Beagle desktop search, while useful, tends to consume way to much system resources, which leaves out Linux users that care about high performance or have older machines. Tracker is a high performance search engine written in C, uses only 3-9 megs of ram and is very Laptop-friendly. Features nautilus and deskbar support for seamless integration.
via gnome.org read more | digg story
Apple have done all us UK buyers a favour today, by reducing the prices of the 5th Generation iPods. The 30GB model is now £10 cheaper at £179 and the 80GB is £20 cheaper at £239. This is a welcome reduction, thanks Steve.
iSkin has launched SOHO, their new laptop protective sleeves for 15-inch MacBook Pros, and the MacBook. They are made of synthetic leather, have a slim two two design, with contrasting stitching, and have a reinforced outer shell. There are also inner elastic straps to help keep your laptop in place, and allows use of the laptop whilst still inside the SOHO.
The MacBook model costs $59.99 and $64.99 will buy you the MacBook Pro version.
Apple today announced that EMI Music's entire digital catalogue of music will be available for purchase DRM-free (without digital rights management) from the iTunes Store worldwide in May. DRM-free tracks from EMI will be offered at higher quality 256 kbps AAC encoding, resulting in audio quality indistinguishable from the original recording, for just 99 pence per song. In addition, iTunes customers will be able to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free versions for just 20 pence a song. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalogue, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today —128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM — at the same price of 79 pence per song, alongside DRM-free higher quality versions when available.
"We are going to give iTunes customers a choice – the current versions of our songs for the same 79 pence price, or new DRM-free versions of the same songs with even higher audio quality and the security of interoperability for just 20 pence more," said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. "We think our customers are going to love this, and we expect to offer more than half of the songs on iTunes in DRM-free versions by the end of this year."
"EMI and iTunes are once again teaming up to move the digital music industry forward by giving music fans higher quality audio that is virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings, with no usage restrictions on the music they love from their favourite artists," said Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group.
With DRM-free music from the EMI catalogue, iTunes customers will have the ability to download tracks from their favourite EMI artists without any usage restrictions that limit the types of devices or number of computers that purchased songs can be played on. DRM-free songs purchased from the iTunes Store will be encoded in AAC at 256 kbps, twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps, and will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs and soon iPhones, as well as many other digital music players.
iTunes will also offer customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free format for 20 pence a song. All EMI music videos will also be available in DRM-free format with no change in price.
"You either love Javascript or you hate it. Either way it can provide great functionality that users love. And it doesn't have to affect usability. Here are my top 15 Javascript snippits for making great sites that bit extra special."
via igglo read more | digg story
Do you run Ubuntu? and want to get some cool “Powered by Ubuntu” stickers?
via clickonline read more | digg story
Plextor unveiled a new mini digital HDTV receiver on Wednesday that the company says will transform a user's laptop into a wireless personal video recorder.
extremetech read more | digg story
Linux runs in both PC and Mac. Advertisement video by Novell.
via YouTube courtesy of Novell read more | digg story
Although I have not been an avid user, I have been an admirer from afar of the quality that The Missing Sync software delivers to Mac users. One thing I have been wanting for a long time is a Blackberry Pearl, but I have resisted due to lack of (decent) Mac support. Well, wait no longer, The Missing Sync for Blackberry version 1 is available today and is now no longer in beta form.
Quoted from the website, some of the features are below, or click here for the full rundown;
Supports the latest BlackBerry devices via USB
Whether you have a BlackBerry 7100 series, a BlackBerry Pearl or the brand new BlackBerry 8800, The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will bring reliable Mac synchronization to your device. See the complete list of supported devices.
Address Book and iCal synchronization
Stay organized by synchronizing your contacts, calendar, tasks and alarms with Address Book and iCal. Address Book groups and iCal calendars sync with categories on the BlackBerry.
Microsoft Entourage 2004 synchronization
Just activate Sync Services syncing in Microsoft Entourage 2004, and The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will be able to synchronize contacts, events, tasks and notes with your BlackBerry handset.
Includes Mark/Space Notebook for free!
Mark/Space Notebook is a Mac OS X application that allows you to create, edit, categorize and search notes on your Mac, and it syncs up with your BlackBerry via The Missing Sync.
iPhoto album syncing*
The Missing Sync for BlackBerry will download selected photo albums directly from iPhoto to the microSD card in your device for mobile viewing. It will even resize photos to fit your device's screen, so they'll display quickly and take up little space on the memory expansion card.
Sorry, I just love the Civic, so had to bring you this news. Come Friday, March 30, the new Civic Type R will go on sale in Japan. Based on the current Civic 4-door, the Type R is powered by a screaming, normally aspirated 2.0-liter four cylinder that eclipses 100 hp/liter, producing around 225 ponies at 8,000 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. Aggressive looks complete the killer package.
via autoblog.com read more | digg story
Microsoft's long-awaited Office 2008 has now stepped into the beta stage with a streamlined interface and an all-new "Escher" graphics engine to deliver lush graphic effects and impressive charting.
via apcmag.com read more | digg story
GEAR4, today announced Blu-Tooth, a specially adapted crown with revolutionary Bluetooth technology that when planted into the third molar, allows you to listen to music or make hands free calls on your mobile without the need for a headset.
The Blu-Tooth is the latest in GEAR4’s line of Bluetooth related products following the BluEye and BluPhones and continues the company’s policy of pushing technological boundaries. Just larger than the size of a normal morlar, the Blu-Tooth is specially designed to clip securely onto the third molar and pick up vibrations in the jaw using patented “vibro-denture” micro technology that can be picked up by the inner ear.
It doesn’t stop there either, the device can also work as a hands free kit, pairing with any Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, allowing users to make and take calls much like the GEAR4 BluPhones. You can answer a call by clicking your jaw twice and end a call buy clicking it three times. The state of the art technology acts as a microphone, picking up vocal vibrations in the teeth, projecting this to the person you are calling.
Dr. H Tootulb, Dental advisor, GEAR4 Russia, commented, “The Blu-Tooth is a groundbreaking device that solves many problems in one go. It will work with any Bluetooth music device with A2DP protocol and lets you make and take calls without needing a handsfree kit, in turn making our roads safer as fewer people will have their phones glued to their ears.”
Tootulb continued, “The device needs to be taken out and charged over night on the special tooth shaped charging dock (pictured above). We believe this will become a routine activity much like taking out and washing your dentures or cleaning your teeth before you go to bed.”
Tom Dudderidge, Managing director, GEAR4, commented, “We are very excited about the Blu-Tooth. After 2 years in development, the product is finally here and we believe the possibilities are endless. If the soft launch of the device goes well on the 1st April 2008 we hope to role out drop-in clinics with Carphone Warehouse where customers could get the device fitted. Carphone is an obvious choice as it is a leading iPod/phone supplier and currently sell the GEAR4 range.
Dudderidge continued, “I have been using one of the first prototypes and I must admit, it feels like a part of me now and I don’t know how I lived without it! My dentist was a bit shocked the last time I had an appointment and couldn’t believe something like this was possible. We are also developing a dongle for your iPod so you can interrupt the music on your iPod when you receive a phone call and see who is calling on your iPod’s screen just like the GEAR4 BluEye. You can now answer your calls without decay (or delay!).
Pricing and availability
The Blu-Tooth will be available online from www.gear4store.com on April 1st 2008 and from Carphone Warehouse two weeks later. GEAR4 Blu-Tooth is £119.99 inc VAT and customised professional installation.