Digital Trends

Uncovering the Details Behind OS X Snow Leopard

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

Today's Show: Uncovering the Details Behind OS X Snow Leopard. Apple's upcoming Snow Leopard revision of OS X will bring an extra dose of speed and reliability to the already venerable operating system. Though the company has remained tight-lipped so far, Macworld editor Rob Griffiths shares a few hints of what's to come that have leaked out so far, as well as his own personal wish list for fixes.

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ClickFree Transformer Uses Any USB Drive

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:15:00 PST

Storage Appliance Corporation has been marketing ClickFree backup drives for a while: the basic idea is that users plug in the drives just like any USB device and like magic—no software, applications, configuration, or menu-surfing involved—the device automatically backs up your files. ClickFree has been offering backup drives with capacities ranging from 120 to 500 GB along with DVD-based backup, but now at CES the company is unveiling its new "Transformer Cable," a USB device that enables users to convert any USB hard drive into a ClickFree backup device. "Regardless of what the competition claims, our new Clickfree Transformer Cable is the only way to make a regular ex

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Canon Rolls Out 2009 Camcorder Line

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:00 PST

Canon has announced its 2009 camcorder lineup, including five new high-definition units in its Vixia line and six new standard-definition camcorders. The new camcorders use a variety of storage media—including flash memory—and add features designed to improve image quality and add consumer-friendly sharing options. "Canon's latest camcorder lineup features an exciting new array of advanced technologies that deliver superb image quality and easy operation," said Canon Imaging Group senior VP and general manager Yuichi Ishizuka, in a statement. "These new camcorders are available in a variety of recording formats, providing consumers a camcorder choice that complements any

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Samsung TVs to Pack Yahoo Widget Engine

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:10:00 PST

Consumer electronics giant Samsung has announced that it plans a new line-up of HDTV televisions that will be able to access Internet content via the Yahoo Widget Engine. Dubbed "Internet@TV," the technology will enable lightweight Javascript and XML applications to reside on users televisions and tap into Internet-based content, information, and social services right from a television remote control. The company is showing the televisions at CES 2009, and says the units should be available internationally by spring 2009. As examples of widget-powered content, Samsung cites staying on top of stock portfolios and headlines news, tracking eBay auctions, accessing video and photo sharing

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Adobe, Intel to Bring Flash to TVs

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:40:00 PST

Software developer Adobe and chipmaker Intel have announced they're working to bring Adobe's Flash Player and Flash Light to Intels' Media Processor CE3100—in other words, the companies plan to put Flash into televisions and TV peripherals. The combined technologies would not only enable televisions to access Web-based Flash content, but also permit more sophisticated onscreen interfaces. "The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is a highly integrated solution that provides a powerful, yet flexible technology foundation that will bring to life the

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LG Bringing Netflix to HDTVs

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:30:00 PST

Last year, LG and video rental service Netflix teamed up on a set-top box, then big mid-year announced a Netflix-enbabled Blu-ray player that could stream video content from Netflix via a user's home broadband connection. Now, the companies are taking the partnership right into televisions, announcing LG Broadband HDTVs that can stream Netflix content via a user's home broadband network with no exte

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Apple's Jobs Admits to Hormone Imbalance

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:00:00 PST

Following Apple's announcement that this week's Macworld Expo in San Francisco would be its last —and that this year's the keynote address would be given by Phil Schiller rather than Steve Jobs—the industry press has been awash in a flurry of rumors and speculation of about the state of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' health. Investors worry that no clear path of succession to the Apple CEO seat has been articulated, while Job's very apparent weight loss following surgical treatment for pancreatic cancer has been on display at public events…even prompting Jobs himself to quip that

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Gaza Conflict Goes Online

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:00:00 PST

Look on YouTube and you can find a channel hosted by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), with some 10,000 subscribers. The IDF Spokespersons Unit, which is also running a blog, says: “We thank you for visiting us and will continue to update this site with documentation of the IDF's humane action and operational success in operation ‘Cast Lead.’" The footage shown is of aid trucks entering Gaza, rocket stocks uncovered, and of rocket attacks against Israel. The Israeli consulate in New York even used Twitter to solicit questions for a press conference, according to Vnunet.

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China Jails Counterfeiters

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 PST

Microsoft has described them as "ringleaders of the world's largest software-counterfeiting syndicate," but on New Year’s Eve the 11 men convicted of counterfeiting Microsoft software became numbers, as they were given jail sentences of between one-and-a-half and six-and-a-half years after being found guilty of counterfeiting, supposedly the longest sentences for the crime in Chinese history. They reportedly distributed over $2 billion in fake Microsoft software before being identified in a joint operation between the FBI and the Chinese Public Security Bureau, leading to a series of arrests in July 2007, according to

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WiTricity At CES

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:00:00 PST

Imagine walking into a room and your cell phone beginning to charge automatically, even without a charger. Imagine, for that matter, not even needing chargers, or a tangle of wires around the house. The concept of WiTricity, or wireless electricity, is likely to be one of the big commercial draws at CES this year. Cafes wouldn’t just be WiFi hotspots, but also electricity hotspots where you didn’t need to search for an outlet, according to the Guardian. "You'd be able to buy a desk that charged any gadget placed on it, or power any PC you put on top," said James Holland, who edits

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Iomega Announces Home Media Network Drive

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:05:00 PST

Storage vendor Iomega has announced its new Home Media Network Hard Drive, a new media-savvy NAS storage device in 500 GB and 1 TB capacities that the company says is so easy to use, even computer novices can be backing up computers and streaming media around their home networks in less than five minutes. The drives operate under EMC's Linux-based LifeLine software and support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP); the drives can also act as an iTunes server and support Digital Network Alliance (DLNA) devices, meaning users can stream content to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles…as well as network-savvy HDTVs. "The Home Media Network Drive does the serious work of backing up and protecti

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ThinkPad W700ds Dual-Screen Monitor

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

Two screens are better than one. From keeping an e-mail client at the ready for incoming messages, to creating a space to pile IM windows, a second monitor can be a godsend when it comes to accomplishing two things at once on a computer. Unfortunately, if you count yourself among the road warriors who rely on notebook computers to get things done, one screen (and usually a small one) is the best you can do. But Lenovo has changed that. The Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds is the very first notebook computer to actually sport two displays: a 17-inch main display, plus a second 10.6-inch display that slides out the right side like a leaf in a dining room table. It even pivots forward to provide the optimum viewing angle alongside the

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Phishers Hit Twitter

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:48:23 PST

Phishing gets everywhere, and over the weekend it hit users of the micro blogging service, Twitter. A number of users received direct messages saying "hey! check out this funny blog about you...", according to the Guardian. Clicking on the link took people to an outside site that copied the Twitter front page. The service claims to have dealt with the problem by reporting the offending domain, but claims to have found a fake page for Facebook phishing, too. Twitter reset passwords for those who logged into the fake site.

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The Kitchen of the Future: Tomorrow's Technology

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

There is no shortage of marketing gimmicks in the world of kitchen appliances and gadgets—like the robot whose sole purpose in life is to make croutons from your leftover French bread. But practical, convenient, stylish, and space-saving designs always reign supreme. Think about, for example, how much counter space your stovetop takes up. Wouldn’t it be groovy to be able to use this space as a work surface when the stove isn’t in use? Eco-friendliness is also at the top of most homeowner’s lists of priorities. According to Allison Gatta of GE Consumer and Industrial, the cross section of connected technology and water/energy use is important. “The introduction of connectivity will open a number of in

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Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:34:24 PST

With so much digital media available at our fingertips, the computer has become a trusty companion when it comes to content management. It may be busting at the seams, but it’s a nice alternative for those that don’t have thousands of dollars to plunk down on a dedicated media server. Now the only problem is how to enjoy that entertainment. You could curl up on the couch or office chair and experience everything right on your desktop. However, unless you’re the type to hook a 60-inch screen up to your PC, stuff can often get a bit lost in the translation. For those times when the small screen just doesn’t deliver the goods, the WD TV HD Media Player wants to make the transition from small to big screen pretty seamless.

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Nielsen: U.S. Album Sales Down 14 Pct

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:50:00 PST

The music industry faced a tough year in 2008, with economic hardships curtailing consumers' willingness to spend money even on comparatively inexpensive luxuries like music. According to Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks retail sales data, U.S. music album sales were down 14 percent in 2008 to 428.4 million units. And while the market for digital music downloads is still growing, it's not expanding as fast as it was during 2007: sales of digital music tracks grew 27 percent for 1.07 billion units, and digital album sales rose 32 percent to 65.8 million units. In 2007, sales of digital singles rose 45 percent, and sales of digital albums rose 53 percent. The figures closely

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Competitors Gain on Internet Explorer

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:30:00 PST

Love it or hate it, Microsoft's Internet Explorer has long dominated the Web browser market, recently commanding as much as three quarters of the worldwide browser market. But new preliminary data from Net Applications' Hitslink service shows that alternative browsers have been steadily gaining ground on IE. According to the preliminary report, versions of Internet Explorer were used by 68.15 percent of Web surfers during December 2008, which represents a decline from 69.77 percent in November and 71.27 percent in October. And the main browsers to benefit from IE's decline are Firefox, Apple's Sa

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Microsoft Planning Layoffs?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 PST

The New Year is barely a day old, and already the technology rumor mill is in full swing. In addition to the obligatory speculation about what Apple might unveil at Macworld, software giant Microsoft is also at the center of a maelstrom of controversy amid so-far unsubstantiated reports the company plans to announce its first-ever layoffs a week before it issues its second quarter earnings report on January 22. Although low-level speculation about Microsoft layoffs has been circulating for some time, the current run has apparently been sparked by Fudzilla, which reports that January 15th layoffs at the Redmond software giant are "

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Kleer Offers DigiFi Opera Wireless Earbuds

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:30:00 PST

Wireless tech developer Kleer has begun offering offering has begun offering the Opera wireless earbuds, which it developed in conjunction with South Koreas DigiFi. Although the earbuds have been on sale in Korea for a while, this marks the first time the system has been available in the U.S. market. The DigiFi Opera earbuds use a 2.4 GHz wireless link to communicate with a transmitter that users can easily attach to an iPod or other personal media player—or, really, anything with a headphone output, including DVD players, stereos, phones, or other systems. The Kleer systems push uncompressed C

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Top 10 Tech Innovations of 2008

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

It’s been an exciting year in tech. From the implosion of HD-DVD at the year’s very beginning, right up to the final race to produce a viable iPhone competitor in time for Christmas, companies have relentlessly pushed the bar ever upward despite the bottom falling out of the economy as months worse on. Smaller, easier and cheaper seemed to be the industry’s driving design focus this year, and the products borne of these qualities are some of the most amazing – and most affordable – we’ve ever seen. On this brink of New Year’s Eve, we’ve taken a moment to look back at some of the coolest innovations we’ve seen over the last 365 days. Apple iPhone 3G

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Tech Trends for 2009

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

With the sun now set on the great year for tech that was 2008, New Year’s confetti swept, apologies made and vomit mopped up, it’s time to look forward to 2009 and the bevy of products that the next consumer electronics show will usher onto store shelves. Though many analysts predict a gloomy year for tech as consumers hunker down with their wallets and prepare for the months of recession ahead, CE companies will still be doing their best to bait buyers with the latest and greatest of everything – and with the newfound industry emphasis on affordability, you might not even need to borrow against your house to buy it all (if you still

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Mac vs. Windows vs. Android: 2009 - The Year Ahead

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST

We are coming up to the end of the year, and it is traditional to look ahead – and hope the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train. Next year will bring a number of major changes for three of the biggest players in consumer electronics right now. For Apple, we are currently speculating, again, that Steve Jobs may leave shortly because of health reasons. This would mean a change for that company in line with his return in 1996, and Apple yanking its presence from MacWorld, while expected, was not a good initial sign. Snow Leopard, the Apple netbook, and a third-generation iPhone are all expected next year. Microsoft, which has been struggling with Windows Vista, is expected to re

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Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR6

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:15:40 PST

Winter is a wonderful time of the year—especially for those who want to sled downhill. If you can’t find hills or snow nearby, just look at a diagram showing prices of LCD HDTVs—it’s a sweet downward angle that’ll make any prospective buyer a happy camper. Sony’s new 52-inch XBR6 model is a great example. It launched last fall at $3,499, dropped quickly to $2,999 and, as we speak, sells on Amazon for less than $2,400. That’s 1,000 clams in anyone’s language. And since it’s part of Sony’s higher-end XBR series, it’s loaded with many performance boosters including a 120Hz refresh rate and advanced video processing; 1080p quality is given. Now is this tier-one LCD HDTV a winner? In a few clicks of the supplied remote, we’ll find out.

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Samsung Omnia (SCH-i910)

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:09:52 PST

Like the Blackberry Storm, the Samsung Omnia is part of the first wave of post-iPhone smartphones aimed directly for the Apple market. From its lack of a keyboard to its multimedia capabilities, Samsung is going for convenience, portability and multi-functionality. It is a valiant attempt, but lots of unusual design choices make the Omnia more awkward than progressive.

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TeleNav Shotgun

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:04:20 PST

For most consumers, a GPS device is not a tech gadget for geeks – it's a critical necessity of the commuter lifestyle and an everyday way to find your way around town. You might not know the meaning of the term "PND" (or even care), or that there's a difference between NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas data. You just want to avoid being late. To that end, the TeleNav Shotgun accomplishes the goal as an in-car navigation device, even if it can't quite measure up to the more powerful features found on competing Navigon and TomTom products. Unfortunately, the device does falls short though when it comes to some simple pathfinding activities.

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CES 2009 Preview

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

Every year, companies spend millions of dollars preparing for four days in January: the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Years worth of research and design are laid out on the table, photographed, written about, and analyzed from every angle. And while most of these concepts are closely guarded company secrets new to even the savviest of techies, a handful always manage to escape early – intentionally or otherwise. We’ve rounded up a few of the coolest early prospects from the upcoming 2009 CES, and while we promise the best is yet to come, these early peeks are definitely worth checking out. Touch-Based MSI Wind Netbook We fondly remember MSI’s Wind U100 as one of

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10 Gadgets and Tech Toys for Kids

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST

From cell phones to digital audio players and point-and-shoot cameras, teenagers are all about personal electronics. But did you know there is actually a booming market for high-tech accessories, toys and cutting-edge devices aimed at kids as young as three all the way up to the tween and teen years as well? Here we highlight a few great gadgets for the younger set. 1) Erector Spykee Spy Robot, $300 Every kid secretly wants to be a covert op, and what better to spy with than a stealthy robot? The price tag is a little

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