Digital Live

There's something I have to say at the outset of this review: From the time Apple Inc. announced the first 17-in. PowerBook G4 models five years ago, I've always been a little prejudiced against them. I'd never have tried to talk someone out of buying one, but I always shared my opinion that a laptop with a 17-in. display barely qualifies as a laptop at all. It seemed to me that the 17-in. PowerBook and its successor, the Intel-based MacBook Pro, was simply too big, too bulky and too heavy -- though I confess I'd never carried one around.

With that out of the way, let me say this: I have spent a week getting to know Apple's newest 17-in. MacBook Pro -- the 2.6-GHz model with LED backlighting, to be specific -- and I'm still not sure it's the perfect machine for me. Much like the ultraslim MacBook Air isn't for everyone, neither is the biggest of the MacBook Pros. But it is one incredibly impressive laptop, and it doesn't seem as bulky as I'd always thought.

First, let me detail what this particular model will set you back, should you decide to buy it. The 17-in. model starts at $2,799 and comes with a 2.5-GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. Opting for the marginally faster 2.6-GHz processor adds $250 to the bottom line. Want 4GB of RAM instead of 2GB? Tack on another $200 if you buy your memory from Apple. And if you're going for broke, you might get the high-resolution screen for another $100. That brings the price to $3,349 for a fully tricked-out MacBook Pro. Of course, you're also getting the most powerful laptop Apple has ever made.

It's at the opposite end of the spectrum from the MacBook Air, which sacrifices performance, storage space, RAM expansion and a full set of peripheral ports to deliver an amazingly small and light footprint. By contrast, the 17-in. MacBook Pro delivers all of the processing power, RAM options and storage capacity of an iMac -- along with approximately the same screen real estate. That makes the big MacBook Pro a desktop replacement in virtually every sense of the word, even if it gives up some of the ultraportability that the MacBook Air offers in spades.

Though it is approximately twice the weight of the MacBook Air, I can't really say that the 17-in. MacBook Pro is overly heavy. Despite my assumptions about its bulk, at 6.6 lb., it is actually lighter than I expected. That makes it just over a pound heavier than the 15-in. MacBook Pro and about a pound and a half heavier than the 13-in. MacBook.

Even though it isn't overly heavy for its size, there is definitely a size issue (for better or worse, depending on your perspective) to this computer. Sitting next to a MacBook, it looks huge. The MacBook Pro even seemed big when it was being taken out of the box. I had to laugh at the idea of putting it into the backpack-style case that has served me for both a MacBook and one of the very first 15-in. MacBook Pros

A new multimedia computer has been announced by Nokia during the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008, held in Barcelona, Spain. The Nokia N96 is the successor of the popular N95. The Nokia N96 is a multimedia computer which is truly optimized for video and TV. With a large 2.8" screen, 16 gigabytes of internal memory and support for high-quality videos in a wide range of formats, the dual-slide Nokia N96 represents an exciting new chapter in mobile media. Accessing internet videos is quick and simple. The Nokia N96 supports common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video, making favorite videos easy to view. Transferring and accessing videos is even faster with the high-speed USB 2.0 connection and WLAN and HSDPA support.

Nokia N96 Internet, Video & TV
"In 2007, the Nokia N95 became an icon of convergence of Internet and mobility. With over 7 million units sold to date, the Nokia N95 has changed the way people use their mobile device. The Nokia N96 we introduced builds on the success of the Nokia N95, further enhancing the experience," says Jonas Geust, who oversees Nokia's Explore category. "Through the power of the Internet, video and TV are becoming even more prevalent in people's lives. With its large, bright screen, and a range of high-speed connectivity options and the enhanced Nokia Video Center, the new Nokia N96 is a personal window to entertainment."

Nokia N96 mobile phone storage
In select markets, the integrated DVB-H receiver offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide. The massive memory can store up to 40 hours of video content. The storage capacity of the Nokia N96 can even be further expanded with an optional microSD card, such as the new Nokia 8GB microSDHC Card MU-43 which increases the available memory of the Nokia N96 phone to a total of 24 GB. For added convenience, the Nokia N96 features a 'kickstand' on the back cover that allows for hands-free viewing.

N96 Nokia Video Center - YouTube videos
The Nokia Video Center offers one place to discover and access a variety of mobile content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news from world-leading content brands such as YouTube, Reuters, and Sony Pictures. The catalogue of internet video feeds is continually expanded with more regional and country specific content.

Nokia N96 phone with Nokia Maps
For a superb music experience, the Nokia N96 features media keys, a 3.5 mm headphone connector and built-in 3D stereo speakers. The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and has upgrade options such as City Guides, turn-by-turn pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation.

Nokia N96 Digital camera & A-GPS
The Nokia N96 mobile phone boasts a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, flash and video light. It allows DVD-like quality video capture at 30 frames per second. Further, with the integrated A-GPS, consumers can now 'geotag' their pictures with location data and share them with their online communities. The Nokia N96 naturally supports the Ovi family of Nokia internet services, including maps, music, media sharing and more. The Nokia N96 multimedia computer is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2008 with an estimated sales price of approximately 550 euros, before subsidies or taxes.

This new generation of the ever popular PC packs in a whole range of hardware that includes a 8.9 inch widescreen, a 1.3M pixels webcam and 12GB and 20GB storage capacities for Windows and Linux platforms respectively – catering to wider consumer needs while still maintaining the “Easy to learn, work and play” concept by keeping the overall weight under 1kg.

Mobility is one of the major factors attributed to the Eee PC’s success; and this is in part due to the use of the built-in Solid State Disk (SSD) technology – which offers a quiet, energy saving and shock proof design for stable computing on-the-go. Traditional hard disks spin at 5400 RPM (Revolutions per Minute) – making them more prone to data loss or damage if shocks or bumps are received. Conversely, the Eee PC is able to protect against such incidents, and is the perfect tool for outdoor computing – suitable as an ideal companion for reporters, wildlife photographers and other like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.

“Vital feedback from a wide variety of users have been received, which has spurred us on to create more options to cater to different user requirements.” said Jerry Shen, CEO of ASUS.

“Microsoft is excited to be partnering closely with ASUS on the Eee PC development globally,” said Haresh Khoobchandani, Business Marketing Officer, Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd. “With the ASUS Eee PC 900 providing Windows and Windows-based applications and services, millions of people can benefit from an affordable solution for education, work, communication and entertainment, while providing optimal experience for consumers that seek innovation to its fullest potential.”

Microsoft has officially announced that Windows XP is coming to the OLPC XO with trial runs beginning as early as June. This comes after months of discussion and speculation of when the move would happen. The operating system has been specially modified to run on the computer and support its ebook reading mode, writing pad and camera. And according to the press release, the plan is to have both Windows and Linux running on the machines, to let users decide what's best.

The price increase for the OLPC loaded with XP will be about $3 on top of the $200 price tag. Users who want a dual boot version to the OLPC will pay $7 extra. The XP operating system will come preloaded on an additional 2GB flash chip, offering 3GB of storage space total (1.5 usable after OS install).

After months of opposition by Bill Gates, talks of the joint venture began at CES 2008, where both men were attending. Widespread distribution of the machines is expected to happen in August or September.

This smartphone from HTC, the Advantage X7150 will not be sold in the USA. Why? Because it packs the chipset Qualcomm which can’t be commercialized yet in the US. That’s a blow to everyone waiting for this phone.

Are you and HTC Touch fan? Were you expecting for the P3400i from HTC? Good news then as it has just been released in Asia. Mr. Jack Tong, Vice President of HTC Asia says “We are pleased to introduce yet another product that aims to enhance the mobile experience for the customers. HTC P3400i is the perfect PDA phone for the customer, as it combines a stylish design with ease of use, and offers powerful functions, all packaged at a very attractive price point.”

P3400i You can listen to music, get your email, go to your Office docs, watch videos or instant message with friends. All that from the HTC P3400i. Do you like what you hear?

Let’s look closer to the P3400i :

• DirectPush Mail,
• Internet Explorer Mobile,
• Office Mobile,
• Windows Media Player 10 Mobile,
• 2 mega-pixels CMOS Camera,
• a speakerphone,
• SMS capabilities,
• web browser and personal organizer applications,
• high-resolution colour 2.8” screen.

Creative wanted to simplify things, to aim for the ease-of-use found in its IPod rivals. So with its latest player, there's no more moving songs around within a playlist. No more treating albums and artists as objects so you can collapse them for easy navigation or move a full album of tracks with a few clicks. Gone. Poof. No more. And no "advanced menus" option that brings these features back.

Creative really dropped the ball here. How, exactly, do you sell this device? With a powerful interface, you could pitch it as the power user's MP3 player. Without it, the Zen Touch just comes off as a slightly larger, slightly heavier IPod. Sure, it's $30 cheaper and it's got 24 hours of battery life. But that's not going to put a dent in IPod sales, is it? Especially not when people pick it up and realize it still uses pick-list commands for many of its functions. Looks a lot like a poor IPod knock-off, doesn't it?

Quick Hits

RealNetworks Hacks ITunes: All this uproar over Real's Harmony technology certainly is amusing. The story so far: Real releases a beta version of its RealPlayer software that lets you download protected tracks bought at RealPlayer Music store to Apple's IPod players. Apple accuses Real of resorting to "hacker-like tactics" and mentions that, oh-by-the-way, this feature just might break when it updates its IPod software. Real maintains that what it's doing is perfectly legal.

This will probably end in an instant messaging wars-style standoff, where Apple keeps locking RealPlayer users out as the two companies head to court. I'm not sure what Apple's worried about, though. Would people stop buying IPods if they could play RealPlayer Music Store downloads on them? Does anyone seriously believe that IPod owners would desert the ITunes Music store for Real's offering? Come on, Apple: Just license FairPlay and get it over with. The IPod and ITunes are strong enough to compete without being tied together.

New Musicmatch: Lost in all the Harmony hullabaloo was the release of Musicmatch 9, which features a new premium service called Musicmatch On Demand. My colleague Ed Albro has spent more time with it than I have, so you'll want to read his Today @ PC World blog posting for his evaluation.

Polishing Up the IPod

By now, you know where you stand on Apple's famous portable player: You either love it, or you're unimpressed. So here's a simple take on the new versions: Yes, the new models are much better. Apple's offering 20GB and 40GB IPods for $299 and $399, respectively--that's $100 less for the same capacity as earlier models. The company's built in some very real improvements as well, including easier navigation and better battery life. And yet these IPods aren't likely to win over power users holding out for the perfect MP3 player.

Apart from the price, the big changes are the battery life, now rated at 12 hours of continuous play, and the Click Wheel control that debuted with the IPod Mini. With the Click Wheel, Apple has managed to elegantly combine its touch-sensitive scroll wheel with easy-to-use buttons. A button in the center of the wheel lets you select items; the menu, fast-forward, rewind, and play/pause buttons are located on the wheel itself. You click the wheel in the appropriate direction to activate those functions.

Beyond that, a few thoughtful tweaks make the IPod a more friendly device. A new setting lets you adjust the playback speed on audio books without turning the narrator into a chipmunk on helium. You can remove songs from On-The-Go playlists, and save the resulting arrangement of tracks if you like. If you want to shuffle through all the songs on your player, you'll find that choice on the top menu. So thumbs up to the new IPods. An already great player gets lots of useful additions.

Still, the new IPods can't quite claim the title of perfect MP3 player. Codec support is limited to AAC, MP3, and Apple Lossless--so those of you with WMA, Ogg Vorbis, or FLAC files are out of luck. You still can't rearrange songs in a playlist; and there's nothing like the DJ feature on Rio's Karma player, which lets you build rules-based playlists on the go. Finally, a few corners have been cut to help trim prices. The 20GB model lacks a docking cradle, and neither model comes with the case and inline remote that shipped with older IPods. But both models ship with a USB 2.0 cable as well as a FireWire cable.