DIGITAL NEWS

Hard Disk Sentinel 2.50 Professional

2008-08-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hard Disk Sentinel 2.50 Professional

Hard Disk Sentinel can monitor hard disk status, including temperature and S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology, built in most hard disks today) values for each hard disks.
Also it measures the hard disk transfer speed in real time which can be used as a
benchmark or to detect possible hard disk failures, performance degradations.

Hard Disk Sentinel can be used to prevent serious damage or data loss. It warns the user if there will be a problem occur and this gives opportunity to backup important and valuable data.
Hard Disk Sentinel runs in the background and constantly analyses hard disk status. If there is an error or unexpected behaviour detected, it warns the user about the current status.
Usually, hard disk status may slowly decline, from day to day. The S.M.A.R.T. monitoring technology can help to predict possible failures by monitoring the critical values of the drive.
Also it displays the current hard disk temperature(s) and logs previous temperatures which may be used to check the maximum temperature under high hard disk load

Easy to use interface
All information are displayed in the main window of the application. Quick controls allow easy navigation to access all hard disks, partitions and different information. Intuitive user interface elements display information by using green/yellow/red color to indicate the level of problem. Detailed text description and context sensitive help guides the user thru the features and options.

1. Install > 2. Configure > 3. Stay protected
Just install, configure alerts and backup options and your system is now safe. You'll be notified about the problems - but if everything is correct, Hard Disk Sentinel just sits on tray and displays current status. The data is protected 24 hours daily, 7 days a week.

Instant S.M.A.R.T. analysing
Hard Disk Sentinel can communicate with IDE, Serial ATA, SCSI and some special USB hard disks to detect their status and temperature. Disk status are displayed immediately as you launch the application, there is no need to analyse disks for a long period. It displays the current and maximum temperature for the hard disk. It reads all general and vendor-specific attributes and monitor their values. For advanced users, all raw data are displayed also including power-on time and number of read/write errors. Hard Disk Sentinel interprets the performance and fitness related S.M.A.R.T. values and displays the calculated Performance and Health percentage, total power on time and estimated lifetime remaining.
Disk status in Windows Explorer
View the current health status and used space in Windows
Explorer or in any other application, so you'll always know the
amount of used space for each partitions and the disk condition.

Information on demand
Current hard disk temperatures and health can be displyed on the system tray, in a small status window and on the desktop itself. Average and maximum temperatures are logged for all hard disks and these informations are displayed in graphs for statistical purposes.

Hard Disk Hardware Testing
By using Hard Disk Sentinel, it is possible to start hardware hard disk self tests. These tests can be used to effectively find all hard disk problems because built-in hardware methods are used to verify hard disk components (for example heads, servo, internal buffer in the Short self test). The Extended self test also verifies the complete disk surface, finds and repairs all "weak" areas and re-allocates the possible bad sectors. This is not possible with the software-based disk surface scan methods (for example, by using scandisk).

Logging
Hard Disk Sentinel logs all degradations in all SMART parameters. For example, if a new uncorrectable sector is found on your hard disk, you will be notified.

Alerts
Hard Disk Sentinel can make different kind of alerts upon different problems. It can execute various tasks (even external applications) in case of a problem. There is an option to send daily emails about current status.

Hard Disk Details
Detects and displays every information about the hard disk, from the revision number and buffer size to all features it has. The maximum available and current transfer modes are also displayed.

Hard Disk Performance
Logs how much data were read from or written to the hard disk. Displays current transfer rates for both reading and writing and estimates the maximum available (theoretical) transfer rate for a particular hard disk.

Hard Disk Partitions
Displays partitions for each physical hard disks and type and usage informations about them so you cannot run out of space. Hard Disk Sentinel sends this information automatically in alert/status messages.

Shutdown
It offers option to shut down the computer on failure, overheat or parameter degradation. This option can be used to prevent further data loss.

Acoustic Management
Offers option to control the acoustic level of IDE/S-ATA hard disk. It is possible to increase performance or make the disks more silent. Unique feature: control the acoustic level of your external USB hard disk (if your USB enclosure is built around Cypress AT2+ chip).

Clock Synchronization
It offers option to synchronize the PC clock with an atomic clock via NTP (Network Time Protocol).

Backup
In the Professional version, wide range of backup methods are available: to backup data to local computer, to a LAN server or to a remote FTP (or to a mail) server. It is even possible to use 3rd party tools to create archives or burn media. Hard Disk Sentinel can manage power status of remote computers in the network.

Improvements
Hard Disk Sentinel is constantly improving. More features will be available soon. If you have any idea which can be useful, just let us know.

System Requirements

Windows operating system (Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, 2003 or Longhorn/Vista)
System administrator account (in service mode, it is possible to use without administrator rights and without even user logged in)
At least 10 megabytes of hard disk space
Hard disk with ATA (IDE or Serial ATA/SATA II), SCSI, SAS communication interface.
USB hard disks with Oxford, JMicron and Cypress AT2+ chips are supported.
Other type of external disks (USB or IEEE 1394) are NOT supported because the hard disk controller chip in the external enclosure does not support the detection of S.M.A.R.T. information.

Note: RAID arrays usually do not provide S.M.A.R.T. informations. However, standalone hard disks connected to standard RAID controllers (for example motherboard integrated RAID controllers) provide this information most of the time. If you have good or bad experiences or compatibility problems, please let us know.

Note: hard disk controller drivers can also cause incompatibility problems and this case not all hard disk information may be displayed. For more information, please check the compatibility page and for some solutions, please read the information in the F.A.Q.

Download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/117206693/hdsentinel.pro.setup2.50.rar

HD Tune Pro v3.10 WinAll Cracked-CRD

2008-08-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

Here is new version of HD Tune Pro, useful software for benchmarking your HDD(s), cracked by CRD group.

Description: HD Tune Pro is an extended version of HD Tune which includes many new features such as: write benchmark, secure erasing, AAM setting, folder usage view, disk monitor, command line parameters and file benchmark.

Download :
http://rapidshare.com/files/130671113/HD.Tune.Pro.v3.10.WinAll.Cracked-CRD.rar

Buy An xBox 360: Payment Plan Options

2008-05-03T00:56:00.000-07:00

With the xBox 360 still holding strong against the new PS3, many new gamers are planning on purchasing one. The biggest problem though is the price. At between $299 and $399 dollars it can be tricky coming up with the purchase cost all at once. Luckily, most of the major retailers offer some type of payment plan that makes the purchase much easier. Here's a look at several popular payment plans for the xBox 360.

Walmart's "Bill Me Later" Program

If you purchase an xBox 360 from Walmart, you have the option to use their "Bill Me Later" program. This gives you up to 90 days to pay for your xBox 360 at the retail price without any extra finance charges. The payment option is actual in the form of a loan from Chase Bank, but as long as you complete your payment within the first 3 months, you won't be charged any interest. You have to make sure and specifiy you want to use the "No Payments For 90 Days" option when you choose to use the "Bill Me Later" program.

If you have any questions, make sure to ask the salesperson before you sign any agreements and make your purchase. Rembember, if you miss your payments or are late, the interest and finance charges can add up fast.

Best Buy's Credit Card

Best Buy also offers great pricing on the xBox 360. Furthermore, you can apply for a Best Buy credit card. If approved, you can also split your payments over 90 days without worrying about paying any interest. Keep in mind, this credit card is only good for in-store purchases, but if you don't make your payments on time it can still affect your real world credit rating.

As always, use store credit like this with caution. These no-interest finance options sound great - and they can be helpful if you carefully budget your money and keep track of your payments. Unfortunately, they also make it tempting to buy more than you can afford. You'll have to ask yourself, is it really a good idea to buy an xBox 360 on this type of credit if in the end you have to pay extra fees, fines and interest because you didn't budget well?

Paypal Credit With Ebay Purchases

If you want to get a low price on an xBox 360 and split the payments up, you might consider shopping for yours on eBay. Many eBay sellers who deal in gaming consoles also offer financing plans if you make your purchase through paypal. The details of these options vary and are only available to United States residents who pass the credit approval process. With some of the financing allowing for payments to be split up over many months without interest though, the combination of eBay prices and Paypal credit is worth looking into.

Keep in mind though, when shopping through eBay, be very careful who you deal with. Despite eBay's strict rules enforcement, some scam artists still manage to list and sell gaming consoles such as the xBox 360 with no intention of delivering them. Luckily, in order to offer the paypal credit option, sellers have to pass a screening process which makes them much more likely to be safe to deal with.

Many other retailers offer variations on these payment plans, so you'll probably want to do a bit more research to find out which one is rigth for you. The descriptions above should give you an idea of what to expect though and give you a solid basis for comparing any other xBox 360 payment plan options you come across.

xBox 360 Game Review - Soccer on the XBox - Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007

2008-05-03T00:51:00.000-07:00

Soccer on the XBox - Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 xBox 360 Game Review - Konami has always been the underdog of sports games. They never had EA backing, or the support of the big sports companies. But, they always managed to create games that played like a dream.

Winning Eleven is Xbox's first soccer offering. It's basically the same as the PS2 game but with improved graphics. It doesn't have all the features of the PS2 game.

Konami's soccer games in the past have always had an edge over everybody else's. This is because of the stunning realistic movement of the players. The team really plays together like a real team. The developers have really studied the physics of soccer and used the best technology available for the game.

Winning Eleven also has the best graphics I've ever seen on any soccer game. The backgrounds are so realistic you can almost make out the fans' faces, and the players look almost real. This is helped by the smooth movement of the game.

There are lots of set-up options so you can build your team. You can play quick games, career games or online play with other Winning Eleven players.

Most of Winning Eleven follows its predecessors, with the exception that there is more you can do offensively. There are so many ways to control dribbling, you really have to practice with the machine before you can start playing. If you know how to do it, you can control the ball perfectly, just like a real soccer game. You can stop or turn quickly, and even control how much time there is between taps on the ball. The controls are so sensitive to the touch, you can practice and learn how to finesse it just like you want to. The degree of control the player has is one of the best things about this game. You have tons of options for passes, using button combos on the controller for short, long or through passes. They've used AI technology to create the players, so you can really develop your passes like a real soccer pro team.

After you've reached a certain score (meaning that you have the technique to do them) there are a bunch of tricks you can do. You can fake out the other players, or do jutes or other common soccer tricks. These are tough to do, but can come in handy and make your game much tougher. When you first try to do tricks, it'll seem slow, clumsy and impossible. But, practice makes perfect.

The only thing I don't like about the game is the horrible music. For some reason, soccer games always have a terrible techno-electronic soundtrack. It might be the tastes of the primarily European audience. It's a minor detail, but it gets annoying. Some music preference features might be a good idea for future versions of the game.

If you want the most realistic soccer video game experience, XBox's Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 is just what you need. With some practice and experience, you'll be able to control your players so well, it's like a real game of soccer.

Where To Find XBox 360 Cheat Codes

2008-05-03T00:49:00.000-07:00

You know, I never really considered myself a "cheater," and I always thought cheating was a low kind of thing to do, but I'm an avid gamer and I want to get further in my games. And besides, who'd be hurt if I cheated a little here and there on my XBox games?

So, maybe it's a question of honor: I got to the end of the game WITHOUT cheating! I did it all by myself! Aw, forget it, there's no glory there...

Let's Cheat!

There are tons of websites out there offering you cheat codes. What can you do these codes, anyway?

Cheat codes aren't really cheating, they're just giving your character new powers. I mean, it's not like putting a mod chip into your machine and hacking into the game itself or anything like that. In fact, nowadays cheats are built into games in the form of "easter eggs."

Remember "Adventure" for the Atari 2600, and that wall you could pass through into the secret screen? What? OK, I'm old. I'll shut up.

Alright, how about this: In "Contra" for Nintendo... up down up down left right left right b a b a - and you have 30 lives!

Okay, so cheats have come a long way since then. Some of the things you can do with cheat codes include skipping levels, giving yourself special powers, unlimited lives, indestructibility... anything you can imagine.

Serious XBox users cheat only for experimental purposes, or so they say. With cheats, you can get ahead a little or try out some new things to heighten your gaming experience. With most XBox games, you won't accrue points the same way when you use cheats. In other words, your score won't be the same as if you had done it yourself. Still, it's fun to see what you can do!

As far back as the mid-1980's there were gaming magazines that had cheat codes. Now it's a common feature of gaming magazines. But, the best place to find cheats is online. There are websites with tons and tons of cheats for you to try out.

Here are a few places to start:

www.CheatCodes.com - This site's front page has all the game system's logos. You just click on the XBox 360 and it gives you an alphabetical directory of all the games. There is all kinds of information for each game, not just cheat codes, and you can sign up and post your own cheats.

www.MoFunZone.com - Mo Fun Zone has free downloadable games you can play on your computer. On a side bar to the left of the screen, they have a game cheats section. They also have each system's logo, and an alphabetical listing of games. One of my fave XBox 360 games is Madden NFL 07, and just looking under that game, there are at least 40 cheat codes that let you do things like get 10,000 rush yards or 500 tackles!

www.GameFAQs.com - This site has tons of XBox 360 cheats. It has lots of other special features like the latest gaming new and review too. This is a good all around gaming sight.

Aside from these sites, check gaming forums. Most forums have a section full of cheats where everybody shares their best. So, get out there and have some fun!

Accessorize Your Xbox

2008-05-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

Just like a car, Microsoft XBox consoles also have accessories. If you search for it online, there is an additional tax for shipping and delivery rate. You can get your Xbox accessories on www.amazon.com or even on www.ebay.com.

However, the XBox enthusiasts get theirs at toy stores. Besides, it is cheaper. Here is a list of the available accessories for the Microsoft XBox.

1. XBox Controllers

These are standard accessories, meaning they are made available when you buy the system. But some gamers tened to overuse their controller that they soon need a new one.

It is interesting to note that there is an array of XBox controllers available on the market. Like there are wireless controllers, XBox Eclipse controller, XBox Afterglow controller and so much more. It is all up to the gamer which one to get.

2. XBox Arcade Sticks

There are some games available for the XBox that can be controlled by arcade sticks for better game play. As opposed to the controller, arcade sticks can allow the gamers to flick their wrists more, therefore, there’s better control.

Best example where the XBox Arcade Sticks are compatible are the fighting games for the console.

3. XBox Steering Wheels

If there are fighting games, there are also driving games. Thanks to XBox Steering Wheels, the gamer can sit right in front of the TV set and drive away.

4. XBox Memory Cards

Memory cards aren't included when you buy an XBox console. This is because it isn't an essential accessory since the XBox has an 8 GB harddisk build-in. This can let the player save all his game information.

An XBox memory card is used when transferring a saved game from one XBox console to another. Some serious gamers also prefer that they back up their games, especially when it is a valued endeavor.

XBox memory cards are perfect for hardcore gamers. It is inserted in the console and plugged into the sockets on its two memory card slots.

5. XBox Headset With Communicator

The most successful game in the entire XBox franchise is “Halo”. Released in 2004, it is still as popular as ever. A headset with a communicator lets the gamer interact with the other players of “Halo” making it more real.

X-Box Cheat Sheets

2008-05-03T00:47:00.000-07:00

A serious gamer wouldn't think twice when it comes to cheating. Obviously, he would want to finish the game without any help whatsoever. But there are those who get stuck at one point in a game and the solution they can resort to is the numerous cheat sheets that can be found online.

Before, gamers purchase the gaming magazines for a better viewpoint of the game. However, thanks to the internet, one can just sit back and surf and get all the information he needs for the game.

XBox cheats are rampant on the world wide web. So many kind souls have been generous enough to share what they know to players who are in need of it.

An example of a site that has all the cheats you need is the www.xboxcheats.com. There you will find every XBox game code, hints and video game cheats to every Xbox game out there on the market.

Gamers have collected cheat codes either from their own game play experience or from various network and sites out there. These have been placed up in their data base.

Not to mention that all these are added up thanks to the countless cheat submissions from visitors.

This access to various cheat codes is one reason why so many people find XBox to be the best video game console. It lets them try out the games that are released for this console and enjoy these in every possible way.

Take advantage of this information at your fingertips. Other sites offering the same knowledge are:
- xbox.gamezone.com
- teamxbox.com
- cheatscodesguides.com
- cheats.gamespy.com
- xbox.gamespy.com
- xbox.ign.com

And so much more. Sometimes what gamers do is they type in the game along with ‘cheat’. Example: “Need for Speed XBox Cheat”. Those keywords alone allow the search engine to peruse through page after page of the available codes, hints and cheats that have been uploaded by previous gamers.

It is interesting to note that these sites also include cheat sheets for other consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3. If you feel that you can no longer solve the puzzle to a role playing game, or you want to have infinite lives in order for you reach a further stage, these are all possible just by clicking on the cheat sites mentioned above.

If you feel guilty doing about it, just think, ‘everybody else is doing it, so why can’t you?’

Tips for a Wedding DVD Slide Show

2008-05-03T00:46:00.001-07:00

Creating a DVD Slide Show that you can enjoy for years can be difficult. Through careful planning a slide show can be both memorable and entertaining. Here are some lessons that we've learned at Photo Field Imaging while creating our slide shows.

1. Know who your audience is.

Try not to show just pictures of the happy couple but also pictures of their families, extended families and friends. Also, if you intend to use humor in your slide show, make sure that you get a second or third opinion to verify that it is both tasteful and appropriate. We recommend that you get permission from the intended target too, just to make sure.

2. Shorter is sometimes better.

Most people have a limited attention span and, as with most weddings, there will be parents in the audience with children in tow. It has been our experience that video slide shows that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for most occasions, including wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to overdo it.

3. Choose quality photographs.

Although we are good at what we do, there are practical limitations. Though you may have an old damaged photo that you wish to have edited/restored and used in your DVD Slide Show, this could add both significant production time and cost to your DVD Slide Show. Pictures that have the proper color, lighting and exposure, will look great when displayed. Pictures that are, dark, grainy or out of focus may not display the best. Make sure to choose a company that can make digital enhancements to your pictures.

4. Choose a Variety of Photographs

Try not to use too many pictures of one item or person in your slide show. Instead of showing 10 pictures of your first car, you may wish to limit it to 2 or 3. Remember, people have a limited attention span and you need to maintain audience interest.

5. Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures

Given the standard 4:3 dimensions of television monitors, photographs that are in landscape mode as opposed to portrait mode show better on a TV. While portrait photographs certainly should be used in the DVD Slide Show, you should be aware that there will typically be a black border that appears around the photograph. It's best to use these sparingly throughout the slide show and not clump them all together.

6. Music

Choose music that has meaning to you and whose lyrics are appropriate for the pictures being displayed. Also pay attention to how long the music is that you're choosing. If you're only showing 30 pictures, you might not want to choose a 8 minute song. We recommend that each photo be displayed for no more than 5.0 seconds with a 1.0 second fade in and 1.0 second fade out. For a song that is 4 minutes long that would be approximately 34 pictures (240/7).

7. Add motion to your slide shows

Consider having your slide shows created using the "Ken Burns Effect" that Pan and Zoom on each photograph as this can assist your with focusing on the subject, or subjects of your photographs. Keep in mind that the implementation of such effects may increase the cost and time to produce your DVD Slide Show.

8. Add transitions to your DVD Slide Shows

Transitions such as fade in/fade out (our default method) and dissolve are effective ways to move from one photograph to the next. Be careful not to get too carried away with transitions. It has been our experience that simpler is better.

9. Add short video clips.

Think about adding perhaps a 10-15 second video clip in the middle of the slide show. The video clip can help break up the video montage and is a great way to keep your audiences interest. Make sure to choose a slide show company that can convert your video clips.

10. Check. Double Check. Sanity Check.

Test, test and retest. A big event such as a wedding requires that you make sure that ALL your equipment is not only work prior to the big day, but on the big day. Give yourself enough time to setup and test everything before guests arrive. Make sure that you have a screen that is big enough for the room so that everyone to see, sound that is loud enough for everyone to hear, a reserved table that is solid enough to put everything on, spare cords, cables, adequate power, etc. If you are doing this at a reception where there will be a DJ or band, communicate with them what you are wanting to do. Allot of times they are more than willing to help out.

xBox 360 Game Review: Viva Piñata

2008-05-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

xBox 360 Game Review: Viva Piñata - Rare's Viva Piñata for the Xbox 360 looks like a kids' game. The graphics are bright and seemingly simple, the piñatas are cute and cartoony, and the game is based on a children's cartoon. It's one of those games, though, that if you take the controller to 'help out' for a minute, Junior will still be kicking you in the ankle trying to get it back three hours later.

Viva Piñata is a sort of collecting/resource management/strategy/god game. It's like a chocolately collision of The Sims and Neopets. While it starts out simply and has a nicely-managed learning curve, as you level up the game becomes progressively more complicated to manage, which may leave some children (and some not-so-children) frustrated. It uses all the usual devices to get you emotionally attached to your piñatas too, so failures could bring tears. Then again, there's a subtle but definite undercurrent of disturbing in the game too, which has definite adult appeal.

Your job in Viva Piñata is to tend your garden so that it will attract different piñatas to come live in it. That means providing the things they like, whether that's lots of water to play in, the right plants, or other little crunchy piñatas to eat. When you attract new species, or grow new plants, or make a piñata change color by feeding it something peculiar, you get experience points. These points will let you unlock new content, and attract higher-level piñatas. So the game gets more complicated solely in response to your progress, which should mean it doesn't rapidly get out of hand.

You start off with an abandoned garden, a helpful little friend, some seeds, a watering-can, and a shovel. This shovel is your main tool, letting you dig ponds, plant seeds, or smack your beloved pet piñatas in the head until they break open, candy comes out, and all your other piñatas rush over and eat it. Sometimes otherwise loveable piñatas will make this unnecessary by attacking your other pets and biting chunks out of them while they're still alive. While doing this, they'll still be fluffy, cute and smiley.

You have limited space in your garden and a limited number of piñatas and helpers you can have. Some piñatas fight each other, some eat other piñatas, some chase each other round the garden making cute squeaking noises. You'll need to keep what you've got happy and in balance, and keep out or tame the marauding wild 'sour' piñatas. If you discover a new kind of piñata you simply must have, you may end up having to make extensive changes to your garden, which in turn may upset some of your existing piñatas. Managing all this will become complicated as you progress.

The game's interface and controls are geared towards children. The 360's buttons are context-sensitive, and the control scheme appears on the petals of a little flower in the corner of the screen, so you'll always know what you can do. You can choose a less-restrictive scheme for manoeuvring round your garden, but there's no way to disable the check screens every time you try to do something. You won't sell something when you didn't intend to, but you will get frustrated with the number of times you have to say 'yes, I'm sure!'.

There are achievements to work towards through the game, some of which are secret until you unlock them. Some you'll get just doing the things you'd be doing anyway, others you'd have to put specific effort into. There are also optional 'piñata central' challenges where you need to supply specific piñatas for a children's party. Oddly, your piñatas actually come back from these events intact, worth more, and with special 'happy' candy.

Viva Piñata contains just about every trick for making a game addictive. The bright, surprisingly details graphics look fabulous even without HDTV, and combined with a slight subversive self-parody element, the game has a much broader appeal than you might expect.

Life After Xbox Mods

2008-05-03T00:42:00.000-07:00

If you’re a novice gamer and you’ve decided to start out your gaming experience with an Xbox, you’ll probably have lots of people suggesting you to subject your Xbox to modding. Whether this is the right choice to do or not depends entirely up to you.

What Is Xbox Modding?

Modding is a technically illegal practice that makes use of various techniques and methods to get around security measures and other restrictions programmed by the manufacturer. Just a few months after the release of the Xbox 360 to the global market, the Internet had spawned a number of modding methods to allow players to get around signature checking and advertising and permit use of game backups and other add-ons.

What Xbox Has To Say About Modding

If and when you do allow the use of mods on your Xbox, this will automatically nullify your warranty contract with Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, because several mods require dismantling your gaming unit. It will also ban you from making full use of the Xbox Live Marketplace unless you’re able to install a mod whose sole purpose is concealing the use of mods.

Four Ways For Installing Xbox Mods

Modchip

– When you install this particular mod on your Xbox, you will have to hire a technician to disassemble your unit in order to insert the chip unless you believe you have the necessary technical skills to do it yourself. One little mistake can cause the whole unit to break down completely so care and precision must be exercised when installing this chip.

Upon installation, a modchip will allow you to play games and other add-ons that are presently considered unacceptable.

TSOP Flashing

– TSOP stands for thin small-outline package and this particular mod allows you to make the motherboard of your gaming unit writable. Be aware that TSOP flashing is only applicable for Xbox units V1.0 to V1.5

Softmod

– Unlike a modchip, softmods are any modification which is implemented through a software program. When softmod is installed, players are able to gain access to previously restricted parts of the game. If multibooting is implemented, softmods won’t affect your access to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Keep in mind however that softmods don’t always work.

Hot Swap

– Lastly, with hot swaps, you can use your very own desktop to change a particular set of information inside your Xbox’s hard disk drive.

Many things can go right…or wrong when you install Xbox mods so do be sure about what you want before taking any action.

Starting A Home Photography Business

2008-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

By : Obinna Heche
A home photography business does not necessarily require formal photography training. What it does require is a passion for photographic art, an artistic flair, the technical skills to operate the equipment and the ability to market the business.

Someone who is still in high school or college can start out preparing for a photography business by taking photos for the yearbook or the student newspaper. A basic photography course would be very helpful as well. Nowadays, it is good to know how to operate both a 33 mm and a digital camera. Local community colleges often have very reasonably priced community education courses, many that involve just one class in the evening or on the weekend.

Colleges that offer lifelong learning centers for folks 50+ have courses as well, and some of these are taught by very experienced retired photography business professionals at little or no cost. For example, a 3 megapixel camera should have at least a 256 MB card, a 4 megapixel camera needs at a minimum a 512 MB card. Any camera with 6 or more megapixels should have a 1 GB card. This will eliminate the possibility of ever missing a shot because your memory card is full, or even worse, having to choose which photo to delete because you have found one more that you just have to take.

There are many types of photography and the home photography entrepreneur may want to specialize, perhaps in photography for news organizations such as the local daily or weekly paper, in advertising photography for local magazines and local firms that need to market their products. One of the most common forms of home photography business is for events and celebrations such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, anniversaries, and other events. These can be especially lucrative as repeat business and excellent multiple referrals.

Travel photographers have exciting home photography business lives, although it takes a lot of skill and a lot of travel expense and practice photography before that first paid vacation is finely paid for. Some folks create a home photography business working as photo journalists or specializing in medical or science photographers. While quite lucrative, these almost require a four year degree with extensive photography and communication training. A college photography internship is a wonderful foot in the door for a home photography business as well.

A portfolio is a must for building clientele for a home photography business. This means taking lots and lots of unpaid photo shots to show off exceptional talent to potential clients. Helpful ways to learn the ins and outs of home photography and a photography business are by working as an assistant to a photographer, by joining associations and organizations of fellow photographers and by attending seminars and workshops on home business and photography.

The Age of Digital Photography

2008-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

By : Russell Hancock
Taking pictures is an enjoyable past-time. It is a means of capturing a moment in time and preserving it forever. It is a form of creative expression and for those fortunate enough to be really good at it, a way to make money.

There was a time not too long ago when it took a week or more before you could see the images you produced. Then the Polaroid instant cameras were introduced which gave a person the means to see their photographs in a matter of a few minutes, instead of a few days. They were revolutionary and popular but produced a rather small image

In 1972 the instant camera revolution really took off with the introduction of the Polaroid SX-70. The SX-70 was a folding SLR pack film camera which was produced in various iterations up until the early 1980s.

The SX-70 was revolutionary because it accomplished several things. First, it was the only motorized foldable camera on the market at that time. It was also convenient because it used a self contained, self developing film which did not need to be peeled apart.
By 1973 Polaroid was producing 5000 SX-70 cameras a day and almost 50,000 packs of film.

Throughout the 70's Polaroid continued to enjoy unprecedented success with their line of instant cameras.
In 1979 Polaroid produced 7.3 million cameras. They
seemed to be everywhere.

The digital age really came into being in the late 80's and early 90's. These first commercially available cameras were helped by the formation of the JPEG and MPEG standards in 1988 which allowed image files to be compressed for storage.

The first consumer camera with a digital display was produced by Casio in 1995. These first mass produced consumer digital cameras were originally a low resolution format, less than 1 mega pixel.
Around 1997 the first mega pixel cameras appeared with some offering the ability to record video clips as well.

In today's market, you will find that many digital cameras have become more compact. Yet in spite of their smaller size, they still yield superior quality images with most offering five to ten mega pixels of resolution or better. Some are also available with a wireless download feature so you don't even have to connect the camera to a PC.

The digital cameras of today have truly revolutionized the way we take pictures, much as the instant cameras did in the early 70's.
No matter what type of photographer you are, professional or amateur, go out and find the digital camera that is right for you.

Apple camera support catches partway up to Adobe

2008-02-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

With Apple's Mac OS X 10.5.2 update on Monday, Leopard now can handle the unprocessed "raw" images produced by several new higher-end digital cameras.

Among high-profile newer cameras that Leopard now supports are Canon's top-end EOS-1Ds Mark III and its top-end compact camera, the PowerShot G9. Nikon's new SLRs, the D3 and D300, also are on the list, as is Sony's Alpha A700.

Raw images provide more flexibility and detail than JPEGs, but to use them, people must convert the unprocessed camera data. Apple's Mac OS X handles this conversion on its own. Software such as Apple's iPhoto or Aperture must wait for the update to be released before images from those cameras can be handled without other software, but one operating system update handles those applications and others that use the raw tools.

In contrast, image-editing leader Adobe Systems writes its own raw conversion software, available in Photoshop, Photoshop Lightroom, and its Digital Negative (DNG) converter utility.

Adobe, whose bread and butter is software of this sort, beat Apple to the punch with the raw support. Adobe added support for the Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon G9, Nikon D3, and Nikon D300 in November and the Sony A700 in September; it also already supports the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic's DMC-L10, neither supported in Mac OS X.

Apple's lagging raw support has rankled some users, driving some to drop Aperture in favor of Lightroom. "I am seriously considering switching for one reason: the length of time for Apple to enable Aperture to support new cameras. It took months for support of the Nikon D200, and now the same with the D300. And yes, Lightroom already supports both cameras. This serious flaw is of great concern considering how solid the program is otherwise," wrote one commenter in the Apple Aperture forum.

In the discussion, Joe Schorr, Apple's senior product line manager for photo applications, offered assurances that Apple knows about the issue. "We at Apple are acutely aware of the pressing need to get support for the newest round of cameras into your hands as soon as possible. This is a top priority," he said. "We fully intend to give our customers what they need in this regard."

Microsoft has added raw support to Vista, and with a download users can retrofit Windows XP, too. Microsoft, though, relies on the camera makers to supply a conversion plug-in.

Also supported in Apple's update are Hasselblad's CF-22 and CF-39 and the Leaf Aptus 75s, Apple said.

Tom Hogarty, the Adobe executive in charge of Lightroom, said the Mac OS X 10.5.2 update also fixes a bug he reported in November. That problem could crash Mac OS X's Finder file management software when viewing image files accompanied by Lightroom editing data stored in XMP files. That issue now is "confirmed as fixed," Hogarty said.

Cameras with built-in geotagging on horizon

2008-02-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Geotagging, in which digital photos are labeled with the location where they were taken, is mostly unfamiliar to photographers today. But new developments are likely going to put the technology on the map.

In interviews at the Photo Marketing Association trade show in Las Vegas recently, several camera executives expressed an interest in geotagging and some companies were demonstrating technology. It's clear that mainstream geotagging is a matter of when, not if.

The strongest evidence I encountered is Air Semiconductor, a start-up building a chip designed to let cameras process GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite signals so latitude and longitude data can be attached to digital photos. It remains to be seen how well this works, but this idea is the holy grail of geotagging--no extra hardware or software is required.

Samples of Air Semiconductor's first chip, the Airwave-1, are due to start shipping this summer, with production versions going on sale at the end of this year or early next, said Chief Executive Stephen Graham.

"I think PMA next year is going to be when a number of companies unveil cameras with geotagging built in," said Graham, who flew in from the company's Swindon, U.K., headquarters to meet with camera companies at the photo show.

One can expect Graham to be bullish on his market, but there's independent evidence, too. General Imaging, the licensee of General Electric's new camera product line, plans to begin selling a camera this fall that takes a significant step, if not the full plunge, toward GPS integration. And market analysis firm IMS Research expects about 40 million GPS-enabled digital cameras to ship in 2011, more than a fifth of the total.

"Camera manufacturers need to differentiate in an increasingly competitive market," IMS Research analyst Matia Grossi said in a November report.

Why geotag?
Geotagging offers a new twist on digital photography, but it's got more promise than practicality today.

By adding location data into pictures, photographers will be able to search through photo archives on their computers based on where they took their pictures, not just when.

And geotags provide an easy way to figure out where a particular photo was taken, which could be useful when trying to identify something like a cathedral long after your memory of your trip to Europe two summers ago has receded into a blur. Today, software such as Apple's Mac OS X and Adobe Systems' Photoshop Lightroom can show a map when the user wants to see a photo's location.

Geotagging will be built into cameras, said Steve Haber, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' digital imaging and audio division. "It has to be," he said. "We keep hearing, 'My PC is this black hole for my photos'...People (need) as much metadata on their pictures as possible--date, location, event--which allows for easier search and for eliminating the black hole."

"There's no doubt we'll see cameras with built-in GPS within the next two years, possibly sooner," said Chuck Westfall, technical adviser for the professional products marketing division at Canon, the world's largest camera maker. "The desirability of that feature is quite clear."

The technology that's appearing extends well beyond the home PC. Photographers can share and view geotagged photos at Web sites such as Google's Picasa and Yahoo's Flickr.

Why not geotag?
Today, though, geotagging involves work beyond just taking the photos. A geotagger typically carries a separate GPS navigation device, transferring its location data to a computer along with the camera's photos and using special-purpose software to marry the information.

The process takes a lot of time, USB cables, and forethought.

Why not just build a GPS receiver into the camera? Mainly because new hardware makes cameras bulkier and more expensive, and GPS receivers draw significant battery power.

"At this time we feel there are too many glitchy things--dropouts of communication with the satellites, power consumption," said Richard Pelkowski, digital SLR (single-lens reflex) product manager for Olympus America. "We just have to overcome some limitations."

Nikon and Canon have taken baby steps toward tighter integration. High-end Nikon SLRs such as the D300 and D3 have a port that lets a GPS unit be attached directly, communicating with the camera so the location information can be recorded. A wireless transmitter can augment Canon's higher-end SLRs, including the 40D and 1D Mark III, to provide a GPS port, too.

General Electric's 10-megapixel E1050, which licensee General Imaging discussed at PMA, is a bigger step.

The company's current plans are to sell two versions of the E1050, a $249 model in May and another with a built-in GPS receiver by about September that's expected to cost about $50 to $75 more, a GE representative said.

However, the E1050 can't actually geotag by itself. When a person takes a picture, the receiver briefly powers up and records a brief signal from the GPS satellites. Later, software on a computer processes the data, in part based on GPS satellite data retrieved from a server over the Internet, and tags the photos.

That process is the very one used by Geotate, an NXP Software spinoff that showed off its geotagging technology at PMA. At the show, Geotate product manager Paul Gough specifically pointed me toward the GE cameras, saying, "We'll see our technology--we're hoping before the end of this year." GE, though, declined to confirm the partnership and said it's conceivable GE might eventually use a different supplier's technology.

Air apparent
Air Semiconductor has its own way of working around GPS limitations.

First, the Airwave-1 chip is designed to consume very little power most of the time. As with regular GPS receivers, it takes awhile to find itself--the unpleasant half-minute minimum wait called time to first fix. But then, it goes into a low-power mode, even when the camera is off, that keeps track of its position with a very rough accuracy of about 100 meters, Graham said.

Then, when a person takes a picture, the chip goes into a higher-power mode for substantially less than a second to capture more precise data. The rough location data already present essentially gives the chip a running start on figuring out its location, sidestepping the time-to-first-fix wait, Graham said.

"The power consumption we're taking is completely negligible compared to the power consumption of the (camera) system," he said. The chip consumes 1 milliamp of current when in its low-power mode, compared with about 30 to 100 milliamps for handheld GPS chips and 400 to 500 milliamps for a camera overall.

Graham wouldn't divulge the Airwave-1's power consumption during peak activity, but said it would consume less than one-tenth--and probably less than 100th--of the camera's battery capacity even with heavy use.

The chip isn't designed to work in weak-signal areas such as indoors, a task that consumes a lot of power. Instead, when the satellite signal is lost, the chip tells the camera the last known position.

Graham was previously marketing manager for Renesas' radio-frequency products group, and the other Air Semiconductor co-founder, Chief Technology Officer David Tester, was GPS group leader for Conexant. The 12-employee start-up uses Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build its chips.

How To Choose a Compact Digital Camera

2008-02-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

By : Michael Contaro

Compact digital cameras are such a craze today that almost every household has one.
The popularity of digital cameras has in fact overshadowed to near extinction the
use of cameras with films. But what is it about digital cameras that make even
the professional users go gaga over it?

Digital cameras may cost more than the ordinary camera but it is cost effective in the long
term. Unlike ordinary cameras, digital cameras operate without expensive films. The photos
can be stored in the user's computer, or he can save it in a disc or have it printed in photo paper. It is said to be a good investment not only because it does capture memories, but also it allows the user to save on film expenses.

The mad rush for compact digital cameras has begun and even those who could not afford to
buy one are saving for that precious digital camera. To make it a good investment, buyers of digital cameras should make sure they know what they are buying and that they are buying the digital camera that best fits their requirements.

Neophyte digital camera users believe that the higher the pixel of the camera, the better for them. The truth is, a digital camera's pixel is only as good as the user's requirements. It means choose a digital camera pixel depending on your needs and not just for the sake of buying a digital camera with high pixel.

Before considering the type of digital camera you need, it is practical to take note of your budget or allowance allotted for buying the camera. Digital camera makers come up with new models every six months that digital cameras that are highly priced before now can be more affordable for you later on.

Choosing a digital camera brand really depends on the preference of the user. There are brands that are highly priced because they are popular and the manufacturers have spent millions for advertisements. Good reviews will also depend on the preferences of the camera reviewers so better stick to the basic requirements of a good camera. Sometimes, buyers opt for well-known brands that have been in the camera business for a long time to make sure they are buying quality digital cameras.

Prospective buyers of digital cameras should be patient in reading the guide or manual because unlike the ordinary camera, digital cameras are a bit complicated to use the first time. It gets easier though once you get the hang of it.

When choosing which digital camera, take note of the optical zoom and not the digital zoom because the former does the real zooming. As to the matter of mega pixels, the higher the pixels, the more expensive it gets. However, if you just need to print your photos in small sizes, you do not need the higher mega pixels. When using digital cameras with the intention of printing your photos, it is ideal to choose the highest resolution but this will also mean each shot will require more memory storage. You also have to know that digital cameras come with software that will allow users to adjust the sizes of the photos. However, it is always best to change a higher resolution shot to lower resolution than the
reverse because it has a tendency to become pixelized and the image will become blurred.

Whatever model of digital camera you choose, make sure it is appropriate for your requirements. If you are an amateur, start with a digital camera that has the basic requirements and a lower mega pixel so it will be affordable for you.

Introduce Your Child to Photography

2008-02-13T05:22:00.001-08:00

By : ian Williamson

Give a child a camera and you have given them a time machine which will create wonders and may, at some time in the future, be considered family treasures. Expect that, at first, film will just be used quickly in order to see the pictures, but be patient, this will soon be over and selectivity will begin to be shown.

You will undoubtedly be treated to some early shots of grandma as a headless wonder, but these will also be accompanied by some unexpected jewels. As the young photographer learns more about his or her new hobby and why grandma's head was not in the picture, skills will begin to develop and you will start to see a legend of the world through the eyes of a six year old, or whatever age your young photographer is, begin to emerge.

Expect to see more pictures of the family pet than you will see of any other member of the family. Hey, don't let it get to you! The kid really doesn't love the family dog more than he or she loves you, I'm sure of it.

Buy the young photographer an album and fill it with these pictures. Don't forget to put the date on the back. You might also want to keep a written journal of your own to include with these picture when special occasions are observed and are photographically recorded for all posterity.

You may want to consider buying or borrowing from the library a book or books on photography for children and share it or them with the young photographer. If the book or books is/are written for someone older, you can simplify it.

Helping your child to set up a scene with toys can make for good shots also. Let him or her see how toy trucks and cars can be set up and photographed in such a way that they look like their full sized counterparts.

Is there a younger sibling in the family? Read up on taking pictures of babies and small children, then share the tips that you have learned with your young photographer. Such things as putting a piece of scotch tape on a little one's finger for example can lead to some fantastic facial expressions, as he or she tries to figure out what has happened and how to get rid of that thing. Armed with a camera, encouragement and a little bit of knowledge, your young photographer may be the one to get THAT picture, making it doubly a family treasure.

Getting a child interested in photography, is giving them a gift that may well last them a lifetime.

Photo Digital Printing: Beautiful Prints from your Digital Camera

2008-02-13T05:19:00.000-08:00

By : Timothy Rea

Whether you like to be served, or you are a do-it-yourself, you can get beautiful, high-quality prints from your digital camera.

There are two ways you can print your digital photos and get photographic quality prints for your scrap books or your wallet.

Online or Retail Store Prints - After you take your digital photos, go online to a site like Shutterfly, Snapfish, KodakGallery (previously Ofoto), Photoworks, or VistaPrint among many other choices.

On these sites you can upload your photos into your own private gallery. From there you can order prints in all sizes and have them shipped to your home with a minimal shipping fee. You will have to register on the site, and upload your pictures from your camera to your computer so that you have them available to upload to the site.

Major retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, and other regional or national stores with an online store, will also allow you to upload your pictures and order prints to be mailed for to be picked up.

Additionally, you can take your memory card out of your camera and take it to your local pharmacy or to a discount store and look for the photo print customer service desk. Here you will hand your memory card to a customer service person to have your prints made. Some of these stores also have kiosks where you can order your prints and download pictures for printing using step-by-step instructions on the kiosk touch screen.

Digital Photo Printers for the Home - The other option you have to print your digital pictures is to get your own photo quality printer. Companies like Dell, HP, Epson, Samsung, Sony and others make photo lab quality printers to instantly print your digital photos.

Some printers allow you to print your photos by docking your camera directly on the printing station and downloading your photos there.

Others require you to upload your pictures to your computer and then send them to your photo quality printer to get prints of your digital photos. If you are in the market for one of these digital photo printers, you will want to check the resolution and print quality and figure in the cost of photo quality paper, and the color printer cartridges with which you will print your digital photographs.

For some people, this cost outweighs the advantage of getting instant pictures. It really depends on how much you plan to use your digital camera and how often you want prints of the pictures you take.

Whether you choose to let someone else print your digital pictures and send them to you, or go to a local store and upload your digital pictures to get prints, or buy your own printer and go the self-service route, you are bound to get beautiful, high-resolution pictures with little or no muss and fuss!

Digital Picture Frame Choices Can Make The Shot

2008-02-13T05:01:00.000-08:00

By : Tom Sample

In this high-tech age of computers and digital images, many people forget the value of a beautifully framed print. Pictures locked on a camera might be safe, but it's hard to show off the latest baby picture or that family vacation when prints aren't available. This is where a digital picture frame can come into play.

Choosing to make prints of digital shots can result in one of two things. The first option, is a substandard print that is broken up and ugly to behold. The second is a crisp, clear picture that can rival anything printed out from a 35 mm camera. The difference will be in the camera itself and in the printing method.

Good digital pictures are taken on cameras with higher resolutions. This is measured typically in mega pixels. The pixels basically equate to the dots per inch of the digital image. The greater the number, the better the quality of the finished picture in most cases. Remember though, even with a high mega pixel camera, the quality can be dictated by settings. In general, for good frame quality digital prints, the way to go is the highest quality settings possible.

When shooting digital pictures with framing in mind there are some things to consider. Digital cameras can and often do provide superior images over 35 mm prints, but the cameras themselves have some downfalls. Even expensive cameras can have a long reset time, which means fast action shots can be very difficult to capture. Also, small children will often be very difficult to photograph because they tend to move out of the frame before the camera clicks.

The best ways to overcome the problems are to remember digital technology allows the shooting of a lot of pictures. There's no fear of wasting money on film or prints that aren't wanted. With this removed, it kind of gives the shooter the psychological freedom to shoot like mad and even try to "anticipate" shots.

Anticipating shots is an art that may or may not pay off with a digital picture that's worth framing, but when it does, it does so in a big way. When taking pictures, this practice involves aiming and shooting in an area where you expect the action to move. Continue clicking away. This works for sports pictures and even for a crawling baby. Basically frame the area where you expect the people or action to move and keep clicking.

Once "the shot" has been obtained, a simple print will suffice for showing others what you'd like to share, but a framed print can make a bigger statement. Digital framing is a little easier to handle, too, since it's often easy to manipulate the image on computer to see what it would look like in different types of frames. Some pictures, for example, look great in gallery type frames, complete with matting, and other simply pop out in very simplistic colored frames. There are many camera programs that come with framing options to help users choose the right look for their digital images.

Remember a digital camera is a great investment for getting the right shot, but if pictures haven't been printed, few will see them.

The Secret to Buying a Digital Camera

2008-02-13T04:59:00.000-08:00

By : Dave Poon

A digital camera comes so handy nowadays. Compared to using a traditional camera that uses film, taking with you a digital camera on your nature trips, tours, special occasions and formal gatherings is more convenient and fashionable too as most digital cameras come in sleek and smart modern designs. There are also lighter and easy to use compared to your old-fashioned camera.

If you do not have one yet, buying a digital camera instead of a conventional one would be a better option. Aside from the abovementioned advantages, buying a digital camera would provide you the following benefits:

1. You can take as many photos as you want as digital cameras have large storing capacity. 2. You don't have to worry about buying film. 3. You can preview photos taken (provided there's a preview LCD), delete unwanted pictures and take another one till you get the desired shot. 4. You have many options as to the resolution, quality and size of the photos. 5. You can connect it to your computer and easily transfer data stored in it. 6. You can edit the photos in the computer before printing. 7. You can select the photos you want o print out as well. 8. You can upgrade it so you can take and save more pictures in it. 9. You can use it to record sound and video as well. 10. You may directly connect it to a printer and print out photos without the need to transfer images to your pc.

After deciding to buy a digital camera, the next thing that might be bothering you now is how to buy the right digital camera. Buying a digital camera needs some careful analysis, too. Especially if you are not too familiar with the technical aspects of a digital camera, you would have to research and carefully understand what those pieces of information that you have gathered mean. Buying a digital camera starts with actually knowing what you really want. It is only upon knowing enough that you can make a better decision of which digital camera to buy.

There are several factors you need to consider in buying a digital camera. First and foremost is the resolution of the photos (the number of pixels in a photo); next is the memory. The resolution will determine the quality of the images so if you want high-quality photos buy only high resolution digital cameras. The memory on the other hand (expressed in MB) determines how many high-resolution or low-resolution images can be stored in your camera.

Taking into account the purpose for which you are buying digital camera would help you decide on thing more clearly. If you simply want a camera you can bring along anywhere anytime to capture wonderful moments and scenic views without the intention to display those photos, you can start with a digital camera with fewer features. As you master the art of photography, you can buy a more advanced kind of digital camera.

Of course, your budget is also very important. You cannot buy something that is way beyond your means. You may choose a digital camera with fewer features however it can be upgraded in the future. This will help you save money for the mean time without sacrificing the quality of the product.

Author Resource:- Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in consumer electronics. For more information regarding buying a digital camera,
please drop by at http://consumer.answerwisely.com

How to Buy the Right Digital Camera

2008-02-13T04:58:00.000-08:00

By : Heather Colman

Finding the right digital camera can be a hard decision for you to make because there are so many different types, brands, styles, and sizes available on the market today. This article is going to show you the specific things you should consider when purchasing a digital camera.

The first thing that must be done is to budget the amount of money you are willing to spend on a camera and stick to it. Doing so will allow you to shoot directly for the cameras that are in that price range or lower. A digital camera can come with so many different, attractive features that it is easy to be lured into something you simply cannot afford.

Another key aspect in choosing the right camera for you is to consider how you intend to use it. This is important because a digital camera can snap pictures at different speeds. If you simply intend to take pictures of your family and friends, this may not have much bearing for you. However, if you intend to take photographs of moving objects, you will need a camera that will snap a picture at a higher speed.

Next, consider the memory of the digital camera and how often you will use it. These two combined should not be taken lightly. If you are simply going to use the camera every now and again, a smaller digital camera will be suitable. However, if you will use it often and maybe even professionally, you will need a camera that can carry a large number of photographs at one time.

Consider your experience in using cameras. If you are a beginning photographer choose a camera that is uncomplicated and easy to use. You will also need to consider the lenses. Are they appropriate for both close up and distance shots or will you need a separate lens for either one? Choosing to purchase the separate lens is of course a personal decision, based upon how you intend to use the camera.

While considering these aspects, use the power of the internet and conduct online research. This will allow you to check out different brands and styles, making your decision a little easier. However, it is recommended that you actually visit the store and actually hold and inspect the digital camera. This will ensure that you are getting the right camera for your needs.

Finally, choose one that you are comfortable with and is affordable. It is not a wise decision to place yourself in debt just because the camera offers all of these cool features. Choose one that you are happy with and will work well for your needs.

Author Resource:- Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more digital camera resources at digital-camera-journal.info.

My First Digital Camera

2008-02-13T04:46:00.000-08:00

By : Hans Hasselfors

About a week before my son was born, I bought a digital camera. I wanted to create a baby book for him that would include not only his first year milestones, but also photos to capture his physical growth over his first year of life. I wasn't sure which camera would be best so I went to Best Buy and talked to a sales representative. He helped me sort through the features and select a digital camera that would be best for my project.

If you're a technology freak, you've probably owned a digital camera for years. But for someone like me, making the switch from traditional photographs to a digital format involved a leap of faith. It's not that I don't appreciate technology, I just wondered how good the pictures would be from a digital camera when compared to my trusty 35mm. So I bought the camera, brought it home, and began snapping pictures.

One feature about a digital camera that I love is the ability to review the pictures before printing and saving them. You can take a series of photos and then choose the best one without worrying about wasting film. But the most important feature, the one I was most worried about, was the quality, and I have to say that I was very impressed with my camera's ability to turn out even better pictures than the ones taken with my 35mm.

Digital cameras have come a long way over the last few years, and now you can buy one with so many features that, if you're an amateur photographer like me, you'd never even use. That's why it's important to talk to a salesperson when you're buying a digital camera for the first time, so that you can decide what features you need and which features you can surely live without. Since I would be mainly taking pictures of my family, I didn't need a digital camera with a tremendous zoom feature. But because I would be taking photographs most every day for a year, I did need a digital camera with a good battery. These were just a couple of the features I talked about with the salesperson at Best Buy and he was able to direct me away from the high-end professional cameras to the more reasonable ones without all the special features. I ended up spending extra money to get a digital camera with a good battery, but it was worth it because I hardly ever ran out of juice during an important event.

Low Cost Digital Photo Printing

2008-02-13T04:45:00.000-08:00

By : Marc Lindsay

If you've gone out and bought yourself a mini home lab with printing, ink, and photo paper then you won't be find a low cost digital printing. A home printing lab is very costly to setup and maintain.

What you should be doing is some research on the internet to find the best place to print photos online. Printing digital photos online is not as hard as you think. Due to high competition in this industry you'll find places that compete with each other. Some places go as low as $0.09 a print! That's almost the same cost as printing a black and white photo from home.

Most of the top online photo printing websites come with the facility to upload and edit your photos so you can do it from anywhere. Your home, office, friend's house, café and where you can find an internet connection. You can also have them delivered to your door step with a very small fee. If you look around I'm sure some places will offer free shipping if you spend above their limit.

Some photo facilities will allow you to:
• Change the contrast and brightness
• Manipulate colour saturation
• Crop and resize images
• Red eye reduction
• Lens filters like Polarizers, Haze & Black & White

When selecting an online digital photo printing website you should do some research. Try searching the internet for the company name and see if you can find any reviews or articles about them. If you can than it must mean that they have a good reputation based on the articles. You want to also find out if they can also print on T-Shirts, mugs, calendars. This will help you in the future if you want to print of a mug as a gift for someone.

After you've found a couple of sites to compare you'll want to do further research on their costs, bonuses , and bulk printing. You'll find that each website will generate different print results and some of the really cheap places may charge you half the price but half the price does not make up for quality. So if you manage to find a reputable website but you have to pay an extra 2 cents more pre print, you should consider doing so because getting it from a respectable place is worth it. Nothing can make up for a bad print.

Here's what you do before you print. Try printing around 10 photos and see how they turn out. If they are great and better than you expected, go for it. If not at least you know you won't be printing from there again.

Web Design Secrets For Professional Photographers: Five Keys to a Successful Website

2008-02-13T04:43:00.000-08:00

By : Robert Provencher

Professional photographers are aware that if they are going to be in business, they are going to need a website. This is particularly true for photographers who focus on wedding photography and portraiture - potential clients want to see what you can do before they give you a call. Even if they do happen to call before viewing your work, they may ask for the address of your website. If you don't have one, rightfully or unrightfully, you may be considered an amateur - and perception is just as valid as reality.

Many companies, like Yahoo! and GoDaddy.com and many others will provide software for you to create your own pages if your sign up for their hosting services. Some photographers may find it easier to let a professional web designer put their site together for them. Or better yet, learn the basics of web design and create your own. That way you get to add samples or monthly specials whenever you want. Either way, there are five key elements that every site should have. Most web designers focus only on the design element of web creation and fail to see the sales power and marketing muscle that can be yours when used effectively. Here are five key ideas:

1- You must establish credibility - freely present your credentials and a nice portfolio. Avoid unprofessional graphics at all costs, misspellings, and grammatical errors. The most important message you can telegraph to your prospect is your work. In it holds your biggest benefit that you bring to your prospect. They must be able to see your best work, and as many samples as possible.

2- User-friendliness - make it easy for your site visitors to navigate - they shouldn't have to go backward to go forward. Or wait for slow loading flash files or work their way through cluttered layouts. And, please avoid the number one mistake that 90% of the photographers do over and over. What is it? Black background with light or white text. I know, I know, you want to look cccooooolll and artsy. But the fact is, and many studies have proven this to be true, that black text on white is the most easily read. Think about it. We read newspapers, magazines, books etc etc etc....alll black text with white backgrounds. Why do you want to go against the current? Ego. That's why. Don't let your ego steer you. Let common sense be your guide.

3- Include a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. You'll be the one to write and answer the questions, anticipating your customer's needs for information. This is your chance to add facts that don't fit neatly onto your other pages. Of course you can include portrait planning tips, location ideas that work best for specific portrait ideas or at certain areas in your area. Include as much information as you can possibly come up with to pre-emptivelly answer the questions your prospect has in their heads. This is a great opportunity to help your prospect in a consultive way. You will be perceived as professional and someone whom they will want to do business with.

4- Promote your site. By this I mean managing traffic that arrives to your site through search engines and other online methods or any traffic that is generated by other media sources outside of the web, such as your local newspaper, yellow pages, business cards etc. You can easily and readily find out how many searches are done using specific search terms to do with your city or town. Have your site optimized so it ranks high enough in the search engines and you will get pre-qualified and targeted leads visiting your site. You can also buy qualified leads from google.com or overture.com. Your websites' job is to effectively sell these leads into clients. Overture and sites such as wordtracker .com have programs you can use to help you research search terms.

5- Sell. That's right, sell. Too many portrait studio owners are afraid of selling. They seem to think it is nasty and negative thing. Fact is selling is simply offering a fair and mutually beneficial service. The more you tell you better you sell. You mustn't be afraid to extol the virtues of your service by making offers, pointing out the benefits and backing up those benefits with the features. The truth is people are afraid of salespeople who don't reveal enough information. That's why your website is the perfect opportunity to sell, and have the site do a lot of the selling for you by using an informative and consultive approach.

A website should be a reflection of what your business is. You can't add anything to your web site message that conflicts with the reality that already exists. If you offer great service and products and have a great reputation within your community, your website will be an extension of that message.

A website will not magically create anything for you. You must have something to offer. This is your message. It is what makes you and your business different from all others. Your website is merely a delivery method of your message. An extension of you and our studio.

If you have an innovative approach to your packaging and products, that is a part of your message and it will and should be used as part of your sales message. If you have a dirty, cluttered place and your website suggests otherwise, what kind of message will you give to clients when they do show up at your place of business after they've checked out your website?

Take a good look at what exactly your business message is. What is your typical client like? How do they usually buy from you? These are basic, yet essential questions that will reveal more information for you to use in your marketing arsenal.

Remember that your website is an ad, and advertising is selling. Selling is serving. And serving is informing. With that golden rule as a guide you can never create ads or offers that otherwise would hold anything other than the customers needs as top priority. And you will profit by building a trusting and repeat client base.

How To Take Great Photos With Your Camera

2008-02-13T04:41:00.000-08:00

By : Marc Lindsay

The truth behind a great photo is not the camera. It's the person who's taking it, you! Great photos are also not as simple pointing and clicking. There's a lot of things that make a great photo and sometimes you do get lucky with a great shot. But most of the time you'll have to work at it.

On top of a great photo you might need to retouch the photo on the computer by enhancing the colours and contrast.

Here are a few tips that you should know before you go out and start shooting.

Polarizing Filter

This is very important for outdoor photography. A polarizing filter helps take away glare and unwanted reflections and can enhance the colour of your photo. Not all cameras come with polarizing filters and if your camera dosen't have one then here a neat trick. Grab any sunglass and position it in front of you lens while taking the photo. The sunglass will act as a polarizing filter.

Tones

If your shooting outdoors you may want to change your white balance from to cloudy. This will put a mild filtering when you take a photo. It increase the red and yellow saturation on your camera and will make the photo come out warmer.

High Resolution

When taking photos that you want to keep and edit its better to set your camera to high resolution. Its easier to edit the image size and resolution from a high resolution image than to enlarge a low resolution image. Having a high resolution image also helps when printing, it'll come out sharper.

Memory

Depending on how many photos you want to take you may need to bring with you a few memory cards. You'll want to buy additional memory when you buy your new camera. If you have a 3 megapixel digital camera you'll need a 512 megabyte memory card and if you own a 4 or 6 megapixel camera you should try a 1 gigabyte card. The higher resolution cameras will take a chunk of memory so grab a few memory cards if you're going to take lots of photos.

Macro

If you own a digital camera there should be a macro mode. Usually you have about 3 feet before your camera looses its focus but if you hit the macro mode you'll be able to get as close as 1 feet. However if you have a digital SLR camera you can actually buy a macro lens to attach to it. This way you can get as close as your lens lets you. If you don't have a digital SLR you can still buy a mount on macro lens for your camera. Ask your local camera house for more information.

If you want to get better at photography practice more and take more photos. You'll eventually understand your camera better and you'll be able to learn more techniques along the way. Try buying books and researching for more tips on the internet you'll be surprise how much you can learn online.

Photography as a Fun and Interesting Hobby

2008-02-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

By : James Hunt

Photography is a fun hobby that interests many different people across a broad range of ages. Enthusiasts of all types have found a creative recreational outlet in the hobby of photography and with the advances in technology that have occurred in recent years (especially with the advent and ubiquitous adoption of digital imaging technologies such as digital cameras, scanners, digital image editing software and photo printers).

There was a time when an individual who was interested in getting into the hobby of photography had quite an initial investment to make. To get a serious start in the craft, one would need to purchase an SLR (single lens reflex) camera ($400-$1000+), darkroom equipment ($300+) and very expensive exhaustible supplies (35mm film, developing chemicals, photo paper, etc).

With digital photography, the hobbyist has a much lower cost to pay to get into the hobby in a serious way. Once the initial purchase of a quality digital camera and professional imaging software (such as Adobe Photoshop) are made there is little to no expense required to participate. Aside from the occasional prints, there are few other necessary hidden costs to the hobby when approached from the digital side of things.

If you are interested in getting into the hobby, you should check out some of the photography communities on the web.. There are literally thousands of enthusiast's sites out there and hundreds of free tools to make the most out of the digital photography technology. From online image repositories with the ability to meta-organize digital photos like Flickr to web gallery software like Coppermine to free image editing tools like the Gimp, there are many tools and resources out there for the taking online. These free tools, together with a very active and robust online digital photography community make for an excellent hobby that can provide hours of enjoyment to those who are willing to put in the time and effort.

Printing Digital Photos Online

2008-02-13T04:39:00.000-08:00

By : Marc Lindsay

Most people who buy a digital camera would often go out later to buy a photo printer. It's perfectly fine to do this however what most people don't know is that it's cheaper in the long run to print your photos online. Let's go through why this is the case.

Digital Photo Printing At Home

Let's say you bought a camera for $400 and you then decided to print your own photos at home. You buy an average photo printing for around $200. It'll cost you around $40 (almost double for a new cartridge) to change your colour ink cartridge and that's if you recycle them. However using recycled ink cartridges can cause your printing to break down. On top of that you'll also have to buy photo paper for around $50 for a pack.

If this is still ok with your budget and maintenance cost, you'll be surprise to see the quality of the prints when they come out. If you have an average printer you won't be pleased with the quality. And if you're after quality you'll have to get a better printing which could set you back around $300 to $500 depending on the model. You'll still have to pay for ink and paper which could cost more depending on the model.

Now if you can accept all the disadvantages of printing at home you'll be even more disappointed to know that if you wanted to print a large size photo, you're printing might not be able to do so.

Digital Photo Printing Online

Printing your photos online is an alternative solution for people who don't want the hassles and cost involved with having your own home printing lab. Online printing websites all come with facilities for you to upload and enhance your photos if you haven't already done so.

Some online photos shops even allow you to print your photos on T-Shirts, mugs, calendars and much more.

And one of the major benefits of online printing is that you can save money when you print in bulk and you can also get them delivered right to your door step!

If you haven't already tried online printing I do suggest you give it a go and see how you like it. It's very fast, cheap and saves time because you can get them printed while at work or in a café.

Digital Photography: The Top Five Reasons Why

2008-02-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

By : Robert Provencher

One thing I discovered during my experience with digital photography after 20 years of shooting film, and I teach this point in all the many seminars that I've put on to hundreds of other full-time pros, is that digital photography is very well suited for the portrait photographer. So why are we the last to jump on the band wagon? Many commercial shooters have known about and mastered the use of digital in their business's for far longer than the portrait photographer.

My guess is that we're afraid. Afraid of the learning curve and afraid that the quality just isn't there unless we spend an ungodly amount of our hard earned cash on some scary looking gigantic array of confusing and awkward, let alone "how am I going to learn how to use this stuff" equipment.

Truth is, you can easily get away with as little as a 3.5 megapixel camera. I know, I used my Canon D30 for the first eight months of my digital journey. That camera created more memories, more sales and more wall portraits that I ever thought imaginable.

Whoa, wait a minute you say, wall hangings? Can't be!! When I put on my seminars I routinely display many large wall samples for all to see, with some of the older samples I created with the 3.5 megapixel camera; and the reaction I get is usually disbelief.

Listen. The quality is there. I've proven it over and over and I know anyone can replicate the same results. Yes, even with a 3.5 megapixel camera.

You've just got be careful, that's all. We have a collection of images at our studio, even large wall hangings captured with our dinky little D30, and they are "jaw-dropping" stunning. I know other photographers who have had amazing results as well. I know that it works and file size is secondary.

There are many reasons, but I'll work with the main list. Here they are:

*Quality. The quality of images captured with a high quality lens, properly exposed and well posed is more than enough, even if you shoot JPEGS. Yes, JPEGS. Over 90% of the more than 30-40,000 exposures I put through my camera every year is shot in JPEG mode. Why? Why would anyone in their right mind shoot in such a "low quality" mode? The answer is simple: It works.

I like to compare JPEG's to shooting with portrait film. It is slightly softer (although not even noticeable to the human eye) and muted, ideal for skin tones, right? Besides, we slap on "softar" filters in front of these outrageously expensive lenses and degrade the image even more. Don't bother. Shoot with a good lens, in JPEG mode, expose properly, pose and create as usual, and it will all come together. Add any effects later.

Look at what else portrait photographers have been doing to their finished images besides purposely degrading the image with "softars". We retouch the surface of the print, sometimes extensively. We canvas mount. Add texture sprays.Oils. Linen laminates...on and on.

My point is simple. Portrait photographers do not need to create the very sharpest, highest resolution images available. If they have in the past, they've always degraded the image through these other means. It's kind of ironic don't you think? You can still shoot in RAW mode if you wish, but it isn't really needed.

If we needed the absolute highest quality image at capture we would have all been shooting with Kodachrome 64 or Velvia on a 4"x5 camera. But we don't. JPEGs work. I have many 30" prints, and even a 70" print, that was captured in JPEG. And they look amazing. Your can too.

*Control. People want their photos fast. We live in a drive-through world and minutes count. In our studio we create a slide presentation for our sessions and we show them to the clients within 20 minutes of every shoot. Clients love it. They get to see the results instantly. If you fight this you're fighting basic human nature. We want, want, want, and want to see it sooner than later. Sales go up, the client is already in the studio ready to see the images, and ready to spend. Their is ample evidence that when you show the images sooner, and you create large projected images, which is a cinch with digital, sales go up. Digital gives the portrait photographer more control over the sales process, and ultimately it means more profits.

*Retouching. Let's face it, people want to look good. What used to take hours and whole lot of aggravation with spray booths, smelly and dangerous lacquers, is now possible with absolute ease. Even when I decided to farm out all my retouching because I had had enough, it still took weeks or months, and huge retouching bills.

Not to mention the loss of control I had over the retouching aspects. It was up to the subjective interpretation of the retouching artist to enhance the images the way I wanted them retouched. Now, with a few basic skills, and all those years of retouching experience all transferred over to the new darkroom, my computer, I can easily retouch to any degree I like. In mere minutes. With absolute astounding results. This ultimately translates to satisfying a basic need that needs to satisfied in our clients, their vanity. They want to look good, and they want it fast.

*Innovation. I could go on for days when it comes to what new products, ideas, services, sales processes, packages, etc, etc...I have been able to create because of digital photography.

Suffice it to say for now that I am excited and alive again with passion about my photography and about the possibilities. When you apply the power of digital, and get a handle on it in your workflow, you can create new and exciting products like never before.

I've seen it and experience it every week in our busy little small-city studio. The proof ultimately boils down to net profits, doesn't it?

After all, we are in business first, and creative artists second, right? Right? Are you with me on this one? We are in business to make money and survive. We need new and exciting angles, ways to stay afloat, so we can pay our bills, keep the bankers happy and provide for our families. No one can predict will total accuracy how digital photography will ultimately evolve, but my betting dollar is with it all the way. I'm not taking any chances.

Anyone remember when colour film and paper was introduced as a mainstream commodity? I don't, I was just a wee lad, but I heard stories about the many studio owners closing their doors and packing it in because they didn't want to keep up with the demand and latest craze that colour film and colour paper had created. Dinosaurs. Every last one of them. Their loss, all because of a thick head and mis-guided egos. Don't be a dinosaur.

My biggest discovery: Who the true expert is!

Ultimately the true expert in our business is not ourselves, or our peers. The real expert is the client. They open up their hearts and wallets and fork over hard earned cash for the memories we create for them. Do they care if it is shot on a JPEG? In RAW mode? Do they care if we use the biggest, best, strongest, fastest computers and software?
Of course not. When you get into your clients head and listen to the conversation that goes on these things are totally irrelevant.

Far more important to her, and to us, is the fundamentals of good photography. In a whirlwind of technological advances nothing seems to ever stay the same. Truth is, the fundamentals of good photography will never change. That's where is all starts.
Master that and you have 99% of your digital photography challenges mastered.

What to do With Digital Pictures

2008-02-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

By : Charles Kassotis

The person who thought up digital photo technology had a terrific idea. And the fact that digital cameras are now so affordable means that more people are choosing this option for their photo needs. But there are some major differences between film cameras and digital cameras when it comes to the end result.

One of the biggest advantages of film cameras was also one of the biggest disadvantages. When you completed shooting a roll of film, you took it to a lab (or mailed it off) and got photos in return. On the downside, you didn't usually get photos developed until you had an entire roll of film finished. Some people say that not having the photo is one of the biggest negatives of digital photography. There's a tendency to shoot the photos, download them to the computer and simply leave them there. But there are some options - some really incredible options!

Printing on your home printer has never been easier. And as the technology continues to advance, photo paper is becoming increasingly more affordable. There are even some printers out there designed to read directly from the camera and spit out photos on the spot.

You can also have digital photos printed from your local retailer or any number of online photo labs. Upload photos from your computer to their sites, or take your digital camera media in. The cost is very reasonable. What's more, you can choose the sizes you want, get multiple prints of only those that you want, and eliminate the bad shots without paying for printing.

Most computers have great photo software that allows you to correct problems before printing. You can eliminate red eyes, crop out unwanted backgrounds, and even sharpen the focus to some degree. You can also lighten or darken to make up for bad lighting at the time of the shot.

If you're into special effects, the sky's the limit. You can change from color to black and white, insert your subject into any scene, add text or change colors. What's more, every mistake you make while experimenting is easy to rectify, or you can simply trash that endeavor and start over.

Having digital photos on your computer can also be great when it's time for gift giving. There are software programs that allow you to create calendars using your own photos. You can make customized cards for any occasion. Imagine sending out birth announcements with the baby's first photo on the front of the card!

There are plenty of gift ideas from online. Most online photo labs offer options for every season. You simply upload a photo, then choose the gift you want with that image. Coffee cups, t-shirts, puzzles, posters, playing cards and more are available, personalized with your favorite picture.

It's interesting to see that more companies are offering options with digital photos. Even the US Postal Service has recently announced that you can order personalized stamps using a photo you upload from your computer.

There's no doubt that film photography is still preferred for certain situations, but digital photography has certainly taken the lead in many venues. Whether you're a professional or simply the designated family photographer, take a look at some of the great things you can do with those digital photos.

PicAnswers helps identify house plants, the rest of life's little mysteries

2008-02-12T03:46:00.000-08:00

By Josh Lowensohn

A few months back my roommate's rare house plant was dying. In a last ditch effort to bring it back to life, he enlisted my help. We scoured various message boards and Q&A sites with little success to get help identifying the plant (he got it as a gift).

The plant ended up going to that big greenhouse in the sky. The experience made me realize there's a pretty basic need for sites, such as PicAnswers, which lets anyone upload a picture and ask a question about it. Interestingly, the amount of high profile Q&A services that don't let users do this is surprising. One of the few to allow it is the AOL-owned Yedda, while sites such as Yahoo Answers, Microsoft's QnA Live, and Amazon.com's Askville are limited to text.
Like Amazon's Mechanical Turk project, PicAnswers is driven by humans. People upload their photos, and other users chime in if they can answer the query. A lot of the questions posed on the site range from simple identification issues like "what the heck is this?" to advice about what to do about a problem posted in the picture.

Here are a couple of my favorites so far:
Toothpick or food skewer?
My chili is yellow
Is there any Chinese poison in this toy?

Despite its simplicity, PicAnswers is missing two very helpful components: a way to vote on other user's answers to help filter down the best responses, and a karma system that makes it worthwhile to answer other people's questions. As it stands, you're left to sort through the answers yourself and answer out of the goodness of your heart. I'm hoping the site's creators add these soon. In the meantime, it's definitely worth bookmarking for the next time you unearth something that needs photo identification.

Ask.com offers news page

2008-02-12T03:45:00.000-08:00

By Elinor Mills

Ask.com has quietly launched a news page called "BigNews" that aggregates top news stories from a variety of sites ranging from The New York Times to small blogs.

The company, whose parent company InterActiveCorp is having troubles of its own over plans to split off its different brands, enters a crowded field with more established news aggregators like Yahoo, Microsoft, and even Google, as well as sites like Digg and Topix.

Ask.com says the news page stories are dynamically generated based on freshness, source authority, social media references, article content, and multimedia availability. You can use a source filter to search for stories based on geographic region and track stories via the site or RSS.

The top stories on the site Thursday afternoon were Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney dropping out of the race, the Shuttle Atlantis launch, U.S. Defense Secretary defending NATO's mission in Afghanistan, two studies concluding that biofuels are not so green, and a Utah couple and their dog rescued after being stranded for 12 days in the snow.

By contrast, Romney, Atlantis, and a story on a baby found alive amid the wreckage of a tornado in Tennessee led on Yahoo News, which was similar to news on the MSN and AOL portals. Google News led with Romney, mob raids in Italy and the U.S., and a standoff between police and a gunman in Los Angeles.

Ballmer: Yahoo brand will live

2008-02-12T03:44:00.000-08:00

By Ina Fried

Microsoft says it can find $1 billion in cost cuts by combining Yahoo's business with its own Internet services operation, however CEO Steve Ballmer says the Yahoo name isn't one of the things on the chopping block.

"Yahoo, the brand, will live," Ballmer told BusinessWeek.

Even if the brand lives, though, it is unclear which of Yahoo's technologies Microsoft would adopt. A merged company would have to choose among two e-mail systems, to ad platforms and two instant messaging systems, to name just a few of the many overlaps.

Microsoft has thus far offered few details on what it might look to cut if its deal goes through, and Ballmer didn't offer much in the way of new details in the magazine interview.

Of course, the biggest hurdle at the moment is convincing Yahoo to take its offer, one which has declined in value since it was made last week.

Firefox Mobile could be invisible

2008-02-12T03:43:00.000-08:00

By Jessica Dolcourt
A few days ago, two prototypes of Firefox Mobile, the latest bun in Mozilla's oven, made it onto the Mozilla wiki. Today Firefox Mobile product manager Doug Turner released two more designs.

Turner's team didn't scrap the toolbar entirely, but based on user feedback, they did make it much less intrusive. Why look at the buttons when users really want the Web, they reasoned. Letting the toolbars dissolve away when they're at rest is one method for making the most of the screen. Tapping a translucent icon (shown solid here) could bring the command buttons back.

Better your Gmail, again

2008-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

By Seth Rosenblatt

Better Gmail 2 is a Firefox extension that collects a bunch of Gmail customization scripts from Greasemonkey under one control panel. The latest update, to Version 0.3, brings Better Gmail 2 mostly up to speed with features that were in the original Better Gmail, but had to be abandoned when Google rewrote Gmail's code last November.

The biggest of the latest additions include a revamped insertion of Google Reader into the Gmail user interface. This is not merely a rehash of what came before, but a better-looking, faster-loading UI that makes switching between Gmail and Reader seamless.

There's also a new rollover highlight for messages. The highlight colors aren't customizable, but it's still a great little tool for grabbing your attention, and the colors change depending on whether the e-mail you're currently mousing over has been read or not. One-click conversations have returned, too. This tool inserts a small head-and-shoulders icon in between the star and the e-mail sender. Click on it to show all recent conversations with that person.

Skins are back, with two flavors for those who get sick of Gmail's layout. "Grays and blue" gets rid of most of the white in the interface in exchange for a more muted palette, while the Gmail Blue Skin leaves the whites intact but creates different shades of blue backgrounds behind the navigation options. Both include substantial font changes.

The plug-in's other features are nothing to sneeze at, either. You can forced encrypted connections for security, change the attachment icon to reflect the file type, modify keyboard shortcuts, automatically show message details, and more. Better Gmail 2 is a must-have Firefox extension.

Napster kicks it old school with MP3

2008-01-09T02:24:00.001-08:00

By Jasmine France

For my money, one of the most exciting pieces of news coming out of CES this year is Napster's announcement that the service will be offering up its entire download catalog in the DRM-free MP3 format. It may not be free, but it still hearkens back to the olden days of Napster. Of course, Amazon.com's digital music store has been selling MP3 files for months now (and eMusic much longer than that), but having another major online music service push for the most universal of digital music formats is just one more step in the right direction--it makes things infinitely less complicated for the consumer to have access to one type of file that will play back on any MP3 player or computer.

The change is set to roll out in the second quarter of 2008 and will apply to Napster's entire catalog of pay-per-download tracks and albums. Subscription tracks will still come in the DRM-wrapped WMA variety, a necessary evil for that type of service.

Glogster brings glitter graphic blogging to the masses

2008-01-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

By Josh Lowensohn

Glogster is a new publishing tool that's been making the rounds over the last week. The service is focused on letting people create "posters" of various bits of premade and user-generated content using a Flash editor. Unlike some blogging platforms, Glogster has no inclination to go after people who want to write something every day. Instead, the site is geared toward the tween crowd, or anyone else who enjoys partaking in glitter graphics, or those strange greeting cards with dogs and cats that have been Photoshopped to have enormous eyeballs. That being said, using the right tools, Glogster users can create classy looking stuff with a distinct visual style, even if it's got a single-use, disposable life cycle of something like an e-card.

Glogster's editing tool is simple to use, although a little flawed from the get go. Its categorization, which divides up all the content you can place onto a Glog, places a limited number of items together that the user must then sort through one piece at a time. Considering the amount of preproduced content that can be placed on the page, it's an exercise in patience for people to find what they're looking for. In comparison to what I consider a comparable Flash editing environment, video mashup tool Flecktor and competing scrapbooking service Scrapblog do a far more graceful job at putting all the options in one place. The one saving grace is that anyone can dive in and start making a "Glog" without having to register with the service, which is a great way to get a feel for things. Each premade item is also a vector graphic, meaning you can resize it ad nauseum and it won't get pixilated.

Besides being a niche publishing platform, Glogster doubles as a social network of its own. Users can add each other as friends, and each Glog gets its own place for comments and a five star rating that can get it featured on the "top glogs" section. Users can also embed a Glog elsewhere (example), although for some strange reason you can't pick out how big it is, so it looks enormous nearly anywhere you put it.

While there's no integration with some pre-existing photo and video hosting services to help users pull down media they've already had to upload, my guess is that Glogster will add that later down the line. In the meantime, you're required to upload both pictures and videos, the latter of which requires a fair bit of processing after upload before you can add it to a Glog. Scale that to three or more video clips and things get tedious.

I'm not quite sure what to think about Glogster. It's certainly not ugly, but it can be in the hands of its users, who have already created a wide array of Glogs that fall mostly on the side of visual overload. It's amazingly simple if you're just sticking to images with text captions, although compared with Scrapblog, it's missing some of that panache and easy integration that I think keeps users coming back.

Web achievements 101: Things to do before you die

2008-01-09T00:37:00.000-08:00

By Josh Lowensohn

While the Internet might be a soulless place that's mostly devoid of any real human warmth or compassion, there are certain things that make it better. While there might be a YouTube, we're still very much the me generation when it comes to defining a personal identity online. Some of these "Web achievements" people pick up over the years require some serious talent. Others can be had with a little luck. We've compiled a list of some of the more prominent ones--consider it a list of things to do on the Internet before you die.

Skill.
Achievements that require talent, skill, or personality

Get on Flickr's interesting picture wall. Flickr's interestingness algorithm is based on several qualities of user interaction with a photo. Flickr lists them as "where the clickthroughs are coming from; who comments on it and when; who marks it as a favorite; its tags and many more things which are constantly changing." In short, it's about how popular your photo is on an aggregate scale.

Chances of it actually happening: Depends on skill. It could be one of the best pictures on earth, but if nobody's looking at it, you're out of luck. That being said, the photos you tend to see on Flickr's explore page (the listing of interesting photos) tend to be great-looking, but even the occasional bad shot of something amazing makes the cut.

Make the YouTube featured videos list. This elusive honor puts your video on the front page of YouTube.com. Many unknown artists have gotten huge view counts and channel subscriptions out of a front page spot, which gets millions of eyeballs each day.

Chances of it actually happening: Slim. The smattering of videos in the featured videos section on the front page is picked out by a team of YouTube editors. These folks are in charge of cool hunting, and given the amount of content that's uploaded to the site each day, the best way to get noticed might be to get picked up on some other social sites for visibility first. Mark Glaser from PBS' MediaShift has a great post on the editorial process here.

Get your post on The Best of Craigslist. This elusive honor is reserved for some of the best-written, or just plain obscure postings on the popular classifieds site. There's no real science to it beside the fact that your post must be nominated by a certain amount of users before it's picked out from the crowd.

Chances of it actually happening: Slim. Getting on Best of Craigslist is incredibly tough. Nationwide only a handful of posts are picked out each week, and you're relying on Craigslist users to not only read what you've written, but nominate it.

Making the front page of social news site like Digg, Delicious, Reddit, Slashdot, and Newsvine.

Chances of it actually happening: Reasonable. The beauty of getting on these sites is that you don't have to write an article you're submitting. In most cases, the only responsibility is to write title and description. Adding a little style and flair to the original title and description can do wonders. On the other hand, writing a story, taking a picture or video that makes the front page of any of these sites is a far greater achievement than simply adding the link.

Continue reading to learn about repetitive and ego-stroking achievements galore...

Become the Reddit's all-time karma gainer. We'd classify this under repetition, except that Reddit's karma system actually requires users to submit quality content. If you're just spamming the site with a bunch of useless links, your karma will be buried into oblivion.

Chances of it actually happening: Not without some work. If you're unemployed or working for a news wire service you might have a shot. Otherwise, you probably won't be able to keep up with some of the folks on top who are submitting more than a dozen quality news links each and have been every day for years.

Repetition.
Getting these requires countless grinding or tireless participation

Acquire Elite status on Yelp.com. Becoming a Yelp Elite isn't an exact science. According to the Yelp Elite info page, people are picked out based on a number of qualities, ranging from writing style to how much content they're adding to the site. That being said, it doesn't happen overnight. For some it takes months of countless reviews.

Chances of it actually happening: Pretty good as long as you're willing to invest yourself in the site and participate. The payoff is invites to private parties, and a snazzy looking profile badge. In the case of Yelp's latest shindig, Elite members got to get into the party an hour earlier than everyone else.

Reach your Gmail in-box size limit. Google is currently giving everyone a little over 6GB of storage, but it wasn't always like that. Google broke ground by giving people 1GB free along with a little counter that would add more and more storage as time passed. Throughout the years they've tweaked the speed of the counter along with total storage. The service is now at six times the original storage capacity.

Chances of it actually happening. Depends on use. It's happened before, and it can happen again. While most home users will be fine--if you're trading around a lot of media files that max out that 20MB attachment limit, that space can eventually fill up. To those who have crossed the sacred threshold and fear deleting old messages, Google offers a paid storage expansion option to push the account up to 400 GB at a mere $500 a year.

Egosphere cred.
These are the nerdiest achievements of the bunch, and will make you feel important 2.0

Make the Twitterholic 100. The Twitterholic listing is based purely on followers on the popular microblogging service Twitter. These are people who are following your tweets, not the number of friends you have, or how many times you've updated your status.

Chances of it actually happening. If you're a male or female blogger with lots of fans, or a large Web news service, it's in the bag. Otherwise you probably need to know at least 1,000 people with Twitter accounts who want to pay attention to what you're saying. Currently No. 100 has a little over 1,100 followers with the No. 1 garnering nearly ten times that.

Get publicly slammed by Dave Winer. If you don't know who Dave Winer is, he probably doesn't know who you are either. Winer, who helped create the Web standards for podcasting, blogging and RSS is well known for writing or saying snarky things ranging from people to products.

Chances of it actually happening: Slim. If you've built a popular Web app or retail product with some usability flaws, the damage might already have been done. He could also simply disagree with your opinion.

Make the front page of Valleywag. Silicon Valley's self-proclaimed gossip rag is a blog at heart, and that means getting on it requires garnering the interest of its editors. Getting a mention on Valleywag holds more than some freebie potential traffic. You can become a hallowed member of its Facebook group "I got slammed by Valleywag."

Chances of it actually happening: Decent. Getting on the front page of Valleywag is no easy task but if you leave your cell phone unattended at a bar, are attractive, or and are dating one of Google's founders, you're a shoo-in.

Convert Firefox into a text-only browser

2007-12-30T23:02:00.000-08:00

By Dennis O'Reilly

Last week I described how to use a simple Javascript to determine the age of a Web page. The only problem: if the page has any dynamic elements that update automatically when the page loads (and these days most Web pages do), the script shows the current time and date.

For pages without auto-update content, type javascript:alert(document.lastModified) into the address bar and press Enter to see a window pop-up with the date and time of the page's last update. I'm still looking for a way to find out how recently specific content on a Web page was updated.

As I was looking for such a method, I stumbled upon a great Firefox add-in from Chris Pedericks called the Web Developer Toolbar (download). As the name implies, the free toolbar is intended to help Web designers test their pages, but it can also be used to show only the text of Web pages, which often makes them easier to read--and to print out.

After you download the toolbar, click Options and check Persist Features. Next, click CSS*Disable Styles*All Styles. Now click Images*Disable Image*All Images. Lastly, click Disable*Disable JavaScript*All JavaScript. You'll see only the page's text, and perhaps a couple of broken-image place markers. Be warned, however, that the results are rarely pretty.

In addition to making the pages easier to print, the text-only versions are also much easier to scan for specific information. (Note that you can retain much of the page's original formatting--minus images--by keeping CSS enabled.)

Tomorrow: Put Microsoft Word's styles to good use.

Google's privacy faux pas with Reader

2007-12-30T23:01:00.000-08:00

By Elinor Mills

In its attempts to add social elements to products, is Google pulling a Facebook?

Google Reader has allowed people to share items they are interested in with others since 2006 with hyperlinks, clips on blogs and storing them on a public page that you had to know the URL for to see.

Last week, Google tweaked Google Reader so that your shared items are automatically made available to your Google Talk contacts.

But, as anyone who uses instant messaging knows, not all of your IM contacts are friends. Many are acquaintances or people you barely know and with whom you may not want to share a reading list.

Recently, Facebook was forced to modify its new Beacon ad targeting service that notifies friends in your network when you buy things on sites of Facebook partners. Facebook made that an opt-in feature, however, after consumer groups and Facebook members complained the service violated people's privacy.

Google, too, has been crucified in the blogosphere over its Google Reader change, with bloggers saying the Google Talk contact sharing feature should be opt in, not opt out.

To calm the masses, Google posted an item on the Google Reader Blog that explains the company's reasoning behind the change and tells how to clear the shared-items list and how to tag items to share with a limited number of people.

"We'd hoped that making it easier to share with the people you chat with often would be useful and interesting, but we underestimated the number of users who were using the Share button to send stories to a limited number of people," the blog says.

Danny Sullivan, editor of the Search Engine Land blog, writes: "Frankly, a better solution would be to dump the friends sharing feature until it comes back in a new form, where you specifically and deliberately create a list of contacts that you do want to share material with."

How to find a Wii

2007-12-25T23:26:00.000-08:00

by Daniel Terdiman

After spending hours driving more than 60 miles Tuesday in search of a Wii, I am pretty much convinced that there are next to none available in retail stores anywhere, nor are any stores likely to be getting more before Christmas.

You never know, of course. A call I made to a Nintendo representative revealed that it's not entirely clear if retailers will be getting more before the holiday. But time and again, salespeople told me that they didn't expect to get any more after receiving shipments last Sunday that quickly sold out.

So what's a Wii hunter to do?

As a Toys "R" Us salesman told me during my stop at one of their stores, one method would be to "Call everywhere in the world, every single day of your life if you really want one."

But if that doesn't work, here's what else you can try.

First, GameStop retailers are having a promotion on Friday in which they will accept paid preorders and will guarantee delivery of a Wii sometime in January.

But this program has gotten enough attention that I was told by one GameStop clerk that you'll probably have to line up to preorder.

You could also try buying one online. eBay, for example, seems to have many of the consoles for sale, though I would tend to doubt at this point that you could get delivery prior to Christmas. But you never know. It's certainly worth checking out the possibilities.

This is what Nintendo recommends:

"Get to know your store managers. Ask them when their shipments come in, so you can be on hand the day they show up."

"Call around. You can increase your odds by checking in with more than one store."

"Try smaller stores in out-of-the-way places. Many different kinds of stores sell video game products, so don't go to the same megamall that everyone else is going to."

"There's no one surefire way to find a Wii. But by teaming up and getting creative with your approach, you're bound to have more success than the people who just go to their local mall and do nothing else."

"If you see one, be sure to grab it!"

This is surely fine advice, and if you follow those suggestions, you'll probably find a Wii eventually, though it may still take you some time. Certainly, try to temper your kids' expectations that there will be a Wii under the tree on Christmas morning, because if you don't have one already, odds are you're not going to find one.

For its part, Nintendo is certainly aware that the shortages of the console are causing consternation among consumers, but it is taking the position that it's doing what it can to address the issue.

"If it were possible to snap our fingers and manufacture millions more, we would do it," Nintendo said in a statement it delivered to me Tuesday. "We're continually putting more and more Wiis into the pipeline, but they all sell through almost instantly. Production has already been boosted more than once, and we are actively increasing the number of systems provided to retailers around the world."

That's all fine and good, but it certainly doesn't put a Wii under your tree. And from my experience, it doesn't look as if much will. The best bet at this point is to accept that you're going to have to wait.

My advice? Keep your tree up, and when you finally find a Wii, wrap it up, put it under the tree, and pretend Christmas has been extended into January. What kid wouldn't love that idea?

Firefox 3 beta 2 is out and about

2007-12-25T22:47:00.000-08:00

Mozilla fans can now download Firefox 3 beta 2 for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

The new version sports a wide range of improvements over the first test version of the browser upgrade, most notably plugs for memory leaks, security fixes, and a download manager that includes improvements previously available only through plug-ins.

The security enhancements get fairly technical, but the Firefox developer's Web page states that the new version offers "protection from cross-site JSON data leaks, tighter restrictions on site-specific content using effective TLD service, better presentation of Web site identity and security, malware protection, stricter SSL error pages, antivirus integration in the download manager, (and) version checking for insecure plug-ins."

The updates to the download manager are pretty good, and they're far easier to parse. The new manager lets you resume stopped downloads, and it has the aforementioned built-in virus checker.

You can also zoom in on parts of a Web page, and the integration between bookmarks, the location bar, and bookmark folders has become tighter. There's now one-click bookmarking, smart folders for bookmarks, and the location bar checks against your bookmarks and history for page titles and URLs.

The Firefox developers also claim that Web site rendering is now faster than it was in FF3 beta 1, but empirically, I couldn't detect any difference. Either way, it's definitely faster than it is in FF2.

If you're a bit nervous about accidentally damaging your current installation of Firefox 2, but you'd like to try out the Firefox 3 beta, I recommend installing the portable version. It doesn't affect your old settings, though you can't run both Firefox 2 and Firefox 3 beta portable simultaneously.

Yahoo Maps gets drag-and-drop rerouting, enhanced business listings

2007-12-19T03:52:00.000-08:00

By Josh Lowensohn

Yahoo's mapping service has been tweaked today to include a rerouting feature similar to the one Google's had since June. The new addition lets you pick up and drag your directions at any point to get the service to reroute according to the guidelines you give it. Once you've made changes, the service will pop up with a small comparison to show you how many miles have been added (or taken away) and how the change affects the time on your original commute recommendation.

Rerouting is a handy feature, and if you've given Google's implementation a try, you'll know how nice it can be to not have to create two or more separate sets of directions to help get you from point A to point B when including shortcuts or side trips. I have to give a slight nod to Google's version, however, as it shows you street name, mileage, and time estimates while you're in the middle of dragging the marker around.

In addition to directions, Yahoo has also made some slight improvements to the business listings that show up on the map, which now include photos and user ratings that have been pulled in via Yahoo Local. You get to see only one photo and review before having to jump off to the attached Yahoo Local page. The process isn't nearly as seamless as Google Maps, which allows users to read several while remaining on the page, but it makes the service feel like more of a directory.

Yahoo Maps has rolled out some pretty cool features this year, including a send-to-car option, an all new look, travel maps, and tighter integration with Flickr.

DNA dating site predicts chemical romance

2007-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

By Elsa Wenzel

The first dating service to use lab-based genetic profiling launched online last week. Scientific Match promises to pair up people who will be physically attracted to each other because their DNA is different.

Well-matched couples will like each others' natural scents, have more fun in bed, and bear healthier children than those who are genetically similar, the company claims.

The service, available only in the Boston area, charges $1,995 for a year-long subscription.

"I strongly believe this will dominate the future of dating services," said founder Eric Holzle, a mechanical engineer.

Members swab their cheeks and send in saliva samples. A lab spends two weeks analyzing the immune system genes, and then the company matches individuals with genetic profiles that are unalike.

"We look at six specific genetic reference points on DNA, and none of those six can match to make a match," Holzle explained.

He was inspired by a well-known "sweaty T-shirt" study of a dozen years ago, in which biologists found that women liked the smell of dirty shirts worn by men who were immunologically dissimilar to themselves.

As with other online dating sites, Scientific Match's users can fill out written profiles and upload photographs. Genetic details are not displayed, except to indicate a match. The service runs criminal background checks to exclude anyone who has committed crimes involving violence or identity theft.

Scientific Match is open to straight and gay people. However, women taking the birth control pill are turned away because some studies show they are more attracted to men with similar immune system genes.

The success or failure of the service can't be measured, however, with only a handful of customers so far. Although Holzle doesn't guarantee finding one's true love, he insists that people paired by Scientific Match will at least smell appealing to each other.

The romantic role played by scent is well-documented in poetry and science. Perfumers even add synthetic versions of pheromones, suspected aphrodisiacs found naturally in the body, to fragrances that include Paris Hilton's eponymous perfume.

But the ability to bottle attraction or to predict it through genetic profiling remains unproven by science.

Scientific Match sounds more like pseudoscience to Dean Hamer, the molecular biologist and author credited with discovering "gay genes."

"That sounds like a complete and utter rip-off that preys on people's lack of knowledge of causation and correlation," he said, adding that people could wrongly write off a potentially great mate due to genetic discrimination. "Why don't they just smell their underarms?"

Nevertheless, entrepreneurs are sure to try to capitalize on advances in genomics and biotechnology to reshape the landscape of high-tech matchmaking. The field is wide open. For instance, nobody has tried to set up couples based upon genes that have been linked to promiscuity or libido strength.

And Googling a date's full genetic code could be on the distant horizon. The cost of sequencing someone's DNA has dropped to the low six figures.

The latest online services to incorporate genetic testing include startup 23andMe, Ancestry.com, and the Genographic Project, which sell swab-and-send testing kits for uncovering the deep roots of a family tree.

Opera Mini browser getting ready for Verizon--sort of

2007-12-19T03:45:00.000-08:00

Jessica Dolcourt

Verizon users with high-end phones may soon have another choice for surfing the Web--Opera Mini 4 (on CNET Download.com). Opera Software announced on Thursday compatibility with Qualcomm's BREW platform, on which Verizon and many other carriers worldwide run.

Although Opera Software has ported code for its mobile browser to the BREW platform, you won't be downloading the app tomorrow. It will remain unavailable until BREW carriers certify or license the browser, and decide if it will be made available through the Opera Mini Web site or through the carrier's interface. The only exception? Verizon BlackBerrys, which are compatible with Opera Mini now, though they lack a minor functionality.

Since Qualcomm approved developers and requires a digital signature for each product, the implementation process differs for the BREW and Java environments.

Visit the Opera Mini Web site for a list of compatible phones, and watch this First Look video to see how the Opera Mini 4 mobile browser works.

YouMail manages mobile voice mail like e-mail

2007-12-19T03:38:00.000-08:00

Jessica Dolcourt
I'll come right out and say it. The biggest problem with my first experience with YouMail may have been my own human error, or bad timing. The biggest problem with my second experience is a controversial capability I tackle later on in the review--so keep reading!

In my original review of the voice mail system that lets you manage voice messages online, I said YouMail had a lot of potential, but wasn't delivering on its promise of catching my voice mail messages. It could be that I skipped a beat, and missed punching the crucial star (*) key when entering YouMail's phone number into the Motorola Razr V3 handset I tested with. Or, offers YouMail's PR representative Derek Brookmeyer, I may have actually done this as the signal cut out, in which case YouMail would not have completed my voice mail forwarding, and Verizon would not have warned me the action was unsuccessful.

So now, the complete review:

YouMail's concept fits snugly into the intersection of two meta trends--personalized greetings (such as Vringo) and online mobile management (such as Dashwire). However, since you program YouMail to take over native voice mail duties, it involves a lengthier time investment up front.

YouMail users receive notification of new voice messages from both text and e-mail (you can disable that if e-mails start building up.) Checking voice mail on your mobile phone reroutes you to YouMail's service, which plays your message, and which gives you options to reply, save, delete, or skip messages, or change your individualized greeting for the caller.

Clicking the e-mail notification opens a new YouMail.com window and plays the voice message. On YouMail.com, voice messages are indeed handled like e-mail, with the regular functions to save, trash, flag, and sort messages. Replying to a message sends the caller either a text or an e-mail wrapped in YouMail's branding, your choice. Users are also able to record customized greetings for select callers, a really unique surprise for a buddy. Or a nasty one, depending on the message you leave. I'm imaging high school break-ups via YouMail: "If you're wondering why I'm not picking up the phone, it's because we're over!"
In addition to YouMail getting interactive with a hands-on approach to voice mail management, it also goes Web 2.0. with a few publishing tools. This is, perhaps, a little too chic for comfort. Users who enable message sharing can choose to broadcast voice mails they receive by e-mailing the message, linking to it, embedding the WAV or MP3 file onto a Web page, or publishing it to Digg, Del.icio.us, Furl, or Spurl with a single click.

While YouMail's privacy statement promises to shield your e-mail address and phone number, it says nothing about walling off your voice content. In fact, YouMail stands behind sharing, explaining to me in a PR conversation that there's little difference between YouMail's message broadcasting capabilities and the tape recording taken of Alec Baldwin's incriminating voice message left on his daughter's cell phone. If I had let that PR call go through to voice mail, I could have embedded it here.

The comparison doesn't inspire much confidence, and it's YouMail's biggest flaw. As much as I'd love receiving a sweet or funny voice note directed to me when I call a friend, I cringe at the thought that any message I leave them could be so swiftly distributed. Of course, with a few tools, anyone is capable of digitizing a voice message that anybody else leaves, but the fact that callers have no choice in the really simple publication of their voice message could, at the very least fuel some individual embarrassment, and at the most, fuel an ugly debate about digital voice rights. For now, as with e-mail messages, letters, and other forms of private communication-gone-public, it comes down to a users' judiciousness and sensitivity.

Apart from that, YouMail's free voice mail management is a well-integrated solution for making more out of mobile messages. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile subscribers can most easily try YouMail for themselves by following directions online. Have your phone ready. Sprint subscribers have to ask a customer service representative to implement the voice mail forwarding to YouMail's central number. Do this only if you have minutes to spare.

How do you like YouMail? Tell us your take on the service in the comments below.

Be careful when shopping for a replacement laptop battery

2007-12-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

The batteries in laptop computers are expensive (a quick review of prices at Lenovo.com shows they range from $119 to $179) and like any battery, they have a limited lifespan. When it comes time to replace the battery inside your laptop computer, you may be tempted to save a few bucks and buy a replacement from a company other than the one that made the computer.

Don't.

In a widely reported story, someone in Ohio purchased a battery for their ThinkPad laptop from a company called Shentech rather than directly from Lenovo or IBM (in 2005 IBM sold the Thinkpad line of laptops to Lenovo). No doubt they paid less than IBM or Lenovo would have charged. When I checked today, a battery for a T40 ThinkPad that Lenovo sells for $119 is only $65 at Shentech. Was it a bargain? Not at all, the battery caught on fire.

The story made news not because of the fire but because the battery, bearing an IBM logo was a fake (allegedly). After examining the faulty battery, IBM purchased additional batteries from Shentech and they too were (allegedly) fakes. Needless to say, IBM is suing Shentech (that they list a Post Office box and no phone number on the Contact Us page of their website doesn't inspire confidence).

Unfortunately, the laptop battery igniting in flames was not, in and of itself, newsworthy. After all, last year there were a slew of battery recalls. The big story was Dell recalling 4.2 million batteries made by Sony, but overall approximately 10 million Sony batteries used in machines from Apple, Sony, Lenovo/IBM, Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Sharp and Dell were recalled. In May of 2005 Apple recalled iBooks and PowerBooks with batteries made by LG Chem Ltd., of South Korea. Lenovo/IBM has also recalled Sanyo batteries. It must be hard to make a safe Lithium-ion battery.

The lesson here is to only buy replacement batteries from the company that made the computer. Off-brand batteries are more likely to scrimp on safety features.

And, should there be a recall of the battery in your laptop, make it easy for the manufacturer to contact you - register your computer purchase.

Your BatteryIf you are curious about the battery in a laptop computer running Windows XP, go to the Control Panel, open the Power Options, click on the Power Meter tab and, finally, click on the battery icon. In the screen shot above, you can see the battery was made by Sanyo.

ThinkPad owners should have a ThinkPad configuration program installed (available from Start -> Programs -> ThinkVantage, at least in Windows XP, I'm not sure about Vista) that shows additional information about the battery. As you can see above, this includes the manufacture date and the first-used date.
The Status Detail tab (see above) also shows, among other data, the current temperature of the battery which might bear watching every now and then.

If you know of other software that shows important information about the battery in a laptop computer, please leave a comment below.

Microsoft releases final version of HD Photo plug-in for Photoshop

2007-12-06T23:53:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has taken the beta tag off a plug-in to let Photoshop read and write files in the HD Photo format, which Microsoft is standardizing as JPEG XR.

The free plug-in is available for download for Windows and Mac OS X systems. The plug-ins work on Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5, and Photoshop CS2 or CS3, Bill Crow, who's overseen the HD Photo and JPEG XR effort, wrote on his blog Thursday.Microsoft hopes HD Photo eventually will replace the ubiquitous JPEG standard overseen by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. Among the HD Photo advantages that Microsoft touts: it offers more efficient compression, richer color and a much wider dynamic range; it can optionally store images without data loss from compression; it's free of royalty and licensing constraints; and it can run in camera hardware. Support for the file format, initially called Windows Media Photo, is built into Windows Vista.

HD Photo also can be used to show images online at different resolutions, transmitting only the portion of the image that's shown on the screen. That's useful for zooming in to a high-resolution photo without having to download a vast image, a technology Microsoft uses in its HD View software for viewing detailed images online. One organization using HD View is Xrez.

However, Microsoft faces significant challenges in encouraging adoption of the technology. Building it into Vista is a big step, and an endorsement from Photoshop publisher Adobe Systems helps, but JPEG is deeply entrenched. Standardization through JPEG could encourage industry players to adopt the standard--in particular those who are leery of Microsoft's power.

But there are plenty of standards that never catch on. What could really tip the balance in favor of HD Photo/JPEG XR is if it gets built into cameras directly so photographers can start using it from the outset.

The final version of the plug-in, developed in part by Pegasus Imaging Systems, looks mostly like recent betas, Crow said.

"All the changes we've made since the last beta are under the covers, fixing a couple minor bugs, addressing several theoretical security vulnerabilities and generally bringing the code up to current Microsoft standards for released software," he said. "Don't forget that the beta versions will expire on December 31st, so you should definitely download and install these new released versions."

Firefox churns to version 2.0.0.11

2007-12-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

By Stephen Shankland

Mozilla on Friday released the third update to Firefox this month, version 2.0.0.11, to fix a stability problem in the previous version.

"We strongly recommend that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest release," a post on the Firefox developer blog said.

The open-source Web browser update arrived swiftly after version 2.0.0.8, released October 18, version 2.0.0.9 from November 1, and version 2.0.0.10 from November 26. Which explains why I'm getting a lot of software update messages from my Web browser.

Version 2.0.0.10 broke a feature that lets images be displayed with special effects such as rotated pictures and image reflections, according to Mozilla's bug-tracking site. The problem was fixed within a day and distributed within five, but not before some whose sites were affected by the bug had voiced frustration.

"Customers are complaining because their Firefox automatically updated to 2.0.0.10 and now they can no longer order photo prints in our shop. I think this is a very serious problem and I hope it will be fixed immediately in a 2.0.0.11 update," a post by Klaus Reimer said.

In an indirect response, Firefox coder Nick Thomas pointed to mailing lists that people can use to test their sites with imminent new Firefox versions. Thomas also said that the five-day turnaround is "the fastest turnaround between Firefox releases to date."

As long as the Mozilla coders are stamping out bugs, one that's annoyed me has become more prominent of late because it shows up when I install a Firefox update.

When I restore my Firefox browser sessions upon rebooting my computer, it's impossible to get rid of the "You've been updated to the latest version of Firefox" page. Even if I close that tab, it comes back later, so I have to start with a clean browsing slate to make it go away. It's not a stability or security problem, but it's not a credit to what is a notably influential project.

Mozilla released the first beta version of Firefox 3, called Gran Paradiso, less than two weeks ago. The second Firefox 3 beta should be done in "late December" if all goes well, according to another Mozilla developer blog post Friday.

Transferring big files with DropSend and TransferBigFiles

2007-12-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

By Michael Horowitz

If you need to send files to someone and they are too large to email, there are untold numbers of web sites offering this service, both for free and commercially. However, if you need to transfer very big files, your choices are more limited. When I recently needed to transfer some files of 650MB to a client, I tried a handful of these services. Previously I wrote about free services from SendThisFile and EatLime. Here I relate my experiences with the free services from DropSend and TransferBigFiles.

All these services operate by letting you upload files to their servers, notifying the recipient that the files are ready to be downloaded and providing a link that points to the file(s). Some of the services have optional software, but installing software scares me, so I used nothing but a web browser (except in one instance).

DropSend

DropSend offers to send files up to 1 gigabyte for free (the same limit applies to their paid accounts). They allow only five file transfers per month, but also include 250MB of permanent online storage. The limit of five transfers does not apply to uploads to the permanent storage.

Registration is required, they ask for your name, email address and require you to chose a password.

The status display while transfers are in-flight is pretty complete, you see an estimate for the remaining time in minutes, the upload speed and the upload progress both in percent and total megabytes.

A constant annoyance with bandwidth speeds, nothing specific to DropSend, is that they are reported as "bps" and sometimes the "b" stands for bits and sometimes bytes. I emailed DropSend asking if the speed they display is bits/second or bytes/second. I never received a reply.

I didn't like the fact that DropSend opens a new browser window to display the upload status, it crowds the tasksbar. The new window opened despite the fact that Firefox was configured to open new windows in a new tab.

After an upload completes, DropSend tells you the number of megabytes transferred and how long the transfer took. No other service I tried did this.
TransferBigFiles

TransferBigfiles is, according to their website, an "experimental project". The word "BETA" appears in read at the top of each web page. In politics, they call this lowering expectations.

The maximum supported file size is either 1 or 2 gigabytes. In describing their optional software it says "Upload up to 1gb per file". However, in their FAQ it says "TransferBigFiles does not limit the amount of space your account can use on our servers, the only storage limit we have is that your files may not be larger then two (2) gigabytes." Apparently "beta" applies to the documentation too.

A great thing about TransferBigFiles is that neither the sender nor the recipient needs to register. To use the service, as shown above, all you need to do is select a file on your computer and provide an email address for the recipient. It couldn't be any simpler.

While a file is being uploaded, you see the upload speed, an estimate of the time remaining and an estimate of the overall time. For a 650MB file, the initial estimate was 3.14 hours. The first time I tried it however, the upload failed with a Timeout error.

The next day, I tried again to upload a 650MB file and after a while a window popped up with a Timeout error. However, after clicking OK, the upload kept on chugging along. Soon there was another Timeout error and again after disposing of the error window, the upload continued. In all there were a handful of Timeout errors, but the upload completed nonetheless.
The information provided afterwards was disappointing, there were no stats of any type, just a message that the upload worked.

On November 24th, I tried to upload another 650MB file using Firefox and it failed with "The connection was reset - The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading."

About 45 minutes later I tried again using Internet Explorer. This time the upload never even started, after clicking on the start upload button, IE hung and eventually gave up saying it couldn't find the server. I waited about 3 hours, tried yet again and this time too the upload never started.

Thinking maybe they were just having a bad day, I tried again on November 25th. Still, the upload never even started. Instead, Internet Explorer reported that "The page cannot be displayed - Cannot find server or DNS Error".

At this point, I installed their free DropZone client software in a Windows XP SP2 virtual machine. Or rather, I tried to install the software, the install failed with a message that "The application failed to initialize properly".

Not being able to take a hint, I instead researched the software requirements for DropZone. Turns out it needs the .NET framework, an optional component of Windows XP. Specifically, it needs version 2 of the .NET framework, which also comes in versions 1 and 1.1. XP users can check if they have it installed using the "Add or Remove programs" applet in the Control Panel (look for "Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0"). Installing the .NET framework fixed the problem and I was able to install and run DropZone version version 1.1.7.23433.

The website doesn't say it, but to use the DropZone software you have to register for a trial account and provide a valid email address.

I started small with DropZone, transferring an 11K file. Or trying to, this transfer also never started. After waiting a while, I clicked on the Retry button but Windows complained the application was not responding. Task Manager showed it was using 99% of the cpu. I killed it an re-booted.

Next, I tried DropZone with a 1.4MB file. Yet again, the transfer never started. I let it sit for about 30 minutes but still nothing. As before, I right clicked on the file name and click on Retry. Again cpu usage spiked to 100% but the transfer still didn't start.

On November 28th I tried again transferring using the web interface. This time, I was in a different location and using Windows 2000 instead of XP. Despite these changes, the upload again wouldn't start. The error this time was unknown.
Persistence eventually paid off though, shortly thereafter I was able to upload a couple small files. But this turned out to be a waste of time as I sent the file to myself and I never got the notification email informing me that a file was ready to download. After a few hours, I uploaded another file to a different email address of mine. This time the upload failed with the unknown error.

Just for good luck, I tried again late on December 2nd. Again, the upload failed with the unknown error.

Final Thoughts

Despite not being able to transfer a 650MB file, EatLime was, in some ways, the most appealing. There is no registration and thus no password to remember, and, they never learn any email addresses. I was able to send small files with it a number of times. I persisted with TransferBigFiles because it has the simplest user interface, but the many failures speak for themselves. SendThisFile was slow, but reliable (see first posting).

It should go without saying, but never send anything you consider sensitive with any of these services, unless the file is encrypted before it leaves your computer.

Finally, there is another approach altogether, one that cuts out the middle man. You can install software that directly connects two computers over the Internet and lets them transfer files to each other. This approach shouldn't have any inherent limit on file sizes. I didn't try this because the sender and recipient both have to be online at the same time.

Digg images going live later tonight, News Corp. buyout next? [PICS]

2007-12-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

By Josh Lowensohn

Digg's long-awaited images section will go live later tonight. Similar to the way Facebook's sharing tool works, users submitting stories to Digg will have the option to pick and choose from thumbnails that have been crawled from whatever URL was supplied. There's no need to upload anything, or hotlink to an image--it'll simply be made available. To help users sort through it, Digg has also reconfigured Digg's category system, letting users submit all three types of media (news, images, and video) into any category. This aims to get rid of the previous system of users figuring out their own ways to get through Digg's limited categorization methods, by inserting "[PIC]" or "[VIDEO]" into submitted titles.

To help make use of the new visual draw, Digg's also launching a new way to browse through images using a "mosaic" view. It looks a little bit like Johnathan Harris' 10x10 project by organizing upcoming and popular stories in a cloud of thumbnails (which you can see in the screenshot at the bottom of the post). The company is also attempting to curb duplicate submissions using image recognition from Toronto-based Idee Inc, which is already listing Digg on its featured clients page.

One of the more interesting tidbits from the launch of Digg images is the partnership with Photobucket. The photo service is supplying integration with member images, giving users a new submission button that will jump them straight to a tailored Digg images submission page, as well as giving Photobucket users a whole new channel of photos that have been submitted to Digg. If you've been keeping track of any of the Digg buyout rumors, you should know that Digg's recently gotten deep integration with the News Corp.-owned Wall Street Journal to let WSJ readers submit stories to Digg, while allowing Digg users to read the premium content free of charge. Photobucket also happens to be owned by News Corp. While News Corp. owns two of those pieces (WSJ and Photobucket), why not go for all three?

Adobe slashes price for Flash Media Server

2007-12-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

By Martin LaMonica

Adobe Systems on Tuesday is expected to announce that it will dramatically cut the price of its server software for streaming video over the Web.

Flash Media Server 3, which is set for release in January, will now come in two versions. Flash Media Streaming Server will cost $995, and Flash Media Interactive Server will cost $4,500.

With the current version, Adobe sells its Media Server for between $4,500 and $45,000.

The company is lowering prices in response to customer requests, said Kevin Towes, product manager for Adobe Media Server. "What we've been hearing is that the cost of streaming video over progressive download is the barrier," he said.

The new server is also designed to cut the cost of deploying streaming video with the ability to better utilize a server's network card, he said. A typical media server with a 1-gigabit network card could serve about 2,000 people.

Also on Tuesday, Adobe is scheduled to release a version of its Flash Player that supports the high-definition video standard H.264.

Although Flash is widely used on the Internet for streaming video, it is facing growing competition from Microsoft and its Silverlight plug-in, which is going after the same digital media market.

Hands-on: Two free video-to-iPhone converters

2007-12-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

There's no shortage of video-to-iPhone converters on the market, but these two freeware contenders do a more-than-decent job of making individual files iPhone-ready. Don't expect much interface gloss or batch conversion with either. However, both apps quickly produce workable iPhone videos without much fuss.

Free Video to iPhone Converter tells it like it is. The rough 'n' ready app takes up minimal screen space and memory. Browsing for links and converting quickly is easy, since there aren't too many additional tabs or buttons where you can get lost. There is, however, a useful function for trimming videos before converting them.

Videora is a larger and busier, app by Red Kawa. On the plus side, Videora lets you format videos for iPhones and three flavors of iPods, including the iPod Touch. You can also browse for and convert YouTube videos online. Videora's multiple tabs and settings let you control advanced encoding and conversion details; it can also pop the finished product straight into iTunes (download,) which can in turn autosync to your iPhone.

Step-by-step prompting (which you can step down or turn off) is useful for walking you through the process, but the double-pane interface adds confusion and superfluous steps for an essentially simple program. The end product was just as good as Free Video to iPhone Converter, but took far more clicks and doesn't have the added advantage of trimming a clip. Dragging a file to the iTunes library is hardly a hardship, though Videora's autoload feature is still a convenient perk.

I currently prefer Free Video to iPhone Converter myself, though Videora will appeal to those further up the power user scale.

Gmail integrates AIM, adds colored labels

2007-12-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

By Seth Rosenblatt

Gmail and Google Talk users can now chat with their AOL Instant Messenger buddies through the Gmail interface, Google announced today. Rolling out to all English-based users by the end of the day, the new feature will let you seamlessly jump from chatting with a Google contact to an AIM buddy without having to use two separate chat clients.

The AIM integration feels native to Gmail. The AIM log-in panel is behind the "Set status here" upside-down triangle under the Contacts list. Click there, and if the feature rollout has hit your account, you'll see a "Sign into AIM" option on the drop-down menu with AIM's yellow running man icon next to it.

A new window opens when you choose to sign in, so be sure that you don't have a pop-up blocker enabled for Gmail.com. Enter in your AIM username and password, or hit the link at the bottom of the window to create a new AOL account, and you're good to go. AOL buddies will appear in the Contacts list, mixed in with Google Chat contacts. The running man icon for AIM contacts appears on the right side of the chat list.

Click on the "Set status here" triangle again, and you'll notice the AIM login option has changed to a logout. Once you've logged out, your AIM contacts disappear, although the next time you log in you won't need to re-enter your password. To use a different AIM account, you need to go to the Chat tab under Settings.

This integration comes right on the heels of Google Chat rolling out group chats and more developed smileys last week. Individual chat and the ever-important smileys are there, but any other ancillary AIM features you might be interested in require the full AIM client.

Google was cagey about whether Gmail will feature other chat protocols such as ICQ in the future. Jason Freidenfelds, a spokesman for Google, said only that he couldn't comment on whether they were looking at including other chat programs.

Another new feature that Google added last night was colored tabs for labels. This feature, previously only available through plug-ins like Better Gmail, lets users assign colors to labels to make it easier to keep track of them. From the Labels panel, click on the square next to the label and a drop-down menu of colors will appear. Select a color and your e-mail list will refresh, with the label name on e-mails now in vibrant life-affirming hues.

Besides making it easier to see labeled e-mails, when you click on an e-mail that's been labeled you can now search for all e-mails with that label or remove the label from the e-mail directly from buttons next to the e-mail's subject line.

While colored labels aren't a killer feature, they're small touches that make the interface that much easier to use. Combined with the AIM integration and other recent changes, it's hard to understate the usefulness to users of the recently rewritten Gmail source code.

Better Gmail gets even better

2007-10-28T05:39:00.001-07:00

By Seth Rosenblatt

If you're tired of waiting for Google to make some much-needed improvements to Gmail, Better Gmail has been adding useful functionality to the e-mail client since earlier this year. An update earlier this month finally gave Gmail what users have been clamoring for: integration with Google Reader.

Written by Lifehacker editor Gina Trapani, the extension is basically a collection of her favorite Greasemonkey scripts. It does more than just slap your feeds onto the bottom of your in-box, though. It adds a Collapse/Expand Gmail link to the top-left nav, just under the Compose link. This hides your e-mail and pulls the Reader up to the top, and swtiches to Expand when the in-box is hidden. It also adds a control panel to central left nav for managing your feeds, a neat work-around so that you can collapse the Reader's built-in navigation. The Reader pane is collapsible, too, so you can hide the perpetual distraction of feeds from the perpetual distraction of e-mail.

New Meebo Firefox extension puts notifications in your Web chats

2007-10-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

By Josh Lowensohn

Meebo released its Firefox extension earlier this morning. It lets you chat with people on six different popular chat clients, or sign in to all at once with your Meebo ID using a sidebar in your browser. The 64k extension is aimed at solving the problem of providing active notifications for friends and conversation activity--one of the most widely requested features from Meebo users, and the hardest to implement without something that has deeper access to your browser. If you've ever used Meebo before and have been annoyed that you can't tell a whole lot about what's going on when it's not your main tab or when minimized, this extension solves that with colored taskbar pop-ups. And as an added bonus for the lazy, there's an option to automatically sign into the service every time you start your browser.

Once installed, the buddy list can be hidden and summoned with a shortcut button that sits next to your home button. You'll also get a brief overview of what a buddy has written right in your sidebar, and a numbering of missed messages both in the bottom corner of your browser, and by their username.
Any conversations take place in a special browser window that's tied to the side bar. The one caveat of using the service is that this tab needs to be open at all times, and that conversations take place there until you pop them out. Closing it out will simply sign you out. According to Meebo's "marketing dude" Daniel Bernstein, there are no plans to get rid of that open tab. Considering Meebo's monetization strategy relies on the advertising and content partnerships that you'll find in the Meebo home screen, the company isn't trying to replace the need to see that screen with the extension.

As an added bonus for Meebo users who feel like sharing content they find around the Web, the extension lets you drag over links, or entire chunks of text from other windows. It's similar to Meebo rooms, although lacking the neat video drag that will open up the Flash video right in the IM. Also, speaking of rooms, you're not going to be able to access them from the sidebar--that functionality remains a part of Meebo.com.

Internet Explorer users looking for a little Meebo love in their browser will be getting their own extension "really soon." In the meantime, Firefox users can pick it up here.

Visual search comes to Nokia phones

2007-10-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

By Leslie Katz

If you start seeing people pointing their Nokia camera phones at books, product packaging and other print materials, it's not that they have some weird cell phone-related tic. More than likely, they're using the Thrrum Visual Browser for Cameraphone Search.

The browser lets users point the camera in their phones at objects of interest and get relevant information, product prices and more, right on their handset. Mountain View, Calif.-based 23half, which makes the software, just announced that the app will be available for select Nokia Nseries phones, including the N73, N73ME, N95 and N95-3. It's also supported on a number of Sony Ericsson models.

The Thrrum Visual Browser software can be downloaded from Thrrum.com. The software costs $5.99 and includes the accompanying Cameraphone Search service.

The Thrrum Visual Browser isn't the first application to wed visual recognition technologies and information search in the context of mobile phones. Fujitsu has created software that links product images taken with a camera phone to Web sites, videos or other advertisements. That technology is currently deployed in Japan as part of a partnership between Fujitsu and the country's largest mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo.

Gemini: A virtual mobile world wakes to life

2007-10-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

By Jessica Dolcourt

Second Life may have nudged its Grid onto the mobile screen, but it's Gemini's eXplo platform for enabling mini virtual worlds that earned a spot on Deloitte's Wireless Fast 50 list at the CTIA Wireless conference (coverage).

In S'town, a game built on the eXplo platform, users can chat on screen, buy products, stare at advertising billboards, and meet up with online friends, even whooshing to a meeting point on the other end of the expansive world. That's in Japan, where impressive phones on the Softbank network are already attracting a demographic of "young, active, and 'fun'" 18 to 24 year-old women who don't mind expressing themselves in one of 11 rudimentary avatars.

North America's S'town is apparently a much different world. This audience will be able to integrate with services like YouTube and Facebook. In a demo, Stephen Sims, Gemini's Director of Product Management for eXplo, walked a bouncy, pig-tailed avatar into a Facebook gallery whose virtual walls were decked with album images. In another view, pressing the phone's soft key button reeled through images vertically as if on a giant turbine, from the far "wall."

North American carriers will begin marketing games like S'town using Gemini's platform "sometime in 2008," Sims assured me. Europeans will likely get them much sooner; carrier talks are underway.

Samsung BlackJack II makes official debut

2007-10-28T04:18:00.000-07:00

Well, well, guess who decided to show its pretty little face at Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's keynote address this morning--mmm hmm, the Samsung BlackJack II. Today, Samsung and AT&T officially introduced the successor to the BlackJack, but it won't be available till "later this year"--you guys are such a tease! A majority of the changes are on the hardware side. You now get a slightly larger 2.4-inch QVGA display (previously 2.25 inches), the scroll wheel on the right side has also been removed in favor of a front jog wheel, and the bottom row of the QWERTY keyboard now includes more shortcut buttons to the smartphone's various apps. In addition, the BlackJack II is slightly (and we mean slight; this is still very much a sleek phone) thicker, but for good reason. The extra room was needed to store a higher-capacity 1,700mAh lithium ion battery. We know battery life was an issue with the original BlackJack, so we really hope the issue has been resolved in this iteration. Unfortunately, at this time, Samsung couldn't give us any specific numbers on rated talk time or standby time.

Feature-wise, the BlackJack II is pretty stacked. Starting with the new, there's built-in GPS and it's the first smartphone to support AT&T's Video Share service, which lets you make video calls. The camera's been upgraded to a 2-megapixel lens and you get a built-in RSS Reader client. Samsung also said they made improvements to the speakerphone for louder and clearer performance and increased standard memory. Other oldies but goodies include HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP profile for stereo Bluetooth headsets, Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition, AT&T Music and CV support, and quad-band world roaming.

As we mentioned earlier, a specific availability date was not given but pricing is set for a very reasonable $149.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates. It will also be available in two colors: black and burgundy. I got a sneak preview yesterday, and I've got to say I'm pretty excited about the device. The form factor is still sexy and slim, and the burgundy model is gorgeous--appropriate for both men and women. The front jog wheel felt a bit loose to me, and for those of you accustomed to the side-mounted control, it's going to feel a bit weird at first. I only got about 10 minutes of hands-on time with the BlackJack II, so it's hard to say if the performance is any better, but I'm about to run over to the show floor to get some video, so check back soon for your own first look.

Reuters, Nokia collaborate on project for reporters on the go

2007-10-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

By Caroline McCarthy

Reuters and the Nokia Research Center have announced that they are working on a joint project to enable journalists to file and publish stories and multimedia news content from handheld devices instead of computers. Called Reuters Mobile Journalism, the initiative relies upon connecting peripherals to Nokia's high-end N95 device--a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, a small tripod for video interviews, and a microphone that can plug into the mobile handset--as well as software to make it easier to put together text, images and streaming media.

"By running on handheld devices, rather than on bulkier laptop computers, the mobile journalism application enables us to create complete stories and file them for distribution, without leaving the scene," Nic Fulton, chief scientist of Reuters Media, said in a statement from the two companies. "This saves us time and benefits our audience by ensuring that they receive high quality news that is absolutely up-to-date."

It would also, of course, require that the reporter in question be equipped with an N95 handset.

Over the summer, Reuters ran trials of mobile journalism in situations as varied as the U.S. presidential primary campaign events, the Edinburgh TV festival and New York Fashion Week, where stories were filed from the field. Currently, the plan is to make the finished product available to professional journalists, but a number of university students will be used for a trial run to see how the "toolkit" fits into the ever-growing citizen journalism niche.

NoiseFree VoIP hushes the rabble on Skype, Yahoo, Google calls

2007-10-28T03:53:00.000-07:00

By Jessica Dolcourt

NoiseFree VoIP has just launched a fresh all-software solution to those often noisy VoIP calls. Skype, Yahoo Messenger with Voice, and Google Talk are great ways to save money on long distance, but if you're calling anywhere near civilization, you're bound to get interference. A noisy line can undo the advantage of free Internet calls.

Until December 31, 2007, NoiseFree VoIP is offering a free beta of its noise-canceling software to registered users. I gave it a go at CTIA (coverage), and was impressed with the demo. There was noticeable improvement in call quality when I toggled the software on and off, though the background buzz in the busy room didn't and couldn't have faded completely.

NoiseFree VoIP launches as a window that detects when you use VoIP. It doesn't add on to or interfere with your voice program of choice, operating invisibly. The app window can be set to start with Windows or with a browser launch. It minimizes to the system tray and can be called on for a few very minor tweaks.

WeatherBug now forecasting on iPhone

2007-10-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

WeatherBug knows how to get around. The detailed weather reporting application for most combinations of desktop and mobile downloads, plus a WAP site, has let iPhone into the club. Now iPhone users can check out seven-day forecasts, animated radar maps, and real-time images from street-level weather cameras.

Incidentally, I learned an interesting factoid about WeatherBug. It began as educational curriculum and still has a strong program for schools and organizations subscribing to its weather warning alert system (e.g., "chance of lightning, soccer canceled.") That explains why the view of Sunnyvale, Calif., is taken from what looks like the roof of the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, a small private school, rather than this well-known landmark.

Microsoft acquires equity stake in Facebook, expands ad partnership

2007-10-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

By Caroline McCarthy

Microsoft will take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook during its next round of financing, valuing the company at a whopping $15 billion.

News.com's Ina Fried in her Beyond Binary blog reported earlier Wednesday that Microsoft had beaten out Google in the high-stakes bidding war for the slice of tasty Facebook cake. The final deal resulted in a 1.6 percent stake in the social-networking company, notably smaller than the 5 to 10 percent that had been talked about in recent weeks.

"We are pleased to take our Microsoft partnership to the next level," Owen Van Natta, vice president of operations and chief revenue officer at Facebook, said in a statement. "We think this expanded relationship will allow Facebook to continue to innovate and grow as a technology leader and major player in social computing, as well as bring relevant advertising to the more than 49 million active users of Facebook."

In a conference call on Wednesday afternoon with press and analysts, Van Natta and Kevin Johnson, Microsoft's president of platform and services, emphasized that this deal is all about the existing advertising partnership between the two companies, which has been going on for over a year now. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, it should be noted, was not present on the call.

"It's a strong vote of confidence in the innovation that Facebook is doing," Johnson said of the deal, which was signed Wednesday. It's ironic, considering that just earlier this month Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer brushed off Facebook and other youth-friendly social-networking sites as a "fad."

Under the terms of the new agreement, Microsoft will be the exclusive third-party advertising partner for the Palo Alto, Calif.-based social-networking site, and the Microsoft ads will expand beyond the U.S. to Facebook's international presence. So far, the advertising deal does not appear to have expanded beyond its current 2011 expiration date.

"It's pretty clear that Microsoft wasn't investing in this as an economic move. This is clearly not just about adding a company to your portfolio," Gartner analyst Andrew Frank told CNET News.com. "Microsoft is looking to anchor itself in the emerging ecosystem of social-media advertising, and getting this partnership with Facebook is a good way to get a structural advantage."

Developing a robust advertising strategy is clearly a pressing issue for Facebook, which has come under scrutiny in recent months for showing only lukewarm signs of long-term profitability. Earlier on Wednesday, Facebook confirmed rumors that it will be making a major advertising announcement on November 6 in New York.

Van Natta and Johnson stressed that Wednesday's deal, at least on the surface, doesn't go far beyond advertising and the "$240 million poke." There won't be any integration of Facebook into Microsoft services, nor will Microsoft's non-advertising properties--like Windows Live Messenger, for example--be worked into Facebook.

But Frank speculated after the call that the partnership could easily grow. "I think (Microsoft) may get more. I think that the language of the press release, which is always rather contrived, emphasizes what they agreed to emphasize at this juncture, but I think they left the door open for a whole lot more stuff down the road," Frank said. "Microsoft will continue to have influence beyond just being an ad platform."

But on the call, Van Natta and Johnson repeatedly referred to it as an expansion of an existing partnership. When asked what had happened with Google, widely rumored to be another major bidder in the Facebook stake competition--and which serves the ads for Facebook's chief rival MySpace--Van Natta answered that it was because the partnership with Microsoft was already in place.

"We were very fortunate to have a lot of folks that were interested in partnering with us around advertising," Van Natta said. "We've been working with Microsoft for over a year now in the U.S., and it's been a partnership that's been really great for both of us."

Google's reaction
Speaking to journalists near the end of Google's Analyst Day, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that "it's not appropriate for us to comment without taking a look." He added that Google is "very happy to work with Facebook and anyone else," but when asked if his company had been in talks to acquire the stake, Schmidt said that he "would rather not talk specifically."

Google co-founder Sergey Brin had more to say to journalists, though he was not specifically speaking about Facebook. "Occasionally we've lost one here, one there," Brin observed. "Some of our competitors might be willing to spend very large amounts of money...and we're really interested in doing sustainable economic deals, so we would rather not participate in those sorts of transactions. But we definitely wish those companies well."

"Overbidding," Schmidt added, "always upsets me, and Sergey calms me down." (Again, Schmidt was not talking specifically about Facebook.) He then elaborated. "Sometimes people include a revenue guarantee, an absolute number, or on a per-ad basis or per customer...a guarantee (that they will pay the publisher)," Schmidt said. "And they do that to enter a market...It's perfectly legal as far as I can tell...It's essentially a subsidy."

Much of the fine print on the Microsoft-Facebook deal has not been disclosed, including the specifics of how the advertising strategy will work--which goes into the question of exactly how much Facebook user data Microsoft will have access to. "User trust is core to what it is that we focus on every day at Facebook," Van Natta said, but would not provide details.

The executives also asserted that there will be no new rules or restrictions on the thousands of developers who have been working with Facebook since the social-networking site opened its platform to third parties in May.

As for the rest of the social-networking world, Gartner's Frank said that even Facebook's competitors should consider the Microsoft partnership a good sign overall.

"Clearly a rising tide floats all boats, and so the fact that Microsoft is making a big commitment to the medium itself will probably help the overall sector because it gives it credibility, and gives it some long-term interest from a pretty serious company," he observed. "The effect on the sector probably outweighs any competitive effects because if the sector grows as fast as Microsoft seems to think it will, there should be a lot of room for growth for a lot of different players beyond Facebook."

But, Frank added, there's still some uncertainty involved. "There are still risks inherent in the category of advertising in social media. I think that no one has figured out the perfect formula for it...There's risk around trust factors and privacy that haven't really fully been explored. I wouldn't say that the market is anywhere near mature enough to call it risk-free."

Hot deal: Canon PowerShot SD1000 Elph for $170

2007-10-27T23:32:00.000-07:00

As a back-pocket backup, the Elph series is well respected and widely enjoyed. Canon left off the manual controls on this snapshooters' favorite, but for what it is, it's a sound product and a great deal. It started out on the market earlier this year at $220 or higher, and sellers are starting to lower the price. On Thursday, Amazon's winning the race to the bottom, especially since in most cases they offer free shipping for this item.

According to CNET Reviews, the SD1000 Elph offers unusually good image quality, "solid build quality, speedy performance, an optical viewfinder, (and) face detection" along with assorted preprogrammed settings, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and admirable speed.

What: Canon PowerShot SD1000 Elph pocket digital camera
How much: $169.95

This week in cameras

2007-10-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

This week includes a new Sony camera, suspiciously similar advertisements, and Hello Kitty merchandise. It's a win for everybody!

Apple, Sony photos: Coincidence?
AVCHD video: The hardware is willing, but the software is weak
A cat head for a camera
Depth of field: The small sensor difference
Flickr to upgrade photo printing
Flickr to use Picnik for online photo editing
Hasselblad deep-sixing H2 hybrid camera
Hot deal: Canon PowerShot SD1000 Elph for $170
How deep is your field?
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2: Memory cards? Who needs memory cards?
Tamron's superzoom lens set to launch
Turn junior into an indie filmmaker

Apple, Sony photos: Coincidence?

2007-10-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

An excellent item last month comparing the desktop designs of Apple and Sony by our colleague Matthew Elliott drew some of the most reader comments seen on Crave in months. We won't wade into that territory again but wanted to pass along this item from Engadget Japanese to show that we're hardly the only ones to draw parallels between the two companies.

Engadget says the photos are "official, un-doctored press shots from both Apple and Sony" of an older iPod Nano and the new Sony Cyber-shot released yesterday, respectively. Even the colors and position of the gravity-defying gadgets are the same. Coincidence? It may be time to call in Oliver Stone.

2007-10-27T23:12:00.001-07:00

The guitar wars just got kicked up a notch. The craze fueled by Guitar Hero and Rock Band has led some big bands to lend their names to custom controllers made by ArtGuitar.

KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pantera will have their images and logos emblazoned on the "AG RiffMaster Guitar Controller," which Slippery Brick describes as a full-size Peavy guitar that's been turned into a game controller. The limited editions are going for $399, so these aren't for the kids. For them, there are other, less dangerous alternatives.

Technorati CEO Dave Sifry steps down

2007-08-26T04:57:00.000-07:00

By Caroline McCarthy

Dave Sifry, founder and CEO of blog search company Technorati, has stepped down from his post according to an entry on the company blog. The resignation is effective immediately; he will remain chairman of Technorati's board. Meanwhile, CFO Teresa Malo, vice president of engineering Dorion Carroll and vice president of marketing Derek Gordon will jointly run the company while seeking a new chief executive.

"Making tough choices is a daily reality," Sifry wrote. "But some choices are tougher than others, particularly when they involve one's own self." Technorati, an early entry in the blog search market, has recently been plagued by technical difficulties, revenue headaches and competition from Google Blog Search. Sifry's resignation, as he notes, was not unexpected: "For those of you who follow Technorati regularly, you know that we've been conducting a CEO search since Spring and that it was just a matter of time before I made a transition," he explained. "Rather than waiting for the process to play out, I would go ahead and transition to the board exclusively, taking on the role of Chairman of the Board."

Sifry also announced that eight members of Technorati's staff have been laid off in a move to "adjust our expense structure to be more appropriately aligned with our priorities moving forward."

$100 laptop: The end of Moore's Law?

2007-07-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

by Rory Reid
The One Laptop Per Child organization's XO computer, aka the $100 laptop, has just started mass production. And while Crave is happy that thousands of underprivileged African children will reap the benefits of a PC and the Internet, we can't help but feel a little jealous--and even embarrassed.

Here we are, extolling the virtues of laptops such as the $4,000+ Sony Vaio TZ, when for most users the $100 XO would be just as effective. Sure, it doesn't have a premium badge on the lid, and its 433MHz AMD CPU won't win any speed records, but it'll let you surf the Web, send email, enjoy audio and video, and even, as some Nigerian children have discovered, allow you to browse for porn.

Think about your own PC usage--does it honestly include anything more demanding than Facebook stalking, laughing at idiots on YouTube or hitting the digg button underneath the latest lolcat? Can you justify spending $4,000 when a machine costing $100 pounds will do exactly the same thing? Crave thinks the world can learn a lot from the XO, the ClassMate PC and its ilk. These devices could change the computing world as we know it. And despite its makers saying it's exclusive to the developing world, the XO absolutely should be brought to the West.

Since 1965, the tech world has obsessed about keeping pace with Moore's Law--an empirical observation that computing performance will double every 24 months. Concurrently, consumers have lusted after the latest and greatest computing hardware, encouraged in part by newer, fatter, ever more demanding operating systems and applications.

Moore's law is great for making tech faster, and for making slower, existing tech cheaper, but when consumers realise their personal lust for faster hardware makes almost zero financial sense, and hurts the environment with greater demands for power, will they start to demand cheaper, more efficient 'third-world' computers that are just as effective?

We think so. The amount of interest generated by the XO, the ClassMate PC, and more recently the £200 Asus Eee PC is phenomenal. Most people in the Crave office are astounded by their low price and relatively high functionality, and are finding it difficult to justify buying anything else. If you want to play the latest games, well, the latest games consoles, while power-hogs, are relatively cheap and graphically very impressive.

It's almost poetic that the poorest nations in the world have the potential to push the Western tech industry in a new direction. Don't get us wrong--we love fast, outlandish laptops and PCs as much as the next blog, but we'd be idiots not to show you the alternative. And what a fantastic alternative it is. We predict some very interesting, and money-saving times ahead.

Nokia buys media-sharing site Twango

2007-07-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

by Caroline McCarthy

Media-sharing site Twango updated its Web site on Monday to announce that it's been chomped up by cell phone manufacturer Nokia. With its cool new toy, Nokia hopes to make it easier for handset owners to share multimedia content among desktop, Web, and mobile platforms.

"The Twango acquisition is a concrete step towards our consumer Internet services vision of providing seamless access to information, entertainment, and social networks--at any time, anywhere, from any connected device, in any way that you choose," said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's executive vice president and general manager of multimedia at Nokia, in a joint statement We have the most complete suite of connected multimedia experiences including music, navigation, games, and--with the Twango acquisition--photos, videos, and a variety of document types."

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

I played around with a Twango account for a bit after testing it out when the Redmond, Wash.-based start-up (yes, it was founded by Microsoft alums) came to the DigitalLife trade show in New York last October. It's sort of like a mix between Flickr and multimedia "channel" creator Kyte.tv, facilitating the storage and sharing of a variety of media types and allowing them to be organized into "channels." To be honest, the structure of the site confused me somewhat (are "channels" like Flickr "albums" but with audio and video too?) Then again, I also can't seem to wrap my head around all those fancy Nokia N-series handsets that you can play with at the company's nightclub-like flagship store in midtown Manhattan.

But the match makes sense: it's clear that both companies pursue a strategy that focuses on the ultra-functional, the feature-heavy, and the if-it-counts-as-media-we'll-help-you-share-it mentality. It's unlikely that this acquisition will affect a whole lot of people who aren't Nokia customers (and it's not yet very clear as to how Twango itself will change) but it'll be interesting to see how this affects mobile media-sharing.

Harry Potter release resources: Unleash your inner nerd

2007-07-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

By Josh Lowensohn

Legions of Harry Potter fans will be gathering at bookstores all across the world to pick up the final installment of the series. If you haven't already preordered it on Amazon, or hunted down the digitally photographed pages of the leaked copy--tsk, tsk--your best bet is to exercise patience, or give in and pick it up with the throngs of other fans at one of the midnight release parties.

But where do you find ones worth going to? Short of browsing your local paper's A&E section, there are some handy tools online for either securing a copy in style, or finding something to do in the painful hours of waiting that lay ahead. Either way, you'd better batten down the hatches and read it in time to avoid the inevitable plot spoilers you'll hear at work or around the Web come Monday morning.

Potterparties.com offers a simple search by zip code to track down book release parties, complete with maps. I found the results to be a bit off, listing mostly Borders Book locations over local establishments. The site also features party descriptions, although those, too, were incomplete. The site's real draw is its recipes and games section, which gives you instructions on making such delicacies as jelly slugs, squid shooters, and troll toes. Delicious.

Scholastic, the publishers of the Potter series have their own party finder for retail locations hosting midnight soirees. The results don't show what's going on at each location, but they do list the start time so you don't show up too early. Like Potterparties, Scholastic has a smattering of Potter-themed activities, such as user forums, desktop wallpapers, a handful of games, and a countdown clock you can stare at.

Upcoming.org is one of the best resources for finding out the specifics of each Potter party. I found several different stores listed around my neighborhood, including times to get there, an attendee list, and store-specific information such as preorder discounts and parking tips.

Eventful.com has a surprisingly large number of listings for Harry Potter parties. Like Upcoming, it lists good things to know, like presale discounts, costumes, and activities to keep children busy and/or awake.

King.com launching new revenue-sharing games site

2007-07-21T03:33:00.000-07:00

By Josh Lowensohn
King.com is launching its new user-generated casual games site, MyGame.com. The service combines some of the professionally made casual games offered on King.com alongside user-generated titles and those made by users with a Web-based game creation tool. Game creators who publish on MyGame.com can opt-in to a revenue-sharing program, which pays off ad clicks. The service is also promoting an advanced payment scheme similar to recording industry contracts that pays in advance to popular titles.

I had a go with MyGame's game creator yesterday, and had a good time with the three titles that are currently available for editing. Users can upload a picture either off their hard drive, or by using their Webcams. MyGame will do its best to map your face, as well as give you a quick and dirty cropping tool to fine-tune. You can then test the game to make any last-minute adjustments to your face.

Once done, users (even unregistered ones) get quick-sharing links, along with embed codes to put their creation on a blog or Web site, which I've done below. Users who decide to register with the service are given some extra power tools, like a stats manager, high-score list, and guest book.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of MyGame's future game offerings, along with some of the user-submitted content, although between Kongregate's recent inclusion of badges, and that oh-so-addicting McDonald's Flash game, MyGame must compete for my unfortunate lack of attention span.

Teach English in your spare time with TalkBean

2007-07-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

By Rafe Needleman
At a conference today about South Korean tech companies, I got a demo of TalkBean, a marketplace that connects people who want to learn English with those who can teach it.

I'll get the snarky bit out of the way up front: The site needs to take its own lessons. Marketing slogans like, "TalkBean will do our best to provide you with diverse culture and profitable experiences," and error messages such as "You need to put number for this section," seem out of place on a site that's trying to help its customers play in the global job market for English speakers.

That said, the economics of such a matchmaking service are interesting. Eighty percent of all Koreans are "English Learners," the company says, while 6.8 million "Native English Speaker are unemployed in USA." Obviously only a small subset of those are qualified to teach English (I can see an amusing Saturday Night Live sketch emerging here), but why not hook up learners and teachers?

Working in TalkBean's favor is its technology. The site connects students to teachers via voice, video, and text chat, and there's a screen-sharing window for exercises (text or drawing) where tutors can mark up a student's work. There's a nice scheduling system. Also, TalkBean has an arrangement with Korea's government bank so learners can easily pay for their lessons online, even though the money is going to overseas contractors.

Working against TalkBean is a lack of guidance for teachers. There are no prebuilt lesson plans and there's no guidance for pricing. Tutors can charge between 5 cents and 10 dollars a minute (TalkBean collects a commission of 27 percent). What should you charge if you want to try this service out? Good question, although the pitch I heard said that some of the 500 teachers already online were making $300 a day when they worked, so do the math. Also, the beta site is painfully slow.

Skype, and other services such as Ether, also offer marketplaces for voice and video consulting. TalkBean's focus is good, though. While the site needs to mature quite a bit, it looks like a marketplace with a strong base of both buyers and sellers.

Haute Secure pledges safe-surfing toolbar for IE

2007-07-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

By Robert Vamosi

A new security company, Haute Secure, is offering a free beta version of its safe surfing toolbar for Internet Explorer that blocks malware from downloading onto your desktop. Firefox support is expected soon. Entering an already crowded field, the Haute Secure toolbar hopes to distinguish itself by taking the best of Exploit Prevention Labs Linkscanner Pro and McAfee SiteAdvisor, and then adds additional layers of protection. If they can pull it off with the final release, Haute Secure could be a must-have add-on for both Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The Haute Secure toolbar hooks into 70 processes running on your Windows XP or Windows Vista machine. Forty of these are related to browsers (in the initial release, Internet Explorer). The remaining hooks will be used for specific applications such as Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat.

Unlike McAfee SiteAdvisor, which tends to block an infected site entirely, Haute Secure allows access to the page after stripping out the malicious elements. And unlike SiteAdvisor, Haute Secure doesn't use a database, but analyzes each page on the fly, similar to the approach used by Linkscanner Pro.

And like Linkscanner Pro, the Haute Secure toolbar is also able to block specific elements of a page that are deemed malicious, allowing you to view the page safely. Haute Secure also uses phishing reports from Stopbadware.org, and can warn you of fraudulent sites, although in initial testing Linkscanner Pro blocked more phishing sites than did Haute Secure on our test machine.

In addition to proactive scanning, the Haute Secure toolbar also uses white and black lists to block known bad sites. Haute Secure was founded in 2006 by former Microsoft security engineers.

Slow, but very pretty searching with SearchCrystal

2007-07-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

By Josh Lowensohn
A new alternative search engine that caught my eye this morning is SearchCrystal, a very experimental-looking tool that combines multiple search engines in a rich visual design. Each search engine gets its own color code, and results that show up in a large circle. When an item is listed on more than one search engine, it's given its own geometric shape showing which engines picked it up, along with lines that link up identical results. The goal is to give you a visualized results page that lets you compare a few engines at a time without having to scroll down one large list.

The results are split up into five different areas--one for each search engine. These engines vary by what you're searching for, be it photos, videos, news, or blog postings. In the case of blogs, SearchCrystal will pull results from Sphere, Bloglines, Google Blog search, Technorati, and BlogPulse. There's also a mode to just view Wikipedia articles. Each string shows the top 10 results in order, with the ones closer to the middle of the sphere being more important. The end result makes it look similar to a dartboard.

The one real hurdle with SearchCrystal is that it's slow. Most searches took about ten seconds a pop, with the longest taking just over 20 seconds. This is just simply too long for a casual search. Likewise, it has a learning curve--you're probably going to stare at the swarm of results the first time you try it out before knowing what you're supposed to do. While not difficult to pick up, I can see someone like my mom not knowing where to start.

As usual, there's a Facebook app for SearchCrystal. You can also e-mail it, or embed it in a blog or site with the query of your choice, which I've done after the break.

Latest Firefox 2.0.0.5 update fixes nine flaws

2007-07-20T19:39:00.001-07:00

Mozilla patched nine vulnerabilities including the Firefox portion of the Internet Explorer-Firefox flaw identified last week. That flaw occurs when IE passes malformed URLs from IE to another application such as another browser. Mozilla wrote, "this fix only prevents Firefox and Thunderbird from accepting bad data." And it stated in boldface, "this patch does not fix the vulnerability in Internet Explorer."

This security update also addresses known issues involving browser crashes, privilege escalation, and cross-site scripting vulnerability. Current users of Firefox 2.0.0.4 or earlier will be automatically prompted to install the new version starting today. You can learn more about the update or download a fresh copy of Firefox 2.0.0.5 at this site or Mozilla site.

Firefox and IE together brew up security trouble

2007-07-20T19:34:00.000-07:00

by Dawn Kawamoto
That's the latest update from security researchers who initially laid the blame on Microsoft's Internet Explorer for the latest zero-day exploit that also can afflict those using the Firefox Web browser.

Users could face a "highly critical" risk if they have both IE and Firefox version 2.0, or later, loaded on their computer. The trouble begins when browsing a malicious site while using IE and it registers a "firefoxurl://" URI (uniform resource identifier) handler, which allows the browser to interact with specific resources on the Web. As a result, users may find their systems remotely compromised.

Earlier Tuesday, security researcher Thor Larholm, who discovered the IE flaw, and security research giant Symantec put much of the blame on IE, while Secunia's Thomas Kristensen, chief technology officer, attributed the problem to Firefox versions 2.0 or later.

"It's a little bit of both," said Oliver Friedrichs, director of Symantec's Security Response Center. "You have two very complex applications that are not playing well together and leading to a security issue. The components themselves are secure as stand-alone products but not together."

"Firefox is the current attack vector, but Internet Explorer is to blame for not escaping...characters when passing on the input to the command line," said Larholm, in response to a reader's comments. "I agree that Firefox could have registered its URL handler with pure DDE (dynamic data exchange, the protocol for information exchange) instead and thereby have avoided the possibility of a command-line argument injection, but IE should still be able to safely launch external applications."

Friedrichs noted that while Firefox, which released version 2 in October, has gained in popularity, most Firefox users will also have IE loaded on their computers, since it comes with the Windows operating system.

The number of people who may be at risk could be substantial, he added.

Meanwhile, Kristensen of Secunia said: "A new URI handler was registered on Windows systems to allow Web sites to force launching Firefox if the 'firefoxurl://' URI was called, like ftp://, http://, or similar would call other applications."

But because of the way the URI handler was registered by Firefox, it causes any parameter--which activates a program to perform a particular task--to be passed from Microsoft's Internet Explorer, or another application, to Firefox, when firefoxurl:// is activated.

An attacker may use "chrome" context--the interface elements of a browser that create the frame around its page displays--to inject code on a user's system that would be executed within Firefox, Kristensen said.

"Registering the URI handler must be done with care, since Windows does not have any proper way of knowing what kind of input potentially could be dangerous for an application," said Kristensen. "For example, how should Windows know that the string 'chrome' could be dangerous for Firefox."

Other than avoiding malicious Web sites, system administrators could unregister, or remove, the "Firefox URL" URI handler, as well as change the way Firefox accepts the chrome input, Kristensen said.

Beta of Norton Smartphone Security Premier Edition released

2007-07-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

Symantec has released a public beta for its new suite of smart phone protection, called Norton Smartphone Security Premier Edition. Features in this release include antivirus protection, antispam for SMS, firewall, personal data protection through encryption, and locking the device via password protection.

The beta software requires a mobile device running Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC with 4.5MB of storage or Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone with 4.2MB of storage. Access to the public beta can be found here.

Vertu gets into luxury leather

2007-07-15T00:34:00.000-07:00

All of this touch-screen talk sometimes makes us pine for simpler times, when products were made with more tactile aesthetics in mind. We're apparently not alone, as manufacturers such as Lenovo are making such items as notebooks clad in leather.

Now Vertu, the king of luxury phones, is bringing the cowhide concept to its latest handset, identified as the "Ascent T" in FCC filings. The proposed phone has a 3-megapixel camera, a scratch-proof LCD and UMTS mobile Internet access, according to BornRich, but it's the bovine component that's most easily noticeable. It's not the first time that Vertu has incorporated leather into its designs, but this one has a natural, almost retro look that's reminiscent of the old "Brownie" cameras made by Kodak in the 1930s.

Best of all? It has actual buttons. So there.

Nokia fights touch screens with geometry

2007-07-14T02:37:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal: If there's going to be any meaningful backlash against touch screens, it may require some innovative thinking on the part of button proponents. But we hope that it won't depend on the likes of Vertu and their $310,000 phones.

Nokia, at least, appears to be doing its part with a new design for the "7500 Prism" handset destined for the Chinese market for about $290, according to Gizmodiva. Its contribution to the cause? Triangular buttons that form a diamond pattern on the keypad.

We were just relieved to find that its "diamond" description wasn't referring to something like this. Or this. Or this...

The Best Accessories for the Xbox 360

2007-07-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

So what are the best accessories for the Xbox 360? For any gaming console, there are two kinds of accessories: the ones you really need to get any joy out of the system, and the extras that are just for fun. With their usual marketing savvy, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 with everything you needed to use the system available, and then over the last year, drip-fed the pure toys onto the market.

This year's Christmas present for the Xbox fanatic is the Xbox Live Vision Camera. It's available in two packages. The Standard Kit, at US$40, comes with a month's Gold subscription to Xbox Live, a wired headset, and Uno and Totemball from the Xbox Live Arcade. The US$80 Gold Kit comes with all that, a year's Gold subscription, 200 Microsoft points, and Robotron: 2084. A fully-functioning webcam, Xbox Live Vision allows video chat and personalised avatars. Games like World Series Poker use 'digimask' technology, that uses the camera to map the player's actual facial expression onto their avatar. It also allows for gesture-based gaming, promising the ability to, say, direct troops with a few finger-points, just like in the movies.

Filling the same functions for audio is the Xbox wireless headset. Given how much players thrash around in pressure situations, going wireless is worth the US$60. The headset, like the wireless controllers, works up to 30 feet from the console, which can support four headset-controller combinations at once. The headset allows for both in-game and private chat, as well as supporting voice-command-based gameplay. The headset is lightweight, fits over either ear, and comes with two sets of removable ear grips. It has an eight-hour battery life and comes with an AC charger.

If you're spending a lot of your gaming time immersed in Project Gotham Racing or Need for Speed, you've got to have the new wireless force-feedback racing wheel. Demonstrated at the 2006 E3, the system features standard gamepad buttons on the wheel itself, and floor-mounted accelerator and brake pedals. At US$150, it's at the top end of peripherals price-wise, but it's a top-quality product and comes with a copy of Project Gotham Racing 3. The game contains the drivers for the wheel: if you already own PGR3, you'll still need to install what's basically an update. There's a detachable clamp section so you can secure the dashboard to a desk, or just rest it in your lap.

With all the wireless peripherals, charging is a major factor with the 360. You want to be able to do it quickly and without losing playtime. There are two options for this. The first is the 'play and charge' kit. For about US$20, this allows you to charge your controller through the USB port, while you're using it. It takes longer for the controller to recharge, but on the other hand, you still get to use it. Or for US$30, you can go for the Quick Charge Kit. It's easy to use and even quite styly, and recharges batteries in about two hours.

If the Xbox 360's own 20Gb hard drive (which doesn't come as standard but should) is creaking at the seams on your system, you might want to consider getting an XSATA. At a reasonable US$40, this allows you to transfer files from your Xbox 360 to your PC, as if your Xbox was a USB drive. You can clear space by shifting saved games and cinematics to your computer, so you can load more fresh content onto your 360 without losing anything.

If you're looking for the best accessories for an Xbox gamer and they have 'everything', then any one of a plethora of licensed faceplates and controllers might just go down as a treat. Whatever your style of gaming, it will be a while before you run out of new toys for your Xbox 360.

Refurbished xBox 360

2007-07-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking about buying an xBox 360, you might have noticed that you can save money by buying a "refurbished" xBox. Sometimes the price difference is pretty significant. You may be wondering what exactly a refurbished system is, and why it's so much cheaper.

A refurbished xBox 360 is one that has been pre-owned, but unlike a regular used system, it has been tested by the manufacturers to make sure everything works properly. They use the exact same technology to check a refurbished system as they do a new system. So, if you get one that's refurbished, that means that it should theoretically be up to the same standards as a brand new model.

Refurbished machines are often used as replacements for xBox 360's that don't work. If you know anybody who has had to return their xBox because of overheating problems or faulty hardware, they'll get a refurbished one sent to them in return. If you're past warrantee, you have to pay for that refurbished machine, which costs $129 from xBox directly.

Refurbished xBox 360's from the manufacturer are like new. They test them the same way they test new units to make sure they meet quality standards. Some gamers have had problems with the refurbished consoles, but they are usually the same problems people have with the brand new ones, like the "red rings of death" caused by overheating. The problems with the consoles are due to some kind of faultiness from the get-go, not because they are refurbished.

Even though it's as good as new, some gamers feel kind of ripped-off by Microsoft for not replacing their new, malfunctioning units with other new units. Instead, they send you a refurbished one that has been used by somebody else. It's easy to see why that would be a little insulting.

Buying a refurbished system is only about as risky as buying a new one, but still it's probably a good idea to go ahead and pay for that extra warrantee. They offer warrantees of different lengths, and the prices for the warrantees vary accordingly.

Aside from buying a refurbished xBox directly, you can find refurbished consoles for sale on eBay and other online shops. You might be able to get one for under $100, but make sure you have a good warrantee.

There have been some stories about people buying refurbished machines off the internet (not directly from the company) that had some cosmetic damage, or that had some minor problems, so buyer beware. Any time you buy anything off the web, make sure you are dealing with a reliable dealer and there is some kind of warrantee or money back guarantee.

There are also lots of stories out there about gamers having trouble with their new xBoxes, sending them back, and getting refurbished machines that didn't work any better. Again, this is due to a problem with the system's design. It can't be stressed enough: get the warrantee. Shell out the money for the longest warrantee and make sure you are covered in case anything happens.

Cheats And Codes For xBox 360: February's Top 4

2007-07-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

All xBox 360 fanatics who want to have an edge with the most popular titles know how important it is to get their hands on the latest cheats and codes. If you are one of the brave who isn't concerned with the "ethical" issues of using this information to your advantage, please read on. Below you will find five of the most popular cheats and codes for top xBox 360 titles as uncovered for February, 20007.

Cheat Number 1: Increase Your Chainsaw Power In "Dead Rising"

If you enjoy fighting zombies as Frank West in "Dead Rising", you already know how helpful many of the items in the shopping mall can be. In some cases, they can even add more power to the weapons you collect. For example, after destroying Adam the clown, you've likely picked up his chainsaws to use against the undead. Here's the cheat: As soon as you've got his chainsaws, go to a bookstore and get a copy of the book "Engineering". As long as this book is in your possession, your chainsaws will last several times longer. Saw away!

Cheat Number 2: Unlock All Boxing Venues In "Fight Night Round 3"

Fight Night Round 3 is one of the top ranked boxing titles for the xBox 360. The realism of fist-to-face action comes alive with the incredible graphics and audio. On top of that, there are so many great venues to battle in, that this game never seems to go stale. If your patience does wear thin though and you want to unlock all the venues at once, just do the following. First, go to the "create champ" mode. Next, create a new character and give him the firstname "NEWVIEW". When you save this character, all the boxing boards will be unlocked for you!

Cheat Number 3: Restore Your Health In "Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter"

Based on the Tom Clancy novel, this Ghost Recon title is a graphically superior tactical fighting game that has become very popular since it's release. As your character Scott Mitchell is fighting in Mexico City though, he might take a few more hits than you'd like. Before Scott kicks the bucket, try this cheat:

First, press pause during game action. Now, hold down the back button and the right and left triggers at the same time. While these are held down, enter LB, LB, RB, X, RB, Y. If you do this, your health should be restored back to 100% and you can continue the battle.

Cheat Number 4: Instant Weapons In "Saints Row"

Being a member of the 3rd Street Saints and trying to take back the city of Stilwater has plenty of challenges. Luckily, the fight becomes a little easier if you know how to spawn extra weapons when you need them. Want an instant rocket launcher? No problem, just dial "#Rocket Enables". How about a pipe bomb? Punching "#Pipebomb Enables" into your cell will get you one. And if you're about to engage in some hand-to-hand combat, call "#Knife Enables" and you'll have a knife at your disposal.

Keep in mind though, never save your game when using any of the above cheats, as it will disable all of your achievements!

With theses cheats and codes for the xBox 360 added to your gaming arsenal, you'll soon find you have an advantage over your competitors. Remember to use this information judicially though, as incorporating too many cheats into your gameplay can destroy some of the thrill of the more challenging titles.

Buyer Tips When Purchasing A Used Xbox 360

2007-07-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Need some buyer tips when purchasing a used Xbox 360? Maybe we can help. Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been out for a year now, and with the PS3 and the Wii bursting onto the market in time for Christmas, this is the perfect opportunity for the smart budget-conscious gamer to look at buying a second-hand 360.

The best place to start looking is eBay. Now that 360s are no longer scarce, the over-inflated prices are gone, and with a bit of persistence, you'll probably be able to pick up quite a good deal. It pays, though, to be very careful you know what you're getting. If the price is suspiciously cheap, there's going to be a reason.

Make sure you know whether what you're bidding on is a Core System or a Premium Package. The core system initially retailed for US$300, the Premium for US$400. The easiest way to tell which one you're looking at from the photo is that the Core comes with a wired controller, and the Premium with a wireless one. It's really not worth buying the Core system, because it doesn't come with the 20Gb hard drive. Without the hard drive, you can't access Xbox live, save your games, or even play your old Xbox games. If you're looking at buying a second-hand Xbox 360 core system, you'll need to find out how much the hard drive is going to cost you and factor that in to what you're prepared to pay for the system.

Then there are a couple of questions you need to ask the seller. Was this one of the systems that crashed to blue screen of death straight out of the box? Was the 2006 Fall Update installed? If it wasn't, you won't be able to access Xbox Live until you download it. If it was, did it make the console brick, as it did about one percent of 360s? Has it ever been shipping back to Microsoft for repairs? Is there any warranty left on it? Retailers like EB Games offer excellent warranties on the consoles they sell for a small extra charge. You still have to be able to return the console to the store, though, and if that store is in Los Angeles and you're in Chicago, you may find that the shipping cost is dangerously equivalent to the price of a brand new Wii. The same goes for shipping a faulty Xbox back to Microsoft for repairs.

Then you need to look at the accessories you're getting with the bundle you're buying. If someone's offloading their console, they're probably getting shot of their games, too. What you really need to look for, though, is the 20Gb hard drive, and at least one extra controller - unless you have no friends. Every system should come with a composite-video/stereo audio A/V cable, and second-hand Premiums should have a component HD AV cable and an ethernet cable. Most premium packages came with the headset, though some came with the media remote instead. That last is a handy wee item that makes it much easier to use your Xbox for playing DVDs and music. All the accessories that you're going to need without getting into things like steering wheels would cost you up to US$200 to buy individually, but will probably get thrown into a sale package for only about US$50 more.

Remember to factor in the cost of shipping, too. With something this big, that could end up being a hefty portion of what you pay. Look for a console close to home.

There are other avenues to try for buyer tips when purchasing a used Xbox 360, too. Look out for places like EB Games and GameStop taking trade-ins - that means they'll have second-hand stock for sale. And while the normal retail price of the Xbox 360 hasn't budged from launch, if you keep an eye out, you might be able to find a bargain. Amazon.com ran a brief promotion where they sold band new 360s of US$100. If you're prepared to put in a bit of time and in no hurry to buy, you can save yourself a lot of money on your gaming experience.

XBox 360 Overheating Issues

2007-07-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Since the new XBox 360s came out, there has been lots of talk about overheating issues. According to Microsoft, this accounts for just a tiny percent of all their machines, but there are an awfully lot of overheating stories out there. Lots of XBox fans aren't happy with the way they're dealing with the problem.

Here's what usually happens: In the middle of a hot game your console freezes up. This happens a few more times, and then you see the Red Rings Of Death. The RR of D is not a feature of XBox, nor a foe in a fantasy game. The RR of D means that you're machine is overheating. Some people have reported seeing an orange screen flashing as well. The Rings shut down your machine and you lose your unsaved data. What it means is that it's overheated.

Some machines overheat after hours of play, but some do in as quickly as 10 minutes. Either way, the machine is defective and something has to be done about it.

Now, you can either send the machine in for repairs, or you can fix it yourself. Lots of gamers have been peeved at Microsoft's slow response to their overheating woes. They say that Microsoft is slow to repair the units. Often, they will offer a refurbished unit instead. Refurbished machines are as good as new, so it sounds pretty good, but there are tons of stories online of defective replacement machines. Some XBox owners have gone through 3 or 4 machines, all of which overheated!

It's a pretty sad state of affairs. Overheat sufferers claim that the company's customer service is less than helpful, and that they fail to adequately take responsibility for their faulty machines.

There are a few things you can do on your own to deal with overheating. Just like any other electronics, try to keep the back of the console clear so that the hot air can escape. With a well-made machine, this shouldn't be a problem, but if you have it all the way back against the wall, it might be a factor in why it overheats.

Supposedly, the root of the overheating problem in XBox 360s is that they tried to cut corners by using cheaply made, slow fans. There are 2 fans on either side, and they are really important for cooling the console. You can always reach back there and feel if the unit feels very cold or super hot. If one of the fans is not turning, or if it is going too slowly, you might want to replace the fan yourself. Of course, it shouldn't be YOUR responsibility to do that, but considering all the headaches customers have had with Microsoft's replacement machines, it just might save you some trouble.

If you send the machine in for a new fan, they may try to gouge you for it. If you look on the web (check eBay), you can find the exact same fans that are used in the XBox 360 for as low as $10. It isn't too difficult to replace the fan yourself, and you can find schematics and tutorials online to help you.

Another minor repair you can do yourself is to put some Arctic Silver 5 on the heatsink. This is a cooling compound that you can buy online. If you apply it on the heatsink, which is located just between the CPU and the fans, it will cool down the components. People who have used Arctic Silver report great results. It seems to keep the unit from ever overheating again.

Remember also that your XBox 360 has a year long warrantee. The original warrantees were six months, but they've since extended it, and it's retroactive. That means if you bought yours within the last year, it still should be covered.

All About XBox 360 Mod Chips

2007-07-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

What is a "mod chip?"

A mod chip is a tiny silicon accessory that can be installed into your gaming console. It "modifies" your console, hence the name. A console with a mod chip is also known as a "modded console" or a "chipped system."

What does a mod chip do?

The mod chip takes control of your system and removes limitations that were put on by the manufacturer. It can access all the functions of your xBox 360 that have been blocked or restricted. You can import, back-up, homebrew and bypass security features. 9 times out of 10, mod chips are used to play pirated games.

Gaming consoles like the XBox 360, Play Station 3, Nintendo Wii and Gamecube are designed by the company to only play their copyrighted games. These machines also have region codes, like DVD players, so that you can't play a Japanese or Australian version of a game on an American box. In the case of the XBox, you can't play anything that isn't licensed by Microsoft, including your own creations or customized games.

The main reason for these security features is to protect against pirating games. While most mod chip users use the chip to copy games or play pirated games, there is a small minority of amateur coders and serious gamers who use the mod chip to customize their games and get more out of playing them.

Are mod chips illegal?

This is where things get tricky. In the United States, at the current moment, mod chips are legal. But, using pirated software, which is what almost all mod chip users do, is illegal. If you buy a mod chip and install it in your XBox, you will be okay, but chipping your XBox will definitely void your warrantee. It will also keep you from being able to do XBox Live.

Mod chips are illegal in the UK, but legal in Australia. They are increasingly being made illegal in more and more countries. Although some mod chip dealers have been fined and even jailed, this was usually because they offered pirating software as part of the deal. Microsoft is dealing with the problem on a case-by-case basis, but in general they are not aggressively pursuing mod chip dealers. It's possible that they let it go on because of the small minority of those who actually use the mod chip for legitimate purposes, who say, "It's my machine, why can't I do what I want with it?"

Keep in mind that mod chips do permanently alter your console, so use at your own risk.

How do I get a mod chip?

There are tons of mod chip dealers online. Most are in the $55-$85 range, although you can find them as low as $30 or $20. As a general rule of thumb, a deal that cheap is probably too good to be true. There are lots of shady dealers out there who take advantage of the fact that there is such high demand and mod chips are hard to get. Be sure to check out the dealer before you buy. I would go with a dealer that allows you to track your order.

Installing your mod chip is another consideration. They're not easy to install. It requires soldering the chip to the motherboard. If you have some experience soldering, it's a pretty easy job. But, if you've never soldered before, this might not be the best time to give it a shot.

There are some mod chips advertised as "solderless," but these are probably best to avoid. You can also get installation kits, but these will cost you. If you don't want to do the installation yourself, your best bet is probably to send your console to an installation service and have them do it. In this case, make sure they are a reputable company. Don't take any chances with your XBox!

Using a mod chip is risky. Make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before you get one!

Two Players, One xBox 360 Live Account: Can It Be Done?

2007-07-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

Especially for families, being able to have multiple players using the same xBox 360 is very important. Luckily, the xBox 360 comes with the ability to set up different profiles for every family member allowing them to keep track of their games, media, stats and more. When it comes to using xBox live though, things get a bit trickier. Here's what you need to know.

1. xBox Live Gold Accounts

This is a very important point - two profiles cannot be configured to share the same xBox live Gold account without using techniques that go against Microsoft's terms of service. If you want to give these types of hacks a try, expect to get banned. Otherwise, if everyone in your family wants to use xBox Live Gold, you have two options.

Option #1 - Buy an xBox Live Gold account for each player in your family. Although this will allow each family member to have their own profile to use with xBox Live, this option can be very expensive. xBox Live Gold accounts cost around $49 per year per account, so multiple accounts can add up fast. If you do decide to go this route, make sure to look for discounts. Amazon frequently offers sales on 12 month xBox 360 Live Gold memberships, so it can pay to shop around first.

Option #2 - Learn to share. That's right, just buy one xBox Live Gold account, create a profile and let family members take turns sharing it. This will save you a lot of money, depending on how many in your household, and it will also teach the younger players important lessons about taking turns. When you really stop and think about it, if everyone wants to play at once, why not just play some of the games in multi-player mode and compete with your own family members?

2. xBox Live Silver Accounts

If the members of your family want to have their own profiles and enjoy some of the online features the xBox live has to offer, why not just create Silver accounts? Silver accounts are completely free and Microsoft will usually allow you to set up enough on one console so each family member can have their own. Granted, you won't be able to play the online multi-player games with a silver account, but when you're ready for that, go back to step one and learn to share.

Silver accounts still allow players to access arcade games, shopping and other media though. Plus, players can access voice chat and text messaging with their other online friends, making this free level very entertaining all on it's own.

Remember though, if you've ever been banned from xBox live before, you won't even be able to get a free silver account. That still beats being a Korean kid though. In Korea, nobody under the age of 14 can use xBox live!

Hopefully, the above information will set the record straight for anyone trying to figure out how 2 players can share an xBox live account. Just remember to stay on the right side of Microsoft's TOS and you shouldn't run into any problems.

Microsoft facing $1bn Xbox bill

2007-07-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

From BBC News
Microsoft has said that it is facing a bill of more than $1bn to cover the cost of offering extended warranties, after failings with its Xbox 360.

The company admitted it had been forced to make "an unacceptable number of repairs" to the consoles after key hardware failed.

Customers who suffer the problems will now be given a free three-year warranty, the company said.

The failures are indicated by three red flashing lights on the console.

Microsoft, has not revealed how many of its machines have suffered the problem, but said the number was "bigger than we are comfortable with."

It added that the move - which will also see some people reimbursed for postage and repairs on consoles which were out of warranty - was aimed at keeping the loyalty of its customers.

"The majority of Xbox 360 owners are having a great experience with their console and have from day one," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division.

"But this problem has caused frustration for some of our customers and for that, we sincerely apologise."

It added its Xbox division was still expected to make a profit during the financial year beginning 1 July 2007.

Migration manoeuvre

Separately the company has announced an October launch of its advanced version of the Xbox - the Xbox 360 Elite - in Japan, where it lags behind Nintendo and Sony in the console market.

And the company has also unveiled plans to open a software development centre in Canada which it said was a way of hiring talented people from abroad who would struggle to obtain a US working visa.

The Vancouver location would "allow the company to continue to recruit and retain highly skilled people affected by the immigration issues in the US", Microsoft said.

Olympics 2012

2007-07-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

From CNN.com
LONDON, England (CNN) -- London has defeated European rival Paris to host the 2012 Summer Games, bringing the Olympics back to Britain for the first time in more than half a century.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge made the announcement after IOC members voted 54-50 to eliminate the French capital in the fourth and final round of secret ballots Wednesday in Singapore.

"The International Olympic Committee has the honor of announcing that the Games of the 30th Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London," Rogge declared after opening a sealed envelope containing the result.

Thousands of people in London's Trafalgar Square cheered as they watched the announcement on giant TV screens. (Full story)

London has twice played host to the Olympics, in 1908 and 1948. It becomes the first city to host the Olympics three times.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the victory as "a momentous day for London."

London bid leader Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic, we have the opportunity to do what we always dreamed about, getting more young people into sport.

"This is our moment. It's massive. It's huge. This is the biggest prize in sport," The Associated Press quoted Coe as saying.

England soccer captain David Beckham said: "In 2012, I can take my children to an Olympics which we might never had had the chance to do. ... This is such a huge lift for our country."

Rogge also expressed joy at London's victory.

"We are very, very pleased with the victory of London," AP quoted the IOC chief as saying. "People we trust, people we know will give us a superb games."

In the French capital, groans of disappointment swept through a crowd of thousands gathered at Paris Town Hall.

It was the third defeat for Paris in 20 years, with bids for the 1992 and 2008 Games also failing.

Moscow, New York and Madrid were eliminated in the first three rounds of voting respectively. (More reaction)

Although it was a favorite, Paris never led throughout the voting, AP reported.

In the first round, London got 22 votes, Paris 21, Madrid 20 and New York 19. In the second round, Madrid had 32 votes, followed by London with 27 and Paris 25, AP said.

In the third round, London led Paris 39-33 after picking up several New York votes. In the last round, Madrid's votes were spread about evenly, giving London enough to win.

Last-minute lobbying

The decision followed a final, furious lobbying effort by an elite "who's who" of politicians and athletes at the IOC's annual meeting.

Among the dignitaries who traveled to Singapore to lobby IOC members were Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, Queen Sofia of Spain and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

The five cities bidding to host the 2012 Summer Games delivered their final presentations ahead of the vote.

London used royalty to get its message across, with Princess Anne kicking off the city's one-hour presentation with a message from Queen Elizabeth II.

"I've been impressed by the way everyone has united behind London's bid. As a country we share a passion for sport," the queen's message said, according to Reuters.

Blair, who held a string of meetings with IOC delegates before flying home to host the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland this weekend, underlined London's message Wednesday with a pre-recorded video clip.

"Our vision is to see millions of young people participate in sport and improve their lives. London has the power to make this happen," Reuters quoted Blair as saying.

Chirac spoke passionately to the IOC, saying, "The heart of Paris and the heart of France are beating in unison in the hope of becoming Olympic host in 2012," AP reported.

"You can put your trust and faith in France, you can trust the French, you can trust us."

Paris also utilized the talents of actress Catherine Deneuve and French singer Johnny Halliday to highlight the wonders of Paris.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and bid leader Dan Doctoroff used New York's readiness and its multicultural traditions to woo judges.

Bloomberg reminded the IOC of the city's recovery from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"In our city's darkest hour, we asked ourselves, can we recover?" AP quoted him as saying. "New Yorkers stood up then and said, 'Yes, we can recover, we will rebuild and we must continue to welcome everyone. That spirit will be given to your Games."

U.S. President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton spoke in prerecorded video messages, AP said.

New York's delegation also included U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth and a host of decorated Olympians, including Muhammad Ali, Nadia Comaneci, Ian Thorpe, Janet Evans and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's live video clip -- delivered in English -- urged the IOC to grasp a "unique and truly historic opportunity" by selecting Moscow, Reuters said.

"Moscow is a meeting place of cultures. Moscow is perfectly suited to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games," he said.

Russian swimming great Alexander Popov added: "If we can convince you to take this historic opportunity today, together we can change the world tomorrow."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Queen Sofie pressed Madrid's case.

"The whole Spanish royal family is convinced that Madrid fully meets the conditions to offer to the world the best Olympic Games," AP quoted the queen as saying.

Responding to questions from delegates, Madrid officials downplayed threats from the Basque extremist group ETA.

"Absolute security is assured," AP quoted Zapatero as saying.

"It's our main priority. Those who have tried to attack our candidacy will see that this is something that is doomed to disappear in Madrid and all of Spain."

Voting has gone to four ballots in four of the last five votes to pick a host for the Summer Games. The only exception was in 2001, when Beijing was selected for the 2008 Olympics on just the second ballot.

Windows users download 1 million copies of Safari

2007-07-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

By Tom Krazit
Safari was an early hit with Windows users, who have downloaded 1 million copies of the browser since Monday, according to Apple.
CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the Windows version of the browser as a beta release Monday during his keynote speech at the Worldwide Developers Conference. Safari makes up around 5 percent of the browser market, trailing Internet Explorer and Firefox with its 18.6 million users, a figure Jobs used in his speech Monday.

Cynical colleagues at CNET wonder how many of those downloads were started by hackers and security professionals probing for weaknesses, which is probably a fair point. Nine security vulnerabilities have already been discovered in the Windows beta, and Apple released an updated version of the browser in the wee hours of Thursday morning to plug some of the flaws.

Still, there had to be more than a few downloads from outside the security community. The 1 million copies are of the initial beta release, tagged 3.0.

PS3 DVD upscaling: A big improvement

2007-07-02T05:43:00.002-07:00

by Matthew Moskovciak
Before yesterday's firmware update, the PlayStation 3 couldn't upscale standard-definition DVDs to high-def resolutions--a once high-end feature that's now built-in to nearly all DVD players with HDMI outputs. But what's the real benefit of upscaling (or upconverting, as it's also known)? Despite some of the marketing hype claiming that upscaling will make your DVDs appear in true high-def quality, the increase in picture quality will never come close to matching that of native HD material (HDTV broadcasts, HD DVD, and Blu-ray). Moreover, the video quality improvement is completely dependent on how good the upscaling and deinterlacing technology in your TV already is. Every HDTV is already capable of upscaling and deinterlacing; the only benefit an upscaling DVD player can bring to the table is to do it better. In some cases, the difference is easily discernible. In others, it's much more subtle. Ultimately, an upscaling DVD player might be able to make your DVDs look better, but the difference will be worth it only to "critical viewers" who pay close attention to image quality.

As the PS3 formerly did a pretty poor job of just deinterlacing DVD to 480p, there was a lot of room for improvement. We put the PS3 through Silicon Optix's HQV test suite in 1080p mode on our Pioneer Pro-FHD1 reference display. For the most part, we were satisfied. It passed the initial resolution test, which means it can display the full resolution of DVDs. The next tests didn't go as well. For example, we saw artifacts on third line on the test with three shifting lines. We've seen better performance on this test on players with HQV processing, such as the Toshiba HD-XA2, or even with the older Denon DVD-3910. On the other hand, the PS3 did a decent job with a waving flag, as there were definitely some slightly noticeable jaggies, but we've seen worse. It did even better on the 2:3 pulldown processing test, as it kicked into film mode almost immediately.

Test patterns performance is fine for the lab, but we also took a look at some actual movies. The introduction to Seabiscuit can be difficult for some players, but the PS3 handled it well, with only a few slight artifacts--occasionally we could see some flashing behavior in the old photos as the camera panned over them. We also watched a bit of King Kong, which looked fantastic (as it does on almost all DVD players).

The bottom line is that the PS3's upscaling is pretty good, although it doesn't compare to top-of-the-line players such as the Oppo DV-981HD or the new high-def disc players with HQV processing, such as the Samsung BD-P1200 and the Toshiba HD-XA2. On the other hand, the PS3's DVD performance is definitely a big step up from that of the Xbox 360 Elite. In the final analysis, when you consider that upscaling is just one of the many functions of the PS3, we think the performance is pretty impressive.

Another resolution issue worthy of note: it appears the 1.80 firmware update has fixed the 720p issue on the PS3 (the system would downconvert games and movies to 480p on HDTVs that couldn't handle 1080i or 1080p resolutions). Post-update, we were able to play a DVD movie, a Blu-ray movie, and a game (Motorstorm), all at 720p resolution. That'll be welcome news for the legions of TV owners whose sets have 720p native resolution.

Autobots, transform and nerd out!

2007-07-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

by Will Greenwald
If you've looked at a television, a movie screen, or a billboard at any time in the last year, you're probably already aware that Transformers is coming. And if you've done any of those things in the last 20 years, you probably already know the story: transforming robots from another planet fight other transforming robots while Earth hangs in the balance.

Let's see...robots, cartoons, new movie coming out...yep, this means merchandising and lots of it. The Transformers movie is going to get toys, toys, and more toys. Transformers is getting everything from action figures to board games to, obviously, video games. Hasbro, the company behind the original Transformers toys, is making the bulk of these products, while Activion is handling the upcoming video game release.

We received a big box from Hasbro today that included previews of their various transforming toys. It came with (and I'm in no way kidding about this) a transforming press kit with secret compartments. The Transformers merchandise they sent ranged from the standard (Transformers action figures) to the curious (a Transformers novel) to the downright awesome (Transformers Nerf gun).

The greatest toy in the bunch is the Transformers Optimus Prime Battle Rig Blaster. It's a big plastic truck that transformers into a Nerf gun shaped like Optimus Prime's blaster. It's huge (even my large fists can fit into it), and even though it won't make you feel like Optimus Prime, it'll at least convince your friends and co-workers that you're a giant lunatic. Granted, I'm probably the only giant lunatic who actually walks around the office with a giant Nerf gun mounted on my hand, but I like to think that simply makes me awesome.

Second greatest toy out of them is the Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer. It's a big plastic helmet that transforms your voice and shouts Optimus Prime quotes really, really loudly. It's big enough for even my head to fit inside, so I really have to ask who Hasbro is marketing these toys for.

Among the various Transformers action figures, a handful stand out as particularly interesting. The Transformers Real Gear figures are Transformers based on everyday electronics. Speed Dial 800 is a cell phone, Spy Shot 6 is a digital camera, Power Up VT6 is a portable game system, and so on. We haven't seen them up close yet, but they sound pretty interesting. They don't actually call people, take pictures, or play games, though.

Transformers hits July 4, but you don't have to wait until then to get your Transformers stuff. Hasbro's Transformers toys start to ship June 2, and the video game hits all major consoles June 26.

A joystick built like a tank

2007-07-02T04:46:00.000-07:00

by Will Greenwald
It's hard to get old-school arcade action with today's controllers. Whether it's the Wii's motion-sensing remote or the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3's wireless gamepads, they just don't capture the frantic, rugged joystick-beating and button-thumping of yesteryear. Don't worry, though. $200 will get you the glory back, thanks to X-Arcade.

X-Arcade makes retro arcade controllers, and the Tankstick is the company's beefiest, most fearsome unit. This massive controller weighs 20 pounds and sports two joysticks, 22 buttons, and a trackball. Most impressive is this bad boy's lifetime warranty; X-Arcade will repair or send replacement parts for the Tankstick (or any of their other controllers) if it ever breaks. If it breaks in the first year, they'll even send you a replacement and foot the bill to send your broken stick back to them. I wouldn't worry too much about them breaking, though. The Tankstick is unbelievably sturdy, and X-Arcade claims its buttons are designed to withstand 1 million presses in their lifetime.

Xbox 360 getting next-gen 'Pac-Man'

2007-07-02T04:04:00.001-07:00

Microsoft, together with Namco Bandai Games America, on Tuesday announced a new version of the classic arcade Pac-Man at the Pac-Man World Championships in New York's Times Square. Pac-Man Championship Edition will have the first new mazes in 26 years. The new title is set to be available Wednesday morning on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 Microsoft points.

Finalists Robert Glashuettner from Austria (age 28) and Carlos Romero from Mexico (age 27) went head to head on the new version, in lieu of the classic '80s title. Both were competing for the chance to win 100,000 Microsoft points (valued at about $1,250), a special Pac-Man edition of the Xbox 360, and free Quizno's sandwiches for the next 26 years. Romero, who has been playing video games since age 6, won the face-off, beating Glashuettner 22,160 to 17,730. As a runner-up, Glashuettner nets 40,000 Microsoft points, which is valued at about $500.

Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani also announced that he is retiring from game development to teach at Tokyo Polytechnic University. He had previously taught character design studies at the University of Arts in Osaka.

For Paris Hilton, 'The Prison Life' is all games

2007-07-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

From GSN, the creative minds who brought us such enduring game classics as Kim Jong-Il: Missile Maniac, Rosie vs. Trump and Foley's Follies, comes The Prison Life: Paris, which offers players a behind-the-bars peek at the hotel heiress' life in the clink.

Orange is the new pink in this online title, in which an animated Hilton in stiletto heels, designer sunglasses and an orange jumpsuit attempts to undertake her prison duties under the watchful eye of a baton-wielding warden. "Paris is in jail and the warden has assigned her to design and build license plates. Help her with her job and watch out for her little dog "Clinkerbell"! explain the directions on GSN.com.

Players position the smirking Hilton between levers that "stamp" the blank California vanity license plates as they roll by on a conveyor belt. Line up the stamper with the plates using arrow keys and win a point. Miss and get slapped with an insult like: "Ouch--Lindsay Lohan plays better than you!" In a nod to Hilton's celebutante existence, the plates sport such phrases as PRTYGRL, DUI4ME, DRV2FST and PRVTCEL.

The tabloid story du jour started last year, when Hilton was arrested for driving under the influence and sentenced to probation. She also had her license suspended. In February, the paparazzi favorite was stopped for driving 70 mph in a 35 mph zone and charged with violating her probation. That occurence led to her current 23-day stint at the not-so-glam Century Regional Detention Facility in suburban Los Angeles.

PS3 is tops in Australia and a failure in the US

2007-07-02T03:05:00.000-07:00

Michael Ephraim, managing director of Sony Australia, has officially announced that the Playstation 3 is the console war king - in Australia. According to Ephraim, sales figures in the Land Down Under have shown the "PS3...outselling Wii and Xbox 360 every week, except for last week."

The recent stories like this one out of the Sony camp are becoming pathetic at best. The company who formerly touted its dominance over the video game industry is left touting a 50,000 unit sale for March and a sales lead "for every week, except for the last week." Which brings me to another issue: what happened last week? Is this a sign of things to come?

Sony has gone to the well one too many times and now it's living with the ramifications of its poor decisions. Sony may be the leader in Australia, but it will never be the leader in the United States and within a few years, will finish dead last in Japan as well. The end is near for Sony's game division and time is running out on a new plan. There is no way the company will rise to the top of the console wars, but in the United States, look for Sony to finish second.

Yes you did just read that. And just to make you a little more confused, Nintendo will finish dead last. Why you ask? It's simple: the video game industry is controlled by software developers and very few of those companies will be willing to drop the time and money it takes to develop a new control scheme for the Wii.

I know this may sound like the same old story that most Wii fanboys have been laughing at for the past six months, but as we move into the summer and the holiday season, the future is becoming all too clear.

Microsoft is leading the console wars right now regardless of Wii shortages because it offers more to the developers than the Wii or the PS3. We can talk all we want about the innovative Wii console and how it sets a new standard for the video game industry, but it is not a money-maker for software developers like the Xbox 360 is. If I was writing this ten years ago, then that argument would not only be valid, it would be true. Unfortunately, we are knee-deep in an era of cash flow dictating what we play and how we play it. And believe it or not, the Wii doesn't fit into that business model.

In order to turn a profit in this business, most developers need to take your favorite game and port it to other systems. And because the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are so much more powerful than the Wii, developers typically start their work on these consoles. Once the game is complete on say, the 360 for example, they can easily map the entire game's controls to the PS3 controller because it offers the same layout: four buttons, two analog sticks and a D-pad. For the Wii, it's not so easy. Instead, developers need to create an entirely new control scheme and some kind of interaction with the Wii functionality or else the game will be hammered by video game reviewers begging for better controls.

Now I know what you're thinking: it may be difficult, but with the number of Wiis in homes in the US, it makes sense to spend the extra time and money to port a game to the Wii. Wrong. There are a number of issues that may arise when developing and porting games and with suits dictating a release schedule and a budget that often times runs over on the original port, it quickly becomes impractical to develop a new control scheme for the Wii.

The Wii will become (or has it already?) a mini-game console that will feature big games from Nintendo and the like, but will never reach the pinnacle that Microsoft will enjoy in this generation.

So where does that leave Sony? A distant second to the Xbox 360. Over the course of the next five to ten months, Sony will be releasing a slew of wildly popular games like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy and Killzone. Not only will these games help bolster sales of the system, an impending PS3 price drop will significantly increase the number of people who will choose a PS3 over a Wii or Xbox 360.

With that said, Sony has already done enough damage that it cannot recover from. Why you ask? It's simple: Microsoft obviously understood this business far better than Sony and wooed software developers. Microsoft understood that hardware doesn't drive sales and make a console king, it's the software that dictates who will come out on top. Sony on the other hand, rested on its laurels and thought an advanced (and expensive) device would be enough to run Nintendo and Sony out of the video games industry for good. Obviously Sony was wrong. By relying on hardware, developing for the console was difficult and the centerpiece of the device: its Blu-ray player, has been all but ignored by the average video game player who only wants to play Madden and couldn't care less about the high-def DVD wars.

So, in an age where money takes center stage and innovation is relegated to other forms of entertainment, the video game industry trudges on with executives claiming victories and fans screaming obscenities at each other in a Halo death match. And while some people believe their own favorite console will become the leader of this generation, time is running out. The Xbox 360 has an installed base that demands developer attention, while the Wii has the most entertaining experiences we have ever enjoyed and the Playstation 3 is nothing more than an expensive piece of machinery that has yet to prove its worth. But within a few shorts months, all of the cards will be on the table and each member of the pack will take its rightful place in order: The Xbox 360, followed by the Playstion 3 and the Wii.

With GreenBorder, Google gets deeper into Net security

2007-07-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

Google's purchase of GreenBorder Technologies--a browser virtualization software company that creates a sandboxed environment for your existing Firefox or Internet Explorer browse--follows on the heels of Google announcing a blog from its nascent antimalware team. With rumors of a possible forthcoming antivirus acquisition, the Mountain View search giant has jumped into the Internet security business feet first.

Nerves must be raw at traditional security vendors Symantec and McAfee. Last year Microsoft announced its own security suite, Microsoft Windows Live Onecare, and proceeded to capture a lion's share of sales in the Internet security suite space. Now Google is arming itself with online security products, possibly providing these tools for free. Unlike Microsoft, Google's drive is more focused. Where Microsoft is providing tools to defragment your hard drive and backup files in addition to their firewall and antivirus choices, Google appears to be protecting their main asset: online businesses.

In a paper, "The Ghost in the Browser" (in PDF), Google's antimalware researchers looked at several billion Web sites. They studied a subgroup of 12 million web sites, within which they found 1 million engaging in drive-by downloads of malicious code. Overall that's only 0.1 percent (less than 1 percent) of all the Web sites, but any one bad experience on the Internet is enough to threaten Google's long-term usefulness. By purchasing software technology that protects the end-user from malicious code, Google is ensuring that most people enjoy an event-free experience while surfing the Internet.

Mozilla issues security updates for Firefox 2 and 1.5

2007-07-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

By Robert Vamosi
Mozilla has released Firefox 2.0.0.4 and Firefox 1.5.0.12 to address six security vulnerabilities. Most users will automatically receive this update and be asked to restart Firefox to install it. This update will probably be the final one for Firefox 1.5. As such, Mozilla provides an easy upgrade path for current 1.5 users to upgrade to 2.0. All Firefox users are urged to install this update, as it addresses the following security issues CVE-2007-2871 (XUL Popup Spoofing); CVE-2007-2870 (XSS using addEventListener); CVE-2007-1362 (Path Abuse in Cookies) CVE-2007-2869 (Persistent Autocomplete Denial of Service) CVE-2007-2867 and CVE-2007-2868 (Crashes with evidence of memory corruption).

This update also enhances Firefox support within the Windows Vista operating system, although links within some applications still may not open in Firefox even if you have chosen Firefox as your default browser; a Windows Media Player plug-in still doesn't exist for Firefox; Windows Vista Parental Controls are not completely honored yet within Firefox; and cookies and saved forms from Internet Explorer still have to be manually imported. Mozilla has posted workarounds for these.

Finally, this release of Firefox adds language support for Afrikaans and Belarusian.

YouTube Trojan horse rides in on Web TV show's fame

2007-07-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

According to Trend Micro, a Trojan horse that downloads a certain YouTube video could compromise your computer. The video appears to be an episode of Afterworld, a Web TV series about a society where technology is dead. Security vendor Websense has also been tracking this Trojan horse and has traced the video to a .su domain, which was originally assigned to the former Soviet Union and still remains in use today.

The use of online media files to infect end users with malware is not new. A worm last October used a JavaScript flaw in Apple Quicktime to spread on MySpace. For this attack, Websense has produced, ironically, an informative YouTube video demonstrating what happens to your computer. This YouTube Trojan steals personal information from a compromised PC and then broadcasts it to an undisclosed location.

Playboy.com aims to make the iPhone even sexier

2007-07-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

By Caroline McCarthy
The iPhone hype has either reached a high point or totally jumped the shark, depending on your personal opinion. Playboy.com just announced that it has launched its official iPhone effort, which it calls "iPlayboy."

We'll just say that it sure gives "touch screen" a whole new meaning.

Playboy's virtual goodie bag for the iPhone consists of 12 "sexy non-nude wallpapers" for the sleek Apple handset, a special photo album with another dozen photos of Playmates, an episode of Playboy's Sirius Satellite Radio show, and a video customized for the iPhone's interface. It's free, and available on the main Playboy Web site.

Now that the adult entertainment world has officially penetrated the iPhone hype machine, the next step is obvious: naughty toy add-ons!

Photos: Gamers compete at Playboy Mansion

2007-07-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

When you picked your team on Halo, was there a scantily-clad model present? When you entered your guild on Warcraft, did a Playboy Bunny frolic in the corner? No? Then you must not be among the Championship Gaming Series inaugural draftees. Too bad for you!

To soothe your sorry situation, we suggest you click on the image at left to experience the vicarious thrill of the Carolina, Chicago and San Francisco gamers who convened at Hugh Hefner's infamous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills this week. Do you think the draft picks will play better knowing the Bunnies are behind them? A little skimpy moral support never hurt.

A racing simulator with 3 LCDs? Sign us up

2007-07-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Of all the over-the-top racing simulators out there, this one is probably our favorite so far. But then again, we're suckers for anything that sports three LCD TVs. These aren't just any flat screens either, but 37-inch Sharp Aquos displays in full 1080p clarity. And that's just the beginning.

VRX's "Triple Screen Limited Edition 001" is a behemoth that includes "four Xbox 360 Elites, four copies of Forza Motorsport 2, an Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on player, camera/wireless headset, a Zune, force feedback wheel," according to Engadget. The system is built with a polished aluminum frame that will complement the industrial decor of your office or living room. That, at least, is what you'll have to tell your spouse or significant other.

The price is available only by contacting the company, but how bad can it be? Nothing, after all, can top the $300,000 price tag for FAO Schwarz's "Morphis ESP." We hope, anyway.