Amazon Whispernet and Kindle 2 Whispersync

Congratulations to Amazon for their release of the Kindle 2 ebook reader this week. Both the Kindle and Kindle 2 utilize Whispernet, a wireless communication system for automatically connecting to the Internet and download data from Amazon.com and other Web sites. Whispernet is based on the EV-DO cellular network protocol. A switch on the back of the original Kindle controlled its wireless radio; in Kindle 2, you control the network via on-screen menus.
Amazon has also added a new feature called Whispersync in Kindle 2. Whispersync will synchronize data between two Kindles using the Whispernet network. You can use this feature, for example, to have multiple Kindles remember which page of an ebook was the last one you read. Being a proprietary protocol, Whispersync does not allow you to synchronize with computers or other mobile devices.

Computer Technology

Objectives
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Understanding: Computing

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Students will understand the following:
1.
Inventions can change the way we live.
2.
Many inventions start out with design flaws and are refined later by subsequent inventors and designers.
3.
The computer, invented in 1834 by Charles Babbage and still being refined, is an example of such an invention.
Materials
For this lesson, you will need:
•
If possible, an encyclopedia dated 1980 or earlier, with an entry forcomputer
•
A computer with Internet access
Procedures
1.
Ask students if they know who invented the computer. If they don’t know, inform them that, in 1884, Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, tried to build a complicated machine called the "analytical engine." It was mechanical, rather than electronic, and Babbage never completed it, but computers today are based on many of the principles he used in his design. Your students may be interested to know that, as recently as forty years ago, computers were so large that they filled whole rooms. They were so complicated that only specially trained people were able to use them.
2.
If you can find an encyclopedia dated 1980 or earlier, have students read the entry forcomputerand hold a brief discussion of computers then and now.
3.
Ask students if they can think of any other inventions that changed the way we work and live. Can they trace changes and refinements in those inventions? An example might be the sewing machine, which, originally, was mechanical, rather than electric, and had to be operated by a foot pedal. Another might be the phonograph, which evolved into the CD player.
4.
Tell the class that the activity in which they will participate will illustrate how inventions have evolved and are still evolving. Start by having students find partners.
5.
Give each pair of partners the following assignment: Select a common, non-electric household item that you believe is important. Together, write down answers to the following questions about your item:
What need does this item fill?
What do you think the first one looked like?
How did it change?
How could it still be improved?
What might this item look like in the future? (Draw a sketch.)
6.
After students have selected their items and answered their questions, have each pair of partners give an oral presentation on their findings.
7.
Lead a class discussion about how the activity applies to computers and how they evolved and continue to evolve.

COMPUTER SKILLS

The K-12 Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study identifies the essential knowledge and skills that all students need to be active, lifelong learners in a technology intensive environment. Technology is undergoing rapid change, and new and improved technological advances appear almost daily. The curriculum is designed to form the foundation for continuous learning and to be applicable to ever-changing innovations.
The Computer/Technology Skills Standard Course of Study involves the development of skills over time. Computer/Technology Skills proficiency is not an end in itself, but lays a foundation for lifelong learning. These skills become building blocks with which to meet the challenges of personal and professional life. To become technologically proficient, the student must develop the skills over time, through integrated activities in all content areas K-12, rather than through one specific course. These skills are necessary for all students and should be introduced and refined collaboratively by all K-12 teachers as an integral part of the learning process.

Latest in Computing & Technology

From Scott Orgera, Your Guide to Web Browsers
Trend Micro warned this week that a critical vulnerability in Internet Explorer 7 is being actively exploited across the Web. The flaw stems from the way IE7 handles errors when attempting to access objects that have been deleted. Remote crooks can and have been utilizing specially crafted HTML...
Read More

Laptops

Gateway P-172X FX Desktop Replacement Laptop Review
by Darren Gladstone, PC World

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May 10, 2008 - A notebook catering to the gaming set is sure to deliver a flashy design and good horsepower. And Gateway's latest racer, the P-172X FX, doesn't disappoint.

Laptops

Samsung PN50A760 50-Inch LCD HDTV Review
by Lincoln Spector

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Nov 19, 2008 - Samsung's PN50A760 ($2500, as of November 4, 2008) combines cool multimedia capabilities and great image quality. In our lab tests, this plasma HDTV crushed the competition. It is the only model in its size category to earn a rating of Very Good for image quality.

Laptops

Acer Aspire One AOD150 Review

Feb 9 - I love it when a company sees fit to shake things up a little and cook up some crazy new design. The Acer Aspire One AOD150 is not that netbook. In fact, many of the changes made from the original Aspire One make the AOD150 seem more like everything else on the market. And that isn't necessarily a good thing.

The History of Computers

Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.

This series covers many of the major milestones in computer history (but not all of them) with a concentration on the history of personal home computers

Computer Networks

One computer is a computer. Two or more connected and able to exchange data, make a network. Allowing computers to talk to each was one of the great technological challenges of the late 20th century.

The World Wide Web is invented (1991) : anyone and everyone

By the end of the 1980s the European Particle Research Laboratory CERN in Geneva was one of the premier Internet sites in Europe. CERN desperately needed a better way of locating all the files, documents and other resources that now threatened to overwhelm it.

A young British scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, working as a consultant for CERN, had the answer. His 'World Wide Web' system assigned a common system of written addresses and hypertext links to all information. Hypertext is the organisation of information units into connections that a user can make, the association is called a link.

In October 1990 Berners-Lee started working on a hypertext graphical user interface (GUI) browser and editor. In 1991 the first WWW files were made available on the Internet for download using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

By 1993 the world was starting to wake up to the World Wide Web. In October that year there were around 200 known HTTP servers. Within a year there would be thousands.

May 1994 saw the first International WWW Conference - at CERN in Geneva. The event was heavily oversubscribed, with 800 applying to attend and only 400 allowed in.

By now the load on the first Web server at CERN was 1,000 times what it had been three years earlier

The World Wide Web is invented (1991) : anyone and everyone

By the end of the 1980s the European Particle Research Laboratory CERN in Geneva was one of the premier Internet sites in Europe. CERN desperately needed a better way of locating all the files, documents and other resources that now threatened to overwhelm it.

A young British scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, working as a consultant for CERN, had the answer. His 'World Wide Web' system assigned a common system of written addresses and hypertext links to all information. Hypertext is the organisation of information units into connections that a user can make, the association is called a link.

In October 1990 Berners-Lee started working on a hypertext graphical user interface (GUI) browser and editor. In 1991 the first WWW files were made available on the Internet for download using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

By 1993 the world was starting to wake up to the World Wide Web. In October that year there were around 200 known HTTP servers. Within a year there would be thousands.
May 1994 saw the first International WWW Conference - at CERN in Geneva. The event was heavily oversubscribed, with 800 applying to attend and only 400 allowed in.
By now the load on the first Web server at CERN was 1,000 times what it had been three years earlier

The search for speed (1965) : waiting for the progress bar

The Post Office's first computer modem in 1965 ran at a maximum speed (or data transfer rate) of 600 bits per second. Today's modems run at 56kbit/s, nearly 100 times faster.

So why does the Internet experience seem so depressingly slow at times?

One reason is file size. Files took less time to cross the system in 1965 simply because they were smaller and were plain text, with no formatting. We pay for rich data in longer file transfer times.
Users also generally share a node (entry point) to the Internet, meaning you may have to wait a while for your turn to come round.

Furthermore, if you're hitting a popular site, you'll be competing with hundreds or thousands of others for the attention of that site's servers.

What can you do? Not a lot. You could try changing the time of day you go online, remembering that America accounts for easily half the traffic on the Web - and they're between five and eight hours behind.

The Internet price war : when ISPs collide

Just as the saying goes about there's no such thing as a 'free lunch', there is also no such thing as free Internet access - with nobody as yet finding a way to provide the telephone or data connections involved completely free of charge.

That said, prices have fallen with some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offering unlimited dial-up access, faster connections through broadband technology, virus scanning and lots more lot for a fixed monthly charge.

Originally, many ISPs made money by taking a proportion of the call costs. There was no monthly subscription but users had to pay local call rates, meaning the bill grew with every extra minute spent online. Complaints that this was holding back Internet use coupled with pressure on margins and it was this that spurred most ISPs into offering tariffs that now give unlimited use for a fixed price.

Making internet access available to everyone in the UK is also firmly in the minds of our politicians with the three main parties continually stressing its importance in our lives.

The Future of UWB is Bleak

via Gearlog] - Several companies involved in the research and development of Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) wireless technology have failed, TZero being the latest casualty this week. At the risk of stating the obvious, UWB appears to be a dying technology.
Originally designed for use in commercial radar systems, UWB technology also has potential applications in consumer electronics and wireless personal area networks (PANs) including wireless USB and wireless high-definition video streaming. Other competing technologies and standards have kept UWB from widespread adoption into networking products, however.→

SEe also - Wireless USB Network Adapters

The high-performance portable computer designed for field and mobile applications

The PRISM-N9 portable computer combines high-performance, add-on capability, and a large display into a system that is compact and extremely rugged. It offers a cost effective solution to performance demanding portable computing applications.

The system's integrated LCD offers a high-resolution flicker-free visual environment that rivals tradition CRT monitors. The Prism-N9 has the capability to adapt seven expansion cards and four disk drives, offering an expansion capability unmatched by any other portable system.Click here to read more about N9's specifications.

Compact all-aluminum portable computer enclosure for MicroATX or Passive Backplane motherboards

The Titan-T5 is a smaller portable computer enclosure from the Titan all-aluminum family. It is built to be rugged, expandable, upgradable and customizable with standard off-the-shelve components. The T5 is available in both standard Micro-ATX or passive backplane form factor. Either models will support a wide range of processors from Intel and AMD which increases the product life cycle by not being obsolete in this fast changing industry. Click here to read more about T5's specifications.

Laptop and Notebook Computer Reviews

for travelling professionals everywhere)
Read our laptop and notebook computer reviews to find the best laptop or notebook computer, or use our price comparison links to compare prices and then buy online at the best price.

Computrace Laptop Security Solutions

Millions of people worldwide have had their data potentially compromised by laptop thefts over the last twelve months. It is now impossible to ignore the growing identity theft crisis, much of it caused by laptop thefts from high profile corporations, government agencies, universities and healthcare institutions. A multi-layered security strategy is required to protect computer hardware and the data on it. With a few proactive data security steps, organizations can avoid the potential lawsuits, fines, public scrutiny and loss of business that a lost or stolen computer can cause.

Industrial rackmount keyboard drawer with LCD monitor

Utilizing only 1U or 2U of rack space, the DKM series combined a keyboard with glide point touch-pad, Active Matrix LCD monitor and a pair of amplified stereo speakers in a rugged rackmount drawer. With the slide rails included, the unit can be fit to any standard rack chassis ranging from 16.25" to 36" deep. These simply save you valuable rack space to optimize and maximize the use of the rack. A short travel of 13" pull is sufficient to clear the rack and raise the LCD monitor to a comfortable viewing position. The drawer conveniently slides smoothly away when not in use. Click here to read more about DKM specifications.

Analog-to-Digital Conversion BoardA built-in smart Analog-Digital conversion board is behind the technology in interfacing the digital LCD monitor with standard analog VGA output, allowing compatibility with almost all VGA controllers. The conversion board also features an On Screen Display (OSD) for fine-tuning the display in Linux/Unix text and graphical interface.

Industrial rackmount keyboard drawer with LCD monitor

Utilizing only 1U or 2U of rack space, the DKM series combined a keyboard with glide point touch-pad, Active Matrix LCD monitor and a pair of amplified stereo speakers in a rugged rackmount drawer. With the slide rails included, the unit can be fit to any standard rack chassis ranging from 16.25" to 36" deep. These simply save you valuable rack space to optimize and maximize the use of the rack. A short travel of 13" pull is sufficient to clear the rack and raise the LCD monitor to a comfortable viewing position. The drawer conveniently slides smoothly away when not in use. Click here to read more about DKM specifications.

Analog-to-Digital Conversion BoardA built-in smart Analog-Digital conversion board is behind the technology in interfacing the digital LCD monitor with standard analog VGA output, allowing compatibility with almost all VGA controllers. The conversion board also features an On Screen Display (OSD) for fine-tuning the display in Linux/Unix text and graphical interface.

Clevo D901C Notebook Computer

17" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) /WUXGA (1920x1200) with Super Clear Glossy Surface Display
Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad L2 Cache
DDR2 667/800Mhz Memory, up to 4GB
3x SATA Hard Drive, up to 200GB, RAID 0/1/5
DVD/CDRW or DVD+/-RW DL
Dual 1GB DDR3 nVIDIA® GeForce™ 9800M GTX PCI-Express™ 16X Graphics with SLI™ Technology enabled
Card Reader/Camera
Optional Windows Vista
Optional 802.11g Wireless LAN
Built-in Bluetooth
Optional TV Tuner

The new Mac core

Every Mac uses a chip based on Intel Core technology, the next generation in processor design from the world’s leading chip maker. The result of massive R&D effort involving thousands of engineers. An entire collection of revolutions shrunk into an unimaginably small space, consuming less energy, too. Two cores work together to share resources, and are designed to conserve power when their functions aren’t required. Whether in an ultra-sleek Mac Book, or work station class Mac Pro, Intel Core technology lets you get more power with less power

HP pays for EDS with losses in Q1 2009

Hewlett-Packard’s revenue for the first quarter of 2009 dropped 13% to $1.9bn from $2.1bn in the first quarter of 2008.

The company said revenue declined 3% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. HP said the company incurred costs related to its acquisition of Electronic Data Systems (EDS), which has affected the querter's results.
HP expects its full-year earnings to decline by between 2% and 5%, depending on how the IT market changes during the downturn.
Sales of PCs in its Personal Systems Group (PSG) fell 19% to $8.8bn, and the company said the number of PCs it shipped fell 4%.
HP's printer business appears to have been hit hard by the recession, with shipments down by a third, and revenue down 19% to $6bn.

Computer Hardware

Master a number of computer hardware skills and research all manners of hardware issues with eHow’s collection of informative How Tos. Learn how to install a wireless communication card on a laptop, swap RAM to another computer and convert a computer into a file server. Wondering how to use a monitor with a tablet PC? eHow’s got the answer. Tech novices and experts alike can benefit from eHow’s terrific computer tips and advice.

Library Computer Technology

University Library hosts more than 300 public computer stations that provide access to campus electronic resources, the catalog systems of regional academic libraries, the Internet, and the latest in software and applications.The University Library Computer Technology Groups are comprised of two teams. The Client Support Team provides computer workstation support for the staff and patrons of IUPUI University Library including training, consulting services, equipment acquisition, and hardware/software maintenance. The Operations Team supports and develops the University Library's technology infrastructure and manages all public and staff servers and operating system builds.
The Client Support Team manages the following student positions: Event Coordinators and Client Support Technology Consultants. Please click on each name for more information about each position. If you are interested in a Part-Time, Work-Study Position for the Client Support Team, Click Here

Majority of Computer Users Likely to Benefit from the Use of Accessible Technology

The findings of this study show that the majority of computer users are likely or very likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology. As shown in Figure 5, 57% (74.2 million) of computer users are likely or very likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to experiencing mild to severe difficulties or impairments.
The chart in Figure 5 also shows the percentages of computer users who are likely or very likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to a range of mild to severe difficulties and impairments:
40% (51.6 million) of computer users are likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to experiencing mild difficulties or impairments.
17% (22.6 million) of computer users are very likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to experiencing severe difficulties or impairments.
43% (56.2 million) of computer users are not likely to benefit from the use of accessible technology due to experiencing no or minimal difficulties or impairments.

Doing something amazing with your Intel processor? Tell Intel and Win Big!

So many different stories could fit into that “amazing” category. This contest is really pretty simple. Just consider all of the different things you’ve been able to do or create thanks to the power and performance of your Intel processor and then tell Intel your story. Maybe you’re using high-def video, audio or graphics as a digital artist or musician. Maybe you’re a budding filmmaker thanks to the processor inside your PC. Perhaps you’re a teacher using an Intel processor to bring advanced technology into your classroom in a unique and engaging way or you’re a multi-tasking mom who uses the power of an Intel processor to stay on top of your own and your kids’ schedules and stay in touch with family and friends.
Submitting your story is easy. You can upload an image, audio or video file (your choice on the format) along with a story to describe your project or experience, explaining how the Intel processor played a key role in your design, or how your design was inspired by the speed, efficiency and power of the Intel processor. You can get started with the submission here. The contest is open to U.S. residents (except Puerto Rico) who are at least 18 years old. No purchase necessary to participate. You can find all of the rules and details about the contest here. Move quickly, the first 100 qualified entries get a free t-shirt! The last day to submit your story is January 15, 2009.