SanDisk's Sansa e130 Reviewed

Here's my review of the SanDisk Sansa. After seeing the beautiful screen, I hope it will start to erode into Apple Shuffle sales.

SanDisk’s Sansa e130 is a strong entry in this ultra crowded market segment. With very adjustable music settings, organization by artist and genre, and an integrated SD slot, folks will be well served by this music player. Add in a very readable screen, and an intuitive interface, and SanDisk has a real winner on their hands. This is the first MP3 player to be “LD Approved,” and it is awarded without reservation to this noteworthy device. When compared to an iPod Mini with no screen, minimal adjustments, and a nonreplaceable battery, the Sansa stands out even more.

Read another opinion here.

Usability matters a lot with a portable player. The main buttons are large and on the front of the casing, with a wheel for volume control and scrolling through lists on the upper right edge, and a hold button on the left edge. It is pretty ergonomic and the screen displays enough information about the current track to be useful.

Also, take a look at Futurelook's review.

At Futurelooks, we get a lot of MP3 players across our desks. Some of them are really great. Some of them kinda suck. Things that I've always whined and complained about are the poor quality headphones that most players come with and the lack of expansion through some sort of memory slot. Well, it looks like we found something that might fit the bill. Sandisk, makers of all sorts of Flash Memory products got into the business of MP3 players a little while ago. Since then, they've made some changes along the way, and their latest series, the e1xx, shows a continuing evolution of their growing MP3 product category. I think they were just paying attention to our reviews, and keeping their ears open.

Apple Updates Its Product Line

This was a little sooner than I expected. This may mean that Apple has something more in store for the Christmas season. They're merging the photo line into the standard player line, and calling it the iPod color. Also, support for podcasts is being added.

Apple® today announced that the iPod® and iPod photo lines are merging, creating a single line of white iPods that all feature color displays with the ability to view album artwork, photos and play slideshows in stunning color. The simplified iPod lineup features a 20GB model, holding up to 5,000 songs priced at just $299 and a 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs priced at $399. Also starting today, iPods will offer an easy to use Podcast menu, including bookmarking within a Podcast and the ability to display Podcast artwork in color.

I am a little disappointed to not see a 40 GB model at a more affordable price point. I think this just leaves them open for another company to fill the midsize gap. Also, take a look at CNET's commentary on this.

Yet Another MP3 Player Released

The V@mp C@andi (they really need a better name) was recently released. It sports a "no screen" feature (and I use the term loosely) just like the iPod. Maybe Jobs will sue them for stealing the no screen "feature."

As a result it comes as little surprise that they’re not loaded with all the bells and whistles of bigger MP3 rivals, lacking a screen or any features other than straight music playback. It supports MP3 and WMA, and transfers files via USB. Stay tuned for more on these handsome musical dwarves coming soon.

Personally, if it doesn't have a screen, it won't be getting my m@ney!

64 Bit Semprons Coming

Well, it looks like the battle for the low end of the market is going to get interesting. 64 bit Semprons are coming. whoever thought that a 64 bit 3300+ processor would be considerd "low end." Look for these in some of the back to school and Christmas models to be released over the next few months.

SOURCES CLAIMED AMD is close to releasing a whole set of cut down Sempron microprocessors which will include iAMD 64 bit support.
That could be as early as the middle of July, according to people close to AMD's plans in Taiwan.

The E6 stepping will use socket 754 and if you want to you'll be able to overclock them to your heart's desire.

The same sources claim the 64-bit Sempr0ns will be released at 2600+, 2800+, 3000+, 3100+ and 3300+ numbers.

USB Flash Drive Review

Of course I'm biased, but I think this review is really good. Once you get one of these USB flash drives, you'll wonder how you lived without one. Can't decide between a budget or a premium model? Take a look...

With today’s busy, digital lifestyle USB flash drives are a necessity. I find myself constantly shuttling information between home and work. At each location, my data is transferred from one computer to the next. To be sure, there are more elegant, sophisticated solutions: Bluetooth, Ethernet, and WiFi networks come readily to mind. But for quick and easy, with no setup involved, it’s hard to beat the good ol’ “sneakernet.” This term was originally used for moving files from one machine to another using floppy discs (and Nike’s). USB flash drives have pretty much replaced floppy discs as well as the larger Zip discs for almost all users, due to their larger capacity, diminutive size, and affordable cost. In fact, 7.6 million of these units were sold in 2004, and even more growth is expected over the next few years.

While $275 is a little steep for such a device, at least it won't go out of date too soon. To my knowledge, this is one of only a few reviews of either drive, and more comprehensive than anything out there.

Benq 1640 DVDRW Review

Just this week I was looking for a review of this drive- and now it appears. I think many will consider this the current price/performance leader for a while. It's a great reader, as well as writer. And 8x on dual layer plus media is a new class leading benchmark!

Quality and speed, nothing more, nothing less. The new BenQ DW1640 raises the burning speed to even higher levels than before. Not only can it burn both -R and +R single layered discs at 16x, but it supports 8x +R DL writing speed and 6x -R DL writing speed. If you need more, +RW and -RW writing speeds will also not disappoint you.



When we investigated CD and DVD error correction capabilities, we were amazed by its performance.Very good error correction mechanism, even at high speed reading. The burner dominates over most competitors when it comes to ripping speed, reporting higher speeds than DVD-ROM readers. In this great speed performance, the DAE ripping speed comes to complete the profile, making the drive one of the fastest readers available, even with defective and problem media.

New iAudio5 Review

Tom's evaluated the iAudio5 player also. Navigation was "quirky" to say the least. For another opinion, it's worth checking out.

The iAUDIO5 has enough features to satisfy most consumers. The FM radio is nice - when you can receive a good signal - and the voice and line-in recording features are great for students and interviewers. Finally, the light weight and long battery life make this player a very good portable choice, if you can get used to the quirky navigation.

Here's what I had to say about the player.

The iAudio 5 is a very stylish music player, with enough features to keep even advanced users satisfied for some time. The colorful display is clearly the standout feature. The use of a common AAA battery for power minimizes down time. The FM tuner means you never run out of new music during long layovers at the airport. The variety of recording modes and options extends the possibilities and usefulness of the device to a variety of applications. The number of supported file formats for playback complements these options. I envision this device for the young executive who likes to exercise with music, and travel without being weighed down with a heavier device. With all these possibilities, I’m sure they’ll find something worth listening to. For the extra dough, you can have something that is far more exclusive and feature rich than just another iPod Shuffle. When your friends see the multiple color display they’ll know why you chose the iAudio 5 and will be envious.

AMD in Notebooks

AMD is a little late to the party here. While they've been doing very well with their desktop Athlon 64 chips, they needed to watch the market. For years, they let Intel run away with the notebook market with their "Centrino." And now, notebooks are outselling desktops- a trend that is likely to continue. It's nice to see AMD making a great notebook chip, but two problems remain. First, ony HP/Compaq wants to use it in the US market. Second, they need a strong advertising campaign to get the word out, and AMD hasn't historically done that well.

Turion's debut comes at a time of unusual turmoil in the mobile-chip business. Notebook sales have been strong, and supplies of Intel's Pentium M processor, also known as Centrino, are tight. Laptop manufacturers report that quotas on some Pentium M chips have forced them to trim production. What's more, Intel is planning a major change in mobile-processor technology just months before Microsoft (MSFT ) plans to launch its long-awaited Windows update, code-named Longhorn. All of this spells considerable confusion for consumers in coming months

For further info, check out this.

Athlon FX-57 Coming Soon

A new Athlon FX is always exciting news to gamers, as well as those that just like hearing about a new, really fast chip. The "FX" series compete with Intel's "Extreme Edition" for the fastest chip title. These chips appeal primarily to gamers with lots of dough as the price for the latest one is usually about a thousand bucks.

AMD continues to raise the bar in performance – both in dual core with its recent X2 chip and now once again in the single core design with its pending FX-57 launch due on June 27th. Gamers everywhere have seen the results AMD has had with its FX line and for good reason are eagerly anticipating the FX-57. Although the FX-53 and FX-55 will still make great gaming CPUs from now until the next year or so, it’s the 57 model in particular that really puts some distance between AMD and Intel’s closest gaming CPU dubbed the “Extreme Edition”.

Apparently, the chips have been sent out to the reviewers (AMD must have forgot me). However, over at GD, they just couldn't wait.

Cassettes Going The Way of 8-Tracks

Well, I don't think this should really surprise anyone too much. Between CD's and now MP3's (as well as competing formats), I don't know any folks still using the cassette standard. And I don't miss that "white noise" hiss that was often present.

Just as the Vinyl Record has pretty much died off in the mid 90's, the end of the cassette tape is coming close. So far cassette tapes have been in use since their perfection by Philips in the 1960's and reached their peak in 1989 in the UK, selling 83 million tapes in the UK alone. Now this has fallen to just 0.9 million tapes sold last year. When the cassette tape was created, Philips decided not to charge royalties for it in order to ensure it quickly became accepted. Before the tape, reel-to-reel recorders and vinyl recording booths dominated the market.

Cheaper Digital SLR Due Next Week

It's great to see such affordable price points on such great technology. Hopefully, these types of digital cameras will continue to drop over the next few years. They're priced solidly in "prosumer" territory so take a look if interested in some serious photos.

Nikon's latest data point represents a delicious addition to the line: the D50, due next week. It takes the same spectacular photos as the best-selling D70S--for a list price of $750.

(These prices are for the body only--bring your own lens. With a great starter lens, the D50 will be priced at $900. Prices online will be even lower once the camera has been on sale for a few weeks.)

Notebook Mouse Roundup

This is a nice article comparing optical, notebook mice. Very complete and well done.

These cordless, optical notebook mice represent a lot of technology in a compact and portable package. Thankfully, all three mice did function as advertised, and lived up to their expectations. While any of the mice will get the job done, with each increase in price comes a corresponding increase in features. By figuring the budget, you can calculate how much mouse to buy, and if the features will meet your needs. These mice are ideal for the user who desires a more elegant solution for interfacing with their notebook on an extended basis. None will make you toss your desktop mouse, but all are close substitutes for making life on the road much more comfortable.

Logitech V500 Without further delay, the mouse that will find room in my laptop bag is the Logitech V500. While there is a price premium on it, its set of standout features makes it my able companion on the road. The choice was not easy, and the Kensington unit was a very close second.

This testing was completed in April; some now call this news!

Make Your Car iPod Ready

Persoanlly, I'm sticking to my cassette adaptor. However, for a nice weekend project that will give you, and the ol' soldering iron a workout, check it out.

So the way this works is you tell the stereo to play a CD, and it does, but you switch the signal that it's getting from the CD player to the iPod, or other aux input. Your stereo keeps spinning the CD, and it keeps showing the track number and time of the CD, and you can switch the audio back and forth from CD to aux at any time.

It sounds really good as far as I can tell. There's definitely no noise like when I was using the cassette adapter, and the levels don't get all messed up when I play the iPod loudly. (This is something that was happening a lot to me with the cassette adapter, but I know this doesn't happen for everybody.)

Up, Up, And Away!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Clean out the local party supply store, and get out the string and that lawnchair. Presto! You too can fly!

Anyone who’s ever been eight years old has wondered the same thing: How many balloons would it take to carry me up into the sky? John Ninomiya knows the answer. He’s logged 32 flights—and ascended as high as 21,400 feet—dangling beneath clusters of between 40 and 120 helium balloons.

Pricey Mouse Pad

Fifty bucks for a mouse pad??? I think you've got to have more money than brains to go for this one!

Suffice it to say, if you're one of those people who simply doesn't care about the nebulous, "can't put your finger on it" difference in abstract feel between the various things you could slide your mouse over, you'll only shake your head and chuckle at this new surface from fUnc Industries. Even if you do care, that $50 price tag could make you scoff. Still, it's the best mousing surface we've ever used, and if you're serious about mouse movement and precision, $50 probably isn't too much to ask to make virtually every second spent using your computer a little tiny bit better.

AMD Chips In HP Notebooks

The players are lining up for the "Back To School" notebook season. In previous years, August was the most popular month to buy a computer. Notebooks dominated desktops last year, and all signs point to a repeat.

Select HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario consumer notebook PCs will, for the first time, include the option of AMD Turion 64 mobile technology. AMD's latest mobile processor technology delivers 32-bit performance today and can run tomorrow's 64-bit applications, in addition to offering enhanced virus protection.

It's nice to see some competition to Intel's Centrino (Pentium M) processor which has been rather overpriced for some time!

So far, AMD's Turion chip is appearing in the "value line." You can see the details here.

Take advantage of AMD's hot mobile technology
The new AMD Turion 64 processors with PowerNow! Technology are optimized for mobility and computing performance. The innovative PowerNow! technology, available with all AMD mobile processor-based notebooks, can effectively increase battery life while delivering performance on demand. Under normal operating conditions, the processor gives off less heat, for a cooler and quieter notebook. In addition, you get enhanced virus protection to guard against the spread of certain malicious PC viruses.

For basic computing, opt for the Mobile AMD Sempron processor; for more demanding tasks, choose an AMD Turion 64 which can handle even the most demanding applications.

It's available with the AMD Turion ML-34 which runs at 1.8 GHz, or some slower Semprons.

Is this the cheapest RAM?

Some seem to think that we are getting to the bottom prices of RAM. Than again, we've heard that one several times before. Should be interesting to watch!

Only a few days after a group of Taiwanese memory produces said they would force the lowering of DDR2 prices in Q3 with the unloading of inventory (see our previous coverage), Transcend Information says that it can not lower DDR2 prices anymore. Headquartered in Taiwan itself, the memory producer says that its margins have taken a major beating from previous price reductions, now down to 11%-12% from 15% in Q1. The firm says it is still trying to unload its inventory of lower performing DDR2 memory clocked at 400MHz. As an engineer, I think that sector seems like a tough business. As a customer, particularly a high-performing, lower latency memory gaming Geek, I scream, "Lower, lower, lower!" With DDR2-667 becoming standard, I'd imagine margins may pick up a bit for all memory producers once their inventory is cleared ... assuming the oversupply in Q3 doesn't over-impact the situation. For more information, visit DigiTimes.

Free WiFi Days Numbered

I think this was a long time coming. In order to attract business, they gave away the internet to sell coffee. Next thing, you see some guy with his laptop sitting there for 8 hours running his business off his cell phone. Also, he's got his iPod, laptop, and digital camera all plugged in, and he's there for the day, and monopolizing the outlets to boot. Well, time for the WiFi "leach" to move on; or at least buy a cup of java or two!

Victrola started providing free wireless access two years ago after customers asked for it. As in hundreds of other cafes, the owners hoped it would encourage regulars and infrequent patrons to buy more food and drinks. But there was also a disadvantage, staff members said: the cafe filled with laptop users each weekend, often one to a table meant for four. Some would sit for six to eight hours purchasing a single drink, or nothing at all.

Tascam Speaker Testing

While I haven't heard of this company, their speakers were well liked in Maximum PC's testing. I may have to evaluate them myself.

For music testing, we’ve been using the woofer-rattling bass drum track in Paul Thorn’s “Fabio & Liberace” (from Ain’t Love Strange) as something of an acid test for musical bass response. To our surprise, the lightly powered subwoofer delivered tight, clean bass. Next, we cued up Steely Dan’s “Josie” (from Aja) to see how the satellites handle high frequencies—paying close attention to the crystalline chime. The speakers deliver a very wide sound field, with excellent stereo imaging.

Top Graphic Boards

PC World tests the best graphics boards. Their top pick is an ATI X850 with 256 MB of RAM. Impressive specs, backed up by a $510 price tag. I'll wait for a sale personally.

Pac-Man Turns 25

All those quarters spent on Pac-Man in the early 80's. Alas, Pac-Man, I knew you well!

For a video game, Pac-Man is getting downright old. The ghost-wary hero with an insatiable appetite for dots turns 25 this month.

From the early 1980s "Pac-Mania" to today's endless sequels and rip-offs, the original master of maze management remains a bright yellow circle on the cultural radar.

Disposable Camcorder

With the decline of film, and processing, CVS is trying to make a buck elsewhere. For $29.99 you can take on your next vacation a camcorder. When you return home, for $12.99, CVS will put your video on a DVD. The short record time seems a significant shortcoming, but it's not a bad deal. For the tech challenged, this direct to DVD feature will be a significant plus.

The camcorder weighs under 5 ounces and holds 20 minutes of digital video and sound. It features a 1.4 inch color playback screen and an ability to delete video, and it saves video on a memory chip instead of tapes.

After shooting, customers have to return the recyclable camcorder to their local CVS store and its contents would then be transferred onto a DVD disc to view and share for a $12.99 processing fee.

Pc Mag took the camcorder out for a drive.

The camcorder itself, made by Pure Digital Technologies, looks good, and the shooting experience is akin to that of the Sony DCR-DVD7—you hold the camcorder in front of you and use the LCD screen as a viewfinder. Though there aren't any extras like a light or zoom, the 1.4-inch screen is adequate, and the four buttons on the back—on/off, record, playback, and delete—keep things simple. The LCD image rotates when you turn the camera sideways or upside down. Curiously, the video you shoot doesn't rotate along with the LCD, so you can be fooled into shooting a bunch of upside-down footage. There's no tripod mount, though the square-ish camcorder is able to stand on its own.

AMD Dual Cores Coming

AMD would appear to be getting their product to market in a big way. This means that for the upcoming "Back To School" computer season, there should be plenty of dual core chips to choose from, both AMD and Intel flavors.

There seems to be a clear preference for AMD products in ordering. Orders have already been passed and shipments have already been made for the 4200+, 4400+, 4600+ and 4800+. The resellers whom I have spoken to have confirmed that there might be some restrictions on quantity in the beginning but that availability would improve depending on demand. Chris from Scan said that it would be one of the first to stock the AMD parts while Dabs and some others are a little more enthusiastic about AMD than Intel. But the mama of all distributors or at least one of the largest, Ingram Micro told us that they have ordered quite a lot of Pentium D 820 parts and that they will stock all the Intel Dual Core SKUs - 820, 830, 840 and 840EE. We have also got confirmation from sources outside the company that IM is going to start selling AMD parts in UK by the end of July.

Multimedia Laptop

When looking for something very multimedia, and not quite portable, check this out.

We loved the first-generation Toshiba Qosmio E15 ($2,899), with its multimedia flare and extensive AV features, and we're happy to report that the trend continues with the Toshiba Qosmio G25-AV513 ($2,899 as tested), our newest Editors' Choice for multimedia notebooks. The G25 has the most AV ports we've seen on a multimedia notebook, including a TV tuner, component video, and composite video in. And this Media Center's new design means that the desktop replacement laptop can slide right into your entertainment center among your other electronics components. We can't remember the last time we were this impressed with a laptop.

LiteOn 1693S Review

This is my first optical drive review, and notably the 1st review of this new drive from LiteOn. Needless to say, I'm quite proud as it's far better than what PC Mag and PC World combined tell you about a new drive. Enjoy!

In conclusion, this drive performed very well overall. While I was disappointed with the 16X DVD+R writing performance, all the other discs burnt had a low amount of errors indicating a high quality burn. Compatibility was also very good, as most discs played in the tested players. The drive performed well in reading tasks, and was very good at CD burning tasks, on both CDR and rewritable media. With better quality media, and a firmware upgrade or two, I’m sure the 16x writing quality will improve to match its slower brethren. With its strong software package, including Nero burning ROM, and Power DVD, the LiteOn 1693S is “LD Approved.”

Here's the discussion thread at CD Freaks.

Plextor Hard Drive

I'm a little perplexed why Plextor is moving into this crowded market segment. For some reason, they think there are bucks here, but I doubt that folks are going to be impressed by 40 and 80 GB sizes, when Seagate is coming out with a 120 GB size, and Firewire compatibility. The Plextor really needs a robust software package, but it doesn't seem to have this currently.

THE GROWTH of digital media such as video, audio and pictures is driving the demand for portable storage devices. Plextor has developed a compact, stylish, and reliable external hard disk drive in the form of the PX-PH04U. The 40GB model reviewed here isn't exactly huge in terms of capacity (80GB model also available), but its fast USB 2.0 connection, highly portable compact form factor and consistent performance provide optimal transfer rates in an easy-to-carry package. And the need for no external power source will be a boon for frequent travellers. If you're looking for a portable storage solution that's both light on the pocket and budget, the PX-PH04U is an excellent choice.
Pros: Low cost; great design; quiet; write protection switch
Cons: USB only; no shock, encryption or backup features

The manufacturer's page has some more technical info.

DVD to Audio CD Guide

If you've been wondering how to get that audio track off of your DVD, and onto a CD to play in the car, this guide shows you all the ins and outs, step by step. Be prepared, it will take a while.

Ok, this guide covers how to simply copy a extract the audio from a video DVD to a audio CD. The resulting quality should be excellent, almost as good as the original DVD sound quality.

New USB TV

For years there have been gadgets to get a TV signal into your computer. Frankly, none have really interested me. This one, with its small form factor of just the size of a USB flash drive has me drueling.

Roughly the same size as a lighter (and with more than a passing resemblance to memory keys from a few years back), the U880 is – incredibly – a full featured TV Card. The 9 x 2.6 x 1.1cm “Stick” has a USB2.0 interface, is NTSC, PAL and SECAM compatible, timer records in MPEG1/2 and 4, can timeshift, captures single frames and works without any external power adaptor. For image enthusiasts, picture brightness, hue, saturation, contrast and sharpness can be customised for each TV channel.

Also, check out the press release.

Home Workers Prefer Laptops

Among home office workers, they are using laptops as their preferred computers. Not just any laptops, but the thin and light ones with 15" screens and built in optical drives. Too bad the manufacturers are making more and more 17", 10 pound models. They really should listen to their consumers.

So what is the well-stocked mobile home office running on these days? Well, according to IDC's findings, most home workers who are buying laptops--56 percent--are choosing the "thin and light" category, which usually consist of screens that are about 15 inches and come with a CD read-write drive and perhaps a DVD player.

DVD Recorders Coming

When my VCR bit the dust last month, I wondered if I should replace it, or look into a DVD recorder. I ultimately chose a combo deck with a DVD recorder built in, but a stand alone DVD recorder was a close 2nd choice. At these $100 prices, this will be a hot item this Christmas season, and who is going to buy just a DVD player?

BenQ has begun shipments of the DVD recorders primarily for sale under its own brand, which currently average 10,000 units a month, said associate vice president Alpha Tsai. However, the company still competes for ODM/OEM orders from international brands or system integrators from the retail channel, Tsai indicated. In addition, BenQ targets Chinese makers of DVD players as main clients for loaders of DVD recorders, with the company expecting to deliver 100,000 units a month in the second half of this year, Tsai added.

Lite-On IT has shipped its DVD recorders to Philips, Wal-Mart and Sanyo Electric on an ODM/OEM basis. The company also began to ship small volumes of DVD recorder loaders in the fourth quarter of 2004 and expects the sales volume to increase largely beginning next quarter.

Smaller Hard Drives From Toshiba

Toshiba's already small hard drives are shrinking a notch smaller it would seem. Why this is noteworthy is that they are used in the iPod line. New iPods have been released in August in anticipation of the Christmas season. I would expect for these drives to help shave a little heft off the current line. So, in the end, the Mini may be getting "Minier?"

Toshiba's Storage Device division has revised its current range of 1.8-inch hard drives into a new, smaller form factor.

The new casing is available in 60GB, 40GB, 30GB, and 20GB capacities. The 30GB and 20GB models will be .2 inches in height and weigh 1.7 ounces; while the 40GB and 60GB models will be just .3 inches and weigh 2.1 ounces.

LiteOn 1653SX Review

As always, a comprehensive review from the crew over at CDRInfo.com. This should whet your appetite for my LiteOn 1693S review coming out this weekend, hopefully. The CDRInfo review is of the external model. This can be especially useful to desktop users not wishing to open up their computers, and notebook users with less than robust optical drives.

CD burning speed is great, with all tested media burned at the max 48X speed, but unfortunately we can not say the same for the quality of the burned media. When it comes to quality, users may find it safer to burn at lower speeds for a successful, error free burn.



As for recording with DVD media, the drive had good performance only with specific media while with other, it did not do so well, especially with RW media. With DL media, the LiteOn 1653SX is fast, supporting 4X and its writing quality is also good. A "drawback" as one may say, is the BookType setting, which is not supported as was traditionally the case with all LiteOn drives, by the better known software applications like KProbe, DVDInfo Pro and others, but is now only supported by LiteOn's specific utility which can be found at the LiteOn website. Note here that this is not really a "drawback" since the utility is free and extremely easy to use. The ability of the drive to perform media error measurements is also a good feature.

Tabbed Browsing comes To Explorer

Microsoft is catching up to their competition. After nothing new in browsers for years, the tab was put into Firefox, and folks were defecting slowly over. Microsoft had promised this in their next version (7), but I guess they just couldn't wait.

Although version 7 of Internet Explorer has not been released yet, Microsoft has included tabbed browsing in an update to its MSN Search Toolbar for version 6 of Internet Explorer, which was made publicly available today.

The tabbed browsing feature in the new 2.5 version of the MSN toolbar will enable users "to quickly access, manage and save commonly visited sites into automatic 'routines' of Web pages that can all be opened simultaneously," according to an MSN Fact Sheet.

Download it here.

Seagate Pocket Drive Review

This is a great new product. It made PC world's top 100 list of new products for the year, I think it was #7. While a little pricey, once you get it, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. Leave the laptop at home, this is all you need on the road.

Seagate Technology is a leading manufacturer of hard drives in computers. For their 5 GB Pocket Drive, they decided to cross an external hard drive with those ever-popular USB flash drives, creating a product that addresses an emerging niche. The Seagate Pocket Drive is slightly smaller than a hockey puck and fits quite nicely in a shirt pocket. It is currently available in both 2.5 ($115) and 5 GB ($140) sizes. Similar drives with a 2 GB capacity sell for $200 and up, making the Seagate Pocket Drive a cost-effective option. While there have been portable USB hard drives before, they have been considerably larger. I believe this Seagate drive will be the first of a new product category of portable micro hard drive storage devices.

Smart USB

So called "Smart USB" drives are being developed to users can feel at home with any computer they happen to use. This should be a real boon to users who move between a bunch of different computers (such as me). However, the licensing issues for the programs are already creeping up. I hope this doesn't kill this before it even gets off the ground.

For those not in the know, the idea behind a smart USB drive is that you can run your desktop and selected applications just the way you like on any Windows PC and then leave no trace of your existence once you pull the token out. In theory, people that shuffle between home, office and public PCs would see immediate benefits - or so goes the story at U3.

PC Mag Reviews the Dell DJ 30

This may be the bargain leader in a larger hard drive based, no frills player. It's selling for $239.

Under the skin, the DJ 30 bears a strong resemblance to the Creative Zen Touch, but with a blue-backlit display instead of Creative's white. We found that the blue backlight reduces contrast and makes the display somewhat harder to read. The DJ 30 includes Dell's distinctive roller switch to scroll through menus. It's very easy to use, and there are no overshoot or sensitivity problems, unlike some other touch-sensitive scrollers. The forward and back buttons have a well-implemented acceleration feature that scrolls through a file faster the longer you hold them down. The navigation controls are much better than those found in the iriver H10, for example. The anodized aluminum case resists fingerprints and scratches. When a song is selected, a pop-up submenu lets you play it, view details, add it to a playlist, or clear it. There's also an alphabetic search function, which comes in handy if you get close to filling all 30GB

Pioneer 109 Reviewed

Pioneer's drives are always highly anticipated in the optical drive community. I was a little surprised to see this review come out today, as the 110 from Pioneer is expected this summer.

Have Pioneer learned from their mistakes in earlier drives? Unfortunately not, it seems like it still fails in the same categories as before. But let us summarize our impressions of this drive:

The main positive points: You can’t get around it; this drive has some of the best, if not the best writing quality of all DVD-Writers on the market. This could be the key point for many to get just this drive. It also supports 6x DVD+R double layer writing and 6x DVD-R dual layer writing, as well as 16x +/-R writing using CAV writing technology.

The main negative points: The key point is that the media compatibility with this drive is horrible, media that have been on the market for over a year and more is still not supported at certified speed, even from large known manufacturers like Ritek and CMC Magnetics. Pioneer should really work on improving the CD-R and DVD+/-R media compatibility. 8x DVD+RW media have been available as samples since late last year, and even with the latest 1.50 firmware there are no support for the 8x DVD+RW that is available, very disappointing to see 8x DVD+RW in the specs when it doesn’t support it. Besides this there are some other noticeable drawbacks; missing bitsetting support for +R/RW, missing PIE/PIF scanning support in Nero CD/DVD speed, No overburning abilities, problems with protected audio discs as well as an riplock at 5x.

To sum it all up, this is the best we could say: “If your main concern is DVD-Writing quality and nothing else – then this drive may fit your needs. But look elsewhere for a good all-round drive.” If pioneer would take a closer look at its competition and maintain the same excellent writing quality, the company would have a winner.

While the DVD writing itself was excellent, it needed some help in other areas. Not the best all around drive.

New Flash Card Readers Reviewed

If you're like me and have a stack of these cards in your draw, than this is the solution for you. Read the article to see which one suits your needs better.

Once you get a 15-in-1 flash card writer, you’ll be wondering how you ever got along without it. While not as exciting as an iPod, it’s a supporting peripheral that improves your workflow, and speeds up a variety of different applications. In my mind, there is no clear winner here, they both are very good. For the user who also wants to use it with their notebook, or shared with a few desktops, than Belkin has the advantage, with xD Picture Card support as a bonus. There is also less clutter from not having a separate AC cord. On the other hand, if you could benefit from some extra USB ports on your desk, and the faster read speeds, than the Kensington unit with its attractive styling is a nice choice as long as you don’t intend to move it around. Until we need a 20-in-1 Reader & Writer, both the Belkin or Kensington units are an ideal solution for a variety of users!

See Bill's (formerly of "The Hard Edge")commentary on the article here.

Video Capture Reviewed

I've always wanted to get one of these, but have not gotten around it (yet). This solution from Turtle Beach makes it much easier with a USB connection.

Record video to your PC, and fill those lonely hard drives up. Gazing at the box, I read promises of recording from many different mediums such as VHS tapes, video cameras, Television, DVD’s and anything else you could find to hook up with svideo or composite connections. Overall the Video Advantage USB is a great alternative to a PCI card. If you have a laptop and would like to do some capturing this is also a great option. The programs that are bundled are easy to use, and come with lots of features to tweak out the exact format and size of file you desire. There is also editing and burning software that accompanies this product allowing you to make a full featured movie to go. I did not like the copyright restriction that came along with this however. Being able to record TV and DVD’s are the main reason people would purchase something like this. I had no problems with dropped frames, or audio lag with my AMD 2500+/1GB RAM computer

The copyright restriction is rather annoying. It really limits the uses of such a device.

New High End PC's From Dell Planned

Just what we needed when PC prices continuing to go down. Now Dell wants to make the "Lexus" of PC's, to keep the margin up. This probably will work. After all, folks pay a premium for a Lexus, when it's a wood grained Toyota in the end.

The No. 1 PC maker said the as-of-yet unnamed brand, which is slated to debut this fall, would include both desktop and notebooks priced between $1,200 and $3,500 and positioned just above the company's Dimension and Inspiron product families.

"Consider this the Lexus of our lineup," Mike George, vice president of Dell's U.S. consumer business, said during a press briefing here. "Defining the high-end is no longer the gearheads who focus on feeds and speeds. These are folks who get the possibilities of what the PC can do."

Maybe they can give out loaners when your pc is in the shop! Seriously, the high end truly is, and always will be, about the processing speed of the computer, just like the horsepower in a Ferrari.

When you want to share the iTunes...

What do you get when you cross a boombox with an iPod? Altec Lansing's inMotion is the answer. Great for listening to tunes at the beach or parties.

Ushering in a whole new era of out-loud audio for iPod, the inMotion iM7 delivers full-bodied sound that rivals traditional home stereo systems. Its sleek, compact design goes where you go – around the home, to the office, out in the backyard or at the beach. Mobility is encouraged via the iM7’s long lasting battery mode. Or plug into a nearby outlet for AC power. The iPod recharges while you listen. Your dockable iPod is secured within a patent pending universal cradle that gracefully opens and recesses with the touch of a finger. The iM7’s impressive sound comes from highly advanced neodymium drivers and tweeters, plus a powerful, built-in subwoofer. A wireless remote provides across-the-room command of both the iM7 and iPod, allowing perfect adjustment of your music. Now, your iPod has an ideal traveling companion, the inMotion iM7. Just give it a listen and you’ll know why!

Check out CNET's commentary here, and their review here.

We're fully impressed with the Altec Lansing InMotion iM7; it should set the bar for future truly portable speakers. Sound quality is powerful and rich, the device is portable and flexible, and it just looks good. This system will fit right in at home and will impress those who see and hear it on the go.

LifeDrive Comments

While I'm still drooling over Palm's latest creation, I found this. Some reasonable questions and commentary.

Would you recommend PalmOne’s ‘Life Drive’ to the student that is learning in school?"

First of all, answering your first question is difficult because I get to test lots of different devices. I carry at least one cell phone and one Smartphone with me at all times. It could be a plain cell phone, or one with a camera or even a handset with built-in TV video features. As for a Smartphone/portable e-mail device, I’ll carry a Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian or Linux-based device. Brands names don’t matter since they change so often. What matters is that they connect easily and do what I want them to.

Which brings me to the second part. You should check out the LifeDrive’s features and see if it does what you want it to. It’s a top-of-the-line device and it comes with a top-of-the-line price tag. I would check out the entire PalmOne line to see which one fits your needs.

I want one even more, but the price of admission has me hesitating.

How To write Tech Reviews Seminar

I think I'll pass on this. Some folks will do anything for a quick buck! And to think I do this without the seminar!

In this seminar, you can expect to learn:
How to get your hands on cutting-edge gear
What do to when putting a review item through its paces
How to evaluate documentation and accessories
Tricks to make your review a compelling read
How to build coverage of a new product into a trend story
How to involve real people in a review story
Where to pitch your reviews and trend pieces

After you finish laughing, check out Gizmodo's take on this.

Creative Labs Nano Reviewed

Thia is another flash based player, with a screen. At $149, which is the same price as the iPod Shuffle, this is a serious contender.

This tiny player measures 1.3 by 2.6 by 0.5 inches, weighs just 1.2 ounces with battery, and comes in 512MB or 1GB versions (we tested the larger one). Features include an FM tuner, FM recording, line-in recording, a built-in microphone, plenty of music playback modes (yes, you can shuffle your music), and data storage. The Nano supports MP3, WMA, and protected WMA formats up to 320 Kbps. It runs on a single triple-A battery; alkaline battery life is rated at 18 hours for audio playback or 12 hours of FM radio use. The device connects to PCs via USB 2.0, and you simply drag and drop songs or folders onto the player.

Product Placement Advertising

This started with E.T. and those Resces Pieces that he ate. Now they want to sell you a lot more. Be aware of these subliminal messages.

Movies like Sony Pictures' Hitch, starring Will Smith, gave prominent placement to several Sony products, as well as the popular BlackBerry e-mail device. The plots of high-energy shows like CBS' CSI franchise, and Fox's 24 and Alias, often hinge on technology. The first season of 24, in fact, made novel use of competing computer platforms to denote the goodies and the villains.

MP3 Playing Watch

It was just a matter of time (pun intended). A nice looking watch, although a little large. I wonder if you have to send it back to get the battery replaced for $100 like the iPod (this just in on that topic)?

IF THE brochure is to be believed; IMTC (I-Money Technology) can help turn any ordinary geek into a James Bond. All you need apparently is a Powerdisk voice recording MP3 player wristwatch.
These devices are cunningly disguised as regular Rolex-style analogue watches. So at first glance you wouldn't guess at their high tech internals. On second glance the Rec and Play buttons are clearly marked, though.

We can see how useful the ability to record a conversation with your watch might be to a regular spy. But why the MP3 player? We suspect you tie up your victim and then play him an entire album of the Smurfs Greatest Hits until he breaks down into a gibbering wreck and confesses it all.

iAudio X5 Review

Check out the photo review of this sharp looking player. It uses black as much as the iPod uses white. The reviewer seems irked by the lack of a case.

I do not regret this purchase, despite the slightly too high price. After using it extensively for 2 weeks (3 hours of daily commuting in Tokyo), I think I should be ok for a few years without looking too out-of-date... hopefully ;)

Ouch from my laptop.....

Those "desktop replacement" notebooks are not quite the same.

"When you look at the design, laptops were never (meant) as a replacement for a desktop computer," said Alan Hedge, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University. "The idea was portability for occasional use. It was never intended to be a machine you would work at for eight hours a day, 52 weeks a year."

More than 9,200 nongovernment workers reported missing a day or more of work because of typing and keyboarding-related injuries in 2003, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ninety-two percent of those cases were associated with worker motion or position, the bureau said. More than a third those workers missed over a month of work because of their injuries.

WiFi In Church ???

Now God can answer your prayers with an email, or maybe even an instant message. If the sermon is boring, you can even surf on over to your favorite web site.

Now anyone with a wireless-enabled laptop can access broadband by sitting in the corner of the north aisle at St John's.

Rev Kimber said: "This church has a strong commitment to be open for people in the city, and of course, if this will encourage more new people into the church, the project will have been a success.

"All we ask is that they respect the church environment and do not to use loud mobile ring tones or play music on their computers, especially when a service is in progress."

New Look To Memorex Flash Drive

A sharp looking new USB flash drive was introduced by Memorex today. It's available in up to a 2 GB capacity.

Memorex brings a brand new look to portable storage with its next-generation TravelDrive(TM) USB 2.0 flash drive. The updated TravelDrive features a slimmer design, pen-like cap, blue wrap-around LED, reinforced aluminum lanyard connection and ergonomic gripping area all of which make storing and transferring all types of digital files easy and stylish

Internet History Primer

I'm constantly amazed at how little of the world we really understand. Read and learn!

Roughly speaking most people are familiar with the history of the Internet. In its efforts to produce a nuclear-proof communication system the American government assigned the development of a multi-node communication system that would not be operated by a specific center, to the well known RAND (Research And Development) research center. Thus, in case of a node been struck by the enemy the network would be operational when bypassing the faulty node. That simple, and ingenious at the same time idea, was met with terrifying opposition when it came to be realized, as the network architect, Paul Baran, has revealed in an interview of his, for the Wired magazine: the biggest threat for the new network, Baran says, was not the USSR, but the AT&T, the telephone company with exclusive rights in the USA. The irony of it was, that the company did not respond negatively due to the fact that it was in position of foreseeing the ominous future in store for it, but because its executives could not…comprehend what the network was. The philosophy of hierarchy prevailed at the time. Even a communication network that would not comply with a specific chain of command seemed absurd.

Computex News

Breaking news from Taiwan, the link is to some pics from the show. Seen above are some MP3 players.

Computex, the world's second-largest computer show, opened in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 31. The show, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, will feature 1,288 exhibitors and 2,853 booths and is expected to draw up to 140,000 visitors.