And this brings us to our topic, which is Thunderbolt vs. USB 3.0. Many of you out there have heard of them and most likely have used them in the past or at this very moment.

Thunderbolt vs USB 3.0

What is Thunderbolt?

USB 3.0 needs no introduction. Even if you haven’t yet used it, you are very familiar with its predecessors: USB 1.1 and USB 2.0. These connection standards have been around for quite some time now and they connect just about any device to your computer. But what about Thunderbolt?

Well, Thunderbolt, just like USB, is a technology that allows users to connect devices to computers. Unlike USB, Thunderbolt offers much higher speeds for data transfer (up to 2 times faster than USB 3.0 and theoretically, 10 times faster) and it offers a better solution for charging devices such as smartphones or tablets, due to its 10 watts of power pumped. The battle between which of these standards is best is fought on more than one front.

Speed

The first one is speed. And here is where Thunderbolt shows what it can do. With a maximum speed of 10 Gbps, it’s more than double that of the USB 3.0 which can go up to 5 Gbps. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Thunderbolt offers better results for charging devices, because it can pump more power into them in the same time, compared to USB 3.0 who can give only 7 watts of power.

Costs

At this point, Thunderbolt looks like the winner, but when it comes to cost, the tides change in favor of the USB 3.0. Thunderbolt cables have circuits integrated in the connector and it uses dual multiplex copper wires to achieve 10 Gbps speeds both towards and from devices at the same time. And all of these are expensive, but by how much? Well, about 10 times more expensive. If the average USB 3.0 cable is about $4 – $5 for a 2 meter cable, the same 2 meter Thunderbolt cable costs about $49.

Also, devices that work on USB are cheaper. Think of the fact that an external storage solution working on USB 3.0 is about $100 (depending on the manufacturer and amount of space), while on the other hand, an external storage solution that works on Thunderbolt, like the Promise Pegasus R6, costs up to $1500 and it’s limited only to Mac users.

You can see that it’s quite a difference between these prices, and for now, USB 3.0 looks like it is the winner. We’ll have to see if Intel will implement alongside USB 3.0 SATA 3, in their new line of processors. The Ivy Bridge can accommodate the two other technologies, maybe the next one will have Thunderbolt installed natively.

Backwards Connectivity, Consumer Base

USB 3.0 is widely spread around the world, and it’s being used by thousands of devices. Although Mac users do not have access to USB 3.0 (only 2.0 is available for Mac users), USB is backwards compatible and so, any USB 2.0 device can work on USB 3.0 ports and vice versa. Thunderbolt, on the other hand, is available only for Mac users and it’s based on the Mini DisplayPort and it is backwards compatible only with that standard.

It can also be used in video and audio playback and in some external storage devices. But there are not nearly as many devices working on Thunderbolt than USB 3.0, and so, users might prefer USB 3.0 because of the number of devices that use this connection standard. This battle is far from over. We have to wait until Intel will provide support for Windows users and when the costs of Thunderbolt will be comparable to that of the USB 3.0.

Although this innovative technology promises much, at the moment it needs more support from device manufacturers to extend its reach from Apple displays to many others. And also, because of the high speeds that it supports, some might argue that its performance will be bottlenecked by other devices, such as SATA 3 devices. Or who knows, maybe Intel will give the Thunderbolt technology to AMD, so they can extend their client list.

USB 3.0 vs Thunderbolt: Comparison Table

Analysts say that these connection protocols will coexist for a period, and when Intel will provide support for Windows users and will cut back on the costs of the Thunderbolt Chipset and connectors, it might convince device manufacturers to produce Thunderbolt enabled devices. This will make Thunderbolt available for the public, and only then it might pose a danger to USB 3.0, but for now, we can even assume that it could fold into darkness like FireWire and other protocols before it. Take a look at the table below if you’re still not sure what to choose.

[small comparison table credit]: Computer World

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This offers the advantage of faster connections and also better signal. CDMA is used in a number of countries so far, and so, smartphones that use this technology are in limited number, and especially Android devices. This is due to the fact that Google has stopped offering support for CDMA in Android, because Android is an open-source software, and for CDMA smartphones to work, they need special programming for every carrier.

10 Best CDMA Android Smartphones

While most of us are not affected by this, there are those who use CDMA and will have to wait longer for their mobile carriers to release new smartphones that work over CDMA networks. Android devices that use CDMA are available, and some are quite good, so you can benefit from a better signal technology and also top of the line smartphone technology. Here is a quick list of Android smartphones that use CDMA networks:

10. Samsung Galaxy Pop i559

Although a bit outdated, the Samsung Galaxy Pop proves to be a great and cheap Android CDMA smartphone. It’s powered by Android 2.3 and it features a 3.15 MP camera and a 3.14” screen. Yes, it does not have the features of the other smartphones, but it gets the job done and it provides you with all the features of other smartphones at a fraction of the price.

9. Samsung Repp

This mid level phone is a great example of a CDMA smartphone. Featuring a 800MHz processor, 3.2” screen and a 3 MP camera, Samsung Repp is a great smartphone for those who want the productivity of a smartphone in a little package. Although it might not be as good as its bigger brothers, it certainly gets the job done and can please just about anyone.

8. Samsung Galaxy CDMA i500

With 1GHz processor and a 5MPx camera, the Samsung Galaxy CDMA is a great Android CDMA smartphone that provides you with all the features you need and all the productivity of smartphones. Also, with its 1500 mAh battery, it can keep you going a long time.

7. Motorola Milestone XT800

This tiny smartphone is a versatile Android CDMA smartphone. Although, do not expect it to work great in games, due to its tiny 500MHz. But it makes up for it with its 5MPx camera and a good 3.7” display. Also, it supports up to 32GB of memory via the integrated SD card slot. A great Android smartphone for those who want to use CDMA networks.

6. Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos I589

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos is probably one of the best balanced Android CDMA smartphones. It comes with a 800 MHz Scorpion processor, 3.5” TFT display and a 3.15 MPx camera. This phone has everything you need and it has lots of power for a mid-level smartphone. Also, its an Android Dual Sim Phone, so that is quite handy.

5. HTC A6262 Hero Unlocked CDMA

HTC Hero might not be CDMA ready off the shelf, but with a bit of work, you can use it over CDMA networks. ROM developers have put at your disposal tons of custom ROM’s that will help you use CDMA networks like Verizon Wireless, Sprint and others. Although it might not be the most powerful smartphone here, HTC Hero might suit the needs of anyone who is not into too much gaming or running powerful apps. With a processor of 528 MHz and 288 MB of RAM memory, the HTC Hero will do all work a decent smartphone will, and you can enjoy all the features without burning a hole in your pocket.

4. HTC EVO Design 4G

HTC EVO Design 4G is one of the best smartphones in this top. Puting at its users disposal lots of power to accomplish just about any task. Featuring a 1.2 GHz processor, 768MB of RAM memory and a 5MPx camera capable of shooting 720p video. A great smartphone and an excellent choice for anyone looking for a Android CDMA smartphone that really packs a punch.

3. Samsung Google Nexus S 4G

The Google Nexus S 4G is one of the best Android CDMA smartphones out there. With top of the line performance and a gorgeous design, this phone could satisfy even the most power hungry person out there. Also, the Nexus S 4G outperforms the Nexus S, and the added benefit of CDMA support makes it a great smartphone to have. Featuring a generous 4” Super AMOLED screen, 16GB of internal memory and 1GHz processor, it has plenty of power to run just about anything on it.

2. HTC Desire (CDMA)

HTC has become a well respected name in the mobile technology industry. This is due to the fact that they produce quality smartphones and employ the latest technology available. The HTC Desire CDMA is a great example of this technology put to great use. Packing a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, a generous 3.7” screen and a 5MPx camera, the HTC Desire is a great idea for a Android CDMA smartphone.

1. Samsung-Google Galaxy Nexus i9250 Unlocked

Until recently, this was the flagship droid in Android’s camp. The Galaxy Nexus is one of the best, if not the best Android CDMA smartphone to date (until the CDMA version of the Samsung Galaxy S III hits the market). Although this smartphone does not come with CDMA support from the get go, developers are endlessly trying to customize ROM’s to suit CDMA networks, and as for now, there are plenty that work fine.

There you are, our top of the best Android CDMA smartphones. Also, I would like to mention that the new Samsung Galaxy S III will most likely come in a CDMA version, only time will tell. but until then, you can enjoy some of these Android CDMA smartphones.

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But as Arwen from Lord of the Rings says light can be found in the dark, and in the economic sector, this light appear to be entrepreneurs who start their own business. They are the dreamers who won’t give up fight and keep believing that no matter what something can be achieved in this crumbling world. People that can change and improve the economy with us staying inside the house.

Small Businesses, Start-ups: the Real Solution for the Economy

In 2011, a study done by Forrester showcased some interesting details to backup this hypothesis. Apparently 78% of small business in the US expect to see growth within two years and 39% of those expect their number of employees to double. According to some numbers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, this is no surprise, as small businesses represent 99.7% of employers firms. These businesses have managed to create 64% of new jobs over the past 15 years.

And today small business find themselves in a really unique position, especially when looking at things from the tech sector – a sector that is considered to be the future of the United States. You only have to take a glance over to Silicon Valley’s recent explosion of startups to see that the tech sector is being pumped by innovation and passion. The dogma behind these start-ups is that perpetual innovation and intuition capabilities help drive the future of the business.

Looking to Raise a Lot of Money

It also helps the start-up to act as a sort of chameleon, allowing it to shift and become relevant to whatever the world might bring on its plate. In times like this, Facebook, a social networking company that started out in a dorm room, is planning to file for its first IPO and unexpectedly or not, the act holds massive economic importance.

This week, the company even filed a new amendment annexed to its initial public offering in order to raise its share price to as much as $38 per share. The minimum price was set for $34 per share. With the new IPO price, the company is set to rise over the $100 billion valuation as was expected ever since the company’s paperwork first went public in February 2012. The paper also commented a little on the recent Instagram acquisition announcing that the deal will be settled in 2012.

Facebook’s IPO: Crossroad of Traditional and Digital Economy

Facebook currently boasts more than 900 million users and is expected to be pass the 1 billion barrier in the upcoming months of summer, with almost half of the users registered being active everyday on the site. Just think about the fact that back in 2006, Facebook only had 12 million users. Clearly, Facebook has managed to get under the skin of people and has become part of the fabric of life. This is not easily undone.

But will the Facebook IPO affect economy in any way. Of course it will. The Facebook IPO is expected to be a boom not only in the tech sector but in the startup/small business sector as well. The IPO should be seen as an opportunity for jobs and for people to use their work in order to impact the world that we are all part of. And what is the world looking for? It is looking for economic growth – the kind that offers means of existence to billion of people and creates working environments for everybody.

Digital Environment – a Job Creator

Since its creation, Facebook has hired more than 3,000 people for its private staff, plus another 450,000 affiliated jobs. With the US Dollar’s gloomy long-term outlook and the depressive unemployment rate, a successful Facebook IPO might animate some of the sleeping spirits found today in the US stock markets. This in turn could fuel the demand for US dollars and oversea investors in order to help the economy pick up the paste.

The Facebook IPO is something symbolic and of great significance. At TNW Conference in Amsterdam, I saw so many people with start-ups, each of them believing in their product. Start-ups aren’t only about the digital world, rather they use this new environment – the Internet – to spread ideas all over the world. Facebook has consolidated people’s need to share, to be liked, to be connected. Start-ups are investigating and satisfying various needs that may or may not be connected to the online.

We Live Online

The Internet is the perfect channel to be connected with customers, people that share the same ideas as you and it’s the fastest way to reach to others. Proof to that is the incredible growth in the Dot-com bubble. Even if the bubble eventually went burst, it was a way to educate the market, to consolidate and cement the world and make it look like today.  And that’s how we’ve arrived to a moment when a company like Facebook is on everybody’s lips.

Companies no longer advertise their own websites, but they choose Facebook.com/companyname because it creates an interaction with their customers. Slowly, but surely, people start to consume things online: they spend more time playing social games, they browse more on their iPads, they tweet more. Thus, they spend much more time being online, spending online than outside, in the physical world. People want and can be informed and entertained as soon as possible.

Facebook’s IPO, in my opinion, marks the peak for the digital economy. We all get it why Google, Amazon, eBay and others are awesome, because they are somehow related to physical products, they are more tangible. Facebook is different and by being different it will inspire thousands of start-ups that will contribute to the prosperity of the digital economy.

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Fuel Cell Technology: What we Need in Our Devices

Every single fuel cell has two electrodes, a positive one and a negative one – an anode and cathode basically. The reactions that take place between the two electrodes are the ones who produce electricity in the end. Hydrogen is the fuel used but for the reactions to occur the cells will also need oxygen. You might remember that Liliputian’s battery is based on this technology, as well.

One very interesting and positive aspect of fuel cells is that they manage to produce electricity without polluting the environment, and that’s because hydrogen and oxygen – needed in the reaction combine to produce a neutral byproduct, which is water. The actual purpose of a fuel cell is to produce electrical current that can be used outside the cell. Think of powering motors or luminous light bulbs in the city.

No Harm Done to Nature

Because of the way electricity works, this current will find its way back to the fuel cell, thus completing an electrical circuit. Hydrogen atoms will enter a fuel cell at the anode where a chemical reaction takes place so the atoms are freed from their electrons. The hydrogen atoms will be “ionized” and will start carrying electrical charges. The negative electrons move on to provide the current through wires.

Fuel cells are mostly classified by their electrolyte type, which is at the heart of the fuel cell process. Currently we can find six types of electrolytes that will probably find their way to commercial use pretty soon:

• Molten carbonate
• Phosphoric acid
• Solid oxide
• Polymer electrolyte membrane
• Direct methanol
• Alkaline

Fuel Cell Vehicles?

You see, a single fuel cell produces a very meager amount of energy. In order to produce a usable amount, a lot of fuel cells will have to be glued together which is called a fuel cell stack. When this is done, the resulted stack is enough to fuel a car and even a truck.
Honda is one of the major car companies that has set its gaze upon the fuel cell and started testing prototypes ever since 1999.

In 2002, it even managed to deliver fuel cell vehicles to the Japanese Cabinet Office and to Los Angeles but that doesn’t mean they are close to developing the technology for the masses yet. In November 2007, Honda unraveled the FCX Clarity advanced fuel electric vehicle that featured a superb output of 100kW. It sounds almost too good to be true. Good this technology be embedded inside self-driving cars, as well?

Still an Expensive Piece of Technology

At the moment, fuel cells are very expensive to produce and cost about 4500 dollars per kilowatt as opposed to 800 to 1000 dollars per kilowatt for a diesel engine. Some problems with hydrogen being used as fuel emerged as well, because as you well might now, Hydrogen is one of the most volatile substances that can be found on planet Earth, thus making it very difficult to store.

Hydrogen used on the fuel cells has to be in a very pure state, otherwise it will end up damaging the catalyst. Hydrogen is not easily extracted and must come from natural sources like water or natural gas thus adding more costs to the process. The catalyst material itself is very expensive since it is made from one of the most expensive materials on Earth – platinum. So we could end up facing a platinum drainage if we would rely solely on it for energy creation.

Converting Chemical Energy

On the other hand, fuel cells might prove to be extremely advantageous. As discussed above, fuel cells convert chemical energy instantly and directly into electricity eliminating the combustion process. Therefore, a fuel cell will not be governed by thermodynamic laws and could achieve high efficiencies in energy conversion terms. Also due to their nature of doing business, fuel cells are very quiet.

This might allow fuel cells to be used in residential and living areas where noise is undesirable. Due to their lack of moving parts, Fuel Cells also have a low maintenance cost. Fuel cells could be applied in other fields, as well. The most amazing application of fuel cells comes from the world of consumer technology.

Smartphones, Tablets: The Perfect Destination for Fuel Cell Technology?

Massachusetts-based Lilliputian Systems Inc. just announced it will release under the Brookstone banner a pocket size fuel cell which holds enough power to fully charge an iPhone for about 10-15 times (see our article about how to increase the battery life for iPhone, if you don’t have money for something like this).  The fuel cell comes with a USB port and is the size of a thicker smartphone. The power comes from the cartridges filled with lighter fluid. Pretty ingenious. And Lilliputian isn’t the only company doing research in the business.

RIM, as well, seems to be interested in joining the fuel cell wagon. They have filled some new patents regarding fuel cells. They involve the frame of the device and the “tank”, thus showcasing a curious model that we have not yet seen before. Here’s how the patent description sounds like:

“A mobile device having: a keyboard; a printed circuit board having at least one contact responsive to the keyboard; and a fuel cell assembly having: a fuel cell located between the keyboard and the printed circuit board, the fuel cell having a membrane and at least one aperture corresponding with the at least one contact; a tank adapted to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and piping connecting the tank with the fuel cell, where the fuel cell ventilates through the keyboard. Alternatively, the fuel cell acts as the printed circuit board and at least one contact for the keyboard is printed onto the fuel cell.”

How Much More to Wait?

To make a point, fuel cells seem to have a good shot into being incorporated somewhere in smaller technology for the moment, so the ideas above seem to be very valid and useful, but there’s certainly going to be a while until we see them implemented into something major like powering up a household or a truck.

Certainly, fuell cell technology will find its way into the smart home of the future. Before we’ll become fully wireless, I hope to see devices with fuel cell technology appearing more and more on the market. Smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S3 don’t impress me anymore, to be honest, because they show a gradual evolution, from handset to handset. My smartphone, tablet, laptop needs a much, much bigger and safer battery life. Give me that and take my money.

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A solution might be a wireless charger, such as the one found in the Samsung Galaxy S III, or solar cells powering the devices when subjected to direct sunlight. These could greatly enhance the battery efficiency of these devices, but until such technologies are implemented, we will just have to make due with what we have at our disposal.

Tips to Make iPhone’s Battery Last Longer

Of course, the same tips apply to the iPhone as to the Android devices:

• Turn off Wi-Fi, or use 3G networks when possible. And if you don’t need an internet connection, stick only to 2G networks.
• Turn off Bluetooth. It might not consume much energy, but it adds up.
• Set the screen to auto brightness, because, as you know, the screen is the biggest battery hog of all.
• Turn off GPS, even though it is not used when in idle mode, when you launch an app that uses location services it will start running and consume battery.
• Even buy a iPhone case that has a battery extension. Although it might cost you the slim look of your iOS jewel, it will increase its battery life.
• Also, a good way to enhance your iPhone’s battery life is to use airplane mode more often. Especially in low coverage areas. Because when the phone searches for a network it uses enormous amounts of power. Also, at night you could use this feature and it will conserve some power, making your device last longer.
• Turn off the Equalizer. In your music player, the EQ forces the rendering of sound in a particular way (depending on what you set your EQ to). This consumes power because the phone is trying to give off more bass or treble instead of the flat sound.
• Also, if you have multiple email accounts, set your phone to check them less often. It will not connect to any servers and it will not give off any notifications. This will help you save some battery.
• Quit background apps. Despite Apple’s claim that suspended apps consume just a minimum of power, if you have lots of apps in suspend mode, it will add up to serious drain. Close those apps and you will see an immediate effect on your battery.

On its own, neither of these tips will make miracles with your battery life, but if you find a middle way, to make use of some of them, it will result in some visible battery saving. Although it will not make your iPhone last a week, a few hours of extra up time will be noticeable.

Top 5 iPhone Battery Saving Apps

But what is the most accessible option of all? The one where you still retain the functionality of your device and still get some extra juice out of your device. The answer lies with iPhone battery saving apps. These range from task killers, to battery calibrators to simple tools that allow you to quickly turn on or off certain features that you are not using, resulting in an increase in battery life.

5. Battery LED!

The first step in making your iPhone’s battery last longer is to know exactly how much time you have until it runs out. Battery LED! gives you exactly that information in a great looking way. It provides you with information about how much time the battery will last while gaming, internet browsing, listening to music and so on.

4. BatterySense by Philips Consumer Lifestyle

A great looking app with a wonderful and intuitive interface that lets you know how much time does your iPhone have until it runs dry. Also, BatterySense allows you to save battery by turning off services such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, notifications and others. A great tool to have that allows you to take control of your iPhone’s battery.

3. Battery Doctor Pro – Max Your Battery Life

Battery Doctor Pro makes other battery saving apps for iPhone look obsolete. It gives you very detailed and accurate information about your battery drain and your battery’s health and also, a process monitor that allows you to see exactly which service is draining your iPhone dry.

2. Battery God

Battery God gives you detailed information on just how much power each service of your iPhone costumes, and with these customized and very detailed results you can take the necessary precautions to make your iPhone’s battery last longer.

1. Battery Life Pro – All-IN-1

Control your battery drain from one app that gives you detailed information about every service on your iPhone. You know just how much power a particular service consumes and it gives you the necessary information on how to maximize the use of your battery.

Although the battery saving options of the iPhone are not as easy as those for Android device, where you have more apps that can actually take control of your smartphone’s power drain, they will give you a helping hand in making your device more power efficient.

These are the main tips and apps that will help in your battle against battery drain. Try them out and let us know what you think of them. Also, if you know a few other tricks to make your iPhone’s battery last longer, tell us about them in the comment section.

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Remember how they had flying cars and how they could command the car to take them wherever they wanted if they did not feel like doing the job themselves? Well, flying cars might still be the figment of imagination, but cars that drive themselves are becoming a reality as we sit here and speak.

The Self Driving Car, the First Step Towards a Safe Transportation System

Google, for example is following up on its strategy at trying its hand at everything humanly possible and since last year, has been focusing efforts and funds in order to develop a program using Toyota Priuses that is supposedly going to let cars in California drive up the freeway without little or no driver input at all.

Why is this such a good idea you might be wondering? Well, because computers have a reaction time so much faster than a human’s for starters. Plus, a smart car could communicate with other cars in the manner that aircrafts do while in flight in order to avoid collision. Already, features that make the driver’s job easier have started to pop in recent car models like steering or breaking facilities and in some major cases, software that overrule human command in order to prevent crashes.

Google and Car Manufacturers Start Developing Self-Driving Car Prototypes

Bill Ford, one of the chairmen for the notorious Ford company, suggested that car companies need to get more interested in the problem of developing autonomous vehicles. Not only will they help dissipate the annoying traffic jams but could make room for more cars on the overcrowded roads. One of the companies that is very interested in the development of the self sufficient car is Volvo.

Dr. Erik Coelingh has been leading the development team in Sweden and has managed to design a technology that involves one lead car feeding information to other driverless cars in the back.

“If something unexpected happens on the road, such as construction or a deer in the road, the human driver will brake and send commands back to the other cars”

stated Coelingh.

An Autonomous Car Could Save Lives

Let’s go back to Google and its endeavors. The company is so advanced in its efforts of creating the perfect car that drives itself that it has already begun testing some prototypes and so far, it has accumulated more than 190, 000 miles of city traffic, highway traffic and even mountain roads. Of course, the cars are not even close to ready to being launched on the market, but the testing phase is an important factor that marks the fact that Google is not just fooling around, it actually means business.

Google has released some details and technical videos of the project in order to showcase its strategy for avoiding road accidents, congestions and fuel consumption. Google engineer Chris Urmson is the tech lead of the project and he explained that the core of the car lies in a laser range finder that sits above the roof of the car. The device is actually a Velodyne 64-beam laser that produces a very detailed 3D map of the environment. The car is then apt to produce different types of models by comparing and combining laser measurements with the accurate maps. The car is also packed with sensors that will detect anything, plus four extra radars that will detect and interpret traffic lights and a GPS.

How Real is a Self-Driving Car?

Yes, novelty like this will certainly become very attractive to drivers at first and carmakers can snatch some nice amounts of revenues. But as soon as users will get over the futuristic detail and begin to expect such features to become a standard a problem might arise. Seatbelts, airbags and electronic stability control were also hip at one point but they became mainstream in quite a short while and now represent a strict requirement in all newly manufactured American cars. Europe will follow in 2014.

When the novelty wears up and the compulsory routine begins, this tweaks become just another manufacturing cost. Take for example the rear-view cameras – the American government wanted to make them compulsory by 2014 but they were forced to post-pone the plans due to the insatisfaction of the car manufacturers. I will be glad if I’ll see, at least, the electric car becoming more popular…

See the Big Picture

And consider this. What if the knowing that the cars cannot produce accidents will prompt drivers to take more risks? Even if some cars are getting smarter by the minute, we have to ensure people are well educated and prepared for such a breakthrough. You have to realize that a self-driving car doesn’t mean you are out of your car and it works by itself! That could be possible in the near 50 years, but I would still be reluctant towards that idea.

I would accept to live in a society of totally self-driving cars that would perform commercial services: say, mail cars, delivery cars and so on. But the purpose of a self driving-car is well depicted in the above picture: a road train. In these situation, a self-driving car is much needed. Or, let’s say you are tired, depressed or you just somebody just called and delivered you a bad news. But think about how the world could look like with a well thought transportation system, free of human errors…

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How to Arrange Home Audio and Video System

They have many satellites and a pile of cables (which you can get rid of following our guide). With all those satellites it’s pretty easy to get confused about which goes where. You have front right, front left, center subwoofer and the same for the back. I get confused even when I think of them. And I remember the first time I had to do this task…it was awful! My dorm room looked like a spider lair with wires running on every wall.

After much work and reading I managed to get it right, and thanks to this experience, I know first hand how hard it is to get it right. And that is why I try to give you some advice on how to do it, so you won’t have to fiddle so much with those speakers. I’ll try to explain the best I can which goes where and what is the optimum configuration for your sound system.

Center, Front Left and Right Speakers

If you’ve recently bought a 5.1 surround sound system, then you have to pay attention to where you mount your speakers. Position your TV in front of your sofa or the location where you will be sitting and from there, try to place as accurate as possible like so: the two front speakers for left and right channels should be placed on either side of the TV, at an angle of 22-30 degrees. Measure the angle by drawing a line from the very center of the TV to the center of the sofa you will be sitting on.

This will ensure that the speakers are at equal distance from you when you are sitting down. The left speaker will be at your left and the right speaker will be at your right, as you look towards your TV. The center speaker (or main speaker) should be placed on the 0 degrees line, to be exactly in front of you.

Subwoofer

The subwoofer is the speaker that gives you bass. And that speaker should be placed as low to the ground as possible, in the angle that you feel it gives the best sound. Usually, it is placed to the right or left of the screen, between the TV and the Front Right speaker, but it’s totally up to you where you like it (I found that the subwoofer generates the deepest bass if positioned in the corner of the rook, facing inwards at an angle of 45 degrees or the diagonal of the room). But there is no rule here, you can place it where ever you like, because bass sound is omnidirectional.

Middle Left and Right Speakers

In 5.1 audio systems you have two speakers that go in the middle of the room. These should be positioned at an angle of 90 – 110 degrees, slightly higher than ear level (30 cm or more). This will ensure a pleasant sound and it won’t seem unrealistic. Also, the same rule as with the front speakers applies here also: the Middle Left speaker goes to your left side and the Middle Right speaker goes to your right, as you are looking at the screen.

For 7.1 sound systems, there will be another set of rear speakers. These are the ones that go all the way to the rear of the room to create more realism. These should be placed at an angle of 135 – 150 degrees. By placing them as close to 180 degrees as possible, the sound can trick our ear or brain in thinking that the sound from the rear actually comes from the front.

Tips To Arrange  5.1 or 7.1 Sound Systems:

•  Never place speakers directly behind the screen, and here I’m talking about subwoofers and center speakers. This arrangement will distort the sound and result in poor sound quality.
• Never mount the speakers facing away from you. They should point towards the sitting area, otherwise the sound will sound fake.
• If you can, make your room as soundproof as possible and avoid echoes and surfaces that reflect sound. Place curtains on your windows, a nice thick rug on the floor or paintings on the walls. If the sound reflects off surfaces such as the walls or floor, the sound will have poor quality.
• Place the speakers at the same distance from the center point. This will ensure that the sound is equal in all directions.

Lighting

Lighting the room is very important, you should remember never to place your screen opposite to a light source such as a window. The reflective surface of the screen will reflect the light coming from the windows and it will give you bad images. Also, the room does not have to be completely dark, some small intensity light might create a good atmosphere, such as those used in movie theatres.

If you have other sound systems that are not 5.1 or 7.1 surround, such as 2.1 or something similar, all you have to do is follow the same rules as before. For a 2.1 sound system, you only have to mount the front speakers and the subwoofer, also for 2.0 systems, where you have no subwoofer. The principle is the same as with the other configurations.

Video System

As for the video system, well, here is entirely up to you. If you use a projector, then you have to look very closely on the manufacturer’s manual to see how far from the screen to place it. If you own a TV, it’s really up to you where you place it, but keep in mind never to place it opposite to a light source. Also, if your TV has ambilight capabilities, then you should think of placing it near a wall so you can enjoy the light show.

Viewing distance is very important; you can check that in your TV manual. Don’t place yourself too close or too far from the screen. If you’ve got a huge screen, then you can place your sofa as back as possible; if you have a medium-sized TV, the viewing distance shouldn’t be bigger than 3-4 meters.

These are my tips for arranging your multimedia system. All you have to do now is get to work and start measuring and mounting, and then, sit back and relax!

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

Get Rid of Wires and Plugs: Top 7 Solutions

And what can we do to get rid of them? Well, it seems nothing can do it. No matter how much we try to mask and organize them, they still get twisted. It’s like they have a mind of their own. But fear no more, there is a solution for this, and it’s called “wireless”. Although not every device is wireless, and every one needs as little as one, wireless devices can clean up pretty good.

Wireless products means you have to invest a few extra bucks in them but it will definitely make your work space look cleaner. Wire managers are another solution but nothing seems to beat cordless products. Let me give a few pointers for getting rid of those nasty wires and make your home or office look better and not like a server room.

1. Use Wireless Mouse, Keyboard

Using such devices gets rid of at least two wires on your desk. And because technology has made great advances in battery technology and wireless technology, they no longer lag so much you can’t even play a game. There are lots of these devices scattered in every computer shop. Some can even satisfy the most hard-core gamer out there, having response times that rival wired solutions. There are lots of wireless mice and keyboards, and I’d recommend those from Logitech or Microsoft. There is even one wireless keyboard that also has solar charging (featured in our top solar powered gadgets article).

2. Wireless Speakers, Headphones

Wireless speakers and headphones will help you get rid of cables around your house. From your home entertainment system to your desk speakers and headphones, they will give you a cleaner look and more tidy aspect. Also, as with wireless keyboards and mice, they now have excellent fidelity, giving you a great sound. Now you can walk around the house listening to your own songs withou tripping on cables.

3. Wireless Printers

Wireless printers also have the potential to make some wires obsolete. Especially in an office environment, where you have more than one printer connected to more than one computer. So, going for a wireless solution might make a lot of sense. Check out our printer buying guide to understand what to look for when buying a printer.  The biggest advantage with a wireless printer is that you can place it inside the room but not near your computer so that makes your working space less cluttered.

4. Wireless Appliances

Other wireless devices can be found throughout a home: such as a wireless TV transmitter (the new generation, that also has LAN connection), or wireless thermostat (remember nest, featured in our top app-ccessories post?) and media center. All of these can make your house look better and tidier, eliminating those nasty wires running all over the place. Also, other devices such as stereos, CD players or DVD players have the possibility to work wireless, so you might give them a try. These will definitely give you a helping hand in getting rid of cables. And in the future, many more devices will have wireless capabilities and making them controllable from smartphones or tablets will make our lives much more easier.

5. Wireless Router

A wireless router will get rid of the majority of cables from today’s household. Think of it, if you have 2 computers, 2 laptops and a smart TV that has network integration, then you have at least 4 more cables to worry about. So, the wireless router is a great solution. Keep in mind, if you want to connect all your Internet enabled gadgets to the router, you might need wireless network cards for your computers.

Smart TVs usually have Wireless capability, and laptops, tablets or smartphones have it, so it only makes sense to get yourself a home wireless connection. Just keep in mind to have a strong password, you don’t want your neighbours to use your Internet connection. All these wireless solutions are a brave step towards making a smart home.

6. Use Sleevings, Wire Managers

You can find sleeving materials and wire managers (such as those plastic cable covers) at any Home Depot or IKEA store, and in fact, at any other Home Improvement store. They can help you mask and organize your cables. A sleeving can make all of those power cables into one and you can quickly hide them. And if you want to act like a little designer, you can play with colours and make it look just like a part of the wall, carefully covering it.

7. Hide Cables

Some cables you can’t do without. Such as power cables, video input cables or TV cables. These you just can’t get rid of. And because of that, you have to mask them as good as you can. Using sleeving materials will only get you so far, but then, you have to the old fashioned way and hide them under the rug of behind the bookcase. Use stickers, adhesive tape, everything it takes to make those cords disappeare!

In the future, we will definitely see more wireless devices appear and replace today’s ones. The first step is made: as you might of known, the new Samsung Galaxy S III has wireless charging capabilities. This technology will definitely get better and better and it will migrate from smartphones to other household appliances. The future Smart House will be totally wireless, using no cables and where we will control everything with just our smartphones, or who knows, even our minds. Ironic, no? The future promises more connectivity, but with less connectors.

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

Video Card Buying Guide

But buying a new Graphics Card (or Video Card) can prove to be a daunting task. If you ever searched the market, then you know what it is I’m talking about: alphanumeric names that don’t make sense to anyone except the techno savvy and the enthusiasts. Specs that blow you away and keep on going page after page.

In this tutorial I’ll try to give all this gibberish some sense, and give you a helping hand when buying a video card. To choose the best one that suits your needs without burning a hole in your pocket (and we all know how expensive these babies can get). First of all, you must understand that those numbers don’t fully reflect the potential of a video card, so don’t get impressed by the fancy names you might see.

Video Memory Doesn’t Mean Performance

A very important aspect that you need to know is that memory is not everything! Video card manufacturers expect consumers to buy the video cards that have the biggest memory, so you will see some video cards that go up to 4 GB RAM. However, it is important not to have too little memory, but everything in the range of 1GB of GDDR5 memory is more than enough.

Be careful also to the type of memory: GDDR2, GDDR3 or GDDR5. GDDR5 is the best out there, so look for a video card that has this type of memory. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is probably the most important part of the video card. So when buying a new video card look towards a new processor, something from the latest technology. This will ensure you that your card will work great for at least two years.

DirectX Version – Cartoons or Realism?

The DirectX driver is another important aspect, look for cards that offer support for the latest DX version (now it’s DirectX 11), anything lower than that will render your graphics at lower quality and realism. Bandwidth is again an important aspect. Measured in Gb/s, look for something that has as much as possible. So the bigger the bandwidth, the better. Also, tightly bound with this is the pixel fill ratio and texture fill rate.

These values also have to be as big as possible. Keep an eye out for compatibility, so look at your motherboard and see what PCI Express slot you have and get your video card accordingly. There are PCI Express 2.0, 2.1 or 3.0 nowadays. Older AGP slots are rarely found and the technology has been abandoned.

Integrated or Dedicated Video?

Some might argue that processors such as the new Intel Ivy Bridge, the Sandy Bridge or the AMD Fusion now have integrated graphics and therefore, there is no need for aftermarket video cards. But these integrated chips do not offer the performance that dedicated video cards, not by a long shot.These are not developed for gaming purposes or for rendering, and so, they are not a substitute for a proper video card.

What Video Card Do I Need?

After understanding all the things you will see when browsing for a video card, the next step is to figure out the purpose of your video card. If you are looking for something that will give you performance in gaming, then there are lots of cards with excellent specs. These are not cheap, for that extra performance you will have to pay a few $$. A decent card will start at the $200 mark and it can go up to $1000+ for those who are really enthusiasts. Also, multiple card setups are good. B

oth ATI and nVidia offer these solutions: ATI calls it CrossfireX and nVidia calls it SLI. These technologies allow you to pair up two or more identical video cards for a boost in performance. But keep in mind that they have to be identical for it to work. For rendering big amounts of graphics you might need more than these cards can offer. nVidia has the Quadro series dedicated to rendering, so look for those if you are into rendering. For other purposes, like internet browsing and multimedia, lower end cards or even newer models of integrated chips will get the job done.

Budget for a Graphics Card 

But remember to keep an eye out for budget. Try to find the perfect balance between how much performance you need and how far are you willing to go for that performance. After you figure these out, you will be in front of the task of choosing the model. There are hundreds if not thousands of video card models out there, so choose wisely.

To help you make the best choice, refer to your best friend: the Internet. Search for benchmark results on different games or dedicated softwares such as 3DMark or Heaven Benchmark and see which are the best video cards. When you find a few models that suit your needs, then go and read reviews on them. Look at tests on YouTube. These tests and reviews will help you choose the best video card for you.

Same Performance, Different Brand!

If you are wondering what manufacturer to go with, know this: the different names you see in the shop (Asus, Gainward, Gigabyte etc) all offer basically the same product. There are minor changes from card to card, except cooling system, OC or different values for frequencies. But, in fact, under the hood, there is a stock ATI (AMD) or nVidia chip. The choice between nVidia and ATI is yours.

Today’s video cards offer almost the same performance. Do not get me wrong, they are not the same, but the level of performance is just about the same. I, myself am an nVidia fan, but there are ATI cards that offer the same performance, and when gaming, the difference between two equal cards, one from ATI and one from nVidia is hardly (if at all) noticeable. So forget about phrases like: “nVidia is the best video card manufacturer!”. It’s simply not true, they both offer great products, almost equally good.

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |

How Real is a Gaming Console from Apple?

There’s no Apple gaming console on the market and the Cupertino company seems to be suffering from that and may plan to remedy that. Is Apple planning to muscle its way into the game world? Well, it’s not actually a gaming console, per se. It’s more like a refocused old gadget with an extra improvement attached to it. Reliable sources from Cult of Mac claim that a new TV set will be launched during the year to come that will come packed with a new Apple Kinect-like video game console.

The new system will be motion based and will rely on touch gestures to be controlled. Of course, users will be able to enjoy the full capabilities of a touch screen remote control capable on syncing with the TV. Apple is also said to be thinking of teaming with major game developer Valve for this project, so the odds seem pretty promising right now. Or do they?

Bandai Pippin, Apple’s Failed Gaming Console

Apple failing? This doesn’t seem like a valid statement, yet the story is true. And you’ll be surprised to know that there are many other failed Apple products, as well. Long ago, before the existence of the iPhone or iPod was even envisioned, Apple might have made a few mistakes. Meet the Bandai Pippin, launched by producer Bandai back in 1995. The idea behind the console was to ensure that users will get their hands on a device aimed mostly at playing games.

So what happened? The bulky design might have contributed to Pippin’s failure, but the price was probably what axed the project from the start. The console sold in Japan for almost $600 while competitors like the N64 were sold at that time for $199. Also, Pippin’s processor – a Motorola 603PowerPC , was already three years old, ancient in tech terms – when the device was released. That basically meant that CD ROM games took about three minutes to load. An instant turn off.

Will it be Risky or Profitable for Apple?

Even so, Apple is not an entity to be discouraged easily and maybe the passing of 17 years has tought Club Cupertino some valuable lessons. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is pretty convinced that Apple will be launching a game console by 2013. According to him, Apple is following a very well thought out plan to ensure the transformation of the Apple TV into an entertainment and Internet hub. The idea is that Apple is trying out these experimental ideas on iPod Touch and iPhone users first.

“If they can get enough iPod users to download games, it’s a natural that they can ultimately convince a large number of these users to buy a game-enabled Apple TV. “

What Has Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo to Say About This?

He envisions a release date for 2012 or 2013. Thus, Microsoft, one of the toughest competitors the tech behemoth will have to face, is given quite some decent head start. Keep in mind that back in the 1990, decent realistic in-sync gaming experience was something belonging only to the spheres of dreams. But the Xbox live changed all that in so many wonderful ways. Xbox brought friends list to the table and the ability to play games with your existing friends but also make new friends throughout different games.

The console also offers the possibility of monitoring your achievements and we have to admit they are a big part of the whole Xbox Live experience and why people are so addicted to it. At the moment there are 40 million users who have signed up for an online Xbox Live account. Also, Kinect sales have reached 18 million units in the first part of 2012. So, is Apple ready to take on this success?

A Huge Apple Audience is Waiting for This

Apparently, they are more than willing. Apart from that, it holds an impressive record that might suggest that this time around, things will look very bright for them. We don’t yet have official data as to how many iOS devices has been sold until now (if there is, do let us know!), but the most accurate data I could found indicates that at the end of 2011, there was a number of 320 million sold iDevices. By now, we should be reaching 400 million iDevices, and by the end of 2012, beginning of 2013, I can suppose that it will reach half a billion.

You know what that means, right? An army of Apple lovers, users that are loyal to products made by Apple. It would be interesting to know how many people own just one Apple product or more. An interesting study reveals that half of US homes own an Apple product.  9%-13% of them own 2 to 5 Apple products. Now, I wonder, those that have bought one Apple product, will they not be tempted to buy another one? Let’s say you’ve bought the iPhone, will you not need the new iPad,  to be able to see movies on a big screen or to play let your kids play entertaining, challenging mobile apps?

Or, will you not be tempted to get yourself a beautiful iMac tempted by its imposing design and reputation? Not to mention the versatile laptops from Apple?Like it or not, chances are that once you’ve bought an Apple product, you’ll buy another one. If you’ve bought the iPhone 4S, then you’re going to want the iPhone 5, or the new iPhone. Then, you’ll have to sell it, add some more money and get the next one. Thus, you’ll be caught in the neverending circle of Apple products.

That brings us to an eventual gaming console from Apple. We already have enough gaming consoles out there and the most important ones are:

• PlayStation
• Xbox
• Wii

Each of them has something specific and we can all agree that these are well-made, successful products. One would think that an Apple gaming console will lose the battle even before it started. Gaming consoles sales have been slowing down in the past years but there doesn’t seem to be a stable trend in that direction. Why didn’t Apple’s first gaming console succeed? Obviously, it has its technical flaws, but what Apple didn’t have back then was this huge number of loyal customers and this incredible free buzz generated for them.

Apple’s Gaming Console and Apple TV – The Last Products?

Quite soon, Apple might be valued at $1, 000 billion, and that sounds really, really huge. At this anvergure, I highly doubt the fact that Apple will screw up. Even if we considered the iPhone 4S mundane, sales for it didn’t decline. Even if Apple decided not to name the third-generation iPad 3 but the new iPad, sales didn’t decline. Even if there are issues with the new iPad, or past products, such as the iPhone 4 and antennagate, people continue to buy Apple’s product. So what does that mean, people? Is Apple going to be and remain the biggest company every, a superhero company or their evolution will eventually cool off?

I think that a well-thought gaming console from Apple would further increase and enhance the reputation that Apple has, but they have to think about it really, really well. They are going to target a totally different field in consumer technology and that could cost them dear if they will make mistakes. They’ve got all it takes – tons of cash, lots of very, very smart and talented people, a good supply chain. They just don’t have to hurry. The world is still waiting for the new iPhone or the iPhone 5 and I am sure that Apple is busy with that these days.

A gaming console and a complete Apple TV is what remains for them to make, probably, the most consolidated ecosystem in the tech world. But they have to be careful and not to besmirch the huge success the iPhone, iPod and iPad have brought. They have to build on that, they have to learn things from that success and take things one by one. One question remains, though, after such a long scenario – if they are planning to release a gaming console, why would the promote the iPad as a gaming gear?

Could an Improved iPad be The Mysterious Gaming Console?

Or, to make the matter even simpler – isn’t Apple actually trying to destroy the gaming industry with the iPad and to introduce a new concept – tablet gaming? Think about it, in 5 years or so, it’s inevitable that tablets by then will have bigger processing and graphical power. Will they be able to conceive a new gaming field by making a super iPad or they will continue to modestly improve it, year by year?

And there are already voices that suggest Apple won’t release a box gaming console and when you think about it, it’s kinda not Apple-like. But if the gaming console will have an absolutely stunning design, then it will be Apple-like, right? I don’t know what Apple is going to do, but whatever their decision will be, I think Apple lovers need and want a console designed for games and only for that (that’s how I feel, at least). Your move, Cook.

© Raju PP for Technically Personal!, 2012. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us, so we can take legal action immediately. If you are on Twitter you can follow me @rajupp! | Permalink |