Gadgets

The One Laptop Per Child XO laptops will now include an anti-theft kill-switch to deter thieves from selling the low priced machines for a hefty profit in the black market. (Source: arstechnica.com ) The decision to add the kill-switch stems from ... requests from the OLPC project's main clients: governments. OLPC Director of Security Architecture Ivan Krstic wrote last month that "the OLPC project has received very strong requests from certain countries considering joining the program to provide a powerful anti-theft service that would act as a theft deterrent against most thieves." (Source: ... (view more)

Pop sales took off when people were able to put some change into a vending machine and get a nice cold drink. Apple has decided that if it worked for pop, it could also work for iPods. iPod vending machines first started popping up a couple of years ... ago in airports. Although intuitively the idea of selling a big ticket item in a vending machine seems odd, the concept has actually proven successful. iPod vending machines now exist in airports, universities, military bases and department stores. (Source: ajc.com ) Mark Mullins, Executive Vice President of Zoom (a company that makes the vending ... (view more)

Hype for the Apple iPhone has been increasing in anticipation for its expected January release. But, if you think that any Apple product with an "i" prefix is destined for success, think again. Many industry experts are forecasting that the iPhone ... will crash and burn. Below are some of the reasons why they may be right. No Gap for Apple to Fill The iPod's success wasn't a fluke; the MP3 players flew off the shelves because Apple created a device that solved a problem: space. The iPod differentiated itself from its competitors because it enabled users to carry their entire music library with ... (view more)

Recently, Microsoft publicly revealed their expectations for the new Zune music player. The company estimates that they are likely to sell one million devices through the first half of the new year. While many within the industry recognize that this ... figure is significantly less than the amount of iPods sold by Apple Computer Inc., those within Microsoft are viewing the estimate as a positive starting point. (Source: technology.canoe.ca ) Microsoft representatives agree that expectations will likely increase in the second half of the new year, once more models are introduced and devices become ... (view more)

Oops! The new product from Apple and Nike seems to do more than monitor athletes' workout information. As two University of Washington researchers discovered, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit can be harmful to the privacy and security of those who use it. ... The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is comprised of two parts: a chip which resides inside the running shoe and a receiver which attaches to an iPod. The receiver stores information obtained from the chip, and after a workout, users can upload information such as distance travelled and speed. (Source: theregister.co.uk ) Sounds like a great idea, and perhaps ... (view more)

Microsoft eagerly entered the digital music player industry earlier this month by releasing the much anticipated Zune. However, the product's place in the company is not yet a perfect fit; in fact, Microsoft's whole strategy with the device seems a ... bit puzzling. The Microsoft Zune, similar to Apple's iPod, exists within an ecosystem that unites music player and music content into a closed system. Clearly, Microsoft's decision to create a closed system reflects the company's aim to mimic Apple's success. However, the move seems to be inconsistent with Microsoft's strategy of encouraging ... (view more)

"iTunes is really good, but they don't have everything I want to put on my machine. I'm frustrated because I'm kind of locked in." Those are the words of a 24-year-old CompUSA worker who has reached the end of his rope with the restrictions Apple ... has placed on the iPod and its iTunes music store. As it stands right now, music downloaded from iTunes will only play on the iPod. And if you grab your music from another online source other than iTunes, it won't work on the iPod, either. It's limiting, frustrating, and just a plain headache. But an avenging angel may have arrived in the unlikely ... (view more)

Recent reports suggest that Apple has ordered 12 million mobile phones from Hon Hai Precision (better known as Foxconn), a Taiwanese manufacturing company. (Source: dailytech.com ) While Apple has not yet commented on the order, many critics are not ... surprised about the news. Analysts have been predicting that Apple would release a mobile phone in early 2007. In a research note, UBS Analyst Benjamin Reitzes wrote that the order aligns with expectations that "a cell phone could be discussed in January at Macworld with limited sales by February and broader distribution in spring 2007." (Source: ... (view more)

Many iPod users and airline passengers will no longer have to worry about re-charging their iPod before they board the plane, or worry about having enough battery power to last the duration of their trip. Earlier this week, Apple announced a deal ... with six major carriers that would outfit airlines with iPod seat connections. The iPod seat connections will be available to passengers by mid-2007 on Air France, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM, and United Airlines planes. (Source: news.com ) The seat connections will enable passengers to power and charge their iPods while in ... (view more)

Apple may be in the works to develop a touch-screen iPod. Recently, the company filed a patent that has put the future of the iconic "click wheel" in question; the patent specifically describes "a multiple-function multimedia device activated by ... touch-screen 'bezel' technology." While the application of such technology is unknown, many are speculating it will be used on a new version of the iPod or on an iPod-like device. Others suggest an integrated device that doubles as a digital camera. (Source: theinquirer.net ) The possible demise of the click-wheel may not come as a total surprise. ... (view more)