gadget in my blog

Breaking: Google Adding Free Voice Search to the iPhone

2008-11-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Google has created an app for the iPhone that will give the handset advanced voice recognition, reports John Markoff from the NY Times. The app can answer location related questions (Finding the nearest Starbucks), give driving directions, respond to generic questions, and even search local data from the address book.

It works by recording a soundbite, uploading it to Google's servers, which will crunch the data and return an answer "within seconds on a fast wireless network". Saul compared the function to that offered on Yahoo's, and found Google's to be more accurate, but still return junk results sometimes. AT&T and Microsoft also have handset voice recognition beyond simple dialing that many other phones offer. The app will be free and might be available to download as soon as Friday. [NYT]

gizmodo.com

American Airlines getting in on that cellphone boarding pass fad

2008-11-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

American Airlines has joined its peers at Continental in offering boarding pass barcodes that you can download to and display on your BlackBerry, iPhone, G1, or whatever have you. Presently the airline is only offering the option on domestic, non-stop flights departing from O'Hare -- LAX and Orange County will start on the 17th. Some eastern yanks might be asking, "What, no JFK or Logan? Where's the east coast love, AA?" Don't get too bent out of shape, boys and girls -- tech-savvy business travelers love their BlackBerries, so we could see this pop up just about everywhere before long.

[Via Mobilitysite]

engadget.com

Microsoft debuts Microsoft Store in apparent attempt to sell stuff

2008-11-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that a company the size and stature of Microsoft hasn't had an online store to call its home -- not even a quirky collection of "Bill Gates is my homeboy" CafePress t-shirts and mousepads. The newly launched Microsoft Store solves that, however, with its many store-like properties. Therein you can find all sorts of Microsoft products, like software, peripherals, games and professionally-printed "Bill Gates is my homeboy" t-shirts.* What's particularly notable is that Microsoft is jumping into electronic software distribution here, meaning in addition to traditional physical purchases you can buy a bit of software and download it right there on the spot. Downloaded software can be re-downloaded for as long as Microsoft provides mainstream support -- about 5 years in most cases. We'd prefer forever and always, but we suppose that will have to do. The store is live now, and we'd suggest you head on over before we make some drastically ill-advised enterprise software impulse buys.

*This isn't true.

[Via ZDnet]

engadget.com

ASRock's Instant Boot: 0 to Vista in 4 seconds

2008-11-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

ASRock has a ploy to sell more of its motherboards: Instant Boot. The BIOS update for select MoBos promises to boot XP or Vista systems 10 times faster than standard PCs -- in other words, about 3 to 4 seconds from a full shutdown. ASRock achieves this minor of miracles through manipulation of the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface that Microsoft manipulates for its sleep and hibernate modes. At the risk of oversimplification, ASRock appears to add the processing baggage to the backend of the shutdown process, essentially rebooting the OS and then dropping it into a suspended state ready to instantly pop on the next time you hit the power button. Pretty smart actually. Here's the catch: the system you're using must be limited to a single user account without any password protection -- a definite no-no for corporate environments. See what happens when Hugo and George steal Dad's camcorder after the break.

[Thanks, Daniel]

engadget.com

Activision Screws Up Their Own Guitar Hero Compatibility Charts

2008-11-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

At first glance, these Activision-made Guitar Hero/Rock Band instrument compatibility charts appear very handy. That is, until you realize that they're completely overrun by inaccuracies. It didn't take long for the Kotaku commenters to rip apart the list, with one reader finding flaws with data on each platform. So we're left with one question:

If Activision doesn't understand the compatibility issues regarding their own games and hardware, how are we as consumers EVER going to get it? If these guys don't figure their shit out soon, I'm so going to start a real band. [Activision via Kotaku]

gizmodo.com

BlackBerry Curve 8900 gets official for T-Mobile Germany

2008-11-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

Beep beep, outta the way, incoming RIM product blitz! Seriously, this is like a high-powered corporate executive's dream -- not one, not two, not three, not four, but five major product launches out of Waterloo in the span of a few months' time. Latest out of the gate is the 8900 Curve, successor to the 8300 series featuring a heavily-upgraded 480 x 360 display, microSD support to 16GB, WiFi, 3.2-megapixel cam with autofocus, and integrated GPS. Sadly, network data tops out at EDGE speeds -- but if you really need more, we s'pose that's where the Bold comes into play. No word on any launches outside of Bavaria just yet, but on T-Mobile Germany, the 8900 is available "mid November" (which is basically now) for €4.95 (yes, that's not a typo, 4.95 euros) on a 24-month contract.

[Via IntoMobile]

engadget.com

Intel Core i7-equipped Falcon Northwest Mach V gaming desktop hands-on

2008-11-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Benchmarks and reviews of Intel's Core i7 processors are pouring in, and while mere mortals must wait till later this month to get their hands on the hardware, we spent much of our weekend working overtime with Crysis, Fallout 3, and Age of Conan on an $8,238 Core i7 965-equipped Mach V gaming desktop from boutique PC manufacturer Falcon Northwest. It's got the works and then some: liquid cooling, dual ATI Radeon 4870X2 graphics cards with 2GB of RAM on-board, 12 GB of DDR3 RAM, Blu-ray, HD-DVD (yes, you read that right), and over a terabyte of storage. Based on our dozen or so hours of grueling, utterly boring hands-on tests, all three games were plenty playable maxed out at 1920 x 1080 resolution with 4x anti-aliasing -- only Crysis ever dipped below 40 frames per second, and we never saw Fallout 3 under 60. We sincerely hope you appreciate the backbreaking, soulcrushingly hard work we do for you -- more photos and benchmarks (including Crysis) in the gallery.

engadget.com

This Robot Wants Your Money, Jerks

2008-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Here in America, we use paper to pay for things—maybe plastic if we're lucky. But over in Japan, wireless RFID is gradually becoming the rage. And this NEC robot supports the trend of paying for something without feeling like you're actually paying for something.

Using the robot is easy enough. You push the touchscreen on its chest to select, say, tickets for an amusement park. Then you wave your FeliCa-enabled wallet phone (RFID device) over the robot's right hand to, as we can only assume, pay for your tickets and deactivate the robot's deadly laser security system.

Apparently the system could also incorporate facial recognition to identify frequent visitors, or recommend services based upon their age/gender. And while we know that this terminal is just a kiosk shaped like a robot, we can't help but to admire the sincere technoanthropomorphism. [IT Media via Pink Tentacle]

gizmodo.com

2008-11-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 To Drop Black Friday For $800

Sony's Win-Mo 6.1 Xperia X1 finally has a firm U.S. release date set: November 28, better known as Black Friday. Although unlike most things on sale on that fateful day of darkness, the Xperia will not be a particularly awesome deal at $800 for an unsubsidized, unlocked X1. It'll work on AT&T's 3G network here in the States, though, if you are so inclined. Pre-orders begin tomorrow, and general availability will be at Sony Style stores and authorized retailers. Full release after the jump.

Sony Ericsson Xperia(TM) X1 Available in U.S. for 2008 Holiday Season
November 12, 2008, 8:00 AM

Pre-orders for the premium converged device begin today at SonyStyle.Com

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Sony Ericsson North America announced the arrival of the highly anticipated Xperia(TM) X1 to the U.S. marketplace. The Xperia(TM) X1 delivers a range of multimedia and communication experiences that have long been coveted and in demand by consumers

The Xperia X1 will be available unlocked through Sony Electronics and its authorized retailers beginning on "Black Friday," November 28. Pre-orders of the Xperia X1 will be available through the Sony Style Web site at www.sonystyle.com beginning November 13. This premium device will be sold unlocked for the MSRP of $799.99, giving consumers the freedom to choose their own mobile operator and data plan.

"The Xperia X1 continues the Sony Ericsson tradition of delivering the highest quality experiences and the most advanced technology available today," said Karen Morris, vice president of marketing, Sony Ericsson North America. "The most exciting scenarios enabled by the Xperia X1 will be created by consumers - enabling them to customize and personalize their device and content to fit their lifestyle and personality."

The Xperia X1's unique panel user interface is at the heart of the device's ability to create and adapt consumers' personal choices. With up to 9 panels, it's easy to find and enjoy the information and entertainment content they want. Sony Ericsson is busy working with third-party developers to create a wealth of new applications and new panels that will soon be available for download.

By incorporating the Windows Mobile(R) 6.1 Professional operating system, the Xperia X1 frees consumers from their home and office, allowing them connectivity to their content wherever they are.

"Windows Mobile gives people the ability to easily navigate between their business and personal lives," said Todd Peters, vice president of marketing, Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft. "The panel user interface found only in the Xperia X1 is bringing unique experiences to consumers who want more from their converged devices."

As Sony Ericsson's most advanced phone to date, the Xperia X1 brings together a large, 3-inch wide VGA display touchscreen and a full QWERTY keyboard all wrapped into a sleek silver metal- finished arc slider handset. The Xperia X1 supports fast 3G networks, enabling audio and video streaming, high-speed internet surfing, multimedia messaging and email on the go. In addition to delivering 3G mobile broadband speeds, the Xperia X1 supports WiFi to meet the needs of consumers' always connected lifestyles.

In the tradition of Sony Ericsson, the Xperia X1 offers consumers the ultimate multimedia experience with a 3.2 megapixel camera, video streaming, video playback and video recording, and the ability to enjoy all their digital music.

"The Xperia X1 complements Sony Electronics' family of Windows-based devices and leverages the company's heritage of providing beautifully designed, highly functional, portable electronics," said John Kodera, vice president of product marketing, Sony Electronics. "The Xperia X1 delivers the highest quality entertainment, communication and personalization options for consumers."

Sony Ericsson Xperia(TM) X1 - At a Glance

Camera

• Auto focus

• 3.2 megapixel camera

• Photo light

• Video recording

Multimedia

• Bluetooth(TM) stereo (A2DP)4

• Media player

• Music tones

• Windows Media(R) Player Mobile

• 3D games

• FM radio

• Java(TM)

• Video streaming

• Video viewing

Internet7

• Internet Explorer(R) Mobile

• RSS feeds

• Opera(TM) 9.5

Communication and Messaging

• Polyphonic ringtones

• Speakerphone

• Vibrating alert

• Video calling3,8

• Email

• Picture messaging (MMS)9

• Predictive text input

• Text messaging (SMS)9

Design

• XPERIA(TM) panels

• Optical joystick navigation

• Navigation key

• Picture wallpaper

• Touch navigation

Organizer

• Alarm clock

• Calculator

• Calendar

• Document editors

• Document readers

• Flight mode

• Handwriting recognition

• Notes

• Phone book

• Tasks

• Touchscreen

Connectivity

• aGPS

• Bluetooth(TM)4 technology

• Modem

• Synchronization

• USB support

• WLAN

Windows Mobile(R) Operating System

• Microsoft(R) Outlook(R) Mobile: email, contacts, calendar, tasks

• Microsoft(R) Office Mobile: Word Mobile, Excel(R) Mobile, PowerPoint(R) Mobile

• Windows Live(TM)

• Microsoft(R) ActiveSync(R)

• Voice control

• Utility Applications: file explorer, calculator, pictures & video, notes

Facts and Figures

Size: 110 x 53 x 16.7 mm (approx.)

Weight: 145 grams (approx.)

Available colors: Silver

Main screen: 65,536 color TFT

Resolution: 800 X 480 pixels

Size: 3 inches (approx.)

Phone memory5: up to 400 MB

microSD(TM) memory card support

Networks:

GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850/1900/2100 MHz
gizmodo.com

Spirit Mars Rover May Be Dead Too Now

2008-11-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

More bad bad news. Just two days ago Phoenix Mars Lander sent his last words, and NASA announced the end of the mission because of a storm that covered its solar panels with Martian dust. Today, we have learnt that the Mars Spirit rover may be dying too because exactly the same problem. In fact, according to Bruce Banerdt—the mission manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and part-time Hulk impersonator—he may be dead already:

This is a very dangerous time. If we don't hear from it on Thursday, we'll be extremely concerned.

The culprit, again: A sudden dust storm over the Martian equatorial plains. This storm has covered the solar panels during the last days and, as a result, the Mars Spirit only produced 89 watt-hours last weekend. This is half the amount it needs to keep functioning. Scientists at the JPL have turned off heating for many instruments in the hope that the rover's batteries won't be completely depleted.

In this case, however, the Mars Spirit rover is well passed its expiry date. With five years working in the planet, the mission has vastly exceeded even the wildest dreams of NASA's researchers. Also, keep in mind that Spirit's twin brother—Opportunity—is still working at the other side of the planet.

But still, seriously NASA, how can you send things that run on solar power to the dustiest planet in the Solar System and forget to include some kind of Windex cleaning device all the gear? Couldn't you guys add some kind of mini-Roomba to crawl the panels of the next one? [NASA and Daily Mail and Posts by Phoenix Mars Lander at Gizmodo]

gizmodo.com

Japan's Downsy Medical Bot Teaches Doctors How to Treat Patients

2008-11-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Say hello to Keiko. She's the world's first robot with Down Syndrome. She's designed to help doctors diagnose people who come into the ER with a bad case of the Downs by answering their questions and responding to touch. What's that? She's not supposed to be retarded? Well what the hell is with that forehead then? Come on, Japan. The first retarded medical robot was kind of funny, now I'm worried that I'll accidentally get diagnosed with Downs if I ever end up in a Japanese hospital. [CrunchGear]

gizmodo.com

HTC Fuze (Touch Pro) Now Available on AT&T

2008-11-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday the HTC Fuze was spotted for the first time in its AT&T retail packaging and we assumed that the launch was not far off. Fortunately, we only had to wait a few hours. AT&T has announced that the Fuze is now available at stores and online for $299.99 with a two-year contract and a mail-in rebate.

HTC FUZE FROM AT&T FUSES FUN AND FUNCTION WITH
THE ONE-TOUCH POWER OF TOUCHFLO 3D

Powerful New Smartphone Epitomizes Choice With Touch-Screen and Slider Keyboard, Access to Nation’s Fastest 3G Network and Many More Connectivity Options

DALLAS, Texas, and BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 11, 2008 — AT&T customers now have the best of both worlds. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and HTC Corp. (TAIEX: 2498; “HTC”) have announced the availability beginning today of the new smartphone HTC FUZETM. The HTC FUZE provides users with a familiar QWERTY keyboard paired with HTC’s intuitive, graphic-rich TouchFLO™ 3D touch-screen user interface for easy one-touch access to a range of fun and powerful features.

TouchFLO 3D is designed for one-hand operation using simple, gesture-based navigation, allowing customers to simply touch, hold and slide along the screen tabs. A quick slide on the home screen quickly activates the most used features such as e-mail, text messaging, music player and camera. This instinctive interface extends to the powerful Web browser. A useful “zoom in, zoom out” feature makes it especially fun and easy to access the Web via the included Opera browser, which provides for desktop-like Web page renderings and user interactions.

Powered by AT&T’s 3G network — the nation’s fastest — and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the HTC FUZE is a compact yet powerful communications tool with a smooth gloss black finish and a distinctive and unique faceted backplate. The HTC FUZE features a sharp, 262K color 2.8-inch (480 x 640) VGA touch screen for touch-sensitive navigation control, complete with three-dimensional animated transitions. For e-mail, messaging and other data input, the HTC FUZE also comes equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard, which was designed specifically for AT&T and slides out from the smartphone’s side.

Connectivity Options
Beyond AT&T’s robust 3G network, the HTC FUZE provides AT&T customers with a host of other connectivity options. When abroad, AT&T customers can use the HTC FUZE to make or receive a phone call in more than 200 countries and check e-mail, browse the Web or perform other data functions in more than 150 countries, including in more than 60 — such as Japan and South Korea — that have deployed 3G networks. In addition, the HTC FUZE boasts:

* Built-in aGPS — for use with AT&T Navigator powered by TeleNav and other location-based applications such as TeleNav TrackTM and Xora GPS TimeTrackTM.
* Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) — to connect with home or campus networks or access more than 17,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide, including at thousands of participating Starbucks locations.
* Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) — for simultaneous connection of up to six Bluetooth-enabled devices, including hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits, network printers and other Bluetooth peripherals.
* AT&T Video ShareSM — the first service in the U.S. that allows users to share live video over wireless devices while participating in a voice call.
* Push To Talk (PTT) — via the nation’s largest PTT network.

“The HTC FUZE is a great illustration of AT&T’s commitment to innovation and choice,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Smart Devices for AT&T’s wireless unit. “The HTC FUZE, with its array of connectivity features, provides our customers with the ability to choose the manner in which they communicate using the form factor they deem most appropriate at a given moment — all in a very attractive and sleek package. It’s a fantastic addition to AT&T’s industry-leading Windows Mobile smartphone portfolio.”

Jason Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America, said: “By combining the power of Windows Mobile 6.1 with HTC’s innovative TouchFLO 3D interface, the HTC FUZE ensures that your most important information — from mail to music to images — is never more than a touch away. The HTC FUZE’s range of cutting-edge mobile features, like a desktop-quality mobile browser, paired with AT&T’s lightning-quick 3G network makes it an unbeatable choice for consumers.”

AT&T also offers customers a variety of choices in the types of services available to them when using the HTC FUZE, both during work and after-hours.

Business Use
For business use, AT&T customers will be able to choose from several popular platforms to access their corporate e-mail. The robust Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional platform offers seamless integration with Microsoft Outlook information including e-mail, contacts, calendar and to-do lists. Additionally, Good Mobile Messaging and BlackBerry® ConnectTM compatibility will be offered later this year, while personal e-mail can easily be taken mobile using AT&T’s popular Xpress Mail service. They can access and edit e-mail attachments using mobile versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote and PowerPoint. Customers also can choose to tether the HTC FUZE to their notebook computer to wirelessly view e-mail or access the Web. A unique business card application allows users to quickly capture and save contact information with the built-in 3.2 megapixel camera.

In addition, the HTC FUZE supports scores of industry-specific applications as well as Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager (MDM), an enterprise-grade mobile device management solution that also provides security, mobile Virtual Private Network (VPN) and software distribution for Windows Mobile devices enabled for Windows Mobile 6.1.

For both business and personal use, the HTC FUZE features AT&T Video Share. Business customers, particularly those in such fields as architecture and engineering, can use Video Share to monitor progress on a job site or review the day’s work without having to drive from an office or other site to do so. When not working, users can share moments with family and friends while the moments are happening — everything from weddings or a baby’s first steps to a Little League at-bat or a clearance-sale find.

Personal Time
The HTC FUZE offers many additional uses during personal time. Users have access to AT&T Mobile Music services, an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers “your music, your way” by providing simple access to a robust collection of music content, including access to online subscription music content from eMusic®, XM Radio Mobile™ and more. Using the TouchFLO 3D touchscreen navigation, HTC FUZE customers can browse their music with easily accessible tabs sorted by playing lists, artists, albums, songs and genre views. Music as well as favorite contacts and photos can be arranged on-screen with the dynamic TouchFLO 3D interface.

For the visually oriented, CV (Cellular Video) from AT&T gives viewers access to thousands of video clips — news, sports, weather, entertainment, premium HBO MobileSM content and more — via streaming video. Those who prefer full-length streaming video programming can access MobiTV. Or they can use the HTC FUZE’s built-in camera to shoot their own video.

AT&T Video Share, AT&T Mobile Music services, CV, MobiTV and more than 90,000 additional choices are available through AT&T MEdia Mall directly from the HTC FUZE or online.

Backing the HTC FUZE is AT&T’s 3G BroadbandConnect network, which currently is available in more than 320 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and, by year-end, AT&T expects to offer the service in nearly 350 leading U.S. markets. The network’s HSPA-based technology allows users to perform data functions and conduct a phone call simultaneously. In addition to 3G connectivity, the HTC FUZE is also designed to connect seamlessly with AT&T’s nationwide2 EDGE network, which is available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.

Pricing and Availability
The HTC FUZE is available now for as low as $299.991 at AT&T retail stores nationwide, online at www.att.com, at select national retailers and through AT&T’s enterprise and small business sales organizations. AT&T voice plans begin at $39.99 with monthly enterprise data plans priced at $45, and personal data plans at $30 per month. Small business customers also can subscribe to AT&T’s new, industry-first BusinessTalk voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700 Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. AT&T Mobile Music services, AT&T Navigator, Video Share, Push To Talk and MobiTV all require separate monthly subscriptions.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.

1 With a two-year contract, mail-in rebate, and voice and data plans.
2 Not available in all areas.
gizmodo.com

iriver's wave touchphone hits Korea on March 9th

2008-11-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

After teasing us with a touchscreen phone way back at CES this January, iriver has been decidedly mum on the subject ever since, calling what we saw more of a "proof of concept" than a ready-for-market product. Well, that veil has been lifted and we're finally staring at the iriver wave, a touchphone that iriver plans to start shipping in Korea on March 9th of next year with KT, and with other major carriers to follow. Other than a touchscreen, the phone packs WiFi and the traditional kitchen sink approach of Korean PMPs, with multimedia playback, FM radio, e-books and an electronic dictionary. There's miniSD expansion, access to the Bugs Music Service for online music and we're sure a few other perks hidden under layers of Korean spec sheets. Overall the physical design hasn't really changed much from what we saw at the start of the year (looks like that 3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen is quite intact), but the software has certainly been refined, and is devoid of many of its original, erm, iPhone-inspired touches.

[Via Hallyu Tech]

engadget.com

Optoma teams with Apple to launch DLP Pico projector in Japan

2008-11-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

At long last, an official release date for Texas Instruments' DLP Pico projector. Mark it down, December 1st is the launch (delivered by December 19th) of the "world's smallest / lightest" (51 × 105 × 17-mm / 120g) projector under the Optoma PK-101 branding. And in a smart, hip-by-association marketing move, it'll be sold from the Apple Store in Japan with an iPhone / iPod kit and dock connector for a tax-inclusive price of about ¥50,000 ($511). It'll work with non-Apple gear too, of course. With up to 2-hours battery life, an integrated 0.5 watt speaker, and white LED light throwing a 60-inch, "dazzlingly bright, sharp, vivid video image" packing 480 x 320 pixels from up to 8.5 feet away, Tokyo's Golden Gai district will never be the same.

engadget.com

Limited Edition Wall-E Roomba From Japan Sucks in More Ways Than One

2008-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Limited-edition Wall-E Roomba: that brings to mind a certain image of an already-fairly-cute vacuum bot taking on two puppy dog eyes, an adorable electro-babble voice synth and maybe even an inclination to maintain a little nest of sad artifacts it has horded from your waste in an unseen corner of your giant house. Or at least, um, something that looks like the robot whose actual job was to sweep the floor in the movie? Sadly, this limited edition Wall-E Roomba fails on almost every possible count.

Right, all we get here is a regular Roomba 530 with a movie decal slapped on. Cost? ¥84,500 ($850 USD)—about a $550 premium over what the standard 530 will set you back here in the states, sans decal emblazonment. Weeping. Weeping. [Impress Robot Watch (translated)]

gizmodo.com

Nvidia Quadro FX 5800 Claims Most Powerful Graphics Card Ever, Probably Handles Crysis OK

2008-11-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

Nvidia has released what it describes as "the most powerful professional graphics card in graphics history"—the Quadro FX 5800, which packs up to 240 of Nvidia's CUDA independent graphics cores for shouldering some of the load normally handled by the main processor as well as 4GB of graphics memory, another claimed first. The 5800 is intended mostly for scientific and medical visualizations, as well as crazy complex 3D rendering. One might imagine it would also play most of your video games at a decent FPS. Price? $3500.

New NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 Graphics Card Featuring CUDA Massively Parallel
Processing Architecture; Offers Most Robust Performance and Features to
Date for Oil and Gas Exploration, Medical Imaging, and Styling and Design
Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Professionals searching
for oil, diagnosing illness or styling the next high-performance luxury
vehicle all have one thing in common, the need for advanced visual
computing solutions. NVIDIA Corporation, the world leader in visual
computing technologies, today unveiled the most powerful professional
graphics card in graphics history — the NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) FX 5800.

"The size and complexity of data is growing at an exponential rate. The
challenge for today's professional is to make sense of the mountain of data
by distilling it into a form they can comprehend, analyze and use to make
impactful decisions," said Jeff Brown, general manager, Professional
Solutions, NVIDIA. "At stake can be billions of investment dollars, or even
people's lives. The Quadro FX 5800 has advanced features to allow massive
datasets to be viewed beyond traditional 3D enabling professionals to make
fast and accurate decisions."

The Quadro FX 5800 graphics card offers unprecedented performance and
scalability to rapidly visualize and interpret massive datasets that until
now were unattainable on a workstation graphics board. Offering up to 240
CUDA(TM) programmable parallel cores and the industries first 4GB of
graphics memory, the Quadro FX 5800 graphics card is ideally suited for oil
and gas exploration, medical imaging, styling and design, and scientific
visualization. Other advanced features of the Quadro FX 5800 graphics card
include:

— Interactive 4D modeling with time lapse capabilities
— Massive memory bandwidth of up to 102 GB per second
— Fill rates that exceed 52 billion texels per second and geometry
performance of 300 million triangles per second
— Support for next-generation OpenGL and Microsoft DirectX 10
applications
— Advanced multi-system and multi-device visualization environments with
Quadro G-Sync II

"Landmark's recently launched GeoProbe(R) R5000 software empowers
geoscientists with an unprecedented ability to visualize large-scale
regional datasets at full resolution from a standard Linux(R) workstation,"
said Nicholas Purday, manager of Geophysical Technologies at Landmark. "The
NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 graphics card has a more powerful GPU and superior
triangle performance, which make it possible for the GeoProbe application
to quickly render large surfaces, and allow us to move many
computing-intensive processes to the graphics card, significantly enhancing
the overall user experience." Landmark is an industry leading software and
technology services brand of Halliburton, one of the world's largest
providers of products and services to the energy industry.

"The advanced textured graphics capabilities of the Quadro FX 5800 are
enabling CyberHeart to provide 3D radiosurgical target visualization and
definition tools for the purpose of treating cardiac arrhythmias," said
Thilaka Sumanaweera, CTO, CyberHeart. "Our applications are processing very
large data sets acquired by the state-of-the-art 64-slice CT scanners using
respiratory- and cardiac-gating. The Quadro FX cards provide us with the
extreme bandwidth necessary to support our cutting-edge technology, and
essentially, save lives." CyberHeart, Inc., is a medical device company
developing a non-invasive radiosurgical system for cardiac applications.

The Quadro FX 5800 GPU features true 10-bit color enabling billions
rather than millions of color variations for rich, vivid image quality with
the broadest dynamic range. Professionals now benefit from viewing their
models with higher degrees of precision and realism never before possible.

"Our customers are making important decisions about future products on
the basis of RTT-powered 3D real-time models," said Ludwig Fuchs, cofounder
and CEO of RTT. "The new Quadro FX 5800 will be the platform of choice to
bring that arena to the next level. Higher levels of realism, physical
correctness and large models are now made possible through a double number
of cores and a generous frame buffer." Realtime Technology AG, is a leading
supplier of real- time visualization technology and virtual prototyping
solutions to the automotive, aerospace, industrial and consumer goods
design industries.

Pricing and Availability

NVIDIA Quadro solutions are widely available through leading PC
manufacturers and workstation system integrators and NVIDIA channel
partners PNY Technologies (US and EMEA), Leadtek (APAC) and Elsa (Japan).
The Quadro FX 5800 graphics board has an MSRP of $3499 USD. For more
information about the full lineup of NVIDIA professional solutions please
visit http://www.nvidia.com/quadro.
gizmodo.com

Navigon launches "uber-premium" 4.8-inch 8100T navigator

2008-11-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

In an effort to make sure you're well aware that the 8100T is the most premium possible, even better than ultra- or mega-premium, Navigon has definitively described the aforesaid navigator as "uber-premium." So, now that the bar is set at an unbelievably high level, how's about an outlay of the sure-to-be-phenomenal specs? We're talking a 4.8-inch display, brushed-metal housing, a 3D view using NASA terrain height data, free real-time traffic updates for life, voice destination entry, Bluetooth handsfree support, text-to-speech and an inbuilt lane assistant. The only question left is simply this: is all of that uber enough to warrant the $599 price tag?

engadget.com

iPhone 3G overtakes the RAZR as best-selling domestic handset

2008-11-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

According to a report from NPD, sales of cellphones have shifted in a manner which should shock and stun even a casual observer. Apparently for the first time in years, Motorola's ubiquitous RAZR has been overtaken in consumer sales... by the iPhone 3G. This is a watershed moment for handset sales in the US, marking not only a shift away from the dominant market leader, but a turn towards more complex, full-featured devices. The news comes hot on the heels of NPD's previous findings, which still placed the RAZR in the top spot -- though with ever-decreasing numbers. In that same report, the iPhone found itself in second place, but it appears that flagging interest in the inescapable dumbphone coupled with the recent iPhone PR blitz have put Apple's moneymaker into the top position. The news is also buoyed by recent reports that Apple has overtaken RIM as the number two smartphone vendor, and a J.D. Power study which found affection for the device waxing in the extreme. Overall, however, handset sales fell 15 percent year-over-year, and LG managed to snag the top brand position, with two models in the top five. Still, if there already wasn't a clear indication of the market moving towards both smartphones and touchscreen devices, this should give everyone a clearer picture of both the public's wants, and the power of Cupertino's ad-men. Full PR after the break.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The NPD Group: iPhone 3G Leads U.S. Consumer Mobile Phone Purchases in the Third Quarter of 2008

Overall consumer mobile phone purchases declined 15 percent year-over-year

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 10, 2008 – According to The NPD Group, the leader in market research for the wireless industry, Apple's iPhone 3G surpassed the Motorola RAZR as the leading handset purchased by adult consumers in the U.S. in the third quarter (Q3) of 2008. RAZR had been ranked by NPD as the top-selling consumer handset for the past 12 quarters.

Even with stronger consumer sales of iPhone, and the mobile phone market's normal seasonal uplift after Q2, domestic handset purchases by adult consumers declined 15 percent year over year in Q3 to 32 million units. Consumer handset sales revenue fell 10 percent to $2.9 billion, even as the average selling price (ASP) rose 6 percent to $88.

Top-selling handsets and mobile phone brands

"The displacement of the RAZR by the iPhone 3G represents a watershed shift in handset design from fashion to fashionable functionality," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD. "Four of the five best-selling handsets in the third quarter were optimized for messaging and other advanced Internet features."

The top handset models in rank order, based on unit sales in Q3, were as follows:

1. Apple iPhone 3G
2. Motorola RAZR V3 (all models)
3. RIM Blackberry Curve (all models)
4. LG Rumor
5. LG enV2

Popular features

When it comes to the specific features that motivated U.S. consumers to purchase their handsets, 43 percent of handset buyers cited the need for a camera and 36 percent noted the ability to send and receive text messages. Mobile phones with a QWERTY keyboard experienced the greatest year-over-year rise in sales; 30 percent of handsets were sold with this feature in Q3 2008, versus just 11 percent the year prior. Also this quarter 83 percent of phones purchased were Bluetooth enabled (versus 72 percent last year), and 68 percent of phones purchased in Q3 were music enabled (versus 49 percent last year).

"A growing data divide continues in cellular handsets," Rubin said. "Those who see the value in wireless Internet access are justifying the investment, whereas voice-centric users have little incentive to upgrade, which is obviously detrimental to operators who seek to sell data plans and media-access services to their subscribers."

Methodology: NPD compiles and analyzes mobile device sales data based on more than 150,000 completed online consumer research surveys each month. Surveys are based on a nationally balanced and demographically representative sample of U.S. adults. Results are projected to represent the entire population of U.S. consumers age 18 and older.

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, visit http://www.npd.com/.

engadget.com

Seagate announces larger, faster AES-packing Momentus hard drives

2008-11-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Today's corporate laptops tend to be bristling with security measures, able to uniquely identify your fingers and faces on top of whatever authentication measures your operating system offers. But, without some kind of encryption, the drives inside are left completely vulnerable to anyone with a screwdriver. Seagate has been combating that with its AES-packing Momentus Full Drive Encryption disks for years, finally updating the range with a suite of larger and faster models. The first is the Momentus 5400 FDE.3, a 5400RPM drive with 8MB of cache available in 160GB and 320GB sizes. There's also the Momentus 7200 FDE, coming in the same two capacities but with twice the cache and, predictably, spinning at 7200RPM. Seagate's promising 500GB flavors soon, all with onboard AES encryption that doesn't impact boot times or overall performance. Just don't forget that BIOS password, yeah?

engadget.com

Android Bug Reboots Phone Every Time You Type "Reboot"

2008-11-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

The latest big bug discovered in Android has to be one of the craziest that's shipped with a phone. Basically, Android invisibly interprets every word as a command and executes it with "superuser privileges." If you open up your keyboard and type r-e-b-o-o-t, your G1 will, yep, reboot.

(It'll do this with any other command too, so stay away from combinations of rm and rf.) The bug affects any phone with firmware version 1.0 TC4-RC29 or earlier. A lot of people should've had already gotten the RC30 update pushed to them (our phone has), but since they go out sorta haphazardly, you could be stuck with it for a little bit. The hilarity potential of rebooting your friend's phone over and over kinda makes this worth it though. [ZDNet]

gizmodo.com

Onyx Online Could Turn iPhones Into Nifty Social Gaming Devices

2008-11-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

Onyx Online, for the iPhone, is kind of like Xbox Live. Sort of. The ambitious service is the brainchild of Trism developer Steve Demeter, who hopes to add a slew of "social media" features to iPhone games, like leaderboards, achievements, forums, and the like. There's even a pissing contest feature, wherein Onyx-enabled games will allow players to view each other's profiles, scores, challenge friends, and see what games people are playing. Like we said, just add a headset and some 15-year-old boys screaming "your gay" and you have Xbox Live (and no, there's no typo there— even when they scream it, they use the wrong spelling, just like in the forums).

The thing is, Onxy was created more out of a sense of self-preservation amongst developers than it was keeping it real for people who game on the iPhone. As the App Store becomes cluttered with hundreds upon hundreds of throwaway games, Demeter told Wired the indie developer is in danger of being muscled out by big boys like Sega, who have the marketing budget to get their titles (for better or worse) to the top of the heap.

So by making games talk to one another, or by encouraging some competition among the players, a pack mentality begins to take shape with the smaller games. A rising tide raises all boats, or the saying goes.

"Right now games don't introduce the social aspect at all on the iPhone," Demeter told Wired. "If there is a social aspect it's an island. If these users are playing Trism, they're playing Trism; it's an island. How does that tie into other puzzle games? If players are still connected to a larger whole then they're more likely to keep playing other games."

Demter then claimed Onyx will "save" the App Store. For now, we'll agree that it could save something—Demeter's busines—but we'll be watching this one nevertheless. [Wired]

gizmodo.com

Standard Dell mouse gets GSR electrode implant

2008-11-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

Looking to spark up a makeshift psychology lab in the basement of your house? Look no further than the galvanic skin response computer mouse. For those unaware, GSR electrodes can gather data about human interactions with computers, though most rigs are so invasive that test subjects end up freaking out rather than passing on useful information. This non-obtrusive method relies on a device that the vast majority of computer users already use (that'd be a mouse), and by simply installing the sensors into the left and right click buttons, you're left with an analyzing tool that may not even tip off your kid sister, significant other, or your most favorite poker pal. At any rate, hit the read link to get your mad scientist on.

[Via MAKE]

angadget.com

Holux quietly introduces 5-inch GPSmile 62 navigator

2008-11-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

What comes after the GPSmile 61? Why, the GPSmile 62, of course! The predictably titled successor to the big-bezeled unit we spotted at CES earlier this year has surfaced, though there's no real indication that it's coming stateside. Thus far, we're seeing a 5-inch WQVGA display, an "edge-free" design, an SD card slot, integrated speakers and a removable rechargeable battery to boot. You'll also find a built-in multimedia player as well as Bluetooth, and the TMC support should keep you posted on real-time traffic. You're hopelessly riveted, aren't you?

[Via SlashGear]

engadget.com

Dell Inspiron Mini 12 reviewed: bigger, not necessarily better

2008-11-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

After toying with our heartstrings for like, ever, Dell finally gathered up the courage to formally introduce its 12-inch netbook late last month. After arriving at the testing facilities of Laptop Mag, critics quickly found a lot to love about the relatively expansive display, "excellent" battery life and spacious keyboard. In all fairness, there really wasn't anything to complain about on the surface; the first kvetching we heard was soon after bootup -- er, a fair while after bootup, we should say. The biggest knock on Dell's Mini 12 was its sluggish performance under Vista, not to mention the lethargic hard drive shoved in there. In sum, critics frankly pointed out that the "Mini 12 doesn't have the right hardware to handle this OS," and recommended holding off for one with WinXP / Ubuntu if you were dead set on the design.

engadget.com

MIG33 ID for SALE

2008-11-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

HUBUNGI/PVT " punc "
081218923522
085694321568

ID RESEND:
adtwm(r) / bugga(r) / codna(r) / gesas(r) / gulem(r) / jajee(r) / jakei(r) / jekon(r) / jekon(r) / ludhu(r) / musht(r) / razat(r) / sageb(r) / spurf(r) / werel(r) / zorna(r) / pagan(r) wk.......(r)

ID AKTIF:
koket / krake / krale / luuen / magon / madah / mauka / mgggo / mudor / nkaaa / pakac / rosic / saonb / sasga / sinee / skruf / sunue / sunus / sunom / sparv / youkb / gampt / gamdg / knops / ronky / wtgmd / apkal /

ID ANGKA:
ange2 / bra22(r) / gob43(r) / gren9(r) / hari3(r) / jada2 / jaki2 / jata2(r) / koke5(r) / mush7(r) / sale4 / und22 / vat06 / bot13

ID 3 DGT:
* npq(r) / kxm(r) / br7(r) / e56 / bel

MULTY:
* bv1 sampai bv30 tanpa
bv11 .Resend code semua (600rb)
* wt206 sampai wt260 aktif
semua 47 nik (300rb)

THANKS

Pioneer Inno XMp3 reviewed: great, save for reception hiccups

2008-11-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

You've gotten a face full of the Pioneer-built Inno XMp3, but aren't you eager to find out how the bugger performs? Knowing that your head is wildly bobbing up and down as if to say "yes," we present to you CNET's take on the latest portable XM Radio. Overall, the compact unit fared pretty well in testing, as it proved to be easy to operate, easy on the eyes and just downright easy to live with. The only knocks came from the lack of photo / video viewing (yes, that includes album art for library music) and the occasional reception issue. It should be noted, however, that this "reception issue" is kind of a big deal given the nature of the device, and that quirk alone knocked it from the ranks of the elite. Still, critics felt the unit was a worthwhile purchase if you're willing to deal with a few drops, and the way we see it, those just give you ample opportunities to hone your freestyle skills. Word?

engadget.com

AT&T Quickfire hits shelves a few days early

2008-11-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

We hear that some truly lucky humans have gotten their hands on the AT&T Quickfire (also known as the Knick), which is supposed to go on sale November 10th, so that means... yup about two days early. The asking price for the device was $149.99 (with a $50 mail in rebate) with a new 2 year contract. As for details, all we know is that it was purchased in an AT&T store by an unnamed mystery customer in a "small town." Sometimes it truly pays to live in the real America.

engadget.com
freehtc.com

T-Mobile G1 review

2008-11-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but rumors of a "Googlephone" have been floating around since 2006. To put it in perspective, the first Gphone post on Engadget was written by Peter Rojas. Needless to say, it's been a long, slow ride to get to Android, the Open Handset Alliance, and ultimately the T-Mobile G1. If we said expectations were high for the introduction of this device, it would be an understatement. It's not every day that a company with the stature of Google announces it's getting into the phone game, and it's certainly not every day that an honest-to-goodness innovator comes along. That last time the team at Engadget got this stoked for a device, it was a little something called the iPhone -- and you know how that turned out. Will Android and the G1 live up to the hype? Is this the first coming of a serious new contender in the mobile space, or has the triple threat of Google, HTC, and T-Mobile not delivered on their promises? We've put both the device and the software through its paces to bring you the definitive review of the T-Mobile G1 and Android, so read on to get your answers.

As we've really gone to great lengths to dissect the phone and OS, we're splitting the review into two, easy to digest parts. Enjoy!

engadget.com

Rambus takes aim at NVIDIA over alleged ,patent infringement again

2008-11-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

While there still doesn't seem to have been any developments in the lawsuit Rambus filed against NVIDIA earlier this year, that doesn't seem to be stopping the company from opening up another front against its would-be arch rival, and it's now taken its case to the International Trade Commission. As before, Rambus is alleging that NVIDIA and its partner companies are infringing on a whole slew of its memory-related patents, and it's asking for a ban on all imports and sales of NVIDIA products that include DDR, DDR2, DDR3, LPDDR, GDDR, GDDR2, and GDDR3 memory controllers -- or anything with an NVIDIA logo on it, basically. For its part, NVIDIA doesn't seem to be commenting on the matter just yet, but Rambus said in a statement that it believes the action was "necessary given NVIDIA's continued willful infringement of our patents." Look for the ITC to make a decision on whether to start an investigation into the matter or not within the next 30 days, and you can keep tabs on any future Rambus litigation on the Litigation Update section of its website which, yes, actually exists.

engadget.com

Read - Rambus Press Release, "Rambus Files Complaint Against International Trade Commission"
Read - Rambus Litigation Update

[Via The Inquirer]

Judge Orders Apple's New iPod and iPhone Chief to Stop Work Immediately

2008-11-08T08:53:00.000-08:00

Mark Papermaster, a former IBM executive who's replacing retiring iPod chief Tony Fadell, came to Apple with some heavy baggage—namely a one-year no-compete clause that IBM said he was violating by working at Apple. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karashas sided with IBM for the time being in their lawsuit, ordering Papermaster to "immediately cease his employment with Apple Inc. until further order of this court."

Papermaster's argument is that Apple actually doesn't compete with IBM, since "IBM focuses on high-performance business systems such as information technology infrastructure, servers and information storage products, and operating systems software," while "Apple, on the other hand, is in the business of designing, manufacturing and marketing consumer-oriented hardware and related products." More to the point, he says that "I do not recall a single instance of Apple being described as a competitor of IBM during my entire tenure at IBM."

Interestingly, he says he won't be directly involved with Apple's recently acquired chipmaker PA Semi (since running them would be a clear violation of the IBM agreement), though that seems like a bit of stretch, since they're supposedly making chips for the iPod and iPhone.

Apple is complying with the court order, but says they "are confident that Mark Papermaster will be able to ultimately join Apple when this dust settles." [Bloomberg, InfoWeek via AI, 9to5Mac]

gizmodo.com

Zune 120 Coming in Blue, Along with New Zune Originals Designs

2008-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Microsoft's arty Zune Originals designs are a great selling point for the device, but if you weren't satisfied with the selection so far, they're adding a whopping 46 new sketches to the collection. Some of the new designs are awfully snazzy, and they're all available on the Zune Originals site. While perusing the press release, a reader over at Zunerama found a shot of what seems to be the Zune 120 in the same shade of blue as the flash-based blue Zunes. It'd make sense for Microsoft to add a little color to the big brother of the family, so it's probably safe to expect a more official announcement soon. [Zunerama]

gizmodo.com

How would you change the Voodoo Envy 133?

2008-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

While low-cost laptops are all the rage right now, there's still a solid chunk of folks out there willing to pay a premium for potent ultraportables. The Voodoo Envy 133 is undeniably one of the sexier small machines we've seen of late, and the internals are rather impressive given the size of the enclosure. Still, this here rig costs a pretty penny, and we've all ideas those who splurged have a thing or two to say about it with nearly two months of usage under their belt. Has the Envy 133 lived up to your surely lofty expectations? Are there aspects there you wish were different? How could Voodoo go about tweaking things whenever it finally decides to actually launch ~~another product at all~~ its successor?

engadget.com

Walmart, Kmart announce Black Friday-esque deals for days other than Black Friday

2008-11-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

Want to get a jump on your holiday shopping or find a couple of insane bargains to keep for yourself? A few retailers are offering what they've dubbed "Black Friday-style" price cuts for tomorrow -- Saturday, November 8th. Walmart's got a sweet 15.4-inch Compaq CQ-139WM (with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive) laptop for $298, in addition to a PlayStation 2 bundled with a $30 WalMart gift card for $129, and a PlayStation 3 with a $100 gift card for $399. Over at Kmart they're offering up a rad 32-inch Sylvania LCD HDTV for $439.99 (they usually go for for $550). They also have several deals for Sunday, November 9th, including the Wii Fit for $89.99. Is it safe to assume that every Friday (not to mention Saturday and Sunday) until Christmas will be "black"? For the full, mind-blowing rundown, hit the read links.

[Via CNET, I4U News]

Read - Kmart
Read - Walmart Backs Main Street

engadget.com

LG's concept phone contest winners should please art house gadgetphiles

2008-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

When we see alluring phone concepts that'll never leave the lab, we end up wishing there was a little more innovation in the handsets out in the wild. There was a wealth of eyebrow-raising examples of that principle when LG Japan exhibited top entries to its Mobile Design Contest last weekend. We're keen on the fbt, a phone designed for braille text messaging, and the Tap, which is shaped like a light switch and functions like one too -- when you tap it, the phone turns off so you can live once again in peace. The winner, though, was the above-pictured Planet Phone, the surface of which is dotted with LEDs representing your friends; if you don't talk to someone for a while, their light gradually moves out to the edge. It's supposed to remind you to keep in touch, but it has darker connotations -- if you become angry with someone, you can revel in the pleasure of watching them slowly tick away into oblivion. That's absolutely a feature we want to see added to the Storm.

[Via Hallyu Tech]

engadget.com

Yamaha and Fiat to continue together for two more years

2008-11-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd and Fiat Automobiles Spa have concluded an agreement to continue their partnership for a further two years.

The agreement will see Fiat continue as the title sponsor of Yamaha’s Factory MotoGP Team, which will continue to be known as the Fiat Yamaha Team, for 2009 and 2010.

Fiat joined Yamaha at the start of 2007 and their partnership has been a successful one with 14 grand prix wins to date, culminating in the capture of the 2008 Rider, Team and Manufacturer titles. 2009 will see the same team with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo contesting the championship for the Fiat Yamaha Team.

“I heartily welcome the extension of the agreement with Fiat as title sponsor of our MotoGP Factory Team for another two years” said Masao Furusawa, Executive Officer Engineering Operations of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. “We will be working to continue the great partnership that resulted in the Fiat Yamaha Team winning the triple crown in 2008”.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, commented, “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Fiat for a further two years. It remains a very interesting mix for an Italian car manufacturer to be partner of a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer in the world’s premier motorcycle racing series.

“After a tough first season in 2007 we were really happy to win the triple crown titles this year for Yamaha and for Fiat.

“Fiat’s decision to continue for a further two years is a sign of confidence in our activities and a strong confirmation of the value of being involved in the MotoGP championship. Our target for the future is clear: we want to continue with our winning ways and provide even more excitement for the fans of the Fiat Yamaha Team”.

rossifiles.com

Speedy USB 3.0 spec to be unveiled

2008-11-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

The next-generation USB specification is slated to be introduced later this month.

USB 3.0 SuperSpeed logo as shown at WinHEC 2008

(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

On November 17 the SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) Developers Conference, hosted by the USB Implementers Forum in San Jose, Calif., will unveil the USB 3.0 specification to the industry, according to a statement Wednesday from the Implementers Forum.

The USB 3.0 specification, a next-generation high-speed connection standard due in 2009, is significant because all future PCs and devices will use connectors based on it. The spec is also expected to offer 10 times the speed of USB 2.0--used in virtually all PCs introduced in the last few years--or roughly 5 gigabits per second.

Hewlett-Packard, Intel, NEC, NXP Semiconductors, Microsoft, and Texas Instruments are all backers of SuperSpeed USB.

Speaking at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Los Angeles, USB-IF President Jeff Ravencraft said he expects the final specifications to be made public on November 17.

Intel and Nvidia had been skirmishing over the standard but resolved their differences

by : brooke clothers

news.cnet.com

Samsung introduces 23-inch 2342BWX LCD with QWXGA resolution

2008-11-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

Are you one of those freaks of nature who prefer your fonts as tiny as possible in order to best take advantage of every last square millimeter of screen real estate? If so, point your retinas to Samsung's latest marvel, the 23-inch 2342BWX. The LCD monitor boasts a thin black bezel, 5-millisecond response time and a memorizing QWXGA (2,048 x 1,152) resolution. Just to put things in perspective, that's enough pixels to view two A4-sized sheets side by side with room to spare for Vista's sidebar. Sammy's expected to loose this in South Korea soon for ₩399,000 ($315), but trust us, the challenge won't be procuring one, it'll be making sure your GPU can handle it.

[Via AkihabaraNews]
www.engadget.com

Seagate Won't Do Flash SSDs, Waiting For Next-Gen Tech

2008-11-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

Just last month we were reporting "Seagate to begin to switch to SSD" and now company CEO Bill Watkins has said that that's not quite the truth. Seagate will indeed be launching an enterprise-level SSD in 2009, but will not enter the "mobile SSD" market. Whyever not? Because there's no money to be made there: "Right now if you look at it whether it's Micron or Samsung or SanDisk - they're selling at a loss. To do the product is not a big deal but to make money at it - it's important to us." he notes. Instead the company is banking on post MLC technology, something like "a spin around magnetic RAM, it could be a phase shift type of process" says Watkins. Seagate hard drives might be around for a while longer. [Silicon via MRAM-info]

www.gizmodo.com

Windows 7 Will Only Have One 'Ready' Sticker, Down From Vista's Four

2008-11-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

After receiving endless flak for their silly tiered Vista Compatibility scheme, Microsoft has decided to issue a single "Windows 7 Capable" sticker for hardware that works with the new OS. That means no more "Windows Home Basic", "Windows Ready", "Certified for Windows" and "Windows Ready When You Are, Asshole" labels slapped on every piece of hardware in the computer aisle at Best Buy.

During the same conference in which this was announced, Microsoft demonstrated Windows 7 on a modestly spec'd Eee netbook, so it looks like Windows 7 compatibility might be taken for granted with most new PCs. Microsoft did tell the Register that there would be different stickers for touchscreen and media center devices. While the touchscreen sticker will be a convenient indicator that a device is touch-capable, what will media center sticker mean? That a computer has an HDMI output? That marketing asked for it? Also, one=three, apparently. [The Register]

www.gizmodo.com

i-Sobot Tiny Humanoid Robot Now Just Tiny $100

2008-11-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

iSobot may no longer be the world's smallest bipedal humanoid robot, but it's still amazing, and it's had an amazing price cut too: Last year when it debuted it was over $300, now it's just $100. At that price you could practically afford a small army of them, give them a suitable evil make-over and re-enact the Orc battle scene from the end of Lord of the Rings on your dining table. Or something. [Hammacher via BotJunkie]

www.gizmodo.com

i-SOBOT, World's Smallest Humanoid Robot, Hits US Next Month

2008-11-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Takara Tomy's 6.5-inch, Guinness-certified "smallest humanoid robot in production," i-SOBOT, is finally making its way to our primitive shores next month. The English website and price are still "coming soon," but since this dancing, push-upping wunderbot runs about $300 in Japan, we can pretty safely guess it'll be thereabouts. Hopefully we'll have our meatpuppet mitts on one soon to tell you if it's worth it. [i-SOBOT]

www.gizmodo.com

BlackBerry Storm to Appear On November 14

2008-11-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

According to a tipster working at Verizon, the BlackBerry Storm—Research In Motion clickity-touchscreen rival against AT&T's iPhone and T-Mobile's G1— will appear on Friday next week, November 14. This is the reason of the new Verizon's $30 data plans, which will be obligatory starting on that date:

I work for Verizon wireless. Your post was correct: We are putting in forced data packs on the 14th. The reason is that this is the Storm's release date from every memo that we have been given access to, it will be released that morning at all Verizon Corporate stores. Second tier resellers, like Wireless Zone, will get it at the end of the month.

gizmodo.com

China goes after tainted feed producers

2008-11-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Chinese authorities say they're cracking down on producers of animal feed after finding the chemical melamine in eggs.

Producers found dealing in tainted feed will lose their business licenses and face criminal prosecution, the China Daily newspaper reported Saturday.

Melamine-tainted eggs found last week in Hong Kong were produced in the northeastern port city of Dalian and the central Hubei province, RIA Novosti reported.

In the last two months, China has closed 238 animal feed companies for melamine-related violations and destroyed an estimated 3,682 tons of substandard feed, RIA Novosti reported.

The melamine scare began last year with tainted pet-food products and has since spread to animal feed and milk products. Several babies have died and thousands more have fallen ill from drinking melamine-tainted milk, say Chinese health officials.

Acer Netbook Shipments to Beat Asus's Eee PC

2008-11-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Acer, the world's third-largest PC vendor, said shipments of its Aspire one netbook could reach 6 million units this year, which would edge out Asustek Computer's popular Eee PC at the top of the market.

Asus has set a target for Eee PC shipments this year of 5 million, which would be a million shy of the lead if Acer meets its target.

The defeat may not be easy for Asus to accept since the company has largely been responsible for popularizing the netbook idea commercially with the Eee PC.

Asus launched the Eee PC late last year to great fanfare at its small size and price. The least expensive Eee PC at the time came with a 7-inch screen and an NT$7999 (US$240) price tag.

Acer is gaining ground fast with its Aspire one, which it announced in June this year.

Netbooks are mini-laptop PCs designed for mobility, typically sporting 7-inch to 10-inch screens and weighing less than 2 kilograms. Most netbook components, including the microprocessor, are less powerful than those of full-fledged laptops so batteries last longer. Netbooks aer designed for dealing with e-mail, browsing the Internet and working on word processor or spreadsheet documents, not for heavy duty gaming, video editing or other multimedia work.

On Thursday, Asus forecast fourth-quarter shipments of the Eee PC at between 1.6 million and 1.8 million units, compared to 1.7 million units in the third quarter. Acer, by comparison, said its Aspire one shipments reached 2.4 million units in the third quarter and it expects fourth quarter shipments to exceed that amount.

"The netbook segment is growing very nicely," said Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci during the company's third quarter investors' conference in Taipei on Friday.

Next year, Acer will ship 12 million to 15 million Aspire ones, he said. Asustek declined to comment on 2009 Eee PC shipments.

The main difference between the two Taiwanese companies is size. Acer's revenue in the third quarter was NT$159.2 billion, more than twice the NT$78.3 billion revenue at Asus. Acer ranks behind only Hewlett-Packard and Dell in the global PC market.

Acer's bigger size gives it the ability to launch products in most markets across the globe simultaneously, while Asustek has been building its marketing and sales channels throughout the year.

www.pcworld.com

Telur palsu China menjadi sorotan di Korea, Anda sulit membedakan keasliannya!

2008-10-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Seorang pekerja tidur krat-krat telur di sebuah grosiran di Beijing, Cina. Beberapa media utama China, yang mana telah menggemparkan dan menyebabkan kekhawatiran besar di antara Korea (China Photos/Getty Images)

[Erabaru.or. id] - Baru-baru ini, produk-produk tiruan China telah menjadi sorotan di Korea . Beberapa media arus utama Korea telah memberitakan proses pembuatan telur-telur tiruan di China , yang telah menggemparkan dan menyebabkan kekhawatiran besar di antara penduduk Korea . Pada 1-2 September lalu, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) menayangkan sebuah dokumenter berjudul, “Hidup tanpa produk-produk buatan China .” Acara tersebut menelusuri kehidupan tiga keluarga di Korea Selatan , AS , dan Jepang yang menolak menggunakan produk-produk buatan China . Tayangan ini juga berbicara mengenai telur-telur buatan yang merajalela di China , acara ini telah menarik perhatian publik Korea .

Menyusul acara tersebut, koran nomor satu Korea, Chosun Ilbo, telah menerbitkan sebuah artikel berjudul “MBC Special mengekspos telur-telur tiruan buatan China,” melaporkan secara rinci bagaimana telur-telur tiruan itu dibuat. Dong-A Ilbo, koran Korea lainnya, pada 14 Agustus 2007 juga telah menerbitkan sebuah laporan berjudul “Telur-telur buatan dari China dibuat dari bahan-bahan kimia telah muncul di pasaran”.

Sepersepuluh Harga

Untuk membuat telur putih, beberapa jenis bahan, termasuk semacam bubuk dan tawas, dicampurkan – EAST WEEK

Menurut laporan dari Chosun Ilbo, karena peningkatan tajam harga-harga makanan di China, telur-telur buatan, yang dibuat hanya dari bahan kimia tanpa bahan alami, telah muncul di Kota Zhengzhou, Provinsi Henan. Mr. Wang, yang menjalankan sebuah perusahaan yang membuat bahan tambahan makanan, menjelaskan bagaimana telur-telur tiruan itu dibuat. “‘Putih telur’ dibuat dengan melarutkan sodium alginate dalam air. Larutan tersebut akan terlihat seperti cairan bening yang kental dan sulit membedakannya dengan putih telur yang sebenarnya.

“‘Kuning telur’ dibuat dengan menyekop suatu carian dengan pigmen kuning dan memadatkan serokan cairan tersebut ke dalam larutan kalsium klorida. Akhirnya, ‘putih telur’ dan ‘kuning telur’ dibungkus ke dalam ‘kulit telur’ yang dibuat dari kalsium karbonat.

“Jika ditambahkan tepung kanji atau bubuk kuning telur pada ‘kuning telur’ tersebut, tekstur dari sebuah telur buatan setelah dimasak hampir identik dengan telur yang sebenarnya.

Wang mengatakan hanya menghabiskan 0,55 yuan (0,07 dolar AS) untuk membuat

‘Kuning telur’ dibentuk pada cetakan. ‘Air ajaib’ mengandung kalsium khlorida juga digunakan – EAST WEEK

lebih dari 2 butir telur, kurang dari sepersepuluh harga telur yang sebenarnya di pasaran (0,8 dolar AS.)

Bahan utama dalam telur-telur buatan tersebut adalah bahan tambahan makanan, getah damar, kanji, pengeras, dan pigmen-pigmen. Konsumsi yang berlebihan atas bahan-bahan tersebut akan merusak perut dan menyebabkan gejala-gejala seperti kehilangan ingatan dan keterlambatan mental, dll.

Korea Dikecewakan

Dokumenter khusus dan laporan berita tersebut telah menuai perhatian dan kegemparan di tengah penduduk Korea . Banyak orang Korea menyatakan bahwa meskipun produk-produk buatan China seperti pakaian, elektronik, dan lain-lainnya terbilang murah dan telah membawa kenyamanan bagi hidup mereka, kualitas dan keamanannya sungguh mengkhawatirkan.

Belum lama ini, berbagai mainan buatan China telah ditarik dari rak-rak supermarket karena cat pada mainan tersebut mengandung sejumlah logam berat yang sangat tinggi dan dapat mengancam keselamatan anak-anak. Kursus Membuat Telur Buatan Diiklankan Secara Online di China Fakta telur buatan bukanlah hal baru di China . Kursus-kursus latihan untuk “membuat telur buatan” tersebar luas di Beijing, Provinsi

Selaput keras dibentuk dengan menuangkan parafin dan sejenis cairan pada telur lalu didiamkan untuk kering – EAST WEEK

Henan , Shandong, Hebei dan Guangdong . Seorang wartawan Epoch Times telah melakukan pencarian di Internet dan menemukan banyak iklan seperti itu. Kelas-kelas dilakukan dari satu sampai dua hari dan biayanya berkisar antara 300 sampai 800 yuan (40-100 dolar AS).

Sebuah pusat latihan tertentu di Kota Shangqiu mengajarkan teknik pembuatan telur buatan dan memberikan cetakan gratis dalam kursus tersebut. Pusat latihan tersebut menjamin bahwa “Anda sulit dapat membedakan bentuk dan rasa antara produk kami dengan telur yang sebenarnya.”

Baca liputan tentang Kursus Membuat Telur ini di sini: http://www.erabaru.or.id/k_23_art_76.html

Apa Makanan Asli di China?

Sebuah pusat riset yang bermarkas di Fengtai, Beijing , menyatakan bahwa “Perusahaan kami telah menyebarkan teknologi pembuatan telur buatan. Kami telah melatih lebih dari 70 ribu siswa di lebih dari 20 provinsi di dalam negeri. Kami juga menyediakan teknologi untuk membuat “anggur buatan,” daging ayam dan daging sapi buatan,” dan “membuat permen beraroma hawthorn (sejenis buah berry berwarna merah) tanpa menggunakan buah hawthorn.” Menyusul membanjirnya laporan tentang kualitas produk-produk buatan China baru-baru ini, beberapa warga Korea berseru, “Lalu apa yang dapat kalian makan di China? Sungguh industri makanan di China dibanjiri oleh kebohongan dan penipuan, karenanya membuat kepanikan di tengah konsumen.”

Bagaimana Membuat Telur Dari Guangzhou

Untuk membuat telur putih, beberapa jenis bahan, termasuk semacam bubuk dan tawas, dicampurkan - EAST WEEK’Kuning telur’ dibentuk pada cetakan. ‘Air ajaib’ mengandung kalsium khlorida juga digunakan - EAST WEEKSelaput keras dibentuk dengan menuangkan parafin dan sejenis cairan pada telur lalu didiamkan untuk kering - EAST WEEK (Erabaru.or. id) - Penggerebekan baru-baru ini di sebuah pusat grosir kota Guangzhou, ibu kota provinsi Guangdong, ditemukan sejumlah besar telur palsu.

Harga grosir telur palsu adalah 0,15 yuan (0,03 Dollar Singapura) per butir - setengah harga dari telur asli.

Konsumen sangat sulit membedakan telur asli dan telur palsu. Ini adalah berita bagus bagi para pengusaha nakal yang bahkan mengeluarkan tidak kurang 150 dolar Singapura untuk mengikuti kursus tiga hari cara memproduksi telur buatan. Seorang wartawan dari Majalah East Week dari Hong Kong mengikuti salah satu kursus tersebut.

Untuk menciptakan telur putih, instruktor - seorang wanita berusia 20 tahunan menggunakan sejenis ramuan seperti agar-agar, bubuk yang tidak diketahui jenisnya, asam benzoid, bahan pengentalan dan bahkan tawas yang biasa digunakan untuk pengolah industri.

Untuk menciptakan kuning telur, bubuk berwarna kuning jeruk dicampur ke dalam air dan diaduk. Cairan itu kemudian dituangkan ke dalam cetakan plastik yang berbentuk bulat dan dicampur dengan apa yang disebut ‘air ajaib,’ yang mengandung kalsium khlorida. Ini akan membuat selaput tipis di luar ‘kuning telur,’ yang akan mengikatnya dengan kuat.

Lalu telur tersebut dibentuk dengan sebuah cetakan. Tidak lupa kulit telur juga dibuat. Parafin dan sejenis cairan putih yang tidak ketahui jenisnya dituang ke dalam telur palsu itu, lalu didiamkan untuk kering.

Telur buatan ini dapat dijemur dengan sinar matahari atau dikukus. Meskipun muncul gelembung-gelumbung dari telur putih, orang yang mencicipi mengatakan bahwa rasa telur palsu ini sangat mirip dengan telur asli.

Tetapi para ahli memperingatkan akan bahaya mengkonsumsi telur palsu ini. Tidak hanya telur-telur palsu itu tidak mengandung nutrisi apapun, seorang profesor Universitas China Hong Kong memperingatkan bahwa mengkonsumsi tawas dalam waktu lama dapat mengakibatkan penyakit dementia (penyakit mental yang
serius yang dapat mempengaruhi kemampuan berpikir, mengingat dan bertingkah laku normal).

Sumber :

Cui Yingshu, The Epoch Times, 11 Sep 2007 [http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-9-11/59598.html ]
http://www.erabaru.or.id/k_23_art_76.html

Pure*Gold PC is just what you think it is

2008-10-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since we've seen a full-size gold-plated PC, but it looks like the advent of small form factor PCs is keeping this little bit of excess alive even in these economic hard times, and the folks at Plush Department have even managed to find it in themselves to provide a matching amplifier for its new Pure*Gold PC. From the looks of it, they've also managed to cram some reasonably high-end specs into the PC, including an unspecified Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT graphics with 512MB of RAM, and a generous eight USB ports and two FireWire ports. No word on a price, naturally, but, whatever exorbitant amount it is, you can just tell yourself that it's not just a PC, it's an investment.

[Via musicradar.com]

AT&T plays nice, gives BlackBerry users free Wi-Fi, too

2008-10-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

After months of giving and taking back free Wi-Fi to iPhone users , AT&T announced that all BlackBerry users will be privy to the “nation’s largest Wi-Fi network” if you have an unlimited data plan. Other Wi-Fi-enabled devices will receive the same treatment in the future.

Free Wi-Fi is also being offered to those with AT&T small business broadband plans, AT&T High Speed Internet plans and with qualified AT&T LaptopConnect plans. AT&T is also offering Wi-Fi subscriptions for $20 a month.

“AT&T is committed to providing its customers with the best connectivity at the best value,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T’s mobility business unit. “We have the industry’s leading
lineup of smartphones, along with the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network. It only makes sense for us to bring these unique capabilities together for our customers.”

www.crunchgear.com

Beatles Version of Rock Band to Offer Unprecedented Gameplay

2008-10-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

A Beatles-branded interactive music game along the lines of Rock Band and Guitar Hero will give gamers and music lovers a chance to play songs from every stage of the Beatles' storied career, from the sweet simplicity of "Please, Please Me" to more sophisticated fare like the songs on Abbey Road.

Unlike previous editions of Rock Band, this one will exist as a "Beatles game" rather than as a branded version of Rock Band. The basic gameplay will be familiar to those who have played other versions of Rock Band, said Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos, but the Beatles' version represents "a unique opportunity for us to forge into new creative terrain in the music game genre and do things that have never been done."

When Wired.com asked Rigopulos to elaborate and whether the game might include song elements such as an Octopus' Garden, he wouldn't get into specifics. But he did say, "a visual exploration of the Beatles imagery is a big part of the creative direction of the project," and Apple Corps. CEO Jeff Jones said the game will include imagery spanning the band's entire career.

MTV's Beatles music game will benefit from participation by surviving band members Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr and the other two stakeholders in Apple Corps, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison.

"Every member of the Apple team -- Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon have been part of the conversation, have seen demonstrations of the game, understand how it's going to roll out, what you're going to see on your screen, how the interactivity and the immersive experience will unfold and they will be involved along every step of the way creatively and musically, with Giles Martin [son of Beatles producer George Martin]," said Apple Corps' Jones. "They'll be involved in the design and the implementation of the design."

The Apple Corps four have seen an early version of the game and seem pleased. McCartney called the project "a fun idea which broadens the appeal of the Beatles and their music," adding, "I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out."

Starr observed that the game will ensure that future generations can experience the band's music in a way that make sense to them. "The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that the Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in," he said. "Let the games commence."

Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin, is adapting the British versions of the band's releases for use within the game. "The thing that we're trying to keep to ... is for people to play the songs as though they're playing the originals," said Martin. "We will be adhering to the original mixes my father and the Beatles did."

MTV/Harmonix' as-yet unnamed Beatles game is slated for a late '09 release.

http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/10/beatles-version.html

Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) Released

2008-10-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

SDen writes
"Bang on target, the new version of Ubuntu Linux is available for our downloading pleasure. Amongst various changes it sports updates to the installer, improved networking, and a new 'Mobile USB' version geared towards the blossoming netbook market. Grab a copy from the Ubuntu website, and check out Linux Format's hands-on look at the Ibex."

Fiat Yamaha riders head to Valencia with more records in sight

2008-10-30T09:08:00.001-07:00

Circuit Ricardo Tormo

A record-breaking season for Fiat Yamaha reaches its finale this weekend as the Grand Prix of Valencia brings the curtain down on the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. The traditional season-ending Spanish fiesta sees Valentino Rossi arrive with the title already in his pocket and the all-time points record for a season within his sights, whilst Jorge Lorenzo will become the highest-placed rookie in four-stroke MotoGP history by scoring just four points.

In a season that has seen Rossi become MotoGP World Champion for the sixth time, breaking the record number of wins in the class and scoring his 150th Grand Prix podium on the way, he now needs just eleven points to break the record for the highest tally in a season. He currently stands on 357 points, meaning fifth place or above would take him above the benchmark he set in 2005, which was equalled by Casey Stoner last year.

Lorenzo currently lies fourth in the championship and whilst third is now a mathematically impossibility, Andrea Dovizioso would have to win the race and hope the Spaniard finishes no higher than twelfth to dislodge him. Dovizioso is also the only rider with any chance of denying Lorenzo the title of Rookie of the Year. It is a familiar scenario for the old rivals, who entered the final round of the 2006 season at Valencia battling for the 250cc title, which Lorenzo won with fourth place as the Italian finished seventh.

The 21-year-old from Mallorca has never won at the Ricardo Tormo circuit although he will be looking to set that record straight this weekend in front of the 130,000 race-day fans that will pack into the unique stadium-style surroundings of the track. The layout is characterised by a never-ending burst of tight corners, connected by short straights. The long penultimate looping left-hander and the fast entry to turn one contrast violently with the otherwise geometric flip-flop chicanes and slow speed corners of the infield.

Valentino Rossi - “An account to settle”
“I have had two bad years at Valencia and I have some memories I would like to forget with a good result there this year – I have an account to settle! In 2006 I crashed and lost the championship and then last year I broke my hand and lost second place in the championship! It’s not the best track for us but I won there with Yamaha in my first year with them and I would like to do the same again this weekend. It’s been a fantastic season and the win on Sunday in Malaysia was great, but I am not finished yet and I want to reward my team, Yamaha and Bridgestone for a fantastic season with the best possible result on Sunday. Then we can all celebrate with a big party!”

Jorge Lorenzo - “Aiming to finish on a high”
“Sunday was really disappointing but I am not hurt and now we are looking forward to Valencia. It’s the third ‘home’ race for me and since at the last one, in Barcelona, I couldn’t race, I especially want to get a good result for all my fans. It will be a special race because it’s the 10th anniversary of the Valencia circuit. Of course it is a little sad that I am no longer fighting for third in the Championship, but I can still be Rookie of the Year and this is what I am aiming for. It is really important for me and for all my team. I don’t have the best record at Valencia, I’ve never won the race there, although I was second in 2005, but I do have great memories from winning the 250cc world championship there in 2006. It will be our last race with Michelin, who I won my first premier class race with, and more than anything I want to get a good result for them, for my tyre technician Pierre, for Jean-Phillipe Weber and of course for my team.”

Davide Brivio - “We want to win and party”
“Valencia is the last race of the season so we go there with a twin objective – to win the race and to party! It is nice to go to another race without any pressure and I think all the Spanish fans will enjoy watching Valentino in the incredible form he has shown recently. Of course it has been a tough few weeks on the road for the team, with a lot of travelling involved but honestly when you are winning you don’t feel the stress! Even so, it will be nice to be back in Europe and we will be focusing on ending the season on a high. Whatever the result, we’ll be partying on Sunday night!”

Daniele Romagnoli - “Motivation is high”
“We still have one race to go and it’s another Spanish one so it’s really important for Jorge. Despite the bad result in Sepang we have high motivation and we really want to finish the season well. We will all do our very best to be back on the podium there and to finish the season in the way that Jorge and the whole team deserves. Despite not getting the best results we’ve been in good shape for the last three race weekends and qualified on the front row for five races in a row now, so we know we can do it. This will be the last race with Michelin and so this is another reason to push. We want to give them a good final result to thank them for the hard work they have done all season.”

Valentino Rossi : Information
Age: 29
Lives: Tavullia, Italy
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 97 (71 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 209 (149 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 51 (41 x MotoGP/500cc, 5 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
World Championships: 8 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 5 x MotoGP)

Jorge Lorenzo: Information
Age: 21
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Yamaha
GP victories: 22 (1 x MotoGP, 17 x 250cc, 4 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Brazil, 2003 (125cc)
First GP: Jerez, Spain, 2002 (125cc)
GP starts: 110 (16 x MotoGP, 48 x 250cc, 46 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 30 (4 x MotoGP, 23 x 250cc, 3 x 125cc)
World Championships: 2 x 250cc

Comunidad Valencia: Record Lap
D.Pedrosa (Honda) 2007, 1′32.748

Comunidad Valencia: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1′31.002

Grand Prix Results: Comunidad Valencia 2007
1. D.Pedrosa (Honda) 46′43.533
2. C.Stoner (Honda) +5.447
3. J.Hopkins (Suzuki) +20.404
. V. Rossi (ITA) Yamaha DNF

Jorge Lorenzo Result: Comunidad Valencia 2007
7. J. Lorenzo (SPA) Aprilia +14.751 (250cc)

www.rossifiles.com

mig33

2008-10-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Mig33 is a global mobile community that lets you keep in touch with friends and family through a variety of online services, right on your mobile phone.

With mig33, you can chat and send instant messages and emails, make inexpensive international phone calls, share photos, connect with old friends and even meet new ones. Think of it as an addition to your phone's existing service.

What you get with mig33

Suddenly, you'll have an array of services to help you stay connected and save money, all in the palm of your hand.

Community

Chatrooms
Profiles
Photo Sharing
Mobile Web
Rewards for inviting friends
And more

Connectivity

Use your IM (MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ , AOL, Google Talk, SMS, to name a few)
Share Photos
Make inexpensive international phone calls
Send cheap international SMS
And more

With mig33, consumers use mobile VOIP to save up to 95% on their international calls and roaming costs. However mig33 is far more than just a way of saving money on voice calls; it gives the user a wide range of communication tools. Users can also chat, send SMS, connect and instant message with others (both members and non-members), all using the one simple service.

But more than anything, mig33 is a mobile community that?s connecting people from all over the globe, and helping users save on their phone bills.

One way to think of mig33 is as a combination of a mobile instant messenger and an inbuilt international calling card. But the difference with mig33 is it simplifies everything into one easy-to-use service that you install on your phone. You get the reduced call costs without the inconvenience of having to punch in all those annoying serial numbers.

Since December 2005, mig33 has attracted over a million users to its service and is adding several thousands of new users a day. Every day, hundreds of thousands of mig33 users all over the world are reaching out to their friends, family, work colleagues, and each other. They are sending several million messages over their mobile Chat and SMS services, and placing tens of thousands of phone calls through their infrastructure in Australia, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and the USA.

How do calls work?

With mig33, users can save up to 95% on their international calls and roaming costs.

To start, users download mig33 onto their mobile phone. mig33 is a Java mobile application and is downloaded just like with a mobile ringtone or games. Once you installed it on your mobile, register your mig33 account and you can start using it immediately to make calls at reduced rates.

mig33 creates a call connection between any two phones. Both phone numbers receive an incoming call, and mig33 connects both of these calls together to form the one phone conversation between both users.

It's easy to make calls.

When you're at home ?

If you're already logged into mig33, you simply select the buddy you wish to call and press 'make call' to establish a cheap call connection. It couldn't be easier.

If you want to make a call and you're not already logged in to mig33, you can make a call connection using SMS instructions instead.

To make a call, send an SMS from your registered mig33 phone number with ** to +61427285195.

So for example, if your password was '123456', the origin number was +447755555555, and the destination number was +61403333333, you would SMS '123456*61403333333*447755555555' to +61427285195.

A call will then be established between the 'origin number' and the 'destination number', allowing you to talk at heavily reduced rates.

When you're traveling and overseas, mig33 can be a total lifesaver.

When you are overseas and using roaming services, all your calls are connected back to your roaming mobile, where you pay international roaming rates. (See below)

However with mig33, you no longer have to pay these very expensive rates.

mig33 is also used as a mobile roaming solution. So when you're overseas, you simply direct your calls back to a local number in the country that you?re in, and pay the local landline termination rates for that country. (See below)

And if you're in a hotel, you can use the local number of the hotel as the local destination number for your call. Before you make a call, simply SMS the person you are calling, with your hotel phone number and room number; and tell them that you're about to arrange a call. Be sure to also tell your friend to ask for your hotel room number when they receive the call.

Then, with your mig33 registed phone number, send an SMS with ** to +61427285195.

A call will then be established between you both, allowing you to talk to each other at heavily reduced call rates.

Why is mig33 better?

Every day, more people are discovering the benefits of prepaid international services (like VOIP and prepaid calling cards) for keeping call costs down.

Using an International Prepaid Calling Card may give you much cheaper calling rates, but having to type all those serial numbers into your mobile phone can be very inconvenient. And sometimes you have to call a landline first to connect your call, which adds to the cost of the call too.

mig33, on the other hand, provides prepaid international services without a lot of the inconvenience of these other products (like mobile phone companies or prepaid cards).

The table below compares some of mig33?s main features and benefits against those of mobile phone company services and prepaid calling cards.

As you can see, mig33 is a great international calling card and much more.

www.mig33.com

Hayden Menjadi Rekan Casey Stoner di Ducati

2008-10-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sepang, Rabu - Casey Stoner menyambut gembira keputusan Ducati merekrut Nicky Hayden mulai musim depan. Mantan juara dunia MotoGP itu menyebut Hayden bakal mampu membantu tim Ducati untuk berkembang lebih baik.

Hayden, juara dunia MotoGP 2006, akan meninggalkan Repsol Honda untuk menggantikan Marco Melandri, yang hijrah ke Kawasaki. ”Saya waktu itu senang saat diberi tahu bahwa tim tengah melakukan pembicaraan dengan Nicky,” ujar Stoner, dikutip autosport.com, Rabu (15/10).

Menurut pemenang GP Australia itu, dirinya dimintai pendapat oleh Ducati mengenai rencana merekrut Hayden. ”Mereka mempertimbangkan opini saya. Hal ini membuat saya senang. Saya ikut serta dalam perjanjian perekrutannya,” tutur Stoner.

Ia mengungkapkan, dirinya gembira dengan kedatangan Hayden karena pembalap Amerika Serikat itu dinilai bisa membantunya dalam pengembangan motor. ”Kami memerlukan pembalap yang kuat dan tangguh. Kami membutuhkan orang yang bisa membantu mengembangkan motor,” tutur Stoner.

Dinding di dalam tim

Stoner yakin bakal memiliki relasi kerja yang jauh lebih baik dengan Hayden ketimbang dengan Melandri. ”Saya tahu kami akan bekerja bersama dan tidak bakal bertentangan,” ujar pembalap asal Australia itu.

”Tahun ini ada dinding tidak kelihatan di dalam garasi kami, sedangkan dengan Hayden, hal tersebut tidak akan terjadi lagi,” kata Stoner.

Mengenai kondisi relasinya dengan Melandri, Stoner membuat ilustrasi yang lebih tegas. Dengan tim-tim lain, seperti Yamaha dan Honda, ada tembok yang memang sengaja dibangun. ”Namun, tim kami juga memilikinya. Tembok itu tidak kelihatan, tetapi sebenarnya ada,” tuturnya.

Situasi tanpa komunikasi antara pembalap, menurut Stoner, bukan sesuatu yang dimaui tim. ”Saya kira kami perlu lebih terbuka dan erat dalam bekerja sama. Saya kira situasi akan sama sekali berbeda dengan Hayden,” ujar Stoner.

Dovizioso tidak sabar

Andrea Dovizioso sudah tidak sabar untuk segera bergabung dengan tim pabrikan Repsol Honda. Meski begitu, ia menyadari, bekerja dalam tim yang besar seperti Repsol Honda bukan hal yang mudah.

Dovizioso, pembalap Italia, saat ini masih bergabung dengan tim satelit Honda, JiR Scott. Ia bakal bergabung dengan Repsol Honda untuk mengisi posisi yang ditinggalkan Hayden.

Mengembangkan motor sembari berpacu dengan kencang adalah sesuatu yang sangat sulit. ”Saya tidak pernah mendapat kesempatan melakukan pekerjaan semacam itu hingga kini, tetapi saya sekarang merasa sangat termotivasi untuk segera melakukannya,” ujar Dovizioso.

Ia yakin, dirinya akan mendapat motor yang hebat, tetapi buru-buru Dovizioso mengingatkan bahwa konsistensi merupakan faktor paling penting untuk tampil lebih kencang.

”Dengan motor itu, Anda tak hanya bisa tampil lebih kencang, tetapi juga lebih konsisten. Kalau sudah konsisten, barulah Anda bisa tampil lebih kencang lagi,” kata Dovizioso. (ato)

http://cetak.kompas.com

Rossi wins Malaysian MotoGP

2008-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi cruised to victory in the Malaysian MotoGP on his Yamaha here Sunday, with Dani Pedrosa, riding a Honda, finishing a distant second.

SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) -

Newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi cruised to victory in the Malaysian MotoGP on his Yamaha here Sunday, with Dani Pedrosa, riding a Honda, finishing a distant second.

Rossi, who sealed the championship in Japan three weeks ago, passed Pedrosa in lap 10 and then raced to the chequered flag at his favourite Sepang circuit with ease in steaming hot track conditions.

The Spaniard started in pole position while Rossi, from Italy, was second on the grid.

The 29-year-old Rossi finished the 116.4-kilometre journey over 21 laps in 43 minutes 06.007 seconds, pulling a wheelie as he crossed the finish line for his ninth win of the season.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso, riding a Honda, finished in third place, while Australian Ducati rider Casey Stoner could only manage sixth in 43:19.647.

Rossi attributed his fifth win in Sepang to a combination of good strategy and teamwork.

"It was a very tough and long race. After five to six laps I started to feel the heat. I am very happy I won. We worked very hard for this victory," he said.

Rossi said his Yamaha M1 was well suited to the long and wide Sepang circuit, enabling him to pass Pedrosa and never look back.

"I had a good start. This bike is suitable for this kind of track. It is an enjoyable track to race," he said.

Sepang is one of the widest tracks on the MotoGP calendar, measuring 16 metres (52 feet) across in some areas, and riders always have to deal with high track temperatures thanks to Malaysia's tropical climate.

The track has four major hairpins and some fast and frequent changes of direction, and is arguably the most demanding race of the year for riders, bikes and tyres.

Pedrosa admitted that it was too dificult to stop Rossi.

"When I was in front, Rossi was close behind me. I tried to keep my position," he said, adding that once the Italian had pulled ahead, "I was not able to improve my rhythm. Next time I have to push harder."

With one race to go, Rossi is in position to set a new record for the highest number of points achieved in a racing season.

The current record of 367 points is held jointly between Rossi in 2005 (from 17 races) and Stoner last year (from 16 races).

Rossi tops the standings after 17 races with an unassailable 357 points while Stoner stands at 255 and Pedrosa third with 229 points. The final race will be held in Valencia next week.

Stoner will undergo wrist surgery to repair an old injury at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone said Sunday it had been appointed as the sole tyre supplier for the MotoGP World Championship for a three-year period starting from 2009.

The company's announcement followed the International Motorcycling Federation's (FIM) decision last month to use only one brand of tyre from the start of the 2009 season.

For the past two years, riders using Japan's Bridgestone have dominated the courses in the premier class, after a long reign by France's Michelin, which said earlier this month that it would not compete for the MotoGP tyre contract.

"Although we were sorry to hear that tyre competition would not continue in MotoGP, Bridgestone appreciates the importance of safety and cost in motorsports," Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport, said in a statement.

FIM has cited "safety and cost reasons" for its decision to use a sole supplier.

http://sport.id.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1737800

Strategi Menyikapi Kegagalan

2008-10-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Anthony Robbins dalam bukunya Unlimited Power, menyatakan bahwa kebanyakan orang dalam kebudayaan kita diprogramkan untuk takut gagal. Padahal, kita semua pernah menginginkan sesuatu tetapi mendapatkan yang lain. Kita semua pernah gagal dalam tes, menderita dalam cinta yang membuat frustrasi yang tidak berhasil, menyususn rencana bisnis yang kemudian gagal. Kata hasil” itulah yang digunan orang sukses, mereka tidak melihat kegagalan. Mereka tidak percaya kepada kegagalan. Itu tidak masuk hitungan mereka.
Orang selalu sukses mendapatkan semacam hasil. Sukses-sukses super dari kebudayaan kita bukanlah orang yang tidak gagal, melainkan orang yang tahu bahwa mereka mencoba sesuatu dan tidak mendapatkan apa yang mereka inginkan, mereka mendapatkan pengalaman belajar. Mereka gunakan apa yang telah mereka pelajari itu dan mencoba sesuatu yang lain saja. Mereka ambil tindakan-tindakan baru dan menghasilkan hasil-hasil baru. Abraham Lincoln paling tidak mengalami minimal 11 kegagalan besar sebelum menjadi Presiden. Asa Candler pembeli hak kemasan Coca-Cola pernah gagal memasarkan minuman pada pabrik soda pada 1899. Steve Jobs dengan tidak melisensikan sistem operasi Macintosh kepada pihak lain menjadi gagal menguasai sistem operasi dunia yang sekarang dipegang oleh Microsoft, bahkan Steve Jobs sendiri pernah didepak dari Apple. Akio Morita dari Sony juga pernah gagal karena tidak mau melesensikan video Betamax yang lebih baik dari VHS buatan Matshushita. Sekarng video yang ada adalah VHS, karena Matshushita mau melisensikan teknologinya kepada pihak lain. Warren Bennis dari Xerox pernah gagal karena memutuskan tidak menjual PC, padahal Xerox mempunyai teknologi lebih baik dibandingkan yang lainnya. Henry Ford gagal dalam memproduksi dan memasarkan kapal dan pesawat terbang dibandingkan dengan memproduksi dan memasarkan mobil. Soichiro Honda menyatakan bahwa yang diketahui orang lain tentang kesuksesannya itu hanya 1 % padahal kegagalannya 99% yang tidak diketahui orang.
Salah satu aset yang bermanfaat hari ini dibandingkan hari kemarin adalah pengalaman. Orang yang takut gagal akan berperilaku untuk tidak berbuat sesuatu yang mungkin tidak efektif. Inilah yang menghalangi mereka dari mengambil tindakan yang sebetulnya bisa menjamin tercapainya keinginan mereka. Orang yang percaya pada kegagalan itu hampir dijamin biasa-biasa saja keberadaannya. Kegagalan adalah sesuatu yang pokoknya tidak dipersepsikan oleh orang-orang yang mencapai kebesaran. Mereka tidak terpuruk oleh kegagalan. Mereka tidak melekatkan emosi-emosi negatif kepada sesuatu yang tidak efektif. Maka sesungguhnya kegagalan itu tidak ada, tetapi yang ada adalah hasil yang tidak sesuai dengan yang kita inginkan.

www.msuyanto.com