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Aldi Turns Blu With Medion Offering

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Users who want to watch high definition movies while on the go should go to their nearest Aldi store in the next couple of weeks. This supermarket chain is about to offer a Blu-ray notebook that not only has noteworthy specifications, but also sports a price tag that is hard to beat. The Smarthouse Team takes a look at the MD97310 from Medion…


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The Medion MD97310 sports the same piano black exterior (still prone to fingerprints), keyboard layout, and brushed aluminium interior as the MD96940 (to hyperlink) we reviewed in April, although this 17-incher is packed with better specifications.

The MD97310 uses an Intel Core 2 duo T5800 processor running at 2.0Ghz, has 4GB of RAM, and uses Nvidia’s GeForce 8600M GS graphics card with 512MB GDDR2 memory. It also comes with a 320GB hard drive (Partitioned to Boot (271GB) and Recover (26GB)) for storing games, music, movies, and important documents.

The unit has an abundance of ports. The notebook comes with a 4-in-1 card reader, three different input and output jacks (microphone, headphone, and S/PDIF), an ExpressCard slot, an Ethernet port, a DVI-out port, an HDMI-out port, and four USB ports for optimum connectivity. The unit also has draft-N Wi-Fi built-in, giving users fast wireless connection anytime. The unit also comes with BD drive that plays Blu-ray discs, but more on that later.

 


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Opening the lid reveals a 17-inch WXGA screen with a maximum resolution of 1440×900 (16:10 cinema format), a 1.3-megapixel webcamera, a tactile keyboard with dedicated number keys, and a built-in microphone. What’s missing from this notebook is a set of dedicated multimedia hotkeys for easy access to Windows Media Player.

Medion has pre-installed Windows Vista Home Premium on the system and has included a suite of software for added home and office productivity. Programs include a trial version of Bullguard, Corel MediaOne and Draw Essential Edition 3, CyberLink YouCam, Google Desktop, Cyberlink Suite (MediaShow, PowerDirector, PowerDVD 8, PowerProducer), Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (Trial), Microsoft Works, and Nero 8 Essentials.

 The unit’s built-in Blu-Ray drive allowed us to watch Blu-Ray movies on both our notebook’s screen (1440×900) as well as on our 46-inch LCD TV (Toshiba) via HDMI (1920×1080 resolution was possible). Our Blu-Ray copy of Close Encounters of the Third Kind loaded in 27 seconds (after loading the CyberLink DVD software) or 45 seconds to load from Windows. There were no dramas streaming content from the unit to the screen, although we encountered minor slowdowns and hiccups at times (around 2-3 instances where it just stopped to load).

 

While the unit cannot run hardcore games like Crysis, it can still handle recent games (like Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3) without any problems. The MD97310 got a score of 2540 in our 3DMark06 test and a Windows Vista overall rating of 4.7.

The unit lasted for 118 minutes in our DVD playback test, which is just about average for a 17-inch notebook. This would roughly equate to 3 to 4 hours of use when set to ‘economy’ mode. Despite having a subwoofer built-in, the audio quality is not worth writing home about, although it still gets the job done. If you want to have the best audio quality, then we recommend users to use the S/PDIF out port.

Medion’s MD97310 is a beefy notebook that brings high-definition content to your screen with its Blu-Ray drive. It may not be the best looking notebook around, but for $1,499, we think that it wouldn’t matter considering just what this notebook can offer. This new notebook will hit Aldi stores on November 20, 2008.

See page over for product specifications and final rating.

 

Medion Akoya MD97310 Specifications:

– Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 running at 2.0GHz.
– Nvidia GeForce 8600M GS with 512MB dedicated memory
– 320GB HDD
– 17-inch screen with maximum resolution of 1440×900 (16:10 cinema format)
– Wireless 802.11 b/g/n
– 4GB memory
– DVI and HDMI audio/video out
– 1.3-megapixel camera with built-in microphone
– Blu-Ray drive with DVD/CD writer
– Comprehensive software included (BullGuard, Corel MediaOne, Corel Draw Essential Edition 3, CyberLink YouCam, Google Desktop, CyberLink Suite (MediaShow, PowerDirector, PowerDVD 8, PowerProducer), Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007, Microsoft Works, Nero 8 Essentials)
– 6-channel audio out (Analogue + S/P-DIF)
– 4 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro)
– Speakers with built-in subwoofer
– Ethernet
– Windows Vista Home Premium With Service Pack 1

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Medion Akoya MD97310 | $1,499 |  | www.aldi.com/au or www.medion.com.au

For: Noteworthy specifications; Built-in Blu-Ray drive; Abundance of software; Battery life
Against: Piano finish prone to fingerprints; No multimedia hotkeys; Occasional hiccups with Blu-ray player when hooked up to HDTV; Cannot handle ‘hardcore’ games; Gets really hot
Conclusion: Enter the world of Blu-ray with Medion’s new notebook.

Ericsson Router Shares Mobile Broadband

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Forget about USB dongles for your wireless broadband, the Ericsson W35 allows you to connect multiple devices via Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi simultaneously, share a printer or storage device, make calls, and even receive fax.


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This mobile broadband router is perfect for users who are always on the go, renters, or for households that lack fixed line infrastructure. The Ericsson W35 provides voice, fax and high speed internet using the mobile phone networks and utilises the 2G/3G mobile network.

The W35 is easy to set up: all a user needs to do is to put a SIM card into the slot located on the left side of the router,  connect it to a PC (via Ethernet) for the initial configuration, and/or hook up a telephone to receive and make calls. Typing in mbr or 192.168.1.1 on Internet Explorer will take you to the main interface. From there you can see an overview of the system, view traffic statistics, turn the Wireless LAN on/off, share storage device and printers, and view event logs.

As soon as that is done, users can connect devices via Ethernet (up to four) and/or Wi-Fi, call anyone using the phone connected, and share storage devices and printers.

 


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Up front, users can find six indicators: signal quality, voice mail, computer (which means that it is impossible to establish a connection to the mobile network), wireless LAN, globe (lights up if an Internet connection is established), and telephone (lights up when a connected telephone is off-hook). The standby button at the bottom of the front shows a steady blue when the W35 has finished the start-up procedure.

Although not as fast as the recently launched Telstra Wireless Broadband Router, the Ericsson W35 still provides decent broadband speeds. During our test, the W35 produced download speeds of up to 4.3Mb/s and upload speeds of up to 1.13 Mb/s (using speedtest.net and connecting to the Sydney server).

The W35 is available now for $517, with accessories such as a battery pack ($67.32) and antenna cables ($16.50) sold separately. See the Powertec website (www.powertec.com.au) for more information on the product.

Voice Now Turns To Text With New Telstra Service

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Telstra has launched a new service that allows a customer to convert their voicemail into text.

Telstra has partnered with UK company, SpinVox, to bring the voice to text service to Australian customers. The system, which is called Voice Message Conversion System (VMCS), captures spoken words, and automatically converts them into text.

The Voice2Text service will convert voicemail messages to text and will be sent to a user’s mobile phone as an SMS. Voice2Text subscribers will see the caller ID in the text message, allowing them to easily call or text straight back. In addition, customers also have the option of listening to their voice messages by simply calling MessageBank in the normal way.

Telstra Consumer Executive Director, Ms Glenice Maclellan, said “At a glance, people can usually see who has called, discreetly read the content of the voicemail and make prompt decisions even if they are in a noisy environment, travelling, or simply in the middle of doing something else.”
 
Telstra customers who take up the Voice2Text service for the first time will also get the service free for the first month.
 
Customers can also choose from a number of monthly pricing options including $15 for 500 messages or pay as you go at 40 cents per message (with $5 monthly fee).
 
See: www.telstra.com

Fast File Transfer With New Samsung External Drive

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Samsung has confirmed that the Story Station 3.0 will be available in Australia this month. This external drive comes with USB 3.0 for fast data transfer and can store up to 2TB of data.


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The Story Station combines a grey, brushed aluminium casing with the logo stencilled in red. The casing includes ventilation slits to facilitate even heat dissipation, while the USB 3.0 interface offers a maximum transfer rate of five gigabits per second (Gbps). Preloaded software suites include Samsung Auto Backup, SecretZone and SafetyKey for data encryption and password protection.

Samsung Australia’s National Product and Marketing Manager, Emmanuele Silanesu said, “The Samsung Story Station 3.0 has been built for advanced users who demand fast transfer speeds from their computer to the external device and top of the range data security without sacrificing design. It creates a seamless experience that allows users to move large chunks of high-quality multimedia content with minimal wait time.”

The Samsung STORY Station 3.0 drives will be available this month for $169 (1TB), $219 (1.5TB), and $269 (2TB).

New NBN Directors Revealed

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The Rudd Government has appointed five ‘expertly qualified and experienced’ individuals to the board of its National Broadband Network company.

The new directors are former Telstra executive Mr. Doug Campbell, former CEO of law firm Freehills Mr. Peter Hay, former partner of management consulting firm McKinsey & Co Ms. Siobhan McKenna, former Westpac executive Ms. Diane Smith-Gander, and former Westfarmers Finance Director Mr. Gene Tilbrook.

“The NBN Co Board will help drive the rollout of the National Broadband Network and guide the development of company operations. These Board appointees are expertly qualified and experienced to establish this important component of our future economic infrastructure,” says Minster for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner.

The five new directors will join the Executive Chair, Mr Michael Quigley, on the board. Mr. Quigley has also been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of NBN Co.

Minister for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said, “These appointments move us to an important next stage in the implementation of this infrastructure project. Mr Quigley and the five new directors bring a strong set of skills necessary for a task of this scale and importance.”

 

Apple To Sell NetComm Pocket-Sized Wi-Fi Router

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Apple has scored an exclusive deal with Netcomm to launch a pocket-sized 3G wireless router. The company said that the new device can connect to an iPad, netbook/notebook, gaming console, and even smartphones wirelessly.


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Called MyZone, this mobile 3G Wi-fi router is 9mm thin, weighs 77g, and comes with a Li-ion battery that claims to provide up to 6 hours of operation.

NetComm’s Managing Director, David Stewart said, “In addition to its performance and lightweight design, a key feature of the MyZone is its superior battery life.  Battery life is important, whether you are a business or consumer. We have therefore concentrated development around maximising battery life.”

From our short hands-on at a press conference this morning, we found that the MyZone was easy to set-up. After turning the unit on, all a user needed to do was to connect to the wireless network named NetComm MyZone and type the default password. Once a user is connected, he/she can easily change the security settings (WEP, WPA, WPA2) by typing my.zone on a browser. A user can also change the Access Point Name if the unit has not connected to the Internet and even manually adjust the settings. The default interface is simple and shows you the battery level and the 3G connection status.

“Another important feature we addressed is user experience. NetComm has focused on developing a simple user interface for ease of use.  The MyZone employs NetComm’s “Smart Connect” technology that preloads the MyZone with carrier connection information, meaning customers can connect to their 3G network with minimal configuration,” added Stewart.

Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, the MyZone delivers download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps and upload speeds of 5.76Mbps for large file transfers. The MyZone platform supports 3G Tri-band 850MHz, 1900MHz, and 2100MHz for local and international services.

The MyZone will be exclusively available at Apple stores and Apple’s online store in Australia for 8 weeks for $299.

Read our full review of the MyZone here.

Panasonic Recorders Zooms In Voice

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The new line of Panasonic Digital Voice Recorders comes with a 3x zoom microphone that allows a user to get closer to the audio source.


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The 3x zoom microphone found on the Panasonic RR-US570, RR-US550 and RR-US510claims to cut down distortion from surrounding noise (assisted by a 270mW low noise amplifier) and capture the sound clarity and volume equivalent to recording from a point three times closer to the subject.

Panasonic Australia’s Product Manager – Mobile AV, Glenn Zanoni said that its new line of Digital Voice Recorders will offer a simple, convenient, and high-quality audio capture.

“The built-in zoom microphone allows users to get closer to the audio source, maintaining quality recording from a distance, making these devices an essential tool for those who can’t afford to miss a thing,” adds Zanoni.

Panasonic’s new Voice Recorders are designed to record hours of MP3 format audio files. With the ability to record in MP3 format, the audio files are easy and convenient to email or upload online to share with others.

 

In addition to voice recording, these handy devices offer USB storage for data files and images, as well as MP3 playback of your favourite music.

Additional benefits include the Voice-Activated System (VAS), which begins recording as soon as sound is detected (and pauses during silences) to help eliminate wasted storage space, with a powerful 330mW speaker ensuring high-quality audio playback.

The new Voice Recorders also offer playback speed control, which allows recordings to be slowed down for clarity and accuracy or skipped ahead as desired by the user. The Recorders can also act as a storage device for data files and images and can play MP3 files.

For added security, the device can be protected with a password, so that confidential recordings cannot be played back by unauthorised users. 

The Panasonic RR-US570, RR-US550, and RR-US510 are available for $229, $189, and $149 respectively.

See: www.panasonic.com.au

CSIRO To Push Wireless Broadband On Analog TV Signal

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CSIRO will today unveil a new wireless technology designed to bring broadband to people living beyond the optical fibre network. If implement, people living in the bush can connect to high-speed internet just by using a new set-top box.
Called Ngara, the organisation aims to re-use old analog TV channels that will be fully switched off in 2013 to enable multiple users to upload information at the same time, without reducing their individual systems’ data transfer rate of 12 Mbps.

According to the organisation, this radio spectrum is a finite and highly valuable, natural resource.

CSIRO’s spectral efficiency is three times that of the closest comparable technology and the data rate is more than 10 times the industry’s recently declared minimum standard. Its 12 Mbps, six-user system works in the space of one television channel, which is seven megahertz (MHz) wide. It is also currently completing the research and testing of the downlink part of the system, which will also run at 12 Mbps per user.

CSIRO’s ICT Centre Director, Dr. Ian Oppermann said, “Someone who doesn’t live near the fibre network could get to it using our new wireless system. They’d be able to upload a clip to YouTube in real-time and their data rate wouldn’t change even if five of their neighbours also started uploading videos. But the really impressive part is the spectral efficiency our team has achieved.”

Wireless Research Director for Gartner, Robin Simpson, said the most promising aspect of CSIRO’s Ngara technology is that it aims to re-use old analog TV channels.

“This means any rural property or business that can currently receive TV signals could in future connect to high-speed internet just by using a new set-top box,” Mr Simpson said.

AOC Monitor Provides Wide Viewing Angles

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The AOC IF23 is aimed at professional graphic artists or enthusiasts who want a bright and crisp display that has wide viewing angles.


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Specifications-wise the IF23 sports a 23-inch widescreen, promises a dynamic contrast ratio of 100000:1, a brightness of 250 cd/m2, a response time of 6ms, and a viewing angle of 178. It has a native resolution of 1920×1080 but only has a D-Sub and DVI-D port. It could have been better if AOC included a HDMI port on the device.

 The IF23 sports a photo-frame design with a glossy blue front and a white back. Unlike other monitors, the cabinet is supported by a single-post stand that can be rotated to change the monitor’s angle (3 to 12 degrees).

This unconventional design may be ‘refreshing’ for some, but others would definitely want it in just plain black. Another thing that could put off users is its build quality – the monitor feels flimsy and the plastic just feels cheap.

 

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We connected the unit to a Windows PC (via DVI-D) and adjusted the monitor’s contrast and brightness to improve the image quality. The IPS (In Plane Switching) panel allowed us to see a photo at an angle without colour degradation. The colours were crisp and it was able to show more image depth, especially in dark photos and video clips. Static images were sharp and games played on the monitor showed minimal ghosting.

The directional keys found below the device also function as Hotkeys to adjust contrast, viewing mode, image ratio, and source. Pressing the power button displays various commands that allows a user to adjust luminance and colour temperature, turn on colour boost (full enhance, nature skin, green field, sky blue, auto detect) or colour boost (frame size, brightness, contrast, H. position, V. position, and bright frame on/off), adjust the OSD settings, or reset the monitor to default.

The unit also comes with six eco modes that automatically adjust the settings according to the source. This includes Standard, Text, Internet, Game, Movie, and Sports. The IF23’s DCR (Dynamic Contrast Ratio) can also be enabled or disabled.

For $399 you get a great monitor that produces great image quality at any viewing angle. The only problem is if you do not like how it looks – the IF23 is only available in glossy blue and sports a picture frame design. It tries its best to stand out from the crowd, but has a hard time convincing people otherwise. 

Affordable Bluetooth Headset From Jabra

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While Jabra’s new Bluetooth headset sports a very affordable price tag, it still promises to offer clear sound quality, automatic pairing, and comes with two earhook sizes for added comfort.


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The Jabra BT2050 is designed around a small silver disk that enables users to handle their calls smoothly and dynamically. It allows for two wearing styles, worn with or without an earhook and comes in two sizes. 

The BT2050’s buttons are smartly integrated into the device and is ‘ideal for fashion conscious individuals who want to benefit from hands-free communication at an affordable cost.’

The BT2050 weighs in at just 8 grams and measures a little over 4 cm in length.

Key Specifications of the Jabra BT2050:

  • Auto-pairing 
  • Up to 4 hours talk time
  • 180 hours standby time
  • 2 earhook sizes provided for added comfort
  • Size: 42x19x26 mm
  • Weight: 8 grams

Availability and Pricing:

The Jabra BT2050 is available for consumer purchase at Harvey Norman, Optus World Stores and Telstra Licenced Stores with an RRP of $59.