ZIP Recovery Toolbox v1.0.8.37

Repair damaged ZIP files. ZIP Recovery Toolbox is used to recover data from corrupted ZIP files. The program recovers files from ZIP archives and minimizes data loss during recovery.

Repair damaged ZIP files. ZIP Recovery Toolbox is used to recover data from corrupted ZIP files. The program recovers files from ZIP archives and minimizes data loss during recovery. The ZIP file recovery tool scans the entire corrupted archive and saves maximum information from the unreadable ZIP file. The program uses several algorithms and methods for recovering data from unreadable ZIP files. The full scan of a ZIP file and several recovery algorithms allow the program to minimize data loss while recovering data from bad ZIP files. Besides, the program checks the integrity of recovered data. The user sees maximum information about the data being recovered from corrupted ZIP archives.

Its convenient and clear interface makes the data recovery process comfortable and clear for users. The tool recovers password-protected files (it is necessary to enter the password to the ZIP file for correct data recovery).

Program features:
* Repair encrypted data from ZIP archives.
* Repair self-extracting (SFX) files.
* Repair ZIP files larger than 2 GB.
* Restore ZIP files from damaged media (floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, Zip drives, etc.).
* Check file integrity.
* Repair corrupted ZIP archives on the local area network.
* Fix the error Cannot open file: it does not appear to be a valid archive in ZIP archives

Size | 1.2 MB
More Information | Mirror | Mirror |


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Hands on: The Force Unleashed + Dual Glow Sabers = Extreme Geekery

We got a chance to see how the geek half plays The Force Unleashed by going hands on with the Dual Glow Sabers from Dreamgear. As usual, just pop your Wiimote in the holster and start hacking and slashing. These come in Jedi blue and Sith red and each take 2 AAA batteries to light up. These are about 2 feet long, so as long as you give yourself some space the furniture should be safe. These are definitely better designed then some of the other saber attachments that we’ve seen.

They won’t improve your game, but they do make you embrace your dork side and they are pretty fun to swing around for awhile. Kids and hardcore dorks will get the most use out of them. I was slashing up wookies and Jedis with ease, but I kept thinking how much cooler it would have been to have a sound effect. The attachment doesn’t hinder game play as far as I could tell. Still, at the end of the day swinging these sabers while playing the game is a great way to get some exercise and have some fun. The dreamGear Dual Glow Sabers will be avalable soon for about $20.

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OPPO Smart G11 Muse introduced

The Oppo Muse Smart G11 portable media player sports a kind of surreal look since the design is a little unusual. But I like it. It reveals an old-style button configuration when the display is slid sideways, so yeah, it’s a PMP game emulator. No idea as to what it’s complete specs are, but we like it. We’re hoping it can play some old school 8-bit Mario and maybe some 16-bit classics.

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Nova Gaming hits America with mouse, mouse pad

Nova Gaming, a developer of PC gaming accessories, plans to make its American entrance at the upcoming E for All Expo when it comes to Los Angeles next month. Its first two products will be the Slider X 600 Laser Gaming Mouse and Over Slide Mouse Pad, priced around $100 and $40, respectively.

The Slider X 600, according to Nova Gaming, is a “smart gaming mouse.” It sports “super-glide” ceramic feet, a cable management system that offers lateral cable positioning, a mouse pad cord clip and an up to 3200 DPI laser engine. There’s also a bunch of programmable buttons.

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Griffin Simplifi iPod dock with USB and card readers

Look, your desk is looking really messy. I get it. Too much stuff. Some of the stuff you put inside other stuff, which connects to still more stuff, which you have to disconnect to recharge other stuff. It’s enough to drive you crazy. Wires, docks and slots are everywhere, sometimes you can;t find your computer. Well here’s a great solution.

The Griffin Simplifi combines the functionality of three devices in one package. It also has an adapter for charging your iPod without the computer or for an external HDD. You also get two USB hubs and it supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, xD and CF cards. The Griffin Simplifi will cost about $70 and will let you clean up some of that clutter.

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192 GB Gresso wearable pendant

Gadgets becoming jewelry is getting more common and why shouldn’t it? It makes toting around our gadgets that much easier. But making it look halfway decent to look at and still be functional is the trick. The Gresso wearable pendant manages to do it right. It houses a whooping 192 GB USB, carved out of 200-year-old African wood.

It’s a nice departure from the usual Swarovski studded piece. In three angles, it houses three 64 GB USB drives. Sadly for the ladies wanting one, it is limited to just 99 pieces being manufactured. The Gresso ENIGMA comes in two different styles. The star shaped “Constellation” and triangular ” Labyrinth”. Each comes with a strap for wearing as a jewelery pendant. The price is 5000 Euros.

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USB Ferris Wheel powered by your typing

Looking for a cheap USB thrill for your desk that will provide hours of fun and distract you from your work? You might want to check out this USB Ferris Wheel that’s powered by your typing. I don’t know about hours of fun. That kinda depends on your IQ level.

Surely it will provide minutes of fun, with it’s flashing lights, carnival music, spinning wheel and plastic bunny, bear and elephant careening down the slide. Surely this is exactly the useless crap you’ve been searching for. As long as you keep typing the show will go on. How much would you pay for all this fun? 10? 20? It can be yours for just $30. Hit the link for a video of the Ferris Wheel in action.

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What's driving China space efforts?

China may want to send a message to the world

The launch of Shenzhou-VII by China is another reminder of the country's growing confidence and capability in space.

It delivers a message to the traditional space powers: after a slow start, China is rising fast.

This mission is a critical step in a "three-step" human spaceflight programme aimed at docking spacecraft together to form a small orbiting laboratory and, ultimately, building a large space station.

It has sent a robotic spacecraft, Chang'e, to the Moon and there are plans to land a robotic rover on the lunar surface in 2010.

Last year, China faced international criticism when it used a medium-range ballistic missile to destroy an ageing weather satellite in a weapons test.

But what are the forces driving Beijing's space endeavours?

There is a space race underway, but it is an Asian space race. It is between China, Japan, maybe Korea, certainly India. Roger Launius, National Air and Space Museum

Economic reasons are first and foremost, explains Dean Cheng, senior Asia analyst at think tank CNA in Washington DC.

"From a civilian perspective, you are fostering the development of advanced technologies," he explains.

Another driver is diplomacy, said Mr Cheng. A wide-ranging space programme showed the rest of the world that China had arrived on the international stage.

"That fits with hosting the Olympics, that fits with a burgeoning economy, and that fits with the world's largest foreign capital reserves," he explained.

There is also a domestic motivation: success in space helped legitimise China's regime in the eyes of its population.

"There are problems like melamine in milk. There are issues of corruption. But the party has shown it is able to achieve things that no previous Chinese government has ever done, and that China is among the first-rank powers in advanced technology," Mr Cheng told BBC News.

'Luxury item'

Then there is the military rationale: a nation that could launch multiple satellites on one rocket could put multiple warheads on a single rocket.

Space technology also required the development of precision capabilities which carried over to weapons systems.

Beijing's manned efforts should be considered separately from the rest of its space programme, Mr Cheng said.

Russian technology was the basis for China's spacecraft

"The manned programme is all the things I have mentioned and more. It is a sign of a wealthy country - this is a luxury item. It puts China ahead of every other Asian country - significantly - in terms of space," he explained.

Human spaceflight also served as advertising for the country's commercial launch capability.

If China was sufficiently confident in its own space technology to launch its citizens into space, then it was certainly safe enough to launch another country's satellites.

"It is a prestige programme, no question," said Dr Roger Launius, senior curator in the division of space history at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.

"I think China has entered the [manned spaceflight] arena for the same reasons that the United States and the Soviet Union did in 1961.

"It is a demonstration of technological virtuosity. It's a method of showing the world they are second to none - which is a very important objective for them."

Steady progress

China's steady, methodical progress in space has certainly highlighted the challenges faced by Nasa as it grapples with the transition to a post-shuttle era.

The space shuttle is due to be retired in two years. But its replacement, Ares-Orion, will not begin flying until 2015. In the interim, the US will be reliant on Russia for launching crew to the International Space Station.

But tensions between the two nations over the Georgia conflict mean that Nasa has faced considerable political pressure to keep the shuttle flying beyond 2010.

And, unlike China, the European Space Agency has not developed a manned space transportation system of its own.

However, suggestions that China has engaged in a new space race with the US or the other traditional space powers are wide of the mark, experts say.

"This is not the 1960s. We are not watching China put up repeated manned shots one after the other. But they are intent on ensuring they don't have any spectacular failures either" said Dean Cheng.

Dr Launius agreed: "There is not the same level of concern or interest registered in the US for a competition with China in space. I don't think they view that as an issue in Europe either."

He added: "There is a space race underway, but it is an Asian space race. It is between China, Japan, maybe Korea, certainly India. They are competing with each other for stature in that context.

"And the Chinese, because of their full service capability - humans, robots and military - are at this point in time probably the leaders in that race. But those other countries have lots of capability too."

Though China r="all" />may only be the third country to launch a human into orbit, it still has a long way to go if it plans to mirror the achievements of the US and Russia.

"When you look at the programme as an observer from the outside, they've shown success in building spacecraft that can fly humans and do certain things," said Roger Launius.

"You can't build space stations until you can do those kinds of activities. You can't go to the Moon until you can do those kinds of activities. And they're not there yet.

"They're planning an EVA (spacewalk) this time and I hope they are successful. But one EVA does not make a programme."

Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk


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Google's new web browser

Google is launching an open source web browser to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The browser is designed to be fast, and to cope with the next generation of web applications that rely on graphics and multimedia.

Called Chrome, it is launching as a beta for Windows machines in 100 countries, with Mac and Linux versions to come.

Google's Jessica Powell takes Rory Cellan-Jones through Chrome's new features.

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Limited edition gold putter for Golfer showoffs

You’re the king of the Golf course and you’ve got all the latest gear, including twenty pairs of awesome plaid pants. How do you take it to the next level and maintain your dominance over all the other rich old farts?

One way may be to pull a gold putter out of your bag and blind them with it. You are gold baby. So Golf with gold. It’s a putter dipped in 24 carat gold, the same way you were dipped in wealth as a baby. The finishing touch is the diamond-studded Sayn logo on the head of the putter. 32 diamonds dazzle and put others off their game. What a bargain at $4,400. After that you can work on pimping your Golf cart.

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Spin around Google's decade

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A trip via Google Earth around the high and low points of the world's most popular search engine.
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Lift-off for China space mission

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China's Shenzhou VII rocket blasts off

China has launched its third manned space mission - which is to feature the country's first spacewalk.

The Shenzhou VII capsule soared into orbit atop a Long-March II-F rocket from the Jiuquan spaceport in Gansu province in the northwest of China.

The 70-hour flight will include a spacewalk undertaken by 42-year-old fighter pilot Zhai Oct 2007: Chang'e-1 orbiter sent on unmanned mission to the Moon

Mr Zhai will retrieve an externally mounted experiment and oversee the release of a satellite.

At the end of the mission, the Shenzhou re-entry capsule will target a landing in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Dr Roger Launius, senior curator at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, told BBC News: "It is a demonstration of technological virtuosity. It's a method of showing the world they are second to none - which is a very important objective for [China]."

China became only the third nation after the United States and Russia to independently put a man in space when Yang Liwei, another fighter pilot, went into orbit on the Shenzhou V mission in October 2003.

Two years later, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng completed a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.

According to the Associated Press, China's official news agency posted an article on its website prior to the lift-off that was written as if Shenzhou VII had already been launched into space.

The article reportedly carried a date of 27 September and came complete with a dialogue between the astronauts.

Chinese media report that this latest mission is the "most critical step" in the country's "three-step" space programme.

These stages are: sending a human into orbit, docking spacecraft together to form a small laboratory and, ultimately, building a large space station.

The Shenzhou VIII and IX missions are expected to help set up a space laboratory complex in 2010.

China launched an unmanned Moon probe last year about one month after rival Japan blasted its own lunar orbiter into space.

Crowds turned out to see the Long-March II-F rocket move to the launch pad.
More...

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'Tough choices' for UK broadband

Taking fibre to street cabinets is the cheapest option

The cost of taking fibre-based broadband to every UK home could top £28.8bn, says a report.

Compiled by the government's broadband advisory group, the report details the cost of the different ways to wire the UK for next generation broadband.

Another option, to take the fibres to street-level boxes, would only cost £5.1bn, it said.

Big differences in the cost of updating urban and rural net access will pose difficult choices, says the report.

High costs

In a statement Antony Walker, chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group which drew up the report, said: "The scale of the costs involved means that the transition to superfast broadband will be challenging."

"We hope that this report will help to ensure an informed public debate on the key policy and regulatory decisions that lie ahead," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7600834.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology

DIY schemes for super-fast net

Fibre doesn't have to be expensive

In early July BT announced that it was going to invest £1.5bn in fibre optic cables, bringing access to faster broadband to up to 10 million UK homes.

But there will be large swathes of the country untouched by super-fast broadband and, for some, the answer is a more DIY, community-based approach to fibre.

Fibre might be some way off being rolled out on a national scale in the UK but individual community projects promise to have networks up and running, possibly by the end of 2008.

The community-based approach to net connectivity is nothing new. While BT prevaricated about how far it was going to roll out broadband at the beginning of the millennium, local communities took the bull by the horns and rolled out their own - often powered by wi-fi.

Impatient for speed

http://news.bbc.co.uk|2|hi|technology

Ofcom sets out stall for fast net

Ofcom is considering ways to roll out fast fibre in the UK

The price of super fast broadband should reflect the amount of money spent on investing in next generation networks, UK regulator Ofcom has said.

It comes as part of its latest consultation on how fibre networks can flourish in the UK.

In August BT committed to invest £1.5bn in fibre cable networks over the next four years.

The regulator said that public sector funding should target areas that private investment would not reach.

Next generation broadband will offer speeds of up to 100Mbps (megabits per second) and allow, for instance, a family to download songs in seconds while simultaneously watching high-definition films.

It could also allow for new ways of delivering medical care, services for disabled people as well as providing solutions for those cut off from current broadband.

James Garlick, a broadband analyst with research firm Screen Digest, thinks that consumers may initially pay more for super-fast broadband.

"Prices may go up but as soon as the competition that currently exists for DSL extends to fibre services, prices will drop," he said.

Digging roads

Ofcom has hinted that government support may be forthcoming to bring fast net services to rural areas which will not be so financially attractive for private firms to invest in.

It follows calls from the Ofcom Consumer Panel to make sure those that have missed out on first generation broadband do not miss out on next-gen.

"It is going to be hard to promote equal access to fibre without government help," said Fernando Elizalde, a principal analyst with research firm Gartner.

The fact that Ofcom is looking at all the options, rather than just fibre, is a good sign, he thinks.

"Fibre is very expensive for remote areas and it is likely that other technologies, such as Wimax, will fill in the gaps," he said.

BT has been waiting to hear how the new market will be regulated and it welcomed Ofcom's initial thoughts.

"It is vital that the rules applying to fibre access are not only clear but also allow for a reasonable return to be made over the lifetime of the investment," said a spokesman.

After consultation with industry, Ofcom said it would publish a statement on super-fast broadband in spring 2009.

Ofcom also made it clear that it supported the recommendations of the recent Caio review which said that the telecoms industry, not the government, should pay for next generation networks.

Francesco Caio, the former boss of Cable & Wireless who was appointed earlier this year to look at the broadband market, said that the government could help reduced the hefty bill of installing fibre optic networks by co-ordinating road digging.

He also recommended that other infrastructure, such as sewers, should be opened up to fibre operators.

Users fail to spot fake pop-ups

Pop-ups can be annoying but tend to be ignored

Internet users are unable to distinguish between genuine pop-up warnings messages and false ones, a study at North Carolina State University has found.

The study examined the responses of undergraduates to messages which popped up while they did other tasks on a PC.

Seeing the pop-ups as a mere annoyance the majority clicked 'OK'.

Fake pop-ups are a well-known vehicle for cyber-criminals to install harmful software on PCs.

"This study demonstrates how easy it is to fool people on the web," said co-author Michael Wogalter, professor of psychology at North Carolina State University.

"Be suspicious when things pop up. Don't click OK - close the box instead," said Dr Wogalter."

Legitimate message

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Full speed ahead for broadband

Broadband is speeding up



If you are a speed freak then the good news is that 2005 looks like being a vintage year as internet firms continue to increase the speed of broadband and lower prices.

The glut of offers can be confusing.

But here is a run-down of some of the firms already offering speeds of 2Mbps or above.

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Google's Android mobile unveiled

The T-Mobile G1 is the first phone to use Android

The first mobile telephone using Google's Android software has been unveiled.

The T-Mobile G1 handset will be available in the UK in time for Christmas.

The first device to run the search giant's operating system will feature a touch screen as well as a Qwerty keyboard.

It will be available for free on T-Mobile tariffs of over £40 a month and includes unlimited net browsing.

Other features include a three megapixel camera, a 'one click' contextual search and a browser that users can zoom in on by tapping the screen.

The handset will be wi-fi and 3G enabled and has built-in support for YouTube.

Users will also have access the so-called Android Market, where they will be able to download a variety of applications.

Prototypes

Rory Cellan-Jones takes a look at Android, the new mobile phone platform launched by Google.

Google announced its plans for the Android phone software in November 2007 with a declared aim of making it easier to get at the web while on the move.

To help develop Android, Google also unveiled the Open Handset Alliance - a partnership of more than 30 firms that would work to make phone software easier to work with.

The group includes operators such as Telefonica, handset makers such as HTC and Motorola as well as chip makers such as Intel and Qualcomm.

Many of the partners demonstrated early prototype Android phones at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in mid-February.

The idea behind Android is to do for phone software what the open source Linux software has done for PCs. Developers of phone software can get at most of the core elements of the Android software to help them write better applications.

Smartphones

However, in launching Android, Google faces stiff competition from established players such as Nokia with its Symbian software and Microsoft with its Mobile operating system.

More recently Apple has been gaining customers with its much hyped iPhone.

The Android software is squarely aimed at the smartphone segment of the handset market which adds sophisticated functions to the basic calling and texting capabilities of most phones.

Current estimates suggest that only 12-13% of the all handsets can be considered smartphones.




View All in http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology

Computer viruses make it to orbit

The virus travelled on a laptop issued to an astronaut

A computer virus is alive and well on the International Space Station (ISS).

Nasa has confirmed that laptops carried to the ISS in July were infected with a virus known as Gammima.AG.

The worm was first detected on Earth in August 2007 and lurks on infected machines waiting to steal login names for popular online games.

Nasa said it was not the first time computer viruses had travelled into space and it was investigating how the machines were infected.

Orbital outbreak

Space news website SpaceRef broke the story about the virus on the laptops that astronauts took to the ISS.

Nasa told SpaceRef that no command or control systems of the ISS were at risk from the malicious program.

The laptops infected with the virus were used to run nutritional programs and let the astronauts periodically send e-mail back to Earth.

The laptops carried by astronauts reportedly do not have any anti-virus software on them to prevent infection.

Once it has scooped up passwords and login names the Gammima.AG worm virus tries to send them back to a central server. It targets a total of 10 games most of which are popular in the Far East such as Maple Story, HuangYi Online and Talesweaver.

Nasa is working with partners on the ISS to find out how the virus got on to the laptop in the first place.

The ISS has no direct net connection and all data traffic travelling from the ground to the spacecraft is scanned before being transmitted.

It is thought that the virus might have travelled via a flash or USB drive owned by an astronaut and taken into space.

The space agency also plans to put in place security systems to stop such incidents happening in the future.

Nasa told Wired News that viruses had infected laptops taken to the ISS on several occasions but the outbreaks had always only been a "nuisance".



View All http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology

Griffin Simplifi iPod dock with USB and card readers

Look, your desk is looking really messy. I get it. Too much stuff. Some of the stuff you put inside other stuff, which connects to still more stuff, which you have to disconnect to recharge other stuff. It’s enough to drive you crazy. Wires, docks and slots are everywhere, sometimes you can;t find your computer. Well here’s a great solution.

The Griffin Simplifi combines the functionality of three devices in one package. It also has an adapter for charging your iPod without the computer or for an external HDD. You also get two USB hubs and it supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD, xD and CF cards. The Griffin Simplifi will cost about $70 and will let you clean up some of that clutter.

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Mac users 'still lax on security'

Apple Mac users are still too lax when it comes to security matters, an independent researcher has said.

Kevin Finisterre caused ripples in the Mac community when he started a website in January revealing a different bug in Apple systems each day of the month.

While some observers dismissed the survey, Apple recently issued a patch to plug holes outlined by Finisterre.

Apple owners' attitude to security was "one of the main reasons we started the campaign," he said.


Apple makes great play of the fact that its OSX operating has yet to be attacked by a virus while Windows XP machines are plagued with problems.

Its recent global campaign of adverts pitching Macs versus PCs has focused on security issues.

XP machines are represented by a flu-ridden, sneezing individual while the Mac remains untouched by illness.

Security holes

Many of the problems highlighted by Finisterre are security holes in applications, which are not related to viruses.

Apple recently plugged holes in Mac software such as iChat and Finder and a flaw in the user notification process that could potentially grant system privileges to malicious users.

All three problems were highlighted by Finisterre, and a fellow researcher known only as LMH.

Finisterre said: "Try calling any Apple store and ask any sales rep what you would do with regard to security, ask if there is anything you should have to worry about?

"They will happily reinforce the feeling of 'Security on a Mac? What? Me worry?'."

He said the Month of Apple Bugs (MOAB) project had succeeded in its original aim of raising the level of awareness around Mac security.

"I would really hope that people got the point that there are most definitely some things under the OSX hood that need a closer look," he said.

But Mac experts have pointed out that none of the exploits have ever successfully been used to hijack an Apple computer.

By contrast hundreds of thousands of Windows machines have been taken over as part of so-called bot nets, which use the hijacked machines to deliver millions of spam e-mails around the world.
'Extra efforts'

He said Apple had opened up dialogue about security issues.
"They have certainly given some extra efforts on the backend to open up lines of communication, at least with me.

"That sort of progress is what I am after rather than a particular set of bugs."

He said that Apple had in the past not been open to dialogue about security matters, but things were changing for the better.


"I chat quite regularly with some of the security engineers," he said.

At the moment there are no plans for the MOAB website to continue.

Real life comes in to play; the cost of living, the fact that we did it all for free.
If someone wanted to invest some of their own resources I would be more than willing to continue."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology

NVR-102 network surveillance kit lets you chat with captives, err, visitors

QNAP Systems has unveiled a new network-based instant surveillance system which combines a video recorder and two IP cameras for home or office security. It is known as the NVR-102.

The QNAP NVR-102 provides what is described as “professional grade live video recording and real-time remote monitoring/playback.” It is run off of Linux and can reportedly be setup quickly. All functions can be configured through a Web browser such as Internet Explorer and no additional software is required.

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Maxtor & Sentry Group create fire resistant drives

Information is a precious and delicate thing. Which is why we humans have a hard candy shell wrapped around our brain. If our gooey info-centers were just exposed on top of our heads, we would be in big trouble. And it’s not like you can back up grey matter.

Luckily hard drives can be backed up, though truthfully not very many people actually do it. Let’s say you back up all of that precious data onto an external hard drive. Good job! You are now on the road to information safety. But wait…What if your house burns down? Or you get flooded? Nothing you can do about those acts of God right? Wrong. Thanks to Maxtor teaming up with Sentry Group, you can now have a drive that is both fire resistant and waterproof. These drives can withstand 1550F degrees for about a half hour as well as spend up to a day submerged in water.

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Sequiam Biometrics Biovault 2.0 safe

Here’s another device you can give the finger too. For security reasons of course. Much like the Master Lock smartTOUCH garage door opener we covered earlier. The Sequiam Biometrics BioVault 2.0 is a safe that needs your finger to open it and get to the valuables inside. It recognizes your fingerprint and opens at your command. You can program it to open for others too, if you grant them access. The safe can accommodate up to 50 users.

You can store your gold inside, jewelry, even your precious and expensive gadgets, but it’s really designed to store guns safely and is endorsed by the NRA. It makes sense to store guns in a safe like this as it would apparently open quickly, but keep them safely locked away from kids. The price is $399.95.

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uControl security system with media streaming

Here’s a decent alarm system with a slick interface. uControl is a fairly new company in the home security arena. They took a year developing and refining a platform called SMA (Security, Monitoring and Automation) and a TouchScreen control panel that both works as a fresh system install and can also integrate with your existing alarm. That means you are covered no matter what.

The company says that it will replace any control panel or alarm box in an existing system, bringing together all the existing functionality of equipment, sensors and wiring. In a new install, the 7-inch WVGA TouchScreen is a stand-alone wireless alarm system that communicates with wireless peripherals and sensors. It also offers remote control from any browser or cellphone, alerts via email or SMS, redundant connectivity (WiFi, ethernet and built-in GPRS cellular), cameras and compatibility with home automation setups.

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Rock the Bat Cave with the Batman Boombox

How does Robin crank up the tunes while Batman is out cleaning up the streets of Gotham? With Batman’s boombox of course. While it’s not shaped like a bat-wing or anything, it has a strange shape that resembles a…bat-something or other, with colors that go more with the comic books then the movies.

Features include such things as a tuner with LCD display, the ability to play CDs, CD-R and CDRW format, dynamic bass boost, line-in for portable MP3, player support, and top load media. It’s not hard to imagine Batman entertaining Catwoman one night and as he goes to put on some soft romantic tunes, the sound of Robin’s hardcore heavy metal deafens him as it sends bats flying everywhere. After a moment he switches CD’s, but sadly Catwoman’s purr is now gone. Such is the sad and lonely life of the Batman. Sigh.

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Packard Bell iPower GX

Packard Bell is trying to up it’s “street art” cred with the announcement of their latest power-packed gaming notebook called the iPower GX. It’s powered by a Intel Core 2 Quad Q9100 processor and has an nVidia 9800M GTS 1GB video card, 1,920 x 1,200 resolution display, Draft-N Wi-Fi connectivity, an optional Blu-ray drive and an interesting urban street art design. The Packard Bell iPower GX will be available this October for approximately 1499 Euros.

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New Swann security camera uses encrypted wireless signals

Swann Communications is unveilng a new digital wireless security camera which transmits via an encrypted signal so no one can watch you running around the house naked. It is called the Swann ADW-300 and it will cost you around $200.

The Swann ADW-300 transmits its video signals via what Swann calls a “point to point” digital wireless feed from the camera to the receiver. Swann says this special technology doesn’t suffer interfence from other types of wireless signals and is encrypted for your protection.

(more...)

iYo makes charging devices fun

There’s always a solution for charging gadgets when your batteries crap out, but the problem is most of them aren’t any fun at all. Why can’t gadget charging be fun? In fact, I demand fun! Fun in the form of the iYo from Swedish designer Peter Thuvander. The iYo makes charging up your devices into a game, by way of a small induction generator to charge a battery inside the iYo. Just play with it for awhile and when you’ve given the battery a charge, then connect your gadget to the iYo’s USB port and the power will be transferred.

Play is fun and all, but can you imagine all of the Geico caveman types that will break it. The same people who broke wiimotes because they don’t have the cognitive capacity to hold something and apply pressure so it doesn’t leave one’s grip. This could be fun. I can’t wait until we get Kerbanger hard drives and ball/paddle chargers that put people’s eyes out. As far as I’m concerned the world just got more interesting, because it got more dangerous with this concept.

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Whizzwatch: Control R2-D2 with your watch

The R2-D2 Whizzwatch while not heavy on style, lets you control a miniature version of R2-D2 with a special wristwatch IR transmitter. R2 is attached to it’s strap. Just unclip the little droid, put him on your desk and watch him go. The watch supposedly has a variety of digital readouts, and you can switch between 12/24 hour displays. It costs about $36. My concern with this watch would be running into some dude with a Jawa watch. If the two should fight, your little droid might end up in a Jawa sandcrawler.

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Wireless audio system gets David Wiener touch

Design house David Weiner Ventures has unveiled a wireless music broadcasting device which is iPod friendly. It is called the Art.Suono Wireless Music Transmission System and iPod Dock and it will be available for around $1,500.

The Art.Suono Wireless Music Transmission System and iPod Dock is said to combine good looks with wireless audio technology. This technology, which is proprietary, is designed to let you transmit any audio source to any audio system. It is said as well to help enhance sound quality as you listen.

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Buffalo NAS device doubles as USB 2.0 drive

Buffalo Technology has unveiled a hybrid device which marries an “external USB drive and a network attached storage solution.” It is called the DriveStation FlexNet and it will be available around $150 for the 500GB (HD-CE500LU2), $170 for the 640GB (HD-CE640LU2) and $260 for the 1TB (HD-CE1.0TLU2) storage models.

Buffalo says the FlexNet lets one toggle between USB 2.0 and NAS via a single button. It features a 10/100 Ethernet interface and makes use of Buffalo’s USB technology to offer up to “20 percent” faster transfer rates over standard USB drives.

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Audi Travolution lets you know when that light will change

You have to develop a rhythm regarding stop lights. You don’t want to completely stop just as the light turns green. Fortunately for those with a bad sense of timing, Audi’s Travolution takes it upon itself to keep track of when the light changes. Audi is currently testing the system.

It works because “Travolution” networks cars with traffic signals wirelessly. This way you will always know exactly when the upcoming light is going to change, which tells you how fast you should be going. It’s a great way to save fuel, and might even help traffic to move more efficiently. One day it may even come standard in all cars. Next the car will be stopping for you whether you like it or not.

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GPS navigation system & game console

Kinwei Technologies of Shenzen is a GPS navigation system manufacturer who also loves games. Old school games. The KW-GM4306TG is a GPS navigation system and a gaming console in one. And no, this won’t replace your DS or PSP. Apparently the device only supports 8 bits games, circa 1985.

It sports a 4.3-inch TFT LCD Touch screen with 480 x 272 pixels resolution, powered by a Samsung ARM9 400MHz processor. The OS is Microsoft Windows CE.NET 4.2 and you even get a crappy controller for the games. Inside there’s a 64MB SDRAM ROM and 256MB NAND flash, and a high sensitive SiRF III antenna with 20 channels. It also has an AV-in port so if you get a rear view camera you can connect it to use the 4.3″ screen.

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Garmin Edge 705 Team Edition cycling computer available

I used to ride a bike frequently, when I was like 12 and couldn’t drive. Since then I try and not get out in the Texas heat on a bicycle with moronic rednecks flying by seeing how close to you they can get with their giant cow trailer pulling mirrors. I do know several people who like cycling though.

For those of you who are really into cycling Garmin has announced that its Team Garmin Edition Edge 705 is now available. The cycling computer comes in orange representing the uniform color of the Garmin-Chipotle cycling team.

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Mad Catz Rock Band portable drum kit for Xbox 360 now on sale

The Rock Band Portable Drum Kit for Xbox 360 is a complete skins kit designed to travel with you and be played on almost any solid surface. Apparently the rubber pads can handle over a million strikes, but be careful what you lay these on. You don’t want to be banging away on expensive furniture. This is the perfect way to play if you don’t have room for the full kit. It only costs $59.99 and ships soon.

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Samsung rolls out the X460 notebook

Samsung has rolled out another stylish notebook that looks attractive and is also slim and fairly lightweight at 1.9kg despite packing in a 6-cell battery that will give you juice for 5 hours. It also offers a larger 14.1-inch (1280 x 800) screen and comes in at just 1.2-inches thick. Features an Intel Centrino 2 with up to 4GB of RAM, up to a 320GB HDD, Super Multi Drive DVD burner with LightScribe, nVIDIA GeForce Go 9200M GS chipset for gaming, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, gigabit ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a 7-in-1 card reader, and HDMI output. And if you are into that sort of thing you even get an anti-bacterial keyboard will keep you healthy. No price or availability yet. Sure looks sexy.

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Antec offers up new fan-based laptop cooler

Antec has revealed a rather cool looking notebook cooler which sits under your laptop as you work. It is called the Notebook Cooler 200 and you’ll find it pricing around $90.

The Antec Notebook Cooler 200 comes with what Antec says is a “200mm Big Boy fan” with 400 and 600RPM settings so you can adjust cooling for performance or noise levels. There’s also blue LED illumination as it operates for that extra special X-Files feeling.

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Buffalo showcases uber-thin external hard drive

Buffalo Technology says it is set to release the world’s thinnest external hard drive (currently, that is). The anorexic looking Buffalo MiniStation Shinobi can be yours to fatten with files for around $120 for the 30GB (HD-PT30U2) and $170 for the 60GB (HD-PT60U2).

The Buffalo MiniStation Shinobi models are 5mm (.2 inches) thick and weigh around just two ounces. This makes them pretty very compact and portable, of course, and the fact it is USB-powered just adds to that on-the-go image.

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Wireless Kodak printers save you $$ printing

Kodak’s got itself a couple of new wireless all-in-one inkjet printers which reportedly offer the “lowest ink replacement cost in the industry.” These printers are the ESP 7 and ESP 9, priced around $200 and $300, respectively.

Kodak says these new printers will save you, the consumer, around $110 a year on ink, compared to “other leading consumer inkjet printers on the market.” This is done by combining “the latest in printing technology with affordable, premium-quality inks.” The ESP 7 and 9, for example, offer an intelligent paper tray system which automatically adjusts settings based on 4×6 or 5×7 sizes and estimates paper amounts on both trays.

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Apple to recall iPhone chargers

Apple is offering to replace the faulty chargers

IPhone 3G owners could be at risk of electric shock from faulty power adapters, Apple has warned.

The metal prongs on many of the ultra-compact USB adapters sold with the 3G iPhone model could break off, putting owners at risk.

Apple has urged owners to swap the adapters that came with the phone to minimise risk. No-one has been injured by the faulty adapters as yet.

At risk are iPhone owners in the US, Japan, Canada and Mexico.

Apple said iPhone 3G adapters sold in a further 10 Latin American nations were also faulty.

COUNTRIES AFFECTED

USA
Japan
Canada
Mexico
Colombia
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Peru
Argentina
Chile

Costa Rica
Panama

In a statement Apple said it had found that, under certain circumstances, the thin metal prongs on the power adapter could break off and get stuck in a power socket.

The ultra-compact adapters were sold with every iPhone 3G since the device went on sale in 22 countries on 11 July.

Since the iPhone launched in June 2007 Apple has sold more than six million of the devices. It is not clear how many iPhone 3G handsets have been sold and how many people are at risk.

Apple said it will replace adapters free of charge and that the fixed versions should be available on 10 October. Until then it said owners should recharge their phone by connecting the device to a computer via a USB port.

Replacement chargers can be ordered via Apple's website or at an Apple store from starting on 10 October.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology
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Microsoft unveils $40bn buy-back

Investors tend to cheer buybacks because it boosts existing share prices

Microsoft has unveiled plans to spend $40bn (£22bn) buying back its shares from investors, the biggest single buy-back plan in history.

Analysts say the move is an attempt by the software giant to use its spare cash to prop up its share price which has fallen by almost 30% this year.

Hewlett-Packard and Nike have also announced major buy-back programmes.

The personal computer-maker will buy back $8bn of shares, while Nike's plan is worth $5bn.

'Attractive prices'

Microsoft said the buy-back plan showed its "confidence in the long-term growth of the company and our commitment to returning capital to our shareholders."

Industry watchers have said Microsoft will be hoping the plan will revive its share price which has declined this year, partly due to its failed $47.5bn (£26.3bn) bid to buy the internet portal Yahoo.

"I'm impressed," said Michael Holland of the deals. He oversees $4bn (£2.2bn) as chairman and founder of Holland & Co in New York.

"When companies have come in to buy their own stock subsequent to a financial crisis, they've bought at attractive prices and it's been a good use of liquidity," Mr Holland told Bloomberg News.

Microsoft stock rose 4% at the start of trading

At the end of June this year, the company was sitting on a cash mountain of $23.7bn and has never been in debt in its 33-year history.

The BBC's technology reporter Maggie Shiels said there was little doubt Microsoft had to do something because it simply had too much cash lying on its books following the company's failed attempt to buy either all or part of Yahoo.

Dealogic said the new buy-back, which will run until 2013, was the largest single announced share-buyback in history.

It follows a previous 2004 plan which started as a $30bn project and was later boosted by another $10bn.

'Volatile market'

HP said its board approved an $8bn repurchase following a previous programme which started in November. About $3bn (£1.6bn) remains from that authorisation.

The firm said it gave the go-ahead to the share buy-back to counteract the effect employee stock plans have on ownership percentages.

Just last week the PC-maker announced it was cutting 24,600 jobs in the wake of its acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corp.

Meanwhile Nike's plan to buy back $5bn of shares over the next four years has been welcomed by Standard & Poor's Equity Research as providing "support to the shares in a volatile market."

Share buy-backs peaked in the third quarter of 2007 at $172bn according to Standard & Poor's senior index analyst Howard Silverblatt. The figure for the first quarter of this year is $113.9bn.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business

Clarion MiND: a new reason to crash your car

Clarion unveiled at CES this week a new mobile Internet device based upon the Intel Menlow platform, which is comprised of the Silverthorne processor and the Poulbo chipset. It is called MiND (Mobile Internet Navigation Device) and its currently in development.

The Clairon MiND is best described as an extremely portable device. The feature list is quite long - its maker describes it best by stating the MiND will “provide users access to navigation, high-speed Internet connection, digital music and videos, hands-free phone connection (via Bluetooth), built-in camera and many other innovative entertainment features.” It is an in-car device designed to make you crash easier…er, we mean keep you entertained either in-auto or out.

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