Latest Hi Tech News

Heads up, owners of 64bit PCs that going to upgrade to WinXPx64. If you’re contemplating upgrading your machine to Windows x64, using Microsoft’s tempting “Technology Advancement Program”, which is, basically, a $12 upgrade from XP to x64, you could end up violating your PC’s warranty.

In fact, when you agree on Microsoft’s conditions to get the upgrade, you agree that your PC’s warranty will be voided. In a sense, this is nothing new: PC warranties are often voided in theory if you make any changes to your system. (A show of hands, please: How many of you have never made a single change to your computer?) And according to the eWeek story, different vendors have varying policies on whether they object to the x64 upgrade or not. But it certainly looks as if it’s worth checking in with your manufacturer before you give Microsoft your twelve bucks.

Anyway, clone 64bit PC owners like me, will not be affected, because we are the one warranting the system. :D

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After 4 months of the launch of Google Video Beta in January 2005, Yahoo on Thursday, May 5, 2005, is releasing a finalized version of its video search engine, after five months of testing.

Google introduced a program in which independent and professional video producers can upload their shows into Google Video. Now, Yahoo said that it will allow video creators to send links of their content via Really Simple Syndication (RSS) for inclusion in its database.

Google has alreadt got new liaisons with TV programmers, including the Discovery Channel and CNN, so that people can find still images and text of their shows in Google’s index. Yahoo will also announce alliances with CBS News, MTV, Reuters and others to include their video clips within its searchable database as well.

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The price of LCD monitor is predicted to rise in the second quarter of 2005, according to source.

That follows carnage for the manufacturers for the last 10 months or so, when prices for panels fell to a point where they were almost being sold at cost.

It’s the 17-inch LCD monitors that the manufacturers are pinning their hopes on, with prices showing a rise in April and expected to rise further during this and next month.

The distribution channel has been awash with monitors for nearly a year, and that’s led some PC makers to bundle smaller monitors with systems.

However, there now appears to be a shortness of supply of 17-inch screens, although whether may be a combination of throttling of supply as well as somewhat increased demand because of increased PC sales.

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Apple Ipod has been in the market for quite some time already, but did you know the idea of Ipod was not originally from Apple?

The iPod was almost not released by Apple. The products creator, Tony Fadell, had shopped the idea to Phillips and RealNetworks before proposing the idea to Apple. Fadell found a welcoming environment at Apple, who agreed almost immediately to produce and market the device.

Several limitations were found in the first version of Ipod. There was no remote control, this despite a connector designed for such a purpose. There were no games available for it too.

One month after the domestic launch of the iPod, the iPod was launched in Europe and was accompanied by new peripherals, such as charging adapters, FM broadcasters and a plethora of cases. By the end of 2001, Apple had already sold as many as 125,000 units.

In March of 2002, a 10 GB version of the iPod was released. Along with the new iPod, came a software update that included several bug fixes, and a new equalizer. Just four months later, in July 2002, a new 20 GB version was released, with a major price drop for the 5 and 10 GB versions. This new veriosn is IBM PC compatibled.

Shortly before New Years of 2003, Apple announced that it would ship special edition iPods that would feature text or graphics engraved on the back, as their new marketing strategy. A customer could opt for their own design, or choose the signature of Madonna, Tony Hawk, Beck or the NoDoubt logo on the chrome back. The service cost $50.

As a summary of the year 2002, iPod having sold already 700,000 units thoughout the year.

In June of 2003, Apple shipped its millionth iPod, and by September of the same year, it had sold 1.4 million. Apple replaced MusicMatch on the PC with its own iTunes software thus allowing Windows PC users to use the iTunes Music Store and sync the songs with their iPod.

Apple was preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Macintosh at the end of 2003, that’s the time their new player — the iPod mini get its debut. It was to be outfitted with a new 4 GB hard drive, in stark contrast to the hundreds of megabytes offered by flash based players of comparable prices.

On January 8, 2004, Apple and HP joined forces to co-market the iPod and iTunes Music Store. The new HP+iPod is based on the 4th generation iPod, and was released in September of 2004.

In the year 2004, Apple also released a U2 special edition of their iPod, in all black with a red scroll wheel. The U2 version was bundled with a discount off a digital boxed set of music from the group. To celebrate the launch, the group did its very first advertisement. Apple did not have to pay U2 for their endorsements — U2 figured the iPod was enough recognition.

Later in the year 2004, Apple’s first flash-based MP3 player, Ipod Shuffle was released. Ipod Shuffle is the only flash player that can play encoded AAC files. Unlike other models, the shuffle does not have a FireWire port. Instead, it relies on USB 2.0.

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Did you hear the heart broken sound at 5am this morning? :(

Anyway, good luck to The Kop.

PC maker, Alienware Corporate, have released 2 Aurora PCs with Star Wars themes on it, named Light Side and Dark Side.

Both Aurora Light Side and Dark Side models are built on AMD64 Technology, combine innovation, simplicity, and the foresight to deliver next-generation computing performance today. For hardcore gamers, here is a great news, it can be configured to have NVIDIA SLI Technology too. :) NVIDIA SLI takes advantage of the increased bandwidth of the PCI Express bus architecture, and leverages hardware and software features inherent to NVIDIA GPUs (graphics processing units) and NVIDIA nForce4 MCPs (media and communications processors).

Need security? Both Aurora PCs have NVIDIA® ActiveArmor™ as well. NVIDIA® ActiveArmor™ is a hardware-accelerated firewall that works seamlessly at all times to ensure your network connection is fully protected at all times – even during wicked-fast multiplayer gaming sessions and large file downloads or network transfers.

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