Category: Technology

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New gadget from Parrot

Parrot 3200 LS-COLOR, Bluetooth® color hands-free car kitThe firm Parrot has introduced a new handsfree Bluetooth model. The new model is the Parrot 3200 LS-Color. It is basically the same model as the Parrot 3100CK which is the monochrome version. I have that model in my car and it works great. Voice control, pairing with multiple phones, good sound, you can upgrade the firmware and it is easy to install.

TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Bluetooth hands-free kit with large color screen
LCD color screen
TFT 160 x 128 pixels with 262,144 colors
Adjustable brightness
Customizable color interface with wallpapers
Caller photo display
Display of the last numbers dialed, missed calls and calls received
Color themes for choosing the graphical interface

Pairing
Up to five mobile phones registered
Address phonebook synchronization

Audio
Echo cancellation
Full duplex
Voice recognition up to 150 names
Hi-Fi polyphonic ringtones

Dimensions and Weight
Screen / Keypad 64 x 58 x 20 mm Weight: 62 g
Parrot universal radio mute unit (installed under the dashboard):
54 x 104 x 20 mm Weight: 52 g

I can’t help it but I love it.

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Tatung TTAB B12D, two months later.

I thought I report on the use of the Tatung TTAB-B12D Tablet PC.
I bought my Tablet in September and I have been using it since then. For work I have a Dell notebook which I still use. I try to use the tablet at the same time, but data synchronization is difficult.
There are two setbacks when using the tablet, One: the battery use is limited to 2-3 hours which is not enough. I tend to use the tablet a lot in situations where I don’t have power. You don’t want to run out of power in a situation like that. I bought an Electrovaya high capacity battery which I expect to set next wick. That should make the difference.
The other thing is the heat control. The fan is too loud! It has two speeds, three to be precise! Off, slow and high speed. Once you are working with the device, the fan goes to high speed quite often. That is quite annoying when in a meeting.
One other annoying thing is the lacking support for Dutch language. Handwriting recognition for English is great, but other languages would be nice.

Conclusion: I still love it and want to use it. Buy one if you can!

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Nikon D200

Nikon D200
So it is finally there!

– 10.2 megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor: A newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor that captures images with edge-to-edge sharpness and incredible color at 3,872 x 2,592 pixels, yielding extraordinarily high-resolution images perfect for enlargements or creative cropping

– Industry-leading image processing for exceptional color performance: Incorporates Nikon’s industry-leading advanced imaging processing engine of the D2x, which allows color-independent pre-conditioning prior to A/D conversion to work in symphony with advanced digital image processing algorithms to achieve fine color gradations with exceptionally smooth, consistent transitions

– Large viewfinder with 0.94x magnification: The new eye-level optical viewfinder developed for the D200 features large magnification (0.94x) that helps ensure a clear view for precise composition, and built-in diopter adjustment that allows fine-tuning to your eyesight
Durable, Magnesium alloy (Mg) body: Nikon’s advanced technologies and mechanisms are housed within a rugged, lightweight magnesium alloy chassis and body ready for the most rigorous of assignments. Additional sealing for dust and moisture add to the D200’s strength.
5fps high-speed continuous shooting: Capture fast action and fleeting expressions with the ability to capture high-resolution images at a rapid 5 frames per second in continuous bursts of up to 22 NEF (RAW) or 37 JPEG (FINE – LARGE) shots**

– Fast SLR response where it counts: Instant power-up in just 0.15 seconds, a shutter release time lag of a mere 50 milliseconds, and a shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds makes the D200 ready to respond to any photographic situation
New, 11-area Multi-CAM AF System with 7 Area Wide AF: The new Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module offers an 11-area AF that ensures consistently fast and precise focus lock under varying shooting conditions. The 7-wide area AF system, offers broad coverage suited for moving subjects enabling greater compositional freedom

– Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with wide angle viewing to 170 degrees: A high-resolution LCD monitor provides ultra-wide, 170 degree viewing in all directions. Assisting with accurate sharpness assessment, images can be previewed at up to 400% magnification

– New EN-EL3e Rechargeable battery with Fuel gauge function: The high-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets you capture approximately 1,800 shots per charge featuring an accurate real-time Fuel gauge system that displays the percentage of remaining charge, number of shots since last charge and overall status of battery service life

– Wireless Transmitter WT-3: The optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 provides wireless functionality with IEEE 802.11b/g technology; it enables cable-free image transfer to a compatible computer, with the added safety and versatility of wide-ranging network and security protocols (available 2006).

Woh!!

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Tatung TTAB-B12D

Last time I wrote that I received a Tablet PC. I have to say that I love it.
I got the machine from Germany, so it came with a German version of the Tablet OS. Allthough my German isn’t too bad, I prefere the English and Dutch language version. This meant that I had to do a new install. That took me about an evening with all the patches to be downloaded. After that I installed all the standard stuff I use for my work; Office 2003, Visio, Mind manager, RealPlayer, OneNote plus the extra’s from Microsoft.

The machine comes with a 60GB disk and 512MB memory. The screen is 12.1″ with a max resolution of 1024 x 768. The battery gives you about 3-4 hours of time without AC. Extra’s are fingerprint scanner, firewire, USB and Wireless (b&g). It comes with a keyboard/stand which acts as cover for the Tablet when you don’t use it.
Handwriting recognition works fine for me. The only drawback is that the Dutch language is not supported. As I understand it will take sometime before that is solved. Maybe Vista will be out sooner.

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Tablet in the house

I have a tablet PC in the house. I finally took the bold step and got a Tatung TTAB B12D.
Tablet
I have to say; it is great! It is small, sleek, light and works fine. More later.

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Skype killer application

I found a possible Skype killer application; Gizmo. (http://www.gizmoproject.com/index.html).
Gizmo is a free VOIP application which is based on the open protocol
standard SIP.

Why is this important, isn’t Skype the new standard? No, Skype is the hype and nobody has bothered to look under the bonnet. Skype is a locked down box using a propriety protocol and is dependent on the availability of Skype’s central servers. None of that with a SIP based solution.

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Spying on VOIP

Researchers at the George Mason University have developed a methode which makes it possible to listen in on VOIP calls like Skype. Next counterstep will possible be the encryption of VOIP with Public Key Infrastructures (certificates).

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Google earth equals Terrorist tool

A terror expert in the Netherlands, from the Clingendael institute, thinks that the Dutch government should do something against tools like Google Earth on the internet. These tools would give would-be terrorists too easy access to vulnerable information like; the Dutch main port Rotterdam, government installations, houses of our royal family, etc, etc.
I remember a documentary on BBC Horizon on Al Qaeda which showed their methods of stacking out possible objects for attacks. It showed how somebody with a video camera, used by any tourist, made a video of the entrance of a subway used by a lot of Americans. It shows that you don’t need tools like Google Earth to get your information. You just go to the spot and look around. Nobody will ask you any questions, nobody will expect anything and the information is up-to-date. Something you can question if you use internet data.