Gadgets & Tech - news, reviews and chatter

[AltinD]

Philips is the one that is working on a 3D TV to be used without glasses ... and that speculated new IPhone is indeed beautiful

[AltinD]

My work situation in Dubaai has been in limbo for like 3 years. My boss keep saying we will close the office and you'll have to return to Europe but even to this day nothing is for sure, so I haven't upgrated my bulky "gear" (TV, HI-FI system) in many many years. I would hate to have to worry about moving and shipping bulky stuff. Actually I still have the same 29" CRT TV I bought when I first came here (Dec '99)

As soon as I'll finally settle somewhere else, I'll do my set up of big screen LCD/LED TV, 3D Blue-Ray player (comming out this summer), 7.1 Channel Hi End audio system etc.

[FREKI]

^do you want to leave Dubai or just find other work there?

( having a foot in the door so to say must provide some positive options even if the economy isn't what it used to be right? )


As for a 3D BD player people with the PS3 should be good to go already as Sony so far claims it will be upgraded to support it..

It is however not yet clear is a single HDMI cable is enough or if the current standard can transfer enough data, so it will be interesting to see how that work goes - but it would deffinetly be great to not only have 3D games, but also High Def 3D movies available on something so reasonable priced..

I do have my doubts though as the current BD laser isn't the fastest to pick up data from the disc and now it would have to pick up twice as much, scale twice as much and transfer twice as much..

With games it's done trough programming, but BD's are live streaming from the disc - so while I do hope they can I have my doubts..

[FREKI]

Originally Posted by AdamChobits

Samsung won't disappoint you.

I know - I also got two 23" LCD monitors from Samsung ( Syncmaster P2370 ) - one I use for my PC and the other for my Apple Tv that I use as a music server

It was the quality of those ( contrast and refresh rate is awesome ) that made me respect Samsung and when I then looked at their LED TV line up I was sold - so away my $7000 Pioneer Plasma went and hello to my new ( and surprisingly cheap ) LED TV

Originally Posted by AdamChobits

Btw, you have a good sense for decoration

Thanks

( we should have a SSC Cribs thread some day )

[Cytokine]

Freki, I thought plasmas do better on contrast and refresh rate, is your new LED backlit TV better than the plasma you've had?

[JPBrazil]

Originally Posted by FREKI

I know - I also got two 23" LCD monitors from Samsung ( Syncmaster P2370 ) - one I use for my PC and the other for my Apple Tv that I use as a music server [...]

I'm thinking about buying one, is it good?

[7t]

Apple Adds Multitasking Support in iPhone OS 4.0

Written by: Gundeep Hora on 1/20/10

Apple is working to reveal the next iteration of its iPhone OS with 4.0. In it, the number one complaint that Apple will tackle is the ability to run third-party apps in the background, or multitasking. Users have been asking Apple to implement this, but Apple has always relied on poor battery life as the reason to not enable this feature. With the iPhone barely running for 6 hours under heavy use, according to Apple, running apps in the background would bring the battery life down even more. We concur.

However, the important thing to notice with this rumor is that Apple is coming up with a new way to enable multitasking. Obviously a very Apple way of tackling the problem, and we have a feeling it’s not going to drain the battery too much with the new feature. The company would’ve destroyed its reputation if they had enabled the feature in the traditional sense and let battery life suffer.

http://www.cooltechzone.com/2010/01/...-iphone-os-4-0

Apple iPhone OS 4.0 Features Leaked

Written by: Gundeep Hora on 1/20/10

Apple tablet isn’t the only product that’s expected to debut at Apple’s invite-only January 27 press event next week. After revealing yesterday that Apple’s tablet could be named iTablet, latest speculation suggests iPhone OS 4.0 may make the appearance at the conference as well. Boy Genius Report managed to secure a list of features of the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 before the event. Here’s what their source suggested will show up:

- Multi-touch gestures OS-wide
- “A few new ways” to run applications in the background – multitasking
- Graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient
- Update only available for iPhone 3G and 3GS
- New way to sync in contacts and calendar applications

Clearly, Apple is looking to solve the most obvious problems that users have faced with the platform, and it should be interesting to see what they come up with.

http://www.cooltechzone.com/2010/01/...atures-leaked/

[koolio]

NICE ... hopefully the new ipod touch is being revealed simultaneously as well ... I am so desperately looking to buy a new mp3 player right now but I'm holding out for apple to release the new version first.

[He Named Thor]

Originally Posted by kix111

Just bought a 55" Samsung 6Series LEDTV.. was considering the 8 series but i dont see any difference between the 200Hz and the 100Hz, Im pretty sure human eyes can not the difference once it is over 60Hz?

Gonna post some pics soon.

As somebody who spends all day staring at (and ultimately trying to sell) lcd televisions, I can tell you that there is quite a noticable difference between 60 and 120hz tvs.

If the response time is really good though, like with a Plasma, it'll make up for it.

Originally Posted by Skybean

Wow. The forumers here are really wealthy.

Obviously not a description of this forumer.



I am looking at getting a new computer monitor (as well as a desk and some other things), as I'm getting some cash. How's about this LED backlit Asus monitor?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236072



$129USD
Good deal or what?

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by FREKI

^do you want to leave Dubai or just find other work there?

( having a foot in the door so to say must provide some positive options even if the economy isn't what it used to be right? )

No, it's not related at all to the economic situation in Dubai, other factors are at stake and I have to be back in Europe. I would prefer to go back in Vienna rather then Tirana (obviously).

As for looking for another job: I've been working in different positions and different countries, basically for the same person since I graduated in 1995 so it doesn't come easy to look for something else.

[kix111]

Thanks guys.. Well i wouldn't say it is necessarily MY TV, hence im definitely not rich. But i guess my family does have a tendency to spend more proportion of income on these tech stuff more than anything else.

Anyway, is there any screenshot of the new os 4.0? im interested in the

Graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient

[simcard]

Originally Posted by AltinD

My work situation in Dubaai has been in limbo for like 3 years. My boss keep saying we will close the office and you'll have to return to Europe but even to this day nothing is for sure, so I haven't upgrated my bulky "gear" (TV, HI-FI system) in many many years. I would hate to have to worry about moving and shipping bulky stuff. Actually I still have the same 29" CRT TV I bought when I first came here (Dec '99)

As soon as I'll finally settle somewhere else, I'll do my set up of big screen LCD/LED TV, 3D Blue-Ray player (comming out this summer), 7.1 Channel Hi End audio system etc.

Sorry to hear this AltinD however you did have 2 nice Vw's to drive around in Dubai

[AltinD]

I still have them (both) ... plus after 3 years of talking I don't care anymore. Even if not here, I am still needed elsewhere in a similar position within the group ... I have earned the trust and I made real sacrifices to do it.

[FREKI]

Originally Posted by JPBrazil

I'm thinking about buying one, is it good?

I have been very pleased by them ( why I picked up a second one when I needed another monitor )

Great contrast, 2ms refresh rate, really thin, touch bottons and a pretty nice design


My only beef is that the design doesn't go well with Apple's design style

[KONSTANTINOUPOLIS]

Are there any DVB-T portable TVs (around 5-7 inches) in the contnent or are there any to be realesed in the near future? I am intersted of bying one.

I was looking the PMP "Archos 5" which has a plugin for digital tv but this plugin seems not be available/supported anymore by Archos.

[Spartan_X]

KONSTANTINOUPOLIS how are you first? I had a long time to see a post from you

I know for sure that there are car-stereos with TV receivers and GPS devices with TV as well. Most of these have DVB-T decoders. Also most portable DVD-players have TV receivers - probably also with DVB-T decoders as well. And i know of a mobile phone model with TV. All these are around the price range of 200 euros.

[KONSTANTINOUPOLIS]

Originally Posted by Spartan_X

KONSTANTINOUPOLIS how are you first? I had a long time to see a post from you

I had a quite serious bike accident couple days ago but thank God i am getting better now, thanks for your interest

Originally Posted by Spartan_X

know for sure that there are car-stereos with TV receivers and GPS devices with TV as well. Most of these have DVB-T decoders. Also most portable DVD-players have TV receivers - probably also with DVB-T decoders as well. And i know of a mobile phone model with TV. All these are around the price range of 200 euros.

I have a portable Nortek 7-inch dvd/tv player but is to big plus now with the digital tv soon will be totally useless.

I need something more handy, at the size of a pmp and with DVB-T support.

[FREKI]

Originally Posted by koolio

NICE ... hopefully the new ipod touch is being revealed simultaneously as well ... I am so desperately looking to buy a new mp3 player right now but I'm holding out for apple to release the new version first.

While there is a really good chance we'll see a new iPhoen ( and thus very likely Touch ) this spring - it will probable not reach stores until late April or even as late as June or July with the Touch following a bit later..

So if you are desperate picking up a current model Touch is probable not the worst solution as the new model will very likely be more expensive due to new tech, screen and features..


My personal guess is that any info on the next iPhone will first be released sometime in April and the phone will be on sale in June with the Touch comming out in the fall...


The Jan 27 breafing will be all about the Tablet/iSlate and the upgrade in the iPhone OS - it wouldn't make sense for them to release all the infor and products at once, they like to spread it out..



An alternative could be picking up a Nano now while waiting - they are very solid players, cheap and comes with some nice features too..

[FREKI]

B&O is going to release a 46" version of the BeoVision 10

[AltinD]

People have been able to install and use ANDROID OS on the MAEMO OS powered Nokia N900