Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The Nexus One – Google now has a smart phone of its own!

With Apple, it might seem sometimes like they cannot be beat. After all, they have given us some of the best smart phones on the market, right? How can someone compete with what we have gotten from the iPhone?

Well, Google has finally spoken, and it is in the form of a new super-phone that will be called the Nexus One. It is the first super-phone to be released by Google, and as such, it will of course be running the latest version of Android as an operating platform. The handset was premiered recently at a press-only event in California, and it went over very well. One of the new great things about the Nexus One is that it is completely voice activated. So, your text messages can be spoken into existence, as well as your emails. Anywhere that you would input text can now be spoken into existence.

Nexus One

Nexus One

The Google vice president of Android management said that “The Nexus One is where web meets phone”, and by all accounts, he is right. With the ability to pull live feeds and widgets from applications like Facebook, it seems that the Android platform has finally arrived in a form that can compete with the major players. T-Mobile will carry the contract for the phone, which will retail for about $180 with a 2 year agreement. The phone will also be available on Vodaphone and Verizon networks by spring.

It is interesting to note that, by releasing it’s own handset, Google is directly competing with phones like the Droid, which are also carrying the Android platform. This could be a tricky balance… but it is one that Google has obviously thought out. After all, most things that Google touches turn out golden, right?

Motorola Droid – How is it Selling?

As you know, the Motorola Droid has been released, and  yes, it is outfitted with Google Android as an operating system. But how are people responding to the phone, and to the operating system? Well, within the first weekend of the Motorola Droid going on sale, over 100,000 were sold. That is not bad, especially considering that it is a new phone with a relatively new platform for this market. But that is not all – analysts predict that millions will sell by the end of 2010. Over 10 million in all! Not bad, huh?

Not at all, especially for a phone that is going for about $200 with a  two year contract. This is a phone that will get a lot of people excited, and as you can see, it already is having this effect on people – they love it, it is getting great reviews, and why not? After all, it has everything a phone user would want, and with the advent of Google Android as a platform, you will have more open-ended applications then you could possibly know what to do with!

Motorola Droid

Motorola Droid

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May the best OS win

Going against what many people believe, there is actually a very vicious battle going on right now among OS designers. On one note, we have Windows, who is releasing a good operating system that sees a lot of action, but that is in a lot of ways, unable to compete with Google Android, which is not only open-ended, but freely sourced -  meaning that Google Android is being offered for free to phone users who want it. Is this hurting Windows?

Well, you know that it has to be, especially since it is being offered for free! It is hard enough to compete with an operating system that costs a considerable amount of money, and in case you haven’t forgotten, Windows is usually the platform that is the most affordable, but when you get a platform like Google Android, that seems to offer what everyone needs on a high-quality level, a company like Windows starts to sweat a little bit. (more…)

Where Google Androids Future Is Headed

The complete software system, Google Android, is useable on many types of mobiles: phones, PDAs, et cetera.  This is developed by the big names in consumer electronics, such as Google, Motorola, Samsung, Intel, LG, HTC, and several others.  However, Google was the first company in this conglomerate to begin the creation of this system with the goal of bringing one, open standard for every mobile device.  Then, when other businesses joined in, an alliance was born: OHA, or Open Handset Alliance.

The very first Android platform, made with Linux Kernel 2.6, soon came to fruition.  This platform brought the OHA promoters, Sony, Ericsson, Vodafone, and Toshiba Corp, much applause.  As 2008 came to a close, the open source Android was released to the public.  This platform is modified to be used with larger VGA, graphic libraries in 2D and 3D, and MP3s on basic open licenses. (more…)

Where Google Androids Future Is Headed

The complete software system, Google Android, is useable on many types of mobiles: phones, PDAs, et cetera.  This is developed by the big names in consumer electronics, such as Google, Motorola, Samsung, Intel, LG, HTC, and several others.  However, Google was the first company in this conglomerate to begin the creation of this system with the goal of bringing one, open standard for every mobile device.  Then, when other businesses joined in, an alliance was born: OHA, or Open Handset Alliance.

The very first Android platform, made with Linux Kernel 2.6, soon came to fruition.  This platform brought the OHA promoters, Sony, Ericsson, Vodafone, and Toshiba Corp, much applause.  As 2008 came to a close, the open source Android was released to the public.  This platform is modified to be used with larger VGA, graphic libraries in 2D and 3D, and MP3s on basic open licenses.  (more…)

How I plan to spend cyber Monday

As you all probably know, cyber Monday is coming up pretty fast! Cyber Monday is the Monday right after the biggest shopping day of the year, which is the Friday right after Thanksgiving! In the past, cyber Monday was the time to order everything that you couldn’t find at the store on Friday so that you could still have it by Christmas, but things are a lot different now!

The truth is that Cyber Monday Online Deals are just too hard to ignore anymore. In all actuality, Cyber Monday 2009 Online Deals are going to be better than they ever have! If you are smart, (like I believe I am…), you will think twice about getting all of your Christmas presents this year locally, and focus more on cyber Monday online deals. In truth, a lot of websites have picked up on this excitement, and the amount of money that you will be able to save on Cyber Monday this year will drastically out-do any amount of savings you would get shopping locally.

So, I have formulated a plan. This year, I am going to do ALL of my shopping on Cyber Monday.  I am especially looking forward to the deals on name brand clothing and apparel that you can get online, as I have a lot of family members who really enjoy trendy, name brand wear. Of course, I will be on the look for a good Android deail!

So be smart this year, and make cyber Monday your day of choice for Christmas shopping!

New user features of the Android 1.6

There will be a lot of new user features on the Google android 1.6, and here are some of the more notable ones. First off, the framework for the search engine will be given a once over, and will be redesigned. This will result in a quicker, more consistent, and more effective way to get search results over a larger variety of sources. And this can be done from the home screen, making it easier than ever to use your phones search capabilities. (after all, it is a Google!) Also, the system will learn what contacts, results, or apps are more popular, and these will be at the top of your search results, making it easier to find the popular searches first.

For those of you who are a fan of the camera, you will be happy to know that this interface has been improved in several ways. For one, the camcorder and gallery experience has been improved drastically. You can take stills and video more easily by being able to toggle between the two with more ease. You can also select more than one photo for deletion, doing away with some of the tediousness. The camera has also been quickened on the Google Android thanks to the 1.6. It is actually 39% faster than it was, and that is an impressive improvement by anyone’s standards.

And, perhaps the best of all, a new battery usage indicator. This indicator will allow you to not only see how much battery power is left, but to find out which apps are consuming what amount of power on your phone. This way, when your battery starts to get weak, you can stops some applications from running to save power, and you can do it by finding out which ones are using the most energy! This might seem small, but there are a lot of other smart phone users out there who wish they had this feature!

3 Tips to Keep You Safe Online

You can’t emphasize enough on how the Internet has changed our lives. Today every little piece of information you need on virtually any topic however small, the Internet has it covered in different forms from text to video to presentations on different topics. It has also become a global marketplace where billions of dollars are exchanged instantly across the world. With all the positive effects it is inevitable that just like everything else that exists today there are negative effects as well.

People using the internet are vulnerable to viruses, spyware, identity thieves, phishing scams and other cyber crimes, however with a little bit of attention towards these vulnerabilities you could keep yourself safe when you use the internet, here are 3 tips:

•    Use an Antivirus software

Viruses have been the single most dangerous threat to computers for years; it has cost the software industry billions of dollars and spreads very quickly across networks, thus the name virus. Using an antivirus software is essential to keeping you safe online from such malicious software.

•    Use an Anti spyware software

Like viruses, spyware has become common on the net known to quietly track your web usage without your consent; this is fairly a new phenomenon but has become a growing threat and can be just as hazardous as viruses.

•    Use a Firewall

Using firewall software is also required to keep users from gaining unauthorized access to your computer system.

Apart from the above three necessities precautionary measures such as refraining from opening unsolicited mail and accessing potentially malicious websites can also protect you online.

Android 1.6

Well, the time has finally come for the drop of the Android 1.6 download, but what will you get with it? How will it enhance your Android’s performance? There are a few ways in which 1.6 will make your phone better, but let’s first look at what makes the 1.6 different coming out of the gate. Well, as you probably well know, the 1.6 is based on what they call a donut branch of a project called Android open source. This means that it will come with a lot of new features and technologies that were previously unavailable. For one, CDMA will be supported now. Also, additional screen sizes will make use of some apps a lot more user friendly. And speaking of apps, you will now be able to deploy them on even more devices and networks then you could before, all as a result of the 1.6 download.

What will the Android 1.6 SDK be needing though? Does it come without the need for new software or hardware? Well, not entirely. For one, the Android 1.6 will require a newer version of ADT (android development tools) before you can use it. They say that your previous and existing apps will be able to run fine on the 1.6, but it is recommended that you test it once you get the 1.6 SDK (that is, if you don’t have it already).

Adapting to your new developer technology might be tricky at first, but even things like adapting apps to different screen sizes and building gestures will be easy enough, albeit with a little getting used to. The bottom line is that 1.6 will make your Google Android better, and that is what the important thing is. It is going to enhance your phone in a lot of ways, making it even smarter than it already is!

Top 10 NetBook Accessories

2009 has brought the word NetBook into our vocabulary, a mash-up of the two words Internet and notebook computer.  This newfound niche for computers fills a void for those users who need to accomplish more than their Blackberry or iPhone can do, without lugging around a full sized notebook computer.  With most models sporting a 9” or smaller screen and weighing 30% less than a traditional notebook, it’s an ideal traveling partner.

With all the good that NetBooks bring, they still need some accessories to help accomplish tasks better and faster.

1. Case Logic’s Urban Messenger Pak

It doesn’t look like a computer bag, yet holds a NetBook, accessories, phone and more in a stylish package. An adjustable shoulder or hand strap lets you carry the bag on your back or in your hands.

case-logic2. MoGo Presenter Mouse X54

This Bluetooth device gives you the freedom of having a mouse to use since most netbooks compromise the trackpad / touchpad space, without the bulk of standard size mouse.  It also includes a presenter function, allowing you to control your NetBook for slideshow presentations.

presenter-mouse

3. NeatReceipts

This mobile scanner allows you tame all of those loose scraps of paper you accumulate on the road. Its OCR technology captures text into a searchable PDF format for easy archival and retrieval. It’s also great for scanning business cards, since its software easily exports to MS Outlook. Best of all, it’s a small device that is not tough to carry around with you.

neat-receipts4. IOGEAR’s USB Laptop KVM Switch with File Transfer

An essential device used to connect your NetBook to a desktop computer for screen sharing and file transfers.  KVM, or keyboard, video, mouse switch traditionally allows two computers to share the same peripherals, the IOGEAR product also allows file transfers via an on-screen menu system.  This small accessory is a great way to utilize your full sized desktop monitor instead of the netbook’s smaller screen and is essential for fast file transfers and backups.

iogear5. Western Digital’s My Passport Elite 500GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

The perfect accessory for NetBook users who need to carry lots of data with them.  Most NetBooks come installed with very small hard drives and those with SSD drives are usually 32GB and under, but this slim, fashionable device can carry most anything you’ll need.  Transfer at full USB 2.0 speeds and enjoy the multitude of colors it’s available in to match or clash with your NetBook.

wd-my-passport6. Targus Laptop Chill Mat

You need this device to help keep the heat out of your NetBook and off your lap.  NetBooks are small, that’s what makes them attractive, but they still generate heat and that is computer components worst nightmare.  Utilizing the USB port on your netbook for power, this slim, lightweight mat sits under your computer with two powerful fans to keep your netbook running cool all day long.

targuslaptop-chill-mat7. Samsung SE-S084B Slot Loading Slim 8x DVD Burner

Most NetBooks don’t have room for burners in them, but sometimes you need to either burn something or utilize a CD / DVD drive to load new software.  This slim, slot-loading 8x burner is built for netbooks and laptops and can be completely powered by a USB source, no need to carry a bulky AC adapter to use.

samsung-se-s084b8. IOGEAR’s Wireless USB Hub and Adapter Kit

This USB adapter is perfect for setting up in your home or office (or both) to connect your printer, scanner and other USB devices to, then plug the USB adapter into your netbook to utilize those devices wirelessly, up to 30 feet away.

iogears9. Logitech Alto Cordless Keyboard

For NetBook users, this is the Ferrari of accessories to have at home or the office.  If you utilize your netbook on a fulltime basis, having a full sized keyboard is a must-have.  Additionally, the Alto comes with a stand to hold your netbook at a comfortable viewing angle to reduce neck pain.  Cord management is also integrated to keep everything nice and tidy.

logitech-alto-cordless10. SanDisk Ultra II SDHC memory card

A common feature on NetBooks is a built in SD memory card slot, which is perfect since most point & shoot digital cameras on the market utilize the SD technology.  Additionally, it’s a simple way to easily expand the amount of data that can be stored in the netbook without an external hard drive. Sandisk offers cards from 2GB to 32GB to fit almost any budget and need.  Read/write speed is 15mb/second so you won’t wait long for files to transfer.

san-disk-ultra-2-sdhcUtilizing these 10 accessories will allow you to maximize your new NetBook for everything it has to offer, and then some.  Best of all, these are all small enough to carry with you almost anywhere you go.