Motorola Droid

The first Android 2.0 phone impresses with a strong suite of Web features and a stunning 3.7-inch display, but some users might have trouble with the shallow keyboard.

The first time you pick up the Motorola Droid ($200 with a two-year contract from Verizon; price as of 10/28/09), you'll notice its solid feel and heft--there's a lot going on behind the crisp, 3.7-inch touchscreen. Making good use of Android 2.0's new features, the Droid is a powerful Web surfing and communications tool that has a chance of living up to its hype. The Droid's biggest flaw, however, is in its hardware design: The keyboard is shallow and flat, which can make typing uncomfortable.
At 0.54 inch thick, the Droid is slightly beefier than the 0.48-inch-thick iPhone 3GS, but it still has room for a 40-key, slide-out QWERTY keypad. At just under 6 ounces, it's about an ounce heftier than the iPhone 3GS. When closed, the 4.56-by-2.36-inch Droid is almost the same size as the 4.5-by-2.4-inch iPhone 3GS.
Motorola is quick to point out that the Droid's 480-by-854-pixel display offers 409,920 pixels, more than double the 153,600 pixels that the 480-by-320-pixel, 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone 3GS offers. The Droid's resolution also compares well against that of Android 1.6-based phones such as T-Mobile's myTouch 3G, which has a 3.2-inch, 480-by-320-pixel display.
The Droid's keyboard doesn't occupy the full length of the phone; a four-way directional pad with a select button sits on the right side. The keys are backlit, but since they're mostly flat, you'll need to keep an eye on what you're typing until you get a feel for the phone. A small lower lip protrudes from the bottom when the phone is closed, revealing only the Verizon logo and the microphone. Like other Android phones, the Droid has an accelerometer and reorients quickly when you hold the display sideways.
Unfortunately, the handset has a few hardware-design quirks. The keyboard is so shallow--and the keys themselves are so flat--that our testers (with various hand sizes) had trouble using it. In addition, the top keys are very close to the ledge of the display, so your fingers are constantly knocking against it. The Droid is also missing physical Talk and End keys, which are pretty much standard on every other cell phone ever made. You must access these controls from the call application.
The Droid, which supports the 1900MHz and 800MHz CDMA EvDO bands on the Verizon Wireless network, comes with a 1,400-mAh battery rated at 270 hours of standby time and 385 minutes of talk time. It also has a preinstalled 16GB memory card and offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 support, which includes the use of stereo headsets and a Wi-Fi adapter.
The phone provided excellent call quality, even in a New York hotel lobby full of noisy Phillies fans headed to Yankee Stadium for the World Series. Parties on the other end of my calls reported no problems.
Especially snappy is the Droid's Web browser, which loads images quickly thanks to the powerful 550MHz processor and speedy hardware-accelerated graphics. Though you are at the mercy of your 3G high-speed data network coverage, once you're in it, Web surfing is breezy and smooth. Video from sites such as YouTube looks equally impressive; the playback of a high-definition YouTube cartoon ("Sita Sings the Blues") was excellent, with no stalling or audio dropouts. Audio also sounded great piped through a pair of high-quality headphones. The straightforward music player supports playlist building, album art, and shuffle and loop playback modes. You can purchase DRM-free music at the Amazon MP3 store via the preloaded app on the device.
Preinstalled on one of the three home screens are icons labeled Messaging, Phone, Contacts, Browser, Maps, and Market. Notably absent on the Droid are Verizon's V Cast services, which include live streaming videos and other entertainment offerings. A new Power Control widget allows one-touch control over power-hungry features such as the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adapters, the GPS receiver, and the backlight. You can turn off data synchronization to save additional power, too.
As in Android 1.6, in 2.0 a universal search from the phone's home page delves into the contact list, browser history, and other content in the phone, as well as on the Internet. And as with all Android devices, you'll need a free Google account to take advantage of the phone's key features, including the contact list and the calendar, which are synchronized with your Web-based account.
You'll also find the familiar notification bar at the top; you can expand it by touching it and dragging it downward. At the bottom (or the side, in landscape mode) is a slide-open launch window with icons for all of the installed applications and links to the settings menu and other phone features.
Android 2.0 builds on the Google Maps features introduced in Android 1.6 by adding a Layers option that lets you place extra location-enabled features on top of the map you're viewing. A Wikipedia layer, for example, generates icons for locations on your map that have Wikipedia entries.
Since Google Maps navigation is voice-enabled, you can say the name of your destination to get turn-by-turn directions. One nice aspect of the new navigation features is the nifty use of Google's Street View: As you approach your destination, an interactive photo of the actual location pops up with an arrow to point you in the right direction. Instead of having to look for a building number, for example, the Street View provides visual confirmation that you're in the correct place--or at least mighty close to it.
The dedicated camera button provides quick access to snapshot and video taking. The Droid's 5-megapixel camera includes a dual-LED flash and supports DVD-quality video recording and playback at 720 by 480 pixels. As in Android 1.6, in 2.0 you handle the camera and video capabilities in a single window. The camera has a respectable amount of advanced features, such as scene modes, color effects, and white balance controls. Snapshots that I took outdoors looked great, especially on the Droid's stunning display. Indoor shots, however, suffered from a significant amount of graininess. The dual-LED flash tended to blow out colors and details for indoor shots, as well.
Another nice touch is how the Droid interacts with its accessories. When you place it in its car-window mount (sold separately; price not yet announced), the Droid automatically enters "Car Home" mode, in which it looks more like a stand-alone GPS device. Large icons labeled View Map, Navigation, Voice Search, Contacts, Search, and Home fill the screen, and the display rotates as needed.
When you insert the Droid into an optional tabletop dock (sold separately; price not yet announced), it sits at a good angle for watching videos or just poking through e-mail. It immediately switches to a sort of alarm-clock mode and displays the time in large figures while providing other information, such as the temperature, in smaller type below.
The challenge for Android app developers is to take advantage of 2.0's new features, including its ability to link apps more closely to the contact list. As you view a contact, you will see a floating set of icons for the services the person is connected to, such as Facebook. Note that while most existing apps should run fine on Android 2.0, some that were optimized for Android 1.5 and 1.6 may have to be tweaked for the new version.
The Motorola Droid certainly stands out among the growing Android army due to its superior hardware and enhanced 2.0 software. But will the Android Marketplace catch up to the iPhone's App Store? Therein lies the key to success for the Droid. The Droid certainly lives up to its promises and does a lot of things the iPhone doesn't. The iPhone will probably keep its smartphone throne for now, but it will have to deal with a powerful new competitor.
(PCWORLD)

msmobiles.com - HTC not happy about progress of Microsoft with Windows Mobile, has new strategy

A very interesting interview with Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, has just been published. Unlike most people who are reporting about Windows Mobile, we have met Peter Chou in person, talked to him one on one and even we were shaking hands with him.

In few weeks HTC will launch HTC HD2 that will be a breath of fresh air into Windows Mobile world and this phone will be cheaper than expected - available in some countries merely for 540 euro - and it is doomed to be super hit. No, sorry, super super hit.

In this interview Peter Chou, CEO of HTC reveals some interesting stuff, including:

• new strategy of HTC: less models and bigger sales per one model
• HTC officially admits that innovation in Windows Mobile is slow but confirms that it is not leaving Windows Mobile like Motorola did it
• there will be no HD2 for Android, HTC reservers huge screen phones for Windows Mobile only

To learn more, visit interview with Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.

Commentary: while Windows Mobile fanboys might be in love with HTC due to above mentioned interview, the reality is that HTC's exclusivity period for Google Android ended and now several carriers prefer Android phones from Motorola and Samsung, so HTC, out of necessity, not out of pure love of Windows Mobile, is going back to where it came from: Windows Mobile phone making. Also there are rumors that Google itself wants to make an Android phone, what further endangers HTC. Clearly current Windows Mobile (6.5) is totally outdated and next Windows Mobile (7) has been delayed many times and it's unclear when it comes, so HTC must innovate alone without Microsoft. While HD2 indeed is fantastic, we still resent, that HTC is not making a Windows phone with front-facing QWERTY keyboard and touch-screen... but capacitive display of HD2 will make up for it.

The brutal truth is, if you are a Windows Mobile fan: only HD2 is worth buying. In 1-2 weeks it goes on sale in Europe and next year in USA. HD2 will start Windows Mobile revolution, a time when Windows Mobile will again have an exciting handset.

HTC is back.

msmobiles.com - HTC not happy about progress of Microsoft with Windows Mobile, has new strategy

Sony Ericsson Satio review: Shooter by vocation - GSMArena.com

Sony Ericsson Satio review: Shooter by vocation - GSMArena.com

Introduction

Sony Ericsson have long ago shown that they are not afraid of any challenge, producing handsets that have claimed a top spot on the market. There are still plenty of fans from those good old days that would love to see another market-leading device thrown their way.

A look at what's between the XPERIA X1 and the Satio is enough to tell you what Sony Ericsson have been up to for the past year. A top-dog Cybershot (C905) and an all-round Walkman (W995) were both compelling enough but none would be trusted to top the portfolio of a company that used to call the shots at the forefront of mobile technology.

So, Sony Ericsson might have been busy cutting costs, fueling the hype behind their new wave gadgets (Satio, Aino and Rachael) or experimenting with Symbian and Android. But there's little doubt about their full-time job. The Satio is a lot more than its mouthwatering features, full touchscreen debuting Symbian S60 or its 12 megapixel camera. It may be too much to say that all the company's hopes lie with the Satio but the burden on its shoulders is disproportionate compared to any other flagship device we can think of.

Google Maps for mobile anounce Navigation Beta for Android 2.0 - GSMArena.com news

Google Maps for mobile anounce Navigation Beta for Android 2.0 - GSMArena.com news

Google Maps has always been one of the most popular ways to get directions, but the lack of voice-guided navigation to help you on-the-go. Luckily, today it took this next step in its natural evolution with the announcement of Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 devices.

Google Music Search Officially Launched

We already knew it was coming, but today Google is officially launching built-in music playback results on regular Google search queries.

Much has been made of this new feature, and it certainly will make it easier for users to get straight to a song they're looking for, but it's not something we're getting all that excited about. We'll admit that finding and playing back a song when all you've done is search for lyrics is kind of cool. Still, Google already puts video results from YouTube in the search results page, and more often than not they're what you're looking for, anyway.

Right now we're not seeing the updates in our results, but chances are you'll start seeing them in the next day or so if you aren't already.

So what do you think? Excited about the new music-in-Google features, or kind of lukewarm like us? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments.

Smartphone security threats likely to rise

(CNN) -- Worms, spam, viruses and hackers -- they're not just for your desktop or laptop anymore. According to internet security experts they could be well on their way into your pocket or purse.
The popularity of smartphones -- like the Blackberry, iPhone, Palm and the emerging Droid -- is on the rise and shows no signs of letting up.
And that's making the phones a sweeter target for online ne'er do-wells looking to, at the very least, cause mischief and, at worst, rip off unsuspecting phone owners.
"It's guaranteed that almost everything we see on a computer will show up on a smartphone -- and some new things," said Jake Widman, a San Francisco-based technology writer and analyst.
Last year, more than 139 million smartphones were sold worldwide, a 13.9 percent increase from 2007, according to the British technology analysis firm Gartner.

Sneaky Fees

Two bucks to get a paper statement? $15 to book airline tickets online? Wireless providers, cable companies, and other firms are increasingly nickel-and-diming us to death. Here’s how to fight back.

Recently, I renewed my XM Satellite Radio subscription. I had expected the service to cost $13 per month, since that was the amount the company advertised. I found out, however, that in addition to the $13, Sirius XM had implemented a new, monthly $2 "music royalty fee." I was annoyed, but I grudgingly agreed to the new add-on charge and said, "Send me the bill." Well, the Sirius XM rep replied, there was one more thing: I'd have to pay a $2 "invoice fee" if I wanted a paper bill mailed to my house.

That relatively reasonable $13-per-month service I thought I was signing up for ended up costing me $16.95 each month, or 30 percent more than expected, through fees that Sirius XM never bothered to mention in its pitches to renew.
Sneaky fees drive me mad. The number of these nickel-and-dime charges I pay each month has my head spinning. Where did all of the extra fees, charges, and taxes tacked onto my cable, wireless, and Internet bills come from?

Sneaky-Fee Economy

Sneaky fees cost each U.S. resident an estimated $950 each year, according to the Ponemon Institute, a research group specializing in consumer privacy. They show up on bills under names like "OVS fees," "network access charge," or "federal subscriber line fees." None of them are outlandish--maybe $1 here or $3.95 there. But they add up, boosting the total cost of your monthly wireless bill or of an airline ticket you book online far beyond what you thought you were going to spend.
For companies, such miscellaneous charges work like a charm, says Bob Sullivan, author of the book Gotcha Capitalism. "How does a $39 cable bill become a $70 bill? How does a $55 wireless plan cost you $75? The answer is fees," he says. According to Sullivan, surveyed companies from ten markets make $45 billion annually in hidden fees.
Perhaps the most annoying are the fees that make a "free" offer not free at all. For instance, in an effort to keep PC sales strong, many computer makers offered customers who bought a system right before the introduction of Windows 7 a "free" upgrade once the new OS was available. What the companies neglected to tell customers is that many of them would have to pay "shipping, handling, and fulfillment fees" to get their copy of Windows 7. Lenovo is charging all of its customers $17.03. Acer and some other PC makers are waiving the fee, but Compaq, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, and Toshiba are making some customers pay fees between $11.25 and $14.99.

Wireless Fees

Nowhere do consumers find fees more confounding than on their wireless bill. Maybe it's a $3-a-month charge for a daily horoscope you don't remember requesting. Maybe it's an $18 "upgrade fee" that your wireless carrier failed to mention when you bought your snazzy new 3G touchscreen phone. Or maybe it's a charge for a ringtone you never wanted but came with a "free" offer. Whatever the source of the fee, if you've had it with your cell phone company's billing practices, you're not alone.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office determined that one-third of cell phone owners found unexpected charges on their bills or complained to the agency about having problems understanding their bills. Worse, according to the GAO, one in five customers who contacted their wireless carrier were dissatisfied with their carrier's efforts to resolve the problem.
What gives? Experts say cutthroat competition drives wireless carriers to push down the advertised monthly cost of their plans. The companies make their real money with ancillary fees. "Once you sign that multiyear contract, you're right where they [wireless carriers] want you--trapped," Sullivan says. And if you want to part ways, you'll have to pay an early-termination fee.

Full Story: PCWORLD

Nokia N97 embraces kinetic scrolling with firmware 20.0

Right as promised Nokia released a major firmware update for the N97 Symbian smartphone. Bringing substantial improvements to user experience and some new applications, firmware version 20.0.019 is already available for download from the company website.
Of course the main change introduced by the new firmware is the system-wide kinetic scrolling. It was already available to some of the other Nokia S60 touch-driven handsets (5530 XpressMusic in particular) but the N97 had to wait good four months to get it.
The Ovi Maps application gets updated to version 3.1, featuring 3D maps, while Nokia email, Ovi Contacts and Ovi Store are all integrated in the core system image. Nokia N97 users that update their handsets also get VoIP support and several nice performance upgrades.

According to Nokia the handset should now have improved memory and battery performance as well as image and video stability.
In addition to improving the user experience, the new firmware should reassure customers (both existing and potential) that Nokia N97 shortcomings aren't forgotten by the company. With the reception of N900 so universally positive and the S60 struggling to match the competition, shifting the effort in another direction (cough!) wasn't completely unthinkable.
Source

5 Twitter stars you've never heard of

(CNN) -- Sure, everyone knows that Oprah, Shaq and Ashton Kutcher are huge on Twitter. They're famous -- they should be huge on Twitter.
But Heather Armstrong? John Dickerson? Adventure Girl? These people can stroll unmolested through a paparazzi convention, and yet each has more than 1.2 million Twitter followers -- enough to rank them in the top 200 overall and more than Stephen Colbert, Snoop Dogg or Paris Hilton.

How to Prep for an XP-to-Windows 7 Upgrade: FAQ

Gregg Keizer, Computerworld

With Windows 7's launch just a day away, it's time to start thinking about how to prepare your aging-but-still useful PC running Windows XP for that move you're dying to make.
Problem is, Microsoft 's not offering an "in-place" upgrade from XP to Windows 7 , one that will leave everything in place and simply swap out the operating system. Unfortunately for XP fans, that's reserved for Windows Vista users only. And you avoided Vista like a bad case of H1N1, right?
It's not any comfort when you read lines like "upgrading from XP on the same hardware will be tricky."
That's why we're here to help lower your blood pressure with answers to your questions about how to get ready for tomorrow -- or later -- when you pull the trigger on Windows 7 and finally, finally leave XP fading in the rearview mirror.
How do I know if my XP machine can handle Windows 7? Run the "Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor," which went final just yesterday. Download and install the advisor from Microsoft's support site , then run it. (Warning: You have to have .NET Framework 2.0 or later to run this on XP.) The advisor will give you a bottom-line appraisal of your XP-based hardware: It will either green light the upgrade, tell you the machine won't make it as is, or spell out what you need to beef up.
The advisor will also mark those devices, both external hardware like printers and internal components such as the graphics chipset or card, that will require new Windows 7 drivers, and indicate whether those drivers are available.
What if I need more juice? In the time remaining, you may be hard pressed to futz with the hardware, but one thing you can do in a few minutes to make the machine more Windows 7 worthy is to add more RAM. Microsoft says the minimum memory is 1GB for the 32-bit version of Windows 7, but recommends 2GB for "optimal performance" on the 64-bit edition. Frankly, those numbers are just crazy. RAM is dirt cheap these days, and even if the new OS runs in just 1GB or 2GB, it'll run much better with 2GB or more. Punch it up to 4GB -- the maximum for 32-bit Windows 7 -- or beyond (for 64-bit) and you'll be livin' the dream.
Our favorite source of RAM is Crucial.com . It's the not the cheapest place on the Web to buy memory, but we've never been disappointed by the quality of the modules it sells. Plus, the online scanner is slick: Just run it from the PC you want to upgrade and it will sniff out how much RAM is already in the machine, how much it can take, and what modules apply.
How do I know whether my software and peripherals will run on Windows 7? Yesterday, Microsoft finally fired up its Windows 7 Compatibility Center , a searchable database that you can ping to see what software and hardware is up to Windows 7's standards.
The most conspicuous absentees on the software side include security programs: You'll probably have to upgrade to a new edition of your favorite (and pay the price). Microsoft has set up a page here that lists the security software compatible with Windows 7. Another option: The for-free Microsoft Security Essentials , which went live late last month .
Okay, my system is up to snuff. What next? Your first step should be to make a disk image of your XP machine as it exists now so that, heaven forbid, if you later decide Windows 7 isn't worth its disc and you want to return to XP, you can do so without a lot of hassle.
There are lots of free and for-a-fee backup programs for XP, some of which create a disk image, a bit-for-bit copy of the hard disk. Among the free choices are Macrium Reflect and DriveImageXML , which run on XP and let you create an image on a CD/DVD, external drive or flash drive.
Disk image done. What about my data? Good question.
Since the Windows XP-to-7 upgrade -- Microsoft calls it a "custom" install during the process, others dub it a "clean" install -- will delete all your data, you need to back up the files you want to access later. Windows 7 includes a migration utility called "Windows Easy Transfer" that backs up files you select. Frankly, most users will take that tack to shunt their stuff from old to new.
Microsoft has an old, but still valid set of instructions on how to use the utility on its support site. Print out the page for reference when you do the upgrade.
But if you do it yourself, sans Windows Easy Transfer, you'll have more control.
You can back up data using any number of backup programs to a variety of media, including CD, DVD, a flash drive or an external hard drive. A simpler method, though, is to simply copy the files from the XP machine; that means you'll need more space -- backup software typically compresses the data -- but on the plus side, you can just copy it back to the computer once Windows 7 has been installed.
Remember: Even if you use Windows Easy Transfer, you'll need a backup destination, like an external or flash drive, CD or DVD.
I don't have a CD or DVD drive to burn discs, and I don't have an external drive. Where do I back up my data? You're the perfect candidate for an online storage service.
Computerworld 's Lucas Mearian covered a number of consumer-grade online backup services last July, but two deserve special attention for this part of your Windows 7 prep: Mozy and Carbonite.
Mozy offers 2GB of storage space for free, and lets you buy an unlimited amount on a per-month basis for just $5 a month. Carbonite , meanwhile, gives prospective customers an unlimited amount of storage free for 15 days, plenty of time to back up your data from Windows XP, then restore it to Windows 7 once that's on your PC.
Both Mozy and Carbonite work with Windows 7 now, according to the two companies.
Another contender is Microsoft's free SkyDrive , which maxes out at 25GB of storage space. The caveat: SkyDrive limits individual uploaded files to 50MB or less.
What about e-mail? How do I prep that? Tough one.
If you're using Outlook Express -- the now-obsolete free e-mail client bundled with Windows XP -- you'll find a full set of instructions here on how to migrate the kit and caboodle to Windows 7 (you'll have to download Windows Live Mail separately, since Microsoft dumped, among other programs, an e-mail app from the new OS).
Similar directions for moving content of the more full-featured Outlook from one machine to another (as in an XP-to-Windows 7 upgrade) can be found here .
For other e-mail clients, your best shot is to search using strings such as " e-mail client name migrate" and see what comes up. That search for Thunderbird, for example, revealed that all you need to do is copy the "C:\Documents & Settings\ username \Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles" folder found on the XP machine to your backup destination, then later copy that to the same location on the new PC after reinstalling Thunderbird.
I don't want to recreate my browser's bookmarks and site passwords, or all the other tweaks I've made to app? What do I do? If you're using Internet Explorer on XP, it's pretty straight-forward.
In IE8, for instance, click on "Favorites," then on "Add to Favorites Bar," and select "Import and Export." Chose "Export to a file," then click "Next." Select all three boxes -- "Favorites," "Feeds" and "Cookies" -- then "Next." Pick a folder to export-- the umbrella "Favorites" exports all three -- then save the file to the drive by clicking "Next" one last time. The files will be "bookmark.htm," "feeds.opml" and "cookies.txt." Finally, copy those files to your backup destination. After upgrading, reverse the process by importing those files to the new copy of IE on Windows 7.
Note: The steps will be slightly different for other editions of IE. (Your passwords are exported to the cookies.txt file, by the way.)
For Firefox, it's even easier: Copy the "C:\Documents and Settings\ username \Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles" folder to your backup destination -- CD, DVD or online service -- then later copy that to the same location on Windows 7 after reinstalling Firefox. That will move all your bookmarks, site cookies and passwords to the just-upgraded PC.
You're on your own for other browsers. Hit your favorite search engine with strings like " browser name migrate" and find a solution that works for you. We did a quick search for "Opera migrate," for example, and found these instructions .
Data safely secured. But what about the apps I'm running? You'll have to reinstall all the software you plan to run on Windows 7, so gather all the installation discs you can find, as well as the activation or registration keys necessary to activate and use the software.
If you're running applications you've downloaded from the Web, you'll need to make a list and dig up the activation/registration keys or codes. (You did save those, didn't you?) Most for-a-fee application developers send you an e-mail with the codes after you've purchased and downloaded their software. If you've been on top of things, you saved those e-mails.
If not..., root around each application for the screen that shows the code, and jot it down.
Some electronically-purchased software may reinstall on the refreshed PC only from the original downloads. If so -- it's more legwork, I know -- see if you can find them on the XP system. Add them to your data backup.
For free applications, the easiest way to get them on Windows 7 is to download them again from the upgraded machine. It's likely that there's a new version in any case, hopefully one compatible with the new OS. Add those apps to your list; later you can search using Google or Yahoo or Bing, then grab the app again.
Hint: Be smart, and compose your lists, including URLs, in an e-mail, then send it to a Web-based account. That way you can later pull up the e-mail and just click on the links. Saves typing time, and typo problems.
Do I have to reinstall every app I have on XP? Hardly. This is the perfect time, say experts, to cull the chaff. Those programs you rarely, if ever, use on XP don't have to make the move to Windows 7. Strike them off your to-do list.
This sounds like a lot of work. Isn't there an easier way? Yes, as long as you're ready to plunk down some cash.
One option is Laplink Software's PCmover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant, a utility that promises to move virtually everything from Windows XP to Windows 7 during an upgrade on the same PC. Laplink is running a half-price special on the software, which allows one migration, until Thursday. The $14.95 program , regularly $29.95, can be downloaded from the company's site.
That's still work. Can I get someone to do the migration for me? Sure. Call a few local computer shops and ask whether they're doing Windows 7 upgrades, moving data transfer.
Or you can touch base with a New York company called iYogi, which bills itself as the "fastest growing on-demand tech service" in the country. iYogi offers several services for XP users who want to move up to Windows 7, including a $29.99 "Windows 7 Professional Migration" and a $39.99 "Windows 7 Professional Migration." The former provides tools for retaining data and applications during the upgrade, while the latter promises that a Microsoft-certified technician will do it all for you via remote access.
More information is spelled out on iYogi's site ; the migration services won't be available until tomorrow.

PS3: No longer the next-gen console punching bag

Is Sony's PlayStation 3 at long last ready to stop being its rivals' punching bag?

With its first-place finish in September in number of units sold, Sony finally has a tangible response to persistent criticism that its PS3 can't keep up with its next-generation video game console competitors, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.

For the month, according to video game analysts at the NPD Group, Sony sold 491,800 PS3s in the United States, while Nintendo moved 462,800 Wiis and consumers bought 352,600 of Microsoft's Xbox 360s. It was the first time since the next-generation console wars began in earnest nearly three years ago that the PS3 finished a month on top.

Yet, as everyone knows, a single positive piece of data does not a trend make--something Sony's competitors are quick to point out--especially when the existing trend is so contradictory. So, on the heels of those rosy-at-long-last September numbers, and the August price cut and launch of the new PS3 Slim that preceded them, can Sony finally demonstrate conclusively to its detractors that it is through being badly outmaneuvered?

According to a group of experts interviewed for this article, the answer appears to be yes. No one will yet predict that Sony is ready to grab hold of the leadership position it enjoyed in previous console generations. However, there does seem to be widespread agreement that for the first time since its November 2006 launch, the PS3 is ready to seriously compete for that role.

"I think that the fact that they did introduce a new footprint for the PS3 (the Slim) and a lower price point, coupled with some of the really high-demand games" coming out for the platform, "could really prime the pump for Sony to have a resurgence for the PS3," said Brian Crecente, editor of the popular video game blog Kotaku.

"I do think that we are probably going to see, if not it topping the charts leading into the holiday, it...doing better than it has in (the recent) past," he said.

Beginning a comeback in a hole
There's no doubt, however, that Sony is beginning any PS3 resurgence in a rather sizable hole. Since the start of the current console generation (in November 2006 for the PS3 and the Wii, and November 2005 for the Xbox 360), Sony has sold 25.26 million PS3s worldwide and 9.76 million in the U.S, according to VGChartz, a Web site that aggregates video game sales data. By comparison, the Wii has moved 54.19 million units worldwide, of which 25.05 million were in the U.S., and Microsoft--with its one-year head-start--has sold 32.51 million Xboxes, including 18.66 million in the U.S.

By those measures, the PS3 has a minimum of a 2-1 disadvantage, in the U.S. at least, when it comes to the PS3 install base. That fact puts pressure on third-party developers working on games for the console because they know that there are at least twice as many Xbox buyers in the U.S. as there are for the PS3.

That dynamic, in turn, has led to one of the biggest complaints over the years about the PS3: that the software lineup has paled in comparison to that of the Xbox. To be sure, Sony has always disputed that notion.

Hard to prognosticate
Over the last three years, this space has been home to multiple arguments that the PS3 would one day emerge as the clear-cut winner of the next-gen console wars. But there's also been plenty of room here for the theory that Sony's flagship video game device was doomed to languish behind the Xbox and the Wii.

Clearly, prognostication about the PS3's fortunes has been difficult. And with the state of the economy in flux, supply chains always hard to analyze, and consumers' whims ever-changing, there's no way to know for sure how the console wars will go from here on out.

But Sony definitely feels like it's finally in the driver's seat.

"Overall, we're just hitting a stride that just (reasserts) what we knew all along--that there's tremendous value under the (PS3's) hood," said Julie Han, Sony PlayStation spokesperson.

That's a notion that video game industry analysts agree with. Yet when talking about Sony's laudable September numbers, they also point, first and foremost, to the fact that there were a lot of consumers sitting on the sidelines, just waiting for the company to lower the PS3's price. In August, with the release of the $299 PS3 Slim, Sony did just that.

"It's really a combination of pent-up demand and (the point) where value and pricing meet," said Jesse Divinich, an analyst with Electronic Entertainment Design and Research. "The (thing) about the PS3 was, it was really a system ahead of its time. Developers didn't really have the capabilities to take advantage of all the power in the PS3, and at the same time you had systems like the Wii, which just had perfect timing. But now, (the PS3) has caught up."

That means, Divinich continued, that the time has finally come where the PS3's jam-packed collection of a powerful video game console, a Blu-ray player, and built-in Wi-Fi met consumers' needs, even as the price dropped to where large numbers of people feel they can afford it. The lowest-priced Xbox costs $199, while the Wii runs $249.

Finally hitting a 'sweet spot'
Divinich said that at $299, the PS3 has finally hit its "sweet spot." And he said while it's likely the initial boost of sales that came as a result of the August price cut will slow down, "Long term, into 2010 and 2011, I don't think the PS3 is going to be in last place to the degree it was before. The gap between the systems will be much smaller."

For his part, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said he expects the PS3 to outsell the Xbox during the holiday season because of the perceived value of the $299 PS3, loaded as it is with the Blu-ray player and Wi-Fi. He and others do, however, still think that Nintendo will sell more Wiis because of the broader general appeal of that device and the fact that it is seen as a better Christmas present.

"Is Sony back? Yeah," said Pachter. "Are they back as the leader? Probably not. Are they back in second? Probably."

Another analyst, Lazard Capital Markets Senior Vice President Colin Sebastian, also attributed the September PS3 sales boost to the "pent-up" demand for a lower price, and said that there would have been serious trouble for the console if the results had not been so good.

"If they had not shown the uptick with the price cut," Sebastian said, "then we'd all be putting a nail in the coffin for (the PS3). But what we're seeing is that there's still life left for the PS3, and that's an encouraging data point (for Sony)."

Still, as Pachter put it, "Microsoft is not the type of company that's going to stay (down) for a long time. They don't like it."

That's why, Pachter said, if the PS3 can keep pace with the Xbox for the next few months, there's a good chance that Microsoft will drop the price of its console another $50 sometime early next year, a move he doesn't think Sony would be able to match.

To be sure, Microsoft wouldn't easily cut the Xbox's price--"they're certainly not going to give money away just for the hell of it," Pachter said--but it is an arrow in their quiver.

Sebastian said he, too, could see an Xbox price cut next year, as well as one for the Wii. Would Sony follow suit if its rivals did so?

"They could do it," Sebastian said. "It's just a matter of what their tolerance is for absorbing less revenue on the hardware side, and whether they can make up that revenue on the software side."

According to Xbox spokesman David Dennis, a price cut is just one of many things Microsoft would consider as a way to keep pace with the market. He said other possibilities include different hardware and software bundles. "There's a lot of different levers you can pull," Dennis said.

Not surprisingly, Dennis is dismissive of the PS3's sales boost. He agreed that there were a lot of people waiting to buy the console at a lower price, but said that the impressive initial jump in units sold came as a result of early leaks of pictures and information about the PS3 Slim, and so there were "months of pent-up demand."

Further, he predicted that Sony would not see a sustained resurgence for its console and that even in September, when the PS3 outsold the Xbox and the Wii, Microsoft brought in more revenue for the entire Xbox ecosystem--including accessories, software, and fees for online services--than did Sony.

The two halves of 2010
In the end, most people seem to agree that the overall fortunes of the consoles have as much to do with software as price. That's why each of the analysts talked to for this story pointed to a bright future for Sony: They see a lot of strength in the PS3's coming games lineup, which includes titles like God of War III and Gran Turismo 5. And then there's also Sony's PlayStation Motion Controller, which could bring the PS3 more Wii-like functionality.

That's why Divinich said he thinks that the PS3 is likely to dominate the first half of 2010.

But he also expects that Microsoft will release its highly anticipated Project Natal motion-sensitive controller in the second half of 2010, a move that could stir up the console pot anew. Indeed, Divinich said he thinks that the Xbox will once again overtake the PS3 at that point.

And after that? It's anybody's guess.

From Daniel Terdiman - Cnet.com

Apple MacBook Fall 2009 (Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

Cnet

With the launch of Windows 7 only days away, it's not surprising that Apple would fire a last-minute shot across Microsoft's bow. While the timing may be suspicious, Mac fans are no doubt pleased to see an update to the most popular laptop in the Mac lineup, the $999 polycarbonate white MacBook.

While it's neither the less-expensive entry level MacBook some had hoped for, nor the long-rumored touchscreen device, the new 13-inch MacBook can now escape its designation as the lone holdover system from Apple's previous generation, thanks to an upscale makeover that keeps the price stable at just under the $1,000 mark.

But, does that mean recent MacBook buyers should run out and upgrade?

Like the aluminum MacBook Pro models, the MacBook now has a unibody chassis, although in this case, it's still made of polycarbonate. Unibody, Apple's preferred term, is a bit of a misnomer, as the bottom panel is separate, as are the multiple parts that make up the lid and display.

While still recognizably a MacBook, the new version has more gently sloped edges on its glossy white lid, making it look slightly slimmer when viewed straight on. The bottom half also has a rounded edge, making for an overall effect that's much less boxy, although it's still the same 1.08-inches thick as the previous version. The unibody switch shaves a little weight off the system, going from 5.1 pounds to 4.7 pounds.

The separate bottom panel is particularly interesting. It's a darker off-white color and has a matte non-slip feel, different than the glossy lid and keyboard tray. The unibody construction means the battery is no longer removable, as with the current MacBook Pro lineup -- a cause for concern to some, but we've never felt a non-removable battery was a deal-breaker in a laptop.

The matte finish bottom panel, hiding a non-removable battery.

The touch pad is the same large glass multitouch version found on the MacBook Pros, and it dominates the wrist rest area. The 13.3-inch display is now LED backlit (making that a standard feature across the entire Apple laptop lineup), which is better for both power consumption and environmental concerns. However, unlike the more expensive Pro models, you don't get the slick-looking edge-to-edge glass over the display. Other points of differentiation include the lack of an SD card slot and backlit keyboard.

FireWire fans should note that port has finally left the building. We would have thought this would be a good opportunity to add the same SD card slot found on the Pro 13-inch, but it was not to be. While we're not regular FireWire users, this does leave Apple open to accusations of removing functionality from the system.

Internal components are very similar to the previous plastic MacBook, including the Nvidia GeForce 9400 graphics. The Intel Core 2 Duo CPU has been bumped from 2.13GHz to 2.26GHz, and the default hard drive is now 250GB, up from 160GB. Configuration options are limited to 4GB of RAM (over the default 2GB) and 320GB and 500GB hard drives.

If you own a recent polycarbonate MacBook, or even an older model still in good working order, we don't see an immediate need to upgrade. But, if you've been in the market for a MacBook, and waiting to see if the holiday season would bring lower prices, this new upscale version of the MacBook is as much of a slight recessionary nod Apple is likely to give, as well as the best version to date of it's non-Pro laptop line.

Open Office 4 Kids

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - As the number of computer users among the kids, Open Office released a version designed specifically for them. Application called OOo4Kids is intended for primary school age children 7-12 years old. His appearance is more familiar to the children with bright colors and menu buttons that are large. Basic features are not as complete as provided only Open Office standards. However, thus smaller file size so that the installed faster and easier access. This software is built with open source platform so that anyone who freely used freely. 0.5 beta version available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. These applications can be downloaded at http://wiki.ooo4kids.org/index.php/Main_Page Although designed for children, this software is also worth a try for adults. Especially for users who only require basic functionality and easier access.

Easy & Minimalizm by SAMSUNG SMX-C10

Not as big as a digital camera market, the camcorder market has been increased. Unlike a few years ago some manufacturers monopolized, recently various companies have been releasing their new products with distinguished design, functions, and performance. It makes users consider more in a good way. (Personally, I hate monopoly and oligopoly, because hard competition can cause a new technology more quickly at a reasonable price.)

Samsung is one of the manufacturers in the hard competition market. Unlike former years which were not impressive, now they have been releasing great products in quality, portability, functions, and design, and their market share gets higher.

The SMX-C10 which I’m reviewing is good enough to be popular. This reminds me of the word ‘Minimalism’ and with a simple, cute design the ergonomic design is so impressive. Thanks to the reasonable price different from other full HD camcorder, I think it will be very popular.

I usually don’t use the word ‘Cute’, but looking at the C10, I just said ‘This is cute’ without even realizing it. Let’s take a look at the design, function, and qualtiy with the review.

Read more: http://www.samsungimaging.net/easy-minimalizm-by-samsung-smx-c10/#ixzz0UmYqe9Ny

moBlog: Post From Your Windows Phone Device

moBlog is a blog client for Windows Phone device supports Blogger, Wordpress, and Live Space. One thing we should love this software: it's FREE. Well..to be honest, i just installed it recently and wondering if this post will delivered successfuly to Chaotic Book blog. If you are reading this post right now, then wait no more. Try moBlog! Easy user interface, but seems like doesn't have any media option here.

Windows Mobile 6.5.1 screenshots appear, look more like it

Gsmarena.com

The Windows Mobile 6.5 has been around for less than a month now but Microsoft are already busy preparing an update for it. Good for them as so far nobody is overly excited about their iterative OS upgrade. And from what the leaked screenshots suggest, the next version might actually be good for something.

The new screenshots show that the guys over at Redmond took touch-experience pretty serious this time (yeah, yeah - we know it was about time). The tiny little interface elements that have been around for ages are now replaced with bigger and more thumbable ones.

The contacts menu has obviously been completely redesigned and the start menu button is moved to the lower end of the screen rather than the upper. As it seems, the tabbed interface has also been changed with tab indications moved to the top.

This version (be it called 6.5.1 or whatever) is what the 6.5 should have been in the first place. The petty excuse for an upgrade that was presented to us by Microsoft in the beginning of the month hardly delivered on any of the promises made but if any of those mockups are real, things seem to be going in the right direction.

Now what about an official confirmation and some availability terms announcement? With WinMo 7 coming next year it can't be too far away now, can it?

11 Benefits of Windows 7

JAKARTA - The presence of Windows 7 has just been released in Indonesia today, of course, equipped with a number of additional features that claimed Microsoft is penyempurna from previous operating system.

Bertempat di Hard Rock Cafe, Jakarta, Kamis (22/10/2009), Microsoft memaparkan keunggulan Windows 7 yang dipenuhi dengan fitur hiburan, tingkatan keamanan yang mumpuni, dan tampilan antar muka diperbaharui, sehingga nampak interaktif dan elegan. Located at the Hard Rock Cafe, Jakarta, Thursday (22/10/2009), Microsoft describes the benefits of Windows 7 which is filled with entertainment features, a qualified security levels, and display interface update, so interactive and elegant look.

Dan berikut merupakan 11 fitur keunggulan yang di dapat dalam Windows 7, And the following is the 11th feature in the benefits can be in Windows 7,

Windows Taskbar yang Diperbaharui Windows Taskbar is updated

Taskbar pada Windows 7 memudahkan kendali dan membantu untuk mengakses program dan file yang dibutuhkan secara lebih cepat. Taskbar in Windows 7 easier control and helps to access programs and files you need faster. Setiap Windows yang ada di taskbar dapat dilihat secara penuh apabila mouse diarahkan ke windows tersebut. Each is in the Windows taskbar can be seen in full when the mouse is directed to the windows. Dengan ukuran ikon yang lebih besar membuatnya mudah di-klik dengan windows ataupun dengan fitur multi-touch Windows 7. With the size of the larger icons make it easy to click with windows or with multi-touch features of Windows 7. Program dan file yang sering digunakan dapat mudah ditempatkan di taskbar untuk pengaksesan lebih cepat. Programs and files that are often used can be easily placed in the taskbar for faster access.

Jump List Jump List

Jump list disetiap program pada menu start dan windows taskbar mempermudah dalam mencari sesuatu. Jump lists every program in the start menu and windows in the taskbar it easier to find something. Secara otomatis disusun berdasarkan yang paling baru dan sering dibuka sehingga lebih sedikit waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk mencari lagu favorit, atau file yang baru dikerjakan. Automatically compiled based on the most recent and frequently opened so less time is needed to find your favorite song, or a new file is done.

Snap, Shake, Peek Snap, Shake, Peek

Program dan file yang sering digunakan dapat diakses dengan mudah tanpa desktop menjadi berantakan. Programs and files that are often used can be accessed easily without a messy desktop. Dengan adanya peek, arahkan muse ke kanan bawah taskbar dan semua windows yang terbuka ke arah yang lebuh jauh untuk mengukur ulang ( re-size ) windows tersebut, sehingga dua windows dapat terbuka pada sisi kana dan kiri secara bersamaan, untuk melakukan perbandingan. With a peek, muse to the right point under the taskbar and all open windows at the far lebuh to measure re-(re-size) windows, so that two windows can be open on the left side of the kana and at the same time, to make comparisons.

Dengan shake, klik satu windows dan goyangkan mouse untu minimize windows lauin yang sedang terbuka. With the shake, click on the windows and shake the mouse untu lauin minimize windows that are open.

Windows Touch Windows Touch

Fitur layar sentuh telah dimasukan ke dalam Windows 7 dan tersedia pada PC dengan layar sentuh. Touch screen feature has been incorporated into Windows 7 and is available on the PC with touch screen. Dengan fitur layar sentuh, gambar dapat diperbesar dengan menempatkan kedua tangan. With the touch screen feature, images can be enlarged by placing both hands. Browsing Interner Explorer 8 juga akan semakin mudah denga fitur ini. Browsing Interner Explorer 8 also will more easily premises of this feature.

Home Group Home Group

Home Group di Windows 7 membuat berbagi file diantar PC da n device di rumah menjadi lebih mudah. Home Group in Windows 7 makes sharing files transfer PC da n devices in the home easier. Melalui Home Group, PC dengan IWndows 7 dapat secara otomatis mengidntifikasikan dan tersambung dengan yang lannya. Through the Home Group, PC with IWndows 7 can automatically connect mengidntifikasikan and eat it with.

Fastern on, Fastern off Fastern on, Fastern off

Pengguna Windows 7 akan memperoleh manfaat dari peningkatan kinerja waktu memulai (start-up), resume dan menutup matikan (shut dows) PC yang lebih cepat dan peningkatan power management. Windows 7 will benefit from increased performance start time (start-up), resume and shut off (shut dows) PC faster and improve power management.

Windows Live Essentials Windows Live Essentials

Komunika dan berbagai layanan merupakan salah satu hal yang penting. Community and the various services is one important thing. Di Windows 7, fitur yang ada di versi Windows sebelumnya akan disediakan secara cuma-cuma melalui program Windows Live Essentials. In Windows 7, features in previous versions of Windows will be provided free of charge via the Windows Live Essentials programs. Pengguna dapat mengakses data offline dan melakukan berbagai hal untuk foto, video dan hal lainnya. Users can access data offline and do things to photos, videos and other things.

Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 8

Berselancar di dunia maya dengan IE 8 semakin matap dengan menyesuaikan keperluan penggunaanya melalu peningkatan di kecepatan, dan smart screen filte, yang membabtu PC tetap aman dengan memberitahu situs yang memiliki potensi bahaya. Surfing on the web with IE 8 more matap by adjusting the purposes of use through an increase in speed, and smart screen filte, which membabtu PC remains safe by telling the site that has the potential danger.

Windows Search Windows Search

Fitur ini dapat mengidentifikasikan lokasi dan membuka file apapun pada PC dari menu start dengan hanya mengetik satu atau dua kalimat. This feature can identify the location and open any file on your PC from the start menu by typing only one or two sentences.

Web Slices Web Slices

Fitur ini merupakan yang terbaru di Windows 7 dimana pengguna dapat memotong bagian yang ditargetkan dari sebuah situs yang kemudian ditempatkan di toolbar Internet Explorer 8 untuk referensi yang mudah dan cepat. This feature is the latest in Windows 7 where the user can cut the target from a site that was placed in the toolbar of Internet Explorer 8 for easy reference and quick.

Parental Control Parental Control

Membantu mengatur waktu yang spesifik dan menentukan program, situs serta game yang diperbolehkan untuk diakses anak-anak. Helping set the specific time and determine the programs, and gaming sites that are allowed to access the children.

(tyo) 11 Benefits of Windows 7 - techno.okezone.com

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5 RTM

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5 RTM for Windows Phone (or Windows Mobile devices). Download here!

inside you will find:
NETCFv35.wce.armv4.cab
NETCFv35.wm.armv4i.cab
NETCFv35.ppc.armv4.cab

For more detailed information, go here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=349367

Get It Wrong Before You Google to Learn It Better

We live in an era where the answer to almost any fact-based question is no further than a Google search away, but Scientific American highlights a study suggesting subjects forced to get something wrong before being told the answer learn it better.
In many ways the results don't seem terribly surprising—everyone's had that one fact they remember better than all the rest because it was the one they kept getting wrong. But it also flies in the face of the way many schools teach their students and the way the internet has spoiled us.

People remember things better, longer, if they are given very challenging tests on the material, tests at which they are bound to fail. In a series of experiments, they showed that if students make an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve information before receiving an answer, they remember the information better than in a control condition in which they simply study the information. Trying and failing to retrieve the answer is actually helpful to learning.

It's easy to understand the idea, whether or not the study's findings surprise you, but keep them in mind next time you're about to google something and consider getting it wrong on your own before you go looking for the quick answer elsewhere. (Adam Pash - Lifehacker.com)

Sony Ericsson XPERIA Rachael set to become X10 instead of X3

Some new leaked info claims that the upcoming XPERIA X3 codenamed Rachael won't be called X3 as previously suggested. It's most probable name will be XPERIA X10 instead and its expected release is February 2010 - just in time for the MWC 2010.

As rumors have it, the new Android-based XPERIA should be announced in the beginning of November, however as the new information suggests, it will become available only several months later - in February 2010.

As a tipster with insider knowledge reports, the XPERIA X10 has a impressively large screen and it's ultra thin plus it feels quite light. The interface looks spiffy and does not resemble the HTC Hero UI. So far the preliminary XPERIA X10 specs that we have posted in our rumor section seem to be valid exactly as leaked before.

Well, we have to wait to see whether any of all this stuff becomes true, however in meantime the XPERIA X2 is due to become available soon and you can read our first impressions here.

gsmarena.com

Android 2.0 Features Combined Inbox, "Car Home"

The Boy Genius Report got its hands on the upcoming Android Verizon phone, "Droid," and toured its early-release 2.0 firmware. The blog finds a few keen features to be released, including a unified inbox and voice-controlled car accessibility.

The screens come from Motorola's phone, now heavily advertised over the weekend as a direct competitor to the iPhone, but the Android 2.0 features will presumably make their way to Android phones of all stripes (eventually). The neatest stuff inside, from a usability standpoint, includes a "Car Home" that presents big buttons and voice-controlled instructions, like saying "map of wendys" and getting a Google Map filled with the popular square-burger-patty chain. A "combined inbox" loads your work email messages, SMS, Facebook pings, important blog updates, and other messages into one screen (though Gmail remains separate), and settings offerings like haptic feedback (subtle vibration) for virtual keys, selective account syncing, and other offerings.

What's still missing from Android 2.0 from a software standpoint? Tell us your take on the presumed future of Google's open source phone system in the comments. -Kevin Purdy - Lifehacker.com

Top-rated monitors for less than $200

Lately, I've received plenty of requests from readers asking for my recommendations of sub-$200 monitors. First off, I want to apologize that I haven't made time to answer each of your e-mails individually, but I figure this is the next best thing.

The list of the five best sub-$200 monitors comes with a couple of caveats:

• Only monitors that have received full reviews in the the calendar year 2009 are eligible.
• All monitors must have been in stock at an online retailer at the time of posting.
• The prices are taken from the regular prices of the major e-tailers (Amazon, Newegg, monitor vendor).(Cnet.com).

Go here: Cnet.com

ROM Upgrade (WM6.5) for HTC Snap

ROM Upgrade for HTC Snap is ready to download. Check www.htc.com and pick your area. Remember, each area have different ROM. Don't try to install ROM from Europe for device from Asia. Just to be sure, there is a question before you download. By entering device's serial number, you'll know whether the ROM is the right choice or not.

Windows Phone is Online!

Try to check Windows Mobile's official website on Microsoft. Its Windows Phone now!