Nick and Noah Club Penguin

Wall Street Journal: Verizon to announce iPhone on Tuesday (Steve Jobs to appear?)

Well, here we are: the Wall Street Journal says Verizon will indeed announce the iPhone at its mysterious Tuesday event, according to “a source familiar with the matter.” That’s all the info the Journal has, but we’d say that all but seals it at this point — and you know we’ll be there live when it happens.

P.S. And just like that, Apple’s managed to once again be one of the biggest stories at CES with zero presence here. That’s what, five years in a row now?

Update: All Things D has it on good authority that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will be making an appearance at this here event. Of course, even they can’t confirm it 100 percent, but where there’s smoke…

via Engadget

CES 2011 Kicks off Today

Well CES 2011 kicked off today in Las Vegas! Although I was not able to attend this year,  I am eagerly following the all updates and new products being introduced by all the savvy computer companies.

What do you expect to see come out of CES this year? My guess is a lot of new Home Entertainment options, 3D technology for both Television Sets, Video Camera’s and Eye Wear! I think we will see a flux of new tablets.

Stay tuned for this weekends episode of NuttyNerd and a complete wrap up of CES 2011! Also make sure to check out Geek Beat TV for onsite coverage of the events!

Episode 10 – Time Machine

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and find that picture of the kids you lost on your computer ? In this episode of Nutty Nerd TV, I will teach you how you can set up Time Machine on your Macintosh computer so you don't ever have to worry about losing your photos, videos, or documents again. 

Watch the iPad/iPod Version by clicking here. 

HOW TO: Your Get Your Old PC Running Like New Again

Now that the new year is upon us, many people may be thinking about dumping their slower, outdated hardware and starting with a clean slate. But why shell out hundreds, if not thousands for a new system? There are several ways to give your PC a makeover that will get it running as good as new for much less.

Here are four things to try.

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1. Do More With Less

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Running too much software on your computer can eat up your hard drive space and degrade performance quickly. Be efficient when selecting software; only get what you need and use one solution instead of two when possible. Here are a few areas where you can cut corners:

Antivirus software: Choose an antivirus product that protects your computer from viruses, spyware and adware. There’s no need to purchase a separate solution to protect your computer from each when most of the top brands offer comprehensive protection. Using just one application for protection will decrease the number of programs running on your machine at the same time.

PDF tools: The top PDF tools offer more features than the average consumer actually needs. Try the lite version where possible, or try Foxit’s PDF Creator. It’s a great, lightweight alternative that uses less space on your hard drive and won’t slow down your computer.

File compression utilities: File compression utilities allow you to compress files to reduce their size and open compressed files without using a lot of disk space. By using the software to compress your files, you can actually get more mileage out of your hard drive and backup drive instead of purchasing a larger one.

An uninstaller program is also a nice add-on to the products above ― it can help remove all of the “helper files” related to software programs that you might not be able to remove on your own. You can find several highly rated freeware or shareware programs at Download.com.

Disclosure: Foxit Software’s e-commerce platform is provided by Trial Pay.

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2. Add More RAM to Boost Speed

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When you run any application on your computer, it uses part of your RAM (Random Access Memory). When you don’t have enough RAM, your computer runs significantly slower. Adding more RAM to your computer can give you an easy speed boost. Newer applications require more RAM, so even if you don’t run a lot of applications at once, an older PC might need an upgrade.

Crucial has a great tool to help you determine exactly what you need. Just enter the make and model of your PC, and Crucial tells you your current system specifications and the maximum RAM capacity that your computer can handle. It even provides excellent guides to help you install RAM yourself and troubleshoot problems, and it’s also a great place to get good deals on memory.

The installation process is straightforward (and even easier for laptops than desktops), so you can do it yourself. HowStuffWorks.com has created easy-to-follow installation videos for installing RAM. The desktop RAM video is here, and the laptop RAM video is here.

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3. Move to the Cloud

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Using more than 80% of your hard drive space can make your computer sluggish over time. Most experts agree that you should leave about 15% to 20% of your disk space free. If you’re maxing out your hard drive space, you don’t need to buy a new computer or install a larger hard drive. Instead, you can move your files to the “cloud,” which is a set of technologies and services that allow you to do normal computing tasks over the Internet in real time. For example, instead of storing your pictures on your hard drive (which could take up several gigabytes of space), you can put them on a photo-sharing site (Picasa, Facebook,Photobucket, etc.) or a free online file storage tool like DropBox.

Online backup solutions are a great way to get more mileage out of your hard drive. You can look at online backup solutions, such as Mozy, SugarSync or Carbonite, or you can get an external hard drive with backup software. For some excellent advice on setting up an external hard drive backup system, check out this Lifehacker guide.

Online backup solutions are the most convenient way to store your files because you can access them from any computer, as long as you have a good Internet connection. External drives can be heavy and cumbersome when traveling, and you risk losing all of your files if the drive is damaged or misplaced. However, online backup solutions are more costly than external drives. Most services charge a recurring monthly or yearly fee, whereas external drives are a one-time expense.

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4. Wipe Your Computer

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If your computer still doesn’t perform as good as new after trying the previous tips, consider restoring it to its factory settings. Identifying and repairing every issue affecting your computer’s performance can be time-consuming and difficult (even for advanced users). Starting from scratch allows you to remove everything lurking in your system that might be slowing it down. In fact, it’s the only way to be completely sure that you’ve removed harmful viruses or trojans.

Before wiping your computer, make sure you have an effective backup solution to store your documents, media files (video, photos, music, etc.), web browser settings, bookmarks, saved game files, and any other files that you can’t do without. Browser settings and bookmarks can be exported directly from your browser. Game files are trickier because every game is different. You might be able to copy the files from your game’s program directory file, but you should visit the official website for each of your games for specific instructions.

Then, identify the programs that you want to keep on your computer (games, antivirus software, Office, etc.). You will need to locate the installation disks, product keys or download links for each program that did not come with your computer when you purchased it.

Most computers come with a recovery disk, so when you’re ready to take the plunge, just pop in the disk and choose the “Restore” option. However, some computers don’t have recovery disks. Instead, this information is stored on a small portion of the hard drive that is partitioned from the rest of your data and will not be erased upon restoring the computer. See the manual that came with your computer for further instructions as this process will vary.

In any case, make sure you have your Windows product key. This key might be printed on a sticker somewhere on your computer or in the materials you received when you purchased the computer. You may be asked for this when restoring your computer.

For a more comprehensive tutorial, this Lifehacker guide has an excellent step-by-step guide for restoring your system. The entire process could take you all day, so be prepared to spend a lot of time on this.

via Mashable.Com

Nook lineup sells millions

You didn’t think Barnes & Noble was just going to let Amazon rest on its “vague sales milestones” laurels, did you? The veteran bookseller just announced that the Nook lineup — 3G, WiFi, and the new Nook Color combined — has become “the company’s biggest bestseller ever in its nearly 40-year history.” That’s bigger than Barnes & Noble’s sales (note: not global sales) of DaVinci Code or any of the Harry Potternovels. Unfortunately, we can’t say exactly just how many that is, as the press release only announces “millions” being sold. A B&N rep we spoke with told us they likely wouldn’t specify any further, nor would there likely be a breakdown of sales by individual model. Other notable factoids include Nook Color’s reign as the company’s “number one selling gift of the holiday season” and nearly one million “Nook books” downloaded on Christmas Day. In fact, the company now sells more digital books than it does physical books over BN.com (i.e. not including books sold in brick-and-mortar stores). Wish we had some hard figures, but hey, if any company is going to mince words in a sales announcement, it might as well be a book company, right? Press release after the break. via Engadget

Cinemizer Plus

If the only thing stopping you from putting films on your iPod or iPhone is the screen then worry no longer. The Cinemizer is a headset capable of displaying high resolution content with the equivalent experience of looking at a 45” screen at a distance of 6’. What’s more, it can even handle 3D content. Integrated headphones eliminate unnecessary clutter so you can kick back and enjoy all the explosions you can handle.

via Joe.IE

Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Anyone who thinks 3D is just a fad would do well to check out Panasonic’s HDC-SDT750. The first consumer camcorder on the market capable of 3D capture, you can add a whole new level of depth to those shots of your cousin’s wedding. If you don’t like the effect you can always remove the lens attachment and record in 2D…but that’s so yesterday.
via Joe.IE

The Domino Clock

We live in a hectic world. Alerts, alarms, and reminders prod us through our days with unforgiving precision. Challenging this pressure-filled environment, Carbon’s Domino Clock™ takes a simple, iconic object and transforms it into a new way to tell time. The concept is simple. Three larger-than-life dominoes are equipped with articulating “dots” that flip back-and-forth between black and white to keep time. They hang on the wall or stand free, communicating wirelessly as they quietly mark the passing hours and minutes. By subtly abstracting the idea of time, Carbon’s Domino Clock creates a more relaxing experience.

Challenging Expectations. While the idea itself is pretty straight forward, it challenges the assumptions we make about familiar objects. “People have a lot of immediate associations with everyday things, especially iconic ones,” says Joe Sullivan, industrial designer at Carbon Design Group, a Seattle-based product development consultancy. “It’s interesting to play with these expectations. In this case, we’re taking a well-known object out of its normal context and giving it new capabilities, allowing it to function as something completely different.”

“The numbering scheme on dominoes and dice developed as a way to represent numbers that’s immediately recognizable, so in a lot of ways it makes perfect sense to use it as a time piece,” explains Sullivan.  “Everyone gets it, but the fact that we’re not used to seeing it in this context makes it unexpected at the same time.”  It’s this shift in context that gives the concept a twist.

Fueling the Passion. The Domino Clock was one of a number of ideas bubbling up in the Carbon studio when it was selected to be a Carbon Passion Project. Similar to Google’s 20% Time, Carbon’s Passion Projects are designed to fuel the creative spark. “They’re a way to push the boundaries… to try something new, to take a break from the constraints of client projects and play a little,” explains Dan Blase, President of Carbon Design Group. “These projects foster Carbon’s culture of learning and play, and, at the same time, give our team the variety they thrive on.”

Making it Real. Simple ideas often require a good deal of work to keep them simple. “Form-wise, it’s a very literal reference to a domino, so 95% of the up-front heavy-lifting from an aesthetic standpoint is defined from the get-go,” says Sullivan. Once the form is set, the conversation moves quickly to feel and function. The reference to real dominoes plays heavily here as well. From their playful falling motion, to the weight of the ceramic materials in your hand, dominoes have very specific physical qualities inherent to them. “The clock wants to communicate these same qualities, from the materials down to the precise motion of the dots.”

If you imagine a domino scaled up to a foot tall, it would be quite heavy and have considerable inertia. “The mechanism that creates the motion needs a sense of gravity to it to give the flip the feel of falling,” says Sullivan. It was up to Eric Davis, one of Carbon’s mechanical engineers, to solve the challenge of creating a small mechanism that generated this slow movement, yet was very quiet. The additional challenge of powering thousands of transitions a day without burning through batteries meant Davis would need to design a custom actuator. Ultimately, he developed a mechanism that runs off a small, electromagnetic coil. “You might call it a ‘single-poled motor,’” says Davis. “The magnet and the iron move around the coil… opposite the way motors are usually designed.” The device can be fine-tuned to get just the desired flip speed. And, best of all, power is only required to initiate the movement, and not while the device is in either the “black” or “white” resting state. A more detailed explanation and video demonstration of the Domino Clock proof of concept prototype is available on Carbon’s site.

Wireless integration was another potential challenge, but Carbon’s electrical and software engineers have loads of expertise creating leading-edge wireless solutions for clients. Integrating low-cost wireless technology into the package is essential to fully realize the simple, untethered concept.

According to Sullivan, the collaboration between disciplines was critical to the successful development of the Domino Clock. “It’s really the same kind of thing we do every day for clients on far more complex projects,” says Sullivan. “Everything we did from the dampening grease, to the custom actuator, to the wireless communication was to maintain the simple original idea. That might have been lost if we’d had to hand the design off to someone else or if we needed to concede because we couldn’t solve one of those issues.”

Carbon’s Domino Clock makes an iconic statement as it subtly reduces the pressures of jam-packed schedules. The plan is for the Carbon team to bring the concept to life, with the first Domino Clock gracing the walls of their new studio in early 2011. After that, only time will tell.

via Carbon Design

Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet

Here in New York at Acer’s Global press event, the company’s talking touch. Lots and lots of touch. It’ll be introducing a veritable smorgasbord of equipment as the minutes roll on, but it’s kicking things off with its Windows 7-based Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, a device we’ve seen before. For all intents and purposes, this is Acer’s version of the Toshiba Libretto W105 (or that far-flung ASUS concept we saw at CeBIT 2009), boasting a pair of glossy touchscreens and no hard specifications to speak of. Naturally, you won’t find a keyboard here — rather, a virtual one will emerge from the secondary panel. There’s also a fairly slick media management system that’s obviously gesture based — some real potential there. We’ll be digging for details surrounding a price point and release date, but for now, have a gander at the image above and just imagine how it could revolutionize your life.

In related news, the company also teased its new Clear.fi media sharing system. As the story goes, it’s a cloud-based system that’s designed to play multi-format content over multi-platform devices, enabling any number of gadgets to talk to one another in order to make content visible and shareable with any other device. So far, it looks as if that could apply to movies, games, photos and music, but it’s a single-house affair for now. So long as there’s a router and a WiFi connection nearby, any Clear.fi-enabled device should be able to share, search and consume.

Update: The full PR is now after the break, and we’ve gone hands-on with the device right here!We’ve also scored the specifications — she’s running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and is equipped with an Intel Core i5-480M / 560M / 580M CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, a pair of 14-inch multitouch displays (1366×768 resolution), integrated Intel HD graphics (128MB RAM), VGA / HDMI outputs, an inbuilt microphone and a S/PDIF interface. There’s also a 320/500/640/750GB hard drive, Acer’s CrystalEye webcam (1280×1024 resolution), 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, integrated 3G WWAN, gigabit Ethernet, a four-cell battery and a total weight of 6.18 pounds. Closing things out, there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 jack and a one-year warranty.

via Engadget