Scientists from UCLA and Intel have labored for years to perfect a type of semiconductor technology called “magnetic quantum dots,” which can cause electrons in semiconductors to give off photons on command. This breakthrough marks the first time that magnetic quantum dots have been synthesized at operational temperatures. More »

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Appleinsider is reporting that a new Apple Mac Mini with HDMI output has been spotted. Currently, the Mac Mini uses mini-DisplayPort and mini-DVI as digital output. Many Apple owners have been clamoring for HDMI Macs for years. Appleinsider also claims that the new Mini might use the NVIDIA MCP89 chipset, which is the replacement for the NVIDIA 9400m. More »

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HP has actually been manufacturing full laptop tablets for years. Today, the world’s top PC seller announced two new models –the 2540p and 2740p, both powered by 12.1″ LED multi-touch (1280 x 800) displays, Windows 7 and Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, starting at $1099 - $1599 in April (USA). More »

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Acer is the second largest PC manufacturer in the world, so its sponsorship of the second biggest global sporting event is apropos. The Aspire Timeline 1810T Special Edition is too powerful and pricey to be considered a true “netbook,” but its compact size, in addition to the etched Olympics logo, make it enticing for consumers, especially the millions who will be attending the Games in Vancouver. More »

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I will admit that I did not deem the Super Bowl XLIV match-up last night worth my time to watch, especially since I had an early class this morning. I did, however, manage to browse through the ads uploaded onto YouTube this morning, and the tech/gadget ad that I liked the most was the Intel ad for their new processors. More »

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As we near Apple’s Wednesday event, I have been thinking more about what I would do with the Apple Tablet. If the speculations are correct, and the device will be a family sharing bulletin board, casual gaming handheld, multimedia player, and on-line journal reader, then it could be useful for some middle-class households, but personally, I have no practical application for it, and I doubt that many Westerners under the age of 35 do either. More »

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From Htcyou: HTC has been one of the fastest growing technology companies over the past three years, yet much of the public in the western world knows little about this Taiwanese firm. As 2010 moves along, HTC’s relative obscurity will be replaced by recognition and acclaim. Formerly just an original design manufacturer (ODM), which supplied handheld devices like PDAs and smartphones to big name clients, HTC officially launched its own branded smartphone in 2006 with the Blackberry-like Excalibur. In 2007, HTC released its preemptive counter to the iPhone, the Touch (Windows Mobile 6), which was generally criticized for its poor TouchFLO UI, mediocre screen, and lack of 3G. Years later, after significant maturity, together with Google and its Android operating system, HTC is preparing to compete against the established smartphone hierarchy in North America. More »

Nowadays, it seems like more and more people are beginning to step away from their desktops and venture into the world of laptops. People are beginning to realize that technology can truly be “on the go” and are taking advantage of the portability that some of these devices can offer them. One such device, recently revealed by Sony at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is the Sony VAIO W series notebook. More »

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Okay, so if you have not figured it out yet, I am a complete Sony junkie. Something about the sleek and sexy “Sony Style” is just irresistible to me. It’s no surprise, then, that I’ve been keeping an eye on the Sony products being showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Two items that caught my eye were two of the brand new lines of notebooks that were being added to the Sony VAIO line. These are the F and the Y series. More »

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I commend One Laptop Per Child for its vision, but there are quite a few design and concepts about its program and laptop that I would change. Here is my idea: an advanced e-reader/simplified notebook device at $299 shared by two children. More »

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Originally scheduled for a November 2009 launch, nVidia has pushed back the release of its “Fermi” Graphics Processing Unit until March. Hard at work, the company has supposedly been ironing out kinks before it is ready to unleash Fermi. Already trailing ATi in the ultra high performance sector, nVidia desperately needs this GPU to be everything that it is promising. With already stiff competition in the integrated graphics department from Intel (whose 4500M dominates all Intel based budget and consumer laptops and some desktops) and AMD’s Fushion (ATi), nVidia must strike back against arch rival ATi in the mid to upper tier markets. More »

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Low on Price, High on Design Continued from part 1. Using the increasingly more popular 16:9 aspect ratio for its screen, the NV53 is quite portable for a fully-loaded laptop. At under 6 pounds, I find it light enough to carry around just about anywhere. The measurements of 25cm depth, 37.2cm width, and 3.7cm thickness are comparable with other low-end offerings. I do like the style and sturdiness of the Gateway’s hinge, which is similar to Sony’s FW and Z series, with the power button on the side of the right hinge. More »

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Based on specs alone, this is the best laptop that $450 CDN can buy right now. There is the $400 USD Toshiba Satellite with the same CPU but slower Radeon 4100 graphics, no HDMI, no webcam, and no digital audio output. Best Buy also sells a Dell Inspiron with similar specs for $450, and although it has the more desirable Intel T4300 Dual Core CPU, its 4500M graphics and lack of HDMI, webcam, and digital audio output makes it (on paper) worse than the Gateway. Numbers and features aside, whether the Gateway NV is actually any good will be judged by its performance, design implementation, and overall usability. More »

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According to the BBC, netbooks, which have been so successful during a year when the recession has slowed down much of the technology market, are on their way to being replaced by full-sized, budget notebooks and smartphones. Stuart Miles (Pocket Lint) believes that, ‘”Technology has advanced so much that it’s outmanoeuvred itself…You wouldn’t go for something so basic anymore.”‘ More »

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Not only is Sin City forever known to me as a place most sacred in my heart of hearts, it’s also the home of the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. CES, for short. Set to happen Jan 7-10, this year’s CES show is boasting a record number of tech exhibitors: 2,500 exhibitors showcasing all their latest wares for 2010! Makes me wonder — is three days even enough? Is it possible to visit every exhibitor? More »

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