March 08, 2006, 4:47 PM PST
Gmail down
Posted by: Tom Merritt

As of 7:46 p.m. Eastern time, anybody doing business by Gmail is out of luck. No word on the blogs of why this is. It's not the first time Gmail has gone down, but it does hit at the end of the workday on the West Coast.

Permalink | 7 comments

• Read also: Work
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 4:29 PM PST
Cowon A2 firmware updated, plus price drops
Posted by: James Kim

Cowon's A2, the do-it-all portable video player with nice specs but not-so-nice navigation, has updated its firmware to version 1.61E. This update allows the user to multitask--that is, view photo or text files while listening to music. While you can do this sort of thing on an iPod and the Creative Zen Vision, Cowon (and Archos) has concentrated its efforts on video playback--until now. The firmware also fixes some bugs and offers enhanced zooming on JPEGs.

That's what I like about Cowon--the company is constantly updating its firmware and generally responds to consumers' requests. The next step is to make the A2 compatible with protected WMA and WMV files. Cowon has also dropped the price of the A2: from $399.99 to $379.99 for the 20GB model and from $449.99 to $419.99 for the 30GB model. Archos's 30GB AV500, which we like a tad better, lists for $500.

Permalink | 3 comments

• See product information for Cowon A2 (20GB)
• Read also: digital video, portable audio, mp3
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 4:23 PM PST
Garmin drives home GPS at CeBIT
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

Not to be outdone by rival TomTom, GPS manufacturer Garmin announced a handful of new products today at CeBIT, including the Garmin 20 Mobile, the Garmin StreetPilot c550, and the Garmin Nuvi 360.

For those who don't want to buy a dedicated GPS device, the Garmin Mobile 20 may be the perfect solution for you. It works with Nokia, Windows Mobile, and Palm Treo smart phones to deliver navigation features to your mobile device. The Garmin Mobile 20 is expected to ship in July 2006 but no pricing has been set at this time. Some of the highlights include:

* A phone mount with Bluetooth wireless speaker and microphone for hands-free calling
* Mapping software (included on a data card) for Europe and/or North America (two different packages)
* Text message integration so you can send your position or location to friends and family (great for meeting points or if you're raining late, for example)

The StreetPilot c550 builds upon the c300 series and will be available in Q2 2006 for $857.13. Features include:

* Integrated traffic receiver with a free three-month trial subscription for traffic services
* Bluetooth wireless for hands-free calling
* Preloaded North American maps
* Text-to-speech functionality
* Garmin Lock: a new anti-theft feature

And last but not least, the Garmin Nuvi 360. We absolutely loved the Nuvi 350, and the Nuvi 360 just adds to the fun with Bluetooth wireless, Garmin Lock, and text-to-speech functionality. Unfortunately, it still keeps the wallet-stretching price tag of around $965. If you start saving now, you may be able to afford it by the time in comes out in June 2006.

Permalink | 1 comment

• Read also: car tech, cell phones, PDAs
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 3:03 PM PST
The Cingular factor in the AT&T-BellSouth merger
Posted by: Nicole Lee

While AT&T's recent announcement of a BellSouth merger has many people up in arms over the return of a Ma Bell-like monopoly, there still remains the impact that the merger would have on Cingular, currently the country's largest cell phone provider. Prior to the merger, AT&T owned 60 percent of Cingular, and BellSouth owned the other 40 percent. If the merger goes through, all three companies would become a single enormous entity. AT&T is selling this as a way for fixed phone and mobile networks to converge in a unified system, integrating wireless, wired, and Internet Protocol services over a single global network. This would place it as a direct competitor against most of the major cable companies. There have already been signs of change; Cingular recently launched its high-speed UMTS service, which supposedly reaches near-broadband speeds. This coincides nicely with its plans to implement an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) technology, which will let cell phone connections move seamlessly from cellular networks to public-access hot spots (as long as you have a dual-mode cell phone). A lot of it sounds rather pie in the sky right now, and it remains to be seen if this will end up costing consumers in the long run. Still, we're hoping to see some good things come out of this, hopefully resulting in accessible, affordable broadband from anywhere in the world.

Permalink | 1 comment

• Read also: Cell phones
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 2:48 PM PST
Video game study: conclusion foregone?
Posted by: Molly Wood

A Senate committee has issued a blank check for a huge CDC study that's intended to show a link between violent video games and screwed up kids and justify sweeping restrictions on game sales. Several other studies have been inconclusive on the issue, at best. So apparently, to get the results you want, you just have to spend more taxpayer money.

Permalink | 10 comments

• Read also: Buzz
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 2:02 PM PST
Wireless Security Initiative
Posted by: Robert Vamosi

Need a refresher on how to secure your wireless home network, or what you should look for when surfing on a public Wi-Fi network? Symantec and GetNetWise, a public service organization sponsored by the computer industry, have teamed up to provide a one-stop Wi-Fi security page, complete with detailed instructions for securing Linksys, Netgrear, and Apple Airport routers. The site features several Flash-based How To Flash-based videos--so you don't have to read a thing.

Permalink | Post a comment

• Read also: Security
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 1:46 PM PST
Logitech announces more peripherals at CeBit
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Logitech is on a roll announcing peripherals at CeBit, with four new Webcams and a plethora of other home-entertainment and audio products. In the input-device category, Logitech announced four laser mice to target niche audiences: gamers, left-handers, notebook PC users, and desktop PC users.

The first mouse, one made especially for lefties, is the Logitech MX610--we reviewed the right-handed version in 2005. Just like the rightie-only version, the new MX610 features e-mail and instant-messaging alerts, as well as volume controls, two programmable thumb buttons, and a four-way scrollwheel. This is one of the few mice on the market made specifically for lefties, and it will be available in early April for $59.99.

The Logitech MX400 Precision Laser mouse, which is aimed at desktop PC users, will hit shelves in April for $39.99. This corded mouse is meant for everyday use; it offers two thumb buttons, which we assume default to forward and back functions, and a tilt scrollwheel. In the notebook mouse category, Logitech introduced the V150 Laser Mouse for Notebooks. This corded mouse features plug-and-play functionality and will be available in June for $29.99. It looks suspiciously similar to Microsoft's Notebook Optical Mouse 3000, with racing stripes on the side, but the Logitech version costs about $6 less and looks slightly larger. The V150 features tilt-wheel functionality, but it doesn't have any extra function buttons.

Lastly, Logitech is offering an upgrade to its G7 gaming mouse, which we reviewed in 2005. The updated version, which will be available only in Europe, has a new color--a sleek two-tone black--and comes with a travel case, making the G7 easily portable to LAN parties and beyond. There's no word on whether this option will be available in America anytime soon.

Permalink | Post a comment

• Read also: Peripherals
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 12:07 PM PST
SanDisk Nano slayer arriving soon
Posted by: James Kim

We're excited. SanDisk's Sansa e200 series will ship in a couple of weeks, so users can get their first taste of this tiny but powerful flash-based MP3 and video player. It is subscription-friendly, supports photos and video, and includes many more features than the iPod Nano. We especially like the looks of the 6GB e270.

We may get our hands on one by the end of the week. Stay tuned.

Permalink | 2 comments

• See product information for SanDisk Sansa e270 (6GB)
• Read also: mp3, portable audio
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 11:29 AM PST
Yahoo on China: repressive, but oh-so-lucrative
Posted by: Molly Wood

In the wake of several high-profile dissident arrests in China that were helped along by information from Yahoo, cofounder Jerry Yang says Yahoo feels "horrible" but has no intention of pulling out of China and will continue to comply with Chinese law and restrictions. Well, what do you expect them to do?! China has a lot of people, and they aren't as sick of banner ads as we are!

Permalink | 6 comments

• Read also: Buzz
• Email to a friend | Print this post

March 08, 2006, 11:24 AM PST
Mac OS X is redeemed
Posted by: Molly Wood

OK, so first there was a Mac OS X hacking contest, and this guy was all, "w00t, I totally hax0rd it in 30 minutes, I am hecka l33t!" And then a University of Wisconsin systems engineer organized a new challenge that was actually a challenge--in the sense that he didn't give anyone a local account on the machine, just like you wouldn't if, you know, it were your Mac. And no one breached that bad boy in some 38 hours of trying. I feel the only appropriate response here is "snap."

Permalink | 7 comments

• Read also: Buzz
• Email to a friend | Print this post