GoPro Hero3: Black Edition camera brings 4K to extreme sports

GoPro Hero is the premier choice for sports enthusiasts looking to share the action with the rest of the world. Space jumper Felix Baumgartner wore one himself when he was performing his marvelous feat.

The action-cam maker has just released its new generation GoPro Hero3 model, and boy does the video below make us want one. Not only is it 30% smaller and 25% lighter than its predecessor, but now it is arguably the first affordable 4K video camera available to consumers.

The Hero3 can record 4K at 3840x2160 or 4K Cinema at 4096x2160 resolution giving you pristine high-res images that would have most HD TVs struggling. If you want a slightly higher frame rate then 2.7K can be recorded at 30fps which will give you better than Full HD videos.

GITEX: These Exelway speakers are really slim

It's easy to miss Exelway's stand at Gitex. Located near the main registration area, Exelway at first seems to promote nothing. When we first rushed past it, we thought it was an empty stand, probably still under construction. Upon closer inspection, Exelway were actually showcasing their new slim speaker collection- they were so slim, they almost went unnoticed by us!

The Exelway Slim Speaker comes equipped with a woofer, and all the bells and whistles you would expect from a normal speaker set, only that they are packed in an extremely tiny, and pleasingly simplistic package. You can check out their entire 2012/2013 collection at their stand.  Unfortunately, Exelway are still looking for a distributor in the region, so the speakers are not yet available for purchase. We hope they do find one soon, this is definitely something we are looking forward to give a try.

AMD launches Opteron 6300 CPU codenamed ‘Abu Dhabi’

We've seen Microsoft codename their products over different city names such as Chicago (for Windows 95) and Memphis (for Windows 98), however hearing a product codenamed after a city where you are based out of never fails to make you smile. AMD, a company that in partnership with Abu Dhabi created the Global Foundry, codenamed their upcoming Operon 6300 CPU as 'Abu Dhabi.'

The new CPUs promise up to 24-percent higher performance versus the Opteron 6200 processors and use AMD’s Piledriver core technology for reduced power consumption. The Opteron 6300 Series line-up tops at 3.5GHz with 4 cores or you can go for a 16 core version that reaches speeds up to 2.8GHz. TDPs range from 85W in the 6366 HE low-power model to 140W for the 16-core, 2.8GHz 6386 S.

The Opteron 6300 supports up to four 1866MHz memory channels and AMD claims the 6300 Series is the only x86 processor to work with ultralow voltage 1.25v memory. Each CPU can handle up to 384GB of memory – spread over up to 12 DIMMs – and up to four x16 HyperTransport links (each up to 6.4GT/s).

iPod Touch (5th Generation) Review

While the iPod Touch is quite a popular device, I've never really been attracted to one because my annually-upgraded iPhone has always been a more capable device. And although the new iPhone 5 continues to lead, I must admit that it hasn't really excited me much. Thus, I've decided to give Windows Phone 8 or the Nexus 4 a shot as my primary communications device. However, I'm very much tied to the iOS ecosystem with all my songs, videos and apps bought from the App Store. So as an 'insurance', I decided to pick the latest iPod Touch and thats why you're reading this article.

Packaged in a clear small box with an arrow pointing on where to strip the tape off, the iPod Touch is unmistakably an Apple product. Inside the packaging, you find a pair of the new earplugs known as EarPods, as well as the Lightning cable, a USB charger and the loop along with a quick-start guide.
Measuring 123 x 58 x 6.1 mm and weighing a paltry 88 grams, the 5th generation iPod Touch is insanely thin and light and probably an indicator of what Apple wants the iPhone to weigh in a few generations. Available in quite a few colors, I picked up the blue version which has an Aluminum back that has been quite resistant to scratches in the couple of weeks that I have used and somewhat abused it.

From the front, the new iPod Touch looks almost identical to the iPhone 5 with a 4' screen and a camera on top and the home button at the bottom. About the only thing that differentiates the two from the front is the absence of the earpiece and proximity sensor next to it. On the left side you have volume buttons while power/lock button sits on the top. Apple has moved the 3.5mm plug to the bottom of the device along with the Lightning connector. the new Lightning connector is quite small and I like the fact that you don't have to flip it around to plug it into your device. As far as compatibility with older docks and connectors is concerned, Apple has used their older connector for longer than any USB standard on other phones and it was going to happen sooner or later.

The back side of the iPod Touch houses a 5 megapixel camera with a flash. Next to the flash is a black strip that looks a bit awkward and out of place, however this is where the Wi-Fi antenna for the device is placed. Also present on the back but towards the bottom is a silver button that pops out when pressed. This is where you attach the included loop- Apple's marketing term for a wrist band. I don't care much for wrist-bands so the Loop pretty much stayed in the packaging but I guess it could be a good accessory for people who like running.

Although the previous generation iPod Touch has had a retina screen, I've been told that the quality of that screen was not comparable to what the iPhone offers. However with the latest generation, Apple decided to use the same display as the iPhone 5 and to say the screen is stunning is an understatement. The 640 x 1136 pixel screen uses an IPS panel which provided excellent viewing angles and beautiful color production. It's easily the best display I have seen in a mobile device and with the in-cell screen technology, you feel as though the icons are painted on the display.

Under the hood, the iPod Touch uses the older Apple A5 processor found on the iPad 2 and Phone 4S. By no means is the A5 slow as I zipped in and out of applications and web pages without any noticeable lags. I bought the base unit with 32GB of storage, however a 64GB version is also available. You also get 802.11 dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 along with Nike+ support, however GPS is sadly lacking which is a shame as it could have worked well with Nike+ for runners. Also unlike the iPhone, the iPod Touch only has a single speaker which is fairly loud, however a pair of stereo speakers is always preferred.

Using the iPod Touch gave me a bit of a peak on how an iPhone 5 would be like. The beautiful larger screen is utilized really well with more information displayed- such as the number of emails and tweets. As an added bonus, the new screen has an aspect ration of 16:9 giving your videos the wide-screen treatment that previous versions of iPhone and iPod Touch devices have failed on. As a multimedia device, it would be hard to find something better than the new iPod Touch.

The camera on the back takes pretty decent pictures although sadly not at the same aspect ratio as the screen which now shows black bars on the sides. Low-light photos were a bit grainy but that was expected. Apple has upgraded the front camera on all their new devices to take 720p videos which certainly helps when you're using FaceTime. The back camera is capable of shooting videos at 1080p as expected. Here are two sample shots from the back camera- one without the flash and one with it.

Wrapping things up, the battery life on the new iPod Touch is pretty impressive. In the last two weeks, I've charged it every third or fourth day. My usage pattern on the iPod Touch is probably somewhere between light to moderate with a daily activity of emails continuously flowing in, taking a few pictures, listening to some music and watching videos- as well as my daughters playing their favorite games. The iPhone would probably not make it to a second day with such usage.

Overall, the iPod is a pretty impressive iOS device. It lets you do most of the things that an iPhone does other than making calls or using the GPS. Siri is present on the new iPod Touch as well offering amusing and helpful voice-aided advice. The lack of an earpiece doesn't make the iPod Touch an impressive calling device, however, you can get around that using a Bluetooth or a wired headset.

Priced around AED 1,200, the iPod Touch is not an impulse buy. In fact it is a bit on the expensive side considering the iPad mini is out and should officially cost just a 100 Dirhams more when it launches in the region. This makes it very hard for me to recommend the iPod Touch. Yes, it is more portable and offers more storage than the mini at the AED 1,200 price level and if that is what you're looking for then it would serve you well. For all other purposes, I would pick the iPad mini.

Sony unveils 84-inch 4K Bravia television

Electronics manufacturer Sony unveiled its latest high-performance television in the form of the 4K Ultra High Definition Bravia with LCD display - the industry’s largest 84-inch class. The 4K technology allows it to display images at four times the resolution of standard High Definition, creating a crisper and clearer image - even from just 1.5 meters away.

 

 

The image quality of the 4K Ultra High Definition Bravia is superb (image: Charlie Fripp)
'This television re-defines image quality. The super-high resolution and large screen size ensure a picture experience that is close to reality, 4K is a massive jump in resolution and image quality even when compared to so-called full high definition displays,' Andrew Fraser, senior brand manager for Sony South Africa, said at the unveiling.
The launch of the unit is one of three 4K television sets that was launched in South Africa this week, from three different manufacturers - the others being Sharp and LG.
This definitely points towards a growing trend in the home television market - but Sony's price tag of R276 000 makes the unit attainable within a niche market, for now.

Andrew Fraser, senior brand manager for Sony South Africa, demonstrating some of the features (image: Charlie Fripp)
'Viewers will not be bothered by the pixels, and notice instead that images are breathtakingly realistic and beautifully clear with the wide 60° viewing angle, even if they sit as much as half the distance to the screen, as compared to when viewing full HD,' added Fraser.
Available in South Africa at the end of the year, the Bravia’s 4K LCD panel comprises approximately 8.29 megapixels, and incorporates '4K X-Reality PRO', Sony’s super-resolution high picture quality engine optimised for the 4K TV.
This engine is capable of reproducing a variety of content with different resolutions, such as HD digital broadcasts or Blu-ray discs content, into stunningly crisp, high-quality images with 4K resolution.

Samsung’s ATIV Smart PC Unveiled

          A Tmomentum further with the ATIV Power PC, their Windows 8 based device. The promise here is the soul of a power pc in the body of a media tablet. We had a sneek peek at the device, and came away mighty impressed.
          
         The machine boasts a very decent processing beef, a mix of the Intel atom for the ATIV Smart PC and an impressive i5 variation in the ATIV Smart PC Pro. Design wise, its sleek, the brushed aluminum touch taking it on to the premium stage.

          We tried out the S Pen, and yes, the stylus blended in perfectly for the Windows 8 tile format. Both versions have an impressive 1920x1080p display with 400nit brightness.One point that was highlighted during the presentation was Samsungs proprietary anti-ageing battery technology which essentially ensures the battery keeps up to 70% of its capacity for up to 1500 charges, meaning an average 3 year cycleIV Smart PC's i5 verion adds a touch of pro to the tablet space.

The first iteration of the Slate PC had got us all excited welcome digression from lightweight tablets to a well connected tablet cum lapotop, connectivity dock and all.

SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD

Solid state drives, despite having coming down in prices, are still beyond the reach of the average consumer, especially when the price per gigabyte ratio is considered.

For roughly AED 400 you can either get a 1TB (or more, depending on brand) hard drive, compared to a 120GB (or lower, depending on brand) solid state drive. So either you invest heavily in an SSD and only have Windows and a few other daily use software on it, or stick to the tried and tested mechanical hard drives.

Hybrid Systems
          Thankfully there are a few manufacturers out there who provide a solution that’s in-between. Sure, Seagate has their Momentus XT hybrid drives, and Western Digital is also coming up with their own solution early next year. However, even that is a solution limited by capacity

And so SanDisk brings a solution that’s more practical for people who don’t want to disrupt their existing setups, nor pay a hefty price for the accompanying speed bump. The SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD is basically a drive that’s designed to bring an ultra-fast caching solution for your current mechanical hard drives.

The proposition is simple: you plug in the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD into your PC, download the software which sets up your drives’ data to be cached on the SSD. After some time (hours to days) the SSD software recognizes your frequently used programs and their data is cached onto the SSD for instant use whenever you next launch your software of choice.

Setup          So let’s break it down a little, stating with the installation. The SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD comes with an instructional manual, a SATA III (6Gbps) data cable, a 3.5-inch bracket with screws and the SSD itself. Given the extremely low profile of just 7mm, the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD can even be used in slim laptops (that have capacity for two drives).

Once installed, the drive immediately shows up on Windows 7. At this point you have to go and download the ExpressCache software which allows an extremely easy on-click solution to activate the caching on the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD and selecting which drives you want to cache

The ExpressCache software even shows the amount of storage been used on the drive for cache. Furthermore there’s even a real-time graph showing how much of the cached data is being used at the moment

And just in case you want to change your usage habits (brought about by installation of big games or programs) then you can simply click a button to clear out the entire cache on the drive and it’ll start from scratch. Don’t worry about losing any of the cached data as all of it is written onto the actual hard drives as well for backup automatically.

Benchmarks
          For testing the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD the below setup was used.

Let’s see how the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD improves performance on an existing setup. The results below are shown after running the tests for the fourth time, to give the drive time to cache the data. For comparison I have used the SanDisk Extreme 120GB SATA III SSD, the Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Hybrid drive and a test with a 1TB Seagate 7200RPM HDD coupled with a 20GB mSATA SSD to test out the Intel's Smart Response Technology .
Speed
I have used ATTO Disk Benchmark to get the sequential read and write speeds and Crystal Diskmark for 4K speeds.

PCMark 7          The PCMark 7 Storage benchmarks are some of the most stressing tests designed for modern hard drives and solid state drives. There are a number of tests performed, focusing on different aspects of the drive and eventually churn out a score based on the overall performance of the drive. Below I have shown the total PCMark 7 storage score for multiple hard drives and SSDs.

Windows 7          For the Windows 7 boot time, I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit on these hard drives, with just the basic drivers installed for the motherboard and graphics card. No antivirus or any other applications were installed since any programs installed by users are arbitrary and will change startup time. The time measured in seconds below is after POST (when the ‘Starting Windows’ logo appears) till the time I see the desktop and mouse.

As expected, the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD improves the speed significantly, although not, of course, toughing true SSD speeds. However, the jump we see from a regular 7200RPM hard drive to one that’s boosted by the SanDisk ReadyCache drive is significant.
Conclusion

So there you have it, if you want the speeds, or close to those of an SSD, the SanDisk ReadyCache 32GB SSD is a very elegant solution for your needs, more so because of the cheap setup cost and the simplicity with which things get rolling. Remember, that you won’t find an instant speed boost, time must be given for the ExpressCache software to learn your usage patterns, but in time you’ll be glad you have this hybrid system. Of course, if you’re building a new system and have some extra cash to spare, then you can always go with a complete SSD based system, like SanDisk’s Extreme series.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

Packing an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS in a smaller package than the original, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini offers Super AMOLED skills but its up against the Motorola Razr i, Sony Xperia P and the original iPhone 4.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Size and build
          The Mini remains identical to theSamsung Galaxy S3in design terms. Theres a slim plastic body and removable back panel for the battery, SIM and MicroSD card. On the surrounding edges, theres just the power button and a volume rocker.

Everything is smaller than the Galaxy S3, naturally. Samsung can claim an ultra lightweight body as the Galaxy S3 Mini clocks in at 111.5 grams, designed to undercut the iPhone 5 by just half a gram. It matches the body of theiPhone 5 for size and the screen is now 4 inches as opposed to 4.8 inches.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Features
          Everythings been downsized from the original Galaxy S3. A dual-core processor replaces the quad-core one, a five megapixel camera replaces the 8 megapixel one and internal storage is now just 8GB, though theres the MicroSD expansion option.
Familiar Samsung apps like S Voice are Memo are embedded within the Jelly Bean OS and theres a decent pair of headphones in the box, offering a good upgrade from the poor headphones that accompany many Android smartphones (except those made by Sony...)

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Screen
          The four-inch display is a Super AMOLED screen but theres a drop in resolution compared to the normal Galaxy S3. Its 480x800 pixels which means a 233 pixels per inch density compared the the wunder window display of the 306 pixels per inch of the Galaxy S3.
Remember that an iPhone 4 now costs the same as a Galaxy 3 Mini and has 330 pixels per inch. Overall, the screen looks sharp and is responsive but we know theres better for the money and, really, we miss the 4.8-inch screen of the full fat Galaxy S3.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Performance
          The Galaxy S3 Mini isnt slow and is able to handle multiple apps at speed with no slowdown. Yes, youll notice the dual-core processor struggle with the latest games aimed at high-end smartphones, but the presence of Jelly Bean out of the box and extra Samsung apps add value.
The camera looks woefully average in 2012 - its a five megapixel sensor under the bonnet but the results arent as convincing as cheaper rivals and a full step back from iPhone 4 or Motorola Razr i camera performance.

          Images lack definition, shutter speed is slow and low light shooting is particularly bad. The 8GB is storage isnt great for music or app fans either and although you can use a MicroSD card, were surprised that the Galaxy S3 Mini doesnt offer 16GB as standard.
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Battery
The 1500mAh battery lasts a day and half with heavy use which is commendable and matches rivals in the same price band.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini: Verdict
          The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini looks like a Galaxy S3 but has been stripped of all the things that made that smartphone the T3 smartphone of the year. The real killer is that it doesnt cost that much less than a Galaxy S3 which means, once youve seen one, its hard to accept second best, unless Samsung does the right thing by slashing the price, making this an acceptable proposition once more.

Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 8 is the second generation of the Windows Phone mobile operating system, as officially confirmed by Microsoft at an MSDN seminar in August 2011 and previewed at Microsoft's 'sneak peek' at Windows Phone on June 20, 2012. It was released to manufacturing on September 14, 2012 and released to consumers on October 29, 2012.

Devices will be launched by three companies: Nokia, Samsung, and HTC. All devices will be based on System on Chips from Qualcomm. Current Windows Phone 7.x devices will not be able to run or update to Windows Phone 8 and new applications compiled specifically for Windows Phone 8 will not be made available for Windows Phone 7.x devices.

On June 20, 2012, Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8 (codenamed Apollo), a second generation of the Windows Phone operating system for release later in 2012. Windows Phone 8 replaces its previously Windows CE-based architecture with one based on the Windows NT kernel with many components shared with Windows 8, allowing applications to be easily ported between the two platforms.

Windows Phone 8 will also allow devices with larger screens (the 3 confirmed sizes are "WVGA 800x480 15:9","WXGA 1280x768 15:9","720p 1280x720 16:9" resolutions) and multi-core processors, NFC (which can primarily be used to share content and perform payments), backwards compatibility with Windows Phone 7 apps, improved support for removable storage (which now functions more similarly to how such storage is handled on Windows and Android), a redesigned home screen incorporating resizable tiles across the entire screen, Nokia Maps integration, a new Wallet hub (to integrate NFC payments, coupon websites such as Groupon, and loyalty cards), and "first-class" integration of VoIP applications into the core functions of the OS. Additionally, Windows Phone 8 will include more features aimed at the enterprise market, such as device management, BitLocker encryption, and the ability to create a private Marketplace to distribute apps to employees—features expected to meet or exceed the enterprise capabilities of the previous Windows Mobile platform.[4] Additionally, Windows Phone 8 will support over-the-air updates, and all Windows Phone 8 devices will receive software support for at least 18 months after their release.

On Monday Microsoft announced the Microsoft Surface, its latest foray into the tablet hardware market. Now the software giant has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the new version of its smartphone operating system. The new OS looks impressive on several levels:

  It borrows much of its code base from Windows 8. The result is an integrated ecosystem wherein developers can easily create apps and drivers that can be used on phones, tablets, and desktops.

• WP8, which will support multi-core chipsets, a range of screen resolutions and removable MicroSD, also includes better support for native near-field communication (NFC) between phones, laptops, tablets, and PCs, meaning we could soon see more usable applications for NFC and a real mobile wallet.
• WP8 will get Internet Explorer 10, complete with malware blocking, from Windows 8. IE10 provides significantly faster JavaScript performance and full HTML5 support.
•  Nokia's turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps is built into WP8, which means all phones running the OS, not just Nokia Lumia handsets, will have access to these very popular features.
•   Microsoft also talked about its renewed focus on its business users. The updated OS, which includes Office apps, will support BitLocker encryption, a secure boot mode, and deployment of Line-of-Business apps such as point-of-sale apps, product catalogs, dashboards, in-field or sales apps, workflow management apps, and monitoring and response apps. Admins will like features that let them manage WP8 devices using the same tools they use to manage the desktop, as well as the ability they'll have to set up apps for users without having to go through the Marketplace.

Is Windows Phone on Your Radar?

While BlackBerry used to be the smartphone of choice for business users, it's no secret that its maker, Research in Motion, has been in trouble for a while. In fact, a recent Nielson report indicates that the BlackBerry has only a 6% market share among recent smartphone buyers.

Apple's iPhone and scads of Android phones have filled in the gap as the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend--in which employees are increasingly bringing their own mobile devices to work and using them to access company resources like email, file servers, and databases--continues.

Apple fans hold up their iPhones and point to an app store chock full of largely safe and secure apps that have made it through Apple's approval process and into the ecosystem's "walled garden." Android users like to boast about how they can customize their phones and choose from a plethora of different devices, unlike Apple's one phone form factor.

But what about Windows Phone? Are the phones that run it even on your radar?

If not, maybe they should be.

The UI is Great for Business Users

          I recently tested the 4G Nokia Lumia 900 (running Windows Phone 7.5 Mango) and in many ways preferred it to my Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0. While the Lumia 900 and other current Windows Phones won't be able to upgrade to Windows 8, the Metro user interface it employs remains at the core of WP8. So if you haven't played around with Metro, there are a couple things you should know.

Unlike the iPhone and Android phones which show you screens and screens of small app icons, the Metro UI in Windows Phone features bright and colorful "live" tiles that morph as your phone is synced with real time information.

The People Hub, one of the main tiles on the home screen, can be particularly useful for business users. You can pin an individual, such as a manager or important client, to your start screen in a separate tile. This lets you see new emails, text messages, missed calls, and comments via social media from that person right on your start screen.

Within the People Hub itself you can click on a contact and see all of your latest interactions with him or her, which works out to be an easy way to get a quick refresh on the interactions you've had with someone you're about to meet.

You can also organize your contacts into Groups so you can email, text, or chat with a whole group at once. By pinning a group to the home screen, you'll see missed calls, new messages, and social networking updates from members of the group anytime you launch your phone.

You can also pin documents and spreadsheets to your start screen so as to easily view and edit them. For instance, while at a conference you could pin the event itinerary so as to quickly see what's coming up next or where you need to go.

Apps for Windows Phone
          One complaint people sometimes lodge against the Windows Phone ecosystem is that it doesn't have anywhere near the number of apps that Apple or Android have in their app stores.

That's true, but Microsoft is working hard to get developers more invested in coding for the platform. In fact, the company gives developers free phones and promises to prominently locate them in its app store and advertising spots. It also generouslyfinances the creation of apps that are popular on the other two platforms.

As such, many of the most useful apps you can get on the other two platforms are available from the Windows Phone Marketplace, such as Skype, Evernote, Amazon Kindle, Facebook, Twitter, and more.

And sometimes the Windows Phone version of an app is even better than its iOS or Android counterpart. LinkedIn, for example, makes good use of the Metro design in its Windows Phone app and updates its stream in real time with posts from connections, news affecting particular industries and updates from professional groups. It also lets you search for jobs and follow news from your favorite companies.

And business users entrenched in Microsoft products will certainly want to download Microsoft's Skydrive app, which is available in the Windows Phone Marketplace and lets you create and edit various kinds of file types--documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more--right inside a Web browser, share them with others, and access them from your phone or other device.

Your Windows Phone Options

          Nokia, HTC, and Samsung make Windows Phone handsets that are available through AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile for anywhere from free to $200 with a new two-year contract.

If you don't want to wait for the next wave of devices to emerge with WP8 on board, I would recommend the Nokia Lumia 900. You won't be able to upgrade it, of course, but it's a great 4G phone available for $99 at AT&T, or $50 at Amazon.com

New Generation Robot

 

 I think everyone should have a robot friend! This little guy was created by Aldebaran Robotics and has a 1.6GHz-giving him multi-tasking abilities- and two HD cameras. Originally developed for autistic children, Nao Next Gen Bot can have full conversations with you due to its ability to isolate and recognize specific words in sentences. He can also recognize your face and your movements and can even walk and play catch. Who needs a dog!

Basically you program Nao to do whatever you want him to do – pick your pens up off your office floor, talk to you or encourage you to keep working! You can even teach Nao yo plug himself in when his battery is running low – talk about low maintenance. To-date over 2,000 robots have been sold worldwide, and are currently being used in schools to help teach children.

Facebook Application " If I Die "

One of the biggest questions we face today is: what will happen to my Facebook once I die? Well, Willook, an Israeli start up, has created an application specifically designed to help you manage your Facebook after you pass away. The “If I Die” application gives you the option to leave a video or text message that will be automatically posted to your wall once you die.

Once you’ve installed the application you then pick three people on your Facebook to be in charge of making the announcement of your death. The three people will confirm that you have passed away and then the message will be posted.

It might sound creepy but it’s a very practical application that may make many people feel more comfortable about saying a final “online goodbye” to their friends and family. I think we’ll be seeing more and more applications that are focused on helping people notify their online friends that they have passed away – it’s good personal social media management.

Lifebook Concept by FUJITSU

 

Concept Fujitsu Lifebook comes with removable smartphone, tablet, and digital camera.



These days, your average tech enthusiast typically has at their disposal a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, and a digital camera; and that's listing the bare minimum. That's quite a bit of processing power and storage space spread out among different gadgets. What if it were possible to link all those devices together into one convenient package that uses all that computing power at once? That's the idea behind one designer's concept for a Fujitsu Lifebook, which would come with slots for a smartphone, digital camera, and tablet, for them all to all work together as one super device.

Fitting the digital camera to the front would mean pictures could be downloaded to the computer or other devices. Sliding in the smartphone/mp3 player would allow music to be played and other data to be shared across devices. The Lifebook 2013 concept doesn't have a keyboard itself, since an tablet becomes the keyboard once slotted into place. The tablet can also be used as a second display (like a larger Nintendo DS) or as a digital sketchpad with a stylus. Aside from potentially reducing the overall cost, another advantage to this setup would be that all the devices can be synced and updated simultaneously from the same hub.

"The proposed Lifebook is a laptop computer concept based on the principle of 'shared hardware,'" explains Chandra. "Currently a lot of hardware is wasted when we use separate devices, as there is often a lot of 'repeat' of data stored and features. For example if I have my songs on my music player, why do I have to block the same amount of storage on my laptop? Similarly, if I have a processor sitting in my tablet, why can it not also run/assist my laptop? If I have a fully functional camera with its own memory and image processing power, why do I need to have it repeated in my laptop?"

Put this way it sounds like a logical step forward for the next generation of laptops, though there is the obvious question of being limited to the concept's constituent devices, which would clearly be a bit limiting for the consumer.



Electronic Cotton

New Invention Electronic Cotton

Researchers in the US, Italy and France have invented transistors made from cotton fibers, producing “electronic cotton! They’re hoping that their invention will help us understand how we move and interact with our environment. For example, the electric cotton could detect how fast we’re walking across carpet or how we’re affected by our environment (i.e. t-shirts that measure pollutants in the atmosphere). Their main goal is to create “a seamless interface between electronics and textiles.”

The cellulose that makes up cotton already provides natural installation, which makes the fiber conductive, making it the perfect fabric to create an electrical stream through. The researches have already been doing tests where they treat the cotton with a thin layer of conductive polymer (PEDOT). By adding the polymer the cotton becomes a thousand times more conductive than plain cotton, and keeps the mechanical properties untouched.

One of the first tests the researchers did was tie a knotted end of treated cotton to a battery and the other to a LED, and poof! they created an electrical current. Unfortunately the electrons in the cotton fibers aren’t as strong as silicon circuits so we won’t be seeing MP3 clothing anytime soon. Nor will you ever have to worry about feeling the electric charge!



Gaming Mouse

Hybrid Computer Gamepads

Here is some intresting news for crazy gamers. The ever-growing gaming world just got much cooler – your mouse can now double as your game controller. The Chameleon X-1 is the first ever mouse design revolving around the popular Assassin’s Creed console game. it is both mouse and gampad also.  This trendy mouse has leather buttons and the Assassin’s Creed ‘A’ insignia located at the back of the mouse.
this is really cool man.  This gamepad has 16 wireless buttons you can use too. This is a trend that we are seeing more and more of, and it’s definitely something to keep your eye on for 2012.
There have been other versions created in the past, but none of them cool like this. The mouse costs only $59.99
there are some cool feature

• Norway Nordic Chips System for great Reliability and Sensitivity
• Vacuum Electroplating Ring for amazing Graded Appearance
• Silky Soft Rubberize Surface for cool Comfort and Grip
• Only Need 1AA Battery

Fuel-Cell Powered MacBooks

Apple investigating fuel-cell-powered MacBooks

Apple could build new notebooks that are even smaller and lighter than current battery-powered devices by switching to fuel cells for power.

The prospect of fuel-cell-powered MacBooks and other devices was raised in a pair of Apple patent applications published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and discovered by AppleInsider this week. They are entitled "Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device" and "Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device
"Our country's continuing reliance on fossil fuels has forced our government to maintain complicated political and military relationships with unstable governments in the Middle East, and has also exposed our coastlines and our citizens to the associated hazards of offshore drilling," the filings state. "These problems have led to an increasing awareness and desire on the part of consumers to promote and use renewable energy sources."

Apple's proposed invention notes that the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, has helped to increase consumer awareness of the environmental friendliness of electronic devices. In addition, Apple usually highlights the EPEAT ratings of products it introduces at highly publicized keynote events.

"As a consequence of increased consumer awareness, electronics manufacturers have become very interested in renewable energy sources for their products, and they have been exploring a number of promising renewable energy sources such as hydrogen fuel which is used in hydrogen fuel cells," both documents state.

Apple then makes a case for using fuel cells to power portable electronic devices, noting that hydrogen and associated fuels could allow such devices to operate "for days or even weeks without refueling." But the company also notes there are challenges in creating hydrogen fuel cell systems that are portable and cost-effective.

The solution presented by Apple describes a fuel cell system that can both provide power to and receive power from a rechargeable battery found in a device like a MacBook.

"This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel cell system, which can significantly reduce the size, weight and cost of the fuel cell system," one filing reads. "This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system."

"Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device" was first filed with the USPTO in August of 2010. It is credited to Bradley L. Spare, Vijay M. Iyer, Jean L. Lee, Gregory L. Tice, Michael D. Hillman and David I. Simon. "Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing device" is a continuation-in-part of a patent filed in 2010. It lists Iyer and Spare as its inventors.

Apple's interest in fuel cell technology is not new, as in October AppleInsider highlighted another pair of patent applications from Apple that described lighter and more efficient hydrogen fuel cells. The company proposed accomplishing this by building multiple fuel cells connected in a parallel configuration by a power bus, along with a voltage-multiplying circuit to increase the voltage of the stack.

Transparent Touchpad Laptop

  Intel Nikiski

While I’m the first to admit that I don’t spend much time looking at my keyboard or touchpad, since I touch type, there’s a reason for having them visible, especially when it’s late at night and you can’t find the right keys. Intel has upped the ante with its Nikiski prototype laptop, which features a see-through touchpad that has a few different features. 



The touchpad runs along the base of the keyboard. When the device is closed, the visible gap converts to an touchscreen, using a custom Windows 8-esque “Metro” interface to display one or two rows of tiles. Users can tap them to access a summary of pertinent information such as their calendar, e-mail, Facebook or news updates. You can also view power settings, the date and time without opening up the laptop’s lid.

Keep in mind that the touchpad itself isn’t a display. It’s just letting you see through to the laptop’s screen underneath, and software automatically changes what’s displayed when the laptop is closed.

Intel is also partnering with Nuance in order to develop voice recognition technology for the device and wants to retail it for less than $600 (USD).



Latest Microsoft Windows

Windows 8

  

Windows 8 is Microsoft's latest operating system. Windows 8 represents a dramatic change from the traditional Windows experience, and shipped on October 26^th, 2012. Microsoft introduced a different user interface, originally codenamed “Metro,” that is similar in style found on phones running Windows.

Installing Windows 8 is neither recommended nor discouraged by ResNet, and is down to personal preference. We expect that all prebuilt (OEM) PCs will be shipped with Windows 8. Only computers running Windows 8 Pro will be eligible to downgrade their installation to Windows 7 or Windows Vista. No versions of Windows 8 will be able to downgrade to Windows XP.

         

Windows 8 Requirements

The minimum computer hardware requirements for running Windows 8 as recommended by Microsoft are:

• 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

The minimum screen resolution for “Metro-style” applications is 1024x768. This may present a problem for netbooks, as their screen resolution is typically 1024x600.
 

There are three editions of Windows 8 currently offered to consumers:

• Windows 8 – The base version of Windows 8.
• Windows 8 Pro – Contains all of the features available on Windows 8, but also comes with the following additional features:
  • Windows Media Center via add-in
  • Remote Desktop Host – Ability to remotely control the computer from another Windows or Mac computer
  • BitLocker & EFS Encryption
  • Ability to join Windows Domains
  • System Virtualization – Full Hyper-V virtualization on 64-bit versions with compatible CPUs
• Windows RT – Comes preinstalled on devices with an ARM processor, like tablets. This version is only able to run applications from the Windows App store and will not run applications designed for any other version of Windows.