Information, Knowledge, Science & Technology

Article by Peter Sayer, IDG News Service, Paris Bureau Alexa Internet Inc. is offering online computing capacity for US$1 an hour -- and throwing in access to the database of millions of Web pages that lurk behind its Alexa toolbar search service. Programmers who register for the beta version of Alexa Web Search Platform, released Tuesday, can use it to create specialized search engines for vertical markets, drawing results from the database of 4 billion Web pages crawled by Alexa, the company said. Alexa is a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. Following in the footsteps of Google Inc., Alexa is opening up the API (application programming interface) to parts of its search engine, but going one better by offering to host applications that build on its database -- for a fee. Programmers remixing Google's search utilities must organize their own application hosting. Alexa Web Search Platform gives programmers a way to specify a subset of documents from the archive, develop an application t...

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group said in May that it would incorporate the UWB specifications in a future version of the standard. Wi-Fi, for instance, could benefit from a Bluetooth technology dubbed Adaptive Frequency Hopping that enables a device to switch to different frequencies to avoid interference. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is planning to cooperate more closely with the Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Near Field Communications (NFC) wireless standards. The initiative seeks to combine technologies, functionalities and user interfaces to make them more straightforward for end users. Bluetooth is used mainly for short-range wireless networks, and has a prime application in connecting wireless headsets to mobile phones, while Wi-Fi is the standard in wireless networking for laptops and home networks. Near Field Communications (NFC) is a less common technology sending a signal over a distance of just a few centimeters. UWB is an emerging standard commonly referred to ...

Bear these thoughts in mind when buying and using notebook computer or PCs. Consider the travel weight . Compare travel weights, not system weights. That's the notebook (system weight) plus transformer (typically 0.75 pounds). For one-drive systems, add an expansion slice for the optical drive (2 to 3 pounds). If the vendor quoted the weight with a weight-saver bezel (translation: a blank plate in place of the optical drive) you may have to add the weight of an internal CD or DVD drive (0.5 pounds). Don't get hung up on small weight differences . What really counts is the total weight of the bag you sling over your shoulder. On its own, a 5-pound notebook with a nice screen and two drives weighs 25 percent more than a 4-pound system with a smaller screen, smaller keys, and no DVD drive. But notebook bags weigh 2 to 5 pounds and all your other stuff (transformer, cell phone, music player, paper documents, and paperback novel) adds 2 to (gulp) 10 pounds. A heavier notebook might...

Article by Franklin N. Tessler Repost from MacWorld For years, using a laptop meant putting up with an undersized screen, a puny hard drive, and an anemic processor. Not anymore. Today’s PowerBooks and iBooks are powerful enough to be used as everyday computers. But they lag far behind desktop computers when it comes to ergonomics. For example, you can’t position a laptop’s display and keyboard separately to reduce your risk of neck or wrist injury. Trackpads and other integrated pointing devices compound the problem by requiring that designers position the keyboard away from the laptop’s edge, making the keys hard to reach without using the laptop’s built-in wrist rest. And if you’re not careful, the sharp edge on the front of newer PowerBooks can put even more pressure on the nerves, blood vessels, and tendons in your wrists. Beyond these fundamental design flaws, the simple fact that laptops are portable can exacerbate their ergonomic hazards. Thanks to improved batteries and ubiqui...

This new entry will provide you a guideline for buying desktops. This article was published by ZDNet . First rule that you must remember is "fine the specs that are just right". Hopefully this article could give some tips or ideas before making any decisions for buying desktop. Find The Specs That Are Just Right Like most consumers, you probably have an idea of how much you want to spend on a desktop. But how do you ensure that you get exactly what you need? The different shapes and sizes, wide range of configurations, and seemingly constant arrival of new and faster processors all make for a difficult decision. To help you find the right mix, we've outlined five common user types which are Family, Student, Power user, Couch potato and Business user . Family Although a PC can play many roles in the home, most families will be best served by a mainstream model. Spending around $1,500 (add a couple hundred dollars if you want an LCD instead of a CRT display) will net you e...

Creative's Zen family of MP3 players has expanded to include a new member: the video-enabled Zen Vision:M. Sporting a colour screen and up to 30GB of storage, it is billed as a video player, photo viewer and MP3 player, and represents Creative's latest attempt to undermine Apple's iPod dominance. Creative claims that the rechargeable battery provides up to 15 hours of music playback and four hours of video playback, with video format supported including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Simple Profile formats (such as Xvid), WMV, and MJPEG. There is also a TV-Out capability. Other features include an FM radio, support for slideshows set to music, content password protection, customisable themes and an Organizer that provides calendar, tasks and contact lists and which syncs with Microsoft's Outlook. 'When people see the Zen Vision:M, they tell us it's incredibly cool,' said chairman and CEO of Creative, Sim Wong Hoo. 'We designed the Zen Vision:M with its mesmerising 262...

Are you ever heard about Google Adsence or know how to make money online? Internet has become another source for generating income. Without any degree in marketing or business, a thousand of people make thousand of money everyday. Affiliates program, online advertisement or even referral program has capture users interests. Without advertising, the internet would be nothing. This is the sole reason the internet has grown to the size that it is today ( money-hits.com ). There are a lot of books available in the market provide steps or knowledge about generating money online such as Google Cash and Google Profit . Below are articles that review this two books. What is the Deal with Google Cash? Article by Mark Davies Repost from ezinearticles.com Google Cash - is an 87 page ebook by Chris Carpenter. It can help you transform your life by utilizing the power of Google's distribution network for your own personal profit. You don't need to be an online expert. PLUS You don't ne...