Internet Surfing Encourages Brain Activity

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Science,

Next time your spouse/partner complains that you are on the Internet too much, you can site this study that will be in an upcoming American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The report suggests that middle-aged and older adults who use the Net may get a brain boosting. Using 24 “normal” volunteers between the ages of 55 and 76, half of the group had previous experience surfing. The participants showed similar brain activity when reading a book and those who went online also registered activity in the frontal, temporal and cingulate areas, which are those that control decision making and complex reasoning.

Read More | Live Science

Logitech Wireless Vantage Microphone

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Portable Audio / Video, Video Games, Wireless / WiFi, USB,

Logitech has announced that they have upped their Vantage Microphone (shown here) to make it cordless. They claim 20 hours of battery life, a range of up to 30 feet, and 2.4 GHz technology in its USB receiver that doubles as a mic stand. The device is compatible with Playstation 2 and 3, and Xbox 360. At a price of $79.99, the Vantage should make a December appearance in the U.S. and Europe.

Read More | Logitech

FCC Authorizes Free Wireless Internet Band

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Internet, Wireless / WiFi,

The FCC has released a report that says that utilizing a new U.S. radio band for free wireless service will not overly interfere with cell phone use that has a nearby band. The agency is thinking of auctioning off frequencies in the AWS-3 (Advanced Wireless Services 3) band that is between 2155 and 2175 MHz if operators offer free service. The auction’s earliest date is set in June or July 2009 and once decided, the FCC would have to set rules for usage of the band.

Read More | PC World

AT&T Sony Ericsson W760a Walkman Cell Phone

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, GPS, Music, Video Games,

AT&T is undoubtedly pleased to carry the latest Sony Ericsson W760a cell phone. The 3G Walkman phone features an accelerometer for control by shaking or tilting to fast forward to the next song. The technology can also be used for video games. The cellie has an HTML browser, a 3.2 megapixel cam, dedicated gaming buttons, and AT&T Navigator support. Available in red, black or silver, the W760 carries a price of $129.99 after rebates and purchase of a 2 year contract.

Read More | AT&T

Apple announces redesigned MacBook Pro

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Design, PC / Laptop,

It took them about eight months since the last spec bump in the line, but we are still stoked that Apple today announced that their newly redesigned MacBook Pro is here, and available immediately. The notebooks are still sporting their aluminum exterior, but now they are built using a new process that involves carving a solid piece of aluminum rather than the old school welding technique. That means one part rather than many, which Apple is calling the “Unibody.” You’ll also notice, fairly quickly, that the MacBook Pro now sports an iMac-ish black bezel around the screen, along with a glass covering. Back to that whole aluminum and glass thing.

The display will now only be available in a glossy finish, gone are the days of matte Apple notebooks. The trackpad has also been re-imagined as well. It’s made entirely from glass, and no longer has a separate button. Instead, the entire trackpaad is the button. The glass trackpad is multi-touch compatible, and Apple has introduced new gestures in the product to boot.

Click to continue reading Apple announces redesigned MacBook Pro

Apple introduces LED Cinema Display: 24-inch, $899

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Peripherals,

After many years of remaining stagnant, Apple finally gave their Cinema Display line a nice redesign. The new 24” LED Cinema Display looks similar to what you’d find in an iMac. Aluminum casing, black bezel along the front, LED backlit, built-in MagSafe connector, and a built-in iSight camera with microphone. That last one is something we’ve been waiting for, for far too long. Unfortunately, not everything is all fun and games with the new Cinema Display, as it appears that - at least for the time being - these new Cinema Displays are only compatible with the new MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air that were announced today, which all incorporate the DisplayPort. There is currently no way to connect a Mac Pro, iMac, or older notebook to one of these. Let’s hope this gets remedied quickly.

You can pick up the new 24-inch LED Cinema Display in November for $899.

Read More | LED Cinema Display

Apple updated MacBook Air with NVIDIA graphics, more storage

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

During this mornings notebook event, Apple announced that the MacBook Air was getting a bump in some of its specs. First and foremost, the Air is getting updated to the new NVIDIA 9400M graphics chipset, which should be a nice upgrade. Even better, if SSD is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that a 128GB solid state drive is now available, along with a standard 120GB drive if that is more your thing. microDVI has been replaced by a mini DisplayPort, which we are seeinc across the board with Apple. You can grab the base model for $1799, or go with the SSD model with 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo for the lowered price of $2499 (that one is due in November.)

Read More | MacBook Air announcement

Hottrix Sues Coors Over iBeer Application

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Videos,

Score one for the little guy. Hottrix has filed a $12.5 million lawsuit against Coors. The indie company says that the brewery copied its iPhone application iBeer. Both apps display a glass of beer that empties when the user tilts the handset about 90º. While iBeer cost $3.00 at launch, Coors’ iPint was free. Hottrix argues that it had a video on YouTube in July 2007, before the App Store was launched. In an act of kindness, Apple removed the freebie in the U.S., however it is still available in other countries.

Read More | Wired

Revenge CD, To Get Back At The Neighbors

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,

We are constantly finding ways to annoy our neighbors, the ones with the grade school kids who never seem to get older, just louder. We think the Revenge CD from Fred may do the trick. It features 20 different tracks, including House Party, Violin Practice, and Unhappy Dog. At a price of only $9.00, earplugs are tossed in for free so you can hit the volume even higher. This would also be a fine Halloween deterrent and a great excuse to keep the mini-Snickers.

Read More | Lataz

Samsung BD-P1500 With Free Matrix

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies,

We told you a while ago about a Limited Edition Matrix Collection that comes with Nebuchadnezzar. Samsung must have thought that was a good idea and it is tossing in the movies (sans vehicle) with the sale of their BD-P1500. The 10-disc set was released today and retails for around $100.00 depending on where you shop. We figure that’s a pretty good deal considering the Blu-ray player can be had for $223.00 up to $299.00, again dependent on online retailers. Prices are only good through October 18.

Read More | Electronic House