AudioCubes is offering the Sony Qualia 010 headphone featuring nano-composite diaphragm technology, an oxygen-free copper cord, and an lightweight magnesium frame for$ 3,299.00USD . Actualizing playback frequency of 5Hz - 120kHz. Adopting 99.9999% high purity oxygen free copper "6N-OFC" to cord/code.

BrandChannel readers have picked the top global brands for 2004 in Brandchannel's fourth annual Readers' Choice Awards. This year's winning brands include Apple, Sony, Pixar, Ikea and Al Jazeera.

Apple designed, marketed and iPoded its way to become the Reader's Choice for the brand with the most impact in 2004. Despite its public offering Google was bumped to second after winning the award for the last two consecutive years. Ikea's global expansion lifted it to third as Coca-Cola, the brand cited so often as THE global brand, disappeared entirely from all top five lists.

New to the awards: Australian travel brand Lonely Planet, animation powerhouse Pixar, Swedish fashion's answer to Ikea, H&M and Al Jazeera, which branding professionals now feel has global brand impact alongside powerhouses like Starbucks and Nokia.

Casio has announced the EXILIM Pro EX-P505, a new five megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch LCD screen that rotates and folds out. The EX-P505 is first Casio digital camera to use the MPEG-4 codec for encoding video, it can record full VGA (640x480) video at 30 fps with stereo audio at 4.2 or 2.2 MBit/sec (approx. 30 / 60 mins on a 1 GB card).

Gizmodo

Olympus has announced its first Tough Digital Assistant (TDA) - the R1000 series of handhelds. The R1000 series features IP54 specifications on dust and water splash resistance, longer battery life, the ability to store data permanently via the built-in NandFlash memory, configurable to either Win CE.Net 4.2 or Embedded Linux Operating System, tough enough to withstand even a 4 feet drop to concrete and built-in Bluetooth version as well as an on-board integrated Bluetoothand WLAN 802.11b model. Measures 5.2 x 3.0 x 0.6 inch and weighs 180g (including battery)

via Gizmodo

SBC Communications Inc. plans to acquire AT&T Corp. in a deal worth US$16 billion, the company said in a statement Monday. The deal will create the largest telecommunications carrier in the U.S.

"Today's agreement is a huge step forward in our efforts to build acompany that will lead an American communications revolution in the21st century," said SBC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward Whitacre in the statement.

Whitacre will remain in his current position, while AT&TChairman and CEO David Dorman will become president of the mergedcompany, to be based in San Antonio, Texas, where SBC has headquarters.

Under terms of the agreement, shareholders of AT&T will receive0.77942 shares of SBC common stock for each common share of AT&T,the statement said. Based on the Jan. 28 closing price of SBC's stock,this exchange ratio equals $18.41 per share. In addition, AT&T willpay its shareholders a special dividend of $1.30 per share, bringingthe total consideration for each AT&T share to $19.71, and valuingthe deal at around $16 billion, it said.

The acquisition, which is subject to approval by AT&T'sshareholders and U.S. regulatory authorities, is expected to close bythe first half of 2006, the statement said.

Vodafone K.K. has announced plans to launch - Japan's first "motion sensitive" handset - Toshiba V603SH (pictured above) and the Toshiba V603T. The Toshiba V603SH features a one-chip sensor that allows customers to perform menu operations by moving the handset up, down, left or right and call up often-used functions (shortcuts) by moving the handset in a variety of preset patterns. The Toshiba V603T features a special swivel screen. Both phones offer analog TV tuners that also capture FM radio signals.

Toshiba V603T

- via MobileTracker

According to Business Week some Telecom analysts are scratching their heads at SBC's bid to acquire AT&T for 16 billion, in a move touted to push SBC into the enterprise market catering to large corporations and government agencies. Here are some of the quotes - Telecom analyst Daniel Zito of investment company Legg Mason - "From SBC's perspective, it's not obvious to me why they would want to do this now. While big, the enterprise sector tends to generate below-average returns, because of thin margins and high capital costs,"

Telecom investor Michael Mahoney who runs a technology fund for investment company EGM Capital. "AT&T-SBC is a questionable deal at best," -- "I can understand what they're going after, but I think they're going to get a lot of things they don't want and...end up paying more than it's worth." Mahoney, believes AT&T is worth about half the $15 billion to $16 billion SBC may be poised to pay.

Google has released a beta of an application program interface (API), for its successful AdWords program. The API will allow developers to better manage campaigns on their own, as well as further innovate the delivery of Google's text-based search ads. "The AdWords API beta program is an open invitation to developers to explore new concepts (and then write great software) for managing Google AdWords advertising campaigns," Josh McFarland, Google AdWords Product Manager, and Nelson Minar, software engineer wrote, in the Google Blog. Each user of the API will be limited in the amount of "calls," or requests for information, made to the service each day. The developers say this will prevent any one user from taking the entire system down, and keep the service running smoothly.

The nation's second largest local phone company SBC Communications Inc. has agreed to buy AT&T Corp. for about $16 billion in stock. AT&T shareholders will receive SBC stock worth $18.41 a share and a special dividend of $1.30 a share. The decision followed late-night meetings by directors of SBC, the nation's second-biggest regional phone company, and the 120-year-old telephone icon AT&T. "It's a done deal," said SBC spokesman Larry Solomon. "We just acquired AT&T." SBC Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre would run the combined company, and AT&T CEO David Dorman would be president. The new company would be based at SBC headquarters in San Antonio, Tex.

A team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and RSA Laboratories said the "immobilizer" security system developed by Texas Instruments that make possible high-security car keys and swipe-by gasoline passes could be cracked using a "relatively inexpensive electronic device" making it easier to steal a car or get a free tankful of gasoline. The team said criminals can easily decipher the code RFID system uses because of its simplicity. Avi Rubin, technical director of the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute said the team found that the security measures built into the devices are inadequate. "An attacker who cracks the secret key in an RFID tag can then bypass security measures and fool tag readers in cars or at gas stations," Rubin said in a statement. The radio-frequency security system being used in more than 150 million new Fords, Toyotas and Nissans involves a transponder chip embedded in the key and a reader inside the car. If the reader does not recognize the transponder, the car will not start, even if the key inserted in the ignition is the correct one.

It's similar to the new gasoline purchase system in which a reader inside the gas pump is able to recognize a small key-chain tag when the tag is waved in front of it. The transaction is then charged to the tag owner's credit card.

Researchers said they were able to crack that code too.

According to a Marketing magazine report, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe plans to launch a music service specifically for the PSP, which is expected to arrive in Europe and the US in March. Sony will put the delivery mechanism in place in time for the handheld console's launch, using it to allow users to download game levels and software updates. However, the system will be extended to music in the summer. Given the PSP's multimedia focus, it's entirely possible the service could subsequently be used to deliver video downloads," The Register web-site reports.

Audio Cubes is also offering the Sony PSP-1000 PlayStation Portable for just $269, this is the cheapest I have seen it at all import shops. 7-12 day shipping period.

Reuters is reporting via a source in the know, that the boards of directors of SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp. met today to vote on a more than $15 billion stock deal in which SBC will acquire AT&T. Last week The New York Times and Wall Street Journal both reported that executives from the nation's second largest local phone company SBC were in "fluid" and "sensitive" talks about a buyout in the $15 billion to $16 billion range. SBC had no comment. The combination would help SBC's business with large corporations. If the boards approve the deal, it could be announced as early as Monday, the source said.

According to the yearly Brandchannel.com survey recognizing the brands that have had the most impact (negative or positive) on our lives, Google is no longer the top brand, the Search Giant slipped to second place after two years of being in the top spot. Apple Computer now takes the top spot after a total of 1,984 brandchannel readers(very low number) from 75 countries voted online between November and December 2004. BrandChannel said "It's hard to imagine a brand having a shinier year than Apple. Notably punctuated with iMacs, iPods and iTunes, Apple's 2004 presence was felt in the press, in ads and on the streets, with iPod coming to define the word "ubiquitous." Coupled with strong revenue, Apple reported a net profit of US$ 295 million in the last quarter of 2004 alone and a 2004 overall net income growth of 300 percent. Yes, 300 percent.

At Apple's core is great innovation, beautiful design and an ability to bring warmth and passion to those who may be completely incurious about technical gadgetry but need it nonetheless to survive in today's world."

via WebProNews

AudioCubes is offering the Sony MDR-SA1000 Stereo Headphones with nano composite HD driver and 80kHz playback for 239. The headphones feature a 50mm driver unit that reproduces overflows sound, and 360kJ/ high magnetic force neodymium magnet that produce a rich bass. High purity 99.9999% 6N-OFC litz wire has a superior signal transmission quality.

NHJ Japan has announced the D'zign DV-5 their new camcorder featuring a 2GB hard-drive. Other features include a 1/2.7 type 3.2MP CCD supports MPEG-4 recording up to 640 x 480 dots, fixed lens, with a digital zoom of 2x (when using 640 x 480) and 4x (when using 320 x 240, supports recording of still images in the JPEG format, up to a maximum of 2048 x 1536 dots, Voice recorder functionality (WAV format), MP3 files support, 2" TFT LCD and USB 2.0. The D'zign measures 82mm x 73mm x 35mm. , Available in early February. should cost around 59,800 yen. - More

Jeffrey Lee Parson, 19, will be imprisoned at a low-security jail and must perform 10 months of community service for unleashing a Internet worm that crippled 48,000 computers in 2003. The Internet "has created a dark hole, a dungeon if you will, for people who have mental illnesses or people who are lonely," Judge Marsha Pechman told the Seattle court. "I didn't see any parent standing there saying, 'It's not a healthy thing to lock yourself in a room and create your own reality.'" Defense lawyers said Parson feared leaving the house and his parents provided little support. Parson pleaded guilty last year to attempting to cause damage to a protected computer and to, "modifying the Blaster Internet worm and using it to launch a distributed denial-of-service attack against a Microsoft Windows update Web site as well as personal computers"
Parson's W32.Blaster-B variant first appeared just days after W32.Blaster-A first appeared. Blaster-B used a different file name, teekids.exe, as opposed to the original msblast.exe.

The worm was programmed to take advantage of a vulnerability in the Distributed Component Object Model interface component of Windows, which handles messages sent using the remote procedure call protocol, to spread itself over the Internet and launch denial-of-service attacks against popular Web sites, including Microsoft's Windows Update Web site.

Stockist - AudioCubes is offering the Sony PSP-1000K PlayStation Portable Value-Pack which includes the PSP, a case, and a private remote control for $329. Set for launch in the USA sometime in March the PSP is touted as the game console of the future (at least 2005), speculated price under $200. Refresh - The PSP features a TFT LCD that displays full color (16.77 million colors) on a 480 x 272 pixel high-resolution screen, compact size body, built-in stereo speakers, plus a battery pack, high-capacity optical medium UMD(Universal Media Disc), enabling game software, rich with full-motion video and other forms of digital entertainment content, to be stored. The newly developed UMD has a capacity up to 1.8GB of digital data with a broad range of digital entertainment content such as music video clips, movies and sports programs can be provided on UMD.

Audio Cubes is also offering the Sony PSP-1000 PlayStation Portable for just $269, this is the cheapest I have seen it at all import shops. 7-12 day shipping period.

China's Zhejiang Huahong Optronics Group showed off a new flash-memory portable video player tentatively called the MTV Player at 39th Midem music conference France . Set to go on sale in China in March, the palm-sized gadget features 2 gigabytes of storage space and a 2-inch screen. "The plan is for people to download movies from their computers or from the Web," said company president Wang Yuan Long.

- More

Sony, Japan has announced the D-EJ720 a new CD Walkman with gum type charge pond. The D-EJ720 will be available in Japan late February for about 11,000 Yen. Available in silver, blue, pink and orange, the D-EJ720 features the gum type nickel hydrogen charge pond "NH-10WM" attachment. Measures 136.1x136.3x20.4mm and weighs 172g (196g with charge pond). Provides 27 hours of Continual playback using built-in charge pond. Provides 42 hours when used jointly with alkaline electric battery.

19 year old Jeffrey Lee Parson of Hopkins, Minnesota got a small break yesterday, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman felt something for Jeffrey, sentencing him to just a year and a half in prison for creating a variant of the Blaster Internet worm that affected over 48,000 computers. Prosecutors wanted a maximum of 37 months. U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said Jeffrey Lee Parson's neglectful parents were to blame for the psychological troubles that led to his actions in the summer of 2003. Parson's lawyers said he used to be so fearful of social interaction that he hated to leave his home. Parson apologized to the court and to Microsoft, saying, "I know I've made a huge mistake and I hurt a lot of people and I feel terrible." He will still have to pay restitution to Microsoft and to people whose computers were affected in an amount to be determined at a hearing set for Feb. 10. The judge imposed three years of supervised release following his prison term, during which Parson can only use computers for business and education. She told him to complete 100 hours of community service. Parson, who will serve his time at a low-security prison, had faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

iBIZ Technology Corp. has announced the availability of Virtual Laser Keyboard. The Virtual Laser Keyboard attaches to handhelds and projects the image of a full-size keyboard onto the surface of the desk where the handheld is placed, allowing the user to input text without a physical keyboard. The iBIZ Virtual Laser Keyboard is compatible with Palm, Pocket PCs, laptops and desktop PCs. The Virtual Laser Keyboard is priced at $199.99. - via 14u

- BUY

The iBOM IM-100 is a portable music player without a display from Korean Indi-Systems . Available in 128MB (white) and 256MB (black) memory configurations the iBOM measures 40x40x13mm and weighs 25 grams, usb powered, features a usb 1.1 interface and supports mp3 playback. The iBom IM-100 offers 10 hours of continuously playback

via i4u

Oliver Friedrichs, senior manager for incident response at security technology maker Symantec said the worm (bot software) exploiting weak MySQL database passwords on Windows computers had essentially stopped spreading after the systems infected with the program were cut off from the control of several central computers. An estimated 8,000 Windows computers running the MySQL database were probably infected with the worm program, referred to as the MySQL bot worm or SpoolCLL, that the worm installs on vulnerable machines. "We are just seeing residual infections," Friedrichs said. "The worm (Spybot.ivq) cannot connect to those servers, so it has lost its control channel. Without those commands, the worm is not going to be able to spread." Zdnet reports that yesterday, the company that develops the MySQL database software, MySQL AB, emphasized that the bot software spread by exploiting weak passwords and that MySQL runs with elevated privileges under Windows. The company's security team released an advisory outlining steps that MySQL administrators could use to identify infections and safeguard their systems. Microsoft was not immediately available for comment on whether the installation of code by exploiting MySQL's user-defined functions could be blocked on Windows.

A federal judge sentenced 19-year-old Jeffrey Lee Parson to 18 months in prison for releasing a variant of the Blaster worm that was used to attack more than 48,000 computers resulting in an estimated $1.2 million in damage when it spread in August 2003. FBI agents arrested Parson at his home in Hopkins, Minnesota, in August 2003, just two weeks after his "MSBlast.B" variant began to tunnel into Microsoft Windows-based computers. Parson pleaded guilty to attempting to cause damage to a protected computer and to, "modifying the Blaster Internet worm and using it to launch a distributed denial-of-service attack against a Microsoft Windows update Web site as well as personal computers". Now 19, appeared in US District Court in Seattle, where he was also ordered to perform community service, pay restitution and be placed under supervision for three years following the sentence. Parson said he created his "B" or "teekids" variant of the Blaster worm and used it to access fifty computers which he then used to launch a broader attack on more than 48,000 computers. CNN reports Parson's lawyers said he has made great strides since his arrest. They also credited him with making a Seattle School District video warning teens of the dangers of Internet vandalism.

The popular open-source database MySQL that caters to Web-based applications. Unix and Linux systems is under attack by the MySpooler worm which targets weak password controlled systems and then uses a known exploit to gain entry to install a backdoor program called a "Wootbot." Infected systems connect to an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server, which instructs them to scan various networks for other vulnerable mysql servers. The new malware worm started to spread across the net yesterday and has so far infected several thousand MySQL installations, spreading at the rate of 100 per minute. The MySQL AB Web site claims more than 5 million MySQL installations worldwide.
MySQL users are advised to select a strong password for the "root" account on Windows installations. Administrators should also set up restricted access to root accounts and apply firewall rules to make sure MySQL servers are not exposed to attackers. -

update 7:06 pm - Symantec reports the nasty mySQL worm that spread to over 8,000 Windows machines has been stopped in it's tracks. The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers that caused the worm to spread are now closed. However, many systems still have to be checked to ensure they have not been compromised.

Kenwood Japan has announced the M512A3 and the M256A3 portable audio players. The flash based Kenwood M512A3 features 512MB internal memory, available in white, black, orange, and blue, the flash based Kenwood 256MB version M256A3 is available in white and black. The player will supports both MP3 and WMV formats with support for digital rights management (DRM) WMV files, requires Kenwood's software to transfer your music files, ability to use the device as a flash drive, FM Tuner, Voice Recording, 12 hours playback on single AAA, Blue Backlit LCD and USB 2.0 - TechJapan

Yahoo Inc. is now offering a new tool that allows users of its local search service to send restaurant or business information in the form of a text message from a computer to a mobile phone. The new feature can be used when clicking the "local" tab in the top of Yahoo Search. The new service is available across all the major wireless carriers at no charge for consumers (wireless carriers may charge fees for receiving text messages on a mobile handset). In October 2004 Google rolled out a test service that allows people to use mobile phones or handheld devices to use Google's Web search via SMS.

Microsoft Corp., reported yesterday that the company earned $3.46 billion, or 32 cents per share, up from $1.55 billion, or 14 cents per share, a year ago on strong demand for an alien-fighting video game Halo 2 and software for computer servers. Microsoft Corp. beat Wall Street expectations as quarterly earnings more than doubled. Forbes reports Revenue rose 7 percent to $10.82 billion from $10.15 billion. Microsoft said its server and tools business grew 18 percent from the year-ago quarter, particularly for the SQL server. Selling more than 6 million copies of Halo 2 "proves the company can turn a profit on a business by selling software once the hardware has penetrated the market deeply enough," says Matt Rosoff, tech industry analyst at research firm Directions on Microsoft.

Microsoft shares rose 16 cents to $26.27 in extended trading after closing up 10 cents at $26.11 on the Nasdaq.

The Health Buddy 2 from Health Hero Network is a Home health monitor that facilitates patient education with clinical databases and decision support tools. Features include a Easy-to-use, patient centric design, Simple, intuitive four button operation, Large, high resolution color screen, Support for multiple languages, Multiple medical device ports*, Friendly tutorial preloaded on
each appliance, Uses remote configuration for patient customization and Health Buddy System supports 45 health management programs including NCQA certified: Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes and Heart Failure

via engadget

Asian Products is now offering a new portable video player from AnTech running on the Intel Xscale CPU for OEM. The portable video player features a 3.5 inch Transflex TFT Touch screen with 64K Colors and a 240x320 resolution, a 20 or 30GB drive, USB host function, 32MB SD-Ram, mpg, .wmv, .asf, .avi video support, mp3, .wma, .wav music support, jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png photo format support, TV out and USB 2.0. The AnTech PVP weighs 315g and offers 8.5 hour playback time.

via ubergizmo

Cingular yesterday added the LG F9100 to their handset lineup. The LG F9100 features a slide out QWERTY keyboard, 65K color 128×160 pixel display, IM and Java 2.0 support. Cingular is currently charging $149.99 for the phone along with a 2-year activation.

via mobile tracker

Doctor David Green from Johannesburg, South Africa has developed a pill bottle that uses cellphone technology to remind patients to take their medicines and warns them if they are about to take an extra dose by mistake. The SIMpill device is aimed at patients on long-term medication for diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, epilepsy, diabetes and asthma, for whom missing even a few doses can have potentially life-threatening consequences. The patented bottle contains an electronic chip that sends an SMS to a secure central server when the cap is removed. The SMS includes a unique pill box identification number. The patients' pill-taking schedules were programmed into the tamperproof pill bottles by the pharmacist who dispenses their medicines. - MORE

Axentra's Net-Box is an all-in-one, pre-configured Internet gateway, firewall, web, email and file server. Available in two models the H-70 $499/80GB and H-90 $699/160GB - More

- Seen at ehomeupgrade

Sony has announced the Sony Cybershot DSC-W5 a 5 megapixel digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom. Features include a 2.5 “LCD screen, 5.1 Megapixel image capture, and high speed performance thanks to the Real Imaging Processor chip, 3X optical zoom, 32 Megabytes of built-in flash memory, supports USB 2.0 and MPEG Movie Modes: MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640 x 480 at 30fps), (MPEG VX Fine requires Memory Stick PRO media) MPEG VX Standard with Audio (640 x 480 at 16fps), Video Mail (160 x 112 at 8fps) with Audio. Priced at $350. - MORE

UK-based Bluebroc has announced the availability of the C-Station. Touted as a 'relaxation station,' the C-Station is designed to combine home computing and mobile working with comfort of the uttermost importance. The C-shaped workspace wrapped around the ergonomically designed chair provides space for a remote control, mobile phone, book and drink. In addition, a PC or Mac can be installed with adjustable flat screen monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse. According to the Company the C-station is in high demand all over the world, with one of it's first UK customers being celebrity gadget lover Jonathan Ross. From 2600 pounds (C-station) to 3400 pound (C2-station). - MORE

Earlier today Motorola CEO Ed Zander was on CNBC showing off the special edition Motorola V3 RAZR that will be included in the Oscar bags for the fabulous A list celebrities. The special edition phone will be black, instead of the standard metal finish. A representative for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would not comment of the black V3, something to do with standards, but I will take the CEOs word. - MORE

Sony Europe has announced the launch of the MV-700HR a new portable DVD featuring a screen that faces out, meaning it folds neatly, taking up less space. The Sony MV-700HR provides 3 hours battery life, supports DVDs, compatible with DivX, CD-R and MP3 files support, Memory Stick slot and in-car kit. SONY MV700HR 554 Regular price: $599.95 - More

MioTech today unveiled the Mitac Mio268 and the Mio269 their latest handheld GPS navigation systems, the Mitac Mio268 and the Mio269( the first harddrive based handheld GPS system) both feature a 300 MHz Intel PXA-255 processor, a 3.5-inch 320 x 240 65K TFT Touchscreen LCD, Microsoft Windows CE .Net 4.2 Core version back bone, MioMap CE Version 1.0, 32MB ROM, 64MB SDRAM, built-in loud speaker and SD/MMC expansion slots. The Mio269 features a 1", 2.5 GB Hard Disk Drive loaded with maps of Europe, both players come with MP3 player software.

The Mio268 (black and metallic color) costs EUR 449; the Mio269 (charcoal grey and dark silver color) with a 2GB hard disk costs EUR 649 and will be available from Mio’s website starting February. - Seen at MobileMag

Stockist - Sonos.com is now shipping their networked music streaming platform consisting of a wireless LCD equipped handheld Controller, ZonePlayer (amplified audio output device), and the music server PC application called the Desktop Controller. According to the company you don't need a PC in every room, a music server or a wireless network. Just a Sonos ZonePlayer and speakers in the rooms of your choice and a Sonos Controller in hand to access all your digital music, no matter where it's stored. - Seen at gigaom

- Buy - Price: $1199.00

SBC spokesman Kevin Belgrade today in a statement said SBC has no comment on rumors or speculation following reports from New York Times and Wall Street Journal indicating that San Antonio-based SBC Communications Inc. executives are making a bid to buy out rival AT&T Corp. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal both reported that executives from the nation's second largest local phone company SBC are in "fluid" and "sensitive" talks about a buyout in the $15 billion to $16 billion range. No final firm decisions have been made, according to the Times. Belgrade's response does little to squash the rumor. Bizjournals reports a buy out of AT&T would provide SBC with a notable stake in the long-distance market, which SBC has been working to capture. Bloomberg reports shares of biggest US long-distance phone provider AT&T Corp., rose as much as 7.4 percent amid optimism that SBC Communications Inc. may buy the 120-year-old company for more than $16 billion

MobiBlu, Korea, has announced the DVH-100 a new 20GB portable media player with color screen - DVH-100. Features include a 2.22" 320x240 pixel color TFT screen, supports MP3, wma, wmv, wma drm formats as well as mpeg1, mpeg2, mpeg4, xvid, dvix, avi., fast USB
2.0 connectivity to both windows and Mac computers, USB 1.1(host), voice recording (WAV), direct encoding: MP3, WAV and download speed: Max.480mbps. Approximately 14 hours continuous playback(audio) - Approximately 6 hours continuous playback(video)

The MobiBlu DVH-100 hard drive media player measures 118x65x20mm and weighs 185g

via i4u

Microsoft Corp. has announced plans to broaden its anti-piracy "Windows Genuine Advantage program" in effort to combat piracy of its flagship operating system Windows. The company will extend the program to 20 new languages in February and limit access to most software updates to users who authenticate their Windows software. In July 2004, results for the Business Software Alliance Global Software Piracy Study conducted by International Data Corp. showed 36 percent of the software installed on computers worldwide was pirated in 2003. Microsoft aims to reduce the impact of pirated software on legitimate software resellers and economies around the world, which lose nearly US$ 29 billion a year to pirated software. Tomshardware reports Microsoft will leverage its download content and access to updates for its software, such as additional content, patches and security fixes, to make purchasing its software more attractive: The pilot program launched in September of last year, encouraged users to type in the serial number of their operating system, before they were able to download additional content such as the firm's recently announced anti-spyware. Microsoft will offer free downloads of Photo Story 3, Winter Fun Pack 2004, rebates for MSN Games, Windows SharePoint, List Builder and Outlook Live to entice users to take part in program. A mandatory authentication of software for most downloads is expected to be implemented by midyear. Microsoft is offering a genuine version of Windows at a reduced price for those who discover that they have been sold counterfeit versions of Windows. The price varies from $10 to $150 depending on the country.

AudioCubes is offering the Sony MDR-SA3000 Stereo Headphones with nano composite HD driver and 100kHz playback for $369. The headphones feature a 50mm driver unit that reproduces overflows sound, and 360kJ/ high magnetic force neodymium magnet that produce a powerful bass. High purity 99.9999% 6N-OFC litz wire has a superior signal transmission quality. Unit is light weight with an ultra stylish design plus a total comfort around your ears.

German business software giant SAP AG, yesterday announced their intention to add 3,000 employees this year in a bid to boost its software revenue. 500 of the jobs will be here in the US where SAP America Inc. employs approximately 5,000. SAP also announced that in the fourth quarter, the company earned $703 million. a 29 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2003. Calling 2005 a "year of investment," Europe's largest software company said it was pushing to win market share at a time when Oracle was busy with the integration of PeopleSoft. In other news Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison yesterday said Oracle is up for technology war with business applications software leader SAP AG in a bid to increase his software company profits from its recently completed takeover of PeopleSoft Inc.

Shareholders of Asia's biggest computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd. have approved the purchase of IBM's personal-computer division for US$ 1.75 billion- ($1.25 billion in cash and stock for its majority stake in the merged desktop and laptop business, and US$500 million worth of debt and liabilities). The purchase will make Lenovo the world's third-largest PC maker. This news follows an a request by American lawmakers to investigate the national security implications of Lenovo's deal with International Business Machines Corp based on the Chinese government large stake in Lenovo. The Lawmakers contend that the companies' agreement might result in the Chinese government being involved in computer contracts with the US government. The lawmakers wanted the review to be done by the US Committee on Foreign Investment, which considers security risks of foreign companies buying or investing in American businesses.

Online retail giant Amazon.com Inc. is set to unveil a local business directory called Block View that supplements address and phone number listings with a photographic tour. The free service from Amazon's A9.com, consists of 20 million street-level photographs that will be displayed alongside local search results. The data was complied by covering tens of thousands of miles in trucks equipped with digital cameras and global positioning system, or GPS, receivers. A9's photos initially will span most addresses in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Seattle and Portland, Oregon. A9 plans to add photographs of business in other major cities later this year.

According to the latest Japanese weekly sales charts, the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) is beginning to outsell the Nintendo DS. The latest sales figures, for the week starting 16 January, show about 64,600 PSPs were shipped to retailers in Japan, over 10,000 more than the 53,500 Nintendo DS consoles shipped in the same period. Sony Computer Entertainment chief Ken Kutaragi recently announced that Sony had shipped 800,000 PSPs since the handheld console's 12 December 2004 debut (Japan). Today, Nintendo said it had shipped 2.84m DS units since its late November launch (US and Japan)

Benq Japan has announced the Joybee 130 a new portable audio player with built-in SD memory card slot. The Joybee 130 will be available from the middle of February for 15,000 Yen.

The player features 512MB built-in memory in addition an SD memory card slot that supports an up 1GB SD cards, available in orange, blue and grey, liquid crystal display with Japanese indication, MP3, WMA (WMA DRM) and WAVE playback support, USB 2.0 interface, works with Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS X 10.3.3, FM tuner, voice recording function, FM sound recording and built-in microphone.

15 hours battery life. Measures 72.5x50.6x17.9mm and weighs approximately 41g - More

AudioCubes is offering the Sony MDR-SA5000 Stereo Headphones with nano composite HD driver and 110kHz playback for $769. The headphones feature a 50mm driver unit that reproduces overflows sound, and 360kJ/ high magnetic force neodymium magnet that produce a powerful bass. High purity 99.9999% 6N-OFC litz wire has a superior signal transmission quality. Unit is light weight with strong magnesium body frame. An ultra stylish design plus a total comfort around your ears.

Olympia's OL 3000 Infoglobe is a 100-year calendar and real-time clock that displays the time and date in digital numbers inside the globe; the clock automatically adjusts for daylight savings- Connected with your local service, the OL3000 provides a 76-station memory for caller ID names and numbers. As calls come in, the information rotates around the dome; you can also add one of three programmable message alerts. The Infoglobe presents dates, messages and Caller ID information in floating words. Priced at $46.99USD Seen
- Buy

Linksys today announced the WGA54AG their new Wireless A/G Game Adapter (WGA54AG) that allowing popular game consoles wireless connection to the Internet for real-time multiplayer gaming. Features include Compatiblilty with 802.11a, b and g compliant devices, works with network ready game consoles, including PlayStation2, Xbox, and GameCube and designed for Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition so users can wirelessly connect a Media Center Extender-enabled Xbox to a Windows Media Center PC. The Wireless A/G Game Adapter (WGA54AG) is available now for $129.