iPod Shuffle Gets New Jacket Made For Those With Active Lifestyles

You certainly adore your older iPod Shuffle than the iPod Nano new model that your best friend has gifted you for your birthday this year. After all, the iPod Shuffle has been your constant companion for years already and you have found it quite easy to use. You feel like you would have to start over again with the iPod Nano.

The only thing that is bothering you about the iPod Shuffle though is that you would have sometimes leave it behind in the safety of your car or in your home or locked up in your office drawer. You do this because you would have to do something pretty active and you think that the iPod Shuffle accessories and features would not quite take in the excess activity and would only lead to damages and eventually breaking of the gadget.
But it looks like there is already an answer to your dilemma and it comes in the form of the new Action Jacket that has been created by Digital Lifestyle Outfitters, or the DLO. This group is much known as one of the leaders when it comes to creating accessories for mobile digital devices which are considered to be the current hype.



The Action Jacket for your iPod Shuffle belongs to the family of such jackets and cases that DLO has already designed and created. And so that the beauty and pristine condition of your iPod Shuffle would not be marred, DLO created the jacket to come in a brilliant pure white color so much so that there is not much difference if the jacket was used or not.

This jacket comes with an armband. The armband would provide more security compared to the clip that the iPod Shuffle comes with. So when you are engaged in really active things, the Action Jacket of your iPod Shuffle would keep your gadget safe and quite secure.
Even drops of rain and patches of ice falling from the sky would not harm your favorite iPod Shuffle as long as you have the Action Jacket. You see, the jacket is designed to be a cover and it has been made to be soft and uses neoprene. Even your own sweat would not harm your iPod Shuffle when you are sweating it out at the gym.

For $19.99, which is quite a fair price tag, you get to use your favorite iPod Shuffle without having to worry about damaging it while you get involved in your activities. The Action Jacket also has this clear vinyl window so you would not have a harm time finding your way through the music files you have stored in your gadget.

Now if the jacket gets dirty, is there a need to buy a new one?
Well, that would be not recommended. You see, the Action Jacket for the iPod Shuffle can be actually cleaned easily. All you need is a damp cloth and the jacket would look and feel like it was still new. The armband can be washed with soap and water.

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Vehicles Go Running Towards MP3

Apple, the company, is surely bringing in more sales. Not simply because many consumers in the market have gone purchasing the various products they offer – especially those very popular iPod gadgets. But this is not where the fun ends for the company. After all, it can now be seen that various vehicle manufacturers have gone running to Apple offices and make deals with the gadget creator.
So now you may ask, what exactly are these vehicle manufacturers after? Well, let us just simply say that these manufacturers would want to make deals with the gadget crafter so that they could have the very popular iPod integrated with new vehicles that they are currently manufacturing. With such a deal, it could also mean more sales for these vehicle manufacturers for customers would be choosing to purchase cars and vehicles that offer more high technology features and equipment – like the iPod – rather than simply having new styles of Mazda B16 pickup parts and the like added. Well, you do get the drift.
BMW has already gone ahead and added a new type of iPod interface all vehicles in their most updated BMW vehicle range since the brand has already been having iPod support in their vehicles, like the BMW 5 series, the BMW 6 series, and the BMW 7 series, since the year 2004. Its other brand, MINI, would also now be coming with such a new interface and would allow iPod owners to connect their gadgets to the vehicle. Owners of vehicles under these brands would simply need to connect their iPods to a cable that can be found in the glove compartment. And there is no need to use up the gadget’s battery because the cable has been designed to power the iPod.
A hatchback from the Seat brand would now also be coming iPod ready. This one is called the Seat Ibiza 1.4 DAB Special Edition vehicle which runs on a 1.4 liter engine with sixteen valves. Aside from simply offering owners connectivity to their iPods, this vehicle also has other entertainment features to offer owners.
Other vehicle brands which have gone iPod include Citroen, Audi, General Motors, Ford, and Mazda.

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Nokia N97: Nokia Plans to Unleash the Ultimate Multimedia Magic

Entertainment is a must in today’s fast-paced world to evade all tensions and anxieties. To achieve entertainment, technological gizmos have become an essential prerequisite with all their brilliant multimedia features. Mobile manufacturers today are satisfying this desire for entertainment with their truly pioneering products. Whether it is the MP3 players, megapixel cameras or digital camcorders, mobile phones are replacing each and every recreational gadget.

Nokia has always amazed us with its avant-garde products. Whether it’s the snazzy Cath Kidston range or the brilliant N-series products, Nokia's products have always been par excellence. Nokia plans to launch another multimedia speciality after N-series called Nokia N97 to woo the UK population.

Rev up your life with this ultimate multimedia gadget. Boasting of excellent multimedia features like a 5 megapixel camera with 2.4x optical zoom, an FM stereo radio, the Nokia N97 is going to be a hit the moment it is launched. Infact, it has already created a sense of excitement among the general public with the news of its announcement. You can enjoy some really melodious music with Nokia N97 with an in-built FM player, an MP3 player and stereo sound technology.

A stylish slider phone, the Nokia N97 is a perfect style diva. You can also store a large number of songs, pictures and videos in this gadget with a large 20 MB memory further expandable through a miniSD card. The Nokia N97 is a truly unprecedented Nokia attempt which has all the requisite features of a best selling gadget. It is an ideal phone for viewing pictures and videos with a large 3 inches display.

It also allows you world wide connectivity through CDMA and GSM worldwide roaming. The Nokia N97 offers you the most innovative mobile solutions. This swish Smartphone features an easy-to-use QWERTY keypad and the latest technologies of Wifi and 3G. So what are you waiting for, planning to buy a cool and funky gadget, just wait for the release of Nokia N97.

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The Best Method of Spyware Removal

Spyware removal is a tedious but necessary chore. At best, spyware slows down your computer and brings up those annoying popup windows. At worst, spyware can monitor your activities on your computer without your knowing, steal vital information from your computer such as passwords and bank account numbers, and even crash your computer. Thus, the removal of spyware, no matter how laborious and time-consuming, is a very important task.

Free Tools for Spyware Removal

To get rid of the spyware plaguing your computer system, you would need to get your hands on software that does spyware removal. If you can afford to buy software for spyware removal, there are a lot of proprietary programs available in the market that can do the job for you.

But if you are not willing to spend money on software, there are also plenty of spyware removal programs that you can download for free from various reliable websites. Some are demo versions of proprietary spyware removal software, while others are free for home use.


Whether you choose to invest on spyware removal software or opt to download free spyware removal tools, there are three programs that you must get in order to rid your computer completely of such malware. These programs are a spyware scanner, an antivirus program and a registry cleaner. The spyware scanner removes the obvious spyware while the antivirus program will get rid of the viruses included in the spyware. The registry cleaner will dredge out the malicious code hiding within your Windows registry.

The Proper Way of Spyware Removal

Below is a step-by-step guide in spyware removal:

Install the spyware removal software that you have bought or downloaded for free – the spyware scanner, the antivirus and the registry cleaner. Once installed, disconnect your computer from the Internet and then run the scan for a first pass.

Once the first pass is done, reboot your computer, run it on safe mode, and do a second pass. Sometimes, spyware include resuscitators that will keep them from being completely wiped out of your system. By running only the essential applications on your computer on safe mode, you can be sure that these resuscitators will not be able to stop your spyware removal software from doing their work.

After the second pass, restart your computer and let it run normally. Check your Internet browser if the malicious websites that were the source of your spyware managed to include themselves in your list of trusted websites.

To prevent spyware from infesting your computer again, set your spyware removal software to do regular runs. Your antivirus software and spyware scanner should be running while you are using your computer to block all incoming malware. As for your registry scanner, you can run it once or twice a month to delete all malicious code hiding in your registry.

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What Do Enterprise Content Management Systems Do for the Enterprise?

The ECM Association ,AIIM, defines ECM as: "...the technologies used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to organizational processes. ECM tools and strategies allow the management of an organization's unstructured information, wherever that information exists."

The focus of the definition above is on tools and technologies. AIIM itself emphasizes that while tools are important, it is the way that they are used that is important. Content must be managed in a way that furthers the organization's goals.

According to AIIM, the four primary areas in which ECM helps organization are: Compliance, Collaboration, Cost and Continuity.

In each of the areas, you must have clear strategies and policies before you start using ECM tools. Strategies and policies are derived from organizational goals and your particular environment.

COMPLIANCE

Compliance with regulatory requirements involves costs. The variety of regulations, and the ongoing legislation of new regulations and requirements, adds to the costs. Only a proactive strategy developed with the involvement of legal, technology and administrative personnel can help minimize these costs. This kind of a proactive approach will bring out possibilities for using ECM tools to ensure compliance with applicable regulations at a maximum of convenience and minimum of costs.

COLLABORATION

Collaboration helps people with different expertise to contribute to the overall business results. Overall business results are helped by finding faster ways to get your product or service to the market, reducing your operational costs and completing activities and processes quicker and in a more streamlined fashion.

ECM provides tools like instant messaging, emails, online meetings and whiteboards to facilitate collaborative working. These tools make it possible to participate instantly, or at a time of your convenience. You can review the up-to-date status of a problem or solution, ask queries, make suggestions or presentations and get feedback. All these allow you to get involved and contribute meaningfully.

COSTS

When you start thinking of how ECM can help with costs, the first thing you might notice will be the cost of the ECM system itself - an addition to cost rather than a reduction. However, if you have a proper strategy in place, even tentatively, you will also be able to evaluate how ECM can help you achieve larger-scale business results at lower costs.

The key is clarifying your objectives and their implications. Don't let existing information processing technology constraints limit your expectations in these matters. With ECM, information can be made available on tap by all those who need it (and are authorized to access it). This would include not only employees in your organization, but also suppliers, customers, and governments outside it.

You won't have to spend most of your time actively contacting everybody and conveying your requirements or meeting theirs. The result will be not only savings in time, but also better quality results in all areas. You will soon begin to see how ECM can help you operate on a much higher scale and at much less relative costs.

CONTINUITY

Keeping your business going 24/7/365 is critical in today's global corporations, and even many smaller organizations. Natural or man-made disasters must not be allowed to disrupt operations too seriously.

Achieving this objective will first involve developing clear strategies and policies. You will determine which content is business critical, how quickly each type of content must be restored, how such restoration is to be arranged for, and all the other incidentals involved.

ECM, with its comprehensive range of capabilities, will then help you implement the strategies and policies.

CONCLUSION

ECM provides a great set of tools and technologies. It can help achieve great business results through increasing speed of marketing and other operations, mainly through faster access to relevant information.

However, you need to sit down with your people and develop clear strategies and policies, un-constrained by present information system limitations, before you start implementing Enterprise Content Management Systems.

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Govt defends progress on computers for students pledge

More information has emerged about how the Government will keep its promise about computers for schools, but the Federal Opposition is sceptical about the policy.

Liberal Senator Brett Mason has questioned whether the Government will keep the pledge to provide a computer for every senior secondary student.

A Senate estimates committee has been told an audit is being done to determine how many computers are in schools now and that only those less than four years old are being counted.

Senator Mason says there are many questions about the plan for a computer for every senior secondary school student.

"What about software and software upgrades - who is going to be paying for that ... how about maintenance and repairs including batteries, power cords, bags ... who's going to be paying for those?" he said.

Dr Evan Arthur from the Education Department has told Senator Mason those costs will not be met by the Commonwealth.

"On that case the policy is reasonably clear - it is the responsibility of the people receiving the funding to meet the cost associated with the activation and maintenance of the equipment," he said.

Senator Mason has asked how the Government's promise to spend $1 billion will provide fast internet connections for every school when Victoria is spending almost as much for a slower connection just for one state.

"The Government's proposed program will cover 2,650 schools and about 1 million students but the Government's only allocated $100 million - in other words, only $11 million more," he said.

"The Government's proposal covers 80 per cent more students but only asks for 10 per cent more money."

But the head of the Education Department, Lisa Paul, says that is not a valid comparison.

"We're saying that would be an apples and oranges comparison and it can't be made, because the Victorian arrangement is part of a whole-of-Government arrangement in Victoria and covers a range of commercial and other issues which go beyond the aim of for the $100 million," she said.

Meanwhile Democrats Senator Lyn Allison is critical that the Government is not doing enough work to check that the states do not intend to reduce their spending on school computers because of the new federal money.

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Kiddie Computers

Picture an 11-month old boy, delightfully banging on the keys of a special computer keyboard that's made just for kids like him.

"Brandon got it as a Christmas gift," says his mother, Lynette Blaszak. "I thought it was an excellent idea because when I'm on the computer, he always wants to bang on the keyboard while i'm trying to do my work."

This family is part of a growing trend of people introducing their tots to technology. That's why it's no surprise you can now find laptops, desktops, and other related gear designed with younger kids in mind. These include Digital Dimensions, the X-O laptop, and the Internet Launch Pad by Fisher-Price.

"There's a lot of opportunities out there to find the right product for the child," says Tim Herbert of the Consumer Electronics Association.

And they're often at a price that's nice relative to other high-tech products. Kid-friendly computers cost anywhere from less than $100 to just under $600.

"Often times they're more durable because, let's face it, kids are going to drop products," says Herbert. "Oftentimes they are in appealing colors."

Some models feature things like big, bold icons and come pre-loaded with educational software. Others use special programs that make web browsing and word processing easier to understand.

This little laptop, the Triple EPC, is not made specifically for children, but it's wildly popular with parents.

"It's smaller, is more portable, and i felt that because of the size that it would be easier for his fingers to type, " says Ellen Hage, whose son using this kind of computer.

If you'd like to make your own system more child friendly, you can buy a mouse that's smaller than the other ones. This makes it easier for your children to click.

But if you're hoping to use the technology to teach toddlers, the kid-friendly machines don't compute with everyone. Dr. Michael Rich is with the Center on Media and Child Research, and says studies show that children under 2 ½ are incapable of learning anything of value from a screen.

"Even if they are old enough to perceive what most of this material is, there's not a lot of evidence that that is retained more than short term," says Dr. Rich.

He also says computers can't deliver three key things for brain development.

"And that is interaction with other human beings, manipulating the physical environment, and open-ended problem solving," he says.

But some parents say there are benefits.

"I think that it depends on the child and whether or not they're ready to be on the computer, and I think that's an individual parent choice," says Hage.

"Whether he's learning or not, it's still quality time we're spending together," says Blaszak, the mother of 11-month-old Brandon.

Safety is a very important issue too. If you do let your child go online, make sure you've set site restrictions or parental controls so they don't accidentally click on something inappropriate.

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Immigration Department introduces mobile computers

PUTRAJAYA: All illegal foreigners will be easily detected now with the introduction of the Mobile Immigration Enforcement System (MIES).

The system has computers which can read identification cards and thumbprints and detect fake documents.

The computers cost RM9,000 each and the Government has 100 ready for enforcement units nationwide.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said yesterday Malaysia was the first country to introduce the MIES.

He said with the system, foreigners had a way to prove their legality.

“If they do not have their passports on them, their thumbprint can be the last alternative to trace their data.

“So far one million foreigners’ thumbprints have been collected using the bio-metric system,” he said, adding that it would take about another year to collect all foreigners’ thumbprints in the country.

Radzi added that police and Rela officers would also use the computers during checks.

“The MyKad can also be verified using the MIES computer,” he said, adding that fake MyKad cases could be easily traced and weeded out.

Despite having the MIES, Radzi said the existing MyKad readers in all Government departments would continue to be used.

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Something extra for card games

No matter how many people are playing "Halo" or "Madden" at any given moment, you can bet that many more are playing solitaire, poker or Uno. And not with a $5 deck of cards — they're using the awesome processing power of modern computers to play the games their grandparents loved.

Video-game publishers have had a hard time figuring out how to make money from such "casual" gamers. After all, why would you pay for solitaire software when you can get it free from so many places on the Internet? There have been some worthwhile card-game packages (like Nintendo's "Clubhouse Games," for the DS) and a pile of mostly execrable poker products, but for $30-$40 you ought to get something extra.

Take 2003's "Culdcept," which cleverly blended card collecting with a board game. Without breaking any sales records, it did well enough to warrant a follow-up — and for those of us in the "Culdcept" cult, its new sequel is manna from heaven.

_"Culdcept Saga" (Namco Bandai, for the Xbox 360, $39.99): The "Culdcept" idea has been frequently — and accurately — described as Monopoly meets Magic: The Gathering. Each level is a game board consisting mostly of different-colored properties. Each turn, you roll a random number; if you land on an empty square you can park a monster on it. If you land on an opponent's square, you have to either pay rent or fight with the occupying creature.
Once you summon a monster, you can play another card to use a more powerful weapon, add armor or cast a spell. And you need to consider the property's value and its dominant element (air, earth, fire or water), as well as whether your creature is compatible. The more territory you control, the more gold you can earn, and the first player to collect a target amount wins.

With nearly 500 different cards, "Saga" will keep "Culdcept" fans busy for a long time. But it has some undeniable flaws. Matches can drag on for hours. The single-player story is just awful (and, thankfully, skippable). Luck can overwhelm careful strategy. But if you liked the original game — or if you're a newcomer looking for something different — "Culdcept Saga" is a real treat. Three stars out of four.

_"Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The Beginning of Destiny" (Konami, for the PlayStation 2, $29.99): "Yu-Gi-Oh!" is certainly a more familiar brand than "Culdcept," with cartoons and comic books bolstering the popularity of the trading card game. Konami has been trying to extend the franchise into video games for a while now, but still hasn't been able to replicate the fun of dueling face-to-face with a friend.

A "Yu-Gi-Oh!" match takes place on a 4-by-5 grid. Monster cards played on the middle rows can attack each other; cards played on the back rows are used to cast spells or set traps. If you break through your foe's front line you can slash points from his score, and the first player to zero loses.

"The Beginning of Destiny" gets the game mechanics right, but surrounds them with a deeply tedious high school simulation in which you try to gain acceptance as the new kid on campus. You spend a lot of time aimlessly chatting with characters from the anime series, and they're all rendered in amateurish, lifeless graphics that wouldn't have passed muster on the PlayStation 1. Once again, Konami has missed an opportunity to expand the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" fan base. One star.

_"Poker Smash" (Microsoft, for the Xbox 360, $10): The "match-three" puzzle game — such as "Bejeweled," "Hexic" or "Puzzle Quest" — is a staple of Xbox Live Arcade, but new studio Void Star Creations has given it a fresh twist by adding playing cards. Instead of lining up jewels, you move around cards to create poker hands of three-of-a-kind or better, and it's thrilling when you can pull off that elusive royal flush.

You gain more points by chaining together hands or by creating hands requested by the computer, and you can earn bombs to clear away those pesky cards that are blocking your full house. A puzzle mode gives you just a few moves to clear the screen, and you can challenge another player in person or online. It's very addictive, and a bargain at $10. Three stars.

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Emirates Computers launches Roland's state-of-the-art printing solutions

Emirates Computers teamed up with its partner - Roland DG, Japan to participate in Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East 2008 (S & GI), held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from February 17th - 19th, 2008.

The leading technology company today announced the launch of Rolands' SOLJET PRO III XJ-740 and SOLJET PRO III XC-540W at the Middle East's only dedicated tradeshow for the Signage, Graphic Imaging & Screen Printing Industry.

"Sign & Graphic Middle East is the largest BtoB forum for the printing, signage & advertising industries in the Middle East & Africa region and gives us an opportunity every year to display our technological prowess and sign annual contracts. Emirates Computers has been an exhibitor at S & GI since its inception 10 years ago and we have received great response from the event over the years" says Mr. M. Karthik, Sales Manager - Viscom & Manufacturing Solutions for Emirates Computers.

"With the outdoor advertising market in the Middle East showing double-digit growth figures, we see a lot of business potential and intend to capitalise on the same by serving the market through a customer focused approach and cutting-edge products and solutions. This year we are using S & GI as a platform to launch new products from Roland and showcase its range of new printing products & technology to existing and potential customers" he adds.

Roland, which is recognised as a world leader in integrated print/ cut technology development, has had wide success in the GCC region with its SOLJET PRO III Solvent printers and intends to capitalize on its popularity by launching an expanded range that will feature 2 models - SOLJET PRO III XJ-740, an advanced version of the highly successful PRO II SJ-740/745 series and SOLJET PRO III XC-540W which is is widely recognized as the industry's highest performing and most flexible Print & Cut machine with award-winning ECO-SOL MAX inks, now available with WHITE ink option.

"The new SOLJET PRO III XJ series is precision engineered for the demands of today's fast-paced, quality-driven marketplace" said Yohei Shinomura, Roland DG color product manager. 'XJ series printers take productivity and performance to a new level with maximum print speeds of up to 42.6m2/hr and stunning image quality in every print mode.'

One of the most anticipated announcements at the show was the release of the new EcoXtreme LT ink for the AJ-1000 Solvent machine. The product is a direct reflection of a commitment to customers to provide cost saving options on their equipment that will help them keep production costs down and increase profits.

Keeping in tune with the market developments, Emirates Computers will officially launched EMITEX - a Large format Direct-to-Textile Printer, available in 64', 74' and 104' width. EMITEX is a synergy of leading technologies from Japan and Italy combined to address the local market requirements.

Emirates Computer is exhibiting at Stand No. K1, Hall No. 6 at the Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East 2008. Senior Executives from Emirates Computers and Roland DG are available at the exhibitions to meet delegates, partners and potential customers.

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