Tag: techdigest
Humax release PVR-9200TB: Freeview Playback dual tuner PVR
Humax has once again upgraded its PVR-9200T Freeview PVR, this time renaming it as the PVR-9200TB.
It claims to be one of the first Freeview Playback digital TV recorders on the market, sporting a 160GB hard drive, and comes with a number of nifty features including schedule tracking and auto-buffering.
It has two tuners, enabling two shows to be recorded, or one to be recorded while another is being watched live. Recording and scheduling is handled via the eight-day Electronic Programme Guide.
Dell's goal: to become the greenest technology company on the planet
Dell has today launched a long-term, global effort to become the greenest technology company on Earth. It has set an ambitious Zero Carbon Initiative whereby it aims to maximise the energy efficiency of Dell products, and over time offset their carbon impact.
The company has also committed to reduce the carbon intensity of its global operations by 15% by 2012, as well as extending its “Plant a Tree for Me” programme into Europe. For £1 per notebook or £3 per desktop PC, customers can offset the emissions associated with the electricity their computer uses.
EMI partners with YouTube, makes its music available
EMI has finally struck a deal with YouTube to make its artists' videos available online. The deal that will see the likes of The Rolling Stones and Coldplay added to the video sharing site means that the two companies will…
Go telephone retro with a genuine refurbished GPO dial telephone
If retro’s your thing, then make sure you get hold of a no-frills, genuinely refurbished GPO dial telephone, and get back to making phone calls the old fashioned way.
Forget touch tone, keypads, and frivolous novelties. These are genuine refurbished BT dial telephones in the classic design, and available in five colours: classic ivory, classic red, classic black, or even (for a heady mix of old and new), “Big Brother” Blue and Black, or two tone pink.
TVonics launch low-power DVR-FP250 Freeview PVR
Last year we reported on the (slightly more) eco-friendly TVonics DVR-150 PVR, and now the company has upgraded the specifications and released their DVR-FP250 Freeview PVR.
There’s a bigger hard drive — up to 250GB from 150GB — plus all the usual functionality of both Freeview, and a PVR, bundled in one box. It comes with two Freeview tuners.
The main selling point, then, is not so much the functionality which you’d find on any self-respecting PVR, but the fact that it’s using significantly less power to achieve the same results.
Finally, iPhone US launch date announced: Friday 29th June
Those who haven’t been attending the iPhone pre-launch party (and why not? Don’t tell me you don’t care) may not be aware quite how many rumours have been surrounding the date that Apple’s first smartphone will launch in the US.
While Apple rumours are nothing unusual, iPhone hype has been so strong that it seems as if every day in June has had a believable reason attached for Apple dropping the iPhone into AT&T stores.
Admittedly, journalist’s cousins overhearing junior AT&T staff talking about a release date isn’t hugely confidence building, but it hasn’t stopped the stories being published.
Anyway, this is just a long-winded way of reiterating what the title of this article has already made perfectly clear: Apple has officially announced the day that the iPhone will be available to buy in the States.
Friday 29th June.
Home HeartBeat: A DIY "Home Awareness System"
One interesting system on display at PCBC 2007 is Eaton’s Home HeartBeat system. This is a self-installed, expandable system of sensors that allows a house and its utilities to be monitored remotely.
The Base Station controls the whole system, and works with a Home Key that the homeowner keeps with them. Sensors can be used to determine whether doors and windows are open or closed, whether pipes or taps are leaking, and if electrical appliances are on or off.
High definition is great, but do you really want Sony in your "Whole House"?
Andy Merrett writes…
Sony has been showing off its latest integrated solutions at PCBC (Pacific Coast Builders Conference) 2007.
It has three updated solutions for ensuring that new houses are totally kitted out with Sony equipment.
Their reasoning is that it’s easier and more cost-effective to plan and install a complete audio-visual system when a house is being built, rather than after all the walls are nicely plastered and you’re left scratching your head wondering how to keep that pristine look, while trying to separate and hide all that cabling.
Their top-of-the-range NHS-3040 rack system allows for 13 zones of HD video distribution, incorporating a 7.1 surround sound home theatre with LCD touch-panel remote control, a 400-disc DVD/CD changer with management system, an 80GB music server, radio tuner, HD cable/satellite support, three auxiliary inputs, and a Blu-ray player. Each separate zone has in-wall keypads for controlling it all.
Robert Alan Soloway: A top 10 spammer arrested
Federal authorities in the US have reported that one of the world's "top 10" email spammers has been arrested. Robert Alan Soloway has been accused of using a network of "zombie" PCs to send out millions of spam email on bhealf of his Internet marketing company, containing details of other companies and individuals duped into taking up his services.
"He's one of the top 10 spammers in the world," said Tim Cranton, a Microsoft Corp. lawyer who is senior director of the company's Worldwide Internet Safety Programs. "He's a huge problem for our customers. This is a very good day."
Dell happy with pre-standard 802.11n Wi-Fi equipment
Dell has defended its decision to join the growing number of manufacturers releasing high-speed Wi-Fi equipment based on the draft 802.11n specification.
Given the amount of gadgetry already on the market you’d be forgiven for thinking the standard was near completion, but in fact it isn’t due to be ratified until March 2009.
Liam Quinn, Dell’s chief technology officer for communications, security, peripherals and systems, told ZDNet that it doesn’t really matter that the standard hasn’t been finalised yet.
