Saturday, October 17, 2009

OpenSUSE 11.2 first RC version available

OpenSUSE enthusiasts can now download and install the first Release Candidate (RC) of openSUSE 11.2, with the final package should come next November 12. New version of the popular distribution supported by Novell, openSUSE 11.2 RC1 shipped most packages that will equip the final, starting with the Linux kernel version 2.6.31.3.

If KDE 4.3 is integrated by default, the GNOME desktop environment is also available in 2.28, while found PulseAudio 0.9.19, Samba 3.4.1 and postgresql 8.4.1, not to mention the version 3.1.1 of the OpenOffice.org office suite. Also on the program, SeaMonkey 2.0 RC1 or Evolution 2.28.

Many other innovations are planned, including technical level. In bulk, we can cite the use of the ext4 file format by default for any new facility, opening in Btrfs, improved YaST installation tool, the ability to quantify the entire contents of a disc or possible execution of the system from a USB key. openSUSE also promises an experience of updated packages facilitated through various improvements Zypper, the dedicated tool.

Some bugs still present are put forward, such as GNOME, the button to restart the computer restarts the computer not only the desktop. The developers are also seeking feedback on booting from a USB key, a new feature of openSUSE 11.2.

Download  OpenSUSE 11.2

Microsoft Confirms Data Recovery for Sidekick Users

Microsoft has apologised for the failure of servers managing data on Sidekick devices, and promised that most customers will get their data back by Saturday.

Roz Ho, Corporate Vice President Premium Mobile Experiences, Microsoft, apologises for problems and claims that "most, if not all" of the data has been recovered and will be restored to the servers over the next couple of days.

"I want to apologize for the recent problems with the Sidekick service and give you an update on the steps we have taken to resolve these problems,"she said.

"We are pleased to report that we have recovered most, if not all, customer data for those Sidekick customers whose data was affected by the recent outage. We plan to begin restoring users? personal data as soon as possible, starting with personal contacts, after we have validated the data and our restoration plan. We will then continue to work around the clock to restore data to all affected users, including calendar, notes, tasks, photographs and high scores, as quickly as possible," she added.

Users with affected Sidekick account should continue to log into the T-Mobile Sidekick forum at http://www.t-mobile.com/sidekick for the latest updates about when data restoration will begin, and any steps they may need to take.The next update on data restoration will be posted no later than Saturday, Microsoft said.

The company says that the outage was caused by a system failure that created data loss in the core database and the back-up.

Samsung LD220G & LD190N Offers Dual Display For Laptops

Samsung Electronics America today announced the release of its Lapfit monitors, LD220G & LD190N, for use as a secondary display for notebook PCs.

Now available through Samsung resellers and retailers at an estimated street price of $249.99 and $149.99 respectively, Lapfit offers notebook users the benefits of having dual displays to view multiple web sites, documents, tool palettes and widgets.

Lapfit enables multiple applications to run simultaneously or display movies and games in 16:9 widescreen high definition format and 1080p (LD220G) picture quality. Settings, such as brightness, backlight and color effects, can be customized with a touch of a key using the MagicColor, MagicBright, Color Effect and Image Size functions. It also maintains 100% image integrity and eliminates distortion using its intelligent image size function to accommodate normal and widescreen content.


The LD190N installs quickly with a standard VGA cable. The LD220G has the added benefit of USB connectivity with Samsung?s UbiSync technology, which allows users to quickly plug-in and manage multiple monitors without using additional video cards or changing system settings. The LD220G also serves as a USB hub to attach additional UbiSync monitors or peripherals.




LD190N & LD220G

- 1360 x 768 (LD190N) and 1920x1080 (LD220G) resolution
- 250 cd/m2 brightness
- Dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000:1
- 16:9 Aspect Ratio
- 5ms response time
- UbiSync technology for connectivity via USB (LD220G)
- Low power consumption

Patriot announced Box Office HD Media Player

Patriot Memory today introduced the new Box Office all-in-one High Definition media player. Patriot has simplified playing and accessing your digital library, bridging the gap between your digital media and your Home Theater. The Patriot Box Office offers an easy way to play your digital media stored on USB storage devices, on a network device, or using an optional internal 2.5" Hard Disk Drive (HDD).







Patriot has also increased the competitive value of their Box Office by including an HDMI 1.3 cable. Simply connect the HDMI cable from the Box Office to an HD ready display, and gain immediate access to your digital media collection, streamlining your ability to access content that before was a multi-step process.

Features at a glance:

  • Full HD-video playback up to 1080p
  • Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound
  • Expandable internal storage via 2.5" SATA SSD/HDD
  • Three USB ports
  • HDMI 1.3 and composite video connection (HDMI cable & composite cable included)
  • UPnP support
  • Optional 802.11g USB WIFI Adapter

LCD TVs: 240 Hz Vs 120 Hz With Back Light Scanning

A recent study released by researchers at the University of San Diego, (UCSD), California, concludes that a 120Hz LCD TV with back light scanning cannot be referred as "true" 240Hz - a claim that could be a weapon in the hands of LCD makers Samsung and Sony against rival LG.

Most of the videos available in the market are 60 frames per second (fps). In order to display a 240Hz video stream, one has to increase the frame rate by 4 times, and display it using a 240Hz LCD. There are two major methods to increase frame rate. The first one is to use motion compensation.

In this method, a 60 fps is increased to 240 fps by inserting 3 additional frames between every two consecutive frames. This method is costly, but temporal resolution is increased by 4 times. Samsung and its Sony are currently the only two LCD-TV makers offering LCD TVs with a refresh rate of 240Hz. These LCD televisions are using two motion compensation-motion estimation (MCME) chips that help generate the interpolated frames used to enhance low frame rate video.

The second method is to first increase frame rate to 120 fps. Then each frame is divided into three horizontal bands and are displayed alternatingly. The top and bottom band from frame 1, the middle band from frame 1, top and bottom band in frame 2, middle band from frame 2, and so on are displayed sequentially. Clearly, the frame rate is doubled because one original frame is divided into two frames.

LG - which came up first with a 120Hz LCD TV model earlier this year - has chosen this second method to achieve a "240Hz" refresh rate. The company's 240Hz LCD TV models are reportedly using 120Hz panels coupled with flashing backlights placed behind the panel. The backlights flash on and off at a rapid rate to achieve a similar effect to a doubled refresh rate (240Hz).

The research
of Stanley H. Chan and Truong Q. Nguyen "Comparisons of 240Hz LCDs," at UCSD is actually comparing these two methods of achieving a 240Hz refresh rate.

The researchers conclude that the second method (120Hz + Backlight scanning) is perceived blurrier. Although this technology provides a cheaper alternative for television makers, the researchers claim that pictures from true 240Hz televisions are definitely sharper.

"There are LCD TV operating at 120Hz with back light scanning. In this case, the period of the driving signal is still 1/240 second because the black light switching removes half of the 1/120-second period. However, A 120Hz LCD TV should have liquid crystals with only 120Hz response time (for otherwise one should have driven it using 240Hz signal!). Thus the exponential decay function should fall slower than a 240Hz liquid crystal. In this sense a 120Hz LCD with back light scanning cannot be referred as 240Hz as the response time of the liquid crystal is still 120Hz," the researchers conclude.

LG, along Vizio and Toshiba, have adopted this method using flashing backlights behind 120Hz panels to achieve similar effects to a doubled refresh rate.

LG has been heavily promoting its 240Hz LCD TVs since their introduction last March and claims that its scanning-backlight method has eliminated the reason to cause blur images on screens.

Generally, it's hard to realize the difference between a 120Hz picture and a 240Hz picture. However, there are differing opinions on whether the difference is worth paying the premium for. LG's "240Hz" approach allowed the company to offer 240Hz LCD -TV models at more attractive prices than the competitive offerings from Sony and Samsung.

Source : cdrinfo.com