The outer casing is a matte finished aluminum to prevent fingerprints, it can come in black or silver with a hint of gold. Each Zune HD supports a full WiFi web browser which is a new feature for the Zune brand. Zune HD reviews will have to note the specific features that Zune apart from the iPod touch such as the HD radio reception and HD video output at 720p resolution.
Question:
With these features, will Microsoft Zune HD have a product comparable to the Apple iPod Touch ? are these cool features and comparable operation enough for Microsoft to take a bite of Apple and gain market share??
Analysis:
Quite frankly, NO...
While the Zune appears to function as well as or better then an iPod touch, there are items beyond the product itself that make iPods so popular. Looking at the history of the iPod, it is iTunes that has provided most of the growth for the product. Being a part of the CE industry during the rise of the iPod, I have used players that have sounded better, functioned better and provided more pleasure then iPods themselves. However, it you look at the ease of use of the iPod with iTunes as the means to load content, it has a benefit to any other player.
One down side to the Zune HD is that it will not play games or run apps (at least in the first release), this is something that is making the iPod touch and iPhone so popular. Consumers are not really buying it cause it sounds or looks good, the fact that you use it for everything is one of the most appealing factors.
Over the years Apple iTunes and iPod have become the known name for portable players and downloading music. These Apple brands are used like Band Aid and Kleenex to refer to downloading and playback. Because of the popularity, there is an entire industry based on the iPod. Everything that you could ever want from a new blingy cover to a dock so that you can listen on a big system are available, there are even TVs with docs so that video can be watched at home. AV product manufacturers have spent years developing products to support iPod and it will be a long time before they start developing for the Zune. Additionally, consumers have spent years building libraries in iTunes, and I bet that the Zune will not sync or play that content...
Microsoft has a counter measure for iTunes with ZunePass, this is a monthly fee service that allows for downloading of content to the Zune. While this is something that is needed, Microsoft would have been better to stay out of that game and partner with an established service such as Rhapsody. At this point in the game Rhapsody continues to grow as the alternative to iTunes, and while I am sure that purchased music from Rhapsody can be used on the Zune, having the subscription content would be better.
The bottom line is that while the Zune may have some advantages in performance, it lacks the support that the iPod has. The lower cost for the Zune HD may steer new users in Microsoft direction, it will not bring old iPod users over. However, only time will tell, as stranger things in Consumer Electronics have happened.
by Rushrush
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Microsoft Zune HD: Can it defeat Apple IPod touch ??
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Mobile Social Networking and Used Cell Phones
Mobile social networking is a trend that is growing at an incredible rate; it could soon overtake the need to access a computer for all social networking activities. Social networking companies, like Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace, have partnered together with mobile phone carriers and mobile phone manufacturers to ensure that their communities not only featured prominently within the web start pages but that their mobile applications function correctly on all internet-ready mobile phones. This is allowing people to be in constant contact with their online social communities.
The growing popularity of social networking is reaching mobile phone users from all walks of life; students are taking advantage of mobile social networking to help them stay in touch with their peers, family, and even with their schoolwork. Many schools (universities especially) have permitted their teachers and other activity groups within the schools to form private groups on social networking sites. These groups allow students to connect with one another when not in the classroom, get help with their homework, and keep up with assignments. The groups are accessible via the mobile networking applications; so long as the mobile phone being utilized is capable of loading the full application onto it. Parents of teenagers may not be willing to spend a small fortune upgrading their mobile phones so that they can have better access to a social networking website; however, a used cell phone that is adequate for accessing the social networking sites can be purchased more affordably from a reputable third party cell phone seller.
In addition to the student population using mobile social networking, there is a rather large contingent of stay at home moms using the available social networking sites to keep in touch with other stay at home moms, friends, family, and even with support groups that have set up presences on social networking websites. For a busy mom that has little to no time to sit down at a computer, the ability to quickly post a message, respond to a message, or check out an invitation in the palm of their hand is an invaluable tool!
The social networking companies mentioned above do have fierce competition in companies that provide only mobile social networking; they have little to no web presence. With lower overhead and limited marketing budget, these companies rely on consumer word of mouth to ensure their communities grow.
As the technology grows and the available software improves, the communications on social networking sites will no longer be limited in nature; consumers will be able to perform all functions on a mobile phone that they would using a computer. In fact, with each passing day, mobile phones are becoming more and more like mobile computers - with functionality beyond web-interfacing like work processors, picture editors, and so on. Mobile phones that are technologically advanced will become more and more affordable for all consumers; however, for those who have a limited budget to spend and do not mind being one generation behind, a good refurbished used cell phone will be a great option.
by Jerry Atkins
Thursday, 20 August 2009
7 Tips on How to Select The Perfect Laptop
Tip 1: Know The Purpose Of Your Laptop. In other words, why are you buying a laptop? This is extremely important to know and admit to yourself because different purposes favor different aspects in a laptop. Are you a gamer? Then your going to want a great graphics card and a good amount of RAM (Random Access Memory). Are you a casual at-home user? Then you will want a great battery-life along with some Processor Speed (Ghz). It's very important to know what you need for your dream laptop.
Tip 2: Choose a Computer Look That fits your style. The best laptop for you is the one that is going to make you squirm by just looking at it. You should pick a color that you either love or a color that fits your personality. Professionals who use there computer for work and profit usually prefer white or gray. Experts who are serious and enjoy showing off their knowledge tend to go for black. More Unique users branch out and purchase red, green, or blue laptops. Also, are you after a laptop that is paper thin? Do you prefer a big screen? These are things you need to know before hand so you will know the perfect laptop the instant you see it. Check out my webpage (in the resource box) for way more information on this topic.
Tip 3: Know your price range. You can find the right computer for you much faster if you use advanced searches and enter in a price range. This will keep results off the page that you instantly disregard because they are either way out of your budget, or look way to cheap without good specs. How do you know your price range? Just ask yourself, "If I saw my dream laptop, with every attribute I wanted and more, would I pay $700 for it. What about $750. $800?" You get the point. Also, tell yourself your not going to jump on any deals that are WAY to good to be true. Obviously, your not going to get your dream laptop for $150. So don't aim for it. A really good way to get an awesome laptop for a much cheaper price is to build it yourself!
Tip 4: Aim For Decent Internal System Aspects. Like I said before, different purposes for a computer lead to different main aspects. But, overall you don't want anything to be horrible even if the rest is great. For example, you are getting 3 GB of RAM, a whopping 200 GB of Hard Disk Space, and for a great price, sounds great! But wait, the processor speed is only .5 Ghz, slow as a snail. Unfortunately, one major drawback like this can prevent us from being pleased with the laptop. Click Here for a great free table that shows you my personal opinions for good aspects.
Tip 5: Microsoft Windows or Apple MAC? This is a VERY big decision that you have to make. It all depends on your style and how you want your files organized. Windows gives you more of a decision on what security settings to use and where your files are placed. MAC can be very handy though because it organizes your files and folders for you. Which is for who? It depends on how much you know. If you know a lot about computers you will probably prefer Windows, where you can customize it to your style. If you don't know much and don't have a clue what your doing, then MAC is for you because its very hands off and keeps you from accessing your dangerous or program files. One more pro for MAC, Apple creates its own products for its products. What do I mean? Anything, and I mean anything, that is created by Apple for computers will work on your computer. Check out my website for way more free information on operating systems.
Tip 6: Get a Laptop that has that perfect "feel" to it. What am I talking about? Certain laptops may have something to them that will utterly annoy you forever. Examples:A screechy keyboard, USB ports in the back of the computer, an unresponsive mouse pad, etc. Look online to find information about other users of the laptop who had "annoyances," or, better yet, ask if you can try using the laptop for a test run before actually purchasing it. The goal is to find a laptop where everything is right where you want it, and the feel to everything is great!
Tip 7: Make sure you are getting everything you think you are getting. Buying a laptop off Ebay, Craigslist, or any other place that sells used or refurbished laptops? Then MAKE SURE to check contents of the package before purchasing. Some people will scam you and send you a laptop that has no power cord! Even some stores these days sell new laptops that have no wireless card (used for connecting to the internet wirelessly)! It is better safe than sorry, don't get cheated out of your money!
by Kyle
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
6 Tips On Choosing Online File Storage Systems
Storage systems have been in use from ancient times. People have used boxes, trunks, filing cabinets, safety deposit boxes, computer serves, floppy disks, external drives and so on to store important personal and business data.
Safe storage now has new avatar online storage facilities that will securely store important information and protect the data from natural, physical, or mechanical disasters. Since the information in online storage systems is stored away from the home or business premises the security is multifold.
Online storage systems are both practical and cost effective ways of storing data. The files are stored after SSL encryption and this ensure protection of privacy. Files stored online can only be retrieved using a password and log in. Reputed storage is offered by Acpana, NovaStar Online Backup Service, connected Data Protector and Data Deposit Box.
When selecting an online storage system consider:
1. How much space you need and the frequency with which you will be accessing the stored information.
2. Find out what system the online storage facility uses. Check reliability of the system.
3. Find out whether they charge a fixed amount for storage or charge depending on the amount of space you actually use. Fixed costs are ideal for large storage but if your storage needs are 500MB or less then a pay per storage plan is more feasible.
4. Always comparison shop for an online storage solution. Compare prices as well as features.
5. Read through the terms and conditions carefully and always conduct a reliability check.
6. In case the online storage offers free storage for a limited period take up the offer as this will help you understand the system as well as its pros and cons.
All computer systems big or small should have a data protection plan in action. Ensure regular local back ups and a second back up in the form of an online storage facility. Log on to the World Wide Web and read unbiased reviews as well as expert tips on online storage facilities and its pros and cons. Always be an informed user of any system.
According to IT experts online storage solutions are superior to traditional back ups. The main advantage of an online back up system is that files can be accessed from anywhere. However to be effective the online back up system has to be understood and implemented properly. Whether or not online back up is cost effective for every individual depends on the amount of space needed. An important concern is of course security of the data files and whether the encryption process if efficient.
Before selecting an online storage system ask about: encryption methods and frequency; security measures and guarantees; whether only files that have been changed will be stored in back up or all files; how will data transfer take place and its regularity.
Choose an online storage facility that is most suited to your needs and cost effective.
by Timothy Rudon
Monday, 10 December 2007
What Is Internet Fax?
Internet Fax is simply using the Internet or your email system to send and receive faxes. Since it is web based, you can send your faxes anytime anywhere; as long as you have an Internet connection and these days that's available just about everywhere.
You sign up with an Internet fax service provider to get your own fax number (local or toll free) which you use in the same manner as you would use any fax number. There is a small charge for this service but keep in mind you do not need an extra phone line to do Internet faxing since everything is done online.
Many small and large business owners are switching over to Internet Fax for some obvious advantages: it is very convenient, it is very fast, it offers more privacy, many faxes can be sent/received simultaneously (no busy signals) and it is available wherever you have the Internet. Plus there are no messy fax machines and no need for a second phone line.
One of the most asked questions about Internet Fax relates to the confusion over just how the whole thing works. Many traditional fax users can't quite get their heads around the idea of having faxes without the traditional fax machine.
Basically, you sign up with a fax service provider and get your own fax number and you send/receive your faxes thru your email system - your fax is attached to an email as either a TIFF or PDF format file. You can access your faxes from an online interface (your fax login site) where your faxes are received and sent. You can also store your faxes online there.
What confuses most people who are not familiar with online faxing is the question: can I still send my faxes to the old traditional machines, since many of my business partners may not be using Internet Fax?
The answer is YES!
You can send your faxes to the old traditional fax machine and if they have your fax number, they can still return a fax to you via the old traditional manner or fax machine.
Here's how Internet Fax works:
You use a fax gateway or Internet Fax provider/server to handle your faxes. For example, say if you were sending a fax.
Computer/Internet -> Fax provider/server -> Phone line -> Fax machine
You use your computer and the Internet to log into your online account/page to send your fax to your fax provider/server which then uses the phone line to send your fax to the receiving fax machine.
If you are receiving a Fax
Fax machine -> Phone line -> Fax provider/server -> Email message (thru Internet) -> Your Email account
Someone uses a fax machine to send you a fax which goes thru the phone line to your fax provider/server which converts it into a TIFF or PDF file and sends you an email message with your fax attached in your email.
If both parties are using Internet Fax, then your faxes can be sent/received using your email systems over the Internet.
Computer/email -> Fax provider/server -> Computer/email
What you really have to keep in mind, once you sign up for an Internet fax service you will have an online interface (login site) where you can send and receive your faxes. Then when you send or receive a fax, you get a confirmation in your web interface and/or by email.
This offers some great advantages such as receiving and sending your faxes whenever and wherever you access the Internet. No more busy signals, no more messy fax machines, no more nosy workers seeing the contents of your fax, and no extra phone line. Plus, many faxes can be sent/received simultaneously, even when your computer is turned off. No more missed faxes because your phone line was busy.
However, in order to get all these advantages you have to sign up for an Internet fax service. There are many well known Internet fax providers such as MyFax, eFax, RapidFax, TrustFax, Send2Fax... and some very good lesser known faxing companies such as MetroHiSpeed out of Seattle and Faxage out of Denver.
A word of caution, when signing up for any long term business service it pays to do your homework first. It pays to shop around mainly because even any small savings may prove significant over the long haul. Prices can range from very cheat (under $20 a year) to around $10 - $15 a month depending on the kind of service you need. There are many different plans and services, and keep in mind, you will pay more for International faxing.
Internet Fax seems to be the way of the future as more and more businesses go online. Besides, as we become more and more modernized, computers are offering us simple and convenient solutions to many of our daily traditional business tasks such as faxing. Can your business or any company really afford to be left behind or not take advantage of the benefits of Internet Fax? Can you still remain competitive without Internet Fax? It's your call?
by: Titus Hoskins
10 Simple Ways To Speed Up Your Windows XP
1. Defrag Disk to Speed Up Access to Data
One of the factors that slow the performance of the computer is disk fragmentation. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. To speed up the response time, you should monthly run Disk Defragmenter, a Windows utility that defrags and consolidates fragmented files for quicker computer response.
* Follow Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
* Click the drives you want to defrag and click Analyze
* Click Defragment
2. Detect and Repair Disk Errors
Over time, your hard disk develops bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing difficult or even impossible. To detect and repair disk errors, Windows has a built-in tool called the Error Checking utility. It’ll search the hard disk for bad sectors and system errors and repair them for faster performance.
* Follow Start > My Computer
* In My Computer right-click the hard disk you want to scan and click Properties
* Click the Tools tab
* Click Check Now
* Select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box
* Click Start
3. Disable Indexing Services
Indexing Services is a little application that uses a lot of CPU. By indexing and updating lists of all the files on the computer, it helps you to do a search for something faster as it scans the index list. But if you know where your files are, you can disable this system service. It won’t do any harm to you machine, whether you search often or not very often.
* Go to Start
* Click Settings
* Click Control Panel
* Double-click Add/Remove Programs
* Click the Add/Remove Window Components
* Uncheck the Indexing services
* Click Next
4. Optimize Display Settings
Windows XP is a looker. But it costs you system resources that are used to display all the visual items and effects. Windows looks fine if you disable most of the settings and leave the following:
* Show shadows under menus
* Show shadows under mouse pointer
* Show translucent selection rectangle
* Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
* Use visual styles on windows and buttons
5. Speedup Folder Browsing
You may have noticed that everytime you open My Computer to browse folders that there is a little delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers everytime you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing speed, you can disable the “Automatically search for network folders and printers” option.
6. Disable Performance Counters
Windows XP has a performance monitor utility which monitors several areas of your PC’s performance. These utilities take up system resources so disabling is a good idea.
* Download and install the Extensible Performance Counter List (http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/exctrlst-o.asp)
* Then select each counter in turn in the ‘Extensible performance counters’ window and clear the ‘performance counters enabled’ checkbox at the bottom button below
7. Optimize Your Pagefile
You can optimize your pagefile. Setting a fixed size to your pagefile saves the operating system from the need to resize the pagefile.
* Right click on My Computer and select Properties
* Select the Advanced tab
* Under Performance choose the Settings button
* Select the Advanced tab again and under Virtual Memory select Change
* Highlight the drive containing your page file and make the initial Size of the file the same as the Maximum Size of the file.
Windows XP sizes the page file to about 1.5X the amount of actual physical memory by default. While this is good for systems with smaller amounts of memory (under 512MB) it is unlikely that a typical XP desktop system will ever need 1.5 X 512MB or more of virtual memory. If you have less than 512MB of memory, leave the page file at its default size. If you have 512MB or more, change the ratio to 1:1 page file size to physical memory size.
8. Remove Fonts for Speed
Fonts, especially TrueType fonts, use quite a bit of system resources. For optimal performance, trim your fonts down to just those that you need to use on a daily basis and fonts that applications may require.
* Open Control Panel
* Open Fonts folder
* Move fonts you don’t need to a temporary directory (e.g. C:\FONTBKUP?) just in case you need or want to bring a few of them back. The more fonts you uninstall, the more system resources you will gain.
9. Use a Flash Memory to Boost Performance
To improve performance, you need to install additional RAM memory. It’ll let you boot your OS much quicker and run many applications and access data quicker. There is no easiest and more technically elegant way to do it than use eBoostr (http://www.eboostr.com).
eBoostr is a little program that lets you improve a performance of any computer, powered by Windows XP in much the same way as Vista’s ReadyBoost. With eBoostr, if you have a flash drive, such as a USB flash thumb drive or an SD card, you can use it to make your computer run better. Simply plug in a flash drive through a USB socket and Windows XP will use eBoostr to utilize the flash memory to improve performance.
The product shows the best results for frequently used applications and data, which becomes a great feature for people who are using office programs, graphics applications or developer tools. It’ll surely attract a special attention of laptop owners as laptop upgrade is usually more complicated and laptop hard drives are by definition slower than those of desktops.
10. Perform a Boot Defragment
There's a simple way to speed up XP startup: make your system do a boot defragment, which will put all the boot files next to one another on your hard disk. When boot files are in close proximity to one another, your system will start faster.
On most systems, boot defragment should be enabled by default, but it might not be on yours, or it might have been changed inadvertently. To make sure that boot defragment is enabled:
* Run the Registry Editor
* Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
* Set the Enable string value to Y if it is not already set to Y.
* Exit the Registry
* Reboot
Hope you find these 10 tips useful. Have a nice day!
by: Andrew Zarudnev
Sunday, 9 December 2007
7 Tips For Buying An Affordable Laptop
Computers for people on the go that is what laptops or notebooks are, your work and entertainment move with you. The computer markets are flooded with laptops of all kinds and configurations. There are laptops that have WAP cards that keep you connected to the World Wide Web and yet others that can be connected via cables to the internet through mobile phones or hotel cable connections. There are affordable laptops and state-of-art laptops that can run your life for you. In fact at a computer showcasing event a company showcased a laptop that can turn on washing machines, garden sprinklers, ovens, coffee makers, bath water, as well as home security systems. So, even if you are half way across town you can have hot coffee and a warm bath waiting for you when you return. Don’t be scared a laptop can be affordable too!
1. When planning look for older technology that works well. Don’t aim for the latest. You can buy slightly older laptops with wireless capabilities for lower amounts, two years ago a wireless laptop sold for USD 2500 now there are versions available for even USD1000.
2. Look for laptops with alternate technology. Often an AMD laptop may be more affordable than one that runs on Intel.
3. Used or refurbished laptops are sold for less than half the price of new ones. So you could think about buying one that is around one year old. Very often power users or gamers are so passionate about their laptop configurations that they immediately upgrade when newer technologies become available. Scan through gaming websites and for laptops on sale. The World Wide Web is a great place to buy laptops that are second hand. Look at Trading Sections for posts from gamers who want to sell gaming laptops.
4. Study configurations of laptops once you determine your needs. Try and choose a laptop that has at least 512 MB memory. A laptop with 512 MB can run most non graphic intensive applications.
5. Another aspect you need to look into is processor speed.
6. Try and buy a laptop that is branded this will ensure service and repair continuity.
7. Laptops are sold online at specialist as well as auction websites. So, get a laptop that suits your budget by going online and visiting reputable and leading websites that sell laptops. A comparison study is important as it will save you money.
If you are web savvy and know where to look you can save money on purchases of a laptop or other items by buying what you need on the World Wide Web.
By Arthur Raise
Posts
