Techworld.com Personal Tech

Intel creates cyborg mind control chip

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:04:00 GMT

Brain waves to control computer functions

By the year 2020, you won't need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer, say Intel researchers. Instead, users will open documents and surf the web using nothing more than their brain waves.

Eleven HDTV trends from CES 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:54:00 GMT

Last year's big announcements

Some of the biggest news last CES came from HDTV manufacturers and related companies. With that in mind here are eleven HDTV trends I spotted on the show floor.

CES 2010 preview downbeat

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:44:00 GMT

The circus comes to down, complete with sad clowns

"Green" is the new "black, "flat" is the new "up" and the watchword for 2010 is "apps." And there's no need to wait for Black Friday. It's here already.

Microsoft promises better performance from Internet Explorer 9

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:20:00 GMT

Next generation IE to render JavaScript faster

Microsoft today claimed that its next browser, Internet Explorer 9, has nearly closed the JavaScript performance gap between itself and rivals made by Mozilla and Google, even though the browser has been in development only a few weeks.

HP Touchsmart TX2

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:24:00 GMT

Touchscreen for the people?

This hybrid notebook lifts HP's desktop experience from its TouchSmart IQ506 and drops it into a smallish package - small in that the HP Touchsmart TX2 has a 12.1in screen; but it's a little on the big boned side, and too heavy to be truly portable, as most laptops with this size screen would be. Size and slow performance are the only drawbacks to HP's otherwise reasonably smart design.

Apple laptops less reliable than Asus, Sony and Toshiba

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:26:00 GMT

Almost one fifth of Macs fail inside three years

Apple's line of laptops ranked fourth in a multi year reliability survey of nine notebook makers, according to a study of 30,000 portable computers published today by a company that provides after sale warranties.

NASA and Microsoft build Mars map website

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:19:00 GMT

Explore the red planet online

NASA and Microsoft today said they have built a Web site that lets would be Martians virtually explore the red planet.

Facebook 'unfriending' enters the Oxford dictionary

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:18:00 GMT

Social networking verb gets academic kudos

New Oxford American Dictionary has announced the verb "unfriend" as its word of the year, confirming the social networking term's ubiquity.

£600 iPhone app proves popular with millionaires

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:00 GMT

iVIP Black gives access to tropical islands, a concierge and private jets

"It is great to know that there are still people out there with money to spend at a time when we are in the grip of recession," said iVIP Black marketing director Matthew Rowe optimistically.

iVIP Black provides access to an exclusive network of privileges and benefits across a range of luxury partners including private islands, a concierge, supercar club, private...

NASA Mars rover stuck in the sand

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:10:00 GMT

Interplanetary explorer crawls out of bunker

NASA’s long running Mars rover Spirit is stuck in a sand trap – a situation the space agency would like to fix. Today NASA said it will begin what it called the long process of extricating Spirit by sending commands that could free the rover.

Terminator-style shape shifting robots come a step closer

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:06:00 GMT

Intel researchers creating 'programmable matter'

Imagine a day when you can make your cell phone smaller to fit more comfortably in your pocket, then make it bigger so you can text more easily.

Olive Opus No.4

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:00 GMT

The Olive Opus No.4 media streamer is impressively designed, simple to operate and gratifying to listen to

The Olive Opus No.4 media streamer is impressively designed, simple to operate and gratifying to listen to. It's painfully expensive, but we'd happily pay a premium for the build quality and design as well as the impressive specifications.

Sony Alpha A330

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:23:00 GMT

This camera is clearly intended for the new to digital SLR crowd

The Sony Alpha a330 is small and lightweight. The a330 is not an upgrade for owners of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A300. This camera is aimed squarely at the smaller is better crowd. Its light weight is quite convenient, but its grip is consequently smaller and may feel less comfortable and secure in larger (or even average-size) hands. With no LCD on top, the a330 instead has incorporated more functions into its buttons and control dial.

Microsoft Zune HD

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:17:00 GMT

The Zune HD is a huge step forward for Microsoft's Zune line

The Microsoft Zune HD is the Zune that I wish Microsoft had released last year. I found a lot to like about the Zune HD and the Zune 4.0 software. The device marks a huge improvement from last year's model in speed, usability, video quality, and design, while the Zune 4.0 software delivers some fun music-discovery features and splashy visuals. But while the Zune HD is priced competitively, you'll have to shell out a lot more money above and beyond the price of entry to take advantage of all of its features.

HP DreamScreen 100

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:11:00 GMT

The HP DreamScreen 100 offers more than your average digital photo frame

With its new DreamScreen, HP reaches out beyond the familiar digital photo frame concept to include applications normally associated with stand-alone tablets. This 10 inch model incorporates wireless support for popular applications such as Facebook, Snapfish, Pandora, and HP's own packaging of Net radio stations, among other built-in audio and visual functions.

O2 iPhone unlocked for free from today

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:06:00 GMT

Orange also starts selling iPhone today

The UK's original Apple iPhone partner O2, will from today start to unlock customers phones. Rival provider, Orange starts selling the iPhone today, Vodafone is expected to offer the iPhone from the second week in January next year.

Apple Mini DisplayPort monitor standard adopted by VESA

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Tiny Apple connector blessed by industry body

When Apple released its updated laptop line in the fall of 2008, there were oohs and ahhs at the shiny new unibody enclosure and buttonless trackpad, but there were also groans and eye-rolling over what appeared to be yet another new display connector, Mini DisplayPort, which replaced the Mini-DVI and Mini-VGA connectors formerly found on Apple's computers. Like a zombie outbreak, the connector then mercilessly spread from the laptops to the rest of the Mac family.

Dell Studio XPS 8000 desktop PC

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:59:00 GMT

Designed for home users who want a powerful PC that can be used for almost any type of task

he Dell Studio XPS 8000 case has been designed so that you can place the PC on the floor and still access its USB ports and memory card slots comfortably. They are easy to access because they are angled slightly upward.

Intel builds book reader for the blind

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:56:00 GMT

Intel device reads text out loud

On Tuesday, Intel will start selling a nifty new e-reader that can snap pictures of books and newspapers and then read them back to people who have a hard time reading the printed page.

nVidia GeForce 3D Vision glasses review

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:31:00 GMT

The nVidia GeForce 3D Vision is a gadget that is designed to bring 3D gaming to your desktop

Since 3D entertainment seems to be the way to go, we were looking forward to see how this new technology aids immersion, especially in interactive entertainment such as games. Here's our review of the nVidia GeForce 3D Vision.

Apple Mac Mini 2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:00 GMT

The Apple Mac Mini has been gently revised with faster processors and more memory and storage

Apple's entry level Mac was in the doldrums for almost two years... and now sees two updates just six months apart.

Intel, Microsoft and Apple investigate iPhone bug

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:51:00 GMT

Sync issue hits Intel owners

Intel today announced it is investigating reports from iPhone owners that they're unable to sync their devices to new PCs, although Microsoft said it had received no calls from customers about the glitch.

Astak EZ Reader PocketPro ebook reader

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:54:00 GMT

The Astak EZReader PocketPro has lots of great features for its price, but they don't make up for subpar usability

The Astak EZ Reader PocketPro is about the same size as the Sony Reader Pocket Edition. Both have 5-inch, 8-grayscale E Ink screens and cost $199, putting at the small (and inexpensive) end of the ebook reader continuum. But some significant differences, pro and con, distinguish the two; and for all its extra features, the Astak's limited and rather strange font size options are a serious drawback.

Foxit eSlick review

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:48:00 GMT

It's slightly cheaper than a Kindle, but the savings don't cover the difference in quality

Foxit's eSlick e-book reader is curiously named because the device is decidedly unslick, with a utilitarian appearance that lacks the elegance of competing ebook readers. Ultimately, though, its looks are less of a concern than its limited functionality.

Interead Cool-ER

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:37:00 GMT

The Cool-ER's usabiity isn't quite up to its good looks, but it delivers solid ebook features at a midrange price

From its aspirational brand name (the ER in Cool-ER stands for ebook reader) to its hip tinted metallic case, the Cool-ER clearly strives to distinguish itself from the black-and-gray competition, and to a large extent it succeeds. Skinny (0.43 inch thick), lightweight (6.3 ounces), and available in eight cheery colors, this ebook reader resembles an overgrown iPod, not a bad role model for industrial design.