| Hot Shots: Tech That Keeps You on the Move
Even in the dog days of summer there's always some new tech tool to help a small business run more efficiently. Here's a quick look at a few of the latest products that can help keep you rolling along. Fresh Batteries for Old Laptops
Unleash your laptop you know, the older model that hasn't been further than three feet from a wall socket since its battery went to lithium ion heaven back in 2003. Even a thorough search on eBay failed to find a replacement for it. FreshBattery.com wants to get you mobile again, and so it recently launched its Legacy Power line of batteries designed for more than 1,500 models of aging laptops including those from HP, Compaq, IBM/Lenovo, Apple, Toshiba, Sony and Dell. Most batteries start to lose their full charge capability at about two years.
Sony Launches 11.1" VAIO TZ Sub-notebook in U.S.
Sony's latest VAIO weighs just 2.65 pounds Information on Sony's new VAIO TZ Series notebook first leaked out in early May from Sony's European website. From the specs that gathered, the VAIO TZ looked to be a real winner for mobile professionals. Today, Sony officially announced the VAIO TZ for the U.S. market and it doesn't disappoint. The notebook features an 11.1" LED-backlit display (1366x768), weighs just 2.65 pounds and is less than an inch thick. Battery life is listed at up to 7.5 hours. "Sony is known for miniaturization and being an innovator in design, but this time we have really out done ourselves," said Mike Abary, Sony Electronics senior VP of VAIO product marketing. "This new notebook is an engineering marvel that I believe is one of the best looking PCs on the market." The VAIO TZ notebooks incorporate ULV Core 2 Duo processors, dual-layer DVD burner, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, EV-DO Rev.
Ambient Devices gets more practical
AMBIENT DEVICES made a splash a few years ago when it released an odd glowing glass orb that changed color depending on the direction of the stock market or the temperature outside. The orb provided just a single point of data, an approach that was the opposite of a computer's rich, confusing way of presenting information. A refreshing idea, but not one that's become mainstream, especially not with its $150 price tag. Now, the Cambridge, Mass.-based company is making some rather more practical gadgets that present the same kind of information in a less cryptic form: panels that spell out the weather forecast, or the day's stock movement, on plain, easy-to-read LCD screens. Unfortunately, they're still expensive, making these more of the Sharper-Image-gee-whiz type of gadgets than everyday items.
Logitech intros Pure-Fi iPod speaker duo
Logitech on Thursday grew its fledgling iPod speaker range with the Pure-Fi series. Central in the launch, the pictured Pure-Fi Dream relies on a unique LCD at its base. The screen not only displays a clock and AM/FM tuning (including RDS text) but taps the iPod itself, providing a larger view of the track title and timeline without having to leave the bed. Control is also simpler than most iPod docks regardless of their size. The dual alarm function can be dismissed by a motion-senstive sensor; users can also immediately shuffle or repeat their music library with a shortcut button. The two-tweeter, two-woofer Dream ships with a light-up wireless remote with its own snooze control and works with most dockable iPods. It will be available later this month for $250. A revision to the earlier mm50 will be known as the Pure-Fi Anywhere, Logitech says.
Intel Ships First-Ever Extreme Edition Mobile Processor; Adds New Desktop Chip
Intel today introduced its first Core2 Extreme mobile dual-core processor -- the world's highest-performing mobile processor -- adopting the brand from the company's flagship desktop offerings. The company also introduced new desktop processors and said it expects to announce battery-friendly quad-core processors for laptop computers next year. .
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