Digit news - Gadgets: First Origami device shown
Well it's XP tablet Edition 2005 running on a small form factor tablet PC. It looks like the only difference between a normal tablet PC is that it can instant-on boot to a cut down XP just to run videos and other media.
Just got and buy an OQO, they're available now and work.
2006/03/08
Ofcom Website | Ofcom agrees to Home Office request for 101 as single non-emergency number
Ofcom Website | Ofcom agrees to Home Office request for 101 as single non-emergency number
Ofcom have agreed to allocate 101 as a non-emergency number as requested by the Home Office.
This will be used to report criminal or anti-social behaviour in situations not considered an emergency.
Ofcom has not set a tarrif, but the Home Office is trying to secure a rate of 10p per call from all networks, subject to ongoing talks with the networks to ensure they can implement the tarrif.
Ofcom have agreed to allocate 101 as a non-emergency number as requested by the Home Office.
This will be used to report criminal or anti-social behaviour in situations not considered an emergency.
Ofcom has not set a tarrif, but the Home Office is trying to secure a rate of 10p per call from all networks, subject to ongoing talks with the networks to ensure they can implement the tarrif.
2006/03/06
Infrant Technologies
Infrant Technologies
The Infrant ReadyNAS NV is a very neat piece of kit. It supports 4 drives, gig Ethernet, 6 USB ports. The internal drives are SATA.
The system came configured using Infrant's X-RAID system, though it can be changed to use RAID 0, 1 or 5. It's definately designed for "home" or small business use, and has the concept of shares which can be exported via CIFS (Windows file sharing), NFS, AFP (Apple) and web. The system runs Debian GNU/Linux under the hood, though on a dedicated network processor. CIFS seems to be Samba v3, and it's definately designed with CIFS in mind, though hopefully certain features that are available under CIFS will be made available via the other protocols too.
It's a very small box, and keeps very cool (and quiet).
So far it seems to perform well, though only limited testing has so far been completed. Trying to join a Samba domain on a UNIX system didn't work (well partially - but overall the process failed), this could be a Samba issue on the remote UNIX system rather than an Infrant problem.
CIFS sharing just works and the system just appears as a remote disk.
It's possible to load in a SLIMServer which will search for MP3's and such like and share them to remote systems supporting the SLIM devices protocol. It's also a uP&P media server so remote devices supporting that protocol will automagically pick it up too.
More to follow.
The Infrant ReadyNAS NV is a very neat piece of kit. It supports 4 drives, gig Ethernet, 6 USB ports. The internal drives are SATA.
The system came configured using Infrant's X-RAID system, though it can be changed to use RAID 0, 1 or 5. It's definately designed for "home" or small business use, and has the concept of shares which can be exported via CIFS (Windows file sharing), NFS, AFP (Apple) and web. The system runs Debian GNU/Linux under the hood, though on a dedicated network processor. CIFS seems to be Samba v3, and it's definately designed with CIFS in mind, though hopefully certain features that are available under CIFS will be made available via the other protocols too.
It's a very small box, and keeps very cool (and quiet).
So far it seems to perform well, though only limited testing has so far been completed. Trying to join a Samba domain on a UNIX system didn't work (well partially - but overall the process failed), this could be a Samba issue on the remote UNIX system rather than an Infrant problem.
CIFS sharing just works and the system just appears as a remote disk.
It's possible to load in a SLIMServer which will search for MP3's and such like and share them to remote systems supporting the SLIM devices protocol. It's also a uP&P media server so remote devices supporting that protocol will automagically pick it up too.
More to follow.
Digit news - Intel plans June dual-core processors launch
Digit news - Intel plans June dual-core processors launch
Intel are launching new dual core Xeons. These are 64 bit chips and currently support 2 cores, though 4 or more cores are planned in the future.
Though nothing has been announced, it's likely Apple are waiting on these new chips to replace the G5 PowerMacs which are already dual core and support up to 2.5GHz. Intel chips are likely to run up to 3.4GHz. With faster Intel chips and a 64 architechture, they have the chance to up the stakes in the power computing sector, though it will still rely on Apple and other software vendors to get their pro applications into Universal Binary format to realise the speed increases.
Intel are launching new dual core Xeons. These are 64 bit chips and currently support 2 cores, though 4 or more cores are planned in the future.
Though nothing has been announced, it's likely Apple are waiting on these new chips to replace the G5 PowerMacs which are already dual core and support up to 2.5GHz. Intel chips are likely to run up to 3.4GHz. With faster Intel chips and a 64 architechture, they have the chance to up the stakes in the power computing sector, though it will still rely on Apple and other software vendors to get their pro applications into Universal Binary format to realise the speed increases.
Pioneer unveils first 25GB Blu-ray drive - IT Week
Pioneer unveils first 25GB Blu-ray drive - IT Week
Pioneer has unveiled a Blu-Ray drive for PC's. It will read and write all DVD formats (current ones) except DVD-RAM. It doesn't support CDs. The BDR-101A will retail somewhere between £340 and £400 so isn't cheap, but a single layer Blu-Ray disks supports 25GB (the drive only supports writing single layer disks, but can read dual-layer). A single layer rewritable disk will cost around £10.
In future capacity should increase to about 200GB. The next generation drive will support DVD-RAM as well as CDs.
The BDR-101A should be available this month.
Though the battle is still raging between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, having drives available will push users to this format, and Blu-Ray does offer poential higher capacities.
Pioneer has unveiled a Blu-Ray drive for PC's. It will read and write all DVD formats (current ones) except DVD-RAM. It doesn't support CDs. The BDR-101A will retail somewhere between £340 and £400 so isn't cheap, but a single layer Blu-Ray disks supports 25GB (the drive only supports writing single layer disks, but can read dual-layer). A single layer rewritable disk will cost around £10.
In future capacity should increase to about 200GB. The next generation drive will support DVD-RAM as well as CDs.
The BDR-101A should be available this month.
Though the battle is still raging between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, having drives available will push users to this format, and Blu-Ray does offer poential higher capacities.
Digit news - Gadgets: 3.2mp blogging phone unwrapped
Digit news - Gadgets: 3.2mp blogging phone unwrapped
Sony's new phones aren't cheap (around £240) but the K800 and K790 phones come with Google's blogging software built-in so users can create a blog through the phone (if they don;t already have one) and pictures taken can be automatically uploaded to the blog. They also have Google as the search engine.
The cameras are autofocus, support red-eye reduction, digital-zoom and 3.2MP sensors. They also feature BestPic where the camera takes 9 pictures and the user can select the one(s) to save. They can also print straight to a printer via a USB cable. They also feature a muic player, video player, FM radio, push Email, Bluetooth, a memory stick slot and 64MB of internal RAM.
A lower end camera the W300 costing about £100 is in their Walkman range, can play MP3 and AAC files, has 20MB internal memory and a removable 256MB memory stick.
Sony's new phones aren't cheap (around £240) but the K800 and K790 phones come with Google's blogging software built-in so users can create a blog through the phone (if they don;t already have one) and pictures taken can be automatically uploaded to the blog. They also have Google as the search engine.
The cameras are autofocus, support red-eye reduction, digital-zoom and 3.2MP sensors. They also feature BestPic where the camera takes 9 pictures and the user can select the one(s) to save. They can also print straight to a printer via a USB cable. They also feature a muic player, video player, FM radio, push Email, Bluetooth, a memory stick slot and 64MB of internal RAM.
A lower end camera the W300 costing about £100 is in their Walkman range, can play MP3 and AAC files, has 20MB internal memory and a removable 256MB memory stick.
Apple release Intel Mac Mini
The new Mac mini comes in two versions, eith a single core (Intel Core Solo) running at 1.5GHz or a dual core (Intel Core Duo) running at 1.67GHz. The tenry level single core costs £499 (inc VAT) with 512MB of RAM, CD-ROM/RW combo and a 60GB hard disk. The £599 dual core comes with 512MB RAM, Superdrive and 80GB disk.
Both models have Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB 2.0 ports, DVI (display) adapter, Firewire and an infrared port so they can run Front Row (Apple's multimedia program that can be controlled with the Apple remote).
Inside it uses an Intel graphic chip, which some say is a step down from the ATI chip in the old G4 Mac Minis.
Since the G4 is only 32 bit, even the single core design should give an improvement in speed, while the dual core will noticably speed up. Of course this relies on the applications to be universal or they still have to go through Apple's Rosetta technology which interprets the PowerPC code (applications like Office will probably run ok, though Photoshop is still the benchmark as it runs considerably slower under emulation).
If you're looking for a small unit to sit next to your TV/HiFi then the Mac Mini is a good choice as it still looks the business and the standard iLife apps are now all universal binaries so they're completely usable and will run fast.
Both models have Gigabit Ethernet, 4 USB 2.0 ports, DVI (display) adapter, Firewire and an infrared port so they can run Front Row (Apple's multimedia program that can be controlled with the Apple remote).
Inside it uses an Intel graphic chip, which some say is a step down from the ATI chip in the old G4 Mac Minis.
Since the G4 is only 32 bit, even the single core design should give an improvement in speed, while the dual core will noticably speed up. Of course this relies on the applications to be universal or they still have to go through Apple's Rosetta technology which interprets the PowerPC code (applications like Office will probably run ok, though Photoshop is still the benchmark as it runs considerably slower under emulation).
If you're looking for a small unit to sit next to your TV/HiFi then the Mac Mini is a good choice as it still looks the business and the standard iLife apps are now all universal binaries so they're completely usable and will run fast.
2006/02/28
Ofcom Website | Ofcom sets out approach on VoIP services
Ofcom Website | Ofcom sets out approach on VoIP services
Ofcom have announced a consultation on regulation of VoIP services. So far it looks promising, supporting new entrants rather than the traditional telcos with hints that it will allow easier porting of numbers to VoIP players.
VoIP providers are encouraged to support 999 services (known as E911 in the US), and there are seperate initiatives to allow for the look-up of IP addresses and convert these to locations (relatively easy for DSL and fixed lines, but much harder when it comes to people using WiFi nodes etc).
In a seperate announcement Ofcom have also released details of the new UK numbering plan which calls for a non-geographic 03 range which will allow businesses to offer a UK number (not tied to a location), but it will be charged locally. 07 personal numbers are to be moved into a premium rate range and 07 will become mobile only.
Ofcom have announced a consultation on regulation of VoIP services. So far it looks promising, supporting new entrants rather than the traditional telcos with hints that it will allow easier porting of numbers to VoIP players.
VoIP providers are encouraged to support 999 services (known as E911 in the US), and there are seperate initiatives to allow for the look-up of IP addresses and convert these to locations (relatively easy for DSL and fixed lines, but much harder when it comes to people using WiFi nodes etc).
In a seperate announcement Ofcom have also released details of the new UK numbering plan which calls for a non-geographic 03 range which will allow businesses to offer a UK number (not tied to a location), but it will be charged locally. 07 personal numbers are to be moved into a premium rate range and 07 will become mobile only.
2006/02/23
Canon UK - Digital Compact Cameras
Canon UK - Digital Compact Cameras
Canon have introduced 3 new Digital Ixus cameras.
The new Ixus 800 IS which is due in April has a 6MP sensor, but 4x optical zoom and image stabilisation, but in the standard sized Ixus case. It also allows up to ISO800 speeds which is good for low light situations. It also uses a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen). It will cost £340 +VAT.
There's also a Ixus 60 and 65, bith sporting 6MP sensors and 3x optical zoom, again they support up to ISO800 sensitivity and widescreen. The 60 has a 2.5" screen and the 65 a 3" screen, they cost "55 and £299 +VAT respectivly.
At the high end there's now an EOS 30D which will replace the 20D, it offers a longer lasting shutter (100,000 operations) and a bigger LCD of 2.5", but retains the same 8MP sensor. It has a lag of only 0.15 seconds from hitting the shoot button. I can also shoot in two modes of 3 and 5fps, with the 1st allowing more pictures to be stored before it runs out of internal memory.
This must be the year of the 8MP sensor, so 12MP next year.
Canon have introduced 3 new Digital Ixus cameras.
The new Ixus 800 IS which is due in April has a 6MP sensor, but 4x optical zoom and image stabilisation, but in the standard sized Ixus case. It also allows up to ISO800 speeds which is good for low light situations. It also uses a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen). It will cost £340 +VAT.
There's also a Ixus 60 and 65, bith sporting 6MP sensors and 3x optical zoom, again they support up to ISO800 sensitivity and widescreen. The 60 has a 2.5" screen and the 65 a 3" screen, they cost "55 and £299 +VAT respectivly.
At the high end there's now an EOS 30D which will replace the 20D, it offers a longer lasting shutter (100,000 operations) and a bigger LCD of 2.5", but retains the same 8MP sensor. It has a lag of only 0.15 seconds from hitting the shoot button. I can also shoot in two modes of 3 and 5fps, with the 1st allowing more pictures to be stored before it runs out of internal memory.
This must be the year of the 8MP sensor, so 12MP next year.
Digit news - Canon launches ‘Pro’ A3+ photo printers
Digit news - Canon launches ‘Pro’ A3+ photo printers
Canon has launced two new printers the Pixma Pro9500 and Pro9000, both A3+ output and the 9500 supporting 10 inks and the 9000 8 inks.
They say they are suitable for printing saleable art straight from the printer.
They come with plug-ins for Photoshop CS and CS2 which allow for colour management.
The Pro9500 will retail for £550 +VAT and the 9000 for £425 +VAT, unfortunately they wont be available until the autumn of 2006.
10 inks might sound excessive, but the more colours available actually reduce the ink usage (on a per ink basis) and they generally work out more efficient than lesser numbers.
Though generic photo printers, they seem to be designed to work with Canon's EOS range of cameras, allowing decent photo printing.
Canon has launced two new printers the Pixma Pro9500 and Pro9000, both A3+ output and the 9500 supporting 10 inks and the 9000 8 inks.
They say they are suitable for printing saleable art straight from the printer.
They come with plug-ins for Photoshop CS and CS2 which allow for colour management.
The Pro9500 will retail for £550 +VAT and the 9000 for £425 +VAT, unfortunately they wont be available until the autumn of 2006.
10 inks might sound excessive, but the more colours available actually reduce the ink usage (on a per ink basis) and they generally work out more efficient than lesser numbers.
Though generic photo printers, they seem to be designed to work with Canon's EOS range of cameras, allowing decent photo printing.
2006/02/21
Digit news - Mac OS X worm surfaces
Digit news - Mac OS X worm surfaces:
This is the first real reported work for Macs (MacOS X but only PowerPC, it doesn't affect the new Intel variants). Known as Leap.A, it spreads as an attachment throuch iChat though it's been reported to spread through Bluetooth too.
Though it's meant to be pretty easy to remove, Symantec are recommending infected users re-install the OS.
There's meant to be a flaw in Safari too, but Apple as yet have not released any security fixes or patches.
This is the first real reported work for Macs (MacOS X but only PowerPC, it doesn't affect the new Intel variants). Known as Leap.A, it spreads as an attachment throuch iChat though it's been reported to spread through Bluetooth too.
Though it's meant to be pretty easy to remove, Symantec are recommending infected users re-install the OS.
There's meant to be a flaw in Safari too, but Apple as yet have not released any security fixes or patches.
2006/02/08
Skype and Google invest in universal Wi-Fi - Network IT Week
Skype and Google invest in universal Wi-Fi - Network IT Week
FON isn't new, it's just achieved noteriety by attracting the attention of big player investors such as Skype and Google.
This idea has been around for a while, there was a (now defunct) service called MyZone which tried this a few years ago in the UK. It never gained traction even though they'd supply the WiFi router and a revenue share. It also broke most ISP T&C's.
One thing FON will have to do is ensure they can authenticate users properly, or people sharing their broadband connections are likely to fall foul of the law if somebody accesses their connection to participate in some illegal activity. If they cant prove it was someone else then the authorities are likely to imply it was the broadband connection user which can lead to some serious headaches.
If it does work out and they can get the service going ensuring compliance with the law and ISP T&C's and it gains a market (which they might well do) then it could offer a valuable service, threatening organisations such as the Cloud or Openzone who have based a business on trying to proivde this kind of service.
If it all fails (and even it doesn't) it's a cheap way of obtaining a Linksys WRT54G WiFi router.
FON isn't new, it's just achieved noteriety by attracting the attention of big player investors such as Skype and Google.
This idea has been around for a while, there was a (now defunct) service called MyZone which tried this a few years ago in the UK. It never gained traction even though they'd supply the WiFi router and a revenue share. It also broke most ISP T&C's.
One thing FON will have to do is ensure they can authenticate users properly, or people sharing their broadband connections are likely to fall foul of the law if somebody accesses their connection to participate in some illegal activity. If they cant prove it was someone else then the authorities are likely to imply it was the broadband connection user which can lead to some serious headaches.
If it does work out and they can get the service going ensuring compliance with the law and ISP T&C's and it gains a market (which they might well do) then it could offer a valuable service, threatening organisations such as the Cloud or Openzone who have based a business on trying to proivde this kind of service.
If it all fails (and even it doesn't) it's a cheap way of obtaining a Linksys WRT54G WiFi router.
2006/01/30
Digit LIVE news - Sony to sell hard disk camcorder
Digit LIVE news - Sony to sell hard disk camcorder
Sony's new DCR-SR100 will cost $1,100 in the US when introduced in March. It has a 30GB hard disk and stores in MPEG2 format.
All cameras will eventually use hard disks, especially with disk capacities increasing and the availability of decent editing packages for both PC and Mac users.
There are 3 modes, HP, SP and LP storing at 9, 6 and 3Mbps respectively allowing between 7hrs 20 mins and 20hrs 50 mins of recording time.
UK availability hasn't been announced.
Sony's new DCR-SR100 will cost $1,100 in the US when introduced in March. It has a 30GB hard disk and stores in MPEG2 format.
All cameras will eventually use hard disks, especially with disk capacities increasing and the availability of decent editing packages for both PC and Mac users.
There are 3 modes, HP, SP and LP storing at 9, 6 and 3Mbps respectively allowing between 7hrs 20 mins and 20hrs 50 mins of recording time.
UK availability hasn't been announced.
Manga Studio 3.0 Debut Full Version - e frontier Global
Manga Studio 3.0 Debut Full Version - e frontier Global
Want to be a Manga Artist, now's your chance with the release of Manga Studio. There are two versions, Debut for 41.07 Euros and EX for 246.46 Euros, the EX version has more features and templates.
Budding comic authors get going.
Want to be a Manga Artist, now's your chance with the release of Manga Studio. There are two versions, Debut for 41.07 Euros and EX for 246.46 Euros, the EX version has more features and templates.
Budding comic authors get going.
Digit LIVE news - Sony puts down Aibo robot dog
Digit LIVE news - Sony puts down Aibo robot dog
Sony is killing of it's AIBO range as well as the future homonoid QRIO.
Though they were expensive toys, it's a shame that economic pressure has forced them to concentrate on more mainstream products.
It just shows that big gants are feeling the pressure.
Sony is killing of it's AIBO range as well as the future homonoid QRIO.
Though they were expensive toys, it's a shame that economic pressure has forced them to concentrate on more mainstream products.
It just shows that big gants are feeling the pressure.
Ofcom Website | Report on the implementation of BT's Undertakings
Ofcom Website | Report on the implementation of BT's Undertakings
Ofcom have released their second in a series of quarterly reports on BT's progress towards implementions of its Undertakings.
It only contains up to date info and historical information should be taken from previous reports.
Ofcom will in February publish a statement on how it intends t evaluate the outcome of the Undertakings and shortly and the Stratgic Review of Telecommunications.
Any statements within the reports may not be definative as Ofcom needs to utilise the full process of enforcement action to put them into context.
Ofcom have released their second in a series of quarterly reports on BT's progress towards implementions of its Undertakings.
It only contains up to date info and historical information should be taken from previous reports.
Ofcom will in February publish a statement on how it intends t evaluate the outcome of the Undertakings and shortly and the Stratgic Review of Telecommunications.
Any statements within the reports may not be definative as Ofcom needs to utilise the full process of enforcement action to put them into context.
2006/01/25
IEEE gives up on UWB standard - Network IT Week
IEEE gives up on UWB standard - Network IT Week
The IEEE standards group known as 802.15.3a Task Group (TG3a) held two votes, one to give up trying find a standard and the second to dissolve itself. They've left it to industry to decide which way to go.
Initially there were 23 competing standards which was reduced to two, MultiBand Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing UWB, supported by the WiMedia Alliance, and Direct Sequence-UWB, supported by the UWB Forum.
Unfortunately the two standards are completely non-interoperable.
This means that each group will push their own specifications and manufacturers in the groups will produce hardware based on that standard.
It doesn't mean UWB wont succeed, just that they'll be a VHS/Betamax war for a while.
The IEEE standards group known as 802.15.3a Task Group (TG3a) held two votes, one to give up trying find a standard and the second to dissolve itself. They've left it to industry to decide which way to go.
Initially there were 23 competing standards which was reduced to two, MultiBand Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing UWB, supported by the WiMedia Alliance, and Direct Sequence-UWB, supported by the UWB Forum.
Unfortunately the two standards are completely non-interoperable.
This means that each group will push their own specifications and manufacturers in the groups will produce hardware based on that standard.
It doesn't mean UWB wont succeed, just that they'll be a VHS/Betamax war for a while.
2006/01/24
RIM loses High Court Appeal
RIM the maker of the ubiquotous Blackberry devices has lost an appeal to overturn the injunction that could take Blackberries off the air.
If the injunction is upheld (RIM are alleged to have infringed patents) then they could be forced to suspend their service, so turning millions of devices into expensive bits of plastic.
They can still be used as phones, but all the Email/Calendaring/etc functionality will go.
Something is bound to give and it's probably just a matter of money, but 3m Blackberry users wont be happy if it doesn't.
Microsoft and others who are in the push Email market must be chomping at bit to woo customers away from RIM.
If the injunction is upheld (RIM are alleged to have infringed patents) then they could be forced to suspend their service, so turning millions of devices into expensive bits of plastic.
They can still be used as phones, but all the Email/Calendaring/etc functionality will go.
Something is bound to give and it's probably just a matter of money, but 3m Blackberry users wont be happy if it doesn't.
Microsoft and others who are in the push Email market must be chomping at bit to woo customers away from RIM.
Ofcom Website | Using your mobile abroad
Ofcom Website | Using your mobile abroad
Ofcom have produced their consumer guide to using your mobile abroad. It shows roaming tarriffs and various examples on various networks, even recommending people buy a local SIM and get their phone unlocked.
Hopefully this will encourage operators to standardise roaming and make it simple and not charge huge premiums.
The document covers voice tarrifs, but data tarrifs are even worse.
Ofcom have produced their consumer guide to using your mobile abroad. It shows roaming tarriffs and various examples on various networks, even recommending people buy a local SIM and get their phone unlocked.
Hopefully this will encourage operators to standardise roaming and make it simple and not charge huge premiums.
The document covers voice tarrifs, but data tarrifs are even worse.
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