Thursday, November 29, 2007

love story

A SHORT LOVES STORY:
There was a blind girl who hated herself bcoz of being blind. She hated everyone except her boyfriend.. One day the girl said that if she cud only see the world she wud marry her boyfriend, one day someone donated their eyes 2 her and then she saw everything including his boyfriend, her boyfriend ask her, "now that you can see, will you marry me?", the girl was shocked when she saw her boyfriend is also blind, and she refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend walks away with tears and said,
“Just take care of my eyes dear".

Pay raise

The Maid asked for a raise.

The Madam was very upset about this and asked:

"Now Maria, why do you want an increase?"

Maria: "Well Madam, there are three reasons whyI want an increase.

The first is that I iron better than you."

Madam: "Who said that you iron better than me?"

Maria: "The Master said so."

Madam: "Oh."

Maria: "The second reason is that I am a better cook than you."

Madam: "Nonsense, who said that you were a better cook than me ?"

Maria: "The Master did."

Madam: "Oh, really."

Maria: "My third reason is that I am a better lover than you."

Madam (very upset now): "Did the Master say so as well?"

Maria: "No Madam, the gardener did that"

MARIA GOT THE PAY RAISE IMMEDIATELY..!

A 3 word magic


Love is the best medicine, and there is more than enough to go around once you open your heart. please open your heart 4 me with love.


************ *********
Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less good for u. LOVE MORE and all good things will be yours.


************ *********
When two people love each other, they don't look at each other, they look in the same direction. Believe it or not.


************ *********
We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another. You want to become angel? Come I will give my wing. Love you so much.


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Love is like a roller coaster. Once you have completed the ride, you want to go again. We will love for rest of our life .

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Love bears all things, Love believes all things, Love hopes all things, and most precious of all, Love endures all things. Come we love and make things happy.


************ *********
If death is the only way we will part then let me die with you because I cannot live without you. BUT I cannot die because my heart is with you .


************ *********
not allowed without love is an empty experience, but, as empty experiences go, it's one of the best in the world.


************ *********
If 'I love you' is only three words, why is it worth a million?. Because you know Love will do miracles


************ *********
How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to. Love you dear.

************ *********
We are each an angel with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing each other.

************ *********
If you live to be 100 yrs, I want to live to be 100 yrs minus one day, so I never have to live without you. I Cant live with out U..

************ *********
I knew I would look back on my tears and laugh, but I never thought I would look back on my laughs and cry. Please don't hurt me darling

************ *********
Everyone hears what you say. I listen to what you say. Best Lover listen to what you don't say.


************ *********
A memory lasts forever, Never does it die. True Lovers stay together And never said goodbye. Donot say good bye to me my sweet heart.

************ *********
A road to a your house is never long for me. Because you are in my heart house.

************ *********
I'm not the same since i met u, the days turned longer the nights turned colder and u will always have a special place in my heart just 4 u :) I LOVE YOU .

************ *********
love is when u don't want to go to sleep because reality is better than a dream. I will not sleep 2day. Waiting for you .

************ *********

Belief create reality

Your beliefs create your reality.

When we are children, our beliefs are formed from our experiences,
our parents, family members, friends, and schoolmates. This is
natural and OK for children as it helps them to learn the ways of the
world and society.


Limitations, false beliefs, and fear are also learned as children.

When we are older we assume the same is true, that our experiences
create our beliefs and that this is how we will continue to learn.
We also believe the limitations and fear, and false beliefs from
childhood.


Little do we realize that when we become adults, the reverse is
actually true ... That our beliefs now create our experiences … yet
we continue to create the same reality formed from the beliefs of our
childhood.


For example, if we believe shyness is something to be ashamed of,
then we will experience embarrassment from our shyness. If however
we believe our shyness is a source of mystery, we may create a mystic
about ourselves that will impact some people in a positive way.


We can each create a ritual or rite of passage for ourselves, one
that marks a turning point in our lives --- one that demonstrates
that from this moment on We create reality from our beliefs.

3g in india

Steering India towards a new level of wireless telephony, the government on Monday announced immediate release of spectrum for 'third generation' (3G) mobile services and allowed users to switch operators while retaining the cell phone numbers.

"The government has decided to release 3G spectrum in 2.1 GHz band with immediate effect," Communications Minister A Raja told reporters in New Delhi.

Number portability, which would allow users to change their service provider while keeping the numbers, will be introduced in the four metropolitan cities at the earliest.


Department of Telecommunications Secretary D S Mathur said about 30 MHz spectrum can be released to accommodate three players in the first phase.

Asked whether only existing 2G players will be allowed to offer 3G services, Raja said, "No. I want healthy competition; I want all the players to bid for it. As far as foreign players are concerned, they will be allowed subject to security clearances by Ministry of Home Affairs.

"The 3G licenses will be granted through a controlled, simultaneous ascending e-auction, by a specialized agency to ensure transparency in selection process," the minister said.

3G services will give users a better multimedia experience, with faster data transfer rates. At present, cellular operators offer only 2G services.



Although he did not give any time frame for introduction of number portability, Raja said he would try to implement it in the four metros by this year-end.

A meeting will be held with existing operators to seek their cooperation.

On 3G spectrum, he said besides the initial one-time charge, it has been decided that the successful bidder will pay additional spectrum charge of 0.5 per cent of the total adjusted gross revenue as recurring annual fee. This additional revenue share is proposed to be doubled to on one per cent of AGR after 3 years from the date of spectrum assignment

Leading student community

A 20-year-old from the UK has recently proven that one of the simplest types of computers can solve every known computational problem, given enough time. Alex Smith, who is studying electrical engineering at the University of Birmingham, will receive mathematician Stephen Wolfram's $25,000 prize in a ceremony held in the home town of the famous computer scientist Alan Turing.

Wolfram offered the prize this past May for a proof to the problem, not knowing whether it would take weeks, months, years, centuries, or if it was even solvable at all. (Smith's answer arrived in June.) The purpose behind the challenge is to understand how complexity emerges from simple systems, and how a set of basic rules can lead to a very intricate result.

Smith learned about Wolfram's challenge in an online chat room, and immediately began working on the problem. His proof, which is 55 pages long, shows how the simple computer--called a "2,3 Turing machine"--is equivalent to another type of computer that has already been proven to be universal, meaning that it can solve any mathematical problem.

The 2,3 Turing machine is named because the head can be positioned in two states (e.g. up and down) and there can be three colors (e.g. orange, yellow, and white) on the computer tape. This is sometimes referred to as a "2-state, 3-symbol" machine. The head states and colors of a row depend on those from the preceding row. In this way, starting with a simple head state "up" and a color "white" can eventually result in complexpatterns further down the tape. Simpler Turing machines exist (e.g. the 1,2 Turing machine), but these are not considered to be capable of universality.



Although the proof is not considered hugely relevant to today's computer scientists, Wolfram suggests that it could inspire new research. For example, Turing machines are similar to some simple molecular automata--simple computing devices built from DNA and other biological molecules--and these might one day form the basis of DNA and molecular computers.

According to New Scientist , Smith was at first skeptical of his chances, but his mother encouraged him to go for it because it is "the kind of thing he is good at," she said.

ASUS U3 sleek

The latest technology now comes in a sleek package with lightweight slimness

The golden ratio 13.3" widescreen U3 is perfect for metropolitan professionals to stay on the move with style. From the exterior piano painted LCD cover, stainless contour and magnesium aluminum alloy housing to genuine leather bound palm rest, the U3 reflects exceptional personal taste with unique sophistication. Based on the latest Intel® Centrino® Duo Processor Technology, Windows® VistaTM operating system and exclusive ASUS innovations, the U3 offers a dynamic computing experience with powerful performance.



Lightweight Design with Solid Quality
The beauty of the notebook is complimented with its simple and clean lines. The stainless contour gives the notebook as structured appearance with sturdiness. To enhance the overall high mobility design of the U3 while keeping all parts well-protected, magnesium-aluminum alloy is used for the LCD cover of the notebook for 4H hardness for enhanced screen protection.



Live Video Communication

The high-resolution webcam module is integrated seamlessly into the U3’s LCD panel and together with a built-in high quality microphone wire-free video conferencing is possible anywhere. Wireless connectivity of the U3 is also extensive with built-in WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0 enhanced data rate for high speed Internet access and data transfers.






Specifications
Intel® Centrino® Duo Processor Technology
- Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7500/ T7300/ T7100/ T5450/ T5250/ CM540
- Mobile Intel® GM965 Chipset, ICH8M
- Intel 4965 a/b/g/n, 3945 a/b/g Network Connection (option)
Genuine Windows® Vista™
- Genuine Basic
- Genuine Home Premium
- Genuine Business
- Genuine Ultimate
nVIDIA GeForce G8400M G External 128MB VRAM
Turbo Cach 384M with 1G system Memory (option); 896M with 2G system Memory
1.3M Pixels Video Camera (option)
RAM DDR2 667MHz, up to 2560MB (1 slot); Support Intel Turbo Memory
SATA HDD up to 160 GB, Turbo Memory/ GPS/ 3G/ Bluetooth Option
External USB ODD (Combo, Super Multi)
1x HDMI, 1x e-SATA, External GPS RF in connector, VGA port/Mini D-sub, 3x USB 2.0 ports, Audio jack, LAN RJ-45, Phone RJ-11 jack, 1394 Type jack, TV-Out (S-video)
31.85 x 24.3 x 2.22~3.22cm; 1.75kg (with 3 cell battery)

Cybershot from sony

Sony has launched yet another two portable Cyber-Shot cameras, just about 5 months after launching their 2007 lineup. This year’s goal for Sony seems to be placing the largest and brightest LCD display humanly possible. Both models include the new features that were implemented into their lineup earlier this including: face tracking and output to 1080p HDTV sets.



The DSC-T200 features a 8-megapixel camera, 3.5-inch LCD touch screen, and a 5x optical zoom, while the cheaper DSC-T70 sports a 8-megapixel camera, 3-inch LCD touch screen, and a 3x optical zoom. (T200 will be available in silver/black/red and the T70 in silver/black/white/pink) The set-up procedure and all options/settings are performed through the new touch screen. Other than the power and playback button, the only hard-keys remaining are the capture button and the zoom controls. Although it may seem neat to have such a large touch screen, it will for sure be very difficult to maintain as the display begins to collect dust and fingerprints.


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T200 Front Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T70 Front

One of the best features implemented is face tracking, which automatically track faces and focuses the lens to right distance, when snapping an image. In addition Sony has added another technology called “smile shutter,” which automatically detects and captures an image as soon as everyone in the photo smiles! Although I haven’t yet tried the smile technology, I can testify that Sony’s face detection does indeed work amazingly well especially after taking a few hundred photos all of which were clear & crisp.

These features are great for average consumers who want to quickly and easily snap photos without hassling through settings. If you do however want to take much higher quality images, you should consider purchasing a higher-end camera with manual settings. Anyways the DSC-T200 and DSC-T70 are available next month (September 07) with a price tag of $400 and $300, respectively. If you’re eager to get either camera as soon as it becomes available, Amazon is now taking pre-orders.

Apple I MAC &I WORK

Apple has rolled out a a bunch of products. These new items included newly designed iMac and iWork/iLife 2008.

Apple iMac 20-inch and 24-inch


The New Apple iMac:Apple’s sleeker and aluminum-enclosed iMac now sports Intel’s latest Core 2 Duo Extreme Processors, which support running up to speeds of 2.8GHz. The machine is a powerhouse as it has room for up to 4GB of RAM and 1 Terabyte (TB) of internal storage! With a fast processor, enough RAM, and storage space, the 265MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO makes the iMac perfect for video editing. In addition the iMac now comes standard with a built-in iSight, Bluetooth 2.0, 8x Dual Layer DVD/CD Burner, AirPort 802.11n (+ a/b/g), Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 400 & 800 ports, 3 USB ports, Stereo Speakers and a Microphone. Although Mac OS X Leopard won’t be available until this October, it will still be able to run both iLife and iWork 2008. The new iMac is available with a 20-inch or a 24-inch display. Pricing for the 20-inch starts at $1,199 while the 24-inch begins at a whopping $1,799.

Apple Wireless Keyboard - Top Apple Wireless Keyboard - Side


The iMac can also become truly cable-free if you spend an extra $50 to replace the wired mouse and keyboard with Apple’s Mighty Mouse and new Wireless Keyboard, which connect to the computer’s internal Bluetooth receiver. In addition the ultra-thin aluminum keyboard includes special function keys such as brightness/volume control, disk eject, iTunes play/pause, Exposé, and more!

Apple iLife and iMovie on iMac



iLife 2008:
As iLife has been one of Apple’s strongest selling point for the Mac OS X, it was only appropriate that they released the 2008 edition just in time for the launch of Leopard in October. This upgrade brings a ton of new features to iPhoto and in fact completely redesigns iMovie. The main feature Steve Jobs touched on during his press conference was iPhoto’s ability to automatically organize libraries of photos into events based off time stamps. Events can be split into multiple events and separate ones can be merge back together and named accordingly. With this new feature users may now search for a event’s name and find a neat set of photo instead of having to search through filenames directly. Once photos are rated using the new star rating system, users can hide photos that they don’t like, but do not want to delete. (Just like the system in iTunes) And as for iMovie, the application now supports importing video from just about any HD camcorder in addition to DV and clips from Digital Cameras. With the new faster and more efficient interface, users can quickly skim through clips, preview the movie, drag/drop to re-organize clips, add tracks from iTunes, create voice overs, and use the new effects. The exporting function has been improved to support the iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, and YouTube formats in addition CD/DVD.

And as a bonus for .Mac subscribers, iLife 08 will support easy uploading to share Photos and Videos with both Mac and Windows users. iLife also includes an updated iWeb with new interactive Widgets and an updated GarageBand. iLife is now available online and in stores for a retail price of $79.

iWork 2008:

Pages and Keynote make it incredibly easy, and even fun, for anyone to create stylish documents and presentations very quickly,” said Steve Jobs, Apples CEO “Numbers rounds out the iWork suite, which is far more intuitive and easy to use than anything else out there.

And the final announcement was the new iWork 2008, which includes a new innovative spreadsheet application called Numbers and upgraded versions of Keynote and Pages. Numbers features a new concept called Intelligent Tables, which is supposedly revolutionary, while Keynote got new effects/transitions/animations and Pages got a word processing and a page layout mode. iWork 08 also retails for a price of $79 and is also available online and in stores now!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

RADEON X 1650 PRO

Sapphire has a reputation for producing fast, overclocked graphics cards based on ATI designs, and is well on the way to getting the same reputation when it comes to silently-cooled cards, with several designs in the product line-up already.



A graphics card
Capture the performance edge in computing with an upgrade to RADEON™ X1650 PRO and rest assured that your hardware can accelerate all that the eagerly anticipated Windows Vista™ 3D environment has to offer. A tool for the mainstream enthusiast, the Sapphire X1650 PRO packs enough hardware muscle to deliver far off worlds, exploding with life, right to your desktop! Equipped with the awesome feature-set of the RADEON™ X1650 PRO core, a robust onboard memory configuration and 12 pixel pipeline architecture the X1650 PRO is the definitive gaming solution for today and the titles of tomorrow . An impressive hardware compilation promising unparalleled speed with CrossFire™ support, HD Display connectivity with Avivo™ and support for Microsoft® Windows Vista™ ensures future compatibility and that you will not have to limit your fantasies to just your desktop. Accelerate your imagination and embark on a 3D desktop revolution.



Features
RADEON™ X1650 PRO core (600MHz)
CrossFire™ Support
256MB DDR2/GDDR3 Onboard Memory (1400MHz)
Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Shader Model 3.0
Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ready
157 million transistors on 90nm fabrication process
Dual-link DVI
Twelve pixel shader processors
Five vertex shader processors
128-bit 4-channel DDR/DDR2/GDDR3 memory interface
Native PCI Express x16 bus interface
AGP 8x configurations also supported with AGP-PCI-E external bridge chip
Dynamic Voltage Control
Accelerated MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, WMV9, VC-1, and H.264 decoding and transcoding

panasonic :DMCL10

Panasonic, a leader in digital technology, is delighted to announce the launch of their second digital single-lens reflex camera (SLR) – the DMC-L10 with an interchangeable LEICA lens. The DMC-L10 features an advanced 2.5-inch free angle LCD for full time live view that offers 270 degree rotation and a versatile shooting style. A 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor provides beautiful images with delicate gradation and wide dynamic range. Dust reduction with a Supersonic Wave Filter system prevents dust from attaching to the sensor to degrade the pictures. The superb image processor, Venus Engine III, boasts high quality image rendering and a high speed response.




Four Thirds System – Developed Exclusively for digital SLR

The DMC-L10 adopts the open format of the Four Thirds system for its lens mount – so the L10 can be used with lenses made by a variety of manufacturers, giving users a host of equipment options. Drawing on leading technologies while defying any stereotype ideas in SLR cameras, Panasonic’s DMC-L10 is designed to help you make the most of your photographic creativity.

One of the DMC-L10’s real talking points is the LEICA D VARIO-ELMAR 14-50mm / F3.8-5.6 / MEGA O.I.S. lens. Sold as a complete kit – the combination of the world renowned Leica lens, with Panasonic’s excellence in digital photography – makes an impressive proposition.



Full-time Live View for a New Digital SLR Shooting Style
The full-time live view function on the LCD proposes a dramatic change in the shooting style of digital SLR cameras. The DMC-L10’s 2.5-inch large LCD offers 270 degree rotation and a versatile shooting style even in situations when looking into the viewfinder is not easy – so you don’t need to get down on bended knee, or lie flat on the ground – you can see the subject even while holding the camera up high. This free angle LCD also features an Intelligent LCD function that offers an automatic brightness level control function according to the light condition, under the strong sunlight or in darkness, to secure clear view anytime.

The full-time live view gives users more shooting flexibility and greater convenience not previously achieved by conventional digital SLR cameras without live view capability. Not one to rest on its laurels, Panasonic introduces another first for a digital SLR camera by incorporating a Face Detection and Intelligent ISO Control function. The face detection system detects human faces (up to 15 human faces can be detected simultaneously) and sets a focus and appropriate exposure to capture a face clearly and beautifully lit. The Intelligent ISO Control function detects and meters the movement of the subject and sets the suitable ISO setting and the shutter speed according to the amount of the movement to suppress the generation of motion-blur in the picture.

The live view enables the user to check the outcome image in advance after compensating the exposure or adjusting the white balance. The white balance can be adjusted in the area of two-axis of coordinates precisely. Furthermore, the DMC-L10 provides options of picture taste with a function called Film Mode. Each analog film has its characteristics, for example colour, contrast, gradation and these effect the outcome of the picture, they are ways of expression. With the DMC-L10, the Film Mode allows you to choose the one that takes the best advantage of the scene or the subject you take out of a total of nine film modes including Standard, Dynamic, Nature, Smooth, Nostalgic, Vibrant, Standard B/W, Dynamic B/W and Smooth B/W, with the capability of fine adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction. All these settings can be confirmed before you take the picture.

Users can also change the aspect ratio (4:3, 3:2 and 16:9) according to the situation. As a leader in the flat panel market, Panasonic has been proposing further enjoyment of photography, by viewing the dynamic photos you take in HD (high-definition) 1920 x 1080 resolution image size on 16:9 wide screens.

In conventional digital SLR cameras, the live image could be seen only through the view finder and the LCD existed just for the playback of images once taken. But with the DMC-L10, any trials of setting, adjustment and effect can be checked beforehand, ensuring the picture will be just as the user intended.

A Fusion of Technologies - Advanced Hybrid AF System
Not only has Panasonic included a live view function on the new SLR - the DMC-L10 also adopts an advanced hybrid-type AF system - a first in any digital SLR. A TTL phase difference detection system works for shooting through a viewfinder while contrast AF system best supports the shooting using the live view. This is also the case with AE. A high speed, high precision TTL full aperture light metering by 49 zones multi-pattern sensing system is available for shooting through the viewfinder. For shooting with live view, exposure can be metered and set using the Live MOS sensor for light metering to take the whole picture information and evaluate it by 256 zones multi-pattern sensing system to give a well-balanced exposure as a whole image.

To match the shooting situation and subject's position, the user can select from six auto-focusing methods: Face Detection, 9-point, Multi, 3-point, 1-point and Spot. With the 1-point AF or spot AF method, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points. Various group area patterns can also be selected in the new Multi method.

For your convenience, in manual focus, you can enlarge the specific part of the subject on the LCD and also freely move the magnified area for easy framing, which is especially useful when using a tripod.

The new 10.1Mp Live MOS Sensor and the Venus Engine III for superior picture quality
The Live MOS sensor used in the DMC-L10 provides beautiful images with delicate gradation and wide dynamic range that only a CCD image sensor can provide while achieving low energy consumption which is a feature of CMOS sensors. By incorporating the 2.2m pixel technology, Panasonic is first in the industry to succeed in the mass production of a miniaturized circuit that sustains the same light receiving area as the sensor of 7.5Mp. In addition, the efficiency of light reception is raised at the same time, to keep the sensitivity as high as that of 7.5Mp despite the decreased pixel area. Also, photodiodes embedded deeply in the silicon layer create a structure that suppresses noise generated on the substrate surface. As a result, the white-spot pixel defects and textual roughness that often characterize images captured in shooting at higher ISO are minimized thanks to the incorporation of newly developed noise reduction circuit, so the pictures are clear and beautiful.

The Venus Engine III is an image processing LSI developed by Panasonic to maximise the performance of the Leica D lens and Live MOS sensor. This advanced LSI not only helps reproduce images with outstanding resolution, superior colour and detailed gradation, it also distinguishes chromatic noise from luminance noise and selectively reduces the chromatic noise, one of the chief sources of image quality problems. This helps the DMC-L10 deliver the superb image rendering one expects from a quality SLR camera.

Dust Reduction System

One of the most critical issues with digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust entering the camera body during lens changes. This dust can adhere to the image sensor and show up as spots on photos. Panasonic has solved this problem by equipping the DMC-L10 with a Supersonic Wave Filter system that uses supersonic vibration to shake off any dust clinging to the sensor. This simplifies camera maintenance and eliminates worries about dust entering the camera body when lenses are being changed outdoors or the dust that may be generated by the movement of mirror or shutter, so users can enjoy themselves and simply concentrate on shooting.

Inherently user friendly

Panasonic drew on its cutting-edge lens technology to invent Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser), a system that prevents blurring from shaky hands and has been incorporated in all Lumix compact cameras. This high-precision image stabilising lens system is now incorporated into the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm/F3.8-5.6/Mega O.I.S. With Mega O.I.S., it is easier than ever to capture clear, sharp, beautiful images when shooting indoor portraits, illuminated night scenes or even the scenery you see from a train window. Another problem is the motion blur that can occur when a subject moves as the shot is being snapped but the DMC-L10 detects whether or not the subject is moving with the Intelligent ISO Control function.

A total of nine scene modes also support the pursuit of usability for any photographer to enjoy taking beautiful pictures with ease, while more advanced photographers can make finer adjustments with the Advanced Scene Mode and with frequently-used Portrait, Sports, Landscape and Night portrait being directly activated via the mode dial. Select the Portrait or Sports mode and you'll have further options to define whether it is in outdoor or indoor. Selecting Landscape mode gives you the option to specify if you're going to take nature or architecture - thus more suitable compensation for the scene will be available on the picture to get the best results. Alternatively you can simply select the original mode without any further adjustment, or select Creative mode that even allows manual controls over an aperture or a shutter speed.

Spinning the Mode Dial on top of the camera directly points you to the frequently used settings including Auto mode, each P/A/S/M mode, and five frequently-used scene modes and one custom mode that you can pre-set for your own preference. The DMC-L10 incorporates a variety of functions that build a bridge for the potential user of digital SLR to take a first step in a world of real creative photography or for existing users who have not been able to take best advantage of their conventional digital SLR cameras.

samsung mini cam recorder

Samsung VM-X300 Mini Camcoder

Korea consumer electronics giant, Samsung has introduced its latest and cool camcoder, the new and stylish VM-X300 that can move into ready mode to start recording in only 3 seconds after power on. Besides, this mini camcorder which held by Korean beauty also features a 10x optical zoom, 2.0 inch LCD display, EIS anti-shake and SD/MMC card slot which extend the memory size.



With Samsung VM-X300, you can record DVD-like and MPEG4 ASP (Advanced Simple Profile) video at 720 x 480 resolution and 30 frames per second. The Samsung’s new pocket-sized camcorder is now available in Korea for about $322.

HP compac 8150 p

The HP Compaq 8510p was released in August 2007 as is part of the "performance notebooks" in their business line. This means you get the Santa Rosa chipset, the magnesium alloy display enclosure, HP 3D Drive Guard and HP Protect software package. The specific unit being reviewed here is a preconfigured model (RM303UT). HP offers a number of pre-configurations varying processor speed, memory and operating system as well as the option to customize your setup.





Overview



The HP Compaq 8510p Notebook PC gives you exceptional graphics and performance in a powerful yet portable 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen notebook weighing just 6.1 lbs and as thin as 1.1 in.



Specifications

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7300 2GHz 4MB L2 cache 800MHz front side bus
Chipset: Mobile Intel PM965
Memory: 1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive: SATA 160GB 5400rpm, HP 3D DriveGuard
Removable media: DVD+/-RW
Display: 15.4" in WSXGA+
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600, 256MB of video memory (512MB Hypermemory)
Audio: High Definition Audio, stereo speakers, stereo headphone/line out, stereo microphone in, integrated microphone
Wireless: Intel 802.11a/b/g (4965AG), Bluetooth 2.0
Communications: Intel Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000 NIC),9 56K v.92 modem
Expansion slots" One Type I/II PC Card slot supports 32-bit CardBus and 16-bit cards, Secure Digital slot
Ports and connectors: Four USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI, stereo microphone in, stereo headphone/line out, 1394a, power connector, RJ-11/modem, RJ-45/ethernet, docking connector, secondary battery connector
Dimensions: (h × w × d) 1.1" (at front) x 14.0" x 10.24"
Weight: 6.1 lbs (weight will vary by configuration)
Power: 8-cell Lithium-Ion Battery (73WHr) with HP Fast Charge, 90W HP Smart AC Adapter



Speakers

The speakers are located along the front edge of the laptop, taking up about 75 percent of the area from left to right. I like this location as opposed to having speakers on the face of the keyboard. Sound seems to be less directed at you and more ambient. Audio is good, though bass is limited as one would expect on a business laptop. External speakers / headphones are a must if you want to listen to music or play games seriously. But for lighter applications, watching non-special effects driven movies, or games such as Civilization, these speakers are just fine.

Processor and Performance

The new Santa Rosa chipset is certainly an improvement over the Pentium M 755 laptop which died on me. The preconfigured unit came with 1GB RAM so for another $40 I added another 1GB Patriot dimm. (The benchmarks below are with 2GB RAM installed).

The ATI Radeon Mobility HD 2600 is a dedicated video card with 256MB ram. This is a new card and according to HP I have the newest drivers installed. However I’ve run into a few blue screens of death doing various operations. These seem to be video driver related as the ATI Catalyst software catches the errors before Windows does and allows you to stay in session.



Wireless

Along with the new Santa Rosa chipset you get Intel’s new 4965AG wireless setup. By far this is more solid than the 802.11g in my previous laptop. I have not had any dropped connections and no problem configuring various networks when traveling. Bluetooth also comes standard with this configuration. I was quickly able to connect to my phone and actually setup an internet connection via Sprint’s "phone as modem" feature.

Battery

The 8510p comes with an 8-cell battery which, thankfully, does not protrude like the T61 battery. As mentioned above, in my informal test I played a 2h 10min DVD and had about 30 minutes left over for normal usage. HP offers two additional batteries for this unit that SNAP ON to the base (good design idea). These are offered in 8-cell and 12-cell sizes, which effectively make your battery 16-cell or 20-cell.


Features


Powerful computing:

• Run demanding applications with true 64-bit computing and support for up to 4 GB of memory. Intel Centrino Pro processor technology helps reduce the TCO of your PCs with built-in remote manageability and proactive security.

High-end graphics:

• ATI Mobility Radeon X2600 graphics provide DirectX 10 and Dual Link DVI support (through optional docking) give you faster rendering capabilities and support for ultra-high resolution monitors.

Work in high-definition:

• HP simplifies IT management and maintenance because HP Business Notebook PCs are designed to share a common image across select models in the notebook lineup.: Blu-ray DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL Drive allows you to play/burn high-definition content directly from your notebook or store up to 50 GB on a dual-layer disc. Connect directly to high-definition displays with one HDMI cable.

samsung optical cam

Samsung is finally ready to launch the SC-HMX10, its first ever high-definition camcorder. The SC-HMX10 (pictured) heads a trio of camcorders previewed at CES way back in January that will all be available from September in the US.




The SC-HMX10 records to 8GB of internal flash memory, which is at least an increase to the frankly laughable 4GB announced at CES. Samsung claims this is enough to shoot a feature-length opus at the highest quality setting. Thankfully, memory can be expanded with an SD or SDHC card for stretching your epic beyond the 90-minute mark. The SC-HMX10 utilises a 1/6-inch CMOS sensor, and features HDMI output and a 10x optical zoom. The 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD screen will be of the touch-sensitive variety. It will be out in the US in September for $799 (£400).



Samsung has also announced the SC-MX10, a tapeless camcorder that will record video straight to SD card. You can keep track of the action on a 69mm (2.7-inch) widescreen LCD. You can also get right up close and personal with a humongous 34x optical zoom. US price will be $299 (£150).



Finally, the SC-DX10 gives you three recording options. Write your video to DVD-R, internal memory, or SD/SDHC cards. With a paltry 4GB onboard storage you may well have to use all three. Once again, you call the shots with a touchscreen. The SC-DX10 will cost $549 (£270).




Considering there are 100GB camcorders out there, 4GB or 8GB internal memory on these camcorders seems pretty measly. But at this more affordable price point, writing to widely available and ever-cheaper SD cards is officially a good thing, and the flexibility is there to shoot footage in hi-def or for the Web.

Halo 3

Halo 3 has smashed all records by becoming the biggest entertainment launch in history, ahead of blockbuster movie releases like Spiderman 3 and well-hyped novels like the final Harry Potter book.



So, $170 million. That's a lot of money. Want to know what it looks like? It looks like this:



- 100 Bugatti Veyron cars - the most expensive car in the world
- 8 properties like the new LA home of the Beckhams
- 56 million Big Macs
- 12 struggling football teams like Queen's Park Rangers
- 11,3333 of the most expensive M&Ms, which accompanied Paul Allen into space (although there is only one, so that *strictly speaking* isn't in your budget)
- 113,333 of the world's most expensive cocktail (although there are only 15 servings left, so this is actually impossible too).

$170 million - harder to spend than Brewster's Millions.

secure ur usb

Corsair's Flash Padlock gives users the confidence of having a hardware-secured lock to protect their data on an USB drive. Featuring auto-lock hardware security, Flash Padlock is the best way to secure your data while on the go. This prevents any unauthorized access or “Brute Force” attack to the data on Flash Padlock. Users can program in a PIN, much like they do for an ATM machine, to lock/unlock their data. An easy to use keypad in conjunction with lock/unlock indicator lights makes the Flash Padlock highly intuitive to use. Lastly, the Flash Padlock is fully plug-and-play, and requires no software or drivers to work properly.



Features:

* Auto-Locking – Self locking after removal from computer
* Customizable PIN – Set your own PIN and make it easy to remember
* Easy to Use – Direct keypad access and indicator lights make locking/unlocking simple
* Plug and Play – Hardware based security works without installing or running software
* Platform independent – Works on Windows, MAC and Linux platforms without the use of software

Home theatre :a complete report

Home cinema, also called home theater, seeks to reproduce cinema quality video and audio in the home.

Technically, a home cinema could be as basic as a simple arrangement of a television, DVD, and a set of speakers. It is therefore difficult to specify exactly what distinguishes a "home cinema" from a "television and stereo". Most people in the consumer electronics industry would agree that a "home theater" is really the integration of a relatively high-quality video output with surround sound.





Today, "home cinema" implies a real "cinema experience" and therefore a higher quality set of components than the average television provides. A typical home theater includes the following parts:

1. Input Devices: One or more audio/video sources. High quality formats such as HD DVD or Blu-ray are preferred, though they often include a VHS player or Video Game Systems. Some home theatres now include a home theater PC to act as a library for video and music content.
2. Processing Devices: Input devices are processed by either a standalone AV receiver or a Preamplifier and Sound Processor for complex surround sound formats. The user selects the input at this point before it is forwarded to the output.
3. Audio Output: Systems consist of at least 2 speakers, but can have up to 11 with additional subwoofer.
4. Video Output: A large HDTV display. Options include Liquid crystal display television (LCD), video projector, plasma TV, rear-projection TV, or a traditional CRT TV.
5. Atmosphere: Comfortable seating and organization to improve the cinema feel. Higher end home theaters commonly also have sound insulation to prevent noise from escaping the room, and a specialized wall treatment to balance the sound within the room.




Component systems vs. Theater-in-a-Box

High-quality home cinemas are assembled from component pieces purchased separately to provide the best combination of equipment for the cost. It is possible to purchase home theater in a box kits that include a set of speakers for surround sound, an amplifier/tuner for adjusting volume and selecting video sources, and sometimes a DVD player. Though these kits often pale in comparison to a custom-built home cinema, they are inexpensive and easy to set up; one needs only to add a television and some movies in order to create a simple home theater.





Dedicated home theaters

Built-in shelves provide a place for movie decor, DVDs, and equipment. Note the component stack on the right, where the audio receiver, DVD player, secondary monitor, and video game system are located.

Some home cinema enthusiasts go so far as to build a dedicated room in the home for the theater. These more advanced installations often include sophisticated acoustic design elements, including "room-in-a-room" construction that isolates sound and provides the potential for a nearly ideal listening environment. These installations are often designated as "screening rooms" to differentiate from simpler installations. This idea can go as far as completely recreating an actual cinema, with a projector enclosed in a projection booth, specialized furniture, a piano or theatre organ, curtains in front of the projection screen, movie posters, or a popcorn or snack machine. More commonly, real dedicated home theatres pursue this to a lesser degree. Presently the days of the $100,000.00+ home theater is being usurped, by the rapid advances in digital audio & video technologies, which has spurned a rapid drop in prices. This in turn has brought the true digital home theater experience, to the doorsteps of the do it your selfer, often for less than what you would expect to pay for a low budget economy car. Current consumer level A/V equipment can meet and often exceed in performance what you would expect to experience at a modern commercial theater.





Backyard theater

In places that have the proper outdoor atmosphere, it is possible for people to set up a home theater in their backyard. Depending on the space available, it may simply be a temporary version with foldable screen, a projector and couple of speakers, or a permanent fixture with huge screens and dedicated audio set up poolside. Due to the outdoor nature, it is quite popular with BBQ parties and pool parties.

Some people have built upon the idea, and constructed mobile drive-in theaters that can play movies in public open spaces. Usually, these require a powerful projector, a laptop or DVD player, outdoor speakers and/or an FM transmitter to broadcast the audio to other car radios.



1950s and 1960s home movies

In the 1950s, home movies became popular in the United States and elsewhere as Kodak 8 mm film (Pathé 9.5 mm in France) and camera and projector equipment became affordable. Projected with a small, portable movie projector onto a portable screen, often without sound, this system became the first practical home theater. They were generally used to show home movies of family travels and celebrations but also doubled as a means of showing private stag films. Dedicated home cinemas were called screening rooms at the time and were outfitted with 16 mm or even 35 mm projectors for showing commercial films. These were found almost exclusively in the homes of the very wealthy, especially those in the movie industry.

Portable home cinemas improved over time with color film, Kodak Super 8 mm film film cartridges, and monaural sound but remained awkward and somewhat expensive. The rise of home video in the late 1970s almost completely killed the consumer market for 8 mm film cameras and projectors, as VCRs connected to ordinary televisions provided a simpler and more flexible substitute.



1980s home cinema

The development of multi-channel audio systems and laserdisc in the 1980s created a new paradigm for home cinema. The first known home cinema system was installed as a sales tool at Kirshmans furniture store in Metairie, Louisiana in 1974. They built a special sound room which incorporated the earliest quadraphonic audio systems and modified Sony trinitron televisions for projecting the image. Many systems were sold in the New Orleans area in the ensuing years before the first public demonstration of this integration occurred in 1982 at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois. Peter Tribeman of NAD (USA) organized and presented a demonstration made possible by the collaborative effort of NAD, Proton, ADS, Lucasfilm and Dolby Labs who contributed their technologies to demonstrate what a home cinema would "look and sound" like.

Over the course of three days, retailers, manufacturers, and members of the consumer electronics press were exposed to the first "home like" experience of combining a high quality video source with multi-channel surround sound. That one demonstration is credited with being the impetus for developing what is now a multi-billion dollar business.



1990s home cinema

In the late 1990s, the development of DVD, 5-channel audio, and high-quality video projectors that provide a cinema experience at a price that rivals a big-screen HDTVs sparked a new wave of home cinema interest.

star wars :battle fromt

Star Wars Battlefront 2 : Gamiong Zone

Star Wars Battlefront II improves upon the blockbuster multiplayer original with new space combat, playable Jedi, and never-before-seen environments straight out of final Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith film.




The game features an all-new single-player experience that takes players through an epic, story-based saga where every action the player takes impacts the battlefront and, ultimately, the fate of the Star Wars galaxy. The sequel features improved flight control, complex space combat that allows players to board enemy capital ships and battle to take over flying command posts or sabotage the ship to be used against the other faction, increased total online player numbers, and memorable multiplayer encounters in 12 new locations.

a sky phone combo

Optical Mouse & Skype Phone Combo
This Mouse Combo features a VoIP Skype Phone and a fully functional mouse for convenience and for fun. Plug this into your computer, and see how much great a product that this really is, and with no MOQ and fast delivery, this Computer Accessory is a perfect drop shipping item or gift.



When closed, the mouse works like any other with the dial in the middle functioning as a scroll wheel.

The clever stuff happens when a call comes in.

The user can then flip open the mouse to reveal a functional phone, with the mouse-wheel being used to adjust the volume. Pressing the scroll wheel mutes the call.

The built in echo cancellation feature should guarantee decent call sound quality, and finishing the call is as simple as flipping the mouse-phone shut.






A potential problem might arise if you wanted to use the mouse when you’re on a call, but we think you can just switch to speakerphone mode. Or maybe not (the translated press announcement goes on about ‘knitting machines’ so it’s a bit vague).

Being a Sony product, the Sony VN-CX1 looks to please groovy feckers, offering the mouse in 5 trendy colours to match their shade of laptop/shirt/nail varnish.



Manufacturer Specifications



128x64 pixel LCD screen with backlight
Only English supported
Connect with USB to your computer
1000 DPI optical sensor
Crystal clear audio with 16bit 48 KHz sampling rate.
Also compatible with Internercalls, SparVoip, NetAppel, poivY,
VoipDiscount, VoipCheap and WebCallDirect


E reader in high resolution

You have yet to be bitten by the electronic book spiel and by the looks of it, the rest of humanity is hardly on fire to hop aboard on the e-reading train either.



That doesn’t stop some companies making some really interesting breakthroughs though in the e-reader market. This skinny 6.7in reader from Seiko Epson crams in a stunning 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution, which is a big deal for such a small display. The display itself measures just 3mm thick and a single battery has enough juice to display 1400 pages. Here’s some specs:

  • Terminal measures 180x120mm (B6 size)
  • Thickness: 3mm
  • Weight: 57g
  • Contrast ratio: 8:1
  • Reflectivity: 43%
  • Redrawing time: 0.7s
  • Battery: one CR1220 button cell battery (1'400 screen redraws)

mini camaras

2.5 Inch Screen Wireless Receiver/MP4 Player + 4 Mini Cameras
Price: US$226.00


Description: Wireless Receiver/MP4 Player + 4 Mini Cameras.


* SKU: Baby-Monitors-938B4X801


* Highlight Features:

* 2.4GHz 4-channel palm wireless mobile AV receiver
* AVI format MPEG-4 wireless AV recorder, with real-time clock display
* MP3, MP4 player, picture browse supportable
* Cabled AV recording and TV function supportable
* 882*228 high-definition 2.5 inch TFT LCD display screen
* Inbuilt with 128MB memory block, MMC, SD card, U disc, mobile HD memory, reading and writing supportable
* OTG and 2.0 high-speed USB interface supportable
* Support the connection with the display so as to play and record programs
* Inbuilt with high-capacity polymer lithium battery, 5 h continuous play time
* Dimension(cm): 10.5*7.3*2.8


* Camera

* Picture sensor: 1/3" OmniVision COMS
* PAL: 628*582 / NTSC: 510*492
* Horizontal rolution: 380Line
* Visual angel: 54º
* Min illumination: 3Lux/F1.2
* Frequency: CH1=2414MHz; CH2=2432MHz; CH3=2450MHz; CH4=2468MHz
* Open distance: 100M
* Power supply: DC8V/200mA
* Operating temperature: -10 ~ +50 deg
* N.W: 210g

8.0M Pixel CCD Digital Video Camera

Price: US$220.00

Description: Digital Video Camera 8.0M Pixel CCD Digital Video Camera with MP3/MP4, 2.5-inch LCD, Resolution: Fine 8.0 Mega-Pixel Hardware Interpolation. Imaging sensor: 1/2.5” SONY 4.1 Mega Pixels CCD sensor. Internal Memory: 32MB FLASH. Movie: 10x digital zoom.

* SKU: Digital-Camcorders-C8010


* Imaging sensor: 1/2.5” SONY 4.1 Mega Pixels CCD sensor
* Resolution: Fine 8.0 Mega-Pixel Hardware Interpolation
* Internal Memory: 32MB FLASH
* Memory Card Slot: SD Card (MMC compatible) (card not included)
* Sensor sensitivity: AUTO, ISO 100, 200, 400 equivalent, user definable
* Focus Range: 0.2cm ~ ∞
* Still image: Formats: JPEG (EXIF), DCF, DPOF, Direct Print(DPS)
* Resolution: VGA, 2M, 4M, 8M(firmware interpolation)
* Quality: Fine, Normal
* Movie clips: MPEG-4(AVI, ASF, MOV), 640x480 pixels, 30fps / 320x240 pixels 30fps
* Audio: Support music audio famart (MP3)
* Zoom: 3x optical zoom
* Movie: 10x digital zoom
* Camera: 4x digital zoom
* LCD Display: 2.5-inch TFT High resolution (960x240pixels)
* Flash: 1.0~2.0m range
* Auto / off / auto with red eye reduction / forced / slow sync
* White balance: Auto / Sunny/ Cloudy / Tungsten / Fluorescent
* Exposure: -2.0EV ~ +2.0EV (in 0.3 EV STEPS)
* Self-Timer: Off, 2, 5 minutes( user definable)
* TV Out Format: NTSC / PAL
* Connector: USB 2.0
* Shutter: Mechanical and electronic shutter 2-1/1000s
* Setup Language: English /Japanese /Chinese- Simplified/ Chinese-Traditional /Korean
* Power Source: One 1700mAh Rechargeable Li-ion battery
* Operation OS: Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP
* Dimension: 130(W) x 57(L) x 70(D)mm


* Accessories
* USB cable & TV-Out Cable
* CD-ROM driver disc
* Li-ion battery x 1
* Shoulder Strap
* Camera Pouch
* User"s Manual
* Power cord
* Earphones
* Battery charger


underground 2

Need for Speed Underground 2 tries to inject a story into your career mode using static-image cutscenes that pop up before some races. The effect is similar to what the Max Payne series does with its noninteractive sequences, though that game pulls it off much better than Need for Speed Underground 2 does. Dopey story short, you're sent off to a new town after getting ambushed by a rival racing crew, and you'll have to start from scratch with one car and a handful of races to get you going.



The biggest change made by this year's game is that the action now takes place in one large city. You're given free rein to drive around wherever you want, and you'll have to drive to races to drive in them. You'll also have to drive to different parts shops to customize your ride--in fact, you'll have to find most of the game's shops by cruising around the city, looking for the right type of colored lights. The game gives you an onscreen map, but shops don't show up until you've found them, and some races don't actually appear on the map, either.



On paper, this whole open-city thing sounds like an interesting idea. Someone probably sat down and said, "Well, everyone likes Grand Theft Auto, and it has an open city, so our game has to have an open city as well. In fact, let's even make it so that different sections of the city are locked away until you progress to a certain point in the career mode." In practice, driving around the city is a real drag that keeps you out of the action longer than you'd like. The game also rarely takes advantage of the open city for racing purposes, staging a majority of its events on preset tracks, rather than attempting to go for a Midnight Club-like "get there however you can" feel. There's a menu in the garage that lets you jump to a handful of different events, but most races don't show up here, and none of the shops do, either, making it completely useless.



You'll start out in some pretty slow cars, so the racing isn't very exciting until you earn enough for a full set of upgraded performance parts. But once you've done so, the racing is fun and the cars handle well. The cars are fast, and things like turning, powersliding, and proper corning technique are easy to pick-up. Like in last year's game, there are a handful of different race types: Circuit races are long lap-based events, sprints take you from point A to point B on a set course, drag racing lets you live your life a quarter mile at a time, and drift races rank you based on how squirrelly you can get on the track. New in this year's game are the street X races, which are essentially regular races that take place on drift tracks. Outrun races take place in various parts of the city--you roll up behind another racer, tap a button, and then try to pass and outrun him or her. You'll also encounter a few races against the clock, in which you'll have to get from one point in the city to another before a photographer leaves the area. Make it, and you'll get to put your car on the cover of one of the game's magazines or DVDs for extra cash. The big new race type is the "underground racing league." These races are the sort of mysterious events where you'll see most of the game's cutscenes. They mostly involve some knucklehead breaking the lock on a race track and then swinging open a gate so your street-racing posse can race on a "real" track, though you'll also bust into airports and such, too. These races are essentially circuit races with racetrack scenery instead of cityscape scenery.



Though there are three different difficulty settings for the career mode, none of them put up a particularly good fight. As a result, most of the races simply boil down to getting in front of the opposition and then doing what you can to not make a mistake. Between nitrous boosts and drafting, gaining the lead isn't very difficult, and the game doesn't seem to employ any heavy rubber-band AI routines to retake the lead from you, so you can usually stay in front without any trouble at all. When you consider that it will take you about a minute to get in front, and that some of the circuit races can last six minutes or more, this means that a great deal of your race time is spent just cruising along, dodging traffic and not paying any attention to the other cars unless you screw up and get into a wreck. In the event that you do crash, regaining the lead usually isn't too tough, especially if you've purchased a nitrous-oxide upgrade, which shamelessly lifts concepts from the Burnout series, translating powerslides and near-misses into extra boost for your tank. The opposing cars will slow down quite a bit if they take a big lead, making them very easy to beat.



Need for Speed Underground 2's crashes are laughably weak. While high-speed collisions with other cars trigger a slow-motion, cinematic shot of the crash, the game doesn't model any damage at all. It's like you're watching two plastic car models bump up against each other, accompanied by the sounds of an actual car crash. While it practically goes without saying that modeling damage in a game with licensed cars is still a tricky proposition, that fact doesn't make these wrecks look any better. Fortunately, the game's car customization features somewhat make up for this lack of visual detail.


A big part of Need for Speed Underground 2 is the ability to customize your car's performance and appearance. On the performance side, you'll purchase parts that have been organized into stages, which gives the game an easy way to lock the better parts away from you until you're ready for them. While the parts fall into different categories, like engines, brakes, tires, and ECUs, the only thing you really need to know is that you need them all to win races. The visual enhancements are a little more involved and give you a little more leeway, but ultimately you'll need to trick out the look of your cars to proceed, as having a flashy car is the only way to get noticed and end up on magazine and video covers. Each set of parts has a number associated with it, and these contribute to a meter that sums up how many pieces of flair you've bolted to your whip. Spoilers, neons, vinyls, roof scoops, spinner rims, custom gauges, and even speakers for your trunk are just some of the available modifications, and they all help your car stand out. This is especially handy online, where you can show off your stuff to the world.



Need for Speed Underground 2 is online on the PS2, PC, and new to this year's game, the Xbox. The online mode is pretty straightforward, letting you set up races in any of the game's race types, and it also features a free run mode, in case you just want to cruise around the city with other players. As you'd expect, the online mode works well over an average broadband connection, even with a full six players in a race. The game also does a good job with statistics and rankings, which can help you find evenly matched races. You can also limit races to cars of a certain rank, or just open it up and let people take their career-mode vehicles onto the track. The GameCube lacks online play, and to add insult to injury, the already-shaky frame rate gets a little shakier when you play in the GameCube version's splitscreen mode.

While Need for Speed Underground 2 is attempting to emulate an illegal scene of "underground" street racing, the game really tries to drive its product placement down your throat. Things like billboards on the sides of the roads aren't too bad (though with an ad for a financial service popping up on some signs, you have to wonder who EA's target audience for this game is), and the occasional real-life fast-food joint does its part to make the city feel a little more realistic. But basing the game's whole onscreen display around the logo for a cellular phone service provider crosses the line. Sorry, but there's nothing "underground" about forcing a bunch of non-car-related corporate logos on people. The game's hokey dialogue also adds to the counterfeit feel. The overzealous script is constantly throwing poorly placed slang at you, having Brooke Burke use her teleprompter voice to tell you that "you've got to be racing tight," constantly calling you "dawg," or being very careful to always call your money "bank."



Graphically, Need for Speed Underground 2 looks good, unless you're talking about the GameCube version, which has a wildly unstable frame rate that really gets in the way of the action in some races. But in the other three versions, the car models are sharp and the city looks fine. For the most part, the game keeps running at a smooth frame rate, even in the later stages, when you're moving much, much faster. But at the same time, it isn't quite the effects show that the last game was. You still get nice little effects, like the shaky camera used to show drag races, but the blur effects are much less pronounced now, which is too bad, because they were really well implemented last year. Now, you get blurring at very high speeds or when you kick in the nitrous oxide, but more would have been better. Like last year, the PS2 version is the heaviest on the effects, though the overall look is still a little subdued. For the most part, the different versions of the game look very similar, with the Xbox and PC versions allowing for slightly higher visual fidelity than the PlayStation 2 version, and the GameCube version bringing up the rear, but ultimately the only major differences come down to the GameCube version not having online support, the Xbox version's analog triggers being the best control scheme for the game, and the PC version not playing very well with the keyboard controls (you'll need at least an analog gamepad if you're planning on playing this game on the PC).

The game's sound rises above its lame dialogue and poorly delivered speech. The engine sounds aren't quite as deep or as throaty as you might like, but the game is great at changing the sound of your car as you purchase upgrades. Also, things like the whoosh of wind when you fly under an overpass really help sell the game's sense of speed.



Musically, Need for Speed Underground 2 is all over the place. The schizophrenic sounds start with the game's lead song, which is a remix of The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" done by prominent rap producer Fredwreck. Snoop Dogg joins Jim Morrison on the vocals here. For some people that will be blasphemy, but the remix sounds pretty good. The part that ruins it, though, is that Snoop is rapping about the racing--Need for Speed is specifically mentioned in the lyrics. Again, if you're going to have a game with "underground" right in the name, showcasing a song that does double duty as both an ad for the game and as an extreme case of exploitation of an old favorite probably isn't the best idea. Other songs on the soundtrack include "Lean Back" by the Terror Squad, "LAX" by Xzibit, and tracks from Sly Boogy, Felix Da Housecat, Paul Van Dyk, Cirrus, Ministry, Queens of the Stone Age, Mudvayne, Helmet, and more. This is a textbook case of a soundtrack that tries to appeal to too many different audiences and ends up not including enough of any one style to please anyone. Xbox users won't be able to fix the problem, either, as the game doesn't contain custom-soundtrack support. However, you'll be able to at least turn off tracks that you don't like.