Hot Trends Dailies

PC Tablets - Reviews

2010-01-12T08:50:00.005-05:00

2010 is expected to be the year the PC tablet goes mainstream. This year's rendition of the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) just wrapped up in Las Vegas. Many of the big presenters showed the direction of computers for immediate future. We have our ideas of the top 3, with the PC tablets reviews.

Lenovo released the IdeaPad U1 which is a combo, what this means is that first it's a standard laptop or notebook. It runs on the Windows 7 OS, with a Core Duo processor, 128 GB solid state hard drive, 11.6 inch touch screen and all the standard features of a laptop. These features include (3) three USB ports, built in Wi-Fi, VGA, HDNI, Ethernet(RJ-45), and 4-in-1 reader(Multi-Media Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital Card). The battery life is at about 8 hours.

Now, you remove the display and you now have a PC tablet running on the Skylight Linux OS with 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM processor,with 16GB of flash memory. The battery life of the tablet is about 6 hours.

The Archos 9 PC tablet is already on the market and many believe that this is a very solid Pc tablet. The Archos comes with a 1.1 GHz Intel Atom processor, 60GB hard drive, 1GB of memory, network capabilities via Ethernet and Wi-Fi 802.1b/g. This PC tablet is very ergonomic with an excellent tactile interface on its 8.9 inch screen.
The Archos 9 porvides all the features and performance of a high end notebook.

It is very thin, only .67 inches and weighing 29 ozs. It comes in a stunning black finish, runs on the Windows 7 OS. On this Pc tablet you can browse the web, write emails or documents and also have video chat with the built in web cam. It also allows you to store up to 80 High definition movies.

Then there is the Dell Intros which was show at the CES as a concept PC tablet. No release date has been given as yet. This tablet is seen as a PC companion, features are limited, but it does allow you to have the full internet experience. It comes with a 5 inch screen.

Snapdragon: Making Strides

2010-01-06T10:40:00.004-05:00

In previous blog we mentioned the release of the new Google Nexxus One smartphone. This cellphone is likely seen as rival for the Apple iPhone. The Nexxus One is powered by the QUALCOMM Snapdragon processor and runs on the Android OS.

Qualcomm CDMA Technologies is making great strides in the industry, last summer the Snapdragon was released in the ToshibaTG01 to good reviews. Qualcomm also powered the T-Mobile G1 which was the first cellphone to use Google's Android Operating System. As can be seen in this video the snapdragon performs at a very high level. This chip would be able to run intensive graphics and video on a small device.

Qualcomm's processors are about to meet jump from cellphones to laptops. Lenovo is also using the snapdragon in a small smartbook - Skylight which will be sold at AT&T retail stores, this is a non-Windows Intel Netbook, which will compete with Netbooks based on Microsoft and Intel atom processors.

Weighing less than a kilogram, Skylight has 1.3 megapixel camera built-in, full size keyboard, two USB slots, mini HDMI connector, audio ports, built-in mic, memory card slot and SIM slot.

Qualcomm is also working on a dual core version of the Snapdragon which will have capability features including 1080p high-definition video and mobile TV support and possible performance of 1.5GHz.

Google - Nexxus One

2010-01-05T13:41:00.006-05:00

Have you ever wanted the new smart phone but not the service provider it was linked to? Well, Google is about to change all that, it is reported that the new Google Nexxus One phone will be sold in an unlocked option. This means you can use whichever provider you choose, this will create possibly a major change in this market.

Presently the Federal Communications Commission is looking into the practice be cell phone makers and the exclusive agreements being set up with service providers.The agency believes that openness in the technology gives consumers more choices.

You usually pay hefty early termination fees to move to another provider because you like the new cell phone offered or the quality of the network, Google's Nexxus One may change that in the future.

Buying the unlocked Nexxus One phone which can be used on any network would defuse the argument used by providers as to why they charge these fees. There will now be no need to claim that it is to cancel the cost of funding the contracts provided to consumers.

With Google attempting to get this openness in the market, the US consumers would now be able to enjoy the same as Europeans and Asians. They can buy their cell phones from the manufacturer and get any provider they choose. This can have an added benefit for consumers, with providers having to compete with increased network speeds and capacities to lure them. The new and hottest cell phones will no longer be a primary selling point.

The Nexxus One will be on the Android operating system which began with Google's multi-billion- dollar bid at an FCC auction. Google seems to be looking to affect a change in the cell phone/wireless industry in much the same way they did on the internet with their search engine technology.

Laptops For Kids

2010-01-04T06:31:00.006-05:00

The country of Uruguay has embarked on a great program over the last two years. It has been developing a program in which 362,000 primary school students and 18,000 teachers are given a laptop computers. This plan which is laptops for kids allows many children and their families access to the internet and a personal computer for the very first time.

About 70% of the kids who received these laptops did not have computers at home. The laptops cost about $260 each which includes maintenance costs, repairs, training for the teachers and internet connection. The laptops for kids program is being instituted in many countries, where the goal is reduce the gap between the digital world and the world of knowledge.

The overall cost to the country is about 5% of its total education budget. These laptops are not HPs or Dells but provide basic computer capability and able to connect to the internet via WIFI hotspots.

Presently not all the kids have laptops but the country's authorities stae that the continue to keep all schools connected, specially in rural areas, where there is no internet connectivity. Uruguay plans to roll out the Laptops for Kids program into its secondary and pre-schools in the next year.

This plan which is called "Education Connect" in Uruguay costs about $21 per child to maintain and is part of the the much larger "One Laptop Per Child," an organisation set up by internet pioneer Nicholas Negroponte.

Many other countries are showing an interest in copying Uruguay's efforts. It is reported in the BBC that Rwanda, El Salvador, Paraguay, Haiti, some provinces in Argentina and Colombia have spoken to authorities in Uruguay about their experience. Some other countries have had great success with the program already, including the Soth Pacific nation of Niue, Venezuela and Portugal.

Many large companies including Intel and Amazon have signed on to this program, Uruguay has pledged to help those countries looking to get involved in the program, with tenders, planning, evaluation, software, advertising and training they have developed. Still, there are many countries too scared to jump right in.

Teachermate - Handheld Computer Sysytem

2009-12-30T13:02:00.001-05:00

The teachermate is a new device made to assist early elementary teachers. It is a very inexpensive and practical piece of computer equipment. This computer learning system only requires a PC (personal computer) to run software updates, compile all student scores, create students reports and maintain classroom management options.
To begin using the Teachermate in your classroom, you can make use of the very thorough how-to instructions provided by the User's Guide.

The guide shows you how you can charge and sync the Teachermate, enter new students, pick out textbooks, decide on units and levels, look at progress reports and much more.
The Teachermate System is constructed to provide teachers with a more effective and captivating mechanism instructing today's varied student communities.