AliceHill.com - Where Technology Frolics

Latest Tech News - New!

My Favorite
Buzzword:
Get ready for the Wireless MAN, baby. Or short for Wireless Metropolitan Area Network.
> All About The MAN

Spam Overload Dept:
According to a recent survey, about 65 percent of Net users spend 10 minutes or more a day dealing with spam. About 37 percent of respondents get 100 junk messages a day, and 63 percent get 50 or more.
Source: Symantec and Insightexpress

Alice Hill's Technology Watch

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Massive 90 GB Flash Drive

Mine's Bigger Dept: Not to be outdone by Hitachi's huge 400GB USB drive (see the story we did 6 news items below) M-Systems unvelied the largest flash-drive to date, weighing in at an impressive 90GBs.

True, that blows the door off my tiny 256MB keychain drive, but then again at around $40,000 vs $40, I guess it really isn't an issue. Not sure who would want one (I do - Bill) but since everything comes down in price eventually, look for the affordable version in about 5 years.
# Posted at 8:53 AM

Do We Need Trumpet-Playing Robots?

Not to be outdone by Honda even in the emerging robot arena, Toyota announced a new robot that can play the trumpet. The new robots are actually being targeted for helping care for the elderly, for manufacturing, and various versions can roll, walk, or be mounted on a fixed surface.

That's all fine and good, but everyone knows we're all waiting for the robot that can fix and serve a martini.
# Posted at 8:40 AM

George Michael to Give Away Music on the Internet

George Michael announced that he's going to give all his future music away for free on the Web, giving fans the option to donate money to charaties instead. Claiming he has made enough money and is sick of keeping to a record company's schedule, George Michael is the first major artist to break free and go all web, no label. Not sure if it spells progress, but the price is nice.
# Posted at 8:26 AM

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Oh No, Motorists Spot X-Rated Films In Passing Cars
Headrest monitors are still a curiosity more than anything, but apparently some motorists are spying X-rated fare on the tiny screens on a freeway near you. Last we checked, in our youth you could drive by an X-rated drive-in in every state we can remember, clearly visible off the Interstate and see the whole monty at a full billboard-high screen resolution, so for the seven people who did not see Finding Nemo speeding by on a three inch indoor headrest display, we apologize. Consider your kids lucky.
# Posted at 8:21 PM

The USB Swiss Army Knife

This is a gadget you can't help but love at first sight. The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife with built in USB flash drive. In terms of concepts, we always thought the USB watch paired an ugly watch with a handy storage mechanism, but this solution pairs your storage with a handy tool. Best of all, you can keep wearing your favorite watch and still haul those files around. The pricing is about $100 for 64MBs with the 256MB version's pricing to be determined. Only catch we can see: how do you bring a pocket knife on an airplane?
# Posted at 2:57 PM

Saga (Not Sega) Game Addict Dies While Playing

We've all been there, but here's a case of one gamer who went too far. "A computer-game addict in western China collapsed and died at his screen after playing the popular online game, Saga, non-stop for 20 hours. The 31-year-old began playing the game regularly at an internet cafe in Chengdu, Sichuan province, three months before his death, according to the South China Morning Post. An employee at the cafe said he would play for more than 10 hours a day and was found dead at the weekend after a marathon 20-hour session."
# Posted at 10:45 AM

Hitachi Unveils Uber Hard Drive
Best name yet: the Hitachi Deskstar 7K400 boasts the largest capacity in the 3.5 inch form factor, a whopping 400GBs. Built with PVRs like TiVo in mind, "extermely High Capacity Hard Drives" are getting more essential as home video storage needs increase.
# Posted at 9:36 AM

Virtual Laser Keyboard

Nerd Alert: PDA users frustrated by the stylus and annoying folding keyboards can try their hand at virtual typing on a laser-projected keyboard. With no moving parts and its own internal battery, the laser projector beams a simulated mid-air keyboard for about three to four hours.

Downside: yet another charger and device you have to haul everywhere, and the inevitable public spectacle sure to follow invisible laser typing.
# Posted at 9:06 AM

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

A Smarter Smart Watch

Move Over Microsoft Dept: Why sport a deadly dull monochrome "Smart Watch" when you can flash a 256 color LCD number that displays pictures, custom melodies, as well as your calendar in a bright and appealling design. Not available in the US yet, the ICW001 Instant Beam is a colorful take on a category we expect to heat up very shortly. Or as we like to put it, watch out!
# Posted at 9:01 AM

Monday, March 08, 2004

Where Sex and Technology Collide: Toothing
Bluetooth may be a standard designed to annoy more than assist, but it looks like there is a sex angle after all, which spells hope in our book. We strongly feel that all successful technologies had a clandestine porn element, and now comes "toothing" or the art of using your Bluetooth-enabled cellphone to sniff out sex from nearby bystanders.

According to the "Beginner's Guide to Toothing:"

"Toothing is a form of anonymous sex with strangers - usually on some form of transport or enclosed area such as a conference or training seminar. 'Toothers meet by first connecting suitable equipment - such as a modern phone or palmtop computer. Users 'discover' other computers or phones in the vicinity and then send a speculative message. The usual greeting is: 'Toothing?'. If the other party is interested, messages are exchanged until a suitable location is agreed - usually a public toilet, although there are tales of more adventurous spots such as deserted carriages or staff areas. What happens next is up to you!"
# Posted at 10:03 PM

Pocket PCs Masquerade as IPods

A British company called StarBrite has developed an iPod emulator for the PocketPC, with a price tag sure to make Apple execs fume with rage: $20. Billed as a "virtural iPod", the pBop software reporduces the familiar Apple inteface on the touch screen of a PocketPC handheld.

Not sure how long this will be available before Apple delivers a legal smackdown, but it is an interesting twist in this category. You can download a free three day triel or snap up a copy on the company's website.
# Posted at 1:53 PM

S&P Drops Sun Microsystems to Junk Status

Standard & Poors delivered a tough blow to Sun Microsystems after it changed its corporate credit rating to junk status. "The downgrade reflects weak and inconsistent profitability, and our expectation that Sun will be challenged to profitably expand its market presence," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Martha Toll-Reed.

# Posted at 1:41 PM

Dell Out, Profits Up?

Guest Editorial, Bill O'Brien:"Mr Dell will be replaced by Kevin Rollins, the firm's president and chief operating officer, from July. However, the company said Mr Dell would "remain deeply involved in the company's day-to-day business". Mr Dell founded the firm 20 years ago when he was a student. Last year the firm recorded sales of $41.4bn." So says a news report by the BBC late last week. The moaning and hand-wringing began almost immediately. But this could be a good thing, if, perhaps, Michael Dell isn't so deeply involved in the day-to-day ops.

Why is that, you ask? Take a look at Dell's line-up. Do you see an AMD system in the bunch? Oh, let me save you the trouble - the answer is a resounding, "No!" Michael has a long-standing feud with AMD such that while he's been able to match consumer pricing available from rival Gateway, Dell is not able to take advantage of the typically lower processor costs associated with AMD CPUs and that cuts into the profit margin. AMD is also very popular among a good percentage of the marketplace. Tied to systems with Dell's reputation for reliability and service, Rollins could add a significant number of new customers to Dell's base by incorporating AMD product.

Could it happen? Historically, people have cut off their noses to spite their faces with reckless abandon. Once you do that it becomes difficult to sniff out the direction from which the wind is blowing.
# Posted at 8:39 AM

PC Makers Try Again with TV PCs
They bombed in the past, but Intel is taking on the TV/PC concept with a slew of chips and a sub $1,000 price point. According to Reuters, "New Intel chips allow surround-sound audio and integrated wireless networking abilities. A version Intel expects to be sold next year, code-named Sandow, includes a high-definition TV tuner, a smaller form factor, and software to aggregate media from multiple PCs in the home." 'Bout time.
# Posted at 8:38 AM

>>More Tech News

Hosted by Dreamhost