India's technology guide for notebooks, desktop PCs, mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, gadgets, and more..
Dell Plan To Introduce AMD Opteron Processors Into High-end Servers
Dell, the world’s number one PC maker, has agreed to use AMD Opteron CPU chips in its high-end servers by the end of 2006. In the same breath, company clarified that the majority of the processor chips it bought would continue to be from Intel, for now.
Marty Seyer, senior vice president of AMD’s commercial business sounded like he could barely contain his enthusiasm after years of being eschewed by Dell. “This is outstanding news, we are just jumping for joy here that Dell has embraced AMD.”
Details were light but news site The Register said that Dell was “expected to use Opteron in four-socket servers“.
Dell’s acceptance of AMD is a huge blow to Intel from a marketing standpoint as it points to some of the weaknesses Intel is still experiencing with these larger servers.
Despite limiting its use to servers, a moderate degree excitement was sparked in one of the IT industry’s classic battles: AMD-versus-Intel.
Download - OpenOffice.org 2.0.2
OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
Open Office is a free open source alternative to MS Office and totally compatible with Word, Excel, and Power-Point.
Open Office has advanced printing capabilities and direct connection with external email programs. It offers a variety of graphic tools and has slideshow support as well.
Microsoft Offers Free Software Developer Tools
Microsoft Corporation India introduced a free tool, Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions, for India’s growing student and technology enthusiast community.
The Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions are light-weight, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn offerings that enable novices to quickly develop dynamic Web applications and Windows applications.
Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions consist of Visual Web Developer Express, Visual Basic Express, Visual C# Express, Visual C++ Express and Visual J# Express.
The Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions can be downloaded from http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/default.aspx. In addition, to address bandwidth issues in India, Microsoft is giving out CDs of Visual Studio Express Editions.
The CD is available to the first 20,000 developers that register on the site - www.vsexpress.in and will be shipped to them free of cost.
HP India Launches HP Compaq nx6110
Hewlett-Packard India, has launched the HP Compaq nx6110 series of notebooks for local market in what is seen as its latest offering in the commercial notebook space in India.
Priced at Rs. 47,990, the HP Compaq nx6110 notebook is powered by Intel Centrino Mobile Technology and comes with free Linux with limited fucntionality and with Windows XP Professional edition preinstalled at a little extra cost.
The HP Compaq nx6110 is the only notebook in its segment that offers safety features such as HP Mobile Data Protection System protects the hard drive from shock and vibration while HP Drivelock technology prevents the data in hard drive from being compromised, even if the notebook is lost or stolen.
Acer Launched Aspire 1640 Series in India
Acer India has introduced the all new Aspire 1641NWLMi - targeted at users who want a cost-effective mobile PC that features plush multimedia capabilities, reliable performance, dependable wireless connectivity, and nice style.
The new Aspire 1641NWLMi, Acer explains, is positioned as an affordable entertainment machine that delights users with onboard Intel graphics and a 15.4″ screen that offers them an exhilarating gaming and cinema viewing experience.
Aspire 1641 is doundeled with reliable Intel processors and WLAN readiness.
Micron to Introduce 8-Megapixel Image Chip
Electronic circuits and Chip maker Micron Technology has indicated that it would soon unveil a thumbnail-sized digital sensor that enables pocket-sized cameras and cell phones to capture bursts of 10 high-quality photos in a single second or even high-definition video.
The company today unveiled a prototype of an 8-megapixel image sensor that packs a punch with incredible capture rates at full resolution and stunning high-definition (HD) video capture.
Siemens Launches Single-line Cordless Phone
Siemens, the largest market shareholder in the cordless phone section, launches the H550 model of cordless phone in the Indian market.
The H550 model of cordless phone is boundled with a range of comprehensible features that include FSK & DTMF clip, type 2 call waiting, caller line identification, real time clock, time display in mode (handset), ISDN-PABX accompanied with traits like desktop charger, analog a/b, telescopic antenna (handset and base) with an outdoor range of: 200m and indoor range of 50m.
The H550 is accompanied with traits like Desktop Charger, Analog a/b, Telescopic Antenna (handset and base). The Siemens H550 cordless phone has outdoor range of: 200m* and indoor range of 50m*. The cordless phone also has a standby-time of 4 days and talk-time of 6 hours.
Nokia Unveils E50 - Targeted At Mass Market
Nokia has unveiled a new small mobile phone, the latest in its Nokia E series business range, the Nokia E50, targeted at a mass market of business users in what is seen as its attempt o grab a bigger share of that lucrative segment of the industry.
The new Nokia E50 mobile phone is aimed at both business and leisure use and it comes with pre-installed business applications, an MP3 player, and an optional 1.3 mega pixel camera. It supports corporate mobile e-mail solutions and GSM networks.
The E50, Nokia’s 18th new phone model this year, is expected to begin hitting the stores before the end of June, with volume sales starting in the third quarter, Nokia said.
Sony Ericsson W700 Walkman Mobile Phone
Sony Ericsson introduces W700 mobile phone in the series of Walkman phones.
The new W700 shares the same features as the W800i, with one exception of the new Titanium gold design 
and the memory which has dropped from 512 MB to 256 MB, which can be further upgraded up to 2 GB through slot card.
The pre-installed Disc2Phone communication software now allows the CD tracks be easily converted into MP3, AAC and WMA formats and get them upload to the phone with ease. The new Sony W700 mobile phone comes with high-quality Sony headsets and FM radio with RDS. Connectivity is achieved through Bluetooth, infrared and USB, and WAP for Intenrnet.
Finally, the new Sony W700 now offers a 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, capable of video recording in MPEG-4 format.
AMD Unveils Energy Efficient CPU Chips
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has plans to unveil a range of energy-efficient desktop CPUs with models that the it says will run more than twice as efficient as some of its mainstream desktop parts.
While the current AMD desktop chips can consume a maximum 89 watts or more, the latest energy-efficient desktop chips will consume a maximum of only 35 to 65 watts, depending on the model.
Current range of AMD’s desktop CPUs consumes a maximum 51 - 110 watts or more. Whereas the energy-efficient desktop chips would consume a maximum 35 to 65 watts, making the new CPUs about twice as enery efficient as older versions.
Motorola To Introduce O ROKR Bluetooth Eyewear
Motorola has plans to introduce the O ROKR, is being touted as Gen-Next Bluetooth eyewear from Oakley 
and Motorola that makes for wireless freedom, digital stereo fidelity, as also patented optical clarity.
Mororola O ROKR BlueTooth enabled eyewear that would enable wireless conversation and access to music through two integrated speakers.
The new O ROKR can stream music wirelessly from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone or a portable music player with an add-on Bluetooth adapter. You can use the button on O ROKR to pause the music or change songs, giving you control the music wirelessly.
Motorola Launches Bluetooth Headset H5 MINIBLUE
Motorola has introduced the revolutionary Miniblue H5, the smallest, lightest and mosty stylishly designed Bluetooth headset. Company claims that its the world’s first Bluetooth headset with an in-ear design that provides loud and clear audio in noisy enviroments.
A revolutionary Bluetooth headset designed around the way your body works, the in-ear microphone and speaker of the Motorola H5 MINIBLUE pick up your voice through the ear canal so conversations come in loud and clear even in a very noisy environment.
The H5 Bluetooth headset measuring only 33 mm x 41 mm and these headsets fits perfectly inside your ear for pristine, unobtrusive communication.
Apple Unveils Intel Core Duo MacBook Notebook PC
Apple Computer has unveiled the successor to its highly popular iBook line of entry-level laptops newly renamed Apple MacBook. Intel Core Duo based MacBook is to replace iBook, the entry level of Apple notebook. Like Apple iPod, MacBook is available in two colors, white and black.
The new Apple MacBook sports either 1.83GHz or 2GHz Intel Core Duo processors and has 13.3 inch widescreen TFT screens with a new glossy sheen.
Despite rumours that Apple would release MacBooks in a variety of colours, Apple decided to stick with white for the base model and a midrange version. The high-end iteration sports a new shiny black case and an 80GB hard drive.
Windows Vista Beta 2 Will Be Available by May End
Microsoft had indicated that it plans to ship Windows Vista build 5381 as Beta 2, towards the end of May 2006. Microsoft expects to eventually deliver this version to millions of people.
Microsoft will be releasing a DVD of Vista Beta 2 and Office 2007 Beta 2 to attendees of the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) on May 23 2006. All users who wish to obtain a DVD version of Vista Beta 2 as download will also have to wait till May 27 2006.
Download - Skype 2.5 Beta
Skype is a little chat program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It�s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers.
Skype is the Global P2P Telephony Company that is changing the telecommunications world by offering consumers free, superior-quality calling worldwide.
Skype software is a chat, voice chat, and video chat application from the maker of KaZaA. Skype uses the P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect to users but only to make voice and text chats. With Skype you can voice chat with your friends across the world who use same software at their end. At a very nominal cost you can call landline numbers directly without having need to engage in PC-to-PC connectivity.
Skype is simple to install regardless of your PC environment and will set up with no server or workstation configuration. Skype works behind most firewalls and gateways without providing new security risks.
Download Skype 2.5 BETA and see what�s coming next to make Skype even easier to use.
8.96 MB | Windows (All) | Download | Freeware
