Dell announced 10" Netbook

Dell joined to Netbook club. The 10" Netbook, named Inspiron Mini 10, has display with resolution 1024 x 576 (16:9), Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33 Ghz, 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM and Wi-FI 802.11b/g. You can also get more powerful model with 802.11n, Atom Z530 @ 1.6 Ghz and 160 GB hard drive. In the feature it will be availble built-in GPS, TV-Tuner, HSDPA 3G, 250 GB hard drive and 2 GB RAM. It comes in various choice of colours: Obsidian Black, Alpine White, Cherry Red, Pretty Pink, Ice Blue and Jade Green.

Google was down

If you tried to access your Gmail yesterday about 9.30 GMT for about 2.30 hours! worldwide for consumer and business accounts too - Google Apps. This is not good news if I mention that Google Apps Premier cost 50$ per year. They guarantee the data will be accessible 99.9% of time (9 hours not working in whole year). This is not guaranteed for users, who are using free Google Apps. Google find the bright side in that problem, telling users, that they can try Gmail Offline to read and browse old e-mails. On Google blog they posted the update what happened with explanation:

This morning, there was a routine maintenance event in one of our European data centers. This typically causes no disruption because accounts are simply served out of another data center.

Unexpected side effects of some new code that tries to keep data geographically close to its owner caused another data center in Europe to become overloaded, and that caused cascading problems from one data center to another. It took us about an hour to get it all back under control.

Google Earth revealed hidden CIA millitary base

Although the Pakistan government in 2006 claimed that the USA does not have any millitary bases in Pakistan anymore, the records (2006) from Google Earth, revealed that the US was secretly flying unmanned drones from the Shamsi airbase.

From this airbase the CIA was secretly launching the Predator drones that observed and attacked al-Qaeda and Taleban militants around Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. On later Google Earth records is possible to see new hangar, which experts assume to be for storing three Predators.

Big Google is watching you!

NVIDIA supports OpenGL 3

Three weeks after AMD, NVIDIA announced their version of graphic drivers, which fully supports and takes full advantage of all OpenGL 3.0 capabilities, accelerating their delivery of cutting-edge media platforms and applications. GeForce 182.06 (WHQL) drivers will be supported by GeForce 6,7,8,9 and 200. NVIDIA promised to provide users with most advanced functionality, best performance and widest compatibility possible. Due to OpenGL 3.0 the games like Fallout 3, Half Life 2 and Race Driver, will run faster for about 10% if antialiasing is enabled. They improved PhysX, which won't have any issues anymore with non-english systems. You can download the new drivers here.

The Pirate Bay trial

On monday The Pirate Bay trial has started. Without a doubt this is the most important case the file-sharing community has ever witnessed. This is going to be express trial, which will ends in just a couple days. On the second day of the Pirate Bay trial, due to shortcomings in the prosecution evidence, around 50% of the charges in the case are going to have to be withdrawn. The prosecution cannot prove that the .torrent files used as a evidence are actually using The Pirate Bay tracker. The charges left, are just relating to "asisting making available" Everything related to the production will be removed from the claim, said prosecutor Håkan Roswall. The defense said that this is a sensation. How many times does happen to drop half of charges in just one day of trial? Peter Sunde said that this is a "EPIC WINNING LOL".

Third day of trial has court ended early. Prosecution presented the amended charges. The defendants all called for acquittal while Carl Lundström’s lawyer scored points with the already legendary ‘King Kong’ defense. According to IFPI's Peter Danowsky, the damages claimed to the Pirate Bay are just the same as if the site had "legally" obtained licenses to distribute the music world-wide, regardless of whether all the downloader had later decided to buy the music or not. He called the Pirate Bay organized crime on grand scale, which made significant revenues. “If I have all this money they claim, someone has apparently stolen it from me,” Peter Sunde twittered in a reponse.

On fourth day the trial has focused on Fredrik, questioned at lenght. Movie industry lawyer Monique Wadsted unexpectedly introduced new evidence. The defence and the court complained at this point, with Wadsted choosing to shout down the judge. Later in a trial Fredrik was questioned about his relation to advertiser Oded Daniel. When the prosecution asked if Oded was involved in the technical aspects of TPB, Fredrik replied.. “No, he’s not good at that. He uses Windows, so…” There was laughter heard on the live audio feed after that remark, not from the court room, but from the listening lounge next door where the bloggers are situated.

If you want to check latest complet updates on a whole story also check Torrentfreak blog, where they are up to date with the full story of trial.

LCD TV market losing steam

In the last quarter of year 2008 the total number of shipments of LCD TV in North America was lower comparing to the last quarter in year 2007 according to data released by DisplaySearch.

Instead of 8.9 million LCD TV, it was sold just 8.7 million. Plasma TV shipments increasead by 28% during the fourth quarter of 2008 and overall were up to 10% for the year. The number of major manufactures of plasma sets is declining. Third biggest manufacturer Vizio will decease production of plasma and focus entirely on LCD TVs. The NEC has allready deceased production of plasma and
the Pioneer is also leaning toward exiting of plasma business. That leaves only Panasonic, Samsung and LG manufacturing plasma sets.

10 privacy settings every Facebook user should know

Web page All Facebook announced 1o privacy settings every Facebook user should know.

They advise to users how to use their friend list, how to remove theirself from Facebook search results, how to remove theirself from Google, how to make contact information private and much more. For full 10 advise with instruction visit their web page.

Acer is shipping 10.1" Netbook

Yesteday Acer has started to ship to retail stores 10.1" netbooks from Aspire One family. First shipments were send on Taiwan and Hong Kong. The other parts of the worlds will get them in the middle of February. Acer said that they will buy about nine to ten milions 10.1" LCD panels and that their sales plan in this year is to sell twelve to fifteen milions netbooks. As twice much as last year. 10.1" Netbooks are hot trend this year. Asus and HP are also looking up to sell touchscreen netbooks.

Acer, the world’s third largest supplier of personal computers is planing, that this year they are going to become world's Top Supplier of notebooks. Regardless global financial crisis, they asserted that in 2009 would at least sustain its market share and revenue, but if all goes well, both would be up. They have big plans with Gateway and Packard Bell brands, which they got in USA two years ago. Beside that, the shipments of personal computers in China and Japan will go up.

Heard about Prestigio brand?

Solar Bluetooth hands free
I am pretty sure you haven't heard about Prestigio brand yet.


If you will read this, you will know what is all about. Prestigio is the company, which provides Digital Home and Office consumer solutions. They have becoma a supplier of unique hi-tech solutions and product to consumer market.

Their products are designed very unique - elegant and hi-tech, which will blend them in your home or office perfectly. You can scroll through their web-page and I am sure you will find at least one thing interesting to you. From fancy USB data flashes to LCD PCs.

Personally I've tried Prestigio Bluetooth solar hands free. It is what they say, high quality product. We all know, that hands free portable devices always contain noise or echo when talking. I was positively surprised that here is not noise or echo at all. I almost have a feeling, that speaker is sitting near me. The batteries, it is solar charging. You will ask, how is going to charge in the winter time, because the sun is always behind the clouds. I use it for 2 weeks now, took out of the box and place it on the car windshield. I don't know, it is not empty yet - although it was very cold and almost no sun. You can also charge it with help of USB port on computer or car ordinary charger.

What is downside of this device? Because of it's fancy look, it is recommended that you take it off when the car is parked. You don't want to someone break in the car, don't you?

ATI 9.1 Catalyst drivers released

New Catalyst drivers are compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP and Linux operation systems. What is new you will ask me?

Full OpenGL 3.0 support:

• ARB_half_float_vertex
• ARB_texture_rg
• EXT_texture_array
• EXT_texture_integer
• EXT_transform_feedback
• NV_conditional_render
• WGL/GLX_create_context (for new 3.0 contexts)
• GLSL 1.3 • ARB_color_buffer_float
• ARB_vertex_array_object
• EXT_draw_buffers2
• ARB_framebuffer_object

For more information go here.

AMD Releases the Dragon Desktop Platform Technology

Dragon platform technology capable of delivering HD gaming and video processing performance that rivals “extreme” PC platforms priced more than twice as high

Empowering consumers to get elite-level computing performance for under $900, AMD (NYSE:AMD) today launched “Dragon” platform technology for desktopPCs featuring the new AMD Phenom™ II X4 processor. Even the most demanding users such as enthusiasts and high-end gamers desire affordable systems capable of delivering HD entertainment, graphic-intensive game play at the highest settings their monitors can handle, as well as quick and easy transfer of video entertainment to and from mobile devices. Dragon platform technology provides the power to do it all by combining AMD’s highest-performing CPU, the AMD Phenom II X4 processor, with award winning ATI Radeon™ HD 4800 Series graphics and AMD 7-Series chipsets. And it’s offered at an incredible value with Dragon-based systems available for up to $1,200 less than competing systems that deliver comparable performance.

Leading global PC manufacturers HP, Dell and Alienware plan to offer Dragon platform technology-based desktop systems in the first quarter of 2009, with Dell offering immediate availability in its Dell XPS desktop line. “The XPS 625 desktop powered by AMD’s Dragon platform technology features new AMD Phenom II processors to enable a significant boost in speed for enhanced gaming, as well as the flexibility to enable multi-tasking and HD video capabilities free from delays, stalls and lags,” said Arthur Lewis, general manager of Dell Gaming Group. “The XPS 625 gives gamers the unbelievable experience they expect at a price point that won’t break the bank.”

Reviews Celebrate “Dragon” price-performance leadership and headroom

Initial PC hardware review community assessments of Dragon platform technology and the AMD Phenom II X4 processor are notably positive and enthusiastic:

• “As a result of its exceptional energy efficiency advances and an affordable price/performance ratio, AMD Phenom II X4 deserves our seldom-granted Recommended Buy award.” – Tom's Hardware
• “The Phenom II puts AMD back in the running right in the middle of the enthusiast PC market, where price and performance converge in solid value.” - Scott Wasson of The Tech Report
• “The new Phenom II X4 920 and 940 are easily the most powerful desktop processors released from AMD to date. We get the feeling these first two Phenom II X4 processors are just the tip of the iceberg.” - Marco Chiappetta of HotHardware.com

Massive Headroom

The heart of Dragon platform technology is the AMD Phenom II X4 processor featuring intelligent multi-core technology that automatically provides processing power where it’s needed most during multitasking among demanding applications. Offering frequencies up to 3.0 GHz with significant headroom for overclocking, AMD Phenom II CPUs give consumers the power to use their favorite productivity, HD gaming and multimedia applications without skipping a beat.

“With Dragon platform technology, AMD is changing the desktop industry landscape by offering affordable performance and maximum headroom for gaming, video editing, and other media-intensive tasks,” said Leslie Sobon, vice president of product marketing, AMD. “Through our Fusion platform approach, AMD is able to deliver CPUs, GPUs and chipsets that work better together to meet the industry’s evolving needs today and well into the future.”

Beyond HD

ATI Radeon HD 4800 series graphics and AMD 7-series chipsets enable Dragon platform technology to deliver a superior visual experience by giving consumers the ability to enjoy smooth video, brilliant images and immersive games. The platform offers fast DirectX® 10 graphics to improve integrated graphics processor performance, and ATI Radeon HD 4800 series graphics give consumers the ultimate gaming experience, even at the highest game settings on display resolutions beyond HD, limited only by the resolution of their monitors.

“AMD is known for bringing fantastic hardware innovations to market in a way that allows consumers to enjoy new experiences and take full advantage of the gaming capabilities that DirectX delivers,” said Walt McGraw, director of Windows Gaming for Microsoft. “The new Dragon platform technology is another great example of AMD driving the kind of platform technology robustness and scalability that today’s PC users demand.”

Energy Efficiency

Dragon platform technology enables manufacturers to design and develop PCs that deliver performance when you need it while saving power when you don’t. AMD Phenom II CPUs feature AMD Cool'n'Quiet™ 3.0 which automatically provides dramatic power management improvements with minimal performance impact. Its efficient multi-core design offers low processor temperatures and quiet fans, even when computing in HD.

Free Software Supercharging

Consumers can take performance to the next level with free software from AMD. Download all now at: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx.

• AMD Fusion for Gaming -- Easy-to-use program that, with a single click, automatically suspends resource consuming background tasks to focus more system performance on gaming.
• AMD OverDrive™ -- Highly-customizable utility with greater functionality that can help power-users take system performance even further, with advanced over-clocking controls that can be turned on and off with a single click.
• ATI Catalyst™ with ATI Stream technology -- Version 8.12 and later automatically merges the power of the CPU and GPU to enable a growing number of applications, such as ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theater and CyberLink PowerDirector 7, to run dramatically faster than when using the CPU alone.
• ATI Video Converter -- With the latest Catalyst Driver 8.12, the new ATI Video Converter utilizes the graphics processor and ATI Stream technology to quickly and easily convert your videos to play on portable entertainment devices much faster than converting video using a microprocessor alone.
• AMD Fusion Media Explorer Beta -- Simplifies the entertainment experiencing by enabling a simple but powerful way for consumers to interact with their music, photos, movies, TV and social media on their PC. This utility offers one-button postings of photos to Facebook™ accounts as well as automatic related media searches when the system is online, plus much more.

Elite Performance for Less Money

End users can experience high-end performance with Dragon platform technology from AMD, all while spending approximately $1,200 less than competitive offerings. Dragon platform technology consisting of the new AMD Phenom II X4 processor, ATI Radeon™ HD 4870 1GB graphics card, the AMD 790GX motherboard and 4 GB of DDR2-1066 memory can be purchased for approximately $900 USD. By comparison, a competitive platform consisting of an Intel Core i7 3.2 GHz, x58 motherboard, 3 GB of DDR3-1333 memory and the same GPU can be purchased for just over $2100. Both platforms run the most demanding PC games like Crysis™ at elite performance levels, and deliver comparable Crysis benchmark frame rates at an average of 38 frames per second.