Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Camera Phone And Police Brutality
If in the past year’s camera phones were just use for capturing funny and charming events. Today, it became a powerful community tool in the debate about police conduct and crime resolution.
Some Los Angeles political groups are starting to train citizens to use cameras, video cell phones and Internet sites like YouTube, Metacafe, Myspace and the like to get their voices and pictures heard like never before.
According to Sherman Austin, founder of Cop Watch L.A, they encourage everyone to have a camera on them at all times so if anything happens it can be documented. The concept of patrolling the police is something that they are trying to press on as a form of direct action.
Moreover, three videos shot on cell phones captured Los Angeles police officers using excessive force to hold down black motorist Rodney King. The video images were captured by an Argentine plumber which brings up evidence that Rodney King was indeed beaten by four police officers. All said three videos came out within the same week.
For about 15 years later there are video cameras in tens of millions of cellular phones that people are carrying all day makes the documentation of almost any public event easy to perform. As a result, Black and Latino activists in tough Los Angeles neighborhoods are leaving nothing to risk.
Furthermore, Austin added "We have tried civilian review boards, we have tried going to City Hall and going to the police and all we have seen is more brutality, technology makes it all the easier now”. There are lots of digital cameras available nowadays that is already capable of taking good photos in daylight and then there's also an Internet that could get your photos out there anytime, anywhere.
L.A. Police Chief William Bratton added that he is investigating officer conduct from the three cell phone videos that is just recently captured, but warned against quick conclusions that he cannot just make judgments based solely on videos or portions of videos.
Moreover, Bratton also stressed that there is no U.S. government agency that has more policies, procedures, guidelines and independent oversight when it comes to use of force than the LAPD. However, Executive director of the Southern California chapter of the ACLU Ramona Ripston stated that these latest incidents underline the case for more citizen oversight.
On the other hand, CNN launch a report regarding 15-year-old boy that used his Sprint cell phone camera to take pictures of a man who allegedly tried to lure him into his car. Such pictures lead to the man's arrest.
The said boy, who escaped from his alleged captor after a struggle, gave the pictures of the man and his car license plate to police in Clifton, New Jersey, after the incident. Thus, armed with that evidence, police officers arrested the suspect William MacDonald.
Moreover after the incident, a spokeswoman from Sprint, the manufacturer of the phone, says the incident is the first time as far as the company knows. “Someone has used the year-old technology to foil a criminal” she added.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Roller Rush
If you like the game Diner Dash, then you will probably like Roller Rush. The game play is very similar yet the theme is quite different. Roller rush is based on the 50's theme of drive-in dining. You play as a girl in skates and you need to serve as many customers as you can in order to achieve the money goal for the day. Achieving your goal gives you stars. You can then use these stars to purchase different upgrades. You can choose to immediately use up your stars on upgrades or you can wait for them to accumulate in order to get better upgrades. You can also get bonus points by completing a roll - same task done in succession. The longer the roll, the more money you get.
Roller Rush is a game of skill and strategy as well as fast reflexes. The game starts out easy, with good time spacing between customers. The higher the level, however, the more customers you get and the faster they come. There are different types of customers – some more impatient that others. You tend to get the more impatient ones at the higher levels.
The overall theme of the game is a treat, especially if you are into retro. You have a jukebox that plays music in the background throughout the game. It uses a default playlist. However, you can tweak the game and have the jukebox play your own mp3s stored on your hard drive! Now you can play and listen to music at the same time.
The graphics are not spectacular but they suit the game very well. They are pleasing to the eyes and different animations make for a good gaming experience. As opposed to many other games out in the market, the content is kid friendly. You have to be a little bit older than a “kid” to be able to beat the game, though. For the not-so-skilled players, there comes a point in the game wherein you just cannot seem to handle all the customers and earn enough money in a day. It’s either you step up or lose all your lives.
Roller Rush is a game of skill and strategy as well as fast reflexes. The game starts out easy, with good time spacing between customers. The higher the level, however, the more customers you get and the faster they come. There are different types of customers – some more impatient that others. You tend to get the more impatient ones at the higher levels.
The overall theme of the game is a treat, especially if you are into retro. You have a jukebox that plays music in the background throughout the game. It uses a default playlist. However, you can tweak the game and have the jukebox play your own mp3s stored on your hard drive! Now you can play and listen to music at the same time.
The graphics are not spectacular but they suit the game very well. They are pleasing to the eyes and different animations make for a good gaming experience. As opposed to many other games out in the market, the content is kid friendly. You have to be a little bit older than a “kid” to be able to beat the game, though. For the not-so-skilled players, there comes a point in the game wherein you just cannot seem to handle all the customers and earn enough money in a day. It’s either you step up or lose all your lives.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Sony PSP
The ultimate handheld multimedia machine is what I call Sony’s latest gaming console. It is the best thing Sony has ever come up with so far. You can do almost anything with it!
Officially marketed as a gaming console, there is much more to it than that. For one thing, you can download your favorite music files onto the memory stick and voila, you have a portable music player! It also makes use of a new storage device called the UMD. It looks like a CD but is much smaller. Aside from games, you can get music videos and movies. With its wide high resolution screen, you can now watch your favorite movies anywhere, anytime you want to. If you are a high tech bookworm like me, then you will love the PSP even more. You can download e-books from the internet and put them on the PSP as JPEG files and read the latest novels on the go! Do you want to carry precious memories around anywhere you go? Convert your pictures into digital format and transfer them onto the memory stick. Now you can have hundreds of pictures at your fingertips!
The relatively large screen size makes for easy viewing of almost any format you use. During game play, the details will just astound you. Watching a movie is like watching it on DVD. You can adjust the contrast so as to suit your viewing preferences.
The memory stick’s storage capacity might give you a bit of a headache, though. There are large capacity memory sticks available but many of them are a bit pricey. However, I would say that it’s worth it.
It would be a good idea to purchase the headphones that come as an accessory. The built-in speakers of the PSP can be a bit disappointing. They just don’t give you the best experience when playing a game, watching a movie, or listening to music. The headphones give a much better sound quality.
Another drawback is that there doesn’t seem to be enough good games for the console yet. Compared to other handheld gaming consoles, the Sony PSP lags behind when it comes to the release of new games. The UMD disks are quite expensive as well.
Then again, I am sure you will be able to find something to do with your PSP while waiting for the next game or movie to come out.
Officially marketed as a gaming console, there is much more to it than that. For one thing, you can download your favorite music files onto the memory stick and voila, you have a portable music player! It also makes use of a new storage device called the UMD. It looks like a CD but is much smaller. Aside from games, you can get music videos and movies. With its wide high resolution screen, you can now watch your favorite movies anywhere, anytime you want to. If you are a high tech bookworm like me, then you will love the PSP even more. You can download e-books from the internet and put them on the PSP as JPEG files and read the latest novels on the go! Do you want to carry precious memories around anywhere you go? Convert your pictures into digital format and transfer them onto the memory stick. Now you can have hundreds of pictures at your fingertips!
The relatively large screen size makes for easy viewing of almost any format you use. During game play, the details will just astound you. Watching a movie is like watching it on DVD. You can adjust the contrast so as to suit your viewing preferences.
The memory stick’s storage capacity might give you a bit of a headache, though. There are large capacity memory sticks available but many of them are a bit pricey. However, I would say that it’s worth it.
It would be a good idea to purchase the headphones that come as an accessory. The built-in speakers of the PSP can be a bit disappointing. They just don’t give you the best experience when playing a game, watching a movie, or listening to music. The headphones give a much better sound quality.
Another drawback is that there doesn’t seem to be enough good games for the console yet. Compared to other handheld gaming consoles, the Sony PSP lags behind when it comes to the release of new games. The UMD disks are quite expensive as well.
Then again, I am sure you will be able to find something to do with your PSP while waiting for the next game or movie to come out.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Being John Malkovich
A quintessential loser, an out-of-job puppeteer, is hired by a firm, whose offices are ensconced in a half floor (literally. The ceiling is about a metre high, reminiscent of Taniel's hallucinatory Alice in Wonderland illustrations). By sheer accident, he discovers a tunnel (a "portal", in Internet-age parlance), which sucks its visitors into the mind of the celebrated actor, John Malkovich. The movie is a tongue in cheek discourse of identity, gender and passion in an age of languid promiscuity. It poses all the right metaphysical riddles and presses the viewers' intellectual stimulation buttons.
A two line bit of dialogue, though, forms the axis of this nightmarishly chimerical film. John Malkovich (played by himself), enraged and bewildered by the unabashed commercial exploitation of the serendipitous portal to his mind, insists that Craig, the aforementioned puppet master, cease and desist with his activities. "It is MY brain" - he screams and, with a typical American finale, "I will see you in court". Craig responds: "But, it was I who discovered the portal. It is my livelihood".
This apparently innocuous exchange disguises a few very unsettling ethical dilemmas.
The basic question is "whose brain is it, anyway"? Does John Malkovich OWN his brain? Is one's brain - one's PROPERTY? Property is usually acquired somehow. Is our brain "acquired"? It is clear that we do not acquire the hardware (neurones) and software (electrical and chemical pathways) we are born with. But it is equally clear that we do "acquire" both brain mass and the contents of our brains (its wiring or irreversible chemical changes) through learning and experience. Does this process of acquisition endow us with property rights?
It would seem that property rights pertaining to human bodies are fairly restricted. We have no right to sell our kidneys, for instance. Or to destroy our body through the use of drugs. Or to commit an abortion at will. Yet, the law does recognize and strives to enforce copyrights, patents and other forms of intellectual property rights.
This dichotomy is curious. For what is intellectual property but a mere record of the brain's activities? A book, a painting, an invention are the documentation and representation of brain waves. They are mere shadows, symbols of the real presence - our mind. How can we reconcile this contradiction? We are deemed by the law to be capable of holding full and unmitigated rights to the PRODUCTS of our brain activity, to the recording and documentation of our brain waves. But we hold only partial rights to the brain itself, their originator.
This can be somewhat understood if we were to consider this article, for instance. It is composed on a word processor. I do not own full rights to the word processing software (merely a licence), nor is the laptop I use my property - but I posses and can exercise and enforce full rights regarding this article. Admittedly, it is a partial parallel, at best: the computer and word processing software are passive elements. It is my brain that does the authoring. And so, the mystery remains: how can I own the article - but not my brain? Why do I have the right to ruin the article at will - but not to annihilate my brain at whim?
Another angle of philosophical attack is to say that we rarely hold rights to nature or to life. We can copyright a photograph we take of a forest - but not the forest. To reduce it to the absurd: we can own a sunset captured on film - but never the phenomenon thus documented. The brain is natural and life's pivot - could this be why we cannot fully own it?
Wrong premises inevitably lead to wrong conclusions. We often own natural objects and manifestations, including those related to human life directly. We even issue patents for sequences of human DNA. And people do own forests and rivers and the specific views of sunsets.
Some scholars raise the issues of exclusivity and scarcity as the precursors of property rights. My brain can be accessed only by myself and its is one of a kind (sui generis). True but not relevant. One cannot rigorously derive from these properties of our brain a right to deny others access to them (should this become technologically feasible) - or even to set a price on such granted access. In other words, exclusivity and scarcity do not constitute property rights or even lead to their establishment. Other rights may be at play (the right to privacy, for instance) - but not the right to own property and to derive economic benefits from such ownership.
On the contrary, it is surprisingly easy to think of numerous exceptions to a purported natural right of single access to one's brain. If one memorized the formula to cure AIDS or cancer and refused to divulge it for a reasonable compensation - surely, we should feel entitled to invade his brain and extract it? Once such technology is available - shouldn't authorized bodies of inspection have access to the brains of our leaders on a periodic basis? And shouldn't we all gain visitation rights to the minds of great men and women of science, art and culture - as we do today gain access to their homes and to the products of their brains?
There is one hidden assumption, though, in both the movie and this article. It is that mind and brain are one. The portal leads to John Malkovich's MIND - yet, he keeps talking about his BRAIN and writhing physically on the screen. The portal is useless without JM's mind. Indeed, one can wonder whether JM's mind is not an INTEGRAL part of the portal - structurally and functionally inseparable from it. If so, does not the discoverer of the portal hold equal rights to John Malkovich's mind, an integral part thereof?
The portal leads to JM's mind. Can we prove that it leads to his brain? Is this identity automatic? Of course not. It is the old psychophysical question, at the heart of dualism - still far from resolved. Can a MIND be copyrighted or patented? If no one knows WHAT is the mind - how can it be the subject of laws and rights? If JM is bothered by the portal voyagers, the intruders - he surely has legal recourse, but not through the application of the rights to own property and to benefit from it. These rights provide him with no remedy because their subject (the mind) is a mystery. Can JM sue Craig and his clientele for unauthorized visits to his mind (trespassing) - IF he is unaware of their comings and goings and unperturbed by them? Moreover, can he prove that the portal leads to HIS mind, that it is HIS mind that is being visited? Is there a way to PROVE that one has visited another's mind? (See: "On Empathy").
And if property rights to one's brain and mind were firmly established - how will telepathy (if ever proven) be treated legally? Or mind reading? The recording of dreams? Will a distinction be made between a mere visit - and the exercise of influence on the host and his / her manipulation (similar questions arise in time travel)?
This, precisely, is where the film crosses the line between the intriguing and the macabre. The master puppeteer, unable to resist his urges, manipulates John Malkovich and finally possesses him completely. This is so clearly wrong, so manifestly forbidden, so patently immoral, that the film loses its urgent ambivalence, its surrealistic moral landscape and deteriorates into another banal comedy of situations.
A two line bit of dialogue, though, forms the axis of this nightmarishly chimerical film. John Malkovich (played by himself), enraged and bewildered by the unabashed commercial exploitation of the serendipitous portal to his mind, insists that Craig, the aforementioned puppet master, cease and desist with his activities. "It is MY brain" - he screams and, with a typical American finale, "I will see you in court". Craig responds: "But, it was I who discovered the portal. It is my livelihood".
This apparently innocuous exchange disguises a few very unsettling ethical dilemmas.
The basic question is "whose brain is it, anyway"? Does John Malkovich OWN his brain? Is one's brain - one's PROPERTY? Property is usually acquired somehow. Is our brain "acquired"? It is clear that we do not acquire the hardware (neurones) and software (electrical and chemical pathways) we are born with. But it is equally clear that we do "acquire" both brain mass and the contents of our brains (its wiring or irreversible chemical changes) through learning and experience. Does this process of acquisition endow us with property rights?
It would seem that property rights pertaining to human bodies are fairly restricted. We have no right to sell our kidneys, for instance. Or to destroy our body through the use of drugs. Or to commit an abortion at will. Yet, the law does recognize and strives to enforce copyrights, patents and other forms of intellectual property rights.
This dichotomy is curious. For what is intellectual property but a mere record of the brain's activities? A book, a painting, an invention are the documentation and representation of brain waves. They are mere shadows, symbols of the real presence - our mind. How can we reconcile this contradiction? We are deemed by the law to be capable of holding full and unmitigated rights to the PRODUCTS of our brain activity, to the recording and documentation of our brain waves. But we hold only partial rights to the brain itself, their originator.
This can be somewhat understood if we were to consider this article, for instance. It is composed on a word processor. I do not own full rights to the word processing software (merely a licence), nor is the laptop I use my property - but I posses and can exercise and enforce full rights regarding this article. Admittedly, it is a partial parallel, at best: the computer and word processing software are passive elements. It is my brain that does the authoring. And so, the mystery remains: how can I own the article - but not my brain? Why do I have the right to ruin the article at will - but not to annihilate my brain at whim?
Another angle of philosophical attack is to say that we rarely hold rights to nature or to life. We can copyright a photograph we take of a forest - but not the forest. To reduce it to the absurd: we can own a sunset captured on film - but never the phenomenon thus documented. The brain is natural and life's pivot - could this be why we cannot fully own it?
Wrong premises inevitably lead to wrong conclusions. We often own natural objects and manifestations, including those related to human life directly. We even issue patents for sequences of human DNA. And people do own forests and rivers and the specific views of sunsets.
Some scholars raise the issues of exclusivity and scarcity as the precursors of property rights. My brain can be accessed only by myself and its is one of a kind (sui generis). True but not relevant. One cannot rigorously derive from these properties of our brain a right to deny others access to them (should this become technologically feasible) - or even to set a price on such granted access. In other words, exclusivity and scarcity do not constitute property rights or even lead to their establishment. Other rights may be at play (the right to privacy, for instance) - but not the right to own property and to derive economic benefits from such ownership.
On the contrary, it is surprisingly easy to think of numerous exceptions to a purported natural right of single access to one's brain. If one memorized the formula to cure AIDS or cancer and refused to divulge it for a reasonable compensation - surely, we should feel entitled to invade his brain and extract it? Once such technology is available - shouldn't authorized bodies of inspection have access to the brains of our leaders on a periodic basis? And shouldn't we all gain visitation rights to the minds of great men and women of science, art and culture - as we do today gain access to their homes and to the products of their brains?
There is one hidden assumption, though, in both the movie and this article. It is that mind and brain are one. The portal leads to John Malkovich's MIND - yet, he keeps talking about his BRAIN and writhing physically on the screen. The portal is useless without JM's mind. Indeed, one can wonder whether JM's mind is not an INTEGRAL part of the portal - structurally and functionally inseparable from it. If so, does not the discoverer of the portal hold equal rights to John Malkovich's mind, an integral part thereof?
The portal leads to JM's mind. Can we prove that it leads to his brain? Is this identity automatic? Of course not. It is the old psychophysical question, at the heart of dualism - still far from resolved. Can a MIND be copyrighted or patented? If no one knows WHAT is the mind - how can it be the subject of laws and rights? If JM is bothered by the portal voyagers, the intruders - he surely has legal recourse, but not through the application of the rights to own property and to benefit from it. These rights provide him with no remedy because their subject (the mind) is a mystery. Can JM sue Craig and his clientele for unauthorized visits to his mind (trespassing) - IF he is unaware of their comings and goings and unperturbed by them? Moreover, can he prove that the portal leads to HIS mind, that it is HIS mind that is being visited? Is there a way to PROVE that one has visited another's mind? (See: "On Empathy").
And if property rights to one's brain and mind were firmly established - how will telepathy (if ever proven) be treated legally? Or mind reading? The recording of dreams? Will a distinction be made between a mere visit - and the exercise of influence on the host and his / her manipulation (similar questions arise in time travel)?
This, precisely, is where the film crosses the line between the intriguing and the macabre. The master puppeteer, unable to resist his urges, manipulates John Malkovich and finally possesses him completely. This is so clearly wrong, so manifestly forbidden, so patently immoral, that the film loses its urgent ambivalence, its surrealistic moral landscape and deteriorates into another banal comedy of situations.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Diner Dash
Diner Dash is all about a young burnt out corporate employee named Flo. She gets tired of running the rat race and so opens up her own restaurant. You can play the game in two modes – Flo’s Career and Endless Shift.
For the first mode, you will start out with a rundown diner. You play as Flo and your ultimate goal is to open the restaurant of your dreams. You need to attract and serve as many customers as needed to reach the financial goal for the day. If you make your goal then you will move on to the next level with some incentives – maybe a few new tables, or a new door, or even a coffee machine. The further you get into the game, the more upgrades you get. After reaching a certain level you can open a new restaurant. The Endless Shift mode will let you serve customers until you cannot keep up with the demand. When a certain number of customers leave without being served properly, then your shift ends.
The game does not ask much in terms of system requirements. All you need is a Pentium III 600MHz processor, at least Windows 98, at least 128MB of RAM, and 12 MB of your hard disk space.
The graphics are pleasing to the eyes, very family friendly. It is a refreshing alternative to the violent games which are rampant today. There are a lot of funny animations and even funnier sound effects.
The little upgrades and bonuses you get after each level entices you to do a much better job next time in order to improve the restaurant even more. Earning a certain amount beyond your daily goal will give you even more perks.
Playing the game does not require much thinking – though you need to do a bit of brain work in order to figure out the best possible seating arrangement based on color bonuses. Skill and fast hands are your best bet in beating the game. To be honest, I got frustrated with this game because I couldn’t get past a certain level and thus couldn’t open up the last restaurant.
If you are not sure you want to buy the game yet, try downloading the free one-hour trial version on Yahoo Games. I am quite sure though, that when the game window closes after 60 minutes, you will be left wanting for more.
For the first mode, you will start out with a rundown diner. You play as Flo and your ultimate goal is to open the restaurant of your dreams. You need to attract and serve as many customers as needed to reach the financial goal for the day. If you make your goal then you will move on to the next level with some incentives – maybe a few new tables, or a new door, or even a coffee machine. The further you get into the game, the more upgrades you get. After reaching a certain level you can open a new restaurant. The Endless Shift mode will let you serve customers until you cannot keep up with the demand. When a certain number of customers leave without being served properly, then your shift ends.
The game does not ask much in terms of system requirements. All you need is a Pentium III 600MHz processor, at least Windows 98, at least 128MB of RAM, and 12 MB of your hard disk space.
The graphics are pleasing to the eyes, very family friendly. It is a refreshing alternative to the violent games which are rampant today. There are a lot of funny animations and even funnier sound effects.
The little upgrades and bonuses you get after each level entices you to do a much better job next time in order to improve the restaurant even more. Earning a certain amount beyond your daily goal will give you even more perks.
Playing the game does not require much thinking – though you need to do a bit of brain work in order to figure out the best possible seating arrangement based on color bonuses. Skill and fast hands are your best bet in beating the game. To be honest, I got frustrated with this game because I couldn’t get past a certain level and thus couldn’t open up the last restaurant.
If you are not sure you want to buy the game yet, try downloading the free one-hour trial version on Yahoo Games. I am quite sure though, that when the game window closes after 60 minutes, you will be left wanting for more.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Fully Loaded Laptops
Buying a laptop is a commitment! Once you buy it, you can’t decide to change or upgrade any part of the system, as doing so is impractical in terms of cost and time. So plan before buying a laptop, and make sure it’s a fully loaded model that is up to date.
One of the important features of a laptop is its memory. While most laptops come with a 128 MB memory, it’s wise to invest in more memory such as a system memory (RAM) of 256 MB or even better, 512 MB, for the easier running of programs under Windows ME, Windows XP, and others. After all, the more memory the merrier!
Another main feature of a laptop is its port. A port is a slot through which external material such as microphones and cameras are connected. Laptops come with a serial port, infrared, parallel, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. Most external equipment correspond with different ports, which is why there are several types of ports in a laptop. However, it is best to opt for at least two USBs, as this is fast becoming the most popular of ports.
CD-ROM drives are not a standard feature of laptops, but it is best to have one installed, as most software comes in CDs these days. Even better would be to install a DVD-ROM drive, which can be used to read CD-ROMs too. A DVD-RW drive is capable of writing and rewriting CDs and DVDs. Also, when on a lengthy trip, having a DVD drive means you can check out your favourite DVD!
Laptops come with internal modems or external PC card-based modems for ready Internet access. The majority of new laptops even come with modules for wireless networking, like Apple’s laptops which are Wi-Fi compatible.
Input devices in a laptop range from the Touchpad to the Pointing Stick. A Touchpad is located beneath the spacebar on the laptop keyboard. It is touch sensitive; use your fingers on the Touchpad to move the cursor across the screen. The Pointing Stick is a rubber nub set in the laptop keyboard, and can be used to navigate the cursor by applying pressure with your index finger, similar to using a joystick. You can also plug in a standard mouse should you feel the need to do so.
There are a staggering number of laptop brands in the market today, so choosing that perfect laptop suited to your needs is no problem at all!
The Toshiba Portege R100 is a laptop specially designed for the mobile professional. With a striking appearance, bright screen, and integrated webcam, the Sony TR3A Vaio Ultraportable Laptop is the perfect travel partner. The Sony Vaio X505 is super thin, and uses carbon-fiber for its chassis, making it shock-free and robust. The Panasonic Toughbook Y2 Ultraportable incorporates a number of computer features in a portable and durable design, and pays special attention to battery life. For an excellent Multimedia feature set and attractive design, the Dell Inspiron 700M Notebook fits the bill.
Take your pick!
One of the important features of a laptop is its memory. While most laptops come with a 128 MB memory, it’s wise to invest in more memory such as a system memory (RAM) of 256 MB or even better, 512 MB, for the easier running of programs under Windows ME, Windows XP, and others. After all, the more memory the merrier!
Another main feature of a laptop is its port. A port is a slot through which external material such as microphones and cameras are connected. Laptops come with a serial port, infrared, parallel, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. Most external equipment correspond with different ports, which is why there are several types of ports in a laptop. However, it is best to opt for at least two USBs, as this is fast becoming the most popular of ports.
CD-ROM drives are not a standard feature of laptops, but it is best to have one installed, as most software comes in CDs these days. Even better would be to install a DVD-ROM drive, which can be used to read CD-ROMs too. A DVD-RW drive is capable of writing and rewriting CDs and DVDs. Also, when on a lengthy trip, having a DVD drive means you can check out your favourite DVD!
Laptops come with internal modems or external PC card-based modems for ready Internet access. The majority of new laptops even come with modules for wireless networking, like Apple’s laptops which are Wi-Fi compatible.
Input devices in a laptop range from the Touchpad to the Pointing Stick. A Touchpad is located beneath the spacebar on the laptop keyboard. It is touch sensitive; use your fingers on the Touchpad to move the cursor across the screen. The Pointing Stick is a rubber nub set in the laptop keyboard, and can be used to navigate the cursor by applying pressure with your index finger, similar to using a joystick. You can also plug in a standard mouse should you feel the need to do so.
There are a staggering number of laptop brands in the market today, so choosing that perfect laptop suited to your needs is no problem at all!
The Toshiba Portege R100 is a laptop specially designed for the mobile professional. With a striking appearance, bright screen, and integrated webcam, the Sony TR3A Vaio Ultraportable Laptop is the perfect travel partner. The Sony Vaio X505 is super thin, and uses carbon-fiber for its chassis, making it shock-free and robust. The Panasonic Toughbook Y2 Ultraportable incorporates a number of computer features in a portable and durable design, and pays special attention to battery life. For an excellent Multimedia feature set and attractive design, the Dell Inspiron 700M Notebook fits the bill.
Take your pick!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Bookworm
Bookworm is a very good alternative to some of the violent action games popular today. The goal is simple: spell words by linking letters found on the board. When you form a valid word, it will disappear and the letters above will go down. There are never empty spaces as new letters fill up the gaps on top of the board. The longer the word you form, the higher the score and the better off you will be. If all you can come up with are short words, then red tiles will appear. These red tiles are very undesirable as they burn up letters below them and will eventually burn up your board if they reach the bottom. You can get rid of them by using them to spell words. There are special tiles – green and gold - which give you more points. You can also get bonuses by forming the word that is shown on the lower left hand corner of the screen.
Bookworm is not very difficult as it is normally a turn-based game. This means you have all the time in the world to think of your next move. It is up to you whether you want to form words as fast as you can or to think long and hard to come up with the best possible combination. The important thing to bear in mind is to avoid the red tiles and getting rid of them so as not to let them reach the bottom.
After accumulating a certain number of points, you get promoted to different levels. It is quite geeky as you can progress to titles such as Senior Librarian. I would take that as a compliment though!
You can either play the online game or download a free time-limited trial version. You can play the online game as long as you want although this version has limited features. It also has interruptions as pop ups may come out from time to time.
If you get the full version, you have the option of playing either the turn-based classic mode or the speedy Action mode. You also have more bonuses – gold, sapphire, and diamond! Another plus is that you can learn more with the on-screen definition of some not so common words.
So if you are in the market for a fun, relaxing, worthwhile game, Bookworm just might be what you are looking for.
Bookworm is not very difficult as it is normally a turn-based game. This means you have all the time in the world to think of your next move. It is up to you whether you want to form words as fast as you can or to think long and hard to come up with the best possible combination. The important thing to bear in mind is to avoid the red tiles and getting rid of them so as not to let them reach the bottom.
After accumulating a certain number of points, you get promoted to different levels. It is quite geeky as you can progress to titles such as Senior Librarian. I would take that as a compliment though!
You can either play the online game or download a free time-limited trial version. You can play the online game as long as you want although this version has limited features. It also has interruptions as pop ups may come out from time to time.
If you get the full version, you have the option of playing either the turn-based classic mode or the speedy Action mode. You also have more bonuses – gold, sapphire, and diamond! Another plus is that you can learn more with the on-screen definition of some not so common words.
So if you are in the market for a fun, relaxing, worthwhile game, Bookworm just might be what you are looking for.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Audiovox Cellular Phones – A Blazing Innovation
Innovation is at the core of the mobile industry today. Thus, the art of connecting things is becoming more and more complex.
In the real world, cellular phones have become one of the most important and functional wireless gadgets being use each day. In a multifaceted lifestyle we have, people have different views on the use of cell phones. People in the business side use it for business transactions and purposes while people in the fashion side look at it as an accessory to complete a hip get up. Being aware of the vast use of cell phone, manufacturers are quick to take advantage of this increasing demand.
In the marketplaces, cellular phones and cellular phone accessories are spread out. These phones emerged in different models, designs and functionalities. Audiovox cellular phone and Audiovox cellular phone accessory is one of those new wireless gadgets that emerged.
Audiovox cellular phone comes with models that are lightweight and of great designs. Moreover, Audiovox cellular phone accessory such as premium power cord is a versatile power cord that comes with cellular phone conditioning capacity. It also includes a hip clip holder that can be functional even when your cellular phone is not Audiovox.
In addition, an Audiovox cellular phone accessory such as headset and ear glove offers a hands-free function that will help you keep your hands on the wheels. This was design purposely to avoid accidents due to one hand driving or decreased concentration on the road. Moreover, the ear portable hands-free kit from the wide array of Audiovox cellular phone accessory also functions hands free telephony and had a built in feature that reduces background noise. Thus, you will only hear clear voice of the person on the other line even you’re driving or doing other stuffs.
On the other hand, the Jabra model of Audiovox cellular phone accessory is a small, stylish and lighter type of headset that does not only provide hands-free feature but function as a speakerphone as well. Indeed, Audivox cellular phones and accessories are definitely functional and technologically advance.
Moreover, Audiovox cellular phone has a multi-functional antenna that can be attached to your car while you are traveling, this will help you get a clear voice when you talk to another person on the other line while the car is in motion. Thus, this is very useful for travelers and corporate executives.
So if you are looking for a cellular phone that has various functions, try to find an Audiovox cellular phone and accessories that will deal your personal communication needs. Truly, this type of phone is perfect for people who are dynamic and has a highly active lifestyle.
In the real world, cellular phones have become one of the most important and functional wireless gadgets being use each day. In a multifaceted lifestyle we have, people have different views on the use of cell phones. People in the business side use it for business transactions and purposes while people in the fashion side look at it as an accessory to complete a hip get up. Being aware of the vast use of cell phone, manufacturers are quick to take advantage of this increasing demand.
In the marketplaces, cellular phones and cellular phone accessories are spread out. These phones emerged in different models, designs and functionalities. Audiovox cellular phone and Audiovox cellular phone accessory is one of those new wireless gadgets that emerged.
Audiovox cellular phone comes with models that are lightweight and of great designs. Moreover, Audiovox cellular phone accessory such as premium power cord is a versatile power cord that comes with cellular phone conditioning capacity. It also includes a hip clip holder that can be functional even when your cellular phone is not Audiovox.
In addition, an Audiovox cellular phone accessory such as headset and ear glove offers a hands-free function that will help you keep your hands on the wheels. This was design purposely to avoid accidents due to one hand driving or decreased concentration on the road. Moreover, the ear portable hands-free kit from the wide array of Audiovox cellular phone accessory also functions hands free telephony and had a built in feature that reduces background noise. Thus, you will only hear clear voice of the person on the other line even you’re driving or doing other stuffs.
On the other hand, the Jabra model of Audiovox cellular phone accessory is a small, stylish and lighter type of headset that does not only provide hands-free feature but function as a speakerphone as well. Indeed, Audivox cellular phones and accessories are definitely functional and technologically advance.
Moreover, Audiovox cellular phone has a multi-functional antenna that can be attached to your car while you are traveling, this will help you get a clear voice when you talk to another person on the other line while the car is in motion. Thus, this is very useful for travelers and corporate executives.
So if you are looking for a cellular phone that has various functions, try to find an Audiovox cellular phone and accessories that will deal your personal communication needs. Truly, this type of phone is perfect for people who are dynamic and has a highly active lifestyle.
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