March 2008 Archives

The online version of Photoshop has finally gone live. Dubbed as Photoshop Express, we reported about its existence before, but it's only now that it has become accessible to the public. Unfortunately, it’s still in the beta phase so its not 100 % glitch free and users like us in the Philippines residing outside the US will suffer the greater bulk of the problem. Adobe warns that while the site maybe accessible, access speeds is greatly reduced if you are not in the US, but once everything gets the stamp of approval for the green signal, international users shouldn’t worry so much. The site, of course, is nothing compared to the full retail version of Photoshop, but it's a nice alternative when you don't have access to your home computer. It's free and is compatible with most web browsers just as long as you're running the latest version of Adobe Flash 9. Screenshots are all courtesty of Gizmodo. For my part, I was able to register and create an account that comes with 2 GB of online storage after minutes of waiting for their page to load. After doing that, the wait becomes even longer when making use of the other features such as uploading photos which is basically the first step in utilizing the various functions of the site. A bit of a advice for would-be users of the site, a fast internet connection is recommended, but if you wish to take advantage of the full site, I think its best to wait until the final version is out. On a similar note, Photobucket recently updated their editing tools which make it a more viable option for now when it comes to online image storage solutions. It allows free 1 GB storage capacity for both images and videos and incorporates some useful photo enhancing features as well. It's no Photoshop, but at least it works in our part of the world.

Nokia and Samsung have released theirs, and I guess it wasn’t long before others followed suit. So it comes as no surprise that Motorola has one of their own in the DH02. Were not quite sure if it really is a phone and if we’ll ever see it come to light in our part of the world, but we’re pretty sure that it’ll support DVB-H media technology which is currently the running standard for Mobile TV in our country. It also has advanced GPS capabilities, Bluetooth, auto-flip orientation for portrait or landscape viewing, microSD card support, HSDPA/GPRS support, touch screen interface, and Emergency call and SMS support. Yeah, Mobile TV sounds good, but looking at the DH02, users will probably judge it more based on its new and unconventional the touch screen interface as opposed to its media capabilities. Oh well, we’re not even sure if it will make it to the Asian region so it’s best to stop nipping at Motorola’s heels until it’s officially been released locally.

After months of waiting and several beta releases, FireFox 3.0 has finally gotten the green light for public download. Reuters reports that despite still being another beta version, this current one has been deemed to be more stable as compared to earlier versions. Prior to beta 4, Mozilla has discouraged the general public from downloading it as it was still in the testing phase. The final version is expected to be released by the end of June. One of the more unique features to watch out for in this latest version from Mozilla is its ability to continue running a website even when the internet connection is not available anymore. It also boosts security and eats up less memory as compared to the current version, FireFox 2. Head on over to the Beta 4 Release Notes page for a complete list of new features and known issues pertaining to this latest release. Can’t wait until the end of June for FireFox 3? Then head on over to their download site and get the beta 4 release now. Just remember, this is still a beta so don’t be surprised if you hit some bumps along the way.

In the spirit of the Easter season, LifeHacker gives us the top ten software Easter Eggs for your enjoyment. For the uninitiated, Easter Eggs are those little hidden built-in features that programmers slyly sneak into your favorite applications. Think of it as cheat codes for your most played game, but this time around, it’s for the software you use on your desktop computer.    Ranging from internet browsers to office applications, there’s an Easter Egg hidden in almost every type of software available today. If not for anything else, these hidden features are truly entertaining that veers away from the common purpose of the said application. The average user will most likely go tired of the program without even becoming aware of the existence of such an Easter Egg hidden within its very core. So let this short rundown of Easter Eggs guide you into enjoying the applications on your computer on a completely whole new level. On that note, Happy Easter everyone!

With the way things are going, it looks like the S60 platform is well on its way in securing its dominance as the premier mobile phone software development platform of today. Aside from the numerous applications already available, Nokia announced that S60 devices will soon be able to work with Microsoft’s Silverlight plug-in which will allow users to enjoy a more dynamic, media-rich internet experience. Some of the more popular websites that run Silverlight applications are Entertainment Tonight, NBA and NBC Universal. By making S60 devices compatible with this application, it now becomes more versatile and comes even closer to how a desktop browser works albeit the lack of a mouse and full keyboard. It also paves the way for developers to work with a wider range of development environments which already include C++ (using native Symbian OS APIs and Open C providing subset of standard POSIX libraries), S60 Web Run-time (supporting standards-based web technologies such as Ajax, JavaScript, CSS and HTML), Java language, Flash Lite from Adobe, and Python. According to Nokia, Silverlight will also be made available for Series 40 devices and Nokia Internet Tablets at a later date.

Striking a not-so-surprising resemblance to the DV2000 series, the all-new HP dv3000 packs in the latest Intel 2.5 GHz T9300 Penryn Core 2 Duo processor with a more-than-enough 2GB RAM serving. You also get a 160 GB hard disk storage, a dual-layer DVD burner, 256 MB NVidia GeForce Go 8400M graphics, finger-print scanner for security, remote control, HDMI-out, USB and a not-so-common eSATA port all packaged in a very portable 13.3-inch sized laptop. A VGA webcam also comes standard though we’re a bit surprised that with most companies already going the megapixel route, HP decided to stick to VGA. Connectivity is provided via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (a,b,g,n), LAN port and a built-in modem.

The good news is that this model is definitely headed to the Asian market with a suggested retail price of $ 1399.00. The bad news is it’s due a full month away in May (unless of course they decide otherwise). Probably not as thin and small as the other much-talked-about lappies out in the market, but this one is definitely filled with multimedia treats that's packed to the brim.

LaCie has got these spiffy new hard drives to complement your system both in style and functionality. With the ever growing demand of modern applications for more storage, this 1 TB external Hard Disk is just want the doctor recommends. House in a very stylish and classic aluminum chassis, it goes well in any environment whether it be your home computer or office workstation. Sadly though, connectivity is limited to hi-speed USB 2.0 standards which might suffice for most users but a FireWire or eSATA option would have been great on this TB storage solution. For those seeking a more portable alternative, the new Mobile Disk that comes in 80, 120, 160, 250, 320 GB variants is just what you need. It’s small, compact, and comes with a variety of capacities to choose. It makes us of a mini USB port and has 8 MB of cache on its 5400 rpm HDD. I can’t wait for these beauties to hit the local market.

It’s finally hear, Apple has quietly released the new AirPort Express which is now 802.11n capable. This means faster transfer rates with up to twice the range of its predecessor. With the introduction of this latest model, all of Apple’s networking products are now running on this faster protocol, but the obvious advantage of the AirPort Express is its size and simplicity. It’s so portable and easy to use that you won't have to trouble yourself with those cable-management nightmares. You can likewise hook up a USB printer to it for network-sharing or a home-entertainment system if you want to wirelessly transmit your music collection via AirTunes (and iTunes) which is one of its more unique features. While its over-all design, look and feel is undoubtedly Apple, it is compatible with PC systems as well. So for those looking for a simple wireless solution to spruce up your home network, this might just be the one you're looking for.  It’s retailing for $ 99 in the US.  

While watching TV, I discovered this nifty plug-in for the internet browser which totally rocks. It’s called PicLens and is designed to work with such image-intensive sites such as Flickr, Facebook, DevianArt, Google Images and so on and so forth.   What it does is allow you to view images in a 3D Wall wherein you can just click and drag the screen to scroll over the various images. It displays all the images in the site as thumbnails for easy viewing, and when I say all, I mean all. No more clicking to the next page, just scroll to your hearts content. It’s really cool and makes surfing through particular websites so much better.   It supports various browsers such as Safari, IE and FireFox. I've tried it out with FireFox and works without a hitch, but I can’t seem to make it work with IE. I already sent them an email regarding this issue and am just waiting for their reply. If you’ve got FirFox, try out this awesome plug-in because it's one simple yet effective way of enriching your internet experience.

It looks like the OLPC program is well on its way here in the Philippines. Despite Intel's fall out from the program, the OLPC dream is managing very well on its own and has some good news on the local front. As reported by Jayvee Fernandez on ABuggedLife.com, with the help of the PBSP, OLPC Philippines has formed a partnership with the Don Bosco Technical College making it the pilot school for the ambitious program. It will be made available at the primary school level, but the technical resources and expertise of its college will undoubtedly be a great help in developing and expanding current programs that already run on the XO. The PBSP, on the other hand, will help in financing and the  implementation of the program as well as validating and developing the necessary practices for the program to become accessible and successful in other parts and schools in the country. While this is just a small step towards the dream, it is nevertheless a very good one in the right direction. Being my optimistic self, I have high hopes for this new partnership which might very well be the new cyber-education program that the public school system so greatly deserves. You can view updates and show your support through the OLPC Philippines wiki-site, OLPC Multiply page or by joining their Facebook group. Acess to technology, after all, is a right of everyone and not just for the financially capable.

Acer has unveiled the second iteration of its Gemstone laptop series. Dubbed as the Gemstone Blue, the obvious mark up of this second generation model is the all new body that has a more sophisticated look to it. Ditching its light colored exterior, the new Gemstone is carries a darker motif and a more slim body with an all-new CineTouch control system located at the left side of the keyboard. Hardware-wise, it boasts of a 1.5 GHz Intel Penryn processor, 512 MB Nvidia 9650m GS graphics, 16:9 1080p capable screen and Blu-ray optical drive. This lappie comes in two variants to choose from: 16- and 18.4-inch models. Indeed, the new look is a step up from its predecessor, but with its extended width, I was hoping for a more well-spaced numeric keypad instead of those CineTouch controls. After all, how often will you end up using the CineTouch features? But hey, that’s just my opinion and it seems that this machine was built for the mobile movie-buff which makes the short-cut key choice sensible, in a way. Price is expected to start at $ 900 for the most basic set-up.

It seems that Smart Telecommunications has an odd way of showing how much they appreciate their loyal subscribers by asking them to ditch their old plans in exchange for current (more expensive) plans and new handsets. This is a letter that was received by a Smart user and Podcentral member which got the ire of fellow members who can sympathize with his situation. According to the letter and a discussion with a CSR, old legacy plans are the main casualty of the upgraded post-paid billing system which requires those on it to upgrade to current (and more expensive) post-paid plans. Those who do not upgrade will have their plan terminated on April 7, 2008. Though they have already provided their reason for such a move, the greater sentiment is that Smart is just trying to close out legacy plans that are not only more cost-efficient, but also allow subscribers unlimited SMS capabilities. Whichever the case maybe, it seems that Smart is approaching the whole thing in a not-so-subscriber-friendly way. Personally, I don’t see the logic in this. I am a Globe user and am currently still on a legacy plan though certain conditions have changed due to the restrictions imposed on SMS. We didn’t have to change plans at all nor forced to upgrade. We were just informed of the new SMS restrictions that took place and from time to time, we get offers, not to upgrade but to remain locked for another year or two in our plan with monthly rebates or free handsets in exchange for our loyalty. Granted that, at the end of the day, all of these are just money -making strategies, Smart is going about it completely the wrong way. While some may be enticed by the free handsets, there are a substantial number of subscribers who are disappointed with the company.  Is this the Smart way of showing how much your treasure your loyal subscribers?

Not as small as the Eee PC, the Asus U2E offers more power in a slightly larger form factor that still manages to compete with the other ultra portables in the market. I wish we had our own review to offer you guys, but for now, a full review of this baby is available at PC Perspective and based on their tests, while it does manage to offer a decent set of features, there’s no hiding the fact that performance-wise, it's a bit disappointing. However, as the author is quick to note in his conclusion, given its size, price and target market, it’s still very competitive in terms of design and functionality. It's powered by an Intel Core Duo 1.06 Ghz processor and runs DDR2 667 Mhz RAM with 32 GB SSD storage. Unlike the Eee, this comes loaded with Windows Vista and various connectivity options uncluding Bluetooth, WiFi and a fax/modem. If also features a fingerprint scanner for security. A warning though for those who have grown accusomted to the price of the Eee PC, the U2E is in a different class of its own. It may be a compact device, but the leather clad body and chrome accents on its exterior speaks of class and sophistication which, in my mind, already merits the additional figures in its price. It is yet to be available locally, and if any Asus reps are reading this, we’re definitely waiting for a review unit so that we can gie our two cents on this latest model.

There’s no denying that the Asus Eee PC has set a new standard in affordable and portable computers so it comes as no surprise that the competition is trying to come up with their own line to lay stake at the huge piece of the market Asus has already claimed with its successful debut product. Now, MSI is doing just that with the Wind. Provided of course that it stays true to its reported specs and price, the Wind can indeed make a worthy opponent for the Eee in the ultraportable battlefield. It runs on the Intel Shelton ’08 platform and comes with processor speeds ranging from 1.0 to 1.6 GHz, a 10-inch display, 1 GB of RAM, option of HDD or SSD storage, and a purported 7-hour battery life. OS options are likewise available with either a Linux or Windows installed on it. The expected selling price will range from a very affordable $ 458 to a very expensive $ 1078 depending on the configuration. More pics can be found at PC World Italia. Hopefully, the more affordable versions won’t be lacking too much with regards to specs so that it will be a viable option as opposed to the popular unit of Asus. For now, it’s time to play the waiting game once again, but it probably won't take too long before we see a changing of the guard in the ultraportable market segment when the Wind finally becomes available.

Olympus just unveiled one of its most portable and compact digital SLR to date, the E420. While many are in awe of its size, it’s just a tad bigger than Nikon’s bestseller D40, but apart from that, feature-wise, they’re completely worlds apart. The E420 is a 10-megapixel DSLR that comes with a large 2.7-inch LCD display, face detection technology, Live View, shadow adjustment technology and an all new and improved HyperCrystal II Technonology. Putting all the technical stuff aside and summing things up, what you’re getting from this latest camera of Olympus is one piece of sophisticated imaging equipment all packaged in a truly compact body. Buyers will also have the option of a Zuiko ED 25mm/f2.8 or a14-42mm/f3.5-5.6 lens. The price isn’t that bad as well which ranges from $ 500 (body only) to $ 700 (Zuiko ED 25mm lens). The body kit with the Zuiko ED 14-42mm lens is in the middle costing $ 600. Given the success of the D40 from Nikon and 350D from Canon and with the release of this baby, if this is a sign of things to come, we might see a surge of well-priced compact DSLRs from other manufacturers as well. If my prediction holds true, this will definitely be good news for the financially-challeged photogrpaher.

  Yup, it's true, the long awaited iPhone SDK is now available. While we wish we were physically there to witness the announcement first hand, we give props to Gizmodo for their coverage of the event. Unfortunately, while the SDK is free, once you decide to make your newly developed application available to others, there is a $ 99 charge for it to be published in iTunes which is the sole distribution mechanism for it.  According to their website, the developer program is intially available in the US with a limited number of slots and will expand internationally in the coming months. Yeah, it's a real bummer for programmers, but I bet in some part of the universe, some ingenious mind is already working on a way to counter Apple in their grand master plan. Others notable announcements include support for VoIP over Wifi  and the inclusion of enterprise features such as push e-mail, push contacts and calendar, WPA2/802.1x, security policies, Microsoft Activesync and Exchange support and all the other stuff corporate geeks been dreaming of. Non-developers who want these new features will have to wait until June 2008 for it to become available in the iPhone 2.0 update. New games such as Spore from EA, and Super Monkey Ball from Sega both of which will make use of iPhone’s accelerometer as controls are also in the works as a result of the SDK release. Read the entire press release here.   With these developments adding a little more value and functionality to the iPhone, will hesitant buyers now jump the gun and get one or are they still waiting for more before finally taking the plunge?

It’s official, Adidas and Samsung have joined forces in coming up with a fitness phone that will rival the Apple/Nike tandem that has been the craze among health aficionados. The F110, which is also known as the miCoach, is a quad-band slider that incorporates some nifty tools to aide the modern health buff. Once connected to the heart monitor and step counter, you can instantly gain access to your heart rate, distance covered and time while running with just one press of a button. No need to look at the phone as the data will be delivered via the included headset. With over 220 training programs provided through a fitness website which can then be downloaded later on, this virtual fitness instructor will see you through thick and slim. The phone comes with 1 GB memory and is bundled with the heart rate monitor and step counter which they dubbed as the foot pod in the box. With more features to offer as opposed to the iPod/Nike duo, this new tag-team might prove to be a successful partnership in the long run (no pun intended).

  Eee PC lovers who have been dreaming of a unit that comes with a bigger screen and more storage capacity need not wait any longer. Asus has just unveiled a new model at CeBIT that comes with a 9-inch (8.9 in reality)LCD display, a larger touchpad and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. A 12 GB version will also be made available aside from the current 8 GB flock. Engadget has a side-by-side comparison of the two so you can clearly see the difference between the pioneer and the successor. JKK Mobile, on the other hand, has a video hands-on take on this latest version of the Eee. This model will also ship with two OS options available installed, Linux or Windows XP, and this early on, there's even talk of having the next Microsoft OS, Windows 7, installed on future variant. Putting the size differential aside, it seems that the two will most likely perform the same in terms of power, but the additional inches and centimeters will most likely translate into a better experience for the user. Target release date is middle of this year so prospective Eee PC buyers might want to hold on to their hard-earned dough before making any impulse buys.

If everything goes according to plan, we might see these concept devices become a reality after 7 years. A joint project between the Nokia Research Center and the University of Cambridge, Morph was launched hand-in-hand with the Design and the Elastic Mind exhibition that started February 24 and will run until May 12, 2008 a the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Morph demonstrates how nanotechnology can play a vital role in the development of future devices. It not only helps in achieving tremendously out-of-this-world design, but aides in providing better functionality as well. While everything is still a concept at this point in time, according to the press release, some elements of Morph might become available to handheld devices within 7 years. Depending on how this new technology is accepted, it will initially be part of the high-end market but as economics goes, we might one day see it integrated with the larger consumer-friendly group. This partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge started in March of 2007 and aims at a collaborating in extensive and long term research projects. Looking at the snazzy images, it looks very promising. Hopefully, these concept designs will become more than just concept and be a reality someday.

As reported on Gizmodo, thanks to Core, a hardcore iPhone hacker, native P2P is now possible on the iPhone.  Based on the torrent app Transmission for the Mac, P2P file sharing can now be done using the premiere mobile phone from Apple. Unfortunately, while the prospects of having a portable P2P client are indeed exciting, this is not yet the promised land for mobile file sharing. For starters, installation isn’t as simple as running installer.app and it uses a command-line interface. Data communication is also limited to Wifi which, in a way, makes sense since its faster and more stable but the option to go EDGE would have been nice. The whole process also takes its toll on the battery life of the iPhone so it won’t be advisable to make it your no. 1 device for torrent downloading. Nevertheless, this is a welcome development and is sign of the many good things to come.

So yeah, the new Macbook Pro does have a multi-touch pad, but what else can we expect from it?

 

Engadget has a comparative review of this latest version of Apple’s top-of-the-line laptop and aside from the new touch pad, users will be happy to note that it will be a bit more bearable to use on your lap as compared to its predecessors. That might be its greatest consolation as speed tests show that while the new Penryn processors do provide improvement in performance, it’s not that big a deal. Gizmodo also shares the same point of view with their hands-on take on the new Macbook Pro. Dont' get me wrong, it's efficient but not that impressive to blow me away with its new specs.

So the verdict: if you’re looking into purchasing your very first Macbook Pro or want one that has a multi-touch pad, then without a doubt this is the one for you; but if you already own of the more recent and powerful Core 2 Duo units, you won’t missed out on much with this latest release.