SlashGear » Windows

HP EliteBook 2740p multitouch tablet hands-on

Vincent Nguyen — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:24 +0000

HP have announced the EliteBook 2740p, a 12.1-inch ultrathin convertible tablet which supports multitouch together with pen input. Inside there are Intel’s latest Core i7 and Core i5 processors, along with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, Intel HD graphics and a choice of up to 320GB HDD or 160GB SSD. Check out more details and some hands-on first-impressions after the cut.

The 2740p may be targeted at enterprise customers – who’ll appreciate its MIL-STD 810G compliant vibration, dust, humidity, altitude and temperature resilience and chemically-strengthened glass display panel – but there’s plenty for consumers to like too.

The 1,280 x 800 display is optionally available with Outdoor View (as long as you select multitouch along with the pen-input) while connectivity includes optional EVDO/HSPA (with GPS), a choice of WiFi (b/g or a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1.

There’s also gigabit ethernet, a 2-megapixel webcam (next to keyboard-illuminating light), an ExpressCard/34 slot and both a touchpad and trackstick (the latter sitting amidst a spill-resistant keyboard with integrated drainage channels). Ports include three USB 2.0 (one of which is powered), VGA, audio in/out, FireWire and a modem, and there’s a docking port for the optional Expansion Base. The whole thing measures 1.25 x 11.42 x 8.35 inches and weighs from 3.8lbs with the standard 6-cell 44WHr battery. That battery is good for up to 5hrs of runtime, HP claim, and there’s an expansion pack that boosts total runtime to 11hrs.

As you’d expect, the tablet feels sturdy and the rotating hinge seems reassuringly solid. While HP likely picked the stainless steel and magnesium enclosure for its ruggedness, it also leaves the EliteBook 2740p looking impressive and with a real premium hand-feel. Windows 7’s multitouch gestures work well, with the touchscreen instantly flicking into pen-input mode when the stylus is nearby. The 3.8lb weight means you won’t mistake the 2740p for an everyday slate, though; however it fits nicely into the crook of an arm for walkabout use.

The HP EliteBook 2740p will go on sale in the US from April 2010, priced from $1,599. The UltraSlim Expansion Base – which has a DVD burner bay and eSATA connectivity among other ports – should be available at the same time, priced from $299.

HP EliteBook 2740p multitouch tablet hands-on

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Windows 8 hinted at to be “completely different”

Paul Fang — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:58:17 +0000

Microsoft has evidently exterminated a Microsoft employee’s thoughts on the next version of the Windows operating system, removing a blog post that informally keeps referring to Windows.next as the next Windows 8.

The unknown employee calls the new version “completly different from what folks usually expect of Windows,” and that “The themes that have been floated truly reflect what people have been looking for years and it will change the way people think about PCs and the way they use them. It is the future of PCs…”.

The only question that remains is, what exactly does “completely different” constitute of? Windows 7 was different from Vista, yes, in the way that 7 actually worked and didn’t consistently crash when I used it. Microsoft has a lot more to play around with this time, as well as considerably more to lose, with potential competition from Google’s Chrome OS as well as from the emerging iPad platform. Microsoft needs to give us revolutionary this time, instead of evolutionary.

[via Microsoft Kitchen]

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iriver Smart HD K1 PMP gets video demo

Chris Davies — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:45:25 +0000

You know what’s the one thing pretty much guaranteed to take the lust-worthy edge off a new PMP? Spotting the Windows CE homescreen lurking on it, that’s what. iriver’s slender Smart HD K1 turned a few heads when it officially launched earlier this month, but as this video preview shows a CE desktop is only a few taps away.

Video demo after the cut

Still, there’s plenty to like about the HD K1. Up front there’s a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen, and the PMP supports AVI, WMV, MP4, TP, MPG, ASF and MKV video. Various models are available, kicking off from an entry-level 8GB K1 and then climbing through versions with DMB mobile TV tuners, 16GB of storage and integrated WiFi.

To be fair, Windows CE functionality is only an “added extra” rather than something you have to deal with on a regular basis, and iriver’s standard UI is pretty respectable. No word on when the iriver Smart HD K1 might make it out of Korea.

[via PlayerBites]

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HP Data Vault X510 Review – Windows Home Server Powered NAS

Chris Davies — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:58:00 +0000

A casual glance at the photo and you might think we’re re-reviewing the HP MediaSmart EX487 Home Server we looked at back in December. In actual fact, this is the business-centric cousin to that device, the HP StorageWorks X510 Data Vault. Intended for small businesses or serious home offices, the X520 Data Vault promises not only backup but various shared storage options too. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

The X510’s case is pretty much the same as that of the EX487, which means a compact tower unit with a full front door that reveals four 3.5-inch drive bays. There are three USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel (one on the front) together with an eSATA (which will now work as a port multiplier, rather than with just one external drive) and gigabit ethernet port, and as with the EX487 the OS is Windows Home Server. Perhaps the biggest difference is that HP offer three configurations of the X510 Data Vault: a 1TB model (with a single 1TB hard-drive), a 2TB model (with two 1TB drives; this is the unit HP have sent us for review) and a 3TB model (with two 1.5TB drives). The packaging is plain cardboard rather than the Home Server’s retail-friendly color box, and inside you get the power cord, CAT6 ethernet cable and quick-start guide, together with media for software installation server recovery and PC restore.

Where the EX487 got a 2.0GHz Intel Celeron 440, the X510 steps up to a faster 2.5GHz Pentium dual-core along with 2GB of RAM. Setup is straightforward, though frustrating since it requires a Windows PC – that’s despite Windows Home Server being compatible with Windows, OS X and Linux machines once everything is installed. The software is pretty much identical to that of the EX487, though HP have tweaked the UI to focus more on the sort of functionality small businesses might prioritize.

That means there’s less emphasis on media streaming and sharing – though of course that functionality is still present – and more on remote access, securing data and backing up. HP refer to this as “Store it. Secure it. Share it.” and the X510 does all three, though it’s worth noting that some of the methodology is different from how a regular, less intelligent backup system might do things.

For instance, Windows Home Server will do RAID-style spanning of drives for increased data security, but it’s not the same RAID as you’ll find in regular backup systems. Instead you’re pretty much buying into the Microsoft way of doing things: new drives (either replacements or, since there are at least two bays empty, additions) are automatically installed and managed by WHS. It’s a more hands-off solution than many will be used to, and while that might strike fear into the hearts of more advanced system admins, the sort of target audience in the market for the X510 Data Vault will find it music to their ears. We’d recommend reading our original EX487 review for a run-down of exactly what WHS is capable of.

As we were with the MediaSmart EX487, we’re impressed with the StorageWorks X510 Data Vault. It’s quiet in operation, straightforward to install – assuming you have a Windows PC to hand – and, with MRSPs of $699, $859 and $999 for the 1TB, 2TB and 3TB models respectively, is priced pretty much in line with other four-bay backup servers. In fact, given the faster processor and more capable eSATA port, if you can find the X510 for a decent price we’d plump for it over the EX487, even as a home user. The packaging may be plain, but the X510 Data Vault’s functionality is anything but.

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Menq EasyPC E790 $80 Android netbook gets video demo

Chris Davies — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:44:39 +0000

What does $80 buy you these days? If Menq have their way, and sort out their supply chain, it could get you an Android based netbook; the company’s EasyPC E790 has a 7-inch 800 x 480 display and a Samsung ARM926EJ-S3C2450 processor, and while right now it runs Windows CE, Menq will be pushing out an Android firmware update within a month. That’s good news for techvideoblog’s Charbax, as he’s been playing with a review unit.

Video demo after the cut

Since there’s an ARM9 processor at its core, the EasyPC E790 doesn’t exactly set any speed records. In fact, it’s a pretty sluggish experience, but Android might make a difference once that’s installed instead. Charbax also expects the ARM Cortex A8 to make more of an appearance in later iterations, and while that may add $10-20 or so to the price tag, we’ve a feeling most buyers would appreciate the extra lick of speed.

No word on when you’ll be able to go out and pick up an $80 laptop yourself, since you can’t buy directly from Menq. They’ll likely show up as cheap specials in a supermarket chain at some point, hopefully keeping their sub-$100 sticker.

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Verizon Announcement: Gateway LT20 netbook, Razzle, Motorola Barrage and Nokia 2705 Shade

Vincent Nguyen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:58:06 +0000

With only a few days left leading up to CTIA Wireless in San Diego, Verizon wireless pulled out all the stops and announced a boat load of new phones and a new subsidized 3G Gateway netbook. The most impressive handset from the lineup is the HTC Imagio powered by Windows Phone 6.5 aka HTC Touch Diamond 2 (which we’ve reviewed here). Other handsets include a rugged clamshell by Motorola – the Barrage, a unique phone made by Personal Communication Devices (PCD) and finally the Nokia Shade.

Gateway LT2016u Netbook Available In Verizon Wireless Communications Stores Nationwide On Oct. 4

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Gateway announced today that the Gateway LT2016u netbook now comes with Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband service built into the device. With Mobile Broadband, Verizon Wireless customers can stay in touch and remain productive in more places using Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, the nation’s largest and most reliable. Available Oct. 4, the Gateway LT2016u provides continuous access to the Internet so Verizon Wireless customers can check e-mail, update their social networking sites and blogs, browse Web sites, and post video to the Web using the integrated webcam.

Available color: Chassis color is Night Sky Black

Gateway LT2016u Lifestyle features:
• 10.1-inch high-definition WSVGA LED backlit display that is large enough to easily view multiple windows and Web sites
• Comfortable to hold and easy to transport, the Gateway LT2016u fits neatly into a purse or backpack and is fashionable with its modern silver trim accents
• Comes with an extended 6-cell battery that provides battery life of up to six hours
• Uses the Intel® Atom™ N270 processor that promotes power efficiency to deliver excellent mobile performance and wireless connectivity on the go
• Well-equipped with a full 1 GB of memory, 160 GB of hard drive space, and a digital media card reader

Gateway LT2016u Key specifications:
• 10.1-inch SD 1024 x 600 resolution TFT LCD
• Intel Atom N270 processor (1.60 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB)
• 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM
• 160 GB hard disk drive
• Multi-in-one card reader: SD, MMC, RS-MMC, Memory Stick, MS Pro, and XD
• Optimized Dolby Headphone technology and two built-in stereo speakers
• Built-in digital microphone
• Integrated 0.3 megapixel webcam
• Wireless broadband connectivity: 3G
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g
• Ports: USB 2.0, headphone out, microphone in, Ethernet, and VGA
• Dimension/Weight: 10.17” (l) x 7.24” (d) x 1.03” (h); 2.95 lbs.
• 6-cell battery
• Windows XP Home Edition

Gateway LT2016u Price and availability:
• The Gateway LT2016u will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Oct. 4 for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
• Customers can select from various price plans for Mobile Broadband access:
o $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and 10 cents per megabyte overage
o $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and 5 cents per megabyte overage
• For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

VERIZON WIRELESS RAZZLE WILL DAZZLE AVID TEXTERS AND MUSIC LOVERS

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today introduced the Verizon Wireless Razzle™, a fashionable phone developed by Personal Communications Devices, LLC, that boasts a unique tilt-and-swivel design for more comfortable text messaging and quicker access to the built-in music player. Music can be downloaded from Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music with Rhapsody service (subscription and PC downloads) and stored on the pre-installed 1 GB microSD™ card. The Razzle will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 6. It will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores later this month.
Color: Sleek and shiny black case with lime green highlights

Razzle Key features:
• QWERTY keypad and music controls on tilt-and-swivel bar
• Large 2.2” 262K color TFT display
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
• 1X, Dual-band CDMA (1800/1900 MHz)
• Bluetooth®-capable with support for the following profiles: headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access, and object push for vCard and vCalendar

Razzle Lifestyle features:
• Access to Mobile Web
• Media Center-capable for easy downloading of games, ringtones and more
• VZ NavigatorSM-capable – Customers get audible turn-by-turn directions to more than 15 million points of interest and can share the directions with others
• Text, picture and voice messaging
• Task bar for shortcuts to menus
• T9 predictive text
• Voice commands
• Up to 1,000-entry phone book
• Speakerphone
• Bilingual Interface – English and Spanish languages

Razzle Price and availability:
• The Verizon Wireless Razzle will be available online for $69.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. The Razzle will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores later this month.
• For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA ANNOUNCE MOTOROLA BARRAGE

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced the Motorola Barrage™. This rugged device sports a tough-as-nails exterior. Designed to be submersible for up to 30 minutes in one meter of water, it is constructed from chrome, glass, mesh and rubber – protecting it against blowing rain, humidity, solar radiation, high and low temperatures, blowing dust, salt fog, altitude, shock, vibration and transit drop. The Motorola Barrage also features a best-in-class Push to Talk capability for quick conversations as well as exclusive Verizon Wireless multimedia and entertainment services so customers never have to rough it, even when they’re using the device in rough environments.

Motorola Barrage Key features:
• Mil Spec certified for extra strength and protection from blowing rain, humidity, solar radiation, high and low temperatures, blowing dust, salt fog, altitude, shock, vibration and transit drop
• Waterproof when submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes
• Push to Talk features for fast, clear and reliable calls and chirps
• Large battery that packs 1170 mAH for extended talk time
• 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder
• Dual speakers for high quality audio to cut through noise
Motorola Barrage Lifestyle features:
• Premium services from Verizon Wireless, including VZ NavigatorSM, V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video on Demand

• Access to Verizon Wireless’ Push to Talk service that leverages the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network to provide customers with fast two-way communication to get their jobs done quickly and efficiently

Motorola Barrage Price and availability:
• The Motorola Barrage will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in business sales channels beginning Oct.1 for $129.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. It will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Nov. 16. A non-camera version of the phone will be available on Oct. 21. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
• Verizon Wireless customers can add Unlimited Push to Talk for $5 per month per line to any qualifying Nationwide voice plan.

CONNECT IN COLOR WITH THE NOKIA 2705 SHADE

The Nokia Shade – Light-Weight, Compact and Colorful

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Verizon Wireless and Nokia introduce the Nokia 2705 Shade™, a compact flip phone that fits in a pocket or purse for stylish connectivity. Available initially as an online exclusive, customers will have the option of purchasing the phone with or without a camera. The Nokia Shade also allows the customer to have the ability to choose the color of their choice with Xpress-onTM covers, sold separately.
Nokia 2705 Shade Key features:
• Large display on one of the smallest devices available at Verizon Wireless
• VZ NavigatorSM-capable to give customers access to more than 15 million points of interest
• Connect in color with Xpress-on changeable covers (sold separately)

Nokia 2705 Shade Lifestyle features:
• Stylish and sleek with interchangeable covers for added personalization
• Stores up to 1,000 contacts
• Light-weight and easily fits into a pocket or purse
• Text, picture and voice messaging capabilities
• Up to 300 minutes of usage time or up to 360 hours of standby time
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Bluetooth® compatible with support for the following Bluetooth profiles: headset, hands-free, phonebook access, basic printing, and object push (for vCard and vCalendar)
• Micro USB 2.0 compatible
• Access to Mobile Web

Nokia 2705 Shade Price and availability:
• The Nokia Shade with camera will be available online beginning Oct. 6 at www.verizonwireless.com for $29.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
• Customers can purchase Xpress-on changeable covers in blue, red and purple for $19.99 by visiting www.verizonwireless.com.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Because purple is the awareness color for domestic violence, those who purchase the Nokia Shade with a camera online during Domestic Violence Awareness Month will receive a free picture frame phone lanyard and a purple Nokia Xpress-on Cover while supplies last. Additionally, the Nokia Shade features pre-loaded wallpapers that highlight HopeLine®, Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program, and it is the first Verizon Wireless phone to have #HOPE pre-programmed into the contact list. When customers dial #HOPE, they are connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, where they can receive information or help with domestic violence situations or questions. To learn more about Verizon Wireless’ efforts around Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit www.verizonwireless.com/HopeLineDVAM.

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HP Z600 Workstation Review

Ewdison Then — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:09:50 +0000

It’s been a few months since HP launched their Z400, Z600 and Z800 workstations, and we’ve finally got the company’s mid-range Z600 on the SlashGear test bench. A dual-processor monster that HP envisage being used in midrange CAD, financial modelling and even high-end DCC, the Z600 would also make for a storming video editing workstation; HP also claim it’s environmentally friendly. That’s the theory, anyway: can the Z600 really deliver performance in a home or small-office friendly way?

The specifications of our test machine certainly make for impressive reading. Packing dual Intel Xeon X5570 processors (each running at 2.93GHz with 8MB cache and 1333MHz FSB), there’s also 6GB of DDR3-1333 RAM, two 160GB 10,000rpm SATA hard-drives, an NVIDIA Quadro FX1800 video card with 768MB of memory, slot-loading 8x DVD burner and Windows Vista Business 64-bit.

HP squeeze all of that into one of their latest Z-series workstation cases, complete with tool-free access and construction, along with a FireWire card for media-friendly connectivity. There are two PCIe Gen2 x16 card slots, one Gen2 x8, one Gen1 x8 and two PCI slots, along with four eSATA ports. To put the same system on or under your desk would cost $7,501; for $450 more you can double the RAM to a whopping 12GB, though the maximum on offer is 24GB.

Build quality is excellent, and the tower case is slimmer than you might expect: just 6.5-inches across. A hinged panel at the front hides the 5.25-inch bays, one of which is taken up by the DVD drive, plus there are a few USB 2.0 ports on the front-right bezel. All in all HP offer six external USB 2.0 connections (and a further three inside), two of which will be used up immediately since they bundle a USB keyboard and mouse in with the workstation. The side-panel – which has a key lock for casual security – opens smoothly and reveals well laid-out drive bays and some clever fan positioning. Both CPU fans are upright and pull air from front to back, rather than pushing it parallel to the motherboard; there’s also a large fan duct with its own fan which covers the memory.

Various green tabs indicate sections of the case which pull out, such as the tool-free drive bays which slide out from the side and into which the hard-drives snap. The power supply is a non-standard size and shape, and runs across the entire base of the Z600 with a single pull-handle for removal; the benefit is fewer cables criss-crossing the case space, as they all connect at the back and are routed behind the motherboard. Finally, there’s also an integrated grab-handle at the top, front and back, making transport straightforward.

The benefit to this non-standard internal layout and thoughtful ducting is that the Z600 is surprisingly quiet. You’d expect a dual-CPU workstation with six fans to sound like a minor tornado, but in fact it’s incredibly quiet. We’ve tested basic notebooks with more noticeable fan noise than the Z600 puts out, and according to HP their 80PLUS Bronze compliant PSU is 85-percent efficient and means the workstation is ENERGY STAR v5 qualified. In standby, the Z600 uses under 1W too, meaning you won’t be paying over the odds for the benefit of quick start-up times.

Of course, frugality and quietness are no use whatsoever if your workstation lacks grunt, but thankfully the Z600 isn’t short in that department either. Needless to say, standard day-to-day productivity tasks make little to no difference in the Z600’s stride, with several browser windows, Outlook, HD media playback and other concurrent routine apps having a negligible impact on the system.

We then loaded up Geekbench, which measures processor and memory performance, to get an idea of exactly how potent the Z600 is. Total score was 12,828, with the Z600 scoring 14,814 and 17,622 in processor integer and floating point performance respectively, while memory and memory bandwidth performance came in at 4,965 and 4,832 respectively. By way of comparison, the HP Z400 Workstation we reviewed four months ago – which has a single Xeon 2.93GHz processor and 6GB of RAM – managed 7,613 in Geekbench.

Finally, we ran PCMark and compared the Z600 with a Dell Precision T5500 workstation. The T5500 has dual quad-core Intel Xeon X5570 2.93GHz processors, 6GB of third-party DDR3 1333GHz memory, NVIDIA Quadro FX1800 graphics and a 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor hard-drive; the final build price was around $7,700, two hundred dollars more than the HP. As the graphs show, performance of the two systems was, unsurprisingly, on a par, with the Z600 edging slightly ahead in its overall PCMark score (8396 versus the Dell’s 8355) while both machines comprehensively bested the HP Z400.

The Z600 range starts from $1,800, though it’s worth repeating that for the dual-processor machine we’ve been testing you’re looking at just over $7,500. That’s a whole lot of money, but then again you get a whole lot of performance for it, and in a form-factor and package that, before now, would have far more demands to accommodate its space, power and noise. It’s overkill for anybody but the most extreme of video editors, but if you’re living and breathing CAD and high-end design, or running plenty of real-time modelling, then the HP Z600 Workstation should be high up on your shortlist.

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Microsoft set to open Windows Café in Paris

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:23:30 +0000

We already know that Microsoft is setting up retail stores here in America and they are simply calling them stores. No fancy names or trying to dress them up as something they are not. I guess in Europe Microsoft wants to make things seem a bit fancier.

Pics of a Windows Cafe have popped up on a French website. Details are scant, but what we can tell is that the store is set to open on October 22, 2009. That is only a few weeks away. Inside the store seems small and you can just imagine the Windows computers and software stacked on the shelves around the store.

The store is at 47 Boulevard Sébastopol in Paris. I wonder if they will serve coffee to the people who wonder in looking for new gadgets.

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Lessons From a Mac OS Switcher

Michael Gartenberg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:57:22 +0000

I used to be a total Macintosh user; however, over time, various places I worked depended on Microsoft Windows and other MSFT technologies so that I was forced to use Windows for much of what I do. I still kept using a Mac, mostly for creative work and where business use allowed, but I had to have Windows in my life. Over the last few years, Apple has created a new line of machines that more closely match my laptop needs and have made a lot of changes to their core platform OS X. The result is a combination that makes for a very compelling argument to use Macintosh full time.

Over the past month, I’ve spent a lot of time with Apple’s Snow Leopard. As part of this project, I put aside my PC and switched over to using a Mac full time. For the sake of the project, I settled on a 13″ MacBook Pro as I needed the greatest portability/power combination. The 15″ MacBook Pro was a little too big to travel with and the MacBook Air a little too underpowered for me. In addition, I installed both Windows XP and Windows 7 under VMWare Fusion (although I found that I had little need for either of them). Here’s what I learned.

Hardware: The MacBook Pro is a fantastic piece of hardware. The attention to detail is amazing, from the MagSafe connector that makes it virtually impossible for anyone to trip over your power cord to the integrated iSight camera that makes video conferencing a simple task. At a travel weight of 4.5 lbs. it’s not the lightest Mac you can get but it’s light enough for me and I’m willing to trade the extra performance and capacity over the MacBook Air. The latest MacBook Pro finally adds an SD expansion slot so transferring photos was much easier. However there’s still less model choice than you’ll find in the PC world. If you like the form factors Apple offers, you’re in great shape but if you’re looking for more choice, especially in smaller form factors, you might not be happy with Apple’s decisions.

Web Apps: All the web-based apps I used just worked. While some apps did not love Safari, I was able to fix that with a quick download of Camino, a Firefox based browser that is optimized for Mac OS. I could see where running a particular app could be an issue but it’s not something I encountered.

Productivity Applications: For the most part, I used the Mac version of Microsoft Office to collaborate with the rest of the organisation and it mostly worked out OK. App launching is slower than I’d like but it does work. In general, I find Office 2008 for Macintosh to be best version of Office that MSFT has done for any platform, but there’s still a lot Microsoft can do to make it better. In general, I found I preferred using Apple’s tools such as Pages and Keynote where possible. On at least one occasion, a PowerPoint presentation I spent hours on in the Mac version was unable to be viewed properly on Windows machines, necessitating going into VMware and using Microsoft Office 2003 under Windows XP to properly get things working again. For the most part, knowledge workers should have no issues going back and forth and staying compatible but the more complex the document, the more likely there are going to be issues. Graphic Art apps, particularly the Adobe Creative Suite line, ran flawlessly, as expected.

Exchange Synchronization: Working with Exchange was one of the biggest issues for me. At the moment, Microsoft’s own Entourage application simply didn’t work well in practice. Calendar times didn’t sync up and all-day appointment’s were often – but not always – a day off. This is where Snow Leopard really shined. I found I was able to totally avoid Entourage and simply use the native OS X apps for mail, contacts and calendar. The only catch is you need to be using Exchange 2007 at the server level. If you’re not, the best way to get to Exchange support is to use Outlook itself, under a virtual copy of XP or Windows 7 with VMware.

The bottom line is that the Mac platform today is not the Mac platform of old and there’s a lot of benefit for going with Apple and relatively little hassle for doing so. The ability to run Windows seamlessly via dual booting using Apple’s Boot Camp, or virtually with programs such as Parallels Workstation or VMware, means that Windows applications demanded by enterprise are only a click away. Combined with Snow Leopard, and the ability to have native Exchange support, I plan on staying with my Macbook for the time being.

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Windows Mobile 6.5 Gets October 6 Street Date

Evan Selleck — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:06:21 +0000

If you’re one of the millions of people out there using Windows Mobile, then it’s a safe bet that you’ve been stuck at 6.1 for far too long. Maybe that ‘X’ button up at the top corner isn’t the easiest thing in the world to activate. Whatever your concerns are, it’s looking like you have a bright future, and one that you don’t need to wait too much longer for, either. Today marks the announcement, officially, that Windows Mobile 6.5 is coming to the market, with a street date and everything.

Microsoft Corporation announced today that starting on October 6th, retail stores across the globe will have Windows Mobile phones on their shelves, all of which will be showcasing the brand new Operating System. Windows is promoting better customer experience as a whole, by delivering an improved, easy-to-use interface, better browsing capabilities, and the ability to access Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone.

“A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web,” said Todd Peters, corporate vice president of the Mobile Communications Marketing Group at Microsoft.

Amongst the upgrades lined up for end-users, Microsoft is also proud of the backing they are getting from phone manufacturers and carriers from around the world. On the North American continent, we’ve got AT&T, Bell Mobility, TELUS, Sprint, and Verizon wireless listed as carriers; and HTC Corporation, LG Electronics, HP, Samsung, and Toshiba Corporation pointed for manufacturers. Considering that we’ve been seeing some early builds of the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform via leaked ROM videos, it’s pretty exciting to know that we’ve finally got a date to mark on our calendars. So what about you? Are you going to be an early adopter?

[via Microsoft]

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Epoq EPP-CEP1 Pico-Projector packs Windows CE 5.0, trackpad

Chris Davies — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:07:34 +0000

Epoq are back with their next pico-projector, and since it’s growing harder to differentiate between these compact, LED-based handhelds they’ve decided to stuff Windows CE 5.0 inside. Having a full OS – plus the trackpad on top of the projector – means the Epoq Multimedia EPP-CEP1 can run native Word, PowerPoint, Excel and PDF viewers for standalone presentations, together with Windows Media Player for broader video filetype support.

Inside the EPP-CEP1 uses a Samsung ARM9 400MHz processor, paired with 64MB of RAM and 64MB of flash memory; there’s also an SD slot for up to 4GB cards. The 50-inch picture the CEP1 is capable of throwing (from 180cm away) is accompanied by an integrated mono speaker, but you’ll probably want to plug in some headphones or external speakers to the 3.5mm jack instead. Image quality is the usual low 10 lumens brightness, with 640 x 480 VGA resolution supported.

There’s also a USB Host port, meaning you can plug in a keyboard/mouse and control Windows CE that way. Battery life is estimated at up to 4hrs runtime or 72hrs standby, and the whole thing measures 138.5 x 58.5 x 25 mm and weighs 168g.

We’re just disappointed that there’s no way to hook up a wireless internet connection, load up Internet Explorer and use the CEP1 as a super-portable web browsing terminal. It’s possible that the USB Host port might recognise a WiFi dongle or ethernet-to-USB adapter, but we wouldn’t put down money on it. Still, arguably far more useful than the standard pico, and at $359.95 it’s priced at about the same.

[via I4U]

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Parallels “Switch to Mac” edition bundles app transfer cable

Chris Davies — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:19:26 +0000

Parallels have released a new virtualization package intended to make first-time transitions to Mac from Windows all the more straightforward. The Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition consists not only of the company’s Parallels Desktop 4.0 app – which allows you to run Windows apps on an OS X machine – but a data migration cable that automatically transfers programs and files to your new machine.

The Transporter cable is basically a branded USB-to-USB file transfer device, such as we’ve seen before, but is made clever by Parallels’ software. That automatically identifies apps and data on the Windows machine, making sure all the files needed to get you up to speed are present on your shiny new Mac.

They also throw in a full two hours of tutorial video content, intended to make migrating to OS X headache-free. It’s apparently available now, priced at around $100; not bad considering Parallels Desktop 4.0 alone is $79.95.

[via Gizmodo]

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Nokia Booklet 3G Gets Live Images

Evan Selleck — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:16:55 +0000

Unless you’ve had your head shoved under a rock today, then you’ve seen that Nokia has announced its upcoming Booklet 3G netbook. And while nothing has really changed since that original post of ours, we can’t help but pass up giving you some live images of the little device, and let you get a refresher on the hardware. Don’t worry though, next week SlashGear will be at the Nokia World event, where we’ll be bringing you all the important details regarding Nokia’s new toy.

The netbook itself, loving called the Booklet 3G, is about 1.25kg in weight, and only 2cm thick with an aluminum chassis. We know it’s going to be using an Intel Atom processor, but as of right now we don’t know the exact details regarding which processor will be making its way into the Booklet 3G. The netbook also has a 10.1-inch glass HD-ready display, and has an HDMI output for HD video playback. The body has 3 USB 2.0 ports, and an SD card sot. Bluetooth comes standard, and there’s even a front-facing webcam to take care of all your video calling needs.

The video showcases some neat stuff, so we’ve gone ahead and embedded it for your pleasure. It looks like Nokia is working in the opposite direction as Apple, but let’s hope that Nokia is just as lucky in their new market as Apple was. From the looks of it, they might be on the right track. So stay tuned for Nokia World next week.

[images via Reuters]

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Nokia Booklet 3G netbook revealed: 12hr battery, HSPA and GPS [Video]

Chris Davies — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:19:44 +0000

Nokia have announced their own netbook, the Nokia Booklet 3G, promising up to 12 hours battery life together with integrated WiFi, 3G HSPA and GPS. The 1.25kg netbook has an aluminum chassis and measures around 2cm thick; it uses an unspecified Intel Atom processor, has an HDMI output for HD video playback and a 10.1-inch glass HD-ready display.

Video demo after the cut

Other ports include three USB 2.0 connectors and an SD card slot, plus there’s Bluetooth and a front-facing webcam. OS is Windows 7, at least going by the video below, and there’s integration with Nokia’s Ovi services including Maps for Ovi that uses the GPS and A-GPS, music downloads, VPN integration and more. Nokia are also talking about a hot-swappable SIM slot, which suggests you’ll be able to flip between 3G connections without needing to shut off the Booklet.

Nokia are promising the full specifications and pricing for the Booklet 3G at Nokia World next week. SlashGear will be there, and we’ll be bringing you all the details from the show; until then, check out Nokia’s demo video below:

Press Release:

Nokia Booklet 3G brings all day mobility to the PC world
August 24, 2009

Espoo, Finland – After more than 25 years as a pioneer and leader in the mobile industry, Nokia will bring its rich mobility heritage and knowledge to the PC world with the new, Windows based, Nokia Booklet 3G.

Powered by the efficient Intel Atom processor, the Nokia Booklet 3G delivers impressive performance with up to 12 hours of battery life, enabling people to leave their power cable behind and still be connected and productive. Delivering the rich experience of a full-function PC inside an ultra-portable aluminum chassis, the new mini-laptop weighs 1.25 kilograms, measures slightly more than two centimeters thin, and has the features one would expect from the world’s leading mobile device manufacturer. A broad range of connectivity options – including 3G/ HSPA and Wi-Fi – gives consumers high speed access to the Internet, including Nokia’s broad suite of Ovi services, and allows them to make the most of every moment and every opportunity.

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices. “We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

The mini-laptop also comes with an HDMI port for HD video out, a front facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth and an easily accessible SD card reader. Other premium features include the 10-inch glass HD ready display and integrated A-GPS which, working with the Ovi Maps gadget, can pinpoint your position in seconds and open up access for a truly personal maps experience. The Nokia Booklet 3G also brings a number of other rich Ovi experiences to life, whether its access and playback of millions of tracks through the Nokia Music Store, or using Ovi Suite to sync seamlessly from your Nokia smartphone, to your mini-laptop, to the cloud.

The Nokia Booklet 3G will widen the Nokia portfolio, satisfying a need in the operator channel, and bringing another important ingredient in the move towards becoming a mobile solutions company.

Further information, including detailed specifications, market availability and pricing, will be announced at Nokia World on September 2. For more information on Nokia World, visit: http://events.nokia.com/nokiaworld/home.htm

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Microsoft Zune HD Shows Marketplace Apps at Best Buy Demo

Evan Selleck — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:15:22 +0000

Did you happen to make it into a select few Best Buy stores over the weekend? If so, did you get a chance to stare at/touch/play with a Zune HD? We certainly hope so. But! If you didn’t get that great of an opportunity, then it looks like a video might just have to cut it for now. And why is this video so amazing, other than giving you another look at the sexy piece of gadgetry? It shows off the Marketplace on the device, and then right there, smack-dab in the middle: Apps.

We’ve got job postings, and developers of competitive products saying they’re being enticed with money to come on over to Microsoft’s team, and finally XNA creators meant for the Zune that combine to tell us (and everyone else, we imagine) that Microsoft pans on being in the applications development bandwagon, and not simply for their Windows Mobile products. So, with help from third-party developers, it’s pretty safe to assume that Microsoft is setting up the new Zune HD as a legitimate iPod Touch competitor, and for most, the applications that Microsoft plans to have on that said device will really decide that impending war.

As for the video, we only get a sneak-peak. The store’s demo unit had its on board WiFi turned off, so we aren’t lucky enough to see any of the juicy details beyond that little App title, like if there’s any titles complete, or if anything even lies beyond that portal. Will there be any applications at launch? And if there are, will they be worth paying any attention to? Does Microsoft have something up its sleeve, ready to demolish all expectations when September 15th comes along? Or will the Zune HD just be another PMP released onto the market, caught up in the shadow of the technological marvel known as the iPod Touch? Check out the video and see for yourself, and start assuming ladies and gents.

Here’s the link to the Qik video: http://qik.com/video/2631739

[via Electronista]

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Microsoft’s Windows 7 Can Be Rearmed Up To 120 Days

Evan Selleck — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:39:51 +0000

Are you one of those people who love to try out new things before you buy it? Do you also think that 30 days to try that said product just isn’t long enough? Well, if you’re thinking about upgrading to Windows 7 in October, but you feel like you should try it out before you officially lay down your money, you don’t have anything to worry about. Like in Windows Vista, there’s a simple, one-line command that you can utilize, to activate an additional 30 days to your initial 30-day trial of the Operating System (OS). Even better, you can do this up to three times.

Microsoft is known for preaching 30-day trial offers, but not everyone thinks this is long enough. We can relate t0 that, because not everyone has all day every day to test something out, even if you have it for 30 days. Thankfully, there’s a simple way to bypass this, and thankfully it doesn’t even go against Microsoft’s Terms of Service (ToS). If you download Windows 7 in October for the 30-day trial run, you can then input a simple command [em]slmgr -rearm[/em] which will then add an additional 30 days to your trial offer. As we said, this doesn’t go against any kinds of End User License Agreement (EULA), so there isn’t any worry about legal ramifications of any sort.

By running the -rearm line, you are essentially continuing from where you left off. You don’t lose any data or anything of the sort. Microsoft is well aware of the command line, as it is traditionally intended for administrators. Simply resetting the 30 days gives the user unlimited use, so you can feel free to test all the stuff you want, at your leisure.

[via Computer World]

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Five tech things I want

Michael Gartenberg — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:37:46 +0000

We’ve come so far these days in the world of personal technology but in some ways, we’re still missing the mark. Sure it’s the middle of summer but here are five things I’d like to see on the market this (or any) holiday season:

All day battery life – You’d think at this point this would be a no-brainer. I want my laptop to have the same battery attributes as my phone. Namely, I want it to get to through my longest and hardest working day or two days of casual use. I also want it to do so without the need of an battery the size of something that belongs in my car and doesn’t totally ruin the whole aesthetics of the laptop. Is this that hard? Note, I want real world use. That means the screen lit up brightly, wireless options on and someone actually using the machine. No faux benchmarking tests that don’t bear any resemblance to real world use please.

A Great Star Trek game – Come one. How hard could this be? Star Trek and PCs should have yielded something by now. Why are there no great Star Trek games? Sure, we’ve come close a few times, most notably with the late, great, Bridge Commander but why is it so hard to create a faithful simulation of commanding the Starship Enterprise?

Updated versions of X-Wing and Tie Fighter – Lest you think I’m some kind of Trekkie fanboi, I also want the return of LucasArts’ X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Unlike the Trek franchise, these were fantastic titles that totally captured the spirit and feel of the movies and were some of the best games of all time. Except try to play one under one of today’s “modern” operating systems. It’s time for updated versions that can use today’s PC horsepower and graphics; that could take amazing game play and make it indistinguishable from the movie. Red Five is standing by.

Alternative OS to Mac OS/Windows/Linux – I want something more than what we currently have, which are all essentially derivatives of the stuff that was designed more than thirty years ago at Xerox PARC. It’s all the same metaphor of Windows/Mice/Icons and hierarchical storage that does its best to replicate the old file cabinets I have stored in the basement. Newton OS was truly different from anything that had come along prior, but never had the chance to mature. After all these years, can’t we possibly do something a little better and a bit more interesting and functional? Note, Google’s Chrome OS isn’t what I’m looking for. Conceptually, that’s a step backward as far as I’m concerned to the green screen architecture of the 1970s.

A Really Cool digital watch – Digital watches are great. They’re far more accurate than any analog watch. (the cheapest Timex will keep better time than the most expensive Rolex) but somewhere along the line digital watches got really boring. We used to see amazing, cool designs from companies like Seiko and even Casio. Sadly, choices today are limited to the most basic utilitarian stuff at the low end of the line or a bunch of boring versions of models that haven’t changed in their functionality since 1980. There were a lot of cool experiments with watch technology from Microsoft with their Smart Personal Object Technology and Fossil with their late, great Palm watch. It’s time for something cool to strap on my wrist once more that can do more than just tell time. Two-Way Wrist TV and Phone anyone?

That’s my tech wish list. What are the five things you’d most like to see?

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Lenovo ThinkPad T400s laptop review

Vincent Nguyen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:04:26 +0000

Straddling the divide between ultraportable and mainstream notebook, Lenovo’s ThinkPad T400s squeezes a business-friendly 14.1-inch LED-backlit display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor and integrated WWAN into a chassis just 0.83-inches thick. SlashGear had the opportunity for a pre-release hands-on; check out our first impressions after the cut, together with some preliminary T400s benchmarks.

There’s no mistaking the T400s for a CULV notebook when you look at the spec sheet. Lenovo offer a choice of standard-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processors, either the 2.4GHz SP9400 or the 2.53GHz SP9600chips, plus either up to 256GB of SSD or 250GB of HDD storage and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. There’s also an integrated optical drive, a 9.5mm slim line DVD burner or Blu-ray player, plus a 34mm ExpressCard slot or 5-in-1 multimedia card reader. Graphics are courtesy of Intel’s GMA 4500MHD chipset, with no higher-spec options. Lenovo also fit WiFi as standard, and offer optional Bluetooth, WWAN (either AT&T HSPA or Verizon EVDO Rev.A, using Ericsson or Qualcomm chipsets respectively), WiMAX or ultrawideband connectivity. That’s a decent list, but we wish Lenovo had used Qualcomm’s Gobi chipset, which would’ve supported not only HSPA and EVDO in the same modem, but GPS as well.

The display runs at WXGA+ 1440 x 900 resolution and is now LED backlit. Meanwhile ports include DisplayPort and VGA, together with two USB 2.0, a combo USB/eSATA, audio in/out and gigabit Ethernet. One of the USB ports remains powered even when the T400s is shut off, for charging peripherals and PMPs, while there’s also a fingerprint reader for security. Cleverly, the fingerprint reader can also be used to simultaneously power on and log into the T400s, in a single swipe.

As well as that more obvious security, the T400s also has a number of more advanced options should your ThinkPad get stolen. You can set the notebook to ping a remote server periodically, and if you report it stolen then – assuming you’ve encrypted the hard-drive, which is relatively easy to do – you can lock up or even entirely wipe the T400s. It’s not something we tested out on our review unit, but from Lenovo’s demo it seems a straightforward process.

The webcam has been upgraded to a 2-megapixel sensor, and the dual digital microphones have been shifted up to the top of the display so as to avoid fan noise. There’s also a heavy emphasis on potential VoIP use, with separate speaker and microphone mute buttons, together with a dedicated VoIP app shortcut key combination. Lenovo claim the speakers on the T400s are more than twice as powerful as those on the T400, and we can well believe it; more impressively, it’s only at the very top end of the scale that you’ll notice any crackle or distortion. Voice pick-up in Skype was clear and free of background noise, while the webcam – although a little over-saturated for our tastes – preserved more detail than those on many notebooks we’ve tested.

The keyboard has also been slightly tweaked over the last-gen model. The usual ThinkPad quality is still there, but gaps between the keys have been tightened up so as to avoid crumbs, and the oft-used delete and escape keys have been pretty much doubled in size to avoid missed-stabs. This might not be a fashionable chiclet keyboard, but it’s an incredibly usable, tactile one, obviously designed for heavy use. If you manage to keep crumbs out but still spill your drink across the T400s, the keyboard drain system funnels liquid out through purposefully created channels.

Lenovo have boosted the touchpad too, flush-fitting with the palm-rest, though despite a 27-percent size increase it’s still smaller than what you’ll find on a MacBook. Like the Apple range, though, the T400s’ pad supports multitouch gestures, including scroll, pinch and zoom. This work as you’d expect, plus as you can see from the pictures there’s also the much-esteemed trackpoint nubbin for those who prefer it.

There’s only one main battery option at launch, a 6-cell Li-Ion pack which Lenovo claim is good for up to 5.5hrs runtime. Switching out the DVD or Blu-ray drive for a secondary battery adds a further 3-cells into the mixture, and ramps that runtime up to 8.5hrs. We haven’t had the secondary battery to test, but from the main pack alone we’ve managed a little over five hours of casual browsing over a WiFi connection. Considering there’s a full-spec processor under the hood, that’s a decent showing.

With that full-spec processor, we had relatively high hopes for the T400s’ Geekbench performance. Our test machine has the 2.53GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM; despite that, it racked up an overall Geekbench score of 2864. That’s worryingly just 20 points more than the last-gen 2.40GHz MacBook Pro from November last year, and almost 1,000 behind the more recent 2.53GHz P8700 MacBook Pro (albeit with 4GB of RAM). Interestingly, the ThinkPad’s Geekbench Integer score actually nudges ahead of the Apple machine, but is let down by its Floating Point score.

Would we pick the Lenovo ThinkPad T400s over an Apple MacBook Pro? Admittedly there’s no directly comparable screen, falling in-between the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro and the newly promoted 13.3-inch version, but either offers similar specifications and, while strikingly different stylistically, similar build quality. Your choice will likely come down to an OS preference, though there’s no mistaking the benefit of the extra wireless options and Blu-ray potential of the T400s over the MacBooks, while Apple strike back with more powerful performance and graphics. We’d be interested to see how the T400s fares with its RAM maxed out, too.

Of course, for many enterprise users it’s Windows or nothing, and as long as you’re not expecting to do any major video crunching the T400s should prove a highly capable machine. The extra screen space, more powerful processor and improved port selection above the T301 come with a relatively minor bulk and weight increase, which the sober casing hides well. We can’t help but wish that the 9-cell battery option of the T400 was available, but the ability to hot-swap the optical drive for a second battery (or a second hard-drive) goes a long way to making up for it. With prices starting from $1,599, the Lenovo ThinkPad T400s certainly isn’t a cheap machine, but if you want something with reasonable processing capability but in a near-ultraportable form-factor, it’s a definite contender.

Lenovo T400s Product demo

Lenovo T400s Run over by 26,000lb DOW truck!

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Goes Tornado Chasing

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NVIDIA: WinCE is priority over Android for Smartbooks

Chris Davies — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:07:49 +0000

Microsoft and NVIDIA are working together to optimize Windows CE for Tegra-based Smartbooks, with NVIDIA exec Mike Rayfield describing Android as having a “rough user interface”. Windows CE, meanwhile, has a “low memory footprint and a good collection of apps” and “is a rock-solid operating system that has been shipped billions of times” claimed the general manager for NVIDIA’s mobile business unit.

After the cut: 1080p Tegra Smartbooks and more on the Tegra Zune HD rumors

Their work centers on best balancing Windows CE’s use of the 750MHz ARM11 processor and the 1080p high-definition capable graphics chipset that make up Tegra. The upshot will be longer battery life and improved graphical capabilities, such as 1080p output via HDMI. NVIDIA is still working with Google to develop a Tegra-friendly Android build, but it will be around a year before there’s a version suitable for Smartbooks he suggests.

One of the key drawbacks for Android in Tegra implementations is its lack of hardware graphics acceleration support. All video and graphics rendering is currently done in Java code, which Rayfield says is too slow for HD; Google would not comment on Rayfield’s statements.

Rayfield also declined to comment on recent claims that Microsoft have decided to use NVIDIA’s Tegra platform for their upcoming Zune HD PMP. “Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that,” he told Computerworld, “so until they comment, I can’t.” However he did confirm that NVIDIA are working to optimize Tegra for use with Windows Mobile, a fact which will likely reignite speculation that upcoming Microsoft smartphones might use the HD-capable platform.

[via WMPowerUser]

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dmedia M0 WiMAX MID gets video hands-on

Chris Davies — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:05:30 +0000

We called dmedia a “damp squib” when they failed to show up with their promised WiMAX MID at CES; they countered by tipping a Computex launch, and sure enough the 4.3-inch touchscreen device appeared. The M0 has a Fujitsu WiMAX module together with a Samsung 533-800MHz CPU and 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, plus a 5-megapixel camera.

Video hands-on after the cut

There’s also a second, lower-resolution camera up front for video calls, and the WiMAX connectivity is accompanied by Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP support. There’s also A-GPS and GPS, a USB port, orientation sensor and a microSD card slot.

The dmedia M0 runs Windows CE 6.0 R2, measures 137 x 74 x 14.5 mm and weighs under 200g. No word on which locations it might launch in, but considering the US does have a (fledgling) WiMAX network it would certainly make sense for dmedia to at least explore bringing it over.

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Jointech JE100 ebook reader: 7-inch touchscreen

Chris Davies — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:49:08 +0000

Jointech have announced their new JE100 ebook reader, a 7-inch device that uses an LCD touchscreen rather than an e-ink display. Based on Windows CE 5.0, the Jointech JE100 will likely not only boast Mobipocket Reader, MSReader and eReader support, but play back video and audio files together with viewing and editing Microsoft Office documents.

Inside there’s a 400MHz CPU, 128MB of flash memory and 64MB of RAM. Transflash cards up to 4GB in capacity can be used to boost storage, and there are two USB ports: one a host, for plugging in external peripherals such as a QWERTY keyboard, and the other a slave, for hooking up the JE100 to a computer where it presumably mounts as an external drive.

There’s also an integrated speaker and audio output socket, and battery life is rated at 3-6hrs from the 1,500mAh pack. That’s low compared to an e-ink ebook reader, which use far more frugal E Ink panels, but of course the JE100 displays color and video which for some will make it a more tempting prospect. No word on MRSP as yet.

[via MobileRead Forums; live photo from hktdc]

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Acer Android netbook will be dual-OS: no escape from Windows

Chris Davies — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:08:57 +0000

When Acer global vice-president Jim Wong said the company would continue to supply Windows netbooks alongside their new Android netbooks, we didn’t expect that to mean dual-booting. However, much to Linux-lovers dismay (and in fact anybody who wanted to avoid the so-called “Windows tax” of roughly $25 for an XP license), company president JT Wang has now confirmed that at least the first wave of Android netbooks will come with both open-source and Microsoft OS.

The Android/Windows XP dual-boot netbooks are expected to go on sale in Q3 this year, with Wang suggesting that Acer will work closely with carriers to sell these particular models. If demand for a solely-Android machine is there – from telecoms providers, at least – then Acer will consider dropping their dual-OS strategy.

Wang described the move as “much safer” for Acer, given lack of consumer acceptance for Android at its present developmental stage. The company is likely to promote Android as a value-added feature for mobile use, given the platform’s emphasis on connectivity.

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Windows 7 confirmed for October 22nd release

Chris Davies — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:22:53 +0000

Microsoft have announced that Windows 7 will see its official release on October 22nd 2009. The OS – which is currently in public beta – will be officially available in seven different versions, from the Windows 7 Starter, intended for netbooks and the like, all the way through to Windows 7 Ultimate, with Enterprise, Home and Pro versions along the way.

For Microsoft, it’s a chance to claw back users’ trust after Vista proved something of a disappointment. Early feedback on Windows 7 suggests that it blends the relatively light footprint of XP with the visual appeal of Vista, throwing in extra usability to boot.

As for the beta, that will remain operational for those too cheap or too lazy to buy the official release up until June 1st 2010. However as of March 1st it will begin shutting down every two hours, which Microsoft describes as a “friendly reminder” that they want their tithe.

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SilverPac SilverFrame with touchscreen, WiFi-n, SideShow and media streaming

Chris Davies — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:01:18 +0000

SilverPac have announced [pdf link] their SilverFrame Advanced Digital Picture Frame (ADPF) at Computex 2009, and as the name might suggest this is miles apart from the cheap photo display you can find in Best Buy bargain bins. The ADPF runs Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and supports Windows SideShow and Windows Live FrameIt for displaying online content on its 10.1-inch 1024 x 576 touchscreen.

What that means is that the frame will not only show local photos, play video and stream music from across a network, but it can sync with your calendar, show emails and allow for replies, and view photos from Picasa, Photobucket, Facebook and a Windows Live account. Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0, infrared (for the remote control), a multiformat memory card slot and both full-sized USB and a micro-USB port.

The whole thing is driven by a Freescale processor with 512MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage, and there are twin 1.5W speakers plus a rotation sensor that will automatically flip the screen orientation. In addition to photo frame and internet widget duty, it can also run Internet Explorer and various IM clients.

The SilverFrame is on show at the Microsoft stand at Computex, but there’s no word on a release unfortunately. SilverPac are an OEM and as such are looking for a brand who will pick up the design; until that happens, there’s no way of knowing even whether it will reach the market, never mind for how much.

[via DigitalPictureFrameReview]

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Windows Vista and Server 2008 Service Pack 2 released

Steven Grady — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:36:34 +0000

Microsoft released the final version of the Vista and Server 2008 SP 2 today and they can be downloaded through the Microsoft Update center on your PC. For both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, any beta builds of SP 2 MUST be uninstalled before attempting to install the final version. In order to uninstall the beta build, use the Control Panel application Programs and Features, select “View installed updates”, and look for KB94846 in “Windows”.

Included updates include:
* Hardware ecosystem support and enhancements
o SP2 adds support for the 64-bit central processing unit (CPU) from VIA Technologies, which adds the ID and vendor strings for the new VIA 64-bit CPU.
o SP2 integrates the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, which contains support for Bluetooth v2.1 and Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi Configuration. Bluetooth v2.1 is the most recent specification for Bluetooth wireless technology.
o SP2 improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode.
o SP2 includes updates to the RSS feeds sidebar for improved performance and responsiveness.
o SP2 includes ability to record data to Blu-Ray Disc media.
* Operating system experience updates
o SP2 includes Windows Search 4.0, which builds on Microsoft’s search technology with improved indexing and search relevance. It also helps find and preview documents, e-mail (including signed e-mail messages), music files, photos, and other items on the computer. The search engine in Windows Search 4.0 is a Microsoft Windows® service that is also used by programs such as Microsoft Office Outlook® 2007 and Microsoft Office OneNote® 2007. Autotuning Diagnostics in SP2 now interprets current network conditions when implementing Windows scaling. This feature includes full netsh support.
o SP2 improves Windows Media Center (WMC) in the area of content protection for TV.
o SP2 removes the limit of 10 half open outbound TCP connections. By default, SP2 has no limit on the number of half open outbound TCP connections.
* Enterprise improvements
o SP2 provides the Hyper-V virtualization environment as a fully integrated feature of Windows Server 2008, including one free instance with Windows Server 2008 Standard, four free instances with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise and an unlimited number of free instances with Windows Server 2008 Datacenter.
o SP2 increases the authentication options for WebDAV redirector, enabling Microsoft Office users greater flexibility when authenticating custom applications using the WebDAV redirector.
o SP2 provides an improved power management (both on the server and the desktop), which includes the ability to manage these settings via Group Policy.
o SP2 improves backwards compatibility for Terminal Server license keys. Windows Server 2008 changed the licensing key from 512 bytes to 2,048 bytes which caused clients using older Terminal Server versions to fail. SP2 allows legacy license keys on Citrix applications to work with Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server.
* Setup and deployment improvements
o Provides a single installer for both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.
o Includes the ability to detect an incompatible driver and either block service pack installation or warn users of any potential loss of functionality.
o Provides better error handling and descriptive error messages where possible.
o Improves manageability through logging in the system event log.
o Provides a secure install experience.
o Includes the ability to service the installer post release.

[Via Ars Technica]

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Acer easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server: 1TB+ for $400

Chris Davies — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:17:50 +0000

Acer have announced their first consumer NAS running Windows Home Server, the Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N. It may not have a snappy name, but it does have 1TB of standard storage plus three hot-swappable 3.5-inch hard-drive bays for a total of 7TB capacity. There are also five USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA connection.

Windows Home Server is kept chugging along on an Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor, paired with 2GB of DDR2 RAM. Network connectivity is via a gigabit ethernet connection, and the whole thing measures 8.3 x 7.8 x 7.08 inches.

Acer have slapped on various neat usability touches, including a top-mounted power button (since the easyStore will likely be living under a desk) and a one-touch copy button that backs-up a USB device to designated folders, including sorting files by type. Windows Home Server does its usual backup chores, creating drive images of any PC on the network.

The Acer Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server is available now, priced at $399.99.

Press Release:

New Acer® Aspire easyStore Home Server
Provides Access to Family’s Digital Data From Anywhere in the World

Networks PCs, centralizes data and provides daily data back-ups for just $399

SAN JOSE, CALIF., May 21, 2009 – Acer, the third largest vendor in the PC market, today announced the new Acer® Aspire easyStore Home Server for customers in the United States. Designed for households and home-based businesses with multiple PCs, Aspire easyStore offers a simple way to network home computers, centralize, share and protect digital data as well as access it remotely from anywhere in the world.

Outfitted with Microsoft® Windows® Home Server, the Aspire easyStore offers many benefits. For example, parents can access their children’s homework while traveling for business. They can also upload videos and photos from sports events or summer vacations to the server, even while away from home. At any time, from anywhere, every family member with a PC in the home network can access photos, videos, music and other documents from the home server. This centralization of digital data saves significant time by eliminating the need to transfer data from one PC to another, every time someone wants a photo, video or other document that’s stored on another PC. It’s also a safeguard. If a netbook or notebook is damaged, lost or stolen, users don’t lose their data along with it, since it’s backed up at home. In addition, when a new system is added to the network, it’s quick and easy to upload data from the computer to the server.

“The trend of multiple computer devices per household continues to grow, particularly with regard to mobility. A significant pain point for consumers is how to consolidate and protect their digital data that’s spread among multiple devices,” said Sumit Agnihotry, Vice President of Product Marketing for Acer America. “Aspire easyStore is the ideal solution for networking home PCs and providing round the clock data protection. Offering remote access to digital data at home from anywhere in the world and automatic daily back-ups, it’s the perfect companion to netbooks and notebooks. It’s an extremely practical and affordable way to simplify and manage one’s personal digital life.”

“It’s great to have Acer as a valued partner for Microsoft’s Windows Home Server in North America. Acer’s solution gives consumers new options for purchasing Microsoft Windows Home Server. And Acer’s reputation as a key contributor in the PC and consumer electronics field further demonstrates the industry’s commitment to this growing product category,” said Kevin Kean, General Manager, Windows Home and Small Business Server Group at Microsoft.

Small and Stylish Design, Significant Storage Capacity
Smaller than standard servers, the handsome black tower measures just 8.3-inches (H) x 7.8-inches (W) x 7.08-inches (L). HDD status LEDs emanate a soft blue light and complement the handsome black bezel. The power button is located on top for easy access and reach. One-touch USB copy enables quick file uploading. Users just plug in the USB device and push the button. The data is automatically sorted and stored by file type into designated folders.

Outfitted with an Intel® Atom™ processor 230 and 2GB DDR2 memory, the Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server has the guts to organize and back-up files quickly. The 1TB hard drive and three hot-swappable hard drive bays available for storage expansion provide enough room for filing, storing and backing-up a vast library of songs, videos, photos, games and documents.

The hot swappable HDD cage enables users to increase their data storage, by adding up to three 3.5-inch internal hard drives, which means it offers up to about 7 TB of total data storage. The cage is outfitted with release levers for each drive to keep them secure. In addition, a recovery/reset pinhole provides additional data protection by enabling system restores and data recoveries with just one-touch.

The server works with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) 1.5 Certified Home Server (DMS) and digital media player (DMP) to enable music playback as well as photo and video viewing on a TV. For internet security, Aspire easyStore comes with a six-month free trial of McAfee Total Protection Service.

Windows® Home Server Simplifies Home Computing, Enables Remote Access

Microsoft® Windows® Home Server centralizes digital media in one location, making it easy to access files, photos, videos and music from any PC on the network. It also protects critical data by creating an image-based backup of every home computer every day, so users can restore a single file or an entire PC. With Windows Home Server, users can access the home network from the office or the road, for full access to their files and applications, just as if they were sitting in front of their home PC.

Specifications, Pricing and Availability
The Acer® Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server is available in the U.S. via leading online technology retailers and authorized resellers.

Acer® Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server: Available now for a MSRP of $399.99

* Intel® Atom™ Processor 230 (1.6GHz)
* Microsoft® Windows® Home Server
* 2GB DDR2 Memory
* 1TB Hard Drive
* Three Empty Hot Swappable Hard Drive Bays
* Five USB 2.0 Ports
* One eSATA Port
* 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
* 200 Watt Power Supply
* RJ-45 LAN Port

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100,000 PCs wiped as malware pulls “Kill OS” trigger

Chris Davies — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:35:00 +0000

If ever there was a good reason to keep your computer spyware-free, this is it. Last month a group of more than 100,000 Windows-based PCs saw their operating systems self-destruct, after the botnet that infected them issued the “nuclear option”. Little-used, though apparently present in several different types of trojan, the “kos” or “kill operating system” command basically wipes access to the user’s system.

Use of such a feature is generally considered counterproductive to a botnet user’s primary goal, which is to acquire as many passwords, credit card details and internet banking credentials as possible, without the computer’s owner being aware. Security experts are now debating why this recent botnet – which consisted of PCs primarily in Poland and Spain – self-destructed.

One theory is that it was done to delay individuals from discovering their accounts had been compromised. S21sec’s Jozef Gegeny suggests that the self-destruct in effect “[takes] the victim away from [their] Internet connection – before the unwanted money transfer is realized and further actions could be taken.” Another possibility is user error: Roman Hüssy, who oversees botnet-tracker site Zeustracker, described the typical user of such a malware network as “not very skilled”.

The “kos” command is confirmed to be present in the latest versions of the Zeus trojan. For more details on the malware – which offers hackers access to the compromised computers for just $700 – check here.

[via Slashdot]

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Yinlips G80 PMP/MID gets video reviewed

Chris Davies — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:22:19 +0000

I’m vaguely suspicious about something called the Yinlips G80 but, judging by MP4 Nation’s review, the touchscreen MID/PMP might actually fill the slot that the SmartQ 5 MID proved unable to. A 4.3-inch QVGA resolution touchscreen with a clamshell design, the G80 has WiFi for browsing and internet radio, plus USB host support and two 1.3-megapixel cameras.

Video review of the Yinlips G80 after the cut

That means you can plug in USB devices such as flash drives, external hard-drives and input peripherals, boosting the G80’s 4GB of standard storage (via microSD card) or making browsing and usage more straightforward via a full-sized keyboard and mouse. We have Windows CE 5.0 to thank for that, which seems to cope well with the Samsung ARM 533MHz processor, and battery life manages 4hrs WiFi browsing or 5-6hrs of internet radio.

Audio playback isn’t the best – there’s a low-level hiss in the background – and video quality is limited by the screen’s resolution, but browsing is fair, especially with mobile versions of sites. Plus, because of its CE roots, there’s flexibility to load new apps and readily tweak the setup. Not bad for under $160 through importers.

Part 1:

Part 2:

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Seagate Replica for Windows is like Time Machine

Brenda Stokes — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:38:19 +0000

If you use a PC but have been envious of those Apple users that have been able to take advantage of Time Machine backup, you’re now in luck. Seagate is offering the Replica, which offers Time Machine-like storage for PCs.

The Replica makes it so you can restore documents, applications and various other items should your PC ever crash. It works in a continuous backup fashion, so you don’t have to manually back up your data–though you can if you want.

You can also use it to restore individual files that you may have deleted by mistake. It works with Windows XP or Vista and comes in 250GB and 500GB versions that will retail for $129.99 and $199.99, respectively. The latter of which is intended for multi-PC back up and includes a dock. Both will be available in May.

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Microsoft XP Mode for Windows 7 confirmed

Chris Davies — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:30:04 +0000

Microsoft thought it would leave Windows XP behind when it launched Vista, but the tide of netbooks has kept the old OS active for far longer than expected. Now, the Windows team have confirmed that Windows 7 will have its own little slice of XP DNA, in the shape of an emulator intended for those with legacy apps. Called Windows XP Mode, it will run as a Virtual PC in the new OS.

The Virtual PC will be more integrated with Windows 7 than many will be used to, with XP Mode accessed not as a separate desktop but on a per-app basis. That is, legacy software is installed within the XP Virtual PC but shows up on the Windows 7 Start Menu; apps run as if native to the new OS, alongside Windows 7 software.

Microsoft will “be soon releasing” the Windows XP Mode beta, together with Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. That tallies with suggestions that the XP Mode feature will only be available to those with the Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Windows 7.

[via ZDNet]

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