August 2008 Archives

The Miami-based Macintosh clone maker that was sued by Apple has retained a law firm that has beaten Apple in the past, court documents show.

Apple has charged Psystar with multiple counts of violating copyright, trademark, breach-of-contract and unfair-competition laws by installing Mac OS X 10.5 on Intel-based computers that it has sold since April.

According to the lawsuit, Psystar violated the Mac OS X end-user licensing agreement (EULA) when it installed Leopard on its OpenComputer desktops and OpenServ servers, both which can be ordered from the company with Apple's operating system onboard.

Now I want to know who bought these clones from Psystar in the first place?

Much more at Computerworld.

It's always interesting to me to keep tabs on what's selling and what's not -- the proverbial what's hot and what's not.

Let's take a look at a favorite topic -- video gaming consoles.

Amid a long rant on Advertising Age about how Sackboy has a good shot at lifting PS3, we learn that (drum roll please!) according to noted analysts NPD Group, through June, PS3 -- which got a later start than chief rival Xbox 360 -- had sold 4.9 million units vs. Xbox 360's 10.5 million and Wii's 10.9 million since their introductions.

There, now that's settled ...

Never a dull moment in the land of Apple.

(Who said tech is dull?)

Just take a look at just some of the recent news (most of it today, in fact):

• 3 million iPhones sold in the first month (more here)
• iPhone 3G issues (more here)
• Problems with MobileMe (more here)
• Steve Jobs' health (is there a succession plan or does the company start and end with him?)

You know, this is like an Apple headline news digest, but very easy on the system.

I've always enjoyed gadget browsing at airports (and maybe buying) and now Best Buy has upped that ante by announcing plans to add a dozen self-serve vending kiosks inside major airports across the country as part of a new pilot program called Best Buy Express.

Best Buy is partnering with ZoomSystems, a San Francisco-based vending machine company, for the project that will install the small automated stores at eight airports by September 1.

The machines will stock cell phone and computer accessories, along with digital cameras, portable data storage devices, headphones, travel adapters, electronic chargers and other gadgets.

The kiosks will be installed in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco. 

Gamers will see the release of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) for their platform of choice this fall. Game developer Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two have announced that the popular title will hit store shelves on Nov. 18.

Naturally, gameplay in GTA IV will be a little different on the PC than it is on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, principally because gamers often use keyboards and mice instead of specialized controllers.

However, Rockstar is adding what it calls a newly expanded multiplayer system just for the PC.

One of the big draws for PC gaming is multiplayer, so if they can create a unique PC-oriented multiplayer experience, it could pull more people in. If it's something substantially different, and it's great, it could even convince some of the people who bought the console version to buy the PC version just for the multiplayer.

Wait and see ...

Check out more at eCommerce Times here.

We've all been there before -- trying to fit our key into a pitch black keyhole. Pick car or house, it's still a pain fumbling in the dark to get that darn key in there!

NanoLite to the rescue!

The world's smallest adhesive light (0.56" X 0.7" and 0.2" thick),  it easily adhers to keys or any other flat surface and can be activated simply by pressing a small recessed button, which radiates a small but bright light.

No tools or assembly are required. Just pull off the adhesive protector and stick it on the key ... it's that easy. 

Unlike old fashioned key chain lights that require two hands to operate,
NanoLite automatically shines where your key is pointing. One hand
operation means no more fumbling when you're hands are full carrying
groceries, tools or children. With NanoLite you'll have faster, safer entry
into your car, house or anyplace else.

MSRP: $2.99

www.januaryinnovations.com 

Found a cool Text-To-VoIP Plug-In for MorphVOX Pro that allows you to speak over the Internet or soft-phone using customizable text-to-speech voices. Essentially it lets you type phrases/words, it converts the text-to-speech, and then plays it over your PC's audio connection.

This plug-in allows you to type text messages to your friends over voice clients such as Ventrilo, MSN, Skype, softphones, World of Warcraft Voice Chat, Counter-Strike and other VoIP-enabled games. They claim the plug-in is helpful for people who cannot speak with their own voice or who would like a text alternative to communicating with voice. Or perhaps your just a shy, pimple-ridden male teenager whose voice is changing making you sound like a girl, so this is one way to avoid embarrassment as you frag one of your enemies and shout "I blasted your [censored] sky high!".

The plugin ties directly into the Windows audio class no doubt so it should work with most VoIP applications. It appears they're using the Cepstral TTS engine, which is often used in Asterisk, the open source IP-PBX. In addition, the Text-To-VoIP plug-in works directly with the MorphVOX Pro voice-changing engine. This provides a way for you to morph a single text-to-speech voice into hundreds of different voices.

Go check out the Text-To-VoIP Plug-In here

Apple's iPhone "kill switch" has prompted much hand-wringing, despite the fact that no one knows exactly what it does. But the thing is, we just don't know.

Until Apple explains why it has included this function, or an application appears on the blacklist and is wiped from someone's phone, it's all just the usual leaping to conclusions on a sleepy Friday in August, as reported on CNET.

An independent iPhone developer and author recently discovered a URL while poking around inside the iPhone 2.0 software that downloads a list of "malicious" applications every so often to the iPhone.
Several outlets quickly seized on this detail as proof that Apple is poised to remotely disable any application running on the iPhone that it finds unpalatable.

Before we get into the ways in which Apple might use the blacklist, let's remember that we don't know a damn thing about how this actually works.

There are several explanations for what Apple might be up to.

If you want to know more, head over to CNET.

Stop fumbling with CDs or going without your favorite tunes, and start playing your iPod wirelessly through your car's FM radio. Monster iCarPlay Wireless 200 lets you enjoy all your music and keep your iPod charged up at the same time.

With other FM transmitters, finding an FM frequency clear enough for use with your iPod can be time consuming and distracting -- especially while driving.

The 200 incorporates exclusive Monster AutoScan technology that automatically seeks out and tunes in the clearest FM frequency available (excluding 87.7 and 87.9MHz). Now you can find the best station to enjoy your tunes with one touch of a button. In addition, iCarPlay clearly displays all essential information on your iPod's screen and features easy three-button control to directly access features and settings. And the handy instruction card that's attached to the cord is a great idea!

For added flexibility and convenience, Smart Digital Charger technology rapidly charges your iPod. It makes it easy to enjoy the music on your iPod in your car, no matter where you're traveling.

www.monster.com

Chinese consumer electronics ("gadgets" to me and you) revenue will reach $100 billion by the end of next year, according to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and market researcher GfK.

China is expected to grow full-year 2008 consumer electronics revenue 16.5%, the study went on to say.

Now can you imagine what this figure might be if the global economy wasn't getting so sticky?

Later today, the PlayStation Store will reportedly be updated with the addition of the PlayStation Home theme.

By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. This will be an inside experience test driving something that could be very cool -- and your input will help make it so.

Sony will be using a variety of criteria, including activity on the PlayStation Network, to determine who is eligible for the Beta community. 

Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

Interested? Check it out here.

JAJAH today launched two brand new JAJAH services called JAJAH Babel and JAJAH Concierge.

JAJAH Babel is a speech-to-speech translation service. Currently, it only translates English-to-Chinese (Mandarin) and Chinese-to-English. Perfect timing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games, but I wish JAJAH also launched with English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English. My wife and I hire the Maids Home Services on occasion to help clean up our house and inevitably my wife or I ask them to clean a specific area and they don't understand what we're saying since they only speak Spanish. Apparently, my 3 years of high school Spanish went in one ear and out the other.

They often have to get the forewoman to translate, but sometimes even she doesn't speak English. Very frustrating to live in America and not all businesses speak English. We've tried multiple cleaning services, but apparently speaking Spanish-only seems to be a requirement in the housekeeping industry. Anyway, JAJAH Babel could come in handy for just such an occasion.

It was developed in conjunction with IBM and additional languages are coming. You can read about JAJAH Babel and obtain country-specific Babel numbers here: http://www.jajahbabel.com/

If you are in the U.S. and want to try it out, just call 1-718-513-2969. I tried it and it asked me to confirm what I said using its TTS engine. After confirmed what I said was accurate it played back the Chinese translation - also using TTS. Can't say how well the TTS for Chinese is since I don't speak it, but the English TTS was pretty good.

Currently JAJAH Babel is available in the U.S., China, UK and Australia.

The other new service is JAJAH Concierge - http://www.jajahconcierge.com

Very relevant for consumers that need to make calls hands free, JAJAH Concierge voice activates JAJAH services so there is no need to scroll through address books or dial long phone numbers. This free service gives JAJAH customers a local number, which can be used to initiate phone calls, send a text message or establish conference calls, all with voice commands at JAJAH's low rates and without lifting a finger. This new service does not cost anything additional and leverages MOBIVOX voice application.

Now we finally have a really useful application for USB drives -- besides just for backing up or taking yhour files with you on your rambles.

The Aderra Audio System allows a single technician to record an event and duplicate up to 1,000 USB flash drives within 15 minutes after the event has ended. 

They record live events, duplicate them on the spot and sell them to attendees as they are leaving the venue, usually on a wristband that has the USB flashdrive embedded. It's really easy to use for either Mac or PC -- so get ready to rock!

In the case of a live concert, they include auto-play videos, links to artist websites, charities in which they are involved, special bonus tracks and more.

It's a cool, green-friendly unit that allows you to relive the live experience immediately as well as hold onto a keepsake as a reminder of that concert for years to come.

www.aderra.net

Getting your great candid pictures off your camera phone is no easy matter -- it should be so simple!

CNET gives us a couple of ways to do it. One of them has got to work!

The least labor-intensive way to rescue your pictures from being trapped on your phone is to send them to an e-mail address in a multimedia message. But as you know, this costs money, so you'll be pleased to hear there are alternatives.

If your phone accepts a memory card, you can save your pictures to the card, then use the card to transfer the images. Most cell phones use smaller memory cards in a Micro SD or Mini SD card format, so if you don't have an adapter, the cards won't fit in most readers.

If you don't have a memory card slot, you can use Bluetooth or an infrared port to send shots to another capable device. But be wary, because some carriers block some Bluetooth transfers on its phones.

Still another method is to use a USB cable that connects your cell phone with your computer. Not all phones have USB capability, so check to see if yours does. Also, USB transfers on some phones require software from the carrier or the manufacturer.

If your phone doesn't come with any of the features, don't despair, as you're not out of luck. A final method is to invest in cell phone-syncing software. Although these products require an initial investment, it's not an ongoing one, and you'll be able to not only transfer photos but also sync your calendar, your contacts list, and your messages.

Is Windows really that bad, you may ask?

Well, Apple Watch asked that very same question and came up with some very interesting statistics.

Last weekend, they got to wondering about Mac versus Windows PC pricing after seeing two HP notebooks on sale at the local Target. One of them, a 14-inch model, the HP DV2946NR (pictured at left), sold for $699.99 and packed 4GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. Capacity for both features is twice that of the $1,299 MacBook -- and shared graphics is 356MB compared with a meager 144MB for the MacBook.

I wondered: If Vista notebooks are selling for so little and packing so much, how does this compare with Mac desktops and notebooks? 

You must read more and come to your own conclusion!