Gadget?

I thought that gadget refers to any "thing" which is first of the first "technological". No one will dispute this. Period.

Then I consulted three sources (thefreedictionary.com, Wikipedia, and merriam-webster.com) for gadget and a concept shared by the three of them is "novelty" (the quality of being new and fresh and interesting).

Keeping "gadget" and "novelty" is mind, I searched Endgadget and Crunchgear for keywords "electric cigarette" and found some coverages, reports, and reviews. Good. I was quite sure that my proposition was correct: electric cigarette, being a new technological product (emerged in 2008), is a gadget.

But I was forced to postpone the definitive classification for the so-called "electric cigarette" because, strange enough, Gizmodo did archived articles for my keywords but the results are not relevant. I have faith for Gizmodo because the synonym for gadget is gizmo -- the name of the site implies that.

My casual research left me wondering, is "electric cigarette" a true gadget/gizmo or not? (When I typed "gizmo" here, red line always appears, indicating that the word is alien for blogspot) Why is "electric cigarette" looked like being neglected by the gadget experts at Gizmodo then? Is it because "electric cigarette" is not as popular as the other "new technological thing"/s and hence does not deserves a little bit attention? Isn't this fake smoke a new technological creation?

Smoking is very popular, but Lucky Strikes and Marlboro wouldn't fit with Gizmodo, unless those cigarettes have something to do with gadgets (shoot - the search result for lighter is not relevant either).

Question marks still hover in the air. Does anyone willing to ascertain whether "electric cigarette" a gizmo or not?***


Image: crunchgear

Attack!

Apple hath given tablet one face, and now Windows wants to make itself another.

“Attack” is the unspoken slogan of today’s battle of gadgets. Last week, we saw Toshiba insulted iPad and then got a barrage of scornful reviews. This week, the slogan is re-articulated with Windows arrogantly sneers at iPad and boasts the superiority of its Windows 7 slates.

Windows lately spread to its partners a curious PowerPoint deck. With this deck, the empire hopes to be able to help its vassals selling the slates against the iPad in 2011. ZDNet republished 10 of the slides, all of them highlighting key differences that make Windows better than the senile.

Focuses mainly on the enterprise, Windows affixes checks for things like getting work done offline, supporting Microsoft Office and its data synchronization tools, and working with existing lines of business application. These superiorities are still added with the support for peripherals, security protocols, Adobe’s Flash (Toshiba had already claimed this) and Microsoft’s Sulverlight.

Windows’s accusation for iPad is rather hard to deny though: iPad is a consumption device that is too harsh for the existing enterprise security or application standards – most of us would agree with this sensitive charge. On the other side, Windows 7 slate is very friendly with off- and online data use, has a design for both creating content and consuming, and support for peripherals.

This bulk of advantages is far from finished: Windows 7 slate should be easy in handling pen and writing technology, speech recognition, touch support, plus natural UI and video technologies.

Apparently, Microsoft is in the queue line of those who worked hard to deprive Apple off its iPadistas. But, with Xoom being doubted, and Toshiba being underestimated, Microsoft won’t step further from that line either. However, this should not be taken off for granted: we don’t know what is going inside Steve Ballmer’s team.

Failure is close to the line though if we measure the effort with speed only. CES 2010 saw Mr. Ballmer paid attention to a bunch of Windows 7 slate concepts. That year, consumers found only HP’s slate 500 devices on their hands. What’s more, CES 2011 does not witness any slate, but myriad of devices designed to showcase Windows’ next ARM capabilities instead.

The most possible candidate for distracting iPadistas, Windows Phone OS, until now only left us speculating whether it is going to strengthen Window’s tablet form factor. However, if it were indeed seeing the light, of course it will only be a temporary strategy to fill a one year gap period until 2012, when Windows 8 machines are expected to finally hit the market.

But for today and perhaps the next many months, we still shall see the iPad as a sole tablet. And sure enough we will be watching more attacks.***


Image: ZDNet

Don't Buy the iPhone 4 White

If Joshue Topolsky of Endgadget were correct in predicting that the new, redesigned 5th series of iPhone is going to see the light in the summer, then don't buy the iPhone White - even if you are a dead iPhoneista. Hold on, can I buy the White now? Er, does the White exist at all after so long a hurly-burly that eventually had ended in emptiness and withdrawal? Is there any store in the world that really sells iPhone 4 White?

I think we are walking on double paths of rumors which, on the second thought, are unified by a rather vulgar arrangement by AT&T. First, let's consider the mysterious White. TechnoBuffalo and BGR reported that

AT&T is now showing two versions of Apple’s unicorn-colored iPhone. The entries appear in AT&T’s Online Account Management system (OLAM), and read as “iPhone 4 – 16GB White” and “iPhone 4 – 32GB White.” While the carrier’s online account tool obviously wouldn’t include any indication as far as when we might expect white iPhone 4 models to hit the store shelves, it’s looking like late February or early March at this point.

How much is the distance separating late February or early March and summer? A couple of months. Now, if I were to buy the White straight away after I finished my coffee in the next morning, then I absolutely will have to throw it away no time since - being a true iPhoneista - I have to catch up with the summers' iPhone 5. Lo, what a thrift! Then what in the earth does At&T  up to?

BGR correctly diagnozed:

You know — just enough time to lock subscribers into new two-year contracts and then have them freak out a few months later when the next-generation iPhone (the next-generation is of course the iPhone 5 -- me) is announced.

Apparently, AT&T is targetting newbie, innocent iPhoneistas who are for one or ten reasons can't catch up with the dynamics in the campus.

Hence the advice should be: don't buy either 16GB nor 32GB iPhone 4 White however you crave for it. It will be a lot better to have a little bit patient so as to save the dollar for the 5th series. Moreover, preferring the 5th could be a wise option because if Mr. Topolsky is -- again -- correct then the next series will be quite new species of iPhone.

The iPhone 5 is expected to be as follows. A completely redesigned handset which is on track for a summer launch, the device is right now being tested discreetly by senior staff at Apple (strictly on campus only). The new device will be a total rethink from a design standpoint and will be running atop Apple's new A5 CPU (a Cortex A9-based, multi-core chip). This device, like the iPad 2, will feature a Qualcomm chipset that does triple duty as the CDMA / GSM / UMTS baseband processor -- the absence of LTE in the mix is to be expected.

Be patient and you will be satisfied.***


Image: PCMag

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita worth more than all of the dust

Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg, recently fought with the Dutch company Spyker for the right to possession of the brand Saab, in order to reach the mass market models, returned to his more usual for a business, building a supercar, the value of which presented a new masterpiece of Scandinavian title of most expensive car in the world.

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita most expensive and luxurious car in the world, because his body generously showered with grit. This is an innovative technology of the new carbon-fiber bodywork and other parts of the supercar.

Carbon fiber enclosures Car Koenigsegg known throughout the world: in their production technology applies a special weave of carbon fibers. Just before the body had the traditional black color, but now the company has developed a unique method of production of carbon fiber, through which car body sparkled silver and diamond color. The secret technology lies in the fact that each individual fiber is put diamond dust.

Exclusive coverage provides unsurpassed effect: When sunlight on the body of the car - it starts to flash, as if strewn with thousands of diamonds.

Diamond sports car Koenigsegg, with 5-liter V8-shaped motor power 1018 hp, has a maximum speed of 100 km / h in 2,9 sec. "The upper threshold speed - 402 km / h, and this is not the limit, as developers claim.

In completing Diamonds are carbon-ceramic brakes with ABS, "Hydraulics", lifting a car to increase ground clearance, shift paddles speeds, an infotainment system and monitoring of tires, exhaust system, made of special alloy inconell, as well as dual carbon spoiler.

In the light will appear only three Trevita. On this "pedigree" of this unique branch of the family Koenigsegg interrupted because Trevita in translation from Swedish means "three whites"

2010 Mazda 3 Sedan

 

The new Mazda 3 Sedan is perfectly positioned for the rapidly changing automotive market. It offers a mix of quality, styling, power, dynamics and fit and finish that meets the demands of today’s customers. In typical Mazda fashion, this new Mazda 3 Sedan will offer standard and optional equipment not found on other cars in its class – exactly what buyers want when seeking compact cars providing outstanding value.

 

Inside, the new Mazda 3 Sedan offers a sporty yet highly refined cabin – the dash sweeping dramatically from its centre to the sides of the cabin. The large gauge instrument cluster and centre stack are positioned to tightly link the driver’s limbs and senses to the car’s instruments and controls.

New 2008 Chrysler Sebring Car

The Chrysler 300 was the first Detroit sedan in a long while to really set the country on fire. At the same time, it also introduced a new concept: Chryslers, apparently, don't have to be mediocre. Predictably, when they're not mediocre, they sell. The 300 looks cool, is fun to drive, and in 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 form, is seriously fast. As a result, more than 300,000 have left dealer lots since 2004. And as for the new Sebring sedan? Its styling is divisive at best, it lacks the driver involvement of even a Honda Accord, and its most notable element is its radio (see sidebar). Not exactly a recipe for success. As a package, the Sebring doesn't have anything inherently wrong with it. Performance and quality levels are finally in line with those of the average Japanese mid-size four-door--albeit one from seven or eight years ago. Value is arguably excellent; the base Sebring offers front, side, and side curtain air bags as standard, for example, but costs $1735 less than last year's car. Cornering stability, maneuverability, and ride comfort are all improved. And while the steering still lacks feedback, it's at least linear in feel and nicely weighted--something the 2001-05 Sebring sedan never could lay claim to. The key ingredient of the 300's goodness is that Hemi. Unfortunately, the Sebring's top-spec engine, a relatively torquey 235-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, is no Hemi. It has neither the refinement of a Toyota V-6 nor the character of Honda's six. And while the 3.5-liter's standard six-speed manu-matic shifts smoothly and intuitively, the four-speed automatics mated to the 2.4-liter four and the 2.7-liter V-6 are somewhat clunky and rough. Unfortunately, "better than last year" isn't the kind of ammunition that makes for great cars (let alone good ones). And ultimately, it makes us wonder: Why shouldn't the Sebring be something more? Why can't it blow the Accord and the Camry out of the water? If the 300 has taught us anything, it's that Chrysler can rally the troops and build something truly special. This isn't.

New 2005 Dodge Viper vs F-16 Viper

Ahead of us, the runway stretches seemingly into eternity, its physical dimensions masked by a shimmering heat haze. In the nearer distance, two giant red flags delineate the quarter- and half-mile posts of this makeshift drag strip. And to the right, as we stage on one of Luke Air Force Base's two runways, there's a menacing, flat gray F-16 Viper of the U.S. Air Force's 56th Fighter Wing. Cool or what?That's right: We're racing a $20 million fighter plane. The chosen weapon is a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, the racing version of the V-10 supercar. Strapped in tight, open exhausts blaring, I'm waiting for the countdown from the Luke tower to race the fighter, which is going to blast off using its afterburner for added impetus. Me? I have 520 hp against 25,000 pounds of thrust. It's like sending out a peashooter against an Uzi.

As the tower radios, "Viper two, ready?" my pulse elevates and my breathing deepens. The Comp Coupe has a trick carbon-carbon clutch, and it requires a deft touch to get the car off the line without lighting up the slick tires or bogging down. If I get this wrong, there's ridicule from the Dodge and USAF guys and humiliation in front of more than 100,000 people at the Luke Days air show. I tell the tower that I'm ready, but they don't hear. A second, plaintive "Viper two, ready?" and I reply in the affirmative again. No response. The tower isn't hearing me. Luckily, Corey "Slick" Hermesch, the F-16 pilot, is, and he calls in that we're ready to race.

Almost immediately, the tower starts the countdown. I dip the clutch, engage first gear, and plant the tach "needle" on the MoTec digital gauge cluster at four grand. On "Go!" I release the clutch and try to balance power versus grip as the fat rear slicks attempt to make out with the concrete. The Viper hooks up pretty well after a bit too much initial wheel spin, and pretty soon it's into second,

at which point the car snaps sideways-dammit!-and I have to correct and back off for an instant. Back on the power, it's time to bang the lever into third at just over 6000 rpm. The quarter-mile flag is approaching rapidly-very rapidly-and a glance to the right brings the plane into view for the first time since we lined up.

The Dodge launches much better than the F-16, so the car is marginally ahead through the quarter-mile, but thereafter it's toast. The Comp Coupe breaks the half-mile at more than 155 mph, but by that stage, Hermesch has left the ground, having held the F-16 on the deck at 224 mph (195 knots), somewhat beyond its normal rotational speed of 186 mph. It's not as if the Comp Coupe is slow: in pre-event testing, we managed 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, 0 to 100 mph in 6.3 seconds, and we hit 0 to 160 mph in 15 seconds on this run.

This was the last of four races that we had lined up at the air show held at Luke AFB, near Phoenix, Arizona. The plan was that on Saturday, Herb Helbig-spiritual keeper of the Viper flame and senior manager of vehicle synthesis, chassis, and quality at Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology-would race a 2006 Viper SRT10 Coupe against an F-16 flying in military power (nonafterburner) form, and I would take on the afterburner F-16 in the Comp Coupe. To give it more of a chance, the SRT guys had lightened the Comp Coupe by removing the antiroll bars, electric fan, and mufflers, among other modifications. The races would be repeated on Sunday.

The idea was originally concocted by Tony Estes, a past president of the Viper Club of America, and Cameron White, who were both honorary base commanders at the time. They thought the race would be a great way to raise money for the base's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fund, which helps ease the burden on families who have service personnel posted overseas for extended terms of duty. The first race was run in 2002 and repeated in 2003. Before we turned up at the 2005 event, the score stood at three-all.

New 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8

Dan Knott, the surprisingly mild-mannered ringleader of DaimlerChrysler's chest-thumping Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Group, understands his job. It's to create limited-edition heart pounders for those customers who agree with the SRT philosophy that you can never have too much horsepower. SRT has successfully applied a healthy whack of power and visual pizzazz to everything from the lowliest Neon (SRT4) to the full-size Ram pickup and Viper supercar (both SRT10s).

Ramping up a hot-rod SRT Dodge Charger for sale this fall was a no-brainer. "People would question our sanity if we didn't do an SRT Charger," said Knott as he unveiled the eighth SRT model. Yes, Dan, they would. Be-cause if there is a car that needs some special attention, it is the Charger. Actually, the first thing the Charger needs is two doors, not four, judging by the buzz at the Detroit auto show, where it was revealed in January. The second thing it needs is a more graceful, more handsome, better-proportioned styling execution than the somewhat squinty-eyed, overfendered mass contrived to fit the platform of the fresh 300C upon which it was based.

SRT to the rescue with the third-best possible fix: more horsepower and plenty of it. But straight-line acceleration is strictly old school. To SRT, performance begins with power and torque, continues with superior handling dynamics and ride quality, and ends in a hurry, with braking improvement in direct proportion to acceleration achievement.

The rear-wheel-drive Charger SRT8 ar-rives from finishing school with all of that and more. We've had the pleasure of sampling this 425-hp version of the regular V-8 Hemi, bored from 5.7 to 6.1 liters, in the Chrysler 300C SRT8. We loved it then, and can't imagine any other reaction this time around. The same 300C SRT8 specs apply to the Charger SRT8: 420 lb-ft of torque peaking at 4800 rpm, a healthy 10.3:1 compression ratio, and an electronically limited 6400-rpm redline. Same gas guzzler situation, too, of course. But we're talking super-limited volume, so move on.

The Charger SRT8's five-speed manu-matic transmission sends power to the upgraded differential and axles through a heavy-duty prop shaft. The only notable difference in the Charg-er SRT8's suspension versus that of the 300C SRT8's upgraded bushings and spring rates, specially tuned dampers, and larger diameter antiroll bars, according to Knott, is its more aggressive, "Dodge-like" tuning for a sportier ride and bad-boy demeanor on the track. ABS and ESP have been tuned in that same macho spirit, and the Charger SRT8 rides a half-inch lower than the Charger R/T.

Curb weight is estimated to be identical to the 300C SRT8's at 4160 pounds, about 130 pounds more than the Charger R/T, so it seems reasonable to expect virtually identical performance numbers, unless the Charger SRT8's shape gives it an aerodynamic edge over the 300C SRT8's estimated 0-to-60-mph time in the five-second range and its 165-mph estimated top speed. The Charger SRT8's hood scoops were wind-tunnel tuned to supply cool air to the engine compartment without inflicting lift.

Almost as beautiful as the big horsepower number is the exhilarating braking performance promised by the shining red, oversized, four-pot Brembos at each wheel, which Knott says will haul the Charger SRT8 down from 60 mph to a full stop in a mere 110 feet. Ducting that's integrated in the new front fascia for the vented discs was also wind-tunnel tested to help downforce.

A key component in the ride-and-handling equation will be the high-performance Goodyear F1 Supercar rubber-245/45YR-20 in front, and 255/45YR-20 in the rear-wrapping the Charger SRT8's unique, wildly carved five-spoke, twenty-inch, forged-aluminum wheels. It's a different wheel from the 300C SRT8's, but the rubber is the same. A four-season tire will be available as an option.

As for appearances, SRT's Charger brings some relief, with its aforementioned hood scoop, a honeycomb grille insert, a wisp of a spoiler hovering above the trunk, a deep front fascia that also includes an air dam to aid lift reduction, and those all-important dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips.

The interior will have Dodge SRT instrumentation and the sort of highly bolstered seats you'd expect in your demon Dodge.

Yes, it has four doors, and no, it's still no beauty. But if the SRT8 version of the Charger goes the way its Chrysler 300C SRT8 twin goes-and there's no reason it shouldn't-it will have gone quite a distance in restoring some performance credibility to a great name that once ruled America's streets.

SPECS

Price: $39,000 (est.)
Engine: 6.1L OHV V-8, 425 hp, 420 lb-ft
Drive: Rear-wheel
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec
Top speed: 165 mph

Bad Health Yields Excellent Result

He even managed to elegantly announced his health leave but too many media (Gizmodo, BBC, among others) have already written about him as if he would certainly be going in the next two or three days.

I don't mean to be impolite or disrespectful but the writings themselves had revealed how a bad health of the Apple emperor had almost been followed by a successful toy.

Could it be that Mr. Jobs' -- BBC just polite enough mentioning him with attribution "Mr" -- health is a kind of "marketing tactic" to draw more attention to him AND the product/s-to-be? If it were, what would be more phenomenal than iPhone 4 and iPad?

However, that question should be reconsidered when you hear Job's (:D) addressed Stanford students in 2005, after a temporary success in combating cancer:

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important thing I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life."

I won't go with market and gadgets analysis. I can clearly see that Mr. Job had indeed made big choices in his and millions of Apple users' life. May be death is really the greatest fuel for anyone to achieve something worth noted.***

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

CNET gave 4 stars for this gadget. Canon EOS 5D Mark II deserves these scores. Its performance was almost perfect. It produces good shots quality plus good video capabilities and quality above average. However, it doesn't mean that EOS 5D Mark II has no weaknesses. The digital camera is not equipped with built-in wireless controller, a large spot meter, do not have a built-in flash, the AF system is relatively out of date. 

Bottom line: Fluid shooting experience and the fine photos you expect from a professional model. 

After the success three years ago with 5D, Canon has not made the improvements expected by the fans of EOS 5D. In fact, technology in digital cameras is growing very rapidly in recent years. However, when finally an upgrade came out, fans may be nodding their heads. With about $ 5,000, EOS D5 Mark II is based on the basic features of D5 bit enhanced with some additional features.

 EOS D5 Mark II is offered in two configurations, namely body-only or a kit version with 24-10mmf/4L EF IS USM lens. A very sharp lens is very useful for models with of high-resolution such as this a-bit-heavier-than its predecessor gadget.
 
Canon wrapped dust and weather sealing around the gadget's hard cover and the buttons. In addition, Canon also increase the shutter durability up to 150,000 cycles. Mark II's body is made of coated steel chassis with magnesium alloy. Although very dense, but the ESO D5 Mark II does not feel like the D700 that feels like a tank when held by hand. Mark II, like all of Canon's pro dSLR, very comfortable in the palm.


At the top, perched around the dial and four dual-purpose buttons to adjust the size (huge 3.5 percent spot, 8 pcercent partial, center-weighed, and evaluative) and white balance. There is also AF (Single, Al Servo and Al Focus) and drive modes. In addition, the upside is also home to the ISO sensitivity and flash compensation. The top status LCD displays complete information. The current settings are displayed on the LCD as well, but you can not navigate them Away.
 
The following specifications are obtained from Cnet:

The top rear right has buttons for initiating AF, exposure lock, and focus-point selection; down the left rear are the Live View / PictBridge, Menu, Picture Styles, Info, Playback, and delete buttons. Unfortunately, most of the buttons on the body feel identical to Their neighbors. The 5D Mark II uses the Same joystick multicontroller and Quick Control Dial with Set button as its other recent models. I still like Them. (Click through the slide show for more on the camera's design and features.)

The viewfinder is Slightly larger and a bit Brighter Than the 5D's. While it offers broader coverage Than the D700's - 98 percent versus 95 percent - it falls short of the 100 percent provided by the A900 and by midrange models like the Olympus E-3. C'mon Canon, Eke out That last 2 percent, please.

The most Notable features of advantage the 5D Mark II has over its competitors is the movie-capture capability. Canon supports 1.920 x1, 080 at 30fps, true 1080p HD, with a mono mic built in and a stereo mic input, with clips of up to 12 minutes (on a 4GB card). All Things Considered, it's a pretty nice implementation. Though you can not autofocus, you adjust exposure while shooting cans; the optical stabilization works; and you cans apply Picture Styles.

Many of the new capabilities definitely target pros: a pair of low-resolution raw formats (10 and 5.2 megapixels), more-interchangeable focusing screen options, in-camera peripheral illumination correction-to compensate for brightness nonuniformity across the image, and a silent Live View mode. There's Also Face Detection AF, but it only works in Live View mode. If you do HDR work, you'll probably find the 5D Mark II's bracketing implementation a mixed bag. It's incredibly flexible compared with most - in Some respects. For instance, you cans bracket in any increments of 1 / 3, 2 / 3, 1, 1 1 / 3, 1 2 / 3, or 2 full stops, centered around any EV up to + / - 4 stops. Unfortunately, it limits you to three other exposures Nowhere cameras let you do five or seven. Argh.

The Mark II uses a new battery pack, the LP-E6, the which Reasonably Seems to last a long time: it's CIPA rated at Between 750 and 850 shots, depending upon temperature. Some Fairly Also It supports advanced reporting features. For instance, you cans register the packs and then the camera will from the date last track Used, number of shots you've taken on it since last recharge, and its ability to hold a charge, in Addition to the remaining capacity on a charge status.

However, the camera's still missing Some features Offered by the competition. Though one does not use the on-camera flash as a rule in this class, it really is nice to have in an emergency. Also Canon continues its tradition of not Including an in-camera wireless flash controller; Some traditions deserve to die. And if You Want an on-board image stabilization, the A900's your only option.

The 5D always felt a bit sluggish to me, despite the actual performance numbers to the contrary. This camera delivers the Same measured performance, but feels much zippier. And overall, it Quite fares well compared to the D700. It wakes up and shoots in 0.3 second and takes Between 0.3 and 0.6 second to shoot, depending upon lighting conditions. It typically runs about 0.4 second from shot to shot.

For burst shooting, however, it's the slowest of all the new models, partly Because of Nikon's significantly lower resolution and Sony's doubling up on the processors to maintain burst rates. Neither its 3.8fps burst-shooting speed (unlimited JPEG/14 Raw) nor its center-intensive 9-point AF system really lends Itself to Seriously fast, continuous shooting of moving subjects. And if your shooting style requires lots of AF points beyond the middle quarters of the frame, this probably Is not the camera for you. But for center focusers like me, it works quite well.

How to Make a Ringtone for iPhone

Want to make your iPhone a little more personal? Your favourite song booming from the gadget when a message or a call comes in? You can do that easily. But if you don’t know how to do that, here’s it is. Take the following steps carefully and you can wipe off that dull standard ringtone off the iPhone of yours.

1. Open up iTunes and select an MP3 file. Choose a 30 second or less portion of the file and make a note of when the section starts and when it finishes. Note: timings are important.
2. Click on the file with the right mouse button. A menu will appear. Left-click on “get info”. A grey box will now appear. On the menu bar at the top of the box, select “options”.
3. Once you have entered the two timings, click ok.
4. Go back into your iTunes song menu and play the file you’ve selected. It should now only play the 30 second section. 
5. “Right-click” the song and select 'Create AAC version' from the menu box (Note: If this option isn't visible, go to the top menu bar of the iTunes page and click “Edit” then select “preferences” in the “General” area of the new menu that appears, select 'import settings' and set the default import option to AAC).
6. A new copy of the song/clip will appear in your iTunes library. Right click that new version of the song/clip and when the menu appears, select “Show in Finder” or “Show in Explorer”.
7. Change the file extension from “.m4a” to “.m4r” and drag the new .m4r file to your desktop.
8. In your iTunes library, delete the new file you have created from the library.
9. Go back to your desktop and “double-click” in order to add it to the “Ringtones” section of iTunes.
10. Connect and sync your iPhone.
11. On your iPhone, go to settings and open the “sounds” menu. Select the “Ringtone” section and your new ringtone should be in the “custom” category, you can now select it and start using it. If it isn’t there, may be you have to restart your gadget first.

You can create ringtones as many as you like for your dear gadget. iPhone doesn't set limit for that.

Motorola Xoom the Best gadget in CES 2011

Many people believed that CES 2011 99 percent is going to give the crown to Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Apparently, it was not proven. The best gadget in that giant exhibition is Motorola Xoom. Well, at least the King uses Android.

Xoom possibly does have what it takes to overthrow iPad and top-secret iPad2. This gadget brings Tegra 2 processors, front and back facing cameras, HDMI-out, a gigantic 10-inch display, and connection to Verizon's super-fast new LTE 4G network.

Still early enough for Xoom to be fully crowned as the King of Tablet. Moreover, this gadget still have to compete with the other challengers who are also armed to the teeth such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab. We have one year to wait and see.

(Nope. It isn't available yet by the time I write this. Amazon doesn't give me the link for their store).

The benefits of Ergonomic Laptops

A user friendly laptop will always be ergonomic. Irrespective of factors at home or at workstation, the user is able to use the ergonomic laptop at his or her convenience.

Since it is friendlier than regular laptops, it yields several benefits, the most noticeable of which is its portable nature. You can use it to work in almost any place instead of trapped in a fixed workstation with its clumsy desk and chair. Its battery gives average 5-6 hours of life so that user should not need to be worried over electricity shortage until the next charging point.


It isn’t easy to differ which laptops are ergonomic. If you look at it from wireless aspect, well, all laptops are designed to minimize the use of wires. So it isn’t proper to judge an ergonomic laptop from wires. However, you can look at it from the clearest signs of a laptop to be ergonomic, that is, its keyboard. In fact, all laptops are equipped with this – and this is the main difference of laptops from those semi-laptops: tablets.

Nevertheless, not all keyboards are friendly with user. A 17-inch laptop yields more pads than a 14-inch, which means that typing will be made easier. It will be more pleasant for your fingers to dance over a complete keyboard pad rather than one with some pads had been reduced.

An ergonomic laptop should also reduces injuries and back strain. When you work with desktop, your back and neck will easily get strained. Your productivity will be reduced at some levels because you often have to adjust the monitor or keyboard to be more convenient with your back and neck demands – it took some time and energy and resulting in you got annoyed.

Now you can adjust the height of your working tool or the screen of your laptop easily. Not all laptops screen can be adjusted so as to fall down into 180 degree though. One with such feature is Toshiba laptop – all series, as far as I know. Now you can safe your eyes too because you can adjust your laptop’s lighting system. In the dark, you can make it brighter and vice versa – however, all laptops basically have this feature.***

How to Remove Apps from Your iPhone

I can’t stop myself to write this because sure enough that sum doesn’t last forever. Even for the phenomenal iPhone. With 100,000 apps and counting, wouldn’t one get sick eventually? Or at least gets confused to choose which apps one would like to showcase. Fortunately, removing an app or two from your precious handset is rather easy.

To completely remove iPhone apps, you must find the application that you would like to delete. Touch and hold down on the application for a few seconds. The screen should start to wiggle and an “X” will appear on the upper left corner of each application icon you’ve installed. Touch the “X” of the app you want to delete. Select “Delete” on confirmation. You also will be alerted that the data will also loss when an app is deleted.


However, there are some apps that are undeletable. Some of them are Notes, Safari, Stocks and Maps. These are preloaded apps that came installed on your phone. No one can delete them. One more thing: before deleting these iPhone apps, you have to be sure that you really want them vanish from your display. You had made a pretty expense for them, hadn’t you?***

A Call to Ignore (and not to Ignore) CES

I must admit that I was quite seduced with CES massive promotion. Consumer Electronic Show promised to be the place where consumer may get the latest and upcoming as well as still-in-promise-only gadget. However, a gizmodo article by Joel Johnson forced me to think again that uproar back there in Vegas.

Joel gave us a warning not to be fooled by the “consumer” in the title. The show is actually an equal-parts business show. Here buyers from huge retail chains strive to get any deal with executives from manufacturers in electronic field – a small percentage of the real consumer. (May be it will be much proper if the show is given the title “electronic business show”)

However, CES still is one of the most promising tricks to have a peek at the next year trend in electronic gadget. Who knows that a handset, revealed 1 percent only by a tidy CEO, really have what it should take to be the biggest hit next year?
This is where fresh ideas which is fought and defended by dreaming entrepreneurs can get rather intensive exposures both from the media as well as from the bigger guys in the chain.

I love those guys with the dreams. But of course I will not buy anything.***

LG GW305

If you are looking for a basic telephony machine but with some additional features, and willing to accept a rather awkward interface, LG GW305 will be enough for you. After all, you only have to pay less than $99 for it.

Compared to those highly sophisticated and expensive iPhone, Nexus, or Nokia N8, LG GW305 of course will looks humble. They’re of different class. However, when it comes to messaging, this LG will be more effective than those deemed as “smartphone”: in a sense, the gadget is a “smart-phone” if viewed from “effective functionality” side.

You really can use this phone to make a call and texting as well as to showcase that though you are one with basic-functioning-minded in phone matters, you still can take it off your pocket and need not be ashamed since its qwerty pad makes an appearance of a blackberry-like with rather cheap price. That way this gadget becomes “smart”.


However, being a quasi-smartphone makes LG GW305 does not have those features you usually find in the “true” smartphone: no fast and comfortable viewing browser such as one in iPhone or Nexus, no front camera, no document editing, no Wi-Fi. Nevertheless aside from basic telephony such as making calls and texting, this gadget still have several cool features to offer.

One of the remarkable among them is the music player. When you turn it on, you will have two options for the display. This is rather humble still. But you can make playlists and when the songs are played you will be amazed. The sound from its internal speakers is enough to make people’s head turned around asking what sound is that. If you already had a 1 or 2 GB microsd, you will not let it spare to spare songs and played on this phone later.

Add to this is a dedicated FM Radio and the LG Equalizer – not a characteristic of LG GW305 though. Selecting this will make you hear pre-determined setting of sound such as cool, deep etc. You should hear it yourself to believe.

The next thing is its qwerty keypad. Apart from its youthful and popular appearance, the keypad will keep relatively smooth for your thumbs – unless you or a wagon steps on it – for months – or may be years. A big plus for this is the delightful navigation pad. As long as you do not get too delighted in clicking the pad, you will get comfort through all the phone’s features.

A candybar-qwerty, this gadget is available in two colors, i.e. black and grey.  This gadget has enough to make you rather cheerful because it applies TFT 26k colors, 320 x 240 pixel. Into this screen, you can apply self-made wallpaper from your camera shots or let the machine displays the default wallpaper. However, you still have to peer rather painfully when use this 115.5 x 61 x 12.9 mm gadget in a broad day light.

In a highly networked world, social network is a must. This gadget gives the user a default Facebook application. However, this is not to be boasted for LG GW305. Opening this will charge you with some fees. It will be better opening Facebook through sms-Facebooking because the charge will be nil.

This GSM-gadget (Quadband on GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) does not have Wi-Fi feature. It rely its connectivity solely on Bluetooth 2.1 and EDGE/GPRS service. The default search engine is Yahoo. However, if you are a diehard Google or Bing or other search engines, you can always fill their address in the browser menu and you will get what you want. No opera, so you can’t expect to have a colorful browsing experience – mostly black and white texts and poor pictures. However, just like new low- and middle-end handset, it can be made into a modem too with sync feature.

Since connectivity is still a primitive one, opening your email here will be troublesome. You will have to enter the default browser (Yahoo) or type the address in the browser. Once you’ve been in, you must select the email service and login. It is too troublesome if you are in a hurry – better not trusted this gadget for your e-correspondence.

Playing games in LG GW305 should be wiped out entirely from the list. Games are available only through downloading JAVA application – this will mean extra expense, though you can always play the two demos. However, if you are an ardent lover to do things with a handset, this gadget provides you with a 2 megapixel camera which able to produce pretty good pictures. It can record video as well though not for long duration and of rather noisy pictures.

These mostly-humble features give the gadget a pride because it does not eat too much energy. Its battery 900 mAh lasts almost three days in one charging if used in normal way (making calls, texting, playing music).

So, if you are looking for a basic telephony machine but with some additional features, and you are willing to accept a rather awkward interface, LG GW305 will be enough for you. After all, you only will have to pay less than $99 for it. Why don’t you give it a try?***