Digital Tech News - Digital Technology & Consumer Electronics

Tivo To Go, on your Centrino Laptop

Intel and Tivo are teaming up to introduce technology to wirelessly transfer TV content to Centrino laptop computers. Tivo DVR or PVR (personal video recorder) users will be able to transfer their recorded television programs using software pre-installed on a Centrino laptop PC, allowing for "Tivo to go" so you can travel with your digital programming content.

New Apple iPod Mini from HP

HP has finally added the Apple iPod Mini to its line of HP digital music players.  There are two new models. One can hold up to 4 gigabytes for 1,000 songs, the other, 6 GB for up to 1,500 songs. Battery life is about 18 hours, and the iPod comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and a USB 2.0 cable.

What is new though, is the HP Printable Tattoos for the Apple iPod mini from HP.  In short, you'll be able to personalize the look of your iPod mini with a selection of "tattoo" images based on any design you like. What a gimmick!  But you never know, it might catch on.  See the details of these new features and iPod mini accessories here.

I must say, it would have been nice if this HP iPod Mini could record, and have a mic input for some mobile Podcasting.  Let's hope they make it possible soon. Windows PC users can pick up an iPod mini+HP 6GB this month at hpshopping.com for $249.99

i-mate PDA2 Packs Power into a Pocket PC Phone

The new i-mate PDA2 packs a lot of power into its small size, and includes Pocket PC Phone performance. The pre-loaded Skype VoIP software was a smart move which will surely be a trend for PDA devices in the future. i-mate has also added a service web portal called Club i-mate, that will provide 24/7 technical support, add-ons, and upgrades for i-mate PDA2 users. It would have been nice to see Windows Mobile 5.0 on this PDA, but I'm sure you'll see that upgrade soon.

Confirmed features of the i-mate PDA2:

• Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC Second Edition
• Tri-Band 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz
• GSM / GPRS
• 520MHz CPU
• 128MB RAM
• 64MB ROM
• Bluetooth
• SDIO/MMC Memory Expansion
• 3.5" 64k Colour Transflective LCD
• 1.3 Megapixel Camera
• Wi-fi 802.11b
• Integrated Antenna

Full Specs here

Akimbo, IPTV On-demand Service Reviews

In the coming years as analog TV is phased-out in favor of all Digital TV, Internet Protocol Television-IPTV will become major competition for cable, Satellite and broadcast TV. Akimbo Systems is one of the first to offer an IPTV based service, sending on-demand video programs over broadband Internet connections. The overall impression is that while Akimbo is innovative, the choice of programs to watch is limited. They will need time to make deals for more quality content to offer subscribers. That said, Akimbo is well worth a look and could be a nice addition to your digital entertainment set-up. IPTV is also well under way by Microsoft, SBC Communications (watch the Flash presentation), and Verizon in the U.S. market.

Akimbo reviews:
Businessweek
NY Times
Akimbo test review @ Engadget

Best Mac Dashboard Widgets

If you're using Apple Computer's Mac OS X Tiger operating system, you've probably tried out the new Dashboard feature.  Some people have expressed concerns with security issues when using some of the 247 free Widgets that work with the Dashboard, possibly exposing your Mac computer to a can of worms. The best thing to do is to stay informed, and choose the widgets that will be useful to you. Forbes.com takes a look at Dashboard Widgets, and list their top 10 most useful and interesting widgets for your Mac computer.

Apple Mac Dashboard Widgets

Sony's Instant Video Everywhere (IVE) Service

Sony Electronics has introduced IVE (Instant Video Everywhere) an IP-based video conferencing system aimed initially at business users. The goal is to allow you to take the conference with you, out of the office and out of the conference room and offers the video equivalent of voice mail. Instant Video Everywhere, or IVE (pronounced "Ivy") was developed by Sony and IP communications service provider GlowPoint. Together they are also preparing IVE Home, to come after the IVE Business and IVE Mobile service. As competition in Voip and ip video service grows, costs should come down making mobile videoconferencing and video chat possible for all. This week's news about video4skype confirms that ip video is heating up.

read | News.com

Sony IVE

Computex 2005 News and Highlights

Asia's largest Information Technology event is under way in Taipei, Taiwan. Computex Taipei 2005 takes place May 31 to June 4, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the exhibition. Organizers have transformed every available inch of space for exhibitors in the Taipei World Trade Center, with a total of 1,288 exhibitors using 2,853 booths to present the latest software, devices, tech gear, and digital products. Looking at some of the product announcements being made, we can see that this will be a hot week in the technology world. You'll want to keep an eye on Computex developments in the coming days. Product news and highlights from Computex 2005 will give you a glimpse of soon-to-come tech gear. See slide-show here also,  it's "almost" like being there.

A Star is Born, well...100,000 Stars

Space is the place!

Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured the birth of 100,000 stars in a massive gas cloud that surrounds a star 10,000 light years from Earth.

The Carina Nebula was the focus of attention, as Spitzer's camera caught new stars forming. 
And you thought Star Wars Episode lll was cool?!

read more

visit NASA

SK-EarthLink Promise Wireless Broadband

EarthLink's joint venture with South Korea's SK Telecom is on course, and together they are planning to bring wireless broadband access to mobile users in the U.S.  Here's what they say:

"Need to stay in touch and stay productive when you're away from your desk?  SK-EarthLink offers mobile professionals cutting-edge solutions via wireless handhelds and laptops. SK-EarthLink is a wireless company dedicated to offering the next generation in mobile communications, business, and entertainment for a fully wireless world."

Now that sounds exciting, but we've heard similar claims before from companies promising high-speed mobile service via 3G.  What makes this new joint venture interesting is, SK-EarthLink are also talking about using WiBro (wireless broadband) technology which is based on mobile WiMax 802.16e. SK Telecom plans on introducing WiBro service in South Korea in 2006. We'll see if together, they will be the first to offer a true mobile broadband solution for laptops, mobile phones, and PDAs in the U.S.

Watch this SK-EarthLink  video presentation

Skype Video over IP - The New VOIP

Voip Watch reports that a new plug-in tool called "video4skype" has emerged.  According to Spontania, Skype users will be able to "experience spontaneous high-quality video communication as easy as placing a voice call." 

We knew video over ip would be the new VOIP, and it'll be exciting to see what's next as Skype develops more multi-media communication tools. Spontania's video4skype may be one of the first with video for skype, but there will be others to come since this is only the beginning of Internet protocol video communications.

With Skype you can make free calls over the Internet. Skype – the whole world can talk for free