Cisco (NSDQ: CSCO) on Wednesday introduced a wireless device that streams high-definition video stored in a PC or Mac to a TV.
The FlipShare TV is meant as a companion device to the Flip mini-camcorder Cisco acquired in March. The new set-top box connects to the TV via an HDMI cable that comes with the device, along with an oversized USB dongle that plugs into a USB port on a PC or Mac
The dongle and console are pre-configured to communicate wirelessly, so video stored on the computer can be streamed to the TV. The FlipShare TV includes a remote control for clicking through video via the device's TV interface. The new product is designed to work with FlipShare 5.0, the latest software for the Flip camcorder. The software makes it possible to organize, edit, and share video online, such as on YouTube.
In addition, FlipShare 5.0 makes it possible to upload video to Flip's FlipChannel service, which enables people to share video over the Internet by setting up channels that can be accessed by selected friends and family. In order for FlipShare TV to show online video, the content must first be streamed to the home computer.
FlipShare TV communicates over a peer-to-peer 802.11n Wi-Fi connection. The set-top console is 4.6 x 4.6 x 1.3 inches and weighs 4.6 ounces. The manufacturer suggested retail price is $150.
The device features a USB connector that "flips" out from the camera for easy insertion in PCs and other devices. Flip Video's FlipShare software facilitates use of the camera for posting videos to YouTube and other Web sites.
SSD's Versus Traditional Hard Discs - What Are The Main Differences?
SSD or 'Solid State Drives' are an increasing term we hear these days, and by the looks of it this technology may just be getting more popular.
SSD or Solid State Drive is the alternative for the more traditional hard drives found on laptops and pc's, and there are a number of differences between the two storage devices.
The traditional hard drives found on pc's and laptops have some moving parts which include the spinning disc (where the magnetic data is stored) and an arm that moves around inside (which actually reads the data from the disc)
A SSD has no moving parts though, but it does have a limited amount of times that data can be writen to the device. Because there are no moving parts, it is also silent and accessing the data is much faster than a conventional hard disc. One of the biggest advantages also, is the fact that a SSD normally uses less energy, and is much more robust, being more resistant to external impact such as bumping or dropping which would normally damage traditional hard drives.
Probably one of the biggest manufacturers of SSD's - SanDisk, released their SanDisk Netbook SDHC Removable Flash Memory Card in June 2009. One drawback for SSD's are that until now, they have been fairly expensive compared to normal hard drives.
SDD's will probably become the norm eventually, replacing the normal hard drives we have today, but for that to happen the technology needs to become cheaper. This will most likely happen over time, as new technology continues to improve on, and even replace more traditional technologies.
HP recently established a new category in videoconferencing by shedding light on their HP SkyRoom, where it is touted to be an affordable, high-definition videoconferencing software which will offer live, real-time collaboration for instant face-to-face meetings. All this without having to fork out a single cent for subscription fees? Sounds like a dream, eh? The HP SkyRoom will be based on breakthrough video and image communication technology that was developed in HP Labs, where elements of this technology has already seen action in NASA’s Mars rovers which transferred high-resolution images back to earth from the Red Planet with huge success. The HP SkyRoom is touted to be the only videoconferencing tool that can offer real-time collaboration for up to four people over a standard business network, costing the company a mere $149 which is much less compared to a round-trip airfare from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
HP SkyRoom will soon be part and parcel on selected HP business desktop and mobile workstations, and even better news for organizations that are looking for means and ways to cut cost – the SkyRoom will be free for a trial period on a fair number of upcoming HP premium business PCs and notebooks as well. If you happen to own workstations or PCs from other manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo or Sun, fret not – HP SkyRoom is compatible on those platforms as long as they meet minimum technology requirements.
The breakthrough innovation behind HP SkyRoom is derived from the merging of high-definition, multiuser videoconferencing and a sophisticated capability that will share display information more securely compared to the actual transfer of data and processing functions. In layman’s terms, the video engine will allow everyone to view the presenter’s display as well as each other without suffering from stuttering frame rates, via a multiway videoconferencing session. The video engine itself is multithreaded in order to take full advantage of today’s multiprocessor and multicore processing technologies. Apart from that, it can also handle 2D and 3D graphics, full-motion video and multidisplay – even if your system has but a 2D graphics card.
Windows 7 has spawned a number of new computer systems already. And following in the footsteps of its main competitors, Acer has recently detailed its upcoming multi-touch tablet PC – pre-loaded with the latest Microsoft operating system. Dubbed Aspire 1420P, the new 11.6-inch tablet from Acer features a special convertible design that allows you to use it as a photo frame, portable cinema, or as a presentation tool. You can also fold it up like a notepad to take notes, read ebooks or navigate maps.
What’s more, this Aspire features a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates images! Smaller than a magazine, the Aspire 1420P still offers total usability – thanks to its Acer FineTip full-size keyboard with larger keys for better typing. And guess what? All it takes is a one-time battery charge to handle your entire day’s communication and infotainment needs. Power-saving technologies extend battery life so you can do more and enjoy more.
On the inside, the Aspire 1420P powered by an Intel Celeron or Core 2 Duo ULV processor, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM, a 250/320GB hard drive and the Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics chip. It also includes a multi-in-one card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and wireless 802.11b/g/Draft-N with Bluetooth and 3G, a multi-gesture touchpad, HDMI output, and Acer Crystal Eye webcam, Video Quality Enhancement technology, and built-in mic that make sure your video calls are as good as they can get.
* 8GB or 16GB flash drive2 * Holds up to 2,000 or 4,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format3 * Holds up to 7,000 or 14,000 iPod-viewable photos4 * Holds up to 8 hours or 16 hours of video5 * Stores data via USB flash drive
Accessibility
* Spoken menus allow listeners to hear many of the names of menus, song titles, and artists without viewing the screen. * An alternative large font can make menus easier to read. * A high-resolution LCD display with adjustable contrast and backlight settings makes it easier to read in low light. * Captions in video are displayed when they are present using a legible, high-contrast white-on-black font.
Environmental requirements
* Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) * Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C) * Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing * Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Environmental Status Report
iPod nano embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
* 2.2-inch (diagonal) TFT display * 240-by-376-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch
VoiceOver Kit
* Chinese (Cantonese) * Chinese (Mandarin) * Czech * Danish * Dutch * English * Finnish * French * German * Greek * Italian * Japanese * Korean * Norwegian * Polish * Portuguese * Russian * Spanish * Swedish * Turkish
Audio
* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz * Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV * User-configurable maximum volume limit
Headphones
* Earphones * Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz * Impedance: 32 ohms
Languages
* Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese (Traditional Chinese), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and UK English * Additional language support for display of song, album, and artist information: Bulgarian, Serbian, Slovenian, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese * iPod nano supports 20 VoiceOver languages: Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (U.S.), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; other languages are available with the purchase of a supported third-party text-to-speech engine * iPod nano supports 20 spoken menu languages: Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (U.S.), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; other languages are available with the purchase of a supported third-party text-to-speech engine
Video Capture
* H.264 VGA video, 640 by 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio * 15 real-time special effects: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch, and Twirl
External buttons and controls
* Hold switch * Click Wheel
Input and output
* Dock connector * 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
Battery and power6
* Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery * Playback time o Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged o Video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged Audio: 24 hours. Video: 5 hours. Recording Video 1.5 hours. * Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter (sold separately) o Fast-charge time: about 1.5 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity) o Full-charge time: about 3 hours
Mac system requirements
* Mac computer with USB 2.0 port * Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later * iTunes 9 or later7 * iPhoto 6.0.6 or later recommended for use with Mac OS X Tiger8 * iPhoto ’09 recommended for use with Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard8
Windows system requirements
* PC with USB 2.0 port * Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later * iTunes 9 or later7
The Napkin PC aims to bring out the creative passion of the user both individually and in group sessions. It encourages spreading out and allows for multiple creative workflows that can interact or just as easily stay independent. It encourages group interaction and collaboration by allowing any number of interfaces that can be passed around or pinned up, but which all communicate with a central network.
Users’ Culture & Lifestyle
The primary users are creative professionals including those in any field of design, but also expanding to include business and marketing professionals who use creative thinking to come up with business plans or marketing campaigns. Their primary need is to have a simple system to help keep their creativity moving and maintain good collaborative communication. They want to drink a cup of coffee, pick up a pen and let their creativity flow, without having to sit down later to actually document and organize the information later. The Napkin PC is a continuously additive system, where each new idea is already documented and organized with references and connections to related ideas. In addition each Napkin interface is an instant portal to the entire network giving quick and easy access and sharing of ideas and reference material.
Market Viability
The design appeals to business professionals. It is ideal for work groups of around 6 people (a typical brainstorming meeting) although the system is easily expandable for larger business. The viable markets are any business that works with creative professionals. Any company that relies on brainstorming and group collaboration would benefit from using a Napkin PC. A secondary market is creative professionals who work alone or in smaller groups, but who want the same ability to spread out and use multiple workflows.
Size
See page titled “Dimensions” Napkin interface: 180mm x 180mm x 2mm Pen stylus: 140mm x 9mm x 10mm Base station: 160mm x 150mm x 150mm Mobile station: 45mm x 36mm x 15 mm
Overview of Design
The Napkin PC is innovative because of its multi-flexibility. It can have multiple users, multiple interfaces, and multiple configurations. It breaks the PC down to only the interface— a pen and a space— and then gives you a multitude of both so you can let your creativity run wild.
User & Context
The users are creative professionals who work in collaborative groups. The PC is designed to be used for brainstorming, ideation, meetings, think tanks, etc. — anywhere where creativity is the driving force.
Scenarios of Use
There are two new usage scenarios delivered by the PC. First is the brainstorming workflow. Creativity that normally starts on paper and whiteboards goes instead directly into the PC without the user changing their behavior. This creativity is richer because of the innumerable software tools and resources available on every Napkin interface. It can also be shared, compiled, and compared instantly for a smooth, speedy workflow. The second scenario is a replacement for printing. Instead of ever putting ink on paper, the interfaces themselves instantly become “prints” when power is removed. They would then be used just like a print, pinned up, handed around, reviewed, etc. When the print is no longer needed the interface is simply returned to the base station as a fresh Napkin.
User Interface The interface consists of any number of Napkins and one of the Pens. When powered by the Pen, the Napkin is a multi-touch input display which responds to human touch as well as the Pen. The intuitive use of a pen and paper is exploited by the design, making it very easy to use. Also the ability to work on multiple interfaces in parallel, instead of shuffling through windows on a single interface, makes multitasking much easier.
Aesthetics
The Base station is designed to interact like a napkin holder. The user can grab an interface from the stack in the middle of the table. The computer itself is somewhat hidden in the Napkin holder, its only reminder being the OLED status display on the front. The user only really interacts with the Napkins and the Pens. This helps them maintain hands-on, creative freedom. The square Napkin form is used because it is modular, but also because it conveys the idea of being one of many. This helps the user stay relaxed and open minded because less importance is put on a single interface.
Technical Aspects
The key technologies are full color e-Paper, multi-touch input, Inductive power circuits, and high speed RF wireless connections. The e-Paper is key because of its low power consumption, thinness and flexibility, and ability to retain an image without power. Multi-touch is simply the future of intuitive input that makes the PC fun, fast, and easy to use. The inductive power circuits are crucial because they allow wireless power transfer and make the interface Napkin simple and inexpensive enough to be used in large numbers. High speed RF continues to keep everything wireless and intuitively seamless.
Ecology
The environmental sustainability of the PC is most innovative with the Napkin interface. It is the most numerous component and the one most likely to need replacing due to wear over a few years. Therefore it is beneficial to make it easy to recycle which is accomplished by powering it with an inductive circuit. This eliminates a hard-to-recycle internal battery. The second, and likely more impactful, innovation is the use of the interface as an instant “print.” This eliminates the need for printers, paper, and ink, which are used in large amounts during the creative process.
You're ready to buy a camera. You've got your money in hand and you're ready to start shopping. Before going off to purchase the most gleaming model you can afford, prepare yourself with the following essential buying tips.
Know yourself and why you need a camera. Consider your capabilities and interest in photography, and how a digital camera fits into your lifestyle. Different models are better suited for different situations. See if you might fit into one of the three photographer-types listed below:
Novice User: Are you new to the world of digital photography? Many low-cost point-and-shoot digital cameras include a range of standard features that are simple to learn and operate, making them an ideal choice for the beginning or casual photographer.
Intermediate Photographer: If you take a wider array of photographs -- from quick snapshots to vacation photos to sporting events -- you'll need a versatile, full-featured camera that can handle a range of zoom scenarios, photo subjects, lighting conditions, and so on.
Serious Amateur: Are you an experienced photographer that is prepared to pay a higher price for the features, flexibility, and control available only with a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera with interchangeable lenses?
• Determine your ideal camera type. Make sure you understand the relative strengths and limitations of point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and which is best suited for the photos you want to take. Although there are areas where the lines between point-and-shoots and DSLRs are blurring, the two classes of camera still have their own distinctive features that make them well-suited for different situations. Which camera is best for you can be as simple as needing the image quality of a DSLR or the convenience of a point-and-shoot, or it can be a more involved decision based on your experience level, the type of photos you take, and your desire to use manual settings. Here are some quick features of each camera type to help you decide.
• Get a feel for the camera. Hold the camera and take a few photos with it. You'll get more enjoyment from a camera and use it more often if it fits comfortably in your hand and the controls are easy to use.
• Look beyond the megapixels. For high-quality photos, consider the size and type of the camera's image sensor.
• Check out the zoom and focus features. Higher power zoom lets you get closer to the action, and optical zoom is more important than digital zoom because it doesn't reduce image quality. Auto focus features also are important, but a camera with manual focus features can give you greater flexibility.
• Help reduce the risks of blurry photos. Image stabilization is important for helping to reduce shaking and blurriness. Electronic image stabilization is a good start, while optical image stabilization is even better.
• Low-light capabilities matter. How well your camera performs in low light matters as much as how well it takes photos in bright sunlight. Cameras that have high ISO sensitivity (ISO ratings 800 or higher) will be better able to capture properly exposed images with reduced blur in dimly lit situations.
• Consider advanced features. Think about what additional technology features you want in your camera -- such as face detection or in-camera retouching -- to help you achieve better results and enhance your overall photography experience.
• Accessorize in style. Know what accessories you would like to use and what other devices you want to connect to your camera, such as an HDTV to view your photos, in order to make sure it has the right inputs and outputs.
• Be sure to comparison shop. Before deciding on a specific model, look at the models above and below it. Sometimes you can get amazing features for only a small price difference.
