PCWorld.com - Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation?: "Should Your Next PC Be a Workstation?
Despite sub-$1000 prices, the answer still depends on what apps you run.
David Essex
From the October 2004 issue of PC World magazine
Posted Thursday, September 02, 2004
Until recently, workstation meant a pricey power system that graced the desk of an engineer, a graphics designer, or a professional video editor. But astute PC shoppers who see workstations following conventional desktop PCs down past the $1000 barrier are asking: Should I buy a workstation instead?
The answer: Get one only if you run industrial-strength programs that need high-end graphics and performance, and if you're willing to pay extra for fail-safe reliability. Workstations remain special-purpose systems that contain souped-up hardware and undergo extensive testing, which costs a premium. But with that premium down to a few hundred bucks, the choice really depends on your needs.
It's easy to find affordable, introductory workstations that run Windows. Both Dell and Hewlett-Packard market Windows XP-based workstations starting at under $1000 and stretching to about $3500; IBM's offerings cost only a few hundred dollars more. Midrange ($3000 to $10,000) and high-end units typically have bigger cases than PCs, more memory and PCI slots, and more drive bays, making frequent upgrades easy.
Power, Redundancy
Most workstations have error-checking and -correcting memory that won't drop the occasional bit--a flaw unnoticeable in fast-moving games but disastrous when calculating jet aircraft tolerances. These units have larger power supplies and better, quieter fans to avoid overheating.
Even some entry-level workstations support dual CPUs,"
Thursday, September 02, 2004
PC Magazine Opinion: How Good is the Portable Media Center?
PC Magazine Opinion: How Good is the Portable Media Center?: "How Good is the Portable Media Center?
September 2, 2004
By Michael J. Miller
So how good is the Microsoft Portable Media Center (PMC)? Not bad, not bad at all, especially for a first-generation product. It has a good user interface and was pretty intuitive to use, despite a few glitches.
Effectively, the UI is a new version of Windows Media Player (version 10). I've never been a huge fan of WMP, despite its decent performance, preferring the UI in jukebox software like Musicmatch. But the new version is a lot cleaner, with the basic controls now on the top (instead of on the side), and with more intuitive controls such as Rip and Burn. And it finally lets you create MP3 files without a third-party add-on.
The new version adds a Sync screen, where you can select material to be copied to a PMC or a supported music player. From this screen, you can select music, recorded TV shows, video, or photographs to move to the device. You can also set it up to sync automatically, transferring the most recent content to the device.
The PMC devices, and other upcoming music players that support Microsoft's new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), will also let you take music you are renting�say from Napster's streaming service�and put it on the devices using Microsoft's new 'Janus' DRM technology. This lets you play the music, but only if you sync often enough for the software to verify that you're still licensed to listen to the music. This is an interesting development, though I wonder how many people will pay extra for the ability to take their music with them on such a device.
In general, everything worked pretty well for me�transferring songs I ripped, renting songs, and downloading tracks I purchased. And I "
September 2, 2004
By Michael J. Miller
So how good is the Microsoft Portable Media Center (PMC)? Not bad, not bad at all, especially for a first-generation product. It has a good user interface and was pretty intuitive to use, despite a few glitches.
Effectively, the UI is a new version of Windows Media Player (version 10). I've never been a huge fan of WMP, despite its decent performance, preferring the UI in jukebox software like Musicmatch. But the new version is a lot cleaner, with the basic controls now on the top (instead of on the side), and with more intuitive controls such as Rip and Burn. And it finally lets you create MP3 files without a third-party add-on.
The new version adds a Sync screen, where you can select material to be copied to a PMC or a supported music player. From this screen, you can select music, recorded TV shows, video, or photographs to move to the device. You can also set it up to sync automatically, transferring the most recent content to the device.
The PMC devices, and other upcoming music players that support Microsoft's new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), will also let you take music you are renting�say from Napster's streaming service�and put it on the devices using Microsoft's new 'Janus' DRM technology. This lets you play the music, but only if you sync often enough for the software to verify that you're still licensed to listen to the music. This is an interesting development, though I wonder how many people will pay extra for the ability to take their music with them on such a device.
In general, everything worked pretty well for me�transferring songs I ripped, renting songs, and downloading tracks I purchased. And I "
The New York Times > Opinion > Mr. Bush and the Truth About Terror
The New York Times > Opinion > Mr. Bush and the Truth About Terror: "September 2, 2004
Mr. Bush and the Truth About Terror
While Republican delegates have been meeting in New York City, terrorist bombs have been exploding in the rest of the world. The horrific pictures of victims on an Israeli bus and slain airplane and subway passengers, as well as of a school held hostage in Russia, are a stark reminder to Americans that terrorism is not all about us. It is the tactic of preference for the self-obsessed radical movements of our age.
President Bush was absolutely right when he said it was impossible to win a war against terrorism - it's like announcing we can win a war against violence. Terrorism can only be minimized and controlled, and that can be done only with a worldwide strategy, joined by all of the world's sensible and peaceful nations. We hope that when Mr. Bush accepts his party's nomination for re-election tonight, he makes that argument.
The chances of a serious dialogue about terror took a blow, of course, when Mr. Bush retracted his completely sensible statement about terrorism after the Kerry-Edwards campaign attacked it. So far, this has been an election season of monumental simple-mindedness, in which the candidates start each day by telling us this is the most important election in the history of the planet, then devote the rest of their waking hours to meaningless sniping. But it's certainly not too late to elevate the conversation.
Tonight we do not need Mr. Bush to remind us that he went to ground zero and spoke through a bullhorn. It was a fine gesture that any president would have made. As far as judging his leadership, it is as irrelevant as the famous extra minutes he spent in a classroom in Flori"
Mr. Bush and the Truth About Terror
While Republican delegates have been meeting in New York City, terrorist bombs have been exploding in the rest of the world. The horrific pictures of victims on an Israeli bus and slain airplane and subway passengers, as well as of a school held hostage in Russia, are a stark reminder to Americans that terrorism is not all about us. It is the tactic of preference for the self-obsessed radical movements of our age.
President Bush was absolutely right when he said it was impossible to win a war against terrorism - it's like announcing we can win a war against violence. Terrorism can only be minimized and controlled, and that can be done only with a worldwide strategy, joined by all of the world's sensible and peaceful nations. We hope that when Mr. Bush accepts his party's nomination for re-election tonight, he makes that argument.
The chances of a serious dialogue about terror took a blow, of course, when Mr. Bush retracted his completely sensible statement about terrorism after the Kerry-Edwards campaign attacked it. So far, this has been an election season of monumental simple-mindedness, in which the candidates start each day by telling us this is the most important election in the history of the planet, then devote the rest of their waking hours to meaningless sniping. But it's certainly not too late to elevate the conversation.
Tonight we do not need Mr. Bush to remind us that he went to ground zero and spoke through a bullhorn. It was a fine gesture that any president would have made. As far as judging his leadership, it is as irrelevant as the famous extra minutes he spent in a classroom in Flori"
Japan Today - News - Annan wants more troops in Sudan - Japan's Leading International News Network
Japan Today - News - Annan wants more troops in Sudan - Japan's Leading International News Network: "Annan wants more troops in Sudan
Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 07:50 JST
UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that Sudan's government has not stopped attacks on 'terrorized and traumatized' civilians in its Darfur region and urged the speedy deployment of an expanded international peacekeeping force.
Annan did not say how large a force he wanted, but U.N. diplomats said a U.N. plan presented to the African Union called for about 3,000 peacekeepers. The 53-nation African organization now has about 80 military observers in Darfur, protected by just over 300 soldiers"
Thursday, September 2, 2004 at 07:50 JST
UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that Sudan's government has not stopped attacks on 'terrorized and traumatized' civilians in its Darfur region and urged the speedy deployment of an expanded international peacekeeping force.
Annan did not say how large a force he wanted, but U.N. diplomats said a U.N. plan presented to the African Union called for about 3,000 peacekeepers. The 53-nation African organization now has about 80 military observers in Darfur, protected by just over 300 soldiers"
Microsoft announces Windows Portable Media Center devices and Microsoft Music beta
According to Microsoft, five years ago, less than 13 percent of Internet users had a digital-music file on their computer. Now, 70 percent of computer users listen to music on their PCs. Last year, more than 100 million digital photos were taken. More and more people are using PCs to view videos. By the end of this year, 9.5 million TV tuner cards will have shipped.
The company has announced a series of new products and services, along with services and devices from partners. The release today of Windows Media Player 10, Portable Media Center devices, and MSN Music preview will place Microsoft in direct competition with other companies betting on individual content, like Apple and HP with their iPod devices.
The company says the new Windows Media Player 10 is central to Microsoft's digital-media strategy. The new Media Player 10 offers a built-in online Digital Media Mall, which provides access to online stores and services, including the newly announced MSN Music, and others like CinemaNow, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster and Wal-Mart. Windows Media Player 10 also includes support for more than 70 portable devices, and it enables users to automatically copy music, video, pictures, and recorded TV to portable devices. The new version will be available 2 September 6AM PDT.
The Portable Media Center is an entirely new category of handheld devices to make digital music, TV, movies, and pictures stored on a PCs to be available on a mobile device.
The first Portable Media Center, built by Creative Labs (Creative Labs 20GB Zen pictured), includes a 3.75-inch screen (9.5 centimeters) and 20GB hard drive, enough storage for 80 hours of video, 5,000 songs, and tens of thousands of pictures. Samsung is also working to put its own Portable Media Center in the market.
The company has announced a series of new products and services, along with services and devices from partners. The release today of Windows Media Player 10, Portable Media Center devices, and MSN Music preview will place Microsoft in direct competition with other companies betting on individual content, like Apple and HP with their iPod devices.
The company says the new Windows Media Player 10 is central to Microsoft's digital-media strategy. The new Media Player 10 offers a built-in online Digital Media Mall, which provides access to online stores and services, including the newly announced MSN Music, and others like CinemaNow, MusicMatch, MusicNow, Napster and Wal-Mart. Windows Media Player 10 also includes support for more than 70 portable devices, and it enables users to automatically copy music, video, pictures, and recorded TV to portable devices. The new version will be available 2 September 6AM PDT.
The Portable Media Center is an entirely new category of handheld devices to make digital music, TV, movies, and pictures stored on a PCs to be available on a mobile device.
The first Portable Media Center, built by Creative Labs (Creative Labs 20GB Zen pictured), includes a 3.75-inch screen (9.5 centimeters) and 20GB hard drive, enough storage for 80 hours of video, 5,000 songs, and tens of thousands of pictures. Samsung is also working to put its own Portable Media Center in the market.
eHomeUpgrade | Engadget Reviews the Creative Zen Portable Media Center - September 2, 2004
eHomeUpgrade | Engadget Reviews the Creative Zen Portable Media Center - September 2, 2004: "Engadget Reviews the Creative Zen Portable Media Center
Category: Portable Media Players - September 2, 2004
By Alexander Grundner
Phillip Torrone at Engadget takes the the Creative Zen Portable Media Center for spin and finds that device has something for everyone, as long as you own Media Center or a PC with a TV tuner/recorder. Overall Phillip seems satisfied with the PMC's (Portable Media Center � Microsoft's portable media player OS) features, functionality, and battery life, but points out the player's limited digital media file format support and that Window Media Player 10 takes a very long to time to convert a PC's pre-recorded video to a format suitable for the player � 30 minute video takes about 30 minutes to encode.
Philip also points to some workarounds to make the product more useful like DVD-To-Pocket PC, a program that can shrink down a DVD to play well on a Pocket PC or handheld video device like the PMC. His final thoughts, �Personal video players are still fairly new, and it�s going to take some time to see if people start buying these. We think the biggest obstacle will be the frustrating copyright laws regarding movies and DVDs, so while you can copy DVDs you own onto these devices, it�s not exactly easy and the legality of doing so is still unclear."
Category: Portable Media Players - September 2, 2004
By Alexander Grundner
Phillip Torrone at Engadget takes the the Creative Zen Portable Media Center for spin and finds that device has something for everyone, as long as you own Media Center or a PC with a TV tuner/recorder. Overall Phillip seems satisfied with the PMC's (Portable Media Center � Microsoft's portable media player OS) features, functionality, and battery life, but points out the player's limited digital media file format support and that Window Media Player 10 takes a very long to time to convert a PC's pre-recorded video to a format suitable for the player � 30 minute video takes about 30 minutes to encode.
Philip also points to some workarounds to make the product more useful like DVD-To-Pocket PC, a program that can shrink down a DVD to play well on a Pocket PC or handheld video device like the PMC. His final thoughts, �Personal video players are still fairly new, and it�s going to take some time to see if people start buying these. We think the biggest obstacle will be the frustrating copyright laws regarding movies and DVDs, so while you can copy DVDs you own onto these devices, it�s not exactly easy and the legality of doing so is still unclear."
Monday, August 30, 2004
[print version] Ericsson pulls Bluetooth division | CNET News.com
[print version] Ericsson pulls Bluetooth division | CNET News.com: "Ericsson pulls Bluetooth division
By Richard Shim
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1039-5327431.html
Story last modified August 27, 2004, 1:42 PM PDT
One of the key developers of Bluetooth is shutting down the division that helped foster the personal area networking technology.
Ericsson has already started to shut down its 125-worker Technology Licensing group and will reshuffle employees into other divisions, a representative confirmed Friday. A majority of the workers affected will remain with the company. Ericsson did not make a formal announcement of the closure.
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology that connects portable devices such as cell phones, handheld devices and notebook computers. The technology has a range of up to 10 meters and wirelessly transfers data at rates of up to 720 kilobits per second.
Ericsson doesn't plan to continue design and development around Bluetooth, but it will continue to support existing customers and include it in products, the company representative said. Bluetooth technology efforts will be incorporated into the work of Ericsson's Mobile Platforms group.
Further advancements in Bluetooth technology will be made by the Special Interest Group"
By Richard Shim
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/2100-1039-5327431.html
Story last modified August 27, 2004, 1:42 PM PDT
One of the key developers of Bluetooth is shutting down the division that helped foster the personal area networking technology.
Ericsson has already started to shut down its 125-worker Technology Licensing group and will reshuffle employees into other divisions, a representative confirmed Friday. A majority of the workers affected will remain with the company. Ericsson did not make a formal announcement of the closure.
Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology that connects portable devices such as cell phones, handheld devices and notebook computers. The technology has a range of up to 10 meters and wirelessly transfers data at rates of up to 720 kilobits per second.
Ericsson doesn't plan to continue design and development around Bluetooth, but it will continue to support existing customers and include it in products, the company representative said. Bluetooth technology efforts will be incorporated into the work of Ericsson's Mobile Platforms group.
Further advancements in Bluetooth technology will be made by the Special Interest Group"
The New York Times > Grokster and the Information Exchange
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/opinion/30mon3.html?ex=1251604800&en=d06acac67db552ea&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
The legal battles over file-sharing are usually construed as a fight over intellectual property rights, plain and simple. On one side are copyright owners, including songwriters and artists as well as the major recording companies and movie studios. On the other side, a handful of advocacy groups and a legion of file-sharers bent on nothing more than outright theft of copyrighted music and movies. The short title of a recent appeals decision says it all: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v. Grokster.
But the broader issue is the distribution of information. Software like Grokster creates a network of independent Internet users who can access one another's computer files without going through a central server. (Napster maintained a central server, which made it legally liable in very different ways.) Grokster can certainly be used to swap music illegally. But it can also be used to exchange electronic copies of books already in the public domain, transcripts of Congressional hearings or any number of other legitimate types of information. Much like a VCR that does not distinguish between a pirated tape and one legally acquired, the technology does not care what is shared. It is impossible to strike down software like Grokster for its use in illegal file-sharing without also destroying its capacity for legal and socially beneficial activities.
This distinction lies at the heart of a recent Ninth Circuit appeals court decision, which upheld a ruling in favor of Grokster and against an army of corporate copyright owners. This decision does not make illegal file-sharing legal. But it implicitly raises a question central to most copyright battles. Is society better served by restricting or even prohibiting new technologies to protect the rights of copyright owners or is there a greater good in the widest possible exchange of information? The resolution lies somewhere in the middle. Finding it, as the court acknowledges, is properly left to Congress.
These are thorny issues indeed. Freedom of information is at the root of American democracy, and yet every day we see that freedom being compromised, controlled and limited. The Grokster decision is a ruling in favor of keeping our bets open about which technologies will turn out to serve our freedoms best.
The legal battles over file-sharing are usually construed as a fight over intellectual property rights, plain and simple. On one side are copyright owners, including songwriters and artists as well as the major recording companies and movie studios. On the other side, a handful of advocacy groups and a legion of file-sharers bent on nothing more than outright theft of copyrighted music and movies. The short title of a recent appeals decision says it all: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer v. Grokster.
But the broader issue is the distribution of information. Software like Grokster creates a network of independent Internet users who can access one another's computer files without going through a central server. (Napster maintained a central server, which made it legally liable in very different ways.) Grokster can certainly be used to swap music illegally. But it can also be used to exchange electronic copies of books already in the public domain, transcripts of Congressional hearings or any number of other legitimate types of information. Much like a VCR that does not distinguish between a pirated tape and one legally acquired, the technology does not care what is shared. It is impossible to strike down software like Grokster for its use in illegal file-sharing without also destroying its capacity for legal and socially beneficial activities.
This distinction lies at the heart of a recent Ninth Circuit appeals court decision, which upheld a ruling in favor of Grokster and against an army of corporate copyright owners. This decision does not make illegal file-sharing legal. But it implicitly raises a question central to most copyright battles. Is society better served by restricting or even prohibiting new technologies to protect the rights of copyright owners or is there a greater good in the widest possible exchange of information? The resolution lies somewhere in the middle. Finding it, as the court acknowledges, is properly left to Congress.
These are thorny issues indeed. Freedom of information is at the root of American democracy, and yet every day we see that freedom being compromised, controlled and limited. The Grokster decision is a ruling in favor of keeping our bets open about which technologies will turn out to serve our freedoms best.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
PCWorld.com - First Look: Danger Sidekick II
PCWorld.com - First Look: Danger Sidekick II: "First Look: Danger Sidekick II
The one-time World Class Product of the Year PDA gets a much-needed upgrade.
by Grace Aquino, PC World
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Danger's first Sidekick revolutionized mobile Web access by offering a decent-size screen, a usable keyboard, and solid applications--and it won our 2003 World Class Product of the Year Award for its trouble. Two long years later--an eternity in tech time, during which PalmOne's Treo 600 supplanted the original Sidekick in many mobile users' hearts--the Sidekick II is finally here. Fans of the original model will find much to like, but critics of the first aren't likely to be swayed by its evolutionary successor.
Offered by cellular provider T-Mobile and co-developed by Danger and Sanyo, the $300 Sidekick II addresses many user complaints about the first device, including the fact that it made for a lousy cell phone.
After testing an early production sample of the Sidekick II for two weeks, I can report that it works much better as a phone than the original. Voice quality in my informal tests equaled that of a standard cell phone. The unit's speakerphone was good, too, though it needed a bit more volume. Nevertheless, the unit's flat design and relatively large size made holding it against my ear feel awkward--especially during longer conversations (the unit does include an earbud)."
The one-time World Class Product of the Year PDA gets a much-needed upgrade.
by Grace Aquino, PC World
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Danger's first Sidekick revolutionized mobile Web access by offering a decent-size screen, a usable keyboard, and solid applications--and it won our 2003 World Class Product of the Year Award for its trouble. Two long years later--an eternity in tech time, during which PalmOne's Treo 600 supplanted the original Sidekick in many mobile users' hearts--the Sidekick II is finally here. Fans of the original model will find much to like, but critics of the first aren't likely to be swayed by its evolutionary successor.
Offered by cellular provider T-Mobile and co-developed by Danger and Sanyo, the $300 Sidekick II addresses many user complaints about the first device, including the fact that it made for a lousy cell phone.
After testing an early production sample of the Sidekick II for two weeks, I can report that it works much better as a phone than the original. Voice quality in my informal tests equaled that of a standard cell phone. The unit's speakerphone was good, too, though it needed a bit more volume. Nevertheless, the unit's flat design and relatively large size made holding it against my ear feel awkward--especially during longer conversations (the unit does include an earbud)."
PDAntic Blog
PDAntic Blog: "Press Release: WorldMate Professional Edition with 'Flight Status Option' from OAG
Flight information is just getting better!
Lod, Israel August 19, 2004 ?MobiMate? one of the world's leading mobile application provider, just released the latest version of WorldMate?Professional Edition for Pocket PC, offering new and a exciting Flight Status service.?This is one of the first services of its kind available for the Pocket PC platform allowing users to track the status of their flights and receive the up-to-date information directly to their handheld device.?MobiMate has again partnered with OAG, the world's leading provider of travel information since 1929, to offer this new and exciting feature complimenting the flight schedules service.?The user can now check flight schedules ahead of time, choose the desired route and check the status of the flight before leaving for the airport!?No more time wasted waiting around at airports because he/she didn't know that the flight had been delayed?
Flight Status is a first of its kind pay per use service, which means that there is no monthly fee, the user buys and uses the tokens only when he needs them.?Tokens are currently available in packages of 30 credits available on the MobiMate website.
WorldMate Professional Edition is aimed directly at business travellers, who require more travel-related information and tools to assist them in planning, managing and tracking their business travel.? This is why MobiMate is constantly adding more business related features that allow business travellers the tools to always be one step ahead of competition.?Main features include ?Flight Schedules and flight status information from OAG, online currency converter, five world clocks, weather for over 38,000 locations supplie"
Flight information is just getting better!
Lod, Israel August 19, 2004 ?MobiMate? one of the world's leading mobile application provider, just released the latest version of WorldMate?Professional Edition for Pocket PC, offering new and a exciting Flight Status service.?This is one of the first services of its kind available for the Pocket PC platform allowing users to track the status of their flights and receive the up-to-date information directly to their handheld device.?MobiMate has again partnered with OAG, the world's leading provider of travel information since 1929, to offer this new and exciting feature complimenting the flight schedules service.?The user can now check flight schedules ahead of time, choose the desired route and check the status of the flight before leaving for the airport!?No more time wasted waiting around at airports because he/she didn't know that the flight had been delayed?
Flight Status is a first of its kind pay per use service, which means that there is no monthly fee, the user buys and uses the tokens only when he needs them.?Tokens are currently available in packages of 30 credits available on the MobiMate website.
WorldMate Professional Edition is aimed directly at business travellers, who require more travel-related information and tools to assist them in planning, managing and tracking their business travel.? This is why MobiMate is constantly adding more business related features that allow business travellers the tools to always be one step ahead of competition.?Main features include ?Flight Schedules and flight status information from OAG, online currency converter, five world clocks, weather for over 38,000 locations supplie"
nexGear -> The stuff of greatness: iriver H140
nexGear -> The stuff of greatness: iriver H140: "The stuff of greatness: iriver H140 wins EISA's coveted 'European New Media Audio 2004-2005' award
Jury especially impressed by the pocket jukebox's sound quality and rich features
The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) has given its coveted 'European New Media Audio 2004-2005' award to the hard drive-based H140 audio player from iriver. iriver, the leading provider of innovative portable audio and video solutions in the digital entertainment segment, has thus walked away with the most important distinction in Europe's entertainment electronics industry only months after establishing its European headquarters. In explaining the reasons for its decision, the jury � made up of experts from 50 leading European broadsheets and trade publications � was full of praise in particular for the 'excellent sound quality' and the extensive array of features fitted in the iriver H140.
After the company recently published upbeat figures for the quarter just ended, the EISA award comes as yet more powerful evidence that iriver has correctly interpreted the signs of the times. Its premium brand has a clear technological edge and is setting new standards in the portable audio and video player segment.
The EISA jury justified its decision in the following terms: 'This very well made portable player has a built-in hard drive whose 40 gigabytes of memory make up to 10,000 MP3 titles available to mobile users. The USB 2.0 port facilitates very fast data transfer for all kinds of files. Besides MP3s, the device can also play WMA, WAV, ASF and OGG music files. Its feature set includes a rechargeable battery, a built-in VHF tuner and a microphone for the user's own live recordings. Users can operate the player either with the built-in controls or with a remote control unit supp"
Jury especially impressed by the pocket jukebox's sound quality and rich features
The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) has given its coveted 'European New Media Audio 2004-2005' award to the hard drive-based H140 audio player from iriver. iriver, the leading provider of innovative portable audio and video solutions in the digital entertainment segment, has thus walked away with the most important distinction in Europe's entertainment electronics industry only months after establishing its European headquarters. In explaining the reasons for its decision, the jury � made up of experts from 50 leading European broadsheets and trade publications � was full of praise in particular for the 'excellent sound quality' and the extensive array of features fitted in the iriver H140.
After the company recently published upbeat figures for the quarter just ended, the EISA award comes as yet more powerful evidence that iriver has correctly interpreted the signs of the times. Its premium brand has a clear technological edge and is setting new standards in the portable audio and video player segment.
The EISA jury justified its decision in the following terms: 'This very well made portable player has a built-in hard drive whose 40 gigabytes of memory make up to 10,000 MP3 titles available to mobile users. The USB 2.0 port facilitates very fast data transfer for all kinds of files. Besides MP3s, the device can also play WMA, WAV, ASF and OGG music files. Its feature set includes a rechargeable battery, a built-in VHF tuner and a microphone for the user's own live recordings. Users can operate the player either with the built-in controls or with a remote control unit supp"
Pocket PC Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves
Pocket PC Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves: "
T-Mobile Posts Presale Page For iPAQ 6315
Posted by Janak Parekh @ 08:00 AM
'Finally. A handheld that can keep up with you. Get yours now, exclusively from T-Mobile, and start bossing this thing around. The new iPAQ has it all?hone, e-mail, Bluetooth? and Wi-Fi, for just $499.99. T-Mobile bundled rate plans include everything you need to get the most out of your new handheld, starting at $79.99 per month. Order your iPAQ now, before it arrives in stores. Products ordered through this pre-sale Web site are expected to ship on 8/26/2004.'
That's great, except for two things: CompUSA has already been selling the units, and more confusingly, T-Mobile only seems to be offering two price plans with the presale -- both with unlimited GPRS and (Hotspot) WiFi, but at the whopping prices of $79.99 and $99.99 depending on the number of bundled voice minutes. Wouldn't people want to get cheaper plans and use WiFi at home too? I'm hoping that once T-Mobile gets the iPAQ 6315 out of presale mode, they'll offer standard plans with it, too."
T-Mobile Posts Presale Page For iPAQ 6315
Posted by Janak Parekh @ 08:00 AM
'Finally. A handheld that can keep up with you. Get yours now, exclusively from T-Mobile, and start bossing this thing around. The new iPAQ has it all?hone, e-mail, Bluetooth? and Wi-Fi, for just $499.99. T-Mobile bundled rate plans include everything you need to get the most out of your new handheld, starting at $79.99 per month. Order your iPAQ now, before it arrives in stores. Products ordered through this pre-sale Web site are expected to ship on 8/26/2004.'
That's great, except for two things: CompUSA has already been selling the units, and more confusingly, T-Mobile only seems to be offering two price plans with the presale -- both with unlimited GPRS and (Hotspot) WiFi, but at the whopping prices of $79.99 and $99.99 depending on the number of bundled voice minutes. Wouldn't people want to get cheaper plans and use WiFi at home too? I'm hoping that once T-Mobile gets the iPAQ 6315 out of presale mode, they'll offer standard plans with it, too."
Pocket PC Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves
Pocket PC Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves: "Wednesday, August 25, 2004
iPAQ 2215 at Amazon for $309.99
Posted by Janak Parekh @ 09:30 PM
Amazon is selling the iPAQ 2215 for $359.99 minus a $50 rebate. Of all the prices I've seen, that's the lowest right now. While it's not the newest Pocket PC unit, many people still love theirs, and it has a CF slot and Bluetooth. [Affiliate]"
iPAQ 2215 at Amazon for $309.99
Posted by Janak Parekh @ 09:30 PM
Amazon is selling the iPAQ 2215 for $359.99 minus a $50 rebate. Of all the prices I've seen, that's the lowest right now. While it's not the newest Pocket PC unit, many people still love theirs, and it has a CF slot and Bluetooth. [Affiliate]"
Thursday, August 19, 2004
CNET.Com > Wal-Mart offers sub-$600 notebook
By John G. Spooner
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/2100 -1044-5315244.html
Story last modified August 18, 2004, 2:01 PM PDT
Wal-Mart Stores has begun selling a Wi-Fi notebook PC for less than $600, which analysts say could herald a laptop push by the retailer for the holiday season.
The retail giant began offering the wireless notebook, manufactured by Taiwan's Elitegroup Computer Systems, in late July for online sales only. It's listed at $598, without discounts or mail-in rebates.
Wal-Mart has traditionally sold only a limited number of notebook models, including laptops from Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba. Instead, it has concentrated its marketing efforts on desktop PCs, but it also sells lower-priced machines based on the Linux operating system.
The move suggests that Wal-Mart is evaluating new strategies to pump up notebook sales during the 2004 holiday season and possibly beyond, said Sam Bhavnani, an analyst with Current Analysis, a San Diego firm that tracks retail sales.
"It's a very entry-level configuration," Bhavnani said. "But it does have wireless, which makes it a very compelling offer. That's where this system will pose a threat (to brand-name PC makers) once it hits the shelf. The Wal-Mart customer is going to see it there, see the price and just buy it."
In addition to wireless, the ECS notebook comes loaded with a 14.1-inch display, an AMD Athlon XP 1600+ processor, 128MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a DVD-drive, Wi-Fi 802.11b and Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system. It also carries a one-year warranty, according to Wal-Mart's Web site.
Although it's fairly common for stores to sell notebooks for as low as $500, the Wal-Mart offer stands out because it does not require customers to use discounts and mail-in rebates to get the PC for the $598 price.
Moreover, the ECS machine offered by Wal-Mart includes Wi-Fi, a feature that's become very popular on notebooks in general, but which many rock-bottom-priced systems still lack, Bhavnani said.
One potential shortcoming is that the Wal-Mart/ECS model has only 128MB of RAM, as opposed to the 256MB more common in competing systems. But first-time or budget buyers might be willing to overlook that, given the machine's price.
But in general, technology progression has lowered prices on PC components, which means that today's cheap notebook is much more capable and less costly than yesterday's budget machine. Most low-price notebooks can now burn CDs and can usually connect to wireless networks--features that were once reserved for high-end models that cost thousands of dollars.
Just two years ago, it took almost $1,000 to buy a machine such as Gateway's Solo 1450SE, which in June 2002 offered a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron chip, a 14.1-inch screen, 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive and a DVD drive for $999 after a $100 mail-in rebate.
Lower prices have helped notebooks see a recent rise in popularity, and their sales are expected to grow faster than the overall PC market. Research firm IDC forecast that laptop computers will make up nearly half of all PC shipments in the United States and almost 40 percent of such shipments worldwide by 2007.
So it's no surprise that Wal-Mart, which sells sub-$300 desktops loaded with Linux, might want to explore the lower reaches of the notebook market, Bhavnani said. "At $600Â…you can basically guarantee they're going to sell all of those (ECS machines)," he said.
Although it's early to say whether laptop sellers should be worried--Wal-Mart carries a lot of weight with its nearly 2,900 stores and so-called supercenters- -competition at the lower reaches of the notebook market is already quite stiff.
Retailer CompUSA, for one, is advertising a nicely loaded Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze4805us notebook for $849, after $250 in instant and mail-in rebates. It comes with a 15-inch screen, Athlon XP 2800+ chip, 256MB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, Wi-Fi 802.11g and combination CD-burner/DVD drive. The offer is good through Aug. 21, according to the store's Web site.
Wal-Mart's retail site lists a nearly identical Pavilion ze4805WM-B model, which appears to lack Wi-Fi, for $928.
Even Dell has gotten into the low-price game. Its Inspiron 1000 notebook, introduced earlier this summer, starts at $899 before rebates. The most basic Inspiron 1000 configuration includes a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor, a 14.1-inch display, 256MB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive and a combination CD-burner/DVD-ROM. It does not include wireless (a $39 upgrade) and it offers a standard 90-day warranty (a one-year warranty is a $29 upgrade). However, Dell offered the machine with a $100 mail-in rebate and a free printer through Wednesday.
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/2100 -1044-5315244.html
Story last modified August 18, 2004, 2:01 PM PDT
Wal-Mart Stores has begun selling a Wi-Fi notebook PC for less than $600, which analysts say could herald a laptop push by the retailer for the holiday season.
The retail giant began offering the wireless notebook, manufactured by Taiwan's Elitegroup Computer Systems, in late July for online sales only. It's listed at $598, without discounts or mail-in rebates.
Wal-Mart has traditionally sold only a limited number of notebook models, including laptops from Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba. Instead, it has concentrated its marketing efforts on desktop PCs, but it also sells lower-priced machines based on the Linux operating system.
The move suggests that Wal-Mart is evaluating new strategies to pump up notebook sales during the 2004 holiday season and possibly beyond, said Sam Bhavnani, an analyst with Current Analysis, a San Diego firm that tracks retail sales.
"It's a very entry-level configuration," Bhavnani said. "But it does have wireless, which makes it a very compelling offer. That's where this system will pose a threat (to brand-name PC makers) once it hits the shelf. The Wal-Mart customer is going to see it there, see the price and just buy it."
In addition to wireless, the ECS notebook comes loaded with a 14.1-inch display, an AMD Athlon XP 1600+ processor, 128MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a DVD-drive, Wi-Fi 802.11b and Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system. It also carries a one-year warranty, according to Wal-Mart's Web site.
Although it's fairly common for stores to sell notebooks for as low as $500, the Wal-Mart offer stands out because it does not require customers to use discounts and mail-in rebates to get the PC for the $598 price.
Moreover, the ECS machine offered by Wal-Mart includes Wi-Fi, a feature that's become very popular on notebooks in general, but which many rock-bottom-priced systems still lack, Bhavnani said.
One potential shortcoming is that the Wal-Mart/ECS model has only 128MB of RAM, as opposed to the 256MB more common in competing systems. But first-time or budget buyers might be willing to overlook that, given the machine's price.
But in general, technology progression has lowered prices on PC components, which means that today's cheap notebook is much more capable and less costly than yesterday's budget machine. Most low-price notebooks can now burn CDs and can usually connect to wireless networks--features that were once reserved for high-end models that cost thousands of dollars.
Just two years ago, it took almost $1,000 to buy a machine such as Gateway's Solo 1450SE, which in June 2002 offered a 1.3GHz Intel Celeron chip, a 14.1-inch screen, 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive and a DVD drive for $999 after a $100 mail-in rebate.
Lower prices have helped notebooks see a recent rise in popularity, and their sales are expected to grow faster than the overall PC market. Research firm IDC forecast that laptop computers will make up nearly half of all PC shipments in the United States and almost 40 percent of such shipments worldwide by 2007.
So it's no surprise that Wal-Mart, which sells sub-$300 desktops loaded with Linux, might want to explore the lower reaches of the notebook market, Bhavnani said. "At $600Â…you can basically guarantee they're going to sell all of those (ECS machines)," he said.
Although it's early to say whether laptop sellers should be worried--Wal-Mart carries a lot of weight with its nearly 2,900 stores and so-called supercenters- -competition at the lower reaches of the notebook market is already quite stiff.
Retailer CompUSA, for one, is advertising a nicely loaded Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze4805us notebook for $849, after $250 in instant and mail-in rebates. It comes with a 15-inch screen, Athlon XP 2800+ chip, 256MB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, Wi-Fi 802.11g and combination CD-burner/DVD drive. The offer is good through Aug. 21, according to the store's Web site.
Wal-Mart's retail site lists a nearly identical Pavilion ze4805WM-B model, which appears to lack Wi-Fi, for $928.
Even Dell has gotten into the low-price game. Its Inspiron 1000 notebook, introduced earlier this summer, starts at $899 before rebates. The most basic Inspiron 1000 configuration includes a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor, a 14.1-inch display, 256MB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive and a combination CD-burner/DVD-ROM. It does not include wireless (a $39 upgrade) and it offers a standard 90-day warranty (a one-year warranty is a $29 upgrade). However, Dell offered the machine with a $100 mail-in rebate and a free printer through Wednesday.
Brighthand > FCC Spills the Beans on the Toshiba e830 This VGA Pocket PC now expected September 15
By Ed Hardy | Editor-in-Chief
Aug 18, 2004
When a wireless handheld receives FCC approval, the documents that go along with the filing are typically posted on this government agency's web site. However, when the Toshiba e830 was submitted for approval, a confidentiality request was included. This kept most of the details of this device from becoming public.
At least, this was true until this week, when someone at the FCC accidentally posted the e830's information a month early. The files have since been taken down, but they were up long enough to confirm the earlier rumors about this handheld.
All of the changes to this model will be internal. Externally, it will be essentially identical to the already-available e800 (see picture below).
Overview of the Toshiba e830
The e830 will have a 4-inch 640-by-480-pixel (VGA) screen. Because this model will use Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, its display can be easily switched between portrait and landscape modes.
This Pocket PC will run a 520 MHz Intel XScale processor. It will have 128 MB of RAM, plus a 32 MB ROM drive for extra storage.
The e830 will offer both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking. It will also include both a CompactFlash Type II slot and an SD/MMC slot that supports SDIO.
This device will be 5.3 inches high, 3.0 inches wide and 0.6 inches thick (135 mm by 77 mm by 17 mm).
It is not known when the official announcement for the Toshiba e830 will be, but the confidentiality request says that the FCC can post all the relevant documents on September 15, a strong sign that this model will be introduced on that day.
What the price will be is not yet known, though it will probably be $600 to $650.
This is just one of a number of Pocket PCs with similar feature sets coming on the market in the coming months. A comparison of the feature sets for these can be found in this article.
Thanks to Duncan from FirstLoox.org for the tip.
Aug 18, 2004
When a wireless handheld receives FCC approval, the documents that go along with the filing are typically posted on this government agency's web site. However, when the Toshiba e830 was submitted for approval, a confidentiality request was included. This kept most of the details of this device from becoming public.
At least, this was true until this week, when someone at the FCC accidentally posted the e830's information a month early. The files have since been taken down, but they were up long enough to confirm the earlier rumors about this handheld.
All of the changes to this model will be internal. Externally, it will be essentially identical to the already-available e800 (see picture below).
Overview of the Toshiba e830
The e830 will have a 4-inch 640-by-480-pixel (VGA) screen. Because this model will use Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, its display can be easily switched between portrait and landscape modes.
This Pocket PC will run a 520 MHz Intel XScale processor. It will have 128 MB of RAM, plus a 32 MB ROM drive for extra storage.
The e830 will offer both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking. It will also include both a CompactFlash Type II slot and an SD/MMC slot that supports SDIO.
This device will be 5.3 inches high, 3.0 inches wide and 0.6 inches thick (135 mm by 77 mm by 17 mm).
It is not known when the official announcement for the Toshiba e830 will be, but the confidentiality request says that the FCC can post all the relevant documents on September 15, a strong sign that this model will be introduced on that day.
What the price will be is not yet known, though it will probably be $600 to $650.
This is just one of a number of Pocket PCs with similar feature sets coming on the market in the coming months. A comparison of the feature sets for these can be found in this article.
Thanks to Duncan from FirstLoox.org for the tip.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Geekzone.Com > Pocket Informant 5.2 released
WebIS has just announced a new release of its best seller software for Windows Mobile Pocket PC. Pocket Informant 5.2 sports a revamped Notes View providing robust support for Outlook Notes in any number of folders and storage cards, PhatWareÂ’s PhatNotes and PhatPad products, and Sound files complete with the ability to search the contents of all notes. As well users will find a plethora of improvements in the Month View, Tasks, Editors, Journaling, and the user interface.
The new notes view displays the contents of all PhatNotes databases and all Outlook Notes/Sound files in a tree allowing for the standard tap/hold menus, drag and drop to move notes or convert them between PhatNotes/Outlook formats, and of course a preview window for notes.
Pocket Informant 5.2 is a free upgrade to all current users and also includes a free copy of PhatWareÂ’s PhatNotes Lite.
Users can visit the What's new page to check the changes in this version, and download the update from the WebIS website.
The new notes view displays the contents of all PhatNotes databases and all Outlook Notes/Sound files in a tree allowing for the standard tap/hold menus, drag and drop to move notes or convert them between PhatNotes/Outlook formats, and of course a preview window for notes.
Pocket Informant 5.2 is a free upgrade to all current users and also includes a free copy of PhatWareÂ’s PhatNotes Lite.
Users can visit the What's new page to check the changes in this version, and download the update from the WebIS website.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
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