Archive for October, 2010

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Microsoft buying gesture recognition chipmaker Canesta

October 30th, 2010
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Microsoft today bought chip designer Canesta in what’s believed to be a strategy to move gesture recognition to the PC. The deal will give access to a processing system, CanestaVision, that can convert the image from a camera’s CMOS sensor into 3D data for gestures with depth. Microsoft already uses camera-based motion in the Xbox 360’s Kinect system launching just next week, suggesting that it’s moving beyond its existing technology.

Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed, nor has Microsoft’s ultimate aim.

The deal is unusual as Microsoft rarely acquires hardware companies. Kinect was based mostly on software from 3DV, which it eventually acquired, and PrimeSense. Canesta’s technology could at a minimum be used for a more advanced version of Kinect in the future. It has already marketed CanestaVision heavily as a gaming-friendly platform.

Company chief Steve Ballmer, however, has signaled that he wants to bring gesture recognition beyond the Xbox 360 and implied that regular computing could use 3D motion detection. As touchscreens on traditional computers have usually been fatiguing, Canesta could be used to command a PC using Kinect-like gestures. It may also enable standing or wall computing where gestures are the only options. The latest chip from Canesta, the Cobra, would be small enough to fit in some notebooks or in a small add-on.

The move may help Microsoft regain an edge in computer interfaces. It has lagged in touch and added multi-touch through its Surface tables and Windows 7 significantly after Apple had introduced its own approaches in iOS. Tablets like the iPad have also left Microsoft scrambling as their touch-optimized UIs have been more warmly received than the still mostly mouse-oriented Windows approach.

Source:http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/10/29/microsoft.buys.canesta.for.gesture.computing/

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How to Fix an Overheating Laptop

October 30th, 2010
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One of the best things about laptops is their mobility. Users can access the web, watch movies, or use word processing tools in just about any location. However, this advantage also carries a few risks as well. Many people complain that their laptops suddenly shut down during use, most likely due to overheating. If your laptop frequently powers itself off, try the following tips to prevent your laptop from overheating in the future.

1. Elevate to increase air flow.
In standard laptops, there is a fan on the underside of the computer that helps circulate air throughout the internal components. The air helps the hardware cool off and eliminate the heat generated by computer use. When laptops are placed on soft surfaces such as a couch, bed, or even a person’s lap, the opening to the fan can get completely covered and the air circulation is cut off. In effect, the laptop is smothered. To fix this problem, place a small book or object underneath the back edge of the laptop to elevate the area and expose the fan to fresh air. The computer does not need to be elevated very much, as only an inch or two of space is sufficient for most laptops to cool themselves off.

2. Unplug the power cord.
When a laptop is plugged into its power source, the battery is being charged. This generates a significant amount of heat that can quickly overheat the machine. While users should not completely drain their laptop batteries, they should try to avoid using the laptop while charging the computer’s battery if they are having difficulties with an overheating laptop.

3. Clean the components.
A laptop that is laden with dust may frequently overheat even if the above recommendations are followed. This dust can block air from circulating and it holds in heat at the same time. Laptop owners should periodically remove their laptop’s outer casing and use an aerosol duster to gently clean away dust from the air intake vents and the machine’s internal components.

4. Use the internet.
The internet is full of useful tools, including programs that will actually track the internal temperature of your laptop for you. By using a search engine to find a reputable program, you can keep an eye on your laptop’s internal temperature at all times. This can be very helpful in preventing your laptop from overheating and potentially causing serious damage to the computer. As a precaution, always make sure that you check the authenticity and security of a program before downloading and installing it.

5. Watch for warning signs.
Most laptops that are beginning to get too hot will display some obvious warning signs that users should not ignore. There will be a sudden increase in the speed of the cooling fan that is usually hard to miss. Additionally, users may notice that their applications slow down and the computer seems to lose processing speed. Laptop owners should keep an eye and an ear out for these warning signs and act quickly to help the machine cool off.

When a laptop overheats, it is not only aggravating to have to start up the computer again, but it can also cause permanent damage to the machine. Laptop owners and users should implement these five tips to ensure that their laptops remain at normal functioning temperatures.

Source:http://www.lonad.com/2010/10/29/how-to-fix-an-overheating-laptop/

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Asus Software Unlocks HDDs With Over 2.2 TB

October 30th, 2010
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This software for Asus motherboards creates a virtual drive on a 3 TB HDD that can be used in Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

Friday Asus announced Disk Unlocker, a software solution that allows legacy systems to access hard drives larger than 2048GB. The drawback is that the software only works with Asus motherboards and doesn’t create a bootable partition based on the 3 TB-ready GUID Partition Table (GPT). Instead, it creates a virtual drive that can be accessed within Windows XP 64-bit, Vista, and 7.

“This is the first software solution to overcome current operating system limitations that prevent a hard disk drive from utilizing more than 2048 GB (also known as 2.2TB),” the company said. “With just a few clicks, Disk Unlocker taps into hidden storage space beyond the nominal 2048 GB range, helping you use large hard drives to their maximum potential.”

A hard drive storage capacity greater than 2.2 TB is already supported by the GPT which in turn is natively supported by Windows 7 and Vista. The only real obstacle for Windows 7 and Vista machines is the motherboard’s BIOS which wasn’t written to handle anything above the 2.2 TB limit. To boot from a GPT partitioned drive, the motherboard needs to be Extensive Firmware Interface (EFI)-capable which supports capacities over 2.2 TB.

Therefore without an additional Host Bus Adapter card (as used with WD’s 3 TB HDD) or an EFI motherboard, users are required to install a 3 TB HDD as a secondary disk and allow the OS to create a GPT partition to use its full capacity. The Asus software seemingly steps in to correctly identify the drive for the OS.

According to the manual (pdf), drives with a capacity larger than 2.2 TB will appear in the software’s drop-down list– those smaller than 2.2 TB or already using the GPT format will not appear. The user then hits “Create” to generate a new virtual drive that will take control of the entire capacity. The new space will thus appear in the Virtual Drive field and require GPT partitioning for actual data usage.

For those still using XP, an additional chart shows that Windows XP 64-bit can partition the entire 3 TB drive while 32-bit users can only partition 2.2 TB of capacity. Windows XP users are required to download the Microsoft Native IDE driver before using Disk Unlocker.

The Asus-exclusive Disk Unlocker software is free to download and use, and covers thirty-five chipsets including twenty from Intel, twelve from AMD, and three from Nvidia.

Source:http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Disk-Unlocker-GUID-Partition-Table-Extensive-Firmware-Interface-HDD,11553.html

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Logitech’s new Webcam pretty as picture

October 29th, 2010
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LOGITECH HD PRO WEBCAM C910

PROS: Great picture quality at a reasonable price.

CONS: It’ll use a ton of system resources when recording, so the faster your computer is and the more RAM it has the better the camera works.

I use Macs for the most part, so whenever I want to make a video call I simply use the onboard camera. But when I use my PC, I need a dedicated webcam.

My son has grown up and lives in the same city I do, so I don’t need to do a video chat with him. When he went to school in Australia a few years ago, regular video chats were both necessary and the norm. The quality of cameras we were using was VGA at best — they just weren’t up to today’s standards. Although we could see each other and chat, the quality left a lot to be desired. Having said that, it was almost like magic to be able to see and talk to each other from opposite sides of the world and 18 hours apart.

Logitech recently sent me its new HD Pro Webcam C910 to test. The results are impressive. I wish I could have had access to this camera when junior was overseas; it would have made the whole video calling experience a lot more satisfying.

This camera is designed for the average user, so anyone who buys it should be able to easily set it up, load the software and use it.

The diminutive C910 is designed for use on PCs and it’s a full-featured webcam for less than $120. It records video at 1080p resolution and offers full 720p video recording capabilities. In addition, you can take up to 10 megapixel still photos with the camera. The camera uses technology called RightLight 2, which automatically adjusts to the lighting conditions to produce the best image possible. This is especially relevant when you want to use the camera in lower lighting conditions. The camera also has an auto focus lens that makes using it a breeze.

It even has face recognition software available, called FastAccess. Once you’ve set it up, FastAccess lets you log on to your computer and favourite websites in seconds. It’ll even tell when you’ve left the computer and lock it up so nobody else can use it.

Sound quality is not an issue. The C910 has dual stereo mikes so that you’ll not only hear what someone is saying, they’ll also hear you a lot better.

The video files are saved as .wmv files, so you’ll be able to play them on any PC. Because it records in 1080p, you get a great full screen picture. If you like to goof around with your picture, the Video Effects software lets you build your own Avatar which will mimic you — not my favourite thing, but it’s fun to fool with.

Another feature is the ability to set up the camera so it both date stamps and time stamps. This is done through the use of motion detection and literally lets you set the camera up as kind of a security system. Plus you could record what the dog really does when you leave the house, not that you’d actually want to see that.

Source:http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Logitech+Webcam+pretty+picture/3747064/story.html

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Indamixx to launch Linux-based tablet for musicians

October 29th, 2010
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Low cost tablets with low power processors are hot these days, but despite the success of consumer-oriented devices which run mobile apps and surf the web, tablets can be useful in a variety of different contexts. HP sees its Windows-based HP Slate 500, for instance, working well in retail settings or restaurants, allowing workers to take inventory, enter orders, or input other data from the business floor. Now a company called Indamixx is working on a slate for a different audience: Musicians.

Indamixx already offers netbooks and notebooks with custom Linux software and a suite of applications for creating and editing music. Now Create Digital Music has a first look at the company’s upcoming tablet.

The computer has an Intel Atom processor, 2GB of memory, 3 USB ports, VGA, Ethernet, and mic and headphone jacks. Basically, the tablet is pretty much a netbook with extra RAM and no keyboard. But with the right touch-friendly music production apps, you might not miss the keyboard at all. The operating system is based on MeeGo Linux, which is already optimized for small screen devices with Intel Atom chips.

The tablet won’t actually be available for purchase until May, 2011, so there’s plenty of time for the specs, software, and other elements to change. There’s no word on the price yet, but it’s kind of hard to set pricing on this type of device this far in advance.

Just don’t expect it to be dirt cheap. While it’s true, Indamixx products are often based on open source software, the company brings a lot of expertise to the table when developing software for its mobile computers, and that’s what you’re paying for. If you know your way around Linux and open source audio software you might be able to build your own portable music studio from an existing mobile tablet. If not, the Indamixx solution might be worth checking out… eventually.

You can find more details about the hardware and software at Create

Source:-http://liliputing.com/2010/10/indamixx-to-launch-linux-based-tablet-for-musicians.html

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IBM manager boots up service center

October 29th, 2010
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Inside IBM’s renovated building at 2810 LeMone Industrial Blvd. near the end of October, a couple dozen workers were carrying in new furniture, putting up white boards and checking computer equipment and electronics.

The activity inside the vast steel-framed structure will soon be much more frenetic. In the coming weeks, droves of information technology specialists will arrive as Big Blue begins operations in its new service delivery center.

Jim Chapdelaine, the center’s director, marveled at the building’s swift transformation as he strolled through the freshly remodeled interior.

Less than six months ago, this was a quiet, nearly empty warehouse. The general contractor, Little Dixie Construction, directed its subcontractors to tear down everything but the steel shell and put up what is essentially a new building.

In the end, the $10 million construction project came in ahead of schedule and under budget, City Manager Bill Watkins said.

“They gave us a deadline they didn’t think we could meet,” he said. “We beat it.”

Now, the gleaming exterior of IBM’s new service delivery center contrasts sharply with the worn neighboring warehouses.

“They’ve done a fantastic job,” Chapdelaine said. “The building’s gorgeous. The team they put together was just phenomenal.”

Chapdelaine himself has made a speedy transition. He and his wife, Jennifer, moved from the mountains of Colorado to the edge of the Ozark Plateau in Columbia with their five children two months ago. They already feel at home, he said.

Their kids quickly got involved in sports and activities around town. His neighbors invited him to a barbecue. The schools and teachers have wowed him. And though the 44-year-old Colorado native misses the Rockies sometimes, he has been pleasantly surprised with the mid-Missouri landscape.

“With all the trees and the rolling hills, I’ve been impressed with the terrain here,” Chapdelaine said. “You drive five minutes, and you’re kind of in country, wherever you’re at.”

Source:-http://www.columbiabusinesstimes.com/9520/2010/10/29/ibm-manager-boots-up-service-center/

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Sony call strongly hints at PlayStation phone, tablet

October 29th, 2010
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Sony during the call discussing its latest results has strongly hinted that the company is developing a PlayStation phone. Without mentioning the device itself, the company said the hardware would be delivered from the Network Services group that handles both computers and the PlayStation brand. It’s also moving Sony Computer Entertainment, the PlayStation division, into the Sony City headquarters to “better incorporate” it with the planning teams for a mystery product.

Ericsson, half of Sony Ericsson, was said to be helping out on both smartphone and game devices.

The company has never officially confirmed a PlayStation phone but has already dropped clues that it wants to add cellular access to the equation established by the PSP. Sony has tried unsuccessfully to position its 2004-era handheld against the iPod, but it has had no answer to the iPhone with gaming a focus only on basic phones. The PlayStation phone is so far known to be a fast Android slider with PSP Go controls in place of a keyboard and its own PlayStation store.

Along with the phone strategy, the company alluded to a tablet being in the works, but it’s uncertain whether it would skew more towards Sony Ericsson or fit more into the VAIO line. One possibility is a dual-screen tablet that would borrow cues from Microsoft Courier or the Toshiba Libretto W100.

Publicly, Sony has been cautious about tablets and said it hadn’t started to look more seriously until the iPad arrived and began establishing a market. [via Engadget]

Source:-http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/10/29/sony.call.talks.ps.phone.strategy.and.tablet/

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