Electronic Toy World

Microsoft probably have a parking space permanently reserved outside the European Commission due to the amount of anti-competition investigations they have had thrown at them. So guess what? Yep, two more investigations are on the way, the first to look at whether Microsoft unfairly ties its Explorer Internet browser to its Windows operating system, the second will look at the interoperability of Microsoft software with rival products.

This inquiry follows on from complaints made by Opera which we covered at the time, and the pan-European software-makers group European Committee for Interoperable Systems.

Unless you have been on Mars you are bound to know the background to this long running saga, but in case you don’t:

• In October 2007, Microsoft agreed to comply with the Commission’s 2004 ruling that it broke European Union competition laws.
• The US firm’s move came after it lost an appeal against the verdict, which included a fine of almost 500m Euros ($745m; £380m).
• Microsoft pledged in October to give third party program developers access to information that will allow them to make systems interoperable with Windows.

Via [BBC]

IT Reviews has a review of the Samsung F210 and writes, “Samsung has designed a good main screen for the phone part of the F210, with clear information for missed calls, incoming texts and suchlike…But the screen is simply too small to do a good job throughout. It measures 19mm wide and 33mm tall, and offers 128 x 220 pixels. There is a Web browser but the screen can’t show enough information for it to be of any use at all. Framing photos you want to take with the 2-megapixel camera is difficult as the on-screen image is very small.”

Read more about the Samsung F210.

This might be one of the only times that I wished I had Windows Vista. Then I could have written this post by hand.

I’m sure a lot of you are saying: “But we can’t read your handwriting”. And you should, because my handwriting is sloppy. However, with Windows Vista and the Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet, all my printed words can be easily transferred into typed text.

If you haven’t heard of the Wacom Bamboo, it is a very sleek device that includes a pen tablet and digital pen for lots of drawing potential. Not only can a user write-to-text, but he or she can make sketches, or add his or her personal signature to digital documents. The feeling of the Bamboo is just like pen-on-paper, and I found that it was not at all awkward to work with.

The pen and pad can also double as a navigating tool, and I found it rather comforting to move the pen around rather than the traditional mouse. (It might reduce mouse-related stress on your hand and wrist!)

The pen tablet even comes with a Touch Ring that can do zooming and scrolling with the touch of your finger. There are also four ExpressKeys that provide shortcuts and macros to some of your most common used tools.

The Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet is available at the Wacom site for about $79.00. You can also purchase the Bamboo Fun, but that has so many features that it is worth a separate article.

More Info

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Videocon has launched its VA 2400 SPCA Cassette AC in the market with every important feature for satisfying any kind of consumer. VA 2400 SPCA Cassette AC comes equipped with various demanding attributes like Ion recharger, 20 Micron Anti Bacterial Filter, Multi-Directional Flow, 2 Fan Speed, Real Time Clock, 24 Hrs On/Off Timer etc.

Technical Specification:

This 2.1 TR Ac is an all time favorite for any domestic or commercial use for its significant technical specifications like:

• 25200 BTU/hr / 6300 Kcal/hr Cooling Capacity
• Thermostat Temperature Control
• 1100 m3/hr / 650 ft3/min Air Circulation (High)
• Rotary Type Compressor
• 4 Ltr/Hr Moisture Removals
• 43 dBA Noise Level

Regular features

This product is available in the market with various mentionable features like Anti-Freeze Thermostat, Self Diagnosis Function, Silent Operation,3 Min Time Delay, Full Function LCD/Ng Remote, Resin Coating For Sheet Metal (Internal & External),Anti-Corrosive Blue Fins For Heat Exchanger (Evaporator) etc.

With the dimension of 295mm x 870mm x 870mm (indoor) and 600mm x 835mm x 315mm (Outdoor), the Videocon VA 2400 SPCA Cassette AC is backed with a warranty of 1 year on Air Conditioners and 6 years on Compressor. This product comes with the net weight of 32 Kg (indoor) and 86 Kg (outdoor).

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If you want to get the pleasure of cooking with the help of oven, microwave and steamer, then Whirlpool GH7208XR Microwave is the four way cooking solution in one appliance. True Convection oven, g2Max® SpeedCook oven, microwave and steamer facility is one time solution for every type of cooking. It further features TruCapture™, Sensor Cooking Functions, Steam Cooking option, CleanRelease® Non-Stick Interior Coating etc.

Performance

Its performance is the resultant of various features like Dishwasher Safe Filters, 4 - Speed Fan; Cook top Light, Sensor Reheat, Defrost Cycles, Personal Choice Cycle, Warm Hold Cycle etc.

Construction

It comes loaded with 2 Charcoal Filters, Washable Grease Filters, 1 Instant Cook Pads, Oven Rack and window, Turntable, 4-Speed Exhaust Hood, Grill Rack and Convection Broil Rack etc.

Specification

It is further obtainable with various important specifications like:

• 2.0 Cu. Ft. Capacity
• 1,200 Watts Cooking Power
• 1,500 Watts Grilling Power
• 1,500 Watts Convection Power

Moreover, Whirlpool GH7208XR Microwave is highly on demand due to the presence of its Sizzle Pan with Handle and halogen light. So, do not forget to bring this easily accommodative cooking appliance to your home or hotel which comes with the dimension of 13 in cutout depth, 18 1/8 in height and 29 7/8 in width.

Source: Whirlpool

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InfoSync reviews the T-Mobile Shadow and writes, “The camera on the T-Mobile Shadow is average for a camera phone, a judgment that means disappointing and barely usable in non-phone speak. Colors were a bit saturated in our sample shots, and images were alternately grainy and blurry, depending on the amound of available light. Passable, perhaps, but not very good.”

Read more about the T-Mobile Shadow.

You love role-playing as a spy and you often don a crisp suit, thinking you’re 007. But then, you find yourself financially challenged and can’t afford what the slick James Bond can. Well, for US$16, you can get a spy pen for your spy roleplaying needs.

The pen is equipped with LED which pulsates upon detection of a signal spies usually use (900 / 1200 / 1300 and 2400 / 2600 / 3000MHz). Get in closer proximity with the offending, presumably hidden, device and the LED pulsates more rapidly. The Auto Detective pen is also loaded with ultraviolet light which could be used detect fake money and whatnot. And yes, it IS a metal detector of sorts so you can use it when frisking a suspicious-looking individual. All those features for US$16? Yep, you guessed right. It’s made in China.

via Techno News

Corsair, a company known for their high performance computer and flash memory products, announced at CES the expansion of their Flash Voyager and Flash Survivor USB family lines with new 32GB capacity offerings.

Think of it — enough storage capacity to hold over 16 full-length, high-definition movies or even an entire season of your favorite TV series. Best of all, these Corsair 32GB USB 2.0 drives are bootable, which means users can actually store full versions of operating systems and applications in order to quickly “re-create” the necessary software environments to troubleshoot system problems.

Depending on your lifestyle, you can pick either the all-rubber Flash Voyager ($289) or the aluminum-encased water-proof Flash Survivor ($300). (The most dangerous adventure my flash drive has had is a spin or two in the washing machine.)

Available at Amazon.

Posted Jan 18th 2008 6:42PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Desktops, Features
Although it was (and still is, really) astoundingly easy to simply point the finger and laugh at Everex’s completely unsightly, totally underwhelming TC2502 gPC just months ago, it appears that this thing may actually have a chance at gaining a wee (keyword: wee) amount of steam in the desktop market. Shortly after finding its way to Wal-Mart shelves, the box sold out — a feat few surmised would actually take place. Furthermore, it seems to have sparked, or at least been the poster child of, a quiet revolution of ultra-cheap, open source-based machines, tagging along with the likes of Asus’ Eee PC, Shuttle’s KPC and the recently announced Linux PC from Mirus Innovations.

On the real, the rig was absolutely lambasted in a PC Mag review, but truthfully, we aren’t exactly shocked given the hardware selection and (relatively) unfamiliar operating system. Then again, we’ve a sneaking suspicion the reviewers in this scenario weren’t the target individuals Everex (and Wally World, to be frank) was gunning for. Stepping back, it’s hard to miss the recent infatuation by the general public with machines touting rock bottom price tags and nary a hint of the world’s most widely used OS, so in a sense, these guys and gals must be doing something right, be it marketing or otherwise. Still, we figure we’ll need more than an abacus to count up just how many tweaks our dear readers would make to the gPC if given the chance — maybe starting with the atrocious chassis and the dearth of wireless connectivity options — so don’t let us down, alright?