White spaces, internet connectivity services that run in the unused portion of the television spectrum, have been called "WiFi on steroids" by Google founder, Larry Page. For years, IT companies like Dell, Google and Microsoft have campaigned in favor of opening up the spectrum for data service, specifically broadband internet access. But of course, the broadcasting industry has just as long been vehemently opposing the idea, spending huge quantities of money on FUD advertising campaigns meant to convice consumers that white spaces would harm their television quality. Back in November, 2008, the FCC made a surprising call when it allowed internet service carriers and other vendors to deploy devices in the unlicensed white spaces spectrum at up to 100 milliwats, but only up to 40 milliwats on white space spectrum which lies adjacent to TV channels. More dependable than WiFi, white spaces can support bigger bandwidths for... --
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Today, pictures and details about Barnes and Noble’s forthcoming e-book reader leaked, and it looks exciting, both inside and out. On sale next Tuesday, it looks set to take the wind right out of the Kindle's sails. Named the “Nook,” Barnes & Noble's reader strongly resembles Amazon’s white plastic e-book, except for the chiclet-keyboard being replaced by a multicolor touch screen, which can be used as a keyboard or for book browsing, cover-flow style. The reader runs Google’s Android OS, as well as coming equipped with wireless capability whose carrier remains unspecified. The Nook also rings up at the same $260 the Kindle goes for. Gizmodo leaked the images, but they also have information about Barnes & Noble's plans to heavily discount titles in their electronic format, which is as it should be. The Nook will also... --
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At the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, a research group has developed a unique new way for your computer to detect whether or not a user is present, and are presently looking for test subjects willing to try it out and see just how much power it can save. Using your computer’s existing hardware, the microphone and speakers more precisely, echolocation software will determine whether you’re watching a movie (present) or getting a snack (away). Discussions among the group led to the idea of using sonar, as well. Developing software that, when the user is not using the mouse or keyboard, plays a tone at a high frequency and records the tone’s echo, the computer then has the ability to process the tone and filter out everything except that frequency and detects any variance. The software can... --
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A common reason for home computer service is the installation of a new operating system. Computers last a very long time these days, and some PC users started out with Windows XP and ended up on Windows 10, with all the steps in between. In the bad old says when everything inside your desktop either broke down or was made obsolete every couple of years, you'd always end up with a new operating system when you bought a new computer. Nowadays you can count on your desktop computer to hang in there for a decade, and you'll have to upgrade your OS or your friends will point and laugh at your Windows Vista desktop, and wonder if... --
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