Pinoy Technology News

iPhone 3G S Cost $179

2009-07-04T01:01:00.001-07:00

The recently released iPhone 3G S costs around $179 according to the hardware analysis made by iSuppli on a 16GB iPhone 3G S. That is $3 more in component parts than what the Palm Pré cost. Shown below is an exploded image from iSuppli.

The iPhone 3G S costs Apple $172.46 in component parts and $6.50 to manufacture. That is roughly $179 compared to Palm Pré's components which costs Palm $170.

photo from iSuppli

The expensive part on the new iPhone is its Flash memory that was supplied by Toshiba at $24. Second is the 3.5in display which costs $19.25, still from Toshiba. And as with Pré, the cheapest component is the GPS receiver which just costs $2.25. The iPhone 3G S have several improvements in hardware which added to the handset's price to increase a bit. Take for example the 200MHz processor of the 3G S which is much faster than the older iPhone but added $14.46 to the new iPhone. Another hardware improvement is the camera which is obviously more powerful compared to the earlier generation of iPhone.

But don't be surprised if it will cost you more than $170 to own an iPhone 3G S beacuse the $170 does not include additional cost like shipping, distribution, packaging and software development.

File Extension AB2 Information

2009-07-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

You might have checked on the different files on your computer and might have encountered a file with a .ab2 file extension. Ever wondered what that file is? Well the AB2 or .ab2 file extension is associated with a program called Parsons Address Book. If you tried opening one and you cannot open the file then most probably you don't have the Parsons Address Book in your computer. The file extension AB2 is somewhat similar to the .wab file extension of Windows, which contains information that is standard to most if not all address book application.

If you do have the file extension AB2 in your computer and want to open it then you should look for the right software to open it. Don't bother looking for Parsons Address Book application software since it is no longer being produced under that name. What you now need is the Ultimate Mail Manager, included in Broderbund's Printshop Suite, in order for you to open this file extension type. And since the .ab2 file extension is proprietary, you will waste your time in looking for another third party application that might open the file. The only way to open this file type is get a copy of the Parson's Address Book, which somebody might have saved somewhere, or get a Printshop Suite that includes the Ultimate Mail Manager.

Meet the Toshiba NB200

2009-07-02T21:08:00.001-07:00

Meet the second-generation netbook from Toshiba - the NB200. The Toshiba NB200 is now more "appropriate" to look at compared to its predecessor, the NB100, which looks like it was blasted from the past with boxy and angular look. Though the NB200 fits the look of today's netbooks, the color is somewhat off. Or should I say this is Toshiba's fashion statement, if that is acceptable in technology and gadgets.

Anyway so much for the aesthetics and lets dig in to what this netbook has to offer. First on the list is its Intel N280 Atom processor. It is comparable to the N270 when it comes to power consumption but speed-wise it is clocked at 667MHz frontside bus compared to the 533MHz from that of the N270 Atom processor.

The Toshiba NB200 comes with 1GB DDR 2 memory at 800MHz, 160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and the usual ports which includes three USB 2.0 connectors, 3.5mm audio I/O, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, VGA and an SDHC memory card slot.

The display is 10.1in with 1024 x 600 resolution powered by Intel GMA 950 graphics core that is embedded into the netbook's chipset. It also has a 0.3Mp built-in webcam.

Palm Pré, the $170 Smartphone

2009-06-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

The Palm Pré smartphone is currently being sold in the US exclusively by Sprint at $199. That is almost $30 more than the actual cost of the phone. According to a cost analysis done by iSuppli the Palm Pré costs $170 in components. iSuppli did not actually open a Palm Pré to take a look at the components and come up with the production cost of the smartphone. The calculation was based from their own projection of future manufacturing costs for Q2 component pricing and assembly rates.

iSuppli's speculation of the most expensive component of the Pré is the 3.1in, 320 x 480 display which cost around $40. The second coming from the software and licensing which costs about $23. The Pré battery cost $4.16 and the processor is at $10.97. The cheapest component is thought to be the GPS chip which just cost around $1.

Well there you have it. The $170 Smartphone, the Palm Pré.

Looking for Ink Cartridges?

2009-06-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

I know there are a lot of printer, fax or copier models nowadays. All-in-one printers that can function as a printer, copier, scanner or fax machine is not uncommon. Owning one is as easy as going to one of the electronic shops in your area and buy the model or brand that suits your need. Or better yet you can just browse through the Internet and you will find a lot online stores where you can buy the printer that you need. With all the printer brands and models that the world has to offer, the challenge is looking for the right ink cartridge for your printer once you run out of ink. This will sometimes need time especially if the printer that you have is an older model or not a common brand. Yes you can go to the shop where you purchased your printer to buy the ink cartridges that you need or try to surf online stores and check if they have an available stock for the particular ink cartridge that you are looking for.

Yes, online is the easiest way and one of the fastest ways to find something that you are looking for. And for this particular case, looking for ink cartridges for a specific printer, it will be a good start and a wise move to check it online. There are a lot of sites out there that can offer and provide what you really need. No need to go through the hassle of driving around looking for an ink cartridge that you might not find.

Sony Ericsson W995

2009-06-23T01:37:00.001-07:00

Technology buffs, meet the Sony Ericsson W995. And not just technology buffs but if you are the typical music loving Pinoy then this gadget is for you. And this phone is not only for the music lovers but for the photo enthusiast as well or should I say for the mobile phone photo enthusiast.

The Sony Ericsson W995 boasts a Walkman media player for the music lover tech geek and an 8.1Mp camera for those who love to take pictures of themselves. And to really boost the music experience the W995 has a new media sync system for both Windows and Mac computers. It also has Wi-Fi, HSDPA 3G, Assisted GPS or A-GPS. As for physical specs, this slider phone measures 97x49x15mm and weighs 113g. Its LCD screen is 2.6in with 240x320-pixel resolution.

Well as far as navigating the user interface is concerned it is quite easy using the central D-pad on the front which is surrounded by six other buttons, this includes the two soft buttons, the call and drop button, cancel button, and shortcuts button. On the sides, as with other Sony Ericsson phones, are the music player controls. It has a dedicated shutter button, a Walkman button and a zoom rocker (whatever that is). The W995 also has the two-pin Fast Port power connection which is a standard among Sony Ericsson's phones. The headphone socket is 3.5mm by the way.

Moving on to the camera features, it has an 8Mp camera with LED flash. It also comes with a powerful 16x digital zoom but it would have been better if they can make an optical zoom. Other features includes an image stabiliser, BestPic, and smile detection.

Extend Battery Life of Palm Pre

2009-06-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Palm Pre is making waves not only with those who are loyal to Palm devices but also to those who are looking forward to owning a smartphone. I mean a really smart phone. But reading on blogs and forums about Pre, one major complaint of those using the Palm Pre is the short battery life. Well, I did use a Pre for a week and the battery life is just fine with me. I mean with all the things that I can do with the phone I am not surprised if the juice runs low after more than a couple of hours. For the tasks that the phone is doing, that is functioning more than a phone, it is justified that the power requirement will be high. Come to think of it, the phone does not only serve as your normal mobile but it functions more than your desktop computer.

So here are some tips that you can do to extend the precious power that the phone is eating up.

1.Close the applications that you are not using. Yes you might think that it is idle but it is not and it is eating power and memory.

2.Turn off the Location Services. If you do not need or will not use GPS then turn this feature off. If on, the GPS feature will constantly try to locate your position by sending a ping to the satellite or the network which in turn will consume power.

3.Dim your screen. The LCD screen is one of the phone components that eat up power. And this is true for all devices. So adjust the brightness to a level that is comfortable for you but will consume less power.

4.Set the screen to turn off sooner. Same concept as step 3. You can conserve power this way.

5.Turn off Wi-Fi if you are using your carrier's data network to connect to the internet. It is a waste of power to have both when you are using only one.

6.Set your email option to "check manually". This was your phone will just ping your email server once you check on your email compared to setting it to say "every 5 minutes".

That is all I got as far as conserving juice on the Palm Pre is concerned. If you have another means of extending the Palm Pre's battery life do post a comment. And by the way another tip is charge your Pre everytime you get a chance this way you can be assured that you will not run out of battery when you need it.

Palm Pre Synergy Feature

2009-06-18T23:49:00.001-07:00

Its been almost two weeks now since the Palm Pre was launched in the US. And I can say that it did took off since most if not all of the Sprint stores are running out of stock of the new smart phone running on webOS from Palm.

I was able to get a hold on one of the Palm Pre. Good thing it is already activated since it is using CDMA technology the phone capability will not work here in the Philippines but the other features do. One thing that I really like about the Palm Pre is the Synergy feature that the smartphone has. So what really is the Palm Pre Synergy Feature? Well if I am to describe it, it is a feature of the Palm Pre that is really unique. It offers you the ability to combine all your contacts, calendars, memos and even emails in one view, that is on your phone. Meaning you can add up your PIM (Personal Information Management) data, like contacts, calendars, and memos, from your old phone to the Palm Pre. And it is not just limited to the older Palm phones or devices. You can also add your email account, be it an Exchange Active Sync (EAS) account or a POP account. The cool part is you can also add your Gmail account which will actually sync with the phone. Just like the EAS account that you might have. So you just have to check your phone for all these account. And though the Palm Pre Synergy feature combines all these data in one view or on your phone, at the same time it still keeps all the account separated. Meaning when modifications are made in your Gmail account, only the Gmail account is affected. Now isn't that great? Well I would say yes it is. I'll be posting more about Palm Pre so keep posted.

Solar Powered Cellphone

2009-06-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Technology is getting greener nowadays. Most manufacturers of electronic gadgets are now looking for more ways to make these devices environment friendly. Take for example Samsung's solar powered cellphone, the Crest Solar, which was unveiled recently. There were talks before of solar-powered mobile phones and now at last the Crest Solar is commercially available for those who prefer environment friendly mobile phone.

Samsung's Crest Solar is not powered by solar cells alone, obviously backup power is still needed for the phone to work continuously. The solar panels at the back of the phone can provide a talk time of 5 to 10 minutes after an hour's solar exposure. The phone might be good enough for those who are not using the mobile as a talking device but perhaps for those who prefer SMS since the power required for SMS is really compared to talking. Obviously this is not a smartphone but it do have the regular features of a mobile phone plus the solar panels at the back.

Wireless iPod Speaker System

2009-05-21T17:42:00.001-07:00

I know iPod is not new to technology buffs and music lovers a like. And iPod speaker system is not unheard of in the past. But if you are looking for an affordable iPod speaker system that is wireless then you might consider looking at the new IntelliTouch Eos iPod wireless speaker system. Seems like everything nowadays are trying to get rid of the wires and this particular wireless speaker system for your iPod will do the job of getting your music from the iPod transmitted to a speaker system wirelessly. The IntelliTouch Eos speaker system might be a sound investment for the musically inclined technology geek since the multizone audio speaker system considers both portability and pricing in its design.

At roughly $375 you can purchase the Eos100T1RB which is the main docking station with aclient speaker, Eos100RB, already included. But if you want the five zones audio you can get just that for around $825 or if you want you can also just purchase individual speakers for $100. Not bad for an iPod wireless speaker system.

Park Wi-Fi Access Point

2009-05-15T00:14:00.001-07:00

Technology seems like it is everywhere nowadays. Just take this park bench from Solar Inside for example. The Boston-based Owen Song is the one who designed this park Wi-Fi access point. First it is a park bench and secondly it serves as a Wi-Fi access point. The seating surface are actually solar panels that collects the solar energy so it can power up the park Wi-Fi access point. But what if it is too cloudy or too many people are sitting down or it is night already? Well Owen Song did his design good. The bench has a battery that is being recharged by the solar panels as well. So if you see one of these bench in the park you can get a Wi-Fi access anytime. And did I say that the bench was constructed using recycled plastic? Well at least for some parts it is so if you are a tech lover who is eco-minded at the same time then you will surely appreciate this park bench.

Compare Web Hosting

2009-05-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

I had thought of making the move to have this blog transferred to another platform and say goodbye to the free web hosting. I had been using the free web hosting ever since I started out though I did register the domain. But I'm thinking of having a dedicated server hosting for this blog. I know there are advantages and disadvantages over the move but I am really considering it now. The first factor is of course the price since I am not paying before. But upon checking on several web hosting company, the prices are really very competitive. I can see some web host that are offering the service almost free of charge. Second factor is the space. Usually you have to pay more for bigger space. Third on my mind is bandwidth. Not that I'm getting millions of hit per day but it is really nice to have a good bandwidth. The last that I’m considering are the bonus feature that the web hosting company is offering like technical support, free domain registration, domain hosting, and others.

So how can you look for a web hosting that fit your needs? Well you can try searching the internet to compare different web hosting services but you can visit webhostinggeeks.com for convenience. The site had listed web hosting services by category so you can compare and directly choose the web hosting service according to your needs.

World's slimmest external HDD

2009-05-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

Freecom has unveiled what it’s claimed is the world’s smallest 3.5in desktop hard drive.

The 180 x 112.5 x 30mm Hard Drive XS weighs in at just 860g, yet will provide a storage capacity of 1TB.Its rubber body should help minimize any risk of your sweaty hands dropping the drive – it’s not an SSD after all. Freecom also decided to expel any form of fan from the XS, which it claimed results in “almost silent” operation.Data is accessed at 480Mb/s over a USB 2.0 connection, but Windows users can use Turbo USB for a 30 per cent improvement, Freecom claimed.

Freecom’s Hard Drive XS are priced according to the storage capacity. The 500GB model’s priced at $107 while the 1TB option costs $148.

Free Gift Card from Charter

2009-05-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Charter is always making waves when it comes to creating home entertainment bundle offers that new and existing customers can avail or upgrade. And aside from the great packages it is also giving its customers a chance to win in their sweepstakes. Take for example Charter's Free Gift Card Sweepstakes
for the month of May wherein you can get a chance to win a $5,000 gift card grand prize or four weekly prizes of a $1,000 gift card. You might be thinking of what might be the catch. Well if you call registering at www.charter.com/giftcards a catch then that is it. You don't have to make any purchase at all to get a chance to win in this sweepstakes.

What is the difference between making a purchase and simply registering to qualify in the sweepstakes? Well, if you register you have a chance to win either the $5,000 gift card grand prize or four weekly prizes of a $1,000 gift card. But if a new or current customer orders anything online at Charter.com he automatically qualifies in the sweepstakes and he will also receive $75 or $150 in gift cards depending on the bundle that is selected.

Last month Charter gave away a home theater system and one year of free Charter Digital Cable® service with HD programming as a grand prize in its sweepstakes and not to mention the HDTV that was also given out each day. Last year they gave away Xbox consoles and one customer won a new Honda Civic Hybrid. For sure there are still a lot of sweepstakes from Charter in the future. So if you don't want to miss that out you might as well Follow Charter on Twitter.

Pentagon using Facebook

2009-05-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

It seems like social networking is becoming popular not only with the civilians and the young ones but with the military as well. Social networking site like Facebook and Twitter is now being used by the military in seeking out new and young recruits.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, who heads the Army command that oversees recruiting, says social networking sites offer another way to reach tomorrow's soldiers. "They live in the virtual world," Freakley said. He cited Facebook as a key component in targeting 18-to 24-year-olds. "You could friend your recruiter, and then he could talk to your friends."

And mind you it is not only the Army that is using Facebook, the Air Force has its own Facebook page too and not only that they have Twitter feeds and a blog as well. The Marine Corps is said to be using social networking as a tool to get new recruits as well.

Read more>>>

File Extension Meta

2009-04-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

You might be thinking what the file extension Meta is. Sometimes it is mistaken for something else like the meta tag used in HTML programming or even the Windows Media metafile extensions that are used to identify the format of the Windows Media files that a metafile references. Well it seems like there are a lot of type of Meta that you might get confused about. But the file extension meta is actually a proprietary type of file.

The file type .meta was created in a video game called Black & White. The Black & White computer game was released way back 2001 by Electronic Arts and Feral Interactive and the developer of the game was Lionhead Studios. Usually, this file or the Meta file is paired with other files like SAV files, which is usually the case, in the Black & White computer game. There are two other expansions from this original game, the Black & White: Creature Isle, and a sequel, Black & White 2. If you like RPG (role playing game) then you might also like this game. All of these games are using the Meta file extension as well as different SAV files.

Again this Meta file extension should not be confused with all the other Meta in the internet. Just remember that the .meta file extension is proprietary and it is a type of file and not a tag or something else.

Solar and Wind Power Charger

2009-04-24T17:59:00.001-07:00

More and more technology is aiming to be green nowadays. I know a lot of technology is using or at least geared into using our natural energy to power devices and gadgets. We all know that solar energy is in use in many devices nowadays. It is so well known that it is almost ordinary to have a device that is solar powered. But what if there is no or limited sunlight in one place or the weather just does not allow you to use the sun's energy. You will be stuck with no power in your device.

Maybe you can take a look at what Kinesis Industries have. They have a gadget charger, the K3, that harness both the sun's energy as well as wind in order to produce the power needed for your device. This gadget charger can collect the sun's energy as well as wind energy and convert it the much needed juice of your gadget.

The Kinesis Industries' K3 handheld gadget charger, which measures 78 x 236 x 8mm, uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery to store power that can charge devices. An hour of sun exposure or wind whirring can charge and generate power that is equivalent to about 30 minutes of talk time using a mobile phone. If you can't really relate how long that is, it is like playing 300 minutes of music using an MP3 player.

The K3 handheld gadget charger is not only using green technology but it is literally green as well. You can't get hold of this green charger yet since the expected release date will be this June.

Get Paid Hacking

2009-04-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

Having a hacking skill can earn you money. But the hacking skill that I'm talking about is not the usual hacking that you might be thinking. What I'm talking about is the ethical one. Being an ethical hacker will not only earn you money but it will help companies and individuals as well. What does an ethical hacker really do? Well we usually have a negative connotation with the word hacker as someone who goes into systems and bypass securities that are setup by companies and individuals to protect themselves. Being an ethical hacker means that you will do the same but in a good way. Simply put, you will be hacking your way to a system and try to bypass security settings in every possible way so that these flaws or possible security breach can be identified and prevented.

If you have the talent or the skills then utilize it in hacking the ethical way. I know many gifted individuals are using their talent in coding to hack unethically. But why bother going that way when you can put your talents to work and help out the rest of the IT industry. You will not only be helping enhance and develop the IT Security sector of the industry but you can earn a potential income as well as an IT professional. Being an Ethical Hacker means you can specialize in the different aspects of security. The different categories that you can specialize are the basic Security Fundamentals, Ethical Hacking, Penetration Testing, Computer Forensics, Disaster Recovery, and Secure Programming. All these are being offered by EC-Council | iClass.

Be a Certified Ethical Hacker and earn from it the way other hackers are trying to earn from it.

Asus F70, laptop for movie buffs

2009-04-21T22:51:00.000-07:00

The newest netbook from Asus was geared towards people who prefers watching movies in their laptop. The Asus F70 has more than ample screen of 17.3in for your viewing pleasure. The machine is currently tagged as a personal entertainment netbook. This is mainly the contribution of the Asus F70's larger than usual screen that boast an aspect ration of 16:9 and has a resolution of 1080p. Aside from the "big" screen, the audio that you will hear is coming from a surround-sound speakers manufactured by Altec Lansing. I bet the display and the audio already makes this machine a true personal entertainment netbook. But just in case you are not satisfied with the screen display you can always connect the F70 to a larger HD display via the HDMI port that is integrated in this netbook. And as an added feature the keyboard is spill-proof so you can take all the popcorn and soda with you while watching your favorite movie.

You can have 2 choices for the Asus F70's processor. You can either opt for the 2.16GHz T5850 Intel Core 2 Duo, with 2MB L2 cache and 667MHz frontside bus, or a 2.26GHz P8400 Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus and 3MB L2 cache. The F70 also support up to 4GB of DDR2 memory.

For connectivity, you can use the 802.11n Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It also has Bluetooth. A 8-in-1 memory card reader is also built-in to the machine.

The Asus F70 roughly measures 466 x 309 x 39mm. Price is at around $1252.

The File Extension PDF

2009-04-21T01:25:00.000-07:00

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format, owned by Adobe Systems for viewing two dimensional documents in a computer or any other devices that supports the file extension PDF. Each PDF file encapsulates a complete description of the 2D document(and with the advent of Acrobat 3D, integrated 3D documents) which includes text, fonts, images and 2D vector graphics in a document. PDF files do not encode information that is specific to software, hardware and operating system used to create or view the document. This feature ensures that the PDF format is valid for the same, regardless of their origin or destination (but depending on the availability of sources).

The file extension PDF is part of the programs of the Adobe Acrobat family. Some software in this family can be used for free without any charge at all like the Adobe Reader. Though modifying a PDF document is not possible with the Adobe Reader, there is a full version of Acrobat which can let you edit the contents of a PDF file or you can even create your own.

Anybody can create an application that uses the file extension PDF for free. Though Adobe holds a number of patents relating to the PDF format and claims that it is an open standard, licensing them on a royalty-free basis for use in developing software that complies with its PDF specification.

Meet the Nokia E75

2009-04-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

The Nokia E75 is the first Nokia smartphone to incorporate a slide-out Qwerty keyboard. Traditionally, the devices that Nokia have has hinged Qwerty keyboard. But this time around, the company was able to revolutionize a slide-out Qwerty keyboard.

The E75 has a 2.5in display which has a resolution of 320 x 240 and 16m-colour screen. For a smartphone slider, the Nokia E75 is relatively slim at 112 x 50 x 14mm and weighing just 139g. This smartphone has 50MB internal memory but it comes with a 4GB card to supplement the meager internal memory for a smartphone. For I/O, the E75 has a Micro SD memory card slot and a micro USB port. The audio jack is 3.5mm. It also has a 3.2Mp camera which can do up to 8x digital zoom with LED flash and a self-portrait mirror. For connectivity, it is using HSDPA 3G connection and Wi-Fi. As for functionality, well this device is like your typical smartphone with a fully sliding Qwerty keyboard.

Secure File Transfer

2009-04-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

Having a business is not easy. You have to manage a lot of things from financials to staffing and communications. Communication plays an important role in businesses. They can sometimes, if not at all times, make or break your business' success. This communication can be as simple as talking to colleagues or as complicated as having to transfer data and information securely over the internet to other company locations. Security of these communications is a very important factor to consider for companies. Take for example a new product. Prior to launching a new product most companies have to communicate with the suppliers, designers, testers and manufacturers in order for the product to be manufactured. If the communication between these departments is not secure, then a leak is possible which can totally mess up the new product launch.

So companies should really invest in getting secure communications, like secure file transfer software, between sites or even departments. One company that can provide this service is Cleo Communications. Cleo Communications can provide communications solution that includes secure data transfer which can help your company setup and manage a secure and reliable communication system. These internet communications solutions includes Application Integration for Salesforce and NetSuite, Secure File Transfer, Managed File Transfer, Remote Device Management, Network Fax, Integrated Scan and Delivery, Mainframe Communications and a lot of other solutions that your company really needs. Don't be complacent with your communication system, secure it!

OLED Walkman from Sony

2009-04-13T23:16:00.001-07:00

A new OLED Walkman from Sony, the NWZ-X1000 series Walkman, is set for release in Japan this April 25. There are 2 models that will be available, the 16GB NWZ-X1050 will sell for around $400 while the 32GB NWZ-X1060 will be retailed at around $500.

Read more >>> for more details.

AAfter.com - not just a Search Engine

2009-04-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing through the different sites that I visit everyday when I came upon this new search engine AAfter.com. But mind you, when I try to explore the site, it is not just another search engine. It has different utilities built into it.

First, and perhaps one of the unique feature of this search engine is its Cash-Back utility. If you are planning to buy something online you might as well do it through AAfter.com. They will pay you the cash-back regardless if the product you are buying is on sale or not. Secondly, it do function as a search engine and links to popular sites, like wiki, for answers. Other utility features include background check on persons you want to check, reverse phone lookup which gives you the ability to know who called you, search for local businesses, and it do have an IP Research Tool for every webmaster or blogger. And not only that, it also has a Domain Research Tool for every webmaster or blogger as well. So if you are talking about search engines that can do more I'd say you might consider talking about AAfter.com.

Asus Skype Videophone

2009-04-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

Meet the Asus AiGuru SV-1 Linux-based Skype Videophone. The AiGuru SV-1 is something unique from the Asus Eee product family since it is a stand alone device and does not need a computer to function. The Asus AiGuru SV-1 uses 802.11b/g Wi-Fi for connectivity and has a widescreen LCD of 7in with 800 x 480 resolution. A 0.3Mp webcam is also present just above the LCD screen.

As mentioned this device works as a stand alone videophone. Unlike other messengers wherein you need to have a webcam and a PC in order for you to communicate with audiovisual capability the Asus AiGuru SV-1 can do this on its own. All you need is an internet connection, be it ethernet or Wi-Fi, and you can already call and see someone using this videophone. The big catch here is that the Asus AiGuru SV-1 will only function using Skype. And as pointed out by Asus, the AiGuru SV-1 is the first stand alone video phone that is ‘Skype Certified’.

As far as I/O is concerned the videophone has Ethernet, external PSU, and minijack sockets for headphones and microphone. A USB port is present but it can only be used for service updates according to Asus.