FAVORITE: RELIGIOUS: Quote

"Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before." Audre Lorde

IT NEWS: GADGETS: Sony Ericsson MW600 Bluetooth Headset With Radio

Sony Ericsson recently introduced its new MW600 Bluetooth Stereo Headset. Although there can be a ton of other Bluetooth Headsets to choose from in the market, this one seems to have that something extra. That something extra is that it is equipped with its own FM radio.

Yes, the Sony Ericsson MW600 is not just a Bluetooth headset that can handle some handsfree calling with your mobile phone. It also is equipped with its own radio that can access FM stations directly from the headset. It also has a 3.5mm jack for listening music on mobile phones and other supported audio devices. The headset also comes with its own OLED display that contains the controls and other information when using the headset. It is good for up 11 hours of talk time and radio playing time for every full charge. The new Sony Ericsson MW600 Bluetooth Headset With Radio is available at Amazon for US$55.

Image Source: Sony Ericsson

IT NEWS: GADGETS: Limited Edition iPad 2 with Diamonds and Dinosaur Bone

If you think the iPad 2 is expensive, you haven’t seen the blinged-out versions made by different luxury companies like this iPad2 Gold History edition by Liverpool-based Stuart Hughes.

This luxurious iPad 2 not only has a 24-carat gold rear, but is also decked with 16.5 carats of ‘I’F’ flawless diamonds, 53 in total. The front frame is even made from Canadian ammolite, which is considered as one of the oldest rocks in the world dating over 75 million years old.

And if that was not unique enough, the ammolite also contains splinters from a 65-million year old thigh bone from a T-Rex dinosaur, then finished with a single cut 8.5-carat diamond inlaid in platinum, and surrounded with 12 outer flawless diamonds. This single iPad weighs about 2 kilograms.

Because this iPad 2 is so special, only two are made available. The cost? US$8 million each.

Source: Luxury Launches

IT NEWS: GADGETS: Fujifilm FinePix Z900 EXR Digital Camera

Fujifilm has recently announced its new line of digital cameras for spring 2011. One of those announced is the new FinePix Z900 EXR Digital Camera that, according to Fujifilm, aims to put together style and substance in a single Fujifilm digital camera. Its features and looks do give this new digital camera something that is quite substantial in both form and function.

The new FinePix Z900 EXR features an eye catching high gloss finish for its casing, giving it a more elegant and fashionable look. But inside it comes the other functional details that further make even more substance. It comes with the latest Fujifilm technology in the form of a brand new 16MP EXR-CMOS sensor for more highly detailed images captures in various lighting conditions.

The new FinePix Z900 EXR also comes with a 5x wide angle zoom lens, a 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD and high speed shooting of up to 12fps. It is also capable of recording video in HD quality with available output via a mini HDMI port when connecting to an HDTV. These features may not seem packed within the slim design of the new FinePix Z900 EXR, but it is. Availability of this new Fujifilm digital camera as well as its pricing has not yet been released to the public though.

Image Source: Fujifilm

IT NEWS: GADGETS: Maxell Introduces Its Vibrabone Headphones

The demand for better headphones never seems to cease. That may be the reason why new headphones are being introduced almost every month. Although most of them may offer the same features in terms of the technology used, there are others like the new Maxell Vibrabone Headphones that may offer something unique for a change.

Hitachi Maxell recently introduced in the Japanese market he new Vibrabone HP-VBC40 Headphones which makes use of unique but existing technology to produce better sound output. The Vibrabone in-ear headphones make use of vibration and bone conduction in order to produce deep bass sounds and better audio reproduction, despite its small size. This makes it quite ideal for use especially for portable devices such as, smartphones, mobile devices and portable music players. The Maxell Vibrabone HP-VBC40 Headphones is expected to enter the Japanese market by April 25 and may cost around 4,000 Japanese Yen or US$48.

IT NEWS: GADGET: Touchscreen-Equipped BlackBerry Bold Leaked by RIM

There have been several rumors circulating about an upcoming BlackBerry Bold with touchscreen display, but now we can definitely say that such a device is set to debut soon after Research In Motion itself introduced the BlackBerry Bold Touch in its own website. However, the unveiling was short-lived as RIM pulled out the teaser for unknown reasons.

Apart from the touchscreen, the BlackBerry Bold Touch is said to feature a 1.2GHz CPU, 768 RAM, and up to twice the screen resolution. The smartphone will also run on BlackBerry 7 OS, which until recently was known as OS 6.1.

Expect RIM to formally announce the BlackBerry Bold Touch, as well as any of its upcoming devices, at BlackBerry World event in a few days.

Source: Crackberry

IT NEWS: COMPUTER: Desktop PC Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Desktop PC

Presented with so many possibilities, you need to narrow the field by considering what you want to use your new desktop for. Are you an avid photographer looking for a speedy but cost-effective platform for editing high-resolution photos? If so, you'll benefit from buying a machine with extra RAM and a discrete graphics card. If you've acquired an extensive media collection, and want an inexpensive and compact way to pipe it to your HDTV, a compact PC tailored toward media sharing and playback may be your best bet.

Whatever your needs, you can find a desktop configuration to fit the bill.

Desktops fall into three major categories, each with its own range of price and performance: compact PCs, all-in-one PCs, and classic tower PCs (which we subdivide into budget, mainstream, and performance categories). Each style of machine has different strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the one that's best for you depends largely on how you plan to use it.

Once you've picked the appropriate desktop category, our guide to PC specifications will help you pick a machine that delivers the performance you need, while staying within your budget. And when you're ready to buy, check our shopping tips for advice on how to get the most from your investment.

Compact PCs

As the smallest members of the desktop computer family, compact PCs often omit features to deliver computing power in a space-saving package. The combination of energy-efficient components, quiet operation, and small size makes compact PCs ideal for people who want a nonintrusive machine. A typical compact PC costs between $300 and $600, though the price goes up as you add upgrade options.

Compact PCs tend to be equipped with notebook or netbook components, such as Intel Atom processors. This limits their usefulness in tasks that demand lots of processing power, but it makes for quiet, energy-efficient operation. Not all compact PCs are created equal, however, so pay attention to specifications when shopping. Some compact PCs are configured for as low a bottom-line price as possible; others are packed to the gills to deliver optimal performance in a compact system.

Acer Aspire Revo R3610Most compact PCs rely on integrated graphics. In some cases (depending on the CPU and the integrated graphics chipset), anything more complicated than a Flash-based browser game will be unplayable, but you will be able to eke out competent media streaming with Intel integrated graphics. A machine toting nVidia's Ion platform, like the Acer Aspire Revo R3610, usually fares much better. Gaming still isn't an option, but 1080p video is, whether you stream from a larger PC or over the Web.

When assessing smaller PCs, keep an eye on the ports. The smaller the footprint, the fewer features you can reasonably expect, and that includes fewer connectivity options. Though you'll get a VGA port and (on average) six USB 2.0 ports, many compact PCs also offer HDMI--an asset for home-theater setups. The typical hard drive size is 320GB, though 250GB is also common and we've seen compact system carrying up to 1TB (for a $100 upgrade premium). For a chart of recent high-ranking PCs in this category, see "Top 5 Compact PCs."

All-in-One Desktops

All-in-One PCs are self-contained: components are mounted behind a display, with screen sizes ranging between 18- and 27-inches. With no cords to manage or peripherals to juggle, setting up your new all-in-one PC can be as simple as pulling the machine out of the box and plugging it in.

MSI Wind Top AE2010With their compact size and integrated displays, all-in-one PCs can generally be placed wherever you've got a spare power outlet. Some all-in-ones also offer a rather distinct perk: Touchscreens. With support for multitouch gestures worked into Microsoft's Windows 7, all-in-ones offer a clever way for users to interact with their media, while still getting a full-fledged PC.

Sony VAIO L117FX/BAll-in-one components vary from brand to brand, but you can expect to pay more for an all-in-one than for a similarly equipped desktop; again, some models target buyers on a tight budget, while others load up on performance-oriented system components (at a higher price, of course). For example, to low-priced machines like the MSI Wind Top AE2010 use notebook or netbook processors and integrated graphics. You'll get reduced performance to match the reduced price tag. If you have a larger budget, you can opt for a model like the Sony VAIO L117FX/B, which includes a quad-core processor (most often seen on full-size desktops), to deliver superior performance, and offers a large 24-inch screen. You'll be paying in the area of $2000 for those high-end specs, however.

Many all-in-one PCs come with a wireless keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth support, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This recuces cord clutter to a minimum--an important consideration in spaces where an attractive décor or efficient use of space is at a premium. For ranked charts of all-in-one PCs that we have tested in recent months, see "Best Big-Screen All-in-One PCs (Over 20 Inches)" and "Best Budget All-in-One PCs (20 Inches or Smaller)."