Windows Mobile 6.5 screenshots have a little Zune in ‘em
Windows Mobile 6.5 was just a whisper on a Motorola phone chief Sanjay Jha's lips two weeks ago, but now that Ballmer himself has confirmed that there's at least one more rev of WinMo 6 en route before Windows Mobile 7 hits it looks like the floodgates have opened -- check out these hot screenshots, one of which seems to have been liberally dipped in Zune sauce. We're hoping that means we'll see some Zune integration with this next generation of handsets, but we're not going to get too worked up yet (cough, Xbox). It does look quite nice, though, and we've got our fingers crossed that this revamp is more than just a pretty new home screen and app launcher -- you're way late to that party, Microsoft. No telling on when 6.5 will actually get here, but Ballms said it'll be sometime next year, so we're guessing we don't have too long to wait.
Update: As several of you have pointed out, some of the icons are a little suspicious -- that "Today" icon is OS X's Home icon, for example. We're hoping this is the real deal and not just a user-made skin, but we wouldn't start making any long term plans here.
Device Profile: Fiire whole-house media distribution system
A company called Fiire is shipping a home automation, media control, and security system based on the open source LinuxMCE distro. Built around a dual-core AMD Athlon X2-based box called the Fiire Engine, the Fiire system also includes FiireStation thin clients and a Z-Wave-based FiireChief controller.
Some media control vendors that use Linux, such as Control4, have started challenging proprietary market leaders by partially opening up their system to developers. Fiire, however, boasts a far more open system. The key is its embrace of LinuxMCE and its "large, strong community of open source developers who are constantly improving it by adding features, polishing rough edges, and fixing any glitches," says the company.
Last summer saw the release of LinuxMCE 0704, which is based on Kubuntu. It offers features including whole-house high-definition video distribution, optional alpha-blended graphics, and gyroscopic remote control.
The Fiire system distributes media throughout the home to every room equipped with a FiireStation thin client, says Fiire, delivering up to 6TB of stored media, as well as streaming several high-def movies simultaneously to any FiireStation. Supported media is said to include HD PVR, HD cable or satellite video, DVDs, music, photos, and YouTube and other online content. The system is set up so that all A/V gear can be hidden away together, says the company, and in each room all that is needed is a flat panel TV and a FiireStation hidden behind it (when using the wallmount versions).
The Fiire software offers media management, complete with catalogs of cover art, all accessible via the FiireChief remote. By pressing the FiireChief's 'Follow Me' button, selected media follows the user throughout the house, delivering the media to the closest FiireStation. By bringing the remote close to a FireStation, it automatically binds to it and controls whatever A/V devices are connected to it.
In addition to handling media, says Fiire, its system controls lighting, climate, a preexisting home security system, surveillance cameras, and phones, including VoIP phones. Controllable tasks include:
- Linking events, such as lighting, to time of day or arrival or departure
- Setting up a VoIP phone system, with auto-attendant and voice mail, that routes calls to each family member's mobile phones when they are out
- Receive mobile phone alerts on security events, and view security camera footage
FiireEngine
The core of the system is the FiireEngine, only one of which is required per house. This server appliance runs all the LinuxMCE-based back-end software, provides diskless boot images to the FiireStations, and controls peripherals such as RAID storage, phones, and home control systems. The FiireEngine is based on the AMD dual core, 45W Athlon X2 BE-2350 Low Voltage, which Fiire says is optimized for quiet operation, low-heat output, and low power consumption.
The FiireEngine uses its internal 160GB storage for its own software -- media storage is handled via up to six e-SATA (external serial-ATA) ports, providing a potential capacity of 6TB. The appliance is said to include nVidia 6200 graphics processors that provide high-def playback and de-interlacing of 1080i.
The following are some specs listed for the FiireEngine:
- Processor: AMD 45W Athlon X2 (Dual-Core) BE-2350
- Memory -- 1GB
- Storage -- 160GB (for OS)
- RAID storage for media -- 6 x e-SATA ports for drives or drive cage (not included), for potential 6TB external storage
- Networking -- 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports
- Audio -- Stereo audio, plus SPDIF optical and coax/RCA
- Video -- nVidia 6200 graphics with DVI, VGA, Component, S-Video and composite connectors
- Operating system -- LinuxMCE 0704
FiireStation and FiireChief
Each FiireStation is designed to control a single TV. It offers the equivalent power of "a standard medium-performance PC," and in fact can be used as a regular Linux PC, says the company. However, it too runs LinuxMCE 0704, and it offers more advanced video decoding hardware than a mid-range PC, with 1080i de-interlacing, OpenGL 3D effects, and alpha blending. The system includes video drivers licensed by Fiire specifically for LinuxMCE, plus licensed MPEG decoders and DVD playback. The FiireStation is said to draw as little as 9 Watts, or about 1/20th what a Windows Vista
Media Center PC consumes, says Fiire.
The FiireStation is available in three versions: the high-end, 1-inch fanless vent-less wall or VESA mount model; a 2.2-inch wall mount version; and a set-top box (STB) version. Whereas the 1-inch model uses an unnamed, 5-Watt processor, the STB and 2.2-inch models both use a 15-Watt 1.5Ghz Via processor, and have similar components.
All three models are equipped with 512MB of RAM, and include a gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 2.0 ports, two PS/2 ports, and one COM port. They offer Via UniChrome Pro II PC graphics, and Via Vinyl 6 channel audio, with line in, line out and mic. The STB and 2.2-inch versions have room for extra connections, including component video and S/PDIF for digital audio, and the STB model can be ordered with a DVD/CD player and a TV tuner/capture card.
The FiireChief controller is used for both the FiireEngine and FiireStation, and any remote can work in any room. Equipped with Z-Wave technology, a competitor to ZigBee, its RF wireless connection offers a range of about 50 feet, is omni-directional, and does not require line of site. In addition to the typical remote control buttons, it offers three "gyro" buttons that Fiire claims can be used for all system functions in conjunction with gestural movements. In addition, it offers I/R remote capability, and includes a USB dongle for direct connection to a Fiire Engine, Fiire Station, or any LinuxMCE PC running UI2.
Availability
The Fiire system is shipping now. The FiireEngine starts at $800 (without external drives). The FiireStation is available in an STB version ($500), a 2.2-inch wall mount version ($500), and a 1-inch thick wall-mount version ($900). The FiireChief costs $150.
Digital Camera Terms To Know
It helps when learning to use your new digital camera to also know what some of the more common terms mean. Below you will find many of these common terms defined..
Automatic Mode — A setting that sets the focus, exposure and white-balance automatically. Burst Mode or Continuous Capture Mode — a series of pictures taken one after another at quickly timed intervals with one press of the shutter button.
Compression — The process of compacting digital data, images and text by deleting selected information.
Digital Zoom — Cropping and magnifying the center part of an image.
JPEG — The predominant format used for image compression in digital cameras
Lag Time — The pause between the time the shutter button is pressed and when the camera actually captures the image
LCD — (Liquid-Crystal Display) is a small screen on a digital camera for viewing images.
Lens — A circular and transparent glass or plastic piece that has the function of collecting light and focusing it on the sensor to capture the image.
Megabyte — (MB) Measures 1024 Kilobytes, and refers to the amount of information in a file, or how much information can be contained on a Memory Card, Hard Drive or Disk.
Pixels — Tiny units of color that make up digital pictures. Pixels also measure digital resolution. One million pixels adds up to one mega-pixel.
RGB — Refers to Red, Green, Blue colors used on computers to create all other colors.
Resolution — Camera resolution describes the number of pixels used to create the image, which determines the amount of detail a camera can capture. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can register and the larger the picture can be printed.
Storage Card — The removable storage device which holds images taken with the camera, comparable to film, but much smaller. Also called a digital camera memory card...
Viewfinder — The optical "window" to look through to compose the scene.
White Balance — White balancing adjusts the camera to compensate for the type of light (daylight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.,) or lighting conditions in the scene so it will look normal to the human eye.
10 Benefits Of Bluetooth
1. Wireless
As you probably already know, there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages. When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.
2. Bluetooth is actually inexpensive
The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company. These savings are then passed from the company on to you.
3. Bluetooth is automatic
Bluetooth doesn't have you set up a connection or push any buttons. When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything.
4. Standardized protocol
Bluetooth is standardized wireless, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed. Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren't the same model.
5. Low interference
Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices. Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also low power wireless signals.
6. Low energy consumption
As a result of Bluetooth using low power signals,the technology requires very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power as a result.This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices,as Bluetooth won't drain the battery.
7. Sharing voice and data
The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications.This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.
8. Instant PAN (Personal Area Network)
You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN. For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.
9. Upgradeable
Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works,which offer many new advantages and backward compatible with older versions.
10. The technology stays
Bluetooth technology is a world wide, universal wireless standard. With it being as popular as it is, you can count on it being around for years to come. As more and more devices start to use Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be eager to make their products compatible. A chain reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard for cutting edge wireless.