Apple tablet could stir up video game business

Now, with the looming launch of a tablet-style computer -- already nicknamed the "iPhone on steroids," with a bigger screen that might have a place in the living room -- Apple could pose an even tougher challenge to established players in the video game business.

That assumes, however, that potential buyers aren't scared off by a price that might be more than the cost of a Wii, a PlayStation 3 and an Xbox 360 combined. Apple isn't commenting on its unveiling Wednesday.

Apple's iPhone and the similar iPod Touch brought a new look to games because they have an accelerometer inside that lets people control the action by turning or tilting the device. With a touch screen and the computing horsepower for high-quality graphics, the iPhone lends itself to pared-down versions of console games like "Assassin's Creed" and "The Sims 3." Its size, meanwhile, makes it easy to consume addictive puzzles in 5-minute increments while waiting for the dentist or riding the subway.

Now the iPhone, which costs $99, $199 or $299 plus a monthly service plan, rivals gadgets such as the Nintendo DS ($130-$170) or PlayStation Portable ($170-$250), known as the PSP, which were created solely for playing games on the go. It's unclear whether Apple has taken substantial market share away, but the iPhone likely introduced people to mobile games who wouldn't have played otherwise.

"We've seen the iPhone and iPod Touch as kind of a starter kit for video games," says John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America. "When those customers are ready to graduate into a deeper experience, the PSP is there for them."

Soon a tablet may be there for them, too. A touch-screen gadget that is bigger than an iPhone could provide a larger playing field for gamers and give game developers a new way to push the limits of their creativity.

Thanks Tech Review

HTC Magic's Sense update ready for download

You've waited long enough, now today's the day that HTC releases ROM Version:3.05.401.3 that brings the Sense user interface to Magic owners. Just be sure and heed HTC's warning to backup your data since this update will overwrite whatever it is you've been doing. Now hit that source link and get to updating, heroes.

Thanks Engadget

Mobile Touch Screens Could Soon Feel the Pressure

Forget swiping or pinching--the next generation of portable touch-screen devices will be able to distinguish between a gentle touch and a hard poke.
Peratech, a U.K. company, has signed a $1.4 million deal to license its pressure-sensing touch-screen technology to Japanese screen manufacturer Nissha, which makes displays for companies including LG and Nintendo. Peratech's technology is one of several approaches that can be packed into portable devices. But it uses a novel quantum mechanism to sense pressure, and this promises to be more sensitive and more efficient than the other approaches.
Peratech, which was spun out of a research lab at Durham University in 1996, uses an electrically conductive material dubbed a quantum tunneling composite (QTC). Quantum tunneling occurs when electrons jump between two conductors that are brought close together, but remain separated by an insulating barrier. In Peratech's switches, a polymer acts as the insulating layer. It is embedded with spiky, conductive metallic particles, each about 10 nanometers in size.
"These are polymer materials that change their resistance as force is applied," says Philip Taysom, Peratech's CEO. So as force is applied, these particles are brought closer together. "As they come into proximity, they allow quantum tunneling," he says.
The approach allows Peratech's QTC sensors to be extremely thin: just 75 micrometers thick. The sensors line the perimeter of a display. When pressure is applied and the screen bends very slightly (as little as two micrometers), the switches detect this change. By comparing the readings from the sensors with sensory data from the touch screen, it is possible to tell precisely where, and how hard, the screen is being pressed

Thanks Technology Review

Facebook hits spam, users recieving password reset emails

Botnet spam hits facebook thousands of facebook users are receiving emails saying that their password has been reset and new password is attached on zip file.But in the zip a trojan is attached rather than the password.When you extract the contents of zip filebotnet spam starts doing its work.The downloader then downloads additional malware from two servers, including fake anti-virus software, and joins the Bredolab botnet.

When botnet spam finishes downloading all the required files.Hacker can easily steal your personal information and can also control your pc.One of the servers is based in the Netherlands, with the other in Kazakhstan, according to an alert on Websense, a security research company.So if you are also the victim of  botnet spam and received email saying that your facebook password has been reset then the best option you will have is just delete that email from your inbox ASAP.
According to Websense, the address of the sender is spoofed to display “support@facebook.com,”

Kingston Introduces 128 GB USB Flash Drive(DT 200)

If we talk about memory chips and USB flash drives we have only one name in mind which is kingston and kingston has proved itself by always introducing quality products in market.Recently kingston has amazed lots of peoples by introducing largest USB flash drive of 128 GB.Now a Flash drive which is of size almost equal to a thumb can carry all of data on your desktop computer.
With huge space of about 128 gb  you can have movies,games,songs and almost anything in your pocket.This 128 gb USB flash drive also has password protection so you also won’t have to worry about your data if you have forgotten your USB flash drive somewhere else.

Kingston’s new DataTraveler® 200 USB Flash drive is ideal for storing and transferring digital images and presentations and transporting all kinds of data. With capacities up to 128GB, the DataTraveler 200 featurespassword protection via Password Traveler software, which allows you to create and access a password-protected, secure area of the drive called a “Privacy Zone.”
Features :
# Capacities* — 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
# Dimensions — 2.77″ x 0.49″ x 0.89″ (70.39mm x 12.52mm x 22.78mm)
# Operating Temperature — 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)
# Storage Temperatures — -4°F to 185°F (-20°C to 85°C)
# Simple — Just plug into a USB port
# Practical — Durable, capless design
# Guaranteed — Five-year warranty
# Safeguarded — Includes Password Traveler security software for Windows
# Enhanced — for Windows ReadyBoost™ on Vista-based systems**
# Compatibility Table:
But as this huge capacity USB flash drive recently introduced it will cost you too much to get a 128 gb USB flash Drive.Prices are given below.

• DT200, 32GB – $120
• DT200, 64GB – $213
• DT200, 128GB – $546

Oh! $546 is too much for a USB flash Drive.We can have a good netbook on this amount which will have 160 GB of Space.We also have another option available which is we can have an External Hard Drive which will cost us less as compare to this 128USB flash drive but that External drive won’t be that much small in size and convenient to take anywhere with you.