Information Addicts

We tend to think of LCD TVs as fairly new technology, however manufactures are already working on the next big thing for TV screens, and that is OLED.

I first read about OLED technology over 2 years ago, and how it was going to be used in TV screens, now they are becoming a reality as Sony have released an 11 inch version and Samsung have developed a 31-inch ultra-thin organic screen which was shown at the CES 2008 show in Las Vegas.

What is OLED?
To be more exact manufacturer’s are working on AM-OLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode). This technology produces thinner, brighter screens, which have better contrast ratio - resulting in sharper pictures, and use less power. OLED screens are also much lighter than LCD screens. If you are interested in how they work click here for more info.

So why is it taking so long to bring out OLED TV screens? Its because they have a downside, and that is OLED panels don’t last as long as LCDs, just under three-and-a-half years’ continuous usage, compared to under six for LCD technology. That’s continuous use, not the much more occasional usage of the real world. They are also more complex and much more expensive to make.

What you may not know is that you have been using OLED technology for a few years in the form of mobile phones, cameras, video cameras and portable video players.
As I wrote earlier, in December Sony brought out an 11inch ultraslim screen that contains a display panel that’s just 3mm thick. That, along with a massive contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, are the big advantages to OLED technology. This screen costs around £850 ($1700).

Samsung showed off its Super Thin 31” OLED TV at the CES 2008 show (picture shown at the very top) and Toshiba pledges a 30in OLED TV will ship in 2009.

If like me, you have not long ago bought a new LCD TV then consider it old technology, but the great news is that you can now buy a bigger screen for a lot less lolly.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Image courtesy of cell105

Picture this, you are working on an online document on your laptop, connected via your WiFi router, but get disconnected, and 2 hours of work is lost.
Or you are playing a game on the internet and are just about to get the highest score and you lose connection. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
Frustrating isn’t it? I don’t know what is worse waiting for it to reconnect or constantly getting disconnected.

We receive many calls at work from users who constantly get disconnected from the internet and desperately need to get back on, time is money.
WiFi can be a right pain in the ars. at times.
Thick walls, being to far away from the router and odd shaped rooms are some of the causes of lost connection. If only there was a better solution.

Well now there is, in the form of Powerline Adaptors.

What are Powerline Adaptors?
Powerline adaptors are basically plugin adaptors that go into your household wall sockets to create an instant network.

How do they work?
Once the Powerline adaptors are plugged in, flick the switch and they will utilise the existing electrical wiring of your house. They have a very low power consumption which means they cost very little to run. Most Powerline adaptors are plug n play, meaning once you have plugged them into your wall socket, all you then need to do is connect them to your PC, Laptop or modem via an Ethernet cable and that’s it. Not only are they less hassle than wireless networks, but they can be faster, (theoretically speeds up to 200Mbps but its more like 14-80Mpbs), more secure, (each wall mounted plug uses upto 128 bit data encryption which means that it is almost impossible to hack), and much more reliable.
Take a look at the below diagram to get a better idea of how they can work.

Image taken from the Aztec website

As you can see from the above picture this network also uses a wireless plug adaptor, which can give you more flexibility to your network, if needed.

If you don’t want the hassle, or you’re struggling with a Wifi network, then Powerline networking might be the choice for you.

Powerlines do have have a downside, and that is they work better in some houses than others, as it all depends on the electrical wiring. That is why I wrote earlier that you will get speeds of between 14-80Mpbs.

Why are Powerline adaptor networks not that well know? Simple, lack of devices on the market, however I have scoured the internet for the better ones out there, take a look.

The best Powerline adaptors on the market at the moment are the Solwise HomePlug AV 200Mpbs, unfortunately I cannot find anywhere in the US where you can purchase them. Do you know where you can buy these?

Take a look at this excellent article from Register Hardware.

The next best are the Actiontec MegaPlug 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Twin-Pack and the Netgear HDXB101 Powerline HD Ethernet Kit.
Do you use them or have you tried them? If so let me know what you think.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Portable hard drives are a great idea if you travel, need to share data between home or work PCs, or even if you just want extra data storage. I would be lost without my Western digital 160GB passport, as I use it to backup my PCs and Laptop hard drives, transfer my photos and other important data to it, and then I can instantly share this data between my work and home PCs. The best thing about these portable external hard drives is that they fit in your pocket as they are very light and small, and you don’t need external power, as they get their power from the Laptop or PC they are connect to, which means you don’t need a bulky adaptor.

The two main manufactures are Western Digital who produce the Portable Passport and Buffalo which produce the Ministation Turbo, these companies are constantly producing bigger drives, as you can never have enough storage.
The great news is that both of them brought out 320GB versions, yes you read it right, 320GB, and as they run at 5400rpm claim to be around 64 percent faster than there older 4200rpm cousins.
The best news is that Amazon.com have just slashed the prices on these two drives, the Buffalo has dropped from $393 to $210, and the Western digital has dropped from $249 to only $169, (please note that the prices change daily, and sometimes are cheaper through affiliates and not Amazon).
Unfortunately for the UK they are not on offer, however if you shop around, you can still purchase them for a great price.

Have you found these portable hard drives cheaper else where? Then please let me know in the comments.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Millions of us use a keyboard everyday and never really think of changing it, unless it breaks or is uncomfortable to type on.

Keyboards have come a long way since the beginning , there used to be just a few to choose from, but now your options are just about endless.

Below is a list of 10 cool and yet some are even weird keyboards, that might just make you think of changing your old boring one.

1. The SafeType keyboard. This keyboard is meant for touch typists and is supposed to be much more comfortable to use than a conventional keyboard. It looks quite the opposite to me.

2. The AlphaGrip AG-5. This is a keyboard and trackball in one, the letter keys are on one side and the trackball and number keys are on the other. The website states that you can type up to 70 words per minute.

3. The Ergodex DX1. This is a customisable keyboard, you can place the keys anywhere and then configure them until your heart is content using the software provided.

4. The Das keyboard. This keyboard has blank keys, (and as the website states) which allows you to type up to 100% faster, since there are no keys to look at when typing, your brain will quickly adapt and memorize the key positions. I would be interested to see if it really works.

5. The Saitek Eclipse Keyboard.This keyboard features patented TrueVu key illumination for use in any light, this one should impress your friends.

6. OrbiTouch Keyless keyboard. This keyboard has no keys and incorporates a mouse, it can be used by people who suffer from RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), or people with other hand or finger injuries, or is even an alternative to your conventional keyboard.

7. The Rollup keyboard. The ultimate portable keyboard that you can roll up and take anywhere, has wider keys such as the “Space’ and “Backspace” keys which contain multiple sensors to improve typing accuracy.

8. Virtual Laser keyboard.This gadget keyboard can be used with Blackberrys, Smartphones, Pocket PC/PDAs, Mac or PC users. It uses a laser beam to generate a full-size perfectly operating laser keyboard

9. Wolf King Round Type keyboard.This is a 2-in-1 PC gamepad and keyboard, and has a backlight for those hardcore gamers to play after hours.

10. Maxim Split Adjustable keyboard. For maximum comfort, this keyboard can be used split or closed depending on your preference.

Do you have a really cool keyboard or do you use the one you got with your pc?

Popularity: 11% [?]