Archive for October, 2009
Samsung UA55B8000 LED-lit LCD TV
This model is Samsung’s highest end offering, and hails from the “farce family” of TVs that Samsung calls LED TV. It’s not actually an LED TV, but rather they are LCD TVs with LED lighting. LED TV is a widely fallacious marketing ply, but then again, what isn’t these days. The panel is still an LCD panel, just the lighting is done via LEDs, along the edge. Nonetheless, this model is from the dizzying 8000 range of Samsung’s flagship stallions. We got the big daddy in, a 55 incher, the model name is UA55B8000.
Design and features
This TV is ultra slim, due to its edge lit LED system, thus removing the extra mm resulting from a bulky backlight. The bezel is flat and neat with a gloss black finish. The edges are rimmed by a transparent border jutting out, adding aesthetic appeal to the front view. This model has something I have actually not seen before, a transparent circular neck stalk, that is attached to a metallic brush finished stand. The transparent stalk looks good why? Because the bottom edge has a blue LED light that glows and reflects off its structure, when the TV is powered on. Overall it’s a minimal, futuristic design.
In terms of build quality, the joint is very sturdy, and even though the TV is light overall we have a sturdy and rigid body. The connectors are a wide spread bouquet, owing to the numerous features tossed in. We have 4 HDMI 1.3s, 2 USB ports, component in, composite in, VGA in and RCA audio input/output. There is no Digital audio out, and no headphone out.
As for extra features, just like the 7000 series, in this model we have an Ethernet port to connect to select sites like Youtube and Flickr. Then there is an on board 1 GB HDD, to store multimedia data that we download. All this is accessible via the remote through a well designed and colorful User interface, which is categorized into gaming, cooking etc. These folders contain some videos, and can be updated via the net connection.
The rated Dynamic Contrast is written as ‘mega’. No more comments there. No brightness rating is measured, maybe Samsung doesn’t need to, but we do, so our candela spotmeter says 298 cd/m2 on max backlight, center screen. The blacks of this TV are actually quite deep. The res is full HD 1920 x 1080. This model has a 200 Hz motion compensation engine, thus we expect even smoother motion.
Microsoft Windows 7 – The Missing Features
We already did the definitive review of Windows 7, and without a doubt, it is a great OS. But there are a few features that were initially promised that are missing from the final release.
WinFS
We’ve been waiting for this one since the early days of Vista’s development, but it’s still not here. Microsoft’s new WinFS file system was supposed to use a huge database that could recognize data attributes to speed up searching and correlating different kinds of information, rather than relying solely on folder structures as we currently know them. Development continues but it’s still not ready for primetime.
Accelerators
Just like the ill-fated Smart Tags in Microsoft Office, Accelerators allow you to select text in any program and then add it to a calendar, translate, spell check, search online with Live Search, get directions using Live Maps, send by Live Mail, etc. Maybe they were too invasive or maybe Microsoft was afraid of criticism because of their close ties with their own online services.
Guest Mode
Early demos showed a Guest Mode which basically let administrators freeze the state of an account on a PC so that no changes to files or system settings were retained when guests use it. The computer’s hard drives were locked down and even files they save were wiped out when a new session begins. Without explanation, this feature is missing in the final release.
Ultimate Extras
After Vista’s promised Ultimate Extras failed to materialize, the concept has been dropped for Windows 7 Ultimate.
Windows Live programs
With the coming of the Windows Live suite of downloadable programs, regular fixtures like Windows Mail, Movie Maker and Messenger are no longer preinstalled by default. You can install whatever you like by visiting www.download.live.com.
Schoolboy Arrested in Hong Kong For Selling Pirated Windows 7
A Hong Kong schoolboy has been arrested for allegedly selling pirated copies of the newly-released Windows 7 software over the internet, customs officials said Wednesday.
The 18-year-old was caught by undercover officers who discovered he had taken 25 online orders for the software at 300 Hong Kong dollars ($38.7) each.
Buyers were asked to pay money into a local bank account and then given a hyperlink to download the pirated Windows 7 N-Series software, investigators said.
Genuine copies of the new Windows 7 software cost between around $130 and $376, according to prices quoted on Microsoft websites.
Customs officials posed as buyers, placed an order and then raided the flat of the boy’s family in the city’s Ma On Shan district after the money had been paid in, a customs spokesman said.
Two computers were seized from the schoolboy’s bedroom. He faces a jail term of up to four years, or a fine of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars ($6,450) if convicted of copyright offences.
He was released on bail while investigations continue and is expected to appear in court to be charged at a later date, the spokesman said.
Hong Kong used to be notorious for pirated CDs, DVDs and software but customs officials have cracked down heavily on copyright abuse in recent years, shutting down hundreds of shops selling pirated discs.
Google Maps Navigation Will Come With Voice Guidance
Google Maps is one of the most popular if not THE most popular freeware apps/preloaded GPS apps for any handset. It works great on almost all handsets including some of the lower end models and is extremely easy to use. Although it provides you with directions on getting from point A to point B, it’s easily usable if you don’t have drive since voice guidance has been part of the deal.
That’s about to change, at least for Android handset users. Google Maps Navigation (Beta) has been designed for Android 2.0 devices and is expected to have frequent GPS users in a tizzy. The features would include 3D views and even turn-by-turn voice guidance and automatic rerouting. The new mapping system is an internet-connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It uses the handset’s net connection to update the system on the latest maps and business data.
These are the list of features that the new Maps with Navigation offer -
Search in plain English
Search by voice
Traffic view
Search along route
Satellite view
Street View
Car dock mode
Samsung Launches Dual LCD Digicams
Samsung India unveiled its new, compact camera range in the Indian market. The World First Samsung 2View Camera range represented by ST550 and ST500 give consumers a whole new approach to personal photography. Samsung’s ST550 and ST500 truly put the photographer in the picture. The ST550 and ST500 feature Dual LCDs, with one LCD being on the front and another one, on the back.
“Today’s new Digital camera range launch is an important milestone for Samsung, reinforcing our position as a leading innovator in the digital camera market and setting a new benchmark for digital camera technology,” states Mr. R. Zutshi, Deputy Managing Director, Samsung India Electronics Ltd.
The growing popularity of social networking sites has given rise to the self-portrait or profile picture with many consumers turning their digital camera on themselves to become the subject of their photo.
The 1.5” LCD now on the front of the ST550 and ST500 allows consumers to take these self-portraits and profile pictures with ease, showing the user exactly what the picture will look like, enabling the desired result every time. Incorporating a 3.5” wide, 1,152K resolution touch-screen LCD, the ST550 delivers one of the highest resolution screens available on a digital camera. Complementing this is a 12.2 mega-pixel CCD and 27mm wide-angle Schneider KREIZNACH lens with 4.6x optical zoom, allowing a wider shooting range from a shorter distance, and producing clear, clean images with balanced resolution from the center of the image to the edges.
Another innovation found on the ST550 and ST500 is Samsung’s new powerful Smart Gesture User Interface (UI) with a built-in Gravity sensor. Once the camera is on, a simple tap on the front LCD turns it on and the camera is automatically set into self portrait mode with smile detection. This means if users want to take a self portrait, they only need to tap and smile and the picture will be taken automatically. Teamed with innovative Samsung technologies such as Smile Shot, Smart Face Recognition and Smart Auto, users are given the ability to take the perfect image with ease .While the ST550 is priced at Rs.24,990 , the ST500 is priced at Rs.20,990.