Astro launches HD programming

Astro launches HD programming
12-Dec-2009 07:03:41

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro has launched its new HD programming, called Astro B.yond, which will go live on Dec 18.

The new high-definition broadcast will initially start with four channels, namely Astro Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and History HD which will be available at launch date, while ESPN HD will start in January, said Astro chief operating officer of Strategy, Content & Marketing for Astro Henry Tan at the launch here yesterday.

Much like the switch from black-and-white television broadcasts to colour, high-definition (HD) television broadcasting is said to be the next big step in television programming.

The technology offers up to 10 times the detail of current standard-definition television broadcasts and HD broadcasts will be in the wide screen aspect ratio of all high-definition televisions (HDTVs).

Tan said that a treat for subscribers of Astro B.yond is that the World Cup 2010 would be broadcast in HD.

Existing subscribers who own HDTVs can upgrade to Astro B.yond for an extra RM20 per month to get the HD channels on top of their current subscription package.

New subscribers will have to pay for the standard installation and subscription fee of the non-HD Astro service before upgrading to the HD service.

The price includes a new decoder, satellite dish and remote control, all of which have to be replaced to get the new HD channels.

According to Astro chief executive office Datuk Rohana Rozhan, the company has spent about RM200mil to upgrade nearly every aspect of the company’s hardware and infrastructure in preparation for high-definition programming.

Subscribers who wish to upgrade to Astro B.yond can call 1-300-82-3838 or log on to www.astro.com.my/byond to apply.

HD programming will only commence on Dec 18.

ASTRO TO GO HD

By TAN KIT HOONG

If you have bought a HDTV and been complaining about the lack of high definition content from Astro, hold on to your horses because the company is set to introduce its HD service by the end of the year.

The company has been quietly upgrading its infrastructure, from cameras to launching the Measat 3A satellite, and is ready to roll out HD programming on its satellite network, said Paul Dale, Astro’s chief technology officer.

The HD channels that are going to be launched will be in 1080i. However, not all channels will be available in HD.

The first phase of the rollout will include popular channels, namely sports, documentaries and movie channels with more to come in the near future.

Details on the particular channels that will go HD will only be available at the launch date but it’s a given that the National Geographic and ESPN channels will be available in HD.

Local programming in HD is currently in the second phase of the plan and Astro is currently in the process of upgrading video cameras and other equipment.

To receive HD broadcast, consumers will be required to upgrade their TVs to HDTVs as well as change the current set-top box and satellite dish.

On top of the HD broadcasts, Astro is also working on a number of new services including a revamped channel guide and other new features.

The new set-top box will have a HDMI connection, composite outputs, Ethernet port, an USB port and even a digital audio output for 5.1-channel surround sound audio.

The Ethernet port on the set-top box even allows for the delivery of the video channels via the wired broadband connection although this, again, is in a future phase.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the new set-top box is that it comes with a high speed USB port so that you can connect any external hard disk to turn receiver into a digital recorder.

You can’t distribute the video on the hard disk though as each programme recorded is protected by DRM, so that it can only be viewed using the set-top box.

However, the video recording feature will not be available in the first stage of the rollout and will be enabled in a future firmware update.

The official consumer launch will be before the year-end.

Link: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/12/2/prodit/20091202170727&sec=prodit

Acer Revo: Easy on the eyes

The Acer Revo is a funky looking nettop that will look great in any living room.

By ZAM KARIM

THERE is a cool looking nettop in town and it goes by the name of Acer Revo.

With its slightly angular and glossy black and white design, a small footprint — it’s about the size of a phonebook — you won’t be hard pressed to find the perfect spot to place it anywhere in the house.

It can be next to the HDTV, a TV cabinet or you can even mount the nettop behind an LCD monitor. A plastic stand and a VESA-based mount are included in the box.

But it would be a shame if you choose the latter option as the device is meant to be shown off and not hidden away from view.

The review unit came with a matching wireless keyboard and optical mouse, a pair of cute mini USB speakers and an external webcam — all in white glossy casing.

The nettop was also bundled with an Acer 23in widescreen LCD ­monitor.




TOGETHER:The R3600-A23XA model comes with matching mouse, keyboard, USB speakers and webcam. Also included is a 23in widescreen LCD. Ports ahoy

There is no optical drive but what it does have is plenty of data ­connectivity options, including six USB ports, one eSata port and an Ethernet jack as well as a SD card reader. Also, everything is well laid out to make hooking up external devices more convenient.

It also comes with both VGA and HDMI ports so it’s possible to hook up two displays to the nettop.

Also, with the HDMI port users can pipe the built-in 7.1 channel audio to an external display without the need for extra cables.

Powerful specs

Interestingly, the Revo series of nettops come with the new nVidia ION chipset, which offers a number of advantages over the common Intel D945G chipset.

The platform is supposed to be able to run Windows Vista and 3D games, decode videos and, most importantly, handle high-definition videos with ease... at least in theory.

However during our tests, we were both surprised and ­disappointed with the system performance. For instance, the system took quite a long time to boot up.

At least, once it started up, the Aero Glass and Flip3D interfaces worked smoothly, and we had no problem performing basic ­computing stuff like ­wordprocessing and web ­surfing.

There are times, though — even with nVidia’s GeForce 9400M graphics and 4GB of memory onboard — the system felt sluggish.

It was more prevalent when we ran too many applications ­simultaneously and also when browsed Flash-heavy websites such as YouTube.

We suspect it is due to either the relatively pedestrian Atom 230 processor or the Windows Vista operating system which is a big resource hog.

Also, most Flash web videos don’t support hardware graphics ­acceleration offered by the nVidia chip so the processor needs to handle all the workload all by itself. HD experience

To handle all types of video files, the machine comes preinstalled with Cyberlink’s PowerDVD 9.

Overall, it handled standard movie files, such as the Apple MOV format, effortlessly,

Also, the machine is supposed to be able handle Blu-ray movies but we couldn’t get hold of an external Blu-ray drive so we couldn’t test this.

PowerDVD 9 doesn’t support the popular HD format, MKV. To play HD files we downloaded the free KMplayer.

Unfortunately, the video playback wasn’t as smooth as we expected, and we got inconsistent results.

Some MKV videos played smoothly, while others went out of sync with the audio, and a few simply failed to load.

Again we believe the culprit might be the processor which isn’t a perfect companion for the ION chipset.

The good news is that even when the CPU and GPU are heavily taxed, the Revo remained quiet all the time.

The verdict

The Acer Revo has its share of hits and misses. There is a lot of ­potential for the Revo as it is based on the ION platform.

However, the inclusion of the low-power Atom processor and Windows Vista isn’t the perfect combo for the machine.

Also, the RM2,199 price tag doesn’t quite justify the ­performance that you get from the machine.

The Revo will be a much more attractive machine with a few more updates and a lower price tag.

Pros: Cool design; small ­footprint; handles many video formats; quiet.

Cons: Issues playing HD files; sluggish performance, pricey.

ASPIRE REVO (R3600-A23XA)
(Acer)

Nettop with a 23in LCD monitor

Processors: Intel Atom Processor N230 (1.6GHz /512K L2 Cache/533MHz FSB)

Chipset: nVidia ION

Graphics: nVidia GeForce 9400

Memory: 4GB DDR2 800MHz

Storage: 320GB hard drive

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

Connectivity: WiFi, Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem

Keyboard and mouse: Wireless keyboard, optical mouse

I/O ports: six USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA port, VGA, HDMI audio out and microphone

Other features: Card reader, VESA mounting kit, 1.3-megapixel USB webcam, USB mini speaker, Kensington lock slot

Measurement (D x H X W): 180 x 180 x 30mm

Price: RM2,199

Website: www.acer.com.my

Review unit courtesy of Acer Sales And Services Sdn Bhd, 1-800-88-1288

Link: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/11/12/prodit/20091112160734&sec=prodit

Create your own workspace

Working with a laptop in a compact space can be annoying. But that need not be the case thanks to the Targus Lap Chill Mat ­cooling pad and a foldable Compact Laptop Desk.

These accessories allow users to create their own workspace wherever they go, according to the company.

The Lap Chill Mat is made from a soft neoprene material for better cushioning and it also comes built-in with two fans.

The fans provide a constant airflow and ventilation to efficiently disperse the heat produced by the laptop. Also, four rubber stops on the top surface prevent the laptop from slipping.
Compact Laptop Desk

Meanwhile, the Compact Laptop Desk doesn’t come with any built-in fans and instead has a vented surface for better air flow to keep the laptop cool.

It can be used either in a folded position or completely unfolded flat for extra space to, say, use a mouse.

The Compact Laptop Desk has a very thin profile and because it’s foldable, it will easily fit in a laptop bag so you can lug it along.

The Lap Chill Mat and Compact Laptop Desk retail for RM189.90 and RM129 ­respectively

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http://www.targus.com/

Article link: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/11/10/prodit/4966091&sec=prodit

Rent HD movies and PS3 games

RENT IT: Chan's online rental service boasts a variety of

PlayStation3 games and Blu-ray movies.

KUALA LUMPUR: Do you have a long list of Blu-ray movies to watch and PlayStation3 games to play but not keen on spending so much money? Maybe you can rent them to save cost.

Check out Blackmango Games, an online videogame and movie rental service that lets users rent PlayStation3 games and Blu-ray movies.

The rental service is the brainchild of Ben Chan, an avid videogame and movie enthusiasts who started the service in 2007.

“I came up with the idea after not being able to find any local game rental service,” he said.

“There are a lot of hardcore gamers who complete a game in a day or two and move on to the next. Because games cost a lot, it makes more sense for them to rent,” he said.

Chan, who first started his virtual store on Lowyat.net forum, has since expanded the service to a dedicated website (http://www.blackmangogames.com/) where customers can view the list of games and movies they wish to rent.

There are many subscription packages. For instance, the Hardcore Gamer package costs RM50 a month and entitles the subscriber to rent one game or movie at any one time. You can hold on to the title as long as you like or exchange it for another as many times as you wish.

The game will be delivered to you by Chan or dispatched via mail depending on your location.
Chan is planning on upgrading his website to allow subscribers to pick the titles they wish to rent online. — CHONG JINN XIUNG

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http://www.blackmangogames.com/

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Phone

Actually Sony Ericsson was supposed to reveal Xperia X3 or the Rachel smartphones as the company’s first Android handsets. But currently, the plan has been changed. Sony is now planning to launch Xperia X10.
This cool gadget will probably be released by February next year. This phone is super flat and features a large display screen about 4 inches, an 8 megapixel camera, SUPA 3G connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi 802.11b/g and A-GPS connectivity.
This phone is very light and very speedy. This is a great gadget to look out for. It will be in the markets very soon and I am sure that many of you out there are waiting to grab your phone.

PS3 Slim and PSP Go

KUALA LUMPUR: SONY announced that it will officially launch the new slimline PlayStation3 with a 120GB hard disk, and the PSP Go locally on Oct 31.
The new PS3 and PSP Go will be available at suggested retail prices of RM1,299 and RM1,099 respectively.
Compared to the first PS3 model with 60GB hard disk, the internal volume as well as the thickness and weight of the new PS3 are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds, Sony said.
Furthermore, power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise.
Customers can also choose to get the optional Vertical Stand for the new PS3 to set the console in a vertical position. The stand will be available for RM82.
Meanwhile the PSP Go replaces the UMD drive of the original with 16GB of Flash memory to store a variety of digital ­entertainment content. It will be available in black and white.
In addition to accessing the PlayStation Store directly from the PSP using the built-in WiFi or through the PS3, Sony said users will be able to download a variety of entertainment content via their PCs using Media Go, a new software application.
The application will be available on a CD bundled with the PSP Go. There will also be a new music application specific to the PSP that uses the SensMe channels music recommendation feature available for download.
In conjunction with the launch, Sony will be having an event on Oct 31, 11am at the 1 Utama shopping complex in Petaling Jaya where customers will have the chance to grab special premiums for the new PS3 and PSP Go.
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Asus Eee PC T91 Specifications

Eee PC T91

Fun at Your Fingertips
Genuine Windows® XP Home
Unique TouchSuite software for intuitive user experience
Convertible Tablet PC Form Factor for Flexibility of Use
B5 size and weight 0.96kg light
Up to 5 hours** long battery life with Super Hybrid Engine

Specifications
Operating System
Genuine Windows® XP Home
Display
8.9” LED-backlit / Resistive Touch Panel
Intel CPU & Chipset
Intel® Atom Z520
Ethernet Communication
Onboard 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller
Memory
1GB (DDR2)
Wireless Data Network
WLAN: 802.11b/g/n Bluetooth V2.1
Hybrid Storage
16GB Solid State Drive16GB SD Card20GB Eee Storage*Eee Storage service is complimentary for the first 18 months. Please register account information for 6 months extension (depend on country)
Camera
0.3M Pixels
Audio
Hi-definition audio CODECStereo speakersDigital Array Mic
Input / Output
1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor)2 x USB 2.0 ports1 x LAN RJ-452 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in Card Reader: MMC/ SD(SDHC)
Battery
5 hrs*, 28.5Wh Slim and Eco-friendly Li-polymer Battery* Battery life is subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations.
Dimensions
225mm (W) x 164mm (D) x 25.2 ~ 28.4mm (H)
Weight
0.96kg
Infusion
White, Black
Note
Optional: TV TunerMiscellaneous: Comes with a well-designed stylus

Link: http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=qdwslBLhhfuw43HS&content=overview

The Asus Netbook Evolution

Thursday September 24, 2009
The Asus netbook evolution
By CHONG JINN XIUNG




TOUCH THIS: Wang demonstrating Asus' Eee PC T91 touchscreen enabled netbook.

PETALING JAYA: Computer hardware manufacturer Asus has been widely credited with the creation of the sub genre of notebooks popularly known as netbooks.

Small, portable and easy to use, netbooks have seen success in emerging markets such as Malaysia due to their low cost and full web browsing capabilities.

“What makes the netbook so special is that we wanted to create a product that was both convenient and could provide quick Internet access to users,” Asus Malaysia product director for notebooks Neo Wang told In.Tech recently.

“At Asus, we don’t treat the netbook segment as a low-end device but rather consider it to be one of our most significant products,” Wang added.

“In fact we are one of the few companies that still maintain our own design and R&D department to further improve our products.”

Adding touch

One of the upcoming improvements consumers can expect to see in netbooks in the coming years is the addition of touch functionalities.

“In a way, much of our design philosophy is based on designing products that meet the needs of the end consumer,” Wang said.

He cited the Asus Eee PC T91, which is a full touchscreen Tablet netbook, as an example of one of the ways Asus is differentiating itself from conventional netbooks.

Despite it being their first attempt at making a touch-based netbook, the popularity of the product has been most encouraging so far, he claimed.

Wang said the addition of touch capabilities makes for an attractive user interface that would enable users to use their Eee PCs like notepads for taking down notes.

He also said that users can expect to see the next generation of netbooks to feature improved battery life with some models capable of lasting up to 10 hours.

“Battery performance is definitely one of the key areas we are looking to improve, making it convenient for customers as they won’t need to bring an adapter around wherever they go.”

Wang also said the company is planning to bundle external optical drives with its newer range of netbooks.

“We recognise there’s still a need for optical drives in today’s computing environment hence we will bundle external optical drives so customers can easily use it while on the go.”

Seven up

With the upcoming launch of Windows 7, Asus is gearing its product lineup to take advantage of the performance enhancements as well as the additional functionalities that Windows 7 offers.

“Naturally, the higher system requirements mean that Asus will increase all new models of our netbooks with 32GB solid state drives (SSD),” Wang said.

Citing the Asus Eee PC T91 again, he said Windows 7 would allow the T91 to utilise multi-touch functionalities thus making it easier for users to navigate and interact with various forms of media.

Adding to this, a Microsoft spokesman said that the company is working on a special version of Windows 7 catering to netbooks.

However Microsoft declined to reveal more details on the new netbook-centric operating system which is still under development.

Link: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/9/24/technology/20090924173003&sec=technology

Other reviews on the above: http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/asus-eee-pc-t91-review/

ASUS homepage : http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=qdwslBLhhfuw43HS&content=overview

Nokia Booklet 3G at Nokia World

By Mike on 02 September 2009

STUTTGART, Germany – Since news of the new Nokia Booklet 3G first emerged early last week, the mini laptop PC has become the most keenly discussed Nokia product we’ve ever written about here on Conversations, with a continuous stream of comments flowing in and interesting debates sparking off right here. One of the most avid areas of anticipation is the full specification list, which has now been released here at Nokia World 09.

Now, we’ve always said we’re not hardcore number lovers, but concede that with the Nokia Booklet 3G pouring over specs is a necessary vice. So click through for our unashamedly long list of full specifications for Nokia’s upcoming Booklet 3G.

Nokia Booklet 3G overview

All day computing
Up to 12 hours of usage time
Last for a heavy work day
Windows 7 and Intel Atom processor
Charge it and go – no need to worry about taking your charger with you
Sleek, robust design
A stylish, premium design with a chassis made from a single piece of machined aluminum
19.9 mm thin
Three different colors at launch: black, ice (white) and azure (blue)
Seamless connectivity
Inbuilt WLAN and WWAN enable connectivity to the Internet anywhere a WiFi or cellular network connection is found
3G/ HSPA with hot swappable simcard
Sync easily with your Nokia handset
Integrated Ovi Suite enables easy sync of calendar contacts, media with your device and the cloud
Integrated Nokia services
Ovi Suite 2.0
Nokia Music for PC
Ovi Maps
Social Hub – keeps track of your social software feeds in one spot and serves as a SMS sender
Nokia software updater
Nokia Booklet 3G full specification
Dimensions
Weight (max) 1250 g
Dimensions (max) 264 x 185 x 19.9 mm
CPU and Chipset
Intel Atom Z530, 1.6 GHz
Intel Poulsbo US15W, fanless design
Memory and Storage
RAM: 1 GB, DDR2, 533 Mhz, soldered down
HDD: 120 GB, 1.8”/5mmH/SATA, 8 MB cache, 4200 RPM
Display
10.1”, 1280×720 pixels, glass window
Battery
16 cell, 56.8 Wh, Li-Ion prismatic, removable design
Connectivity
802.11 b/g/n, 2T2R
BT 2.1 + EDR
Inbuilt 3G modem (data calls only). Different variants: WCDMA: 850/1900/2100 or WCDMA 900/2100 or no modem.
All modem variants have GSM and GPRS
Assisted-GPS
I/O ports
1 x HDMI 1.2 out
3 x USB 2.0
1 x headphone out (OMTP 3.5 mm) – with OMTP headsets also functions as audio in
1 x DC-in
1 x SD card reader
1 x SIM / USIM slot
Camera and microphone
1.3 MP front facing camera with integrated microphone
Keyboard
Frame keyboard
2 physical layouts: US (78 keys, 17 mm pitch, 1.8 mm stroke) and UK (79 keys, 16.7 mm pitch, 1.8 mm stroke)
Other
Accelerometer
Inbox contents
Nokia Booklet 3G
BC-1S battery
AC/DC power adapter
Quick setup guide and warranty instructions
Headset WH-205
USB charging multi-cable CA-126
Software
Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition, Home Premium or Professional
MS Office Small Business 60 day trial
MS Internet Explorer 8
HDD protection utility, Hotkey utility , Knock Control utility, Power Profile Switcher, Battery Life utility
Nokia Update Manager
Ovi Suite
Ovi Maps Gadget
Social Hub
F-Secure Internet Security 2010 trial

Nokia enters laptop fray

PETALING JAYA: After more than 25 years in the mobile industry, Nokia enters the PC world with its mini laptop, the Nokia Booklet 3G.

Powered by the an Intel Atom processor, the Nokia Booklet 3G runs on Windows and offers up to 12 hours of battery life.

The Booklet 3G weighs 1.25kg and measures slightly more than 2cm thick. It supports a broad range of connectivity options including 3G/HSPA and WiFi connectivity.

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s executive vice-president for devices.

The mini laptop comes with a HDMI port for HD video out, a front facing camera for video calls, integrated Bluetooth and an easily accessible SD card reader.

The other features include the 10in glass display and an integrated A-GPS, which works with the Ovi Maps gadget.

The Booklet 3G also brings a number of other Ovi experiences to life, including accessing millions of songs through the Nokia Music Store, or using Ovi Suite to seamlessly sync a Nokia smartphone with the mini-laptop.

Further information, including detailed specifications, availability and pricing, will be announced at Nokia World, to be held in Stuttgart, Germany on September 2.

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http://www.nokia.com/

Eee PC 1005HA

An Eee PC that’s easy to upgrade

By TAN KIT HOONG

PETALING JAYA: If you have seen Asus’ wonderfully thin Eee PC 1008HA but can’t stand the thought of not being able to easily upgrade your RAM and remove the battery, the company actually has just the thing for you — the Eee PC 1005HA.
Built with the same so-called “seashell” design as the 1008HA, the 1005HA is only slightly thicker but has a removable battery and easily-accessible doors for upgrading your RAM, etc.
Specifications of the 1005HA are practically identical to the 1008HA — it has an Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB hard disk drive, wireless 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and 1.3-megapixel webcam.
However, where the 1005HA differs from the 1008HA is in battery life — thanks to the larger battery, the 1005HA has a rated battery life of 10.5 hours. That’s a good full day’s worth of computing right there, even if you only get two thirds of that.
The 1005HA is priced at RM1,599.
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my.asus.com

Tip: Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook

Putting the Windows 7 installation on a USB thumb drive has a few advantages—a small USB key is much more convenient for carrying around than a DVD, the OS will actually install much faster, and you can use a USB key to install Windows 7 on systems that do not have a DVD drive, such as a netbook. In fact, you can even install Windows 7 on netbooks that have fairly modest hardware. Dennis Chung, an IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft recently posted a video demonstrating how easy it is to prepare your thumb drive and use it to install Windows 7. Here’s a quick look at the process:
•First, you’ll need the DiskPart utility on the system you will use to prep the thumb drive. This is a free disk partitioning utility that is likely already installed on your Windows system. If not, you can download DiskPart here.
•Launch the DiskPart utility by typing diskpart at the Start Menu.
•Then run the list disk command to check the status of your drive.
Video
Dennis Chung, an IT Pro Evangelist at Microsoft, demonstrates how easy it is to prepare a USB thumb drive and use it to install Windows 7.

•Now run select disk 1 where the "1" is actually the corresponding number of your USB drive.
•Run clean.
•Once the thumb drive is clean, you can run create partition primary.
•Now make the partition active by entering active
•Then you need to set up the file system as Fat32 by running format fs=fat32 quick (quick, of course, specifies that you want to perform a quick format to speed up the process).
•Entering the assign command gives the USB drive a drive letter, making it easy to access from Windows Explorer
•Then you can copy everything from the Windows 7 installation DVD onto the USB key (a simple drag and drop will do).
•Now you can insert the thumb drive into the system you want to install Windows 7 onto and boot the system. The installation will now proceed as usual—but faster.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-my/magazine/dd535816(en-us).aspx

WIT @ CECR Presentation at Monthly Forum

Yesterday Rahim Salleh and myself presented on behalf of CECR. We have nine member in the team and two member on duty that is Fauzi and Sukri. So sad none of the other members came and gave us moral support.

For detail and photo please click this link: http://cecr5s.blogspot.com/

SSD upgrade made easy

Kingston Technology is planning to release its SSDNow V Series ­solid-state drive kits soon.

Available in 128GB and 64GB capacities, the kits will allow users to expand their storage space of desktops and notebooks easily, the company said.
Apart from capacity expansion, users will also benefit from better performance.
Also the drive generates less heat and is more rugged than a hard drive as the SSD contains no moving parts. These features are especially beneficial to notebooks.
The standard kit includes, one solid-state drive (128GB or 64GB), Acronis True Image cloning software and an installation guide on a CD.
Additionally, the desktop package will also come with a 3.5in ­mounting bracket, SATA cable and power cable extenders.
The notebook bundle will include a 2.5in USB SATA enclosure.
Kingston suggests that the SSD to be used as the primary storage device where the operating system and applications resides and use a hard disk to store data such as music, videos and photos.
Also, the included Acronis cloning software will allow users to move contents from their existing hard disk into the SSD easily.
Finally, the SSD kits are backed by a three-year warranty and free ­technical support.
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www.kingston.com/asia

The world’s first 128GB USB Flash drive.

KINGSTON recently announced the availability of the DataTraveler 200 (DT200), which the Taiwanese computer memory manufacturer claimed is the world’s first 128GB USB Flash drive.
The large capacity along with password protection gives users the flexibility to carry critical data with them at all times in a very small form factor, Kingston said.
“The DT200’s robust storage capability allows consumers store complete libraries of music, photos and videos. It is also a great gadget for business users who carry around large databases or files,” Kingston Flash memory sales director for Asia Pacific region Nathan Su said in a press statement.
The DT200 also has password protection, which helps safeguard data and requires no administrator rights for users.
The DT200 has a capless design to protect the USB connector and is enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost. It is available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB ­capacities.
The DT200 is backed by a five-year warranty and free tech support.
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www.kingston.com/asia

Windows 7 Ultimate

Finally installed Windows 7 Ultimate and test drive it now. Will post the finding later.

Windows 7 RC-download again.

Download Windows 7_RC that's Release Candidate, read so more about and wanted to try it out.

I have downloaded the file yesterday completed and then error, wasted one week downloading it. Hope this time the file won't be corrupted again. Hope to post my experience on Windows 7 soon.

Windows 7_download complete.

Windows 7_download complette. Wasted nearly a week to download 2.36 GB file but when finish downloaded error. Maybe download again.

Windows Live Essential

Get Messenger and stay in touch
Windows Live Messenger makes it easier than ever to stay connected to the people you care about.

IM and e-mail
Stay in touch. With Messenger, you can chat, swap photos, and see what’s new with friends. Mail brings together your Hotmail, Gmail, and other accounts, along with multiple calendars.
MessengerMail
Photos and movies
Use Photo Gallery and Movie Maker to edit and organize your photos and movies, and then post them online or send them to friends.
Photo GalleryMovie Maker beta
Blogging
With Windows Live Writer, blogging is a breeze. You can add photos and videos, format everything just so, and publish to most blogging services.
Writer
Web browsing
With Toolbar, you can customize your browser and find what you need, fast. Family Safety helps you keep your kids safer online.
ToolbarFamily Safety
Depending on your security settings, you might see one or more of these messages.
If you see a message asking if you want to Run or Save, click Run.
If you see a message asking if you want to Run or Save, click Run.
If you see a message asking if you want to Cancel or Allow, click Allow.
Once the installation is done, you’ll find your new programs in the Windows Live folder on your Windows Start menu.

Windows 7

The download of Windows 7 is progressing at 89% maybe today can finish download. Here some of Windows 7 features:

Keep your life in-sync with Windows Live
If you are using Windows 7, you'll want to get Windows Live Essentials. It's free! Windows Live Essentials provides some features that were previously included in Windows Vista and other Windows operating systems, like programs to:
Manage your multiple e-mail accounts in one place
Make the most of your digital photos
Chat instantly with IM
Keep your family safer online
And Windows Live Essentials seamlessly connects what you do on your PC with the online services you use every day, like Windows Live Hotmail, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and others. One easy download gives you Windows Live Photo Gallery, Mail, Messenger, Movie Maker, and more. With these great applications you can get even more out of Windows 7.
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Windows Live Photo Gallery
Information about Windows 7 is preliminary and subject to change. Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware. The features and functionality you find in the pre-release product may not appear in the final version of Windows 7. If we change the software before it's released, we'll change this information accordingly. We're not making express or implied warranties with this information.
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Internet Explorer 8 Optimized for MSN

Just downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 8 Optimised for MSN. Being recieving email that MSN is going to closed down, didn't respond to it cos I believe Microsoft won't closed down MSN. If not why bother to have Internet Explorer 8 Optimised for MSN. Nothing much different from the ordinary version of IE8. If I do find out other difference I will post here, so come back for updates.

My download of Windows 7 status now is only 57% can't wait for it to complete downloading and installed.

Asus Eee PC

I bought a 7inch Eee PC last year when it was launched at RM1299.00. Although only 7 inch it's great to bring along when shopping, etc. With hifi at Jusco Seremban 2, infact so many connection to choose from. I don't think I will upgrade to the new 10 inch model, cos I have another 13 inch Dell Vostro to use at home and at work.

(By the way the 7 inch Eee PCis advertise for sale at mudah.com.my at RM500 used, second hand, if anyone is interested.)

Asus adds the Eee PC 1000HE, which has a claimed battery life of 9.5 hours, to its already large stable of netbooks.

The review unit has an Intel Atom N270 CPU running at 1.6GHz, instead of the newer 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor that all 1000HE models in the market currently ship with.
If you buy the 1000HE now, you will get the slightly faster 1.66GHz Atom for your RM1,599.


If you would like to read the review of this Eee PC 1000HE please click this link: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/5/26/prodit/3956827&sec=prodit

Windows 7 Download

At last manage to start download Windows 7 yesterday. As you can see from the picture of download manager I only got 1% of the 2.36 GB file. My Celcom broadband only 5GB and very soon I will get a SMS warning from from CELCOM that I soon reach the limit.

Trying Windows 7 RC

Trying Windows 7 RC on for size
By TAN KIT HOONG
PETALING JAYA: In our ongoing tests of the Windows 7 Release Candidate, we’ve been installing the operating system on various types of computers to see how it installs and to judge how well it runs.
We started at the small end of the scale, the netbook. But first, a quick reminder — Asus Eee PCs with 4GB of SSD storage will not be able to install Windows 7 RC. The operating system requires at least 16GB of free space, although the actual installation size is 7GB to 9GB.
We have a 10in-screen Eee PC with 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of SDRAM, Intel GMA950 graphics processor and 160GB hard disk drive in the office so that became our guinea pig.
Windows 7 RC took to this machine like a duck to water. In fact, the installation went completely without a hitch and the operating system even installed the drivers for every component in the Eee PC, including the ElanTech touchpad.
What surprised us was how really, really well Windows 7 RC ran on the device despite the relatively basic specifications of the Asus. Also, the machine’s Aero transparent interface worked like a charm on the Microsoft operating system.
Even more surprising was that we could run a 720p Windows Media Video file, open several Internet Explorer windows, and yet still be able to use the Flip3D (Windows key + TAB) to view all the open windows (and the video still running flawlessly) as Flip3D icons.
Overall, we had a very pleasant experience running Windows 7 RC on what we see is a typical netbook.
Going bigger
We next installed Windows 7 RC on a desktop PC that’s powered by an AMD Athlon 64 2.2GHz processor and has 1GB RAM, as well as a built-in ATI Radeon Xpress 200 graphics chip.
Here we ran into a problem initially because this version of the operating system does not have the drivers built-in for this relatively old and finicky graphics chip.
We did a Windows Update and Windows 7 RC found the needed driver; we were soon up and running.
Strangely, the operating system didn’t seem to be running as speedily on this machine as it did on the netbook. This could possibly due to the different graphics chip in each computer. We’ll be looking further into this.
Cool, this is
One of the things we like in Windows 7 RC is its Libraries feature. Libraries appears in the Internet Explorer window and is a sort of smart folder which you can configure yourself.
What Libraries does is provide a shortcut based on certain criteria that you set. For example, if you set the criteria as looking for videos, the link in Libraries will list all your videos no matter where they are located on the hard disk.
Windows 7 RC comes preconfigured with a number of Libraries folders — such as Videos, Music and Documents.
The one unfortunate thing is that we couldn’t seem to add folders stored on removable hard drives to the Libraries folders.
Nevertheless, Libraries is a useful tool to have, especially if you have files stored all over your hard disk.
That’s all for now. Keep watching this space for more on our Windows 7 RC experiences.
Related article: Windows 7 RC — First impressions (May 7, 2009, News) http://tinyurl.com/c3du5x

Note: Wanted to try Windows 7 but can't download, maybe Microsoft's server busy, try later maybe next week when it's not so busy. _ WongSF

KEM REMAJA BESTARI 2009

This year Kem Remaja Bestari is again organised by Yayasan Tenaga Nasional. It will be held in Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Kampus Putrajaya from 1 June to 4 June 2009.

I register two of my children, from Form 2 & Form 4, and both of them are sucessful. Heard this response is overwhelming, and many applicant get rejected.

CECR 5S

With effect from today CECR 5S will be mirrow on two other blog:

http://www.cecr5s.blogspot.com/ &

http://cecr.wordpress.com/

En. Ab. Rahim Salleh will continue to post for CECR.

Thank You.

WIT @ CECR

First meeting for the formation of WIT @ CECR on 06 February 2009.

(Refreshment sponsored by M. Radha, NizamSamat & myself)

The team of ACDC comprise of the following:

Ab. Rahim Salleh (Ketua Pasukan)

Mohd. Nor Affendy (Pen. Ketua Pasukan)

Mazlan Dahalan (Setiausaha)

Fauzi Mohd (Bendahari)

Hasnizam Ab. Samat (Pen. Sestiausaha)

Sukri Musa (Ahli)

Radha A/L Muthuran (Ahli)

Balginder Singh (Ahli)

WongSF (Ahli)

Project Selected are:
A. Labelling / Tagging
B. Mangage Transformer Keys.
C. Duty Roster.
D. Safety Helmet Rack.
E. Buzzer for Unit 5 & 6.
F. Switching Procedure.
G. Standby List Phone.