Smart Techno Review

Sony HDR-SR12 10MP 120GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder

2008-07-07T22:09:00.003+07:00

Sony HDR-SR12 10MP 120GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #568 in Camera & Photo
Color: Black
Brand: Sony
Model: HDR-SR12
Dimensions: 10.00" h x 14.00" w x 12.00" l, 10.00 pounds
Display size: 3.2
Included Software: Yes

Features

Record 1920 x 1080 Full HD video to 120 GB hard drive
10.2-megapixel still image capture
Face Detection technology for video and still images
ClearVid CMOS sensor with Exmor technology
3.2-inch widescreen touch-panel Xtra Fine LCD screen

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer

Complete the picture. The HDR-SR12 Handycam camcorder delivers an incredible, Full HD 1920 x 1080 high-definition video package built around an internal 120GB hard disk drive. A professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and ClearVid CMOS sensor (with Exmor technology) and Bionz image processor let you capture crisp, detailed video and still images. Additionally, Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization and Face Detection technology help reduce blur, increase color and contrast, and make everyone look their best.

HDR-SR12 Handycam Highlights

1920x1080 recording Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution.

5-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor (with Exmor Technology) and Bionz image processor Sony's newly-designed CMOS image sensor delivers bright, vivid, and spectacularly detailed 5-megapixel (effective) video footage, as well as 10.2-megapixel still images -- all with prolonged battery life. Exmor technology captures images with high resolution and high sensitivity. In addition, the advanced Sony Bionz image processor improves camera response time and screens out noise so the signal from each pixel is as pure as possible.

Professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lenses use highly advanced optics to deliver vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect renditions of subtle tones. The additional T* coating further reduces unwanted glare and flare for increased contrast and color.

Bionz image processor The advanced Sony Bionz image processor uses hardware-based Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range Optimization processing, and prolongs battery life.

Exmor imaging sensor Exmor technology captures video and still photo images with high resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise ratio.

Hybrid recording to hard disk drive or Memory Stick media Hybrid recording technology delivers a new level of flexibility for transferring your video footage and digital photos from the camcorder to compatible viewing devices. Record to the camcorder's 120GB internal hard disk drive, or choose instead to record to removable Memory Stick Duo media or Memory Stick Pro Duo media. You can even select from various dubbing functions to easily copy video or still images from the hard disk drive to Memory Stick media -- without using a PC. Images recorded or transferred to Memory Stick media can then be played directly on a PS3 or PC to share your memories with friends and family.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.sony.camcorder-20

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes

2008-07-07T21:57:00.002+07:00

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White)

Product Description

records high-quality MPEG4/AVI video to built-in 2-gigabyte memory * holds approximately 60 minutes of footage * 1-1/2" LCD screen * 2X digital zoom (no optical zoom) * high-speed USB port (via flip-out USB arm) *

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #74 in Camera & Photo
Color: White
Brand: Pure Digital
Model: F260W
Dimensions: 4.17" h x 2.16" w x 1.25" l, 4.00 pounds
Display size: 1.5
Included Software: Yes

Features

Simple to use, pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom
Holds 60 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 2GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
Convenient USB arm plugs directly into your computer for easy viewing and sharing
Built-in software lets you easily e-mail videos, upload to YouTube and AOL, and capture still photos from video
Watch videos instantly on TV with included cable

Editorial Reviews

Manufacturer Description

It's the power of video in your pocket. Capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere, and share them with family and friends everywhere. That's idea behind the new Flip Video Ultra Series. It's portable, simple to use and amazingly affordable. Shoot anything. Share everything.

Flip Ultra Series Camcorder Highlights

Simple to Use
The Flip Video Ultra Series' simple, one-touch recording and compact size make it the ideal choice for shooting video on the go. Capture memories as they happen - no fiddling around with memory cards, chargers or tapes, With four buttons, it's incredibly simple to record, zoom, playback instantly or delete your videos. Flip Video's internal flash memory holds up to 60 minutes of high-quality video.

Quality
The new Flip Video Ultra Series line produces video that rivals that of more expensive camcorders. With 2GB of memory, a high-quality microphone and no-glare display, now anyone can make impressive videos.

Organize, Edit, and Share
Flip Video makes sharing footage incredibly simple. Its revolutionary software enables you to share videos instantly. Plug the USB arm into your computer, upload your videos and share them in minutes. Direct links to AOL Video and YouTube make it effortless to publish videos online.

Flip Video's software also enables you to email videos or greeting cards privately, create custom movies and capture still photos. Perfect for video blogging and social networking.

Optional Accessories
Customize your new Flip Video Ultra Series camcorder with a colorful protective pouch. Add the flexible tripod and action mount to get even better shots. Extra USB Extension Cables give you even more flexibility when uploading video.

What's in the Box
TV connector cable, soft carrying case, wrist strap, two AA batteries and instruction booklet.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.flip.video.camcorder-20

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

2008-06-16T20:46:00.002+07:00

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

Imagine being able to play with Legos without having to get all the pieces. Now you can with Lego Indiana Jones. It takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures. With a tongue-in-cheek take on these original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones's escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India where you will build, battle and brawl your way through your favorite moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). With a unique tongue-in-cheek take on the original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India. Fans can build, battle and brawl their way through their favorite cinematic moments, from Indy’s entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.

Of course, pop culture’s most iconic archaeologist will whip through all the classic moments with the help of a host of supporting characters including Marion Ravenwood and Short Round. Players can also mix and match the body parts of more than 60 playable characters to create new heroes just as they could in the best-selling LEGO Star Wars games.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.nintendo.wii.console-20/

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

2008-06-16T20:07:00.002+07:00

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Engage the rage with Super Smash Bros. Brawl! The third installment of the incredibly successful Super Smash Bros. series is now on the Wii, The roster is longer than ever, but that just means more butt to kick across over a dozen different, graphic-rich stages with original moves, new modified moves, and a brand-new super attack called Final Smash! Old favorites like Mario, Link, Peach and Kirby are now joined by such exciting newcomers as Wario, Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog. With a variety of new modes, an absolutely epic soundtrack and the ability to play with distant friends through online multiplayer, this is a game you'll have to break your own fingers to put down. Original soundtrack from 36 different artists Online Multiplayer ESRB Rated RP for Rating Pending

See your favorite Smash Bros. character, redesigned from their most recent games, brawl onto your screen once again!
A host of new characters to fight with, including Sonic, Pit from Kid Icarus, Wario and Diddy Kong
More than a dozen gorgeously-rendered stages
New special moves and attacks, including the groundbreaking Final Smash
New items and assist trophies

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a great game with all your classical players like Mario,DonkyKong and Wario.The way you beat the game is you have to use each charactor in two different stages.I like it because it takes a while to beat the game and I don't like games were you can beat it in a day.I think everyone would like this game.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.wii.games-20/

Wii Play with Wii Remote by Smart Techno Review

2008-06-13T21:46:00.002+07:00

Wii Play with Wii Remote

Wii Play collects nine quick and addictive games that are easy to pick up and play and hard to put away. With the intuitive controls of the Wii Remote, even the most inexperienced gamers will have no trouble mastering the controls. Every game features a multiplayer mode, so you and your friends can compete for the high score or go head to head to see who's the best. Wii Play comes with a white Wii Remote, so your friends can join in the action. Games include:

Features

Shooting Range, a point-and-fire game of target practice in the Duck Hunt tradition
Billiards, a simplified variation of nine-ball with stunningly realistic physics that uses your Wii Remote as your pool cue
Find Mii, in which you scan the crowds to find the right Mii - Miis you and your friends created make an appearance
Tanks!, where you command a toy tank on a miniature battlefield in a gauntlet of 100 missions
Other games include Pose Mii, Table Tennis, Fishing, Charge! and Laser Hockey

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.nintendo.wii.console-20/

Xbox 360 Console Includes 20GB Hard Drive

2008-06-13T15:19:00.002+07:00

Xbox 360 Console Includes 20GB Hard Drive

The Xbox 360 Premium System is the way to begin experiencing the ultimate in next-generation gaming. Now improved with an HDMI port, your games and video entertainment will look better than ever when connected to an HDTV. Amazing Digital entertainment and video gaming experiences, unprecedented in home console entertainment, are waiting for you -- all you have to do is turn on the controller to this incredible device and an unsurpassed level of adventure and excitement can be yours. Xbox Live Marketplace - Download the latest game demos, arcade games, television, movies, and more straight to your Xbox 360 console via any Broadband Internet service Games - Games look, feel, and Sound realistic with 480p/720p/1080i HD Output via HDMI or Component cable, 16 - 9 widescreen aspect ratio, anti-aliasing, and multi-channel Surround sound support Digital Entertainment - Play DVD movies right out of the box, play HD DVDs with the Optional HD-DVD Player (sold separately), rip music to the 360 Hard Drive, connect your Digital Camera and share your digital pictures with friends, or connect your Xbox 360 to a Windows XP or Windows Vista Media Center PC and Stream TV, Music, Movies, and Pictures to your Xbox 360 console over your network! NOTE - Some features may require optional Xbox Live GOLD service; One month of complementary Xbox Live GOLD service is included

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.xbox.360-20/

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (White)

2008-06-11T22:24:00.002+07:00

Introducing the Flip Video Mino
From the makers of the popular Flip Video Ultra comes the Mino, which puts the power of video in your pocket. The super-portable, super-simple Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly. In addition to its sleek compact design--complete with touch-sensitive, backlit buttons--Mino boasts a rechargeable battery that powers up automatically while plugged into your computer or electrical outlet.

Flip Mino Highlights

All That Flip Video Goodness, Only Smaller
At 40% smaller than its already pocket-sized brother the Flip Ultra, the Flip Mino barely makes a dent in even the tightest of jeans. But small in size doesn't mean short on function;

Mino's got all the Flip features--simple user-interface, one touch-recording, built-in USB, intuitive editing software, easy sharing functionality--that folks have come to know and love.

Sleek, Portable Design
The Flip Mino is the perfect combination of form and function. Its minimalist, retro front is the perfect complement to its high-tech modern back, with a large no-glare screen, touch-sensitive panel, and glowing backlit control buttons. All focused around Flip's signature red record button that lets you go from pocket to recording in seconds.

With a camcorder this small and sleek, there's no limit to where you can take it and what you'll end up shooting. From a short film to enter in your favorite festival to footage of a hot new band, the Mino makes it easy because it's always with you and always ready to go.

Mind-Boggling Quality
Despite its diminutive size, the Flip Mino produces video that rivals that of camcorders costing much, much more. With 2 GB of flash memory, the Mino can record up to 60 minutes of VGA (Video Graphics Array)-quality video that looks sharp when played back on your laptop or television (TV cable included). The high-quality microphone captures crisp, detailed audio, whether you're paddling down the Amazon, or rockin' out at your favorite club.

Revolutionary Built-in Software
Flip Video's revolutionary software is built into the camcorder, so there's no need for clunky 3rd party software or cables. Just plug the Mino into any PC or Mac via the flip-out USB arm and you'll be viewing, organizing, editing and sharing your videos effortlessly.

Technical Specifications:

Video: Full VGA, 30 frames per second, MPEG4
1.5-inch color LCD screen to play back and delete videos
Video quality comparable to more expensive camcorders
2x digital zoom
TV out and connector cable for instant viewing on TV
Connect to computer via innovative, flip out USB arm
2 GB built-in flash memory
Built-in rechargeable battery (Lithium Ion), charges on both USB and fast AC charge

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.flip.video.camcorder-20/

Playstation 3 40GB By Smart Techno Review

2008-06-10T20:20:00.002+07:00

Playstation 3 40GB

As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a powerful gaming console.

Smart Review

More Than I Expected...I Keep Finding Cool Features
I'm not a console gamer. I bought the PS3 strictly as a Blu-ray player. However, over the past three weeks, I've been discovering all kinds of cool things to use it for. I didn't know it had built in WiFi, and didn't care. But when it quickly found my wireless network, I used Nero MediaHome to stream video to it, which it played well, except the HD video, which was chopy. I actually ended up running an Ethernet cable to it because I am using my PC as a media server now. It plays Xvid and H.264 fine (after a 10 second demuxing process). The picture slideshow features are cool, too.

I've also enjoyed downloading free demos of games directly to the PS3 and playing with them. I can only squeeze in about 20 minutes of gaming per week if that, so the free demos have been enough. The UI is beautiful and fun to use.

Cons: I wish is would have come with a better manual. All I got was a quick setup type manual. It was fine to get me started but it didn't say anything about all the cool stuff it can do. Fortunately, I've jumped on lots of PS3 websites and stumbled upon stuff. The user community is good at explaining things like, you can only connect a USB HD formatted in Fat32 to the PS3. The PS3 is definitely not marketed to folks like my parents who rarely sit and read user forums.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.playstation.3.-20/

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black)

2008-06-07T18:58:00.002+07:00

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black)

Introducing the Flip Video Mino

From the makers of the popular Flip Video Ultra comes the Mino, which puts the power of video in your pocket. The super-portable, super-simple Mino makes it easy to capture and share high-quality video anywhere and everywhere. And thanks to its flip-out USB arm and intuitive, built-in software, Mino lets you view, edit and upload your videos to popular video-sharing sites instantly. In addition to its sleek compact design--complete with touch-sensitive, backlit buttons--Mino boasts a rechargeable battery that powers up automatically while plugged into your computer or electrical outlet.

In the Box:

Camcorder (with built-in rechargeable battery)
TV connector cable
Wrist strap
Soft carrying case
Quick start guide

Technical Specifications:

Video: Full VGA, 30 frames per second, MPEG4
1.5 inch color LCD screen to play back and delete videos
Video quality comparable to more expensive camcorders
2x digital zoom
TV out and connector cable for instant viewing on TV
Connect to computer via innovative, flip out USB arm
2 GB built-in flash memory
Built-in rechargeable battery (Lithium Ion), charges on both USB and fast AC charger

Mino is a camcorder that goes anywhere. Simply put it in your pocket! Then easily share your video on the web on MySpace, YouTube, and AOL.

Weighing in at just over three ounces, the remarkably slim yet powerful Flip Video Mino raises the bar for high-quality, portable, and easy-to-use video. Smaller than most cell phones, Mino fits neatly into a jeans pocket to capture life's stories whenever and wherever they happen ? at a party, a concert, the beach, even on a bike ride. The Mino also features Flip Video's built-in software that lets you simply plug the camcorder's signature flip-out USB arm into any computer for immediate editing and sharing. For the first time, the Flip Video software lets you easily upload video directly to MySpace as well as to YouTube and AOL Video, making it even easier to share video. In addition to quickly posting videos on sharing and social networking sites, they can email videos and video greeting cards; create custom movies with their own music; capture still photos from video; save and organize videos on the computer; and, for the first time, seamlessly order and send DVDs anywhere in the world. Custom editing of movie mixes, with the option to set them to your own music Capture of still photos from video Order DVDs online and have them shipped anywhere in the world TV connection for instant viewing (cable included) Tripod mountable Internal rechargeable battery delivers up to 4 hours of use between charges Unit Size is only 3.94 x 1.97 x 0.63 HWD

USER REVIEW

The iPod Nano of Video Recorders
Summary:
Love the convenience, form-factor, and results. The price is a bargain for this much capability.

Pros:
*Small enough to go everywhere you go.
*One thumb runs the whole thing.
*Lighted touch sensitive buttons guide you through steps.
*Very usable video quality.
*Drop dead simple Windows integration.
*Speaks native YouTube.
*Survives routine drops, coffee splashes, UPS crushers, and overstuffed computer bags.
*Lickable packaging with all the interconnect you need.
*Storage pouch doubles as lens cleaner.

Cons:
*More fingerprints than a crime scene.
*Mac installation not as slick as Windoze.
*Sound ease-of-use trumps quality (tech note: needs a better compressor/limiter).
*No SD slot (just like an iPod).

http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.flip.video.camcorder-20/

Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator bu Smart Techno Review

2008-06-07T14:18:00.002+07:00

Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Details

Size: 2GB
Color: Silver/Black
Brand: Magellan
Model: Magellan Maestro 4250
Dimensions: 2.10" h x 9.75" w x 5.13" l, 1.85 pounds
Native resolution: Unknown

Features

Voice Command; AAA TourBook reviews and ratings
4.3-inch WQVGA full-color, anti-glare, touch-screen display
Bluetooth for hands-free calling
SmartDetour prompts drivers to route around traffic and delays
Simple, intuitive interface; Utlra-thin design, only .7 inches deep.

Smart Review

We've been big fans of Magellan's Maestro line since it came out in early 2006. The Maestro interface is incredibly easy to use, even for those who are not completely comfortable with electronics. At the same time, Magellan was ahead of the industry with useful innovations like multi-destination routing and pre-loaded reviews for points of interest like hotels and restaurants (from AAA). With it's 3200 and 4200 series, Magellan has improved the Maestro line giving them a SirfStar III chipset that provides super-fast. satellite lock and making them thinner. In fact, at .7 inches, these are -- at the time of this writing (November 2007), the thinnest portable GPS navigators available. Distingushing between models is also fairly easy.

USER REVIEW

Great product! I was also considering the Nuvi 660 but purchased the 4250 as it had voice recognition. The VR does perform reasonably well as long as you keep the background noise down, which is understandable.
One big suggestion is to purchase the Bracketron UFM-100BL Nav-Mat GPS Friction Dash Pad to mount to the Maestro, or any suction cup GPS unit - it really does stay in place without sliding! Another great product.
I am an end user and have no affilation with either company.

http://astore.amazon.com/magellan.maestro.gps.navigation-20/

Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator By Smart Techno review

2008-06-04T13:43:00.001+07:00

Garmin nüvi 660 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

See more and explore with nvi 660. This widescreen travel companion and navigator features preloaded maps, hands-free calling, traffic alerts, FM transmitter and more. Like the rest of the wide nvi 600-series, its large touchscreen display puts the world at your fingertips.

Smart Reviews

With a gorgeous widescreen display, the Garmin nüvi 660 GPS Personal Travel Assistant is your answer to the call of adventure. A sleek navigator and a keen travel assistant, the nüvi 660 is preloaded with highly detailed City Navigator NT road maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This map database features nearly six million points of interest (POIs), including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and attractions, and the data is provided by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.This preloaded navigator brings all this fantastic map data to your fingertips with a super-bright, 4.3-inch widescreen display for improved map viewing, day or night. Use the touch screen interface to select destinations, look up POIs, and play your favorite MP3s and audio books. The display also helps you control hands-free calling, traffic alerts, and the FM transmitter, all from the screen of your personal travel assistant.

thanks http://astore.amazon.com/garmin.nuvi.portable.gps.navigator-20/

Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens Review By Smart

2008-06-02T22:07:00.001+07:00

Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera

Description

Welcome to the next generation of digital SLR photography-the Canon EOS 40D. The EOS 40D combines Canon's tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon. EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Picture Style settings, Spot metering, and Highlight Tone Priority for advanced in-camera image control Large 3.0-inch LCD monitor and advanced Live View Function with new options for reduced shutter time lag and quiet operation Wide range of accessories, including interchangeable focusing screens, extensive remote control options, new battery grip BG-E2N, and new dedicated wireless file transmitter WFT-E3A DCF 2.0 (Exif 2.21) - JPEG, RAW and RAW + JPEG simultaneous recording possible - up to 3,888 x 2,592 resolution JPEG Auto and manual exposure and focus modes Shutter Speeds - 1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3-stop increments), X-sync at 1/250 sec. Auto pop-up, retractable, electronic-flash in pentaprism Dimensions (W x H x D) 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 inch (Body Only); 26.1 ounce

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #41 in Camera & Photo
Brand: Canon
Model: 40D Kit
Released on: 2007-08-30
Dimensions: 10.00" h x 14.00" w x 12.00" l, 10.00 pounds
Display size: 3
Included Software: Yes

Features

10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
Kit includes body and EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
Large 3.0-inch LCD display with enhanced Live View and broadened color gamut
6.5 frame-per-second continuous shooting; sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
Powered by BP-511A, BP-511, or BP-512 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

Editorial Reviews

Manufacturer Description

Building on the success of Canon's perennially popular "prosumer" EOS 20D and 30D models, the EOS 40D advances the state-of-the-art for mid-range digital SLR cameras, making it a natural first choice for advanced amateur photographers and entry-level professionals, and an ideal second body for more established photo pros. Indeed, given the level of feature upgrades and improvements, technological wizardry, and user-requested creative controls, the Canon EOS 40D SLR's "prosumer" appellation may refer more to its accessible price point than to the exceptional quality, clarity, and resolution of the images it creates.

From the camera's newly enhanced, 10.1-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor (designed and manufactured by Canon) and its proprietary and super-efficient DIGIC III image processor, to its completely redesigned autofocus sensor and fast, 6.5 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images), the EOS 40D SLR puts the fun in functionality and makes serious photo business a positive pleasure.

Customer Reviews

The latest generation of a highly successful line
Having used a 10D for about five years, and having passed up on buying the 20D and 30D, I finally decided it was time to update. This camera is just as easy to use, with several improvements, including a much bigger LCD screen. Since it is a direct descendant of my older camera, it felt very familiar immediately, with no "learning curve." I highly recommend this for the "part-time pro," that is somebody who must rely on the performance and reliability of a camera to get the job done and get paid, but who doesn't have the day-in-day-out volume of business to justify the price of a $7K+ "real" pro camera. It is an exceptionally good deal.

http://astore.amazon.com/canon.eos.slr.digital.camera-20/

Tags: canon eos 40d, digital, camera, Smart, review

Wii Fit : Fitness Happiness By Smart Techno Review

2008-05-31T10:23:00.002+07:00

Wii Fit : Fitness Happiness

Get a great workout right in your home without going to the gym. Nintendo Wii Fit with Wii Balance Board turns your living room into a fitness center for the whole family. Family members will have fun getting a "core" workout, and talking about and comparing their results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu. Aerobic Exercise - 10-minute exercises that are designed to get your heart pumping Muscle Conditioning - Controlled motions using arms, legs and other body parts Yoga Poses - Classic poses that focus on balance and stretching Balance Games - Fun activities, such as ski jumping and heading soccer balls, that challenge the player's overall body balance

Wii Fit Detail

Amazon Sales Rank: #4 in Computer & Video Games
Brand: Nintendo
Model: RVLRRFNE
Released on: 2008-05-21
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Dimensions: 14.00" h x 4.00" w x 21.00" l, 10.00 pounds

Features

Lean to block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls or balance to hold the perfect yoga pose. As you stand on the Wii Balance Board, included with Wii Fit, your body's overall balance is tied to the game in a way you've never experienced before
Wii Fit also uses the Wii Balance Board for daily tests. These evaluate two key measures that a household can track via progress charts -
Body Mass Index (BMI) - A weight evaluation based on a ratio of weight to height
Wii Fit Age - The Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user's BMI reading, testing the user's center of gravity and conducting quick balance tests
Wii Fit includes more than 40 types of training activities designed to appeal to all members of a household. Training falls into four fitness categories

Smart Review

The active-play phenomenon started by Wii Sports now spreads to your whole body thanks to Wii Fit and the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board, which comes bundled with it. Used together players will experience an extensive array of fun, dynamic and surprisingly challenging activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and balance oriented games. The focus of these activities is towards providing a "core" workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions, but it's the fun approach to fitness of Wii Fit that will keep players hooked on fitness for years to come.

User Review

Normally I'm not a fan of running in place, but this game actually makes it fun for several reasons! First of all you get to run along interesting paths with fun visuals following your trainer/guide who periodically turns away to wave you on with encouragement. In addition, as you run, you pass or are passed by other runners--many are the Miis you created for the Wii games. It's fun to see your friend's Mii or son's Mii running by. If you don't want them to pass you just have to speed up! There are even dogs running around. My son found if you pass the guide after the dog passes him/her you get to follow the dog for the rest of the run!

This is a great game. I've used it everyday for the past week and hopefully the novelty won't wear off before the pounds do!

Thanks http://astore.amazon.com/cheap.nintendo.wii.console-20

Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera By Smart Techno Review

2008-05-30T23:01:00.002+07:00

Cheap Nikon D40

Product Description

6.1-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.7 x 15.6 mm) * AF-S DX 18-55mm Zoom-Nikkor f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * 2-1/2" color LCD screen * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate exposure control * continuous shooting mode: 2.5 frames per second (unlimited JPEG frames or up to 9 RAW frames) * program shooting modes: Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Child, Sports, and Night Portrait * in-camera image editing functions: D-Lighting, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, and filter effects *

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #136 in Camera & Photo
Color: Black
Brand: Nikon
Model: 25420
Dimensions: 3.70" h x 2.50" w x 5.00" l, 1.62 pounds
Display size: 2.5
Included Software: Yes

Features

6.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
Kit includes 3x 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens
2.5-inch LCD with three display options; built-in flash and hot shoe
Fast startup with instant shutter response; shoot at up to 2.5 frames per second
Powered by one rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL9 (included); stores images on SD memory cards (memory card not included)

Review

Great, solid, quality camera
I'm extremely happy with the purchase of the Nikon D40 / 18-135 Nikkor lens combo. I wasn't sure if I'd like the lens, since it doesn't have VR and sometimes does not receive the best review. I was, however, pleasantly surprised with the quality of images produced with this lens. It's very sharp, has a nice bokeh and provides a great focal range for normal, everyday shooting.

The camera itself is GREAT. I'm impressed with the firmware/interface of this device and find it very intuitively designed. It's easy to make relatively customized adjustments on the fly. I HIGHLY recommend the D40 over Canon equivalents. I've used the Digital Rebel, the XT and XTi, and this camera shoots better photos, is easier to use and is more powerful.

I recommend this lens(18-135) over the traditional 18-55 kit lens; although it's a nice lens, you'll get tired of it's limits quickly. I also recommend the purchase of an ML-3 remote for taking night shots and family portraits that you actually want to be in! (no running back into the frame after setting the timer)

I plan to add a 70-300 VR, SB-600 speedlite, and a filter set to complete this useful photo arsenal. Possible other additions include a 10.5mm fisheye, 60mm Macro and a sturdy tripod.

Cheap Nikon aStore

Nintendo Wii Review By Smart

2008-05-29T14:10:00.003+07:00

Cheap Wii Shop

Product Features

Plays two disc formats in a single, self-loading media bay
Features a processing chip from IBM and a graphics chip from ATI
Backwards compatible with all Nintendo GameCube games and most peripherals
Built-in Wi-Fi access for easy connection to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection gaming service
Wii Sports game included

Product Description

Amazon.com
Nintendo's Wii video game system (pronounced "we") brings people of all ages and video game experience together to play. This simple yet ground breaking idea is expressed not only though the system's evocative name, which is easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and suggests two players side by side, but also through its innovative list of features and extensive list of playable titles.

A Little Box With Plenty of Power
As with every console, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The Wii boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The system’s technological heart -- a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" -- deliver stunning performance. And instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

Revolutionary Control
No bigger than a small traditional remote control, the wireless Wii Remote is a truly multi functional device. The magic of the Wii Remote's design lies within; acellerometers inside the controller measure movement in all directions and at all speeds. In a tennis game, it serves as your racket as you swing away. In driving games it serves as a steering wheel, allowing you to swerve to avoid obstacles or pickup power-ups. In first-person shooters, it acts as a firearm that you can point directly at an on-screen enemy. The controller also has a force feedback "Rumble" feature and an expansion port for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds an analog thumbstick and trigger buttons. The system allows for up to four controllers to be linked at a time and utilizes standard Bluetooth wireless technology. For those who prefer the feel of a traditional controller an adapter is available that fits over the Wii's remote.

thanks GigaStore The Best Online Store

APC BE550R 550VA Back-UPS ES 8-Outlet Battery Backup System by Smart

2008-05-28T20:24:00.002+07:00

APC BE550R 550VA Back-UPS ES 8-Outlet Battery Backup System

Product Description

The Back-UPS ES offers affordable battery backup and surge protection for home computers. With enough power outlets to protect your entire system, built-in phone/fax/modem line (DSL compatible) protection and easy-to-install safe system shutdown software all make this power protection solution the best value for home and home office computers. Control Panel - LED status display with On Line - On Battery - Replace Battery and Building Wiring Fault Audible Alarm Equipment protection policy Lifetime - $75000 APC 2-Year Warranty

Product Details

Color: Black
Brand: APC
Model: BE550R
Dimensions: 5.00" h x 9.00" w x 15.10" l, 15.00 pounds

Features

8-Outlets
Output Power Capacity: 550Va/330W
Features Phone, Fax, Modem & Dsl Protection
Up To 44 Min Battery Backup Time For Safe Shutdown When Power Is Lost
Includes Powerchute(Tm) File-Saving, Auto Shutdown Software

Customer Reviews

Very nice unit. Plug and play, works well!
One important point I did not get from the ad. description of the unit was the switching over from line power to battery back up power when the line power goes down. Turns out the switching is automatic and fast enough to sustain internet camera, modem and router operation. No software and external command is required for this task. The run time, of course, depends on what the loading is. It would be nice to provide a time vs. load plot in the instruction manual.

http://astore.amazon.com/apc-ups-20

HP iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld by Smart Techno Review

2008-05-27T18:02:00.004+07:00

HP iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld

Designed to help keep your action-packed life in balance, iPAQ 110 Classic Handheld makes an excellent - and affordable - companion to your cell phone. This slim, stylish organizer also lets you go online with Wi-Fi to stay in touch and keep your calendar, contacts, and tasks up to date.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #279 in Consumer Electronics
Color: Silver
Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Model: 111
Dimensions: .55" h x 2.60" w x 4.50" l, 3.00 pounds
Memory: 64MB SDRAM
Native resolution: 320 x 240
Display size: 3.5

Features

Runs Windows Mobile 6.0 and offers fast 624 MHz processor with 64 MB RAM and 256 MB flash ROM
View and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with Microsoft Office Mobile; sync email and calendar from desktop with Outlook Mobile
Built-in WiFi to check email at any hotspot
Backed by 1-year warranty
Device measures 2.71 x 0.54 x 4.59 inches (WxHxD)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
The HP iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld helps you keep your life organized on the go with easy access to your calendar, contacts, and tasks. If you have some down time, use the iPAQ to watch videos, listen to music, or play games. At just half an inch thick, the iPAQ will easily travel with you. The iPAQ 111 runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Classic OS and features a bright, crisp, and easy-to-read 3.5-inch, 320 by 240 touchscreen with LED backlight. The iPAQ 111 employs the powerful new Marvell PXA310 624 MHz processor and has 64 MB SDRAM main memory and 256 MB flash ROM, so there is plenty of space for all your applications to run snappily. With Microsoft Office Mobile, you'll be able to work on all your documents and files no matter where you are. Microsoft Office Mobile includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can even view PDF documents.

Customer Reviews

HP iPAC Classic 110
This is just what I needed. As a busy mom with a hectic schedule, I wanted this PDA mainly to get rid of my large daily planner. It is very light and compact.

The only con I have is that it would have been helpful to know that I needed OUTLOOK in order to sync with the PDA. I had to purchase this after I received the PDA (as my computer has only OUTLOOK EXPRESS.)

Oh, and the PDA that I received is the 110 model, not the 111.

http://astore.amazon.com/hp-computer-20

Apple iPod classic 160 GB Black (6th Generation) review by Smart

2008-05-26T21:06:00.002+07:00

http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.apple.ipod.accessory-20

Apple iPod classic 160 GB Black (6th Generation)
From Apple Computer

Product Description

Decisions, decisions. Who needs 'em? Why should you have to choose what to put on your iPod? With a large storage capacity, iPod classic lets you carry everything in your collection everywhere you go. In completely new, even thinner, all-metal design, this iPod is a modern classic.The iPod classic gives your music and video room to move. It also has plenty of energy, good looks (a sleek, all-metal design), and a great personality (a brand-new interface with Cover Flow). In other words, iPod classic makes an ideal companion. Why not get to know it better?

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #80 in Consumer Electronics
Size: 160 GB
Color: Black
Brand: Apple
Model: MB150LL/A
Released on: 2007-09-05
Dimensions: 4.30" h x .31" w x 2.40" l, .26 pounds

Features

iPod classic puts your entire music and video collection in your pocket with up to 160 GB of storage
An enhanced interface offers a whole new way to browse and view your music and video
Cover Flow technology lets you use the patented Click Wheel to flip through your music by album cover
Beautifully redesigned, iPod classic features a sleek, new all-metal enclosure
2.5-inch display; measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.53 inches (H x W x D), weighs 5.7 ounces

Reviews

I love it

This is my first iPod and I've been very impressed with it. It has worked flawlessly from the day I took it out of the box. It syncs perfectly with iTunes and couldn't be easier to use.

I bought this for the video features. I like to watch podcasts, but don't have the time to just sit at home in front of a computer, so I decided get this so that I can take my podcasts with me and watch them when I have time. The iPod is a great way to do this.

As for music, I prefer to buy that from Amazon which allows me a get a copy for my iPod and have another copy for my Zen jukebox. This is simple too. You just purchase the song here at Amazon and their software loads a copy of the song into iTunes that is waiting for you the next time you sync.

All in all, this is the iPod (160gb) I would recommend if you have a lot of media that you'd like to take with you.

http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.apple.ipod.accessory-20

HP Pavilion TX2110US 12.1" Laptop Review By Smart

2008-05-26T20:46:00.003+07:00

http://astore.amazon.com/hp-computer-20

HP Pavilion TX2110US 12.1" Laptop (AMD Turion 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-62 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

Product Description

For those whose active lives require constant access to high-performance, easy-to-use computing and communication tools, the HP Pavilion TX2110US Entertainment Notebook PC provides the ideal convergence of these features with exceptional entertainment options. And it's light enough to take everywhere! Its 12.1" screen twists 180° for presentations and DVD playback - and folds flat to enable the convenience of capturing hand-written notes and drawings. Staying in touch has never been easier with the integrated HP Webcam. With AMD Turion 64 dual core mobile technology and the same viewable screen content as a 15.4" system, the TX2110US provides all the power and performance of a mainstream notebook PC without the additional weight. Interact directly with your system using your finger or stylus. Erasing notes on your screen is just like using a pencil: flip the pen over and erase! Use Windows Journal to take notes as you would on notebook paper. The tx2000 can convert handwriting into typed text. 12.1 diagonal WXGA (1280 x 800) BrightView Widescreen Touch-screen display, Panel rotates 180 degrees and folds flat NVidia Geforce Go 6150 (UMA) with up to 527MB Shared Graphics Memory Built-in Webcam and Microphone LightScribe Super Multi 8 x DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Bluetooth Fingerprint reader 5-in-1 Bridge Media Adapter - MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD ExpressCard 34 Slot 3 x USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, TV-Out (S-Video), SPDIF Digital Audio, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 8.82 (L) x 12.05 (W) x 1.52 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 4.53lbs

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #24 in Personal Computers
Color: Black/ Silver
Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Model: TX2110US
Dimensions: 1.52" h x 4.53" w x 12.05" l, 7.90 pounds
CPU: AMD Turion 64 2.1 GHz
Memory: 3000MB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Disk: 250GB
Processors: 2
Display size: 12.1

Features

Lightweight tablet PC with 180-degree swiveling, touchscreen-enabled 12.1-inch LCD and integrated 1.3-megapixel WebCam
64-bit 2.1 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-62 dual-core processor, 250 GB hard drive, 3 GB RAM (3 GB max), LightScribe dual-layer DVD drive
Quad-band Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); Bluetooth; Gigabit Ethernet; Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics (up to 527 MB of available memory)
Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 VGA, 1 ExpressCard 34, 1 headphone, 2 microphone, 1 S/PDIF out, 5-in-1 memory card reader
Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (Service Pack 1); includes remote control

Reviews

Love it

I personally love this computer. It's small and light enough to be carried around well, especially if you're a college student walking around campus. Most other comments have been covered, but the other reviews were right--it does get warm. I usually sit with a book under it on my lap. My boyfriend has an HP DVsomething model, and his gets warm too, so maybe it's an HP thing. I'm going to invest in a cooler to help with that problem.

Also, if you're wanting to get a laptop sleeve to keep the computer in, note that the battery sticks out the back about another 3/4 an inch. I have a Built NY 12" laptop sleeve, and it's pretty tight to get it in, but it can be done.

http://astore.amazon.com/hp-computer-20

Sony VAIO VGN-CR420E/L Review By Smart Techno Review

2008-05-25T20:52:00.002+07:00

http://astore.amazon.com/vaio-sony-20

Sony VAIO VGN-CR420E/L 14.1" Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 Processor, 3 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium) Blue

Product Description

Step out and be seen with the portable, powerful and incredibly beautiful VAIO(R) CR notebook. A perfect mix of power and style, the VAIO(R) CR is a slim, lightweight PC measuring less than 1" thin, with a stunning 14.1" widescreen with XBRITE-ECO LCD technology while weighing only 5.49lbs is an astonishing sight to behold. Experience the powerful performance of the newest hafnium-based Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 2.10GHz processor with 3MB of L2 Cache with 3GB RAM memory and store your important documents, family videos and pictures on the roomy 250GB (5400RPM) hard drive. Backed by the Windows Vista Home Premium operating system and Intel Core 2 Duo processor, this lightning-fast, super-powerful mobile notebook is slim, lightweight, and packed with entertainment and design extras. Extend the reach of your CR notebook with Stereo Bluetooth technology that is ideal for advanced Wireless communication and streaming uncompromised CD-quality stereo music to Bluetooth speakers or headphones. From a built-in web cam and AV controls to its unique paint colors and comfortable, easy-to-clean keyboard, the remarkable VAIO(R) CR notebook delivers entertainment, power and pizzazz. 14.1 WXGA (1280 x 800) XBRITE-ECO Display Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with up to 358MB Shared Video Memory Built-in Webcamera and microphone DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 802.11A/B/G/N 10/100Base-TX Ethernet Intergrated A2DP Bluetooth Technology Memory Stick Duo Card Reader with MagicGate(TM) functionality Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot ExpressCard 34 Slot 3 USB 2.0, Headphone out; Microphone-in, VGA, TV-Out (S-Video), IEEE 1394, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 13.2 (W) x 9.8 (D) x 1.51 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 5.49lbs

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #35 in Personal Computers
Color: Blue
Brand: Sony
Model: VGN-CR420E/L
Released on: 2008-03-26
Dimensions: 1.51" h x 13.20" w x 9.80" l, 11.00 pounds
CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.1 GHz
Memory: 3000MB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Disk: 250GB
Processors: 2
Display size: 14.1

Features

Stylishly designed notebook in indigo blue with 14.1-inch screen and multimedia playback control buttons
2.10 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, 250 GB hard drive, 3 GB RAM (4 GB max), 8x multi-format/dual-layer DVD drive
Quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth (with stereo music streaming), 10/100 Ethernet, Intel X3100 video card with up to 358 MB of shared memory
Connectivity: 3 USB, 1 FireWire, ExpressCard 34 slot, Memory Stick & SD readers, VGA & S-Video output
Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description

Add a zesty style to your mobile computing with the stunning good looks of the indigo blue Sony VAIO VGN-CR420E/L notebook PC, which offers unique eye-catching features, impressive attention-to-detail, and an amazingly thin and light profile. It features a glossy finish with silver luminous trim and pulsing LED ground effects that emanate from beneath. Aside from its jaw-dropping good looks, it's also an entertainment powerhouse. The instant AV Mode enables you to start watching a DVD or listening to music with the push of a single button--without having to boot up the system--and the convenient, built-in multimedia control buttons also let you control all playback functions.

It's powered by the 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, which offers a super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and extra-large 3 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. The Core 2 Duo processor provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance. It also includes Intel's 4965 AGN wireless LAN, which will connect to draft 802.11n routers and offers compatibility with 802.11a/b/g networks as well. A built-in 1.3 megapixel digital web camera lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. Other features include a 14.1-inch XBRITE-ECO screen, extra-large 250 GB hard drive, 3 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum capacity), dual-layer DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), Bluetooth connectivity (with stereo music streaming), ExpressCard 34 slot, Intel GMA X3100 graphics (with up to 358 MB of total available video memory), and both Memory Stick and SD memory cart slots

http://astore.amazon.com/vaio-sony-20

Squidoo The Special Community

2008-05-25T20:38:00.002+07:00

http://www.squidoo.com/astore-promote

Squidoo is a network of user-generated lenses --single pages that highlight one person's point of view, recommendations, or expertise. Lenses can be about anything, such as ideas, people or places, hobbies and sports, pets or products, philosophy, and politics. Lenses aren't primarily intended to hold content; more emphasis is placed on recommending and then pointing to content on the web. Annotation and organization and personalization delivers context and meaning.

Users who create lenses are called lensmasters. A lensmaster uses the tools available online to provide links, feeds, abstracts, and lists to users who are trying to make sense of a topic. For example, a single lens could point to Flickr photos, Google maps, blogs, eBay auctions, YouTube videos, and other links. Lensmasters are encouraged to promote personal agendas, expertise, causes, products, and opinions.

http://www.squidoo.com/astore-promote

Review Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player

2008-05-25T20:08:00.003+07:00

Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #97 in Consumer Electronics
Color: Black
Brand: Zune
Model: HPA-00001
Released on: 2007-11-13
Dimensions: .28 pounds

Features

80 GB digital media player stores up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures or 250 hours of video
Features wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing so you can swap tracks and other media
Big, bright, 3.2-inch LCD color screen
Compatible with Zune Marketplace for media downloads and subscription services
Automatically imports your existing music, pictures, and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Music and entertainment, your way. That's what the Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends. And when you receive songs that you just can't get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you're listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand. Watch a demo on Zune.

Customer Reviews

Great media player, terrible software
This is my first MP3 player not counting my old MP3 CD walkman and I love it. It's sleek and shiny and sounds great. The interface is easy to navigate, but the center button can be touchy while pushing the center to select a song and it goes back or to a different album, but it's a very minor issue.

The big problem with this device is the software and Microsoft's limiting it's compatibility by deactivating it as a drive. The only way to put files on it is by using the Zune Software which is awful. Wireless sync is a great feature since all of my USB ports are constantly in use. Many complain about the video file format limitations, but there is a ton of software out there where you can rip your own DVD's to the proper resolution and format. Depending on the software used there could be some de-interlacing problems in playback but with such good video quality on the Zune I'd say it's a good value all around.

Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation)
This is everything I wanted and more. It was easy to download songs on the the Zune as well as Video (software not included for video downloading). It is so handy to take everywhere I go. I am almost never without it now. The use of the menu is great too. You can either locate an ablum, song, artist, genre, or playlist. It alphabetizes them for you and makes it easier to know if you have duplicate songs on your Zune. I now have all of my music that I own download and it awesome to scoll through and look for a piece of music that you want to hear and push a button. Life is so much easier now.

special thanks http://astore.amazon.com/zune-cheap-20

How to Rich With Amazon Astore

2008-05-24T23:23:00.002+07:00

from aStore Promote

Step 1.

Choose products that are related to your website's content. If you want to sell items with your aStore, it must relate to what your dedicated visitors know you for. Using an aStore to sell athletic gear on a website that does book reviews is probably not going to be productive.

Step 2.

Update often. Try to keep your aStore growing and updated to reflect where your website is and where it is going. If you stop after the initial setup of your aStore, your store probably is going to be neglected by your visitors as well. Keep your eye out for new products, and immediately add any products that you mention on your site to your aStore.

Step 3.

Mention your aStore. Make sure your visitors know that your aStore exists. If you blog, mention your aStore in your entries whenever applicable. If you do a podcast, you can easily slip in promotions for your aStore in there. Just don't overdo it and alienate your audience.

Step 4.

Create a visually appealing aStore. Make sure that your aStore is pleasant to look at and reflects the layout and design of your website. Pick colors that are appealing and look good together. If you don't have an eye for that kind of thing, get someone to help you or find some color combination suggestions online.

Step 5.

Make your aStore easily accessible on your website. If your visitors don't know where to find your aStore on your site, they can't buy anything. Place a link to your aStore in your main navigation area and be sure that the link works on every page on which it appears.

6. Rich With Amazon aStore

Thanks aStore Promote From Squidoo

New Samsung HDTV Lcd Review

2008-05-24T23:08:00.005+07:00

Samsung LN52A550 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Cheap&Value Hdtv Lcd

from Cheap Hdtv Lcd Shop

Description

52" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * high-gloss black finish * built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners for over-the-air TV broadcasts (antenna required) * built-in QAM cable TV tuner receives unscrambled programs without a set-top box (cable service required) * 1920 x 1080 pixels *

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #115 in Consumer Electronics
Color: Black
Brand: Samsung
Model: LN-52A550
Dimensions: 31.10" h x 4.30" w x 49.90" l, 59.30 pounds
Display size: 52
Features
Full HD 1080p Resolution
Wide Color Enhancer
3 HDMI Inputs
USB 2.0
HDMI-CDC

Editorial Reviews

Description--March 24, 2008 Samsung's 550 Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1080p resolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,000:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMI 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means these HDTVs play well with all of your other electronics. Easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through the side-mounted USB 2.0, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.

Thanks http://astore.amazon.com/hdtv-lcd-20

Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

2008-05-23T07:26:00.004+07:00

Technorati Profile

http://astore.amazon.com/kindle-sale-20
Product Description
Introducing Kindle™ Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle. We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, you’ll find reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot, and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time. We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, we deliver your content using our own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—we take care of the hassles so you can just read. With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand. We’re very proud to introduce Kindle and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. - The Amazon Kindle Team
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #1 in Amazon Devices
Color: Bisque
Brand: Amazon
Dimensions: .70" h x 5.30" w x 7.50" l, .65 pounds
Features
Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
Wireless connectivity enables you to find, buy, and read instantly—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
Shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle.
Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

http://astore.amazon.com/kindle-sale-20

Voltaic Solar Backpack ,The Green Energy Power

2008-05-22T21:23:00.006+07:00

http://astore.amazon.com/voltaic-solar-20

Voltaic gives you this awesome Green Panel Backpack. The Voltaic solar bags are mobile solar power generators designed to charge virtually all handheld electronics including: cell phones, cameras, two way radios, PDA's and MPS's.
function registerNamespace(ns)

Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #105269 in Apparel & Accessories
Brand: Voltaic
Features
Officially Licensed Collectible & Home Merchandise
Brand New High Quality Product
Rare Hard-To-Find Branded Item
All Natural and Organic Merchandise

http://astore.amazon.com/voltaic-solar-20

Apple iPod touch 32 GB By Smart Techno Review

2008-05-20T16:13:00.003+07:00

Apple iPod touch 32 GBFrom Apple Computer

Description

other bitrates supported * plays MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF (uncompressed), Apple Lossless, and Audible files (formats 2, 3 and 4) * displays photos converted from JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and PNG formats * plays video in MPEG-4 and QuickTime formats * built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery provides up to 22 hours music playback; up to 5 hours video playback * 32GB hard drive holds approximately: 40 hours of video, 20,000 photos, or 468 hours at 128 Kbps *

Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #46 in Consumer Electronics
Size: 32 GB
Brand: Apple
Model: MB376LL/A
Dimensions: .60 pounds
Features
Includes five software applications: e-mail, maps, weather, stocks, and notes
32 GB flash memory stores up to 7,000 songs, 40 hours of video, or 25,000 photos
Built-in Wi-Fi capability allows direct access to the Internet via Safari, YouTube videos, and the iTunes wireless store
Includes earphones, USB 2.0 cable, universal dock adapter, polishing cloth, iPod touch stand, and quick start guide
1-Year Limited Warranty, 90-Day Single Incident Phone Support

User Reviews

Good MP3 player that falls a little short First, let me say that this is a very nice MP3 player. There are many things that Apple did that well, but there are also minor issues that really hold this product from achieving it's full potential. I actually prefer my PSP and my IPOD classic (which I will be going back to). PROS: **Sexy sleek body. Very eye catching design and appealing to look at. Front panel very durable, no scratching. **Nice applications. Checking personal email, having Maps & Notes feature, using Safari, Youtube shortcut and access to stock report are all pretty cool options. **Coverflow is awesome and in my opinion the best new feature of the IPOD. Glad they expanded it to 32 GB. (However when sync'd to itunes, it says that the capacity is actually 29.6 GB) CONS: Music Layout design is not as intuitive as the previous IPOD classic. Without the wheel, you need look at the appropriate screen and then select the choices by hitting icons, buttons or rows. For the old version IPOD classic, I never even had to take it out of my pocket because you can control all the options on the wheel. It was easier to switch between menus and selecting music that way, rather than having to stare at the screen and look for what I wanted to play. I think IPOD touch feels clumsy. **Touch screen not sensitive enough. You literally need to hit the button (or key) dead on in order to respond accurately. Very fustrating.

Love it The ONLY pitfall is that it does not have a note folder like the older ones. I still have to use my older one to carry notes around for school. Other than that, I love it.
apple ipod touch 32 gb I would order from this company again. The product came just as it was described.

http://astore.amazon.com/buy.cheap.apple.ipod.accessory-20

Centrino 2 enables 2GB Turbo memory

2008-05-16T15:00:00.002+07:00

The Montevina platform, something that you will start calling Centrino 2 very soon, will have support for bigger and better turbo memory marchitecture.Currently Intel's Centrino platform with Santa Rosa supports 512MB or 1GB of Turbo memory that can improve Vista performance and the next generation platform, codenamed Montevina will be able to support 2GB Turbo memory.Intel claims that it brings two marchitectures with 2GB turbo memory Ready drive and ready boost and we don't really know how efficient they are. We've found out that 1GB of turbo memory boosts performance of notebooks that have 1GB of RAM memory, but if you already have 2GB of real RAM memory 1GB doesn’t really do much good.Intel plans to up this Turbo memory support to 4GB in the future, again with Montevina, but later this year.

IBM test new Supercomputer

2008-05-16T14:49:00.002+07:00

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about IBM, keep reading.

World’s newest and most powerful

IBM’s Poughkeepsie, New York facility will be the site of the test of what engineers and technicians are hoping will be the most powerful supercomputer in the world. Named ‘Roadrunner supercomputer,’ it is said to be capable of running two times as fast the world’s current fastest supercomputer.

The new Roadrunner is a hybrid machine that its creators and testers hope will smash the petaflop barrier when tested. The petaflop barrier is the equivalent of running a four-minute mile by a human.

Don Grice, Chief Engineer on IBM's Roadrunner project, thinks it's a race that IBM will win and that the Roadrunner will reach its goal ‘any day now.’ He went on to say, "It will enable us to tackle problems we couldn't tackle before.

Essentially, we'll be able to run a different level of problems. We'll be able to do calculations that we wouldn't even consider before." Morrison noted that the lab's contract calls for the new Roadrunner to reach the petaflop performance level. A petaflop is 1,000 trillion floating point operations (or flops) per second.

As a comparison, once the Roadrunner reaches the petaflop performance level it will require only one week to run a calculation that the fastest supercomputer 10 years ago would have taken 20 years to complete.

According to Jack Dongarra, the co-creator of the Top 500 supercomputer list, "It's exciting, because it most likely will be the first computer to break the petaflop barrier. It's the next golden ring of computing. It's the next big marker. Today, all of the top 500 supercomputers are at the teraflop rate."

The current number one supercomputer is IBM’s BlueGene/L system, which runs at 478 teraflops, or a trillion operations per second. It has held the number one supercomputer ranking since 2004.

The Roadrunner will be used at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory to handle national security issues, routinely test weapons systems and analyze and predict long-term climate changes, as well as to study the universe and human gene characteristics.

The Roadrunner supercomputer is actually the second version of Roadrunner; the original Roadrunner is a cluster machine that can hit 70 teraflops. It is still in use at Los Alamos.

It runs AMD Operton chips and is Linux-based. The updated Roadrunner uses Linux, as well, and gets its power boost by adding the Cell chips (originally designed jointly by IBM, Toshiba and Sony for Sony’s PlayStation 3) to the Opteron base.

The hybrid supercomputer will use the Cell chips for massive calculations. IBM’s Grice commented, "We had done enough studies to see that it's one of the best computational chips in the world. It was built to do high-performance computations for video games. The aspects that make it really good for gaming also made it really good for supercomputing. It's not running anything to do with the [operating system]. It's focused solely on calculations."

The updated version of the original Roadrunner uses 3.9 Megawatts of power (enough to power 39,000 100-Watt light bulbs). It has 6,948 dual-core Opterons on IBM LS21 Blades, as well as 12,960 Cell processors on IBM QS22 blades. The machine has 80TB of memory, 296 IBM BladeCenter H racks, requires 6,000 square feet of space, weighs 500,000 pounds and uses 57 miles of fiber optic cable.

When the IBM technicians have completed their testing of Roadrunner, it will be disassembled, packed onto 21 tractor trailer trucks and moved to Los Alamos in New Mexico, where it will be reassembled and tested again.

Read more here.

As your knowledge about IBM continues to grow, you will begin to see how IBM fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

MacBook Air review

2008-05-16T14:35:00.002+07:00

So what is MacBook air really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about MacBook air--info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of MacBook air is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about MacBook air.

As you know, we don't get much Apple stuff in our labs, but things are changing, especially after our editor-in-chief fell in love with one of those overhyped iPhone things. Honestly, I don't know what he sees in it, but the boss is always right. (It's the browsing capabilities and it sucks with battery life and with Edge speed, ed) So when I got a call from IT Computers, our shop around the corner, telling me there was a Macbook Air waiting for us, I pounced on the opportunity to check out some Apples myself.

We scored the cheaper version, with a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo and an 80GB HDD. There's no sexy SSD, but at least it keeps the cost down, although it's still a pricey piece of machinery, selling at around €1700 in the EU. We've just received the sample, so there's not much to say about the performance yet, although the first impression is very positive. The Air is a marvelously designed product and the build quality is excellent, as you may expect from Jobs' crew. In turns heads like a supermodel in a prison courtyard and this is the principal reason for getting one.

The sleek, minimalistic design affects its ergonomics. While its backlit keyboard is spacious and its touchpad is huge, the connectors paid a high price for the space age design. It has just one USB 2.0 port, which is hidden on the right hand side, behind a cover along with a micro-DVI, and a headphone connector. On the left side you'll find a power connector and that's about it. Of course, there's no optical drive, as you may expect from a 1.36kg notebook. This is not a big deal, but the lack of a replaceable battery is. Once you run out of juice on the road, you've gotta recharge and there's nothing you can do about it.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on MacBook air. Compare what you've learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of MacBook air.

RV770 to be 1.5 times faster than RV670

2008-05-06T21:40:00.000+07:00

Maybe a bit more

We've learned that ATI's new chip might end up 1.5 to 1.6 times faster than the current RV670 solution.In the real world, this should mean that if one game gives 50FPS with RV670 that the new chip should be able to get you around 75FPS at the same settings. On average, the new chip will have to be at least 30 percent faster than the old one to make you even consider it but at least specification wise there is not anything that you might miss.RV670 was a shrinked and better speced version of R600 with 512bit memory controller crippled to 256bit and it looks that R770 will get that memory upped to 512bit again. At least we know it will end up being fast but we still don’t know what's Nvidia’s real answer to this one.

NBC Coming To Zune After Ditching iTunes

2008-05-06T20:46:00.001+07:00

While NBC decided that Apple's $1.99/episode mandate was not for them, the company has opted to give Microsoft's Zune store a shot to host their content. Apparently the decision comes because Microsoft is more flexible in their pricing. And while Microsoft still retains the right to set a show's ultimate price, they claim to be "open to understanding which episodes can be priced lower and how we may introduce premium content which may be priced higher than $1.99," according to Zune Social general manager Julio Estrada. But something tells me that NBC is more interested in that "premium content" than the lower priced

Hello Kitty is harnessing solar power

2008-05-06T20:30:00.001+07:00

The Sanrio Empire may have seemed unusually subdued of late, but its campaign for world domination is still very much in high gear. In fact, the threat is more sever than ever, as it continues to target our natural resources.

Hello Kitty has already made her mark, so to speak, on the planet's heat sources and water supply. And now, acknowledging the green trend's growing momentum, the diabolical feline is now trying to seize control of solar energy as well.

The "Hello Kitty Solar-Power Charger" can juice up pretty much any handheld device, according to Chip Chick, whether it be a phone, media player, or camera. And if ominously dark clouds accompany the invasion, the charger can still be plugged into a DC outlet for up to six hours of power on the go. You've been warned.

9x Media Monitor System keeps growing in size and capability

2008-05-04T13:40:00.005+07:00

When the story first broke of 9x’s Media Monitor System, the pictures we saw were of an amazing fifteen monitor setup that could be used for gaming, simulators or just about any other application that requires a huge amount of video real estate. Well, as fast as you can say “Photoshop” the 9x Media system has grown to hold thirty monitors for sick amount of space. And it still makes you want it.

Coming with the choice either 19 inch or a stunning 32″ monitor size, the 9x Media rig can be configurable ready to go for any amount of monitor space the client needs from 2-30 lcd screens. And even though they are custom made and ready to go, the 9x system is expandable, meaning that as needs (let’s face it, we’re talking wants here) warrant, the real estate go up or down. The screens can also be rotated from landscape to portrait position. In addition, the 9x system includes customized Multi-screen servers, screensavers, and optional upgrades and software.

Stix Chopsticks Glasses

2008-05-04T13:36:00.001+07:00

Have you ever ate at a Chinese Food Restaurant and forgot to bring your pair of personal chopsticks? Sure, you could ask the waiter or waitress for a pair, but what if he or she doesn’t speak English?
Okay, that probably won’t really happen, but I think you see my point: it would be nice to have some chopsticks to carry around with you, but how could you do that? You could put them in your pocket, but that could easily lead to a lot of “are those chopsticks in your pants, or are you happy to see me” jokes.
Fortunately, the Stix glasses are here for you. The Stix glasses allow you to put your stick utensils in a place where you won’t forget them: your glasses. All you need to do is take them out of your glasses frame, and you are good to go. Not only can you use your chopsticks to eat, but you can also put them in your hair!
I would like to make a disclaimer. Normally, I never bad mouth a product, because I believe that every gadget that I review has a use somewhere. I’m sure that there is someone who needs these, but I can’t imagine who.

IT greenhouse emissions to quadruple by 2020

2008-05-04T13:19:00.000+07:00

Greenhouse gas emissions from datacentre operations are set to quadruple by 2020, reports management consultancy McKinsey.

A year-long study into IT's energy use, conducted in association with the Uptime Institute, highlighted the profligate use of energy in today's data centres, which are a fast-growing contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions and a drain on organisations' resources. Its newly released McKinsey report detailing the results of that study concluded that an "immediate overhaul" of corporate IT strategy is needed to reduce IT's environmental impact. “While the design of the next generation of ‘green’ data centers gets a lot of attention and is certainly a worthwhile pursuit, we’re putting forward the case in this report that improving efficiency in existing sites will lower energy usage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions faster and more significantly with less cost,” said Kenneth G. Brill, founder and executive director of Uptime Institute.

The report notes that organisations' increasing reliance on IT has seen the number of power-hungry servers deployed in the datacentre skyrocket; air-conditioning units and chillers needed to cool that equipment hog even more power. The report concluded that IT leaders can tackle alleviate some of the most obvious instances of inefficiency through adopting simple measures. These include: adding operating costs into business-case justifications of new products and application to "throttle excess demand"; and appointing an internal 'energy czar' with"an operations and technology mandate to double IT energy efficiency by 2012".

Details of the report were unveiled at the Uptime Institute's Green Enterprise Computing conference.

What is RoHS?

2008-05-02T10:11:00.000+07:00

RoHS is the acronym for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS, also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, originated in the European Union and restricts the use of specific hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. All applicable products in the EU market after July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance. For the complete directive, see Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament.

Trojans increase

2008-05-02T09:37:00.001+07:00

Microsoft says that the number of trojans it has removed from computers around the world in the second half of 2007 rose by 300 percent from the first half. It claims that the software was always there, but software has gotten better at detecting them. Vinny Gullotto, General Manager of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center, said that the numbers have simply exploded. The most common family of trojans last year was "Win32/Zlob". The majority of trojans come from the United States, China, Russia and South America.Microsoft said the number of computers around the world that were made safe after being infected with trojans rose from one million in the second half of 2006 to 19 million in the second half of 2007.

Storm botnet disrupted by poisoning

2008-05-02T08:38:00.001+07:00

Vulnerabilities discovered by researchers

Five German researchers have announced their public research attempt at actively disrupting the Storm worm, a peer-to-peer botnet. Botnets (networks of computers that are infected with malware) created by the Storm worm have evolved into using peer-to-peer techniques for communications, eliminating the need for a central control server. This makes them very difficult to locate and to shut down.The researchers announced earlier this month at the Usenix Workshop on Large-Scale Exploits and Emergent Threats (LEET) in San Francisco, California that they were able to infiltrate the Storm worm and also were able to disrupt its communications through a “poisoning” technique. The technique used active techniques, crawling the P2P network every 30 minutes, keeping track of peers and segregating infected peers from non-infected ones based on behavioral patterns. By crawling the Stormnet from early December 2007 through early February 2008, the researchers observed from 5,000 to 40,000 peers online at various times, but noted a distinct increase in bots during the holiday period from Christmas through New Years’ Day. The largest percentage of bots was found to be in the U.S.The "poisoning" technique involves the keys used by Storm bots for communication. The researchers created and published a large quantity of false content for certain keys. By “polluting” the hashes that were identified as Storm hashes, the researchers were able to successfully disrupt the botnet communication.Unfortunately, some botnet hosts are unaware that their computer systems are being misused or that they are part of a bot network. Researchers take the risk of disabling legitimate networks and computers when they attempt to poison botnet communications. Due to this risk, the research group indicated that their future research will focus on analyzing the systems that issue the actual commands, which should lead to closer proximity of the actual operators of the Storm worm and possible apprehension by law enforcement.

Hypermiling to save fuel

2008-05-02T08:32:00.001+07:00

Driving style and technology affects gas mileageAfter an article published by cnnmoney.com, Web sites are springing up with tips on saving fuel in a dramatic amount and consumers are jumping on a bandwagon to beat the costs at the pump. The technique is known as 'hypermiling,' and its proponents claim it can double gas mileage, even in gas-guzzling vehicles that would normally get less than 20 mpg. The main factor in increasing fuel savings is paying attention to your right foot and how often you put it down on the accelerator in your vehicle. Web site statistics claim that drivers can save up to 35% by being more conservative with how quickly they accelerate and slow down, and how hard they use the gas and brake pedals.While studies show that using the air conditioning vs. rolling down the car windows has little to no effect on improving gas mileage, some claim that keeping the tires inflated beyond the maximum ratings recommended and using engine oil of a low viscosity can make a measurable fuel mileage difference. Drafting behind other vehicles on the highway, a technique used by semi truck drivers really does have a measurable effect on fuel mileage by reducing aerodynamic drag, provided that the vehicle you follow isn’t going too fast. Removing cargo racks on the outside of vehicles also helps reduce drag and improve fuel economy.In a test by Edmunds.com with a Land Rover LR3 and a Ford Mustang, by using cruise control on the highway the Land Rover got almost 14 percent better mileage with cruise control set at 70 miles per hour, rather than cruising at driver-controlled speeds between 65 and 75 miles per hour. The Mustang’s mileage improved by 4.5 percent. Cruise control use cuts down on speed changes, which use fuel inefficiently.The biggest gain in fuel efficiency results from slowly accelerating away from traffic lights and stops, and by slowing down gradually with your foot off the accelerator when approaching a stop sign or a red or yellow traffic light. Just by slower acceleration and slow-downs with the foot off the accelerator, the Land Rover’s gas mileage increased by 35.4 percent and the Mustang’s 27.1 percent in the Edmunds.com tests.Hypermiling is about driving conservatively and allowing your vehicle to coast when it can to save fuel. Studies claim that some drivers have doubled their fuel mileage by simply modifying their driving habits. With fuel prices hitting $4.00/gallon in the U.S. and no end to the price increases in sight this is worth some consideration.

New electric circuit type discovered

2008-05-02T08:27:00.001+07:00

HP Scientists want to develop it commercially
Scientists working at Hewlett-Packard have announced that they have discovered a fourth basic type of electrical circuit – one that might create a computer that "remembers" where it was and doesn’t need to boot up.
Electronics theory recognizes three fundamental elements of a passive circuit: resistors, capacitors and inductors. Leon Chua, a scientist at U.C. Berkeley in the 1970s, posed that there should also be a fourth fundamental element known as a memory resistor, or memristor, and he proved the mathematical equations for it. A team of scientists at HP has now proven the existence of “memristance.” The team, led by Stanley Williams, claims that memristance properties are very different from any other electrical device. Williams and his team have developed a mathematical model and a physical example of a memristor, which they describe in the journal, Nature.Williams compared memristor properties to water flowing through a garden hose. In a regular circuit, water flows from more than one direction. But in a memory resistor, the hose “remembers” which direction the water/current is flowing from, and it expands in that direction to improve the flow. Likewise, if water or current flows from the other direction, the hose/current shrinks from that direction. According to Williams, "It remembers both the direction and the amount of charge that flows through it. ...That is the memory.”It's very different from any other electrical device," Williams said of his memristor. "No combination of resistor, capacitor or inductor will give you that property." Williams and the HP team indicated that the memristor finding could lead to development of a new kind of computer memory that would not need to boot up. DRAM that is used on conventional computers is lost when power to a computer is turned off, and when the computer is turned back on it must be accessed from the hard drive. But with the use of the memristor in a memory circuit the computer would not lose its place, even after the power was off and then turned back on.According to Williams, "It's essential that people understand this to be able to go further into the world of nanoelectronics. It turns out that memristance, this property, gets more important as the device gets smaller. That is another major reason it took so long to find," Williams said.

from www.fudzilla.com

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

2008-05-01T08:56:00.006+07:00

Freeware review

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is an anti-virus scanner that offers Resident Protection, e-mail Scanner, On-Demand Scanner, and Virus Vault for safe handling of infected files and automatic updates. The free version is limited in features, but includes all basic scanning functionality as well as real-time protection. It uses the same scanning engine as the commercial version, however updates are provided on a low priority basis.

download

Discover a New Perspective with 8.9 Inch Eee PC 900

2008-04-30T22:19:00.003+07:00

Taipei, Taiwan, April 15, 2008 – Amid the buzz of reaching a new milestone of 1 million Eee PCs sold in just 5 months after its launch, ASUS has provided yet another round of excitement with its release of the new Eee PC 900. This new generation of the ever popular PC packs in a whole range of hardware that includes a 8.9 inch widescreen, a 1.3M pixels webcam, the new innovative FingerGlide and 12GB and 20GB storage capacities for Windows and Linux platforms respectively – catering to wider consumer needs while still maintaining the "Easy to learn, work and play" concept by keeping the overall weight under 1kg.

Mobility is one of the major factors attributed to the Eee PC’s success; and this is in part due to the use of the built-in Solid State Disk (SSD) technology – which offers a quiet, energy saving and shock proof design for stable computing on-the-go. Traditional hard disks spin at 5400 RPM (Revolutions per Minute) – making them more prone to data loss or damage if shocks or bumps are received. Conversely, the Eee PC is able to protect against such incidents, and is the perfect tool for outdoor computing – suitable as an ideal companion for reporters, wildlife photographers and other like-minded outdoor enthusiasts."Vital feedback from a wide variety of users have been received, which has spurred us on to create more options to cater to different user requirements." said Jerry Shen, CEO of ASUS.

www.asus.com

A-DATA Expands USB Flash Drives To 32GB

2008-04-30T22:11:00.002+07:00

A-DATA Technology, a worldwide leader in high performance DRAM module and flash memory products, today announced its largest capacity USB flash drives in two models, the 32GB PD2 and PD9 that it is expanding its USB flash drive family lines with new 32GB capacity offerings.New Solution for Backing-up Critical DataAs there are more and more customers use portable storage devices to back-up critical or sensitive information, customers care about the capacity of their storage device. A-DATA understands what customer currently need and announces its latest high-capacity USB flash drive, the 32GB PD2 and PD9 which is about the size of 69.6mm x 17mm x 10mm (L x W x H ), and is small and light enough to be taken anywhere. With its enormous 32-GB memory capacity, the PD2 or PD9 USB Flash Drive allows users to store massive volumes of all sorts of personal files, music, digital photos, and even full-length HDTV movies and still have space left for work or school documents. PD2 and PD9 are also available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities that provide complete choices for all customers. A-DATA PD2 and PD9 32GB USB flash drives are available through A-DATA’s authorized distributors worldwide. All A-DATA flash products are backed with complete customer service and limited lifetime warranty.

AMD launches first computer brand

2008-04-30T22:02:00.002+07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Advanced Micro Devices Inc on Sunday unveiled its first computer brand, aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, with design and sales help from its major chip customers such as Dell Inc.
AMD Business Class desktop personal computers will be followed by notebook PCs in the second half of this year.
AMD customers who plan to sell the computers include Acer <2353.tw>, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, Hewlett-Packard Co , and Lenovo <0992.hk>, said Hal Speed, a marketing architect for AMD based in Austin.
"It's not like retail," he said. "People are buying this for work and we really tried to identify the nuggets (of technology for business desktop PCs) that weren't being looked at."
The new product line is part of AMD's efforts to regain its competitive edge against Intel Corp after a disastrous 2007. AMD has reported six consecutive quarters of net losses as Intel has regained much of the market share that it lost to AMD in 2005 and the first part of 2006.
AMD is also seeking to use the leverage it built with the success of its Opteron microprocessors, which have made inroads into the server market over the last few years against Intel, a larger company.
"AMD has tackled the consumer market, they've made significant inroads into the mobile PC market, and they've made some inroads into the business market," said Dean McCarron, an analyst at market research firm In-Stat. "This is an important program for them."
AMD said Business Class is initially aimed at the small- and medium-size business market, but is also designed to scale up to the biggest corporate clients as well. The desktops include AMD Phenom X3 triple-core and AMD Phenom X4 quad-core processors as well as AMD Athlon X2 dual-core processors.
PC makers can also choose AMD 780V chipsets or optional ATI Radeon HO 3000 series graphics chips, and the platform will also support non-AMD graphics and chipsets, such as graphics chips from ATI rival Nvidia Corp.
Analysts said that big-business customers like a General Electric Co as well as small and medium businesses want stability, longevity, reliability, manageability and good performance in the PCs they buy for their employees.
"Where AMD has been lacking is in business PCs with deployments in the thousands of units," said Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies Associates, a market research firm.
"Big companies replace thousands of PCs over the course of more than a year and during that time they don't want what they are buying to change in terms of configurations."

Microsoft could nominate proxy slate of directors for Yahoo, says report

2008-04-30T21:04:00.002+07:00

NEW YORK : Microsoft could make its next move against Yahoo Wednesday with the software giant likely to try and replace Yahoo's board of directors, the Wall Street Journal reported. A Microsoft deadline for the Internet service company to accept its 44.6 billion-dollar (28.5 billion-euro) acquisition offer expired at midnight Saturday, without comment from either side. The two sides have had no formal negotiations since then but Microsoft's next move could come as early as Wednesday, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. One option being considered is nominating a proxy slate of directors that Yahoo shareholders would be asked to vote onto their company's board, replacing current officials. Microsoft has already selected 10 nominees and three alternates, an unnamed source told the newspaper. Such a move "would represent a largely unanticipated middle path for Microsoft between walking away from its bid and pushing forward an aggressive hostile-takeover campaign," the newspaper reported. It would allow the software giant to delay fixing a firm new price on its offer for Yahoo, while preserving the option of going directly to Yahoo shareholders with a hostile takeover bid, the newspaper pointed out. In an open letter to the Yahoo board of directors on April 5, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer gave the Internet pioneer three weeks to accept the 31 dollars-a-share takeover offer or face a proxy fight. Ballmer also warned that any further delays could result in a less attractive offer for Yahoo. But Yahoo's board of directors has said the offer "substantially undervalues" the California firm, insisting it is worth at least 40 dollars a share. Microsoft is eager to merge the two companies' resources to take on Google, which dominates the lucrative Internet search advertising that is expected to grow to 80 billion dollars annually worldwide in the next two years. - AFP /ls

106 mpg Air Car to come to U.S. by 2010

2008-04-30T20:26:00.000+07:00

A company named Zero Pollution Motors says it plans to bring a car powered by air to the U.S. sometime in 2009 or 2010. The six pistons in the Air Car's engine are pushed by compressed air rather than gasoline combustion, an idea developed by F1 race car engineer Guy Negre. The car carries a compressor, making it possible to fill its compressed air tank by plugging it into an electrical outlet. At low speeds, the engine is cranked solely by air from the tank. At high speeds, it uses gasoline to heat a chamber, giving the air pushing the pistons more pressure. In high speed mode, it also compresses air to inject into the cylinders. According to its initial, estimated, specifications the Air Car will go 848 miles on an 8 gallon tank of gas. The size of the compressed air tank isn't included in the specifications. Further, the car has a top speed of 96 mph, with its power plant putting out 75 horsepower. When traveling at low speeds, the car has zero emissions, while in high speed mode it has some emissions because of its use of gasoline.

The Air Car was developed by The MDI Group, which received funding from Indian car maker Tata Motors to build the car for the Indian market. Zero Pollution Motors intends to market the Air Car in the U.S. The body of the car is made from fiberglass and foam, and is built as a six seater. Instead of the usual speed and RPM gauges in the dashboard, the Air Car will use an in-dash computer with displays for speed and engine revolutions. This dashboard computer will also be used for navigation, media playback, and communication. The Air Car sounds promising, and we will be eager to see if it really lives up to its specifications.
(Source: AutoblogGreen)