Owner: The Technology Circle URL:http://thetechnologycircle.blogspot.com Join Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:11:38 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: A home for game reviews, technology news and some of the coolest gadgets around. Jon Gericke, and friends, will keep you up to speed with everything you've ever wanted to know. Site statistics:Click here
LG Mobile Phones get new Lenses 2006-12-07 08:10:00 LG Electronics (LG) has signed a contract for technical co-operation with Germany's Schneider-Kreuznach, well-known for the world's highest quality camera lenses.
This is the first partnership of Schneider-Kreuznach with a mobile phone company, and solidifies LG's expertise in the camera phone space. LG's upcoming handset, "Shine," will be the first camera phone equipped with a certified Schneider-Kreuznach lens and will be launched in South Africa early 2007.
"Today's mobile phone consumer demands high-quality camera functions as part of a handset's multimedia features," said Kevin Lee, GSM Product Manager, LG South Africa. "With Schneider-Kreuznach's technical expertise, LG will introduce more premier handset models, bolstering LG's position in the high-end mobile phone market"
"With our support, LG will be able to provide the most advanced camera phones to its abundance of multimedia-conscious consumers," said Schneider-Kreuznach CEO, Dr. Josef Staub Read more:Mobile
, Mobile Phones
, Phones
VIA K8M890 and P4M900 IGP Chipsets Certified by Windows Vistaâ„¢ Logo Program 2006-12-07 07:13:00 As the whole world waits for WindowsVista
to be on sale to regular mortals like you and me, it seems that the hardware guys are working overtime to make sure that their products are ready. One of the big things about Vista will be the 64bit operating system and it seems that VIA are more than ready.
The VIA K8M890 and the VIA P4M900 chipsets have passed the Microsoft® Windows Vista
â„¢ 32bit/64bit Basic logo tests, enabling customers get ready for Vista with confidence.
This certification means that customers will enjoy the assuredness of digitally signed drivers and the ability to update drivers distributed via Windows® update. The testing involved in the certification program also confirms trouble-free installation of Windows Vista, including Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium and Home Basic editions.
In addition, the Microsoft Windows Vista Basic logo verifies that the VIA K8M890 and VIA P4M900 chipsets support functions that take advantage of some of the latest Windows Read more:Certified
, Program
Read my lips, Phones do NOT cause cancer!! 2006-12-06 13:24:00 At last, Time Magazine is reporting that cell phones do not cause cancer. Now, we can finally stop those sharks from 'celling' those metal protectors and all those other people going on and on about it.
Use your phone and be happy about it!!!! Read more:Phones
AMD DRIVES NEXT GENERATION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT COMPUTING with 65nm TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION 2006-12-05 12:30:00 Launching the next generation of energy-efficient computing, AMD
(NYSE: AMD) today announced the transition to 65nm process technology, beginning with the immediate availability of energy-efficient AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core desktop processors. The move to 65nm process technology enables AMD to produce more processors on a 300mm wafer, for increased production capacity, while continuing to aggressively scale performance and reduce power consumption. AMD processors built with 65nm line-widths are designed to deliver exceptional performance when running multiple applications, as well as enable small form factor PCs that complement both home and office environments. By mid-2007, AMD expects to be fully converted to 65nm production at Fab 36. With the rapid conversion to 65nm process technology, AMD is scaling capacity intelligently to meet growing demand worldwide for x86 processors.
"With AMD's established leadership in desktop and server performance-per-watt, both businesses and con Read more:NEXT GENERATION
, TRANSITION
VANS LICENCE DELAYS ADVERSELY AFFECT 2010 INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS 2006-11-30 12:00:00 The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has informed the Internet Service Providers' Association of SA (ISPA) that VANS (Value-Added Network Services) licence applications submitted to the Regulator from 19 July 2006 may not be processed for up to 24 months.
"The delay means that South African VANS providers planning to invest in infrastructure to help make the 2010 Soccer World Cup a success, will only be able to start implementing their plans 18 months before the event kicks off," said Ant Brooks, general manager of ISPA.
Already suffering from an unfortunate lack of resources and funding, the Regulator of an industry key to South Africa's Soccer World Cup plans has attributed this specific delay to delays in finalising some regulatory provisions relating to the new Electronic Communications Act (EC Act), and to an unwillingness to create confusion between licences issued under the old Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the EC Act.
While the move to the new Ele Read more:LICENCE
"PEOPLE'S CHOICE" AWARDS HANDED OUT AT BROADBAND CONFERENCE 2006-11-27 08:03:00 Broadband consumers have made their voices heard in the 2006 People's Awards handed out at the annual MyADSL Broadband Conference hosted at Vodaworld on Friday.
The Broadband Conference, sponsored by Vodacom and DataPro, attracted over 120 delegates from industry and the broadband fraternity and has become a key date on the yearly broadband calendar.
With speakers from all the broadband providers, except Telkom, the event proved to be a hit with attendees. Speakers from Vodacom, DataPro, iBurst, Sentech, Neotel, MTN, Neology and ITSI (Institute of Technology, Strategy and Innovation) shed some light on what users can expect in the broadband and Internet arena in future.
The MyADSL People's Awards attracted nearly 1 000 responses from broadband consumers and since the awards are based entirely on consumers' votes it fills a vital gap in the yearly ICT awards space.
iBurst was crowned the broadband provider of the year, edging out Vodacom by a small margin. The company's aggressive
VIA Announces SPI Support Across All Processor Platforms 2006-11-24 14:51:00 VIA Technologies, Inc today announced support for the advanced SPI bus in all new VIA South Bridge chipsets.
The SPI bus is an advanced I/O bus that makes the support of system BIOS simpler and more cost effective through an onboard BIOS programming module. The innovative implementation of SPI on VIA-based boards will enable even easier updating, debugging and reprogramming of BIOS, and at even lower cost, by attaching a flash programming module, such as those from leading provider DediProg, to the easy-to-use onboard connector, even when the computing device is powered down.
VIA will integrate SPI bus support into new VIA chipset product releases to support all leading processor platforms, commencing with the upcoming VIA VT8237S chipset South Bridge, which is sampling now, and will provide manufacturers with greater flexibility in product design and support.
"We are excited to work with VIA to introduce the SPI bus into the feature set of the new VIA chipset products," commented Read more:Across
, Platforms
, Support
"Parents Guide to MXit" 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The "ParentsGuide
to MXit" is now available from today. This concise guide is made available at no cost to all concerned parents or educators, who may have sleepless nights about children using MXit, the popular chat application that enables communication on cell phones at the fraction of SMS costs.Ramon Thomas, online behaviour expert at NETucation (the leading Black Empowered Online Research company in Johannesburg & Cape Town) produced this guide after a spate of negative publicity and shocking incident, since being interviewed about this topic on Cape Talk/702 in early September 2006."This guide explains MXit in plain and simple English for parents and teachers," says Thomas. "Once you understand MXit it very important to note the impact on your relationship with your child, the possibility and probability of addiction and abuse."MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd, the company who created the MXit application, states the current growth is about 10,000 new users per day. Latest stats i
PICK 'N PAY THE FIRST TO LAUNCH PRE-PAID INTERNET ACCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In its nearly 40 years of operations, Pick 'n Pay has consistently strived to be at the forefront of innovation, providing customers and communities with unique innovations to enhance and enrich their lives. In keeping with that legacy, October 2006 saw Pick 'n Pay announcing the launch of eazySurf, an internet television (iTV) service which provides instant, pre-paid, internet access for Pick 'n Pay customers.Similar in concept to pre-paid cellular airtime, Pick 'n Pay eazySurf is inexpensive, immediate pre-paid internet access without the normal 12 or 24 month contracts that internet service providers demand. Independent research has indicated that within the cellular market over 90 percent of subscribers are pre-paid customers. Developed exclusively for Pick 'n Pay by a South African company, iSurf.TV, this pre-paid service offers innovative, low-cost, high-value internet access which promises to empower South Africa by bringing the information age to a far broader market.A
Review Stuff and Get paid! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "The following is a paid review:"It seems to good to be true and it might also throw the world of advertising into complete confusion. OK, it's been happening before but just not as obviously. New website, ReviewMe, is out to try something that has been hidden under the table for way too long. You, as a blogger, will get paid to write reviews on products, services, websites, just about anything out there. Advertisers flock to the website and browse through blog, just like this one, and decide to place a product review on that site. Don't get me wrong, it's not a product placement, just a request for a review. Kind of like you see on this site. Once a review of the product is up, you earn cash, in Dollars, for that review. Does the review have to be positive? I am still not sure, but I think that human nature will tend for that review to be positive. It's a win-win for all. Advertisers get a huge viral campaign going and the Blogger gets paid for doing something that he
HP finally buys Voodoo 1970-01-01 00:59:59 HP today announced it has completed its acquisition of Voodoo
PC, a high-end gaming PC provider located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.Announced on 28 September 2006, the acquisition will strengthen HP's gaming market portfolio by bringing together the high-end gaming expertise of VoodooPC with HP's research and development and global distribution capabilities.Effective 1 November 2006, VoodooPC co-owner Rahul Sood will be the chief technologist for HP's newly formed gaming PC business unit, and co-owner Ravi Sood will be the unit's director of strategy and marketing. Both executives will report to Phil McKinney, general manager of HP's gaming business unit and vice president and chief technology officer of HP's Personal Systems Group."HP is delighted to welcome VoodooPC into our new gaming business unit," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Combining VoodooPC's passion and expertise of the gaming world with HP's R&D and marke
HP Ad's and Reality 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I was listening to 702 the other morning and heard a great advert for an HP printer. I forget the exact model number and make, but what I do remember is that the special is only on for a few days. Buy your printer NOW or you will miss out on this deal of the century. Not thier words.I HAVE to let you know that HP are releasing 30 new products on Thursday evening. I think that the special for the printer is ending on Sunday. Strangley, two days after the release of 30 new HP products and 1 day before these 30 products make it onto the shelves of your local HP store.I am not having a full go at HP here, dispite the way it looks, but I am sending you a little warning when it comes to buying new IT stuff. ALWAYS be careful. It's not what you see.No Xbox live, is a simple example.
From BoingBoing: A free memoir by a London ambulance driver 1970-01-01 00:59:59 London ambulance
memoir under CC license By noemail@noemail.org (Cory Doctorow) Cory Doctorow: Tom sez, "I've just released my new book under a CC license, this is the first book by a UK author and a major European publisher to be released in this fashion (as far as we know). It is simultaneous with the book being sold in major bookstores." The book is Blood, Sweat and Tea: real-life stories from the London Ambulance Service, based on Tom's blog about his experiences as a London ambulance tech. Link (Thanks, Tom!) Update: Charlie Stross points out: Actually, the first that I know of in the UK was Net.wars by Wendy Grossman -- admittedly published by NYU Press, but she's based in London and it went out online in, um, 98 or 99 or thereabouts. And ACCELERANDO was released under CC with the kind permission of Orbit back in 2005.
From BoingBoing: Free online word processor from Google 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Google launches free, kick-ass word-processor
By noemail@noemail.org (Cory Doctorow)Cory Doctorow: Google has re-lauched Writely, the online
word-processor they recently bought, in public beta. Writely does everything most thingsWord does, for free -- and saves its output as PDFs and even RSS feeds(subscribe to a word-processor doc!). It features collaborative editing-- multiple editors on the same doc at once -- and can be used as theeditor for writing your blog, saving out to a post instead of a file onyour machine. This is a great-looking program for people who havealways-on Internet, and for so long as you don't worry about the NSAdemanding that Google turn over its Writely files as part of some"security" procedure. Also: if I were a Google China user, I'd havesome doubts about this, given that Google has shown that when it comesto China, keeping the government happy is more important thandelivering the best product it can.Link(via Vertical Hold) Read more:Google
Wikipedia can be seen by China 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Online enyclopedia Wikipedia
was accessible again in China
on Thursday after being blocked for more than a year, a move hailed by free media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.The main page of the Chinese-language version of Wikipedia (zh.wikipedia.org) could be displayed and searches for apolitical terms turned up results, but searches for subjects taboo to China's Communist leadership, such as "June 4," remained blocked.June 4, 1989, was the date that China's military crushed a student-led movement for political change centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds and possibly thousands. The incident remains among the most sensitive subjects for the country's state-controlled media.China routinely blocks access to Web sites it deems subversive and filters Internet pages for sensitive words.It was unclear why Wikipedia, blocked since October 2005, was again accessible.A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said she had not heard of reports regarding Wikipedia, but
"Gears of War' hits South African retail outlets 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hailed as the most-anticipated video game launch of 2006 and punctuated by incredible demand from gamers, "Gears
of War' hits SouthAfrican
retail outlets from end November. Microsoft Corp. forecasts that "Gears of War,' an exclusive title for the Xbox 360â„¢ video game and entertainment system, is expected to sell more than one million copies worldwide this Christmas, setting a new mark for the fastest-selling original game for Xbox 360â„¢."Gears of War,' developed by Epic Games Inc. and published by Microsoft Game Studios, made its debut to great fanfare at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2005 and has captured the imagination of industry watchers and fans ever since.The intense, genre-defining game thrusts players into humankind's epic battle for survival against a nightmarish race of creatures known as the Locust Horde. With its combination of cinematic, visceral gameplay, dramatic storytelling and intense action, "Gears of War' is a seminal title for Xbo
I Wantitall 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It's not often that the good guys at Chumpstyle have something to say that fits on this website, but today that have found a great site that may well be worth checking out.According to Chumpstyle, it's a site that will order products from the USA for us lowly South Africans. I am sure that they will add a little margin and then I am sure that we are going to have to pay taxes anyway, so the product could cost a little more than it should, but we should now, at last, get our products the same time as those Americans.Let me know how the system works.
D-Link's new Wi-Fi Flip-phone 1970-01-01 00:59:59 D-Link has introduced its flip-style Wi-Fi Phone that combines the cost-savings of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology with 802.11 wireless connectivity in a compact Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based package. The sleek portable D-Link Wi-Fi Phone, together with an Internet VoIP phone
service, provides both consumers and businesses a stylish way to dramatically reduce local and long distance telephone charges compared to standard telephone service. VoIP phone calls can be made where there is a Wi-Fi network or open hot spot to the Internet — without the use of a PC."Our phone is truly a first of its kind in both design and functionality, and the potential cost savings to be realized from this type of device are astounding. This product will act as a flagship for D-Link in this key emerging market, complimenting our popular wireless networking and VoIP telephony solutions" comments Tobie van Schalkwyk, Country Manager for D-Link South Africa.Weighing only 3.74 ounces i
The computer helper: Making the switch to Windows Vista 1970-01-01 00:59:59 While browsing the web this morning, there are 2 major tech stories from around the world. The one is that Console sales are up in November. Well, DUH!!!! Three new consoles gets released, who would have seen that coming??2nd is this WindowsVista
launch. Early next year, we should be able to buy our own copy of Windows Vista
. Is it a good idea and will it work on your 6 month old machine?The guys at Monster and Critics could help you out here.... Read more:switch
EA Delivers the Final Word on Speed and Destruction With New Title 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Get ready for complete and total domination. Electronic Arts today announced that Burnout(TM) Dominator is in development exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system.Burnout Dominator is an all-new installment of the legendary and multi-award winning Burnout(TM) series, loaded with intense racing action and dozens of retina-searing World Tour events. Burnout Dominator challenges gamers to face off against a series of hot-blooded rivals in brutal tests of aggressive driving techniques where performing burnouts gives you the advantage and multiplies your score potential. For the ultimate nerve-wracking experience, Burnout Dominator takes you to the very edge of control, punishing the smallest mistakes and rewarding drivers for taking outrageous risks."The series was born on the PlayStation 2, and Burnout Dominator is about celebrating the essence of Burnout," said Nick Channon, senior producer of Burnout Dominator. "Burnout Read more:Destruction
, Final
, New Title
, Speed
, Title
SEE YOUR LOVED ONE'S OPEN THEIR CHISTMAS GIFTS THIS FESTIVE SEASON! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Do you have family and close friends living overseas? Do you yearn to spend Christmas with them to watch them open their Christmas gifts? Are you physically unfit to travel or maybe you can't afford the airfares? With the weakening Rand, many South African's will be in this position and need to look at alternatives to spend time with family and friends."There is a quick, cheaper and easier way to be in touch and see your loved one's opening their Christmas gifts in person," says Cindy White, Microsoft Group Marketing Manager for Entertainment and Devices.Microsoft Hardware and the Windows Live team have joined forces to introduce a line of LifeCams including the LifeCam VX-6000 and LifeCam VX-3000. "The new line of webcams dramatically simplifies the video communications experience to let people see, hear and share life's experiences in an extraordinary way," explains White.The LifeCam's are optimised for use with Windows Live Messenger, the world's largest insta
Read My Lips AGAIN!!!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 After finding an article the other day that proves that cell-phones do not cause cancer, another doctor has taught these health nuts another lesson.It seems that parents in the UK would rather have stupid children that have a Wi-Fi connection at the school. The doctor says that the Wi-Fi is 50 times less than the radiation coming from the cell-phones. Get rid of the Wi-Fi (I hate typing that) then you must get rid of the cell-phones.At last, people are speaking out about these stupid health nut, tree-hugging morons.Just as well as my Wi-Fi (I had to type it again) is rubbing my right arm as I type this. My heart could have been in big trouble.
35007 MAKES FLYING THIS FESTIVE SEASON HASSLE FREE 1970-01-01 00:59:59 With reports of congested airports and busy runways making the news, many would-be travellers are concerned about being on time for flights, as well as to avoid inconveniencing people delegated to pick them up from the airport.However, this festive season flight details and up-to-the-minute departure and arrival times are an SMS away.Contemporary mobile download service provider, NXT Mobile, and Airport Company of SA (ACSA) have teamed up in an effort to make travelling to and from South African airports easier, thanks to an innovative service called NXT Flights.By SMSing the required flight number to 35007, users will receive a reply SMS containing the latest estimated departure time, arrival time, take-off location and landing destination."NXT Mobile is pleased to have been able to join forces with ACSA to launch this new and very exciting service to the South African market. With NXT Flights all the flight information is at your fingertips and the thought of missing a flight or h Read more:HASSLE
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