MODDING: blogs

Google Dashboard is a main settings page for all your Google account services such as Gmail, Google Docs, Calandar and more. The dashboard still needs a little work, as it does not yet support all features from Google such as Google Maps, but it is certainly a step in the right direction as far as organization and privacy.

Google showed today it's getting more serious about privacy when it launched a tool called Google Dashboard that aims to give you more control over your personal data stored on Google's servers. From your Google Dashboard you can view the company's privacy policies, easily access your most recent activity for each Google service you use, and manage settings for those services.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) said in A Study that Broadband Internet is available in 90% of areas, while only 65% of people use it, and stresses the fact that the government can greatly influence the transition to 100% broadband by funding programs where an ISP could receive a dollar amount from the government per new user that subscribes in order for that ISP to deliver service at a lower cost, and possibly even give out a basic computer with service! would this help our economic state? maybe, maybe not, but it would definitely encourage better broadband penetration by population.

The study identified three major reasons why people don't buy broadband: the cost of the service and of a computer; usability issues, including a lack of digital literacy; and a perceived lack of the need for broadband.

Yes, a full retail Nokia N97 mini is at AAS Towers and I’m currently scribbling away on the ol’ parchment to bring you a full review for next week. Just to wet your appetite though, here’s my detailed N97 mini image gallery, with comments by Rafe and myself. With slimmer form factor and higher use of metal, I’d sum up my impressions of the device after a day as ‘feels like the N97 that the Eseries team would have come up with’. More, much more to come next week.

ASRock introduced their 2nd-gen ION-based nettop this week, the ION 330HT series. The ION 330HT series is a full-feature home theater solution based on the NVIDIA ION graphics architecture. And it is equipped with Intel Atom 330 1.6 GHz Dual-Core CPU, NVIDIA ION 330 chipset, 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 memory, maximum memory capacity up to 4GB. The native ION graphics also bring full support for CUDA applications and DirectX 10, Full HD 1080p (Blu-ray) playback and be able to play true high-definition videos and games.

Whats surprise on ION 330HT-BD / ION 330HT? This time, we have bundled a multi-functional remote controller with the nettop! The remote controller comes with MCE (Media Center Edition) function which facilitates the way of playing multi-media entertainments. Perfect for multimedia playback, ASRock ION 330HT series comes with all major outputs at the back panel. You may find DC-in, S/PDIF OUT, RJ45 Gigabit LAN jack, USB2.0, System Fan, HDMI, VGA and Powered eSATA/USB ports. The most mentionable part should be the Powered eSATA/USB port, it not only supports USB device but also eSATA device without additional power source.

Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

Although this is a step in the right direction, advocacy groups are still disappointed citing that they were expecting stronger legal protection requiring more formal legal procedures for criminal piracy.

European lawmakers on Thursday agreed on new protections for Internet users, striking a compromise between national governments seeking to impose tough anti-piracy laws and consumer organizations that wanted to enshrine Internet access as an unassailable right.

The agreement removes the last hurdle to passage of sweeping changes to European telecommunications law, which had been held hostage for six months by the standoff over Internet access.

More than 100,000 apps are now available for download from Apple's App Store, making it the largest such retailer in the world. The App Store launched in July 2008 with just 500 applications. The store is now available in 77 countries, which has contributed to what Apple said Wednesday is well over 2 billion downloads.

Apps from the App Store work with both the iPhone and iPod Touch. When introducing its new iPod Touch in September, Apple positioned the device as a superior gaming platform to Sony's PSP or Nintendo DS. Apple said its rivals charged too much for games and didn't offer enough selection. At the time, Apple had more than 21,000 game titles in the App Store, while Nintendo had 3,600 titles and Sony had 600. The message apparently has gotten through.

Spire just sent word over that they introduced the CoolNess SP312, a new laptop cooler designed for notebooks ranging from 10″ to 17″ this morning. The cooler is made out of plastic and features a large 200mm fan, it spins at 1400RPM but noise and airflow details are unknown. The price is also unknown, but that is okay as it is still shipping from the factory to the Spire branch offices. I think we have enough laptop coolers on the market, as a quick search on Newegg.com revealed 102 models for sale this very second!

The CoolNess laptop base cooler is equipped with a large 20cm cooling fan. Formed out of lightweight plastic this laptop cooler is not only portable, but a great value for the cost conscientious laptop user. The ergonomic design and anti-slip features provide comfortable computing experience. Compatible with 10 up to 17 laptop computers. There is no need for an external power adapter, powered by your laptops USB port (cable included) the CoolNess is a plug and play ready product.

Tight supply of AMD GPUs has caused several PC vendors to delay their mass shipment schedules by about two months to the first quarter of 2010, according to sources at the companies. In addition to graphics cards and desktops, the shortage is also forcing AMD to delay the mass shipment schedule of its ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5000 series (Manhattan) GPUs for notebooks to the first quarter of 2010 from the originally planned fourth quarter of 2009.

AMD's 40nm ATI Radeon HD 5000 series and 55nm ATI Radeon HD 4000 series GPUs are currently both facing shortages; the former due low yields on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC's) 40nm process and the later due to AMD's conservative attitude towards its 55nm GPU sales after the launch of 40nm products, the sources noted.

A new kind of computer company, litl, today unveiled its webbook computer and operating system — a completely new and simple way for everyone in the family to enjoy online photos and all the web has to offer. The litl webbook, an Internet computer for the home, blends the engaging content and social interactivity of the web with high-quality TV-like viewing of online photos and other digital content. The litl webbook is available immediately online at litl.com. The price for the litl is $699, with an optional remote control for $19. The litl webbook includes a free two-year unconditional “satisfaction guaranteed or your money refunded” warranty — double the industry standard of one year and significantly more consumer-friendly.

“As everything from music and photos to email and social networking moves online, it's clear that the web is transforming personal computing. And yet, most homes are still using computers and software based on thinking from more than 30 years ago,” explained litl's founder and CEO John Chuang. “We knew that to really meet the needs of home users — from kids to parents and grandparents — we needed to design an entirely new system that would make the web engaging, entertaining and fun.”