GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 (rev. 1.0)

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 (rev. 1.0)
AM2+/AM3 Motherboard Review

Manufacturer's Part Number: GA-MA770-UD3
Price: $76CDN+ Click Here to Compare Prices
Manufacturer's Product Page: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
Warranty: 3 year limited warranty



In the past few months, AMD has been floating on a sea of goodwill and positive consumer reception towards its products. It's not hard to see why either. In these frugal times, the company's most expensive processor comes in at a mere $290CDN, and they have released of bevy of superb offerings in the sub-$150 range. There can be no denying that the low-end and mainstream products are (and will continue to be) the driving force behind AMD's resurging popularity. With this in mind, we bring you today a motherboard for the masses that can found for less than $80CDN but which features a specifications list that will satisfy just about anyone. The product in question is the Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3. Although this is technically a Socket AM2/AM2+ motherboard, due to its support for the HyperTransport 3.0 system interface and the bits of magic that are BIOS updates, it fully supports all of the latest multi-core AMD AM3 processors. It is also a DDR2 motherboard, which means that you can re-use your existing memory modules and further delay the inevitable transition to DDR3.

This model is based on the AMD 770 northbridge/SB700 southbridge chipset combo. This chipset mainly differs from the higher-end 780G, 790GX, and 790FX chipsets by its lack of official CrossFire support. The 770 was designed for single graphics card configurations, which basically represents the vast majority of all home built systems. With this in mind, the MA770-UD3 comes with only one PCI-E x16 2.0 slot, but makes up for it with its four PCI-E x1 slots, two PCI slots, six SATA II ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, one Gigabit LAN port, two FireWire ports and high-quality 8-channel HD audio codec.

Needless to say it is quite well-equipped for a sub-$80 motherboard, but how does it perform? How's the layout? How's the BIOS? Can it handle serious overclocking? These are the questions that we will seek to answer, and more.

Cosmogres Funky Bathroom

The new funky bathrooms from Cosmogres, refreshingly different and fun bathroom themes, Unica enamelled ceramic furniture has a childlike playfulness. Created by Sabrina Selli, this design is once seen, never forgotten! The matching toilet and bidet pop out of the wall like bubbles, and come in wall-mounted or floor-standing versions. The basin sits comfortably on a simple wall-mounted shelf. The finishing touch is, of course, the lovely ceramic daisy on the wall – which can be colored by request. Bring the Unica bathroom collection home and turn your bathroom into a fun, funky oasis.

Cuisinart soup maker

Cuisinart integrated rapid heating element lets you get started in seconds while its non-stick cooking plate helps stop food from sticking and makes cleaning easy. Just set your cooking time, select the medium temperature setting and gently fry any base ingredients, such as garlic and onions until soft on the non stick cooking plate. Now this Cuisinart soup maker is ready to go in earnest. Once cooked use the powerful blend function to get your soup to your preferred consistency and it is ready. Pour the hot soup from the glass jar into your bowls and eat.

D’Vontz Pedestal Sinks

Beatiful et Natural stone brings the Elica and Coda Pedestal Sinks from D’Vontz . Bold, contemporary sinks with geometric shapes, they boast a timeless allure. In using the sinks, the fine grain of the stone can be fully appreciated. Coda (top photo) is a pedestal sink with a deep hole carved all the way through the single piece of stone. This lends the sculptural sink a surprising lightness of form. The technical grace of Elica (bottom photo) pedestal sink is unsurpassed a delicate swirl twists through the structure.

Alfino fully automatic coffee maker

The alfino fully automatic coffee maker is its distinctive and compact design with lateral edges set off in white. The pot function is a technological innovation thanks to which a whole pot of café crème can be served before long. The discreetly concealed professional technology features the adjustable precision disc grinder, the comfortable 3-in-1 spout and the removable easy-to-clean brewing unit. The functions are controlled via a SensitiveTouch operation panel.

Philips launches 9664 series LCD TVs

Philips has announced the launch of a new range of LCD televisions in the UK - the 9664 series.

The 9664 series is available in 42-inch and 47-inch screen sizes and offers 200Hz Clear LCD technology combined with a response time of 1ms that's said to banish motion blur.

With Philips' latest Perfect Pixel HD picture processing engine the new tellies get Ambilight Spectra 2, which projects lights independently from both sides of the TV on to the rear wall, for what the company claims is a "more immersive viewing experience".

Boasting 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, the sets also feature NetTV for wireless access to the Internet through the set’s in-built networking and five HDMI ports.

Sounds-wise there's 2 x 15W output from four speakers while looks-wise the TVs get a high-quality brushed aluminium charcoal grey surround, measuring 49mm thick and have a bezel 25mm wide.

Nikon unveils S1000pj - the world's first projector camera

Revolutionises compact digital camera market with a new style of image sharing and viewing

Amsterdam, 4th August 2009 – Nikon Europe today announces the introduction of the world’s first camera with integrated projector as part of its brand new range of COOLPIX cameras. The ground-breaking COOLPIX S1000pj is expected to shake up the compact digital camera market as people begin to see the benefits of sharing and viewing photos and videos using personal projection.

The COOLPIX S1000pj doesn’t just pack a punch with its projector – the compact camera delivers high resolution images with 12.1 effective megapixels and a 2.7” wide viewing-angle TFT LCD monitor. With a high ISO 6400 sensitivity and using Nikon’s exclusive image processing concept, EXPEED, the camera offers the kind of high quality images you expect from Nikon. This is all wrapped up in a sleek aluminium silver or anodized black casing that contains a wide-angle 5x zoom NIKKOR lens.

Mark Pekelharing, Product Line Manager Consumer Products at Nikon Europe B.V: “The launch of our unique COOLPIX projector camera is exciting for gadget and photo lovers everywhere – and another first for Nikon with a compact digital camera that can project images. People can’t help but be blown away by such a beautifully crafted device. It’s packed with everything you need to take amazing photos so easily as well as to show your pictures; a great screen and amazing projector. Sharing photos and videos has never been so easy – or so fun.”

One touch projection
If you’ve ever wanted to share your photos or videos at a party or relive a day’s memories while on your travels, then now you can with one-touch projection on the COOLPIX S1000pj. The built-in projector easily projects an image size from approximately 5 inches up to 40 inches*1. A supplied remote control means that you can wirelessly operate both the projector and usual camera functions, and a simple projection stand is supplied for optimal viewing wherever you are.

Getting the shot you imagine
The COOLPIX S1000pj features Scene Auto mode, whereby the camera automatically selects the appropriate scene mode based on the contents of your shot, allowing picture perfect images at the touch of a button. In addition, five functions to reduce image blur and the Smart Portrait System ensures that you can get those ‘red carpet smiles’ every time. An additional feature enables users to ‘airbrush’ someone’s face using the Skin Softening function to reduce the appearance of blemishes. Together with face tracking and anti-shake functionality, the COOLPIX S1000pj helps you to get the shot you envisaged without any hassle.

The COOLPIX S1000pj will be available at an RRP of £389 / €429*2

my Picturetown
You can now store your images safely and securely using Nikon’s my Picturetown, a free online digital photo storage and sharing service. Easily share photo memories with friends and organise precious memories into online collections. You get 2GB of space free to use for storing thousands of memories and you can upgrade your membership to Gold Account at any time if you need to store more pictures.

Features

Sharper results with five advanced Nikon image stabilising features*3
Nikon's Optical lens shift and Electronic VR image stabilisation systems combine to help produce blur-free images. High ISO 6400*4 capability allows faster shutter speeds when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects. Motion Detection automatically controls shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for subject movement and camera shake. And, Nikon’s original BSS (Best Shot Selector) function automatically shoots a series of sequential frames and saves the one with the sharpest focus.

Nikon’s Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening
Face-priority AF helps produce more satisfying portraits by adjusting focus and exposure for as many as 12 faces in the framed shot. Skin Softening function detects and analyses a framed subject’s skin, and then adjusts smoothness to produce enhanced results. Smile Timer automatically releases the shutter when the subject smiles, while its Blink Proof function shoots two sequential frames, then saves the one in which the subject’s eyes are widest open. Blink Warning presents an alert when it suspects that someone in the shot has blinked. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically corrects any perceived red-eye effect before saving the image to memory.

Intelligent automated shooting modes that promote carefree shooting
Nikon’s Scene Auto Selector makes it faster and easier to capture the moment by eliminating the need to manually select a scene mode to match the intended shot. This intelligent function determines the subject, analyses the surrounding settings, and then automatically selects the appropriate scene mode for optimal results. Subject Tracking enhances the shooting experience by following the subject’s movement to ensure clear focus and quick response when that special shutter opportunity presents itself. Subject Tracking even functions if the subject moves out of the frame for a second or two.

Quick Retouch
Quick Retouch automatically adjusts the contrast and saturation of selected photos to create an enhanced copy with the right finishing touch.

Other Features

• 2.7-in. high-resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coated cover
• 16 handy scene modes for optimised shooting in various settings
• D-Lighting
• Active Zoom
• Auto Sort and Favorite Pictures functions
• Four movie modes with sound
• Time zone function for easy setting of multiple locations
• Approx. 36 MB of internal memory
• Hi-Speed USB connectivity

*1 Projection area size dependent upon light conditions of the room

*2 Availability dates can vary from region to region. Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. August 2009 ©2009 Nikon Corporation.

*3 The camera selects and uses only the features required to optimise each image.

*4 ISO 3200 and 6400 are available only for image sizes of 3M (2048 x 1536) or smaller.

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.3" Type CCD • 12.1 million effective pixels • 12.39 million total pixels
Image sizes	• 4000 x 3000 • 3264 x 2448 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1024×768 • 640 x 480 • 3968 x 2232 (16:9)
Projector	• Brightness: up to 10 lumens • Image size : 5 to 40 in. • Throw distance : approx. 26cm to 2m (10 in. to 6 ft. 6 in.) • Endurance (battery life: approx. 1 hour • Resolution (output) : VGA equivalent
Lens	• 5x Zoom-Nikkor (28-140mm equiv.) • f/3.9-5.8 • f= 5.0-25.0mm
Optical image stabilization	Lens-shift VR
Digital zoom	Up to 4x
Focus distance	• 30cm (1 ft.) to infinity (∞) • Macro close-up mode: 3cm (1.2 in.) to infinity (∞) [
ISO sensitivity	• ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 2000 • ISO 3200 (3M or smaller) • ISO 6400 (3M or smaller) • Auto (auto gain ISO 80-800) • Fixed range auto (ISO 80-200, 80-400)
Aperture	f/3.9 - f/5.8
Flash	• Built-in
LCD monitor	• 2.7-in TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating • 230,000-dot
Connectivity	• USB • AV out
Storage	• SD / SDHC card (optional) • Approx 36MB internal memory
Power	• Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12 (supplied) • AC Adapter EH-62F (optional)
Battery Life	Approx. 220 shots with EN-EL12 battery
Weight (no batt)	Approx. 155 g (5.5 oz.)
Dimensions	Approx. 99.5 x 62.5 x 23 mm (4 x 2.5 x 0.9 in.) excluding projections
Supplied accessories	• Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12 • Battery Charger MH-65 • USB Cable UC-E6 • Audio Video Cable EG-CP14 • Strap AN-CP19 • Projector Stand ET-2 • Remote Control ML-L4 • Software Suite CD-ROM
Optional accessories	AC Adapter EH-62F

Additional images

Builder T- Theodolite

he extremely fast theodolite
Functions of the Builder T Set angles V display in degrees or as percentage of inclination Sector “Beep” signals right angles Hz display clockwise or counter clockwise Checks level positioning with the graphic levelling aid
Key Features of the Leica Builder T: The Leica Builder is the only theodolite offering a complete product family. It is easy for a user to switch between models without learning a new operation. Absolute circle reading Excellent hardware features, such as laser plummet, endless drives on both sides for Hz and V, brilliant optics with 30x magnification Dual-Axis compensation for reliable Hz and V reading New and intuitive software Unique leveling guidance for fast and convenient setup High resolution LCD display Audible notice for 90° turns

Pentax Evolution V-200 Series - Total Station

Introducing the latest Construction Grade Total Station from Pentax, the V-200 Series. The V-200 is an affordable and accurate mid-range solution for many general construction applications. This series is available in both reflectorless and standard versions. Model V-227N features Reflectorless and Prism measurement. Angle accuracy is 7" and EDM accuracy is 3mm. The Quick measure mode cuts measure time by 40%. A detachable tribrach is standard. Other standard features include Optical Plummet, Easy navigation keys and dedicated Function keys, IP44 dust and waterproof, Visible Laser measuring beam, Manual Focus, Vertical angle compensator, and absolute angle encoders. The 6,000 point data memory can store stake out coordinates and/or collected data in any mix. The V-200 series features the easy-to-use PowerTopo Express Software. The PowerTopo Express allows operators of all skill levels to perform quickly and efficiently surveying tasks with minimal training.
	Model	List Price	Our Price
	V-227N	$6295.00	$5315.00
	CST-225N	$6400.00	$5795.00
Pentax Total Station Brochure; Pentax Total Station Quick User Guide

TPS 400 Construction & Civil Engineering Total Stations

Easy, quick, reliable

The TPS 400 is the latest product from the Market Segment Construction. These total stations are specifically designed for the construction site. They are very easy to use and impress by a high level of functionality. It requires minimum time to learn operating the TPS400. The optimized concept with simplified operational procedures sets new standards. With the TCR400power versions reflectorless measurements up to 400m are possible. Now with the new TCR400ultra versions reflectorless measurements up to 1000m (3300ft) are possible.

Classes of accuracy: 3", 5", 7"
To meet your individual requirements.

Internal memory with extensive programs to solve your survey tasks		Infrared (IR) and reflectorless (RL) EDM
Configurable measuring release		Endless fine drives for comfortable, quick targeting
Large, high resolution display for brilliant and clear reading.		Camcorder batteries flexible battery concept
Softkeys Intuitive operating concept and quick access to the functions		Navigation key for fast operation
Serial interface for exchange of data with the PC and for external power supply		Dual axis compensator performs fine leveling and guarantees perfect horizontal alignment

	TPS400 brochure

Your advantages in the field	Application package
Laser plummet as standard Serial interface Large, high resolution display Short measuring time at high accuracy High storage capacity Low weight Long reflectorless range with TCR400power models (170m)	Surveying with coding Stakeout Area computation Tie distance Free Station Reference line Remote height Height transfer 3D Target point offset

BlackBerry Curve 8520 mobile phone - First Look

RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 has been aimed at the low end of the smartphone market. Pocket-lint got a brief hands-on with the device, and here's what we thought.

Let's focus first on the headline additions to the 8520 - the media keys and the optical trackpad. The former are a welcome addition, and combined with the 3.5mm headphone jack make the device capable of substituting for your MP3 player, without diving into the somewhat fiddly media player controls proper.

Although the internal memory is only 256MB, there's an SD card slot for expansion as usual, so you'll want to whack a capacious one of those in there if you're serious about listening to music and watching movies on the go. The media buttons' location on the top makes switching tracks while the handset is in your pocket pretty easy too.

As for the optical trackpad, there's not much to be said other than that it's an adequate replacement for the trackball. The lack of moving parts means it's less likely to break, we suppose, but after 5 seconds of use, we forgot we were using it. That's a positive thing - it's never good when an input method distracts you from whatever you're inputting.

The screen is clear and bright and at 320 x 240 has taken a step down from the Curve 8900's sharp 480 x 360. Still, this is a low-end device and it makes sense to downgrade the screen to differentiate between devices, even if customers will complain. The keyboard is as excellent as ever - BlackBerry is still the king of QWERTYs after all - input felt comfortable and accurate. Keeping a great keyboard means you will still have that solid BlackBerry email experience in an entry-level device.

The camera isn't mindblowing at just 2-megapixels, but it seemed to take pretty clear pictures - more than suitable for displaying on the phone itself. We didn't get to test it in low light conditions, unfortunately, and we don't know how the images will stand up against closer scrutiny, something we'll be sure to check out in a full review.

The side buttons, as previously, mean that you can program them as shortcuts to commonly used apps such as Twitter, or as the default camera launcher. The placement of the media controls on the top means you'll probably want to assign a side button as the lock, as this has now moved from its top position on the 8900.

The hardware specs might raise an eyebrow for still lacking the 3G connection, a complaint with the Curve 8900, which many see as RIM putting outdated hardware to good use. As the BlackBerry is principally a data-loving device this might be a stumbling block for some, although generally the BlackBerry push email services don't suffer on GPRS or EDGE thanks to their data optimisation.

But for those who want to browse the internet, it’s a double whammy losing the high-res screen and having a slow connection. The lack of GPS is also likely to deter consumers, so you'd have to rely on cell zone triangulation only in mapping applications.

However the inclusion of Wi-Fi may assuage this doubt for those who spend their time languishing in a home or work wireless network as you'll still be able to access your data at fast rates.

First Impressions

The naming of the handset seems to follow the trend of Curve 83xx devices, with the specs here remarkably similar to the 8320. Although the Curve 8520 isn't going to blow your mind if you're a seasoned smartphone enthusiast, someone who doesn't have any smartphone experience and upgrades to this handset will be pretty happy with its functionality.

Given that RIM has stated that those people are the target market, it seems they've produced a solid, reliable, entry-level smartphone for that demographic.

We'll be bringing you a full review of the Curve 8520 shortly, when we'll see how well this new entry-level device performs.

Online "Science of Happiness" study launched

An online, mass experiment has been launched to try and make the world a happier place. Richard Wiseman, professor of the public understanding of psychology at the university of Hertfordshire is putting "happiness-boosting techniques" to the test via a new website.

On the "Science of Happiness" website participants are asked to take a questionnaire about their mood, and are then shown one of four YouTube videos. These explain a technique that's supposed to improve your happiness which the participant then has to do every day for a week. After a week, there's another quiz to see if it's worked.

Wiseman tells The Times: "I have carried out many mass participation studies, but this is the most important. We are in the midst of a recession and it is vital that people keep their spirits high. This study will help identify the most effective way of putting a smile on someone's face. We need as many people as possible to take part. It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, male or female, or where in the world you live, please participate".

If you're interested in taking part, the quiz can be found at http://www.scienceofhappiness.co.uk.

Firefox 4.0 screenshots unveiled

It's been less than a month since 3.5 was released, and already Mozilla is talking about 4.0. More than talking, in fact. It's released some screenshots of mockup designs that it's considering for the next iteration of its browser.

One notable feature is a tabs-on-top design that mimics Google's Chrome browser. Startlingly similar, in fact. Mozilla can't decide whether it likes that approach or not, summing up the pros and cons like this:

"Positives:
- Save Vertical Space
- Efficiency/Remove Visual Complexity – Right now the tabs have to be connected to something. So we are adding an extra visual element for them to connect to.
- Shorter Mouse Distance to Page Controls".

"Negatives:
- Breaks Consistency/Familiarity – Moving things confuses existing users.
- Title is MIA – With the space removed from the titlebar you only get the truncated version in the tab.
- Longer Mouse Distance to Tabs – Takes longer to mouse to a tab.
- Lost Space – Sandwiched in between the application icon and the window widgets you lose some space".

An option to pick between the two might be nice, but probably presents a sizeable coding challenge. As the release of 4.0 approaches, we'll probably get a better idea about what the Firefox community wants. If you have a strong opinion, then go share it on the company's wiki.

LaCie LaCinema Black MAX media streamer

LaCie hasn’t been quite as influential as rivals such as NetGear, Archos and D-Link in the media streamer market, so it may come as a surprise to hear that it has quite a wide range of devices in its collection.

The most recent addition comes in the form of the LaCinema Black MAX, a streamer that combines a built-in digital tuner to allow it to double as a PVR in a similar mold to Sky+. A 500GB hard drive comes as standard for storing copied media and recorded programmes, though the range of connectivity at the back also includes twin USB ports for attaching storage and you can, of course, stream over both a wired and wireless network with the latter supporting the latest 802.11n standards.

We were surprised to note that all of these features are actually very easy to set-up, with the digital tuner in particular quick and easy to populate and use, offering a full EPG with manual and scheduled recording, a channel list, favourites and programme information available at the touch of a button.

Like Sky’s boxes, it’s possible to instantly record by hitting the appropriate button or pause and time-shift in the usual way with up to 3 hours stored automatically on the internal drive. Each of these key features work very well for the most part, and though it’s not quite as responsive as Sky and is generally far more basic, the key functionality is present and correct.

Attached, copied or streamed media is all accessible through what is unfortunately a rather dark and unfriendly looking interface with what is unfortunately a rather simplistic and overly basic remote control. This certainly doesn’t scream "quality" and it’s disappointing not to see more care taken here, but in truth neither of these problems detract too much from the end-product.

File support is impressive enough here and streaming high-definition video, even over a wireless connection, is very smooth and rarely struggled up to 1080i resolutions. There’s a decent amount of control over playback and one neat feature is the ability to "tick" files to populate a quicklist for queuing up multiple videos. This carries through to audio and complements full playlist controls, shuffle, repeat and all the common functions you’d need.

In terms of photos, transitions and slideshows are available but we were disappointed by the lack of thumbnail previews and the fact that for some reason, images take quite a long time to load.

Generally media management and performance is very good, with our biggest problem being that due to the relatively small amount of space available on screen for viewing a list of files and the lack of a keypad or similar quicksearch functions on the remote, large collections can be difficult to browse.

As it is, the quickest way to access files is simply to trawl painstakingly through a list and though artist/album categories make this less of a problem for audio, those with large collections of video clips or photos may find the process rather frustrating.

These issues aside, we were pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of the Black MAX and its ability to effectively double as a PVR and handle the latest media standards through a range of connections. Unfortunately it’s extremely expensive and we’d like to have seen a few more bells and whistles, such as a more approachable interface and a better remote control, to fully recommend it at this price.

D-Link launches all-in-one DIR-685 router

D-Link has announced a new product that attempts to bring a little excitement to the world of network routers with the launch of the DIR-685. D-Link dares to call the router "stylish, even chic".

The router has all the features of a 802.11n Wi-Fi router combined with Network Attached Storage, USB SharePort technology for sharing printers and scanners - and - a 3.2-inch LCD monitor for displaying photos, streamed video, weather forecasts, desktop applications and network performance.

The NAS feature supports both UPnP server functions and BitTorrent downloads while a built-in FTP server allows users to access media through the home network or remotely over the Internet.

In addition, there are eco claims for the new device, with D-Link's "Green" tech that adjusts power according to use and has an idle mode to kill the LCD screen.

The content for the LCD screen is powered by FrameChannel, a free web service used in digi-frames, that allows users to customise content displayed on the screen.

DisplayCast Advanced TV Service

In order to keep up to date with the TV marketplace, it is vital to receive the right information. Meko has recognised that it is essential for any TV marketeer to receive information that is forward looking and wide ranging.The DisplayCast Advanced TV service provides comprehensive, actionable information designed to help plan current and future sales and marketing strategies. Available from just one source for a single, fully inclusive fee, the service focuses on the major European markets and will act as your very own virtual market research department.Subscribers to DisplayCast ATV benefit from a wide-range of marketing information - from pricing details to analyses of key market and technology issues.

There are four levels of the DisplayCast ATV Service:
Strategy PlusPack
custom programming
analysis tools
panel supply/demand
channel trends
pricing
volume/value data
volume and price forecasts
major supplier product details
ad-hoc consultancy work
annual strategy report with 6 month update for countries, brands, technology, supply/demand etc. Professional
custom programming
analysis tools
panel supply/demand
channel trends
pricing
volume/value data
volume and price forecasts
major supplier product details Standard
panel supply/demand
channel trends
pricing
volume/value data
volume and price forecasts
major supplier product details Lite
quarterly market value/volume data
price trend analysis
The information is delivered regularly throughout the year. Subscribers to the Professional and Strategy PlusPack services are able to get up-to-the-minute details of products and prices from Meko's online database, and e-mail notification of hot stories.
To find out more about what subscribers to DisplayCast ATV receive, download the DisplayCast ATV brochure in Adobe Acrobat format.If you would like to be kept informed about the developments of DisplayCast, subscribe to our mailing list, with 'Subscribe DisplayCast' as the subject.If you are a subscriber and you want to know when reports are ready, go to our deliverables list.Quarterly web conferences are scheduled for: Q1 2009 data and forecast - June 26th 2009 Q2 2009 data and forecast - September 25th 2009 Q3 2009 data and forecast - January 8th 2010 Q4 2008 data and forecast - March 2010 (date to be confirmed)

Acer Aspire One - Best Laptop Of July 2009

Description:

The Acer Aspire One features an Intel Atom Processor, 8.9" WSVGA TFT LCD, and a choice of either Genuine Windows XP Home Edition or Lin pus Linux Lite version. The Aspire One AOD150 is a 10.1-inch screen notebook.

Quick Specs:

Aspire ONE P531h-1791 - Atom N270 1.6 GHz - 10.1"" TFT

Detailed Specs

Processor
Processor Class:	Intel Atom
Processor Speed:	1.6 GHz
Cache Size:	512 kB
Bus Speed:	533 MHz
Memory
Installed Memory:	2 GB
Maximum Memory:	2 GB
Memory Technology:	DDR2
System
Laptop Type:	Netbook/Ultra Portable
Input Devices:	Keyboard|Touchpad
Interface Connection:	Audio - Line In (1/8" Mini)|Audio - Line Out (1/8" Mini)|Bluetooth|Ethernet - RJ45|USB - Universal Serial Bus 2.0|VGA
Slots:	Memory Stick|MultiMedia Card (MMC)|SD Card|xD-Picture Card
Display
Display Size:	10.1 in
Aspect Ratio:	16:10
Display Type:	LCD Display w/ Glossy Screen & LED Backlight
Max Resolution:	1024 x 600
Video Chipset:	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Storage
Hard Drive Capacity:	160 GB
Number of Storage Drives Included:	1
Features
Included Network Card:	Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)|Wireless Ethernet - IEEE802.11b|Wireless Ethernet - IEEE802.11g
Included Devices:	Built-In Webcam
Battery Life:	6 hour(s)
Software
Operating System:	Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Dimensions
Height:	1.3 in
Width:	10.2 in
Depth:	8.1 in
Weight:	2.8 lbs
Warranty
Warranty Information:	1 Year Limited Warranty
More Info
URL:	URL
General
normalized-Cache Size:	0.512
normalized-Display Size:	10.1
normalized-Installed Memory:	2000

HTC Hero aka T-Mobile G2 Touch - New Cell Phone

Design

The HTC Hero takes it design cue from the HTC Dream sans the keyboard and a little more protruded bottom. It still has the trackball and slightly more hardware keys added compared with the HTC Dream/Google G1. The HTC Hero has a very nice brushed aluminum finish which is a serious step up considering that most of their handsets just uses a plain plastic finish. Like its predecessors, the HTC Hero sports a 3.2 inch touchscreen but while its brothers sport a resistive screen, the Hero has a capacitive touchscreen that supports multi-touch. HTC also added something to the screen (I forgot what it was) that makes it fingerprint resistant. Another new thing about the HTC Hero in terms of hardware design is the addition of a 3.5mm headset jack.



Features and Performance

What separates the HTC Hero from the previous Android devices is the HTC Sense which is like the TouchFlo 3D for Android. I only had a short time playing with an Android device before and I have to say, the Android OS is not the most visually appealing OS in the market so HTC did a good job by adding the HTC Sense. It gives the HTC Hero a more customized User Interface and VERY visually appealing.

Internal hardware didn't change much when compared with the Dream and Magic. The HTC Hero still runs on a Qualcomm 528MHz processor but has an improved RAM of 288MB. Maybe it's because of the RAM or HTC's new UI but swiping transitions on the HTC Sense is really fast and can give the iPhone 3G a run for its money. Sadly, when you get down to some of the most basic apps, the load time when you press the messaging app still seems slow compared with the iPhone.



Because of the added multi-touch capability, the browser on the HTC Hero compared with the HTC Magic changed. You will no longer need the on-screen scroll wheel when zooming in and out of pages, you can just do the pinch and zoom thingy ala iPhone. The multi-touch interface is a welcome change although HTC may need to tweak it a bit since again, compared with the iPhone, the zooming in and out of pages/pictures is a bit slow. It's not LG Prada II slow but there's still a noticeable slowness especially if you're already an iPhone user.

The music player has undergone a revamp and is VERY much appealing compared with the previous devices. The camera has also undergone a major improvement. The HTC Hero now has a 5 megapixel camera compared with the 3.1 megapixel of its brothers. The camera has autofocus though I don't think it has smile shutter, face detection, etc. There might be some truth to the rumors that the HTC Touch Daimond2 and the HTC Hero shares the same hardware on the inside since the photos on the HTC Hero is comparable with the Touch Diamond2.

Conclusion

Looks like we have another winner from HTC. If HTC keeps on improving on their products I might be tempted to buy their devices again. The HTC Hero is definitely a good upgrade to the HTC Dream or Magic if you're an Android fan. The HTC Sense is a very good improvement which makes the user interface on Android a lot more simpler and more "pretty" to look at. Of course, if HTC decides to release the HTC Sense on their previous Android devices, then Dream and Magic users may not be tempted to switch but there's the added multi-touch and a 5 megapixel camera so there's probably no holding back Android users who want to upgrade.