HP HDX gaming laptop rumours surface

HP is rumoured to be launching its first foray into the gaming market with a 20-inch gaming laptop called the HDX.

According to electronista.com, the Pavilion HDX should be the first fruits of the Voodoo PC buyout and is likely to be aimed at gamers and movie fans looking for something different to the Dell XPS M2010.

Pocket-lint is in Shanghai, China this week with HP for its Making Connections press event for what promises to be the launch of a range of new laptop and PDA models from the company.

The website is reporting that "similar to the XPS M2010, the HDX will more closely resemble a portable desktop with a 20-inch display and a handle to carry the 12-pound system. The lower half of the casing is large enough that a full-featured Windows Media Center remote docks to the left of a full-size keyboard, complete with touch-sensitive media keys at the top."

Although specs have yet to be announced, it is expected that the new machine will use Intel's new Santa Rosa-based Core 2 Duo processors.

We will bring you full news of an announcement live from Shanghai, China this week as it happens.

Source : www.pocket-lint.co.uk

HIGH-TECH PAIN IN MY PALM

CONGRATULATIONS," my friend Lisa said to me as my handbag began to ring, "you graduated from a cell to a PDA."

"A what?"
"A PDA."
"What's a PDA?"
"It's what you're now using."
"I'm using a Palm Treo."
"What's a Palm Treo?"
"A sort of phone, computer, e-mail, Blackberry, text-messaging kind of thing. It comes in different colors. This pretty orange one, same one I saw Zach Braff getting, was a gift."
"Let me educate you. It's what's called a PDA."
"What exactly is a PDA?"
"I don't know. I only know that's what it is."
Googling PDA, Lisa determined it stands for Personal Digital Assistant - whateverthehell that is.
I don't understand technologicalese. What I understand is I'm losing my mind. I want only to answer the phone when it rings.
So the company dispatched a techie to teach me. Erin's first lesson was: "To deactivate an open application, like, say, if you've downloaded music from the Web to use as your ringtone, press Purge with the stylus."

Do what with the what?
"And you have to install your old SIM card unless your numbers were directly on the hard drive. Where did you store your contacts?"
My what?
"Look, to bypass the telephone book and go into speed-dial mode, just click on the home page by hitting the 'house' button then highlight the star icon which automatically brings up your prefs."
SIM card? What's a SIM card?
"Decide on wallpaper and it will default to that each time your phone comes out of sleep mode but remember it self-locks after a few seconds and you have to press the center button to unlock it. Understand, this phone never goes off. It's always on."
What's a SIM card?
"You can also snap a picture, stream a video, record a tune, make an audible memo, set an alarm clock, have a date book, use a calendar . . ."

Alternative input explored

Graphics tablets and pen devices are not just meant for professional artists. We take a look at how you can give your Windows Vista PC the flexibility of a pen and paper notebook.

A friend once told me he met Microsoft Corp chief executive officer Steve Ballmer at the company's MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Global Summit two years ago.
When Ballmer whipped out a pen and paper notebook to jot down some notes, some of the attendees asked why he did not use a Tablet PC or PDA (personal digital assistant) instead.
Ballmer said that he would, but the pen input technology then was still not that good for when he needed to write down his ideas fast.
{In case you're wondering, pen input refers to using a digital pen as an input device. The keyboard and mouse are standard input devices for the PC.)
Over the years, PCs have gotten a lot better at helping people with work and play – but until now, it still lacked the flexibility of the humble pen and paper notebook.
We may carry around PDAs and Tablet PCs, but how many times have you reached out for a paper notebook instead when you wanted to write down something really quickly?
Sure, some of you may be speedy with the stylus – but let's face the facts – nothing beats having a white sheet of paper to elegantly illustrate your ideas in words and pictures.
Ballmer later added that it was not because good pen input technology did not exist, but that they still couldn't find an economically feasible way to manufacture it for the masses.
Fortunately, the situation may be different now with the release of Windows Vista.

The write features

Amidst all the hype and brickbats that Vista has received, one of the most overlooked features is its improved support for pen input devices.
After testing it for several weeks, I have to say that I am mightily impressed – so much that I'm convinced that given a little more time, we could soon be living in a truly paperless environment.
However, a word of caution before I continue about digital pen input.
Unlike scribbling on paper, you still can't simply write anywhere on the screen and have Vista know exactly what you want to say and where you want to say it.
No, it can't do that yet. But Vista does come with the nifty Tablet PC Input Panel (Tip) application, which provides a space onscreen where you can write on.

There are three ways to write using Tip:

•You can write an entire sentence or several words using the writing pad, and it will individually recognise each word.
•The second method is using the character pad, which has individual boxes for you to write each character.
•The third is using the onscreen keyboard, similar to those found in PDAs and smartphones.

By default, Tip minimises into a little strip and docks itself on the left corner of the desktop.
When you point your cursor at a program that can accept text input, a little Tip icon appears right below it.
Though it pops up quite regularly, it is surprisingly not as obtrusive as I expected.

Improved handwriting

Handwriting recognition has already received pretty good reviews in previous versions of Windows, but it is even better now with Vista.
Even without needing to "train" the recognition system, it can almost always figure out what I was trying to write – with the rare exception of a few mistakes, of course.
What surprised me the most is that it could recognise even the worst of my handwriting– and this was when I intentionally scribbled words very badly.
You can also improve the recognition system by personalising the way you write.
You can access this feature in the "Tablet PC" programs folder (even if you're using Vista on a desktop PC).
Unlike the old days when recognition systems were quite poor, the one in Vista is very accurate so I must admit I did not have to go through this step.
But users who do find that the recognition is generally poor can train the program to get used to their handwriting style.
However, if you get errors with only a few letters or words, you can just train the system to better recognise how you write those particular ones.
For example, the system had problems differentiating between a capital "H" and the word "It" when I wrote either of these at the beginning of a sentence.
But after I defined how I write the letter "H" in the training program, the problem stopped.

Flick it, flip it

The pen input support is not only for writing or drawing.
Vista's Pen Flicks feature enables users of pen input devices, such as Wacom's pen and graphics tablet, to navigate more efficiently.
Vista allows you to assign up to eight actions to eight different directions of flicks with a Wacom pen.
By default, flicking the pen to the left makes the browser go back to the previous webpage, while flicking the pen to the right makes the browser go forward one webpage.
This makes navigating websites more efficient than having to click on the back and forward button in the browser program.
However, it took me a while to get used to these flicks (it's all in the wrists), but mastering it definitely eases desktop navigation.
Another cool thing with the Wacom pen is that when you flip it over, you can use its "eraser" tip just like you would with a lead pencil with... well, an eraser tip.
This feature works with most applications in Vista (and also on Windows XP when I tested it).
It may feel clumsy if you've never done it before but it is a very intuitive and efficient way to erase mistakes.
In addition, you can erase mistakes using Vista's advanced "scratch out" or "strike through" function.
Just like how you would cross off a mistake on paper by drawing lines over it, you can strike out a mistake by doing the same in Vista – and unlike paper, the mistake magically disappears.

Taking notes

Vista also comes with Microsoft Journal, a neat program that works like, well, a standard journal.
And the Journal program has an interface that looks just like – surprise, surprise – a real paper notebook.
I found it pretty handy for writing down ideas, as I could include both text and drawings.
I imagine it would also come in pretty handy during meetings, as Journal documents can be saved, printed out and is searchable.
Another Vista program that imitates real-life objects is Sticky Notes.
With a pen device, you can scribble notes on it quickly just like you would on one of those yellow Post-Its.
Furthermore, Sticky Notes are automatically dated and saved, and is searchable in Vista.
Though this is not really a new concept, as there were third-party programs that did the same since Windows 98, it is still quite handy to have as one of Vista's basic accessories.

Making work easier

Apart from these basic features that come with Vista, you can also do much more with other programs that are compatible with digital pen inputs.
Photo-editing and graphics software aside, I was amazed to discover that I could do a lot more in Microsoft Office 2007, which has extensive support for pen inputs in most of its applications.
Recently, I witnessed a marketing person who made his presentation more convincing by drawing directly on a PowerPoint slide to highlight important facts and figures – something which is only possible with a digital pen.
Here's another scenario: Remember all those times where you had to pass documents to a colleague to review, retrieve it, make changes and send it back for further review? Back and forth, the document went – the process was tedious and slow.
That is why most of us resort to printing out documents when we want to review them, but that increases printing costs for companies as well.
However, that process is much more efficient for an Office 2007 user in Vista with a pen input.
When you receive a Word document that you need to review, just click on the "Review" tab in the program.
Then click on the "Start Inking" button, and you will get a variety of inking tools in Word's Quick Access Toolbar.
You can then proceed to mark out errors, insert comments and write notes on the document with different coloured inks and pen tips – just like you would on a printed document.
Wacom's pen devices can also detect how hard you press on the graphics tablet's surface, so the inking marks look exactly like your natural handwriting.
When you save the document, it will keep all the ink marks, so you can just send it back with your corrections.
You can also turn off the ink marks whenever you want to make corrections easier.
Other applications for the inking feature include being able to put your signature on a digital form; highlighting text in a document; and possibly enabling school teachers to correct homework in a paperless environment.
Of course, it may be too soon to expect our local schools to use Vista and Office 2007 – but improvements have to start somewhere after all, right?

Source : star-techcentral.com

ANNOUNCED: O2 Ireland launches the HTC Artemis as Xda Orbit

Following O2 Germany's previous launch of the HTC Artemis, now also O2 Ireland announced the launch of the latest addition to its Xda range, the Xda Orbit. The new PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is the first Xda in O2's range to offer built-in GPS and seamless door-to-door satellite navigation, in an ultra slim, stylish portable device. Using the latest technology, the Xda Orbit also features a 2 Megapixel camera, MP3 player, radio and WiFi functionality, whilst combining the latest Windows Mobile OS 5 software - offering mobile Internet and email in the same easy-to-use format as Microsoft Office on a desktop.

However, while O2 Germany uses TomTom for its Xda orbit, O2 Ireland cooperates with ALK Technologies.

CoPilot Live navigation software is supplied on an easy-to-install memory card that has complete maps of Ireland and the UK preloaded. Detailed routes are calculated in seconds and turn-by-turn directions are provided on-screen and spoken, all the way to the destination. There's a choice of map views, including 'non-distracting driver-safety', 'itinerary', 'where am I?' and 3D 'bird's eye' view. If a turn is missed CoPilot recalculates the best new route in seconds. Users simply type in the chosen destination on the large 2.8 inch full colour TFT LCD touch screen and the O2 Xda Orbit will direct them to their chosen destination quickly and safely.

In addition advanced features enable real-time Internet tracking whereby users can let others view their location via the internet. Ideal for pedestrians as well as car travelers, the O2 Xda Orbit makes dedicated navigation systems unnecessary.

With its WiFi and GPRS features, the O2 Xda Orbit is ideal for users on the go; it provides seamless synchronization with Pocket Outlook. Offering the ability to open, edit and send Microsoft Office Excel Mobile, Word Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile attachments quickly and easily, it is a true mobile office device. Users also benefit from secure and cost-effective real-time email delivery, with Microsoft's Push email solution enabling them to work securely from any place at any time. Synchronization of the Xda with a desktop computer also means both calendar and contacts are always completely up to date.

The Orbit combines a 2.0 Megapixel camera including video capability, FM radio (87.5Mhz–108.5Mhz) and MP3/AAC player, whilst enabling customers to view and play Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. It also offers quad-band functionality, supported by a battery life of up to 200 hours standby and 5 hours talk time. In addition the device features Bluetooth support allowing integration with car kits and hands-free headsets.

The Xda Orbit is available exclusively from O2, priced from 272 Euro ex VAT.

Source : www.theunwired.net

Phoenix City Court Makes Jury Assembly Room a Hotspot

Phoenix Municipal Court recently became the city's newest hotspot facility by offering public wireless Internet in its Jury Assembly Room. Jurors can use their laptop, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other wireless-ready device to access filtered wireless Internet while they await their turn in the jury selection process.

Municipal Court staff worked closely with the Information Technology Department (ITD) throughout the WiFi installation and testing process in the Jury Assembly Room. An average of 85 people per day appear at the court for jury service, and a significant number of these people depend on access to the Internet for work and personal needs.

"The court is proud to offer wireless Internet service to its jurors because they serve a very important and essential role in our democratic system of government, and it is our goal to make their time with us as comfortable, efficient, and user friendly as possible," said Chief Presiding Judge Roxanne Song Ong.

"The Phoenix Municipal Court remains committed to providing the highest level of quality service to the public while ensuring swift, fair access to justice," she added. The expansion of wireless Internet to the Jury Assembly Room is an amenity the city is providing residents so that their time waiting to serve as jurors can be productive as well as convenient.

To use the WiFi service, jurors simply have to bring a wireless-ready device when they report to Municipal Court. User guides are available for those jurors wishing to access the city's wireless Internet, which include login instructions as well as troubleshooting tips. The user guide also is available online.

The expansion of the public wireless Internet to Municipal Court is part of ITD's enterprise-wide strategy for providing the amenity throughout all city facilities. The department's most recent WiFi launch prior to the Jury Assembly Room was at Phoenix City Hall, where visitors to the first three floors can access the wireless Internet as they conduct their business with the city's Development Services, Engineering and Architectural Services and Planning departments.

Source : www.govtech.net

Motorola MC35 Is Considered An EDA, More Than A PDA

Motorola isn't all about super slim phones that sell you on the aesthetics rather than the functions. The newly announced MC35 handheld computer, for example, is far from being a looker, but it's got rugged functionality up the wazoo. Because it's so big and beefy, the Motorola MC35 is not being touted around as a mere personal digital assistant (PDA), it's an Enterprise digital assistant (EDA). It's an "all-in-one communication device that harnesses the voice and data applications people expect from an office setting and delivers them in the form of a durable and compact handheld mobile computer."

Like the MC50 and MC70 which preceded it, the MC35 is one tough cookie. Connectivity is not a problem with radios for GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GSM/EDGE. It's also got "laptop functionality", a camera, bar code reader, mission-critical business applications, an Intel XScale PXA270 416MHz processor, Windows Mobile 5.0, push e-mail, and who knows what else.

Depending on the configuration, the Motorola MC35 EDA will run you somewhere between $640 and $750. They expect to start shipping in April.

Source :

Traditional protocol still has place in a high-tech world

Q: With handy electronic devices such as BlackBerrys and PDAs appearing as the wave of the future, what are some guidelines for using them in public?

A: PDA used to suggest a "public display of affection." A BlackBerry was formerly known as a delicious fruit. Today, BlackBerry is a brand name for a high-technology device, and PDA stands for personal digital assistant. These small, handheld computers are multifunctional and complex, allowing for multitasking and promising efficiency.

To know the proper protocol surrounding their use, we first need to understand what these light-weight, electronic gadgets can do. They can download music, take pictures, record video, surf the Web and send and receive data and e-mails.

They operate as electronic organizers, calculators, clocks, calendars, typewriters and word processors. They play computer games, run spreadsheets and more. Newer PDAs also have audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones.

They are used in a variety of fields, including business, education, architecture, medicine, science and sports, as well as for personal communication and automobile navigation.

Traditional rules still apply to high-technology equipment. The rules are based on respect and consideration for others, both those on the receiving end of your transmissions and in your presence when you are using the devices. Here are some guidelines to follow:

* Although storing information in these devices is efficient, transferring accurate data can be compromised. The temptation to abbreviate words and phrases and for spelling inaccuracy is real and can result in a poor reflection of the individual composing the message.

* Using PDAs at times when one's attention should be focused on another person, such as a speaker or presenter, may send an unintended message that could compromise your respect and reputation.

Remember, we are continually striving to build trust and develop relationships. An inadvertent, unintentional slight may have serious ramifications.

* Typically, taking notes the old-fashioned, traditional way, with pen and paper, involves making eye contact with the presenter, listening and writing. With PDAs, we are focusing much of our attention on an inanimate object and risk offending the presenter by not giving him or her our full attention. A PDA may actually help you get more accomplished, but at what price?

Source : www.newburyportnews.com