Google releases full Android 3.0 SDK

Google has made available the full SDK for the Android 3.0 mobile platform, featuring a UI redesigned for tablets and more connectivity options.

Also being released are updates to SDK tools and ADT (Android Development Tools) for Eclipse (10,0.0). "We are pleased to announce that the full SDK for Android 3.0 is now available to developers. The APIs are final and you can now develop apps targeting this new platform and publish them to Android Market," said Xavier Ducrohet, Android SDK tech lead, in a blog post on Tuesday afternoon.

[ Google late last week released a revamped SDK for its Native Client browser technology. Meanwhile, Android tablets are gaining traction with developers. ]

Otherwise known as "Honeycomb," Android 3.0 is specifically designed for larger devices, particularly tablets. A virtual and "holographic" UI design is featured, as well as refined multitasking. Multitasking in Android 3.0 enables users to access a Recent Apps list in the Systems Bar to see tasks that are in process and jump to a different application context.

Connectivity options in Android 3.0 include support for Media Picture Transfer Protocol to sync media files with a USB-connected camera or desktop computer without requiring a USB mass-storage device. Bluetooth tethering is also supported.

Android 3.0 features a redesigned "soft" keyboard intended for fast text entry. Keys are reshaped and repositioned for improved targeting. New keys have been added, including a Tab key to provide richer, more efficient text input, Google said. An updated set of standard applications, meanwhile, features programs designed for larger-screen devices.

For developers, Android 3.0 offers a new UI framework for tablet applications, high-performance 2D and 3D graphics, multicore processor architecture support, and rich multimedia and connectivity capabilities such as HTTP live streaming. Enterprise capabilities for developers include backing for device administration policies, such as those covering encrypted storage and password expiration and history.

With the ADT Plugin, UI improvements are featured, such as a new palette with categories and rendering previews and more accurate rendering of layouts to reflect how a layout will look on devices. Zoom improvements, including fit to view, are available as well. Developers also get tools for using the Renderscript graphics engine.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9210822/Google_releases_full_Android_3.0_SDK?taxonomyId=11

Windows 8 rumour mill heats up as Microsoft eyes tablet market

The Windows 8 rumor mill is heating up, with talk that Microsoft has begun shipping to hardware makers an early build of the OS with a "ribbon" interface, enhanced support for tablets and a backup feature similar to the "Time Machine" available in Apple's Mac OS X.

Microsoft said "We are not commenting on future versions of Windows." But at the recent Consumer Electronics Show the company revealed that the next version of Windows will support ARM processors used in smartphones and tablets, and hinted it will be released in late 2011 or 2012.

The WinRumors site kicked off a new round of speculation by reporting that Microsoft has begun distributing early copies of Windows 8 to HP and other OEM partners.

Now there are reports that Microsoft is bringing its Office "ribbon" interface to Windows 8, which will supposedly make Windows more "tablet-ready."

Windows 8, according to other reports, will also get a "History Vault" feature similar to Apple's Time Machine, which gives users a simple way to back up and restore their computer's applications, data and settings. Also being talked about is a system reset feature that will make it easier to reset a computer to its original factory settings.

We don't actually know for sure that the next version of Windows will be called "Windows 8." In job postings, Microsoft is calling it "Windows.next."

At CES, Microsoft did not show off the user interface of its next version of Windows. But since Windows Phone 7 is not being ported to tablets, the company's biggest priority will likely be overhauling the interface to be easier to use on touch screens. Microsoft is far behind Apple and Google's Android in the emerging tablet market.

Although Microsoft hasn't revealed much about Windows 8 publicly, job postings have suggested that Microsoft is working on a cloud-based backup and deep integrations with Microsoft's online services.

Windows 8 planning documents shared with hardware partners last year also indicate that Windows 8 will use facial recognition to log users in; boot up much faster than Windows 7; allow user settings to move with a user from one device to another; and provide an app store.

Source: http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/technology/windows-8-rumor-mill-heats-up-as-microsoft-eyes-tablet-market

Microsoft stands by decision to ban IE9 from XP

Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) again lost ground to Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome last month, even as the company launched its newest browser, Web metrics data showed today.

But Microsoft stands behind its decision to limit IE9 to users running Windows Vista and Windows 7.

"It was a very deliberate decision," said Ryan Gavin, senior director of IE, talking about the move to exclude XP users from IE9. "You simply can't build on something that is 10 years ago."

Gavin said that Microsoft "has no second thoughts" about its decision.

According to California-based Net Applications, one of several companies that regularly publishes browser usage data, IE lost nine-tenths of a percentage point of share in March, falling to 55.9%, another record low.

IE9, which debuted more than two weeks ago, accounted for 1% of all browsers, a five-tenths of a point jump over February.

But older editions of IE dropped by more than what IE9 gained.

IE6, the browser Microsoft wants to kill, fell by four-tenths of a point to 11%, while IE7 slipped by two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.9%. And IE8, until last month Microsoft's current browser, dropped half a point to end March at 34.4%.

IE8's slip was the first for that browser since Net Applications began tracking it three years ago, a full year before it shipped in final form in March 2009.

Some rivals, meanwhile, continued to gain share at Microsoft's expense.

Google's Chrome grew its share by six-tenths of a point to account for 11.6% of all browsers used worldwide last month, a record. And Apple's Safari posted a gain of three-tenths of a point to end the month at 6.6%.

Even Mozilla's Firefox, which has lost share eight out of the last 12 months, managed a slight increase of one-tenth of a point, the first increase since December 2010, to account for 21.8% of all browsers.

The March 22 launch of Firefox 4 contributed to Mozilla's small turn-around. Net Applications' statistics show that Firefox 4 boosted its share to 1.7% last month, a 1.1-point increase over February.

Microsoft and Mozilla have each touted the number of downloads of their newest browsers, but the latter has clearly won that battle, claiming 7.1 million downloads on Firefox 4's first day of availability and a record 8.75 million the following day.

Gavin has argued that IE9's numbers should be calculated solely by its use on Vista and Windows 7, and its success or failure judged accordingly.

Net Applications put IE9's share of browsers running on Windows 7 at 3.6%, more than three times the overall average, a fact that Gavin stressed during an interview today. "That's about five times the rate of adoption in a comparable period for IE8," Gavin said.

But Net Applications' data also shows that the newest IE9 rivals -- Chrome 10 and Firefox 4 -- have significant chunks of the Windows 7 browser market. Chrome 10, which Google began pushing to current Chrome users via the browser's silent update mechanism almost a month ago, accounted for 10.2% of Windows 7 browsers in March. Firefox 4, on the other hand, lagged behind IE9 with a 2.8% share on Windows 7.

Ignore the numbers for now, Gavin said earlier this week when he blasted early comparisons as "premature at best, and misleading at worst" because of the differences in the upgrade mechanisms of IE, Chrome and Firefox.

Microsoft plans to add IE9 to Windows Update sometime this month -- today he declined to set a date -- from where it will be offered to Vista and Windows 7 users. Mozilla has yet to offer Firefox 4 to customers running older versions of its browser, but will do that soon, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The roll-out of IE9 via Windows Update and its Automatics Updates option will wrap up by the end of June, Gavin said today.

While the numbers may not provide an unambiguous case for the success of any of the newest browsers, one thing is clear: Microsoft has bet on IE9 and won't back away from that bet.

"We could have continued down the path we were on," said Gavin, again defending the decision to drop XP from the list of operating systems able to run IE9. "We could have added more features to IE, change the UI, blah, blah, blah. We could have made it work across XP, but that's not what's going to push the Web forward.

"We might have been more cautious [by creating a version of IE9 for XP] but you don't get quantum breakthroughs that way," Gavin said.

Microsoft's taking a risk with this strategy, said Al Hilwa, an analyst with IDC who covers browsers for the research firm. (IDC is owned by IDG, the parent company of Computerworld.)

"[XP] users will have to begin to use other browsers to handle [HTML5 content], and that is a risk because they may elect to stay on the other browser and never come back," said Hilwa in an e-mail reply to questions. "It is basic business that when you open such an opportunity for competitors, it is much harder to win them back. This is particularly true in the kind of fast moving disruptive market we are in and the high quality of the competitive browsers."

Gavin was confident that Microsoft could woo back Windows XP users when they eventually upgraded to Windows 7 or its successor.

"This is a temporal problem," said Gavin, referring to the time it will take XP to disappear. "Either we build a better experience or we don't. Pushing the Web forward, that's the best way to keep users."

Hilwa said that Microsoft made a tough decision to leave Windows XP behind, and that it will take time before anyone, including Microsoft, knows whether that bet paid off.

"I understand the agony on this," said Hilwa. "Microsoft made a complex cost-benefit analysis for supporting XP, and placed their bet. We will have to see how it plays out."

Net Applications calculates browser usage share with data obtained from the 160 million unique visitors who browse the 40,000 Web sites the company monitors for its clients. Its March browser statistics can be found on the Net Applications site.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215430/Microsoft_stands_by_decision_to_ban_IE9_from_XP?taxonomyId=211&pageNumber=1

Purpose Driven Life

Purpose Driven Life is designed to help you fulfill your God-given purpose. The book was written by Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one of America's largest. In this best-selling book, Rick Warren shows you how to obtain purpose in a unique way. Often, self-help books suggest that you can discover purpose in life by looking within yourself. Not so in Purpose Driven Life! Warren's thesis is that you must begin with God, who created you for a purpose. It is only when you understand that you were made by God and for God that you can unlock your purpose on this earth.

Purpose Driven Life is divided into 40 days of reading in six easy-to-read sections. In the first section, Warren answers the fundamental question every human has, "What on earth am I here for?" He does this by talking about our origin with God and the fact that our life is not an accident. Warren writes that although life is temporary, we can have an eternal impact as we discover our true purpose. In the second section, Rick Warren unveils the first purpose of humans: we were planned for God's pleasure. In this section, he writes about discovering true worship and friendship with God.

In the third section, the second purpose of human life is unveiled: we were formed for God's family. Warren expounds that we are to experience life together in the church. In the next section, Warren unveils the third purpose of human life: we were created to become like Christ. We are transformed by trouble and truth as we grow through temptation. In section five, purpose four is revealed: we were shaped for serving God. If we accept this assignment, we will think like servants and discover God's equipping power to assist us in fulfilling the Purpose Driven Life of service. In the final section, the fifth purpose is covered: we were made for a mission. Warren writes about living a missionary life every day.

In summary, Purpose Driven Life is a must read! It is an easy read, but contains powerful advice. It is great for small discussion study groups. In addition, it provides excellent sermon material. If you still want more information, there are many reviews online. To assist you in reading this book, you can purchase a Purpose Drive Life Study Guide.

Two Frogs: The Power of Words

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

There is power in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. On the contrary, a destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say — especially to yourself.

Eagles in a Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

Source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/eagles-in-a-storm/

Graduation Day’s Gift

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning  of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and  told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, “With all your money you give  me  a Bible?” and stormed out of the house, leaving behind the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should visit him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed  to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at  his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.
He began to search his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears,  he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those   words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports  car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words: PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss our blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/graduation-days-gift/

The Story Behind ‘The Praying Hands’

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder’s children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht’s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.”

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, “No …no …no …no.”

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, “No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look … look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother … for me it is too late.”

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer’s hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer’s works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply “Hands,” but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love “The Praying Hands.”

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one – no one – - ever makes it alone!

Source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/the-story-behind-the-praying-hands/

Parable of the Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”

“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”

“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”

“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”

“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”

“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you.  Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

Source: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/parable-of-the-pencil/

Lord You Are Good - Israel Houghton

 Verse
Lord,You are good and Your mercy endureth forever (2x)
People from every nation and tongue,
from generation to generation;

Chorus
We worship You,
hallelujah (2x).
We worship You for who You are.

We worship You,
hallelujah (2x).
We worship You for who you are and You are good.

Bridge
You are good all the time,
and all the time You are good.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6GfXa5Ixhw

Source: http://www.lyricstime.com/israel-lord-you-are-good-lyrics.html

Mine - Taylor Swift

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh

You were in college, working part-time, waiting tables
Left a small town and never looked back
I was a flight risk, afraid of fallin'
Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts

I say, "Can you believe it?"
As we're lyin' on the couch
The moment, I can see it
Yes, yes, I can see it now

Do you remember, we were sittin' there, by the water?
You put your arm around me for the fist time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together
And there's a drawer of my things at your place
You learn my secrets and figure out why I'm guarded
You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes

But we got bills to pay
We got nothin' figured out
When it was hard to take
Yes, yes

This is what I thought about:

Do you remember, we were sittin' there, by the water?
You put your arm around me for the fist time
 You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Do you remember all the city lights on the water?
You saw me start to believe for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Oh, oh, oh, oh

And I remember that fight, two-thirty AM
You said everything was slipping right out of our hands
I ran out, crying, and you followed me out into the street

Braced myself for the goodbye, cause that's all I've ever known
Then, you took me by surprise
You said, "I'll never leave you alone."

You said, "I remember how we felt, sitting by the water.
And every time I look at you, it's like the first time.
I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter.
She is the best thing that's ever been mine."

You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Do you believe it?
We're gonna make it now
And I can see it

I can see it now


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPBwXKgDTdE


Source: http://www.directlyrics.com/taylor-swift-mine-lyrics.html

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.

With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.

Mysterious Benedict Society

A title I found in galley the Mysterious Benedict Society has dwelt on my mind since I first read it last summer. It is a difficult read for my 3rd and 4th graders but I do intend to purchase multiple copies. The concepts of different intelligences and different ways to a solution run through this title. It does have all the classic elements. Sometimes I wish I taught middle school instead of elementary so I could spend more time with the depth of quality literature. Here is a review one of my favorite blogs Pixie Stix Kids Pix. Somebody let me know when the next title by this author is available.

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window

People recommended this one for our in-person book group; we've been passing her two copies around since the library doesn't have one. And it was my turn to have the great pleasure of reading Tetsuko Kuroyangai's wonderful little memoir.

It's the most unusual memoir I've read recently. It's in the third person and reads more like a work of fiction than a collection of personal recollections. That, and it's so simply, so cheerfully written that it's not just an easy read, but an entertaining one as well.

The story is about Totto-Chan, Kuroyanagi's childhood name, and her experiences at the Tomoe (to-mo-e) Gakuen school, an alternative elementary school outside of Tokyo designed and run by Sosaku Kobayashi from 1937 to 1945. He believed in a whole education -- and this book is as much a portrait of an ideal school as it is a memoir -- and letting the child determine his or her place in school. He taught music, believed in exploring nature, used everyday experiences (like lunch) as teaching tool, and created a wholesome environment so that the children attending developed confidence and self-esteem. It was truly remarkable to read about.

I'm sure much could be said about the educational value of the book, and the critique it indirectly gives of modern education. I, however, preferred enjoying it on a simpler level: as a series of sweet reflections of a woman about her idyllic childhood. Either way, it's a wonderful little book.

Source: http://www.thebooknut.com/2008/03/totto-chan-little-girl-at-window.html

The 9 Best Notebooks

The editors of LAPTOP Magazine are frequently challenged with naming the best systems currently on the market. We've decided to gallantly grab the bull by the horns and create a Top 10 list of notebooks and the Top 5 Netbooks that will be updated as often as new laptops land in our offices. Happy hunting.

Best Value Notebook
Samsung RV511-AO1

This stylish 15-inch notebook delivers long battery life and a comfortable keyboard for less than $600.

Lowest Price: $549.99









Best All-Purpose Notebook
Samsung SF510

This slick ivory notebook supplies good performance, long battery life, and plenty of neat extras.

Price: $629.00







Best Thin-and-Light Notebook
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2011)

The most well-rounded 13-inch notebook gets a serious speed boost and lasts even longer on a charge than its predecessor.

Lowest Price: $1,199.00






Best Netbook
Samsung NF310

One of the best-looking netbooks yet combines sleek lines with a dual-core CPU and a high-res display.

Lowest Price: $379.01







Best Ultraportable Notebook
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2010)

Apple's ultimate ultraportable combines a barely-there profile with a high-resolution display, instant-on functionality, and long battery life.

Lowest Price: $1,248.88







Best Gaming Notebook
Alienware M17x (2011)

Record-breaking performance, superslick design, wireless HD streaming, and five hours of battery life. Yup, this gaming notebook is pretty much perfect.

Price: $3,300.00





Best Small Business Notebook
Dell Vostro V3300

A small business notebook with good looks, sound ergonomics, and fast performance.

Price: $822.00






Best Business Notebook
Lenovo ThinkPad X220

A fast Core i5 processor, well-designed clickpad, and epic endurance help the 12-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X220 rise to the top.

Price: $1,299.00






Best Multimedia Notebook
Dell XPS 15

A 1080p display, Blu-ray, Nvidia graphics, awesome audio--the Dell XPS 15 has it all.

Price: $1,488.00

Source: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/top-ten-notebooks.aspx

Super Tiny USB Keyboard

As opposed to the worlds largest keyboard I showed you guys a few days ago, this keyboard from Brando is absolutely tiny. While it doesn’t quite qualify as the worlds smallest keyboard, at 6.6 inches it’s about as small as I could ever handle for use with a desktop computer.

It crams in 56 keys, including caps lock, num lock, and function keys, and has a mini-USB connector on the back.

The Super Tiny Keyboard can be yours for only $25.

Source: http://theofficemaster.com/office-gadgets/super-tiny-usb-keyboard/

World’s Smallest PC

Could this metal PC actually be the world’s smallest working PC out there? Is the Space cube really a functioning computer within a miniature sized cube? After searching, we find that this science fiction product may be an amazingly convenient and compact computer that we may want to take to space with us.

How small is the world’s smallest PC? The space cube measures at approximately 2 inches for each of its sides. The pictures provided also compare it with other items, so you can see the size proportion for yourself. This time you do not have to take anyone’s word for it, it truly is a magnificent miniature space cube.The specifications included may not be up to par to what we are mostly using on a daily basis, but it doesn’t make the Space Cube any less desirable.

It runs on a processor of 300MHZ, has 16MB of flash memory (also a slot with a 1GB Compact Flash card) and runs Linux’s Red Hat. With only 64MB memory, it will definitely not run like you are used to when using Youtube but still cool for such a small PC.

Two of its sides have all the ports necessary to attach what’s needed: a specified VGA output for a monitor and using a USB hub, you may increase the number of peripherals you may add such as keyboard, mouse and more. The actual cube’s casing is made of metal, so the feel is true and respect is well deserved.
An amazing addition to this tiny PC is the Space Wire Port, which is the kind of interface similar to the likes NASA uses. Different processing units and sensors may be attached to the Space Wire Port, which allow the metal Cube additional functionality. Moreover, the Space Cube may also be used to interlink between separate electronics at different places; kind of like a mediator between computers.

This miniature PC may not be something that we would all flock to, since its specs are cute for its size but more is truly desired. Still, it presents wonderful progress and may challenge actual computer geeks to create something better and more practical for daily individuals. Either way, the pricing is a tad high for many, speculated to be approximately 1500 pounds ($2700).

Source: http://rishabhtech.blogspot.com/2010/10/worlds-smallest-pc.html

World's Biggest Computer Keyboard Ever

The most popular layout of keys on the modern-day English keyboard is called the QWERTY design, based on the most popular typewriter keyboard layout further extended to the standard 104-key PC keyboard layout, with the addition of cursor keys, a calculator-style numeric keypad, two groups of special function keys, a key for the Windows Start menu (on IBM and clones), and other modifier keys. Some computer manufacturers have added keys specifically related to the Internet and e-mail, but these have not become standard. A few other keyboards may include: Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, ABCDEFG layout, etc.

Have you seen this keyboard?? this keyboard must be the biggest keyboard in this world, it's bigger than your body man!!

Source: http://worldmustbecrazy.blogspot.com/2009/04/worlds-biggest-computer-keyboard-ever.html

Worlds largest LCD Monitor - 40"

Ultimately you'll be the coolest kid on the block if you hook up the Samsung LTM405W to a DVD player or HDTV signal, but thanks to a generous assortment of inputs round back we can use the display for much more practical reasons. The Samsung LTM405W comes equipped with DVI port that connects directly into a computer just as a desktop LCD monitors do.

Among the bundle of cables which arrive in the large LTM405W box there are a set of DVI-to-DVI and DVI-to-Analog video cables. Because LCD display's are digital devices, it's always best to use the DVI port if your computer or videocard is equipped with one.

If your computer lacks the white DVI port never fear, the LTM405W works just about as well with the analog video signal. As a computer monitor, the largest resolution the Samsung LTM405W will support is 1024X768 @ 75Hz.

Icons, text and images are rendered very clear on the LCD screen so it can be viewed from far away quite easily. We connected a computer to the Samsung SPL4225 Plasma display a while back and tested out its computer display capabilities, but I have to say the Tantus LTM405W is far superior for this task.

The Samsung LTM405W transforms quickly into the worlds largest LCD computer monitor. Though, with a maximum (native) resolution of 1024x768 pixels, icons and text on the screen are quite large. Hence, any individual using the Samsung LTM405W for a computer monitor would not benefit from a larger screen real estate than what is available on standard 17" monitors, just one larger in size.

When it comes to illustrating points to a large group of people (say, showing off a new software application at a boardroom meeting) the Samsung LTM405W is first rate. Because the computer's desktop is displayed at the native resolution of the 40" LCD (and this is very significant to image quality) text, icons, and images are shown very crisp and legible. Image dithering usually causes computer screens which are being pumped through larger rear screen, or plasma display's, to loose some of their clarity. Thankfully that isn't the case with the Samsung LTM405W whatsoever.

On a side note, persons with vision disabilities who need to use programs which blow up the size of text on the computer screen by several hundred percent could find the 40" LTM405W display quite handy, assuming they can afford the price tag.

A few clicks of the Samsung LTM405W remote and we even had PIP of a DVD off in the far right corner - and at very nice resolution I might add. The only draw back is that PIP is limited to basically one size, or half screen. It would have been useful to be able to adjust the size of the PIP screen beyond these two options, and I can only hope that future revisions will address this.

Source: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1443&page=3

Oldest computer ever remade with Legos, fully works

Way back when in 100 BC, Greek engineers developed a machine called the Antikythera mechanism that allowed them to predict celestial going-ons such as solar eclipses. Turns out it was pretty accurate, though it was lost at sea for a good 2,000 years. Now, one man has created a faithful replica of the thing using only Legos.

That one man? Apple software engineer Andrew Carol. He used 1,500 Lego Technic pieces (which are more advanced than you're usual pegs-'n'-bricks) to construct the 110 gears and four gearboxes that run the machine. Each box is its own little piece of computing hardware, crunching one equation per box, and when you input some calender data into it, it should be able to tell you when the next solar eclipse will be.

See the Antikythera mechanism in action in the video below, complete with overly epic music.

You can watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLPVCJjTNgk&feature=player_embedded

Source: http://dvice.com/archives/2010/12/oldest-computer.php

China blocking Google

China appears to have blocked access to the popular search engine, Google.
The site was repeatedly inaccessible when tested by BBC News Online using a system developed by researchers at the Harvard Law School.

Google has become popular among users in China because of its simplicity and ability to run searches in the Chinese language.

China maintains tight controls on the internet, blocking several foreign news sites and frequently forcing domestic sites to remove controversial material.

Keeping control

Analysts say this is the first time Beijing has blocked access to an internet search engine.

It comes ahead of a Communist Party congress in November which is expected to see sweeping changes to the country's leadership.

Google is a very important tool for me and many other Chinese people - Chinese webmaster

Internet use in China is growing fast. Last month, the Chinese Government said that 45.8 million people were online.

Google is becoming a top choice for searching Chinese sites, say experts.

"It's a very, very popular tool and there's a major hassle factor," said Duncan Clark, head of Beijing-based technology consultancy BDA China.

"But ultimately, in the run up to something like the Party congress, it's batten down the hatches," he said.

The ban is being widely debated on the web. On an online forum, a Chinese webmaster wrote: "Google is a very important tool for me and many other Chinese people."

"Please tell the world, that we need Google, or Yahoo or something else that's useful to do the research. We don't care about politics, but please help us to reach Google."

Another contributor to a web forum said he used Google for research, not politics.

"I'm currently in China right now on a project, and coding without Google is not easy," he said, "especially since there isn't any English bookstore I can run over to while I'm here to pick up a tech manual."

Traffic monitoring

Beijing is determined to keep strict controls on the flow of information to its own citizens.

Human rights activists say more than 30,000 people are employed to keep an eye on websites, chat rooms and private e-mail messages.

Some 150,000 unlicensed internet cafes nationwide have been closed in recent months and those remaining have had to install software that prevents access to up to 500,000 banned sites.

There has been no official announcement from Beijing and Google officials in California could not be reached for comment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2231101.stm

Adobe announces Photoshop Touch apps for Apple iPad

Adobe is bringing an update to its CS5 suite to allow Photoshop to play nice with iOS devices wirelessly, moving us closer to a full Photoshop app for iPad.

The upgrade, CSS 5.5, will feature three Photoshop Touch apps, Eazel, Color Lava and Nav, each of which will allow users to communicate wirelessly with devices like the Apple iPad, with Android and BlackBerry compatibility on the cards too.

Effectively these apps, to be released sometime in May, turn the iPad into a touchscreen control system for you desktop photo editing and even allow you to create new colours and paintings to use in your Photoshop creations.

The first app, Photoshop Touch Nav will allow you to create a control palette on your iPad with all of your favourite tools, create new files, zoom in up to 200 per cent on your images, open documents from your iPad directly on your desktop version of Photoshop. Your PC mouse is already looking enviously at this app.

The second app Eazel, is a pretty nifty finger-painting application on the surface of the iPad's touchscreen and then send them directly to Photoshop, where they'll be rendered at a higher resolution. A cool feature of this app is the ability to create a blend of wet and dry digital paint. You can also control the brush size, colour and opacity by placing all five fingers on the screen at the same time, which will summon the menus.

The final app of the three is called Color Lava allows you to mix colours and experiment, like on a real palette, and save them for use on your Photoshop creations. You can also mix colours when you're away from your iPad and save them for use in Photoshop later.

All three apps will be available to download from the App Store in May for $2, $3 and $5 respectively. As well as these apps, Adobe is releasing a new Photoshop Touch SDK which will allow third party developers to have a crack at making their own tools for Photoshop.

While these tools are infinitely cool, we're still waiting for the full version of Photoshop for iPad that was teased at Photoshop world last month. That's the holy grail.

http://www.t3.com/news/adobe-announces-photoshop-touch-apps-for-apple-ipad?=55303

Rovio's Angry Birds Wins Big at UK Appy Awards

Rovio's Angry Birds picked up two top awards at last night's Appy Awards, which honors achievements in app development.

Angry Birds was named the year's Best Game and App of the Year at a star-studded Monday event in London. The Appys were sponsored by UK electronics retailer Carphone Warehouse, which sought to find the best apps to recommend to customers. Employees nominated their favorites, which were narrowed down by a panel of British celebs and techies and voted on by the public.

Rovio acknowledged the win in a tweet.

Other winners, according to Sky News, included Facebook, which was named Best Time Waster, while Google Maps nabbed the Best Time Saver award. TripAdvisor was the Best Travel app, Sky Sports News won for Best Sport, and Spotify—which has had a troubled road to the U.S.—was named Best Music app.

EBay Fashion was the favorite fashion app, Amazon won for Best Lifestyle, while Skype was voted Best Money Saver and Adobe's Photoshop won for Best Photography app.

The Appys were the UK's first major app awards ceremony. A similar event in the U.S. was hosted by MediaPost in February, where Flipboard won the Best in Show award.

Rovio, meanwhile, is prepping an Easter version of its holiday-themed Angry Birds, dubbed Seasons. "Angry Birds Seasons will get Easter update," the company tweeted yesterday.

The most recent version of Angry Birds, Rio, quickly hit the 10 million download mark after its March 22 release. Rovio partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to put out a version of the game that ties in with the studio's film "Rio," which hits theaters April 15. It has 60 levels, but more will be added in a future update.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2383445,00.asp

The top 10 singles and albums on iTunes

iTunes' top 10 selling singles and albums of the week ending April 11, 2011:
Singles:

1. "E.T. (feat. Kanye West)," Katy Perry

2. "Just Can't Get Enough," Black Eyed Peas

3. "S&M," Rihanna

4. "Till the World Ends," Britney Spears

5. "Honey Bee," Blake Shelton

6. "Rolling In the Deep," ADELE

7. "On the Floor (feat. Pitbull)," Jennifer Lopez

8. "Look At Me Now (feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)," Chris Brown

9. "Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer)," Pitbull

10. "Blow," Ke$ha

Albums:

1. "Songs for Japan," Various Artists

2. "21," Adele

3. "American Tragedy," Hollywood Undead

4. "Femme Fatale," Britney Spears

5. "Sigh No More," Mumford & Sons

6. "Rolling Papers," Wiz Khalifa

7. "Reckless and Relentless," Asking Alexandria

8. "TRON: Legacy Reconfigured," Daft Punk

9. "American Idol Top 9 Season 10," Various Artists

10. "Grey's Anatomy: The Music Event," Grey's Anatomy Cast

http://new.music.yahoo.com/bruno-mars/news/top-10-singles-and-albums-on-itunes--61988522;_ylt=AgkGPhAalNCTBErrFOp91FyxxCUv

For women, Facebook can turn friends into frenemies

Think that spending time on Facebook is a good way to relax? Well, think again -- especially if you're a woman.

Actually, even though 79% of women say they use Facebook to keep their friends updated about their lives, a whopping 85% of women say their Facebook friends annoy them, according to a survey by Eversave , a Groupon-like company that offers users local deals.

In other words, Facebook friends can easily become Facebook frenemies.

Eversave interviewed more than 400 women in a study about how social networking influences shopping and the use of deals. However, the survey uncovered some surprising information about the relationship women have with their online friends.

And the fact that women are finding their Facebook friends so annoying is ironic since last summer a study showed that most women who use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter say they're addicted to them.

More than half (57%) of the women polled said they communicate with people more online than they do face to face, and 39% called themselves Facebook addicts, according to a report from The Oxygen Media Insights Group, which is part of a company that focuses on television channels and Web sites for women.

That dovetails with another report that came out in October showing social networks make people feel more connected.

So, what do women find so annoying? The biggest complaint is about complaining. Eversave reported that 63% of those surveyed said they get sick of their friends going online to complain all the time.

Update your status with your every move? Well, that irks 65% of women on Facebook. And overly proud mothers are making some frenemies since 57% of women say they're sick of their friends bragging about how smart or cute their kids are.

Another 42% said they're irked by friends sharing unsolicited political views, and 32% are annoyed by friends who use Facebook to brag about their lives.

"The survey validated our thinking on Facebook's growing influence on daily deals, but we were surprised by responses that show the love/hate relationship women have with Facebook," said Jere Doyle, CEO of Prospectiv, which owns Eversave.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/internet/30539/women-facebook-can-turn-friends-frenemies

Five Ways to Speed Up Your Home Network

Maybe you're tired of paying the cable company and want to get your movies and other entertainment from the Web. Naturally you'll want to watch those shows on your TV with the aid of a Roku box or similar device. More and more people are doing that, and if you want to join the crowd, you've got to be sure you're home Internet network is up to the challenge.

Connected TVs are an utter drag without a fast network. Squeezing the most out performance out of your network is called optimizing, and it isn't very hard, and it doesn't have to be all that expensive.

Here are five things that will make your home network so good you'll be able to say farewell to your cable company.

But first, let me warn you about one thing: Your wireless network simply can't run any faster than your Internet connection. If you have reason to think your network isn't running as fast as it used to -- or as fast as it should, given your hardware -- go to http://www.speedtest.net/ and check your download and upload speeds and compare them to what your provider says you're getting. Obviously you want to check the speed on a wired connection first to rule out (or identify) your ISP as the culprit.

1. Move the Router

With that out of the way, let's start with the very simplest technique to optimize your wireless network. I know this sounds simpleminded, but trust me: Think about moving your router to a more central location, or to a room that doesn't have thick walls or a lot of other equipment that might cause interference. The router broadcasts a signal that spreads in a sphere, so if it's centered on the back of the house, or in the basement, the signal might not make it to all the rooms where you'd like to connect a device to the Internet.

2. Consider Your Cordless Phone

Cordless phones can cause interference since some of them broadcast on the same channel that your router does. If you think it's an issue for you, try changing channels on the phone and see if that cleans up your connection.

3. Buy an Extender

Let's say your biggest issue is extending the range of your network, and moving the router is simply not practical. One way to go is to buy a range extender. There are a number on the market for under $100. However, you'll pay a performance penalty since extenders degrade the strength of the signal. That might not matter if you're just surfing the Web, but if you're a serious online gamer, they're not. Nor are they a good way to hook up the new generation of televisions and boxes (like the Roku) that stream movies and video into your TV.

4. Think Powerline

If that's the case, here's a better solution: Take advantage of the wiring in your home to move the signal close to your TV. You do that by buying a product that complies with standards set by the Homeplug Powerline Alliance. There are more than 120 companies that sell Powerline gear, but in general, they all work about the same way.

Rather than broadcast a Wi-Fi signal, Powerline products move the signal over existing wiring in your home or office. Generally what you'll do is connect one Powerline adapter to your broadband modem or router, and then connect it to a wall socket (not a surge protector or power strip). Plug a second adapter into a socket in the room where the device you want to connect to the Internet is located, and connect the device to the adapter with an Ethernet cable. That's it. You're done. And you've probably spent about $125 for the networking gear. Be sure that any adapter kit you buy comes with at least two adapters -- the minimum for creating a network.

Older wiring can be a concern. There's no rule of thumb that I can think of, but some homes have older wiring that simply won't support Powerline networking because it isn't "clean" enough. That is, there's interference on the line. Protect yourself by being sure you can return the networking kit if it doesn't work in your home.

Just because you're using Powerline technology in one room, doesn't mean you can't use Wi-Fi in another. Combining the two technologies could give you a fast network over a large area without too much hassle.

5. Change Your Networking Hardware

Finally, if you want to speed up your existing Wi-Fi network and you've tried moving the router around without much improvement it might be time to upgrade your networking hardware. A few things to keep in mind:

The slowest part of your network will set the pace for the rest of it.

Wi-Fi standards have changed and speed up over the years. The really old ones, like 802.11b and 802.11n are hopeless antiquated. The latest standard, 802.11n is where where you want to be.

If your laptop is fairly new, it most likely has "n" built in. If that's the case, check your router and extenders if you're using them. It's cheaper and easier to upgrade a router -- in this case, upgrade really means replace -- than to upgrade the networking hardware inside your laptop.

Switching routers is simple, except when it's not. I've installed many routers over the years, and I've had to make many calls to company help centers. As I mentioned last year, Cisco's Valet home router is surprisingly easy to set up, and while it lacks some advanced features, it is just fine for most home networks.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/networking/27610/five-ways-speed-your-home-network?page=0,1

Mozilla sets Firefox 4 release for Tuesday

Mozilla on Wednesday announced it would ship the final version of Firefox 4 on March 22.

The upgrade will be available for downloading at approximately 7:00 a.m. PT next Tuesday.

Originally scheduled to ship last November, Firefox 4 will wrap up a development cycle that started in February 2010 with several developer previews, but began in earnest last July when Mozilla released the first of what would eventually be a dozen betas.

Wednesday, Mozilla developers called the current Release Candidate, or RC build of the browser , good enough to ship as the final. Traditionally, it has run through multiple release candidates before settling on the latest as the shipping code. More than a year ago, for example, Mozilla issued two release candidates of Firefox 3.6.

"Today's triage session concluded with all systems go for a Firefox 4 launch on March 22," said Damon Sicore, Mozilla's senior director of platform engineering, in a message on a company forum .

Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs congratulated the troops on the same forum.

"We set a goal in December, we stressed toward the goal. At times, many thought we, I, us, were crazy, or too aggressive ... but in the end, we were able to get it done in March," Kovacs said.

Firefox 4 will reach users eight days after Microsoft issued Internet Explorer 9 (IE9).

Before it began cranking out Firefox 4 betas, Mozilla had set an aggressive schedule that was to end with a final edition no later than November 2010. Last October, however, the open-source developer admitted it had underestimated several bugs, and said it was delaying the release until 2011.

Firefox 4 features a new tab manager, dubbed "Panorama," supports GPU acceleration to boost page composition speeds, and boasts an overhauled interface that resembles Chrome's and IE9's minimalist designs.

Mozilla is already prepping for the next version of Firefox. According to plans now circulating among developers, the company is considering an ambitious schedule that will ship a major upgrade every three or four months.

Firefox 4 is Mozilla's best shot at reclaiming some of the browser usage share it's lost in the last year. Recent statistics from Web analytics company Net Applications had Firefox's share at 21.7% in February, down from 24.5% 12 months before.

Anyone running Firefox 3.5 or 3.6 can grab the upgrade March 22 by selecting "Check for updates" from the Help menu. Users running Firefox 4 RC, however, won't need to download anything next week because Mozilla deemed that build identical to the final.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/e-commerce/29919/mozilla-sets-firefox-4-release-tuesday?page=0,0

Google gets more social with its search engine

Google is diving deeper into social networking.

The company hasn't released a long-rumored but unconfirmed social networking platform , but it has made its search engine more social.

Google announced Wednesday that it is enabling users to give and get recommendations on search results. Called +1, the new service lets people share their recommendations with friends, as well as strangers.

"Say, for example, you're planning a winter trip to Tahoe, Calif.," wrote Rob Spiro, a Google product manager, in a blog post . "When you do a search, you may now see a +1 from your slalom-skiing aunt next to the result for a lodge in the area. Or if you're looking for a new pasta recipe, we'll show you +1's from your culinary genius college roommate.

"And even if none of your friends are baristas or caffeine addicts, we may still show you how many people across the web have +1'd your local coffee shop," he added.

So how does Google search know who your friends are?

According to Spiro, the search service checks to see who your Google chat buddies are and who is in your list of connections for Gmail. He added that in the future, Google might be able to check and see who your connections are on social sites like Twitter .

To know whom they're connected to, users can check Google Dashboard

For months, Google executives have said they plan on making Google services, like search, more social. They're making good on that promise with +1, said Brad Shimmin, an analyst with Current Analysis.

"This is like when fuel injection came out and car makers said, 'Hey, that's a better way to put gas into an engine,' " Shimmin said. "It didn't' revolutionize autombiles but it made them better automobiles. This +1 acts in the same way. It's not revolutionizing Google but it makes search a better version of itself."

Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, said this is another sign that Google is taking the burgeoning world of social networking seriously. With companies like Facebook increasingly becoming a competitor for users' attention, as well as ad dollars, Google needs to have a strong social presence.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/e-commerce/30497/google-gets-more-social-its-search-engine?page=0,1

Android Jumps to Top of the Smartphone Heap

Android has a message for other mobile OS platforms: "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." The latest results from comScore show that Android has ascended to the top slot for smartphone market share--gobbling up market share from many of the rival platforms.

Between the November comScore report and now, Android has skyrocketed to the top--grabbing seven percent more market share to claim an even 33 percent of the smartphone market. That jump in market share came largely at the expense of the RIM BlackBerry platform, which lost 4.6 percent. The remainder came from losses by Microsoft and Palm.

What is the secret to Android's success? Well, volume. Volume and diversity. While no single Android smartphone is even in the same ballpark as the Apple iPhone 4, and no single Android tablet is anywhere near the Apple iPad 2, the sheer quantity of Android smartphone and tablet options gives the Android platform as a whole an advantage.

With so many manufacturers developing gadgets on the Android platform, it's like throwing rice at the wall. Some will stick, most won't. But, even the Android smartphones and tablets that don't become notable successes in and of themselves will be picked up cheap by someone on eBay or Craigslist and still contribute to the platform market share.

Scott Schwarzhoff, VP of marketing at Appcelerator, points out that despite the inherent issue of fragmentation that seems to plague Android, the more open nature of Android is a benefit. In a January survey, three fourths of app developers responded that Android is "best positioned to power a large number of connected devices in the future," and nearly two thirds of the developers surveyed believe that Android has the best long-term outlook. Those results seem to be reflected in Android's continued march to dominate the smartphone landscape.

One other notable factoid from the comScore numbers, though, is that Apple's iOS also gained. Actually, the gain was so small that you might just call it a wash and say that iOS stayed even at about 25 percent. But, it demonstrates two things: 1) that Android is a larger threat to other mobile platforms than it is to iOS--at least so far, and 2) that the addition of the Verizon iPhone 4 seems to have helped keep Apple from slipping.

The comScore numbers are a measure of smartphones, rather than the mobile platform as a whole. It will be interesting--especially as more diverse tablets come to market--to see how the mobile platform market share trends progress.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/224405/android_jumps_to_top_of_the_smartphone_heap.html

Office 2011 service pack on the way

Microsoft is releasing the first service pack for its Office 2011 suite. According the Microsoft Office for Mac blog, the most significant improvement is that Outlook 2011 now works with OS X’s Sync Services, meaning you can synchronize Outlook calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes with other apps.

According to Pat Fox, Senior Director in the Office Product Management Group, Microsoft had hoped to include support for Sync Services in the initial release of Office 2011 last fall. But that support was harder to implement than expected and so was saved for this first service pack. In the meantime, it had become one of the top feature requests from Office 2011 customers.

Unfortunately, in the time it took Microsoft to add that support, Apple announced that MobileMe would no longer work with Sync Services. So even though Outlook calendars can now synchronize with Sync Services, as of May 5 those calendars won’t sync with MobileMe. So if you were hoping to wirelessly sync Outlook calendars to your iPhone via MobileMe, you won’t be able to; you’ll have to synchronize the old-fashioned way, via iTunes. (Of course, if you sync those Outlook calendars to an Exchange server, you can still wirelessly sync them to your iOS device that way.)

There are other tweaks in the Service Pack. Among the more notable: Outlook now supports Exchange-based server-side rules (something we dinged it for in our review). And there are new redirect and resend buttons in the e-mail program.

Service Pack 1 goes live next week; the exact day is still to be determined. It’ll be available from Microsoft’s Mac downloads page.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/office-suites/30777/office-2011-service-pack-way

Remains of the Day: The iPad is on fire

The iPad 2 is selling so quick, you can't even get a paper mock-up. Elsewhere, Asus and Toyota get smacked down for bad decisions in marketing, and Apple makes a move to cut down on conflict. It's the remainders for Tuesday, April 5, 2011--peace out!

Much as we here in the U.S. may complain about how tough it is to find an iPad 2, in Malaysia folks are even having trouble finding replica paper versions of Apple's latest tablet. They've apparently become the latest thing in burnt offerings for the dead, intended to provide them with luxury items in the afterlife. And here I was hoping I'd actually be able to escape technology in the next world.

Apparently, Best Buy has pulled an in-store banner for Asus's forthcoming Eee Pad Transformer tablet that took a shot at the iPad. The ad pictured the Transformer, which features a dockable keyboard and extra battery, next to an iPad clumsily duct-taped to a keyboard, along with the tagline "Like that. But better." To be fair, the ad's original copy--"Like that. But more expensive, uglier, and with fewer apps."--wouldn't fit.

Speaking of bad advertising choices, Toyota has apparently removed a replacement interface skin for jailbroken iPhones that it had released via the Cydia store. The skin, which was intended advertise Toyota's new 2011 Scion tC, was reportedly removed at Apple's behest, though we think Cupertino might have been less insulted that Toyota tacitly condoned jailbreaking than the fact that the skin is abominably tacky.

Apple and Intel have started enforcing new rules that would see the halt of mineral sales from African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo in the hopes of preventing the proceeds from being used to fund conflict in the region. It's perhaps a small step, but hopefully a worthy one--at least more so than complaining about jailbroken apps.

Source: http://www.itnews.com/business-issues/30752/remains-day-ipad-fire

10 Cities for Shopaholics

If your heart starts palpitating at the mere sight of a ‘sale’ sign, or if you've been known to elbow other shoppers out of the way for getting between you and those must-have boots, this list is for you. We’ve rounded up the world's 10 best cities for shopaholics for those of you who plan your vacations with retail therapy built in – whether you’re in the market for high fashion, fancy baubles, or even an unusual pet, we’ve got a destination for you. So pay off some credit card debt and hit the road – but don’t blame us when the bills come in.

Paris, France

The creativity that goes into Parisian window displays – whether to front a high-fashion house or a neighborhood chocolatier – is unmatched anywhere in the world, and reflects the locals’ philosophy that shopping should be seen as a pleasure, not a chore. One of the best neighborhoods to experience this attitude is the Marais, where a medieval maze of streets harbors trendsetting boutiques, shops, and galleries near the Place des Vosges. But you also shouldn’t miss the 8th arrondissement, and the international haute-couture labels along two streets in particular – the famed Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne – though shopaholics will spend fewer euros at the city’s grand magasins (department stores); two local favorites, the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, are found side by side on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is renowned as one of the best shopping cities in Asia and it’s surely worth the trip, if only for some superb retail therapy on the way to the beaches of Phuket or the cultural temples of Chiang Mai. High quality silk, jewelry, and traditional crafts – everything, really, from sizeable bling to tailor-made suits – at a fraction of stateside prices draw millions to this Thai capital every year. The city’s several chaotic markets, and especially the 35-acre Chatuchak Market, are bona fide treasure troves, whether you’re a shopaholic scouting for clothing, home goods, or art – or even live roosters, pythons, or multi-colored chicks.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Besides being among the most beautiful cities in Latin America, Buenos Aires is also home to some of the world’s most fashionable people. And where do these gorgeous porteños shop? Much of the shopping is centered in Microcentro (downtown) along the streets of Calle Florida and Calle Lavalle, both of which teem with chain stores and boutique shops (those with more pesos to spend head to the upscale neighborhood of Recoleta, where Armani, Cartier, and their ilk maintain addresses). But no trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without the purchase of several leather items – the city is known for its abundance of high-quality leather goods that cost a fraction of what they do in the States. A savvy shopaholic would head to the leather district for the biggest selection and return home with a superb handbag, pair of shoes, jacket, and more, at excellent value.

Copenhagen, Denmark

The fresh, modern talent of Scandinavian designers has made the Danish capital of Copenhagen synonymous with cutting-edge merchandise – whether you’re looking for a new wardrobe or sophisticated home decor. The Grønnegade area finds popular local designers like Munthe plus Simonsen, while Strøget and Købmagergade – both pedestrian shopping streets – are home to international giants like Prada, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Mega department stores Det Ny Illum and Magasin du Nord make great one-stop shops, but if you’ve always wanted a sleek Bang & Olufsen stereo, there’s nothing like going to the source (on Østergade). Ditto if you’re keen on Georg Jensen’s sophisticated home accessories or first-rate glassware and porcelain from the likes of Holmegaard and Royal Copenhagen Porcelain; this fantastic trio is located within steps of each other, on Amagertorv – ideal for any avid shopaholic.

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong has a lot more to offer shoppers than electronic gadgets these days – and visitors will find street markets, designer boutiques, and mega malls laden with everything from jade to silk, in addition to cutting-edge technology, of course. Local designers like Vivienne Tam, William Tang, and Walter Ma are always popular, as are the vendor-rich streets of Li Yuen East and West, and the lanes of historic Stanley Market, favored for their collectibles like porcelain vases, silk garments, and Chinese artwork. The Jade Market in Yau Ma Tai is also a must for any shopaholic – 400 stalls display the green gems that symbolize long life and good health. Each year, the Hong Kong WinterFest, a winter duty-free shopping nirvana, happens just in time for Christmas – so you can fill those holiday stockings at a discount.

London, UK

Whether you choose to shop the trendy boutiques of Covent Garden, follow in the steps of princesses by visiting Sloane Street, or pick up a bespoke suit on Savile Row or tailored shirt on Jermyn Street, you’re bound to shed a few pounds (of the monetary variety) when shopping in London. That said, you’ll save a few quid by visiting the stalls of Camden Market, the shops of Oxford Street, where Selfridges and Topshop maintain addresses, and Portobello Market, a shopaholic haven for antiques and hand-me-down treasures. But also don’t forget to stock up on foodie treats at Fortnum and Mason, a veritable gourmand’s delight of beautifully presented teas, biscuits, cheeses, and more, and stop at the venerable Harrods – at least to buy a shopping tote to carry everything home in.

Los Angeles, California

Ever wonder where your favorite celeb gets her to-die-for designer duds? Depending on how old she is, it’s either Melrose Avenue (Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton) or high-end Rodeo Drive (Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones). Still, you needn’t spend a fortune to get dressed in Los Angeles, as downtown’s Santee Alley is loaded with affordable knockoffs of brand-name merchandise. Otherwise, LA is one of a handful of major cities to boast popular outdoor shopping centers – The Grove, for one, is chock full of stores selling everything from fresh vegetables to iPod accessories, while the three-block, pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica has familiar brand-name stores interspersed with funky boutiques – ideal for any breed of shopaholic.

Marrakech, Morocco

Shopping in the souk in Marrakech is truly an experience of a lifetime – and one of the more challenging shopping excursions you’ll ever have. Bargaining over goods is a way of life for Moroccans, which can be a daunting but worthwhile experience, especially when you walk away with a piece of clothing, jewelry, pottery, or carpet at your chosen price – and substantially less than you’d pay for the same item back home. Even if you don’t buy anything here, this vast bazaar is easily one of the most atmospheric places in the world in which to lose yourself: Its narrow cobblestone streets are suffused with such exotic sights and smells – stained-glass lanterns hang beside meat and vegetables, carpets lie next to mounds of spices – that you’re in for an altogether heady experience whether you're a shopaholic or not.

New York City, NY

From high-priced designer fashions to discount chic, and from electronics to rare books, New York City has it all, from the exclusive boutiques of Madison Avenue to the knockoff stalls along Canal Street. Manhattan’s mega stores, like Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy's (which bills itself as the world's largest department store) offer the utmost in one-stop shopping. But more personal shopping experiences await in NoLita and SoHo, where big-name boutiques mix with one-of-a-kind shops and high-end street vendors. Chelsea, meanwhile, is the go-to spot for original art works (at a hefty sum); the Lower East Side attracts fashionable young things to its exclusive shops; and bargain-hunters fight over cut-rate designer fashions at the shopaholic discount mecca of Century 21.

St. Barts, Caribbean

The French-owned St. Barthélemy, affectionately known as St. Barts (or St. Barths – both are correct) has earned a reputation as playground for the jet-set, but also as the capital of the Caribbean shopping scene, thanks to its duty-free status and 200-plus boutiques. The delightful capital, Gustavia, is a high-end retail haven for shops like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Cartier, and Hermes (many of which stock items that aren’t available stateside) while the beach resort town of St. Jean tucks posh shops into La Savane Commercial Center and La Villa Créole. It’s not all high fashion on this celebrated isle, mind you: Local women do peddle traditional island handiwork – handwoven palm hats, baskets, bags, and more – from their verandas, ensuring that visiting shopaholics go home with something truly Caribbean after all.

Source: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-37489330;_ylt=Ask8ZD_Edo3kbNNl2PnJZM7c6cB_