computer hardware

computer Hardware

HP Pavillion Entertainment Tablet PC

The HP Pavilion Entertainment Tablet PC tx2510us provides the ideal convergence of the best features with the latest mobile computing technologies.High-definition widescreen, touchscreen BrightView display.3 GB DDR2 RAM and 250 GB, 5400 RPM SATA hard drive.Included pen lets you accurately write, draw and erase.Includes HP Pavilion WebCam with integrated microphone.Preinstalled software includes Microsoft® Office® 2007 Student and Teacher Edition with 60 day trial, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 with 60 days complimentary updates and many other programs.

Evolution of a podcast three microphones compared

Podcast 14 was the first one where I used the Snowball microphone from Blue. This USB condenser microphone sells for about $70-80 and it’s a big step up from the other two. I covered some of the details in podcast 14, but it has three audio patterns, comes with a cool metal stand (it has an optional spider mount), and it looks like a plastic softball. It’s a bit bulky, but the sound is greatly improved from the other options and the audio patterns are much less peaky. When used in the cardioid pattern almost no ambient noise was picked up. I actually misjudged how close you can get to this microphone without overwhelming it, so my levels were a bit low expect to see that fixed for the next podcast.
So what’s the verdict? Basically, sometimes you just need the right equipment. This isn’t to say that the other two solutions weren’t OK or that we couldn’t have hacked together something, but the ease-of-use and the performance of the Snowball microphone make it the clear pick here. With some optimization of our setup and a bit more experience with editing, the podcast should be sounding better than ever in no time.
And, of course, good recording is just about podcasting. It also improves Skype chatting, videos, conference calls, multiplayer gaming, and so on.

Acer Android netbook will be dual

When Acer global vice-president Jim Wong said the company would continue to supply Windows netbooks alongside their new Android netbooks, we didn’t expect that to mean dual-booting. However, much to Linux-lovers dismay (and in fact anybody who wanted to avoid the so-called Windows tax of roughly $25 for an XP license), company president JT Wang has now confirmed that at least the first wave of Android netbooks will come with both open-source and Microsoft OS.The Android/Windows XP dual-boot netbooks are expected to go on sale in Q3 this year, with Wang suggesting that Acer will work closely with carriers to sell these particular models. If demand for a solely-Android machine is there - from telecoms providers, at least then Acer will consider dropping their dual-OS strategy.Wang described the move as much safer for Acer, given lack of consumer acceptance for Android at its present developmental stage. The company is likely to promote Android as a value-added feature for mobile use, given the platform’s emphasis on connectivity.

Microsoft's Zune HD is coming

Look, we fully understand that September 5th is a long ways out, but don't think for a second that Microsoft isn't inking every last detail of its Zune HD launch in stone. That said, Windows expert and all-around good guy Paul Thurrott has been told that this very player will ship exactly on the fifth day of the ninth month of this year. Needless to say, that jibes with Microsoft's official line this fall but sadly, we've no other information to go on at the moment. In other words, feel free to pencil this one in, but keep that eraser handy cool?

Chevy Camaro evidently nabs Microsoft Zune support

You've heard of Chevrolet, right? You know that struggling automaker underneath the General Motors umbrella? For those who've long given up their ties to muscle cars in favor of the kid-friendly minivan or Earth-friendly hybrid, you may not even know that a revitalized Camaro is just around the bend. Based on some hands-on time with a production vehicle at an undisclosed dealer, Microsoft's Zune integrates perfectly into the sound system, and said integration is supposedly a standard feature on the car. What's more is that we're told some 27 other GM models will also include Zune support from the factory as they launch in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia through 2011, though details beyond that are scant. Hope they cooked in support for the Zune HD, ya dig?

iriver T-DMB-packin B30 portable media player emerges

The T-DMB-equipped B30 just popped up over on iriver's Korean website, complete with an FM tuner, 2.8-inch QVGA display, a microSD expansion slot, 4/8/16GB of inbuilt memory, white, black silver color options, USB 2.0 connectivity, a user-selectable equalizer and a list of supported file formats too lengthy to cover in this space. Furthermore, we're told that the battery is good for 40 hours on audio and 5.5 hours with video, and while a ship date has yet to be revealed, we're expecting 'em to go for around $155, $183 and TBD from least capacious to most.

AdMob to introduce new iPhone

AdMob is also combining search and display in a separate new format that will allow advertisers to add search boxes to banner ads so users can type queries directly within the units. The ads would enable people would be able to search a brand's mobile site or other database, such as an automaker's inventory of used car models at local dealerships.

BenQ Joybee GP1 Latest Version

Maximum resolution is 858 x 600 for external sources the GP1 will accept higher, but downscale them to suit and 720 x 480 for the onboard media player. Projection quality is high, easily besting that of the other two pico-projectors we’ve tested, with crisp focus and bright, if oversaturated colors. The 100 ANSI lumens LEDs used to backlight the picture are gutsy but still fall far short of a mainstream projector in a dark room you can crank the image size up to 60-70 inches at most, though you’ll begin to lament the resolution at that point.

Sony PSP gets official at E3

With an Ultra-Portable Design and Digital Content Focus, PSPgo to Hit the Worldwide Market This Fall, Further Enhancing the User Experience Along with PSP-3000
LOS ANGELES, Calif June 2, 2009 –Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today unveiled PSP (PlayStation Portable) go (PSP-N1000), a new evolution of PSP handheld entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo will become available in stores on October 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a recommended retail price (RRP) of US$249 and €249, and on November 1, 2009, in Japan at a RRP of 26,800 yen (including tax). With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, the company will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that’s right for them.
PSPgo is ideal for today’s on-the move consumers who prefer not to carry around disc-based content and are looking for on-demand entertainment. With the steady expansion of broadband network infrastructure, the number of users who download and enjoy digital entertainment content has been increasing remarkably. To address this growing trend, PSPgo replaces the UMD drive with 16GB of flash memory to store a variety of digital entertainment content, offering users unlimited possibilities of portable digital entertainment delivered through PlayStation Network. PSPgo, smaller and lighter than ever with a sophisticated design featuring an easy sliding display panel, is truly pocket-sized and can be taken everywhere. PSPgo will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White two of the most popular colors since the launch of the PSP system in 2004. Along with PSP-3000, PSPgo will further enhance the unmatched portable gaming and entertainment experience by offering users more opportunity to enjoy their favorite entertainment content such as games, videos, music and photos anytime, anywhere.

Sony Ericsson W995a Latest Mobile

Sony Ericsson handsets are still relatively rare in the US market, and so Sony Electronics are stepping in as the official unlocked handset reseller for their cellular cousins. One of the first offerings is the W995a, a SIM-unlocked multimedia phone featuring an 8.1-megapixel camera and Walkman mediaplayer it’s available for pre-order starting today at SonyStyle.com and will be available in stores on July 6 for around $600. Sony sent one over for SlashGear to check out.
The W995a is a 3G-enabled phone that’s geared towards folks seeking a premium multimedia experience. Primary functionality includes snapping photos and video, playing music and videos, or accessing the internet, and our first-impressions of the W995a is that it’s a high-quality, compact way of doing all that.
The W995a is also equipped for WiFi access, and includes stereo Bluetooth (A2DP) support for use with wireless headphones. Bundled with the W995a there’s a set of premium 3.5mm headphones, an 8GB Memory Stick Micro card (which wasn’t provided in our review unit) and a USB connector cable.
The 2.6-inch QVGA display is gorgeous, even though it’s LCD and not AMOLED like Sony’s recent Walkman PMP, and there’s plenty of sturdy and tactile metal used in building the casing and the buttons.

Palm Pre Review

The Palm Pre has captured attention in a way usually only Cupertino can. Tightly patrolled demos at intervening tradeshows have only added to the allure now, on June 6th, it’s Palm and Sprint’s chance to see whether hype adds up to sales. It almost seems unnecessary to go over the Pre’s hardware: it’s been pored over since the CES launch. As well as the obvious things the 3.1-inch 320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, slide-out hardware QWERTY keyboard, multitouch strip under the display and 3-megapixel camera on the back there’s EVDO Rev.A, WiFi b g, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a multitasking capable processor lurking inside.Palm ship the Pre with its 1,150mAh battery, an AC adapter, stereo headset, microUSB sync cable and carry pouch. There’s also the documentation: a Getting Started guide, Feature Guide, Terms of Service and a recycling envelope for a previous phone. Our video unboxing, below, should show you everything you need to see about the retail packaging. The phone itself measures 2.3 x 3.9 x 0.67 inches, making it thicker but otherwise smaller than the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Bold. Hardware controls QWERTY aside are minimal, with a power button, 3.5mm headphone jack and ringer switch up top, volume controls on the left, microUSB charge sync port on the right, and a central chromed button on the front under the display.

DIY PSP Laptop

The PSP Go is shaping up to be great, but it doesn’t have a full QWERTY keyboard, does it. Acidmods forum member folklord36’s PSP Laptop does, though, courtesy of an Xbox Chat Pad, together with relocated speakers, LED lighting and more.The screen section is a customized Joytech visor, which conveniently has the same finish as the PSP, and here donates its super sturdy hinge that can be positioned at anything up to 180 degrees. That takes the LCD and the PSP’s original speakers, which are repositioned to the large holes either side. Normal earphone fabric covers them up.Meanwhile the rest of the PSP now with the QWERTY keyboard remains on the bottom, only with some new LED lighting. A custom flat cable extension connects the LCD ZIF port to the screen itself. No word on how long it took him, nor how much he spent, but this is certainly a unique PSP.

Apple WDDC Live Blog 2009

Apple kick off their 2009 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and first thing on the schedule is one of the most eagerly anticipated keynotes of the year. Apple is expected to announce a new, third-generation iPhone, and SlashGear will be live blogging the whole keynote.
Amid the speculation there’s talk of a front-facing camera for video calls, an FM transmitter for squirting music through your car stereo, and a higher resolution camera. We’ve just seen what are purported to be leaked photos of the new iPhone, which show off the tweaked casing and shifted headphone port there’s also talk of three different iPhone models, with varying degrees of data connectivity tailored to different markets, in multiple colors.

Unearthed Circuits DIY Drone Machine synth with arcade control

There’s little that excites us more than a DIY synth, but slapping an arcade-style joystick onto a fuzzy, glitchy, beeping analog monster practically pushes us over the edge. Synth-master Unearthed Circuits has combined four oscillators with various levels of pitch adjustment and come up with Drone Machine the joystick individually mutes or activates each one.
Pitch is either controlled by the cluster of retro knobs in the lower left-hand corner, or can be thrown over to the bank of photo-resistors up near the top. The dangling arm is actually a strobe light that can be directed at those photo resistors for some extra-glitchy triggering.
Finally there’s an effects section, with overdrive, fuzz and ring-mod effects. Again, there’s the potential of linear control over them via knobs, but the metal handles at the front are in fact body contacts for less predictable results.