I recently discussed a useful utility for your toolbox, FreeBASIC, a BASIC compiler that is very good and, as the name implies, free.
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I recently discussed a useful utility for your toolbox, FreeBASIC, a BASIC compiler that is very good and, as the name implies, free.
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When it comes to eBooks, Amazon's Kindle seems to get all the attention--especially after Oprah Winfrey deemed the Kindle one of her favorite things. In an effort to get more of the spotlight on its own Reader Digital Book, Sony has partnered with Google to offer Reader users free access to more than half a million public domain titles via Google Book Search. Read more
While in Washington last week, I had a few free minutes and stopped by the amazing Fashion Center Mall at Pentagon City. Let me tell you; no recession there! The place was mobbed with people carrying packages. It looked like Christmas, but, no, it was just Thursday. Anyway, I stopped by the Sony store to try the new VAIO (I never liked that acronym) P Series notebook. Read more
When Apple announced at Macworld that the entire iTunes music store would soon be going DRM free, music lovers rejoiced. The drama leading up to that announcement, however, was anything but joyous. Read more
From IDG News Service:
With the help of about 200 Sony Playstations, an international team of security researchers have devised a way to undermine the algorithms used to protect secure Web sites and launch a nearly undetectable phishing attack.
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It really isn't a big enough penalty and the company admitted no guilt but Sony BMG Music Entertainment today agreed to pay $1 million as part of a settlement to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that it knowingly violated the privacy rights of over 30,000 underage children.
Specifically the FTC said the company violated the agency's Children's Online Privacy Read more
Internet radio is big. Pretty much every "terrestrial" radio station of any size now streams live and many, such as KCRW in Santa Monica (one of my all-time-favorite radio stations), offer dedicated news and specialized music streams. And then there's the huge number of Internet-only stations such as soma fm with its 14 commercial-free, advertiser-supported, incredibly groovy channels (a big high five to DJ Rusty Hodge).
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A few weeks ago I discussed the Flip Mino, a miniature digital movie camera that quite impressed me.
Well, the bar has been raised. Kodak sent me its latest digicam, the Zi6 Pocket Video Camera. As much as I liked the Mino, I think this product is a better choice.
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The usual rubbish. "Pay, er, PlayNow Plus is completely unlimited, covers all major labels, no DRM, get all you want any time you like! This is the biggest deal in mobile music ever! Of course, it'll only play for the duration of the contract, all songs then disappearing. Well, just a little DRM. Honest." Perhaps subscriptions will make big bucks this time, since they didn't every other time.
Seriously, I hate Microsoft enough as it is (Sony too, but not to the same degree). I have all 3 platforms, and I play with certain friends on each console (unfortunately, not everybody owns more than one). Like November of '07, when Sony paid Epic (maybe it was Midway) for a timed exclusive for Unreal Tournament; Sure, I bought it for my PS3, at the time, but that's one of the games I would have bought for my 360 since my friends who own a PS3 aren't the biggest FPS fans (I'm not implying this is the norm, I'm only referring to MY friends/family). Now UT3 is being released on 360 next month, all my friends who've played it at my place are going to buy it for their 360, and if I want to play with them I'll have to buy another copy for a different platform. Read more
Sony probably ships their hardware with their own pre-installed rootkits (can't let users pirate Sony Music, don't ya know!). I wonder how much Sony would charge to pre-delete that rootkit? Of course, they'd probably take your money and still leave the rootkit installed!
Sony is on my permanent "do not buy" list after they pulled that surreptitious rootkit stunt a couple of years ago.
-- chicopanther
Buys a laptop from SONY anyway? They can't make a computer to save their lives.
A/V stuff they manufacture is GREAT, but their computers are sorely lacking!
Sony has developed a working prototype hand-powered digital still camera. The camera is the first working concept in its Odo design program that seeks ideas for products for use in areas where the electricity supply is weak or non-existent.
Sony's new Alpha A300 (10 megapixels) and the A350 (14 megapixels) cameras come with live view and 2.7" display:
Before I left for this week's Consumer Electronics Show, I tried to quickly install Sony’s LocationFree LF-V30 Base Station (about $250), which acts like a Sling Media Slingbox, in that you can go across the Internet to view TV content live or stored on a digital video recorder. But I ran into some problems with the device, the main one being that my wireless network is only an 802.11g network. Read more
The scoop: Pleo, by Ugobe, about $350
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Whenever Intel launches a new set of processors, we see a bevy of product announcement from notebook and PC manufacturers. Today is no different, as Intel announced faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, as well as its latest Centrino processor technology for notebooks.
Intel says more than 230 designs from PC manufacturers, resellers and integrators will take advantage of the new technologies, ranging from large, wide-screen notebook models to small energy-saving portable notebooks.
Highlights of the Intel announcements include improved performance when running multiple applications simultaneously, such as downloading videos while doing a virus scan (like you do); and power management features that aim to make batteries run longer than the Boston-to-Las Vegas flight. The Mobile Intel 965 Express chipset family includes Intel Clear Video Technology that enables high-definition video, as well as the Intel TV Wizard, which lets users connect HD-enabled TVs to a PC. For wireless, Intel said its Next-Gen Wireless-N technology provides 802.11a/g/n (remember kids, 802.11n isn't fully baked yet) capabilities. An optional feature, Intel Turbo Memory, can access "frequently used software applications twice as fast," which also saves on power consumption and increases battery life, Intel says. Read more
SanDisk and Sony today said they have expanded the Memory Stick Pro format with the development of the Memory Stick Pro-HG. The new format aims to be three times faster than Memory Stick Pro media, with a theoretical maximum of 480Mbps (or 60MB/sec), the companies said. The increased speed allows several gigabytes of data to be more quickly transferred to or from a portable device.
The new format uses an 8-bit parallel interface as well as a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface, SanDisk says. In addition, the interface clock frequency has increased from 40MHz to 60MHz – this allows for a minimum write speed at 8-bit parallel transfer of 120Mbps (or 15MB/sec). The format would support a maximum capacity of 32GB, although the final product lineup with capacities has not been determined.
SanDisk says the new format will support the Memory Stick Pro format, which means devices that support Memory Stick Pro will be able to work with the new HG cards (although at the lower speeds). Licensing for Memory Stick Pro-HG host devices is expected to start in January 2007, SanDisk says. Cards with the new format will be available in 2007, the companies added.
More details on the format are available at the Memory Stick Web site.
This week's Cool Tools is so hot - it features the new Sony PS3 - we just had to post it to YouTube for all the world to see:
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