Latest Entry
Feb 15, 2012 Internet
It seems as though everyone who has access to the internet nowadays does so wirelessly. While it was just about unheard of 10 years ago and especially from the standpoint of home users, wireless internet has really changed the whole way in which we access information and, indeed, run our lives. That being said, there are still many people who do not have access to this means of connecting to the internet and they are, instead, still connected via a wire or Ethernet cable; here we shall look at some advantages to using a wireless internet card.
The whole point of wireless internet is that it is far more accessible than using a wire. This is obvious in the fact that any device that uses an internet card to connect to the internet wirelessly will be able to log on from anywhere that they can pick up the signal to the router. So this means that you can access the internet from your laptop if you are in the living room, the bedroom or even the garden in some cases. This is certainly far easier than using a wire. For starters, if you wanted access to the internet in a room that is different from where the main router is then this would require some extensive work in terms of extending the cable or installing a new access point if you were to connect via a wired source.
However, by using a wireless router and then using an internet card from which to connect to it you will be able to access the internet from anywhere that a signal can be picked up. Considering that most providers now operate via wireless internet and it is now the standard means of connection then you can see how advantageous it is to connect via this route.
Recent Entries
Nov 21, 2011 News
Google’s new music service, which debuted Wednesday during a Los Angeles event, compiles a variety of different features together that should be very familiar to music fans. The music library is very similar to an iTunes-style library and it happens to sit in your web browser. The music store allows song sharing with friends through Google+, the web giant’s very own social network. The free cloud storage is definitely an attractive offer, giving users 20,000 songs worth of space at no cost. Despite the attractive package though, this is nothing revolutionary. Google isn’t out to change the music business how ever, they’re interested in a more foreseeable outcome.
Google wants a piece of the new world, which is said to be social media and mobile apps. Search is definitely still big business, and Google is still dominating that aspect of the web – but no one believes it’s the future. Right now there are roughly five companies trying to make their own mark on the next generation of the internet’s economy – Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and now Google. Apple has its great hardware, Amazon with its e-commerce, Facebook with its social media dominance, and Microsoft with its operating systems.
The more goods and services that a company can offer in the tech world, the more time that users are going to spend with them, simple. Each one of these tech giants wants to own the market, they want to be everything for everybody. They want to be the Walmart of the internet. Google happens to be growing in all directions, unlike its major competitors. Google’s music service costs nothing, and the music is priced to directly compete with iTunes. The internet giant isn’t trying to be better than iTunes, instead they’re trying to be more available – that has always been Google’s way.
Nov 18, 2011 News
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Google’s new smartphone, is the first Android phone that offers a premium experience. The Android operating system is currently powering the majority of smartphones that are sold today. Google made it clear that they aren’t interested in looking like the “best choice” when it comes to mobile devices, but they have certainly made it clear that platform dominance is a goal to expect. Google has realized the necessity of creating smooth operating platforms that have made devices such as the iPhone and the BlackBerry to be so consistent and comfortable. This is the key point behind the new Galaxy Nexus – to inspire that devotion to convenience that users feel with top-notch smartphones.
The new phone is huge, featuring a 4.65-inch HD display, with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor – there is plenty of power available with this phone – and to top it off, a battery life that can just about last through a rough day. Android has always been more capable than other mobile operating systems, being the first system to introduce shareable Wi-Fi for instance. The devices have always lacked in convenience how ever, being somewhat difficult for an average user to configure. Price has always been the progressive factor with the Android devices.
The interface of the Galaxy Nexus is very consistent with the Android tablets – there are no longer physical buttons on the bottom of the phone, and they change depending on how it’s being held and what’s happening at the time. Google’s new smartphone is not considered a mainstream competitor just yet how ever, as it is still going to take time for the software to saturate the market. Once that happens though, mobile companies like Sony, Samsung, and Motorola will be able to churn out more compelling devices at a much faster rate.
Mar 2, 2011 News
The next generation iPad was revealed by Apple on Wednesday, and is being seen as the next leap forward for tablets and technology in general. The portable communications capabilities have improved. The computer convenience aspect has improved. Now, we’re even starting to see television with the new iPad 2. Enhanced with small-screen effects and an optional $39 connector, users can play videos on a flat-screen television should they choose. Ever since its birth, the iPad has been a symbol of versatility, always challenging the current boundaries of technology. The iPad 2 is pushing it even further down this path, and it’s really carving out its own niche.
Competitors are pretty far behind Apple so far, but some newer tablets are beginning to emerge that could potentially challenge the iPad’s position in the Tablet world. Pricing is a huge factor, and some companies are trying to use the price of the iPad against itself. As technology increases, we’re seeing the lines between smartphone and computer blur, and now computing and television as well. A flat-screen TV nowadays can very easily double as a large computer monitor. You could hook the screen up to a computer and play videos from YouTube, or movies, or even video games. The iPad 2′s HDMI connection adds to the ability of linking to a TV.
The iPad 2 will offer cameras in the front and back of the device, allowing photo and video chats. There is also a “smart cover” that protects the iPad’s screen when it’s not in use.
Dec 7, 2010 News
In a leap of innovation that may or may not strike the average consumer the right way, General Electric has announced a brand new form of LED lightbulb that is designed to last 17 years without ever burning out. The bulb will have all of the features that consumers expect from the standard incandescent light bulb, but it will make use of light emitting diodes rather than a filament that is heated up through electricity. Due to this design, the bulbs will use less than one quarter of the power needed to power a standard 40 watt house hold light bulb. The brightness output will stand at 450 lumens which is the equivalent of a 40 watt bulb of the incandescent variety. These GE Energy Smart LED bulbs will cost in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 each. However, GE hopes that the 25,000 hour life of the bulb will appeal to savvy home owners because it has 25 times the average life span of a typical bulb while still using less power. Even a typical CFL bulb offers only 8,000 hours of use.
The primary advantage of the new GE bulb will be its ability to fit into a standard socket intended for incandescent bulbs and so it will not require a huge amount of home re-structuring be done in order to install the bulbs. Since the US federal government has already begun a plan to phase out incandescent bulbs between 2010 and 2014, in stages. While consumers may yet balk at the price of the 17 year bulbs, observers have noted that the price has already gone from $80 to $50 per bulb in the past year alone so price drops can be expected as the technology improves.
Oct 10, 2010 News
The video game developing world has been ablaze with the news that developers from the Call of Duty team have gotten embroiled in an epic conflict with Activision Blizzard Inc. According to reports, Vincent Zampella and Jason West have been named in a law suit that alleges they breached their contracts with the game publishing giant. Both men were lead developers for the smash hit Call of Duty that is now a multi billion dollar franchise for the game publishing juggernaut. According to what the media is currently saying, Activision alleges a range of9 issues ranging from insubordination to trickery on the part of the duo designed to scheme away the company’s rather substantial assets for the pair’s own gain. The main sting for Activision was the fact that both men had met with a competing developer that many analysts think might be Electronic Arts Inc to consider new employment – something that would go against the contracts they are alleged to have signed with Activision Blizzard. In addition, the development studio says that both men had conspired to recruit their former co-workers to join them in setting up a new independent studio to develop games.
Zampella and West have filed a counter suit on the advice of their attorney and are firing back with accusations that Activision actually proposed the independent studio as a way to appease the pair who had not been satisfied with their former positions. The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court due to Activision’s location of Santa Monica.
Apr 23, 2010 News
Given the wild popularity of smart phones, it comes as no surprise that users accustomed to video sharing sites and the ability to view such videos on their mobile devices would be able to be lured in by an iPhone app that allows them to watch live and on demand television programs. The MobiTV app promises precisely this advantage by providing live content from popular TV channels such as ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC and The Disney Channel. The shows will be streamed directly to the iPhone and users will be able to toggle between a menu overlay viewing experience such as is common on YouTube or a full screen viewing experience. The app will function over both 3G and Wi Fi networks and according to reviewers functions smoothly even with sometimes stuttering connections. This ability to stream TV content is new to the iPhone and promises to increase the viewership for shows from such popular series as Cougar Town, Caprica, The Colbert Report, CSI and Castle. Plenty of content should keep users enamoured with the app.
While the app is not yet compatible with the iPod Touch, experts predict that it soon will be. The price for a subscription to the streaming service is $9.99 per month or $24.99 for a 3 month subscription. Should the app prove popular, industry insiders believe that it will be only a matter of time before competing services such as Hulu begin to provide their own alternatives to MobiTV. It remains unclear how iPhone audience will respond, but judging by blogger reactions so far, the future looks bright for this new app.
Apr 6, 2010 News
In the quest for better, more ecologically sound techniques and technologies for industrial methods of manufacturing, the Noon Design Studio of Chicago has recently unveiled a new dye production house in the United States, a first of its kind. The facility will build upon the knowledge of sustainable harvested materials brought to the company by one of its founders, Jane Palmer. The Noon Solar line of dyes will offer an alternative to standard toxic treatments for fabrics that have proven both ecologically unsound and scientifically backwards. Given the technical knowledge of the founders, the dye facility will be able to offer a full range of wholly natural dyes that are cost efficient and allow for the level of production expected by other major dye facilities.
Without the use of chemicals, Noon Design Studio will be harnessing historical9 methods combined with modern technologies to eliminate the need for heavy metals and other toxic substances such as lead in the creation of their dyes. By relying upon naturally occurring plants and insect species, Noon Design will have the advantage of being able to reproduce its sources instead of relying on finite mined resources. The totally biodegradable, nontoxic dyes will also create less waste in the textile industry. Palmer has struggled against her initial training in the art of standard industrial dying practices and so has had to re-invent the process to suit a natural approach that utilizes advanced computer technology to get the same effects as competing dye houses around the world today.
