Software

The Newest Convertible Laptop: The GammaTech D12C

The D12C is a great new convertible laptop computer that will come in handy for a person on the go. It comes with a Core i5 540UM processor and has 8 GB of memory. You can select other options to make your own custom laptop computer such as a smart card reader.

Although the D12C laptop doesnâ€™t have a nice fancy design, many consumers are impressed with its damage proof features. It is drop resistant, shock resistant, spill resistant, dust resistant and battery protected so it is able to be used in extreme dirt and dusty conditions. As part of the testing, the D12C was dropped 26 times from 4 feet high to show it is drop resistant capabilities.

It can be used as a laptop or a tablet PC when needed. Unlike your average laptop, it comes equipped with a carrying handle so no carrying case is needed.

The keyboard has 86 keys and also has six function keys to perform helpful tasks such as turning on and off the laptop, controlling the volume, and mute.

Its other laptop features are a 12.1 touch screen TFT with a LED backlight display, HD audio sound, a built-in web camera, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capability. As part of the HD audio, the laptop comes with two built-in speakers and microphone. An external microphone can be connected using the mic-in phone jack. You can also use headphones with this laptop. The other ports available on this laptop is the USB connector, Ethernet connection and a 15 pin VGA connection.

A standard 6 cell battery is used to power this laptop. The battery life is estimated to be four hours.

For security features, the D12C requires an administrator password and has a fingerprint scanner as well. Other security features are a Kensington Lock Hole and a Smart Card Reader, which is optional.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Bluetooth, Laptop, tablet

The X-Box 360 New Accessory: The Kinect

If you are looking to have loads of fun and own an Xbox 360, then you should definitely purchase the Kinect, which is a new product created for Xbox 360 system. With the Kinect, you are able to play special Xbox 360 games without using a controller. Your body and voice allows you to operate the game through the Kinect technology.

The Kinect system operates using a motion sensor, skeletal tracking, facial recognition, and voice recognition. The built-in motion sensor is able to track the movement of your entire body during the game. The skeletal tracking system creates a digital image of your body based on the data. The facial recognition system stores your face into your created profile to remember you when it is time to play again. The voice recognition system remembers your voice using four microphones inside of the sensor, which allows you to give commands to control the game.

Before playing any Kinect games, you must first set up the system. In order to operate properly, the Kinect sensor need to be placed on a flat surface and must be able to view your entire body. It is recommended that you place the sensor between two to six feet from the floor. Also it should be within six inches of the television.

The play area needs to be free of any clutter to avoid injuries. You should stand at least six feet back from the sensor for the Kinect system to work. If you are playing with more than one player, you should stand at least 8 feet from the sensor.

Currently, the retail price for the Kinect system is $149 without the Xbox 360 gaming system. It comes with the Kinect Adventures game to get you started. The other Kinect games that are available are Kinect Sports, Kinect Joy Ride and Dance Central.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Kinect, Kinect Joy Ride, Xbox

A New Toy for Gamers: The PlayStation Move

Like the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, has a new product that allows you play games using wireless controllers. In addition to the controller, this system also comes with a PlayStation Eye camera, which acts as a sensor to track your movements.

To use the PlayStation Move, you must first own or purchase a PlayStation 3 gaming system. You can connect up to four of the PlayStation Move controllers, which uses Bluetooth communication to connect to the game console. The controllers are required to be used directly in front of the camera in order to work.

The PlayStation Move technology allows the camera to track movement thru the light orb at the top of the controller. The orb changes to different colors during the game as part of the 3D tracking system. Research has found that this system is more
accurate when it comes to tracking motion correctly.

If you are into playing shooting or fighting games, you can purchase additional accessories to make your game play more exciting. You can purchase toy pistols, swords or machine guns and insert your PlayStation Move controller into the accessory to feel like you are really inside of the game.

There are a large variety of games available with the PlayStation 3 gaming system. One of the benefits of using this system is that you have to option to upgrade selected regular PlayStation 3 games such as MAG and Heavy Rain to become compatible with the PlayStation Move system. Some of the other PlayStation Move games are Dance Dance Revolution, Sorcery, and Brunswick Pro Bowling. New games are scheduled to be released in 2011.

There are several options available to purchase this system. Currently, you can purchase the PlayStation Move bundle, which comes with the Sports Champions game, one motion controller, and the PlayStation Eye Camera, for $99.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: PlayStation, Playstation 3, PlayStation Move

New Fitness Gadget to Start the 2011 Year Off Right: The TrekDesk

At the beginning of each year, millions of people make a New Yearâ€™s resolution to lose weight. The creators of the TrekDesk have developed a way people can work and lose weight at the same time. The TrekDesk can be placed over any type of treadmill, which allows you to walk slowly to burn calories while working.

The TrekDesk is a workstation that has a large work area that is 72 inches long by 34 inches wide. It has two adjustment legs to support the desk, which can be increased in height. The desk comes with a paper holder, which allows you to read books, papers, or magazines while you are walking. It also has a file holder with three levels, two cup holders and a place to store your cell phone or headset. It is very easy to assembly and can be folded up to store when it is not being used.

Researchers have found many benefits from using this product. One of the benefits is that it can help improve your health and mental status. Many people become ill due to lack of exercise and not eating correctly. By walking daily, you can lower your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, cancer, and/or diabetes. It also helps fight off depression, anxiety, and stress.

Another benefit is that you will be able to lose weight along with eating the right kind of foods. By sitting at a computer or desk all day, some people do not get enough exercise daily. Even with a busy lifestyle, you will be able to get some type of walking exercise done while you are working. It is recommended that a person take 10,000 steps, which equals 5 miles, per day.

Currently, the retail price of the TrekDesk varies between $479.00 to $589.00 based on the retailer.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Desk, Physical exercise, Weight loss

A New Media Player: Cowon D3 Plenue

A new alternative to the iPod Touch and Galaxy Player may be coming soon to the United States. The Android Cowon D3 Plenue is a touch screen media player, which has several features that you will enjoy. This device allows you to search the web, watch videos and television, listen to music such as FM radio, visit social networking sites such as Twitter and perform other fun activities.

The D3 Plenue runs on Googleâ€™s Android 2.1 operating system, has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, and is available in two colors, black and purple. It will also be available with three different memory storage options, which are 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB. Additional storage can be added with a microSD card.

As of today, no release date has been given but it is expected to be available in 2011. The company, which is based out of Korea, plans to create their own apps for their new product as well.

Although no price has been given for the Cowon D3 Plenue, it will definitely be in competition with the iPod Touch and Galaxy Player. The Apple iPod Touch has been the leader in the portable media player industry since 2007 and has sold over 45 million devices. There have been four different versions of the iPod Touch released with a variety of upgrades. Like the Cowon D3 Plenue, it is also available in different memory storage options and has WiFi capabilities. However, the iPod Touch offer higher memory storage options such as 64GB, allows HD video recording, and video streaming through WiFi.

The Galaxy Player, which was created by Samsung, has also not been released yet in the United States but has been compared to the iPod Touch. It will also operate using Android 2.1 and will have WiFi and Bluetooth capability. The memory storage options will be 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Bluetooth, Cowon, MicroSD

EBook Readers: Which One is Right for You?

There are several brands of eBook readers available on the market today. If you enjoy reading, you may have a hard decision selecting the one that is right for you. Currently, there are three eBook readers that are popular with consumers. Those three eBook readers are the Kindle, Nook, and Sony Reader Touch.

The Kindle was one of the first eBook readers that created by Amazon.com. It comes with a power adapter and USB cable to connect to a computer. The display size is 6 inches and it weighs 8.5 ounces. It has built-in WiFi, which allows you to purchase
and download new eBooks. You can store up to 3500 eBooks on your Kindle. The battery life is estimated to last up to one month if you do not use the wireless option. The current price of the Kindle is $139.00.

Barnes and Noble created the Nook and it is the first eBook reader that has 3G and WiFi capabilities. It is light weight and has the ability to download a new eBook within seconds due to duel wireless options. You can storage up to 1500 eBooks on the Nook. It does have a microSD slot to allow additional storage space. In addition to being an eBook reader, you use it has a MP3 player to play audio books or music. The current price for the Nook is $149.00.

The Sony Reader Touch is a touch screen WiFi eBook reader. It weighs 7.58 oz and is design to make you feel like you are reading directly from a regular book. Its memory size is 2GB and the battery life is estimated to last two weeks. You can store up to 1200 eBooks on this reader. It comes with a built-in dictionary and can be used as a MP3 player as well. The current price for the Sony Reader Touch is $229.99.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: E-book, Sony Reader, Wi-Fi

The New Sony Camcorder: The Bloggie Touch HD Camera

If you are looking to purchase a new camcorder with cool features, the Bloggie Touch HD camera would be a great selection. Created by Sony, this camera is compact, stylish, and great for capturing your special moments in video or picture form by clicking one single button. It has several special features that will make your experience with this camera easy and enjoyable.

One of the features of this camera is that all of your data is store on its internal memory. Using the touch screen, you can scroll thru your pictures and video with a simple touch. Once you have filmed your video or taken your pictures, you can upload your memories directly to your favorite social sites such as FaceBook, Flickr, and YouTube.

Another feature is Duel Record. This feature allows you to record video and take pictures at the same time. Since this camera has 12.8 megapixels, your pictures will come out showing great details.

Some other great features about this camera are that the software is preloaded and it has a built-in USB connector. The preloaded software allows you to tag and label your pictures and video before you upload them to your computer or website. The built-in USB connector allows you to plug your camera directly to your computer without using cables. It also charges the camera as well.

Two versions of this camera are available for purchase. One offers 4GB of memory storage and the other offers 8 GB of memory storage. The retail price of the 8 GB Bloggie Touch is higher than the 4 GB.

Currently, the retail price is for the 4 GB is $159.99 and the 8 GB is $179.99. The 4 GB is available in silver and black. The 8 GB is available in more colors, which are silver, black, blue and pink.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: FaceBook, Sony, YouTube

Growth in the Netbook Market

: Image via Wikipedia

n the coming months, there will be many new entrants into the growing netbook market. For those who have been out of the loop, netbooks have been slowly gaining popularity among consumers the past few years. They are small laptop style computers that do not have the power of a full fledged laptop, but can easily connect to the internet with a wifi connection and can do many computer functions that donâ€™t require a heavy duty processor or upgraded graphics card.

These small netbooks have been big sellers, and rightfully so. They cost as little as $200, and allow many people who may not otherwise be able to afford a laptop or second computer a chance to purchase something that will let them do homework, access the social networks or write email while they are on the go.

The computer companies have been watching this trend closely and are coming out with new products all the time that will grab part of this growing market. Experts and insiders have predicted that in 2011 that the major computer companies will continue to expand their lineup of netbooks and add more features to these pint size computers.
Soon, there will be netbooks that are geared towards gamers that will cost a bit more but will have the processor and graphics capability to handle many of the popular online games. Other entrants into the market will include netbooks that will cost even less as well as those that are even smaller. These will be mainly geared towards students and will also be marketed as an alternative to the ebook readers that are becoming more popular. The idea behind this is why would someone pay $150 or more for an ebook reader when they could purchase a netbook for the same price that will work to read ebooks but can also connect to the internet.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: E-book, Laptop, Netbook

A Brief Comparison of Gaming Systems

When you are trying to decide what video game system is right for your family, you will have many different factors to consider. In the current console wars price is less of an issue than it has been in the past. The Sony Playstation 3 is the most expensive of the three main competitors but even it is only moderately more expensive than the Wii and the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 comes in several different packages which can help it to be more affordable or more powerful depending on what options the buyer chooses. The Nintendo Wii is the cheapest of the three but once you purchase needed accessories it may not be the value it seems to be.

The first thing you should consider is which system has the games your family wants to play. If you have younger children or want something with more multiplayer games to play as a family you may consider the Nintendo Wii. This system has less power and the games tend to not be as graphically pleasing as the other two systems but the sheer number of games that are targeted towards a family makes it a great choice for many.

If you are purchasing a system for teens or adults, the availability of child-friendly games is not as important. If this sounds more like your scenario you will want to take a deeper look at the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. The systems are similar in many ways, though hard core gamers feel the Playstation offers the best graphics. Another great plus for this system is the fact that it works as a Blu Ray player, allowing you to watch movies in the currently preferred format without purchasing and additional player. However, the Xbox 360 has a bigger game library than the other two systems and games tend to be more affordable.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Nintendo, Wii, Xbox 360

Rumors and Discussion on the Playstation 4

: Image via CrunchBase

One of the most anticipated technology releases is rumored to be coming in 2012 but could hit the shelves in 2011. The Sony Playstation 4 will likely the first of the eighth generation consoles released. If it happens, this will be the first time that Sony has been the first on the market. This is something they would really like to do because the first release tends to get more initial sales as people are excited for the chance to play the newest and most technologically advanced games.

Many people do not realize how far in advance these game systems begin being created. Rumor has it that not only is Sony working on getting the Playstation 4 out on the market, that the Playstation 5 and Playstation 6 are both going through the early stages of research and development. Time will only tell what features these next-next generation systems will offer.

The generally expected release date for Playstation 4 of 2012 is in line with Playstationâ€™s other system releases which have thus far come 6 years after the last release. Since the Playstation 3 was launched in 2006, 2012 makes perfect sense.

There has not been a lot of official information released about what the Playstation 4 will be like, but the information that has leaked has been interesting to say the least. One rumor that keeps appearing again and again is that games will be released almost exclusively on the Playstation Network, eliminating retail sales from the picture. This would likely be great for Playstationâ€™s bottom line, but retailers and especially rental stores will be devastated with the news. The used video game stores will also take a hit. The secondary market on video games is huge, and the profit margin is very big, so this will be a major blow to several of these chains and independent stores as well.

Filed Under: Software, Technology Tagged With: Playstation 3, Playstation Network, Sony