eScan Anti-Virus version 10

MicroWorld Technologies introduces the new version of the Anti-Virus and Internet Security Suite - eScan Anti-Virus version 10.x. The eScan AntiVirus Edition is a comprehensive AntiVirus, AntiSpam Content Security and Intrusion Prevention software. It provides the users with Zero Day Protection for Personal computers from threats like Viruses, Spyware, Adware, Rootkits, Botnets, Phishing, Keyloggers, Hackers, and many other similar security threats.



Some of the important advantages of this new version of eScan AntiVirus are:

• Real Time Virus Scanning of your computer
• Includes Anti Spyware/Adware detection and removal.
• New "MWAV (MicroWorld AntiVirus) Utility" with Spyware and Adware detection and removal and registry repairing.
• Management Console Lite for deploying software licenses, remote installation, uninstalling other AntiVirus products, upgrading the product and enabling or disabling eScan monitor status.
• Remote Access File Rights, restriction of creation & modification of specific file types in a user specified folder.
• 'TCP Connections' an inbuilt Network Monitoring Tool that examines TCP/IP activity on Windows computers.
• Automatic Hourly Internet Updation.
• Available in English, German, Finnish, French, Italian, Portugese, Spanish, Latin Spanish, Polish, Chinese & Icelandic.
• 24x7 FREE online and telephonic support.

eScan is equipped with the revolutionary MicroWorld Winsock Layer (MWL) Technology that detects information security threats at the Windows socket layer itself, before it reaches the Application Layer to prevent the applications from getting infected. eScan has one of the fastest automatic updating system against new and emerging threats while it counters unknown threats using advanced Behavioral Analysis to provide protection from zero day threats.

eScan also provides options for system administrators to remotely administer a vast network using the powerful eScan Management Console (EMC). EMC also allows remotely installing eScan, deploying upgrades; updates and enforce Integrated Security Policies for the entire Enterprise network.

Key Features:

• New User Friendly GUI
  Both the novice and expert users can navigate New Graphical-User-Interface with ease. A Single-screen access to both, the Virus-Monitor & On Demand Scanner.

  


• Pro-Active Protection
  eScan version 10 scans, detects, monitors & warns about changes in the registry. It also warns the user about the applications, which are suspicious in nature.


• Inbuilt Firewall
  Advanced Firewall saves system from all network-based attacks. It also monitors & logs incoming/outgoing network activities in the system.


• Faster on demand scanning
  Faster scans & lighter on system resources. New “On Demand Scanner” with Cache Technology.


• Real-Time AntiVirus & Content Scanning
  Scans files, applications, e-mails, attachments and websites including SMTP, POP3, HTTP and FTP traffic in Real-Time for Viruses, Worms, Trojan, Spyware, Adware, Keyloggers, Rootkits & all other kinds of security threats using inventive MWL Technology and AntiVirus Heuristic Algorithms.


• eScan Remote Support
  eScan Remote Support (ERS) works with the help of remote desktop connection which enables eScan Support technicians to access computers with problems from a remote location and troubleshoot them directly.


• Heuristic Scanning
  eScan’s sofisticated Antivirus Heuristic Algorithm detects unknown viruses, that are being continuously released in the wild and protects the users from zero day threats.


• eScan Auto Back-up / Restore
  eScan Auto Back-up / Restore utility takes back-up of all the frequently used files (PE files) and stores it in an encrypted form. If an infection is found, eScan's Auto Back-up / Restore utility will restore back all the clean files in real-time without the need to format the system.

Thus, eScan Anti-Virus version 10.x is a comprehensive tool that will provide maximum protection to your computer for the minimum price. With so many features bundled in a single package, this new antivirus product from MicroWorld really stands out from the crowd.

System Requirements
Pentium compatible processor 500 MHz or higher
Also supports AMD / Cyrix Processors
Minimum 128 MB RAM recommended or higher
800 X 600 or higher resolution.
Internet connection 300 MB of free HARD DISK Space

Available Platforms
Windows 95/98SE/ME
Windows NT 4.0 Server/Workstation (SP 6a)
Windows 2000 Professional (SP 4)
Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server (SP 4)
Windows XP Home/Professional
Windows XP 64-bit
Windows 2003 Enterprise/Standard (SP1)
Windows 2003 64-bit
Windows Vista Ultimate/Home Premium
Windows Vista Home Basic/Business/Enterprise
Windows 2008 Compatible

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MacSpeech Dictate, Speech Recognition Software for Apple available in India

Welcome to MacSpeech Dictate, the premier speech recognition solution for the Macintosh. With MacSpeech Dictate you're free to focus on what you have to say ... just think it, speak it, and create it.

ICONS, after serving over a couple of thousand users with Windows based World's No.1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. Now they are proud to launch MacSpeech Dictate powered with Dragon Engine for Apple users. Written from the ground up for the Mac, MacSpeech Dictate’s accuracy and capabilities make it as fun, productive, and intuitive to use as the Mac itself. Now, Talk to your Mac. Upto 99% accurate with any Indian local accent.The Future of Speech Recognition On Your Intel-based Mac Has Arrived

ICONS, after serving over a couple of thousand users with Windows based World's No.1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. Now they are proud to launch MacSpeech Dictate powered with Dragon Engine for Apple users. Written from the ground up for the Mac, MacSpeech Dictate’s accuracy and capabilities make it as fun, productive, and intuitive to use as the Mac itself. Now, Talk to your Mac. Upto 99% accurate with any Indian local accent.

MacSpeech Dictate is for Intel-based Macs only.

Features:

Amazing Accuracy - MacSpeech Dictate will astonish you with its accuracy. You simply talk and leave the recognition to MacSpeech Dictate.

Minimal Training Required - MacSpeech Dictate provides astounding accuracy and productivity. With just five minutes or less of training, you'll be using MacSpeech Dictate's superior capabilities.

Essential Command Capabilities - Instead of using your mouse to select menu commands or your keyboard to type shortcuts, just speak a command. MacSpeech Dictate executes it for you. What could be easier?

Uses the Legendary Dragon Speech Recognition Engine by Nuance - At the core of MacSpeech Dictate is the world-renowned Dragon speech recognition engine by Nuance. It’s the brains and brawn behind MacSpeech Dictate’s phenomenal accuracy capabilities.

Works With The Apps You Already Have - Word, Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress, and more. And MacSpeech Dictate works great with Apple’s applications as well, including iChat, Mail, iPhoto, Keynote, and more.

Comes With Everything You Need, Including Headphones - There are no hidden costs. MacSpeech Dictate includes everything you need to be instantly productive as soon as start using it, including a high quality headphone/microphone unit.

Built Especially For The Mac - Mac users expect only the best from the applications they use on their Macs. MacSpeech Dictate was built from the ground up to ensure the ultimate experience for Mac users.

System Requirements:

• Intel-based Mac.
• Mac OS X 10.4.11 or greater ("Tiger").
• Mac OS X 10.5.1 or greater ("Leopard").
• Internet connection required for product registration.
• A MacSpeech-certified USB noise-canceling microphone.

For more information about the ICONS/MacSpeech and all other Readers, email About macspeech@icons.net.in or visit www.macspeech.co.in

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Worlds Slimmest 24" LCD Monitor - BenQ V2400W

BenQ, world’s leading digital network devices brand, today unveiled its latest offering for the Indian market, the BenQ V2400W LCD monitor. The 24” widescreen BenQ V2400W has the distinction of being the world’s slimmest LCD monitor in its category with its thickest point measuring just 24 mm. The newly launched monitor is also the winner of the coveted 2007 iF Design Award, recognition of outstanding design and style.

BenQ V2400W is only 2.44-inches at its thickest point, which is over 21 percent slimmer than the next thinnest LCD monitor. The monitor combines asymmetry and the aerodynamic curves of the B-2 stealth bomber, and features a subtle blue LED and slick-touch controls. Sporting an overall mirror-black finish, this premium LCD has a 4000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, new RHCM injection process, and full 1080p HD support.

A unique blend of dynamic energy, kinetic beauty and unconventional art, BenQ V2400W is the world’s first glimpse into BenQ’s newly evolved ‘Kinergy’ and expresses personal taste, social identity, lifestyle and enjoyment. The monitor is also equipped with a host of high-end technological features, but its visually arresting looks completely overshadow any other function.

Positioned as a premium luxury-lifestyle product, the V2400W incorporates HDMI with HDCP, DVI-D, and VGA inputs for future-proof high-definition connectivity as well as compatibility, according to BenQ.

BenQ's proprietary Senseye+photo™ Human Vision Technology provides vividly realistic, true-to-life colors. The V2400W has five preset modes including Dynamic, Photo, Standard, Movie, and sRGB -- to simplify optimized viewing at the touch of a button. It is NSTL-compliant for superior color precision consistent from monitor to printer to digital camera to any visual device. Moreover, it incorporates BenQ's Advanced Motion Accelerator technology (AMA) for super-fast 2ms GTG response time.

Specifications:

• Pixel Pitch - 0.27 mm

• Dimension WDH mm - 563.8x369.4x191.7 (HxWxD mm)

• Screen Size - 24.0" Wide

• Resolution - Glossy

• Color Temperature Selection - Reddish / sRGB / Bluish / User mode

• Display Colors - 16.7 million

• Brightness - 250 cd/㎡

• Weight (Kgs) - 6.7 KG

• Input Signals - D-sub / DVI-D/ HDMI/ Earphone

• Included Accessories - VGA signal cable

• Display Area - 518.5x324 (mm)

• Adjustments - Tilt (down/ up) -5 / 20

• Viewing angle - 160 / 160

• Contrast Ratio - 1000:1 (Typ.) / 4000:1 (DCR)

• Frequency - Vertical Frequency(Hz) 25~135 (MHz)

• Frequency - Horizontal Frequency(kHz) 31~83 (KHz)

• Response Time - 5ms / 2ms(GTG)

• Power consumption - 55W (max)

• Power Supply - Built-in
  

BenQ V2400W LCD monitor is available at BenQ IT Zones and through BenQ dealers for Rs. 25,000 /-.

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Asus introduces Netbook in India - Eee PC 1000H & 904H

Asus joins force with Intel to launch Eee PC™ 1000H Netbook which features New Intel(R) ATOMTM Processor Targeting New Generation Segment in India. Also announces the launch of the new Eee PC™ 904H.

ASUS in association with Intel and Microsoft announced yesterday the launch of India's first netbook - Eee PC™ 1000H powered by Intel(R) AtomTM processor. This innovative offering from ASUS aims at changing the way computing is perceived by user segments like housewives, senior citizens, travelers, social networking enthusiasts, teenagers and for people who desire an extra PC for basic computing applications, listening to music, e-mailing and surfing the Internet.

Conceived to meet the needs of users who covet the inimitable portability, this revolutionary ultra portable computing device features large 10" display, ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine for longer battery lifespan of upto five hours, Dolby Sound Room, built-in Bluetooth and a keyboard that's 95% size of generic notebooks facilitating easier typing and relaxed usage. Furthermore, the netbook pairs a 1.3M Pixel webcam with its wireless Internet connection capabilities for web conferences anywhere, anytime for easier web communications and increased work efficiency.

Along with the Eee PC™ 1000H, ASUS has also announced the launch of the new Eee PC™ 904H featuring an 8.9" screen, 1024x600 resolution display and ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine for longer battery lifespan upto 4.5 hours.


ASUS 1000H & 904H Specifications:

















Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Benson Lin, General Manager, APAC, Middle East & Africa, ASUS, said, "With the introduction of Eee PC 904H and 1000H, ASUS brings to India a new segment of netbooks for today's new age customers who have an innate desire to be connected all the time and see personalized, mobile technology as the way to meet that need."

Mr. Stanley Wu, Product Manager, Notebooks and Eee PC, ASUS (India), said, "ASUS for the first time introduced the Eee PC segment to the world. The worldwide acceptance of the Eee PC™ range of netbooks is symbolic of its simplicity, robust build quality and user-friendliness. Taking a leaf out from the book of innovations, we are proud to introduce ASUS Eee PC™ 904H and 1000H, offering complete mobility and accessibility to the generation of highly mobile customers."

"The Eee PC™ has been received very positively from all over the world as an affordable Internet-centric device", said Gopal Swaminathan, General Manager - OEM Business, Intel South Asia. "The Eee PC™ uses the Intel(r) Atom(tm) processor, based on an entirely new microarchitecture specifically for small devices and low power, while maintaining the Intel(r) Core(tm) 2 Duo instruction set compatibility. This is our smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors and a fundamental shift in design, small yet powerful enough to enable a big Internet experience on devices such as the Eee PC™."

Both the revolutionary products are pre-installed with Windows XP, Microsoft Works, ASUS exclusive Super Hybrid Engine for longer battery lifespan, fast and complete connectivity (Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Wi-Fi 802.11n), Eee Connect for an easy way to connect two or more users through a remote desktop feature for easy troubleshooting, and generous storage capacity in the form of 80GB SATA hard disk drive. The use of a SATA drive provides fast data transfers, and enables users to carry more data along with them than previously possible – making it the most convenient computing device for everyone.

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Danamics liquid metal-based LM10 CPU cooler

Denmark-based Danamics has developed its first product, and it looks pretty special. The LM10 is a liquid metal based CPU cooler that combines liquid metal with an electromagnetic pump. It is claimed to be the world’s best performing air-cooler and have cooling capabilities that exceed those of most water-cooling systems.

Cooling of semiconductor hot-spots has developed into a demanding task. In recent years the high power density of microchips has increased rapidly, thereby increasing temperature and temperature non -uniformity on die and across chips. The drive for extremely low thermal resistance if further accelerated by the trend towards smaller system enclosures which has made the cooling task even more difficult. This gives the cooling companies a new challenge. To create cooling devices that is reliable, efficient and compact. Danamics does all of those.

Danamics got a lot of attention a while back when stories started to go around that it had a new kind of CPU cooling in development. It was said that Danamics had been able to harvest the power of liquid metal. Not much information could be found on the website, until now. Danamics has updated it with what it calls the worlds first commercially available liquid metal based CPU cooler - Danamics LM10. Danamics mentions two key characteristics when describing the pump: the unique electromagnetic pump with its patent pending multi-string design and the liquid metal with its superior thermo physical characteristics.

An electromagnetic pump has the advantage that it has no moving parts and emits no noise or even the slightest vibration. Danamics says that it's new multi-string electromagnetic pump eliminates the need for a high current requirement and delivers a high flow with minimal current input. The mere size of the pump also makes it very flexible and it could be used even for laptops.

The liquid metal is a key component in Danamics cooling systems. Liquid metal has two major advantages when cooling high power density heat sources:

• Firstly it has superior thermo physical properties that decrease temperature - and temperature non–uniformity - on die and across chips.

• Secondly the electrical properties of the liquid metal enables efficient, reliable and ultra compact electromagnetic pumping without the use of moving parts, shafts, seals, etc.Liquid Metal has numerous key advantages compared to competing technologies, such as water-cooling or traditional air cooling. The most important ones are:

Ultimate performance

Danamics LM10 is the world’s best performing air-cooler. By utilizing the unique properties of liquid metal, the cooler has the lowest thermal resistance of any air-cooler in the market. The cooling capabilities exceeds most watercoolers in a single device.


Easy mounting

Compared to competing solutions, the Danamics LM10 is a true all-in-one product. There are no external housings, large reservoirs or bulky radiators. With liquid metal cooling you have true performance in a compact, self-contained unit. This makes mounting a breeze and the Danamics LM10 cooler can be mounted in minutes.


No moving parts

The superior liquid metal brings another advantage besides its efficiency. The properties of liquid metal make the use of an electromagnetic pump possible. Danamics’ patent pending multi-string pump delivers high flow combined with a very low power-draw of less than 1W.


No noise and no vibration

Compared to watercooling pumps, the electromagnetic pump used in Danamics LM10 cooler has numerous benefits. It is hermetically sealed and has no moving parts, which means that no noise or vibration is added to the system from the electromagnetic pump. Also the pump is orientation independent, which ensures maximum flexibility for users and system integrators.


Innovative technology

Danamics LM10 is built from the ground up using innovative technology. The combination of liquid metal and an electromagnetic pump is all new in commercial cooling devices, bringing true high-tech to your desktop.

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XFX 9800 GTX+ Gives Gamers The Ultimate Bang for Very Good Price

XFX’s newest release, the GeForce 9800 GTX+ graphics card disproves a common theory in the gaming world—that a modestly priced card delivers only modest performance. In fact, XFX’s 9800 GTX+ turns that notion on its ear, and then some.

With 128 screaming fast cores that each run a new record high 1836 MHz, the GeForce 9800 GTX+ graphics card is truly the Tasmanian Devil of the category. Faster than any graphics card in attractive price range, the XFX 9800 GTX+ simultaneously delivers the most exceptional gaming experience possible—even at extreme HD resolutions.

The XFX 9800 GTX+ is loaded with all of the features hardcore gamers have come to expect, such as PhysX™ technology that transforms the overall gaming experience with realistic facial movements, weather effects and explosions. NVIDIA CUDA technology and new CUDA runtime for Windows Vista enables users to offload intensive processing tasks from their CPUs to their graphics card. It has 128 processor cores for maximum performance across an endless array of computing tasks. HybridPower technology allows users to save power by shifting to their motherboard’s onboard graphics (HybridSLI capable motherboard required) when running less graphically intense applications.

Fully optimized gaming can be achieved by running three XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ graphics cards in three-way NVIDIA SLI mode on one of XFX’s nForce 780i SLI or 790i SLI motherboards. The three-way SLI systems generate up to a 2.8X performance increase over a single graphics card. And, the XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ is designed for the PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture featured in nForce 7 series and GeForce 8 series motherboards, ensuring the highest data transfer speeds for today’s bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications. Users can even fine-tune their performance with the 9800 GTX+’s ESA-enabled control panel.

The XFX 9800 GTX+ features a second generation NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology engine which ensures unsurpassed High Def movie picture quality thanks to features such as dynamic contrast enhancement, colour stretch video processing and dual-stream picture-in-picture content.

The 9800GTX+ graphics card will be available with Rashi Peripherals and its nationwide branches across India at an estimated street price of Rs 16,000 along with 3 years warranty.

To learn more about the XFX log on to XFX Force.

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New ASUS R2E Notebook for Enhanced Mobile Computing

Targeting the Indian consumers, Asus has again marked its prestige with its latest innovative ultra mobile PC, dubbed R2E. The uniquely designed notebook that promises to offer on-the-go computing and mobility.

Offering all the advantages with a highly versatile platform based on the functionality of a conventional laptop and the user-friendliness of touch panel input on an intelligent digital writing pad. With its 7-inch LCD screen, the R2E packs all these features in the size of a paperback novel! With the ASUS SunRead glare-proof panel, users can use the R2E to lead the way even when navigating the great outdoors in the sun!

About the launch of this new product, Mr. Stanley Wu - Product Manager, Notebooks, ASUS (India) said, "The ASUS R2E is our latest product offering in the UMPC segment. It is a very innovative notebook that achieves a fine balance between being feature rich and compact at the same time. We believe that an innovation such as the ASUS R2E will provide notebook users in India with a unique solution to their ever increasing on-the-go computing needs.”


Global Positioning System (GPS) for Anywhere Connection

Navigate and explore with built-in GPS. The retractable mechanism stores the antenna away when not in use. Together with Internet access, positioning is possible even off road! Multiple programs can run simultaneously for accurate turn-by-turn directions for the driver while passengers get to enjoy live TV or movie and music playback!


Digital Entertainment On-the-Go

The R2E packs in a great number of multimedia features for personal entertainment anywhere. There's easy media access anytime with live TV enjoyment with an external antenna and a remote controller. For a comfortable viewing experience, the ASUS SunRead glare-proof panel displays images and words sharply for a clear view in bright light.


Solid Security Management for Protected Computing and Solid Privacy Protection

In order to provide business travelers with peace of mind, the R2E offers total data protection that meets the evolving security needs with both software and hardware solutions. This notebook offers a smart balance of mobility and performance with a comprehensive security feature that protects the notebook and its stored information. Data security is uncompromised with a built-in AuthenTec fingerprint scanner with TruePrint® technology that reads from the live layer of skin, preventing common skin surface conditions from impairing scanner accuracy. Embedded TPM is a hardware solution that helps to avoid attacks by hackers looking to capture passwords and encryption keys to sensitive data.


Freedom to navigate with confidence by just the touch of a finger

ASUS R2E with satellite GPS provides a comprehensive travel guide owing to which users no longer need to deal with paper maps or ask for directions! The incorporated GPS antenna with a foldable mechanism allows convenient storage when not in use. Ultimately, the R2E empowers users to go further, do more!


Do more with a Smaller and Lighter Design

The feature-rich R2E is packed with computing, multimedia and connectivity functions. Built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g and a high-resolution webcam, offer extensive high-speed connections and wire-free video communication.


Intuitive User Experience

The R2E runs on Genuine Windows® Vista™ Edition with Microsoft® Origami Experience Pack software and ergonomic hardware interface designs. With complete function keys laid out on both sides of the front panel, users enjoy comfortable operation to a full set of control keys, including mouse, scroll buttons, hot keys as well as an on-screen keypad, all at the finger tips.


Handwritten Input with ASUS InfoPen

Increase productivity and efficiency with handwritten input capability! Together with ASUS InfoPen software, users can record and edit images or documents as easy as on a piece of paper with color and highlighter options. The DigiPen stylus also has an eraser end and mouse control buttons so that users can now navigate a wide range of applications with single-handed ease!


Easier and Safer Digital Data Transmission

Secure digital media slot is also integrated into the new R2E notebook PC. It gives users the immediate benefit of easy file sharing with different devices and users, while opening the door for future technologies like secure digital I/O. Secure digital helps ASUS products work better together.

The ASUS R2E notebook comes bundled with a USB keyboard and will be distributed nationwide through Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd. and Net Place Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for an approximate end user price of Rs. 64900/-.

R2E Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Stealey™ A110 (800MHz)
  
  
• LCD: 7" WVGA (Touch Panel) (Sun Readable)
  
  
• VGA: Intel 945GU
  
  
• Web Cam: 1.3 M Camera
  
  
• Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Premium
  
  
• Memory: 1 GB DDR II (1GBx1)
  
  
• HDD: 100G PATA
  
  
• Card Reader & Other features: FP Reader + GPS (WO/Map)
  
  
• Free Accessories: USB Keyboard + Car Charger + Link Cable + Car Bag

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PowerMonkey eXplorer

We’re all so tooled up with gadgets these days that we could do with a small nuclear power station in the airing cupboard to keep all the batteries charged up. Power is a problem – especially if you care about the environment, but also if you’ve ever sat down on a train with a six hour journey ahead of you and realised to your horror that you forgot to plug the iPod in over night. No power equals no tunes. Portable charging solutions may not be the most riveting gadgets, but at outdoorsy times of year, they sure are useful ones. The Powermonkey eXplorer is about as extravagant as they get.

You know what its like. You're away from home, you really need to make that one call and your mobile phone has just run out of battery power, or your iPod has just played its last tune or your camera battery is dead. The Powermonkey eXplorer ensures that never again will this happen to you.

The powermonkey-explorer is a small rocket-shaped device that stores up power for when you’re next on the road and need to charge something. And it has a solar charger.

Simply use the included mains adaptor or solar-slave to fully charge the Powermonkey-eXplorer and you will get up to 96 hours standby on your mobile phone, 40 hours on your iPod, 2 full charges on your PDA plus it's original charge and up to 1600 pictures on your digital camera. The Powermonkey-eXplorer will hold its charge without leakage for up to a year.

The Powermonkey bit is basically a ruggedised, high-capacity rechargeable battery with a selection of tips to attach it to almost any portable gadget. It’s small – about the size of two 'D' cell batteries – but weighty and tough-feeling. A blue backlit LCD provides information on remaining power.

Despite its comic name, the PowerMonkey-eXplorer feels like the most serious and solidly-built charger. It's a two-part device, which can be used separately or together. The PowerMonkey is a fat, water-resistant, tubular unit that holds a rechargeable battery (at 2200mAh, the best as tested) and its solar component is the 'solar slave', a small, fold-up solar unit.

Not only is this great news for your carbon footprint, it’s also a life-saver if you forget to plug things in before you go out – if you’ve got your powermonkey and solar-slave combo with you, you really can charge on the go, with the sunshine as your power source.

The set comes with a black carry case, that features adaptors for loads of different devices – the default is a Nokia socket, but there’s gizmos for iPod, PSP, and loads of phones. There’s also adaptors for charging the powermonkey itself via the mains or USB. If it’s missing an adaptor for your phone or other device, you can visit www.powermonkey-explorer.com and see if the company is selling it separately.

The design of the units is robust and understated, and it works really well – the carrying case is about the size of a stack of five or six CDs, and you could fit your iPod and all the powermonkey-explorer bits and bobs in there as well, so it’s a really good buy for travelling if you hate to be without your tunes or phone.

Pros

• Charges just about anything.
• Massive power storage.
• Inexhaustible energy.
• Solar powered.
• Rugged

Cons

• Not cheap.
• Can't re-juice a laptop.

Features:

• Compatible with the majority of mobile phones including Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericssion, etc.
• 2 USB connectors, one mini, one standard, which can charge iPods, Bluetooth headsets and PDAs. Connector cable for digital cameras.
• Reusable power pack.
• Includes a mains travel charger for use in 150 countries, from 110V to 240V.
• Output voltage of 4.5V to 5.5V.
• Compact size and stylish silver casing.

Compatibility with iPods:

This accessory is compatible with the following:

• 

  iPod 4th generation

• 

  iPod 5th generation (video)

• 

  iPod mini

• 

  iPod nano 2nd generation (aluminum)

• 

  iPod shuffle 2nd generation

Pack contents:

• Powermonkey-eXplorer
• Solar-slave
• Universal mains charger
• Mini USB for mobiles and Bluetooth headsets
• USB for smart phones, PDAs and other devices
• iPod connector
• Sony PSP and most digital camera connector
• Black travel pouch
• Black storage case

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Pioneer's 400GB Blu-ray disc

Pioneer’s scientists have reportedly upped the Blue-ray ante with a 400GB optical disc.

The capacity is stretched by manufacturing discs that are 16 layers deep, to be played with a player advanced enough optically to pick up the light scattered by all 16 layers. Conveniently, the player is also compatible with standard Blu-ray, but for now it’s limited to playback only, designed to demonstrate the new disc advancements. The prototype is read-only for the moment but R&D’s on it so let’s give them some time to work it out.

It goes without saying, then, that the future holds the ability to burn a 400GB Blu-ray disc. You know, if people even burn discs anymore in the age of flash media. The new discs require a special "wide-range spherical aberration compensator and light-receiving element" to detect the weaker laser signal, so don't plan on sticking one of these data-bloated monstrosities into your existing PS3. That said, the next generation of game consoles could support this new disc system, which is fully backward-compatible with existing Blu-ray discs. Of course, by the next generation, game systems might not be using optical discs at all, so who knows what the future will hold.

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IDLDPL Digital photo frame ‘YES DPF900’

Do you have thousands or even moredigital pictures stored in the computer? Now all your happy snaps can be constantly on display, shared and organized with YES digital photo frame, DPF900. Featuring 9 inches LCD display of 640 x 228 resolutions, DPF900 allows you to cherish your memories in true color and life-like features. Other than JPEG, you can also enjoy the video and audio entertainments with the multimedia and the stereo functions as MP3, MPEG4 are supported. Come and enjoy the easiest way to display your digital photos -without a computer.

In a marked shift from the analogue to digital, many users utilize digital photo frames to showcase their loved ones or memorable events as compared to storing them in Albums which are vulnerable to time & nature. IDLDPL (India Digital Life Style Distributors Pvt. Ltd.), one of the leading distributors of IT and Lifestyle Products, launched an enhanced YES DPF900 Digital Photo Frame that will bring consumers a more personalized and intuitive picture viewing experience.

The YES DPF900 9-inch Digital Photo Frame is the perfect way to view and share your memories in brilliant, high-contrast colour on a 9-inch LCD screen and you can give your memories a permanent place on your active life. You will enjoy fast response, direct input from most digital cameras and memory cards, and special features to enhance photo quality.

Users can place their favourite digital photos and music into the DPF900 via memory cards, USB flash or syncing with the computer. They can also combine them seamlessly into a photo slideshow together with abundant transition effects for the perfect "storybook" feeling. YES DPF900 comes with a lot of features including displaying a number of still photos, playing MP3 songs or MPEG4 files.

Additionally, there are more innovations that can be found in this digital photo frame. One such innovation is the reminiscence function – which allows users to search photos easily in the DPF900 to a specific date. All these features come together to provide users with the most comfortable viewing experience. It can hold a few pictures in its 8MB memory, but the easiest way to load photos is with a memory card.

One can also adjust the brightness and colour of their photos displayed, according to viewer suitability. With its high resolution the picture quality and its effect is nothing less but closerto reality.

Now, YES very affordable Digital Photo Frame-DPF900 can help you refresh your mood all the time you are at home or your workplace.

With DPF900, besides digital photographs, you can also enjoy the video and audio entertainments with the multimedia and stereo functions as MP3, MPEG4 (AVI) are all compatible with this display device. With so many options at your fingertips, the YES DPF900 is the perfect frame for reliving all of your special moments. It has inbuilt calendar and alarm function, which can be your utility if you opt for. The in-built stereo speakers are good enough to make your days joyful. DPF900also comes with two different looks to suit your interiors.

Features:

• High Quality TFT display (16:9)
• High Resolution
• Full Multimedia Function
• SD/MMC/XD/MS Card Slot
• USB 2.0 High Speed
• Calender & Alarm Function
• Thumbnail Preview/Rotate & Slide Show
• Built-in Stereo Speaker
  

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BHV Homepage Maker 6 Express

Introduction

Website design software is useful for many people from massive websites like Google and eBay to the smaller one-man band sites. If you do happen to be a bored housewife breaking out into the wide world of the internet then you probably don’t have much programming knowledge. BHV’s Homepage Maker 6 Express states that you need no programming knowledge to be able to use this software. So let’s put this software to the test and see just how easy it is to use.

Features:

• Unaltered representation: What you see in the editor is what you get on the internet
• State-of-the-art technology: Easy implementing and customising Flash
• Smart management: Files no longer needed can be located and deleted
• Clear arrangement: Each page or sub-page is accessible at any time, simply change by mouse click
• Really easy: Page wizard with step-by-step instructions
• Wide choice: Professional website templates are included

System requirements:

• Pentium 266 MHz (Celeron or AMD Athlon accordingly)
• Windows 2000/XP/Vista
• 64 MB RAM
• Mouse
• Optional: Internet connection as well as internet browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape, etc.).

The Package

The software comes in a large box for just a disc and an instruction manual. However the box is eye-catching in typical bhv white and red styling. The front shows a picture of a woman with a paint pallet and brushes looking cheekily at the camera - a nice touch. At the bottom of the front of the box are the 4 key things that this software offers: creates personalised websites, 50 professional templates, can be used without any programming skills and is easy to use. If you were to see this packet on the shelf in a computer shop it would make you look twice.

The back of the packet shows a central picture of a webpage created using the software with 5 pictures coming off it all with descriptions of various features within the software. This is a nice feature and gives an informative yet not boring idea of the programs capabilities. The information on the back combined with the results that can be seen in the pictures is enough to encourage a buy.

Inside the outer box is a simple brown cardboard box which opens up to show a 64 page instruction manual and a disc in a paper sleeve. The packaging is a bit excessive for a disc and an instruction manual - not very environmentally friendly at all… shame on you bhv. With the excessive amount of space inside the box, the disc can move around freely, so could easily fall out of its pouch and perhaps break. Fortunately though, there were no defects with my copy so I can only assume that the packaging is suitable.

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Hakia - First Meaning-based Search Engine

Hakia, which is a "meaning-based" search engine startup getting a bit of buzz in my mind. It is a venture-backed, multi-national team company headquartered in New York - and curiously has former US senator Bill Bradley as a board member. It has also launched its beta version and already ranks around 20k on Alexa - which is impressive.

My Hakia experiments (along with Google)

The user interface is similar to Google, but the engine prompts you to enter not just keywords - but a question, a phrase, or a sentence. My first question was: What is the population of China?

As you can see the results were spot on. I ran the same query on Google and got very similar results, but sans flag. Looking carefully over the results in Hakia, I noticed the message: "Your query produced the Hakia gallery for China. What else do you want to know about China?"

At first this seems like a value add. However, after some thinking about it - I am not sure. What seems to have happened is that instead of performing the search, Hakia classified my question and pulled the results out of a particular cluster - i.e. China. To verify this hypothesis, I ran another query: What is the capital of china?. The results again suggested a gallery for China, but did not produce the right answer. Now to Hakia's credit, it recovered nicely when I typed in:

My next query was more pragmatic: Where is the Apple store in Soho? (another example from Hakia). The answer was perfect. I then performed the same search on Google and got a perfect result there too.

Then I searched for Why did Enron collapse?. Again Hakia did well, but not noticeably better than Google. However, I did see one very impressive thing in Hakia. In its results was this statement: Enron's collapse was not caused by overstated resource reserves, but by another kind of overstatement. This is pretty witty.... but I am still not convinced that it is doing semantic analysis. Here is why: that reply is not constructed out of words because Hakia understands the semantics of the question. Instead, it pulled this sentence out of one of the documents which had a high rank, that matches the Why did Enron collapse? query.

In my final experiment, Hakia beat Google hands down. I asked Why did Martha Stewart go to jail? - which is not one of Hakia's homebrewed examples, but it is fairly similar to their Enron example. Hakia produced perfect results for the Martha question:

Hakia is impressive, but does it really understand meaning?

I have to say that Hakia leaves me intrigued. Despite the fact that it could not answer What does Hakia mean? and despite the fact that there isn't sufficient evidence yet that it really understands meaning.

It's intriguing to think about the old idea of being able to type a question into a computer and always getting a meaningful answer (a la the Turing test). But right now I am mainly interested in Hakia's method for picking the top answer. That seems to be Hakia's secret sauce at this point, which is unique and works quite well for them. Whatever heuristic they are using, it gives back meaningful results based on analysis of strings - and it is impressive, at least at first.

Hakia and Google

Perhaps the more important question is: Will Hakia beat Google? Hakia itself has no answer, but my answer at this point is no. This current version is not exciting enough and the resulting search set is not obviously better. So it's a long shot that they'll beat Google in search. I think if Hakia presented one single answer for each query, with the ability to drill down, it might catch more attention. But again, this is a long shot.

The final question is: Is semantical search fundamentally better than text search?. This is a complex question and requires deep theoretical expertise to answer it definitively. Here are a few hints....

Google's string algorithm is very powerful - this is an undeniable fact. A narrow focused vertical search engine, that makes a lot of assumptions about the underlying search domain (e.g. Retrevo) does a great job in finding relevant stuff. So the difficulty that Hakia has to overcome is to quickly determine the domain and then to do a great job searching inside the domain. This is an old and difficult problem related to the understanding of natural language and AI. We know it's hard, but we also know that it is possible.
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