7 devices will be replaced by smart-phones

Even though the experience is unique for each individual, cellphones, so far, has replaced many devices in our daily lives already. But for smart-phones, the chance is even greater.

Followings are 7 devices can be replaced by smart-phones. Or at least, people do not need to carry them around anymore.

GPS

Most smart-phones these days are equipped with GPS functions which helps drivers. Even though engineers still favor the GPS devices, more and more people have used smart-phones for driving directions. The trend increases even more since people have to purchase the Data-plan as required by the mobile-phone providers. Because there is Internet available, using the GPS function in the smart-phones requires no extra expense.

Car Key

It sounds a little odds, but it has happened at least in Japan. The Japanese mobile provider, DoCoMo, has developed the “smart key” in a partnership with the Japanese 3rd largest auto manufacture, Nissan. The “smart key” allows drivers to open the doors and start the engine in short distance through their smart-phones.

Clock & Alarm

Clock & Alarm may come its end since most cellphone and smart-phone users cannot find a good reason to buy an extra clock just to wake them up. The exclusion may be for those who collect antique clocks only.

Remote Control

A combination of wireless technology and software development, smart-phone users can turn on/off many electronic devices in their household such as TV, DVD players, and even… lights.

Wallet

It may be not clear for U.S consumers, but it is a common concept in Japan where smart-phones have been developed to store personal identity and financial information which allow users to complete a transaction without a debit/credit cards.

This means there is no need to carry a wallet with you unless you are a cash-only person.

Mobile storage device

As we have seen the storage in smart-phones have grown bigger and bigger, users can store a tremendous information in their smart-phones such as music, movies, and many others in their phones. And this has turned the USB drives become no longer in handy.

Online Conference

In the near future, when 4G technology becomes reality, smart-phones will allows users to have conferences via their smart-phones. This will change the nature of business operation in near future as well.

Windows XP users: DO NOT PRESS F1

It just have been discovered last week by a Polish programmer, Maurycy Prodeus in regard to a bug in the VBScript. The problem is that hackers may attack the system using the loop-hole in the operation systems via Internet Explorer.

Microsoft has advised the users not to press F1 when browsing the Internet using Internet Explorer until the update version is available. However, Microsoft has not yet announced the release date for the update. Also from Microsoft, this loop-hole only occurs on Windows XP, users of Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 are safe. (but who knows)

The best practice is that we should use other browsers such FireFox or Safari. In contrary, if IE is the only option available, DO NOT PRESS F1 when you are online.

Fake Intel Core i7 exists

2 staffs work at Hard OCP and Overclockers have experienced the problem, fake Intel Core i7, after placing order at Newegg, newegg.com.

The official announcement from Newegg, as an apology to its customers, can be found on PC Mag in regard to recent complaints from many buyers. Also, Intel has announced about the availability of the fake i7 in the market, according to The Inquirer.

Even though there is fake item available, there are signs for which users can tell the difference as followed:

 Spelling error, socket has become “SOCHET”

The cooling-fan is just a plastic block . There is no fan at all. It is just a sticker.

The manual has no word in its.

This is how the processor look

Fake items always come around, and it seems there is no way to stop them. The only thing we, the consumers, can do is shopping at a credential retailers. Just the 2 staffs in the story, they are able to receive a refund from Newegg. At least, it is a relief.

 

look like iPhone, work like iPhone… even better than iPhone

There is a phone has been available in the market which looks very similar to an iPhone at the first glance. However, this phone, called E-Tech Duet, works even much better than iPhone with its features. And best of all, E-Tech Duet is tagged for only $150.

Let have a look on this phone, and its features and capability.

The phone look really similar to an iPhone… but it can do more than what iPhone can do

Dual SIM is an example. With its duel-slot for SIM cards, users can have both AT&T and T-Mobile in one device. A feature which iPhone will never want to develop (I guess). But there is even more…

It does radio and TV too. Up to this point, it seems iPhone has been left behind. In addition, this phone has a 3-megapixel camera, a multi-point touchscreen, and many more.

In short, this phone, E-Tech Duet is equipped with most of iPhone features in addition to its own features. And best of all, it is for sale at $150. The only concern is its liability because, for its price, this is a made-in-China phone at last.

Windows 7 can be downgrade to XP

Microsoft hopes that this coming new version will ease the mind of Windows’ users. Also, the software giant gives users more choice as well.

The possibility for downgrading has appeared for business packages long ago; however, users have only noticed about this option since the release of Windows Vista in which many computer manufactures decide to allow user to downgrade to XP for its Vista models.

Microsoft has expanding the downgrade options for Windows 7, especially the Ulimate and Professional versions, in which users may choice to remain to stay with Windows Vista or Windows XP.

And in fact, Windows 7 may be available in this year instead of October 2010 as planned by Microsoft.

Office 2003 and Windows XP will “retire” after April 14

After next week, users of the most successful packaged developed will no longer receive free support as well as updates from Microsoft.

As usual, each product from Microsoft wil receive supports in about 5 years before “make way” for others. And this time, it is not an exception for Office 2003 and Windows XP. In addition, Microsoft will remain its support for Office & Windows XP with fees until April 2014.

Even though it is understandable about this decision from Microsoft, experts are afraid that this decision may cause a financial problem for Microsoft because users tend not to favor the Office 2007 which operates on Windows Vista – a failure from Microsoft.

Vertu Constellation Pure

Vertu, the luxury line of mobile phone owned by Nokia, just presents the first of its 3 collections in 2009 . This model known as the Vertu Constellation Pure is made by porcelain with the choice in 4 colors: black, white, silver and chocolate.

The Constellation Pure is famous for its keys and headset covers made by porcelain which has the same color with the stainless stell phone body’s trim. The body is painted with the PVD technology which is exclusive for Vertu.

This phone model aslo has all features similar to Vertu’s Constellation series such as weather forecast, currency exchange, fly and airport updates, and the exclusive Vertu Conceirge service.

According to the manufacture, it took Vertu 2 year to finish the design process of colorized porcelain for this model. And this is the first time this technique is used on mobile phone. All porcelain part on the phone were create seperately, and they were tested with different measurement tools in order to get to its ideal precision. Vertu also revealed that the surface was 100% leveled.

In addition, each key on the phone was coated with a special paint in order to avoid the flare from natural light; however, the light underneath each key could pass through without any problem. And according to Vertu, this process occupied most of the time during the desgin phase for this phone model.

There are 2,500 units per color except the chocolate color which has 300 unit. The price for each phone is about $8,500, according to Vertu.

5 Samsung phones at the CTIA

The Korean-based manufacture has had a habit of displaying a lot of new models in the conventions. And this time, at the CTIA Wireless, it is not an exception.

Samsung Impression – with a 3.2-inch AMOLED WQVGA touchscreen, 3 megapixel camera, HSPDA connectivity, GPS, TouchWIZ interface, and display rotation on the screen.

Samsung Modi – operates on Windows Mobile 6.1. The phone has most features of a netbook. WiMax, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivities. 4GB memory, and a 3 megapixel camera.

Samsung Magnet – is a low-end phone with all features for a standard phones by Samsung. The Magnet is attractive with its orange color.

Samsung Propel Pro – operates on Windows Mobile 6.1 with a full QWERTY keyboard. It supports Wi-Fi connection. And a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus.

Samsung Instinct S30 – with a 2 megapixel camera, 3.2-inch touchscreen with virtual keyboard on the touchscreen.

Water-proof cell phone

NTT DoCoMo just presents some of its latest models at the CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas. And the most expressive phone is the clamshell F-01A, and a specialty phone with a removable screen.

F-01A is developed by Fujitsu which can work in about 30 minutes under water at 1 meter deep without any technical malfunction. This phone has a 3.5-inch touchscreen and a 5.2 megapixel camera. The phone operates on GSM and W-CDMA networks.

Another model is the phone with a removable screen. With this phone, users can seperate the keypad and the screen to watch video or play game. The keypad may be no longer in need when listening the music because users can insert the headphone directly to the screen.

Both models are already available in Japan. DoCoMo does not mention about prices for both models.

RIM is still doing good in the economic recession

Despite the current recession of the economy, RIM (Research in Motion) has increased its profits as its stock value is still increasing. Also, the company reveals that there have been 500 million units of Blackberry sold.

The financial report for the 4th quarter of 2008 shows that Research in Motion makes huge profits. In addition, the report will gain the confidence for investors who tend to refuse investing in the current economy.

The report for the last quarter of 2008 states that RIM earned 3.46 billions an increasing of 84% in comparison to the same period in 2007. This yields a net profit of 518.3 millions while it was 412.5 in last quarter of 2007. In addition, RIM released 7.8 millions of Blackberry units in 2008 alone. This is an impressive number for a company which focuses only to business users.

Due to the recent success from RIM, experts believe that the recession is the key for RIM to gain its profit because smartphone is the hottest seller for the year of 2008. In addition, experts explain that the success of smartphone is due to the current recession in which people refuse to buy luxury car or to have a luxury tour. In contrast, consumers tend to buy things for the home more often such as LCD TV and smartphone. And this is the reason why RIM has had an remarkable year.

And for the remarkable results in the last year, RIM strongly believes that its success will not stop there. In 2009, RIM expect with the gross sale approximately 3.3 – 3.5 billions. And there will be about 3.9 millions Blackkbery subscribers.