Posted 12/03/08 at 05:40:35 PM by Andy Salisbury

Those of you that use Google Desktop know it’s capable of some pretty cool things. It’ll quickly search all the information on your computer, check the weather in your location (looking outside is so 1990), and now you can even check your Gmail – all right from your desktop.

The new gadget, released just this week will allow you to read, send, search and star your email messages from your desktop. It’ll also link up with your Gmail account’s contact list and auto-complete anyone you might be trying to send email to. It should also be noted that it’ll only take up as much screen real estate as you want it to. You can resize the window to show as many or as few messages as you want.

If you’re new to Google Desktop, they’ve included this gadget in the latest download available right from Google. If you’re already a user, be sure to check out the gadgets page to download it. Either way, it’s pretty snazzy and worth checking out!

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windows, Software, Gmail, Google, Google desktop

Posted 12/03/08 at 05:32:15 PM by Pulkit Chandna

Apple is finding it extremely difficult to avoid being in Greenpeace’s cross hairs. Nearly a year ago, Greenpeace branded the iPhone as “toxic”. Now, the organization has flayed Apple’s pompous claim that its Macbook line of notebooks are the greenest there are.

The Macbook range of notebooks scored a highly disappointing 4.3 out of a possible 10 points on the organization’s green index. Greenpeace did laud Apple, though very frugally, for doing away with bromide flame-retardants and other toxic plastics. But it clearly believes that Apple should take more steps to substantiate its towering claims.

Greenpeace has put the ball in Apple’s court by asking it “to commit to phasing out additional substances with timelines, improve its policy on chemicals and its reporting on chemicals management.”

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apple, iphone, OS X, hardware, MacBook Air, macbook, macbook pro, build a rig, Greenpeace

Posted 12/03/08 at 03:53:49 PM by Mark Edward Soper

Configuring your next BMW isn't as easy as touching a table yet, but in the near future, it probably will be. BMW has released a video of its prototype BMW Product Navigator (aka BMW Konfigurator), which is powered by Microsoft Surface and designed by Vectorform, which created the interactive 2008 election map used by MSNBC.

As with the 2008 MSNBC project, Vectorform's BMW Product Navigator uses Microsoft Surface to manipulate video that is then shown on an HDTV. With the BMW Product Navigator, you place chips representing product options on the Microsoft Surface tabletop computer, and the changes you make affect the BMW shown on the video screen. And, just so you can make sure you're buying the Bimmer you want, Product Navigator can email you your custom configuration, print it, or copy it to a USB flash memory drive.

What do you think about the idea of gesturing your way to the car of your dreams? Is this the best way to use Microsoft Surface? For your chance to answer these and other burning questions, join us after the jump.

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microsoft, operating system, Software, Surface, hardware, microsoft surface, prototype, BMW

Posted 12/03/08 at 03:48:22 PM by Andy Salisbury

According to a blog post by Bob Familiar, an Architect Evangelist with Microsoft, the Windows 7 Beta 1 will be available at the upcoming MSDN developer conference. Said conference will take place from December 9th to February 19th.

In the post, familiar writes, “attend an upcoming MSDN Developer Conference and you will receive a Windows 7 Beta 1 DVD.” It hasn’t been made clear whether or not this means that attendees will receive the disc after or during the conference, but it has been confirmed by other Microsoft employees that the beta will be available.

One such confirmation comes from Keith Combs, who has stated that the DVDs will be available on January 13th. This places it right in time for this year’s CES, and mounts for an even grander unveiling at the trade show.

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windows, microsoft, CES, windows 7, MSDN Developer Conference

Posted 12/03/08 at 03:05:13 PM by Paul Lilly

It's hard to fathom anyone using a netbook as their primary PC. There's only so much you can do with an under-powered ultraportable ill-equipped to run Photoshop, let alone try to attempt any kind of gaming. But as a secondary unit, the pint-sized PCs have proven extremely popular. Is there potential for netbooks to be even more?

Nvidia this week reiterated interest in the mini-laptop market, however hesitant the company might be. Taking a wait-and-see approach, Marv Burkett, the company's chief financial officer, said "we're not saying we're not interested; it's a matter of how the market will evolve." Ironically enough, Nvidia jumping on board might be just the evolutionary step the netbook market needs.

Hit the jump to find out what impact Nvidia coudl have on the netbook market, and why you should care.

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graphics, mobile, nvidia, gpu, netbook

Posted 12/03/08 at 02:25:18 PM by Andy Salisbury

As the memory competition continues to heat up, unlikely alliances will forge. Thanks to a joint press release, Hitachi and Intel have recently announced that they’ve signed a development agreement in order to create breakthrough performance enterprise-class SSDs.

They’ll be off to a running start too, thanks to Intel’s already deep foothold in SSD technologies. Their NAND flash memory already allows for extremely high operating rate and according to Randy Wilhelm, VP and GM of Intel NAND Solutions Group, “The new solid-state drives for the enterprise include a number of architectural breakthroughs and improve performance and energy usage models that will change enterprise computing.” He continued,  “Intel and Hitachi GST share a common objective in delivering SAS/FC products based on solid-state technology that will help enterprise customers meet the skyrocketing demands for performance while reducing space, power and cooling costs.”

It’s expected that these drives will be available sometime in early 2010, and will be sold exclusively through Hitachi.

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intel, hitachi, hardware, nand, consumer electronics, ssd

Posted 12/03/08 at 02:10:26 PM by Paul Lilly

Forty years ago Doug Engelbart gave the first ever public demonstration of the computer mouse. But it wasn't until 1985 that Logitech introduced its first retail rodent. Now, 23 years later, the peripheral maker says it has shipped its one billionth mouse, which is almost enough to accommodate every PC user in existence.

"Since the first click of the Logitech® P4 mouse in 1982, Logitech mice have played an indispensable role in the evolution of the personal computer,” said Gerald P. Quindlen, Logitech president and chief executive officer. “During the last few decades, the way people use computers has changed dramatically – what was once strictly a business tool has become highly integrated into our personal lives. Logitech has continually pursued innovations to meet those changing conditions, introducing – in the last five years alone – the world’s first laser mouse, hyper-fast scrolling and the nano-receiver."

As of this moment, Logitech mice scurry in over 100 countries around the globe and the company now produces 7.8 million mice each month. But getting to 2 billion might not be as easy. Desktop sales are down, and both notebooks (which sport trackpads) and touch screen interfaces could detract from the mouse market. Logitech also faces stiffer competition than it ever has before, with companies like Razer, OCZ, and several others all vying a piece of the peripheral pie.

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mouse, logitech, hardware, peripheral, input device

Posted 12/03/08 at 09:19:23 AM by Paul Lilly

Three years ago, SED televisions were thought to be on the verge of competing with LCD HDTVs and plasma displays. By utilizing thousands of tiny electron guns for each phosphor pixel, SED looked poised to offer a compelling high definition solution with wide viewing angles and deep colors in a display as thin as LCD. But any plans to storm the market were quickly squashed when Applied Nanotech took Canon to court for illegally sublicensing its patents.

Fast forward to today and Canon is finally in the clear to launch SED-based televisions after having won the patent suit. Douglas Baker, Applied Nanotech's chief financial officer, admitted "it would probably be a futile effort" to try and appeal the case in the U.S. Supreme Court, so the only thing stopping Canon at this point is, well, the fear of being laughed at.

"At times like this, new display products are not introduced much because would laugh at them," Tsuneji Uchida, Canon's president, told Financial Times.

Uchida did say that Canon has been working on a cost competitive SED production process, so perhaps SED TVs might finally one day materialize. But first, Canon will need to set aside any fears it has of criticizers laughing at them. We hear picturing them in their underwear helps.

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display, Canon, legal, court, consumer electronics, sed

Posted 12/03/08 at 09:14:37 AM by Paul Lilly

In a move that would make FCC Chairman Kevin Martin proud, YouTube laid out several goals for itself, half of which had to do with clamping down on sexual content. Rest assured, YouTube has "been thinking a lot lately" about how to make the entire video viewing experience a more pleasant one, and here's what it came up with:

• Stricter standard for mature content: YouTube's pulling in the reins on censored material and in addition to pornographic images and sex acts, which are already removed when flagged, the video sharing site is also redefining what it considers "sexually suggestive." Among other criteria, any video intended or designed to arouse viewers will be considered sexually suggestive.
• Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity: Videos that fall under the above category and/or contain profanity "will be algorithmically demoted" from YouTube's 'Most Viewed,' 'Top Favorited,' and other browser pages.

The two other changes YouTube plans to make involve improving its thumbnails so that the image actually represents the video, and enforcing more accurate video information.

Like, dislike, or are indifferent to the changes? Hit the jump and post your thoughts.

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media, web 2.0, youtube

Posted 12/03/08 at 08:43:28 AM by Paul Lilly

According to VIA's recently revealed processor roadmap, the company will begin mass producing dual-core Nano CPUs in June of 2010. The late entry would appear to give Intel a significant head start, as the chip maker has already launched its dual-core Atom 330 CPU. But unlike Intel's chip, VIA's dual-core Nano will zero in on both netbooks (notebooks) and nettops (desktops) instead of strictly nettops.

However, Intel might still beat VIA to the punch with Pineview, the company's dual-core Atom part with an integrated graphics solution. That is, if Intel makes the new chip available for netbooks. If not, Intel would be leaving the door open for VIA to step in as the only one to offer a dual-core solution for the uber popular netbook sector. Moreover, despite Nano's lack of penetration thus far, benchmarks typically show the chip outpacing Intel's Atom, albeit while also consuming more power.

Meanwhile, it seems nobody knows exactly what AMD has planned. The chip maker previously announced it was skipping the netbook market, but at the same time would target mini-notebooks. Should the markets overlap, or if AMD has a competitive change of heart, it could make for an interesting three-way battle royal.

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mobile, cpu, processor, VIA, netbook, nettop, nano