Mac Loves WinMo?

I recently received an announcement from Eltima Software regarding a new product of theirs called SyncMate.  Unfortunately I don't have a Mac so I can't relate any first hand experience with this software (yet), but it sounds pretty nifty, so I thought I'd let all of you know about it in case you happened to own a Mac and a Windows Mobile device.  And since the lite version is free, you have nothing to lose for giving it a try!

"From now on, synchronizing your Mac with Pocket PC is as easy as one, two, three! Let us introduce SyncMate to you! SyncMate is a new and very simple synchronization tool by Eltima Software. It is presented in two versions, Free and Expert.

Free Edition allows you to synchronize applications like Address Book, iCal, etc. You can also easily read SMS directly from your Mac, check detailed device information (battery state, etc) and visually analyze memory usage.

Expert Edition (available for a small fee) grants you even more synchronization possibilities! With Expert edition you can synchronize time and share Internet between your Mac and your mobile device, sync iTunes and iPhoto.

Expert Edition allows you to synchronize separate folders. Notes and To Do’s synchronization are also available with SyncMate Expert Edition.

You can view all the applications installed on PDA from your Mac.

Manage all text messages not even touching your Pocket PC! Send, receive, create and delete SMS when working at your Mac - that's what SyncMate Expert gives you.

With SyncMate Expert Edition you can even sync your mail!

SyncMate installation is very easy. You do not have to unlock device in order to install SyncMate. Mac can be connected to mobile device via USB or Wi-Fi.

SyncMate is compatible with Mac OS X platform (Mac OS X 10.4 and higher, Mac OS X 10.5). Device compatibility: Windows Mobile Pocket 5, Windows Mobile Smartphone 5; Windows Mobile 6 Standard, Windows Mobile 6 Classic and Windows Mobile 6 Professional; Windows Mobile 6.1.

Detailed information you can get at: http://www.sync-mac.com/"

 

Source : http://www.pocketpcmag.com/

Intel ships X-25E Extreme SATA Solid-State Drive

Oct 17, 2008 (TELECOMWORLDWIRE via COMTEX) -- INTC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Intel Corporation (Nasdaq:INTC), an IT technology company, announced on 16 October that it has begun shipping its highest-performing solid-state drive (SSD), the Intel X-25E Extreme SATA Solid-State Drive, aimed at server, workstation and storage systems.

The SSDs contain no moving parts and instead feature 50nm single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory technology. The Intel X25-E increases server, workstation and storage system performance by 100 times over hard disk drives as measured in Input/Output Per Second (IOPS). In addition, a storage model which includes SSDs can lower energy costs by up to five times.

Intel said the product has been designed for intense computing workloads which benefit from high random read and write performance, as measured in IOPS. Key technical performance specifications of the 32GB Intel X-25E SATA SSD include 35,000 IOPS (4KB Random Read), 3,300 IOPS (4KB Random Write) and 75 microsecond read latency. This performance, combined with low active power of 2.4W, delivers up to 14,000 IOPS per watt. The product also achieves up to 250MB/s sequential read speeds and up to 170MB/s sequential write speeds, all in a 2.5" form factor.

The company said it has achieved this performance through innovations such as 10-channel NAND architecture with Native Command Queuing, proprietary controller and firmware efficient in advanced wear-levelling and low write amplification. The 32GB X25-E is capable of writing up to 4PB of data over a three-year period (3.7TB/day) and double that for the 64GB version.

The 32GB capacity drive is in production and priced at USD695 for quantities up to 1,000. The 64GB version is expected to sample in Q4 2008, with production estimated for Q1 2009.

Comments on this story may be sent to tww.feedback@m2.com

For full details on Intel Corp (INTC) click here. Intel Corp (INTC) has Short Term PowerRatings of 5. Details on Intel Corp (INTC) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

 

Source : http://www.tradingmarkets.com/

Put your PC to work and watch savings mount

My best performing investment right now is a huge popcorn can filled with pocket change. Meanwhile, my fingers shake when I log on to various sites to check how my real investments are doing.

In times like these, “PC” can stand for Preserve Cash. Let’s talk about a few ways you can save money using your home computer. None are gimmicks and all can honestly save you a few bucks.

Make cheaper calls: Many of you already have unlimited, or practically unlimited, long distance calling as part of your cellphone service. But it’s not free, no matter what the advertisements say. You pay for it as part of your monthly bill. Many readers can move to lower priced plans by using Skype (www.skype.com). Computer-to-computer calls to other Skype users are truly free. Or for mere pocket change you can call telephones not equipped with Skype. As a bonus, you can use a Web cam for video calls. There’s no downside to downloading and using this service.

Find cheaper gas: For a time after the late summer hurricanes, gas was so hard to find around Atlanta that I didn’t bother to look at the price. That probably preserved my mental health since gas was obscenely expensive. Prices still are crazy high by any historic measure. That’s why using sites like www.ajccars.com/articles/gas-prices.html and nationally, www.gasbuddy.com are just common sense. If you haven’t tried these services you’ll be shocked at the spread between the cheapest gas and the most expensive.

Keep track of your money: If you’re not using a program such as Quicken or Microsoft Money, you need to change your ways. For one thing, Quicken helps me keep track of deductible expenses, for another it makes sure I have an easy-to-understand picture of the money that is coming in and going out. Besides, it tracks my few remaining investments and — in one case — the declines on the screen convinced me to move out of one fund in time to avoid even steeper loses.

Cut TV bills: That expensive HDTV can deliver terrific high def pictures when connected to an antenna. Many readers could drop satellite or cable service entirely and save up to $100 a month. While you won’t get the programming selection, you can supplement the selection with Web sites that offer free programming and by renting an occasional DVD. Use Google to search for “free online TV.” I’ll offer one TV Web site as a starter: www.freetvonline.com/.

Shop online: Instead of driving all over town, use the Web to find the best prices. That way you can drive directly to the store knowing you are getting a good deal and that the item is in stock. Or, you can order the product online — just make sure you factor in shipping costs when you do a price comparison.

Do-it-yourself: The PC and the Web are a DIY library. Use the Web to learn how to do all manner of simple home maintenance tasks. One site to check is www.doityourself.com/. Also, use your ink jet printer to produce slick greeting cards (they’re about $3 to $5 each at the store), photos and business cards. Or make your own gifts by putting together custom music CDs.

Follow these tips and I guarantee you’ll save money. Next to filling my gourmet popcorn can with pocket change, this is one of the best methods I know to stay afloat during stormy times.

 

Source : http://www.ajc.com/

International. Nokia Q3 down as economic gloom spreads

Nokia's third-quarter sales and profits fell from a year ago, but the world's top handset maker soothed growing fears about the fourth quarter. Cellphone makers have started to feel the pinch from slowing economies, but so far booming demand from emerging markets has outweighed weakness in developed markets. Having reported volume sales growth in excess of 20 per cent for several quarters, this time Nokia only managed an increase of five per cent to 117.8 million phones as sales fell in Europe -- by more than five per cent -- and in North America.

 

Source : http://www.canada.com/

AMD says deal preserves Intel agreement

MALTA — Advanced Micro Devices Inc. says its $7.2 billion deal with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to spin off manufacturing is structured to preserve a long-standing technology-sharing agreement with rival Intel Corp.

The agreement, which has been in place since the 1970s, is vital to AMD's long-term success, as well as to its plans to build a $4.6 billion computer chip factory at Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta.

Some analysts also question whether the Intel agreement poses a risk to the Abu Dhabi deal. The Sunnyvale, Calif., company is spinning off two chip fabs in Germany into a new entity called The Foundry Co. that will make microprocessors for AMD and other companies. Foundry is planning to build the Luther Forest fab as well.

Essentially, AMD says its agreement with Intel can be extended to AMD's subsidiaries, and technically, Foundry will be treated as an AMD subsidiary.

"We are completely confident the structure of this transaction takes into account our cross-license agreements," AMD spokesman Travis Bullard said.

Under the language of the 2001 agreement, a subsidiary is defined as an entity that is at least 50 percent controlled by AMD.

Foundry will be 44.4 percent owned by AMD and 55.6 percent owned by Advanced Technology Investment Co., an investment fund owned by Abu Dhabi.

However, Foundry's board of directors will be equally split between representatives from AMD and ATIC, which AMD officials say satisfies the definition of subsidiary.

Also, the Intel agreement says that a subsidiary is defined as an entity that distributes no more than 70 percent and no less than 30 percent of its profits to AMD.

Under the agreement with Abu Dhabi, AMD will get 45 percent of Foundry's profits, meaning Foundry falls well within the guidelines for being an AMD subsidiary.

Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy, asked on Friday if AMD's explanation was satisfactory, said "We certainly need to learn more. We may need to ask AMD some questions, too. But we're not in a position to block (creation of Foundry). We'll continue to do our research."

 

Source : http://timesunion.com/

Nintendo Wiis and iPods on pet danger list

Guinea pigs, rabbits and cats are the animals most likely to fall victim to new technology, but reptiles and birds have also come undone at the hands of 21st century toys.

Computer laptops, remote controls and plasma screen televisions are also high on the gadget danger list.

And although Britain is meant to be a nation of pet lovers, it appears we are unwilling to take responsibility for their accidents: the majority of people blame their "clumsy" animals instead.

More than a third those surveyed said that their pet had caused injury to themselves by eating something they shouldn't, while a third of animals have hurt themselves by jumping off furniture.

Only one third of humans admitted responsibility for an injury suffered by their animals.

"The survey shows how involved our pets are in our everyday lives which is something that can take a while to get used to," said vet Brian Faulkner.

"Dogs are especially inquisitive and often get under your feet when you are concentrating on something else.

"Luckily, most of the time they see you before you see them and manage to move out of the way before you step on them but it is not uncommon for vets to have to help them through the odd accidental owner-inflicted scrape and bruise."

The survey of 3,000 animal owners by Petplan revealed a number of unlikely accidents, including a cat who singed of her whiskers by trying to sniff a candle, and a dog had to be treated by vets after swallowing a pair of knickers.

Top 10 gadgets most likely in injure pets

1) iPod (15 per cent)

2) Laptop (10.8 per cent)

3) Remote Control (10.8 per cent)

4) Plasma TV (10.8 per cent)

5) Wii (10 per cent)

6) DVD Player (10 per cent)

7) Playstation (8.3 per cent)

8) Nintendo DS (5.8 per cent)

9) Mobile Phone (5.8 per cent)

10) Karaoke Machine (5.8 per cent)

Source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

LittleBigPlanet’s little expressions cause big problems

Sony has suffered a blow to its plans for a strong PlayStation 3 showing this holiday season with a delay to one of its marquee games.

LittleBigPlanet has been released to reviewers, but retail copies are now being held back while a part of the soundtrack considered of possible offence to Muslims is changed.

In a statement, Sony said it had been brought to its attention that one of the background music tracks contained two expressions that could be found in the Qur’an.

It said it was rectifying the situation and apologised for any offence it might have caused.

LittleBigPlanet, an innovative game where players can create and share their own levels, is a key title. Sony has emphasised that its games line-up will be the biggest lure for console buyers this season, rather than any price-cut strategy.

September US sales figures, released on Thursday by the NPD research firm, showed the PS3 trailed badly in third in September, with 232,000 PS3s sold. Microsoft’s Xbox 360, which benefited from a price cut on September 5, sold 347,000 units, while the Nintendo Wii sold 687,000.

LittleBigPlanet will be released a week late on October 27 in North America, but gamer sites are reporting a November 14 date for the rest of the world, meaning a two or three week delay there.

In the meantime, Nintendo will release a key title for the holidays on Monday in Wii Music. It represents the third leg of its strategy to produce categories of all-ages activity games. following Wii Sports and Wii Fit. Using the existing motion-sensing controllers, Wii Music allows gamers to play along to more than 50 songs, choosing from more than 60 instruments.

Wii Fit, which uses the balance board accessory, sold more than 500,000 units in the US in September, helping to boost console sales as well. Nintendo hopes Wii Music will have the  same effect over the next two months.

The Wii has been a decisive winner so far in the next-generation console race and its success has only been impeded by the console selling out at peak buying times,

Denise Kaigler, Nintendo’s head of corporate affairs in the US, told me this week Nintendo boosted monthly production by a third to 2.4m units worldwide in April and aimed to have increased numbers available at retail this holiday season.

“We know more consumers will be able to find them, and we’ve no desire to have shortages, but we won’t know till January just how successful we’ve been,” she said.

Source : http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/

Xbox 360 head Greenberg mean spirited with Sony PS3?

Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, strikes again by targeting the PS3 with some inflammatory comments. Just a few days ago, Greenberg in a podcast compared Blu-ray to UMD. He is at it again, this time attacking the PS3’s potential holiday sales.

According to Kotaku, Greenberg stated with confidence that the Xbox 360 will outsell the PS3 on a global scale this holiday.  He said, “we feel confident that we’ll outsell the PS3 this holiday season in North America and in Europe. We’ll do it on a global scale.”

Greenberg also boasted that the Xbox 360 had a 42% increase in hardware sales month to month from August to September. He also, specifically points out that the PS3 had “flat sales” if you factor in the fact that September consists of five weeks compared to four weeks in August.

Basically, he is trying to indicate that the PS3 experienced no sales gain despite a sales increase of roughly 53k. From his cockiness, you can tell Greenberg is a classy guy. Jack Tretton, head of Sony America, should take some notes from him. Tretton didn’t even gloat or even mention the Xbox 360 when the PS3 sold 400k during June. This was about double what the Xbox 360 sold during that month.

It is pretty clear what stance each company likes to play. Sony takes a laid back nonchalant stance while Microsoft takes an aggressive almost mean spirited stance. Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida said in an interview with GI.biz, that he likes to see the Xbox 360 succeed in Japan to support HD gaming. 

Yoshida even complements the new Xbox 360 NXE and Avatars, stating that he prefers them over the Miis. It seems that Sony execs are completely on a different plane than Microsoft execs. I’m sure if Greenberg ever got in a fight with Tretton or Yoshida in a dark alley, Greenberg would win hands down.

Source : http://gamer.blorge.com/

Sony Ericsson Q3 loss less than expected

Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson posted a smaller-than-expected third-quarter loss yesterday and said cost cuts were going according to plan, but analysts said the outlook was still shaky.

The world No. 5 handset maker, which is suffering as economic anxiety causes consumers to scale back phone purchases, lost $31 million U.S. in the quarter. That included a 35-million euro restructuring charge.

The result compared with forecasts for a 72-million euro pre-tax loss, according to a Reuters poll of 24 analysts, and with pretax profit of 384 million euros a year earlier.

Sony Ericsson, owned by Ericsson and Sony Corp., said market conditions remained challenging.

"Overall, the report was marginally better than expected (but) the outlook ... seems rather uncertain.

"Their new products are not as exceptional as they were a couple of years ago, compared to their competitors," said Greger Johansson, analyst at analysis firm Redeye.

"Next year is the question mark for the whole industry," said Hannu Rauhala, analyst at Pohjola.

Sony Ericsson president Dick Komiyama, asked whether the company might need to do more cost-cutting if conditions stayed weak, he said he thought cost plans looked "good enough" right now.

"Next year is the question mark for the whole industry," said Hannu Rauhala, analyst at Pohjola.

The company, which has issued two profit warnings this year, has set out to knock off 300 million euros from operating expenses with full effect in the second half of 2009.

Nokia Oyj is the clear leader in cellphone units shipped, followed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Motorola Inc and LG Electronics Inc.

Source : http://www.canada.com/

ASUS launches Eee Box

ASUS in association with Intel today announced the launch of world’s greenest, quietest and the most cost effective desktop PC in India. The Eee Box which measures only 1L in size consumes 90% less power than normal desktop PCs and is one of the quietest desktop PC with only 26 decibels sound emission. This revolutionary product is targeted at the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) and the Home Users segments in India.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Benson Lin, Corporate Vice President, ASUS, said, “With the ever increasing concern over global warming and the looming threat to the environment, ASUS has taken multiple initiatives in manufacturing green, eco-friendly products. These initiatives are part of our social and environmental responsibilities as well as part of ASUS’ strategic goal to tap the potential that ‘Green Industry’ has in future. We have made substantial investment in the R&D for green technology and will roll out products manufactured from environment-friendly materials, consuming much less power and conforming to stringent RoHS and WEEE standards.”

Mr. Stanley Wu, Product Manager – Notebooks and Eee PC, ASUS (India), said, “Eee Box is yet another revolutionary product from ASUS in the ‘Eee’ product range. The product will help boost the sales in the overall desktop market in India because of the advantages it provides in terms of size and power saving.”

Added Mr. Gopal Swaminathan, General Manager, OEM Business, Intel South Asia, “The Eee Box uses the Intel Atom N270 (1.6 GHz) processor, based on an entirely new architecture designed from the ground up specifically for low power and performance in an ultra-small package. The Intel Atom processor packs more than 47million transistors into a single piece of silicon measuring less than 25mmฒ, and has a thermal design power specification in the 0.6-2.5 watt range. 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 Box.”

Sourced From: Adfactors Public Relations Pvt Ltd

Source : http://news.moneycontrol.com/