Asus U36S: An Almost Perfect Ultraportable

If you're looking for an attractive, portable system, the Asus U36S is pretty darn close to perfect. This super-thin ultraportable laptop has everything you need and more--assuming that you're not an audiophile. The speakers, unfortunately, leave something to be desired.

Our review model, which costs $870 (as of October 18,2011), is packed with a second-gen IntelCore i5 processor, 4GB of RAM (upgradable to 8GB), a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 520M graphics card, and a 640GB hard drive spinning at 5400 rpm. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it runs the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium.

But the U36S's specs aren't what's impressive--the truly impressive features are the appealing and slender case design, the light-yet-sturdy construction, and the excellent battery life. At its thickest, the U36S measures 1.1 inches. That is a bit misleading, though, because it's not really that thick. Most of the laptop is much slimmer, at just 0.75 inches thick. The 1.1-inch thickness comes from the battery, which has a bump less than an inch wide that juts out of the bottom of the computer.

That jutting-out happens only if you have the eight-cell extended-life battery, which Asus says will last for 10 hours. In our lab tests, the U36S didn't perform quite as well, producing 7 hours, 40 minutes of battery life. Still, that is a decent amount of time for an ultraportable--an hour longer than the battery life of most of our recently reviewed laptops in this class. With the eight-cell battery, the U36S weighs 3.7 pounds.

The U36S is also an extremely attractive laptop. Not only is it slim, but it also sports a smooth matte-black magnesium alloy cover, simple chrome accents, and an extra-thin screen. Inside, the U36S has a black Chiclet-style keyboard with light blue accents, as well as two buttons--a power button and a button for switching between power-saving modes--atop the keyboard. The latter button also allows you to switch quickly between the U36S's integrated Intel HD graphics and its discrete Nvidia graphics card.

Ports-wise, the U36S is average for the ultraportable category. It has no optical drive, but Asus does include CyberLink Blu-ray Disc Suite software, in case you want to hook up an external drive. The laptop offers three USB ports (including one USB 3.0 port), VGA and HDMI-out ports, an ethernet port, microphone and headphone jacks, and a Kensington lock slot. You'll also find a five-in-one memory card reader.

I do mean what I said earlier: The U36S's specs aren't the impressive part. In PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark tests, the U36S earned a score of 114. That isn't awful, but it isn't terrific--not even for the ultraportable category, which is notorious for sacrificing performance in favor of sexy slimness. The average WorldBench 6 score for the past five ultraportable laptops we've reviewed is 122, though individual notebooks scored considerably higher. For example, the Sony VAIO SB Seriesmanaged a score of 144, which is excellent (of course, that particular configuration costs a whopping $2500).

The U36S's keyboard and touchpad are pretty basic. The keyboard features fairly small Chiclet-style keys that are easy enough to type on, if a bit stiff at times. The touchpad is smooth and supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom; a wide plastic chrome-accented rocker bar sits below it. The rocker bar feels a tad cheap, but it's big enough and easy enough to press that I don't really mind.

The U36S isn't horrible, performance-wise; it's just not near the top of the pack. Its graphics performance is pretty good for this class, however, thanks to the discrete Nvidia graphics card. In PCWorld's Far Cry 2 graphics tests, the U36S managed a frame rate of 45.6 frames per second. For the sake of comparison, the average frame rate of the five most-recently reviewed ultraportables for the same test is 39.9 fps. Of course, the aforementioned Sony VAIO SB Series produced a frame rate of 75 fps, but I repeat: It's more than twice the price of the U36S.

The switchable-graphics feature also benefits multimedia playback on the U36S. The results aren't excellent--some blocky artifacting mars darker scenes--but they are great for an ultraportable. The 13.3-inch glossy screen, which has a native resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels, is a pleasure to look at. It's superbright, which is definitely a good thing (after all, ultraportables aren't meant to be kept in the perfect lighting of your living room), and it handles color and contrast very well. Occasionally scenes look a little washed out, but there's nothing that I can really complain about.

Sound on the U36S is another story. I don't expect too much from the speakers on an ultraportable laptop--they're usually cheap, small, and shoved under the chassis. The U36S's speakers are typical, as they're located on the bottom front curve of the chassis, which makes them difficult to hear if you happen to have the computer on your lap. And, well, even if you don't have the computer on your lap, they're still pretty quiet.

Audio representation is absolutely awful on the U36S: Voices sound muffled and far away, and music is full of weird echoes. I'm not sure what's going on with these speakers, exactly, but they're painful to listen to. Occasionally the U36S tries to do some faux surround sound, and voices end up sounding even farther away. For example, imagine listening to a TV that's in your neighbor's garage. That's pretty much what these speakers sound like.

Despite the Asus U36S's speaker issues, this is an awesome machine. This ultraportable is attractive, slim, and light, and it has excellent battery life and good graphics. Plus, it has a bunch of little features you'll love: USB 3.0, Blu-ray Disc software, Bluetooth, and switchable graphics. Its performance isn't bad, either. Heck, if Asus could put some real speakers in this thing, it would basically be perfect.

Posted by: Mirza Hassan Baig

Source:http://www.pcworld.com/article/242107/asus_u36s_an_almost_perfect_ultraportable.html

Logitech Wireless Boombox for the iPad

Logitech seems to be doing a lot of wonders with wireless technology, like the Wireless headset that I reviewed a few weeks ago.
Now they have the Wireless Boombox, which I also got a chance to try out. There are some portable speakers that produce some real kickin’ sound that can really rock a room. The actual specs are two 3 inch laser-tuned neodymium drivers for a rich mid range, two half-inch neodymium tweeters, and four two-inch passive radiators for some serious deep bass.
Even though this product has “for the iPad” in its name, this is really false advertising. In reality, this product will pair and connect with any product that is Bluetooth compatible. If it doesn’t connect wirelessly, then you can use the included audio cable and connect it via 3.5 mm aux jack.
These speakers have a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable, a NiMH battery that is good for six hours on a full charge. Assuming that you are carrying your Bluetooth compatible device with you, you can carry the Wireless Boombox on your shoulder like a ghetto blaster from the eighties. It also has a pop-out stand in the back so you can stand it up on a table or other flat surface.

Source : http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20111028/logitech-wireless-boombox-ipad/

posted by: Vikash Kumar

MicroVision SHOWWX+ HDMI is first RIM pico projector

So you are still one of those who decide to stick with your BlackBerry, even though the rest of your corporate mates have made the jump over to the iOS and Android operating systems? Well, here is a little bit of good news for you – the MicroVision SHOWWX+ HDMI is first pico projector for Research In Motion (RIM) customers, and it will soon be up for sale. Guess making business presentations will be a whole lot easier now with this particular pico projector, no?
The SHOWWX+ HDMI is said to be able to easily connect to a wide range of devices such as computers, mobile gizmos as well as other compatible pieces of consumer electronics, including RIM’s very own Blackberry Playbook of course, letting you display your presentation content at more than 100″ in diagonal image size on any type of surface – preferably one that is flat and white, as your eyes (as well as those of your viewers) will greatly appreciate such a background.

This particular pico projector is diminutive enough in size to slip into a shirt pocket easily, where it delivers two hours of battery life thereabouts – pretty much the industry standard, really, making it ideal for just about all mobile applications that range from sharing business documents in between meetings or to playing a wall-sized version of Angry Birds while waiting for your public transport.
Alexander Tokman, president and CEO, MicroVision, says, “Partnering with GlobalWare dramatically expands the global availability of SHOWWX+ HDMI, and gives us a strong foothold into business audiences where the ability to visually collaborate anywhere is increasingly important. It’s rewarding to join forces with companies like GlobalWare to enable people to see bigger – whether they are on the road, at the office or home.”
Each purchase of the SHOWWX+ HDMI pico projector will come bundled with an iBOLT holder for the Blackberry Playbook. There is no pricing detail on the product page, so we will leave it at that for the moment.

Source : http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20111028/microvision-showwx-hdmi-rim-pico-projector/#more-61890

Posted by :Vikash Kumar

MAC VS PC's:10 Differences Between Macs and PCs ............

So, which is better -- Mac or PC?Following are the 10 differences between Macs and PCs and decide for yourself.

1: Customer Satisfaction

Probably the most striking difference between Macs and PCs is in customer satisfaction. In the most recent surveys conducted by both PCWorld and PCMag, readers chose Apple computers over every single brand of PC available. Macs scored high marks in categories like reliability, service experience and even phone hold time. The only category in which Mac scored low was percentage of laptops needing repairs. It didn't seem to matter, though, as Mac also topped the category, "likelihood of recommending."

2: Security

Another big difference between Mac and PC is the level of security you can expect from viruses and other unwanted intrusions. Because the vast majority of the world's computers run Microsoft Windows, most attacks focus on PCs. Malware like Trojans, which trick users into installing them by pretending to be something desirable, like antivirus programs, and botnets, which quietly enlist computers into an army ofzombie machines designed to distribute spam or advertise fraud, are now common threats to PCs, but rarely harm Macs.

3: Software

One of the most important reasons Mac hasn't captured a larger share of the computer market is the lack of software written for its operating system. This insufficiency is most obvious in business computing, where most applications were standardized on Windows PCs years ago. Even if a business did determine that Mac offered a better product, it would take a tremendous amount of time and money to make the switch. Mac has made some inroads by collaborating with Microsoft on the popular Office Suite, but the shortage of specialized business software remains a concern for many companies.

4: Users

One thing that both Mac and Windows PC fans have in common is passion for the brands themselves. Get a diverse group of computer users together and introduce the subject of Macs versus PCs and watch the sparks fly! Mac users will bring up concepts like security, usability and design. PC owners will counter with price, software compatibility and choice. It can get really ugly really fast (but it's fun to watch).

5: Operating Systems

The operating system has been a long-standing difference between Mac and PC; currently, Mac computers are preinstalled with OS X Lion, while PCs come with Microsoft Windows 7. Between 2007 and 2009, when Windows Vistawas Microsoft's operating system, OS X was widely regarded as the better of the two software packages. Vista was sluggish, prone to crashing and plagued by pop-up dialogue boxes. However, Microsoft has made significant improvements in the stability and performance of Windows 7, making the current choice more a matter of personal preference in terms of functionality and layout.

6: Availability

When it comes to third-party retail stores, Apple is more selective than the PC manufacturers about where it will sell its products. The California company's flagship retail outlet is the Apple Store, which first opened its doors in 2001 at the Tysons Corner Mall in McLean, Va. Since then, Apple has opened more than 300 additional stores in 43 states and 11 countries [source: [source: Apple]. Because these outlets are generally built only in large population centers, Apple has entered into several on-again off-again agreements with electronics chains like Best Buy, CompUSA, Computer City, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center, Office Max and Sears to reach a broader customer base. Still, Macs aren't available at many of the stores that sell PCs -- namely the world's largest retailer, Walmart. Of course, you can order Macs and Windows machines from stores on the Internet, as well.

7: Choice

Perhaps the most obvious difference between a Mac and a PC is the number of configurations available for each brand. Currently, Apple offers just five computer lines: the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro, the Mac mini, the iMac and the Mac Pro. Even if each configuration of these models is counted individually, as of this writing Apple only offers a total of 18 uniquecomputers. This limited selection is not a sign of weakness, but a part of the company's "less is more" approach to marketing.

8: Technical Specifications

The technical specifications offered by Macs and PCs can be very similar or very different, depending on which brand and line you're comparing. While they both have similar internal parts (processors, RAM, hard drives, video cards), the speed and capacity of these components vary. Macs will generally outperform low-end PCs, because the Apple product lines typically boast more expensive and better-quality parts. Comparing Macs with higher-end PCs is a little more difficult. Generally, though, Macs have faster processors than their Windows counterparts but tend to skimp slightly when it comes to RAM, hard disk space and USB ports.

9: Price

One of the most frequently cited differences between Macs and PCs is price. Few Mac products sell for less than $1,000, while there are dozens of PC models that fall within that price range. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that Macs are more expensive than PCs with similar specifications. Rather, in general, Apple has chosen to build its Mac line around higher-end computers with better -- and more costly -- components.

10: Design

If you grew up in the 1980s, the concept of design might seem like a superficial and unimportant aspect of a computer. But design is a big differentiator between Macs and PCs. For the better part of three decades, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs focused on the outward appearance of his company's products with an enthusiasm unmatched by his competitors. The unique designs that resulted from this obsession have given Mac products the "hip" image that they enjoy today.

POSTED BY;ABDUL ZAHIR JAN MAGSI

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/macs/10-differences-between-macs-and-pcs.htm

Skype security flaw can expose a user's location

Topic concern with Cybersecurity

     Skype is known for being cheap and extremely secure, but the reputation of the internet telephone service has taken a knock after researchers revealed how to covertly track the location of people who use it.

The problem lies with the service's peer-to-peer technology, which establishes a direct connection between the two people participating in a call. Expericed system experts worked out how to investigate that connection to reveal the IP address of the person they were contacting.

 IP (Internet Protocol) addresses identify individual computers and can be used to locate a device in the city, and sometimes even the specific building, where it is being used.

 Le Blond is a famous researcher and he revealed some security risk using Skype. 

-Le Blond's hack is doubly worrying because it can be executed without alerting the victim. His team showed that they could initiate a Skype connection and scoop up the IP address without the person's Skype account ever registering the call.

-What's more, a malicious hacker could scale the process and automatically track many users at once. Le Blond and colleagues demonstrated this by showing that they could check the location of 10,000 Skype users on an hourly basis. Location information can be potentially embarrassing or even dangerous: stalkers could use the hack to pursue victims and employers could check up on the location of employees.

Skype management has already taken  notice of the Skype  problem in May, but that the security hole remains open. Skype's Chief Information Security Officer, Adrian Asher,in the article, "through research and development, we will continue to make advances in this area and improvements to our software."

 posted by Mirza Ahsan Baig;

What does the VTEC system in a engine do?

If you have read How Car Engines Work, you know about the valves that let air into the engine and let exhaust out of the engine. You also know about the camshaft that controls the valves. The camshaft uses rotating lobes that push against the valves to open and close them. Check out How Camshafts Work for more information.
It turns out that there is significant relationship between the way the lobes are
ground on the camshaft and the way the engine performs in different rpm(rotations per minute) ranges. To understand why this is the case, imagine that we are running an engine extremely slowly -- at just 10 or 20 rpm, so it takes the piston seconds to complete a cycle. It would be impossible to actually run a normal engine this slowly, but imagine that we could. We would want to grind the camshaft so that, just as the piston starts moving downward in the intake stroke, the intake valve would open. The intake valve would close right as the piston bottoms out. Then the exhaust valve would open right as the piston bottoms out at the end of the combustion stroke and would close as the piston completes the exhaust stroke. That would work great for the engine as long as it ran at this very slow speed.
­W­hen you increase the rpm, however, this configuration for the camshaft does not work well. If the engine is running at 4,000 rpm, the valves are opening and closing 2,000 times every minute, or thirty to fourty times every second. When the intake valve opens right at the top of the intake stroke, it turns out that the piston has a lot of trouble getting the air moving into the cylinder in the short time available (a fraction of a second). Therefore, at higher rpm ranges you want the intake valve to open prior to the intake stroke -- actually back in the exhaust stroke -- so that by the time the piston starts moving downward in the intake stroke, the valve is open and air moves freely into the cylinder during the entire intake stroke. This is something of a simplification, but you get the idea. For maximum engine performance at low engine speeds, the valves need to open and close differently than they do at higher engine speeds. If you put in a good low-speed camshaft, it hurts the engine's performance at high speeds, and if you put in a good high-speed camshaft it hurts the engine's performance at low speeds (and in extreme cases can make it very hard to start the engine!).
VTEC (which stands for Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) is an electronic and mechanical system in some Honda engines that allows the engine to effectively have multiple camshafts. As the engine moves into different rpm ranges, the engine's computer can activate alternate lobes on the camshaft and change the cam's timing. In this way, the engine gets the best features of low-speed and high-speed camshafts in the same engine. Several of the links below go into the actual mechanics of the VTEC system if you are interested.
Several engine manufacturers are experimenting with systems that would allow infinite variability in valve timing. For example, imagine that each valve had a solenoid on it that could open and close the valve under computer control rather than relying on a camshaft. With this type of system, you would get maximum engine performance at every rpm range. Something to look forward to in the future...
POSTED BY:ABDUL ZAHIR JAN MAGSI
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question229.htm