There’s never been an explosion in software popularity like we’ve seen on the numerous mobile app stores. iOS, Android, PalmOS, BlackBerry, WebOS, and Windows
Thursday, July 22, 2010
An Infographic: State of the Apps
There’s never been an explosion in software popularity like we’ve seen on the numerous mobile app stores. iOS, Android, PalmOS, BlackBerry, WebOS, and Windows
Game Console Sales Pick Up In June
What a strange month June was for the video game industry.
The sales numbers for May had console sales down in year-over-year figures with software up. This month was a complete reversal of that with console sales skyrocketing, up five percent over June 2009. It was easy to expect the Xbox 360 to jump due to the new Xbox 360 Slim, but all of the consoles were up. (numbers in parentheses were the numbers for May 2010)
While May saw software sales up year-over-year, they were down for June. While Red Dead Redemption sold 1.5 million copies its first month, it failed to break one million in its second month of release. The top ten games for June were:
Overall sales were down six percent to $1.1 billion compared to $1.17 billion in June 2009.
The sales numbers for May had console sales down in year-over-year figures with software up. This month was a complete reversal of that with console sales skyrocketing, up five percent over June 2009. It was easy to expect the Xbox 360 to jump due to the new Xbox 360 Slim, but all of the consoles were up. (numbers in parentheses were the numbers for May 2010)
- Nintendo DS - 510,700 (383,700)
- Xbox 360 - 451,700 units (194,600)
- Nintendo Wii - 422,500 (334,800)
- PlayStation 3 - 304,800 (154,500)
- PlayStation Portable - 121,000 (59,400)
While May saw software sales up year-over-year, they were down for June. While Red Dead Redemption sold 1.5 million copies its first month, it failed to break one million in its second month of release. The top ten games for June were:
- Red Dead Redemption – Xbox 360
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Wii
- Red Dead Redemption – PS3
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Wii
- Just Dance – Wii
- Wii Fit Plus w/ Balance Board – Wii
- Toy Story 3 – DS
- UFC 2010: Undisputed – Xbox 360
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 – Wii
- UFC 2010: Undisputed – PS3
Overall sales were down six percent to $1.1 billion compared to $1.17 billion in June 2009.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Best Blu-ray Players
A Blu-ray Disc player remains the single best way of getting a crisp 1080p image onto a large-screen, high-definition display.
Before you shop for a Blu-ray player, you need a crash course in new Blu-ray terminology. The Blu-ray Disc format has gone through some awkward growing pains, which has resulted in the messy situation we have now of different players supporting (or not supporting) different Blu-ray features. Two new features you'll want to look for are BonusView and BD-Live.
Of the models we tested, three--the Panasonic, the Philips, and the Sony PlayStation 3--offered BonusView. Only one, the PlayStation 3, could handle BD-Live as well. Under the Blu-ray Disc spec, all players should be equipped to handle movie titles packed with fancy, complex menus (authored in BD-Java). One player, the Samsung, failed our BD-Java playback test: It refused to load Disney's Cars, so we could not watch the movie (let alone see the Java-intensive extra features).
Saturday, July 17, 2010
iPhone 4 camera beats the smartphone competition
Camera quality is a competitive area for the current crop of smartphones. With each new device, the gap between phones that happen to have cameras, and actual point-and-shoot cameras, shrinks.
To accurately see how good the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel new camera really performs, we put it through the same battery of tests we use for point-and-shoot digital cameras, and rated it against other cutting-edge smartphones, including the new Droid X.
The iPhone camera is 5-megapixels, but as Steve Jobs pointed out in his WWDC keynote, megapixel count alone doesn’t equal good images. Two of the smartphones we tested against the iPhone had higher megapixel counts, but they still scored lower on image quality tests.
The reason for the discrepancy? The iPhone packs its 5 million pixels onto a 1/3.2-inch backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. Sensors with backside illumination technology move the wiring from the front side of the sensor to the back, so that it’s behind the light sensors. This allows more light to reach the sensors without being diffused by the circuitry, which means the camera can capture better low-light images.
Another factor contributing to the camera’s good low-light performance is the size of its pixels. Bigger pixels capture more light, which makes for better images. Apple retained the same pixel size that it had on previous iPhones instead of shrinking them down to fit more megapixels into a smaller area, which is something many cameras do to inflate their megapixel count.
As on many smartphones (including previous iPhones), the iPhone 4’s 3.85mm camera lens has a fixed aperture of f/2.8, and automatically adjusts the shutter speed and ISO to get the best exposure. In our tests, we managed to make the ISO go as low as 80, and as high as 1000. The longest exposure time was 1/15 of a second, and the shortest was 1/10000 of a second.
The iPhone 4 is still very light on camera controls, especially compared to a smartphone like the EVO 4G which allows you to manually adjust settings such as white balance, ISO, and exposure compensation.
What the iPhone 4 has is the same tap-to-focus feature that debuted on the 3GS—tap anywhere on the screen and the camera will focus on that point and adjust the exposure for that spot. There’s a 5x digital zoom slider, which essentially crops your image in-camera. There is a new LED flash which can be set to Auto, Off, or On. You can toggle between the main camera and the new 1.4-megapixel front-facing camera. Tap-to-focus works on the front camera, but digital zoom does not.
If you switch over to Video mode, you’ll be able to use the same controls. While a video is recording, you can turn the light on and off, and tap the screen to change your focus from one subject to another. Double tapping on the screen zooms in so that your video fills the entire screen, though it is still recording at the same 1280 by 720 size. The iPhone records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second (fps) and the front facing camera records 360p video. You cannot toggle between the two cameras while it is recording.
For the still image tests, our lab took the same four photos with each camera. Without knowing which camera each photo was from, a panel of judges rated the images for exposure quality, color quality, sharpness, and distortion amount. The ratings were compiled and averaged for each category, and then used to calculate a final image quality score.
For the video tests, the lab recorded two clips with each device—one in low-light and one in regular light. Our panel then rated each clip’s video and audio quality.
Unsurprisingly, the two point-and-shoot cameras came in first in our image quality tests. The next best camera, and the highest scoring of all the smartphone cameras that we tested, was none other than the iPhone 4. Next in the rankings was the Droid X, followed by the EVO 4G, the Samsung Galaxy, and way at the bottom, the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 4 had, by a healthy margin, the best exposure and color scores of the entire bunch, beating out even the point-and-shoot cameras. It did run into trouble in the sharpness and distortion categories, performing much lower than the pocket cameras and similarly to the Droid.
These scores show that megapixel count isn’t the most imporant factor when it comes to quality, as camera manufactures sometimes claim it is. The Droid X and EVO 4G both have 8-megapixel cameras, and the Samsung Galaxy has a 5-megapixel camera. As for the point-and-shoot competition, the Samsung HZ35W is a 12-megapixel camera and the Sony SDC-WX1 is a 10.2-megapixel camera.
Click on the smartphone names to view the original, full-size test images with metadata: iPhone 4, Droid X, EVO 4G, Samsung Galaxy.
While its image quality was impressive, it was the iPhone 4’s video capabilities that really stole the show in our lab tests. Of the eight devices we rated for video, only the Flip Video M2120 scored higher. The Flip, which also records 720p, 30fps video, had just slightly better video quality than the iPhone 4, even in low-light. The Flip did have far superior audio quality when compared with the iPhone 4, which had the same audio score as the Droid X. The Samsung Galaxy had the best audio quality among the smartphones.
You can view and compare the smartphone test video clips here.
For casual photographers who mostly post their images online, the iPhone 4’s bump in image quality might be enough to make them think twice before packing an additional gadget. Quality wise, it still isn’t quite on par with entry-level point-and-shoot cameras, but the iPhone's convenience (it’s already in your pocket), low-light capabilities, and access to a large amount of editing and sharing apps, could mean trouble for the inexpensive digital camera market.
For compact camcorder fans who own an iPhone, the iPhone 4’s great video quality makes it a no-brainer alternative to packing another single-use gadget like a Flip. On the other hand, buying a Flip doesn’t require a two-year contract and a data plan.
For anyone serious about image or video quality, or who knows a bit about photography and wants manual camera controls, the iPhone 4 still has a ways to go as a camera. As a camera built into a smartphone, however, it’s as good as they get.
To accurately see how good the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel new camera really performs, we put it through the same battery of tests we use for point-and-shoot digital cameras, and rated it against other cutting-edge smartphones, including the new Droid X.
The iPhone's camera stats :-
The iPhone camera is 5-megapixels, but as Steve Jobs pointed out in his WWDC keynote, megapixel count alone doesn’t equal good images. Two of the smartphones we tested against the iPhone had higher megapixel counts, but they still scored lower on image quality tests.
The reason for the discrepancy? The iPhone packs its 5 million pixels onto a 1/3.2-inch backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. Sensors with backside illumination technology move the wiring from the front side of the sensor to the back, so that it’s behind the light sensors. This allows more light to reach the sensors without being diffused by the circuitry, which means the camera can capture better low-light images.
Another factor contributing to the camera’s good low-light performance is the size of its pixels. Bigger pixels capture more light, which makes for better images. Apple retained the same pixel size that it had on previous iPhones instead of shrinking them down to fit more megapixels into a smaller area, which is something many cameras do to inflate their megapixel count.
As on many smartphones (including previous iPhones), the iPhone 4’s 3.85mm camera lens has a fixed aperture of f/2.8, and automatically adjusts the shutter speed and ISO to get the best exposure. In our tests, we managed to make the ISO go as low as 80, and as high as 1000. The longest exposure time was 1/15 of a second, and the shortest was 1/10000 of a second.
The iPhone 4 is still very light on camera controls, especially compared to a smartphone like the EVO 4G which allows you to manually adjust settings such as white balance, ISO, and exposure compensation.
What the iPhone 4 has is the same tap-to-focus feature that debuted on the 3GS—tap anywhere on the screen and the camera will focus on that point and adjust the exposure for that spot. There’s a 5x digital zoom slider, which essentially crops your image in-camera. There is a new LED flash which can be set to Auto, Off, or On. You can toggle between the main camera and the new 1.4-megapixel front-facing camera. Tap-to-focus works on the front camera, but digital zoom does not.If you switch over to Video mode, you’ll be able to use the same controls. While a video is recording, you can turn the light on and off, and tap the screen to change your focus from one subject to another. Double tapping on the screen zooms in so that your video fills the entire screen, though it is still recording at the same 1280 by 720 size. The iPhone records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second (fps) and the front facing camera records 360p video. You cannot toggle between the two cameras while it is recording.
About the lab tests :-
We compared the iPhone 4’s camera with an iPhone 3GS, three other smartphone cameras, and two pocket point-and-shoot cameras. For the video portion of the test, we threw in a Flip Video M2120 for good measure. The other smartphones we tested were the EVO 4G, the Droid X, and the Samsung Galaxy. The point-and-shoot cameras tested were the Sony DSC-WX1 and Samsung HZ35W.For the still image tests, our lab took the same four photos with each camera. Without knowing which camera each photo was from, a panel of judges rated the images for exposure quality, color quality, sharpness, and distortion amount. The ratings were compiled and averaged for each category, and then used to calculate a final image quality score.
For the video tests, the lab recorded two clips with each device—one in low-light and one in regular light. Our panel then rated each clip’s video and audio quality.
Image quality rankings
Unsurprisingly, the two point-and-shoot cameras came in first in our image quality tests. The next best camera, and the highest scoring of all the smartphone cameras that we tested, was none other than the iPhone 4. Next in the rankings was the Droid X, followed by the EVO 4G, the Samsung Galaxy, and way at the bottom, the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 4 had, by a healthy margin, the best exposure and color scores of the entire bunch, beating out even the point-and-shoot cameras. It did run into trouble in the sharpness and distortion categories, performing much lower than the pocket cameras and similarly to the Droid.
These scores show that megapixel count isn’t the most imporant factor when it comes to quality, as camera manufactures sometimes claim it is. The Droid X and EVO 4G both have 8-megapixel cameras, and the Samsung Galaxy has a 5-megapixel camera. As for the point-and-shoot competition, the Samsung HZ35W is a 12-megapixel camera and the Sony SDC-WX1 is a 10.2-megapixel camera.
Click on the smartphone names to view the original, full-size test images with metadata: iPhone 4, Droid X, EVO 4G, Samsung Galaxy.
Video quality rankings :-
While its image quality was impressive, it was the iPhone 4’s video capabilities that really stole the show in our lab tests. Of the eight devices we rated for video, only the Flip Video M2120 scored higher. The Flip, which also records 720p, 30fps video, had just slightly better video quality than the iPhone 4, even in low-light. The Flip did have far superior audio quality when compared with the iPhone 4, which had the same audio score as the Droid X. The Samsung Galaxy had the best audio quality among the smartphones.
You can view and compare the smartphone test video clips here.
What it means :-
Apple said the quality of the camera parts is more important to capturing good photos than a high megapixel count. Our lab's test results support that theory, showing that a 5-megapixel camera can shoot higher quality images than an 8-megapixel camera.For casual photographers who mostly post their images online, the iPhone 4’s bump in image quality might be enough to make them think twice before packing an additional gadget. Quality wise, it still isn’t quite on par with entry-level point-and-shoot cameras, but the iPhone's convenience (it’s already in your pocket), low-light capabilities, and access to a large amount of editing and sharing apps, could mean trouble for the inexpensive digital camera market.
For compact camcorder fans who own an iPhone, the iPhone 4’s great video quality makes it a no-brainer alternative to packing another single-use gadget like a Flip. On the other hand, buying a Flip doesn’t require a two-year contract and a data plan.
For anyone serious about image or video quality, or who knows a bit about photography and wants manual camera controls, the iPhone 4 still has a ways to go as a camera. As a camera built into a smartphone, however, it’s as good as they get.
Latest Computer Tips And Tricks For Good Computer Health
An important part of keeping the computer in good health and working efficiently is the maintenance of the computer. Windows 95 has a lot of the tools that are required for maintaining the system. Windows 98 extends the possibilities and this makes it a lot easier. There is a range of things that you can do in order maximize the level of efficiency that the computer is able to deliver. It is possible to maintain the computer at a very low cost. There are a lot of programs available for keeping the computer in good condition and a lot of these programs feature strong engines. There are a lot of programs that are found the start menu, program menu, accessories menu and also in the systems folder for tools.
It is recommended that the defrag disk is run in Windows 95 on a regular basis at least once a month at whenever you either remove or add a program. This can also be run in Windows 98 but is should be run once a week due to the new engine. The more this software is run the faster the system will be able to operate. The programs are places in the hard disk in such a way that it allows the regularly used programs to be located a lot easier.
The scan disk should be run on the system once a month regardless of whether you are using Windows 95 and Windows 98. It is possible to run this program once a month and this is especially the case if the hard disk is taking a long time to run the systems. Normally the checks will actually run through at a reasonable folder and file. The disk cleanup is good for seeing how much space unnecessary files, which are in the temp file or the recycle bin are taking up. This will then allow you to remove the unnecessary files.
The pcdocpro is a simple piece of software that is actually very effective. This software can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website. The pcdocpro software normally takes about a minute to completely check the registry system of the computer. It is a very good idea to use the windows updates, as this will make sure that your computer is up to date and has all the latest problems sorted. Clicking on the start menu under windows 98 can access these updates.
There are other things that you can do in order to improve the speed of the computer system. The first thing that you can do is to let the computer completely start prior to opening any applications or software. Anther very useful thing to do is to refresh the desktop after closing any of the computer applications as this will remove ant unused files from the memory of the computer. It is a good idea to avoid using large sized icons on your wallpaper, as this will take up more the memory space on the computer.
It is recommended that the defrag disk is run in Windows 95 on a regular basis at least once a month at whenever you either remove or add a program. This can also be run in Windows 98 but is should be run once a week due to the new engine. The more this software is run the faster the system will be able to operate. The programs are places in the hard disk in such a way that it allows the regularly used programs to be located a lot easier.
The scan disk should be run on the system once a month regardless of whether you are using Windows 95 and Windows 98. It is possible to run this program once a month and this is especially the case if the hard disk is taking a long time to run the systems. Normally the checks will actually run through at a reasonable folder and file. The disk cleanup is good for seeing how much space unnecessary files, which are in the temp file or the recycle bin are taking up. This will then allow you to remove the unnecessary files.
The pcdocpro is a simple piece of software that is actually very effective. This software can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website. The pcdocpro software normally takes about a minute to completely check the registry system of the computer. It is a very good idea to use the windows updates, as this will make sure that your computer is up to date and has all the latest problems sorted. Clicking on the start menu under windows 98 can access these updates.
There are other things that you can do in order to improve the speed of the computer system. The first thing that you can do is to let the computer completely start prior to opening any applications or software. Anther very useful thing to do is to refresh the desktop after closing any of the computer applications as this will remove ant unused files from the memory of the computer. It is a good idea to avoid using large sized icons on your wallpaper, as this will take up more the memory space on the computer.
Friday, July 16, 2010
How to Troubleshoot a JBL PC Speaker for Distorted Sound ?
JBL computer speakers attach to your computer via the audio output jack and provide better sound quality than the internal computer speaker. Most JBL computer speaker systems are active or self-powered, meaning that they must be plugged into an electrical outlet in order to amplify the audio signal. Audio distortion is characterized by static, crackling or hissing sounds and can be the result of interference, overdrive (when the signal is too "hot"), faulty hardware or a corrupted sound file.
Instructions :-
1- Check for interference by turning off your monitor and listening for distortion. If the noise is eliminated by turning off the monitor, move speakers and speaker cables away from the monitor.
2-Examine the speaker cable connections. Ensure that the speakers are plugged into the appropriate audio jack(s) on the back of the computer. JBL speaker cables are color coded and the green-tipped cable should be plugged into the green primary audio output jack on your sound card. Cables should be plugged in snugly and completely. If there is any doubt about the connection, unplug and then plug the cable into the jack again.
3-Adjust the volume of the sound card. If the output signal is over-driven (the audio signal is too "hot") this may cause distortion. Double-click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your computer screen to bring up the audio levels/volume control panel. Bring down the primary audio volume slider by clicking on it and dragging downward until the slider is midway between the maximum and minimum settings. Adjust the speaker volume and listen for distortion.
4-Adjust the treble and bass knobs on the subwoofer, setting them back at the central/nominal midway setting. Many JBL computer speaker systems include a powered subwoofer for added bass response. If the subwoofer is being overpowered by the bass signal and causing distortion, this will eliminate it.
5-Test the JBL speakers through another audio source. Plug the green-tipped speaker cable into another computer, a laptop or the headphone jack on a portable CD player or digital media device. Turn the volume down all the way and play an audio file, bringing the speaker volume up until the sound is at a comfortable listening volume. If distortion is still present, the problem may be the JBL speakers or speaker cables. If the distortion is gone, the problem is most likely with the original computer's sound card.
Instructions :-
1- Check for interference by turning off your monitor and listening for distortion. If the noise is eliminated by turning off the monitor, move speakers and speaker cables away from the monitor.
2-Examine the speaker cable connections. Ensure that the speakers are plugged into the appropriate audio jack(s) on the back of the computer. JBL speaker cables are color coded and the green-tipped cable should be plugged into the green primary audio output jack on your sound card. Cables should be plugged in snugly and completely. If there is any doubt about the connection, unplug and then plug the cable into the jack again.
3-Adjust the volume of the sound card. If the output signal is over-driven (the audio signal is too "hot") this may cause distortion. Double-click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your computer screen to bring up the audio levels/volume control panel. Bring down the primary audio volume slider by clicking on it and dragging downward until the slider is midway between the maximum and minimum settings. Adjust the speaker volume and listen for distortion.
4-Adjust the treble and bass knobs on the subwoofer, setting them back at the central/nominal midway setting. Many JBL computer speaker systems include a powered subwoofer for added bass response. If the subwoofer is being overpowered by the bass signal and causing distortion, this will eliminate it.
5-Test the JBL speakers through another audio source. Plug the green-tipped speaker cable into another computer, a laptop or the headphone jack on a portable CD player or digital media device. Turn the volume down all the way and play an audio file, bringing the speaker volume up until the sound is at a comfortable listening volume. If distortion is still present, the problem may be the JBL speakers or speaker cables. If the distortion is gone, the problem is most likely with the original computer's sound card.
New Sony Camera Cases For 2010
Sony is showing off four new camera cases for 2010 that are quite stylish. Numerous color options will be available in the various models, and Sony has once again demonstrated they are one of the leaders in camera case design. We have found these items to be one of the best inexpensive gifts to give to someone for any occasion and look better than the other camera cases out there that we’ve seen.
Meet the LCS-CSY – a light, wallet-style case with textured nylon finish. Like the other cases, it protects your camera against dust, scratches and rain splashes and has an easy-open velcro flap. An internal pocket stores spare Memory Stick or SD Cards (not included) and it also has a belt loop attachment. It comes in one color, black, and has a red trim.
Made for the DSC-TX9 (but could possibly fit other cameras), the LCM-THC semi-hard carry case protects your camera against dust and scratches. The case has a premium finish in soft-touch, “velvet feel” polyurethane and the slim design takes up less space in pocket or bag. A sharp metal-look embossed trim compliments the color coordinated hand strap.
The LCM-THC comes in two colors Black And Gold
The LCS-TWH is a light, easy-carry case in soft fabric and protects the camera against dust, scratches and rain splashes. An external pocket stores spare Memory Stick or SD cards (not included) and it includes a carabiner for attachment to belt loop, bag or rucksack.
Purple, Pink, Black, White and Brown versions of the LCS-TWH will be available soon.
Next we have the LCS-TWJ semi-hard carry case that protects Cyber-shot (and other) cameras against dust and scratches. It has a premium finish in simulated leather and a slim design that takes up less space in pocket or bag. The metal-look embossed trim looks quite sharp and the case also has a belt loop attachment. Purple, Pink, Black, White and Brown versions will be available soon.
The LCM-THC comes in two colors Black And Gold
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