IBLOG SPACE

Someone at Acer US should check their calendar, because while the company’s TimelineX notebooks aren’t expected to make their official debut until March 22nd, they’ve already shown up on the company’s site. As expected, along with the 13.3-inch TimelineX 1830T from yesterday, there’s also a 13.3-inch TimelineX 3820T, 14-inch TimelineX 4820T and a 15.6-inch TimelineX 5820T. Update: Looks like whoever is responsible for the site has spotted the error – the new machines have been taken down. The 1830T packs Intel Centrino or Core 2 Solo CPUs, but the rest get their pick from Intel’s Calpella Core i3, i5 and i7 ranges. The Intel Core i3-330M and i3-350M (2.12GHz or 2.26GHz), Core i5-430M, i5-520M and i5-540M (2.26GHz, 2.40GHz or 2.53GHz) and Core i7-620M (2.66GHz) are all on offer, together with up to 8GB of memory and up to 640GB of storage. There are also various ATI Mobility Radeon graphics options, including the HD 5470 and HD 5650, while wireless connectivity includes a choice of W

Asus is big in the enthusiast computer hardware market with a number of mainboards and other gear. The company has offered up a few new official pictures of its coming Rampage III Extreme motherboard and the thing looks great. The design of the heatsinks is very cool and will let users of cases with side windows show off. We don’t know anything about pricing yet, but we do know a few of the specs of the board already. The Rampage III Extreme will support Intel 1366 socket CPUs like the Core i7 parts. It has the Intel X58 chipset and uses triple-channel DDR3 RAM. The board is built around overclocking features and crams in SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3.0 tech. The overclocking features can be accessed via any Bluetooth mobile phone. Check out the gallery below for more pictures.

Remember yesterday’s Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T leak, the first of the company’s so-called Calpella series using Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors we’ve been hearing about lately? According to DigiTimes’ sources, we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out about its siblings; the rest of the TimelineX line is expected to get official on March 22nd, with 13, 14 and 15-inch models. That’s ahead of Taiwanese-specific availability on March 30th, apparently, according to Acer Taiwan’s president Simon Lin. The range will pair the style – and slim build – of the existing CULV-based Timeline range with the more potent Intel Calpella processors, answering criticisms of poor performance. However, larger batteries will ensure that battery life across the TimelineX series hovers around the same eight hour period as before.

Mvix has all sorts of gear for AV applications in the home and businesses. The latest product from the firm is a new powered 4-port HDMI splitter called the Mvix 1 x 4 . The new splitter might not be as cool as the Mvix Ultio Pro home theater box , but if you want multiple screens with the same content, the splitter is the trick for you. The splitter takes a single HDMI input and splits it out to multiple HDMI outputs. This lets the user connect four displays to the single source. The splitter works with Blu-ray players, media players, and digital signage. You can use the device to make a video wall. The splitter supports HDMI 1.3, meaning it won’t work for 3D content. It will support full 1080p resolution along with DTS-HD and Dolby True HD HD 7.1 surround sound. The splitter uses a built-in power equalizer to ensure quality on longer cable runs. The splitter can be purchased now on Amazon for $130.

Razer has made some of the best gaming peripherals around for years now. The company tries to support smaller groups of gamers like Mac users along with the majority of PC users. Razer has announced a new mouse for a group of gamers that might be even smaller than the number of Mac gamers out there — lefties. Typically, a lefty has to search for an ambidextrous gaming mouse or learn to play with their right hand. Razer has unveiled the first gaming mouse specifically for the left handed gamer called the DeathAdder Left Hand Edition . The mouse has all the features of the traditional right hand DeathAdder. Features include 1000Hz ultrapolling, always-on mode, 3500dpi sensitivity, and on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment. The mouse has five programmable buttons and can track accurately at 60-120 inches per second with 15G of acceleration. The lefty edition is shipping now globally for $59.99.

We’ll admit, it took us a short while to figure out the difference between ASUS’ new Eee Box EB1501U and Eee Box EB1012U nettops compared to their outwardly-identical predecessors – each uses Intel’s dual-core Atom 330 processor paired with NVIDIA Ion graphics – but the key is in the connectivity. That “U” suffix stands for USB 3.0, with the EB1501U getting two front-mounted USB 3.0 ports and the EB1012U getting three spread across the front and side panels. Otherwise the two nettops are functionally unchanged. That means you get a slot-loading DVD burner on the Eee Box EB1501U, complete with gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, VGA and HDMI connectivity, while the Eee Box EB1012U lacks the optical drive but has the same ports and measures over 10mm thinner. There’s also plenty of USB 2.0 ports along with eSATA and S/PDIF, a 250GB hard-drive and support for up to 4GB of RAM. No word on pricing for each of the Windows 7 Home Premium systems, but the regular (i.e. non-USB 3.0) EB1501 and E

When it comes to listening to music, I am content to pop a CD into the PS3 or the CD player in the car. For some people a normal CD player or other device for listening to their music does not cut it. If you are the sort of audiophile that refuses to slum it with conventional CD players, Vincent Audio has your device, assuming you are loaded anyway. The Vincent Audio C-60 is a CD player that has switchable vacuum tube and solid-state output stages. The player also uses a premium Philips top-loading transport and enhanced mechanical and electrical isolation all working to provide the best possible sound. The player uses a 24-bit.192-kHz PCN1792 DAC with 8x oversampling. The player can be changed between the solid-state output and the 6922EH vacuum tune line output with the included remote or by pressing a button on the front of the player. Outputs include balanced XLR, RCA, coaxial digital and optical digital outputs. The price for the audiophile grade C-60 is a hefty $4,695.

Now, far be it from us to suggest that Sprint are looking to trick would-be iPhone 4G seekers into watching their latest Overdrive promo , but calling your video “Make your iPhone 4G” and then criticising AT&T’s 3G network isn’t going to go down well in Dallas. The Overdrive is of course Sprint’s 3G/4G MiFi-style portable WiFi hotspot , capable – if you’re in one of the 25 areas with WiMAX coverage – of up to 6Mbps downlink speeds. Of course, Sprint use their highest-possible speed for the video, and contrast it with the lowest “industry average” of 600Kbps you might see out of AT&T. We’re not blinkered cheerleaders for AT&T’s 3G network, by any stretch, but the video small print also says that the other “average” extreme for 3G is 1.7Mbps; regular users will probably get something in-between the two. Still, that wouldn’t make for such an impressive demonstration, and we can’t really be too surprised at Sprint wanting to show the Overdrive off to its best advantage. If

Dolby have announced Dolby Surround 7.1 , an 8-channel surround sound audio system that’s intended to better support both traditional 2D and newer 3D content. Integral to the new system is the introduction of two new audio zones – Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right – which, in tandem with the existing front two zones, should make for more impressive 360-degree surround effects. Unlike existing 7.1 systems, which use two rear speakers but each fed with the same channel, Dolby’s new setup will have two different channels for each. For movie makers like Disney and Pixar, who Dolby have partnered with to demonstrate Dolby Surround 7.1, it means an increased ability to position sound in theatres. Of course, we’ll have to wait for those theatres to actually roll it out first; no word on how expensive the upgrade might be, or what sort of timescale we’re looking at.

T-Mobile USA have finally confirmed pricing and availability for the HTC HD2, the Windows Mobile 6.5.3 smartphone that European users have been taunting their US counterparts with for several months now. The T-Mobile HD2 will arrive on March 24th priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement. T-Mobile have launched a new, HD2-specific mini site with more information about the smartphone. Still, most of the key specifications are well known by now: the 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, the 4.1-inch multitouch-capable capacitive touchscreen and the HTC Sense UI on top of the underlying Microsoft OS. Some of the HD2’s sheen has been taken off in recent weeks with the news that owners won’t be able to update the device to Windows Phone 7 later in the year. Still, as we found in our review of the HD2, it’s a pretty impressive handset in its own right.

Having been spotted up for sale once before, before being unceremoniously yanked from the virtual shelves a few hours later, Samsung’s 3D-capable Blu ray player, the BD-C6900 , is now finally shiping. Announced back in January at CES 2010 , the BD-C6900 obviously supports Full HD 1080p content but also includes both wired and WiFi connectivity for streaming media and internet-connected widgets. There’s also DVD upscaling to 1080p, BD-Live support and 1GB of onboard storage, together with a skinny 39mm-thick design. DLNA support means the BD-C6900 can be used as a media-stream receiver, and there’s support for Dolby Digital TruHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Of course, many people will be looking at the deck for its 3D capabilities, and it’s compatible both with Samsung’s own 3D HDTVs and the general Blu ray 3D standard. The Samsung BD-C6900 is priced at $399.99 from Amazon, and is available now.

Tablets are back in style, no thanks to a little thing called the iPad , and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, there’s going to be all sorts of failures out there, but at least we can hope that the majority of these slate-style mini-computers will be worth our time. Take, for example, this 10-inch tablet that Marvell was showing off at the Future of Publishing Summit on Tuesday. It’s running the Android mobile Operating System, which isn’t that big of a surprise, and it’s got a few features that make it seem worthwhile. The device they showed off is just a prototype, and it wasn’t working on a production-based shell, but the word around the block is that it’s (expected to be) really fast. Based on the ARM Armada processor, the tablet would be able to playback 1080p video and not take a significant hit to the battery life. (Which is a good thing.) Sadly, the version of Android running on the test device at the summit was 1.6, and not 2.1 (or even 2.0.1). While it’s still early obvi

A few years ago, the bigger your sound system was, the better your house was. You were the envy of all your friends, neighbors, and relatives. And while that may still be the case in some houses around the world, it’s definitely looking like the headphone revolution is still going strong. In this case, we’ve got a pair of gaming headphones that aren’t just for your computer. Oh no, Astro wants to make sure that if you play a game, that you can plug in your expensive, shiny new headphones into whatever it is you’re playing it on. There’s definitely other gaming headphones out there, quite a few of them, actually, and many of them have the ability to connect to your PC, and video game console. Astro goes a few steps further though, and allows you to connect while you’re on the move. Have an iPhone or iPod Touch? Plug ‘em in! Have a PSP? Not a problem ! Although, we can’t sit here and say that everything is all perfect. Unlike the majority of other gaming headsets out there,” the Astro A3

In March of last year, I canceled my service with DISH Network to embark on a simple experiment. The question was, did I need my television service provider, and the experiment was to see if streaming shows from the Internet could satisfy my television habits. I connected one of my more powerful notebooks as elegantly as possible to my TV via HDMI and the experiment began. The TV shows they are a-streaming… In the first few weeks of this experiment, I came to find out that 90% of the TV shows my wife and I watched on a regular basis were available online from either the networks’ websites themselves or from Hulu. What suffered however was live sports and shows for our kids, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as kids probably get enough TV as it is. Since I am a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan, though, it was very difficult for me to not be able to watch a single game the entire season from the comfort of my own home. I tried connecting to hacked streams; I tried watching them throu

While full-sized handsets for cellphones and VoIP aren’t new – we’ve seen several companies offering unusual or retro ways to pretend your smartphone is something else – it’s taken Native Union to attempt to make it all serious. Their Moshi Moshi line of wired and wireless handsets and speakerphones not only look pretty darn good, but they offer features like dual-pairing (with, say, your phone and your laptop), streaming audio and more. There are five designs in the line-up initially, the wired MM01h, MM01 and MM02 and the Bluetooth-enabled MM03 and MM04i. The first four are shaped like traditional handsets, the latter is a standalone speakerphone, and all but the MM01h come with a base station (that also recharges the MM04). Various adapters are available for different models of phone, including a regular 3.5mm jack and an iPhone adapter, plus there’s a USB connection for VoIP. The MM03 supports Bluetooth 2.1 with multipoint for dual simultaneous connections. Native Union reckon

ViewSonic’s latest notebooks and all-in-one desktop have finally gone on sale after being unveiled at CES 2010 back in January. The ViewSonic VNB132 ViewBook and VNB141 ViewBook have 13.3- and 14-inch displays respectively and use Intel’s CULV processors, while the ViewSonic VPC190 All-In-One has an 18.5-inch display and an Intel Atom D510 processor. The VNB132 ViewBook pairs the SU2300 Celeron CPU with a 320GB HDD and 2GB of memory, along with WiFi b/g/n, three USB 2.0 ports, a 7-in-1 card reader, both VGA and HDMI outputs, a 1.3-megapixel webcam and a 4 cell battery. It retails for $649. Meanwhile the VNB141 ViewBook gets the SU7300 Core 2 Duo CPU, a 250GB HDD and 2GB of memory, as well as WiFi b/g/n, the same ports as its smaller sibling, and an integrated DVD burner. It retails for $829. As for the ViewSonic VPC190 All-In-One, that runs Windows 7 Home Premium on 2GB of memory, and has a DVD burner, 1.3-megapixel webcam and six USB 2.0 ports. There’s also WiFi b/g, 10/100 ether

Microsoft have outed three new webcams, each of which use the company’s new TrueColor Technology for improved color balance and exposure. The new range includes the LifeCam HD-5000 and HD-5001, intended for desktop users, and the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks; each supports 720p HD video recording and auto-focus. The HD-5000 and HD-5001 are functionality identical, with the latter being a Best Buy exclusive and getting a different bezel. Each has a flexible base section which can be shaped to grip various monitor sizes or be used on the desk. As for the HD-6000, that has a 360-degree pivot together with a shorter USB cable and a bundled carrying case. Microsoft TrueColor uses software to adjust color balance depending on ambient lighting, as well as face-tracking technology to correctly control exposure so that the user’s face is visible rather than being washed out or murky. The Microsoft LifeCam HD-5000 and HD-5001 will go on sale later in March 2010 priced at $49.95, while the

We may have been looking to MIX10 for its juicy Windows Phone 7 series tidbits – and have you seen our demo videos of the latest apps and functionality? – but smartphones aren’t the only think Microsoft want to talk to developers about. Today has been Internet Explorer 9’s turn to take to the stage, with the focus on hardware-accelerated HTML5, a new JavaScript engine and Direct 2D technology. In its current state, the new JavaScript engine vastly out-performs IE8, as you can see in the graph below. It’s lagging behind Chrome, Safari and Opera 10.5 at the moment, but besting Firefox 3.6 (by a little, anyway), and we’re promised further improvements as they tweak the script. Part of the way Microsoft are approaching JavaScript is to run it in a separate background thread from the main browser, even on a separate CPU core if available. That takes better advantage of multi-core processors, a decent idea given many people spend most of the time in their browsers these days.

We rather like USB secondary monitors like those you find in Nanovision’s MIMO range, but the 7-inch size they generally come in might not suit everybody’s desk. Into the fray steps the iMo Plus , USB-connected and DisplayLink powered like the rest, but offering 10-inches and 1024 x 576 resolution along with a resistive touchscreen option. The 16:9 aspect display has 200cd/m2 brightness and a 400:1 contrast ratio. Unlike some of the other MIMO displays we’ve seen there are no integrated speakers or webcam, but considering most people probably wouldn’t use them anyway that doesn’t seem a great loss. A single USB connection provides power and signal. Mimo Monitors plan to start taking preorders for both the display-only and the touchscreen versions later this month, with deliveries expected to kick off in mid-April. Meanwhile, you can find our review of the touchscreen MIMO 720-S here , and of the MIMO UM-710 and UM-720 here . Update: Pricing is “tentatively” set at $219.99 for the

Details of Acer’s first Calpella-based ultraportable have emerged, ahead of the notebook’s expected announcement in the last week of this month. The 11-inch Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T eschews the CULV CPUs of its predecessors and instead reaches for Intel’s Core i5-520UM, with a basic clock speed of 1.06GHz but the potential for 1.86GHz with Turbo Boost. Meanwhile battery life is rated at up to 8hrs. Unchanged are the 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display and roughly inch-thick chassis, along with the full-sized keyboard with its distinctive flat key-caps. The chipset is Intel’s HM55 and the 1830T uses integrated graphics with a dynamic core capable of 166MHz to 500MHz. Inside there are two memory bays. Ports and connectivity include HDMI, S/PDIF, gigabit ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, a multi card reader and three USB 2.0, while 3G and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR are optional. No word on pricing or specific availability, but we should find that out – together with details on the rest of the new TimelineX

Pogoplug are pushing out a new update for their plug-and-play HDD sharing system, improving media streaming functionality and adding in the ability to set automatic copy jobs. The new Pogoplug firmware allows for streaming to PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles, presumably using DLNA, while Active Copy can be set to automatically copy files to a remote Pogoplug unit for offsite backups. According to Pogoplug, your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 should automatically see any attached hard-drive and automatically be able to stream video, photo and music content from it across the network. Meanwhile, the updated Active Copy will obviously require you to have a second Pogoplug somewhere else, but it could be handy if you want to mirror data at both the home and the office. Pogoplug say the updated firmware will be automatically pushed out to units worldwide from this morning, as long as they have an internet connection. The functionality answers two of our main criticisms of the device, and brings it

Okay, we’re getting the feeling that just about every high-spec PC manufacturer plan to put Intel’s new hexacore Core i7-980X Extreme processor into their gaming offering, and they they plan to tell us all about it. Velocity Micro are the latest – following in the steps of MAINGEAR and Digital Storm – to update their range, packing the new CPU into their Edge Z55, Raptor Lx665 and Lx775 machines. As with the other firms, the rest of the specs for each desktop don’t change from before, only the CPU. So, the Z55 remains Velocity Micro’s configurable machine, priced from $1,799 normally but jumping to $2,824 when you throw in the hexacore. Meanwhile the two Raptor PCs are preconfigured and sold through TigerDirect , at $3,599 for the Lx665 and $4,799 for the Lx775. As you’d expect there are the usual choices for single or dual-headed graphics, HDDs and SSDs, but no sign of an overclocking option like Digital Storm are offering.

AirStash may be a reasonably stupid name, but the gadget itself is pretty clever. Ostensibly an oversized memory card reader for your SD/SDHC and microSD/SDHC media, the AirStash works just as you’d expect when plugged in via USB but, when unplugged, has a WiFi connection so that you can wireless stream content to an iPhone, iPod touch or any wireless-enabled gadget with a browser. The company reckon it’ll be useful for digital photographers looking to more easily access their digital media – though who don’t want an Eye-Fi card – as well as iPhone owners looking to add extra capacity. AirStash use HTML5 for their browser-based interface, and you can access documents as well as media files on more than one gadget at a time. Recharging is done while the AirStash is plugged into a USB port, and the WiFi b/g connection can either be left unlocked or secured with WPA2 encryption. A full charge is good for five hours use; the AirStash is available to order now, priced at $99.99.

It’s not only MAINGEAR playing games with Intel’s latest Core i7-980X Extreme processor. The new hexacore has found its way into Digital Storm’s similarly-stonking BlackOPS desktop, but they’ve not seen fit to leave its 3.33GHz alone; instead, opt for their TwisterBoost overclocking package and they’ll crank the Core i7 all the way up to 4.44GHz. The “basic” package pairs the new six-core CPU with 6GB of DDR3 memory, dual ATI Radeon HD 5970 2GB video cards in CrossFireX configuration, and a silent 1,200W PSU. It also gets a 500GB hard-drive and a liquid-cooling system for the processor, though you can choose various combinations of HDD and SSD together with a full liquid-cooling system that covers CPU, X58 chipset and up to four video cards. Prices kick off at a considerable $5,642 and if you want the 4.44GHz overclock then you’re looking at another $248 on top of that. After that the world can get as crazy as your wallet affords; nobody ever said performance PCs were affordable.

The job of a high-spec PC manufacturer is never done; just when you think your crazy gaming desktop is done and dusted, there are new processors to be slotted inside. MAINGEAR have announced an update to their SHIFT “everyday super computer”, using Intel’s new Core i7-980X 3.33GHz hexacore CPU. That goes into the mixture with Crucial’s RealSSD C300 – hooked up to a SATA 6G connection, naturally – and USB 3.0. There’s also special acoustic shielding so that the noise from fans doesn’t drive you screaming out of the house, and a list of video card options as long as your arm (assuming you don’t have bizarrely long arms). Various options from ATI and NVIDIA are on offer, including dual ATI Radeon HD 5970 4GB cards in CrossFireX configuration. Up to four internal hard-drives (or SSDs) can be picked, in various RAID configs, together with Blu-ray and more. The Intel X58 chipset based SHIFT range kicks off at $2,299 but expect significantly more if you want the new Core i7-980X.

Any person who really likes something be it computers or cars or anything else wants them to perform their best. In the computer world, better performance often boils down to faster clock speeds for memory and other components inside a computer. Kingston has unveiled a new RAM kit in its HyperX line today called the HyperX dual-channel DDR3 memory kit (Kingston part#: KHX2400C9D3T1K2/4GX). The RAM has received Intel XMP certification on the Core i7 platform when operating at 2400MHz. Timings for the RAM are 9-11-9-27-2 at 1.65V. The new RAM kits will be available to purchase in Q2 at an undisclosed price. You can bet the blazing fast memory won’t be cheap.

We have already seen the Pentax 645D medium format DSLR camera before. In fact, we talked about it almost exactly a year ago. The camera, presumably updated, was on display again at the Camera and Photo Imaging show in Yokohama City, Japan March 11 through the 14. TechOn spent some time talking to the folks from Hoya behind the camera on how they were positioning the device. The camera uses an Eastman Kodak CCD with an imaging area 44 x 33mm. The camera will be released in Japan in May with a price equating to nearly $8900 here in the US. The camera is designed specifically for talking high quality shots of scenery. The camera doesn’t use a lowpass filter and the question was posed during the interview of wouldn’t the lack of a filter cause moire. The reason for the lack of a filter according to the manufacturer is because the filter lowers resolution and the Moire can be removed using software.

Fujitsu has unveiled some new notebook computers today called the Lifebook E780 and the S710. Both of the new notebooks are in the Fujitsu proGREEN line. The proGREEN line of notebooks are optimized for energy saving features and longer battery life. The new notebooks come with either a 14-inch screen or a 15.6-inch screen and are Energy Star 5.0 certified. Power saving features include LED backlit screens and an 87% efficient power adapter. The power saving features allow the S780 to run for up to 18 hours with two batteries installed. Fujitsu is mum on hardware specs for the machines. The company also unveiled new Esprimo E9900 and P9900 computers with Core i5 vPro technology inside and green designs. A pair of proGREEN workstations has also been revealed called the Celsius W280 and the H700. The H700 gets NVIDIA graphics and both use Core i7 processors. Pricing and availability for the new models is unknown.

It’s been a little late in coming, but – just like we told you – as of this morning Spring Design will be taking orders for their dual-display Alex ereader. Priced at $399, the Android-based Alex has a 6-inch E Ink panel up top and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen below, together with WiFi connectivity; deliveries are expected to begin on or around April 14th 2010. We caught up with Spring Design’s Eric Kmeic about the upcoming first-gen Alex and the company’s plans for the subsequent 3G model, complete with some iPad-style data plans. Alex primarily uses the E Ink panel for reading and the touchscreen for navigation, but those roles aren’t completely fixed. For instance, you can use the “Touch and Extend” feature to span text across both panels for extended reading, and the LCD is more suited for web browsing. A button in-between the two panels flips content from the LCD to the E Ink display, which is useful for more comfortable reading of longer online articles. There’s also all the usua

Intel has officially launched its latest Xeon processors that are some of its more secure processors ever. The new line is the Xeon 5600 series using 32nm build process and Intel’s latest High-K Metal gate tech. The processors are aimed at use in the data center and other enterprise environments. Two key security features of the new processors are the Intel Advanced Encryption Standards New Instructions and Intel Trusted Execution Technology. The two features work together to allow faster encryption and decryption performance for more secure transactions and virtualized environments. Intel claims that the 32nm 5600 series processors offer 60% more performance than the older 45nm Xeon 5500 series part and the new 5600 line will support up to six-cores. The quad-core 5600 series part runs at a peak of 3.46GHz and has a 130W TDP. The six-core version is a 3.33GHz part with the same 130W TDP. Several other 5600 series processors are available as well. Machines using the new 5600 series CP

OWC has been making storage devices and other gear for Mac and PC users for years. The company has a full line of external storage solutions that have multiple interface options for the best data transfer speeds on any given computer. OWC has announced a new 1TB On-The-Go Pro external HDD that features both the FireWire 800/400 connection options and USB 2.0 connectivity. Before the 1TB version landed, the most storage you could get in the compact triple interface external device was 640GB. Connectivity speed for the external drive with USB 2.0 is up to 100MB/s and the drive is bus powered. The triple interface 1TB drive is $269.99 and a FireWire 400/USB 2.0 version sells for $269.99 with a USB 2.0 only version going for $229.99. All versions are available right now.

Sony have unveiled their latest netbook, the Sony VAIO M Series, and they’re positioning it right at the entry-point of the market. The 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 ultraportable packs Intel’s Atom N450 1.66GHz processor, along with a 250GB hard-drive, and will be available in black or white. Other specifications include 1GB of memory and Intel GMA 3150 graphics. Connectivity, meanwhile, includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, ethernet, VGA output, a memory card reader and three USB 2.0 ports, along with audio in/out. There’s also a webcam, stereo speakers and a microphone, while the battery is a 6-cell unit; Sony aren’t making any predictions as to runtimes, but the whole thing does weigh 1.4kg. No official pricing in the press release, but expect the Sony VAIO M Series to go on sale later this month.

Only a day after Microsoft fleshed out Windows Phone 7 series at MIX10 , we’ve already got a full dump of Windows Phone 7 build 7.0.0.6077. The files aren’t a leak exactly; they’ve been extracted from Microsoft’s own developer tools, also released yesterday. However, before you get your hopes up, this isn’t a shortcut to getting Windows Phone 7 onto the HTC HD2. For a start it’s built for x86 processors – after all, it comes from the emulator not a phone ROM – and lacks the necessary drivers and other elements needed to control phone hardware. Even if we had all that, there’s more to the HD2’s incompatibility than just the number of physical buttons. Microsoft have axed support for external memory cards and all Windows Phone 7 devices will have to come with large chunks of internal flash memory. That means the HD2’s internal memory is simply too meagre, so until someone hacks the OS to recognize cards as onboard storage it’s a no-go. Still, we’re expecting interesting things from

AT&T loves to trumpet the importance of the so-called "quick messaging" segment to its bottom line -- the QWERTY-equipped featurephones that keep the teens and tweens texting 24 / 7 -- so it's no surprise that of the latest batch of devices they've added into the mix from Samsung and Pantech (which we missed while caught up in the week's MIX10 activities), three of the four have full keyboards. The Strive from Samsung gets real in stores on March 21 with a 2 megapixel cam and vertical slide for just $20 on contract with rebate; the Sunburst comes on the same date for $40 with the same cam but a rather attractive full-touch design. On the Pantech side, you can choose from the portrait QWERTY Link (pictured left) or the Pursuit portrait slider, though neither has been blessed with a price or release date just yet. Perhaps more interesting than the phones themselves is the fact that the devices are the first to get hooked up with a host of new services from AT&am

We don't like to stir up the nearly constant barrage of "so-and-so is getting the iPhone" rumors unless we've got a great reason to do so -- and we'd argue that a Financial Times report involving statements from Deutsche Telekom's CEO qualifies. The British rag was chatting up DT's boss over the prospects of its American unit -- T-Mobile USA -- and stressed the company's long-term commitment to turning around T-Mobile's fortunes in the face of recent spinoff rumors, saying that it's all about rapidly building out a speedy 3G network as part of an effort this year "to lay the foundation for future growth." Here's where it gets juicy: referring to the iPhone, the report goes on to say that "T-Mobile USA is hoping to start selling the popular smartphone later this year or next year" while focusing on Android in the meantime, as if Android is merely a stopgap measure to make it through to the singular device that can save

No need to spot clean your spectacles, and no need to brush the cobwebs out of your dome -- you really are seeing yet another IR dongle for Apple's dear iLineup. Hot on the heels of New Potato's FLPR, ThinkFlood's RedEye mini and Power A's solution comes this: an all-too-similar way to convert your iPod touch, iPhone or forthcoming iPad into a universal remote. Functionality wise, there's really nothing here that the other guys don't provide, though the beefed-up database of over 40,000 IR codes should make setting up your system a breeze. Users simply plug this into their dock connector, download the free application from the App Store and then dial up whatever components they have; once loaded, the IR beamer should do the rest, nixing the need to keep those 40 remotes around. It's expected to start shipping any day now for $69.95.

After Windows Phone 7 Series' grand unveiling at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress last month, Microsoft has circled back over the last several days during GDC and its own MIX10 conference to fill in many of the holes in this story -- in particular, details around the app development ecosystem and how third parties can take full advantage of it have been focal points. Of course, it makes sense: a modern smartphone is only as good as its software catalog, and Redmond's clearly keen to show that it knows how very true that is. XNA -- the technology that underpins Zune games and a host of Xbox content -- figures prominently into the equation, but Silverlight is a huge, unavoidable component as well, making development for WP7S devices a starkly different experience for studios and independent code monkeys than in versions prior. We're going to be periodically updating this post as we get new info on the platform, but for now, follow the break for everything you need to kno

We've held no punches in sharing our thoughts on Palm's recent ad campaigns, but the one spot that was actually not heinous has seemingly served as the basis for one of Microsoft's first-ever WP7S commercials. Debuting here at the tail-end of MIX, the ad spotlights Anna -- a fictitious gal we've certainly heard of before -- using her new smartphone to share photos with her dear lover Miles. It also features Luca, a kid with an undying love for playing Xbox LIVE titles, who seems to be caught somewhere in between the world of nature and nurture. At any rate, it's worth your while to give the new Microsoft commercial and the Palm ad which it has oh-so-much in common with right after the break. Oh, and Palm -- we guess "Windows Phone 7 Series was your idea," right? Update: Yes, that definitely looks like an HTC HD2 at the 0:43 mark, but you can rest assured WP7S won't ever come to that gem in native fashion.

Hang with us for a sec as we conjure up a speculative device from a sordid collection of rumors. By now we've all seen the leaked BlackBerry slider right? How about the "Mr. T" phone, heard of that? Maybe you've heard of it by its other codename of Talladega? The connection here is that all of these devices are thought to be one and the same although that's definitely not confirmed by any stretch. Things got a bit more interesting today after a loose-lipped CEO of a RIM parts supplier (Woojeon & Handan) mentioned a brand new BlackBerry "T" phone launching next month during an interview posted on joins.com (a popular Korean news site). According to our translation or the Korean jibba jabba: "The Canadian company RIM famous for BlackBerry smartphones is releasing a new model next month. Known as the "T," The new model is an ambitious product aimed at competing against iPhone's storm of success. Rim will present it ("T") a

Plug your cell phone charger into the wall. Feel it. Is it warm? Then like it or not, you're wasting electricity. AT&T would like to change all that with this new Zero charger, a tiny black brick which automatically cuts power to itself whenever your cell phone is disconnected. While it's not quite as amusing as an ejector seat, it's certainly more practical, and the wall wart's modular USB design means you can charge almost any mobile with interchangeable cables (sold separately, of course) while you wait oh-so-patiently for the cellphone industry to finally stop using proprietary ports. If you've got a vampire draw problem, let AT&T be your garlic this May.

It's a mighty aggressive schedule for a handset that hasn't even been announced yet, but the latest scuttlebutt regarding the HTC Incredible suggests that the phone will make its debut on Verizon's airwaves about two weeks from now. It was already known that the Incredible was destined for a rendezvous with Big Red, but this latest word solidifies and specifies that future nicely -- and it's claimed to come directly from internal sources at Verizon. There's also further mention of 512MB of DRAM allied to a downclocked Snapdragon CPU (capable of 1GHz, running at 768MHz), an 8 megapixel camera, a 1,300 mAh battery, and body dimensions almost indistinguishable from those belonging to the Nexus One. Good thing too, since Verizon is still keeping us waiting on a mysterious Spring release of Google's own-brand phone. We get the feeling Android 2.1 and the new Sense UI will fill that gap nicely, however, and if you really must have that 1GHz speed, there are ways to ac

Actually, the twist is the charming ‘Paa’ actress is not all part of this Ram Gopal Varma’s trilingual flick. In fact her cousin is…. Priyamani, a south Indian actress and cousin of Vidya Balan, is reported to feature in RGV’s ‘Rakta Charitra’. The film, a biopic of political leader Paritala Ravi, features Vivek Oberoi and south Indian star Surya. Priyamani said to act opposite Suriya here. According to sources, Varma was mighty impressed with the actress after seeing some of the South films which she has done. Incidentally, sources revealed that RGV had seen Priyamani’s Tamil film ‘Paruthaveeran’, for which she had won a National Award. And with this he made up his mind to cast her in the film. Produced and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, ‘Rakta Charitra’ is being made in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. As a matter of fact, Priyamani also features in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’.

The classic macho of B-town, Dhamendra was reported to have been admitted to hospital on Tuesday night. During the shooting of his film 'Yamla Pagla Deewana' in Patiala , the veteran actor had complained of weakness and chest pain. He was taken to PGIMER hospital in Chandigarh . Dharm paaji had spent a night in the hospital and was kept under observation. Dharmendra’s first wife Prakash Kaur and Sunny Deol had visited him there. However sources revealed that now the actor is doing fine. He said to have been discharged on Wednesday afternoon

While her fans rejoiced her comeback with the release of ‘My Name Is Khan’, Kajol is gearing up to wrap her next Karan Johar production ‘Stepmon’ and that too in a jiff. Ask why? Our birdies excitedly reveal that there is a good news in Devgn’s house… Yeah, yeah! It’s heard that the striking actress is gearing up to enter motherhood for second time. Birdies got this from sources that Kajol is pregnant and her hubby dear Ajay Devgn has advised her to wrap up all her work commitments as early as possible. For this, Kajol said to have finished her dubbing portions for ‘StepMom’ – a film directed by Siddharth Malhotra and also features Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. While the promotional track is yet to be shot, Kajol is keen to complete all the shooting works before March 20; after which she will go off the radar. Besides this project, the actress said to have completed the major portions of Kumar Mangat's ‘Toonpur Ka Superhero’, which is a 3D and live action animatio

When it comes to hero worship, people would go to the extreme for their dream idol. Music maestro A R Rahman is gearing up for the ‘Jai Ho - The Journey Home’ concert in April. And our ‘Veer’ producer Vijay Galani has done the much-needed preparations well ahead for it. Guess what? He said to have bought the rights for three shows of the concert in UK (Manchester, Birmingham and London) for a whopping Rs 10 crore! The reason Galani chose UK is that being a cosmopolitan market, the shows are likely to draw the Asian population especially Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis besides Europeans and Americans. While all the shows have already been sold out to promoters, the ticket sales will begin in the first week of April. Due to the failure of ‘Veer’, Galani had incurred a huge loss. But with this concert, seems like the producer is back for the game. Sources revealed the deal which was finalized some days ago, includes the travel and stay expenses of the 85-artistes band.

After having had a successful last two years with Slumdog Millionaire, Avatar and My Name is Khan , Fox Star Studios announced its association with Ramesh Sippy Entertainment for their latest project Dum Maaro Dum , produced by Ramesh Sippy and directed by Rohan Sippy. "We are happy to reiterate our vision of working with the best talent in the business and are sure that with the winning pair of Rohan and Abhishek we are looking to create a thriller that promises edge of the seat entertainment and is great fun to watch. The movie will appeal to people of all ages as the story is set in Goa with a background of realism." said Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios India. Commenting on this association, director Rohan Sippy said, "Fox Star Studios has managed to establish a strong presence in the Indian Film industry in a very short time and have ably demonstrated their marketing and distribution capabilities - we are extremely excited to partner on our ne

A. R. Rahman plans to be out of India for the longest period. And Bollywood filmmakers like Abbas Tyrewala and Mani Ratnam who have pending work with Rahman have pressed the panic button. Rahman won't be available for film scores during most of 2010. "It's a very tough schedule for me this year," says Rahman. "I'll be out of the country for five months which I've kept aside completely for the word tour." The concerts will take Rahman to places he has never been before. "I essentially need time for my music, spirituality and family. Everything else is secondary. We'll be going to remote places in Europe, the Far East and America. I'll be touring from this month (March 2010).This would be my longest tour ever and I'm not thinking of any other work." Contrary to reports Rahman turned 43 (and not 44) on January 6. "I was born in 1967, so it's my 43rd birthday. I am an old man now. Do I feel older? It's

After a long hiatus from films, the man with the 'dhai kilo ka haath' returns with an action suspense film Right Yaaa Wrong . With mixed reviews ranging from an engrossing film to a less than moderate attempt, Neerraj Pathak manages to add enthusiasm to his voice considering the fact that he achieved what he wanted to. However, post Right Yaaa Wrong , Neerraj Pathak, not being one to stay calm for long, has already begun work on his next titled Gannit . " Gannit is a political thriller based on the political scenario in U.P. at this moment. I have already approached Sunny with the concept of the film and he has confirmed that he will star in it. Apart from him in the lead, there are two other male leads who need to be finalized and three lead female spots that are vacant as well", says Pathak. "In fact we are still really a bit early in the process of finalizing things for the film and it will be a good 20 odd days before I come out with any off

He has been the heart throb of Bollywood for decades now, and the audiences have been witness to the varied characters he has played throughout his career, he is Salman Khan. The latest development is that Sallu bhai is all set to star in the remake of the south film Bodyguard . The film which is being produced by Atul Agnihotri is still in the adaptation stages. However, Atul confirms saying, "Yes. Even though we are still adapting the script to fit the Bollywood audiences, we have confirmed Salman to play the lead role in it, while for the leading lady we are yet to decide and are keeping the options open." The original, which was directed by Siddiqui, will have him behind the camera for the remake as well, says Atul, "As for the direction of the film, I have known Siddiqui for quite some time now. In fact, we were in talks when he was making the film down south. And now after it has acclaimed fame, I think there is no one better to direct it than him.&