Tablet computers the new electronic babysitter

 Move over TV. Tablet computers are the new electronic babysitter.

A Nielsen survey published on Thursday broke down the ways tablet-owning parents of children under age 12 are using gadgets such as the iPad to keep the kids occupied.

More than half of parents — 55 percent — said their kids used tablets for entertainment while traveling and 41 percent said they give the children the device to use in restaurants.Some 77 percent said their children play downloaded games on a tablet while 57 percent said they access educational applications.

Forty-three percent watch television shows or movies on their tablets.

Only 15 percent of children use tablets to communicate with friends or family.

Nielsen said seven out of 10 children under age 12 in tablet-owning households are using the devices.

Apple: Top Vendor for Smartphones

Worldwide smartphone sales to end-users soared to 149 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, a 47.3 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2010, according to research firm Gartner.

Total smartphone sales in 2011 reached 472 million units and accounted for 31 percent of all mobile devices sales, up 58 percent from 2010.

Smartphone volumes during the quarter rose due to record sales of Apple iPhones. As a result, Apple became the third-largest mobile phone vendor in the world, overtaking LG.

Apple also became the world’s top smartphone vendor, with a market share of 23.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, and the top smartphone vendor for 2011 as a whole, with a 19 percent market share.

“Western Europe and North America led most of the smartphone growth for Apple during the fourth quarter of 2011,” said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner.“

In Western Europe the spike in iPhone sales in the fourth quarter saved the overall smartphone market after two consecutive quarters of slow sales.

”The quarter saw Samsung and Apple cement their positions further at the top of the market as their brands and new products clearly stood out.LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Research In Motion (RIM) again recorded disappointing results as they struggled to improve volumes and profits significantly.

These vendors were also exposed to a much stronger threat from the midrange and low end of the smartphone market as ZTE and Huawei continued to gain share during the quarter.

Worldwide mobile device sales to end-users totaled 476.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, a 5.4 percent increase from the same period in 2010.

In 2011 as a whole, end users bought 1.8 billion units, an 11.1 percent increase from 2010.

“Expectations for 2012 are for the overall market to grow by about 7 percent, while smartphone growth is expected to slow to around 39 percent,” said Annette Zimmermann, principal research analyst at Gartner.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, Nokia’s mobile phone sales numbered 111.7 million units, an 8.7-percent decrease from last year. ”Samsung closed the gap with Nokia in overall market share,” said Cozza.

“Samsung profited from strong smartphone sales of 34 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The troubled economic environment in Europe and Nokia’s weakened brand status posed challenges that were hard to overcome in just one quarter.

However, Nokia proved its ability to execute and deliver on time with its new Lumia 710 and 800 handsets.

Nokia will have to continue to offer aggressive prices to encourage communications service providers (CSPs) to add its products to portfolios currently dominated by Android-based devices.”

Apple had an exceptional fourth quarter, selling 35.5 million smartphones to end users, a 121.4 percent increase year on year.

Apple’s continued attention to channel management helped it take full advantage of the strong quarter to further close the gap with Samsung, which saw some inventory build up for its smartphone range.

Apple’s strong performance will continue into the first quarter of 2012 as availability of the iPhone 4S widens.

However, since Apple will not benefit from delayed purchases as it did in the fourth quarter of 2011, Gartner analysts expect its sales to decline quarter-on-quarter.

After Apple, ZTE and Huawei were the fastest-growing vendors in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“These vendors expanded their market reach and kept on improving the user experience of their Android devices,” said Cozza.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, ZTE moved into fourth place in the global handset market.

ZTE posted a strong smartphone sales increase of 71 percent sequentially.

The company was able to extend its portfolio to three CSPs in its home market and benefited from consumers’ interest in low-cost smartphones.

Huawei moved ahead of LG in the Android marketplace to become a top-four Android manufacturer, thanks to strong smartphone growth in the quarter.

Huawei has made significant progress in moving to its own-branded devices, and it has continued to expand its portfolio into higher tiers as its tries to build more iconic products.

RIM dropped to the No. 7 spot in the fourth quarter of 2011, with a 10.7-percent decline.

RIM’s delay with its BlackBerry 10 platform will further impair its ability to retain users.

However, RIM’s biggest challenge is still to expand the developer base around its ecosystem and convince developers to work and innovate with BlackBerry 10.

HP Plans New Tablet by Year-End

Hewlett-Packard will take another shot at Apple’s iPad with the release late this year of a tablet computer geared for work instead of play, chief executive Meg Whitman said Thursday.

The tablet will run on Microsoft Windows 8 software and take on iPad in the workplace, where HP will bank on its reputation and its strengths in providing gear and services to businesses, according to Whitman.

“It is not really a tablet market, it is an iPad market,” Whitman said during an on-stage chat before a small gathering of entrepreneurs and executives at a Wall Street Journal Viewpoints West gathering in Silicon Valley. “The iPad is terrific; I have one,” she continued.

“I use it to read books or watch TV but I don’t use it to really get work done.”

HP will release by Christmas a new tablet tailored for security, productivity and business network compatibility, said Whitman, who took over as the California-based technology titan’s chief executive five months ago.

“There is a big trend to BYOD to work; which is all well and good until there is a security breach,” she said, referring to people increasing bringing their own devices such as iPhones or iPads to use on the job.

“We are going to provide an alternative.”

A blockbuster hit with people in their personal lives, iPads have been gaining traction in workplaces.HP made a dismal initial foray into the tablet market last year with a TouchPad powered by webOS mobile operating system software it acquired as part of its $1.2 billion purchase of Palm in 2010.

Citing disappointing sales, HP decided to discontinue the TouchPad just seven weeks after it hit the market.

HP later promised to make webOS available to the open source community by September, meaning that developers anywhere would be able to tinker with it as they wished and it would be available for anyone to use free of charge.

The Palo Alto, California-based HP abandoned plans to make smartphones and tablet computers using the platform.

HP’s first tablet to take on iPad ‚ “was not a happy ending,” admitted Whitman.

Mitsubishi HC7800D 3D Projector

The number of movies filmed in 3D is growing, as well as the number of movies that are being converted from 2D to 3D to boost their box office appeal.

Since the smash hit “Avatar,” many more films have been shot in 3D, including “Alice in Wonderland,” “Sanctum,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Mars Needs Moms” and “The Green Hornet.” Films such as “Green Lantern” and “The Smurfs” were filmed in 2D and converted, while “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” and “Puss in Boots” were shot in 2D but also shown in Imax 3D.

This year, many more are coming to theaters while old movies are now available in 3D Blu-ray discs for home enjoyment. And with the increasing popularity of this medium, more people want to enjoy the bold images of 3D on a large screen at home.

To meet that demand, there’s growing interest and innovation in 3D projectors. For example, Mitsubishi Electric’s new 3D projector, the HC7800D, brings the 3D experience home. The projector uses DLP technology to create exciting, vibrant 3D images in full high-definition, 1080p resolution. When paired with a Blu-ray disc player capable of 3D movie playback, 3D projectors like this bring movie enjoyment to a whole new level never before experienced at home.

The projector shows impressive 3D images viewable through its high-performance proprietary active-shutter glasses. The HC7800D also boasts one of the industry’s best 2D to 3D conversion technologies that can transform ordinary 2D classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Ben-Hur” into a seamless 3D experience with near-perfect 3D simulation that makes content jump off the screen.

The projector’s frame rate conversion technology also produces high-speed image reproduction for showing fine, smooth details and reducing any motion blur, especially in fast action scenes, so even watching sports and games becomes an event to look forward to, whether it’s in 2D or 3D.

With a long life of up to 5,000 hours in low mode, the lamp provides years of typical use before you need a new one. With a rich 100K:1 contrast ratio, the projector produces images that are smooth, dazzling and true to the original 2D and 3D content from Blu-ray discs, cable or satellite subscription services.

New Mobile App Lets Users Call and Text Worldwide for Free

There’s good news for iPhone® and Android™ users-a new mobile app provides free calling and texting between users worldwide.

Vonage Mobile® is a free downloadable app that lets users talk and text worldwide for free with anyone else who uses the app (data rates may apply). It also provides ultra low-cost calling to friends and family who don’t have the app. It’s a combination of the best free and paid communications apps, all rolled into one.

The new app is the latest offering from Vonage, a provider of communications services connecting individuals through mobile and broadband devices worldwide. Users don’t have to be a Vonage home phone customer to use the app—just download it for free from iTunes® or Android™ Market.

Significant Cost Savings
When calling friends and family who don’t have the app, users can make calls globally with per-minute rates that are on average 70 percent less than major mobile carriers and 30 percent less than Skype. Rates start at .016 cents/min., and calling credit is available in $4.99 and $9.99 increments, making it one of the most cost-effective solutions for international calling.

A Free Global Network
Users can instantly build a free global calling and texting network using the app’s multi-invite system from their existing contacts. Even more exciting, Vonage Mobile uses the phone’s existing mobile number and contact list, eliminating the need for unique user names and duplicate identities for contacts. It’s incredibly easy to use, allowing users to take full advantage of the features without the hassle of having to leave the app.

A Comprehensive Solution
“Vonage Mobile consolidates the best features of our prior applications, while adding important functionality, better value and improved ease of use,” said Marc Lefar, CEO of Vonage. “It combines the best of free high-def voice and messaging along with incredible value for traditional international calls, all while using the existing mobile number and address book for unsurpassed ease of use.”

Vonage Mobile works over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G wireless data networks, worldwide. In addition to iPhone and Android smartphones, the app also works on iPad®, iPod Touch® and Android™ Tablets.

Notebook or Netbook?? What's the best?

These are speed times and competitions between different products are also speeding up. Companies keep on trying developing new technologies and techniques to take over and win the race. The competition goes on between PCs and Laptops, Netbooks and Notebooks.

Apart from personal choices both netbooks and notebooks hold feature differences.

Size And Weight

Netbooks are relatively smaller in size with a display screen measuring between 7 to 12 inches whereas notebooks have a screen size of 12 to 17 inches. The keyboard of a netbook is also 80% to 90% smaller in size than a notebook’s key board. These are energy efficient small computers, lighter in weight comparing to a notebook; only 2 to 3 pounds.

Multi Tasking

Capable of high loaded tasks and running multiple applications is what notebooks can do whereas, neither netbooks are capable of multi tasking nor can they handle heavy applications. These are incapable of running programs like photo/images and video editing softwares. In comparison, notebooks can work efficiently while running these.

Connectivity

Notebooks are able to perform straining technical jobs, though these tasks consume more battery. With a notebook, one can enjoy connecting to the net through landline telephone (cable modem telephone port), Wi-Fi Cards and a USB enabling to establish net connection. While the notebooks are coming without Ethernet port (enables connection through DSL or cable modem).

Battery Life

Previously both had almost similar battery life. With the developments going on, both compete with each other in this regard. Samsung’s NC110 offers 8hrs battery life and NC310 offers 11hrs. Notebooks like 17-inch MacBook Pro claim 8hrs, EliteBook 6930p from Hp is claimed to offer an amazing 24hrs battery life. The notebooks which are coming with less battery time, say 2 hours, can be replaced with extended batteries, increasing the time, which is a sure win over the netbooks.

External Drives

There are no CD/DVD drives in a netbook; you cannot play a CD/DVD on it. Though, movies and music can be enjoyed through a hard drive. All the notebooks provide these facilities.

Software

A netbook can run Windows XP Home and Linux easily, while to run Vista it needs more power. It has been recently announced by Microsoft that it will be coming up with Windows7 for netbooks. Though personalized versions of Linux, Mac OS or Windows XP Professional can be used to get maximum out of the netbook. Notebooks have no problem with any version of Windows.

Processor/Speed

The processors integrated in netbooks are not capable of handling heavy JavaScript sites like Youtube.com as efficiently as a notebook. Netbooks come with a slow processor.

Price Levels

Netbooks can fall between $400 and $800, whereas notebooks are costlier than netbooks.

Evaluation

1. Netbooks focus on net-based tasks such as browsing, reading and writing e-mail or using web-based applications.
2. Netbooks can be useful for a child as his first computer, whereas notebooks are sophisticated portable computers.
3. As the netbook are capable of running Ms Office, it is quite handy for writers, editors or teachers.

Both notebooks and netbooks are portable computers. While looking at the details of specs, it is not difficult to evaluate which is the efficient one.

Foursquare

Foursquare is a mobile application that is a cross between a friend-finder, a social city-guide, and a game that rewards you for doing interesting things. Foursquare lets you "check in" to a place when you're there, tell friends where you are, and track the history of where you've been--and who you've been there with. Foursquare challenges you to explore your city in new and fun ways by earning points, winning mayorships, and unlocking badges and specials for trying new places and revisiting old favorites.

symbian version of the foursquare is developed by thinkchange.mobi its called sym4square

Supported Mobile Phones
Nokia: 5230, 5233, 5235, 5530, 5800, C6, N97, N97 Mini, X6, N8
Samsung: GT i8910 Omnia
Sony-Ericsson: U1 Satio, U5 Vivaz, U8 Kanna

Power Up Windows 7

It is very likely to speed up your Windows 7 along with the Microsoft’s latest OS that is great looking and is always improving with every step. There are some ready empowering features that enable the user to bring a strange kind of versatility that makes it super fast and incredible. The different types of set ups and features that have to be coming with this form are as follows:

1. Skip the Log-on Screen: This is a part of the log-on screen type that makes for one of the most able features for this new system. This is all about disabling the features through WinKey+R with the followed up typing of the whole control userpasswords2 phrase. This way the next box appears and one can just skip the log on process without the username and password passing.

2. Speed up the Boot Time: This is indeed one of the most effective ways to bring a sped up start to your work on the machine. This can be done through typing “msconfig” as well as selecting Boot tab. This comes on Advanced options with some of the greatest set of numbered processors. This also depends on some of the greater parts of your PC deals. Whether you have a CPU that is dual or quad core this is indeed interesting for quicker speed.

3. Color Correction: This is indeed one of the most interesting parts of the whole system. The Windows 7 built-in tool makes for effective color accuracy and correction of photos. This can be done through the clicking of Start and then typing DCCW or the Display Colour Calibration Wizard. This is very helpful to get new reign on vibrancy, brightness, color as well as contrast.

4. Fine-tune the Faster Way: This is indeed one of the best ways to bring in sped up traveling along with the internet. This is easy to download through the EnhanceMySe7en through seriousbit.com. This will make you conduct your system easier. These are just perfect ways to tune up your senses.

5. Changing Screen Resolution: This is one of the most ideal ways to tune up your screen system. This means that one of the basic adjustments that come through any screen resolution change is by bringing the desktop to align with a new menu set up. This can be customized according to the desired screen resolution.

6. Switching Screens: This is another way to bring about external monitor with some really great fiddly Window 7. This is quite the right kind of winners’ desire that anyone would like to try upon. For instance once you have made your screen name and then put that in place, you would just have to type Win+P to keep it chosen to a stuck place. You can then go off doing other work and your screen name would be the same when you come back.

7. Installing Windows Live Photo Gallery: Windows Photo Gallery can be as cool and personal as you would like to work with them. A break or a spell of freedom from installing Windows would be just as great as via this system one can directly lead the whole pack from http://download.live.com, coming under Window 7. So this shortened break from constantly installing and downloading Windows can be quite liberating.

8. Minimizing your Windows Sharp: It is possible to bring the windows closed at any point without any particular hesitation. You could be in a rush or in the middle of some work and you still have the part to bring the Windows closed without any bar. If you want to get it open or just close off unused windows, then you can just shake it and close it.

9. Extend Your Battery Life: Extending your battery life comes to be rather easy here with some of the changed links and options that are present here. These change plan options let you choose and pick according to your needs. This is indeed important to bring about some fast and well sped work done.

10. Free Protection: This is another part of the whole protection program where Windows 7 allow you to get free anti-virus protection. For this one need not pay any annual subscription. This is quite the free version of the whole AVG security suite that can be acquired from free.avg.com. This is plain and easy to download and bring about a very useful version of what you are experiencing now.

Getting more tips help you locate all the free services that one can get through the new Windows 7 installation. This is also helpful to let you stay ahead with your work and become fast and efficient in every way.