BUSINESS ZONE: October 2009

Ideum's 100-inch MT-50 multitouch table supports 50 simultaneous touch points

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi Saturday, October 31, 2009

Ideum creates an ultra-wide screen multitouch table exhibit exploring the electromagnetic spectrum

The currently unnamed device--which is being called an "ultra-wide screen multitouch table exhibit exploring the electromagnetic spectrum"--is based around the company's MT-50 multi-touch, multi-user table. Clearly this one is designed to be used by businesses more so than actual consumers (unless you've got a 20,000 square foot home just dying for a few new accessories), with a 16x5 aspect ratio and a display resolution of 2304x800. All told, it's a 100" surface with an 86" viewable area, making it one of the largest contiguous multi-touch tables ever made.

It was developed for the Space Chase Gallery at the Adventure Science Center, and it'll be a part of an exhibit that opens up to the public on November 7th. The table can support over 50 simultaneous touch points, enabling a whole bunch of onlookers to touch and interact with it at once. So much for waiting in line for your turn, huh? The software on it was based around Adobe's Flash and the company's own GestureWorks framework, the latter of which will be on sale to other devs in early December. There's no word on just how expensive this thing would be for the average joe, but we're guessing it'd be way out of most budgets, anyway

PICTURE GALLERY:

ext photo

SOURCE: hothardware & engadget

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 260 SoC

Gigabyte is no stranger to the world of high performance computer parts. Early this year I reviewed the first motherboard in their latest line of “Ultra Durable” lineup, the GA-EP45-UD3P. With an additional 2 ounces of copper in the PCB, we found the board to be one of the best solutions at any price for Intel Core Processors. Today we get our first ever look at a video card from Gigabyte, the GTX 260 Core 216 Super Overclock. That’s a mouthful, but I suppose we have NVIDIA to thank for that! This video card from Gigabyte features the wildly popular GTX 260 core 216 GPU, but does fine screening of the cores to get the very best. These top bin chips are then mated to a PCB that features an extra 2 ounces of copper on the PCB, along with high quality voltage regulators, to bring you the highest clocked GTX 260 core 216 of any manufacturer. The standard core clock of 576MHz has been bumped up to 680MHz, which is an 18% frequency boost over the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 reference design. With clock speeds like this you can expect 3% better performance than standard GTX 275 graphics cards!

Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 Super Overclock

Needless to say, this card is part of their Ultra Durable lineup and promises to be amongst the very best values in graphics cards today. At a retail price of $195.50 it is not the least expensive GTX 260 core 216 you can buy, but is without a doubt the highest performing. As you can see in the photo above, the card itself looks like any other GTX 260.

Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 Super Overclock

Of course the biggest differences between this card and a reference card are the extra copper in the PCB and the screened chip: two things that do not really lend themselves to being shown off. Our card still uses a pair of 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The recommended power supply is 550 Watts or greater with 2x6-pin PCIe power cables.

Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 Super Overclock

Out back we find a nice surprise in the types of connectors available. HDMI, VGA, and dual-link DVI round out the connectivity. I personally like the assortment as most gamers have just one monitor, and this arrangement should suit all but Display Port owners.

Gigabyte GTX 260 Core 216 Super Overclock

On the backside of the card we see a blue PCB, which has become a mainstay of the Ultra Durable line of products. At the top of the card you can see the pair of SLI connectors for running up to three of these cards if the rest of your system is up to snuff.

SOURCE: legitreviews.com

Overclocking The MSI 790FX-GD70 Motherboard Revisited

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi

Overclocking Revisited

When we first looked at the overclocking potential of the MSI 790FX-GD70 motherboard , we ended up with some pretty sad results. Take a look...

Yeah, we blew it up! We were very disappointed with that, and have patiently waited for MSI to get us a replacement board. We received it, and the new board has the following chips on it:

So with the new board in hand, we set out to see if we would get some better results... or any results for that matter! And we did. Take a look!

First, we overclocked with the default multiplier and raised the bus speed to get the highest speed out of the CPU that we could. We were able to reach a bus speed of 255 MHz, which gave us a CPU speed of 3.57 GHz. We raised the vCore up to 1.45v to see if we could get anything more out of it and tweaked some other voltages, but none of them had any effect on what we were able to get.

We also overclocked by lowering the CPU multiplier to go for the highest bus speed we could get. Our max that we were able to get when it comes to bus speed was 272 MHz. Neither of these overclocks were record breakers for us, but it was nice to be able to finally overclock the board to get some results to post for you. MSI seems to have updated the MSI 790FX-GD70 motherboard and the overclocking potential is much better now. If you happen to be searching for an AMD Athlon II or Phenom II processor and will be overclocking give this $163.99 motherboard a closer look!
SOURCE: legitreviews.com

Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth Headset Review

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi

Plantronics Discovery 975 - The New Bluetooth Flagship!

Plantronics Discovery 975

It seems like we just looked at an incredible Plantronics Discovery headset not too long ago, but there is now a new model, the Discovery 975. When we saw the Discovery 925 last year, we thought that a Bluetooth headset package couldn’t get much better. Not only did it have superb sound, but it came with amenities and features that no other headset on the market had. Carrying an MSRP of $150 (or around $80 street), the headset was a tad bit pricey, but we thought that the money spent for comfort and functionality was well worth it.

When we saw that Plantronics announce the upgrade to the Discovery 925, we wondered out loud what they could possibly do to make it better. Well, the engineers at Plantronics are not resting on their past success and have introduced an update to one of our favorite Bluetooth headsets. The Discovery 975 features dual microphones to take advantage of the Plantronics' 2^nd-generation Digital Signal Processor called AudioIQ². AudioIQ² helps isolate the user’s voice and cancels out background noise.

Plantronics Discovery 975

The Discovery 975 also comes with an improved rechargeable carrying case which more than doubles the amount of talk time you get with the Discovery 975. Not only does it charge the headset, but it serves as a great protective case so you can toss it in a backpack or bag when you aren’t using the headset. The new case has an LCD screen that displays battery and charge levels of the headset and case.

Plantronics Discovery 975

Featured Specifications:

Talk time: Up to 5 hours
Standby time: Up to 1 week
Battery type: 85mA Li-ion polymer rechargeable
Charge connectors: AC/DC 100–240V input; 350 mA output
Charge time: 1.5 hours for full charge
Headset controls: Power on/off, Volume up/down, Call answer/end, Mute on/off, Quick battery check, Last number redial, Call reject, Voice-activated dialing
Bluetooth wireless: Version 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)+ eSCO, Technology Supports Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) 3
Profiles: Hands-free v1.5 (HFP), Headset v1.1 (HSP)
Radio chipset: CSR BlueCore5-Multimedia Flash
Compliance: BQB, C-tick, CE, ETL, FCC, IC, RoHS/WEEE
Range: Up to 33 ft./10.06 m
Weight: 0.28 oz./8 g

SOURCE: legitreviews.com

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi Friday, October 30, 2009

Dell Latitude XT2 XFR: World’s First Rugged Multi-Touch Tablet

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi

Dell LatitudeXT2 XFR

Dell recently announced their new 12.1-inchLatitude XT2 XFR Tablet PC which is the world’s first rugged tablet with a multi-touch display. The system is designed for use in the field by the military, police, security, factory fulfillment, healthcare and delivery services where maximum-durability is crucial.

The XT2 XFR convertible tablet adds to Dell’s Rugged Mobility Solution range - which includes the ultra-tough Latitude E6400XFR we’ve been in awe of previously - featuring compression-sealed I/O doors, LCD and keyboard for resistance to moisture and dust at a high IP54 level of Ingress Protection.The "5"means that the machine is most probably protected against dust,and the "4" means it's also protected against water spray from all directions, with limited ingress permitted.

Featuring an impact-resistant, sunlight-viewable 12.1-inch diagonally wide 16:10 Aspect ratio with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution & capacitive multi-touch display or alternatively a resistive touchscreen with following features

Scroll by placing two fingers onto the screen and then drag them left, right, up or down.

Rotate by placing one finger and then moving another finger around it.

Zoom by touching the screen with two fingers and then pinching them or moving them apart.

Double-tap with two fingers can generate a user-defined command to the computer.

Unlike the the majority of pen input devices that uses Wacom digitizer,Dell chose N-trig DuoSence technology that provides both pen and capacitive touch. Why both? because there are applications where touch is the best input method, and other applications where the precision and cursor tracking of an active digitizer works best. The XT2 runs on an Intel Core 2 Duo ultra SU9600, a speedy and low voltage processor that's excellent for this type of machine with Intel GMA 4500 graphics, up to 5GB of DDR3 memory and your choice of 64GB/128GB SSD(Solid State Disk) and shock-mounted 5400rpm160GB HDD storage options. The Latitude XT2 also includes a fingerprint reader, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi a/g/n, mobile broadband options, 3 x USB ports (one shared with eSATA), Firewire, Gigabit Ethernet, a gesture enabled trackpad , a digitizer pen, point stick, stereo headphone jack and either 4 or 6-cell primary batteries or a mega 9-cell slice.Being able to withstand drops from up to 3 feet and temps from minus 10 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the XT2 can take a lot of abuse (video below). Surprisingly though, it’s also the thinnest 12.1-inch rugged convertible tablet around - measuring just 1.5 inches (38.1mm) thick and with a weight of only 5.4-pounds.

Shipping with Windows XP by default, (Pro and Ultimate versions of windows7 look like they’re on the way) the Latitude XT2 XFR rugged multi-touch tablet is available now direct from Dell starting at $3,599.

Its detailed Specifications is as

Specifications

Added/updated	Added 10/2009
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo ULV SU9600
CPU Speed	1.6g GHz, 800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 cache
Graphics	Intel GMA 4500MHD
OS	Windows 7 or Windows Vista
Standard/Max RAM	1-5MB DDR3 1066MHz
Disk/drive	160GB 5400RPM SATA HD, shock-mounted and removable; optional 64 or 128GB SSD
Optical drive	External E-Module with 8X DVD, 24X CD-RW/DVD, or 8X DVD-RW
Card slots	1 ExpressCard 54 (34 and 54mm support, 1 SD Card
Display type	Outdoor-readable DLV
Display size/res	12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800)
Digitizer/pens	Dual system: N-Trig multi-touch finger/capacity touch screen and electromagnetic digitizer
Keyboard/scale	Full-size with dual pointing rubber domes and scroll wheel on display
Housing	Magnesium alloy
Operating Temp	-10 to 140 Fahrenheit
Sealing	IP54
Shock	3-foot drop
Size (WxHxD)	12.1 x 9.4 x 1.5
Weight	5.4 pounds
Power	4-cell 28 watt-hour Li-Ion or 6-cell 11.1V/3,780mAH 42 watt-hour Li-Ion; optional 45 watt-hour battery slice
Interface	IEEE1394 FireWire, 2 USB 2.0, USB 2.0/eSATA, VGA, RJ-45 (gigabit), Audio; optional Fingerprint Biometrics Reader
Wireless	802.11a/g/n via Dell (Dell Wireless 1397 or 1510) or Intel (WiFi Link 5100 or 5300) modules, Bluetooth, broadband (AT&T HSPA with GPS or Gobi with AT&T, Sprint or Verizon); optional Smart Card
List price	Estimated street price US$3,599

PICTURE GALLERY:

SOURCE:markstechnologynews & dell

Windows XP Phone: A First Look at its Touchscreen Interface

Posted by Syed Ahmed Raza Zaidi

xpPHONE

Remember the XP Phone? The 4.8-inch touchscreen slider has netbook-like specs, some sort of "AMD Super Mobile CPU", and runs a full-blown copy of Windows XP. They've just sent through shots of its phone-function interface…and they actually look pretty good. The main phone screen (pictured below) has call-centric icons, plus shortcuts to regular Windows apps that can be categorized into icon-based tabs on the left.

The interface can also switch between landscape and portrait views, and there's a unified look to it all. I'd like to see some extra flair, though...like photos of contacts for incoming and outgoing calls. It's such an obvious thing, so hopefully that'll show up by the time the phone arrives. The XP Phone's maker—China's In Technology Group aka ITG—also says it will support direct access to the Outlook address book for contact management.

Features: A detailed look on the main features of xpPhone is as

Able to run the Windows XP operating system: With the patented technology of Free Core Series, xpPhone can run the Windows XP operating system. You can install every kind of software you want on this global biggest application software platform, so as to facilitate your work, life, entertainment and study etc, and save your trouble to carry a laptop computer weighing over 1 kg!.
Support the global three major 3G standards: A common mobile phone only supports GSM, CDMA or TD but XPPhone is one with full compatibility. xpPhone supports HSDPA,HSUPA and EVDO. You can connect to the internet and make calls anytime anywhere with it. It can achieve seamless upgrade to support WiMax and the 4G internet standard-LTE.
Support MSN/Skype/QQ free video calls: A common mobile phone only supports voice calls with out MSN video call function but with XPPhone u can do it!. xpPhone not only has the common call and message sending/receiving functions, but also enables video chat and VoIP service, which greatly saves your communication fee! Supporting common call, internet call and MSN/SKYPE/QQ chat.
Support various stock/futures/foreign exchange software: Even Smartphone can only support stock software from 4-5 securities companies, the function of F5 and F10 can not be used and many indexes can not be viewed, resulting in stock loss!With xpPhone, you can do it!. xpPhone supports various stock/futures/foreign exchange software. You can enjoy the same operating experience from it like a desktop computer. It enables you to invest in stocks, gold and foreign exchanges anytime anywhere! With it, you will not miss any opportunity of making a fortune!
Support numerous external devices: With the patented technology of Free Core Series, xpPhone is equipped with VGA and USB interfaces for expansion purpose. It can connect to projector, scanner, printer, mouse, keyboard, television, monitor, U disk, portable hard disk and digital camera etc like a desktop computer!
Support GPS real-time traffic: With xpPhone makes use of GPS real-time traffic system to display latest traffic information, which not only saves time, but also saves u from traffic jamming problems as well as reduces fuel consumption for you. With xpPhone, you will always get ahead of others and seize new opportunities!
Support more than 500 kinds of video/audio formats: xpPhone supports more than 500 video/audio formats, and you can watch your favorite movies and listen to your favorite songs at your will!
Support all internet banking and third-party payment platforms, such as Alipay: xpPhone is compatible with various internet payment platforms, which not only supports internet banking service offered by Citibank, HSBC, Bank of America, etc, but also supports various third-party payment platforms, such as Alipay, 99Bill and TenPay etc. It also supports USB shield, making your payment easy, safe, fast and convenient!
Support direct access to Outlook address book (synchronization free): xpPhone supports direct access to Outlook address book, so there is no need for you to update the address book, inbox, calendars and tasks etc to your desktop synchronously. Meanwhile, its address book can be output in standard office format for your convenient saving. In this way, you can find the contact information of your friends easily!

PICTURES GALLERY:

SOURCE: gizmodo & xpphone

BUSINESS ZONE