Monday, March 31, 2008
AVerMedia(R) Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of digital multimedia and presentation technology announced today the release of the AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX, the USB based TV tuner stick with the ability to receive HDTV, Analog TV and FM Radio on a Windows XP or Vista desktop or laptop. In addition, the accompanying AVer MediaCenter allows users to watch and record the unencrypted QAM digital cable TV. It was also honored as a CES 2008 Innovations Design and Engineering Award Winner in the Video Accessories category.
The AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX is available now for $79.99 MSRP. AVer MediaCenter software including Clear QAM and H.264 real-time recording capabilities is currently bundled with AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX.
Me like!
Labels: hybrid, new technology, tuner, USB
Kognitio, a leading global provider of business intelligence and data warehousing solutions, announced today that it will work to develop, release and support a version of its WX2 analytical Relational Database Management System that runs on the open source Solaris Operating System.Kognitio WX2 is one of the most mature analytical database technologies of its type on the market today, capable of helping mid-sized and larger enterprises alike gain unprecedented analytical access to, and insight from, massive amounts of data, thus allowing them to remain ahead of their competitors.
Sounds promising.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Microsoft is launching an update to XP sometime within the next month. Those of us loyal XP users know this is SP3 in the line of packages. This will be the last update for XP because Microsoft has claimed they will stop selling the OS in June of this year. Which means no more support and eventually you'll be forced to go Vista.As far as I am concerned it is all a conspiracy. Vista uses so much juice from your processing system that it slows everything down on your computer. It all but forces those of you with older systems to have to buy a whole new system. It is just ridiculous.
No one has the money these days to shell out dough for Vista AND new hardware. This will be the beginning of a computer leasing businesses. People will lease hardware for a year until it becomes obsolete. There will be silly regulations to follow just like when you lease a car. If you go over a certain memory allotment they shut you down from their office due to breach of contract and then you are forced to purchase the machine at retail price.
Ok, so I made all that up but it totally seems likely to me.
Labels: Operating System, Vista, xp
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Every tech blog and that blog's neighbor are talking about the Motorola split today. I don't particularly care one way or the other, but I am sure with our dim economy we'll be seeing more mergers/splits and business demise. So let's briefly discuss, ok?It is true. Motorola announced it's splitting into two companies: a "Mobile Devices" company that makes cell phones, and a "Broadband & Mobility Solutions" company with all the other parts of Moto. Existing stock holders will get shares in both companies.
Here is an excerpt from the press-release:
Based on current plans, the creation of the two stand-alone businesses is expected to take the form of a tax-free distribution to Motorola's shareholders, subject to further financial, tax and legal analysis, resulting in shareholders holding shares of two independent and publicly-traded companies:There is a lot going on in Motorola world. Not just a company split.
The Mobile Devices business is an industry leader in multi-mode, multi-band communications products and technologies. The business designs, manufactures and sells mobile handsets and accessories globally with integrated software solutions that incorporate the latest personal communications technologies. It also licenses a portfolio of intellectual property.
The Broadband & Mobility Solutions business includes Motorola's Enterprise Mobility, Government and Public Safety, and Home and Networks businesses. These businesses manufacture, design, integrate, and service voice and data communication solutions and wireless broadband networks for enterprises and government and public safety customers worldwide. These businesses also provide end-to-end digital and Internet Protocol (IP) video solutions, cellular and high speed broadband network infrastructure, cable set-top receivers, and associated customer premise equipment for residential and commercial wireless network system access.
Airvana, Inc. is getting involved in many media companies so as to heighten the "mobile experience." Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and so it is only natural evolution that is causing this change. Of course when you hear about changes everyone panics. People leave companies, shareholders sell, etc. I think it is foolish in this instance, but obviously I'm not working on Wall Street.
Motorola has termed these changes "Long Term Evolution" (LTE for short). LTE is an all-IP, OFDM-based technology that will deliver a personal media experience similar to that of fixed line broadband both in terms of bandwidth and latency. With LTE, applications that can be delivered today on fixed line will soon be available over the air and with full mobility.
Does that sound like something to run from or embrace?
Labels: communication, motorola, wireless
Monday, March 24, 2008
I don't use WordPress personally, but we do use it at work. From what I have learned so far, it is a bit frustrating to understand the admin interfaces because for each thing you do the functionality changes. From a user perspective that is just not cool.Apparently the 2.5 release will mend many of those issues and therefore relieve the frustrations. In addition, Word Press is going to be smarter on the writing end. The new write screen only displays the information that you'll use most often. It displays the most common fields in a way that makes posting incredibly easy. Additional options are hidden away until you need them. I like that your most used categories will appear ready to be checked off instead of you having to remember them.
Another needed change which is part of this release will be in the layout of the dashboard. I think Blogger needs to work on their layout as well. WordPress is going to allow dashboard customization. You'll be able to edit the way information is presented so that the new Dashboard conforms to the way you use WordPress.
Labels: wordpress
Saturday, March 22, 2008
What's cooler than a digital SLR camera? Duh. A 25 megapixel DSLR.Sony's 25 megapixel Alpha A900 to arrive in August or September...drool. And I think there is a clear body display even though I don't have it pictured here.
Does anyone know more about it?
Oh and also I read this morning about a generic cell phone the Chinese just made which apparently doesn't need to be charged for TWO WHOLE YEARS! With a 3-inch touchscreen, a 1.3-megapixel camera, four built-in speakers, dual-SIM card support, and a whopping 2-year long manufacturer-rated battery life, this just might prove to be "the last mobile phone you’ll ever need." It also has Bluetooth, an MP3 player, an e-book reader and handwriting recognition in both the English and Chinese language. Whoa.
Monday, March 17, 2008
This morning on the drive into work I heard about these smart goggles on the radio. Apparently they are built with a technology which records everything you see. Okay, we've heard of that before, right? But what makes them smarter is the fact that they remember specific objects. You can teach the goggles words and they will recognize the objects associated with those words. If you are wearing the goggles when you put your car keys down and you have taught the goggles what your keys look like then they will remember where you left them. If you forget all you have to do is ask the goggles to show you where you left your keys.Is anyone else completely freaked out by this concept? It's awesome, but it is very iRobot if you ask me and I would be afraid they'd watch me in my sleep or something. And to fit this into the green theme for the day...um...spray paint the goggles green? Ohhh what if they have night vision, that would add a green element. =o)
Here is a link to a green RAM keychain or zipper pull if you must go even geekier with it.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Get your party on fellow geeks and nerds, it's March 14, which means it's 3.14159. . . Pi Day! Yes, it's the perfect day for math enthusiasts to take part in fun activities and celebrate this never ending number! "If, in a circle, a line
Hits the center, and runs spine to spine,
And the lines length is D
The circumference will be
D times 3.14159."
There are many websites devoted to Pi. This is one of them: http://3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592.com/ Pretty funny, no?
And don't forget that Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's birthday.
Labels: pi day
Monday, March 10, 2008
Since a Nintendo Wii is so hard to get when you see the chance to get one you all but throw yourself at it. Trust me, I know, but we finally got one for Christmas from my family. It is such a great family console system, it gets everyone involved which makes it wonderful.
Anyway, Charter High Speed Internet is giving one away. It's this site where you actually bid on how much you would pay for high speed internet. The starting bid has to be at least $10. Not only does registering with them put you in the pool to win the Wii but it also puts you in a pool to win high speed internet service FOR LIFE.
These are the things communication companies need to do to get customers since there are big monopolies out there sucking the life out of the smaller guys. Charter Communications, Inc., the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the U.S., serves approximately 5.7 million customers in 29 states. You'd think being the 3rd in line would be good, but unfortunately in this realm of business, that being media and communications, third is rough. But that is good for us, because look, they came up with the idea of bidding your own price for their service. That's awesome, I don't know how they'll be able to keep track of it or how they can even do that, but it's a cool idea.
Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo Wii!
The winner will receive a Nintendo Wii Console, Wii Stand, 5 Sports games ( Boxing, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and bowling), 1 Remote Controller, 1 Nunchuk Controller, 1 Sensor Bar, 1 Wii AC Adapter, 1 Wii AV Cable
This is a sponsored post.
Anyway, Charter High Speed Internet is giving one away. It's this site where you actually bid on how much you would pay for high speed internet. The starting bid has to be at least $10. Not only does registering with them put you in the pool to win the Wii but it also puts you in a pool to win high speed internet service FOR LIFE.
These are the things communication companies need to do to get customers since there are big monopolies out there sucking the life out of the smaller guys. Charter Communications, Inc., the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the U.S., serves approximately 5.7 million customers in 29 states. You'd think being the 3rd in line would be good, but unfortunately in this realm of business, that being media and communications, third is rough. But that is good for us, because look, they came up with the idea of bidding your own price for their service. That's awesome, I don't know how they'll be able to keep track of it or how they can even do that, but it's a cool idea.
Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo Wii!
The winner will receive a Nintendo Wii Console, Wii Stand, 5 Sports games ( Boxing, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and bowling), 1 Remote Controller, 1 Nunchuk Controller, 1 Sensor Bar, 1 Wii AC Adapter, 1 Wii AV Cable
Labels: communication, internet, wii
Thursday, March 6, 2008
In case the shark says, "Do you have the time?" So I think it makes me even more of a geek that I am impressed with this Seiko Watch, because it's meant for divers and though I love swimming I've never gone deep sea diving and wouldn't need such a fancy watch.
If you plan on diving 200 meters (650 feet) then you need this watch and the fact of the matter is you'll look awesome wearing it because it has this fantastic orange face.
It's also important to know that Seiko watches use mercury-free batteries. The company installed mercury-free batteries starting in April, 2007 and all SEIKO watches will have mercury-free batteries by June 2008.
Buying a Seiko watch from bluedial.com is probably the best way to go because they offer free sizing and 2nd day shipping which is always a plus.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Calling all video game nerds. You know you have always wanted to add a full size UK Sega Dreamcast demonstration pod to your game room in the basement. But since it is pick-up only and the item is in the UK I guess I'll have to count myself out.But seriously how cool would this be!
You can see the full ebay listing here.
Labels: video game
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