device

Two weeks ago Apple unveiled an 11.6-inch MacBook Air for under $999 . The news attracted plenty of attention, but early reviews of the device have not been particularly positive, with critics citing generally underwhelming performance as a reason ... to pass on Apple's first foray into the sub-$1,000 laptop market. Techies will remember that it's been over two years now since the first MacBook Air shipped to retailers. In a way, it was an attempt by Apple to provide an ultra-premium, ultra-portable device for the growing netbook market. Like most netbooks, the MacBook was lightweight, somewhat ... (view more)

In what is being described as a freak and somewhat ironic incident, British boss of Segway Inc. has been killed while piloting one of his company's own devices. Sixty-two-year-old Jimi Heselden reportedly took the device on an off-road stroll and ... was later found in a West Yorkshire river. Segway Used by Google A Segway is a high tech two-wheeled motorized vehicle and is powered by batteries and stabilized by gyroscopes. The Segway is viewed by many tech enthusiasts as one of the most recognizable gadgets in the technology world and is even used by big name brands such as Google at their ... (view more)

A video on YouTube has recently surfaced that claims to be an iPad-style tablet computer running Windows 7. And while such a device is currently being developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP), it's far from certain whether or not the gadget in the video is ... genuine. HP Slate Production Speculative It's been known for some time that HP was working on such a device, codenamed the HP Slate, which has also been used in the past as a generic term for portable touchscreen computers that don't have a separate keyboard. There had been some speculation that the company was ditching the idea of using Windows, ... (view more)

The Indian government late last week unveiled a concept tablet computer set to sell for a mere 1,500 rupees, or about $35 USD. Shockingly, the price could drop even further for a device that features touchscreen capabilities and solar power options. ... The super-cheap tablet was first unveiled to the global media last Thursday by Kapil Sibal, India's Minister for Human Resource Development. The target audience for the device: the rapidly-developing country's student population, including those in less affluent rural communities. Students Help Design Super-Efficient, Super-Cheap Tablet The tablet ... (view more)

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has refused to confirm reports that it has cancelled work on a Windows-based tablet computer. In addition, its website still includes promotional material for the device, known as the Slate. Rumors suggested the firm encountered ... several problems with the device: Windows 7 apparently ran slowly and didn't convert well to a touch screen interface, while the Slate's Intel processor soaked up too much power, which could have made a practical battery life difficult to achieve. However, several analysts have noted that posts on an HP blog which deal with the device are still ... (view more)

It's rumored that Google is close to launching its own rival for the Apple iPad tablet device. Google's tablet computer will reportedly blend an e-reader with the multi-functional and very popular Android operating system (OS). Google Opts For ... Android Operating System The choice of operating system is certainly a surprising one, given that Google has been pushing its own Chrome OS, due sometime this year. The reason the Chrome OS won't be a part of Google's tablet is actually pretty simple: Chrome will be extremely slim, offering only minimal software support and the Chrome Internet browser. ... (view more)

Microsoft appears to have accidentally confirmed that it will release a tablet computer called 'Courier'. The device would be marketed as a rival to Apple's upcoming iPad. Rumors of the Microsoft Courier device go back to last September, when leaked ... documents showed a design for a twin-screen device with no physical keyboard. The concept was of a multi-function design that could: Be held in portrait mode like a book with facing pages Landscape mode with the top screen display and bottom screen touch keyboard Or hinged back on itself and used as a tablet or "slate" PC. At the time, though, it ... (view more)

Google is among several firms testing a new device that could replace the need for receiving electricity through power cables. It coincides with the search giant getting a license to buy and sell power in bulk, most likely to get a cheaper supply of ... energy. The device, known as the Bloom Box, is produced by the relatively new firm Bloom Energy. It's roughly the size of a refrigerator and is filled with fuel cells which can create electricity through an emissions-less chemical process. The process hasn't been fully detailed (the company plans a public launch shortly) but it involves a ... (view more)

Apple is said to be prepared to make quick price cuts for its iPad tablet if sales don't take off as planned. The news comes as a survey claims the public has actually become less interested after hearing about the device, though the figures don't ... necessarily bear that claim out. It's perfectly normal practice for a new gadget to be sold at a high price at first and then reduced later on. That makes commercial sense as it means the firm gets the most revenue possible from so-called "early adopters" and then drops the price to capture the mass market. In this case, however, it appears the ... (view more)

In electronics and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote fixed programs and data structures that internally control various electronic devices. Typical examples of devices containing firmware range from end-user products such as PCs, ... laptops, netbooks, remote controls and calculators, and even include scientific instrumentation and industrial robotics. More complex consumer devices, such as mobile phones and digital cameras, contain firmware to define the device's basic operation as well as implementing higher-level functions in the future. Firmware Versus Software Technically, ... (view more)