Google Chrome

Just get it now.

Image: Google Chrome

So here it is, Google’s new browser: Chrome.

Is it any good? Well that’s for each and every user to decide but it could be the start of the next mini revolution in computing as Google really takes Cloud Computing by the horns.

Probably best not to miss out on the next technology leap and just see what Chrome is like.  Even if its not perfect yet, its probably the way forward in how applications will be delivered.

You can even do it Incognito and speedily as you open up to 9 websites per tab, and apparently you can be sure that if one tab crashes, the others won’t.

 

The most addictive mobile game

A reason to have an affair with Symbian

The excellent Championship Manager 2008 is available on smartphones with Symbian software such as the Nokia N-series.  Instant access in your pocket to one of the most addictive games for football and computer game fans.

Image: eidosmobile

Developed by Dynamo Games and published by Eidos, the slimmed down version includes all Premiership teams.  Although it contains a few bugs (that you learn to use in your favour) this little game on your mobile phone means you’ll be plugging in your phone-charger on a daily basis.

The same excitement comes in this mobile version as you try and seal the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo or go for the Premier League title and European Cup double.

Its a reason to love the Symbian operating system with its ability to deliver these kinds of applications to mobile phones, but you may end up loving it too much, falling asleep with your Nokia N95 in your hand wanting to just play one more match.

Image: Football365

I haven’t done the dishes or laundry for a week, but the early morning commute is much more bearable.  With my addiction aided knowledge of the reduced number of players compared to the PC/Mac version I need an updated Championship Manager 2008/9 as the English Premier League’s transfer window closes with the crazy transfer of Robinho and melodrama of Berbatov.

 

Online TV and Video

The UK has the fabulous iPlayer from the BBC and 4oD from Channel 4 whilst the US has the great HULU.

But if you are restricted by geographical boundaries or want to watch something not on the TV networks participating in the above sites, there are some other great options thanks to the lovely world of the internet, most notably:

OVGuide Online – a good source of online TV and video site links such as tv-links, sidereel and QuickSilverScreen.

sidereel

If all those links aren’t enough to satisfy you TV-Video’s VIP channel offers high quality streams of a number of TV shows such as Everybody Hates Chris, Swingtown, Rules of Engagement and Sex and the City for free.

 

Dell Latitude E-Family Launch

The New E-Family Latitude: E4200

Dell gets back on track and seem to have served up the all-round laptop for business use.

The new E-Family Latitudes are actually quite stylish too, with some impressive features which shows they have been listening to the end users.

Some of the clever things include:

InstantOn system to quickly access emails and the internet; a 19 hour battery life for the E6400; a back-lit keyboard to work in dark places; much improved connectivity; contactless security card access; and screen sizes from 12.1″ to 15.4″.

 

Dell Mini leaked as the Inspiron 910

The Dell Mini is leaked by a Brazilian blog with full specs and has been badged as the Inspiron 910.

With a 8.9″ screen and a 1.6Ghz Atom processor, it looks like there will be Windows OS and Ubuntu Linux OS options.  Rumoured to be priced from $299, the number of alternatives for Asus’ EEE PC increases each month with the MSI Wind, Acer Aspire One,  HP Mini-note and the soon to be released Lenovo IdeaPad.

 

The Computer Patent

Ever thought of a great idea, thought it would make you a millionaire then found out that someone else has already patented it?  Now there’s a quicker and easier way to crush your dreams of fame and fortune through the new Google patent search.  A patent search also throws up some weird and wonderful history about product development.

The "first" computer

A search on “computer” immediately throws up 30 results on the first 4 pages, with Sharp filing the first patent in May 1982, issued in March 1985, Sony were a close second with a patent issued a few months later.  The latest computer of these 30 does come from Sony, which looks like a predecessor to the Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone.

The "last" computer?

Some other manufacturers haven’t quite lasted the distance of Sony (or even Sharp – who account for 12 of the 30 patents).  Even printers like Epson and Kyocera had a go in the late 80s and early 90s, Sharp, Sanyo, Hitachi and Fujitsu had a go as did some lesser known names such as Monorail, Funai and a Mr. Elton Fang.

See the computer patents yourself at Google Patent Search.

Who’s snapped up some other patents:

“Personal Computer” – IBM did not make it until 1983 and were beaten by a year by Compaq, courtesy of the inventor: Mr Ted Papajohn.

“Laptop” – mentions of Apple in the early 90′s but it was Compaq were early again filing a patent in 1988.  In 1987 though a wild thinking Chang patented the three-layered laptop.

“Desktop Computer” – the first few pages of Google’s search enrich Compaq’s history of innovation by filing for a patent in 1991, earlier than many other manufacturers such as Dell although in 1989 a patent for a desktop computer terminal having an angularly adjustable electronic display was files

“Notebook” – is there a difference between a laptop and a notebook?  Clearly Samsung think so who filed a patent in 1991.

The Patent Soul of Technology

Do these patents say something about the soul of each of these technology brands?  Electronic giants like Sharp and Sony dominated the early patenting of “Computer” but are more well know for their all-round expertise in electronics.  Possibly seeing the computer more of a means to an end, using the “computer” to power their products from electric ovens to games consoles.

Before IBM left for bigger pastures like “e-solutions”, there was the constant argument between them and Compaq about who was the true father of the PC.  With IBM now out of the way HP who bought Compaq return to their roots and show their soul through their recent “The Computer is Personal Again” marketing campaigns.

Looks like no one has patented “Netbook” yet, although there are references to Psion’s Netbooks in other patents.  Will Asus get there first?

 

Instant turn on EEE Box, small-form PCs and clouds

Asus EEE Box

EEE Box lands in the UK next month

Small and stylish desktop PCs have been gaining popularity, kicked off (as ever) by the innovative Apple with their Mac Mini, there’s been the recent Dell Hybrid, and now the EEE Box is among us with online retailers taking orders for September shipping in the UK.  The £220 price tag will cause much interest, but the spec and looks are equally eyebrow raising with a 7 second boot time and Wii-like looks.

Powered by the tiny and new 1.6Ghz Atom processor from Intel and 1GB memory, it clearing isn’t a gaming or data crunching machine, but with its great connectivity it’s an interior designer’s wet dream.  With Windows or Linux options it will work well as a media centre sitting in the living room next to the Wii.  If the build quality holds up, it looks like Asus may win this bout against Dell’s higher priced Hybrid.

Apple: Too cool for school

What will be the results of the speed tests between the EEE’s 1.6GHz Atom, the Hybrid’s 2.0GHz Celeron and the 1.83GHz Mac Mini?  Once a user of a Mac, many people turn from their PCs, yes they are cool, but it certainly isn’t due to the hardware, but mostly because of usabilty such as the now much imitated Dock, or the intuitive Leopard OS, and lots of great applications like Quicksilver or Spotlight.  Having the shiny Apple logo will cost though, as £399 doesn’t even get you a keyboard or mouse to go with your Mini…… which gives you an excuse to go to the Apple store in Regent Street or Fifth Avenue.

Whatever your budget the issue on paper with these small-form PCs is usually storage space, the EEE Box has 80GB, so get an external hard drive for your growing media library.  But hold on, it looks like more clouds are coming……

Clouds?  A bit thin.

See ya later! (LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Perhaps the recent surge of Mac users and Linux’s spread across the mainstream through the EEE PC, has got Microsoft thinking about Windows and the hold it still has, the onslaught of open source software like OpenOffice has created a new software model and then there’s Google’s uptake of everyone’s desktop “real estate”.  A cloud based Windows replacement OS in project Midori is being developed but can Microsoft really deliver a service that is as free as Google yet still satisfy the accountants?  There will be open source alternatives and the Linux revolution seems to be gaining a resurgence, Bill Gate’s exit could prove to be excellent timing.

If you don’t value your privacy then clouds are certianly a great solution for having instant IT access.  With less operating systems installed and the use of web applications like Google Docs, there’s more space for all those MP3s, and more importantly under sensible use its another huge step forward in our world of networked technology.

Stay connected: instant satisfaction anywhere

It’s really the thin client model with servers running the bulk of the processing, so nothing new here but the affect of networked technology impacts our lives more and more, making it easier to contact people and information, and causing increased tech-related stress.  Everyone is going Smartphone crazy with the Apple iPhone and Nokia N95 with their multimedia capabilites and great connectivity and 8GB storage for MP3s and TV shows to make the train commute more enjoyable.  Everyone is producing £200-£300 “netbooks” so you can check your emails or the latest redtube videos at your favourite coffee shop.

Being connected has become important to the human psyche, verging on greed for information…… just spent the last 2 hours clicking around wikipedia, forgotten what the original search on google was.  Better check the history…

 

Dell is waking up: New launches and a revival in direction

The busy developments at Dell recently has had everyone watching, it seems that the big corporation is waking up after losing its direction somewhat.  Michael Dell has returned to revive the PC giant overtaken by a printer company, in what may be his final push before joining Bill Gates on the golf course.  Is the flexibility and responsiveness that Dell was known for in its early days coming back?

Dell XPS M1330

Recently

There’s been organisational restructuring, a new marketing strategy, but the most buzz has been around the new products.  The XPS range aimed at the higher end of the market kick started it all off just over a year ago.  Not at Sony Vaio price levels and it does show at times, but Dell certainly started to address the bland designs with the sleek and light XPS M1330 notebook and the XPS One all-in-one desktop.

Tip:  If purchasing directly from Dell.com use the Small & Medium Business pages for a better price and service.

Dell Studio

Now

More recently we’ve had the Studio laptops which don’t look bad either, with good all-round specs and from £399, but have they gone too far down the line with the Studio Hybrid?  Aimed at the Mac Mini, the Hybrid certainly looks nice but it suffers from same issues as Macs, with minimal upgrade opportunities and at a high price for the specs it offers.  So if space and style is an issue why not go for the Studio laptop, or if you need a desktop with desktop performance, go for a real desktop.  However the green side of your conscience may sway you as the Inquirer reports that it consumes 70% less energy than traditional desktops and 95% of the materials are recyclable.

Tip: A good alternative for a small form factor desktop with high specs, a decent price tag and the ability to upgrade easier is the Dell Optiplex, The ability to upgrade means the casing isn’t so pretty so hide it away, or go for the instant turn on option of the £220 EEE Box.

Dell Mini

Next

There has been of course much rumour about the Dell mini laptop (or the blogosphere-named “Mini-Inspiron”).  Receiving less attention , but picked up by engadget is the launch of a pocket projector the size of a mug.

Probably the most noteworthy but least covered release will be the launch of the new E-Family Latitudes.  Finally acknowledged on Dell.com, engadget has leaked slides revealing all about the new all-purpose laptop range.  The range will include an ultra-portable model and also a model claimed to have 16 hours battery life.

Dell seem to be attacking all fronts in the PC market, taking on the EEE PC in the low cost netbook segment, the premium XPS line and the purchase of Alienware gaming PCs.  Recognising that PCs just aren’t enough to survive in the technology market, Dell recently purchased Equalogic to boost their server and networking solutions.

The kick up the butt may have come from all the comments on the web about Dell’s service and reliability that grew to a level Dell could no longer ignore.  With web 2.0 initiatives like IdeaStorm or the Direct2Dell blog, it certainly seems Dell are trying.  Hell, Dell are even starting to care about the environment with their Plant a Tree intiative and the environmentally focused ReGeneration website.

Dell's green desktop PC offering: the Studio Hybrid

So the reawakening may have come about primarily due to Dell’s shareholders and Michael Dell’s desire to retire on a high, but if it improves the products and service delivered to the market then its got to be good for the industry and future of technology.  A company to keep an eye on, will Dell’s recent product development push be enough to take on all comers in the market as well as the credit crunch?