information&communications technology

HumanCar Imagine

2008-02-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

The HumanCar Imagine vehicle is a human-powered hybrid electric car. This car has pedals and steering mechanisms for all four occupants as well as an electric motor. The Imagine is described by its creators as a "human-electric hybrid," meaning that it can be powered either by its two onboard electric motors or by "variable human power input" (i.e. pedaling). Of course it wouldn’t be a proper car without any options so developers also added a navigation and communications system plus a stereo with iPod integration.

Looks like a hi-tech Flintstonesmobile. Yabedabedoo.

Aptera - Futuristic Car

2008-02-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Aptera was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, and later as an extended range electric vehicle. The Aptera company is taking orders for their new type of hybrid gasoline / electric car, which actually is classified as a motorcycle based on it's wheel layout and weight. It has airbags and meets all of the safety regulations for a passenger car. There is a display panel in the driver's field of view which enhances situational awareness allowing you to keep your eyes on the road. The over-sized LED turn indicators located on the rear and side of the vehicle are easy for other drivers to see, adding greatly to the night and day visibility of the Aptera. Top speed for the production model will exceed 85 mph, going from 0-60 in under 10 seconds.

Gas Station Robot

2008-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

A trip to the gas station of the future may no longer require the driver to leave the car. Tankpitstop the Robot will do it all for you.

A group of Dutch inventors have taken the wraps off their new car-fueling robot "Tankpitstop", which they hope will one day be filling up your tank at a gas station near your. Somewhat interestingly, the inventors admit that the technology isn't an entirely new idea, and they give credit for the inspiration to the robots used for milking cows.

After registering the car as it pulls up to the pump, the machine matches your fuel cap design with those in a database and your car's fuel type, and then a robotic arm fitted with multiple sensors extends from a regular gas pump, 'opens the car's flap, unscrews the cap, picks up the fuel nozzle and directs it towards the tank opening, much as a human arm would, and as efficiently. It costs over $110,000 as is the first car-fueling robot.

Would you trust a robot to gas up your car?

HoloCube

2008-02-09T09:49:00.000-08:00

Holocube is a fully integrated 3D projection platform that makes your product look like never before. It combines the most advanced modern projection techniques in a contemporary sleek housing. This enables product focussed as well as contextual 3D projections. Measuring about 20-inches square, the Holocube packs a 40GB hard drive for storing up to 18 hours of compressed video, which can magically float at 1080i resolution within the cube at the flick of a switch.

How to Choose the Best Video Editing Software

2008-01-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

If you're just starting out in digital video, or even if you're a season videographer, you may be confused by the vast range of video editing products in the market today.

Some software packages cost $500 or more while others are below $100. How do you decide which package to choose? That's the aim of this article - it'll help you understand what factors to consider when choosing that video editing package and how to get the best deal.

1. Your Budget

First and foremost on my list of factors to consider when purchasing a video editing package - your budget. If you're a beginner, I recommend you go for cheaper software like Roxio VideoWave or Pinnacle Studio Plus. I know many people swear by the powerful editing suites like Adobe Premiere Pro, but for the average user, it is complete overkill. The cheaper packages save you money and will fulfill most of your video editing needs. You can always upgrade to better software when you're more experienced.

2. Video File Import and Export

Second factor I'd always consider is the ability to import and export various formats of video files. If you want to import Quicktime movie files or RealMedia video and edit them, check the package to ensure you can import those video formats. Same thing for exporting video files - if you want your finished product to be a Windows Media file, ensure the package supports that feature.

3. Special Effects

Third point - the special effects included in the video editing software. Cheaper software like Ulead VideoStudio will have more 'stock' special effects that do not allow customization. Packages like Adobe Premiere will allow you more flexibility in special effects. This factor is important if you foresee yourself playing with screen transitions and tilting a lot.

4. Bundled Software (Audio/Music/DVD)

Another point is to see what bundled software comes with the video editing package. Very often, you'll have things like VCD/DVD authoring packages thrown in (e.g. Ulead DVD MovieFactory). Some products bundle in music creation packages like Sony Acid Pro. These products can be really good deals as the bundled software can cost hundreds of dollars if sold separately.

5. Recommended Software

OK, now let's see what are the video editing products I recommend based on the type of user you are - beginner, intermediate and professional.

For the Beginner
For those starting out in video editing, my best recommendation is ... Roxio VideoWave . This is an excellent package built around an automated approach to video movie creation. VideoWave will help you save hours of video editing time and easily turn your home videos into movies on DVD or CD.

Roxio VideoWave

For the Intermediate Level User
If you're more experienced in video editing, a good choice will be Ulead VideoStudio. This package is twice the price of Roxio VideoWave - but the additional money is well spent. One of the best mid-range video editing programs, Video Studio provides features that will suit both beginners and intermediate videographers.

Ulead VideoStudio

For the Advanced User
If you're a professional video editor, you will most likely have used Adobe Premiere. This product is the industry standard for video editing. Lots of features, plug-ins as well as excellent product support. I strongly recommend this for advanced users who want to tweak and customize their videos to their heart's content.

Adobe Premiere Pro

Conclusion

All in all, there is a huge range of video editing software in the market. My basic advice is to start simple. Go buy a product like Roxio VideoWave and try out its features. Learn the ins and outs, get comfortable with the software. Once you progress and learn more about video editing in general, you can then consider upgrading to better products like A or even B.

An Easy-to-Use Video Editing Program

Pinnacle Studio Plus is a video editing program that allows you to easily capture video from camcorders into your computer. You can add great-looking transitions, special effects and background music to your plain old home videos. Start converting your videos into Hollywood productions now!

Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) Console

2008-01-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

I'm fairly certain there are folks at Nintendo feeling some serious self-loathing right about now. You see, back in the mid-90's Nintendo contracted Sony to develop a CD-ROM drive for the Super Nintendo. As the project progressed, a number of factors (one of them being the spectacular failure of the Sega CD and its' follow-up the 32X) led Nintendo to can the project. Sony was left holding the bag, with a CD-based gaming system but no one to sell it to.

Making proverbial lemonade from lemons, Sony turned around and produced what is perhaps the most successful game console in history, the Sony Playstation. The result? For the first time in history, Nintendo took second place in the video game console market, while fellow rival Sega got out of the console business altogether.

One segment of the gaming market Nintendo still has a stranglehold on, however, is the handheld sector. Beginning with the original Gameboy, the name Nintendo has been a veritable synonym for handheld gaming. This dominant streak has held sway through several subsequent iterations of the Gameboy. Some have claimed Nintendo's dual screen DS handheld system to be a revolutionary step forward in portable gaming. Others have decried it as gimmicky. Whichever side you fall on, there's no doubt Nintendo execs are fingering their collars as Sony prepares to rain on their parade with their new Playstation Portable - AKA the PSP.

Comparing the two systems, I'd say there's a real chance Nintendo may finally have a serious challenger to the portable gaming throne. Most assuredly, Nintendo will claim that they are pursuing a different demographic than Sony (read 'kids'), and to their credit the pre-teen crowd will probably favor the DS over the PSP. But for anyone over the age of 12, the PSP is definitely a serious contender for your pocket change.

Where To Buy It

Out Of the Box

The first impression one gets from the PSP (once you've ravenously clawed your way through the packaging) is just how sleek the system is. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the PSP is one seriously sexy piece of cutting-edge tech. The system's faceplate is fashioned of one glassy piece, interrupted only by the protrusion of the various buttons. The backside is just as nice, with the UMD disc door featuring a prominent PSP logo inside a silver metal ring set flush against the backplate. The two shoulder buttons are clear plastic, and the perimeter edge is accented in silver giving the whole thing a very streamlined look.

Of course, looks are one thing, but how does it actually play? I'm happy to report that the PSP delivers very well in this regard. For a portable system, weight is an important factor, as it is by nature handheld. The PSP is fairly lightweight, especially considering all the hi-tech goodness crammed into it's slim chassis. In fact, it weighs just about the same as the Nintendo DS, if you need the comparison. You could easily play this thing for hours straight without feeling weighed down.

One thing that takes a little getting used to is the somewhat cramped form-factor. While the PSP's controls may be perfect for Japanese gamers, most Westerners will find that having a go with the PSP will involve a short learning curve while hunting for a comfortable grip. Really, though, it's no worse than any handheld system before it, and there's no denying that Sony designed the PSP with ergonomics in mind. The back of the PSP has a very subtle curvature on each side, creating a natural shallow channel for placing one's fingertips...it's a small detail, but it counts.

Sony smartly modeled the PSP's controls on the PS2's Dualshock controllers, minus two of the front triggers and the right control stick. Replacing the left stick is an analog 'nub', which works much better than it sounds. Rather than tilt on an axis, the nub moves gently in a horizontal direction, giving you the same control as a stick but without the height a stick would require. It's actually a small bit of genius, and works great in action.

4.3" Of Hi-Def Glory

As you've probably heard, the PSP's main selling point is its' 4.3-inch hi-def screen. While 4.3 inches doesn't sound like much on paper, the PSP's screen really must be seen to be appreciated. Both games and feature films look absolutely fantastic, and since the screen is formatted to a 16:9 ratio both applications can be appreciated in full widescreen, high-definition glory. Watching Spiderman 2 (which was included in the first million units sold in the US) is a remarkable experience; when I first booted it up, I laughed at the game store manager and proclaimed 'It looks better than my television!'. And sure enough, it does. The screen is bright and crisp, and you may find yourself picking details out of the image that you might not have noticed the first time around.

Of course, movies are one thing, but the PSP is primarily a game platform. You wouldn't think so, but games benefit from the PSP's hi-def screen more so than films. Watching something like Wipeout Pure in motion is amazing; not only is the image in razor-sharp hi-definition, it's also widescreen, allowing a larger view of the playfield than ever before. Again, you'd think a 4.3-inch screen wouldn't capable of very much, but it just isn't so. Without a doubt, the PSP's screen is one of the greatest single innovations the handheld gaming world has ever seen.

The 333MHz Calculator

Powering the PSP is a single 333MHz processor, which may not sound too impressive up front, but visually, the PSP stacks up favorably with it's bigger sibling, the PS2. All the flourishes you've come to expect from the full-size gaming platforms, sharp textures, lens flares, hi-poly models, can be found on a device roughly the size of a scientific calculator. Pick up Ridge Racer, perhaps the most visually impressive title in the PSP's launch lineup, and you won't miss the PS2 iterations one bit. Ditto for the aforementioned Wipeout Pure, which actually manages to overtake the PS2's Wipeout Fusion by a fair mile...and not merely by virtue of it's portability. It's actually a better game...if that doesn't say anything to you about the power of the PSP, nothing will.

More Than Just A Gameboy

The PSP also lends itself to other applications, such as viewing photos, watching videos, and playing music. Though these are definitely secondary uses for the PSP, they are no less good selling points, as the PSP handles them well enough to be a serious consideration for anyone looking for a secondary media display device. In each instance, simply connecting the PSP to your PC with a 5-pin USB cord will let you drag files from your hard drive onto the PSP's Memory Stick. Pictures and music are fairly straightforward, while video is less so, requiring you to convert it to .mp4 format and set up a separate folder on the Memory Stick.

Picture viewing is a breeze. The PSP interface is set up in a horizontal hierarchy displaying each function; you simply navigate left or right to choose the application and then vertically to choose the source. Selecting 'Pictures' and then 'Memory Stick' will let you browse whatever images you have stored on your Memory Stick. Since the PSP uses standard Memory Stick Duo format chips, if you have a digital camera that uses MS Duo sticks, you can simply slap the stick from your digicam into the PSP and browse to your heart's content. The PSP allows you to zoom in or out and pan the photos in any direction using the nub.

Music is just as easy...you just drag your ATRAC (ech!) or .mp3 (yay!) music files onto the Memory Stick, and then navigate to them the same way you did the photos. One thing the PSP is not, however, is an iPod...you have to set up folders for each group of tunes you want, though you can assign tracks to song groups and play them back at will. That said, the PSP's music playback functionality is great. The PSP comes with a decent set of earbuds and a remote extension allowing you to control the PSP's music functions without having to dig the unit out of your pocket. More importantly, it sounds great. If you know how to edit .wmu playlists, you can even assign thumbnail images to the tracks which will appear when you play back the tune on your PSP.

Videos are the biggest pain in the arse, mainly because you have to do the most fiddling. Luckily, homebrew PSP programmers have already jumped to action, and there are already a number of freeware apps available online which will let you drag 'n drop video onto your PSP with little or no trouble.

Drawbacks & Horror Stories

The biggest drawback to all this media fun is the fact that the PSP Value Pack ships with a measly 32mb Memory Stick. By the time you start messing around with music and video files, you'll be sorely aching for a big 'ole 1GB Memory Stick.

So okay, I'm sure you're wondering whether or not any of the horror stories you've heard about the PSP are true. One of the bigger points of contention that's hounded the PSP is the dreaded 'dead pixels' issue. Reports have circulated widely that a number of PSP units have been plagued by 'dead pixels', pixels which are either permanently light or dark, depending on how they're stuck.

My unit does indeed have a handful of these dreaded dead pixels, but seriously...I think you'd have to be a real anal-retentive type for it to be considered truly bothersome. I'm certain that a handful of PSP's have some serious issues, and Sony has agreed to repair or replace these units at no cost. However, seeing the problem first-hand, I can honestly say that it doesn't seem to be that big an issue. In fact, over the last week or so, some of the 'dead pixels' seem to have disappeared, leaving only two barely noticeable spots.

The other standout problem with the PSP's screen is that it is a veritable magnet for smudges and fingerprints. Sony thoughtfully includes a microfiber cleaning cloth with the unit, and believe me, you'll get a lot of use out of it. If this really bothers you, be aware that for less than $5 you can buy a number of PSP 'skins' which protect the screen from smudges or (gasp!) scratches.

The second biggest concern about the PSP has been the battery life. So far, in my experience, the power supply is adequate for what the PSP is...a portable gaming system. With average use, you should expect to get between 4-5 hours of use between recharges. I generally use the PSP to while away lunch breaks or spare moments in the evening when I've got nothing better to do, and I have yet to encounter a situation when I've been left with a fully discharged PSP. If you really expect to put some time into the PSP, you will probably want to get into the habit of carrying around the included 5v power supply or invest in a secondary power source (Pelican currently sells a 'power brick' which will recharge your PSP twice on a single charge for a mere $10). Other reports, from UMD's ejecting from the unit when its' twisted, to poorly fabricated 'square' buttons, have really been overblown. I'm sure you can find faults with the system, but overall, it's very well manufactured and should withstand years of use provided you take care of it.

Conclusion

A minor issue of mine lies with the UMD movie lineup. While I'm all for enjoying fan-favorite fare like Hellboy and Kill Bill, I wonder if film studios will truly embrace the format. Will we ever be able to enjoy Citizen Kane or the works of Jean Cocteau on the PSP? I think not. Considering the highly proprietary nature of the UMD format, I can't imagine the studios taking a risk on less bankable material for consideration for UMD release. I suppose those of us who enjoy the occasional foreign or classic film will have to resort to storing flicks on the Memory Stick. Oh well...least common denominator, I suppose...

Film snobbery aside, the PSP is truly a remarkable piece of engineering. When the PSP's specs were first unveiled a mere two years ago, it was widely believed that Sony's handheld system was vaporware in the making, and that the final product couldn't possibly deliver. Amazingly, they have. Nearly every point on Sony's ambitious list is intact. With numerous hardware and software improvements on the way (digital camera attachments, installed web browser and chat clients, PSP MMORPG's), Sony has crafted the first true challenger to the handheld gaming throne...and suddenly it feels like 1995 all over again.

Ultimate Guide to iPod Video

2008-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

You Finally Bought a New iPod. Now What?

Alright. So after all that hype about having a practical way of watching TV and movies while on the go, you have finally gone and bought yourself the new iPod. Now what?

Well, let’s see. There are so many options squeezed into one slim, 2.5” LCD screen media center that it’s going to take a lot of time going over each one of them. So let’s do take it one at a time, shall we? This guide is going to take over all the options you’ve got and how to convert absolutely anything and everything – DVDs, TiVo video, messy AVIs, muxed MPEGs and more to iPod compatible video – all within OS X. And along the way, we’ll teach you a couple of iPod tips and tricks, too!

Handling Those Nasty Scratches

When you take your iPod out of the box, your first order of business should be to protect your investment. You don’t want any of those nasty scratches from appearing on your precious media box, do you? It’s a complete eye soar and one you can completely avoid.

The good thing about this new iPod is that its design is slightly different from that of the nano, which according to most users scratch easily. The new iPod has better chassis and doubled-layered, probably to protect the LCD monitor. But if you want to make sure that your iPod doesn’t show any scratches, most users recommend plastic cases, such as The Invisible Shield. If not, you can always get the white model, instead of the black one.

What Videos Can You Play?

Let us briefly go over the kinds of videos that your new iPod can support. According to Apple’s website, the video specifications of the new iPod are the following:

• H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

• MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.

For the newbies, this might all sound a little too confusing. What’s with all the numbers? Don’t worry because chances are you only need to remember a few of those for you to get the most out of your new iPod.

First, let’s start with H.264 video. The highest video bitrate with the H.264 codec is 768 kilobits per second. The biggest picture size for your H.264 movie is 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high, which is incidentally the exact dimension of your iPod’s screen. Your iPod can play H.364 video at framerates up to 30 frames per second. Every one of the applications that we’ll be using encodes with the Baseline Profile. Your audio needs to be encoded as AAC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48 KHz, and it can be in either stereo or mono. As long as you follow all the guidelines, your movie can even be a QuickTime movie or an MPEG-4 movie file.

The other option you have is the MPEG-4 video, which supports a much higher bitrate than H.264 video – 2500 kilobits per second. Using higher bitrates will also create larger files, which means that you’ll have less space for additional songs and movies, but more segments of your favorite movie. The biggest picture size for your MPEG-4 video is 480 pixels wide by 480 pixels high – three times as many pixels than your iPod’s screen in capable of displaying. Your iPod will shrink the picture proportionally so that everything fits on the screen. Again, the iPod can play videos up to 30 frames per second and your audio and file format options are the same as H.264 video.

So Which One is Better – H.264 or MPEG-4?

Well, that’s a tough question really as each format has their ups and downs. Arguably, H.264 is preferable considering how it offers high quality and a file size that is much smaller compared to MPEG-4. When it comes to picture quality, however, both formats are comparable, especially when encoded at the higher supported video settings.

As for speed of encoding, most people agree that H.264 video takes longer than standard MPEG-4. Take for example a two-hour movie. When you convert that to iPod using H.264 codec, the process could take considerably longer (especially with QuickTime Pro’s pokey Export: Movie to iPod video option).

Where to Download Videos for Your iPod

If you’re tired ripping movies from your DVD collection or you’ve used up all your movie files in your computer, then it’s probably time for you to look for other sources of iPod compatible videos. Below are some good sites that offer iPod video files that are both free and legal!

ChannelFrederator.com – If you like to watch short animations while taking a breather, this is the place to look in.
PodGuide.tv – It’s not called “PodGuide” for nothing.
Channel 101 and Channel 102 – Brilliant downloadable shows are up on offer.
The iTunes Music Store’s podcast section – One of the best things about the new iPod is that Apple has bundled it with their updates on iTunes. Now, you can download loads of free videos from the store for your daily dose of iPod-casting.
Apple iTunes – Sometimes you just have to go to the source of the source to find what you’re looking for.
Archive.org – This site is great for old videos and movies.

Watch iPod Videos on Your TV

Say what?! Yep, it’s true. And for some users who prefer widescreen as opposed to pocket-TV, this is the best thing about the new iPod. Now, outputting your iPod videos to any TV is easy. Just use a special video cable (and it doesn’t even be the one sold by Apple), output it through your iPod’s headphone jack, and voila! You’re a couch potato, baby!

If you’re more interested in watching videos on your TV, you may want to go with the MPEG-4 format since it can support the bigger 480 x 480 picture size. When you encode widescreen movies and output them to a TV, the pixel limit is usually 230,400 pixels. So when these larger images are displayed on your TV, you’ll get to see all those extra pixels.

Okay So You Can Watch Videos on TV, Big Deal…What About My Other Videos?

When you download video files from the web or file sharing networks, some of these files may not be marked as iPod compatible. Does that mean you can’t play them on your iPod? Well, the good news is that it’s easy enough to find out.

Tip #1 – Open iTunes

The easiest and less time-consuming way to determine whether a video is iPod-supported or not is to simply open iTunes with your iPod connected. Afterwards, drop the video file directly into your iPod’s library. If the video is copied into your iPod, it means it’s compatible. If it’s not, then your iPod won’t be able to play it.

To copy the video to your iPod, just select Manually manage songs and playlists in the iPod tab of your iTunes preferences.

Tip #2 – Add Video to the iTunes Library

The other way of finding out if your video files are iPod compatible is to add your video to your iTunes library. Just right lick the video and select Convert Selection to iPod. You will receive an alert from iTunes on your screen, telling you if your video is already compatible. If it’s not, your movie will be converted to a compatible H.264 video for you.

We should probably mention that you don’t really need to add videos to your iTunes Library in order to add them to your iPod. Just drag and drop videos from the Finder straight onto your iPod in iTunes. Again, make sure you’ve enabled the manually manage option.

You can also add songs and videos to your iPod’s library from any computer that has iTunes. Just make sure that you’ve enabled the manually manage option in iTunes. If your iPod was originally formatted on a PC, you can add files from both PCs and Macs. However, if you have a Mac-formatted iPod, you’ll only be able to add files from other Macs.

Tip #3 – Open the file in QuickTime

Alternatively, you can also find out if your video is iPod compatible if you open the file in QuickTime. Next, Select Window: Show Movie Info. In most cases, your video should be iPod-ready if the format is H.264 or MPEG-4, the audio is ACC, and the size of your video is 320 x 240 (or smaller) for H.264 or 480 x 480 (or smaller) for MPEG-4. Also, look at the data rate and make sure it’s not over 900 kbits/sec for H.264 or 2600 kbits/sec for MPEG-4.

In most cases, the bitrate reported by QuickTime would include the video stream and the audio stream (normally 128 kbits/sec) so don’t wonder if the video is shown to have a higher bitrate.

Thanks for reading and I hope you find this information useful.

MacBook Pro

2008-01-20T21:11:00.001-08:00

Up to a 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Next-generation 802.11n wireless. Gorgeous upgraded displays. Wickedly fast NVIDIA graphics. Available in 15- and 17-inch models starting at just $1999. Start your engines.

The latest and greatest.

MacBook Pro is built on the revolutionary Intel Core 2 Duo — which packs the power of two processor cores (up to 2.6GHz) inside a single chip. It provides 4MB of L2 Smart Cache that can be shared between the cores as needed. It delivers higher performance in 2D and 3D graphics, video editing, and music encoding. But the faster engine is only part of the story. MacBook Pro features up to 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory with a faster, 800MHz frontside bus and support for hard drives up to 250GB. Ultimate speed, performance, and connectivity. To go. That’s MacBook Pro.

Graphically speaking.

Whether you’re creating 3D animation, editing photos from the day’s shoot, or playing your favorite video game, MacBook Pro delivers serious processing power with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics controller.

Display’s the thing.

A great video processor powers a great display. The new MacBook Pro is available in 15-inch models with a mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display and a 17-inch model with an optional 1920-by-1200-pixel display.

Packs power, not pounds.

What makes MacBook Pro so mobile? Performance in a portable package. Only one inch thin and 5.4 and 6.8 pounds, respectively, the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models are among the thinnest, lightest notebooks in their display class.

technorati

2008-01-17T23:21:00.000-08:00

Technorati Profile

Editor's Top Rated in Monitors

2008-01-15T00:11:00.000-08:00

LG Flatron L245WP Review

This LG display is aimed at those who want more desktop real estate, 'Full HD' support and to make their PC-using neighbours jealous. It purportedly has more bells, whistles and tricks up its sleeve than equivalent monitors -- plus it's made by the people who bought you the ultra-stylish LG Fantasy series. But is it really as good as it seems?

Strengths
Like most 24-inch monitors, the Flatron L245WP is a welcome sight on your desk. In particular we like the thin screen bezel and the glossy, piano-black base section, which lets you rotate the monitor on its horizontal axis. As a bonus, the rear hinge lets you flip between portrait and landscape modes.

There's an impressive array of inputs on the L245WP. It has HDMI, composite and D-Sub, which cover most of the popular input formats you might need in a monitor. The screen has an integrated USB hub that provides two USB ports on the left, along with a headphone jack so you don't have to rely on a headphone extension cable trailing to your desktop PC.

LG has chosen not to use the touch-sensitive control buttons seen on the Fantasy series, instead opting for mechanical buttons located on the underside of the bottom-right bezel. These are clearly labelled on the forward-facing part of the bezel, and the on-screen menu system is fairly logical to navigate.

Image quality on the L245WP is stunning. After putting it through its paces in DisplayMate, we have to conclude this is one of the best monitors we've come across. It was able to differentiate between subtly different dark and light tones, and its colour reproduction is about as good as we've seen.

Video playback was impressive, too. We fed it Blu-ray and HD DVD flicks from a PC using LG's own Super Multi Blue GGW-H10N player and we couldn't find much to fault. It looks about as good in motion as it does displaying static images, with vibrant colours and little blurring to speak of.

Movies encrypted with HDCP encryption also played fine, which is reassuring -- there's nothing worse than getting an error message because your monitor doesn't support copy-protected video.

Weaknesses
Why on earth LG only bundles a D-Sub cable is a mystery. You're already paying hundreds of pounds for the screen, so it surely can't have harmed the company's fortunes to include an HDMI cable, or at the very least a DVI cable with an HDMI adaptor.

The L245WP's Picture-in-Picture mode lets you watch video from two sources simultaneously. As handy as this is, it's not ideal for watching HD movies while you tinker with an Excel spreadsheet. The video window has a tendency to tear, or become jerky, which can reduce your enjoyment somewhat.

Our final gripe with the L245WP is minor. The screen has a tendency to wobble on its hinge when provoked. Luckily this only becomes an issue if you live in an earthquake zone, or if your desk is physically joined to that of a hyperactive colleague.

Conclusion
The L245WP is a fantastic monitor. It's not cheap, sure, but it delivers excellent image quality, is attractive to look at and has the advantage of being fully HD Ready.

FIFA 2008

2008-01-15T00:09:00.000-08:00

Information
FIFA 08 enables hardcore and casual soccer gamers and fans to play like a
real soccer player through competitive and social game modes, new gameplay
controls, and enhanced authentic presentation. Get closer to the action than
ever before. With new attacking and defending manual controls, competitive
game modes, and greater depths of authenticity, live out your dreams with
FIFA 08.
FIFA 08 includes 620 FIFA licensed teams, 30 leagues (with all 27 leagues
from FIFA 07), and more than 15,000 players included, 20 more than FIFA 07.
The new leagues are the FAI League of Ireland, the Australian A-League and
the Czech Gambrinus Liga.

Minimum Requirements
* Platforms: Windows XP, 2000 and Vista.
* CPU for XP/2000: Pentium 4 (1,3Ghz) or equivalent.
Memory requirements for XP/2000: 256Mb RAM
* CPU for Vista: Pentium 4 (1,5Ghz) or equivalent.
Memory requirements for Vista: 512Mb RAM
* Free Disk Space required: 3,92GB
Graphic card with 64MB ram as minimum

XFX GeForce 7900 GS 480M Video Card Review

2008-01-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

Today NVIDIA announced the GeForce 7950GT and the GeForce 7900GS, but only the 7900GS is available for purchase right away. Legit Review have the retail XFX GeForce 7900GS 480M Extreme on hand and give it the usual review and compare it to a dozen other cards that are on the market from ATI and NVIDIA to see where you should spend your hard earned dollar. This card packs a mean punch for $199. Here's a quote:

That brings us to today and the launch of a very important card, the 7900 GS. Don't let the name fool you, this card is every bit as powerful as cards costing much more than its $199 asking price. It's interesting how the 7900 GS arrives at this price point, by cutting 4 pixel pipelines and a single vertex pipeline off the 7900 GTX/7900 GT, giving it a total of 20 pixel pipes, and 7 vertex pipes. Also carrying over from the 7900 GT is the 256-bit memory interface, 256MB of memory, and clock speeds of 450MHz core/ 1320MHz memory. For those that don't recall the 7900GTX clocks in at 650MHz core/1600MHz memory, information that will be important later in the article. Of final note is that the 7900 GS is HDCP capable, it will be up to board partners to implement it in their designs.

Black Motorola Razr V3 Review

2008-01-13T04:39:00.000-08:00

Motorola has high sales in the clamshell segment. European phone users got acquainted with the clamshell phones due to Motorola. The company is a pioneer in this field and have had several popular products of this design. For example, everybody remembers the StarTac and other clamshells of V-series. All clamshell models were made with the same style typical for the company with base functions and classical clamshell design. The market has strong competition and the company tries to find new niches.

The peculiarity of the new phone from Motorola is that the creators developed the thinnest clamshell phone on the market. It is made of exclusive materials, mainly metal alloys. The developers named the project that created the phone ‘Razor’; therefore the full name of the phone is V3 Razor. Here is our review.

At first glance, the phone appears like a small PDA. It is rather wide but not high (comparable with current clamshells by this feature). When you hold the phone you will immediately see and feel that it is very thin (less than 14 mm). When opened, the phone is even thinner, especially the top. The top edge of the phone is very sharp.

The unique feature of the phone is the material from which it is made. There is not much plastic in the phone The phone is made of metal and has small dimensions. The has space alloys that are differed by lightness and durability. The phone has good protection against drops and falls because of its make-up. The weight of the phone is not more than 100 grams.

The only phone we can make reference to that has a similar outside is the Nokia 8910 that has a titanium body. This model doesn’t have unique dimensions but has a rather good opening mechanism that fits the phone for the class. The model contains a chrome keypad made of plastic to reduce the weight of the phone.

Motorola Razr V3 has a keypad made of metal alloy and is one third by height of the smallest keypad presented on the market. The first impressions from the keypad can be strange as there is no movement from the keys because of the keypad. The whole keypad of the phone (soft keys and alphanumerical keys) is made as a touch panel making keying rather tight. It will more than likely take several days to get used to the keypad and began quickly type SMS messages. With further practice, tests showed that the keypad was convenient.

The keys has a light-blue luminescent backlight that looks very stylish. The backlight is not strong, but it seems strong enough in most of cases. The external display is a color screen that is capable of supporting 4096 colors with resolutions of 98x64 pixels. Up to 3 text lines can be contained on the display. The external screen displays the information about incoming calls and events. Unfortunately, the photo call function is only available for internal display. The phone is equipped with STN external display but it is not visible in a sunny day. This makes it just fashionable and not functional.

The internal screen is large with resolution of 240x320 pixels. It is capable of supporting up to 262000 colors. The Motorola Razr V3 has one of the best screens today. The number of text lines remains the same in the Motorola Razr V3 as Motorola’s previous phones, but the fonts were enlarged. This is also true for the icons and other elements of interface.

On the side of the phone can be found the control keys. A volume key and a key provided access to voice commands (the same key activates the recorder during the talk) can be found here. The side keys are harder to press so it makes accidental pressing harder as well The phone has a mini-USB connector, to which the phone charger can be connected. The standard kit includes a small charging adapter.

The speaker is on the back cover of the phone. We felt that the speaker was clear and could be heard even on a busy street or situational setting. You can download your own MP3 melodies.

The back panel also covers the battery compartment. The phone has a Lit-Ion battery of 750 mAh capacity which should provide up to 200 hours in the standby mode and up to three hours in the talk mode. Field tests revealed the phone worked a little bit more than two days in case of using the phone and about one hour per day in the talk mode (MTS network) and up to 25 minutes of using other functions (mainly bluetooth). Fully charging the phone takes less than two hours.

The Motorola Razr V3 has Java applications. The phone has a 3-dimensional phonebook. You can input up to 9 phone numbers in it. A photo can be assigned to each of them; and shown on the one side of the cube. You can choose that cube you need and rotate it with a help of the navigation key. Each side of the cube is assigned with its own number, for example, if it is rotated to the left, you can see an office phone. The concept is very interesting. This book is synchronized with the general phonebook, and it checks all notes while loading. The main disadvantage of the 3D phonebook is that it can’t be loaded quickly. Also, there are games on the phone that one can play. There is a nice billiard game that is pleasant to play it because of the large dimensions of the screen. The same is with golf and Stones.

The Motorola Razr V3’s memory is 5.5 Mb. The Motorola V3 does not have expansion slots for memory cards either. The connection quality of the Motorola V3 Razor is quite good. The ring volume is high, but the vibration-ring is rather weak. The advantages of this phone over others is its internal antenna, large internal screen, improved ring volume, and the metal alloys that were used to create the phone. The Motorola Razor V3 is a fashionable phone, made to emphasize the social status of the owner. Today there are no similar phones with its features in this segment. The manufacturer is not going to reduce the price greatly for quite some time so it may continue to cost 500 USD in the end of its life cycle.

Search for lowest prices on Motorola Razr. Visit www.motorola-razr.com for more info.

The 60 Inch Subwoofer

2008-01-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

The Biggest Subwoofer Ever Made

Sound Off Legends Richard Clark and David Navone With 60" Sub

{mosgoogle}The 60-inch subwoofer absolutely has the capability to produce SPL levels well above 180 dB. It is simple math and the laws of physics.

Actually, before designing it, we looked at a comparison between a large number of conventional subwoofers, or a single giant one. After we did the math, the obvious choice was the one giant woofer. It's output displacement is comparable to 160+ ten inch woofers. It can move a lot of air!

The original idea for the giant subwoofer came about in 1994 when Doug Winker, Chris Lewis, and myself were investigating how to create the highest SPL levels, just for fun. The giant sub was the best performance option, but we didn't have the capability or finances to build it at the time. Anyway, that year was when Chris and Doug installed the dual compression drivers with the horn mouth right below the mic location against the windshield. Unfortunately, the horn system was "disqualified" by the head SPL judge because the rules said the competitor could not have any windows cracked open, and Chris' windshield was cracked. I guess it didn't make any difference that the rule was intended to ensure all the windows were rolled up, and there were no openings to the outside that could affect the SPL reading.

Anyway, the 60-inch sub came about in 1997 while I was working with RC and Dave in North Carolina. Tim Maynor wanted to build a new SPL vehicle, and wanted Autosound 2000's help. We looked at the different possibilities for woofer configurations, and with Dr. Eugene Patronis' help (from Georgia Tech), we designed and built the giant subwoofer in about a six week period.

Unfortunately, Tim and his crew didn't realize just how much acoustical power the sub could generate, and didn't build the vehicle to contain it appropriately. Even at less than 1/2 output, the doors were blown off the tracks, and the entire vehicle ballooned in and out several inches. The woofer was installed in the "bread truck" anyway, and it went to Finals not fully tested.

At the Finals in 1997, Alma protested the use of the computer used to control the energy fed to the subwoofer by the power supply, so RC had to try to do it by simply touching two cables together with no feedback, and hope that the energy level was correct when it was set off. As it turned out, it wasn't at the right level, and the speaker's motor simply drove the cone assembly too hard and too fast, and snapped part of the main conecting tube in half. But, it did do 162+ dB with a single positive stroke of the cone before it broke!

The woofer was updated with several modifications after that incident so that it won't have problems with breaking again.

Plasma TV Buyer's Guide

2008-01-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

Introduction

When the first plasma screen televisions came on the market a number of years ago, they were unaffordable by all but the wealthiest individuals and businesses. As with many other forms of technology, however, the passage of time and the improvements in manufacturing methods have led the prices of plasma televisions to fall a great deal, making these great TVs more affordable to a large part of the marketplace.

There are of course a number of different manufacturers who make excellent quality plasma televisions, and the marketplace for these TVs includes a veritable who’s who of electronics companies, including Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Zenith, Phillips and Sylvania.

And while the prices of these and other plasma televisions have come down quite a bit from their early days on the market, they are still quite a bit more expensive than traditional CRT televisions. The prices of most plasma televisions range from $2,000 to $3,500, but the sale prices many retailers often run can sometimes allow consumers to purchase a good quality plasma TV for as little as $1,500 or even less.

Those in the market for a new plasma TV should begin their shopping with a good idea of what to look for and what to expect from this new technology. Plasma TV technology is quite different from the technology used in traditional CRT televisions, and it is important to understand these differences in order to get the best deal.

Panasonic TH-50PX60U 50 in. HDTV Plasma Television(picture)

How do i create a blog?

2008-01-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

Step-by-Step Instructions.

Part I - For the Beginner

WordPress

The first decision in blogging is whether you're going to use a hosted solution which is ready-to-go out of the box, or if you're going to do something custom that requires your own hosting account and some level of technical know-how. There are many open-source options for those who are ready to take total control over their blogs, which I'll cover in Part II. But beginners who simply MUST take action now, here you go:

Step-by-Step for the beginning blogger

Go to this free hosted WordPress site
Click "Create a new blog" in the middle of the page
Enter a username and active email account address
Leave the default set to "Gimme a blog" and click next
On the next page, enter the English you want for your blog address for "Blog Domain." For example, if you enter "coolstuff" in the box, your blog address will be coolstuff.hipbloggers.com.
Enter a blog title. This will be English on the main banner of your blog home page (and all other pages). This should be selected carefully to reflect your main theme. You can always change this later if needed.
Leave the privacy setting on the default. You want Google and other search engines to index your blog.
Go to your email and click the link to activate your blog.

Now if you're interested, here's all the thinking behind this recommendation for WordPress. The evolution of open-source blogging software has been very exciting. But for the beginner, a hosted blog solution is most certainly the way to go. They are free, and you'll be up and running in 5 minutes. All that's required is an active email account. This way, you can test the waters a bit and see if you really like blogging before you get into anything that requires serious time commitment or money.

Arguably the most popular blogging platform is WordPress. . If you're interested in the history of the WordPress blogging software, read the full history at the WordPress wiki entry. WordPress has a number of advantages over the other choices. The first of which is familiarity and ease of use. There are simply so many WordPress instances running that people are used to navigating them. Why make your users get used to a different interface? You want to minimize distractions so that your users really engage with you and respond to your topics. Right? This is the essence of blogging, isn't it? So here's a step-by-step on how to start a WordPress blog in 5 minutes:

Part II - For the Advanced Blogger

If you've been around the block in blogging, then you know there is an entirely different conversation to have once you've gotten your feet wet. You issues as an advanced blogger come down to Blog Strategy and Blog Promotion.

Blog Strategy

Here are some really important strategy points for the advanced blogger who is trying to find their niche, build their audience or move their writing further along.

Post often. No less than 3-5 times per week.
Proof read your postings, ALWAYS!
Write even when you're not sure what to write about, but find your theme
Try to make things interactive with your audience
Try to respond to meaningful comments as a way to increase dialog
Consider a series on a specific topic, this brings people back
Post meaningful content
Promote your blog

I find it very difficult to write about things that I don't feel any passion for. It really helps to have an interest in the topics you're writing about. If you don't you need to work extra hard to make your writing express enthusiasm. Research for interesting facts before you write. Read and re-read to see if what you've created is *really* that interesting. Re-write.

Blog Promotion

Blog promotion is a difficult task. At heart is a the simple concept of high quality content. If what you're producing is not good, you can't expect it to take you that far. That being said, there are a number of ways that good content goes unnoticed on this vast Internet. You need to follow a solid promotion strategy to ensure that you well-crafting product is distributed is far as possible.

Blogs with consistent themes are more attractive to readers
SEO is critical
Keyword selection for your pieces is important
Tighter blogs index better in the search engines
Promote your blog in forums
Links to your blog are incredibly important
Register your blog in high PR directories