlessly, depending on what application the laptop is running. You can find switchable graphics technologies in laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (late 2011). AMD has its own switching graphics technology, too, although the switch is done manually, in software.

Battery Life
A big battery can be your biggest ally in a travel hectic day. Many laptops, including netbooks, are sold with multiple battery options. Apple laptops and most ultrabooks, on the other hand, have non-removable batteries, but are so because they're bigger than the average ones. In this case, figure out where battery life ranks in the grand scheme of things. For instance, mainstream laptops tend to come with a 6-cell battery option that lasts between five to seven hours on a single charge, while ultraportables and business laptops tend to have multiple battery options—both swappable battery packs and, in some cases, snap-on battery bases or slices—that, when used in tandem, can easily surpass the 10-hour mark.
It's always a good idea to look into additional batteries, especially if you spend more time on the road than you do in the office or at home. You should also look at the battery's capacity, which is usually measured in watt-hours. Two batteries claiming to be 6-cells can have different capacities. A big battery is accompanied by some heft, but the weight gain is well worth it if it means leaving the system unplugged from dawn 'til dusk.

5 Great Tablets at CES 2012

2012-01-30T05:58:00.000-08:00

Smartphones, smart TVs, and ultrabooks are all well and good, but for my money, the most interesting product releases at this year's CES are the tablets. Much like last year, with Google's first tablet-oriented Android version 3.0 Honeycomb, one of the biggest factors surrounding many tablet releases will be the advent of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Alternatively, Microsoft is hard at work on its next OS, Windows 8, which will include many tablet-focused enhancements, like the Metro UI.

Software isn't the only factor, though. Tablets are becoming thinner, lighter, more powerful, and more affordable than ever. Whether it's a new dual-screen form factor, transforming dock, or sub-$200 price tag, tablets are poised to make significant strides in 2012. However, the question remains: Will these new Android and Windows contenders be enough to topple Apple's iPad 2?
This year's show features everything from 10-inch tablets aimed at the iPad to 7-inchers aimed at Amazon's Kindle Fire. This fresh crop of tablets will feature innovative designs using the most advanced materials and components available today. Perhaps more importantly, these new tablets will also be among the first to benefit from the unified ecosystem offered by Google's latest OS—Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Hopefully the massive influx of new tablets coming in 2012, many running ICS right out of the box, will help propel Android tablets to near-equal footing as the iPad.

While many manufacturers have been scrambling to match the quality and features of Apple's offerings, Amazon bucked the trend and instead released an affordable and easy-to-use tablet for the masses. The Kindle Fire was the first sub-$200 tablet to hit the market, but it certainly won't be the last. At upwards of $500, many tablets, up until now, have been a niche product for well-heeled tech junkies. Expect that to change with a host of affordable and accessible tablets coming later this year.
Another interesting development for 2012 and beyond will be convertible and hybrid devices. Not just docking accessories, but full-fledged laptops that either incorporate touch interfaces and Android software, or simply double as tablet devices.
With that, here is a quick look at some of the best tablets we've seen at CES 2012.

Nikon CoolPix S80 – Stylish 14 mega-pixel camera with 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen

2011-03-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Nikon Coolpix S80

The new Nikon Coolpix S80 is a slim, sliding-cover design stylish compact digital camera featuing 14 megapixels lens. It sports a large 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen and supports 720p video at 30 frames per second.The 14.1-megapixel S80 features a 5x Wide Zoom-NIKKOR ED lens, HD (720p) stereo sound movie recording and creative image editing functions, including the ability to write or draw on the image. The S80 also offers VR Image Stabilization and high sensitivity up to ISO 6400. Nikon Coolpix S80 digital camera Key Features

14.1-megapixel CCD sensor for stunning images
5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass Lens
EXPEED C2 image processor
5-way VR Image Stabilization System
3.5-inch Ultra-High Resolution Organic LED (OLED) Clear Color Display for still images and HD movies
Ultra-Slim design. Just 0.7 inches thin
Sliding lens cover linked to power-on
Enhanced User Interface for intuitive operation
HD Movie Recording : HD (720p) Movie with Stereo and HDMI Output, optical Zoom control and stereo sound recording
Nikon Coolpix S80 Price
The new Nikon Coolpix S80 Price in India will be around Rs.19,000 .It is not yet available in India.This page will be updated as soon as it is launched in India.

Nikon Coolpix S600 Digital Camera

2011-03-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

Nikon Coolpix S600 Features

10 Megapixels
4x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR (38-114mm) Lens
New EXPEED image processor ensures high-quality pictures
Add Color to your World with four incredible colors
Electronic VR Image Stabilization
Incredible, Bright 2.5-inch High Resolution LCD makes it easy to compose and share your pictures.
Nikon Image Innovations include: In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™

Nikon Coolpix S600 Digital Camera Price in India – 16500/- Indian Rupee

Nikon Coolpix P300 – 12.2-megapixel compact digital camera with 4.2x optical Zoom

2011-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nikon Coolpix P300

The new Nikon COOLPIX P300 is a 12.2-megapixel compact digital camera with 4.2x optical Zoom . It is Nikon’s first compact digital camera to feature a super-fast Wide-Angle 4.2x Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens (24mm-100mm, 35mm equivalent) with a maximum aperture F/1.8 for capturing stunning, tack-sharp images and Full HD (1080p) video in a variety of lighting conditions.It sports a 12.2-megapixel backside illumination CMOS sensor for perfect pictures in even low lights.
The Nikon Coolpix P300 features manual controls, Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, and ISO sensitivity up to 3200. These features help create low noise images and faster shutter speeds, which minimize motion blur in low-light conditions like night portraits, even when handheld.
It is powered by the Nikon’s EXPEED C2 Image processing engine . It sports several features commonly found in D-SLR cameras such as Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S) and Full Manual (M) Control.

Nikon COOLPIX P300 digital camera specifications :

Resolution : 12.20 Megapixels
Lens : 4.2x optical Zoom, NIKKOR glass lens
Viewfinder : EVF / LCD
LCD Size : 3.0 inch
ISO : 160-3200
Shutter Speed : 1/2000-8 sec. (M mode)
Max Aperture: 1.8
Mem Type : SD / SDHC / SDXC
Storage File formats Still pictures: JPEG
Sound files (Voice Memo): WAV
Battery : Custom LiIon
Dimensions : 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 in.(103 x 58 x 32 mm)
Weight: 189 g includes batteries
Colors : black, red, and silver
Nikon COOLPIX P300 Price
The new Nikon COOLPIX P300 price in India will be around Rs.18,000 .

Nikon Coolpix L110 – 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 15x Optical zoom

2011-03-17T05:54:00.000-07:00

The new Nikon Coolpix L110 is a 12.1 Megapixel compact Digital Camera with 15x Optical zoom.
The key features of the new Nikon Coolpix L110 Digital Camera are:

12.1 Megapixels for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
Incredible 15x Optical Wide-Angle (28-420mm) Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens
Big, Bright 3.0-inch High Resolution HVGA (460,000-dot) Clear Color Display
New HD Movie with HDMI Output 720p HD movie recording at 30fps
5-way VR Image Stabilization System
Sports Continuous shooting enables high-speed shooting at approximately 11.1* (at 3MP) fps for up to 20 images
Get 840 still images or up to 7 hours of HD movie with the included Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA batteries for ease of mind with long battery life plus easy, anywhere replacement of AA-size batteries. Nikon EN-MH2-B4 NiMH rechargeable batteries are available as an option
EXPEED Image Processing ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness.
Scene Auto Selector automatically recognizes the scene in your picture and selects the most appropriate scene mode (6) + auto mode
D-Lighting rescues dark or backlit images by improving brightness and detail during playback
15 Scene Modes for optimized shooting in various settings
Macro shooting as close as 0.4”
5 Color Options for special filter effects. Choose from: standard color, vivid color, black-and-white, sepia and cyanotype

Nikon Coolpix L110 Price in India : The new Nikon Coolpix L110 Digital Camera price will be around Rs.14,000.

Nikon COOLPIX S4100 – 14 mega-pixel compact digital camera with 5x optical zoom

2011-03-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Nikon COOLPIX S4100

The new Nikon COOLPIX S4100 is a stylish, slim and compact digital camera .It features 14.0-megapixel CCD sensor that assures exceptional image quality paired with a 5x wide-angle optical Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens .
The Nikon COOLPIX S4100 is slimmer than its predecessor, the Nikon cOOLPIX S4000 and offers improved zoom functions, in a rich variety of stylish color options.
Nikon COOLPIX S4100 digital camera features :

Effective pixel counts of 14.0-million pixels and 5x optical zoom NIKKOR lenses with zoom ranges beginning at wide-angle 26mm , all in slim bodies that can be taken anywhere
Slimmer than their predecessors, these cameras are extremely stylish and portable
A variety of shooting and playback functions that enable creation of photos as intended
A variety of color options
3-inch high-resolution , wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitorNikon COOLPIX S4100 digital camera specifications :
Type of Camera : Compact digital camera
Effective Pixels : 14.0 million pixels
Lens : 5x Zoom; f=4.6-23.0mm / F3.2-6.5
Vibration Reduction : Electronic VR
Digital Zoom : Up to 4x
Focus Range : Normal mode: 50cm, Macro: 10cm
LCD Monitor : 3.0″; 460,000-dot, TFT LCD touchscreen monitor with anti-reflection coating
Storage Media : SD memory cards (SDHC and SDXC compliant;) and internal memory (approx. 20MB)
File Format : Compressed [JPEG (EXIF )], mono/wav file, AVI movie
Shooting Modes : Auto mode, Scene modes, Smart portrait mode, Movie mode, Scene Auto Selector
Video Recording HD720p (1280×720), VGA (640×480), QVGA (320×240)
Exposure Metering System : 256-segment matrix metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering
Sensitivity : Auto (auto gain ISO 80-1600), Fixed range auto (ISO 80 to 400, 80-800), Manual selection: ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
White Balance : Auto, Preset manual, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash
Self-Timer : 2 and 10 sec. duration
Flash Sync Modes : Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Off, Fill flash, Slow sync
Power Requirements : Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL19, AC Adapter EH-62G (optional)
Battery Life (on a fully charged battery) : Approx. 190 shots with EN-EL19 battery (based on CIPA standard); Movies: Approx. 1 h 30 min (HD 720p)
Dimensions : Approx. 95.0 x 56.8 x 19.9 mm excluding projections
Supplied Accessories : Camera Strap AN-CP19, Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL19, Charging AC Adapter EH-69P, USB Cable UC-E6, Audio Video Cable EG-CP14, View NX 2 CD, Stylus
Weight : Approx. 131g (Weight with battery and memory card)
Nikon COOLPIX S4100 Price
Nikon COOLPIX S4100 Price in India : The new Nikon COOLPIX S4100 digital camera price will be around Rs.10,800 in India .

Acer Liquid MT Android Powered Smartphone

2011-03-17T02:23:00.000-07:00

Acer has recently come out with its latest mobile phone called Acer Liquid MT which is a perfect combination of impressive features as well as striking looks. Physically this phone measures 115 X 63 X 13.5mm in size and comes in attractive metal casing.
Acer Liquid MT runs on Android 2.2 Froyo OS and it is powered by 8000 MHz of processor. There is large 3.6 inches of capacitive touchscreen in this phone that is capable of delivering 480 X 800 pixel resolution. Accelerometer sensor for auto rotate facility along with Acer UI 4.0 Breeze and Touch sensitive controls are also provided with the phone.
The 5 MP camera of Acer Liquid MT comes packed variety of features including LED Flash, Geo Tagging, Face and Smile detection, image stabilization and others. Besides still images the camera can also do video recording.
Additional features of the phone include GPS with AGPS, multi format music player, video player, access to Facebook and Twitter, 1500 mAh battery, Bluetooth , WiFi, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, microUSB 2.0, expandable memory up to 32GB and others…

Yamaha SZX 150 Price – 153cc Bike – Yamaha SZX 150

2011-03-17T02:20:00.000-07:00

Yamaha SZX 150

The new Yamaha SZX 150 is a 153cc engine Bike and is another version of the Yamaha SZ 150 bike.Yamaha SZX 150 features Electric start.It lacks Disc brakes.Te new SZ-X is powered by an all-new 4-Stroke air-cooled, SOHC single cylinder with 153cc engine that has been tuned for optimum performance .
Yamaha SZX bike specifications :

Engine : Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC 153cc
Maximum Power : 12.1PS @7500rpm
Maximum Torque : 12.8Nm @4500rpm
Five speed manual transmission
Wet type clutch
17-inch alloy wheels
Wider 100/90 rear tyre
Dimensions : 2050x730x1100mm
Wheelbase : 1320mm
Fuel tank capacity: 14 Litre
Available in Colours : Red,Black,Grey
Electric start and Kick Start
Drum BrakeYamaha SZ 150 vs Yamaha SZX 150 ( Difference )
Yamaha SZX 150 is taller
Yamaha SZX 150 has sculpted side covers with rugged and robust looks
Yamaha SZX 150 features Electric start along with Kick-Start , Yamaha SZ 150 has only kick start
Yamaha SZX 150 available in 3 colours(Red,Black,Grey) ,Yamaha SZ 150(Red,Black)

Yamaha SZX 150 Price

Yamaha SZX 150 Price starts from Rs.49,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) .
Yamaha SZX 150 Mileage – Yamaha SZX 150 Mileage is around 60 KMPL (50-60 KM/L)

Hero Honda Splendor Pro Price – New Hero Honda Splendor Pro Bike

2011-03-17T02:18:00.000-07:00

Hero Honda Splendor Pro

Hero Honda India has launched the new bike in its Hero Honda Splendor series – the Hero Honda Splendor Pro.It is a 100cc bike featuring electric start,alloy wheels, redesigned speedometer, grab handle and side indicators.The new splendor pro gets new decals.It is now BS3 compliant and hence will also be sold in metro cities in India.
Hero Honda Splendor Pro bike specifications :

100cc Air Cooled, 4 Stroke, OHC engine
Maximum Power: 7.4 Bhp @ 8000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 7.95 Nm @ 5000 rpm
4 Speed Gears
Multi Plate Wet Clutch
Dimensions:1970x720x1040 mm
Weight: 109 kg
Ground Clearance: 159 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity : 11 ltrs
Wheelbase: 1230 mm
Headlamp: 35W/35W Halogen Bulb
Wheel Type: Alloys
Wheel Size: 2.75×18 – 2.75×18 mm
Speedometer: Analogue
Hero Honda Splendor Pro Price
The new Hero Honda Splendor Pro Price is Rs.39,950 to Rs.41,950 (ex-showroom Delhi)

LG A165 – Low price Dual SIM GSM multimedia mobile

2011-03-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

LG A165

The new LG A165 is a Dual SIM GSM mobile Phone which offers Fun & Entertainment through its Multimedia Features like MP3 Player, FM with Scheduled Recording, VGA Camera.
LG A165 mobile key features :

Dual SIM GSM
Smart Camera with Video recording
MP3 Player
Wireless FM with Scheduled FM Recording
Bluetooth & Java
Expandable upto 2GB Memory
LG A165 mobile specifications :
Form factor Bar
Camera Resolution (MP)VGA
DISPLAY
- Screen Size (cm) 5.1
- Display Resolution 176X220
- Screen Type TFT
- Color 262K
CAMERA FEATURES
- Colour effects
- Digital Zoom 4x
- Capture Resolution 640×480, 320×240, 176×220,160×120, 80×60
- Continuous shot
- White Balance
- Self Timer
- Image Editing
VIDEO CAMERA
- Capture Resolution 176 x 220
- White Balance
- Colour Effect
AUDIO & ANIMATION
- MP3 Player
- FM Radio
- FM Radio on Speakerphone
- Voice Recording Multimedia
MEMORY
- Contacts 1000 (11 Fields)
- Text Message 450
- Calendar Internal Memory 3.9 MB
- External Memory
- Micro SD upto 2 GB
OTHER FEATURES
- Messaging SMS, EMS, MMS
- Group Messaging (Up to 20 Nos)SMS to All (Up to 20nos)
- NDTV Active
- Bluetooth
- Anti-theft
- Mobile Tracker
- World Clock
- Unit converter
- Calculator
- Speakerphone
- USB Charging
- USB Data transfer
- Flight Mode
- Alarm
- Embedded game : Mini Game Planet, Sudoku Puzzle
- Stop Watch
- PC Sync
- Number of polyphonic tones 64 Polyphonic
- JAVA Browser
NETWORK SUPPORT
- Quad Band
WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS
- Weight (gram) 81
- WxDxH (mm)110 x 47.5 x 14.1
BATTERY 950 mAh Li-Ion
- Talk time Upto 14.5 Hrs
- Standby time Upto 665 Hrs

LG GM730 – Touchscreen mobile with 3G,WiFi,GPS running Windows mobile OS

2011-03-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

LG GM730

The new LG GM730 is a 3-inch touchscreen mobile sporting high speed 3G (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps),WiFi,and GPS running Windows mobile OS.It features LG’s popular “S-Class” Touch UI built around a 3D cube layout.It is also called LG Eigen .
LG GM730 mobile phone key features are:

Powerful & innovative S-Class UI
3.0″ WQVGA Full Touch Screen
Pleasurable mobile internet with cube operation
5 Megapixel Camera certified by Schneider-Kreuznach
A-GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1
Document viewer (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Onenote, PDF)
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

LG GM730 mobile phone detailed specifications are:

Network
- GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
- HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
Dimensions :109.8 x 56.5 x 11.9 mm
Display
- 3-inch TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors
- 240 x 400 pixels
- “S-Class” Touch UI
Memory
- Internal Memory : 289MB
- External memory : Micro SD External Memory (up to 32GB)
Data
- 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2.0 Mbps
- WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
- Bluetooth
- USB microUSB
Camera
- Primary 5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, autofocus
- Video Yes
- Secondary Videocall camera
Features
- OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
- CPU Qualcomm MSM7201A 528 MHz processor
- Radio FM radio
- Games Yes
- Colors Black
- GPS with A-GPS support
- Java Yes, MIDP 2.0
- Internet Explorer 6.0
- MP4/H.263/H.264 player
- MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA player
- Organizer
- Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)
- Embedded game : Bubble Breaker, Solitaire
- Embedded Applications : Destinator, GyPSii, SPB News, SPB Traveler
Battery
- Standard battery, Li-Ion 1000 mAh
  - Talk time Upto 5 Hrs
  - Standby time Upto 580 Hrs

LG GM730 Accessories (included in the box) : Battery, Charger, Data CD, Manual, Stereo Ear Microphone, Handstrap with Stylus, USB Data cable, 1GB Memory Card

LG GM730 Price

LG GM730 Price in India : The new LG GM730 is available in India at price of Rs.19,000 .
Our Opinion :
A new mobile phone launched with Windows Mobile 6.1 OS and that also at price of Rs.19,000 !! Windows Phone 7 is the latest mobile phone OS from the Microsoft and Windows Mobile v6.5 was the successor of Windows Mobile 6.1 .

LG T310i – Affordable price 2.8-inch touchscreen mobile with WiFi

2011-03-17T02:08:00.000-07:00

LG T310i

The new LG T310i is an affordable price 2.8-inch touchscreen display mobile phone featuring wireless LAN connectivity .It is a social networking
ready mobile with quick access/posting to major social networking websites . It is also called LG Cookie WiFi mobile .
LG T310i mobile phone key features :

2.8-inch touchscreen display
Social Networking
Wi-Fi
Windows Live Messenger
Opera Mini Browser 5.0
2 MP Camera
3.5 MM Jack
Document ViewerLG T310i mobile phone specifications :
Network : Quad band GSM
Dimensions : 95.8 x 51.0 x 11.9 mm
Weight : 86.5 g
DISPLAY : 2.8-inch resistive touchscreen, 256K colors ,240 x 320 pixels
Cartoon UI
3.5mm jack
MEMORY
- Internal : 18 MB
- Expandable : microSD, up to 4GB
GPRS/EDGE
Wireless LAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
CAMERA : 2 mega-pixel
Video recording : QVGA@15fps
Applications
- FM radio
- Java MIDP 2.1
- NDTV Active
- Anti-theft Mobile Tracker
- World Clock
- Unit converter
- Calculator
- Speakerphone
- USB Charging
- Document Viewer (doc, xls, ppt etc )
- USB Data transfer
- Flight Mode
- Alarm
- Embedded Game : Thomsons & Touch
Social Networking : Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Orkut, Picassa, Flicker
Embedded Applications : Opera Mini 5, Newshunt, LG Zap BoxStop Watch PC Sync Number of polyphonic tones64 PolyphonicJAVA (MIDP 2.1)Browser
Music Player
Video Player
Battery : Li-Ion 900 mAh
- Talk time Upto 14 hrs
- Standby time Up to 569 Hrs
  LG T310i price in India
  The new LG T310i price in India is Rs.5,500 .

LG T325 – 2.8-inch touchscreen mobile with WiFi and 3G HSDPA 3.6Mbps

2011-03-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

LG T325

The new LG T325 is a large 2.8-inch full touchscreen display mobile phone featuring high speed 3G connectivity with 3.6Mbps HSDPA (max. download speed) .It is an affordable price touchscreen mobile with 3G and WiFi connectivity .It is a Social Networking ready mobile phone and also features Windows Live messenger and Opera Mini 5 web browser to keep contact with your friends at anytime.
LG T325 3G mobile phone features :

2.8-inch touchscreen display
3G HSDPA 3.6Mbps
Wireless LAN WiFi
SNS Dedicated Client
Messenger (Windows Live, Yahoo)
LG Mobicomix – get your favorite comics in your phone
MP3 player with 3.5 mm Jack
FM With recording
Document ViewerLG T325 mobile phone specifications :
Form factor : Bar Touch Screen
3G HSDPA 3.6 Mbps
Quad Band GSM
DISPLAY Screen : 2.8-inch , 240×320 resolution
MP3 Player
Pre-set equalizer
FM Radio
Voice Recording
Camera : 2 mega-pixel
Video recording
MEMORY
Internal Memory : 30 MB
External Memory : Micro SD upto 16GB
Messaging :
- SMS, MMS, E-Mail
- Group Messaging
- SMS to All(Up to 20nos)
Wireless Connectivity
- Wireless LAN WiFi 802.11 b/g
- Bluetooth
Applications
- NDTV Active
- Anti-theft Mobile Tracker
- World Clock
- Unit converter
- Calculator
- Speakerphone
- USB Charging
- Document Viewer
- USB Data transfer
- Flight Mode
- Alarm
Embedded Game : Mingle Mangal, Thomsons & Touch, Diamond Twister Demo
Social Networking : Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Orkut, Picassa, Flicker
Embedded Applications : Push e-mail, Opera Mini 5, Newshunt, LG Zap Box
Stop Watch
PC Sync
JAVA MIDP 2.1
Browser
Weight : 92.5 gm
Dimensions (WxDxH) : 102.4 x 56.4 x 11.9mm
BATTERY Type : 900 mAh
- Talk time : Upto 7.9 Hrs
- Standby time : Upto 381 Hrs
Accessories in the mobile box : Battery, Charger, Manual, Driver CD, Stereo Ear Microphone, USB Data Cable, 2GB Memory Card

Airtel 3G Tariff Plans in Mumbai

2011-03-17T01:59:00.000-07:00

Airtel 3G Tariff in Mumbai

Airtel has launched its high speed 3G connectivity tariff plans in Mumbai .
Airtel 3G Sachet Plan in Mumbai

Rs.8 for 10 MB, validity 1 day , after that 30p/20kb
Rs.41 for 30 minutes, validity 1 days , after that Rs.3/min
Rs.61 for 65 MB, validity 3 day , after that 30p/20kb
Airtel 3G Standard Plans in Mumbai
Rs.101 for 100 MB, validity 30 days , after that 30p/20kb
Rs.201 for 250 MB, validity 30 days , after that 30p/20kb
Rs.450 for 600 MB, validity 30 days , after that 30p/20kb
Rs.750 for 2 GB, validity 30 days , after that 30p/20kb
Airtel 3G Postpaid and Airtel 3G prepaid has almost the same tariff plans .

Airtel 3G Flexi-Shield Plan in Mumbai

Rs.675 – 1.25GB Data
- After 1.25GB, the rates will be 1p/100KB upto Rs.2000. After your used amount reaches Rs.2,000 , you will get free unlimited browsing at 20Kbps speed .This plans validity is 30 daysAirtel 3G Pay As You Go Plan (PAYG) in Mumbai
- Rs.18 (Rs.20 in postpaid) – Usage @15p/20Kb – Validity of 20 days prepaid and 30 days postpaid
- Normal pay as you go plan in Airtel 3G – 30p/20kb , no voucher/rental and always valid
Airtel 3G Video Call Plan in Mumbai – 5p/sec or Rs.3/minute on both local and STD

How to display the top secret of Sony Ericsson mobile phones?

2010-10-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

Today tip is about the secret codes of Sony Ericsson mobile phones. These codes will work on most of the latest Sony Ericsson mobile sets. You can display the hidden information of mobile sets and then troubleshoot the routine problems using these codes.

Sony Ericsson Useful Secret Codes

Code Action

0# To display the last dial number

*#06# To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

-> * <- <- * <- * Use to display the secret menu of Sony mobile

<**< Use to display the information about mobile network

< 0 0 0 0 > Use to reset Sony Ericsson mobile default language

>*<<*<* Use to display the mobile software version

<0000> Use to reset Sony Ericsson mobile default theme

# To display the SIM Number of the mobile

**04*0000*0000*0000# You can access you mobile settings without SIM card

*#0000# Use to reset Sony Ericsson mobile English menu

904060 + > Use to reset mobile phone settings

904093 + menu Use to display the CDMA Mode

On/off button Press and release quickly on/off button to verify the battery

status. > * > (>); To display the text contained in the phone

How to display the hidden settings of Samsung mobile phones?

2010-10-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Today we will discuss about the some secret codes of Samsung mobiles. These codes may be not applied to all old models of Samsung mobile, but you can try to all latest Samsung mobiles. You can display the hidden information of mobile sets and troubleshoot the routine problems using these codes.

Follow the list of latest Samsung codes list:

Code Action

*#9999# Use to display the mobile software version

#*3849# Use to reboot the Samsung handsets

*#06# To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

#*2558# To on/off the mobile time

#*7337# Use to unlock the latest Samsung set

#*4760# Use to activate and deactivate the GSM features

*#9998*246# To verify the memory and battery information

*#7465625# To verify the Lock status of mobile

*#0001# To display the Serial Number of the mobile

*2767*637# Use to unlock the mobile code

*#8999*636# To display the storage capacity of the mobile

#*2562# Use to reboot the Samsung handsets

*#8999*667# Use to run the mobile in Debug mode

*2767*226372# To fine-tune the camera settings

*#8999*778# Use to display the information about mobile SIM card

*2767*637# Use to unlock the mobile code

*7465625*28638# Use to make active the Network Lock

#*#8377466# To display the hardware version

*7465625*746*Code# Use to make active the SIM card lock

*#pw+15853649247w# Use to unlock the mobile code without SIM card

#*3888# To verify the Bluetooth information

*#9998*627837793# Uses to get extra parameter for unlock mobile settings

#7465625*28638# Use to unlock the Network Lock

#*7983# Voltage Use to regulate Frequency or Voltage

#7465625*746*Code# Use to unlock the SIM card lock

#*2834# Use to reset the handsfree options

#*5376# To delete all SMS in one command

*#4777*8665# Use to explore the GPSR tool list

#*2474# To verify the charging duration

*2767*688# Use to readjust the mobile TV options

How to display the hidden settings of LG handsets?

2010-10-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

Today tip will help you to play with your LG mobile phones using secrets codes. These secret codes will work on most of the LG mobile handsets. You can display the hidden information of LG handsets and troubleshoot the routine problems with the help of these codes.

Follow the list of latest LG codes list:

Code Action

2945#*# To access the test mode of the set

2945*#01*# Use to display the secret menu of LG mobile set

*8375# Use to display the mobile software version

*#06# To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

2945#*70001# Use to manage Simlock menu for LG (LG 7010, 7020)

277634#*# To set the defaut settings of mobile

1945#*5101# Use to manage Simlock menu for LG (LG B1200)

2945#*5101# Use to manage Simlock menu for (LG 5200, 510W )

2947#* Use to manage Simlock menu for (LG 500, 600)

47328545454# To set the defaut settings of mobile

*#07# To display the SW and IMEI Number

277634#*# To remove the security codes of LG sets

or 47328545454#

* 6861 # To recount checksum

##2342 Apply to resets the set advanced settings

##786 Used to reset the mobile memory and life timer

##889 To Enable the TTY

#PWR 668 To perform the Factory test

How to display the hidden settings of Nokia mobiles?

2010-10-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

Today tip is about the secret codes of nokia mobile phones and will work on most of the latest nokia mobile sets. You can display the hidden information of mobile sets and troubleshoot the routine problems using these codes.

Follow the list of latest nokia codes list:

Code Action

*#7780# To restore the factory settings of mobile set

*#3283# To verify the set Manufacturing date

*#746025625# To stop the sim clock

*#67705646# Use to delete the operator logo

*#73# Use to reset game scores and phone timers

*#0000# Use to display the mobile software version

*#06# To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

*#92702689# To display the mobile warranty related settings (Serial no, Made,Purchasing date, Repaired date, Life time).

*#7760# To display the Production serial number

*#bta0# Use to display Bluetooth MAC address

*#9999# Use to display the mobile software version

*#147# If you are using Vodafone then this code will help you show the last call detail

*#2640# To display the mobile security code

*#7328748263373738# Apply to resets the set default security code

*#43# To verify the call waiting status

*#2820# To verify the Bluetooth information

*#7370# To format the mobile phone memory

*#delset# To delete the GPRS AND EMAIL settings

#pw+1234567890+1# To display the lock status of mobile set

#pw+1234567890+4# To display the lock status of your SIM

How to quickly repair your Mobile Phone dropped in water?

2010-10-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

Many of you get your mobile phone wet by one way or another. You worry as you mistakenly drop your mobile phone in water. It can also get wet if you are out in a heavy rain. However, there is no need to panic. It is possible to save your wet mobile phone by quickly repairing it. In order to save your mobile phone from water damage, you can consider these easy and simple solutions:

Act rapidly :

The first thing you have to do in order to save your wet mobile phone is to act rapidly. Quickly remove all the detachable parts as well as covers possible such as the back cover, battery, the SIM card, memory card etc. Next, take a piece of cloth or a tissue paper to wipe the excess water you are able to notice within the mobile phone. Make sure that you dry it completely. If you don' t do this, the water inside the mobile phone will begin to evaporate and gather in places which will be difficult to reach.

This will save your wet mobile phone and it will start working if it was under water for just a little while.

Using a hairdryer :
Take a hairdryer and begin drying the mobile phone while giving more consideration to the place where the battery is located. The battery housing usually consists of tiny holes to let in air (so giving more space for water) inside the mobile phone.
Make sure that you are not holding the hairdryer very near to the mobile phone. Keeping it too close to the mobile phone may harm the electrical mechanism of the mobile phone. Keep on drying the mobile phone from a safe distance for about twenty to thirty minutes.

If solution number 1 and solution number 2 don't work, try solution number 3.

Drying for a long time:
Take off the covers as well as battery from the mobile phone. Put the phone in a dry as well as warm place to let the water inside the phone evaporate gradually from the little holes in the mobile phone.

How to use Bluetooth technology to connect laptop and cell phone?

2010-10-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

We can use Bluetooth technology to connect laptop and cell phone. We can move videos, images, photos etc from a desktop computer or a laptop to our cell phones. In order to use Bluetooth technology to connect laptop and cell phone we need a laptop and a cell phone which support this technology.

If the laptop doesn't support it, we can use a USB Bluetooth dongle. Just plug it into the USB port of the desktop computer or laptop. Leave the rest to Microsoft Windows. It will find the driver and install it itself. If it is not supported, we can manually install it via the manufacturer's compact disk. Follow these simple steps in order to use Bluetooth technology to connect laptop and cell phone: (In this example, we are using Windows Vista.)

Turn on the Bluetooth feature on your cell phone.

Make this setting: my Phone's visibility -> Shown to all on the cell phone.

Open Bluetooth Devices by clicking on its icon in the Control Panel.

Look for the Bluetooth driver in the Device Manager and double-click on its icon.

Click on the Add button in Bluetooth Devices dialog box.

Check the box for "My devices is set up and ready to be found" in the Add Bluetooth Device Wizard dialog box.
Click on the Next button.

This device wizard will display the name of the found Bluetooth device close by.
Click on the device name that you would like to add and click on Next.

Select "Let me choose my own key" or "Choose a passkey for me" and click on Next.

It will now display the passkey. Key this into the cell phone. Now the laptop is initiating to install the Bluetooth device. (Click Yes as you see the prompt message on the cell phone to allow connection with the laptop.)

Click on the Finish button to close the dialog box of Add Bluetooth Device Wizard.

The Bluetooth device (the cell phone) is now displayed in Bluetooth Devices dialog box. Select the Bluetooth device and click on the Properties button.

The Properties dialog box for the device will become visible. Choose the Services tab.
Check the boxes for the services you want.

In the end you can launch the items of the cell phone. Transfer photos, videos etc to cell phone via Bluetooth technology.

This method can also be used to connect laptop to Bluetooth devices like Bluetooth mouse, Bluetooth keyboard, Bluetooth headset, etc.

Utility to disable usb port only for pendrive in a computer?

2010-10-19T03:25:00.000-07:00

here is the simple trick that you can follow to restrict user from using pendrives to avoid virus risk.

To disable the access to USB port, in windows XP and 2000
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentContr…
4. In the right pane, double-click Start.
5. In the Value data box, type 4, click Hexadecimal (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.
6. Quit Registry Editor.

Making Windows 7 Your Own: Personalize and Themes

2010-10-18T02:37:00.000-07:00

There is more to owning a PC than just having one, whether its a laptop or desktop. With the many generic brands out there to choose from, its not unlikely for you to know someone who has an exact configuration and model as you do. Many PC OEM's have tried to differentiate their models with different finishes and form factors that make them stand out. Its one of the key aspects of WINTEL machines, there is definitely choice to be found and opportunities to customize. Consumers also have the choice of carrying their computer to an after market customization expert and have them do a custom paint job to add a bit more personality/style to a computer that defines them. Some high-end boutique vendors such as Falcon Northwest bundle that option as a part of their computer models.

What is a Theme?

A theme in Windows combines photos, sounds, color along with wallpaper background, sound scheme, screen saver and special icons/mouse pointer.

The personalization story gets much deeper when we enter the world of software and Windows 7 makes the experience even more interesting. Windows has for a long time included theming capabilities, probably as far back as the first version. Microsoft's first major overhaul of making Windows more customizable was with the release of Windows 95 in 1995 and the companion pack, Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95. This allowed customers to customize their PC experience with additional window themes, icons and sound schemes. Eventually, this was incorporated into Windows 98 and future releases. Windows XP released in 2001 introduced a bold experience called Luna, which featured thicker title bars with three optional colors called Blue, Olive and Silver. Some of the qualities of this theme include, large self explainable icons, rich in color and depth, bright vibrant wallpapers and overall richer palette of colors. Subsequent themes were released outside of Windows XP by Microsoft, such as a ZUNE theme, Royale introduced with the release Windows XP Tablet PC/Media Center 2005. Microsoft also released a companion update to Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP. Consumers described that release as offering little to be worth $39.

With Windows Vista, Microsoft took another bold step, redesigning the Windows user experience now called AERO. Windows Vista introduced real life effects such as translucent windows, life like icons and a cleaner design that made using Windows daily a pleasure. Microsoft added numerous effects and color schemes for changing the color depth of Glass along with high quality wallpaper backgrounds. Microsoft also used Windows Vista as an opportunity to update the Display Properties dialog creating a new Explorer shell called Personalization. In this new interface, in which elements were categorized into different sections explaining what each does, users clicked a different link which led to a shell or dialog for customizing the Windows interface, whether it was Window color, Desktop background, Glass color, Screen Saver, Sound scheme etc.

Edition of Windows 7	Capabilities
Starter	Aero Basic
Home Basic	Aero Basic, Aero Standard
Home Premium	Aero Basic, Aero Glass
Professional	Aero Basic, Aero Glass
Enterprise	Aero Basic, Aero Glass
Ultimate	Aero Basic, Aero Glass

Windows 7 improves on this, by enhancing the layout for quicker access to elements, but also adding more options for theming the Windows interface and making Windows connect better with locals. Themes are now bundled packages that feature a collection of high resolution wallpapers and an assigned glass color. Of course, there are some additional changes for users upgrading from versions of Windows such as XP or as far back as Windows 2000 Professional. Lets discuss some more about the different aspects of the Windows 7 Personalization Explorer shell. To access it, right click your desktop, click Personalize.

Users should note, Windows 7 offers varied experiences depending on the capabilities of your hardware and the edition of Windows 7 you are using. Lets learn some more about these tier of capabilities:

Windows Aero Standard - Combines some of the capabilities of Windows Aero Glass with some features of Aero Basic. Users will notice that window borders are more glass like in appearance, but do not have the option for translucency. The Taskbar is similar Aero Basic, except for the option of Thumbnail previews is now available.

Windows Aero Glass - What some would call the crème de la crème, Aero Glass offers the ultimate user experience for Windows users. The Windows Aero Glass encompasses every aspect of the Windows desktop experience: Start menu, Desktop, Taskbar and Windows Explorer. The immediate differences users will note is the ability to have translucent glass windows and a Taskbar with powerful effects such as interactive thumbnail previews, ability to see running videos with the ability to hover them and see a full size preview. If you invoke the Alt+Tab command, you can also see a live preview of windows on the fly. Users can also customize the color of the windows with up 16 different colors to choose with the option of controlling the intensity of the window color itself.

In addition to these themes, Microsoft also provides different that are grouped as Basic and High Contrast themes.

Windows Aero Basic - For computers that cannot support the minimum graphics requirements of Windows Aero Glass. Aero Basic features the standard elements of the Windows 7 interface except for the translucent effects and animations. Instead, areas such as the Taskbar, window borders display a blue/grayish color scheme. Other unavailable features include the inability to choose a Window Color, see and interact with thumbnail previews, Alt-Tab Preview, Flip 3D and Aero Peek.

Windows Classic - First introduced with Windows 95, this experience was the flagship theme for Windows for many years and was replaced by Windows XP's Luna in 2001 but is still included in Windows for persons who are not quite ready for the changes in Windows 7. Microsoft has made some changes to Windows Classic in Windows 7 where menus are concerned. The standard look and feel still exist, but Microsoft has decided to remove the Standard Classic Menu that was available as an option in both Windows XP and Vista. Personally, I agree with this, since the new Start menu offers so many benefits such as Instant Search, easier access to programs, better control (no cascading/off screen sub menus), ability to search HomeGroups, Public directories and detailed results when presented. The new Start menu also introduces support for features unique to Windows 7 such as Jump List providing access to task and recently accessed files associated with a program.

High Contrast themes - If you have difficulty reading or viewing your screen, Windows has for years included high-contrast color schemes that heightens the color contrast of some text and images on your computer, making those items more distinct and easier to identify.

System Requirements - To run Windows Aero Glass, you need appropriate hardware. The capabilities will vary depending on what you have installed, here is a list of suggested requirements from Microsoft:

1 GHz CPU (processor) 32 or 64 bit
1 GB of RAM
128 MB video card
DirectX 9 compliant video card that supports Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or later, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32 bits per pixel. (To find out if your card is DirectX 9 compliant, open the Run command (Windows key + R), type dxdiag. Under System Information, DirectX Version: you should see the version of DirectX

For best results, you might also want to follow these graphics processor recommendations:

64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution that is less than 1,310,720 pixels (for example, a 17-inch flat panel LCD monitor that has a 1280 x 1024 resolution)
128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 21.1-inch flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 1600 x 1200 resolution).
256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution greater than 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 30-inch wide-screen flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 2560 x 1600 resolution)

How do I personalize Windows 7?

Aero Background - You can easily turn your desktop into a slideshow of your favorite photos.

From the Personalization window, click Desktop Background

Choose the images you want to cycle and display on your screen. You have the option of choosing how long a picture is displayed on your screen.

-------------------------------

Glass Color - You can make your windows look the way you like with your favorite color. Windows 7 Color and Appearance now includes a total of 16 different colors to choose from.

From the Personalization window, click Windows Color

Choose the color you want. You also have the option of controlling the intensity of the color by using the Color Intensity slider. The transparency effects can optionally be turned off.

--------------------------------

Windows 7 bundles a set of 6 pre-packed themes for you to get started with, these include the default branded Windows 7 themes: Architecture, Characters, Landscapes, Nature and Scenes. The Windows Team went the extra mile with Windows 7 where themes and local cultures are related. Windows 7 offers themes tailored to different regions and languages, with special wallpapers, sounds and Aero Glass colors to provide a more locally relevant experience.

The Sounds Area of Personalization includes a collection of 13 new sound schemes that are also related to the new Windows 7 bundled themes.

Windows 7 does not stop at what comes bundled on the installation disk, users can create their own Slide show themes and download additional ones from Microsoft’s Windows 7 website here Simply click a theme to Download and it will install your chosen theme. If you want to create your own theme and save it, learn more in the following Notebooks.com article here

You can download additional themes and backgrounds from the Windows 7 website

Themes are a great way to have fun with your PC and make it represent you and your experiences. Of course, you are not limited by what Microsoft provides, third party solutions are also available for you to customize the Windows interface to an even greater degree. StarDock Object Desktop which is partly responsible for the now defunct Windows Dreamscene once available to Windows Vista provides artistic themed interfaces for Windows, allowing you to change up your Windows experience as much as you like. You can learn more here So, don't be afraid to have fun with Windows 7 and change it up the way you like, as Microsoft says After all, it's yours.

PhotoForge: Slightly Less Than a Full-On Editing Power Tool

2010-06-30T05:28:00.000-07:00

Perhaps appreciating an app like PhotoForge means making sure your expectations are in line. No, this isn't going to be a full-scale Photoshop-like experience, because the iPad isn't a desktop. What you'll get with PhotoForge is a collection of interesting effects, a set of basic and rather sophisticated image adjustment options, and an altogether agreeable middleweight photo editing program.

Photo editing programs can be real memory hogs on the desktop, so you might think that creating one for the iPad may be a little more than the jaunty tablet could handle. Surprisingly, the folks at Ghostbird Software have done an excellent job of delivering an app, PhotoForge, with an excellent of array of tools for massaging images.

Although the app's performance isn't as snappy as other kinds of programs on the iPad, it's more than acceptable when you take into account the demands graphics software places on a processor.

PhotoForge has a set of menus along the bottom of its main screen. There's a file menu for creating new images or opening photos from the iPad albums.

Beside the file menu are pop-ups for choosing brush shapes and sizes, as well as a color chooser. Brushes are used for drawing with the program and applying effects to photos. The color chooser defines a brush's color.

Drawing with the program has all the precision of finger painting. Using a gadget called the "Pogo stylus" -- something I picked up for poking the small icons on my iPod touch -- improves precision, but the tools for drawing are incomplete at best. For example, you can't fill areas of an image with the fill tool, only the whole screen. That's fine for tinting photographs, but a bit crude for drawing.

Sophisticated Adjustments

There's also a menu for cropping photos. From it, you can rotate an image in 90- or one-degree increments, as well as flip it horizontally or vertically.

Cropping is pegged to particular aspect ratios -- 1:1 (square), 4:3, 3:4 (vertical), 16:9 (wide) and 2:3. The crop box can be resized by dragging its corners with a finger. However you resize the box, though, the result will always be in the aspect ratio you've chosen for it.

The filter menu can be used to make adjustments and add effects to images. Adjustments range from sophisticated to basic.

In the sophisticated department, there's a curves filter for controlling the brightness and contrast of an image within tonal spectrums and in color spaces like RGB, CYMAK and CIE LAB.

There's a levels filter for custom configuring a black and white point in the image or in a color channel. It also lets you experiment with the gamma value in a photo, as well as control when highlights and shadows start clipping to give you better control of the contrast in an image.

It even permits you to simulate high dynamic range (HDR) processing in a photo. HDR is a method for improving the detail in an image by manipulating its shadows and highlights.

On the basic level, there are typical tools for sharpening images, as well as controlling their brightness, contrast, exposure, vibrance, saturation and hue. If you don't want to fiddle with sliders and such, you can have the program analyze your image and make all the adjustments it thinks should be made to perfect the photo. Similar auto enhancements can be done just for the white balance or exposure of an image.

Splendid Filter Set

For shutterbugs who want to get creative with their photos, PhotoForge has a splendid set of effects filters. There are some old favorites -- Dreamy, which places a glow around an image's edges; Vignette (Nasdaq: VIGN); Emboss; and Negative -- and some new tech ones, like Heat Map and Night Vision.

In addition, there's a set of art filters -- water color, oil paint and pencil -- as well as black and white and sepia ones. There's even a lomo filter to give an image's colors an over-saturated lomography look.

At the top of PhotoForge's screen is a toolbar for drawing and manually touching up photos. It's where you turn on the brush feature, for example, or activate the fill tool.

A pan/zoom feature is located on the bar. It lets you enlarge or shrink an image with a pinch or spread and move the image by dragging it around the screen.

There are also tools for cloning pixels from one area of a photo to another, smudging pixels and picking colors directly from the image.

A very powerful tool is the eraser. Not only does it remove brush strokes, but it will nix effects and adjustments, too. That allows you to do things like turn a color photo into a black and white image, then erase areas in it that you'd like to emphasize with color.

PhotoForge is an agreeable middleweight photo editing program that will do the basics for you, as well as let you release your creative juices when you hear your muse calling.

Dell's 'Love Letter' to Linux: Now You See It, Now You Don't?

2010-06-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

Dell gave Ubuntu Linux a wet, sloppy kiss on its Web site recently, asserting that the distro is just plain safer than Microsoft Windows. It was item No. 6 on Dell's list of things people should know about Ubuntu, and Linux lovers were pleasantly surprised by the candor. Within days, though, the mention of Windows had been removed. "To be honest, I'm surprised that Dell had that up as long as they did," said one blogger.

Well, it's been an emotional rollercoaster ride here in the Linux blogosphere in recent days, thanks to Dell's (Nasdaq: DELL) proclamation -- and then apparent retraction -- of its love for Linux.

"Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows" read item No. 6 on Dell's "Top 10 list of things you should know about Ubuntu" as recently the middle of this month. "The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux," it added.

"Hoorah!" one might say. "At long last!"

Dell's uplifting words of endearment caused considerable joy and jubilation among Linux aficionados far and wide, including The VAR Guy, Network World Digg, among many others. and the rowdy crowd over at

Too bad it didn't last.

'Ubuntu Is Secure'

Sometime between the June 16 and 21, apparently, Dell thought better of its little public display of affection and carefully reworded that particular item.

The new wording: "Ubuntu is secure," item No. 6 now reads. "According to industry reports, Ubuntu is unaffected by the vast majority of viruses and spyware."

Foul!

Bloggers everywhere could be heard expressing sentiments to that effect when the news broke, and Linux Girl was no exception.

"Boo!" was the word choice of Computerworld's Steven Vaughan Nichols, for example.

Redmond at Work?

"Comical" was Foogazi blogger Adam Kane's reaction.

Many others, not surprisingly, were unsuitable for publication.

It wasn't long, however, before all eyes -- and suspicions -- turned to Redmond.

To wit: "Did Microsoft Make Dell Take Back Love Letter to Linux?" was the question asked by The Consumerist, and that thought was echoed on countless other forums.

Linux Girl hastily picked herself up off the floor down at the blogosphere's seedy Broken Windows Lounge, where she had fallen off her bar stool upon hearing the news. Before long, a riot threatened to break out.

'I Doubt We'll Ever Know'

"I definitely think Dell's statement was retracted to protect their partnership with Microsoft," Foogazi's Kane opined.

"What I don't know, and would love to find out, is if Dell changed their tune due to pressure directly from Microsoft, or if one of the bigwigs at Dell noticed that it probably wasn't a good idea to make such a bold, albeit true, statement," he said.

"I doubt we'll ever know, though," Kane added.

'An Extraordinarily Bad Idea'

"To be honest, I'm surprised that Dell had that up as long as they did," Slashdot blogger Mhall119 told Linux Girl. "It's not that Microsoft would take objection to their saying nice things about Linux -- Dell is still saying nice things about Linux, after all -- it's that they were undermining the promotion of a competing product that they also sell."

The original wording, in fact, "was an extraordinarily bad idea from a business perspective, and somebody at Dell dropped the copy-editing ball by allowing it to be posted," he asserted.

'Dell Couldn't Survive Without Windows'

"Imagine if Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) ran an ad campaign for a sale on Pepsi products that listed one of the advantages as 'Pepsi tastes better than Coca-Cola!'" he pointed out. "I'm sure Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) would be pretty upset too."

In short, "as a business, you don't ever bad-mouth or undermine your suppliers or their products," Mhall119 concluded. "Especially when that supplier and those products are essential to the existence of your business.

"Wal-Mart could survive losing the right to sell Coke, but Dell couldn't survive without selling Windows," he asserted.

'There's a Certain Amount of Fear'

"My mid-level source inside Dell's sales division -- high up in a part of it that handles a form of Linux -- says that Microsoft gives them so much money that selling machines with Ubuntu isn't really worth the hassle," Slashdot blogger Daengbo offered. "He also says there's a certain amount of fear of 'upsetting the apple cart' and 'waking the sleeping giant.'"

Indeed, "M$ has sworn all its partners never to compare anything to their OS just as they forbid benchmarks in their EULA," blogger Robert Pogson agreed. "Thus, the page had to omit reference to that other OS.

"I think Dell should drop all references to that other OS, starting where they recommend it," Pogson added.

'Not Sure Why This Is a Big Deal'

On the other hand, "I'm really not sure why this is a big deal," Montreal consultant and Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack told Linux Girl. "Secure is such a nebulous word these days, and Microsoft could probably find some way their OS is more secure."

For Dell, "changing the statement means not having to face a lawsuit or price hike from Microsoft," Mack added.

"There is also the simple fact that if they advertise something as 'secure,' people will turn their brains off when using it and just assume they can run anything they download without obvious malware consequences," he added. "It may be much harder to write a Linux virus, but writing malware is still only as hard as getting someone to install it."

'It Was FUD'

To Slashdot blogger hairyfeet, Dell's original proclamation "wasn't a love letter, it was FUD," he told Linux Girl.

Ubuntu may be safer, "but you have to have a CS degree to run it," he explained. "If I lock a Windows box in concrete and bury it, the box will be pretty safe too, but not very usable. Same here."

Not everyone agreed, however.

"Linux is easier to secure and easier to use securely," Slashdot blogger David Masover asserted. "It's also cheaper to secure -- no antivirus, and upgrades are free forever, while Microsoft does eventually phase out support for old OSes.

"As long as Dell isn't saying something like, 'Windows is more secure than Linux' or 'Linux is not secure,' and as long as they're actually providing models they certify for Ubuntu, I'll definitely check dell.com/ubuntu before purchasing a computer," Masover added.

The Truth, on Video

Slashdot blogger Barbara Hudson, who goes by "Tom" on the site, took a similarly optimistic view.

In fact, she noted that in the embedded "Linux 101" video on Dell's Ubuntu page, at around the two-minute mark, Dell actually continues to assert Ubuntu's superior safety.

"There's a lot of reasons consumers like Linux," the video asserts. "No. 1: it's a powerful operating system. It can do lots of things very fast.

"It's extremely stable," the speaker adds. "It's very rare for the system to lock up or freeze -- there's no Blue Screens."

'Targeted to Attack Microsoft Windows'

Even more to the point: "It's safe and secure. Over 95 percent of viruses, spyware and other types of malware are designed and targeted to attack Microsoft Windows," the video asserts. "So, by definition, if you're not running Microsoft Windows and if you're running Linux, you just don't have to worry about malware and viruses and spyware."

Those are hardly the words of "a 'Dear John' breakup letter from Dell," Hudson pointed out. "Maybe someone decided to tweak the text on the Web page a bit so that the video doesn't sound like it's just regurgitating the ad copy, or vice versa?"

That may or may not be the story behind the change, but if nothing else, the fact that the video is still up should come as at least some comfort to friends of FOSS, Linux Girl would suggest. Dell's heart may no longer be right out there on its proverbial sleeve, but its love for Linux does appear to continue to burn bright.

Processor Claims Ratchet Up Tension Between Intel, Nvidia

2010-06-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

The already chilly air between CPU maker Intel and GPU manufacturer Nvidia got a little colder recently when Intel engineers published a paper arguing that the GPU speed advantage has been greatly overstated. Nvidia claims Intel used old equipment and hasn't been transparent with the code it used; Intel says it used the most modern chips available at the time. Meanwhile, the pair's legal battle inches onward.

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) and Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) are locked in a war of words over processor speed. The battle appears to have been triggered by a paper Intel engineers presented last week at the International Symposium on Computer Architecture in France.

That paper, entitled "Debunking the 100x GPU vs CPU Myth: An Evaluation of Throughput Computing on CPU and GPU," asserts that graphics processing units, or GPUs are, in essence, only 2.5 to 14 times faster than central processing units, or CPUs. Nvidia makes GPUs; Intel's focus is CPUs.

That kicked off a blog post by Andy Keane, Nvidia's general manager of GPU computing, claiming Intel's example uses old equipment and was unclear about what sort of code was used in the test.

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Nyah, Nyah, GPUs Aren't That Fast

Many of today's throughput computing kernels have "an ample amount of parallelism," and that makes them suitable for today's multi-core CPUs and GPUs, the Intel paper states. In recent years, reports have claimed that GPUs work 10 to 1,000 times faster than CPUs on these kernels, the paper's authors said.

However, their performance analysis turned up different results. After applying optimizations appropriate for both CPUs and GPUs, the paper's authors found the performance gap between an Nvidia GTX280 processor and the Intel Core i7 processor narrows to a factor of only 2.5 on average.

In his rebuttal, Keane said the testers used the Nvidia GeForce GTX 280, which is a previous-generation GPU.

"The GeForce GTX 285 was available, so by using the GeForce GTX 280, they still did not use the fastest available Nvidia hardware," Keane told TechNewsWorld.

"Comparisons were made using the best available chips at the time of writing," Intel spokesperson Nick Knupffer told TechNewsWorld. The paper had to be submitted in November 2009, and both Intel and Nvidia have launched new products since then, he pointed out. Further, the code was optimized and the details were presented in the paper, Knupffer said.

"No one knows what code was run or what data was used during the test," Nvidia's Keane added. "Intel didn't release the source codes to either GPU or CPU kernels. The selection of what code and what data are used can be a significant factor."

Picking the Right Frame

"Throughout this paper, Intel is trying to frame this as a CPU versus GPU debate," Keane contended. "In fact, the developer community is moving towards heterogeneous computing, where a GPU is used to accelerate the application as a coprocessor to the CPU."

The CPU runs the operating system, access to the input/output system, and other parts of an application that are sequential and latency-bound, while the GPU accelerates the compute- and data-intensive parts, Keane explained.

"Nvidia strongly believes that both the GPU and CPU are necessary for a high-performance computing system," Keane stated.

"General-purpose processors such as the Intel Core i7 or the Intel Xeon are the best choice for the vast majority of applications," Intel's Knupffer pointed out. "While it's possible to program a graphics processor to compute on non-graphics workloads, optimal performance is typically achieved only with a high amount of hand optimization."

That optimization requires graphics languages similar to DirectX or OpenGL shader programs or non-industry-standard languages, Knuppfer said.

Flailing at Shadows?

In other words, Knupffer and Keane seem to agree that the CPU and GPU perform different tasks. Why, then, are Intel and Nvidia lashing out at each other?

"The fact that the GPU and CPU guys are going at each other just says that they're both looking for new applications for their technology," Carl Howe, director of anywhere research at the Yankee Group, told TechNewsWorld.

"They traditionally don't compete," Howe said. "The fact that the GPU and the CPU guys think they're in a competition for garden-variety software code just says that, maybe, their current markets aren't doing all that well."

Launching a Preemptive Strike?

Perhaps Intel's trying to set the stage in its favor in anticipation of an impending settlement of antitrust charges brought against it by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These focus on Intel's alleged anticompetitive practices against AMD (NYSE: AMD) and Nvidia. The AMD part of the suit has already been settled.

The FTC's charges follow on from Intel's bid in 2009 to exclude its latest chipsets, such as the Nehalem, from a 2004 licensing deal with Nvidia. Under this deal, Nvidia developed chipsets for Intel processors in exchange for Intel's licensing some of its graphics-processing patents.

That new approach hit Nvidia hard because its graphics card business is cyclical, and in 2009, chipsets were the healthiest part of its business. In October of 2009, Nvidia stopped developing chipsets that work with Intel's microprocessors. In March of 2010, Nvidia filed a countersuit against Intel. This seeks to terminate Intel's license to Nvidia's patents for graphics processing and three-dimensional computing technologies.

Earlier this week, Intel and the FTC suspended trial proceedings to work out a settlement. If the lawsuit is settled, Nvidia may win the right to resume making chipsets for Intel's microprocessors. That, perhaps, is what Nvidia is hoping for.

"We don't yet know the details behind the FTC's announcement, so it's premature for us to comment," Nvidia's Keane said. "We remain hopeful that any settlement will recognize Intel's history of impeding competition and innovation at the expense of consumers worldwide."

Google Rumored To Be Taking Another Swing at Social

2010-06-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

Between Orkut, Buzz, and arguably a whole lot of other services, Google has its fingers in a lot of social media pots. What's its next social experiment? According to a rumor propagated by Digg Founder Kevin Rose, it's a Facebook competitor called "Google Me" that will launch in the near future. Google hasn't confirmed the information.

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is getting ready to launch a brand-new social network called "Google Me," according to a rumor circulated Saturday on Twitter by Digg Founder Kevin Rose.

"Ok, umm, huge rumor," Rose wrote in his tweet. "Google to launch facebook competitor very soon 'Google Me', very credible source."

Google did not respond by press time to TechNewsWorld's requests for confirmation and comment.

Kevin Has Had the Midas Touch'

"Any time Kevin Rose speaks (tweets), I listen," Lon Safko, social media entrepreneur and coauthor of The Social Media Bible, told TechNewsWorld. "Kevin has had the Midas Touch on many projects and is in the know."

Of course, "the mysterious tweet is still unsubstantiated," Safko noted. "So far all of my Google contacts are not picking up their office or mobile phones.

"I suppose this adds additional circumstantial evidence to Google's charges of trying to knock off another killer social app," he added.

200 Million Users?

However, given Google's existing Orkut and Google Buzz social networking services -- and the less-than-stellar success of the latter, in particular -- there's been widespread speculation as to what form a new contender might take.

One possibility, for instance, would be that Google plans to combine the two in its new offering, as The Next Web's Brad McCarty suggests.

"Knowing that a Google account is required to use Orkut, and a Gmail account is required for Buzz, we can safely assume that we're looking at roughly 200 million users to any service that would combine the two," McCarty wrote. "200 million is already half of the 400 million population of Facebook."

'The Odds Are Stacked Against' Google

Then there's also the possibility that Google Me will be the next step in the evolution of Google Profiles, as noted by The Huffington Post's Bianca Bosker.

Given Google's lackluster success with social networking so far, however, there's also plenty of skepticism about its chances of doing better a third time.

"The odds are overwhelmingly stacked against the search engine company," wrote GigaOm's Mathew Ingram, for example. "Despite its size and market clout, Google hasn't shown that it has any real understanding of how social networking actually works, or any idea what to do with it."

'It Didn't Really Get Social Media'

Google "has increasingly tried to 'socialize' its various sites and properties," Greg Sterling, founder and principal with Sterling Market Intelligence, told TechNewsWorld.

"For quite some time it didn't really 'get' social media," Sterling noted. "Now it's trying to integrate it at every turn, it would seem."

Its most successful social media site is YouTube, he added -- "and we could debate whether that qualifies as 'social media'. After that, its efforts have met with varying degrees of success, with Buzz being something of a miscalculation."

Indeed, Google has already tried to replicate many social applications over the past several years, Safko agreed. "Fortunately for the competition, Google's generic offerings have been as tempting as a can of Kroger's string beans."

'Unlikely to Put a Dent in Facebook'

It's hard to say what form Google Me might take, Sterling said.

"It could be a successor to Orkut or some merging of Buzz and Latitude or something else -- such as an upgrade or enhancement of Google Profiles," he explained. "It's unlikely that whatever appears, however, will be a direct challenger to Facebook.

"Regardless of what Google does," he opined, "it's unlikely to put a dent in Facebook's usage."

'The Next Monster Predator'

In the meantime, "I believe that Google has replaced Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) as the next monster predator," Safko asserted. "Google is the next Great White that smells blood and is circling Facebook's boat to bite off a larger piece of the social media ad rev.

"If I were Mark Zuckerberg, I would take this potential threat seriously," Safko concluded. "Let's see if Google's longstanding policy ['Don't Be Evil'] ... is remembered in this ad rev feeding frenzy."

One Giant Leap for an iPhone

2010-06-30T05:11:00.000-07:00

The iPhone 4 is a big step up from the 3GS -- which was really just a small step up from the 3G, which was a small step from the original iPhone. Between the Retina Display, Facetime, the new camera and the speed improvements, there's a lot to like about Cupertino's latest handheld. You might have to mind how you're holding it, but that antenna issue is hopefully something Apple can fix with software.

Sadly it is now impossible to do a review of the iPhone 4 (iP4) without mentioning the antenna and the reported issues when you hold the iP4 -- which is a shame because there is so much more to the iP4 than the antenna.

Apple's iPhone 4

That is not to make light of the potential issue -- I just want to point out there is much, much more to the iP4. To start, there is the Retina Display, which is "clearly" the best screen on any smartphone, period. Then there is the improved 5 MP camera with a flash on the back, and the new front-facing camera. There is the Facetime app, there is a faster processor, double the RAM of the 3GS and better battery life.

But again, it is sadly the Antenna that is getting all of the attention right now.

Signal Issues

Per the antenna issue, let's get this out there up front: For those not in the know, there are many videos showing people touching the lower left side of the iP4. The number of bars on the upper left corner of the screen drops like a rock, and in some cases the phone looses all reception. I need to say this does not appear to be the case with all iP4s. Personally I have not seen this issue with my phone -- and I have a video up at todayinios.com showing me using it with my left hand and not being able to replicate the issue.

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has responded and said it is a software issue in iOS 4 and not a hardware issue in the iP4. Clearly this is something Apple will need to address -- strongly and swiftly. Some have even started saying the iP4 has a hex on it -- given the issue of the lost iP4/Gizmodo and now this. The good news is if you have not already purchased an iP4, chances are you will not be able to get one until Apple does address the issue. So for you, the rest of this article is sans reference to the antenna issue and assumes that it is something Apple can address with a software update.

Apple's iPhone 4

But again, it is sadly the Antenna that is getting all of the attention right now.

Signal Issues

Urban Gardening, Part 2: Greenhouse Technology

2010-06-30T04:37:00.000-07:00

Those who aim to grow plants and vegetables in a contained, environmentally controlled greenhouse have a lot of high tech tools at their disposal. Advanced materials, efficient lighting techniques, green energy production and computer software all come together to make indoor gardening take root.

These are not your grandpa's greenhouses.

Anyone familiar with common plastic-enclosed passive solar structures designed simply to hold plants over cold seasons or grow flowers and less-hardy fruits might be surprised about how these humble buildings have transformed into today's dynamic hydroponic "bio-structures."

The modern high-tech greenhouse represents the timely convergence of some of the most sophisticated scientific know-how available from a variety of industries -- agriculture, horticulture (the scientific cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and ornamental plants in nurseries and gardens), energy (solar, wind and fuel cells), greenhouse manufacturing, hydroponics (soil-less growing), environmental control software, lighting, heating and ventilation, polymers and many more.

Properly built and operated, these state-of-the-art, computerized food producing machines can enclose valuable unused urban space in glass to produce abundant crops of commercially grown food for local consumption.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a high-tech industry for the production of food crops, flowers, houseplants and medicinals within controlled environment greenhouse structures.

"Once food production is put on a rooftop -- or any confined area -- the need to develop intensive, high-productivity, year-round growing systems demands CEA technologies," said Gene Giacomelli, director of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Program at the University of Arizona.

CEA combines engineering, plant science and computer-managed greenhouse control technologies used to optimize plant growing systems, plant quality and production efficiency. CEA systems allow stable control of the plant environment, including temperature, light and CO2 (which plants must absorb in combination with water, nutrients and sunlight to produce the sugars vital for their growth). CEA also provides separate control of plant root-zone environments.

Computer-coordinated CEA activities include environment control (encompassing air temperature and movement, humidity, supplemental light and CO2 concentration) and mechanization and automation of operations that were formerly done by hand-mixing, fertilizing and placing root media, seeding and transplanting, nutrition management, hydroponic crop production, "fertigation" and material movement at harvest.

"Systems from many companies have been developed during the past 30 years to monitor and control greenhouses for flower and vegetable production," Giacomelli told TechNewsWorld. "They were developed to improve the capabilities of CEA, the quality of the products, the savings of labor allowed by automation, and the effectiveness of sensors that can at times more accurately determine the environment or climate of the crop, and then immediately make necessary changes."

Green Tech

A "gold standard" already exists for hydroponic greenhouses. The North American Greenhouse/ Hothouse Vegetable Growers (NAGHVG) was founded by leading North American greenhouse growers: Village Farms, Eatontown, N.J.; Windset Farms, Delta, British Columbia; Eurofresh Farms, Willcox, Ariz.; Houweling's Hot House Nurseries, Camarillo, Calif., and Delta, B.C.; and Gipaanda Greenhouses, Ladner, B.C. Based in Bellingham, Wash., the NAGHVG has developed a "Certified Greenhouse" program. Standards include:

Every aspect of the growing process is monitored and controlled, from irrigation to climate control and growing medium.
Vegetables can be protected from pollution, wildlife and other potential contaminants, which creates conditions for the safest possible produce-growing methods.
Eco-friendly integrated pest management (IPM) is used.
The greenhouses must be able to provide reliable supplies of produce throughout the year.

The NAGHVG's "Certified Greenhouse" program involves ongoing audits to ensure that certified producers continue to meet the standards set by the association. Certification is granted exclusively to greenhouse operations that comply with NAGHVG's definition of a greenhouse:

Facility includes a fully enclosed permanent aluminum or steel structure clad either in glass or impermeable plastic for the controlled-environment growing of certified greenhouse/hothouse vegetables.
Facility must use computerized irrigation and climate control systems, including heating and ventilation capabilities.
Facility must use hydroponic methods and must grow produce in a soilless medium that substitutes for soil.
Facility must practice IPM.

Greenhouse Hardware/Software

Computers can operate hundreds of devices within a modern greenhouse (vents, heaters, fans, hot water mixing valves, irrigation valves, curtains. lights. etc.) by utilizing dozens of input parameters, such as outside and inside temperatures, humidity, outside wind direction and velocity, CO2 levels and even the time of day or night. A computer can keep track of all relevant information such as temperature, humidity, CO2 and light levels. It dates and time-tags the information and stores it for current or later use. Such a data acquisition system enables a grower to gain a comprehensive understanding of all factors affecting the quality and timeliness of the greenhouse product.

Dozens of software developers have developed CEA-oriented applications. Major players include:

Priva: automated climate and process control in the horticultural and building intelligence markets;
Argus Control Systems: automated control systems;
Hoogendoorn Growth Management: process automation systems;
Micro Grow Greenhouse Systems: greenhouse environmental control systems;
Link4 iGrow: intelligent environmental controllers.

Virtual Grower is a decision support tool for greenhouse growers to monitor plant growth and control energy management in greenhouses. It was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Application Technology Research Unit at the University of Toledo (Ohio). Users of the software can build a virtual greenhouse with a variety of materials for roofs and sidewalls, design the greenhouse style, schedule temperature set points throughout the year, and predict heating costs for over 230 sites within the continental U.S. Different heating and scheduling scenarios can be predicted with the input of a few variables, with accurate data based upon historical records collected by USDA monitoring stations across the country.

"Specific software is not important," said UA's Giacomelli. "But including it within a monitoring and control system that is dependable and effective is one of the most important aspects of CEA with emphasis on urban agriculture."

Solar and wind power are the two primary renewable energy forms most commonly used by greenhouses for energy sources that are "off-grid" -- not connected to an electricity distribution system. A third technology is fuel cells.

Solar Energy

Active solar greenhouses use supplemental energy to move solar-heated air or water from storage or collection areas to other regions of the greenhouse.

PVs are arrays of cells containing a solar photovoltaic material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity. Materials presently used for photovoltaics include silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium selenide/sulfide.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are increasingly incorporated into new domestic and industrial buildings as a principal or ancillary source of electrical power, and are among the fastest growing segments of the PV industry. Typically, an array is incorporated into a building's roof or walls, and roof tiles with integrated PV cells can now be purchased. Arrays can also be retrofitted into existing buildings.

Productivity is also improving. Since flat solar panels only get direct sunlight for three to four hours per day, Sunflower Solutions developed a patent-pending manually adjusted solar power tracking system that dramatically increases the amount of sunlight that solar arrays can capture.

In addition to free-standing PV solar arrays, greenhouses can capture solar energy through the use of enclosures made of a special PV glass with integrated solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The solar cells are embedded between two glass panes and a special resin is filled between the panes, securely wrapping the solar cells on all sides. Each individual cell has two electrical connections, which are linked to other cells in the module to form a system which generates a direct electrical current. This means that the power for a greenhouse can be produced within the roof and facade areas. Manufacturers include SCHOTT and Pythagoras Solar.

The growing demand for renewable energy sources has dramatically advanced the manufacture of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays in recent years. However, due to expenses related to implementation, use of solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) heating systems for greenhouses remains cost-prohibitive for most small businesses unless used to produce high-value crops.

Wind Power

Wind turbines are mechanical rotary devices that extract wind energy and convert it to electricity. In addition to traditional turbines utilizing familiar paddle-shaped blades, a new class of vertical-axis helical turbines from companies like San Diego-based Helix Wind have proven to be superior in producing electricity in the variable winds of urban environments. Using the twisted-ribbon shape of a helix, these generators overcome problems like noise, impact and price. Helical turbines are nearly noiseless because they spin at the same speed as the wind blowing into them.

Small "hybrid" electric systems that combine wind and solar technologies offer several advantages over either single system. Many hybrid systems are standalone units operated off-grid. For times when neither the wind nor the solar systems are producing, most hybrid systems provide power through batteries and/or an engine generator powered by conventional fuels, such as diesel. If the batteries run low, the engine generator can provide power and recharge the batteries.

Adding an engine generator makes the system more complex, but modern electronic controllers can operate these systems automatically. An engine generator can also reduce the size of other components needed for the system. The storage capacity must be large enough to supply electrical needs during non-charging periods.

Fuel Cells

Since traditional renewable energy technologies like solar and wind are often intermittent, greenhouse operators have turned to fuel cells as an energy alternative. Fuel cells convert air and nearly any fuel source like hydrogen, natural gas or a wide range of biogases into electricity via a clean electrochemical process, rather than dirty combustion. Even running on a fossil fuel, the systems are much cleaner than a typical coal-fired power plant.

Fuel cells are devices that produce a continuous electric current directly from the oxidation of a fuel, e.g., that of hydrogen by oxygen. They were invented over a century ago and have been used in practically every NASA mission since the 1960s. But until now, they have not gained widespread adoption because of their inherently high costs.

Legacy fuel cell technologies like proton exchange membranes (PEMs), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs), and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) have all required the use of expensive precious metals, corrosive acids or hard-to-contain molten materials. Combined with performance that has been only marginally better than alternatives, they have not been able to deliver a strong enough economic value proposition to overcome resistance.

Among the newest technologies is the solid-oxide fuel-cell (SOFC), available from companies like Bloom Energy and Technology Management. The technology is gaining wide acceptance due to its use of low-cost ceramic materials and its extremely high electrical efficiencies. In addition to their use as auxiliary power units in vehicles, SOFCs can be used for stationary power generation in greenhouses, with outputs from 100 W to 2 MW.

Developed originally by SOHIO/British Petroleum, the TMI system operates on a range of liquid and gas fuels and is designed for operation and maintenance by end-users without special tools, equipment or access to a trained service workforce.

SOFC is an ideal alternative energy technology of choice for greenhouse applications, according to Tim Madden, president of Akron, Ohio-based hydroponic greenhouse development firm Biodynamicz, which is integrating TMI's fuel cells into its designs.

"We're focused on SOFCs as auxiliary power sources because they're able to convert a wide variety of fuels like hydrogen, methane, butane or even gasoline and diesel, and because they do it with such high efficiency," Madden told TechNewsWorld. "TMI's SOFCs are attractive as energy sources because they're clean, reliable and almost entirely nonpolluting. And because there are no moving parts, the cells are vibration-free and quiet, which eliminates the noise pollution associated with power generation."

Fuel cell technology improvements are continuing to come from places like the automotive industry and so prices will continue to drop as production quantities increase.

Let There Be Light

As for the use of modern light-emitting diode (LED) semiconductor technology in plant grow lights, LEDs present many advantages over traditional lighting technologies like high pressure sodium (HPS) and High Intensity Discharge (HID).

When electric current flows through an LED, electrons travel through an energy "bandgap" in the diode crystal, releasing energy in the form of light. This effect is called electroluminescence and the color of the light is determined by the materials used to make the LED. A single LED grow light directly replaces 600-watt HPS light while consuming 50 percent less energy and is rated for a lifecycle of 50,000 hours. Cool-running LED lights also eliminate the need for ballasts (current regulators in lamps), reflectors, noisy fans or expensive cooling systems.

Even though LED technology is more expensive than traditional HID lighting, the units require less maintenance, bulb replacement costs are eliminated, savings on energy costs start from day one of ownership, and total ROI is generally 12 to 18 months.

A recent IMS Research report stated that while Nichia, Osram Sylvania and Philips (NYSE: PHG) Lumileds remain the leading suppliers of packaged LEDs, they are being challenged by companies in Taiwan and Korea, notably Seoul Semiconductor.

Leading manufacturers of LED grow lights for greenhouses include LumiGrow and Lighting America of Ohio.

"Artificial lighting is too expensive to install and operate to be economical in vegetable production due to the high amount of natural sunlight needed, especially for crops like strawberries and tomatoes," Verti-Gro's Tim Carpenter told TechNewsWorld. "LED light does not offer a full spectrum of light for flowering vegetables and fruits. LED for commercial use is a ways off but is improving rapidly, especially for vertical growing. I believe there will still be a need for a substantial amount of real sunlight in order to produce vegetables and berries profitably."

BioDynamicz' Madden likes LED lighting in greenhouses.

"The light produced from an LED source is better absorbed by plants, and greenhouse growers have been trying for years to eliminate hot HID fixtures because heat can damage crops," he explained. "LEDs solve that problem."

2010: A Space Policy

2010-06-30T04:36:00.000-07:00

The President of the United States laid out his administration's plans for the country's space exploration efforts Monday, with an emphasis on international cooperation and the commercial space industry. Reactions were mixed. Supporters agree there's a definite need to pool efforts with other nations around the globe; critics say the U.S. shouldn't relegate itself to a secondary role in space research.

The Obama administration on Monday released a new space policy for the U.S. that emphasizes international cooperation and the advancement of the commercial space industry.

"No longer are we racing against an adversary; in fact, one of our central goals is to promote peaceful cooperation and collaboration in space, which not only will ward off conflict, but will help to expand our capacity to operate in orbit and beyond," President Obama explained.

Mars and Beyond'

Debris and other hazards associated with satellite technology were another concern mentioned by Obama, who asserted the imperative that the nation keep its work in space "responsible, sustainable, and safe."

Focusing on the "boundless possibilities of the future," meanwhile, Obama reiterated the need to further the commercial space industry "to rapidly increase our capabilities in space while bolstering America's competitive edge in the global economy."

Finally, the administration's policy also seeks to improve study of the earth "to gain new insights into our environment and our planet," to ramp up robotic and human space exploration "with our sights set on Mars and beyond," and to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and engineering, Obama said.

Arms Control a Possibility

The new policy "reaffirms the longstanding and bipartisan U.S. policy that we are open to space-related confidence building and arms control concepts and proposals, provided they meet the rigorous criteria of equitability, effective verifiability, and consistency with our national security interests," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.

The State Department will support the policy by expanding its work in the United Nations and elsewhere to address the growing problem of orbital debris, for example, and by pursuing "pragmatic transparency and confidence-building measures to mitigate the risk of mishaps, misperceptions, and miscalculations," she added.

Outside Washington, reactions to the new policy were mixed.

'Still-Powerful International Distrust'

"These fine words collide with still-powerful international distrust, exemplified by the recent flap over China's role as a potential partner," NBC News space analyst James Oberg wrote in an analysis on Monday, for example.

"Expanding cooperation merely for the sake of cooperating, as a goal in itself rather than a means toward a goal, can become an empty (but potentially costly) gesture," Oberg added.

Similarly, the policy "fundamentally says we will help all others to be successful and relegate the USA to a secondary role of technology work," Paul Czysz, a professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at St. Louis University, told TechNewsWorld.

"What we needed was what is anathema to President Obama: The USA is to be first along with its NATO partners," Czysz added.

'To Explain and to Inspire'

On the other hand, international collaboration "is indeed necessary," Mario Livio, senior astrophysicist with the Space Telescope Science Institute, told TechNewsWorld.

With science as "an important driver," meanwhile, "the goal always was and should remain to explain and to inspire," Livio added.

For Randa Milliron, CEO and cofounder of Trans Lunar Research and Interorbital Systems, "the potential for domestic space sector revitalization is always good news," she told TechNewsWorld.

"This hot new policy stands in stark contrast to that of the previous administration," Milliron added.

Personal Satellite Kits

Interorbital Systems develops and manufactures low-cost, state-of-the-art orbital launch vehicles and satellites for private, commercial, government and military applications. Among its offerings, for example, are an US$8,000 TubeSat Personal Satellite Kit and ultra low-cost Neptune Orbital Launch Services.

With more than 30 global launch partners and an inaugural launch slated for the first quarter of 2011, IOS's commercial space program "will immediately fulfill some of the National Space Policy's mandates," Milliron asserted -- specifically, "more international cooperation and a launch price-point that allows open orbital and interplanetary access to anyone who practices the peaceful use of space," she said.

Leaked Slides Provide Sneak Peek at Windows 8

2010-06-30T04:33:00.000-07:00

Facial recognition, improved boot times and a promotion strategy that takes notes from Apple are a handful of things Microsoft will focus on in the next version of Windows, according to a set of leaked PowerPoint slides that appear to belong to the company. Microsoft, however, has not confirmed or denied the authenticity of the material.

A set of PowerPoint slides that appear to contain details about the next version of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Windows operating system surfaced Monday.

The slides indicate that Microsoft plans to tackle the long-running problem of Windows' slow start-up time, in addition to placing cutting-edge technology such as facial recognition in the new operating system.

Questions remain, however, about the authenticity of the material.

The slides, dated April 2010, first surfaced on the Italian Web site Windosette. They apparently made their American debut on a site called "Microsoft Journal" that appeared to have been removed from the Windows Live platform Monday afternoon.

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Microsoft Mum

"The only way we will ever know if these slides are authentic is if Microsoft comes out and says they are -- and that's not likely to happen," said Michael Cherry, vice president of research, operating systems, with the independent analyst firm Directions on Microsoft.

"We're looking into this, but we do not have a comment at this time," Rachel Hass, a member of the Microsoft public relations team, told TechNewsWorld.

Several of the slides remain available for viewing on the Microsoft Kitchen site operated by Stephen Chapman.

"I'm quite confident these are the real deal," Chapman wrote on his site. "I just feel bad for the poor sap who either leaked these or inadvertently shared these with the world."

If the slides are genuine, they reveal that, among other things, Microsoft wants to apply certain strategies that Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has used successfully in developing and promoting Windows 8.

A slide titled "How Apple Does it: A virtuous cycle" says Apple has created value that leads to product satisfaction, which in turn leads to brand loyalty. The slide concludes with the words, "This is something people will pay for!"

Seeking Brand Loyalty

This slide is not an indication that Microsoft feels Apple's technology is superior, but rather that Apple has done a better job of getting customers to identify with its products, Chapman said in an interview with TechNewsWorld.

"Apple has cultivated a unique loyalty to its brand," Chapman said. "How many Windows stickers have you ever seen on the back of a car? Now, how about Apple logos? Ultimately, that brand loyalty equals money, and I think Microsoft is just looking to tap into Apple's market."

The leaking of this presentation could hurt Microsoft's chances of building brand loyalty if they mention features that consumers find appealing and those features don't make it into the final version of the operating system, Cherry surmised.

"The problem with dealing with leaked documents is that they don't tell us what stage of development the new operating system is in," Cherry told TechNewsWorld. "It could be a problem if they're in the Blue Sky stage, where almost anything is on the table. There's a danger of building expectations for things that ultimately don't get delivered."

If the leaked documents can be believed, the things Microsoft currently plans to deliver include letting users log into the operating system by looking into a Web camera, faster start-up times and greater support for wireless technology.

A Reliable, Repeatable Process

Faster start-up times "have been in every Microsoft plan since Windows 95," Cherry said, indicating that is something that might not make it to the final version of Windows 8. "Everybody is looking at biometric identification," he added. "With Web cams now widely available, facial recognition makes sense."

Where Microsoft runs the biggest risk -- particularly if it hopes to build brand loyalty -- is if it missed the stated 2012 date for delivering the new operating system, Cherry said.

"Microsoft needs prove that it can deliver operating systems in a reliable and repeatable fashion," he remarked. "They had some trouble getting Windows Vista out on time. They did pretty well in that regard with Windows 7. Now, they have to prove they can do it again with Windows 8, or whatever the next version is going to be called."

MOTOROLA R11 REPLICA MOST LUXORIOUS PHONE IN THE WORLD !!!

2010-06-30T03:58:00.000-07:00

Communicate in style and have the sexiest phone in the palm of your hand. Unraveling this stylish unlocked GSM slide mobile phone that comes with dual SIM slots and a bonus 2GB micro SD card.

Exuberant aesthetics merging design and performance into a single cellphone. This slide mobile phone is not to be taken lightly. Built with high grade aluminum and an internal integrated firmware allowing for a completely new style of navigational menu infrastructure. Above all, this diamond in the rough cellphone comes completely unlocked, and works on the global four frequencies 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz. Meaning, world wide GSM connectivity.

With its attractive looks and excellent performance, the front screen menu system is designed for simple accessibility of the cell phones functions to make things easy for the end user. If you are looking for a mobile phone that simply stands out from the rest, but still retains power, performance, style and the overall essential aspects of today�s digital cell phones, then look no further. This is the perfect cell phone for you. This phone comes with a mini SD card slot, hands free Bluetooth communication, and features two SIM card slots, allowing you to use two active phone numbers in one single mobile phone.

Besides its primary functions of enhanced communication, you can also use the cellphones media feature set to listen to FM radio, take photos with the built in camera, and use this mobile phone as an MP3 player to listen to your favorite tunes. In addition, the easy to use intuitive menu interface gives you easy access to all the onboard communication features with dedicated keys for faster accessibility. The user menu icons are distributed around the screen just like numbers on an analog clock. By pressing the right button, the menus around the screen will rotate clockwise and, when you press left, the screen rotates anti-clockwise.

Users can take comfort in the fact that this phone comes with one of the most sought after features in today's cellphones, that is vibration feedback on user input commands, along with caller ring tone, video and picture. When you slide the cellphone screen down, a very attractive image of a classic analog watch appears on the screen with date, time and day, adding to the special look of this cellphone. The feel of this mobile phone in the palm of your hand is extremely comfortable, that you will instantly find yourself mastering the use of the entire menu feature set in no time. At a Glance...

Slide Phone
Backlight key Pad
Dual SIM, Dual Standby
Interactive Menu interface
Quadband, works world wide
Heavy gauge aluminum casing
Fully unlocked digital cell phone
Beautiful design, very fashionable
Comes with Bonus 2GB Micro SD Card

Features / Specifications

Primary Function: Quadband Digital Slide Phone
Color: Dark Silver
Materials: Aluminum
Screen: Round LCD Display Screen, 1.5 Inch in diameter
Touchscreen: No
Vibration Feedback: Yes
Dual SIM: Yes
Key Pad Backlight: Yes
Style: Classic, Slide Phone
Battery: Rechargeable 3.7v Lithium 1000mAh Battery
Charging Method: Wall AC Adapter or USB connection to PC
WAP Enabled: Yes
SIM Card Types: 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G
Mobile Internet: Yes, Via WAP
Caller Picture: Yes
Caller Ringtone: Yes
Caller Video: Yes
Bluetooth Type: MTK BT DEVICE
Supported Service Profiles: Handsfree, Headset, OPP, FTP, A2DP, AVRCP
On Board Buttons/Slots
- Key Pad
- Speaker
- MIC
- Dial Button
- Hang Up Button
- Navigate - UP, Down, Left, Right Buttons
- Camera
- OK Button
- Return Button
- Micro USB Input
- Camera
- Micro SD Card Slot (Beneath Battery)
Main Menu Interface: Phone Book, Messages, Multimedia, Time Table, Organizer, Services, Settings, Camera, Call Center,

Multimedia

Video Player Specifications:
- Supported Formats - MPEG 4 (AVI), 3GP,
- Options - Sort By, Storage, Play, Forward, Rename, Delete, Delete All Files
Audio Player:
- Supported Formats - AAC, WAV, MP3, MIDI
- Audio Player - Bluetooth Stereo Output, Background Play, Shuffle, Repeat
Image Formats:
- Supported Formats - BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG
Still Camera:
- Resolution - 160 x 120, 240 x 320, 640 x 480, 1024 x 768, 240 x 320
Video Recorder: - Resolution - 176 x 144
- Recording Format - Motion JPEG (AVI)
Voice Recorder: - Format - AMR, WAV, AWB
- Quality - Low, High
- Forward, Delete, Delete All Files, Play, Record
FM Radio
- Frequency: 87.5MHz to 108MHz (worldwide)
- Background Play: ON / OFF
- Loudspeaker: ON / OFF
- Channel List, Manual Input, Preset Auto Search, Settings
- Record Function: YES
- Record Format: AMR, AWB, WAV
- Record Audio Quality: Low, High
Playing Time (music) approx: 6-8 hours
Playing Time (video) approx: 3-4 hours
Standby Time approx: 48-72 hours (depending on use)
Battery Charge Time approx: 3 hours
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Deutsch, Greek
Dimensions: L:105 x W:50 x D:18 (mm) - L:125 (When Open)

Product Notes

The Star Button (*) Increases the volume, and the Hash Button (#)Decreases the volume
Intuitive menu navigation
Excellent design, built and functionality
Made with hi grade aluminum, not cheap plastic
Simple user interface, and unique internal menu navigational structure
Fully unlocked phone! Use with any carrier, network, and SIM card(s)
Note: Adding a caller video to a contact will disable the ringtone of the caller as the video will also have audio. The caller picture and ringtone work just fine together.

Package Contents.

Unlocked Quadband Digital Slide Phone
Earphones
USB Cable
x2 - 3.7v Lithium Battery 1000mAh
Power Adapter - 100-240v
User Manual - English

Original Motorola Cost is 1.5lacs

iProf Education Tablet for IIT-Jee and MBA Exams Preparation launched in India

2010-05-26T05:07:00.000-07:00

iProf – India’s first personal education tablet features 7 inch touch screen, Google Android OS and bundled with content from premier coaching institutes at a price of Rs. 14,900 in india.

iProf will be used for IIT-JEE preparation and has tied-up with Brilliant Tutorials.

Sanjay Purohit, Founder and CEO, iProf Learning Solutions India said, “Through innovative technology and platform, we aim to revolutionize the education delivery mechanism. iProf will provide a safe, secure and affordable way to access high quality education content from India’s best faculty. We address three major problems that plague e-learning from spreading far and wide -low computer penetration, piracy and broadband connectivity. Also, there is an acute shortage of good quality professors, especially in tier II and tier Iii cities. We have created an infrastructural solution enabling access to high quality education which solves all the issues.”

iStudy Zones are enablers of the e-learning delivery mechanism, for its students. High performance servers are being deployed in iStudy zones with high speed broadband and Wi-Fi capabilities, so that content can be downloaded on iProf in a secure environment. Besides, the iStudy Zones can hold video conference for doubt clearing sessions between faculty and students, to make sure that the learning circle is complete.

Maruti Car Prices increased up to Rs 10,000

2010-05-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

Maruti has increased the prices of 800, Ritz, Swift, SX4, EECO, Estilo and A-star, Gypsy ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000, from Today (2nd April 2010).
According to Suzuki increase in Input cost and BS-IV norms, price hiked.

New Ex-Showroom Prices for Maruti Cars increased by:

A-star: 1,000/-
Estilo: 3,000/-
Ritz: 2,500/-
Swift: 3,750/-
Dzire: 7,000/-
SX4: 9,000/-
Eeco: 10,000/-
Gypsy: 10,000/-
Omni LPG: 3,000/-

HCL Beanstalk Desktop PC Launched in India

2010-05-26T05:03:00.001-07:00

HCL Infosystems announced the Beanstalk, desktop PC range with power-packed features and advanced technologies, the all new HCL Beanstalk range will offer the ultimate productivity, connectivity and an entertainment experience.
HCL Beanstalk computers range starts at Rs. 39, 990 to Rs. 85,000 + taxes and offers three-year warranty and 3 years McAfee Access.

It is available in 3 models Beanstalk Classic, Ultima and Beanstalk Xtreme and equipped with Windows 7, Intel Core i3, i5 & i7 processors and Bose sound system. Beanstalk Xtreme lends your gaming a new dimension with the Bose® Around Ear Headphones which deliver high audio performance. The desktop will also bring in for the 1st time the aspect of faster movie making feature, faster conversion of audio and video files and quicker editing of movies with Nvidia® CUDA. The product will come along with LIFEBOX, as a value-add pack, which includes a collection of premium content in 41 DVDs and CDs.

Sandeep Aurora, Director – Sales and Marketing, Intel South Asia, “The HCL Beanstalk range uses the Intel® Core™ i7 processor which features the exclusive Intel® Turbo Boost Technology for adaptive performance, and thus smarter computing. PCs using this technology automatically accelerate performance, adjusting to the workload to give users an immediate performance boost when needed. The Core i7 processor therefore is energy efficient to the point of shutting down processing cores or reducing power consumption to provide PC performance when people need it. Consumers can now experience smart performance for music, gaming, videos, movies, photos, social networking and other demanding mainstream applications.”

Free Lifetime GPS Navigation For Nokia E71 and Nokia E66

2010-05-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Free walk and drive GPS navigation is now available for the Nokia E71 and Nokia E66 with latest version of Ovi Maps. You can download latets map from nokia.com/maps to your computer and install it on mobile using Ovi Suite.

Due to technical constraints in backporting the app to existing devices, it isn’t possible to offer further premium content such as Guide Michelin and Lonely Planet guides. These two devices will also be the last of our S60 3.1 and older devices to sport this version of Ovi Maps. But every upcoming Nokia smartphone will come with free walk and drive navigation out of the box.

The update is available now from Nokia.com/maps, and will also be available in Ovi Store. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Ovi Maps compatible devices include the Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition, Nokia 6730 classic, Nokia X6, Nokia E52, Nokia E55, Nokia E72, Nokia 5230, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia N86 8MP and with different functionality the Nokia E71, and Nokia E66.

Hyundai i20 Era & Sportz now available in India @ attractive price

2010-05-26T04:53:00.000-07:00

Hyundai i20 now available in two more variants Era (Petrol,Diesel) and Sportz (Petrol) to compete with newly launched VW Polo, Ford Figo and Maruti swift 1.2 L Petrol. Hyundai i20 Era is priced at Rs. 4,51,816/- and Sportz at Rs. 5,31,817 (Ex-Showroom Delhi Price) and available at all Hyundai Showrooms in India.

Commenting on the launch, H.W. Park, managing director & CEO, HMIL, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of the i20 with new features and two new additional variants. While the variants are targeted at our customers who have different needs, the new features will help improve the i20 and make it even more desirable for our customers. We are confident that with the new features and additional variants the i20 will become even more attractive and set new benchmark for this class of cars with improved styling, unique features and conformity with global safety standards.”

i20 Era Diesel i20 features six-speed manual transmission which enable low rpm operation of the engine, making the i20 diesel more fuel-efficient . Some other features also include manual transmission shift indicators (diesel variant), all new chrome radiator grille, outside rear view mirrors with integrated turn indicators, blue LED interior illumination, silver centre fascia and chrome finish on inside door locks.

Linksys WAP610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Access Point now Available in India

2010-05-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

Linksys WAP610N Wireless-N Access Point with Dual-Band 2.4GHz/5GHz now available in India. Linksys Access point can upgrade an existing home network ( wired or wireless ) to high speed Dual Band Wireless-N

Suresh Balasubramanian, National Sales Director, India Cisco Consumer Products said, “In India, consumers are still confused about wireless connectivity both the possibilities a wireless network enables and the options available. Addressing the increasing demand from the Indian consumers and the rise in entertainment devices connected to home networks, the WAP610N offers optimised HD video streaming as well as an upgrade to your network, all encompassed into a sleek, stylish antenna-less design, which wouldn’t look out of place anywhere in your home.”

Linksys WAP610N is Optimized to stream High Definition video across the home network, and works on both wireless frequencies, 2.4 and 5 GHz, to provide more reliable data transfer and less interference from other products or network. The WAP610N is also ideal for Small business applications. It can deliver the necessary bandwidth for VoIP telephony, high volume data transfers or back-up, web surfing and emailing.

The access point also comes with a Windows and Macintosh compatible set up wizard, designed to simplify set-up, giving users step-by-step instructions. The wizard will also prompt users to enable security settings, helping prevent network hijacking which can lead to bandwidth constraints and online fraud. With the integrated Wi-Fi protected setup, consumers can just push a button on the Access Point and on another device to automatically create a secure wireless connection.

Linksys Wireless-N Access Point WAP610N is available in India @ price of INR 6,499 through authorized retailers.

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