Nokia N97 Review

SOURCE: MOBILE88.COM (STEFAN NAIDU)

THE Nokia N97 has been keenly awaited since its worldwide introduction late last year as it was touted to be the next big thing in the mobile market by many observers.
The phone is laden with features and it is bound to be a Herculean task to condense all the features and functions in one sitting so there is little space to waste.
Sliding tilter?

The first thing you will notice about this model is what Nokia officials call a sliding-tilt?phone. This means that you push one side forward and it tilts up to give you that mini-desktop look and feel, which I personally think is excellent for all kinds of situations.

A Qwerty keyboard has always been a requirement for me as I like to feel buttons beneath my fingertips when I am typing an SMS, e-mail or URL.

This particular keyboard is a tad small for my big fingers but after a few days I was typing quite fluently. Beyond the Qwerty keyboard, the sole traditional button is the silver menu button. Side buttons include a lock button, volume control and camera toggle.

I was a little concerned about the wear and tear with the sliding-tilt hinge. Nokia have said that the hinge is made out of extremely sturdy material and that the phone has passed vigorous performance and drop tests.

I can say that it has passed my own accidental drop tests and the hinge does look and feel pretty strong.

The only real issue I had with the physical characteristics of the N97 was the back cover and battery, both of which are unrealistically hard to remove and replace.

Having tried this on a variety of people with different finger sizes and varying lengths of fingernails, I have concluded that it is near impossible to take out the battery without a prying mechanism. Tragic.

Online sensation

Built for the Internet, the Nokia N97 allocates the majority of its touchable home screen to movable and customisable widgets for quick access to your online needs.
Users are able to put their widgets in specific rows?and there are around five rows in total. It was really useful having a link to online news and social networking sites.

Given the relative speed of fixed line broadband these days, many a time I was able to go online and check for updates faster on my mobile than on my laptop.
It is especially useful when you are on the go and need information quickly. Its always easier to prove a point or win an argument when you have Google embedded on the front screen of your phone.

It would be practical to consider a mobile broadband plan to get the most out of the Nokia N97 without slowly bleeding your wallet dry paying off the data charges.
Rocket science?
The resistive touch technology coupled with Nokia's software makes for a very elegant combination. Navigating is by no means second nature, there are some hurdles in figuring out exactly how the web browser works.

One example is the zoom. There is a vertical tab that allows you to zoom in and out but, at least initially, you are not sure which part of the webpage it will zoom in to.
I still think that a Nokia phone is the one of the more user-friendly phones you can buy. This model has stayed true to that.

However as more and more functions get added to phones like this one, it just takes longer to find what you are looking for.
There were some bugs in the Nokia N97's software post-release and I did experience some hanging and other minor glitches. According to Nokia officials, those imperfections were addressed in the first software update that is now available.
Wait, there is more

I took countless pictures and videos in the short time I had this phone with me. With 32GB of memory on board I never even thought about whether I had enough space for all of it.
The camera is just about as good as it gets on a phone and the video quality is quite impressive.
Given this, it was surprising that the voice recorder was not nearly as high end in terms of sound recording quality as I thought it would be. Some recordings turned out quite muffled.
The biggest disappointments were the speakers. The music output (specifically the bass) left something to be desired and you could barely make out what the other person is saying when you turn on the speakerphone at full volume.
My guess is that Nokia had packed far too much in this phone already and therefore the speakers were more of an afterthought (much like the removal process for the back cover and battery).

Conclusion
There is an inherent charm in the Nokia N97 that is inescapable. From placing it on a table and writing an SMS to surfing on a fantastically long landscape mode, it was all quite memorable as far as phones go.
Also, I thought the price was quite reasonable considering the usual trend with new releases of high-end and feature filled devices. That is not to say I consider it cheap though.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the phone and would recommend it to anyone looking for a powerhouse smartphone.
Pros: Unique sliding tilt; great to surf on; excellent fusion of Qwerty keyboard and touch technology.

Cons: Substandard speakers; cumbersome battery cover.
Nokia N97 Specifications:3G smartphoneCamera: 5-megapixelsDisplay: 3.5in (640 x 360-pixels)Messaging: SMS, MMS, e-mailConnectivity: WLAN, HSDPA, USB, BluetoothMemory: 32GB internal memory, MicroSD slotStandby/talk time: 400 hours/360 minutesDimensions: 55.3 x 15.9 x 117.2mm (w x d x h)
Other features: Widgets, A-GPSPrice: RM2,480 (Check latest price)

How Many CPU Cores Do You Need?

Source: Tomshardware.com

Now that we've seen the evidence, our overall conclusion remains consistent with the previous one: we still don't think you need to be a power user to enjoy the benefits of a multi-core CPU. Call us spoiled, but we wouldn't seriously consider living with a single-core CPU on a day-to-day basis given the amount of multitasking going on regularly. The benchmark results clearly show that increasing numbers of CPU cores perform better when multiple applications are run at the same time.

We must point out that CPUs with fewer physical cores are often clocked somewhat higher to help make up for the performance deficit, so the situation certainly isn't dire for those of you who chose dual-core CPUs.

In the final analysis, we'd recommend at least a dual-core CPU to most folks out there. As for the power-user, three or four CPU cores will likely be appreciated and can't be considered overkill if concurrent applications are running.

Klipsch Image S4i Review

Source: John Herrman (Gizmodo)

The Klipsch Image S4i is one of the only non-Apple iPhone headsets on the market that supports both the iPod Shuffle's VoiceOver function and the iPhone 3GS's Voice Control.
The Price: $100

The Verdict: At just $20 more than Apple's In-Ear headset, the Klipsch Image S4i is a no-brainer, assuming Voice Control and VoiceOver are priorities to you. If they don't matter, or if you've got an older iPhone or non-Apple handset, the choice is less clear.

Klipsch's headset is one of the only ones on the market with Apple's VoiceOver-compatible chip—a feature we raised a stink about when it first came out, but which turned out to be alright. As far as 3G Shuffle headphones go, this is about as nice as you're going to get. The sound will suit most tastes, but not all: it's extremely clear, and bass is smooth and deep, but never overpowering. Overall the sound reminds me of the V-Moda Vibe Duos—always a reliable standby for better-than-stock iPhone headsets—except slightly more resolved, and less muddy.

What this headset doesn't have, though, is the kind of razor-sharp presence that you'd find in headphones like the Shure SE115, or headsets like the (markedly more expensive) Etymotics hf2, or the powerful percussiveness of some of Altec Lansing's UE rebrands. (More on those here.) Isolation and cable movement noise are better than I expected from tips made from rubbery material like this, as is fit: both are excellent, though fans of foam or foam-rubber tips will have to go aftermarket.

That's Klipsch's official compatibility chart, and they're not kidding. If your device isn't on this list, don't expect much: older iPhones get basic play/pause functionality out of the inline remote, while the 1G Touch doesn't recognize it at all. Phones from other manufacturers, including HTC and Samsung, didn't recognize remote or mic input. The Image S4i isn't just 3GS and Shuffle compatible, it's exclusive. And one last minor quibble: I haven't been carrying these things around for very long, and the Klipsch logo—as you can see in the top image—is already flaking off of the otherwise well-styled and built earbuds. Far from a dealbreaker, but disconcerting, considering how new these things are. [Klipsch]

(+) Excellent sound quality for the price, in both mic and earphones

(+) Work with VoiceOver and Voice Control

(=) Styling and build quality are nice, but the finish is delicate

(-) Compatibility list is severely cropped by Apple's special inline remote chip

Apple iPhone 3GS Review

Since the first day I was loaned the iPhone 3GS, I committed the crime of neglecting my personal phone – but on the plus side I could see my phone’s battery life lasting dramatically longer. This is probably the only phone that does not need an introduction, but just so you know, the only way to identify the physical difference between the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS is by looking at the text written on the bottom back of the device. While it may be obvious that a 32GB version is the iPhone 3GS, the only way to differentiate the 16GB devices is the color of the text – the older version appears grayish while the newer version have the same color as the logo above. In terms of functionality, the iPhone 3GS is much quicker than it’s predecessor – from opening applications to even loading websites using the Safari browser provided.

The improved 3MP camera is able to whip out some rather pleasant photos with the touch focus capability – you can make it focus wherever you want simply by touching the area. While the onscreen shutter button for the camera may not be the nicest shutter button to operate, it is pretty quick in snapping and saving your images, reducing the chances of blurry pictures caused by shaky hands. However, in low light conditions, the picture gets extremely noisy and there is no flash to smoothen things out. Even though the video function is rather new, it allows autofocus, something most phone camera lacks. The processor is also quick enough to capture movements and sound at the same time – some camera lags and movements that comes before sound can get very annoying. The only down side is it only autofocus once before capturing video and you can’t make it focus while recording.

Another new feature is using voice to control the iPhone 3GS – it’s not exactly a hands-free feature though; you still need to hold the phone to activate voice command. This is the feature that probably turned few heads towards me because people think that I’m talking to myself, but it was fun nonetheless. Unlike most programs that uses words that feels like you’re in a military school, the iPhone 3GS comes with simple normal everyday English commands such as “what song is this?”, “play songs by…”, and more that are very self explanatory

What impresses me the most is how quickly its GPS is able to point out your location – not 100% accurate, but good enough. Almost immediately after every time I launch Google Maps, it shows my whereabouts and together with the new Compass feature in iPhone 3GS, the map is able to automatically rotate itself according to the direction I am facing. Pretty useful, but I would prefer a GPS software that is able to tell me when to turn rather than having to check out the map myself – dangerous while driving and prone to snatch thieves when walking.

With the new OS, the iPhone 3GS is able to send and receive MMS without the help of other apps. The new cut, copy and paste function comes in rather handy especially if you wish to save something from a webpage or just the URL for future reference.

The phone is packaged with an earphone similar to the one used by the latest iPod Shuffle. With the earphone, the phone can be completely hands-free because it comes with a small controller that allows you skip between songs, play and pause, and with a built-in mic, voice control can even be activated on the earphone alone. The earphone may be small, but it does provide a very strong sound quality. The package also includes a guide and instruction leaflet available in both English and Malay. Apple also packed a cute little SIM eject tool – you can use a paperclip if you want, the one Apple gives is just very cute.

A prerequisite for those vain ones out there who wish to use an iPhone is loosing those fingernails – but seriously, who needs pretty nails when all people will be looking at is the iPhone? I used to think that if you don’t need the new features of the iPhone 3GS such as speed and voice control, it’ll be fine to live with the iPhone 3G, but the truth is, how can you know that you don’t need the features when you haven’t even tried it yet?

Top Cellphone Manufacturers

Source: Matt Buchanan (Gizmodo)

Compiling data from corporate reports and Bernstein estimates, iSmashphone produced this eye-popping chart showing how much profit the iPhone generates compared to the rest of the industry. A previous estimate was a little more conservative (though still crazy).

Zune HD Available for Pre-Order Today

Source: Dan Nosowitz (Gizmod0)

After months of leaks, rumors, and heavy anticipation, Microsoft is officially unveiling the last pieces of the Zune HD puzzle...which were already leaked. Release date is September 15th, but the 16/32GB Zune HD can be pre-ordered today.

So, just like we knew already, the Zune HD will be released September 15th in 16/32GB flavors, at a cost of $220 and $290, respectively. If you pre-order, you'll be able to nab the 16GB in black and the 32GB in platinum, but upon release, there'll be five different colors with 10 new engravings on Zune Originals. Based on the Zune's past, we'd bet those other colors are red, blue, and green (probably no return of the brown, unfortunately).

Microsoft isn't releasing the price of the accessories, like that HD-outputting dock we're all going to want, but luckily the rest of the current Zune lineup's accessories will also work with the Zune HD. The only other new detail is that select Best Buy outlets will have Zune HDs to play with on August 22nd and 23rd, which is good news if you haven't gotten to play with one yet.

So, not much new here, but it's good to see Microsoft is keeping up with the very cool Zune Originals store. Who else is going to have a hard time waiting a whole month? [Zune]
REDMOND, Wash. – Aug. 13, 2009 – Zune HD, the next generation of Microsoft Corp.'s portable digital media player, is available now for pre-order and is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15. The player, available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, is the first touch-screen Zune and includes powerful playback technology to give you a different way to experience media on the go. Combined with unparalleled PC software and online services such as Zune Pass, Zune provides a rich and meaningful connection to music, videos, podcasts and more.

Pre-order Zune HD in 16GB Black and 32GB Platinum through http://www.zune.net/zunehd from Amazon.com, Best Buy,Walmart and Microsoft. Beginning September 15, at http://www.ZuneOriginals.net, both 16GB and 32GB capacities of Zune HD will be available in five different colors with the option to customize your player with one of 10 new engravings designed by guest artists.

WHAT: With a sleek and stylish design, Zune HD is the first to combine these features:
• Built-in HD Radio™ receiver. Allows you to listen to higher-quality sound than is available from traditional radio channels, as well as access additional programming through HD2 and HD3 multicast channels from many of your favorite local FM radio stations at no extra cost.
• HD video output capabilities. Supports HD video playback from the device through a premium HDMI A/V docking station (sold separately) directly to an HD TV in 720p, making it easy to enjoy better-than-DVD-quality video on your own big screen at home.

• OLED touch screen. Allows you to easily flip through music, movies and other content. The 3.3-inch glass screen and 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offer a premium viewing experience.

• Built-in Wi-Fi. Allows for browsing, streaming or downloading new music from Zune Marketplace.

• Internet browser. Full-screen Web browsing, optimized for the multi-touch screen with zoom-in and zoom-out gestures.

• Accessories, at home and on the road. Zune HD and AV Dock charges and syncs players while playing supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Play HD Radio, music and podcasts from your Zune HD device through your car stereo using the Zune Premium Car Pack.

WHY: Pre-order now to be one of the first to experience the new Zune HD's advanced design,innovative technology and rich multimedia capabilities powered by the NVIDIA Tegra™ chip ultra low-power HD processor.

PRICING: Zune HD 16GB: $219.99 (estimated retail price); Zune HD 32GB: $289.99 (estimated retail price)

WHEN: Pre-order starting Thursday, Aug. 13. Purchase in stores on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
WHERE ONLINE: http://www.zune.net/zunehd
WHERE IN STORE: Place a pre-order in person at Best Buy beginning August 16. If you want to sneak a peek, visit select stores in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., areas on August 22 and 23.

Sony's New S-Series Walkman Specs, Pricing Leaked By French Retailer

Source: Danny Allen (Gizmodo)

Built-in speakers were obvious when we first glimpsed Sony's updated S-Series, but thanks to French retailer Materiel.net, it looks like the 2.4-inch (QVGA) screen players will come sized 8- or 16GB, and playback 42 hours of audio/6.4 hours video.
According to the site, they'll have a kickstand (pictured), built-in microphone, FM tuner (with 30 presets), and the speakers will be stereo. Format support includes MP3/WMA/AAC audio and H264/MP4/WMV 30fps video.
As very rough indication of what we might expect when the players make their way State-side, the 8GB NWZ-S544 is listed at €129 (about $185), and the 16GB NWZ-S545 for €149 (about $210). [Material via Sony Insider]

Review: Razer Megalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset

Source: Chapree (Lowyat.net)

Audio equipment is just about as important to a hardcore gamer as his mouse and keyboard. Not only does it enable them to hear an enemy's footsteps or a rivals racing car, but it is also useful for timing their movement. For example, in racing games, where gear shifting has to be perfectly timed - especially during corners - or a gamer will losehis speed and time advantage.
So it's not actually far fetched to say that a quality headset does give a gamer an added advantage over his opponent. Let's find out whether that is true for our contender this week, the Razer Megalodon 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset, after the jump.

DESIGN
As suggested by it's name, the Megalodon is really a monster, a simple one that is. The whole set consists of the headphones and mic plugged into a control pod which interacts with the PC through USB connection. The cables are braided fiber sheath which has a total length of 3.3 meters and is topped of with a gold-plated USB plug.

The headset itself is basically a Razer Carcharias which was released just a little bit earlier than Megalodon. It features a pair of full ear cup that are covered by cushioning pads. We are not sure what is the construction material of these pads but it is so comfortable that we didn't feel any discomfort even after wearing Megalodon continuously for hours during out test. We also found that the comfortable pads were not the only thing that made the headset suitable for long hours of usage.
The headset frame doesn't feel like it is choking your head unlike many headsets out there. It is adjustable, but if you have a smaller sized head, the headset might feel a little bit loose on you. On the left side of the headset is its microphone. It is not retractable but it has a flexible center-structure and a 270 degree rotation.

The second component of Megalodon is its control pod, where all of the headsets functions are controlled. On the top of small box is the Maelstorm button, which we will explain shorty. Underneath it is a set of speaker diagrams which indicate whether the Megalodon is in 2.1 or 7.1 speaker mode. In the midle of the diagram is the sound level indicator, a round scroller and also a push-button with a blueish Razer logo on it.

Razer is also kind enough to provide a heavy-duty hard case into the Megalodon's retail package. This case makes it easier for transporting and protect the headset. The black case might be able to intimidate fellow gamers as well since a Razer logo is stamped boldly on top of it.
FEATURE
Inside each of the Megalodon's oh-so-comfortable ear caps is a 40 mm drivers made of neodymium magnets. Powering the headset is the Razer Maelstorm Audio Engine, which gives the Megalodon its 7.1 surround sound capability. As we mentioned earlier, this capability can be turned on and off through a dedicated button on the control pod.

Apart from Maelstorm control, EQ level of each speaker channel whether in stereo or 7.1 mode can be adjusted independently through in the middle of the control pod. The center button acts as channel selector and the scroller is used to adjust output level.
Underneath these controls are the three microphone specific buttons; Muting, Sensitivity and Mic Level. As per EQ level, the microphone sensitivity and output level button are used hand in hand with the center button and scroller. Last but not least, the scroller is also used for master volume, provided that it is done outside any level adjustment mode.

SOUND TEST
As recommended by Razer in Megalodon's manual book, we alternated our settings between 5.1 and 7.1 channels to find the best sound for each scenario. This is done through Megalodon's speaker configuration in Windows' Control Panel Sound settings. We also let the individual EQ at each speaker for both stereo and surround settings to be as it is, without any tweaking.
In stereo mode, the Megalodon performed very well with any applications that we threw into it, being music, movies and most definitely in games. The level of output is very loud and thumping whilst both the treble and bass outputs remain well balanced. Unfortunately, this does not apply to its surround sound mode.
For the purpose of getting optimum sound, all the DVDs and games that were used in Megalodon's test were 5.1 surround sound enabled. While the quality of the surround output that it produced is still as good as Megalodon's stereo mode, it was no match to a full fledged surround sound speaker. The ambiance sounds pretty flat and the feeling of surround is just not there. We are not sure whether this is due to the virtual surround sound technology limitation or is it the surround system on a headphones just doesn't work.

Last but not least, another part of Megalodon that manages to show its quality is the unidirectional microphone. Using default setup, it managed to capture our voices flawlessly even though the mouth piece is still pretty far from our lips. But it almost didn't matter as Megalodon came with indenpendent controls for its microphone anyway, so the level of output and sensitivity are very tweakable.

CONCLUSION
In a nutshell, Megalodon is basically a turbo-charged version of Carcharias. It is very comfortable to be wear for extended long hours of gaming session and as it is equipped with independent level controls on its easy-to-use control pod, the Megalodon is a very comprehensive set of audio equipment.
However, it's most highlighted feature, the virtual surround sound; leaves much to be desired. It does not able to match a dedicated surround sound speaker but at the very least, Megalodon output is still one of the best in its class. Not to forget, the Megalodon is quite costly for many out there, with a retail price of RM 549. But if you can afford it, why not?Pros:Quality and loud output, microphone input and output is also good, comfortable enough to wear for hour, true plug and play without any driver, all in one control pod, comes with a high quality case.
Cons:Pricey, it's actually a Carcharias on steriod - not very unique, virtual surround sound nowhere near hardware surround speakers.

Breasts: An Ideal Place to Keep Your iPhone

Source: Debby Herbenick (Gizmodo)

If you are a woman who likes to run or bike or trek, but don't want to use a special iPhone/iPod touch case or pouch, sexual health expert Dr. Debby Herbenick uses a different, more straightforward method, which apparently works:

Yesterday I was reading a post on Gizmodo that talked about how, among other things, the only way to really test certain gadgets is to take them outside and use them in the real world (as in, there's only so much you can know about a waterproof camera without using it wholeheartedly during fun summer outdoor oceanside play).

For me what came to mind is my iPhone. People who know me know that I love the outdoors and I generally have a pretty low-key lifestyle. I don't wear a lot of make-up in my day to day life. I pretty much wash my hair and go, so it's often wet if you see me before 10am. And whether clothes require dry cleaning or ironing play a large role in whether or not I will even purchase them (unless they are beautiful dresses, for which I have a weakness).

I also spend a lot of time outdoors walking, running, biking, swimming, tossing a frisbee or sitting outside reading. Being someone who enjoys their solitude, I do many of these things by myself. And because I like to make sure I can get help if needed, my iPhone almost always joins me on my excursions.

When I run, I leave it at home (I don't run far enough for it to be a big deal). But when I go on long walks or even short bike rides, I bring my phone and yet I need my hands to be free, so I have to put my iPhone somewhere. As practical as so-called fanny packs may be, I refuse to wear them so my iPhone almost always ends up in my breasts/sports bra. In my case, this is a pretty decent place to keep it although - like sex - some positions work better than others.

I've found that having the iPhone totally immersed in said breasts (top photo) is the best for keeping the iPhone safe during my walks and bike rides so that it doesn't accidentally fall out and meet an untimely death or cracked LED or screen. On the down side, my walks sometimes last for an hour or longer and, if I accidentally turn the screen toward my skin rather than my clothes, then the iPhone's screen gets quite smeared (I slather my entire body with lotion each morning to keep it soft, so it may be the lotion - and not just sweat - that's getting on the screen). But you know that look that your iPhone screen gets if you hold it in the palm of your hands for 10 minutes, or up against your face while talking on the phone for longer? It's that times ten, which is kind of gross.

I've tried to keep more of the iPhone peeking out of my clothes (see middle photo) but I've had a few near-drops so have nixed that position.



When I first got my iPhone, I thought it would be held in place better if I tucked it under my sports bra straps (see bottom photo) but not only did that feel awkward, it also nearly slipped out a few times. Hence, the top position won. (Oh, and in case you're wondering about keeping it in my shorts - that's a big no. The waist band on my running shorts is not tight enough and I don't wear lyrca biking shorts, which would probably work fine for holding the iPhone since they can't slip through the bottom as they can with running shorts).



I do worry sometimes that the sweat and/or lotion will - over time (or on a very warm day) - be enough to cause water damage to my iPhone and be detectable as such at the Apple store. And then I wonder if the guys at the Genius bar will consider storing one's iPhone in one's breasts as "normal use" or as "mis-use"? Would the hypothetically damaged phone be able to be switched out? Would this be a very awkward conversation at the Apple store when I swear that while I didn't drop it in a puddle, I did regularly keep it in my breasts while biking? Well, let's just hope it doesn't come to that. It would be awkward (but funny) to have to demo this at the Apple store.

UPDATE: I've been told that my use of the word "slather" was perhaps too sultry. It wasn't intended as such. Let me clarify: I put on a bunch of lotion. On all 65.5 inches of me. And the entire process takes about 5 seconds. Hence, I say "slather" rather than "place" lotion

Review: Sony Vaio P-Series

Source: Ian William (V3.Co.UK)



The Sony Vaio P-Series proves that dynamite really does come in small packages

Sony has a habit of differentiating itself from the competition by creating unique devices, and the Vaio P-Series is no exception. Unveiled in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the tiny but fully functional device sits somewhere between a netbook and an ultra-portable laptop.

Measuring just 245mm wide, 120mm deep and 20mm high, the P-Series can just about fit into a back pocket, and will happily live inside a handbag, briefcase or small backpack. Even the power adaptor is not much bigger than a couple of matchboxes stacked together. It also weighs next to nothing, coming in at under 700g including the power adaptor and the LAN/VGA block.

Its tiny stature means that some functionality is limited, and it's supported by a connector port for attaching peripherals such as an optical drive. Because of the lack of space along the chassis, a LAN port and VGA port are set into a separate block that connects this way as well when required.

The P-Series includes just two USB ports, one on each side, and the right slot is positioned very close to the connector port which can make plugging and unplugging devices a little tricky. On the left is a power socket and a speaker jack. There is no microphone jack, but there is a built-in microphone and a USB microphone can be added if needed. The front houses the power slider, wireless switch, and SD and Sony Memory Stick Duo slots.



Display
Sony has made sure that its leadership in display technology has been put to good use in the P-Series. Although the 8in screen is smaller than on most netbooks, the picture is crystal clear and packs in a resolution of 1,600 x 768. The downside is that this makes for a rather odd aspect ratio, and the icons are tiny. Even with perfect eyesight, you'll find yourself straining and turning the font size up a few notches when working on documents.

Communication
What the P-Series lacks in slots and sockets it makes up for in wireless connectivity, packing in the usual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth along with GPS and a 3G modem, so getting online should never be a problem. The SIM card slot lives behind the battery, which can be slightly annoying if you're using the same SIM card for different things and need to swap it out regularly.




Keyboard
As with most of Sony's Vaio laptops, the isolated keyboard is a pleasure to use. The keys are a decent size, nicely spaced and have a good tactile feel so typing at full speed is not a problem. It's a bit tricky, but you can even hold the device in your hands and type with your thumbs if you're stuck on a crowded train and need to get that all important email sent off or check directions to the meeting.

The full-sized keyboard means that there is no space left for a touchpad, so Sony has opted for a small 'joystick' nub nestled in the centre of the keyboard to handle controlling the pointer, with mouse buttons along the base. The little nub works quite nicely but can take some getting used to if you've never encountered one before. When combined with the high screen resolution, navigating can sometimes be tricky, so you'll probably want to invest in a small USB mouse if you do a lot of pointing and clicking.

Under the hood
The P-Series offers a generous 2GB of DDR2 memory, shared with the Intel graphics card, and either a 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. Storage ranges from a traditional 60GB hard drive to a 128GB solid state drive, depending on which model you go for.

If you want to make video calls, the P-Series includes a pretty reasonable 0.3-megapixel webcam, although it is rather oddly placed to the right of the screen and not angled slightly inwards, so during calls you have to place yourself slightly off to the right of the device if you want to be in the centre of the picture. Not only does this mean you're constantly looking off to the left to see the person you're talking to, but it can be uncomfortable if you're trying to type or navigate at the same time.

AdvertisementThe built-in microphone is perfectly good for most requirements, and the speakers are clear and should manage basics like video calling.

Operating systems
Unfortunately, the P-Series runs Windows Vista by default which, considering the netbook level specs, makes it annoyingly slow sometimes. Also, as useful as some of Sony's pre-installed applications are, such as the smart network and power manager, these do add extra bloat which slows the machine down even further. Performance should be improved by upgrading to Windows 7, and Sony is already promising free upgrades to the upcoming operating system with new purchases directly from its online store.

For those desperate to avoid Vista, the P-Series can also quick boot into a slimmed down operating system based on Sony's cross media bar (XMB) interface. Anyone who has used a PlayStation Portable or a PlayStation 3 will be familiar with this. The interface is up and running in just under 20 seconds (compared to the 90 seconds or so it takes to boot into Vista) and gives access to photos, music and movies, as well as a Firefox-based web browser, Skype and Pidgin, a multi-platform instant messenger application. The XMB doesn't support the 3G modem so, if you want an internet connection, it will have to be through Wi-Fi or a wired LAN connection.

Battery
To keep the device as light as possible the P-Series ships with a small two-cell battery which lasts for a rather disappointing two or three hours, depending on how hard the machine is working. There is a larger four-cell battery available for some models in the P-Series which lasts twice as long, but it's double the thickness, alters the profile of the unit and adds around 120 grams to the weight.



Prices
Sony is not known for being cheap, generally opting for quality over price, but even with this in mind the price tag may come as something of a shock. The P-Series starts at £750 for the entry level model, and tops out at a whopping £1,370, over four times the price of a similarly specced (but much bigger and heavier) netbook from just about any of the competition.

There is no doubt that the Vaio P-Series is an impressive technical achievement and its portability is a major plus, but the display's super high resolution actually works against it because everything on the screen is so tiny that navigating through the operating system can be difficult.

Although it's got enough power for most day-to-day business applications, at this price most people are going to expect a lot more from something like the P-Series, so unless minimal size and weight is an absolute necessity, you'd probably be better off splashing out the extra for a TT-Series, or saving some cash and waiting a bit for the recently announced W-Series instead.

$2,000,000 Ultimate Speaker Set is Bigger Than Its Price Tag

Source: Rosa Golijan (Gizmodo)





$1,000,000 gets you: a complete original Transformers boxed collection, a speedy car or...one. single. speaker. At a mil per channel, these speakers are almost as big as Transformers, but I'd still rather have Soundwave in my living room.

Made by Transmission Audio, this handmade speaker system has 12 separate, open-baffle dipole panels, each nearly seven feet high. Those panels are arranged to create a 37 foot wide speaker wall, and combined they weigh just a little over four tons. So, all you really need to enjoy the best sound possible is deep pockets, high ceilings, and one very reinforced floor

Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 Packs Sony G Lens, Low-Light Extras

Source: Danny Allen (Gizmodo)

The $350 WX1 features the same Sony G Lens, low-light optimized Exmor R CMOS sensor, and Sweep Panaroma mode as Sony's $500 DSC-XH1 mega zoom.

The optically stabilized Sony G Lens (in this case, with 5x optical zoom) has only otherwise been seen in digital SLRs and high-end camcorders. But the 10.2-megapixel WX1 has some new tricks, too.

A new Twilight mode automatically combines shots at various exposures to produce more dynamic low-low photos. The WX1's Twilight mode and an Exmor R CMOS sensor can also be found on the sexy new Cyber-shot DSC-TX1.

The WX1 has a 2.7-inch LCD and can record video at 720p HD (MPEG-4 @ 30fps). It'll only come in black when it ships in October.

SONY DEBUTS WORLD'S FIRST DIGITAL STILL CAMERAS WITH
BACK-ILLUMINATED "EXMOR R" CMOS SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

New Cyber-shot® Cameras Excel in Low-Light Performance

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5, 2009 – Sony today announced two new Cyber-shot® cameras (DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 models) that provide unprecedented advances in low-light performance with approximately twice the sensitivity of cameras with traditional image sensors.

These Cyber-shot cameras are the first to employ Sony's new "Exmor R" back illuminated CMOS sensor technology to improve shooting in low-light scenarios, enhancing image clarity and drastically reducing grain.

"With these new "Exmor R" CMOS sensor cameras, Sony has vastly improved the customer experience for taking pictures with digital still cameras in low-light scenarios," said Phil Lubell, director of the digital imaging business at Sony Electronics. "We've all taken pictures in dimly lit situations, like blowing out candles on a birthday cake, and the results were grainy and unclear. By redesigning the way these cameras capture light, Sony is leading the industry by creating this easy way to take amazingly clear, vibrant photos in low lighting scenarios."

"Exmor R" Sensor Optimizes Low-Light Performance
Conventional image sensor architecture has required wires and other circuit elements to be positioned above the light sensitive photo-diodes, limiting the imager's light gathering capability. Positioning these elements behind the photo-diodes, Sony's "Exmor R" image sensors can gather more light, resulting in approximately twice the sensitivity compared to conventional sensors.

To further extend low-light shooting performance, the TX1 and WX1 cameras incorporate the hand-held twilight and anti-motion blur multi-shot modes introduced in Sony's breakthrough Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Using "Exmor R" CMOS sensor's high speed, these modes capture six separate images in less than a second and utilize Sony's BIONZ™ processor to combine the shots into a single image of extraordinary detail and low noise.
Combining the "Exmor R" technology with hand-held twilight and anti-motion blur modes delivers a breakthrough in low-light photography. Users can now capture images of stunning detail and low noise in scenes with no more than candlelight-without flash or the need of a tripod.

Innovative Sweep Panorama™ and High-Speed Shooting
In addition to their breakthrough low light performance, these new cameras also include Sony's Sweep Panorama and 10 frames per second burst shooting features, which were introduced with the Sony® DSC-HX1 camera. The TX1 and WX1 cameras offer these features in smaller, more compact bodies that match nearly any unique style.
Capturing wide landscapes is as easy as "press and sweep." Sweep Panorama mode lets you reach beyond the traditional wide-angle lens and capture breathtaking shots. Using the high-speed "Exmor R" CMOS sensor, the cameras shoot continuously while you sweep across the scene. Using the BIONZ imaging processor, they automatically stitch the pictures together to create one stunning panoramic photo.

The TX1 and WX1 Cyber-shot models can take up to 185 and 256-degree panorama shots respectively in one easy press-and-sweep motion with an image size of 7152 x 1080 (ultra wide horizontal).

Advanced Technology and Compact Design
While the HX1 camera is a well-rounded solution for customers who are looking for high-zoom and speed in a smaller size than a DSLR, the TX1 and WX1 cameras are made for an audience that wants advanced technology in an even more compact design.

With its slim profile of just 16.5mm, the 10.2 mega-pixel TX1 offers streamlined, distinguished curves for a sophisticated look appealing to the fashion-oriented who are also looking for great performance. This model features a new operation on the touch panel that lets you scroll through images with an effortless "flick" of your finger and directly access menus on the 3-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus™ display.

With a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens, the TX1 camera lets you focus as little as 0.4 inches from your subject for extraordinary close-up shots. The 4x telescopic zoom is perfect for capturing far-away subjects, and Sony's Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization helps overcome camera shake.

The 10.2 mega-pixel WX1 camera has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display and is just over three quarters of an inch thin-an ideal choice for DSLR owners who also want to carry a compact, high performance digital still camera. The WX1 camera features a Sony G lens with an extraordinary wide angle 24-120mm 5x optical zoom. This lens' f/2.4 maximum aperture offers nearly twice the light gathering capability of conventional lenses, and works together with the "Exmor R" imager and low-light shooting modes to provide low-light photography beyond the abilities of other compact cameras.

Tech Savvy Cameras
These cameras include the most recent Sony technology, including, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode which, recognizes scenes, lighting conditions and faces, and adjusts settings resulting in clearer images, faces with more natural skin tone and less blur; Face Detection that detects up to eight faces and optimizes focus, flash, exposure and white balance and intelligent Scene (iSCN) that delivers nine Scene Selection modes to quickly adjust for specific shooting conditions.
Pet mode is a new Sony feature that minimizes blur when shooting moving pets. This new mode also reduces glowing pet red-eye.

Additionally, the cameras have technologies Sony Cyber-shot customers have come to expect. These include Smile Shutter™ technology that automatically captures a smile, dynamic range optimization (DRO) that improves exposure and contrast, intelligent Auto Focus that captures fleeting moments and HD video capability that records HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format.

With HD video capability, these cameras record HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for stunning large-screen home movie playback. You can record up to 29 minutes (or up to 2GB file size) in 720p format.
Pricing and Availability

The TX1 camera will be available in silver, gray, pink and blue this September for about $380. The WX1 camera will be available in black this October for about $350. Pre-sales will start in August. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available online at sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.

SKYPE

Source: Huei (LOWYAT.NET)

If you’re running and trying to find your way around the law, you might bump into eBay on your way as they too are trying to find their way around their agreement with Joltid, founder of Skype and licensor of the peer-to-peer technology behind Skype to eBay. According to source, a legal dispute arouse between Skype and Joltid regarding the licensing terms earlier this year, and Joltid counter sued Skype saying that they illegally altered certain source code thus Joltid would like to terminate the agreement. While Skype’s future may be jeopardized as a result, the latest update from Skype says that they are hoping to develop an alternative technology to the one licensed through Joltid. Although the middle of 2010 may seem like a long time more to go, 10 months is certainly not enough to develop a new and reliable software to keep Skype going. It would be a shame to see such technology go to waste.

Review: Altec Lansing Expressionist PLUS FX3021

Source: Chapree (Lowyat.net)

The world famous Altec Lansing needs no introduction. Being a company with long history, majority of us had probably comes across their products at least once in our lifetime.

After being acquired by Plantronics in 2005, Altec Lansing undertook a huge corporate makeover. As a result, the company adapted a new logo and released a number of newly designed speakers to highlight their new image. One of the said speakers lineup is called the Expressionist.

The Altec Lansing Expressionist PLUS FX3021 is the latest model in the series, which includes the Expressionist BASS FX3022 that we reviewed earlier and a more back to basics, Classic FX2020. Check out how the new model performs, after the jump.


The FX3021 comes with 2 satellite speakers and 1 subwoofer, making it a traditional 2.1 configuration. Both the speakers and subwoofer are triangular shaped, similar to UFOs. The satellite speakers are mounted on a movable frame that acts as their base, together with three movable rubber feet. Five permanent rubber feet are also spotted underneath the subwoofer

Subwoofer control is located on top of the subwoofer and also acts as the power button. The volume controls and power indicator are conveniently placed on top of the right satellite speakers. No actual treble control is available though.


FEATURES

According to Altec Lansing, inside each satellite speakers is a 2" 4 Watts full-range drivers while the subwoofer contains a 5.25" 28 Watts woofer which altogether has total continuous power of 33 Watts RMS. Altec also incorporated down-firing, long-throw design as FX3021's subwoofer projection path.

Apart from the normal stereo input port, the FX3021 has one extra auxiliary input port. Both of these ports are located at the back of the subwoofer, together with satellite speaker and power adaptor port.

SOUND TEST

To test the FX3021, we plugged it to our AMD test rig that we used to review a graphic card previously. The machine is equipped with Realtek ALC889A audio codec that is built into the rig's Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H motherboard. We believe that this setup should be able to represent common application of the speaker as majority of PCs these days’ runs on built-in sound processors.

As for external media player, we use first generation Apple iPod Touch with EQ set to "OFF" and without any external audio amplifier application. We also flatten out our EQ settings on our software players which are Windows Media Player 11 and foobar2000. We also maxed out the volume level on our test rig, iPod and software players.


We run through the speaker with a lot of audio tracks across several genres from classical to electronica. Some of these tracks are in MP3 format while some are played from audio CDs. We also didn't forget to run couple of games and movie DVDs since both of them are also typical usage of a speaker.

Overall, the output from FX3021 is pretty balanced. Even with the subwoofer maxed out, the treble output is generally quite level with the bass output from the woofer. Not only that, the subwoofer is quite powerful and able to shake our table with its thumping bass output when the volume level is loud enough. That being said, we found out that we need to increase the volume a little bit higher when it comes to treble-heavy audio tracks such as classical, jazz and acoustic tracks regardless whether the tracks are being played from PC, MP3 player or CD.

Traditionally, a subwoofer is placed on the floor but we found out that FX3021's subwoofer performance is not as good as when it is placed on desktop. Hence, the "Desktop Subwoofer" label on its retail box. Potential owners of this speaker might want to consider clearing some space on their desktop for the subwoofer then.



CONCLUSION

In terms of looks, the FX3021 have a very huge aesthetic value due to its unique design. Not only it is stylish but it functions very well as a compact and powerful 2.1 sound system. But then, for it to perform optimally, the speakers need to be placed on the desktop itself.

Did we mention that FX3021 is priced just under RM 400?

Pro:
Affordable price, bass/subwoofer control knob, overall sound output is very powerful, adjustable speaker angle, dual input port, sleek and stylish design.

Cons:
No treble control, no headphone output, need to crank higher for classical music, subwoofer less performing when placed on the floor hence need some space on desktop.

Hackers expose weakness in visiting trusted sites

Source: The Star Online

LAS VEGAS (AP): A powerful new type of Internet attack works like a telephone tap, but it operates between computers and Web sites they trust.
Hackers at the Black Hat and DefCon security conferences have revealed a serious flaw in the way Web browsers weed out untrustworthy sites and block anybody from seeing them. If a criminal infiltrates a network, he can set up a secret eavesdropping post and capture credit card numbers, passwords and other sensitive data flowing between computers on that network and sites their browsers have deemed safe.

In an even more nefarious plot, an attacker could hijack the auto-update feature on a victim's computer, and trick it into automatically installing malware pulled in from a hacker's Web site. The computer would think it's an update coming from the software manufacturer.
The attack was demonstrated by three hackers. Independent security researcher Moxie Marlinspike presented alone, while Dan Kaminsky, with Seattle-based security consultancy IOActive Inc., and security and privacy researcher Len Sassaman presented together.

They reached essentially the same conclusion: There are major problems in the way browsers interact with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, which is a common technology used on banking, e-commerce and other sites handling sensitive data.

Browser makers and the companies that sell SSL certificates are working on a fix.
Microsoft Corp., whose Internet Explorer browser is the world's most popular, said it was investigating the issue. Mozilla Corp., which makes the No. 2 Firefox browser, said most of the problems being addressed were fixed in the latest version of its browser, and that the rest will be fixed in an update coming this week.

VeriSign Inc., one of the biggest SSL certificate companies, maintains that its certificates aren't vulnerable.

Tim Callan, a product marketing executive in VeriSign's SSL business unit, added that the "tap" won't work against so-called Extended Validation SSL certificates, which cost more and involve a deeper inspection of a company's application for a certificate.

The attack falls into a class of hacks known as "man-in-the-middle," in which a criminal plants himself between a victim's computer and a legitimate Web site and steals data as it moves back and forth.

Jeff Moss, founder of the Black Hat and Defcon conferences who this summer was appointed to the Homeland Security Department's advisory council, said the fact a hacker has to actually break into a victim's network for the attack to work can limit its usefulness.

"That's the nice mitigating thing," he said. But he warned that "for targeted attacks it's absolutely deadly. This is the way you can get everything. If you can get in the middle, you can get everything. It's a big, giant wake-up call for the industry."

SSL certificates are a critical technology in assigning trust on the Web.
Sites buy them to encrypt traffic and assure visitors it's OK to enter confidential information. Companies that sell SSL certificates verify that someone trying to buy a certificate actually owns the site that certificate will be attached to.
The presence of an SSL certificate on a site is designated by a padlock in the address bar. But many people don't pay attention to whether a padlock is present or not.

Browsers do care, though, which is why this week's talks were significant.
Browsers are programmed to block sites that don't have a valid SSL certificate, or have a certificate displaying a Web address that doesn't match the address a Web surfer was trying to reach (which can indicate someone has hijacked a person's Internet session).

If the sites aren't blocked, users are warned about potential danger, and have the option to click through.
The problems outlined by researchers center on a quirk in the way browsers read SSL certificates.

Many SSL certificate companies will allow people to attach a programming symbol called a "null character" into the Web address onto the certificates they receive.

Web browsers generally ignore that symbol. They stop reading at that symbol when they're checking the Web address on a certificate.
The trick in the latest type of attack is that all a criminal would need to do is put the name of a legitimate Web site before that character, and the browser will believe that the site it's visiting - which is under the criminal's control - is legitimate.

The criminal could then forward the traffic onto the legitimate site and spy on everything the victim does on that site.
It's a complicated attack, but it highlights a significant weakness in the very technology widely used to assure people it's safe to navigate sensitive sites.
Jon Miller, an SSL expert and director of Accuvant Labs, said he expects significant attacks against corporations using this technique in the coming months. Criminals who run "phishing" scams, in which people are tricked into visiting phony sites, will also likely latch on.

"What kind of makes this earth-shattering is these aren't the most sophisticated attacks in the world," he said. "This is going to become a huge problem."
There are signs it's already starting. VeriSign's Callan said within hours of the talks, his company got a number of applications for SSL certificates featuring null characters, but they were denied.

Manually-Powered Wind-up Light Is Perfect For Bed Time

Source: Jason Chen (Gizmodo)
















This wind-up light is like a kitchen timer, except it counts down the minutes to when you're not going to be able to see anything. It's great for bedtime reading, either turning itself off after you fell asleep, or before, to indicate that you should go to sleep.