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Kingston Ships Datatraveler vault Privacy 3.0 Secure USB drive

Posted by Maqsood Saturday, December 21, 2013 2 comments

Kingston has just released the DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 (DTVP) secure USB Flash drive, as well as the DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 Anti-Virus, which helps enterprises safeguard business data and set security policies for end-users at an affordable price point. DTVP 3.0 provides 100-percent hardware-based encryption of confidential information and is also available separately with ClevX DriveSecrurity powered by ESET anti-virus protection, which protects corporate end-users wherever they work or plug in.

As the workforce becomes more mobile, businesses must take the appropriate steps to educate their employees and establish security policies so sensitive data cannot be accessed by unauthorized users or cyber criminals. Kingston’s DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 USB Flash drive provides affordable business-grade security with 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption than CBC and ECB modes. It is the first -to-market hardware-encrypted secure USB Flash drive with USB 3.0 performance. DTVP 3.0 is available with optional, easy to deploy and easy to use anti-virus protection from ESET/ClevX that protects the drive’s contents from viruses, spyware, Trojans worms, rootkits, adware and other Internet-borne threats. The ESET NOD32 anti-virus engine provides instant alerts and comes with a five-year pre-activated license. This USB flash drive is available in 4 GB, 8 GB 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB capacities and follows the USB 3.0 standard.

Toshiba launched kirabook with 22 hours of battery life

Posted by Maqsood Friday, December 20, 2013 0 comments

Typically, when you think of laptops with extra-long battery life, it’s the MacBooks which come to mind first and not their more-common Windows rivals but that is about to change now with the Toshiba Kirabook. The ultrabook, with a little help from Intel Haswell processors, has a 22 hour long battery life, that too in a razer-think design. Upfront, you get a 13.3 inch non-touch enabled display with 1366x 768 pixel resolution, one of the factors in improving battery life but you may also find a 2560 x 1440 res.

Model. Under the hood, you get a 4^th-generation Intel Core i5 Haswell Processor, 8 Gb worth storage and a 128 GB SSD. It also comes with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. With a battery life like this, you might have expected the Kirabook to be an ultrabook just by name but that is not the case. The laptop weighs jut 1.12kg. Prices start at $1446 for the V634 model with 22 hour battery life, while the V834 which will come with a touchscreen display but much less attractive 14 hour battery life can be bought for $1530. This is a lot of money but then again, Windows 8 laptop with a 10 hour battery life is rare now a day, let alone is a 22 hour one.

Smooth and Stylish VIPER AIO PC

Posted by Maqsood 5 comments

These new AIOs also known as “All in one PC are result of Viper’s collaboration with Microsoft and Intel to work on a highly” unique approach of how systems are designed Viper has recently introduced a built-in battery in the AIO unit which can give up to 45-minute backup power. Giving you the freedom of portability, to move from your home office to your living room. Wireless capability and the option of a 21.5-inch wall-mountable monitor make’s the all-in-one PC exquisite. AOI PC’s are the game changer literally and figuratively. Sleek, smart, energy efficient, powerful and customizable, the AIO will truly revolutionize desktop computing.

Intel has come up with technological brilliance with the AIO or the All-in-One PC. Geared towards connected homes and entertainment hubs, the all-in-Once PC has successfully bought back the desktop era when one PC was the centre of attraction in a household. Without the bulky CPU, Intel has intelligently hidden the motherboard, the processor, memory, graphic card and a DVD burner in the back of the LED. So basically all the AIO comprises off is an LED screen, a keyboard and a mouse and that’s about it.

The All-in-PC runs a touch screen version of Window 8.1, and the internal specs keeps everything running smoothly. While the central i3 processor, the 2 GB of DDR3 RAM and its moderate Intel HD Graphics card will allow you to watch or play anything without any hiccups. Most video games will run smoothly on medium settings, but some games, like Dirt 3, will operate at high settings. This model of Viper AIO can handle hard work, too. While it’s best at entertaining, its huge 500 GB SATAII Hard Drive means that it is ready for plenty of storage.

When it comes to visual entertainment, Viper’s AIO PC offers fantastic entertainment potential and connectivity options, making it a great hub for all your movies, music and video games. If you’re ready to replace the family computer and want something that does more than surf the web, the Viper AIO PC is worth your consideration. Booting up the machine takes 5-7 seconds, thanks to the super fast SSD (Solid State Drives) which powers up the AIO PC in mere seconds than minutes. Geared with powerful Core i3 processor playing games and browsing the internet are super-fast too. While our test unit was based on the second generation Core i3 processor, other flavors of the AIO can be enhanced to Pentium Dual Core G630 and the blazing fast Core i5 and i7 third generation processors.

Another important feature of the AIO is the built-in webcam which is an added advantage in the machine, making it fun for the family, Skype and other similar video conferencing software work seamlessly well eradicating the need for an extra webcam or a mic. Overall the AIO is a wonderful machine which has something for everyone, be it video conferencing, watching movies, playing games or surfing the internet. A highly recommended machine, the All-in-One PC suddenly makes you believe that the desktop is not dead, it has successfully been resurrected by Intel and it’s here for a long time.

Sumsung Galaxy note 3 review TECH POP-UPS

Posted by Maqsood Thursday, December 19, 2013 0 comments

The Note 3 boats a beautiful large screen, cutting edge tech and hardware design that shows Samsung is finally taking looks seriously. The Galaxy Note family is credited with not only starting the phablet craze, but also resurrecting the stylus though - the special screen digitalizer and a button on the S Pen work their magic to speed and options.

Other than that the Galaxy Note 3 phablet continues the tradition of being the current generation's Galaxy S phone on steroids - a large 5.7' screen (in a body the size of the Note II), choice of Snapdragon 800 or Exynos 5420 chipsets, 2160p (a.k.a. UHD) video recording, USB 3.0 (a first on a pocket able device) and Samsung's ever-growing list of software features available right out-of-the-box.

DISPLAY

The display of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is the highlight feature alongside the S Pen support. The diagonal has been bumped by 0.2" (from 5.5' to 5.7), while the resolution has more than doubled (1080 x 1920, up from 720 x 1280) resulting in a pixel density of 386ppi, which effectively (for the first time in Note history) crosses the Retina 300ppi threshold. The display technology is, again , Super AMOLED but Samsung has abandoned the RGB design from the Note II and gone for a diamond-shaped Pen Tile matrix instead, However, at these insane pixel density levels there's no visible pixilation whatsoever, even if you have 20/20 vision.

BATTERY LIFE

The modest increase in battery capacity was a bit of a question mark hanging over the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, considering the screen resolution has more than doubled. Yet , the 3,200mAh battery powering the whole thing (up from 3, 100 in the Note II) did quiet well. The power-efficient Super AMOLED screen was made to count in video-playback and helped the Note 3 achieve an excellent score despite the huge estate to light up. Talk time is great too, web browsing the only element where the Note 3 ailed to show a meaningful improvement over its predecessor.

Anyway, with an overall rating of 75 hours, the Note 3 is well ahead of the other phablets we've tested so far. What this number means is that the Note 3 should manage three full days on a single charge if used for one hour each of call, web browsing and video playback daily.

TOUCHWIZ ON THE BIG CANVAS

The Saumsung Galaxy Note 3 comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean - the latest release of the Google platform available at the moment - and a laundry list of new TouchWiz features. The Galaxy Note 3 combines the best of both worlds and while it seems familiar, there's plenty new below the surface - so much in fact that you'd and motion gestures in action.

We start with the locksreen, which features the widgets introduced with Android with Android 4.2.2, that we saw on the Galaxy S4. The default lockscreen shows the time along with a personal message overlaid on beautiful photos pulled from TripAdvisor (with text at the bottom about where the photo was taken).

You can choose what effect to add to the unlocking. The options include Oil paint and watercolor, which blur the color on a shortcut for the camera (as in pure Android). Another nice trick is the Quick glance option we first saw on the Galaxy Note II. It uses the proximity sensor to detect you reaching for the device and it lights up the screen and shows the time, missed call and message counters, battery charge and music track info. The toggles is the display brightness solider compete with an Auto toggle. You can remove this solider to get more room for notifications. The notifications themselves have not changed - they can be expanded to reveal more info and collapsed to save space or helpful buttons on them like "Call back" and "Send SMS" on a missed call notification.

The home-screen looks mostly the same if you're coming from a Galaxy S4. The app drawer hasn't changed too much since the early days of Nature UX. The app shortcuts are presented as a customization grid, alphabetized grid or list and you can hide shortcuts (good for bloatware you can't uninstall), view only downloaded apps, uninstall apps and add folders. You can also disable apps straight from the App drawer, which is a good feature because they won't take any RAM or appear unwanted in the Task manager.

The Galaxy Note 3 comes with Multi-window which now allows launching two instances of the same app - i.e. You can have two Chrome widows next to each other. There is also dedicated shortcut that lets you switch the places of the two opened apps. Copying stuff from one of the opened apps to the other is now available and is done is just three tabs. It's a definite improvement and something the multi-window feature needed badly. The settings menu has been redone in the latest. TouchWiz version. Instead of a scrollable grid of icons and sections Samsung has went with a tabbed interface. On top you get four tabs - Connection. My device, Accounts and More and you can find the relative features in their corresponding place - display, for instance, is in the My device tab. It makes navigating the settings menu much faster and more intuitive.

A particularly cool feature that is exclusive to the Galaxy Note 3 is the one-hand opteration. Unlike previous version of the feature, though, it is not limited to the keypad and the calculator. This time you can minimize the whole interface with a simple double swipe and you are effectively making the Galaxy Note 3 use only a corner of its screen for its UI. The volume buttons are also brought to the tip of your fingers so you can operate the handset as if it was a 4" (or slightly more - custom resizing is available) rather than 5.7" screen. That's a really useful feature and will be appreciated by all those that love the huge screen and its excellent multimedia performance, but need to be able to operate their smartphones with one hand frequently.

We like what Samsung has done with the latest iteration of TouchWiz. Despite pilling feature upon feature, the end result does not feel cluttered and intuitive and well organized. Placing widgets, rearranging menu and homescreen panes, getting to your important settings, etc. is now faster than ever.

S-PEN

Now lets talk about new S-Pen features. You'll find pretty much every S-Pen-enabled app that premiered with the previous Notes pre-installed on the Note 3. But once you pull the S-Pen out, you won't be greeted with the old S-Pen dedicated home pane. Instead, the OS will pop up the new Air Command menu. The new menu is available everywhere throuout the UI too, you just need to press the side button on the S-Pen. The Air Command menu is a virtual ring with five shortcuts Action Memo, Scrap Booker, Screen Write, S Finder and Pen Window. The action Memo lets you write stuff and then use it to initiate an action - i.e. add contact name and number to your phonebook, or check out and address on Google Maps. You just need to mark a part of the text and send it to one of the supporting apps. The handwriting recognition works impressively fast and accurately - it handles just about everything you throw at it.

S VOICE AND GOOGLE NOW

S Voice is Samsung's answer to Apple's Siri and is present on the Galaxy Note 3. S Voice can be used to initiate a call, dictate text, play music, open an app, change a setting, make a memo (including voice memo). add a reminder, schedule an even, set an alarm or timer, check the weather, do a search on the internet, look for local listings (e.g. nearly restaurants) and even get an answer to a question. S Voice does duplicate parts of Google Now, but being less search focused it tries to do more on the actual phone and it has some added features. Some of these are available outside of S Voice too, so you can set the Galaxy Note 3 to answer a call, snooze an alarm, take a photo and what not by voice commands even when S Voice isn't running. The only problem with S Voice is not nearly as fast or as accurate at recognizing your speech input as Google Now.

Naturally, being a Jelly Bean smartphone, the Galaxy Note 3 also comes with Google Now.

13 MP STILLS ARE GREAT

The Saumsung Galaxy Note 3 comes with same 13 MP snapper that we found and love on the Galaxy S4 but with some additional perks, like the Photo Sphere-like Surround Shot. The 13 MP camera is good for photos of up to 4128 x 3096 pixels in its native 4:3 aspect. The user interface is based on the Galaxy Camera interface. A single viewfinder handles both still and video capture, so you don't have to switch modes. However, this is certainly not the most convenient solution as, if you're shooting full resolution 13 MP photos, you'll have to frame your videos using a 4:3 viewfinder.

CONNECTIVITY

The Saumsung Galaxy Note 3 has an impressively long list of connectivity features. Let's start off with the basics - quad-band GSM/FPRS/EDGE and quad-band 3G (AWs is missing though). The 3G connectivity is backed by HSDPA (42Mbps downlink, 5.76Mbps uplink). The Note 3 has an LTE0A-enabled version too, which uses the Snapdragon 800 chipset (the Exynos 5 Octa 5420 comes without 4G). The LTE0A speeds are 150Mpps down and 50Mbps up. The Wi-Fi support covers a/b/g/n as well as the latest as standard, with both 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ band compatibility. Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA are part of the package, of course. The third-generation phablet also has Bluetooth 4.0 LTE. It incorporates Bluetooth 3.0, but also includes the efficient Low Energy mode. It also supports the high-qualiyy Apt-X audio codec.

WEB BROWSER NOW SUPPORTS GESTURES

While the interface of the Android web browser hardly has changed, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has the hardware specs to propel it to great heights of user experience. The huge, ultra sharp display with great color makers reading a joy. The browser supports both double tap and pinch zooming along with the two-finder tilt zoom. There are niceties such as multiple tabs, text reflow, find on page and so on. A neat trick is to pinch zoom out beyond the minimum - that opens up the tabs view.

CONCLUSION

Samsung has done it again - and it made it look so easy. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 can pretend it has no competition, while otherwise remarkable rivals know they'll will have to live with - but not quite live up to - comparisons to the gadget that defines an entire segment. Three generation into it, Samsung is returning to a playground which now has to be shared with others. There are bigger screens out there, waterproof bodies, impressive cameras and immensely powerful chipsets. But the Galaxy Note 3 is in no mood to share the spotlight, and is keen to show everyone that it doesn't break the rules - but makes them. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 didn't need a massive screen to make its point. What Samsung did instead looks like a smart move. The new leather-look finish is great but that's not the only advantage in terms of design. The new Note is the size of the Note II, but thinner, lighter and with a bigger higher-res screen and even ampler battery. It's also powered by two of the best chipsets available and come with the whopping 3GB of RAM.

Samsung it well aware though that specs can be matched and eventually beaten. It's the experience that counts, and the Galaxy Note 3 is bursting at the seams with all the premium features of the Galaxy line of smartphones.

Cockroach inspired robot/insect robots

Posted by Maqsood Tuesday, December 17, 2013 0 comments

As technology has advanced, the ability of an average user to perform at par with professionals in any field has increased many folds. Be it computer and web programming, designing, mobile app development, video editing, mobile app development, video editing, photo editing - a lot can be achieved and learned by anyone who has an interest simply by exploring the internet. All these advancements have traditionally been limited to software - but a couple of recent developments, mostly spearheaded by start-up companies, have now brought robot engineering in the realm of everyday use.

Traditionally, robotics has been a very specialized field and anyone interested in getting stared with robotics would fine is not so easy to learn electronics, mechanics, soldering, and then programming to control simple movements. Only engineering students were supposed to do or know anything about robotics. That has now changed with projects like The Dash.

The Dash is a cockroach inspired robot made up of advanced electronics and all cardboard material. The beauty of this small, lightweight robot is that the entire kit ships in a package that can be assembled in an hour's time. At a price tag of 65$, it is amazingly low cost as well which means it becomes accessible to all those looking to jump start their engineering projects, enthusiastic hobbyists, students or just about anyone who is interested in experimenting with robots. At present, these Dash kit orders are being taken only for US and Canada but the company is planning international shipments as well. Just like OLPC project aimed at getting a low cost laptop in hands of every children particularly where computers are least affordable, the Dash has aimed to bring robotics kits to anyone worldwide.

Unlike other expensive robot kits available in the market, the Dash doesn't require any soldering at all. Since the body is made up of cardboard (cut precisely using laser), the Dash is often called an origami robot. Users have to just follow the video instructions to assemble the 'cockroach' can be controlled simply by using a smartphone or tablet PC using the company's free app which connects with the Dash through Bluetooth. With the on-board USB cable chargeable battery, the range of this 'cockroach' is more than 1.5 miles with a top speed of 1.5 meters per second - thanks to its design inspired by insects which can run very fast using their legs. The Dash can move very quickly and is pretty much all-terrain which includes rocks and other uneven surfaces as well.

From its current version - called Alpha Dash - the project seem a bit basic, but the underlying technology is quite advanced. It had been under development at UC Berkley's biometric lab in 2009, and after 5 teary, the product has matured enough with a future plan convincing enough to get a listing as crowd source funded project where people from all around the world contribute financially for success of an innovative project, instead of a few venture capitalists investing huge sums in a starup. The future plans of Dash team are interesting and will take the Dash to all new level. The on-board processor is being finalized and is expected to bring more customization for users. Addition of LED lights, sensors to make the Dash identify obstacles and light will make it behave much more like an insect.

On board extension ports will mean a number of possibilities limited only by availability of right sized devices which the small lets can easily carry and move around. The gyroscope which is present even in the Alpha model gives Dash the amazing capability to recover from a 90-feet fall and get up and running again. Another limitation of Alpha which Beta will overcome is capability to steer. Right now, the Alpha Dash can move only in a straight line motion, but the Beta will be able to turn according to user commands given through tirelessly connected smartphone or tablet PC app.

The Dash is no doubt an ambitious project. Years of research which included understanding the biology of real insects has paid off in term of a product actively under development. The engineering behind the Dash project are four PhDs in robotic engineering from UC Barkeley, which has given a lot of credibility to the project listed at Dragon innovation for funding. The project has already crossed its &64,000 target funding, and has been able to raise about $10,000 more. Having this generous funding available, the Dash team is expected to initially ship 1,000 Dash kits to their funding donors, followed by Beta Dash delivery by 2014. Applicability of Dash goes beyond hobbyists only.

It can be an extremely effective educational tool since it is programmable. The low cost means schools worldwide can order large quantitative when available, and use them to let children hone their computer programming, networking , physics and electronic skills. Right now, science projects or contests would mean students have to start form scratch, as there's no such starup kit present which can be utilized or leveraged to create more complex or problem solving machines.

With a Dash kit, this changes dramatically as a platform with basic movement mechanics, controlling, sensors, and ability to program the 'insect' functions all out of the box. From here on, developers and students can extend the capabilities and applications of this tiny super-fast robot. One application cited over Internet is the ability to participate in search and rescue operations where identifying people beneath rubbles after after earthquakes or other disasters can make a difference between life and death. Other applications can be mobile smoke detector, traffic conditions monitoring, weather monitoring , remote surveillance or even collaborative geo-mapping by gathering data from a large number of such Dash machines roaming around in a vicinity. All this can be reality as Dash is termed as one of the world's fastest robots, and that too without wheels.

The founders of the Dash operate DashRobotics.com where more information about the project can be obtained. There are a lot of expectations from the Dash and 2014 is the year for which we all can keep our fingers crossed to finally get our hands on of these neat 'cockroaches'!

Microsoft's 10 Best Milestones in 2013

Posted by Maqsood Sunday, December 15, 2013 0 comments

Did Microsoft have a remarkable year or a not so good year? For a company as spreading as the developer of Windows, Office and the Xbox, in order to tell you, it will be hard net to crack. Microsoft presented host of headlines in 2013, but for many different reasons. In order to know whether or not the company is on the positive track, it favors to look at its current past.

Microsoft unfolded its next tech in 2012 with the introduction of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, 2012 was a giant year for Microsoft. But Microsoft also came across to accomplish its a lot of home word to make major changing this year.

When it completely overhauled its software platforms as well as its basic purpose, to transition from a software company to a "devices and services" company, as then-CEO Steve Ballmer explained it. Microsoft made some enormous plays, but they were long plays Microsoft made some big plays, and it would take time to see whether they would pan out. Microsod remained engrossed in its world throughout this year. Its fortunes in 2013 lent some insight into whether Microsoft's bets were well-placed and what it might do to stay in the game — and possibly even win it.

I have compiled major events and launches of Microsoft in 2013 as below:

1. Office 365 and the Subscription Model

When the latest version of Microsoft Office 365 was launched in January, the most important feature wasn't its optimization for the cloud and social networks or that it wasn't technically a Windows 8 app. Rather, the most noteworthy change was the business model. After years of selling Office as a standalone app, Microsoft switched to a subscription plan.

Now onward, buyers won't have to pay lump sun amount for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, buyers would pony up a few bucks a month or $100 a year to access them. The apps themselves also improved tremendously, with direct ties to Microsoft services, including SkyDrive, which got even better this fall with real-time online collaboration in documents.

2. The Surface's $900 Million Stumble

When Microsoft announced its Q4 2013 earnings in July, it dropped a monumental goose egg: The company was taking a $900 million reduction due to Surface RT inventory, essentially meaning it had produced far more Surface tablets than people wanted to buy. It wasn't hard to see that coming. Windows 8 was arguably fundamentally flawed, but Microsoft didn't do it any favors by christening a buggy, under performing device as its flagship product, with few apps of any relevance at launch. While software updates rapidly fixed most of the issues, the damage was done, and the ARM-based Windows RT operating system is all but dead because of it.

3. Office Arrives on iPhone and Android

Office is one of Microsoft's pillars, but it has faced fierce competition from Google, Apple and others, particularly in mobile. To face them directly, Microsoft finally opened up Office to new platforms, including iOS and Android. While the apps themselves are stripped down to the bare minimum for tiny mobile screens, Office's migration to competing platforms represents an "OS agnostic" view that would have been heresy in the company's heyday.

4. Facebook, Foursquare and Flipboard for Windows 8

At Microsoft's Build developer conference this year, Steve Ballmer announced that Windows 8, which so far had done nothing to prevent to slide of PC adoption, was finally attracting some big-name apps. The big Fs — Facebook, Flipboard and Foursquare — were all developing Windows 8 versions of their services.Even better, they all came through, sometimes in big ways. Facebook's Windows 8 app uses the wider screen of most Windows tablets well, Flipboard has a unique live tile, and Foursquare's app re-invents the location service as a powerful discovery engine. With A-list apps on board, the road is paved for other developers to ride into Windows 8. At least that's the hope.

5. Ballmer Steps Down

With summer winding down, Ballmer awakened a sleepy news cycle with the announcement that the Microsoft cofounder would step down as CEO within the next year. Rumors about the move had swirled for a long time, but it seemed Ballmer and Microsoft just couldn't quit each other. The scuttle but says Ballmer's departure planned, then accelerated once the Surface RT failure was apparent and the company's

Across-the-board restructuring, which began in July, was underway. Now the hunt is on for his successor, with former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop and Ford's Alan Mulally rumored to be leading the pack of contenders.

6. Microsoft Buys (Most of) Nokia

Apple has the iPhone. Google bought Motorola. But what about Microsoft, keeper of the Windows Phone flame? To really be a top-to-bottom master of services and devices, Microsoft needed a phone. Microsoft needed a phone. Rather than create its own hardware as it did with the Surface tablets, Microsoft opted to simply buy its closest partner, Nokia, by far the leader in Windows Phone hardware. The move made a lot of sense. The mobile market is nothing like the tablet market, and it's much better to rely on someone else's experience rather than reinvent the wheel. Considering the strategic partnership Nokia and Microsoft made in early 2011, this was simply the consummation of protracted courtship.

7. Windows Phone Goes Big

Nokia Lumia 1520

In early 2013, it was even money whether Windows Phone or BlackBerry would be the true "third alternative" in the war of mobile ecosystems. It's now clear that the Windows Phone has won that title, with fast-growing market share in most regions — even taking the No. 2 position in places such as Latin America. With its latest update, Windows Phone can now go toe-to-toe with Android in one of the most popular mobile categories: phablets. Big-screen phones are a big deal in China, India and probably a more than a few NBA locker rooms, and Windows Phone now has models like the Nokia 1520 and 1320 to offer those markets.

8. Windows 8.1 Arrives

Microsoft had a powerful operating system with Windows 8, but it was unfinished. Its multi-window mode, Snap, only worked with one size of window; you couldn't use custom images as Start screen backgrounds and working Word docs in SkyDrive was slow as hell. Windows 8.1 fixed all those problems and more while introducing several new features. In a symbolic gesture, Microsoft also brought back the Start button to the design of the desktop. It was almost functionally irrelevant, but it sent a message to users: Although we've already picked the road to travel on, we can still change lanes.

9. Surface, Generation 2

Surface 2

The original Surface RT may have been a failure, but its brother, the Surface Pro, was a much more successful product. Benefiting from a later release, meaning polished software and a more powerful processor, the Surface Pro received good reviews when it debuted in January and proved to be a more worthy flagship for Windows 8. That explains why Microsoft doubled down on the Surface concept and released second-generation models this fall. The new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 also serve as flagships for Windows8.1, and the Haswell chip inside the Pro eliminates the biggest criticism of Gen 1: battery life. Are there enough apps and good feelings about Windows, though, to turn the Surface 2 into any kind of success? Microsoft badly needs it to be, but it will probably have to settle for "not a disaster."

10. The Xbox One

If Microsoft has any product with the kind of buzz and customer loyalty that Apple devices are known for, it's the Xbox. The Xbox 360 is one of the best-selling game consoles ever, and the new Xbox One looks to take its game play and versatility as a general entertainment gateway to the next level. Microsoft may have stumbled out of the gate with seemingly draconian downloading policies, but it quickly reversed itself, especially when Sony rubbed salt into the wound by promising to deliver a more gamer-friendly approach. The Xbox One now appears to be a more fully-formed console than its rival, the PlayStation 4, so Microsoft's Xbox loyalty may carry into

Google acquires Boston Dynamics Robot builder comapny

Posted by Maqsood 4 comments

Google has acquired robotics engineering company Boston Dynamics, best known for its line of quadrupeds with funny gaits and often mind-blowing capabilities. Products that the firm has demonstrated in recent years include BigDog, a motorized robot that can handle ice and snow, the 29 mile-per-hour Cheetah, and an eerily convincing humanoid known as PETMAN. News of the deal was reported on Friday by The New York Times, which says that the Massachusetts-based company's role in future Google projects is currently unclear.

MAKERS OF THE BIG DOG ROBOT

Specific details about the price and terms of the deal are currently unknown, though Google told the NYT that existing contracts — including a $10.8 million contract inked earlier this year with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — would be honored. Despite the DARPA deal, Google says it doesn't plan to become a military contractor "on its own," according to the Times.

Boston Dynamics began as a spin off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992, and quickly started working on projects for the military. Besides BigDog, that includes Cheetah, an animal-like robot developed to run at high speeds, which was followed up by a more versatile model called WildCat. It's also worked on Atlas, a humanoid robot designed to work outdoors.

In a tweet, Google's Andy Rubin — who formerly ran Google's Android division — said the "future is looking awesome."

Rubin earlier this month told NYT that his next big project at Google was to pursue a lifelong love of real robots, something that will be separate from the company's secretive Google X lab best known for "moonshot" projects like balloon-powered internet. Google Glass and self-driving cars. In the meantime, Google's quietly picked up seven different robot companies and hired robotics experts, placing teams in Palo Alto and Japan.

LINUX LITE

Posted by Maqsood 0 comments

In a computing world distracted by distro overload, Linux Lite is a lightweight Linux OS that has no trouble handling a heavy workload. Long gone are the days when it took hours to install and set up Linux on a computer, but most Linux distros still need a bit of configuration to adjust the massive desktop options to your liking. Not so with Linux Lite. It is one of the few out-of-box experiences I have had in testing Linux distro that let me actually be up and working in under five minutes. That is not to say I haven’t spent time installing various preferred packages. That’s the great beauty of using Linux. IT gives users so much freedom to individualize the look and feel and choice of applications.

To its credit, Linux Lite does not install excessive numbers of programs to clutter up menus and home directories. Instead, it installs a collection of work and play packages to get you working and surfing. Rather than spend time removing or tolerating unwanted programs, users can simply add their preferred tools.

TESTING THEAT TESTIMONY

My routine in checking out any unfamiliar Linus distro is to see how quickly the live session boots on my standard equipment. Usually, the first sign of duress is the lack of a wireless connection. The next stumbling block is usually one or more snags while installing the new distro to the test computers. Linux Lite impressed me from the start. It reloaded a live session in under 30 second with a prompt to enter my wireless connection credentials. I liked its speedy responsiveness when loading files from the DVD. I liked its fresh look and uncluttered design.

Linux Lite won me over when it installed on even my balkiest test computer without a single sign of trouble. That satisfaction continued as I performed my next critical step. Using nothing more than the installed set of packages, I attempt to use the distro to do actual work tasks for as long into my work day as I can tolerate.

I was pleasantly pleased not to have to make any settings changes or packages. Additions except one minor matter. Linux Lite defaults to two virtual workspaces. It only took a right click to change that setting to my standard four. The new setting was immediately activated in the workplace switcher app on the dock.

LOOK AND FEEL

Linux Lite uses the Xfce desktop environment. Not having any other choices is sometimes a good thing: It removes any quandaries about which optional offering would be better. Of course, if you prefer more memory-intensive flash band desktop effects, Xfce may not suit your comfort zone. Xfce is fast and lightweight, but it is also very simple to use without compromising on performance. The Linux Lite developers did not make the mistake so many others make by embellishing or altering the integration of the desktop environment to make it more distro-unique.

I was able to easily change the default two-tone gray background with a right click on the desktop to select the Desktop Properties menu. Linux Lite offers a nice collection of colorful background images as part of the live session functionality. Often this personalizing option is not available with other Linux distros until you make a hard drive installation.

WORKING DESKTOP

The desktop screen is neat and simple, with easy navigation to the menu, system settings and configuration options. As I already mentioned, though, Linux Lite really needs no finessing to be truly usable from the start. The menu is fairly standard yet simple and intuitive. For example, the folders are organized according to their categories. The slide-out menus are also well-categorized. You can use the Run Program search box at the top of the menu to run a program rather than scroll through the standard menu-but that only works if you actually know the name of what you want. Another option is to use the Application Finder in the Accessory menu. Just select a category in the left column and click on the desired installed application in the right column.

EVERYTHING JUST WORKS

Linux Lite has a lot going for it to make a very good first impression. With Linux Lite the basics work out-of-the-box. For example, the only included browser is Firefox. I would have preferred the Chromium Browser, but Firefox was a reliable browser for me to start my work day rather than take time to install Chromium. Even Firefox’s preinstalled state allowed me to play my online music collections and view YOUTUBE videos without having to track down missing platters and plug-ins. When I needed to take that extra step to use some added third-party programs, relief in the main system menu includes proprietary libraries and applications that enable the use of TrueType Fonts, Java, Flash and the ability to palyback MP3s.

STRONG SYSTEM SUPPORT

Especially useful for configuring Linux Lite your way is the menu item to easily install special packages. The list includes a file and folder search tool and instant messaging. It also lets you add remote desktop, restricted extras, torrent software video editing, VirtualBox, a weather monitor and/or Wine. Linux Lite lacks its own community repository. The full range of package installation and software removal is done with the Synaptic Package Manager. A separate application in the main menu lets you install system updates. The latest version of Linux Lite is “Amethyst”, or version LTS, which includes five years of system updates without worrying about having to upgrade. If you are not a fan of Ubuntu Linux, do not let the family lineage deter you from trying Linux Lite. Other than the system underpinnings, you will not see any trappings from the Ubuntu desktop.

BOTTOM LINE

Linux Lite is an ideal starter distro for those looking for an upgrade when Windowns XP dies early next year. Yet this distro is not just and easy Linux intro for newcomers - It is a suitable workhorse distro for seasoned Linxu users as well. Even without installing it to a hard drive, you can reliably use Linux Lite in a live session from DVD or USB drive installation. The USB option does not let you save your settings and software changes, however – it is not intended for true use with persistent memory. However, if you use it only in live session mode, you can save your personal files externally.

Linux Lite is fully featured with the preinstalled software to be usable right out of the box.

Smartwatches (wearable computer)

Posted by Maqsood Saturday, December 14, 2013 0 comments

Are smartwatches worth your time and money at this stage of their development cycle?

It has always been fascinating to see how we've come in the field of computer and gadgets. Devices are getting smaller day by day, so much so that we have finally stepped into the era of wearable computer. While there may be a lot of items that can be discussed here, we're specifically referring to smart wristwatches. These watches not only tell you the time, but do much more than that-such as notifying you of new e-mails, providing Facebook updates, helping you find your way, keeping track of your heartbeat and health, or even helping you make or receive calls. We're all used to performing these functions on our phones, which are termed as "smartphones". A watch that can now perform all these functions is called a "smartwatch".

Smartwatches of the past were quite different compared to the ones that are being marketed and sold now. Today's smartwatches are based on a simple concept: enable a wristwatch to be able to perform some of the functions of a smartphone. The watch can connect to your smartphone via a wireless connection, usually via Bluetooth, and deliver the content from your phone to the smartwatch. The most commonly available smartwhatches usually have a decent processor, a touchscreen, some amount of internal storage, and of course, a charging port. This because unlike traditional watches, smartwaches are meant for much more intensive work, and a non-rechargeable battery just worn't cut it.

As of now, there a number of smartwatches manufacturers in the market, including Samsung, which has recently joined the bandwagon by introducing what they call "Galaxy Gear", priced at around 300 US dollars. It works pretty much like Sony's Smartwatche by connecting to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth, and displays incoming notifications on the touchscreen. Furthermore, there are specialized apps for the smartwach that the user can install from the smartphone into the smartphone. That's the common smartwach manufactures, appraoch. Then there's a smartwatch by the name of "Pebble", which actually started as a project on Kickstarter , and gained immense popularity due to its interesting features. The screen is an e-ink display, unlike other smartwatches which have an OLED touchscreen or simillar. This essentially means lower battery consumption, resulting in longer usage times, Pebble's manufactures claim up to seven days on a single charge, while other smartwaches might need to be charged daily, based on the usage. The e-ink display solves another significant grievance associated with common smartwatches, that is , you lift your hand to check the time and the watch face is blank. A button press will wake up the display to show the current time.

However, in case of e-ink , the display is always visible, as opposed to other battery draining LED displays, so you can check the time as you'd do on a regular watch. In a way , the Pebble smartwatch surpasses the rest, even though it lacks some features that modern smartwatches have to offer. It's priced at 150 US dollars. Though it's rumored that Apple is also in the process of creating an "iwatch" , I can't say for sure when it will hit the shelves. When talking about watches, it's not just a time-telling ornament anymore; watches have changed shapes and styles over the years. If you're a watch fanatic you'd probably know the importance of the design and the look, and that's an issue that exists with smartwatches of today. Surely, if you're investing a significant amount of money on a watch, you'd want it to look good as well. Some smartwatch manufacturers have still focusing more on the software and internals, rather than the look of watch. There might be some maintenance and care issues as well, especially if you are the kind who doesn't usually bother if their watch bumps into a door or somewhere else. In such cases, you may end up having a not-so-smart watch with a broken screen.

We can put aside these minor issues for a while and focus on the difference that a smartwatch, as described earlier, can save you a lot of hassle, Not to mention, it also looks cool on your wrist. And who knows, someday we will have smartwatches which won't require a connection with a phone at all. On other works. they might even completely replace smartphones.

Helium-filled hard drive

Posted by Maqsood Saturday, December 7, 2013 6 comments

World's first 6TB Helium-filled Hard drive prepared

A well known Western Digital company which purchased HGST (Hitachi Global Storage Technologies) in 2012 has revealed a World's first Helium-filled hard disk with 6 Terabyte capacity. The new hermetically sealed, helium hard drive” uses 23% less power and is 38% lighter than the 4TB drives. Without changing the height, the new 6TB Ultrastar He6 enterprise-class hard drive crams seven disk platters into what was a five disk-platter, 4TB Ultrastar drive. As far as common hard drive is concerned , it consists of only air and oxygen. Air and oxygen not only affects the hard disk material but also weighs more and intervenes in work. By replacing the air and oxygen in a hard drive with helium (a gas that is seven times less dense than air) the disks inside create less turbulence when they spin, meaning more discs can be packed into less space and use less power.

In numbers the new six terabyte hard drives are 23 per cent more power efficient and offer 50 per cent more capacity than regular drives. It's an innovation that tackles a purely mechanical problem (the limit of how fast disks can spin when packed closer together) to create a high-tech improvement. Helium gas is a noble gas that's why it doesn't react with any other material at all. Now you don't need to worry about rust or any other chemical reaction which can damage or harm the hard disk. An other important details that you can also increase the strength of plates in it. According to experts Helium-filled hard disk can spin 20 thousand times in a second. Such a nice a efficiency will embark the ability to read and write the data. Since Helium gas will become less turbulence that's why motor inside consumes less electricity.

Helium-filled hard drive idea isn't new as far as my knowledge is concerned. A patent was prepared in 1980 of Helium-filled hard drive, but it was not possible to proceed it at trading level at that time. The preparation of such hard drive has to go through many processes and during process "air-tight" of hard disk isn't easy task as well e filled with Helium gas for many years wan't easy. In numbers the new six terabyte hard drives are 23 per cent more power efficient and offer 50 per cent more capacity than regular drives. It's an innovation that tackles a purely mechanical problem (the limit of how fast disks can spin when packed closer together) to create a high-tech improvement. Storage companies have been experimenting with helium for decades but creating a manufacturing process that produces long-time airtight hard drives has proved elusive until now.

In this fast pace of human's digital life Western Digital company has succeeded to overcome all those problems which were not possible at that time and prepared "Ultrastar He6" Hard drive. In order to make it more remarkable Western Digital embark plates from 5-7, however it's speed is still 7200 RPM. Normal Western Digital Ultrastar is quite expensive that's why we can expect that the new "Ultrastar He6" will be very expensive. Although this sort of technology might be slightly beyond the ken of the average consumer at least for now) the ability for large data centers to fit more storage into less space using less power has all sorts of escalating benefits.

Xbox One Vs PlayStation 4

Posted by Maqsood Friday, November 29, 2013 5 comments

Welcome to a new generation of games and entertainment. Where games push the boundaries of realism. And television obeys your every command. Where listening to music while playing a game is a snap. And you can jump from TV to movies to music to a game in an instant. Where your experience is custom tailored to you. And the entertainment you love is all in one place. Welcome to the all-in-one, Xbox One & PlayStation 4.

A race and war has taken inception in consoles. It’s November, and two new consoles PS4 and Xbox One are welcoming their users to experience a next generation at this time due to their better strenghts, features and games. PS4 has improved its graphic quality for looking more cinematic. Both consoles PS4 and Xbox One are on their ways to appeal to different kinds of gamers. Now we have to see that which One will surpass the other One. Let’s discuss both’s technology to give you a better idea.

Comparatively scores of gamers would argue that PS4 has got some catching up to do for multiplayer service, but Xbox Live is still better matchmaking and more reliable multiplayer. At this point of time Xbox’s built-in games including Forza Motorsport and Titanfall are making more positive effects.. PS4 got favor than Xbox One for its giant resolution graphics in Battlefield and Call of Duty:Ghosts.

KINECT or CONTROLLER

The Kinect couldn't make its place in Xbox 360 last time, but I suppose at this time Microsoft has chalked out to embark this technology as a better entertaining feature for gamers in Xbox One. This unprecedented feature let you interact with Xbox in many ways. Kinect feature has profound resolution body-movement sensor and remarkable better voice recognition. Xbox One is ready to take your voice commands, gestures, remote control and Xbox One SmartGlass device. Xbox One has been welcoming its users to next-gen of games and entertainment since 22 November. Xbox One games are ready to touch the periphery of realism.

PLAYSATION 4 CAMERA

The PlayStation 4 has a motion-tracking camera too, but it is strictly optional.This isn't a bad move either – and being cheaper than Xbox One should attract users toward it, but it seems users will put it on second option. It means developers will cut down their interest and motivation to build experiences with the PlayStation 4 Camera in mind.. The reason being the microphone-equipped camera isn't available as a standard with every console. Although the company gathers optimistic that interest in the peripheral will grow (because PlayStation consist of Eye-heavy Playroomtech demo with each console), its not included from the launch bundle divides the market. By definition, developers developing games that use the camera will be catering to a smaller subset of the overall user base. The camera doesn't seem to be ever become as integral to the PlayStation 4 experience as the Kinect is to the Xbox One, but at least the PS4 costs less as a result.

At first glance,apparently both console’s gamepads don’t look updated and different from their predecessors, but there are some hidden gems here. For instance, the PlayStation 4's DualShock 4 controller features a new share button (more on that later), and clickable touchpad area reminiscent of the PlayStation Vita's rear touch panel. It also doubles as a motion controller, though you'll need to pick up the aforementioned PS4 camera to track the PlayStation Move -esque LED on the gamepad's front edge.

On the surface, Microsoft's updated gamepad sounds better refined variation of the Xbox 360 seems, but it actually houses a subtle evolution in tactile feedback: Impulse Triggers. In addition to the classic controller rumble, Xbox One users will be able to feel localized force feedback under each of the gamepad's triggers, which can lend profound to driving cars, firing weapons or even feeling a character's pulse. Microsoft's gamepad also hits the mark in local multiplayer: The Xbox One can connect to up to eight controllers simultaneously.

ENTERTAINMENT

If you're in the middle of making decision going for right console, look at the games. Microsoft and Sony can promise all the media, social sharing and motion sensors in the world, but without something to actually play, their next-gen consoles are little more than glorified HTPCs.

If software moves hardware, then Microsoft is building a stronger case for day one. At launch, the Xbox One is slated to have more than twice as many exclusive (retail) games than the PlayStation 4, including Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5 and Ryse: Son of Rome with the heavily anticipated Titanfall joining them within the console's launch window. By comparison, Sony's camp hits the ground with only Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack under its exclusive banner, eventually to be followed by Driveclub and Infamous: Second Son. Buying a console on software alone is still very much a matter of personal preference, but make no mistake: PS4 owners will be dipping into the multi-platform releases a little sooner than their Xbox One counterparts.

THE FAVORITE GAMES

Xbox One was built by gamers, for gamers. The complete balance of power and performance, Xbox One drags gaming in an entire new level. Consisting on realism that you have ever played. And a new generation of multiplayer is knocking the doors of online competent.

SUPERB MULTIPLAYER SERVICE

With millions of players around the world, and more than a decade of multiplayer experience, Xbox Live is the proven place to play. And now, everyone is invited to experience smarter matchmaking, less waiting, and better performance with Xbox Live on Xbox One. You can even record, share and broadcast your moments of glory.

GAMES PLUS ENTERTAINMENT

With the best games, TV, movies, music and sports all in one place, you don’t have to compromise. Switch instantly from one to another, or enjoy two at once, so you never miss a moment. And talk with family and friends on Skype while watching TV.

XBOX ONE MUSIC

Stream millions of songs free

Xbox Music gives you access to millions of songs to stream for free with Windows 8 and on the web at music.xbox.com. Search for any artist, song, or full album and instantly play what you want. You can even create and save playlists for easy access to the songs you love.