RK Frantz Software, Inc., a web hosting and design company, has just expanded their operations to include online sales of computer hardware and accessories.
Customers can browse through various products, view detailed descriptions and photos, add items to their shopping cart and process their order quickly and easily.
In-stock items ship the next day, while out of stock items are usually shipped within 3-4 days of order. RK Frantz Software has been in business since 1994 and offers a complete money back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.
For more information, please visit: www.rkfrantz.com.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Free Computer Support No Strings Attached
( http://www.pchelpforum.com ) has been coming to the aid of many computer users all over the world since May of 2004. Over 6 million hits are recorded on this website each and every month which indicates the high popularity of this forum. A group of dedicated volunteers operates PCHelpForum.com, and they are able to answer just about any question that is thrown at them.
If you have a question that has to be answered, have an answer to someone's else's question or if you are just looking to chat, then all you have to do is go through an easy 2-minute registration application and you are ready to go!
There is a wide range of PC related topics where you will find answers to questions you may have. Some of the topics covered include various operating systems such as Windows 95, 98, ME, Vista, XP, 2000, Linux and other operating systems.
If you have questions about hardware then you have come to the right place as well. You will find various topics under this category such as CD and DVD burning, Computer DIY, Graphics, Overclocking, PSU and Overheating issues, printing, sound and every other hardware question you can think of.
The expert International staff which encompasses fourteen time zones is always available to help you as are other PC Help Forum members just like yourself. Everyone can contribute his or her own knowledge about the wonderful world of computers on PCHelpForum.com.
About ( http://www.pchelpforum.com )
PC Help Forum was established to create a free community where users can get help on various PC and hardware related issues. This forum is know as the Internets authority resource for computer information. You can join for free and participate at your own pace.
source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=69979
If you have a question that has to be answered, have an answer to someone's else's question or if you are just looking to chat, then all you have to do is go through an easy 2-minute registration application and you are ready to go!
There is a wide range of PC related topics where you will find answers to questions you may have. Some of the topics covered include various operating systems such as Windows 95, 98, ME, Vista, XP, 2000, Linux and other operating systems.
If you have questions about hardware then you have come to the right place as well. You will find various topics under this category such as CD and DVD burning, Computer DIY, Graphics, Overclocking, PSU and Overheating issues, printing, sound and every other hardware question you can think of.
The expert International staff which encompasses fourteen time zones is always available to help you as are other PC Help Forum members just like yourself. Everyone can contribute his or her own knowledge about the wonderful world of computers on PCHelpForum.com.
About ( http://www.pchelpforum.com )
PC Help Forum was established to create a free community where users can get help on various PC and hardware related issues. This forum is know as the Internets authority resource for computer information. You can join for free and participate at your own pace.
source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=69979
Monday, July 28, 2008
New Zealand teen hacker let off without convictions over US computer invasion
A New Zealand teenager who admitted illegally hacking into a computer system at a university in the United States was discharged without conviction Tuesday but ordered to pay some costs for his actions.
Owen Thor Walker, 18, known by his online name "AKILL," was involved in a network accused of infiltrating 1.3 million computers around the world and skimming millions of dollars from victims' bank accounts.
Walker earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes, two charges of accessing computer systems without authorization, one of damaging or interfering with computer systems and one of possessing software for committing crime.
The charges stemmed from a 2006 attack on the computer system at the University of Pennsylvania's engineering school.
Walker faced a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each charge, but on Tuesday the charges were dismissed and he was released without a criminal record.
Prosecutor Ross Douch and defense lawyer Tony Balme told the Hamilton High Court that New Zealand police were interested in using the teen's skills on the right side of the law.
Detective Inspector Peter Devoy said later that while "there is no offer on the table" for Walker to work with police, "that option is being kept open."
Justice Judith Potter ordered Walker to pay 9,526 New Zealand dollars (US$7,300) for damage caused to the university computer and other costs of NZ$5,000 (US$3,800).
She also ordered him to hand over his computer-related assets to police. These include software and hardware Walker had purchased with the cash he made from his offenses.
Walker allegedly was part of a hacker group said to have infected more than a million computers and caused millions of dollars of damage.
Tuesday's charges did not directly address his alleged role in the network, and police have released only a few details of the operation. They have not filed charges linked to the alleged theft of millions of dollars and have still not explained why no such charges have been filed.
The case against Walker was part of an international crackdown on the group, which police said would assume control of computers and amass them into centrally controlled clusters known as "botnets." Police said the hackers would then use the computers to steal credit card information, manipulate stock trades and even crash industry computers.
Eight people around the world have been indicted, pleaded guilty or have been convicted since the investigation began in June last year. Thirteen additional warrants have been served.
Police said Walker did not take money from people's bank accounts himself, but that software he designed was used by criminals around the world who paid him less than NZ$40,000 (US$30,600).
The FBI has estimated that more than a million computers were infected by the group and put the combined economic losses from the skimming activities and the damage caused to computer systems at more than US$20 million.
The investigation was carried out by the New Zealand police in conjunction with the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and Dutch authorities.
source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/15/asia/AS-GEN-New-Zealand-Cyber-Attacks.php
Owen Thor Walker, 18, known by his online name "AKILL," was involved in a network accused of infiltrating 1.3 million computers around the world and skimming millions of dollars from victims' bank accounts.
Walker earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes, two charges of accessing computer systems without authorization, one of damaging or interfering with computer systems and one of possessing software for committing crime.
The charges stemmed from a 2006 attack on the computer system at the University of Pennsylvania's engineering school.
Walker faced a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each charge, but on Tuesday the charges were dismissed and he was released without a criminal record.
Prosecutor Ross Douch and defense lawyer Tony Balme told the Hamilton High Court that New Zealand police were interested in using the teen's skills on the right side of the law.
Detective Inspector Peter Devoy said later that while "there is no offer on the table" for Walker to work with police, "that option is being kept open."
Justice Judith Potter ordered Walker to pay 9,526 New Zealand dollars (US$7,300) for damage caused to the university computer and other costs of NZ$5,000 (US$3,800).
She also ordered him to hand over his computer-related assets to police. These include software and hardware Walker had purchased with the cash he made from his offenses.
Walker allegedly was part of a hacker group said to have infected more than a million computers and caused millions of dollars of damage.
Tuesday's charges did not directly address his alleged role in the network, and police have released only a few details of the operation. They have not filed charges linked to the alleged theft of millions of dollars and have still not explained why no such charges have been filed.
The case against Walker was part of an international crackdown on the group, which police said would assume control of computers and amass them into centrally controlled clusters known as "botnets." Police said the hackers would then use the computers to steal credit card information, manipulate stock trades and even crash industry computers.
Eight people around the world have been indicted, pleaded guilty or have been convicted since the investigation began in June last year. Thirteen additional warrants have been served.
Police said Walker did not take money from people's bank accounts himself, but that software he designed was used by criminals around the world who paid him less than NZ$40,000 (US$30,600).
The FBI has estimated that more than a million computers were infected by the group and put the combined economic losses from the skimming activities and the damage caused to computer systems at more than US$20 million.
The investigation was carried out by the New Zealand police in conjunction with the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and Dutch authorities.
source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/15/asia/AS-GEN-New-Zealand-Cyber-Attacks.php
Friday, July 25, 2008
WildTangent wants to bring the arcade to the desktop
By Mike Antonucci
Mercury News
Video-game consoles don't make sense, according to Alex St. John.
Flamboyant and impassioned, St. John is the chief executive of a company that hopes to blur the line between PC and console game-playing and revolutionize the economic model for selling games.
St. John runs WildTangent, a Redmond, Wash., developer and publisher of a wide range of downloadable games for PCs.
He's in the middle of launching a new method of playing games via desktop and laptop computers and has announced some of the key ingredients, including deals for console-brand games from high-profile publishers. Announced so far: THQ and Sierra Online.
Talk within the game industry is that WildTangent's major innovation is a new kind of wireless controller that would operate much like the motion-sensitive remote for Nintendo's popular Wii console. St. John apparently has shown it off to some outsiders, leading to information leaks despite confidentiality agreements.
Asked recently if WildTangent's plans include a new form of game controller, St. John said only, "We're not announcing one yet."
But St. John clearly wants to move past the time when companies must take expensive development risks with consoles while consumers must spend hundreds of dollars for both the console hardware and a collection of $50-$60 retail games that typically are played from start to finish.
The solution, as St. John sees it, is to make gaming through PCs more of a console-like experience and to enable people to spread their money or time over an assortment of games, as if they were at an arcade. WildTangent says a consumer's options will include playing any future WildTangent game in low-price sessions - say, $1 for hours of play at a time - or getting the same session for free when advertisements accompany the game's download.
St. John has dubbed everything he's doing - with hardware, software and session-by-session pricing - as the WildTangent Orb. No one facet of the Orb pops out as revolutionary, but everything together amounts to a unique approach.
Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities, a prominent games industry analyst following the Orb announcements, says St. John's approach is well formulated. "That'll work," said Pachter when asked about luring console gamers to Orb's services.
Heading into the game industry's major business summit - this week's console-focused Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles - WildTangent said it was on the verge of releasing the Orb application, which consumers will download from the company's Web site (www.wildtangent.com) and find featured later in the year on computers from Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba.
When all the features, services and control options of the Orb have been unveiled, the highlights are expected to include:
• Automatic detection of whether the consumer's computer has the necessary processing power to display, download and run specific games in a satisfactory way.
St. John, an ex-Microsoft employee who helped create the DirectX technology that's important to game programming, says the typical PC user is overmatched when trying to install a game. Console games have virtually no installation issues.
"I'm a computer expert," St. John said, "and it has been so much of a problem for me (with PC games) that it's the kind of thing that makes you go out and buy a console like the Wii."
• The ability to connect desktop and laptop computers to TV screens and play WildTangent games with console-like graphics and some existing game controllers, without any need for a keyboard or mouse.
Not only can that enhance the visual experience, it's crucial to any multiplayer mode that families and friends want to enjoy without crowding around a tiny PC screen.
• A pricing system that allows consumers to sample and repeatedly play big chunks of games in short or long sessions, instead of buying a full game at a retail box price.
Wild Tangent uses a virtual micro-currency called Wild Coins that can be compared to tokens. Consumers can buy them in small or large amounts and spend them in whatever combinations they choose on game sessions (or for full games if they desire).
There's some family utility as well: Children don't have the credit cards for buying the Wild Coins but parents can do the purchasing and then give kids a dedicated amount to spend, just like tokens at an arcade.
source: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_9885128
Mercury News
Video-game consoles don't make sense, according to Alex St. John.
Flamboyant and impassioned, St. John is the chief executive of a company that hopes to blur the line between PC and console game-playing and revolutionize the economic model for selling games.
St. John runs WildTangent, a Redmond, Wash., developer and publisher of a wide range of downloadable games for PCs.
He's in the middle of launching a new method of playing games via desktop and laptop computers and has announced some of the key ingredients, including deals for console-brand games from high-profile publishers. Announced so far: THQ and Sierra Online.
Talk within the game industry is that WildTangent's major innovation is a new kind of wireless controller that would operate much like the motion-sensitive remote for Nintendo's popular Wii console. St. John apparently has shown it off to some outsiders, leading to information leaks despite confidentiality agreements.
Asked recently if WildTangent's plans include a new form of game controller, St. John said only, "We're not announcing one yet."
But St. John clearly wants to move past the time when companies must take expensive development risks with consoles while consumers must spend hundreds of dollars for both the console hardware and a collection of $50-$60 retail games that typically are played from start to finish.
The solution, as St. John sees it, is to make gaming through PCs more of a console-like experience and to enable people to spread their money or time over an assortment of games, as if they were at an arcade. WildTangent says a consumer's options will include playing any future WildTangent game in low-price sessions - say, $1 for hours of play at a time - or getting the same session for free when advertisements accompany the game's download.
St. John has dubbed everything he's doing - with hardware, software and session-by-session pricing - as the WildTangent Orb. No one facet of the Orb pops out as revolutionary, but everything together amounts to a unique approach.
Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities, a prominent games industry analyst following the Orb announcements, says St. John's approach is well formulated. "That'll work," said Pachter when asked about luring console gamers to Orb's services.
Heading into the game industry's major business summit - this week's console-focused Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles - WildTangent said it was on the verge of releasing the Orb application, which consumers will download from the company's Web site (www.wildtangent.com) and find featured later in the year on computers from Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba.
When all the features, services and control options of the Orb have been unveiled, the highlights are expected to include:
• Automatic detection of whether the consumer's computer has the necessary processing power to display, download and run specific games in a satisfactory way.
St. John, an ex-Microsoft employee who helped create the DirectX technology that's important to game programming, says the typical PC user is overmatched when trying to install a game. Console games have virtually no installation issues.
"I'm a computer expert," St. John said, "and it has been so much of a problem for me (with PC games) that it's the kind of thing that makes you go out and buy a console like the Wii."
• The ability to connect desktop and laptop computers to TV screens and play WildTangent games with console-like graphics and some existing game controllers, without any need for a keyboard or mouse.
Not only can that enhance the visual experience, it's crucial to any multiplayer mode that families and friends want to enjoy without crowding around a tiny PC screen.
• A pricing system that allows consumers to sample and repeatedly play big chunks of games in short or long sessions, instead of buying a full game at a retail box price.
Wild Tangent uses a virtual micro-currency called Wild Coins that can be compared to tokens. Consumers can buy them in small or large amounts and spend them in whatever combinations they choose on game sessions (or for full games if they desire).
There's some family utility as well: Children don't have the credit cards for buying the Wild Coins but parents can do the purchasing and then give kids a dedicated amount to spend, just like tokens at an arcade.
source: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_9885128
Monday, July 21, 2008
Lenovo Launches Complete PC Solution for Small Businesses with New ThinkPad SL Notebooks, Software and Services
Lenovo today unveiled a complete computing solution for small-to-medium business (SMB) users that includes the new SL series of ThinkPad notebooks, value-added software and unique new services. The trio of notebooks - SL300, SL400 and SL500 - feature cutting-edge technologies, such as built-in high speed mobile broadband connectivity(1), excellent multimedia capabilities with an optional Blu-Ray DVD player on select models as well as a black glossy cover for a stylish design. To make the computing experience productive and simple, Lenovo also combined software that helps with everything from data recovery to simplifying Internet connection with a new optional service package featuring on-line data backup and on-site warranty repair.
"The ThinkPad name is synonymous with leadership in notebook computing for the business user," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo. "Now we're bringing the same quality and reliability that ThinkPad is known for to small business customers with a number of leading technologies like high speed mobile broadband and new services and capabilities. ThinkPad customers expect more from their notebook PCs, and with today's announcements, we are pleased to continue our tradition of industry-leading innovation."
Today, Lenovo also announced an additional six new notebooks - the ThinkPad R400, R500, T400, T500, X200 and W500. Lenovo brings many of the technologies first pioneered in the industry-acclaimed ThinkPad X300 notebook, such as solid state drive storage, LED backlit displays and GPS functionality to select models in the line. The new T Series includes models with technologies like switchable graphics and support for Display Port. Using these new technologies, this generation of notebooks offers significant improvements over the previous one, featuring cooler and quieter notebooks with lighter weight and longer battery life. Lenovo offers its first 12-inch widescreen ultraportable notebook, the ThinkPad X200 notebook, in a lighter design than the previous ThinkPad X61 notebook. With a larger keyboard, lighter weight and focus on productivity, the notebook balances performance and portability. Lenovo is introducing the ThinkPad W-Series, the first in a new class of mobile workstations with models offering the mobility of an Open-GL Graphics performance notebook. The newly announced notebooks also expand Lenovo's portfolio of environmentally-responsible notebooks with many of them being rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. All the newly announced ThinkPad notebooks, including the SL Series, are based on Intel's(R) latest Centrino(R) 2 processor technology.
Designed for the Unique Needs of the Small Business
Quality, affordability and service and support are critical factors to SMB notebook users, and Lenovo's SMB solution combines all of those. Lenovo designed the notebooks for the unique way these users work - whether at home, the office, the park or coffee shop. With the need for always-on, 24/7 connectivity growing, select models of all three of the ThinkPad SL notebooks are available with built-in high speed mobile broadband. Lenovo's program with AT&T and Ericsson makes providing optimized mobile broadband service even more affordable and accessible for customers. The notebooks also feature WiFi, Ethernet and optional Bluetooth technologies.
The number of SMB users is growing dramatically. IDC forecasts that in 2009, the SMB segment will command 31 percent of the total notebook (including ultraportables) PC market worldwide and will grow to 76.6 million in 2011. The growth in this space is outpacing the growth in traditional large volume buyers, the large enterprise and very large enterprise. In the United States, IDC forecasts the SMB space to grow from 7.5 million notebook PCs in 2007 to 11.6 million in 2011.(2)
The notebooks also excel with their multimedia capabilities. Speakers, microphones and an optional webcam provide excellent support for Internet voice and video conferencing. And support for HDMI/VGA means users can watch video content, like movies in high-definition. The ThinkPad SL Series also combines looks with performance with a glossy black top cover, a first for ThinkPad notebook design.
"Lenovo created the ThinkPad SL notebooks with entrepreneurs like me in mind," said Sarah Farzam, owner of Bilingual Birdies in New York City. "The notebook's light weight and sleek design makes using it in children's classes easy. The multimedia features are fantastic for meetings with teachers and clients on the go. And its wireless connectivity features are a must have for any small business owner. This notebook will be a vital tool in helping me take my small business to the next level in the children's education industry."
Known in the industry for hardware reliability, Lenovo designed the notebooks with durability and performance in mind. Lenovo's Active Protection System, an air-bag like system, protects the hard drive against drops or falls, and an optional fingerprint reader helps protect against unauthorized users. The ThinkPad SL300 notebook also comes with an available LED backlit display.
"This is the ThinkPad notebook I've been waiting for," said Kevin Oleksa, President, OTS, Inc. "With the SL Series, Lenovo has engineered a notebook that gives me the quality and reliability I trust in Think products but is tailored with the unique technologies small business users need at an affordable price. This will help me better meet my customers' needs and grow my business with Lenovo."
source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/lenovo-launches-complete-pc-solution/story.aspx?guid=%7BBF366F8D-9A3F-4D3D-9331-7FC24B50FDE9%7D&dist=hppr
"The ThinkPad name is synonymous with leadership in notebook computing for the business user," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo. "Now we're bringing the same quality and reliability that ThinkPad is known for to small business customers with a number of leading technologies like high speed mobile broadband and new services and capabilities. ThinkPad customers expect more from their notebook PCs, and with today's announcements, we are pleased to continue our tradition of industry-leading innovation."
Today, Lenovo also announced an additional six new notebooks - the ThinkPad R400, R500, T400, T500, X200 and W500. Lenovo brings many of the technologies first pioneered in the industry-acclaimed ThinkPad X300 notebook, such as solid state drive storage, LED backlit displays and GPS functionality to select models in the line. The new T Series includes models with technologies like switchable graphics and support for Display Port. Using these new technologies, this generation of notebooks offers significant improvements over the previous one, featuring cooler and quieter notebooks with lighter weight and longer battery life. Lenovo offers its first 12-inch widescreen ultraportable notebook, the ThinkPad X200 notebook, in a lighter design than the previous ThinkPad X61 notebook. With a larger keyboard, lighter weight and focus on productivity, the notebook balances performance and portability. Lenovo is introducing the ThinkPad W-Series, the first in a new class of mobile workstations with models offering the mobility of an Open-GL Graphics performance notebook. The newly announced notebooks also expand Lenovo's portfolio of environmentally-responsible notebooks with many of them being rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. All the newly announced ThinkPad notebooks, including the SL Series, are based on Intel's(R) latest Centrino(R) 2 processor technology.
Designed for the Unique Needs of the Small Business
Quality, affordability and service and support are critical factors to SMB notebook users, and Lenovo's SMB solution combines all of those. Lenovo designed the notebooks for the unique way these users work - whether at home, the office, the park or coffee shop. With the need for always-on, 24/7 connectivity growing, select models of all three of the ThinkPad SL notebooks are available with built-in high speed mobile broadband. Lenovo's program with AT&T and Ericsson makes providing optimized mobile broadband service even more affordable and accessible for customers. The notebooks also feature WiFi, Ethernet and optional Bluetooth technologies.
The number of SMB users is growing dramatically. IDC forecasts that in 2009, the SMB segment will command 31 percent of the total notebook (including ultraportables) PC market worldwide and will grow to 76.6 million in 2011. The growth in this space is outpacing the growth in traditional large volume buyers, the large enterprise and very large enterprise. In the United States, IDC forecasts the SMB space to grow from 7.5 million notebook PCs in 2007 to 11.6 million in 2011.(2)
The notebooks also excel with their multimedia capabilities. Speakers, microphones and an optional webcam provide excellent support for Internet voice and video conferencing. And support for HDMI/VGA means users can watch video content, like movies in high-definition. The ThinkPad SL Series also combines looks with performance with a glossy black top cover, a first for ThinkPad notebook design.
"Lenovo created the ThinkPad SL notebooks with entrepreneurs like me in mind," said Sarah Farzam, owner of Bilingual Birdies in New York City. "The notebook's light weight and sleek design makes using it in children's classes easy. The multimedia features are fantastic for meetings with teachers and clients on the go. And its wireless connectivity features are a must have for any small business owner. This notebook will be a vital tool in helping me take my small business to the next level in the children's education industry."
Known in the industry for hardware reliability, Lenovo designed the notebooks with durability and performance in mind. Lenovo's Active Protection System, an air-bag like system, protects the hard drive against drops or falls, and an optional fingerprint reader helps protect against unauthorized users. The ThinkPad SL300 notebook also comes with an available LED backlit display.
"This is the ThinkPad notebook I've been waiting for," said Kevin Oleksa, President, OTS, Inc. "With the SL Series, Lenovo has engineered a notebook that gives me the quality and reliability I trust in Think products but is tailored with the unique technologies small business users need at an affordable price. This will help me better meet my customers' needs and grow my business with Lenovo."
source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/lenovo-launches-complete-pc-solution/story.aspx?guid=%7BBF366F8D-9A3F-4D3D-9331-7FC24B50FDE9%7D&dist=hppr
Thursday, July 17, 2008
NewVoiceMedia Patents "4th Generation CTI" - CTI as a Service Now Available
Hosted Contact Centre provider NewVoiceMedia today announced that it has been granted a UK patent for its Computer-Telephony Integration as a Service. From today, any call centre can implement customer-centric handling simply by using an 08XX number and renting the NewVoiceMedia service ’on-demand’. There’s no new hardware or software integration required, and users can still use their existing switch.
Research shows that 80% of UK call centres have not been able to implement CTI because of the costs involved and the complexity of integration. However, CTI offers major advantages for call centres as it enables them to route calls according to information on the caller held by a CRM system. CTI is much more than screen popping data to the agent before the call is put through. For example, callers can be routed to the last agent they spoke to; loyal customers can be identified by their recent spending patterns and prioritised in the queue; and callers can be given targeted messages while in-queue, making cross-selling much more relevant and effective. Some of the early adopters of this Individual Caller Treatment report sales increases of 15% because of its implementation.
source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/CTI/SaaS/prweb1105164.htm
3D rotary and slider controls for computer notebook screens
What happened to traditional knobs for volume controls on computers? Replaced with + and - controls on the keyboard, and not so easy to find in a hurry.
Imagine a LCD control surface with real knobs, sliders, and switches for your favourite music player, video editor or game. This is SenseSurface, just place the unique controls on your application e.g. a music mixer, and ready to go.
Applications that would normally use a mouse or Qwerty keyboard can be now controlled with traditional knobs. The scroll bar on the right hand side of your computer screen can be controlled with a real slider button.
SenseSurface can be retrofitted to most laptops with a USB input. The sensing knobs have a custom designed movement sensor to determine position within 180 degrees with a 10 bit digital output. The magnetic knobs can be removed and repositioned immediately by picking them up and moving to a different part of screen.
A unique sensing surface is attached to the rear of the laptop screen to detect the control's position. The rotary controls are low friction and there are no screen finger prints as with normal touch surfaces. Linear sliders and switches can also be used on the lcd surface. Controls can be rotated without using a mouse. Applications can include audio and video processing, games and medical. Spreadsheets can be controlled using a rotary potentiometer to set values.
source: http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/article/default.aspx?objid=49280
Imagine a LCD control surface with real knobs, sliders, and switches for your favourite music player, video editor or game. This is SenseSurface, just place the unique controls on your application e.g. a music mixer, and ready to go.
Applications that would normally use a mouse or Qwerty keyboard can be now controlled with traditional knobs. The scroll bar on the right hand side of your computer screen can be controlled with a real slider button.
SenseSurface can be retrofitted to most laptops with a USB input. The sensing knobs have a custom designed movement sensor to determine position within 180 degrees with a 10 bit digital output. The magnetic knobs can be removed and repositioned immediately by picking them up and moving to a different part of screen.
A unique sensing surface is attached to the rear of the laptop screen to detect the control's position. The rotary controls are low friction and there are no screen finger prints as with normal touch surfaces. Linear sliders and switches can also be used on the lcd surface. Controls can be rotated without using a mouse. Applications can include audio and video processing, games and medical. Spreadsheets can be controlled using a rotary potentiometer to set values.
source: http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/article/default.aspx?objid=49280
Monday, March 17, 2008
cold weather tips for your laptop
Regular laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range - normally 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers both to optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using. Protecting your laptop from cold weather is important and you should know how to protect your laptop from cold weather. Protect yourself and your laptop from the damage cold weather can cause.
1. Ruggedized Laptops
If your budget allows, purchase or lease a ruggedized laptop if you will be outside in cold temperatures for extended periods of time. Ruggedized laptops have been designed to work under extreme weather conditions. When you rely on your laptop and can't count on the weather to co-operate - a ruggedized laptop is worth considering. Most ruggedized laptops have been tested according to MIL-STD-810F standards.
2. Careful Storage
Never leave a laptop, even in a well-padded and insulated laptop case in the trunk of vehicle in cold weather. The laptop could freeze and you lose all data contained in it.
3. Let It Warm Up
Once you bring a laptop in from the cold - allow it to warm up to room temperature before booting. The same is true when you go outdoors - allow the laptop to acclimatize to the outside temperature before
booting up.
4. Incorrect Warming Methods
Do not use devices such as mug warmers or pocket warmers to heat or keep a laptop warm. They are not designed for this purpose and can create problems as they will not heat or keep a laptop warm in the right way. They could heat the wrong parts of a laptop or cause it to generate too much heat and melt internal components.
5. Laptop Warmers
There are laptop warmers designed specifically for the purpose of keeping a laptop warm and these are what you should use. Laptop warmers have been tested to ensure they will safely protect your laptop and are a wise investment.
6. Excessive Heat Build-Up
Do not use your laptop while it is still inside a laptop bag. There is no room for air to circulate and you will get heat build-up. You can create your own "box" for your laptop which will allow air to circulate and provide an enclosed area for you to use your laptop. Having the laptop on a raised platform for your laptop within the box will aid in airflow. This laptop box will help keep the laptop warmer as cold air is blocked and the heat generated from the laptop is kept in the box.
7. Protecting Your Display
Don't use heating pads or other external sources of heat to warm up or thaw a laptop display. Allow the display to warm on its own and do not boot up a laptop if you suspect the display is frozen.
8. Stay Out of the Cold
Whenever possible stay out of direct exposure to cold weather conditions by staying in a vehicle, inside a building or other type of shelter. Protecting your laptop from excessive dampness or wet from snow will keep your keyboard from freezing and other problems from developing.
9. Change Power Settings
By changing the power settings from power save mode will help keep the laptop warm as it continues to run. Instead of having the hard drive shut down, keep it spinning. The longer the laptop can be kept left running, the warmer it will stay as it generates its own heat.
10. Don't Get Creative
Last but by no means least - do not create your own devices to keep your laptop warm! This is especially important if you are using a company owned or leased laptop. You will be responsible for any damage caused and will have to have it repaired or replaced at your own expense.
article by: Catherine Roseberry,
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/laptopstabletpcs/tp/coldweathertips.htm
Friday, March 14, 2008
things to know before buying a laptop
As a mobile office worker your unique needs for a laptop computer mean that what you want in a laptop will differ from those looking for personal use laptops. You want a laptop that you can take with you easily. You need to have the ability to connect to the Internet and company networks in a variety of methods and have a laptop capable of undertaking your daily work tasks. Evaluate the tasks you perform and compare them against the laptop features to ensure you get the right laptop.
Lease or Buy a Laptop
When making the decision to buy a laptop for mobile use, it's important to consider the options you have available. You can purchase new, used or refurbished or even lease a laptop. Decide what factors are most important and keep in mind what your budget will allow. If state of the art technology is key, then leasing is your best option. Examine your options before you buy a lapop.
The Case for Leasing
Previously Owned Laptops
Size and Weight
The next important criteria when you buy a laptop is size and weight. The best choices for mobile office workers are thin & light laptops and ultra-portable designs. You'll find these laptops offer the best mobility options and make the most sense when you have to travel with your laptop. Laptops meant to replace desktop systems may be too heavy to carry for long periods of time but can provide features valuable to mobile professionals.
Ultraportable Laptops
Thin & Light Laptops
Desktop Replacment Laptops
Connectivity
As a mobile office worker having the ability to connect to an office network and the Internet are integral to successfully working in a mobile environment. Laptops with multiple connection options are what will suit mobile workers and leave them with the ability to get connected in practically any situation. Consider the different types of situations where you will need remote access and make sure that your laptop will have the networking capabilities included or easily added.
Wi-Fi Connection Tutorial
Create Network Connections in WinXP
Share Internet Access
Batteries
Mobile workers need laptops that have long battery lives and even better are laptops that allow you to add an extra battery. You never know if your mobile work will take you to places where electricity is not an option. Traveling by air, rail or bus are prime examples. It's also worth looking at how long it takes to recharge your laptop batteries.
Extend Laptop Battery Life
PowerPlus 60 Universal Battery
Laptop Battery Basics
Security Features
Mobile office workers must accept that their laptop will be a prime target for theft. Know what security measures you can take and what security options are available with the laptop you choose. Making the decision for a higher-end laptop that includes security options can save you money and grief.
Notebook Security Cables
Personal Firewall Software
Threats to Safety & Security
Specifications
Just as mobile office workers need to consider the above, they must also realize what the minimum and maximum acceptable specifications laptops have. It makes no sense to buy the smallest laptop possible but not have the processor speed or RAM to carry out your job functions. Keyboards and monitors are also important - if they are too small you won't be able to work effectively and may perhaps cause injury or strain.
Upgrades
As with all technology, mobile office technology is constantly changing and improving. If your laptop can't be upgraded it can be become a hindrance rather than an effective tool. Watch for laptops that have onboard components that can't be upgraded and try to avoid those. Remember that networking technology is always improving and changing and you could be left without an efficient means of connecting to your company network or the Internet.
Warranties & Support
As a mobile worker it's key that your laptop be in good working order and if you do need repair work that you have resources for either quick repair or replacement. Purchasing additional warranty coverage and getting 24/7 support are important considerations when looking at laptop manufacturers. It's also important to know if the laptop manufacturer provides local and/or international support.
article by: Catherine Roseberry,
http://mobileoffice.about.com/cs/laptops/bb/byblaptop.htm
Lease or Buy a Laptop
When making the decision to buy a laptop for mobile use, it's important to consider the options you have available. You can purchase new, used or refurbished or even lease a laptop. Decide what factors are most important and keep in mind what your budget will allow. If state of the art technology is key, then leasing is your best option. Examine your options before you buy a lapop.
The Case for Leasing
Previously Owned Laptops
Size and Weight
The next important criteria when you buy a laptop is size and weight. The best choices for mobile office workers are thin & light laptops and ultra-portable designs. You'll find these laptops offer the best mobility options and make the most sense when you have to travel with your laptop. Laptops meant to replace desktop systems may be too heavy to carry for long periods of time but can provide features valuable to mobile professionals.
Ultraportable Laptops
Thin & Light Laptops
Desktop Replacment Laptops
Connectivity
As a mobile office worker having the ability to connect to an office network and the Internet are integral to successfully working in a mobile environment. Laptops with multiple connection options are what will suit mobile workers and leave them with the ability to get connected in practically any situation. Consider the different types of situations where you will need remote access and make sure that your laptop will have the networking capabilities included or easily added.
Wi-Fi Connection Tutorial
Create Network Connections in WinXP
Share Internet Access
Batteries
Mobile workers need laptops that have long battery lives and even better are laptops that allow you to add an extra battery. You never know if your mobile work will take you to places where electricity is not an option. Traveling by air, rail or bus are prime examples. It's also worth looking at how long it takes to recharge your laptop batteries.
Extend Laptop Battery Life
PowerPlus 60 Universal Battery
Laptop Battery Basics
Security Features
Mobile office workers must accept that their laptop will be a prime target for theft. Know what security measures you can take and what security options are available with the laptop you choose. Making the decision for a higher-end laptop that includes security options can save you money and grief.
Notebook Security Cables
Personal Firewall Software
Threats to Safety & Security
Specifications
Just as mobile office workers need to consider the above, they must also realize what the minimum and maximum acceptable specifications laptops have. It makes no sense to buy the smallest laptop possible but not have the processor speed or RAM to carry out your job functions. Keyboards and monitors are also important - if they are too small you won't be able to work effectively and may perhaps cause injury or strain.
Upgrades
As with all technology, mobile office technology is constantly changing and improving. If your laptop can't be upgraded it can be become a hindrance rather than an effective tool. Watch for laptops that have onboard components that can't be upgraded and try to avoid those. Remember that networking technology is always improving and changing and you could be left without an efficient means of connecting to your company network or the Internet.
Warranties & Support
As a mobile worker it's key that your laptop be in good working order and if you do need repair work that you have resources for either quick repair or replacement. Purchasing additional warranty coverage and getting 24/7 support are important considerations when looking at laptop manufacturers. It's also important to know if the laptop manufacturer provides local and/or international support.
article by: Catherine Roseberry,
http://mobileoffice.about.com/cs/laptops/bb/byblaptop.htm
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
What is wireless broadband (or Wi-Fi)?
Wi-Fi, also know as 'wireless broadband', 'wireless networking' or 'wireless fidelity', simply means broadband without the wires.
The advantage of small, portable devices like laptops and PDA's is that they can be used anywhere around the house, but if you want to access the internet on them too you'll need a Wi-Fi transmitter.
Once you've got Wi-Fi, you can access the web anywhere in the house on any computer!
Wi-Fi makes life easy
Wi-Fi has become very popular because once you have a base station, any number of desktop or laptop computers can be connected to your broadband service without the need for any cables or installing extra phone lines.
So if you have a second computer in an upstairs room, or a laptop as well as a desktop, the same broadband service will be available on all your machines at the same time.
You can even use your laptop in the garden!
Wi-Fi essentials
If you already have broadband and want to add Wi-Fi then you will need a wireless transmitter.
This is sometimes known as a Wireless Access Point (WAP).
Wi-Fi means wireless broadband for all your computers
Typically it's is a small box which plugs into your computer and has one or two short antennas.
Each computer in the house will then need a Wi-Fi adapter to receive the signal.
source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/connect/wifi_1.shtml
Saturday, March 8, 2008
broadband vs. dialup
As well as being 10 - 100 times faster than dial up, broadband is also a permanent connection.
This means that you don't have to 'dial in' every time you want to use the internet. You just start your computer and open a web browser to start surfing.
Dial up access is fine for receiving e-mail, but it takes such a long time to download things like music, video or photos, most people give up before it arrives.
New contentAs well as web pages loading pretty much instantly, new types of content like video and music become something you can enjoy.
Online movies and TV programmes from all round the world are also available as broadband spells the convergence of the internet and television.
This also means more interactive web pages, which include real presenters, 3D environments and live programmes like concerts or festivals.
Online gamesYou will also be able to play exciting online games that take advantage of your broadband bandwidth.
This might not sound appealing to everyone, but these multi-user games are more like online communities than the PlayStation or X-Box games you might be used to.
Players are represented by 3D models of themselves (called avatars) and can move around an entire 3D world.
Many of these worlds now exist and people are even making a living designing virtual islands and buildings and selling them to other players!
Get creativeBut as well as faster downloads, you can also upload information much more quickly.
This is great for sending photos to relatives, video chats (where you can see each other) and sharing files, but it also lets you create new content like music, movies and artwork by collaborating with other people.
Some music software, for example, allows you to work on unfinished pieces written by other musicians.
That way hundreds of users can share the same piece, adding or rearranging sections online.
source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/connect/difference_1.shtml
This means that you don't have to 'dial in' every time you want to use the internet. You just start your computer and open a web browser to start surfing.
Dial up access is fine for receiving e-mail, but it takes such a long time to download things like music, video or photos, most people give up before it arrives.
New contentAs well as web pages loading pretty much instantly, new types of content like video and music become something you can enjoy.
Online movies and TV programmes from all round the world are also available as broadband spells the convergence of the internet and television.
This also means more interactive web pages, which include real presenters, 3D environments and live programmes like concerts or festivals.
Online gamesYou will also be able to play exciting online games that take advantage of your broadband bandwidth.
This might not sound appealing to everyone, but these multi-user games are more like online communities than the PlayStation or X-Box games you might be used to.
Players are represented by 3D models of themselves (called avatars) and can move around an entire 3D world.
Many of these worlds now exist and people are even making a living designing virtual islands and buildings and selling them to other players!
Get creativeBut as well as faster downloads, you can also upload information much more quickly.
This is great for sending photos to relatives, video chats (where you can see each other) and sharing files, but it also lets you create new content like music, movies and artwork by collaborating with other people.
Some music software, for example, allows you to work on unfinished pieces written by other musicians.
That way hundreds of users can share the same piece, adding or rearranging sections online.
source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/askbruce/articles/connect/difference_1.shtml
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
MacBook Air Notebook
there has been s much hype about the MacBook Air Notebook, so here's some specs of the famous hardware straight from the manufacturers:
At 0.16 inch at its thinnest point, just 0.76 inch at its thickest point, and a mere 3.0 pounds, the MacBook Air ultraportable notebook is so compact and light that you can take it everywhere. But unlike other ultraportable laptops, it doesn't compromise on features and performance. The MacBook Air includes a bright 13.3-inch widescreen LED display, built-in iSight camera, 2GB of RAM, 80GB hard drive, and a Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 Cache. You'll also enjoy its full-size Backlit Keyboard with keys that automatically illuminate in low-light conditions, and its spacious solid-state trackpad with multi-touch controls that let you zoom, rotate, swipe, and scroll with just a flick or a pinch. Engineered for the wireless world, the MacBook Air also comes with 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and Apple's new Remote Disc technology, which delivers unparalleled wireless versatility by letting you use any Mac or PC's optical drive.
only one thing i have to say: "WOW!, while wiping off the froth on my mouth. =)
Sunday, March 2, 2008
the best desktop pc
are you looking to buy a new desktop computer? of course what you need is the best, and by best i mean, the cheapest, fastest and the most compatible with your personality and lifestyle.
for me, that would be the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B.
When it comes to performance, the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B ($999 as of November 6, 2006) is a winner: It managed an impressive WorldBench 5 score of 148. The MicroFlex 66B carries a speedy 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 processor and 2GB of memory--the only system in our roundup to do so. It also came configured with an ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card. This system produced the best graphics performance of any cheap PC on our gaming tests, making it a good choice as a versatile, low-cost gaming system.
The MicroFlex 66B came with a 17-inch ViewSonic VP720b LCD monitor that rendered graphics adequately but produced text lacking in sharpness and rather difficult to read at smaller font sizes. Peripherals include a comfortable wireless keyboard and mouse from Microsoft.
this PC has the best value among the desktop pc's out there. it is affordable yet performs well enough for video and graphic editing tasks!
source:Richard Baguley
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127980-page,1-c,desktoppcs/article.html#
Thursday, February 28, 2008
super chip with quadruple memory capacity
Metaram, a new start up company is set to announce a technology that overcomes traditional server memory limitations and allows users to quadruple memory without adding new hardware.
The ability to plug four times the memory into a slot on a motherboard is very attractive and allows servers to perform better, said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Insight 64. "If you can put a terabyte of memory in a system, your entire Oracle database can sit in the memory. That's a rocket booster," Brookwood said.
It also results in cost savings, Brookwood said. Users can add four times the memory capacity without adding CPUs, he said.
Memory manufacturers can plug the chipset on existing memory modules, according to the company. Hynix and Smart Modular Technologies are supplying the technologies in the memory modules, according to Metaram.
a cheaper, better, chipset for our computer servers, definitely good news for business out there, whose system often crashes down due to lack of memory, but can't afford an upgrade due to the expensive cost.
source: Agam Shah, IDG News Service
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142780-c,sdram/article.html
Monday, February 25, 2008
facebook and myspace attacked!
this is a disturbing piece of news. in this day and age when i thought that software security is at its best, hackers were able to penetrate Aurigma Inc.'s Image Uploader, the photo uploader used by facebook and myspace.
Attacks begin when users receive spam or an instant message with an embedded link, said Darren Kemp, the Symantec analyst who authored the advisory. The link takes users to a bogus MySpace log-in page, which tries to steal members' credentials as it also silently probes the their computers for vulnerabilities in Uploader, Apple Inc.'s QuickTime, Windows and Yahoo Music Jukebox.
Symantec has been tracking attacks against the Aurigma vulnerabilities most of the month. More than three weeks, ago, for example, another of its analysts reported seeing evidence of a new multi-exploit hacker toolkit -- presumably the same one analyzed by Kemp -- that included an Image Uploader attack.
Exploits against ActiveX controls are nothing unusual; scores of bugs in the Microsoft-made technology were uncovered and exploited in 2007, according to Symantec. It counted 210 ActiveX vulnerabilities in the first half of last year alone, a prime factor in making IE a popular attack target.
In fact, after the Uploader and Yahoo Music Jukebox vulnerabilities were disclosed, the U. S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, recommended IE users disable ActiveX.
Kemp, however, saw the social networking angle as just as important. "Given the growing popularity of social-networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, attacks leveraging vulnerabilities in their client-side components are not surprising," he wrote in the warning.
Symantec urged users to update the Image Uploader ActiveX control to version 4.5.57.1.
news by respected writer Gregg Keizer
source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9064298&intsrc=news_ts_head
Friday, February 22, 2008
impending computer gridlock
last year i read a news article about the impending gridlock that our internet servers is due to suffer by 2010. it sent shivers down my spine. what will happen? how will we survive? now that we are almost 100% dependent on the internet.
Annabella Bulacan - AHN News Writer, stated in her article that United States-based analyst firm Nemertes Research on Saturday warned over the emerging internet gridlock by 2010 as it further noted that upgrading would cost around $137 billion globally.
In a report that was partly funded by the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) which campaigns for universal broadband in the United States Nemertes expressed alarm on the alleged "drastic slowdown as the network struggles with the amount of data being carried on it."
"We must take the necessary steps to build out network capacity or potentially face internet gridlock that could wreak havoc on internet services," stressed Larry Irving, co-chairman of the IIA in a report by BBC News.
what does this mean for us end users?
Annabella Bulacan - AHN News Writer, stated in her article that United States-based analyst firm Nemertes Research on Saturday warned over the emerging internet gridlock by 2010 as it further noted that upgrading would cost around $137 billion globally.
In a report that was partly funded by the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA) which campaigns for universal broadband in the United States Nemertes expressed alarm on the alleged "drastic slowdown as the network struggles with the amount of data being carried on it."
"We must take the necessary steps to build out network capacity or potentially face internet gridlock that could wreak havoc on internet services," stressed Larry Irving, co-chairman of the IIA in a report by BBC News.
what does this mean for us end users?
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