Techorama

Nokia has introduced new cell-phone accessory designed for users with hearing aids. The Nokia Wireless Loopset is compatible with T-coil-equipped hearing aids or cochlear implants and makes hands-free connections between the hearing aid devices and Bluetooth 2.1-equipped mobile phones. This device can help hearing aid users to enjoy premium audio and handsfree operation of their mobile devices and other compatible audio devices. The Nokia Wireless Loopset provides hearing aid users with a hassle-free and handsfree connection to their mobile phones. It comes with a comfortable neckloop and a single button for call handling. Earlier, people with hearing aids had faced difficulties in using digital mobile phones in noisy environments or due to interference picked up from the radio transmission of the phone. The induction technology has improved the calls to be distortion-free and clear. The HS-67WL has a vibrating alert function to notify users of incoming calls. It will be available worldwide in the first quarter of 2009 with an equivalent price of about $315.

Via: Crave

Buccaneer Antenna has now integrated a waterproof and SMB connector. With rated IP68, the PX0407, it’s meant for 2.4 to 2.5GHz frequency band. This trick worked to reduce the total number of connectors in the RF chain as well as insertion losses, which in return shows increase in the total system gain.

The panel connector, PX0414, with an SMB jack, is terminated with RG-174 cable in 0.5m, 1.0m or 1.5m lengths. It includes base stations and outdoor hotspot installations, specifically for wireless LAN, GSM, Bluetooth, Zigbee, instrumentation and telemetry equipment as main application areas. To make installation and testing process less complex, it offers two way solutions with removable antenna and panel connector. Overall diameter for SMB measures 19mm and that for panel fixing hole is 16mm.

Microsoft is ready to bring an Internet TV platform for Windows Media Centre.

Microsoft has not yet released any data on its upcoming service, but the company reported to Engadget that the it is planning to launch Internet TV on or around September 27th, 2007. Microsoft will bring on-demand advertising supported content in different categories, including Sports, Entertainment, News, Top Picks, Music, and Movies. The quality of video is not as good as HD, but still it is better than standard definition.

After a long delay, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) is again coming back with its new microprocessor code named Barcelona to prove it is not a one-hit wonder in chips for server systems.

Barcelona, to be formally known as quad-core Opteron processor, provides calculating engines for the midsize machines, which run websites and other key business programs. AMD CEO, Hector Ruiz will formally launch the microprocessor during an event in San Francisco. AMD’s Barcelona is not only important for an AMD turnaround but also server markets, who are searching for higher performance and lower price microprocessor.

Sometimes, I really get confused when I find one search engine in another search engine. I think it happens with you also!! Well! I hope, Amvona’s new search engine will not adopt this theory.

Amvona has unveiled Discovery, a revolutionary patented media search engine where users can independently handle twelve variables to fine and tune search results for either photos or videos. The company has launched Discovery as part of the Amvona 720 social shopping and social networking community. Sliders allow users to empower the influence of variables like popularity, views, category, and member location, which gives users a complete control of their results.

Amvona’s Discovery also enhances Amvona’s free photo sharing application, Corridor. With Discovery, users can organize their Corridors by clicking and dragging thumbnails into collections.

The company is focusing on creating the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable shopping experience. Amvona claimed that the company will continue its improvement in social shopping experience for growing online community.

Image Credit: Matthew

A new 16-bit RISC MCU, the S1C17701 is now available from Seiko Epson Corp. The new 16 bit RISC MCU includes 16MB of memory space. The new product allows users to enjoy high performance with the same power consumption of 8-bit microcontrollers.

Epson’s new S1C17701 utilizes low power and the circuit size is equivalent to an 8-bit microcontroller. The S1C17701 is a single-chip microcontroller, which is based on-chip Flash ROM and a high resolution DOT matrix LCD driver. The new S1C17701 has following features:

1) Low-power consumption, typically 2.5uA during standby mode
2) The devices operates on high-speed frequency, including 8.2MHz
3) It operates on low-voltage ( 1.8 V)

The S1C17701 is suitable for variety of applications like remote controllers, sports watches and portable healthcare equipment. Epson’s new S1C17701 is equipped with 64 KB of Flash ROM, so it is suitable for software development and evaluation activities.

Image Credit: Spezial

Via: Tech On

You want to make your friend happy, then show him latest video which you have loaded on your iPod through YouTube. The easy to use vConvert coverts your videos into formats, which will work on your PSP, iPOd or mobile phone. Best part is that, the online tool does not cost a single penny from you.

Just paste the URL of the YouTube video into the text box, press the ‘covert’ button and wait. Once the conversion is completed, then you can select videos according to choice of your format (.wmv), Macintosh format (.mov), iPod/iPhone/PSP format (.mp4), mobile phone friendly (.3gp), audio-only (.mp3), or just the flash file (.flv). It will take only couple of minutes to convert the play the video seamlessly.

So far, the site is still in its beta stage, so it supports only YouTube Videos. It is expected that soon the site will support Veoh and Google.

Image Credit: Musashi
Via: APP Scout

First ARM v5 instruction set architecture compliant processor, FA626TE is now available from Faraday Technology Corp. The processor has a 32bit RISC excellent computing and power-efficient capabilities for applications like infotainment systems, portable navigation devices, IP-STBs, industrial PCs, high-speed network and storage SoCs.

FA626TE processor is the first hard core, which reaches the worst clock speed of 533MHz and it is available in UMC 0.13um process. The FA626TE processor with eight pipeline stages has following features:

1) The processor has separate instruction/data caches and scratchpads
2) A buffer writer
3) A memory management unit
4) JTAG ICE interface

The CPU of the FA626TE uses four AHB or AXI interfaces, which is configured with 32/64bit widths to communicate with external memory and devices. The device has fully synthesizable core and the single-phase clock based architecture especially designed to integrate the SoC for designers. The company is expecting that the next version of 90nm UMC running on 667MHz and 800MHz in worst case would be available by the end of this year.

According to Thomas Hsieh, associate VP of central R&D at Faraday, the company is using data path optimization, process tuning, specific library and bin sorting to improve core clock speed. Thus, the company can implement the ultrahigh-performance FA626TE processor which enables the 800MHz speed in 90nm process.

Mage Credit: US design

Via: Tech On

Finally, South Korea based Hynix Semiconductor Inc. has launched the industry’s smallest 1 gigabyte mobile DRAM to use in mobile phones. The first commercially available 1 gigabyte DRAM memory is based on company’s 66 nm process technology.

Hynix’s Mobile DRAMs are designed to fulfill the memory requirements of feature rich portable applications, which demands high memory density, high throughput and very low power dissipation features in a small form factor package. The 1GB Mobile DRAM operates at a maximum clock speed of 200 MHz, which offers data troughput of up to 1.6 GBps with a 32-bit I/O.

Hynix’s Mobile DRAMs works under in worst conditions and consumes very low power. It also extends battery life in wide range of portable electronic devices. The 1 Gb Mobile DRAM is ‘One Chip Solution‘ from Hynix, which combines SDRAM/DDR DRAM interfaces, and x16/x32 organizations on a single chip to provide the flexibility to meet with the specific needs of the customer.

The company is planning to start the mass production in the first quarter of 2008. The product would be available as ‘NAND flash Multi-Chip Package (NAND MCP)’, which combines DRAM and NAND flash in a single package. Now days Mobile DRAM is widely used in wireless and handheld devices like mobile phones, digital still and video cameras, PDAs, PMPs and GPS navigation systems.

Image Credit: Design Re use

Vi: Cellular News

The new White space devices(WSD) that are being developed by the FCC, will have to reapply for approval. Previously, these WSD’s were disapproved to sabotage the FCC’s initial attempt. These devices are being made for the analog to digital switch over in February 2009.

For the Federal Communications Commission(FCC), it’s back to the drawing board. The FCC does acknowledge that the first attempt was kind of premature. I think that FCC thought the application won’t get rejected. So they applied. However, now that the initial crappy application got rejected, FCC is admitting the fact that it was premature.

Currently there are two prototypes: prototype A and B. The FCC lab test did look at several issues and aspects concerning the prototype devices. But,it seems like the Federal Commission tests weren’t full proof. The group of firms working with FCC include Google, Dell and Earthlink.

These prototype devices do help in delivering inexpensive wireless broadband services to rural areas. The vacant and available TV frequencies are mostly used to deliver the wireless broadband service. These WSD’s would be using unregulated spectrum, and if successful they would lower the prices of the wireless services.

In the latest published report, FCC tested several devices that were from unidentified applicants. The spectrum sensing factor and potential interference are two things that these WSD’s were tested for. The result: co-channel interference occurred out to 285ft from the DTV. adjacent channel interference without the filter occurred to between 154ft and 164ft. So the future of the WSD’s aren’t looking that good.

Image Credits: Vetmarkets

Intel has been accused of abusing its power to erode the rival chipmaker AMD. Till the end of the second quarter, AMD had 11.4% of market share against Intel, which dominates the rest of the share.

It is not for the first time that EU Commission has charged Intel with such charges. For the past six years, AMD has been pleading time to time for European Union to take action against rival Intel for alleged abuse of its market dominance.

Finally yesterday, the EU Commission, accepting the complain, filed a case against Intel, in which the AMD complained that their rival has offended market laws and practiced illegal business practices.

Statement containing objections reveals the abuse of power in three ways, according to Commission: offering rebates to the PC manufacturers, by making payments to some manufacturers to delay or cancel products using AMD processors and selling processors below cost to erode down the rival.

Intel has 10 weeks to present their evidences against the allegations framed and can request an oral hearing. If charges are found justified, a fine up to 10 percent of the annual turnover can be charged.

However, in a response, that seems cool, Intel general council said, ‘We are confident that the microprocessor market segment is functioning normally and that Intel’s conduct has been lawful, pro-competitive, and beneficial to consumers, Bruce Sewell said in a statement.’

Intel officials further assured the EU Commission that discounts are meant to help the customers so they could access their product easily and has nothing to do with their rival AMD. Swell stressed that these charges are just based on complain filed by their direct rival and so far there is no complaint from the consumers or PC users.

EU Commission spokesperson, Ton Van Lieron, confirmed the delivery of statement of allegations and emphasized the need of action against such violation of antitrust regulations, which are necessary to create a fair completion in the market.

In a similar case, EU had asked Microsoft to deposit a huge fine of $683 million in 2004, for abusing its dominant position in PC operating system, which was challenged by the company in the court.

However, it is sure that customers may feel some comfort at lowered prices but such steps can wash a competitor completely, leaving no choice for customers other than using just one kind of product.

EU commission seeks it necessary to look into the matter as it has been a matter of conflict for the last six years starting with similar complain filed by AMD in 2001.

Image Credit: ALAIDE

Via: USAToday

Intel has launched the first ever mobile extreme part, the Core 2 Extreme X7800 mobile processor. The Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800 mobile processor operates at 2.6 GHz, with 4 MB of shared L2 Advanced Smart Cache and an 800 MHz Front Side Bus (FSB).

Intel’s new Core 2 Extreme X7800 mobile processor is based on Merom core but it is fully unlocked for improved overclocking and performance. The company has removed support for Intel Dynamic Acceleration (IDA) on the Extreme series. The Intel Core 2 Extreme mobile processor has unlocked bus ratios, which offers technical flexibility to those users who desire more capability to customize the system. The device has dynamic FSB support and it has additional power management features to enable it to down to C4 and DC4 state.

The Extreme X7800 is based on 65nm technology and it has also power-saving features like the dynamic front-side bus and the ‘Enhanced Deep Sleep’ mode. The X7800 also features ‘Advanced Media Boost’ for better performance with respect to video editing, music, and photography.

The X7800 is based on the same Merom core as the top-of-the-line Core 2 Duo T7700 with the only difference being a 200MHz boost in clock frequency and the unlocked multipliers.

First, the Extreme X7800 processor based laptops will appear on the US market, while it is not confirm when they would be available in the Asia-Pacific region. The Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800 mobile processor is available to OEMs now at a cost of $851.

Image Credit: RSL & Laptoping

Via: Ministry OfTech

I can bet that even your best friend or the one with whom you spend most of your time may not be able to analysis your mood at any time. But now all you need is to be extra cautious, as you may also be caught lying with the new software that is under development, which works on analyzing your mood within a second.

The technology that will be used by the software is ‘rapid facial analysis’ and is under development at the German Fraunhofer Institute. The software will see a human face, then find out if it is male or female and will finally analyze his or her expressions. The system checks the facial expressions to know which aspects of the program stimulate a particular strong reaction.

The project manager Dr. Christian Kublbeck at the IIS said:

The special feature of our facial analysis software is that it operates in real time.

The chief facial characteristics that will be used by the system is the shape of the face, the eyes, the eyebrows and the nose.

Before its launch the researchers will first test the system in which it will be given a large quantity of data containing images of faces.

The system will relate 30,000 facial characteristics with the information that it has previously learned. On a normal PC, the calculations are so quick that one’s mood swing is tracked live.

The software package will not only be useful to psychologists but can also be used to test the user-friendliness of computer software programs.

The system also has a scope to check how alert are the drivers while driving cars.

Image

Source: Dailymail

Now, Microsoft’s SharePoint 2007 users can use Cardiff’s advanced business process management capabilities for automating all forms and document related process. A division of Autonomy Corporation plc and leading provider of intelligent document solutions, Cardiff will support the software giant, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 for content loading and content centric process.

The Cardiff Intelligent Document solution is easily integrated with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 200, which enables users to cohesively tie together paper, electronic and mobile content and allows them to access at SharePoint Server 2007 environment. The Cardiff solution allows organizations to automate and accelerate their business process. It also improves data accuracy and also enhances the user experience.

The Cardiff Intelligent Document solution automates paper based document as well as web based document. It enhances Microsoft SharePoint for the storage of in-flight and completed documents. Now SharePoint 2007 users can use Cardiff’s advanced business process management solution to automatically extract data, metadata tagging, document classification and business process management.

Image credit: Melon Web & Info Connect

Via: Managing & Automation

Now you can safe your laptop through one-time-use passwords. Secure Computing Corp. has unveiled a software authentication tool, named SafeWord MobilePass, which generates one-time-use passwords for laptops and mobile devices. After registering online or downloading the software, users would be able to use the software to produce passwords, which are more secure for your devices.

SafeWord MobilePass allows users to access VPNs, Citrix, Microsoft Outlook and several other applications through one-time passcodes generated on their personal mobile devices or laptop PCs. MobilePass provides two factor authentication, which establishes identity for users to access trusted business and consumer applications.

According to Sally Hudson, research director at IDC, two-factor authentication solution like SafeWord is successful to protect remote connections to corporate networks and applications. The mobile workforce, MobilePass, allows users to carry the software everywhere.

SafeWord MobilePass works on a variety of mobile platforms including BlackBerry, Palm OS, Windows Mobile and Java2 ME-enabled devices. While on computers, the single-use passcodes are generated on the user’s notebook or desktop machine by registering online and downloading the software application.

Iamge Credit: Contest & Clear View

Via:Tech Co