Best Gadgets World

Posted Feb 21st 2008 5:51PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Transportation It’s not the first time we’ve seen diesel touted as a solution for more efficient vehicles, but Loremo AG’s new eponymously-titled vehicle may just have all of ‘em beat — if it can live up to its claims, that is. According to the vehicle’s designers, in addition to diesel, they relied on engine efficiency, low weight, and minimal drag to boost the fuel-efficiency, which they say could top out at lofty 150 miles per gallon. With numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that Loremo’s also entered the car in the Automotive X-Prize competition but, unlike most of the other entrants, this one will apparently actually be available to the general public relatively soon. That’ll supposedly come sometime next year, with Europeans the first in line to get their hands on the vehicle for the relative bargain price of €15,000 (or $22,000) — a redesigned North American version is then set to follow a year later. As if that wasn’t enough Loremo’s also promising a spiffier 3-cylinder GT version that’ll run you $30,000, and both hyrbid and fully electric versions, although those are only described as “in the works.”

Aside from ”hustling” Yahoo, software giant Microsoft wants to shed away its monopolistic practices by promoting interoperability. Today, it promised to be extra kind by sharing more technical information about its products and technology to help outside developers create solutions compatible with its Vista operating system and other key products.

On top of that, software developers need not pay any license or royalty fees. The additional technical information will be published on Microsoft’s Interoperability site. In essence, these are the 4 interoperability principles that Microsoft will embrace:

1. Ensuring open connections
2. Promoting data portability
3. Enhancing support for industry standards
4. Fostering more open engagement with customers and the industry, including the open source community

Sounds a little like Google, don’t you think? Apparently, that’s the idea. With Google catching up in the software market, Microsoft does not have much choice but to open up its system and encourage outside developers to participate. On a deeper level, this initiative is also part of the company’s responsibilities and obligations to comply with the EU laws.

Still, the European Union remains skeptical about this sudden change of heart for this is the 4th time Microsoft sang this “openness” song but did not show much commitment.

Read [Microsoft]

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In today’s fast moving era, one and all demand some kind of diversion in their work. With this perception, Coby Electronics Corporation, the pioneer in consumer electronics products, brought forward 3” high resolution Coby MP-835 MP3 and video player. This seamless new contraption comes in elite black with instinctive touch screen controls.

The Coby MP-835 MP3 and Video Player shares wide screen TFT color display along with the resolution power of 480×272 pixels. Its incorporated FM radio along with other features like text, music, video and photos makes it more sophisticated. It is embedded with memory capacity of 2GB - 4GB. This stunning mp3 player comprises of inbuilt flash

Memory micro SD card slot which upgrades memory capacity easily.

Features

• Measure 2.04 x 3.82 x 0.41 inches
• micro SD card slot Supports Audio: MP3, WMA, OGG; Video: AVI, WMV; Photo: JPG, BMP, GIF; Text: TXT
• USB 2.0 Hi-speed
• Integrated rechargeable lithium polymer battery
• Supports WMDRM 10
• 3.5 mm headphone jack

Package content

Installation CD, USB Cable, Stereo Earphones

Warranty

The Coby MP-835 MP3 and video player is backed by a warranty of 3 months.

Price

Coby MP-835 MP3 and Video Player is available at an affordable price of $130.

Source: Coby

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Posted Feb 21st 2008 1:58PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Transportation, Networking
Finally things are starting to get a little more futuristic around here. Beginning next Monday, bus riders in San Francisco will get a chance to hop at least one ride that will take them to the Columbus stop, Van Ness stop… and the World of Tomorrow. Thanks to the combined effort of SF’s Muni and Cisco, the “Connected Bus” will be hauling around free WiFi and touchscreen maps on its walls (which will also carry updated connecting transit information). Sure, it’s no citywide wireless coverage, but combined with the BART train WiFi rollout, it’s certainly a start. Cisco tested the bus with 15 riders checking email and downloading music and movies on laptops, and say that the signal was “strong and uninterrupted,” though they admit they haven’t tested the system during a 15-player fragfest. Anyone up for a ride?

[Thanks, Paul in SF]

Posted Feb 21st 2008 11:09AM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Digital Cameras
You’d better watch your back Adobe, because it looks like you’ve got company in the 3D picture game. Stanford University researchers have recently hit upon a method of image sensing which can judge the distance of subjects within a shot. By using a 3-megapixel sensor which is broken into multiple, overlapping 16 x 16-pixel squares (referred to as subarrays), a camera is capable of capturing a variety of angles in one frame. When the images taken by the multi-aperture device are processed by proprietary software, location differences are measured from each mini-lens, and then combined into a photograph containing a depth map. This procedure allows the same image to appear at different angles, provided the subject has depth to begin with (i.e., isn’t a flat surface). Here’s hoping this technology makes it into consumer products pronto, ASAP, and forthwith.

[Via Wired]

Normally, I’m all for what Uncle Sam needs to do in order to maintain National Security … so long as it doesn’t go too far. The question is, with this story in Hack N Mod, has Uncle Sam (and Dell Computers) gone a bridge too far in surveilling America?

Big Brother is indeed watching you, my friends … One man found a keylogger connected to the integrated Ethernet board of his Dell PC.

The story goes on to state that Dell gave him a nondescript reply and after consulting local law enforcement, he made a FOIA request regarding it. The reply is interesting, but may not be the entire story. Not everything is black helicopters and wiretaps.

On it’s face, it appears that Dell Computer may be participating in a felony by installing hardware keyloggers in their Dell Laptops. However, there are some real world applications for a hardware keylogger … such as information security on business laptops and backup potential in the event of a catastrophic software or hard drive failure. And one comfort is that according Keyghost, the makers of the keylogger, only an administrator can access the log, which only records up to 128,000 characters. Then there’s the deterrant capability that if employees know that a keylogger is installed on their business computers, they won’t use those computers for unauthorized or nefarious uses.

It could be a mistake of distribution, or deliberate design meant to accommodate their business customers. But if Dell is installing these in all their laptops and not advising their customers with an option to have it removed, then perhaps they are indeed violating a customer’s rights.

What can you ask more when you want to opt for a Laptop and you get it that fits your needs and budget? Dell Latitude D530 Laptop can be customized as per you necessities. The Latitude D530 is Dell’s hottest entry level business notebook. The Latitude D530 integrates business class features in a reasonable laptop solution that convenes the desires of most mobile business users.

Innovative Design

The D530 Laptop pioneers sophisticated alternatives and new level of modifications. It is comprised of Single and Dual-core Intel Processors supporting windows Vista and XP as OS. Embedded with performance hard drives options including hybrid, encrypted hard drive, and Solid State HDD.

High-speed Connectivity

The Latitude D530 keeps users connected any time, virtually anywhere. It features next-generation Wi-Fi and is integrated Bluetooth 2.0 with Enhanced Data.

Robustness

The notebook is designed and built to meet your sturdy laptop circumstances. Embossed with optional solid state drive for optimal hard drive unfailing. The D530 has undergone meticulous testing of over 13000 hours to ensure sturdy performance.

Smart Security

The Latitude D530 is incorporated with comprehensive and flexible security suite. It has an Optional Encrypted Hard Drive that conveys full disk encryption.

Warranty and Pricing

Backed by a warranty of 4 years, the Dell Latitude D530 is available at a price of Rs.63, 990.

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Its always fun to see what kind of ads will come from events that surround the tech community. The latest coming from Best Buy Canada and takes full advantage of the format war and states the winner in no uncertain terms.

The ad simply states “Format War Over: Blu-ray Wins!” and with that they are offering to help. Of course they can help you as long as you are not bothered by spending $399.99 for a new player.

While Blu-ray may be the clear winner, it will still take some time to become more common in households. Personally my current DVD player works well enough for me as compared to a nearly $400 price tag. I would venture a guess that I am not alone in that feeling.

Via [EngadgetHD]

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You can forget about your Do Not Call listing expiring, thanks to Public Law 110-187 and 110-188 we are now guaranteed to have a permanent listing and avoid those dreaded telemarketing calls.

On Friday, February 15, 2008, the President signed into law:

H.R. 3541, the “Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007,” which prohibits the automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Federal “do-not-call” registry; and

S. 781, the “Do-Not-Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007,” which extends permanently the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to charge fees to telemarketers required to access the Federal “do-not-call” registry and specifies the fees to be charged.

The new laws not only guarantee that your listing will not expire, but also provides regular funding to help support the list. Now would be a good time to make sure you have all your current numbers listed.

Read [Do Not Call] Via [Consumerist]

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The mobile plans war is getting more exciting every single day. After Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T announced their flat-rate calling plans for $99.99 per month, there are speculations that Sprint Nextel will offer its own unlimited plan at 40% lower or $60 per month.

It’s a very surprising move knowing that this struggling mobile operator recently announced its Unlimited Access Pack for $119 per month. Though there is still no official announcement about this move, analysts speculate Sprint will go for a $60 to $80 monthly plan.

Though many customers are delighted about this discounted rates, Wall Street is worried this will spur deeper price cuts and competitive counterattacks, which might prove detrimental to the business in the long run.

Analysts are divided whether AT&T and Verizon Wireless will respond to this speculated flat-rate calling plans. Some see this will hurt their customer growth and revenue while others believe these players will eventually be forced to compete to protect their business.

Read [Reuters]

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