Courtesy of a Best Buy Reward Zone member advertisement, we now know that the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available as of November 15. Which is of course much nicer than the previous time frame of sometime during the holidays.

For those interested, the Booklet 3G will set you back $299.99, but that price does required a two year commitment. Otherwise, those looking to make the purchase contract free can expect to pay the full retail price of $599.99. And yes, for good or bad that contract is with AT&T.

Additionally, although we did know many of the details and features surrounding the Booklet 3G, except the actual release, I did at least get a nice little chuckle from the

“Windows 7 operating system is crazy fast”

comment in the ad. Crazy fast, really? That is the best they can do.

Anyway, for those waiting, well for those that are also a Reward Zone member, you can now head out to Best Buy and get your pre-order in.

Read [Nokia Mobile Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Eee Keyboard, a device that was first unveiled during CES 2009 and one that was expected to see a release last month has been officially delayed. That bit of bad news does however come with a little bit of good news though.

First things first, the keyboard has been delayed, and so far not canceled. According to the details, courtesy of the delay the keyboard will now have a slightly better set of specs.

Asus has stated that the keyboard will include a faster processor, a new operating system and a touchscreen that is capacitive. Unfortunately, when Asus was spilling the details on the upgraded specs they failed to mention a new release date. Hey, maybe we can check out the updated model on the CES show floor in January 2010—because Gadgetell will be there offering live coverage.

Finally, in an effort to end this post on a positive note, Asus did also mention that the keyboard is still on track for a $500 price point.

Via [Maximum PC]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Finding a new way to store power in our mobile devices has been a problem for quite some time.  We’ve been stuck with Lithium-Ion batteries for a while now, and unless a device is using ULV or is a netbook, chances are the battery life could be a lot better.  There’s been promises of several types of new battery tech recently, but none has really taken off.  Now yet another new possibility has come as the replacement for the Lithium-Ion.

The new technology is called Metal-Air Ionic Liquid.  It works by conducting electricity through an ionic liquid salt.  Without getting into too much detail, it means that batteries can be made with metals heavier than the zinc used in zinc-air batteries.  To put it into perspective to Lithium-Ion batteries, one kilogram or MAIL can hold about 11 times more watt-hours than the same weight of Lithium-Ions.  The main idea of MAIL batteries will be for cars, but they could easily benefit our laptops can netbooks.

The promise of being able to hold up to about 11 times the charge of a Lithium-Ion battery could easily mean that our laptops and netbooks can last for close to a day, or even multiple days.  It will probably be a while before we start seeing anything with MAIL batteries, but it might be worth the wait.  With Intel pushing it’s ULV chipsets, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see standard laptops running for days at a time when combined with MAIL.  We can only hope that this, like so many other battery improvements, doesn’t end up falling away into obscurity or becomes to unfeasible.

Read [jkOnTheRun] Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Verizon, Verizon, Verizon—it seems they are determined to get some attention lately. We have seen the endless, but exciting Droid coverage, then earlier today we saw the BlackBerry Curve 8530 get announced.

Now, it looks like Verizon is getting into the pre-paid data game. Which personally I have to say it a wonderful thing. Especially for those who like to have Internet access on the go, but do not need it often enough to necessitate a service plan with a contract.

Anyway, detail wise it looks like customers will be able to get a daily, weekly or monthly option. And as you would expect, each of those levels comes with a set amount of data transfer. Here is a breakdown of the available data transfer along with the pricing.

• Daily – $15 for 75 MB
• Weekly – $30 for 250 MB
• Monthly – $50 for 500 MB

Finally, I think they only thing that would have made this announcement better is if they would have offered the pre-paid service in a plan that worked with the MiFi. However instead users will be able to use the pre-paid mobile broadband plans with the Verizon Wireless USB760 modem which will be selling for $129.99.

In terms of what you can do with the above plans, here is a breakdown which comes courtesy of Verizon.

To assist customers in determining their service levels, the following chart provides examples of different applications based on approximate size assumptions. Actual file sizes may vary.
Data Type

E-mail (1 text page, no attachments)

• Daily: 25,600
• Weekly: 85,300
• Monthly: 170,000

Typical Web page lookup

• Daily: 500
• Weekly: 1,700
• Monthly: 3,400

Low-resolution digital photos

• Daily: 150
• Weekly: 500
• Monthly: 1,000

Read [Verizon Wireless]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Call it karma or something else, the interesting relationship between Microsoft and Gizmodo continues to yield exclusive looks at the leaked tablet.  Microsoft’s Courier was shown by the site in a video and now that video has been sliced to show how users interact with the Courier.

The user interface highlights different fingerswipes, tablet functionality such as geotagging and timestamping, camera focusing and cropping, handwriting recognition, ereader capabilities and more.  The main purpose of this device looks to be “life” as the product seems to touch on many aspects.  Clearly, this tablet is built for more than just surfing the web or playing some games.

Gizmodo shows off several images with user options and actions on each page.  It is interested, but if you saw the video then you might have expected much of this.  The pages look like little more than still images from the video, giving us no indication how far from reality this is.

Read: [Gizmodo]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Yesterday, fellow Gadgetell writer JG told us about Walmart’s pre-Black Friday sale and one of the items up for sale is a $298 laptop from HP. According to the initial ad listing we could see that laptop has a 15.6-inch display with a 250GB hard drive.

Of course, there are many more specs to that and it was hard not to wonder if a sub-$300 laptop would be worth the money. Anyway, the laptop in question is the G60-519WM from HP. Bottom line, everyones needs and use will require something different, but in this case it seems worthy.

Luckily, said laptop is now listed in its fully spec’d glory over at Walmart.com.

Feature wise, the G60-519WM will offer users a 15.6-inch WXGA display with a 1366 x 768 resolution, a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron 900 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 250GB 7200RPM hard drive, LightScribe SuperMulti DVD drive and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition.

Additionally, users can also expect Ethernet, Wi-Fi, three USB ports, one VGA out, a microphone in, headphone, Altec Lansing audio and a 6-cell battery.

Sure, it may not be a screamer in terms of performance with the Celeron processor, but for $298 this could make a nice addition to the house. Of course, actually getting one may be a different story.

Product [Walmart]  Via [I4U]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

We have been hearing stories of the CrunchPad for a while now, but for those of you who may be unfamiliar, the CrunchPad is a web tablet that is being developed by Michael Arrington of TechCrunch.

Just to give a brief history, the CrunchPad news first hit with a promise of a tablet that was designed solely for web browsing, and on top of that it was a tablet that was expected, or at least hoped to be priced at $200.

That was back in the middle of 2008. Of course, moving forward that $200 price tag turned into $300 sometime around April of 2009. Still, not a bad price, that is assuming it was made with some quality. At that time, there were even some prototypes around. But still nothing firm in terms of when the CrunchPad would be released.

Flash forward to today, November 2009 and Silicon Alley Insider is reporting that the CrunchPad may be out of business due to higher than expected development costs.

One story we heard from a few people on a recent trip to California is that the CrunchPad is supposedly being delayed—perhaps indefinitely—by increasing expenses.

Of course, there was that one rumor that suggested the CrunchPad would be released in November for around $400, and hey, November is not yet over so maybe we will see it hit the market after all.

Bottom line, it does not seem to be looking good. That said, I still want one.

Read [Silicon Alley Insider]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If there’s one thing we can all agree we hate about cell phone contracts, it would have the be the Early Termination Fee.  The ETF has long been the bane of anyone who cannot stick to a single phone or carrier for any extended period of time.  Up until now they’ve ranged anywhere from about $175 to $200, but for some Verizon Wireless customers that’s about to change.

Starting November 15th, Verizon Wireless will be raising the ETF for devices like smartphones and netbooks to $350.  That number will decrease by $10 for every month or service, so even if you want out of the contract at month 23 you’ll have to pay $120.  The reason for the change makes sense for Verizon, smartphones and netbooks cost much more than feature phones do.  Verizon subsidizes the phones, and makes it’s money back through the monthly payments.  A smartphone that costs the buyer $99, like the BlackBerry Bold or upcoming Droid Eris, is paying much less than what Verizon paid for the phone, so this is really just Verizon trying to make that money back.

No matter how much business sense it makes, the change won’t make consumers any happier.  The ETF is already frustrating enough, and there are those who don’t want to be stuck with the same smartphone on the same network for two years.  Especially not Verizon’s network which until the Droid has had fairly poor choices of smartphones.  Of course there are those who don’t mind having the same phone on the same carrier for two years who won’t be affected.  It’s likely this give customers even more reason to stick with their plans until they run out, or just not use Verizon.

Read [USA Today]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

What’s better than a Black Friday sale?  A desperate Pre-Black Friday sale in hopes to get all the dollars you would have spent on the actual Black Friday.  Wal-Mart delivers with a sale this Saturday, Novermber 7.  The deals look worthy of making a special trip.

From the Xbox 360 reduced to $199 and includes a $100 gift card,  to a 46” Panasonic Plasma HDTV (I love mine) at just $788, $149 for a Sony Blu-ray player and $298 HP 15.6 laptop.  Both the Xbox and the HP laptop are guaranteed to have 10 units per store, according to our friends at bfads.com.

The Panasonic’s lowest price on Google Checkout is $830 and it looks to be a full 1080p, nice. 

Walmart says the sale starts at 8:00am on the 7th.

Read: [BFads]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The Malwarebytes Corporation, makers of the excellent anti-malware software of the same name, have discovered that a Chinese rival has been stealing from its database of malware samples and flagging a specific keygen code for the Malwarebytes software using the exact same naming scheme.  When Malwarebytes confronted the vendor, IObit, about the theft, the company denied it and claimed it was just a technical glitch and that Malwarebytes was being malicious by spreading rumors.  However MB ran a test on the shady software, called Security 360, by adding definitions for a fake rogue anti-virus program to its data base.  Security 360 almost immediately added the fake definitions to its own database and used an almost identical naming scheme.

“So we dug further. We accumulated more similar evidence for other detections, and we soon became convinced that this was not a mistake, it was not a coincidence, it was not an isolated event, and it persisted presently in their current database. They are using both our database and our database format exactly.” The company reported in a blog post. “During the course of our investigation, we uncovered additional evidence that IObit may have stolen the proprietary databases of other security vendors as well. We are in the process of contacting these vendors.”

Malwarebytes intends to pursue legal action against IObit.  This incident is a good reminder to always stick with well known security apps like MalwareBytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, AVG, AdAware and others.  Never download a security app you’ve never hear of or one you see advertised in a pop up or spam message.

Malwarebytes is one of the best anti-malware apps around. It’s fast, easy to use, powerful and doesn’t hog system resources.  It supports multi-drive scanning which includes networked drives.  There is a free version available but for real-time protection (which prevents malware infections from ever happening) and the ability to schedule regular scans, spring for the paid version, which is just $24.95.  The protection and piece of mind are worth it!

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Redfly makes a small, instant on netbook-size device that brings your small phone screen to a bigger screen complete with larger keyboard.  Redfly has worked with Windows Mobile phones for some time and now the company announces BlackBerry support.  For users that needs more than the small keyboard and screen a phone offers, this could be a life-saver.

Available in both 7” and 8” models, the Redfly connects to your WinMo or BB smartphone allowing you to bang out emails even faster.  Browsing the web is also possible, though reviewers were not so happy with the results.  Redfly can be used with the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630.

We’d suggest this device for those who travel often and could use just a little more space.  We’d love the device to be a lot thinner (think Macbook Air thin) a bigger keyboard and a bit more upscale look.  If you are going after business class, you can’t look like economy.  That’s just my opinion though.

There is a contingent that believes this is the wave of the future.  Palm thought this but was ahead of the curve and pulled the program before launching.  As our phones become more powerful and capable, connecting to them seems logical.  To get on the wave, you’ll need $200 or $250 for the 7” and 8” respectively.  Or you can try to win one from Crackberry here.

Read: [Brighthand]

Image credit: Brighthand

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Sprint has announced it will begin offering a mobile broadband equipped Dell Inspiron Mini 10 in select markets across the country.  The netbook is similar to those already offered by Verizon and AT&T and comes with a built in EVDO Rev.A wireless service. It weighs just over 2.5lbs, offers a bright 10 inch screen, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and in addition to the built in broadband, includes Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11g connectivity.

“Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint’s network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America’s most dependable 3G network. It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected.”

Sprint is offering the netbook for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and requires you sign up for their $59.99 a month data plan as well, which comes with a 5GB cap.  Since Dell sells the Mini for $299 on their website it may not be the best deal for your buck.  A data card will give you the freedom to use it with any device you want rather than being locked into a single one, and Sprint’s Mi-Fi portable access point allows up to 5 devices to share the connection.

Still, if you’re in the market for a netbook and mobile broadband anyway and don’t mind being locked to once device, it’s worth checking out.  Sprint’s data service is among the best in the business.  For now, Sprint is only offering the Dell Mini in Baltimore, Phoenix, Indianapolis, the Twin Cities and the Bay Area, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see it become available nationwide as the holiday season unfolds.

Read [Business Wire]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Back in November 2008, security experts became aware of Conficker, a worm that adds as many computers to its botnet as possible. Then in April of 2009 fear spread that April Fools Day, 4/1/09 would be dooms day, but it never came.  Instead, the worm has built a ring of 7 million machines around the world that only wait instructions on what to do next.  The only thing is, those instructions haven’t come.

Although Conficker is probably the computer worm most known about, PCs continue to get infected by it, said Andre DiMino, co-founder of The Shadowserver Foundation. “The trend is definitely increasing and breaking 7 million is pretty much of a landmark event,” he said.

But why no instructions?

Researchers have a couple of theories.  One is who ever built this thing is scared to do anything with it.  The clever code is adept at re-infecting systems even after it was removed.  Companies have spent time and money dealing with this potential threat and if caught the developer could be looking at a lot of time with the boys in blue.

The fear is with a botnet of 7 million and growing, the army could weaponize and have affect on a great many of us.  To be clear, it doesn’t seem this is the case today, but it is always a possibility.  The most common symptom of Conficker is a machine that cannot be logged onto.  The worm will attempt to gain access to other machines on the network by guessing passwords and in doing so will get locked out.

Do you have it?  Get tested

A simple test, called an Eye Chart is found at the Conficker Working Group that was set up to deal and track these issues.  It is a simple load and see if your machine loads images.  If so, you are clean if not, you can find which variant of the the worm you’ve got and how to expel it.

Read: [NetworkWorld]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With the except of the Tegra and Ion platforms, we haven’t been hearing much from NVIDIA in terms of graphics cards lately.  Mobile graphics are certainly important, but we still need great graphic cards on our desktops or laptops.  Screenshots leaked on a Chinese message board show that NVIDIA is definitely working on fantastic graphics with the new Fermi hardware.

The new graphic cards look to be able to render very realistic faces as well as realistic hair, lighting, and reflections.  The captions on the pictures claim the new chips are “the most advanced GPU computing architecture ever built,” and given the results that could be hard to argue.  The chips themselves will hold up to 512 separate cores to process all of the graphics.  Word is these new chips, probably the NVIDIA GeForce 300 series could be out by the end of the year.

These new chips, should the leaks prove to be true, will likely be expensive though the performance should be worth the price.  Paired with a Core i7 CPU, machines packing these new Fermi GPUs should be able to do just about anything.  GPU-accelerated programs like Photoshop CS4 will benefit greatly and experience very little slow down, if any.  Even if they end up being priced too highly, there’s always that fact the the current chips will more than likely go down in price, making great (if not the best) graphics even easier to obtain.

Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

This week stands out for me and my mobile phone addiction.  Big announcements in the tech world get us all excited until we stop to ask some questions.  Then we get kind of pissed off and start turning on the hype.  Behold the gems I turned up this week:

• Sears says deals won’t wait for Black Friday
• Microsoft has trust issues
• Barnes and Noble doesn’t want to start fist fights
• HTC brags about being smart

Sears says screw the calendar

Just the mention of Black Friday and shoppers pupils dilate just a bit, showing their arousal.  Sears has decided the calendar is for suckers and has started their sale this weekend.  Why not?  Our Sue Walsh explains:

Sears has announced it will be kicking off the holiday shopping season this weekend by offering special Black Friday deals.  It plans to offer those special “Black Friday Now” deals every Saturday from 7am until Christmas.

The Saturday after Christmas Sears shoppers will be welcomed by 1,000s of Abe Lincoln impersonators as the store kicks off “President’s Day Now” sale.  Feel free to move holidays around at home kids, it is the new marketing paradigm.  Somewhere, Sears marketing team is giggling at duping the American public.

Microsoft says manufacturers can’t be trusted

Our Heather Wood posted about Microsoft’s Signature PCs: “When you usually buy a PC, you have to spend time removing all of the pre-installed applications on the computer.  These can include 30 day music trials, limited anti-virus protection software and photo editing tools you probably will never use.  On these signature PCs, no crapware or trials will be included. “

Instead, Microsoft Signature PCs that they are selling direct to consumers will have only the basics installed.  The take-away from this is Microsoft is attempting to control the experience consumers have with their products.  Clearly, MS feels the crapware festival that greets most new owners is less than stellar.

It is a good move for MS but you’ve got to wonder, if companies pay to get crapware there in the first place, will prices go up?  Could this start a price war between MS and manufacturers at other retailers?  This could mean the net result of MS adventures in retailing will be to lower prices in an ever-dropping market.  Sweet.

Barnes and Nobles averts reader wars

What is likely to happen when folks who love hard covers and the smell of a new book mix with internet-loving einkers?  Book fight!  Imagine volume upon volume being flung about as screams of “tree killer” and “experience killer” get flung just as hard.  It is a nightmarish scene typically reserved for winning an NBA championship.

Our Robert Nelson commented on the plan: “Personally, it seems only logical that Barnes & Noble would have at least some Nooks in stock and ready for those that want instant gratification. But that is not the case, instead it looks like only select locations will have them available to purchase and take home.”

Only a crackhead could come up with a crazy retail plan, right?  Do they really fear book fights?  Are they worried the Nook would convert masses away from physical books and drive them to their online bookstore?  Sounds like some paranoid addict is afraid of losing retail locations over this.  That’s embarrassing.

HTC brags

It’s been my experience that folks that are actually smart don’t need to say it, much less make it their new advertising campaign.  So it goes with HTC’s new “quietly brilliant” as our Robert Nelson explains:

HTC has just recently begun a new ad campaign which deems them as “Quietly Brilliant” and is simply going by the name of “You.” While some may say that the quietly brilliant part is a bit self centered, the You campaign in general appears to be offering a welcomed push at showing consumers just how nice it can be to have a smartphone.

I am quietly brilliant too.  Something along the lines of “keep your mouth shut and let everyone assume your’re an idiot vs. opening your mouth and proving it,” springs to mind.  Wait, wasn’t this the plot to “Good Will Hunting”?  Will HTC singlehandedly relaunch the career of Ben Affleck, (who was the bomb in Phantoms)?  Doubt it.

Robert focuses on the “You” side of the campaign and the “you don’t need to get a phone, you need a phone that gets you” but that troubles me.  I don’t get me.  How can I expect some engineers in Taiwan to get me?  Should I be flattered if they do?  Can I get a phone number if they do to talk about being penpals?

Either way, I find the concept disturbing.  How about you?  Do you think they get you?

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Only one week removed from the release of Windows 7 we have yet another new operating system.  Canonical today released the newest version of its popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu 9.10 “Karmic Koala.”  The new version doesn’t pack in as many changes as an X.04 update does, but it does have more stability and more refined features than the previous version, Jaunty Jackalope.

Perhaps the biggest improvement with Ubuntu 9.10 is the inclusion of Ubuntu One.  Ubuntu One is essentially Ubuntu’s version of Dropbox with some MobileMe-esque syncing included for good measure.  It allows for 2GB of online storage, public sharing of files, syncing of Tomboy Notes and contact syncing, all for free.  The service can be upgraded to 50GB for $10 a month, just like Dropbox.  Other features include faster, prettier boot-ups, improved sound control across applications, and improved battery usage for Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Karmic Koala, while not exactly featuring a lot of new things, promises to be a great upgrade or a good starting point for new users.  Contrary to popular belief, Ubuntu Linux is actually quite simple to use, some might even say it’s easier to understand that Mac OS X for those who only ever used Windows.  While Windows 7 is certainly a good OS, it might be worth the 25 minutes to install Ubuntu, or just use VirtualBox to try it out.  If nothing else, the Ubuntu Netbook Remix is worth a shot for anyone tired of trying to run XP on a netbook and doesn’t want to try and instal 7 onto it.  The interface is incredibly simple, and uses Firefox, so it shouldn’t be too foreign.  If nothing else, its a decent way to change up your netbook experience while waiting for Chrome OS.

Read [Ubuntu]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Microsoft’s retail and online stores will be selling a line of signature PCs. When you usually buy a PC, you have to spend time removing all of the pre-installed applications on the computer.  These can include 30 day music trials, limited anti-virus protection software and photo editing tools you probably will never use.  On these signature PCs, no crapware or trials will be included. 

With the Microsoft Signature PCs, you will only receive Microsoft brand software.  The PCs will include the Microsoft Live mail client, Zune, Silverlight, 3D maps and MS Security Essentials.  Internet Explorer will be the default browser and Bing will be the default search engine.  Adobe Flash and Acrobat Reader will be included in the Signature PC package as well.  It goes without saying that the Windows 7 will be the operating system on these computers.

Microsoft will also be allowing staff members at their retail locations assist users in installing the programs that they want on their computer. 

Store Site: [Microsoft Store]
Image Source: Complex

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Those using a Sony Vaio product may want to stop and listen up for just a moment. Sony has just announced that they are recalling about 69,000 power adapters that are being used on select Vaio all-in-one desktop computers and Sony Vaio docking stations.

More specifically, the affected products include the following product models;

• VGC-LT series (Vaio all-in-one desktop)
• VGC-JS2 series (Vaio all-in-one desktop)
• VGP-PRBX1 (Vaio docking station)
• VGP-PRFE1 (Vaio docking station)

Furthermore these affected units were sold between September 2005 and October 2009.

As to what could go wrong, according to the report, the insulation that was used in the adapters could fail over time which may cause one to get a not so nice shock.

At this time, it seems there have only been four reports of a short circuit, and thankfully no one has reported any injuries. That said, it could not hurt to follow up and get a new power adapter courtesy of Sony.

Read [CPSC]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Yesterday, Dell announced that its new Latitude XT2 XFR tablet laptop is shipping.  Claiming to be world’s thinnest for a 12.1” screen at a narrow 1.5”, the laptop/tablet comes ruggedized and ready for battle.  Designed for the rigors of first responders in the field, the price tag is a sharp $3599 for the base model.

Here we are just a week after the Windows 7 launch and Dell’s new tablet says it runs Vista with XP Tablet installed in the buy information, but the Tech Specs say Windows 7.  Trying to customize the device in Dell’s packages only lead to Windows Vista options.  Windows 7 doesn’t seem to have propagated to this release.  Odd for a new release huh?

The 12.1” LED screen is impact resistant, capacitive, sunlight viewable, and is mulit-touch enabled.  A resistive screen is an option as well.  Dell will have accessories that are hot-swappable such as GPS and webcam in the coming weeks.

“The Latitude XT2 XFR is more than a laptop, it’s a key part of our mobile command and data-center solutions for field service, defense and first-responder customers,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Global Public-Sector Business. “These unique solutions, coupled with our service model, make those communities more effective, enabling them to focus on their core missions instead of managing technology.”

The announcement does not include a shipping date as it uses future-tense for its verbs.  Know a good lawyer?

Product Page: [Dell] Press release: [Dell]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) has issued a warning about a new app that could allow someone to eavesdrop on a BlackBerry user’s phone conversation.  The app, called PhoneSnoop, is free and was released by an Indonesian man who said he just wanted to make a point that the BlackBerry platform isn’t infallible despite its strong security features.

“My intention was to raise awareness that even though the BlackBerry is one of the more secure platforms, there are still means where its users can be spied upon,” Gunasekera wrote in an e-mail on Tuesday. “I wanted to highlight that even with such technical security controls, the human element can be exploited through social engineering.”

The app doesn’t hide itself once installed, so a user should be able to easily figure out it’s there.  For those wondering what else may be lurking on their BlackBerry devices, another free app, called Kisses, will find and display all hidden apps on the device.

If you’re looking for something even stronger, there is a full fledged security suite available for the BlackBerry as well.  SMobile Security Shield offers two versions.  The Security and Anti-Theft version is $19.99 and offers malware protection and web based services including remote wipe, GPS tracking, locking and backup and restore.  The Parental Control version is $29.99 and allows parents to monitor their children’s BlackBerry use from a web based console.  They can monitor emails and text messages and be alerted when the child’s contact list is updated, track their location via GPS and monitor social networking apps like MySpace and Facebook.

Both apps are available for download from BlackBerry App World.  The US-CERT strongly recommends password protecting your device and being very careful of what you download onto it and who you let use it.

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

According to the Wall Street Journal, PC sales are expected to see a huge boost in numbers as a result of the October 22 release of Windows 7.  Initial figures are showing that the operating system is performing better than expected and should lead to an upturn in PC sales throughout the year.  Windows 7 has already generated an estimated $1.5 billion in pre-orders for Microsoft. 

Analysts believe that the earnings from Windows 7 will extend beyond the consumer market and grow in the corporate world as well.  Since little excitement was generated from Windows Vista, it is expected that many small to medium sized businesses will make the upgrade to 7.  The timing of Windows 7 could not be better for the PC industry as well with the holidays just around the corner.

Although no official numbers have been release from Microsoft, reports surfaced last week that distributors could not keep up with the demand as stock dwindled from many retail locations.

Read: [Market Watch]
Image Source: Blogs DNA

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The biggest thing in CPU technology right now seems to be how many cores someone can fit on a chip, then how fast those cores will run.  Intel right now looks to be leading the pack with its quad-core Core i7, and rightfully so, that chip is awesome.  A new company spun out of M.I.T., Tilera, promises to multiply that number by 25, with 100 cores per chip.

Tilera is claiming that these chips will be available by early 2010, and should work with current x86 applications after a recompiling.  If that sounds foreign, just know that it will work with current applications with some slight modifications.  The chip manages to achieve 100 cores by assembling them in a grid on the chip surface, and connecting them via a mesh network.  The result should end up with a chip that can easily turn off and on the cores as needed, and still work reasonably well with existing memory.  The chips should provide enough processing power to do just about anything needed, like the Core i7.

The major downfall with Tilera’s chips is that they won’t be able to run Windows 7, or anything out right now.  With a different architecture, the Tilera chips will not be capable of running anything until an OS of some sort supports it.  Perhaps a Linux distribution (Ubuntu?) will at least get some code for the new CPUs.  If the chips are as powerful as Tilera is promising, they should be able to handle anything Linux could throw at them.  They would serve well for a server of some sort, or an ultra-powerful Linux desktop as of right now.  If nothing else, hopefully this will push Intel into getting their 80-core prototype CPU out as soon as possible.

Read [Wired]
Read [Tilera]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

If you’ve been issued a laptop from your company, thoughts of how to turn this quasi-mobile device into a passable workstation immediately springs to mind.  Logitech answers the call with their MK605 Notebook Kit.  The kit includes some smart parts to make your in the office time a bit more bearable.

The Logitech kit includes a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and notebook riser.  The wireless keyboard features a number pad for banging through spreadsheets, the mouse is classic M505 and the riser helps put the laptop or keyboard at angle more suitable.  The kit costs a manager-agreeable $99 and is available now.

Product page: [Logitech] via [Uncrate]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Retina-X Studios has announced the immediate release of their software, Mobile Spy.  Mobile Spy will now be usable on RIM BlackBerry devices, after previously being launched for iPhone, Windows Mobile (pictured) and Symbian smartphones.  Features of Mobile Spy include the ability to monitor GPS locations, text message history and call logs of children, employees and others.  Mobile Spy works even if the history is cleared on a mobile device.

Once installed, Mobile Spy is in stealth mode and does not appear on the device.  Mobile Spy records GPS locations every fifteen minutes and saves complete transcriptions of incoming and outgoing text messages.  Phone numbers and durations of calls are also recorded.  You won’t need to access the phone again once installed, you simply check the saved data through an online account using your web or mobile browser.

The BlackBerry version is now for download available through the Mobile Spy website.  Users will need to pay an annual fee of $99.97 to access the application.

Site: [Mobile Spy]
Image Source: System Spy

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• The Barnes & Noble Nook e-Reader gets official
• Windows 7 is here
• The Motorola Droid goes after the iPhone
• Apple updates the iMac, MacBook, and introduces the Magic Mouse
• RIM’s BlackBerry watch
• VW launches car via iPhone app
• Google’s music service

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Anyone who may have been holding out hope of actually having their hands on the Nokia N900 are going to have a little while longer to wait. That said, this news while annoying may have a nice outcome in the long run.

First off, the bad—Nokia has confirmed that the N900 will not begin shipping to those in the U.S. until sometime in November, which for those keeping track is about a month of a delay. Of course, that may not be all that bad considering the $649 price tag, that way those looking to make a purchase will have a little longer to save their pennies.

Thankfully that last little bit was not the real good news, instead, the good news comes in the form of what should really be considered a rumor. Anyway, for those that have been following the N900—it comes with support for T-Mobile 3G. With that, this initial delay may in turn end up being positive for those that purchase the N900 because T-Mobile is currently in the process of rolling out some new plans.

Read [Reuters] Product [Nokia]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As we mentioned back in mid-September, Microsoft was planning to offer a special edition of Windows 7 for students. This news was particularly good because that Student Edition was very nicely priced at $29—unfortunately it seems that the process of downloading and actually having it install has not been quite as nice.

Just to recap, this deal would allow students (with a valid .edu address) to purchase, download and install Windows 7 for $29.99. Additionally, they could also pay an extra $13 and get a physical disc mailed to them. These issues of course are only affecting the digital downloads.

It seems that the download came as an .exe file that when clicked was supposed to unpack the files and let them install Windows 7. That however is not how things went, instead users clicked on the .exe file and then received the error that prevented them from going any further.

As of now, there have been reports of workarounds, just in case you feel the need to have Windows 7 installed now. Otherwise, it looks like this will take some time to work itself out, because despite the fact that Microsoft has acknowledged the problem they have yet to correct it.

Read [PC World]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Plenty of people halted their purchase of a new PC in anticipation of Windows 7.  Microsoft officially launched Windows 7 yesterday, but there may be another reason to hold off on that purchase.  USB 3.0 is just around the corner.  With a theoretical speed of 5Gbps, USB 3.0 will be able to handle incredibly fast data transfers. 

Dane-Elec has several new USB 3.0 hard drives that will launch on December 11, 2009.  There are three different models:  a 2.5-inch, bus-powered hard drive with capacities of 500GB and 640GB for $179.99 and $199.99, respectively.  Desktop models with 3.5-inch hard drives will come in 500GB at $149.99 and 1TB for $199.99.  Additionally, there will be SSD versions available if retailers desire.  These will be more expensive with the 80GB model at a whopping $399 and 160GB for $799. 

The hard disk based drives are capable of write speeds at about 75-88MBps which is about 600Mbps.  While this is lower than the theoretical maximum of USB 3.0, it still about twice as fast as USB 2.0 speeds.  The SSDs were capable of 250MBps which translates to 1.56Gbps—in other words, some seriously fast transfers.

Dane-Elec also plans to launch a pair of adapters for older computers: a PCIe card for the desktop and an ExpressCard/34 USB 3.0 capable card.  Unfortunately, neither adapter will be able to bring you the maximum speeds of USB 3.0, but you still get very fast transfers.  The ExpressCard/34 maxes out at 1Gbps. 

Company Site: [Dane-Elec]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today, as you probably already know, is the release of Windows 7.  The day comes not only with the new OS, but with a number of new computers to go along with the release.  One of the biggest features is that Windows 7, unlike Vista, works fairly well on netbooks, which means today there’s a few new netbooks being released.  It only makes sense then, that the cellular networks would take advantage of it.

Verizon Wireless has announced that it is now carrying two new HP netbooks that are released today.  The new netbooks are the HP Mini 311-1037NR and the HP Mini 110-1046NR.  The Mini 110 is a standard netbook running Windows XP, while the Mini 311 runs Windows 7.  The Mini 110 will sell for $199 and the Mini 311 will sell for $249, both after a $100 mail-in rebate.  The extra $50 will get you an extra GB of RAM (The 311 has 2GB, compared to 1GB) in addition to the upgraded OS.  The plans for both are the same as the current Verizon Wireless netbook plans, which is to say expensive.

It’s great to see that Verizon is supporting the new OS on day one so users don’t have to try to find a way to get 7 to work nicely with the network after upgrading.  What would be nice, would be if Verizon lowered the price of the data. $60 a month for 5 GB of data is not a good deal at all.  Plus, its locking users into the same netbook for two years.  It might just make more sense to get a new Windows 7 netbook with a Sprint MiFi.  There’s no usage caps, you can upgrade the netbook, and the data is usable by more than just the one device.

Read [PR Newswire]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With the ebook reader market getting bigger and bigger, Amazon is trying to keep relevant.  You could access Kindle books on your Kindle and on the iPhone app—now there is the Kindle reader for Windows so you can read on your laptop.  Sure a computer screen is usually hardly optimal for long reading periods, but having the option to read your books on multiple machines may be of interest to some.  Maybe this kind of thing will help out the new tablet PCs that are coming out.  With Windows 7, the Kindle reader can zoom in and out using the pinch gesture.  Turning pages can be done using a finger swipe. 

Right now you can head over to the Kindle for PC site and sign up for a notification when the software is available.  It’s a free download that will be available next month and it will be compatible with Windows 7, Vista, and XP. 

Notification Site: [Amazon]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It looks like Novatel has released the first firmware update for the MiFi 2200, which means the update is now available for those who purchased a MiFi on either Sprint or Verizon.

The update is said to offer some bug fixes, add some new admin options, make improvements to international roaming as well as remove the hibernation mode while the device is running on AC power.

For those with a MiFi, you will need to head on over to your MiFi admin page to find and perform the update.  Personally, I have not yet updated mine, but would advise a little caution as things can go wrong from time to time when messing with firmware.

Read [EVDOinfo.com]  Via [Pocketables]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Time Warner Cable says it is working on a fix for a security hole found in its SMC8014 cable modem/router devices.  The hole could allow a hacker to join private networks, hijack the browser and steal sensitive information. 

“We are aware of the issue and we are hard at work on a solution and have been for quite some time,” Alex Dudley, a Time Warner Cable spokesman, said on Tuesday.  “The manufacturer has developed a fix,” he added. “We believe it will work and we are testing it now to make sure it won’t affect our network in other ways.”

The problem lies in Time Warner’s sloppy way of trying to keep their customers from changing the configuration of the device.  They used Javascript, which is easily disabled via the browser and the web admin is accessible anywhere on the net.  Add to that the fact that a tool called “Backup Configuration File” displays the admin username and password in plain text and that the router is locked to weak WEP security by default instead of the much better WPA security, and you have a set up that a hacker could do serious damage with.

If you have one of these devices, Time Warner says it has pushed a temporary patch and will soon replace it with a permanent fix.  Really though, you are much better off with a cable modem and a separate router.  I’m a Time Warner customer and wasn’t offered one of those combo devices, fortunately. We were given an Arris cable modem and use our own Netgear router with WPA security, which is a much more secure setup!

Read [CNet]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Amazon states the the latest Windows offering has beaten absolutely any product they have ever had for pre-order in the UK.  Better come up with a new trick Harry Potter, because even you have lost the king of pre-order title and crown.

Amazon has sold more copies of Windows 7 in the first eight hours of its release for pre-order back in July than Vista did during its entire pre-order period.  No big shocker there.  Maybe Vista is why Windows 7 is selling like mad; people want to get rid of it in favor of something else. 

“The launch of Windows 7 has superseded everyone’s expectations, storming ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest grossing pre-order product of all-time at Amazon.co.uk, and demand is still going strong,” says Brian McBride, Amazon UK MD.  And if it is beating Harry in the UK?  It’s gotta be in high demand.  The official release of Windows 7 is tomorrow, October 22, 2009.

Read: [tgdaily]

Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Although so many people get movies streamed right to them a host of different ways, occasionally, some do still venture forth into that old brick and mortar building called a video store.  So, there you are, it’s a Friday night and you go to your local Blockbuster, grab a movie, dreams of relaxing with some popcorn and the latest “must see” dancing in your head.  Run home, pop it in your laptop to watch, and that’s when all hell breaks loose.

“The Proposal” by Sony starts it all off

Well, at least it did for me this past weekend after renting the new release “The Proposal”, distributed by Buena Vista, a division of Sony.  When I first popped the DVD into my drive, it sounded like it was having a bit of a hard time reading the disk.  I initially thought that the disk might have been dirty or scratched, but after removing and checking it, I could see it was fine. 

After several more attempts to play the DVD, I was about to give up when all of a sudden, I got a pop-up from one of my anti-virus programs (Kaspersky) telling me that the disk was attempting to play as a document file.  What the heck?  Then, the video did start playing, sort of.  I could hear it, although the sound was going in slow motion, and there was no video playing.  I once again ejected the DVD, and that’s when I saw we’ve got problems.

The Rootkit begins to do its thing on my system

First, my computer locked up.  I did a hard boot, and when it logged back in, I didn’t hear that familiar little “Windows chime.”  Uh-oh.  I went to my desktop and immediately boxes were popping up like mad telling me all kinds of programs are failing to respond.  Everything from Firefox to Yahoo Messenger to explorer.exe.  It looked like some kind of “you’re really screwed” video game going off, where you had to figure out in seconds what to do with all the things flying at you before you see what happens next.

The system mess continues

What happened next wasn’t any prettier.  I could not access my control panel, my start button, and any of my anti-virus programs on the desktop just wouldn’t launch.  The only thing vaguely reassuring at that point, was that somehow, Kaspersky was still running, and I was able to click on it in my toolbar, and have it perform a scan. 

Although nothing came up in the system scan, when I had it check for vulnerabilities, it named everything and its brother that is on my system.  Then, it showed me where it all began.  Which drive, what time.  Yep,  the Buena Vista movie I attempted to play “The Proposal.”  It showed as containing several keyloggers and a rootkit.  Just great.  Now what?

Now, to add to the fun, my computer would not do anything in regular mode, so I went into safe mode to see what I could do.  Pretty much the same nothing.  I had never before come across any virus or malware that so thoroughly disabled and messed up my system.  Right then, I was good and ticked at both Blockbuster and Sony.  Heck, I was even mad at Sandra Bullock for starring in the stupid movie. 

Rootkit removal tools

After downloading a number of rootkit removal tools, I tried to access the files on my laptop.  Through a weird quirk, I was able to get into Microsoft Word and drag a copy of the removal tools to my desktop.  From the desktop, I was able to run the programs.  Even after running the rootkit removal tools, my system was still affected.  After a system restore and malware scans, it looked like smooth sailing except for the lack of internet connection. 

After a while, I realized that somehow, the stupid thing simply managed to turn off the wireless connection on my laptop.  This was probably the easiest fix I dealt with through the whole fiasco.  I just had to hit the reset button on my laptop for wireless internet connection.

Sidenote for Acer Aspire owners

I just had to hit the reset button on my laptop for wireless internet connection.  For anyone who runs into this problem and you don’t know where that is, it is usually a small button on the front of the laptop.  In my case, using an Acer Aspire, the reset button for wireless connection is at the top of your keyboard, under the on/off button.  You will see a row of keys.  The internet connection key is the one on the far left.

The Bottom Line

Be very, very careful what movies you are putting into your computer.  If it’s distributed by Sony/Buena Vista, I would strongly urge you to think twice before doing so.  Unless you consider hours of trying to bring your computer back to life more fun than the relaxing with a movie you were initially looking forward to that is.

Image Source: sevensheavens

Full Story » | Written by Jodie Andrefski for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Last week we started talking about online predators and how to protect yourself from them.  This week, I want to discuss the issue of cyberbullying a little more.  When most people hear the word bully they immediately think of schoolyards and big kids picking on smaller ones and stealing their lunch money.  While it’s true that cyberbullying is a big issue among kids, tweens and teens, it’s also something that happens to adults.  OvercomingBullying.org has an outstanding article about the subject from the point of view of a cyberbully that changed her ways then became the victim of cyberbullying herself.  It’s chilling and heartbreaking.

What exactly is cyberbullying?  Here’s an excellent definition:

“Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory personal Web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.” – Bill Belsey, Cyberbullying Expert

I’ve experienced cyberbullying myself.  Years ago, when the web was young, 1997 or so, I fell victim to a group of them.  It all started when I made the acquaintance of an actor that had starred in a 70’s TV show we were all fans of.  I can only assume it was jealousy that caused this group of people I’d grown to consider close friends to become so vicious.  Day after day hateful things were posted about me on message boards and via email.  The one incident I remember the most is when one of them sent me an email saying I was a waste of oxygen and they were going to find me and shoot me in the head.  An hour later the police showed up at my house saying they had received a 911 call stating a woman with gunshot wounds was inside.  It was a horrifying experience.

Cyberbullies do what they do for various reasons.  Some are just sick people.  Others, like the reformed bullying in the article mentioned above, were experiencing a personal tragedy and taking it out on others online.  One of the cyberbullies that tormented me all those years ago was in a dysfunctional marriage and living with a controlling mother in law.  She had stated to me before the bullying began that she felt that her life was out of control.  Apparently becoming a cyberbully was her way of gaining something in her life she could control.  Some people just thrive on drama.  Cliques exist online too, although their members may be hundreds or thousands of miles apart, and often they are eager to turn on one of their own they feel no longer belongs.

If you ever find yourself the target of cyberbullying, you have my sympathies.  Please know that you didn’t do anything wrong.  Even if you did offend someone, such a response is never justified.  Here are some tips to cope:

Stay quiet.

Never respond to a cyberbully.  Although our natural instincts are to defend ourselves when we feel wronged, doing so in this instance will almost always make things worse.  It’s like adding lighter fluid to a fire, so resist that urge.

Save correspondence.

 
Save any email, blog posts, IMs or other correspondence sent by the bully.  This will help you in the event the bullying crosses over the line and becomes a problem in “real life.” 

Keep the faith.

 
As devastatingly traumatic and painful cyberbullying can be, there is hope.  Your real friends will still be there for you and the rest does not matter.  Know that time does heal.  No one deserves to be cyberbullied, lied about or have their friends turned against them.  Don’t be afraid to seek counseling to deal with the pain if you feel you need help.  If the situation becomes severe check with your local law enforcement agency as many states now have cyberbullying laws on the books.

Image Source: Cybershack.org

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

A public beta version of Microsoft Office 2010 is being released next month.  This is another way to build momentum for the release of the productivity software after July’s limited preview of the programs.  Features of the new MS Office include screenshot captures, background removal tools, Jump Lists, numerous templates and web based Office applications.

The final release for MS Office 2010 will be sometime next year.  Microsoft will also include Microsoft Office 2010 already pre-installed on computers released by major manufacturers.  The Starter version will include basic versions of Word and Excel.  You can also upgrade by purchasing a license card from an electronics retailer, such as Best Buy.

The announcement came in conjunction with the upcoming release of Sharepoint 2010.  Sharepoint 2010 is a type of portal software and also has plans to be available in beta next month.  Sharepoint will be a collaboration tool that can streamline communication when paired with Office 2010.

Read: [eWeek]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• Because you need it now, Amazon offers same day delivery
• Big fat 250 GB hard drive in the new PS3 Slim
• WikiReader puts an offline version of Wikipedia in your hand
• The great Sidekick meltdown of 2009
• Snow Leopard decides to delete your data.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As we approach the holiday season, expect deals to become more frequent and enticing.  This weekend, we have deals on a portable LCD HDTV screen, Garmin GPS, a computer monitor, Garmin Forerunner watch, and a LG HDTV. 

Viore Portable LCD HDTV

Our first deal for the weekend is the Viore Portable LCD HDTV on sale from Walmart.com.  The 7-inch HDTV device features a built-in ATSC digital tuner, closed captioning, integrated speakers, audio/video output, rechargeable battery, USB port, and mini SD memory expansion.  It aims to play TV shows on-the-go as well as any videos you may have on micro SD cards.  The LCD HDTV device is on sale for $98 + $6 for shipping.
 

Garmin Nuvi 275T GPS

Our next deal is the Garmin Nuvi 275T GPS which comes bundled with a Dash Mat that normally costs $40, but is available for free.  The deal is available from Yugster, but it will be only offered at the special price of $184 + $6 shipping today.  It normally sells for $270 and don’t forget the Dash Mat, which makes the offer even better.  The GPS sports a 3.5-inch touch screen, turn-by-turn directions, 2D or 3D map rendering, Bluetooth connectivity, integrated FM tuner,  6 million POIs, and City Navigator NT maps of North America preloaded.

AOC 2236Vw 21.5 inch Widescreen LCD Monitor

Staples has the AOC 2236Vw 21.5 inch LCD monitor on sale for $140, after a $40 instant discount, shipping is free to sweeten the deal.  The 21.5-inch monitor comes with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 5ms response time, 300cd/m2 brightness, and a three year warranty.  No word on how long this deal will be around for, but probably not too long.

Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer GPS / Heart Rate Monitor

Our fourth deal for today is the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS watch, on sale at BuyDig.com for $144 with free shipping.  The device allows you to view all your vital stats on three different data screens while exercising.  It allows you to switch between running, biking, and any other sport without actually resetting the device.  An interesting feature is that it allows you to train against a digital person by specifying a set pace and rate for them.  The heart rate monitor is designed to keep track of your vital stats as well. 

LG 42LH55 42 inch LCD HDTV

Our last deal for this weekend is the LG 42LH55 42 inch LCD HDTV, sold from BuyDig.com as well.  It is on sale for $899 with free shipping, The suggested retail price is $1,399 so you are saving quite a bit of money if you are looking for a new HDTV.  The 1080p HDTV sports a 2.4ms response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 4 HDMI outputs, and it automatically adjusts to certain lighting conditions to provide the best view of the picture. 

That’s all the deals we have for this weekend, please visit again next week for more deals on all things electronics. 

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Windows 7 is scheduled to launch this week and different retailers are offering a load of specials on the operating system.  If you are interested in updating since Windows 7 has plenty of changes like Jump Lists, 64 bit support and simple Windows Search feature, you can check out some of these special offers.

Best Buy is offering a free shipping offer on customers that pre-order Windows 7.  Order the program by 11 AM on October 21, 2009 for guaranteed delivery on the 22nd. 

Cost Central has the Home upgrade for Windows 7 available for just $80.14.  This is about $40 less than most other online retailers.  This version allows for upgrades from Vista or higher.  However, the site gives ship estimates between two to three weeks.

For a better shipping option on Windows 7 and still a low price, $99.99, you should check out the site, ZipZoomFly.  The site offers shipping within 24 hours of the release date.

Allow Microsoft to update your computer for free.  If you purchased a PC with Vista installed after June 26, 2009, you may be eligible for a free upgrade.  The redemption details are included in your packaging and available through manufacturers like HP, Gateway, Sony and Dell.

Site: [Best Buy]
Site: [Cost Central]
Site: [ZipZoomFly]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Fake anti-virus software has been the scourge of the net for awhile now, but hackers are now taking it a step further and making it even more sinister.  Panda Labs says that Total Security 2009 starts out like most fake anti-viruses.  It “scans” the victim’s computer and tells them they’ve got a serious infection, then announces it can take care of it for them for a mere $30.  If the victim pays, the fake software pretends to remove the non-existent malware it found.  The victim feels relieved and the hacker has made money.  If the victim smells a scam and doesn’t pay, they are nagged endlessly by pop ups urging them to pay up and download the program.

Total Security takes it a few steps further.  First, it demands $79.95 for the program and then an additional $19.95 (a total of a whopping $100) for “tech support.”  If the victim won’t pay the program gets very nasty and blocks every file and program on the computer except IE, claiming they are “infected.”  IE is then hijacked and redirects them to Total Security’s website, where they are told to pay up if they want their files back.  Yep, Total Security has made the jump from scareware to ransomware.

To achieve its goal of blocking the victim from accessing anything on their computer, the program simply intercepts Windows calls to open programs and blocks them before they can. It’s an old tool being used in a whole new way.

“This intercepting technique has been used before in other malware, for instance any rootkit malware, which is specifically designed to hide and kill processes silently in the background. However, this is the first time in history it has been spotted in conjunction with rogueware,” said Panda Security’s technical director, Luis Corrons..

Total Security 2009, like many fake anti-virus programs, isn’t detected by many anti-virus programs.  This low detection rate is key to the success of such programs, which have become huge money makers for cybercriminals.  The fake anti-virus software industry is booming, and experts say this new ransomware twist should become more and more common.  Stick to name brands like Symantec or AVG for your anti-virus needs. 

Read [PCWorld]

Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »