Whats New Now - PCMag.com

Palm Pre Pwns CES, Windows 7 Beta Open to the Public, Could Windows Server 2008 R2 Kill the VPN?, Dell Unveils Luxury 'Adamo' Notebook, Hands-on with the Classmate PC, Greenpeace Releases Green Electronics Survey, Seeing 3D with Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:00:00 -0500

Palm Pre Pwns CES
Yeah, I was surprised, too. Just last week, I said that no matter what Palm announced it wouldn't change the company's bleak future. Well, I was, what is the word....oh, wrong. Having held the Palm in my hand I can tell you this is very likely my next phone. It reminded me of the lust I felt when I first got that palm Treo 650 all those years ago. It looks and works a lot like the iPhone, but is more portable and will run on Sprint. Plus, the interface has dozens of tiny little things that make life easier, like combining your IM and SMS messages on one thread. But don't just take my word for it, Lance Ulanoff and Sascha Segan agree with me.

Windows 7 Beta Open to the Public
Speaking of changing fortunes, Microsoft announced that Windows 7 would be available for public download. Here at PCMag.com Labs, we have been testing Windows 7 for a while, but now the general public can join in the fun. And it seems like a lot of people want to try it--Microsoft's servers were so overcrowded that they had to push the launch back a few days. Still, now the world can see what life with Windows 7 will be like. In my experience, it is pretty damn good, but read our coverage and judge for yourself. Or even better, download it and run it on a spare system yourself. This beta doesn't last forever.

Will Windows Server 2008 R2 Kill the VPN?
Microsoft's consumer group wasn't the only one busy releasing beta code this week. The server group announced the public availability of Windows Server 2008 R2. PCMag's SMB Analyst, Mario Morejon, is digging into the latest release right now, but so far he seems most impressed with its Direct Access features. Put simply, Server 2008 will eliminate the need for VPNs. Pretty cool stuff--unless you are a VPN provider. Mario's post on PCMag @Work has more details.

Dell Unveils Luxury 'Adamo' Notebook
Dell skipped the Las Vegas conventional center and instead set up shop in a giant suite at the Palms Casino. That didn't stop me from trekking across town to see their latest products. And I am glad I did. Dell offered a brief glimpse of its new Adamo luxury laptop. The company wouldn't give many firm details, but it looks very pretty. Thinner than my Curve 8330 and rock solid, it certainly makes an impression. We will have to get one into the labs to see how it actually performs, but it sure looks powerful.

Hands On with Intel's Convertible Classmate PC
Also at CES, PCMag Laptop Analyst Cisco Cheng got some hands-on time with Intel's new Classmate Tablet PC. Now, I am all in favor of putting laptops on the desks of as many students as possible, but I am not sure about this design. With prices starting at $500 it is already more expensive than many of the netbooks on the market. It does offer some unique education features and volume purchase should drive down costs, but honestly, I think most students would be just as happy with an MSI Wind. Read Cisco's piece and tell me what you think.

Greenpeace Releases Green Electronics Survey
There was a fair amount of so-called green technology at CES. Greenpeace released survey results for a bunch of products that vendors submitted for evaluation. Seems as if they found them to be more green than usual, but it that isn't exactly earth-shaking or weather-changing. Participation in the survey is purely voluntary, so every vendor is putting its best foot forward. Still, there is some good info in there. Check out GoodCleanTech.com's report for more.

TrickleStar Power Saver FinallyArriving in U.S.
I met with the founder of TrickleStar on the show floor, and he kind of blew my mind. He told me that 13 percent of U.S. electrical energy consumption is from electronics left on when not in use. I checked it out when I got online and sure enough, those are the Department of Energy stats. His TrickleStar power saver could help change that, so check out the product details. And after that, turn off you PC, please.

Seeing 3D with Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision
At nearly $200, these 3D glasses are a bit more expensive than those handed out at the theater when you were a kid. I remember Jaws 3-D very clearly, despite the stereoscopic haze and Dennis Quaid's over-acting. The good news is they work a lot better. Just be advised, the goggles don't work with all game or monitors, so read on to find out if you have what it takes to go 3D at home.

Testing the Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 Graphics Card
No doubt annoyed at ATI's recent dual GPU successes, Nvidia has release a dual-GPU card of its own. The GTX 295 comes loaded with two GT200 chips and, as expected, the performance is pretty amazing. Good enough to beat ATI? Read on and find out.

YouTube Hubs Will Entrench Congressional Incumbents
Assuming you actually want to see your congressman blather about for hours, Google has launched congressional hubs for members of Congress. The problem is they are edited and managed by the candidates' staff. That means they are little more than rolling reelection commercials. You will never see a gaffe or an impolitic video here. I just hope that when these candidates are up for reelection YouTube offers the same access to their challengers. Equal time should apply to YouTube as well.

The Stupidest Accessory at CES is 100% Fail
I couldn't resist ending on this post from Sascha Segan. There was a lot of cool stuff at CES this year, but this one is clearly doomed. It is so bad, it is funny. So bad I can't even tell you. You have to click to find out. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

That's all for now. hopefully, Lance will be back later this week with More WNN.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch Lance Ulanoff, Sascha Segan, and me every week on PCMag Radio.

--Dan Costa

mailto:dan_costa@pcmag.com

http://go.pcmag.com/costa

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/dacosta

Hands on with the New BlackBerry Storm; Affordable Color Lasers; Phony Grassroots Campaigns; AMD's New Business Plan

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:18:13 -0500

Hands On with the New BlackBerry Storm 9530
Apple’s moment in the sun as the only phone manufacturer offering a large touch-screen phone was certainly short. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen a parade of new phones trying to eat the iPhone’s lunch. Yet none have been quite like RIM’s new BlackBerry Storm 9530. Like the iPhone it’s almost all screen, is keyboard free, and includes an accelerometer. But the screen works unlike any our Mobile Analysts Sascha Segan has ever seen before. He’s one of a handful of people outside RIM who have seen and touched this new device. Read his report, and don’t miss the extensive slideshow.

Affordable Color Lasers
All the color laser printer reviews I’ve been reading in recent weeks lead me to believe that small businesses and even consumers may soon start seriously considering this printing technology over inkjets. These printers from HP and Samsung are smaller, lighter, and faster than any we’ve tested before.

The New Scam: Phony Grassroots Campaigns
Watching the presidential debates the other night, I kept thinking how hard it is to verify anything either candidate says. Everyone shades the truth and everyone has an agenda. It’s no different online, and curmudgeon columnist John C. Dvorak has identified a new kind of hucksterism: the online grassroots campaign. I love the grassroots, people rising up from the bottom to pull together and drive public opinion in a positive direction. Problem is, as Dvorak points out, many of these online campaigns are fake: they’re fronts using the cover of the Internet to push their hidden agendas. Sheesh. Get the depressing news from Dvorak’s column.

Customize Your Revision Tracking in Word
Here at PCMag Network we all use Microsoft Word and manage all our document edits with Word’s nifty Track Changes feature. I had no idea, until I read this story, how much you can do with that little function. You should try this stuff out.

RealNetworks Halts Sales of RealDVD
The saga of RealNetworks versus the motion picture industry continues. Round one, it seems, goes to the movies.

AMD Pulls Out of Manufacturing in 'Asset Smart' Plan
AMD made the bold move this week of separating its semiconductor design business from manufacturing. This should save the company billions and could, thanks to a wealthy United Arab Emirates partner, mean tons of new money flowing into their business. Should be good news, right? Well, I see it differently. Going forward, AMD could have far less control over how its CPU designs are actually built, giving Intel (which designs and builds its own chips) a distinct advantage. Read the news story and my column to get all sides of the debate.

AMD Fusion for Gaming Tested
Speaking of AMD, the company is working on a combined CPU and GPU. However, in advance of that, AMD has released Fusion. It’s a utility that helps PCs runs games more effectively, ExtremeTech took the new code for a test drive.

Lenovo's Netbook Has the Right Stuff
With virtually every major manufacturer offering or working on one, Netbooks is officially a trend. These small, efficient, reasonably priced notebooks appeal to everyone who still wants a technology fix (despite tough economic times) but doesn’t want to pay an arm and leg for it. Lenovo’s new IdeaPad S10 is the latest entry and it’s a sub-$500 winner.

Tech Myth Number 3: The Truth Behind Monster Cables
ExtremeTech’s analysts are finally saying what I’ve believed for years: You do not need to buy super-expensive Monster Cables to enjoy high-quality home theater entertainment. They pick apart the myth in this story and offer some viable and affordable alternatives.

The Economic Downturn, Web 2.0, and You
The economic meltdown isn’t just vaporizing your wallet, it’s changing the way tech companies do business and could have a significant impact on the “free” Web. At least that’s the perspective of PCMag Senior Editor Kyle Monson. He offers his thoughts in this Appscout post.

Correction: Hands On with Sony's New E-Book Reader
Earlier this week I told you about the new Sony e-Book Reader, but I incorrectly stated that it’ll feature backlighting. Nope. An eagle-eyed reader pointed out that it’s “side-lighting.” Sorry for the confusion. Interestingly, the reader and I agree that neither backlighting nor side-lighting is what eBooks really need. Instead they should to recreate the off-white, matte, yet reflective surface of paper to really satisfy avid readers.

That's all for now. I'm back next week!.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff

mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com

http://www.lanceulanoff.com

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Sweet $1,000 Desktop PCs; Bargain Hunt: Blu-ray Players; Smartphone Superguide

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:35:00 -0500

Sweet $1,000 Desktop PCs
I know it’s hard to dismiss all those sub-$500 PCs, but those of us with a little tech know-how understand that you really do get what you pay for. If you want to edit videos, do some real photo editing, and play some decent games, the PC you want is going to cost around $1,000. Sure, that’s a nice chunk of change—especially these days—but it’s an investment that’ll keep you happily computing for at least the next three years. PCMag has pulled together five $1K PCs from HP, Dell, Gateway, and Velocity that are all worthy of your consideration. Read and enjoy.

Bargain Hunt: Blu-ray Players
It’s happening; Blu-ray DVD players are finally selling for less than $500. They’re still too expensive, if you ask me. However, if you’re dead set on going end-to-end high-def, then you’ll want to consider one of these three sub-$300 Blu-ray deals.

Smartphone Superguide
The world of mobile phones is changing. No longer do we simply consider the carrier or even the phone. Now it’s all about the platform. Are you a Windows mobile adherent (I know I’m not)? Do you lust after the Apple mobile OS? Maybe you can’t live without the RIM interface. Whatever your preference, PCMag has you covered. Mobile analyst Sascha Segan and Smart Device Central editor Jamie Lendino have reviewed a boatload of smartphones on all platforms. Read the reviews and discover which one is ready to become your pocket companion.

Hands On with Sony's New E-Book Reader
I’ve tried out the two leading e-book readers and spoken to people who use them everyday. To date, the reviews are mixed (good luck sharing your favorite book). But I’m encouraged by news of the latest Sony Reader. Sony has changed the interface and even added backlighting. Read our hands-on report to learn why this could be one of the hottest tech gifts of the holiday season.

Build a PC with Your Kids
I give ExtremeTech Analysts Joel Durham and his son Andrew a lot of credit. They could have bought a new PC. Instead the Durhams decided to build one. Actually Andrew (who is only 10) did 95 percent of the building and, in my estimation, did a bang-up job. Click the link to relive their journey; it may inspire you to start your own family project.

The YouTube Election
I watched the conventions on CNN and the debates on ABC, but I have to agree with ExtremeTech editor Loyd Case when he says that you could easily digest the whole of the presidential campaign without ever watching network television, reading a paper, or listening to the radio. It’s all redigested on YouTube, blogs, and sundry other Web sites. Case worries that this may not serve the election or us very well if it doesn’t drive candidates and the public to some sort of systematic approach to solving the nation’s problems. I’m not sure I agree with Case on that point, since I see it all as simply more information for political junkies. What do you think? Read Case’s column and then offer your opinion in the forums.

Ten Reasons Why I Stopped Playing World of Warcraft
I’ve never played World of Warcraft, so Jim Lynch’s lengthy column on all the reasons why he stopped reads a little like Latin text to me. On the other hand, if you’ve ever played or are, perhaps, deep into World of Warcraft, then this is the story for you.

A Better Vista Tomorrow
ET readers offer some secrets for turning Microsoft Windows Vista into an operating system you can love—or at least live with.

Hands On: GIMP 2.6 Is Out
GIMP, the beloved open-source image manipulation software and Photoshop competitor, has undergone a bit of a makeover. Blogger Geoff Fox unwraps version 2.6 and find that it’s good, but still no Photoshop.

Toshiba Battery Powers New Schwinn Tailwind Moped
I saw this unusual battery-powered bike a few weeks ago and wondered why the fast-charging battery didn’t also feature ports to charge or plug-in your mobile devices. Schwinn reps just smiled at me and said “not yet.” Get more details on this odd, peddle-assist cycle.

What’s New Now: RealDVD, Friend or Foe of Fair Use?
This ranks as the creepiest episode of What’s New Now we’ve ever produced, complete with robot children and a guy wearing a virtual blue dress. Oh, and there’s important tech news in there, too.

Bonus Video: Bloopers and Outtakes
Shooting video is not as easy as it seems. Check out all the flubs, mess-ups, and general silliness editors (including me) and analysts went through just to capture 3 to 5 minutes of decent video.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all on Thursday.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff

mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com

http://www.lanceulanoff.com

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Build a $250 Desktop PC; Privacy 2.0: No Privacy at All; Rob Glaser's RealDVD: Friend or Foe of Fair Use?; Utility Download: Dress Up Your Folder Icons

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:32:33 -0500

Build a $250 Desktop PC
Need a simple PC for the kids or just to run open-source word processing, e-mail and Web browsing? Then this could be your machine. Sure it’s Linux and, yes, you have to build it. But that’s more than half the fun, isn’t it? Read the story and follow along with PCMag’s step-by-step slideshow.

HDTV Subpixel Slideshow
When I was a little kid I used to press my face up against the TV screen so I could see the individual phosphorescent color clusters. It amazed me that a live, large, and cohesive picture could be made up of all these tiny tricolored dots. The possible damage to my brain aside, today’s HDTVs have much higher resolutions than our lovable old CRTs, so no matter how close I get, I really can’t see the dots. ExtremeTech, with the help of PCMag HDTV analyst Robert Heron, can. Now he’s posted a collection of subpixel photos. The differences among the sets are fascinating, as is the low-tech way in which he generated the images.

Privacy 2.0: No Privacy at All
While everyone complains and worries about how Google and other companies that collect anonymous data about our online activities might sell us up the river, columnist John C. Dvorak says we’re totally missing the point. Our privacy is not all about illegal activities, he says, it’s about people and companies minding their own business. I agree with John 100 percent. Read his column to see if you, too, are on the same page.

Steve Ballmer: Microsoft's 'Head Coach'
The wackiest video in Microsoft’s “I’m a PC” video mosaic is, by far, company CEO Steve Ballmer’s. He looks and sounds just a wee bit crazy. It makes you wonder about the man behind the wacky videos (remember “Monkey Boy”?). Our friends in Mexico at PCMag Espanol recently sat with the boisterous Microsoftie for an extensive one-on-one. In it Ballmer talks about Vista, Windows 7, "cool," and why "PCs are better than Macs." It's a good read.

Rob Glaser's RealDVD: Friend or Foe of Fair Use?
When Real Networks told us about RealDVD, which lets consumers rip their commercial DVDs to their PCs, they promised that it was totally legal. Well, in Real CEO Rob Glaser’s eyes it certainly is and is protected under “fair use.” In the eyes of the movie companies that are now suing him—not a chance. What exactly is Glaser, who countersued, up to? I have an idea.

Utility Download: Dress Up Your Folder Icons
The folders on your PC are filled with important and fascinating files and information, and yet they look as dull as dishwater. Worse yet, these graphical yellow manila folders offer no indication beyond the name of what lies within. PCMag’s new premium utility, Folders 2, lets you easily change folder icons, and even change multiple folders at once based on file contents. If you ask me, it’s worth every penny of the $7.95 download fee.

Troubleshoot Windows the Way the Experts Do
It’s probably the most common PC complaint I hear: “Why is my system so blankin’ slow?!” Figuring it out can be an exercise in frustration, but if you think and act like a tech expert, you may have better luck and results. The Security Watch blog offers some insider tips for analyzing a recalcitrant PC.

Let KITT Show You the Way
I was never a big fan of the old Knight Rider show starring David Hasselhoff, and from what I hear the new show isn’t long for the airwaves. Still, there are those who would cherish Mio's new Knight Rider GPS. It pretty much works like most other GPS devices you’ve seen, but adds the original “KITT” voice (actor William Daniels) to the mix, and even a KITT-like set of red lights. This doesn’t make it the world’s best GPS, but if cheesy TV nostalgia floats your boat, you’re gonna love it. Get all the details in analyst Craig Ellison’s review.

Hands On: Hasbro Lazer Tag Multiplayer Battle System
We have some serious tech here at PCMag, but every once in a while a really cool techno-toy shows up that transports some of us back to our childhoods. The latest Lazer Tag Multiplayer Battle System is just that kind of product. Within minutes of its arrival, a half dozen of us were running around the halls, diving in and out of cubes and offices, and, of course, trying to blow each other away. I had a bad habit of not following the rules and shooting everyone in sight. Naturally, all of this was in the service of a hands-on report (and incriminating video) you can find on Gearlog.

The New $300 Graphics Showdown
If you’re thinking about upgrading your PC (and really, who isn’t?) don’t run out and buy a new graphics card until your read ET’s latest head-to-head. They’ve got two new $300 graphics cards featuring GPUs from ATI and nVidia. Both emerge from the tests with very good scores. Read and decide which one you want to buy.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all next week.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff

mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com

http://www.lanceulanoff.com

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Eight Untold Secrets of Firefox 3; The Ten Most Mysterious Cyber Crimes; Wired NextFest in Pictures; Build a Bang for the Buck PC

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:30:25 -0500

Eight Untold Secrets of Firefox 3
I'm a big fan of FireFox 3's “awesome bar.” It helps me get to where I want much more quickly. Still, I have to admit that I haven’t really dug into the browser to see what, well, lies beneath. If I had, I probably would have already discovered these eight excellent tweaks. For example, I had no idea you could duplicate a tab with a simple drag and drop. It's true. There are more details in the full Solution.

The 10 Most Mysterious Cyber Crimes
Viruses may be on the wane, but cyber crimes, which trace their roots back to the beginning of technology, continue apace and are getting scarier by the moment. Reading this list, I was surprised by how many nefarious violations happened this year and remain unsolved. Read this and try not to be creeped out by the thought that these guys are still out there.

Pick Your DTV Converter Box
I'd like to assume that the majority of you reading this newsletter are well prepared for next year’s digital TV switchover. However, we all know a friend or family member who is not. For them, we have this story. A look at the best digital converter boxes on the market today. If Aunt Minnie doesn’t want to give up those rabbit ears and her 1975 Sylvania, this may help her enjoy Golden Girls reruns for the foreseeable future.

Wired NextFest in Pictures
We sent blogger Brian Heater to the Windy City to capture all the amazing high-tech sights from this year's Wired NextFest event. As expected, he returned with images of robots, a sheep-shaped lawn mower, fabric that hardens on impact, solid ink, and more. Heater also got an earful from Chris Anderson. The Wired EIC is promoting a new book called Free. Guess what it’s gonna cost.

Build a Bang-for-the-Buck PC
Are you ready to build your first (or second or third) PC? One that will feature cutting-edge graphics, more memory, 64-bit processing, and even Blu-ray? If it costs less than $2,000, I’m sure the answer is yes. The guys at ExtremeTech have done the legwork for you, picking the best components and actually constructing a system that performs pretty darn well, even on their taxing gaming tests (as long as you keep the detail low). What are you waiting for? Go grab a screwdriver and get started.

Microsoft to Deliver Windows 7 Pre Beta in Oct
The company is one hundred percent behind Vista. Please pay no attention to the operating system behind the curtain.

TiVo on Your PC
A while ago, I had TiVo. I loved the service and still think it offers the best DVR interface in the business. Alas, my hardware died. A new product, Nero's LiquidTV, may offer a solution for people like me who don’t want to go down the TiVo hardware road again. It pairs your existing PC hardware with TiVo software. Nifty. We ran the new product through some rigorous tests in our lab.

Sprint XOHM WiMAX Network Launches in Baltimore
Contrary to rumor and some popular opinion, WiMAX is not dead. The wide-area wireless technology, which has been launching for about five years, is now available in Maryland (or at least in part of Maryland). Mobile expert Sascha Segan offers some details in his Gearlog post.

The Mobile OS Shell Game
Those who know me are well aware of my antipathy toward Windows Mobile. It looks like a desktop OS crammed into a very tiny screen. So I usually think it’s a good thing when a manufacturer layers something simpler and easier to navigate on top of it. Not so, says Smart Device Central Editor Jamie Lendino. After reading his column, I tend to agree. Check it out and see what you think.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all on Thursday.
Plus, don’t forget to follow me (http://www.twitter.com/lanceulanoff) and PCMag on Twitter. PCMag’s address, by the way, is http://twitter.com/PCMag . Twitter, by the way, is a microblog where you get 140-character updates from me and PCMag throughout the day.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff

mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com

http://www.lanceulanoff.com

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Google and T-Mobile's G1 Android Phone Launches; Widescreen Laptops Get Wider; Resurrecting Windows 98; The Best PC Games Ever

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:25:16 -0500

Google and T-Mobile’s G1 Android Phone Lands on U.S. Shores
Finally, the second-most-anticipated phone in the cell-phone industry’s relatively short history is a reality. Earlier this week, Google, T-Mobile, and HTC launched the G1, a Google Android–based phone that appears primed to take on the Apple iPhone. Mobile expert Sascha Segan live-blogged the event, and I sat next to him, taking pictures and writing the news story. Sascha then followed up with a hands-on report and I—after getting some face-time with the phone—wrote down my own thoughts. Former PC Mag EIC Michael Miller, who was also at the event, also looks at the G1’s implications as the markets first open phone. Can the phone really beat the iPhone? Is it a better smartphone? Is this the ultimately mobile Web device? Read all of our reports to find out.

Widescreen Laptops Get Wider
There’s a whole new generation of laptops offering wider screens than ever. Companies like Acer, Sony, and HP all have them. But all is not as it seems. These widescreen wonders also take a little something off. Read our reviews and all about the controversy surrounding this new aspect ratio in PCMag’s review roundup.

Resurrecting Windows 98
You'd be surprised by how many people still use this classic Windows edition—and the kinds of PCs they're running it on.

How to Upload High-Quality YouTube Videos
I’ve been doing a fair amount of YouTube uploading lately and, sadly, most of the videos from my tiny Vado camcorder look pretty bad once they’ve been through the YouTube compression ringer. So imagine my glee at finding out that there is a way to force YouTube to accept and play back relatively higher-quality video. The instructions in this PCMag Solutions article are pretty simple. Give it a try!

Microsoft's New Ad Strategy: The Disco Mom
Big surprise, curmudgeon columnist John C. Dvorak does not like Microsoft’s new “I’m a PC” ads. I actually think it’s a pretty effective ad campaign, but Dvorak’s idea for extending these commercials is really a hoot.

SageTV HD Media Extender Review
A pioneer of the PC-to-TV connectivity space, SageTV is back with a new Media Extender. Owing to its über-geeky roots and customizable nature, we had ExtremeTech take a look at this decent, near-$200 device.

The Best PC Games Ever to Grace My Computer
One ExtremeTech reader reveals six games that changed his life. I’d argue that they likely had the same effect on many other gamers. Get the full list and his thoughts on ET.

Review: BMW 7 Series, the World's Best Car?
You know, I always wondered when the world’s best car would arrive and now, at least according to TechnoRide contributor Bill Howard, it has. He says the BMW's 2009 7 Series is “the new benchmark for technical and driving excellence among cars.” Wow. Check out his in-depth report and slideshows after the link.

Review: WowWee Femisapien Robot
Perhaps you’ve heard of the pint-sized “kissing” robot, also known as the WowWee Femisapien. I thought the bot was kind of a joke, until I spent one unforgettable weekend with…er…testing it. This cute bot has real depth.

What’s New Now Episode 40: More Android Fun
Senior producer Brooks Rowlett gets in on the Google Android action and then covers these stories:

Amazon Enters Mobile Music Market
Verizon's Move to Month-to-Month
Dell Aims For First Time PC Buyers
Google Maps Goes Public...Transit
Microsoft Drops Seinfeld The More You Know

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all next week.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff
mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com
http://www.lanceulanoff.com
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

What's New Now, Episode 43: AMD to QAE

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:25 -0500


Player won't launch? Click here. What's New Now, Episode 43: AMD to QAE	MP3 (Audio Only): 5MB Right click and choose "save target as" or "save as" to download MP3.

Episode 43

Hosted by:

• Brooks Rowlett, Senior Producer, Ziff Davis Media

The Topics:

AMD Splits for Abu Dhabi

Firefox Mobile Finally?

Hulu Goes Live

eBay Cuts Jobs

Gmail Goggles

What's New Now, Episode 42: Friends or Foes?

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:46:32 -0500


Player won't launch? Click here. What's New Now, Episode 42: Friends or Foes?	MP3 (Audio Only): 5MB Right click and choose "save target as" or "save as" to download MP3.

Episode 42

Hosted by:

• Brian Heater, Associate Editor, Blogs, PCMag.com

The Topics:

Rob Glaser's RealDVD: Friend or Foe of Fair Use?

Text Messaging Cause of Train Crash

Apple drops NDA for iPhone developers

Men happiest online, women prefer family time: poll

See Through Walls with Mobile Phone

Creepy Robot Girl

What's New Now, Episode 41: Lost in Space?

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:12:38 -0500


Player won't launch? Click here. What's New Now, Episode 41: Lost in Space?	MP3 (Audio Only): 5MB Right click and choose "save target as" or "save as" to download MP3.

Episode 41

Hosted by:

• Scott Asnault, Series Producer, DL.TV

The Topics:

Flaw in Flash Servers Allows Free Amazon Movies

Visa's Pay-by-Phone Plans May Be Doomed

Hubble Telescope Trouble

Korset: Stopping a cyber attack before it begins

Survey says! 97 percent of American youth play video games

Internet Radio Bill Passes House

SpaceX Finally Launches the Falcon

What's New Now, Episode 40: Google Goes Android

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:07:26 -0500


Player won't launch? Click here. What's New Now, Episode 40: T-Mobile's Google Android-Based Phone Released!	MP3 (Audio Only): 5MB Right click and choose "save target as" or "save as" to download MP3.

Episode 40

Hosted by:

• Brooks Rowlett, Senior Video Producer, Ziff Davis Media

The Topics:

T-Mobile's Google Android-Based G1 is Unveiled

Amazon Enters Mobile Music Market

Verizon's Move to Month-to-Month

Dell Aims For First Time PC Buyers

Google Maps Goes Public...Transit

Microsoft Drops Seinfeld.

Apple's Shocking Discovery

Security Suites Speed Up; Verizon's BlackBerry Storm Becomes Official

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:51:42 -0500

Security Suites Speed Up
Norton Internet Security 2009 has improved on its predecessor in myriad ways, but perhaps the most impressive improvement is in speed. In fact, our security analyst has developed a whole new set of tests just to measure the speed and performance impact of security suite updates from Symantec, Zone Alarm, BitDefender, F-Secure and Kaspersky. Read on to find out which suite is right for you.

Verizon's BlackBerry Storm Becomes Official
I’ve made no secret about my desire to drop my Treo 700p for a BlackBerry Bold, but one question has been nagging at me: Can I forgo a touch screen? RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry story could solve my dilemma. It’s the first touch-screen BlackBerry, and now we know for certain that it’s coming from Verizon. Problem solved, right? Uh, wait. Where’s the keyboard? Oh, fudge.

Official: T-Mobile's Google Android Phone Launching 9-23
Speaking of highly-anticipated handsets, we now have official word that the Google Android phone will launch next week. Mobile Analyst Sascha Segan has the details. He and I will be at the event next week.

Digital Media Distribution in the Home
I could not agree more with ExtremeTech Editor Loyd Case when he says that anyone trying to port digital content around the home is confronted with “a fragmented ecosystem that's enough to make users pull out their hair.” DRM issues, bit rates, connection choices, recognition codes. You name it, it’s all in there and, I think, Loyd has dealt with all of it. Read his diatribe and the diary of his own home media project for all the grisly details.

Going D-SLR with the Nikon D90
Welcome, Jason Cross, to the D-SLR family. I’ve been using one for years and, honestly, could not live without it. Still, I’m a little jealous, because your Nikon D90 records video--a relatively new development for D-SLRs. I’m recommending that all my readers check out your column to learn about the life of an early adopter.

Internet TV: So Close I Can Almost Touch It
You’ll be hearing the term Internet TV more and more this year and next, but what is it and what can or should you expect? Oh, to heck with what you should expect! Here’s what I want and--by gosh--what may finally really happen. Thank you, Yahoo!, Intel, Sharp, and others for finally getting on my bandwagon. Interactive TV Like What We’ve Always Dreamed Of. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330041,00.asp Do-It-Yourself PR Curmudgeon columnist John C. Dvorak takes a detour from pure tech to guide the next generation of PR professionals—sort of.

Calculating Your Storage in One Easy Step
If you’re running or launching a small business, you’ll probably need some new hardware. Buying a PC is pretty easy, but when it comes to figuring out your storage needs, well, it’s a guessing game. Or is it? Our new Networking and Business Analyst Mario Morejon has come up with a simple rule of thumb for always getting your storage needs right.

What’s New Now Episode 38: Evolution Revolution
In this flood-free episode, West Coast Senior Producer Brooks Rowlett covers 50 years of the integrated circuit, Mozilla’s new, ahem, p8rn mode, and the AppStore revolt.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all next week.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

Plus, don’t forget to follow me (http://www.twitter.com/lanceulanoff) and PCMag on Twitter. PCMag’s address, by the way, is http://twitter.com/PCMag . And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff
mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com
http://www.lanceulanoff.com
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Greatest Hacks of All Time; All About Cloud Computing

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:43:05 -0500

Greatest Hacks of All Time
I’ve always enjoyed taking things apart to see how they work, so I have a special appreciation for hackers. No, not the guys who try and break into government servers to wreak havoc, but those who take devices and software and find ways to use them for new and unexpected tasks. These historic feats of engineering and programming are fun hacks that we can all admire. Check out PCMag’s Top Ten list.

All About Cloud Computing
Cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) are often viewed as panaceas for a myriad of corporate and small business ills. Do everything in the cloud, never buy hardware and boxed software again, and save your business. The reality of the cloud is, of course, far more complicated. We talked our CTO (and PCMag Radio host) Robyn Peterson into giving us the lowdown on cloud computing. I guarantee you’ll learn something. I know I did.

Building a Quiet PC
One of the key reasons I’ll never put my PC in the living room is noise. The sound of spinning fans and blowing air will surely undermine the crystal clarity of my 7.1 surround sound system. ExtremeTech editor Loyd Case, however, counters that you can build your own quiet (though not silent) PC. Let’s all follow along as Case shows us how to build a quieter PC in his article and two-part video tutorial.

Hands On: Apple iPhone 3G 2.1 Software Update
Steve Job promised that Apple's iPhone 3G 2.1 firmware update would solve virtually all iPhone issues. The reality? Mac lover Jim Lynch offers his hands-on evaluation and the answer you’ve been waiting for.

Electronic Arts Tries to Kill PC Gaming
You know me, I don’t get all crazy about DRM restrictions, but one bit of information in ET editor Loyd Case’s column stuck with me. Apparently Electronic Arts not only limits users to three Spore installs, but offers no way of deactivating the game on one PC so you can install it on, say, a fourth system. This seems unfair. I have no need for more than three installs, but what if my PC dies? Then I lose one Spore install forever? I think Case is on the side of angels here. Read his column and see what you think.

The Hottest Gaming PCs
Speaking of PC games, if you do plan on buying Spore (and I still recommend you do) and want to play it with all the eye candy ratcheted up to 11, then you'd better get a powerful gaming PC. PCMag.com collected the six hottest gaming rigs, from Polywell, Falcon Northwest, Velocity Micro, Alienware, Vigor, and HP.

Seven Tools for Ripping Your DVDs
Copying the DVDs you own to portable devices and PCs just got easier, thanks to the wholly legal RealDVD platform from Real Software, but it does require you to play the movies back through its proprietary player. There are other options, which offer more varied playback choices, but we caution that they should be used only to back up your own DVD collection. With that caveat in mind, we offer up the top seven tools for copying DVDs.

The Telecommuter's Tech Toolbox
As gas costs continue to rise, so does the allure of working from home. However, being an effective telecommuter and convincing your boss it’s a good idea to let you stay in your bathrobe all day long is not so easy. The best approach is to collect the top technology to maximize productivity no matter where you are. Believe me, there is no better argument for your boss than “I can get more done.”

Social Networking: From the Cradle to the Grave
There are, it turns out, social-networking platforms for everyone from babies to the deceased. Is this progress? Read all about them in AppScout’s report.

What’s New Now Episode 37: Apple Announcements
Nicole Price-Fasig gives us the lowdown on the newest Apple products, cheap MP3 players, a laptop with 24 hours of battery life, and the intersection of high tech and fashion. Sounds like a good lineup to me.

Thanks for the Integrated Circuit, Jack Kilby
A half a century ago, a lone Texas Instruments employee didn't take a vacation and the world has never been the same. I know I owe a debt of thanks to the man who created the first integrated circuit. Read my column to see if you agree that there is no more important invention in all of techdom.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you all on Thursday.
Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And don’t forget that you can catch me every week (along with cohosts Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan) on PCMag Radio.

-- Lance Ulanoff
mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com
http://www.lanceulanoff.com
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

Apple Rocks New iPods, iTunes and Software; Michael J Miller's DEMO Report

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:38:56 -0500

Apple Rocks New iPods, iTunes and Software
Two days ago I sat in a tiny, crammed auditorium watching market-meister and Apple CEO Steve Jobs clasp his hands together, smile broadly, and then present a somewhat retro iPod nano and an even sleeker iPod touch. There were other announcements: iTunes 8, something called “Genius playlists,” gaming for your iPod touch, and even new headsets. Audio analyst Tim Gideon was there, too. He live-blogged the whole thing (I got to contribute pictures) and then grabbed the new iPods and churned out PC Mag reviews. Meanwhile, back on the East Coast, Contributing Editor Jamie Lendino downloaded iTunes 8 and wrote up his review, and Dan Costa took a close look at the new iPod touch as a gaming platform to be reckoned with. Feeling left out, I wrote a column focusing on the utter lack of surprises in the whole event. Get your Apple fix with each and every one of these reports.

Michael J Miller's DEMO Report
Apple wasn’t the only game in sunny California. In San Diego, Chris Shipley and her minions were holding DEMO Fall 08, an event where dozens of companies get 6 minutes each to demonstrate brand-new products (often ones in desperate need of financial backing). Former PC Mag EIC and current blogger Michael J. Miller was our eyes and ears on the ground, and he covered the whole thing. Highlights include:

My Favorite DEMO Fall 08 Products

DEMO Fall: Going Green in Both Ways

DEMO Fall 08: A New Reader and Other Cool Gadgets

Inside TechCrunch 50
But wait, there’s more. Michael Arrington’s and Jason Calacanis’s second annual TechCrunch, essentially a competing event for incubating tech products, companies, and technologies, was going on at the same time as DEMO. Internet and Web services analyst Michael Muchmore and I covered that event. Among our favorites presentations were a device that tracks your physical activity and transmits it wirelessly to the Web, technology to check the carbon footprint of everything you buy, a Twitter for business, and Ashton Kutcher’s Blah Girls. And that just scratches the surface of the 50 companies that took the stage this week.

FitBit Trainer: Track Your Exercise, Health, and Even Sleep

Tonchidot's Sekai Camera: Tagging the World

Connective Logic's Blueprint: Making Multicore Easy for Developers

OpenTrace.org: Calculate Your Environmental Footprint

OtherInBox Paving a Way to E-Mail Sanity?

Hands On with the BlackBerry Flip
I have to wonder if RIM is taking a big step forward or back with its new Flip. It’s a major departure from the well-known and, dare I say, beloved, slabs of virtually all previous BlackBerries. Mobile maven Sascha Segan, who is at the fourth major tech event this week—CTIA—got the lowdown on the new phone and even a chance to play with the thing. Read his announcement story (and check out the photos), and then check back in for his hands-on analysis. Also, don’t miss all the other breaking news coming out of CTIA.

Search Without Google
As Google enters its second decade, it’s instructive to remember that the king of search does not in fact own the whole market. We all know about Yahoo!, Microsoft’s Live Search, and…wait, who are the other guys? I can’t recall because I never use them.… But I digress. PCMag has its second installment of decent Google alternatives, which includes things like AskKids (is that a good idea?), Powerset, and (for reasons beyond me) Twitter Search. It’s a good and very interesting list. Check it out.

Sub-$100 Graphics Battle: Radeon vs. GeForce
I think all of us have, at one time or another, bought a decent system where we skimped in just one crucial area: the graphics horsepower. Perhaps we settled for 128MB of VRAM or we went for an integrated chipset from Intel (blech). We only realize our mistake later, when we try to play our first 3D, PC game. Fortunately, you can rectify this situation with a simple and, according to ExtremeTech, very affordable graphics card upgrade. The ET team ran two sub $100 graphics cards from nVidia and ATI through a battery of tests and picked a winner.

Hands On: Hasbro's Room Tech Beingz Mood Lamp
I saw this weird and whimsical-looking gadget in Blog Goddess Carol Mangis’s office and immediately decided I had to have one. It’s an alarm clock, mood lamp, and conversation starter. Now, if only I can figure out how to get it out of Carol’s office.

Dvorak: What Does the Gates/Seinfeld Ad Really Mean?
Columnist John C. Dvorak has had some crazy notions in his day, but this one may top them all. I’d repeated it in this newsletter, but then it’s guaranteed to get thrown in your spam box. I suggest you click and read for yourself what Dvorak thinks Microsoft’s ad campaign may intentionally or unintentionally be about. My guess is that, since it stars Jerry Seinfeld, it’s obviously about nothing.

Review: Norton Internet Security 2009
This is it, the best and least resource-hogging Internet security suite Symantec or, apparently, anyone else has ever produced. Security Expert Neil Rubenking spent many exhausting days testing this massive product and decided that it’s so good, he’ll install it on his own machines. Read the extensive review to learn why.

What’s New Now: The Drowned Studio Episode
Yes, it’s true, the sprinkler system created a mini-flood in our West Coast studio last week. The damage wasn’t too bad, but shooting shows (WNN and Cranky Geeks) became virtually impossible. So here’s a look at how the flood happened, as well as video reviews of the new iPod touch and nano.

That does it for this edition of WNN. See you next week.

Plus, don’t forget to follow me (http://www.twitter.com/lanceulanoff) and PCMag on Twitter. PCMag’s address, by the way, is http://twitter.com/PCMag .

Read the What's New Now Archives at the blog.
Or subscribe to the RSS feed.

-- Lance Ulanoff
mailto:lance_ulanoff@ziffdavis.com
http://www.lanceulanoff.com
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/LanceUlanoff

What's New Now Ep 39: T-Mobile's Google Android-Based Phone.

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:38:00 -0500


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Episode 39

Hosted by:

• Dan Evans, Reviews Editor, PC Magazine

The Topics:

T-Mobile's Google Android-Based Phone.

SanDisk Rejects Samsung's $5.8 Billion Bid .

Blackberry Pearl Flips Out.

Palin's Yahoo Account Hacked .

E-Waste Shipped Overseas

Microsoft Drops Seinfeld.

New Canon EOS 5D tries to One-Up Nikon in Video.

What's New Now, Episode 38: Evolution Revolution

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:41:10 -0500


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Episode 38

Hosted by:

• Brooks Rowlett, Senior Video Producer, Ziff Davis Media

The Topics:

The Integrated Circuit Turns 50

Mozilla Grows Up With Porn Mode

Porn On a Plane?

Best Buy to Buy Napster

Buy Once, Play Anywhere

App Store Revolt!

EA and Take-Two Part Ways