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In Tech Today's 2008 Top Picks
Another year has come to an end, and we've chosen our top picks for 2008. Like years before, this year saw many highs and lows in the world of tech products and services, and we've decided to throw the spotlight on some of our favorites. So, gather around. It's In Tech Today's Top Picks for 2008! more
December 30, 2008
Add Any USB Storage Device to Your Network
The Addonics NAS Adapter allows you to add any USB storage device to your Local Area Network. The NAS Adapter comes with a USB 2.0/1.1 connection and a fast Ethernet 10/100Mbps connection. It also supports both SMB and Samba network protocols, and supports access for most versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and various Linux distributions. The NAS Adapter also provides FTP access for up to 8 simultaneous users anywhere in the world with an internet connection. The device can also be used as a print server or as a Bit-Torrent downloading appliance, and sells for $55. For more information about the Addonics NAS Adapter, visit: www.addonics.com
December 22, 2008
No Steve Jobs at Macworld, as Apple Announces Their Departure from the Show
Apple has announced that this year will be the last year the company will exhibit at Macworld Expo. Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will deliver the opening keynote for this year’s Macworld Conference & Expo, instead of Apple's CEO Steve Jobs. The keynote will be Apple’s last keynote at the show. The keynote address will be held at Moscone West on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Macworld will be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center January 5-9, 2009.
The company has stated that it believes they are reaching more people in more ways than ever before, and that trade shows have become a very minor part of how Apple reaches its customers. Apple also stated that the increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores, which more than 3.5 million people visit every week, and the Apple.com website enable Apple to directly reach more than a hundred million customers around the world in innovative new ways.
Apple stock prices dropped with news of the company's plans, leaving many to wonder if the company just doesn't have that many major new product releases to offer, or other significant news, for the new year.
Over the years, Macworld has traditionally become the place where Apple makes the biggest announcements about its new products, as well as major changes to its existing products. With no keynote from Steve Jobs this January, and no Apple presence at the expo in years to come, Apple's departure will surely be felt, as well as missed.
December 17, 2008
Holiday Game Sales Up 10 Percent, Retailers Still Suffering
November video games sales are reported to be up 10% from last year, despite hard economic times. Though many retailers are still feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, consumers are reported to have spent 7% above what they did last year during November's Black Friday sales, with many retailers offering deep discounts in order to clear inventories. So far, the holiday shopping season has not seen consumers avoiding the stores to the extent many had feared, but despite that fact, many retailers have reported difficulty in earning a profit. Large discount stores, such as Wal-Mart, are doing better than smaller chains, but deep discounts to keep customers coming in are also eating away at any hope of significant profits for the holiday season. With video games, hardware and accessories all up so far this year, at least gamers can look forward to a happy holiday.
December 12, 2008
iPhone Comes to Wal-Mart
Apple will reportedly begin selling iPhones in Wal-Mart stores later this month. Apple's already impressive sales of the device are expected to increase further with this new move, getting the phone in front of even more consumers. Wal-Mart will become the second independent retail store, after Best Buy, to offer the iPhone, but customers will still need to sign up with one of AT&T's plans in order to use the device.
December 8, 2008
Netflix Now Available On TiVo
Netflix is now available on TiVo, bringing 12,000 movies and TV shows, offered through the Netflix streaming service, into the homes of TiVo customers. The option is now part of TiVo's Video On Demand menu selection, along with Amazon Video Downloads, YouTube content, and Walt Disney video selections. TiVo cusotmers who have a Netflix account will be able to use their TiVo HD DVRs, and TiVo Series 3 DVRs, to stream Netflix content to their TVs.
December 8, 2008
Pownce Shutting Down
Social networking site, and Twitter competitor, Pownce is closing its doors. The site is being purchased by Six Apart, the maker of TypePad and other products. The Pownce team will be joining Six Apart when the site closes in the next few weeks, and there are already rumors that we can expect to see something new, and better than Pownce, coming in 2009. For now, however, all Pownce users will receive an e-mail with instructions about exporting their content out of Pownce, and Pownce Pro users are being offered a free TypePad account for a year by Six Apart.
December 2, 2008
NASA Spacecraft Detects Buried Glaciers on Mars
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed vast Martian glaciers of water ice under protective blankets of rocky debris at much lower latitudes than any ice previously identified on the Red Planet.
Scientists analyzed data from the spacecraft's ground-penetrating radar and report in the Nov. 21 issue of the journal Science that buried glaciers extend for dozens of miles from the edges of mountains or cliffs. A layer of rocky debris blanketing the ice may have preserved the underground glaciers as remnants from an ice sheet that covered middle latitudes during a past ice age. This discovery is similar to massive ice glaciers that have been detected under rocky coverings in Antarctica.
"Altogether, these glaciers almost certainly represent the largest reservoir of water ice on Mars that is not in the polar caps," said John W. Holt of the University of Texas at Austin, who is lead author of the report. "Just one of the features we examined is three times larger than the city of Los Angeles and up to half a mile thick. And there are many more. In addition to their scientific value, they could be a source of water to support future exploration of Mars."
Scientists have been puzzled by what are known as aprons -- gently sloping areas containing rocky deposits at the bases of taller geographical features -- since NASA's Viking orbiters first observed them on the Martian surface in the 1970s. One theory has been that the aprons are flows of rocky debris lubricated by a small amount ice. Now, the shallow radar instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has provided scientists an answer to this Martian puzzle.
For more information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, visit: www.nasa.gov/mro
November 24, 2008
Blackberry Storm Arrives, Reviews Mixed
The Blackberry Storm arrived to mixed reviews, with most citing that the device's new touchscreen/tactile feedback keyboard alternative takes some getting used to. Is this new phone the iPhone killer people have been waiting to see? Probably not, but for Blackberry fans wanting a touchscreen model, as well as a bigger screen for Web surfing, document reading, and media playback, the Storm will not disappoint if the familiar Blackberry keyboard isn't that important to you. One missing feature that many will find to be a disadvantage is the phone's lack of Wi-Fi support. When entering an area where 3G coverage is poor, Wi-Fi can be a great help. It is something that should have been thought of more carefully, before leaving the feature out. In a device that wants to claim that it's on the cutting edge, how can it with the lack of such a feature that most have come to expect in such devices? Overall, the Storm could prove to do well with the Blackberry crowd, or those who just don't want to make the jump to AT&T for an iPhone. The iPhone, however, shouldn't be too worried about its latest challenger. The Storm will need a few firmware updates and at least one hardware redesign before it will become a serious competitor.
November 21, 2008
Microsoft Not Interested in Buying Yahoo
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, made it clear that Microsoft no longer has any interest in buying Yahoo, after its buyout offer was rejected by the company earlier this year. Ballmer, however, did say the Microsoft would be interested in working with Yahoo in some fashion on Internet search, but nothing has been set up between the two at this time.
November 19, 2008
Yahoo CEO Steps Down
Jerry Yang is stepping down from his position as Yahoo's CEO, though he will still remain on the company's board. After the much publicized attempted buyout of Yahoo by Microsoft, which was rejected, and the anger voiced by the company's shareholders, the move comes as no surprise. Add to that the recent advertising deal with Google that fell through, and it's easy to see why Yahoo has been struggling. Who will replace Yang? That is still up in the air, but it will be interesting to see what moves are made by a new CEO, and whether Yahoo can recover from the problems it has been facing.
November 18, 2008
AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to iPhone Users
After a rocky start of promised free Wi-Fi, only to have it taken away shortly thereafter, iPhone users can now enjoy free Wi-Fi access at thousands of Starbucks across the country, plus a number of other locations that feature AT&T Wireless service. iPhone users simply need to make sure their phone's Wi-Fi setting is switched to the On position in the Settings menu, choose AT&T's network from the list of available connections, supply their phone number, follow AT&T's instructions to complete the connection. Log-in information is good at the location you first logged in from for 24 hours. After that, users simply need to log in again.
November 2, 2008
Circuit City to Close 155 Stores
Circuit City will reportedly be closing 155 of its stores by the end of the year. Weak sales and falling stock prices are said to have contributed to the closures, making the once successful retailer one of the many companies facing hard times during a slowing economy. Consumers may wish to visit one of the stores close to them, as the company is sure to announce huge sales to sell off its inventory.
November 2, 2008
Netflix Comes to TiVo
Netflix and TiVo have teamed up to bring 12,000 movies and TV shows offered through the Netflix streaming service into the homes of TiVo customers. Beginning in early December, TiVo cusotmers who also have a Netflix account will be able to use their TiVo HD DVRs to stream Netflix content to their TVs.
October 31, 2008
Netflix Comes to Samsung Blu-ray Players
Samsung is revamping its Blu-ray players to receive movies and T.V. shows from the Netflix streaming service. Netflix and Samsung said they are planning to add the streaming capability to a number of home entertainment products, but for now, Samsung's BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 will carry the Netflix feature. Current owners of either player will simply need a free software update to add the new features to their current unit.
October 23, 2008
Yahoo Lays Off 1,500
Yahoo reportedly will be firing at least 1,500 employees amid declining third-quarter profits. The mass layoff will be the second time in nine months that Yahoo has resorted to such measures in an effort to climb back from its sagging profits.
October 21, 2008
Windows 7: Major OS Release or Simply a Better Vista?
Amid continuing discussions about how Microsoft arrived at the new version number for its upcoming Windows 7 operating system (OS), which is expected in late 2009 or early 2010, another concern is rising. Will the new Windows 7 be a major release OS, or essentially a minor update of the current Windows Vista? more
October 17, 2008
Apple Debuts New MacBook Line
Apple debuted its new line of MacBook computers today, dropping the price for its entry model by $700. Get full details on all the new announcements and features of the new MacBook family of notebook computers. more
October 14, 2008
RIM Brings the Thunder with Blackberry Storm
A new fierce competitor to the iPhone 3G, the BlackBerry Storm will be available later this fall, exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the U.S. and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand, according to an announcement from Verizon Wireless, Vodafone Group and Research In Motion.
Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity of the BlackBerry platform with a new touch-screen technology that enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing by utilizing the world's first “clickable” touch-screen. The new touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures.
In the U.S., Verizon Wireless customers will use Verizon Wireless’ high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A network for Internet browsing and multimedia applications. In Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand, Vodafone will support customers with its high-speed 3G mobile broadband networks.
“We are proud to introduce the first touch-screen based BlackBerry smartphone together with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-chief executive officer at RIM. “The BlackBerry Storm is a revolutionary touch-screen smartphone that meets both the communications and multimedia needs of customers and solves the longstanding problem associated with typing on traditional touch-screens. Consumers and business customers alike will appreciate this unique combination of a large and vibrant screen with a truly tactile touch interface.”
“The BlackBerry Storm offers our customers more ways to stay connected to both their personal and professional lives – whether in their communities or around the globe,” said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless. “The BlackBerry Storm combines the reliability of our 3G network with the dependability and network efficiency of the BlackBerry platform to deliver our customers the ultimate wireless experience – all in one of the coolest smartphones available on the market today.”
“We are delighted to bring the power of the purpose built BlackBerry Storm, directly into the hands of consumer and business customers,” said Frank H. Rovekamp, global chief marketing officer, Vodafone Group. “With its unique clickable touch-screen, giving access to all the desirable multimedia features and services such as browsing, music and video, turn-by-turn satellite navigation, messaging and social networking, and BlackBerry’s mobile heritage and strong business reputation, the BlackBerry Storm is being brought by Vodafone into the consumer world. With Vodafone’s ultra high-speed, reliable mobile network and this exclusive and exciting new smartphone, there has never been a better time to be with Vodafone.”
Blackberry users will no doubt be eager to try out the Storm when it becomes avaialable this fall, and Apple could see it's first true competitor to the iPhone, even though the Storm lacks built-in WiFi. For more information, visit: www.blackberry.com/blackberrystorm/
October 9, 2008
eBay to Cut 10% of its Workers
eBay has said that it will cut 10% of its work force, which could save the company at least $150 million annually. The cuts, according to eBay, are reportedly not due to the weakened state of the economy, but come as an effort to reinvest the company's resources to make long-term improvements in areas that show potential for added growth.
October 6, 2008
Nero and TiVo Deliver DVR Experience on the PC
Nero, creators of liquid media technology, and TiVo Inc., the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today the unveiling of NeroLiquidTV|TiVoPC. This new offering revolutionizes the way consumers experience television by offering an enhanced TiVo DVR experience directly from the PC.
With Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC, consumers can watch and pause live TV on their desktop, record their favorite shows directly to their hard drive, transfer shows between computers throughout the home, or enjoy their favorite shows on-the-go by exporting them to iPod, PlayStation Portable (PSP, or burning them to DVD. Now the TiVo experience can be enjoyed on the PC, including TiVo features like WishList searches, Season Pass recordings, TiVo KidZone, and TiVo Suggestions.
"For more than a decade, the world's largest mobile and consumer electronics brands have trusted Nero for technology leadership and category creation," said Udo Eberlein, CEO, Nero AG. "Now, with Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC, we are providing a next-generation DVR application that integrates the renowned TiVo service with the PC. This solution is truly a platform on which our vision for liquid media -- where content can be easily accessed anytime, anywhere, and on any device -- will become a reality."
Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC is designed for ease of use. No technical expertise is required to install the software on any PC with the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system. The full retail solution comes complete with everything that the consumer needs to share the TV experience throughout their digital home: a TiVo PC remote; a TV tuner card to allow television signals to be received by the PC; and an IR Blaster to create a wireless, infrared connection between the cable or satellite box and the PC. It also comes with a one-year subscription to the award-winning TiVo service, which automatically finds and digitally records a user's favorite shows.
"Nero has done a superb job of bringing the TiVo experience to the PC, and have done so in a way that lives up to the rich TiVo legacy," said Tom Rogers, CEO and President, TiVo. "To be able to extend the features of TiVo to a new platform without compromising the integrity of what has made TiVo such a revolutionary product is a significant achievement, one we know both new and old fans of TiVo will love."
Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC with one year of TiVo service will be available in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in October 2008 with a suggested retail price of $199 USD for a retail box or $99 USD for a downloadable software-only version. TiVo service subscription renewal is on an annual basis at $99 a year. The retail box, containing a tuner card, TiVo remote control and IR blaster, will be available at participating retailers in the U.S. and Canada. The software-only version will be available for download to the U.S. Canada and Mexico online at www.nero.com.
September 30, 2008
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