Wi-fi to get a whole lot easier with Wi-fi Direct

Wi-fi Direct will let wi-fi devices like phones and laptops connect to one another without joining a traditional network. The Wi-fi Alliance - whose members include Intel, Apple and Cisco -may release it as early as middle of 2010.

Top recording engineers explain why music sounds awful | The Audiophiliac - CNET News

From the aritcle: "It seems like the main problem comes from record company pressure to make perfect recordings. Vocalists' off-pitch and out-of-time singing is tweaked with Auto-Tune; music-making is largely technology-based. That is, technology has replaced musical talent, and singers like Britney Spears were cited many times as to where it's all headed. Not so musically talented, her music has to be patched together in the studio. There's not a lot of there there."

Windows Vista: A Review Recap

Here is an interesting trip down memory lane about the initial reviews for Windows Vista. While the reviews were generally lukewarm to positive, there was a lot more qualification and trepidation. Could anyone have really predicted that the public would not only not embrace Vista, but that it would prefer to downgrade to XP in many cases.

I've made a kind of a peace with Vista on my laptop, but it came that way and it was a year after Vista' release when the driver availability was better and many of the most nagging problems had be improved. It also had horsepower to run Vista. It has been okay, but I'm still really looking forward to upgrading it to Windows 7.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 10-11-09

Remember the show for 10/18/09 will be a rerun, the host will not be available for the OnComputers Radio show.

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 10-11-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Refurbished HP s3700y AMD Dual Core 2.6GHz Desktop PC for $300 + free shipping
Buy.com again offers the refurbished HP Pavilion Slimline s3700y AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.6GHz Desktop PC, model no. PNC689AAR, for $299.99. With free shipping, that ties our mention from three weeks ago as the lowest total price we could find for this refurb by $16. It features an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6GHz dual-core processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm hard drive, DVD burner with LightScribe, memory card reader, and Windows Vista Home Premium.



: Refurbished Dell OptiPlex GX280 Pentium 4 2.8GHz Mini Desktop PC for $99 + $25 s&h
Today only, Dillyeo.com offers the refurbished Dell OptiPlex GX280 Pentium 4 2.8GHz Mini Desktop PC for $98.97 with around $25 for shipping. It's $48 under our June mention and the lowest total price we could find by $4. This system features an Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, CD-ROM drive, Gigabit Ethernet, wired keyboard and mouse, and Windows

CREE 110-Lumen LED Flashlight for $11 + $2 s&h
GoldenGadgets.com offers the CREE 110-Lumen LED Flashlight, model no. F-NF07, for $11.99. Add coupon code "ENDSUM09" to your cart to cut it to $10.79. With shipping at $1.73, it's tied with our mention from four weeks ago as the lowest total price we've seen for this particular model. It features a CREE XRE LED bulb and a glow-in-the-dark tail cap.



Dell OptiPlex 360 Intel Dual Core 2.6GHz Desktop PC for $312 + $35 s&h
Dell Small Business offers the Dell OptiPlex 360 Pentium Dual-Core 2.6GHz Desktop PC (no monitor) for $312 plus $35 for shipping. That's $135 off and the lowest total price we've ever seen for an OptiPlex 360. Sales tax is added where applicable. Features include an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 2.6GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 80GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive, no optical drive, 3-year warranty, and Windows Vista Home Basic.


Canon PowerShot 12MP Camera + $50 Gift Card for $130 after rebate + free shipping
Staples offers the Canon PowerShot A1100 IS 12-Megapixel Digital Camera in Gray, model no. 3444B001, for $129.99 with free shipping. Plus, this mail-in rebate yields a free $50 Gift Card. Although that's $10 more than last week's mention of the camera alone, the addition of the $50 gift card makes this one of the best deals we've seen for this camera. The A1100 features a 4x optical zoom, 2.5" LCD, SDHC slot, face detection, red-eye correction, and more. Rebate expires October 17


Portable Solar Charger for $18 + $2 s&h
GoldenGadgets.com offers this 2000mAh Portable Solar Charger, model no. S-ZWT01, for $19.99. Add coupon code "ENDSUM09" to cut it to $17.99. With $2.41 for shipping, it's pennies under our June mention and the lowest total price we seen. It includes interchangeable power tips compatible with several portable electronic devices, built-in 2000mAh lithium-ion battery, and USB connectivity


Western Digital Green 1TB SATA 3Gbps Hard Drive for $72 after rebate + free shipping
ZipZoomfly.com still offers the OEM Western Digital Caviar GP 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. WD10EADS, for $87.99 with free shipping. This $15 mail-in rebate chops it to $72.99 ($0.07/GB). That's the lowest total price we could find by $13, although it was offered for $2 less a week ago (since expired). This "green" product promises reduced power consumption compared to other models by up to 50%; it features a 32MB cache and runs at 7200 rpm. Rebate ends October 31

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Starting off the week with some encouraging news in the solar field. Seems a new solar power plant entered the grid in Southern California. The only thermal solar plant in the U.S. it is only able to handle about 4,000 homes at the moment, but it is easily expandable. The thermal solar concept is pretty interesting in that it does not require solar cells, rather uses tracking mirrors to concentrate heat. The other advantage to what they are doing is by making everything factory produced bolt together modules; they keep coast down, but can act quickly. http://www.esolar.com/
2) Now here is some news that may make everything obsolete, how about nuclear batteries. The size of a penny last hundreds of years, and millions of times stronger than conventional batteries, sounds too good to be true somehow. But, in the “what if” game, it would make a nice car, not needing fuel for a hundred years or so. A forever lap top, survival flash light on steroids, or how about my whole house. Got to be a catch, check it out here http://hardware.slashdot.org

3) Here is a new prototype sent to me by Wills, how about a roll up computer. That’s right the entire computer, monitor, keyboard; everything rolls up into something that looks like a mailing tube with a shoulder strap. Got to wonder where all of this is heading, R&D must be incredibly frustrating these days; your idea is obsolete before you start drawing. Anyway check it out thanks Wills. http://tech.msn.com/
4) One of the things they have trouble with when it comes to nano-scale designs is power. How do you get mechanical power to an incredibly small machine? Well it seems they may have had another of those breakthroughs. A big wow for me, just trying to understand the scale they are dealing with. The smallest possible motor and be able to demonstrate it can do useful work, consisting of only two atoms, circulating around in a round lattice of laser light. My dick Tracy watch, and transporter must be right around the corner. http://blogs.zdnet.com
5) For a geek link, how about using computers to amplify and demonstrate ESP. This is really pretty weird they have used three computers, and the internet to communicate using only the power of thought. Very basic but who knows where this may lead, to me this is right out of a sci-fi novel. The implications of just what this means is amazing. Granted I have put up a lot of links that probably were the ground work for this, at least on the sending end, the receiving end is a little more muddled. Anyway check it out there is even a video. http://blogs.zdnet.com