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Ty Pendlebury

i-mate K-Jam Review

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SIM-carrying PDAs succeed by balancing two factors: functionality and size. Too big and a device loses its effectiveness as an out-of-office solution. Too small and its ability to be of any use at all is diluted.

Thankfully, K-Jam errs on the right side of both of these metrics. K-Jam’s dimensions aren’t much bigger than that of smartphones, allowing you the freedom to make a voice call in the traditional manner without feeling you’re talking into a toaster. Bluetooth gives you the option of hands-free communication too. i-Mate has done well to pack so much into the design.

This is another outing for the latest Microsoft OS, Windows Mobile 5, which packs a decent amount of features in a recognisable interface. K-Jam handles Word and Excel readily, offers voice dialling, PDF reader and the usual Windows Mobile staples such as Internet Explorer, SMS, MMS and Outlook. 64MB of non-volatile memory is standard these days, as is the mini-SD slot for upgrading. The 1.3 mega-pixel camera takes good snapshots, and the built-in flash ensures it doesn’t lose out to lesser mobiles.

It’s the inclusion of the keyboard that lifts the K-Jam above the crowd. Though increasingly common, PDA keyboards are either too cumbersome to be efficient or so diminutive they’re useless. i-Mate has struck a perfect and ingenious balance here. K-Jam’s keyboard slides out from beneath the screen and clicks into place below, automatically adjusting from portrait to landscape as it does so. Its keys are raised and spaced just enough to allow you to comfortably tap away with two thumbs and still access the touch-screen menu options with the cleverly concealed stylus.

With support for both 802.11g as well as 802.11b, the bundled Skype software is well catered for and the stereo speakers allow conversations to be played over speakerphone. As a mobile music player the speakers lack punch, but the headphone jack means your Media Player’s contents are as accessible and useable as any other mobile media device.

In K-Jam, i-Mate has managed to produce a PDA small and ergonomic enough to be truly portable yet functional. And while sprawling Word documents may still not be as manageable as they would in the office, K-Jam brings them into the realms of usability quite brilliantly.

i-Mate K-Jam | $1199.00 |

Verdict: In K-Jam, i-Mate has managed to produce a PDA small and ergonomic enough to be truly portable yet functional.

Pioneer’s New AMD X2 Notebooks

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Pioneer Computers has announced a new range of laptops based on the forthcoming AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core processor, which it claims will be the first in the world.

The Turion 64 X2 is AMD’s answer to Intel’s portable dual-core solution and will be released on June 9.

The DreamBook Slim 8858, with the choice of Turion X2 or Sempron processor, features a 15.4″ 1280×800 LCD widescreen, while the DreamBook Light 8824 comes with 14.1″ 1280×800 widescreen. Both notebooks feature ATI Radeon x1100 graphics, onboard Azalia I/F sound, and a 54mm ExpressCard Slot — which is designed to replace the PC Card interface as a modular expansion slot, at roughly half the size while still fully-compatible.

Other features include four USB(2.0) ports, a SPDIF output, S-Video port, 56Kbps(V.92) Fax Modem, 10/100 WLAN (802.11a/ b/g or b/g) and Bluetooth.

The DreamBook Slim 8858 and DreamBook Light 8824 start from $1499 including GST, and will be available in early June.

PSP: Will The iPod Killer Please Stand Up?

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Forget the NW-HD5, the PSP is Sony’s true iPod killer, and at today’s Australian launch the company went all-out to prove the credentials of the PSP as a ‘total entertainment’ device.

The PSP does movies, music, photos, web browsing, and of course games, and when the device launches on September 1, 2005, not only will Sony release games titles on its proprietary UMD format, but blockbuster movie titles as well.

The new UMD format will itself be the focus of a new marketing campaign, and Sony will deliver 18 movie titles at launch including Spiderman 2, Hellboy and Bad Boys. Prices start at $24.95, but most premium movies will be available for $34.95. Speaking at today’s launch, Michele Garra of Sony Pictures said most major movie titles will be released on DVD and UMD on the same day. Ms Garra said all major movie houses, bar Dreamworks and Warner Bros, would release movies on the UMD format.

“The home entertainment industry now looks forward to offering consumers new ways to enjoy our movies and hopefully attract new collectors to the market via this mobile format”, she said.

To coincide with the launch, Sony also revealed several other new sources of content. Bipond would make sports coverage available in the PSPs MP4 format, and Sony’s new website, yourpsp.com.au would enable users to download new media content. It also announced a new short film competition, called Expose, which will enable film-makers to produce 3-minute films especially for the PSP.

Sony is expecting a huge response for the PSP, and predicts that as many as 250,000 units will sell by Christmas in Australia alone, and Australia has already accounted for two million Playstation 1 & 2 sales in the last ten years. And as a bonus to early adopters, Sony announced the first 40,000 buyers would also receive a UMD copy of Spiderman 2.

Sony also confirmed the PSP would ship with the new firmware 2.0 which enables web access, and is definitely one of the PSPs best features. But the units won’t have the update onboard, but will come with a UMD disk with the update on it.

But the PSP is renowned for its games, and there will be eight available on September 1, including Ridge Racer and Wipeout Pure, with up to 25 available by Christmas.

The PSP comes with an, as-yet, unused IR port which has fueled speculation that it will become a controller/remote for the upcoming PlayStation 3.

The Playstation Portable Value Pack will be available at $399.95 and includes the PSP with a 4.3in screen and 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a carry pouch, remote and headphones. Extra memory is available, with the maximum Memory Stick Pro Duo maxing out at 1GB. There have been rumours of a 2GB stick arriving in September, however.

Western Digital’s Portable Powerhouse

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Western Digital has released a new line of portable drives with capacities up to 120GB designed to be both stylish and rugged.

With no need for a separate power supply (for most systems), WD Passport Portable USB Drives are easy to use anywhere — simply plug in and store.

Designed with sleek rounded corners and a textured, non-slip rugged protective case, WD Passport Portable USB Drives are outfitted with economical WD Scorpio(TM) 2.5-inch EIDE hard drives, as well as Data Lifeguard(TM) protection, to provide maximum safeguard from data loss. 

The drives are offered in capacities of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 GB. Also available is an optional WD Passport carrying case for conveniently and stylishly transporting the portable hard drives.

WD Passport Portable USB Drives are designed to serve as a digital file briefcase by enabling owners to add instant extra storage; slip the drive into a WD Passport carrying case for on-the-go convenience; back up their notebook computers for extra data safety; and easily share files between computers.  

WD Passport Portable USB Drives are able to withstand the rigors of mobile professionals and other users who prefer to take their data with them.  Safety tests make WD Passport Portable USB Drives one of the few external drives with certification to meet all applicable safety requirements. 

“Simple and easy to use, WD Passport Portable USB Drives combine stylish design with one of the most rugged and reliable 2.5-inch hard drive in its class to deliver a portable USB hard drive worthy enough to be named one of the ‘Top Ten Coolest Products’ by USA Today,” said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD’s branded products group.  “With Data Lifeguard data protection, a WD Passport Portable USB Drive is dependable enough for our customers to consider it the portable file for their digital lives.”

HP Printers Leave PCs Open To Attack

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Hewlett-Packard has identified a security vulnerability in software used by owners of some of its printers, which could leave the computer open for hackers.

Security software company Sophos have advised users who have installed the Toolbox software alongside the Colour LaserJet 2500 and 4600 printers to upgrade to the latest software immediately.

The security vulnerability allows hackers to steal information from innocent users, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

“A vulnerability like this opens the door for hackers to spy upon your sensitive information. Not protecting yourself against this problem is like leaving your front door open when you pop down the shops and expecting to find that no-one has stolen your belongings,” said Cluley. “Users who are running the affected software should upgrade as soon as possible and everyone should make sure they are fully informed of the latest security notifications.”

Sophos continues to recommend companies protect their desktops and servers with automatically updated anti-virus protection.

Sophos has published a link to more information and fixes from HP at:
http://www.sophos.com.au/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/04/hpprintervuln.html

Western Digital’s Net-Work Horse

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The demand for Network Attached Storage (NAS) is about to boom. And this is because they offer both power savings and productivity benefits.

Using an NAS means you can access your data, without the need for a host computer or server. And setup of the best devices is straightforward, requiring no knowledge of networking. The Western Digital NetCenter is the answer to the storage needs of homes and small offices alike. The NetCenter comes in three different flavours: 160GB, 250GB and 320GB. The model we saw was the 320GB version.

Aesthetically, it’s pretty utilitarian. Grey plastic and a single blue power light. As well as the Ethernet connection and power connector, the NetCenter also sports two USB 2.0 ports for connecting extra drives or a printer.
If you run a firewall, there’s one thing to consider with the NetCenter: we were running ZoneAlarm and it refused to let the installation to go ahead. If this is the case, you may need to input the IP address of the drive into your firewall’s ‘Trusted Zones’ to get it to work. And thankfully, the drive outputs the IP address during setup.

Once configured, using the NetCenter was seamless. It’s quiet, with very little access noise. The WD software also sits in your system tray and tells you if there are any connection issues, which in our case there weren’t.

The NetCenter performed similarly to the Maxtor OneTouch II connected to the server on our office network. Uploading a 350MB to the NetCenter file took only 69.2 seconds, while downloading it back again took 123 seconds. In comparison, the Maxtor took 120 seconds to download the same file. The Western Digital drive is specified as a 7200RPM drive, with a cache of 8MB. The disparity in uploading and downloading is more dependant on your network, and the speed of your desktop machine – as the similarity in the two different drives illustrates.

Given that there is little difference in performance, the main differentiators, then, are price and features. And in this case, Maxtor has it. The new Shared Storage Plus – based on the OneTouch II – includes compatibility with UPnP media devices, making it more suitable for home entertainment networks. The Maxtor also features a beautiful magnesium alloy casing which also helps with heat dissipation. And its top of the range 500GB drive is only $650. Offering great value for money.

So, that said, the NetCenter is still a good unit. If aesthetics are immaterial, and extra features more so, the NetCenter offers no-nonsense, reliable storage. So, for office use it’s perfect. But for home use, and a marginally better price, you may want to consider Maxtor’s product instead. And if you want to save even more money, try Netgear’s SC101 Storage Central and fill it with whatever drives you want!

Western Digital NetCenter 160GB $369 250GB $449 320GB $599
For: Straightforward installation; seamless integration; reliable.
Against: Potential for firewall clashes; one of the more costly options
Verdict: A no-nonsense NAS which offers speed and performance at a semi-reasonable price

AOpen’s PC Mini

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The AOpen Mini PC made its debut at this week’s Computex in Taiwan, and though there were many smaller internet-only PCs at the trade fair, it’s the smallest unit to include an optical drive.

Styled almost exactly like Apple’s device, the Mini PC features a Pentium M processor, DVD-RW, and a 2.5 inch drive. It also includes a wireless 802.11g adaptor, and at 150 x 150 x 50 mm it is also smaller than the Mac Mini.

AOpen have also included a TV-out, including S-Video and component connections, meaning the unit could also form part of a home theatre system. Pricing and availability has yet to be announced.

But the smallest PC at Computex went to FIC’s iPC featuring AMD’s Geode processor. At 120 x 135 x 35mm it’s no bigger than a paperback, and includes an onboard Li-Ion battery – making it portable.

 


 

Lexmark’s Printer with CD Burner

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For the first time, you can now burn photo CDs without a PC – thanks to the new Lexmark P450 photo printer.

The P450 features the world’s first integrated CD writer, but, unlike competitors, doesn’t also include a CD printer.
The unit is designed as a stand-alone unit, and is also unable to be connected to a PC. According to Lemark’s press release, “the stand-alone Lexmark P450 provides unique easy-to-use features that give consumers the power to view, print, edit, save, organize and share their digital photos”.
The printer’s also includes the ability to print photos directly from a Bluetooth-enabled mobile (via an optional adaptor), print from a USB key, orprint from most digital cameras via PictBridge or its memory card reader.
The printer can also output photos to a TV, or be viewed on the integrated 2.4-inch color LCD screen. The screen can also be used to edit photos using crop, rotate, color fix and red-eye removal, along with effects such as sepia.
The printer features a resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi, borderless printing, a noise level of 44dB, and weighs 2.95kg.
The Lexmark P450 printer is released in the States in October for US$199, but Lexmark International (Australia) were unable to comment on price or availability – only that it would be “available before Christmas”.

Motorola Goes for Gold

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Just when you thout the RAZR V3 couldn’t come in any more colours, Motorola goes and releases one in gold, and this time it really is a limited edition.

Only one thousand gold RAZR V3i phones have been produced, and will be sold overseas exclusively at Dolce & Gabbana – so Australians will need to do a bit of traveling to get one. Like its predecessors, it features the RAZR shape, premium metallic finish and photo messaging and Bluetooth.

Meanwhile, the pink RAZR, for the ladies, is released this month in Australia for an RRP of $599.

 

Nokia Music Phone Delay Due To DRM

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Nokia has pushed back the release of its flagship music phone, the N91, till mid-year, due in part to ongoing negotiations about digital rights management.

News site Moconews reported that Nokia director Pekka Pohjakallio said the phone could be delayed as far as the third quarter, and that “adding Windows DRM was the primary cause of the slip”.

However, Louise Ingram, corporate communications manager of Nokia Australia said that they were “still on track to release the phone by mid-year”.

“While we are close to finalising arrangements with our customers, Nokia Australia has yet to make an announcement on when the N91 will be available in Australia.  It will be sometime during this half”, Ingram said.

Problems reportedly stem from Symtella, a Symbian P2P client, which enables users to share music and other files.

But, Nokia’s site has no mention of being able to share music, but instead users can “send and receive images, video clips, graphics, and business cards via Bluetooth technology”

Ingram wasn’t aware of any specific problems with file sharing on the N91, but said DRM had been an issue since last year. She said getting local standards approval had been a issue due to the complexity of the device, and that there was a possibility of making other features, such as file sharing, available by software download.

Ingram said she didn’t believe a delayed launch would affect sales of N91s: “Not at all. Nokia sold 46.3 million portable music handsets last year, and it is our flagship. They’re great mobile phones”.

Pricing will be announced closer to release, but as a premium handset it is expected to retail for over $1000.

The N91 is Nokia’s “music jukebox” with a 4GB hard drive, Symbian OS, support for most music formats including WMA DRM, FM radio, wireless LAN, and comes with a 3.5mm headphone output.