Technology Blog

Razer has finally entered the iPod accessory market with a release date and price for their Razer Pro Type Keyboard. which will be out in mid-April for $130 (Rs.5850).

As expected of Razer, the keyboard features media buttons, 10 programmable keys with backlights, two USB ports and a line-out jack and 10 customizable profiles for setup switching. So if Razer fans are hungry for something new, this is it (Though we have no info on whether it will come to India).

Labels: apple ipod, Evangelion NERV mouse, keyboard, razer

Posted by Aadi at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

For a city which almost tom toms its preoccupation with freedom - what with the Statue of Liberty standing tall in its midst, the Big Apple seems bent on 'not practicing' what it preaches.

If one Carl Kruger, New York State Senator, has his way against what he dubs, 'iPod oblivion', or the self induced stupor brought on by iPods and other such devices, there will soon be legislation banning the use of portable electronic gadgets such as iPods, PDAs, gaming devices, Blackberry devices, and cell phones while crossing the mean streets of New York, Albany, or Buffalo.

What's more, offenders will be slapped with a $100 fine, plus a criminal court summons.

Kruger, in his defense, says, the government has an obligation to protect its citizens, and that electronic gadgetry has reached a point where its creating a major public safety crisis for the government.

Kruger says that while he is trying not to intrude upon personal freedoms of New Yorkers, it becomes difficult to leave the problem alone when pedestrians tune-in to an iPod/Blackberry/cell phone/video game only to walk blythely into a speeding bus or moving automobile to meet with near certain death.

Kruger does not have exact statistics to support his claim, but he cites three accidental deaths of pedestrians in Brooklyn since September 2006, all of whom stepped into traffic even as they were distracted by some electronic gadget or the other. In one such case, Kruger remembers, bystanders kept screaming, "watch out", but in vain.

So, while Kruger hammers away at obliterating 'iPod oblivion', New Yorkers have but one option - to use their freedom (read: iPod) in a more responsible manner!

Labels: apple ipod, iPod, iPod Video, new york

Posted by Aadi at 6:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yeah this news is true, music and sound king Sony was yet to launch its iPod however they are now in the market. Sony will offer the product at the distinguished price of $ 250. further details we are waiting for, but one thing is sure now we can have good iPods at a better prices. Lets hope for the good things. The configuration is simple and the iPods have the blessing of iPod king Apple, this version comes from Electronasia.

Well one thing is sure, they want to close the time of Walkman and CD ‘s , and want a transition phase to start where more and more people will come to iPod and have better sale in the market. The big guns has all right to start the transition phase, lets see how the things gonna react.

Labels: apple ipod, gadgets, iPod, music, technology

Posted by Aadi at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

Apple's iPhone is unlikely to become a gateway device for mobile malware, Symantec says. The handset will run an operating system based on Mac OS X, thus opening the possibility that the small number of viruse targeting the platform might be re-purposed to infect iPhone.

However, Concerns about possible mobile infestation of iPhones are "premature" at worst according to Eric Chien, an anti-virus researcher at Symantec.

For one thing the iPhone will be locked down so that consumers will be able to install only selected third party applications. While not dismissing the possibility that iPhone-specific malware could be created, Chien reckons it won't reach the levels currently seen with smart phones running Symbian OS. Nonetheless, vulnerabilities in Mac OS X could create future problems, he warns.

"The likely vectors of infection will be via any vulnerabilities on the device that allow code to execute. Unfortunately, just a single malware writer taking advantage of a single vulnerability could cause havoc, but for the most part such attacks will be limited," he writes.

"If the iPhone remains a closed device with not even Java applications or widgets let alone native code, the risk of infection becomes orders of magnitude lower."

Even though the iPhone is "locked down", interest in the technology is likely to spur the creation of home-brew hacks. The motives of these users is simply to run their own code on the phone, but the techniques pioneered by tech enthusiasts might be re-purposed for more malign purposes.

"Once they install and execute unknown code on their device, there is always a chance of executing malicious code. This scenario happened in the past with the Sony PSP and PSPBrick Trojan," Chien notes.

A mono-culture of devices running the same OS, knowledge among hackers about how software on the device works have been factors driving the creation of numerous items of malware on Windows PCs and the reason why mobile malware, despite considerable hype from some quarters, has been mercifully rare. Chien concludes that this is unlikely to change much with the arrival of iPhones later this year.

His analysis is published on Symantec's security blog here. ®

Labels: apple iPhone, apple ipod, handset, iPhone

Posted by Aadi at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

There is a lot of hype around the release of the Zune player. Microsoft claims that their portable media device is a real iPod killer. But the reality may not be that easy. There are 3 reasons though that makes us believe that the Zune can succeed. Two of them are already announced but the third one is more on our wish list for now.

Wi-fi connectivity

With the introduction of the zune in November, Microsoft brings the portable media players on new grounds. The Wi-fi feature will enable users to socialize within their music universe. The social web as took all the attention on the internet in the last year or so. With the Zune, a part of that trend becomes “portable”. Exchanging a song or a video may look boring but doing it with the Zune and at the speed of a Wi-fi network will be very attractive for young people. On a negative note, the drm feature (Digital Rights Management) could eventually generate frustration among Zune users.

Integrated Marketplace

The subscription base Zune Marketplace could be a real skyrocket feature. Being able to access an online database of new music without having to download it first to your computer will make the Zune a real and first “portable media device”. The other important aspect of the Zune Marketplace is the ability to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. If we can access the Zune Marketplace thru a public wi-fi network it will be a real technology and music orgasm!

VoIp Phone

This feature as not been announced by Microsoft (yet!) but it would be like a cherry on a sundae to have it. Imagine if your Wi-fi portable device could connect thru internet to access a VoIp network. This feature should not be very difficult to develop because most of the required hardware is already there (besides the microphone). A VoIp phone would be a lot easier to release compared to a real mobile phone which requires a lot more integration work and approvals.

Labels: apple ipod, black zune, microsoft zune, zune

Posted by Aadi at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments

What is so great about DVDs?

DVD technology is the latest addition to the world of technological innovations. Since the surge in popularity of the turntable discs in the 1950s, technology has reinvented itself almost every decade with the release of the Betamax tapes, VHS tapes, audio cds, laser discs, video cds, mini discs and various types of data storing accessories. The DVD is the latest of these data-storing accessories. Employing Dolby Stereo sound and high-end picture image, viewers and listeners can be assured of the best quality possible in audio and visual technology.

The Features of the Apple iPod

The iPod has always been an unrivaled favorite, not only in design but also in its features. Below are some of the features users love most about their iPod:

1. The iPod users can enjoy a longer period of music and videos thanks to the long battery life of the iPod. The battery life of an iPod can be expected to last about 12 hours.

2. Users can also experience an easier time tuning to music because the iPod features an easy set up for music playlists.

3. The click wheel allows users to easily maneuver through the iPod's controls.

4. The shuffle function provides users with a random feel to their playlists.

5. The iPod can store and record about five thousand songs.

6. The iPod can also store data on the forty-gigabyte hard drive. The storage of up to five thousand songs is not the end of it.

With these basic features, the iPod has increased its sales and is now the uncontested number one product among the MP3-playing devices. Apple, however, did not stop with having the highest sales in the industry. Apple also began introducing more accessories and more add-ons that eventually gave the iPod an edge over other multimedia players. A feature, however, that Apple missed is the DVD-to-iPod software.

iPod Hacks

For some time, iPod geeks and fanatics have introduced many modifications to the iPod. These modifications aim to help the iPod users personalize their iPods. These iPods have been modified by geeks by using iPod hacks. Hackers are determined to give more power to the user in terms of customization and personalization of their iPods.

What are iPod hacks?

IPod hacks are either software or hardware that enhances the appearance, capabilities or features of an iPod. In short, iPod hacks are anything that makes modifications to the iPod. One such available iPod hack is a software that provides DVD-to-iPod capability to the standard iPod. Numerous firmware on the Internet offer free software of DVD-to-iPod technology.

DVD-to-iPod Software

DVD to iPod is a feature that almost every iPod user wishes to have. Unfortunately, the iPod did not provide it as a standard feature. The iPod Media Studio software provides DVD-to-iPod capabilities to the iPod. It is the fastest software available for DVD-to-iPod transfers or to move DVDs directly onto your video iPod. By using this DVD-to-iPod software, you can enjoy DVD movies on the stunning 2.5 inches LCD iPod screen. It is currently 400 percent faster than any other DVD-to-iPod software on the market.

Imagine that anyone can convert any movie from DVD (DVD to iPod) and any other recorded material from television, or even movies that you recorded yourself using a DV-camcorder. Even a movie record from a digital still camera is imaginable for conversion.

With just two mouse clicks using the DVD-to-iPod software, you can convert the movies into a file that is optimized for playback. It does require optimization from the iPod's built-in video player.

Now anyone can enjoy movies with a surprisingly sharp and clear picture with additional quality stereo CD sound. In addition, new Cyberspeed technology will allow users up to 400 percent faster conversion from DVD to iPod. In fact, in a span of less than 45 minutes, users can upload a complete movie on DVD onto their iPods.

This DVD-to-iPod software can also automatically zoom or widescreen movies with the ratio 16:9 able to fit on the 4:3 iPod screen. The user also has a manual option to turn off this feature.

Labels: apple ipod, dvd, hacks, iPod, iPod Video, software

Posted by Aadi at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments