MSI N460GTX Hawk

Advertised as the first NVIDIA GTX460 graphics card that can reach 1GHz on the GPU clock, the MSI N460GTX Hawk can certainly fly high. Its the best and the fastest GTX460 that we’ve received making it our Product of the week. Read the full review here.

Apple to stream its fall 2010 event live

For all the Apple fans in the region, we have some good news. Tonight’s Apple event is going to streamed live by Apple which hasn’t happened for over five years. Thats right, we will no longer be at the mercy of the refresh button and timeouts on blogs that cover Apple events.

Of course, being Apple, it does come with a catch- “Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad.” What this means is that our PC and Android fans that don’t own an iDevice will probably be out of luck.

I wonder what has made Apple change its mind about streaming events. Will it be related to some kind of streaming service that they will be announcing tonight? Or was it the overload of their network at the iPhone4 event that caused the mightily iPhone4 to misbehave during its moment of glory?

Whatever, the case, I’m glad this is happening. Be sure to stick to your Mac, iPod or iPad screen tonight at 9PM UAE time. And feel free to comment on what you think will be introduced tonight. Rumors suggest that a new iPod and possibly a new Apple TV along with Netflix which sadly does not officially work in the region.

Benefits of Rooting your Android Device

With Android gaining popularity in the region, I’m sure than many will look into extending the functionality of their devices by rooting their phones. But what exactly is rooting and what advantages does it bring to the Android platform? That’s what we will talk about today.

Rooting basically allows you to gain access as a super-user on your Android platform- a bit like what Jailbreaking does on the iPhone. On the iPhone, there is no way to download an application outside the App Store unless you Jailbreak your device, however, with Android devices, this is not the case- rooting isn’t required to download applications from outside the Android Market. So why would you want to root your device? Here are three good reasons to:

1) Flash a custom firmware
Your android device is very much like a PC, allowing you to customize the Operating System to your liking. What is this means is that you are no longer restricted to the OS that is provided by the manufacturer of your device and generally, the more popular a device is, the more options you have for the OS. For example, the HTC Desire has more than twenty customized OSes available for it with things like saving Apps to SD, adding Arabic support or removing the SenseUI completely for a stock and faster Android experience.

2) Backup and Restore your device
Rooting allows you to back up the entire image of your device to an SD card- a bit like using Acronis or Ghost on the PC or Time Machine on your Mac. This works real well if you want to try out new Operating Systems as it gives you the opportunity to restore your previous OS in case you don’t like the new one.

3) Run “Special” applications
Although we mentioned that rooting isn’t required to download apps outside the Android Market, there are a few apps that require your device to be rooted in order for you to use them. For example, if you want to under/overclock your device, an application called setCPU allows you to do this but required rooting. Similarly, ROM Manager is an excellent tool for flashing ROMs from SD card to your device but requires rooting.

So there you have it- some good reasons to root your Android device. I will not go into the specifics on how to root your device and is varies from device to device. A good place for that is xda-developers forum. Word of warning though- if your device is branded or locked, you need to make sure you follow instructions properly and ask question before rooting otherwise you might end up with a bricked phone.

ZOTAC ups the ante on Mini-PCs by releasing ION+CULV based platforms

There is great news for HTPC owners that have been playing with the ION based pizza boxes for a while. Zotac is giving these boxes a nice shot in the arm by releasing Celeron/CULV based systems that perform a lot better than Atom based systems that we’ve been witnessing for the past year or so. Now if they can finally add an iR port to it.

The following is the PR for it.

PR: ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world’s largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and mini-PCs, today revolutionizes the award-winning ION platform with the processing power of Intel consumer low-voltage, or CULV, processors for new platforms with superior performance capabilities while maintaining class-leading energy-efficiency. The new ZOTAC ION platforms powered by Intel CULV processors include the new ZBOX HD-ND22, HD-NS21 mini-PCs, ION-ITX N series and ION-ITX P series mini-ITX platforms.

An Intel Celeron SU2300 processor powers the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ND22 and ION-ITX P series with dual-cores clocked at 1.3 GHz for multi-threaded processing power that delivers unprecedented performance levels in an energy-efficient mini-PC for demanding users. A Single-core Intel Celeron 743 processor powers ZOTAC ZBOX HD-NS21 and ION-ITX N series platforms for outstanding single-threaded CPU performance.

“Intel CULV processors have previously been exclusive to ultra-portable notebooks, but not anymore. We’ve taken the award-winning Intel CULV processors and paired them with our award-winning ION platforms to produce the world’s first mini-PCs and mini-ITX platforms that combine the power of Intel CULV processors with NVIDIA ION™ graphics processing for the perfect combination of CPU and GPU performance with superior energy-efficiency,” said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.

NVIDIA ION graphics empower the Intel CULV-powered ZOTAC ZBOX and ION-ITX platforms with outstanding 3D capabilities and support for Microsoft DirectX 10, DirectCompute and NVIDIA CUDA-enabled applications for energy-efficient GPU computing. NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology delivers flawless GPU-accelerated high-definition video playback with breathtaking clarity and details.

ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ND22 and HD-NS21 mini-PCs with Intel CULV processors feature class-leading flexibility with an easily customizable tool-less chassis and room to accommodate a 2.5-inch SATA 3.0 Gb/s HDD or SSD, two DDR3 SO-DIMM memory slots, integrated 802.11n WiFi and four different placement positions – flat, on a stand, on the back of a monitor or on a wall with the included VESA75/100-compatible mount. External expansion options include plenty of USB 2.0 ports, a 6-in-1 memory card reader that supports SD, SDHC, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD memory card formats, and an eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port for plug ‘n play expansion.

ZOTAC ION-ITX N and P series are world-class platforms that combine the miniature size of mini-ITX with big-system expansion capabilities including a PCI Express x16 slot, two DDR3-1066 DIMM slots, three SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports, up to 10 USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port. Onboard 802.11n WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet port enables lightning-fast network transfers for stutter-free high-definition video streaming

Audi Q7 2010 Car Technology Review

Our first Car Tech review on the VW V6 was pretty well received and thus, we started looking for the next auto that we could analyze. Audi stepped up and sent us their 3.6 Q7 quattro that I think is one of the best looking SUVs in the market and thus, I was quite excited to look at it. To remind you, our articles are primarily focused on the technology and gadgetry found in cars but we do talk a bit about the car in general towards the end of the article. With that, let’s get rolling on how we felt about the Audi Q7.

To start off, the Audi Q7 is certainly a beautiful looking SUV. The Xenon headlights on the front as well as the light-emitting diodes that surround the headlights in a U-shape give the Q7 a mean look. An adaptive light system comes in as an option and provides turning and cornering lights, along with automatically switching between high and low beam. This was not present in the Audi Q7 that we received so we couldn’t test it out.

Keyless entry is supported on the Audi Q7, however you will need to press the button on the key to unlock the doors. This is a bit of a step back from the VW V6 that we looked at recently that unlocks automatically when you pull the handle provided you have the key in your pocket or in close range. Keyless ignition is also missing from the Q7 so expect to insert and turn the key to power it up.

Both the front seat were fully automatic in the model we received and three controls on the side of the seat allow you to move and tilt the seat as well adjust the lower back support to get you comfortable. Speaking of the seats, the Q7 has extremely comfortable seats- definitely better than the VW V6 and my 5-series BMW.

On the drivers side, you have the controls to lock/unlock all doors as well as raise/lower all the windows and adjust the rear-view mirrors that don’t automatically fold in once you turn off the car, but do so with the press of a button. An excellent option is a warning light on each of the rear-view mirrors that lights up when a car is present in your blind-spot.

A rear view camera is also present on the back that displays, in color, whats behind the car. To assist you, lines imposed on the screen that show you the backing-up path. These lines move with the steering wheel so you get a pretty good idea on where your car is reversing without having to look back.

HP Pavilion dm4 Notebook Review

In today’s day age, the end-user demands a lot more than just basic functionality from their machines. You want something that offers a good Internet experience, plays high-definition movies smoothly with good quality audio and possibly lets you games to some extent. The HP Pavilion dm4 checks all the above boxes, i.e. it’s aptly powerful, and easy on the eyes too.

Its hard to argue that the Pavilion dm4 is not a good looking notebook- almost everyone I showed it to was quite impressed with its look. Its got a bit of a MacBook Pro like design to it with a metallic base and a glossy black bordered screen. The lid as well as the palm rest have etched patterns running across the metallic surface which gives off a very rich and sophisticated feel to the Pavilion dm4.

Configuration wise, the dm4 is no slouch either. Its powered by the Intel Core i5 M430 CPU which is a dual core CPU running at 2.27GHz and accompanied by 3GB of DDR3 RAM. The Pavilion dm4 is the first notebook that we have tested that comes with the switchable Intel HD graphics and the ATI Radeon HD 5450 GPU running at 450MHz core and 700MHz RAM. For storage, HP adds a 300GB Hard drive along with a DVD-RW. As expected, you get 802.11 b/g/n Wireless Networking along with Bluetooth v2.1 for connectivity.

The 14” screen on the Pavilion dm4 has a resolution of 1366×768 and is a bit glossy for my liking but that seems to be the trend with most notebooks as colors do indeed look richer on a glossy screen. Viewing angles are about average- good horizontally but not so good vertically. Above the screen sits the HP TureVision Webcam which can capture video at 640×480 resolution.

ChromePlus Web Browser

ChromePlus has all the functionalities that Google Chrome has plus some added useful features such as Mouse gesture, Super drag, IE tab. Read our full review here

Comparing Etisalat and du Blackberry replacement packages

Last week we showed you five phones that could replace your beloved BlackBerry. Today, we talk about the data plans that you might want to look at if your BlackBerry is being replaced. Both Etisalat and du are offering impressive replacement packages for current BlackBerry subscribers with domestic/local data plans.

Etisalat BES/BIS Unlimited Domestic subscribers
Lets start off with Etisalat. If you have an unlimited domestic package that was costing you AED 185 per month, you now have the option continue paying the same amount and get unlimited data along with 900 local SMS/MMS messages as well as 100 international SMS/MMS messages. The SMS messages will somewhat compensate for the Blackberry Messenger service. If you chose to sign a 12 month contract with Etisalat, you can get a credit of AED 2000 towards the purchase of a device from Etisalat or alternatively, get 550 minutes of local talk time for free. At AED .30 per minutes, you are looking at AED 165 in local calls for free.

Etisalat BIS Limited Domestic subscribers
If you are on the limited data package that costs AED 90 per month, you can now continue to pay the same amount and get 100MB of data and a 1000 local SMS/MMS messages. If you chose to sign a 12 month contract with Etisalat, you can get a credit of AED 500 towards the purchase of a device from Etisalat or alternatively, get 150 minutes of local talk time for free. At AED .30 per minutes, you are looking at AED 45 in local calls for free.

Etisalat BIS Email Plus subscribers
The Email Plus package that costs AED 139 per month can be replaced by something that costs the same but offers 100MB of data now along with 900 local SMS/MMS messages and 100 international SMS/MMS messages. If you chose to sign a 12 month contract with Etisalat, you can get a credit of AED 550 towards the purchase of a device from Etisalat or alternatively, get 150 minutes of local talk time for free. At AED .30 per minutes, you are looking at AED 45 in local calls for free.

Etisalat BIS Unlimited Social subscribers
Finally for the Unlimited Social Package that costs AED 49 per month, you now have the option of paying the same amount and getting 100MB data along with 900 local SMS/MMS messages and 100 international SMS/MMS messages. If you chose to sign a 12 month contract with Etisalat, you can get a credit of AED 550 towards the purchase of a device from Etisalat or alternatively, get 150 minutes of local talk time for free. At AED .30 per minutes, you are looking at AED 45 in local calls for free.

du Unlimited national BlackBerry Service subscribers
du only offered one plan for local and one for international unlimited usage. If you were on the local unlimited plan paying AED 130 per month, then you can continue paying that and get unlimited data along with 800 local SMS and 200 international SMS messages. However, if you sign a 12 month contract with du, you can reduce this package’s price for AED 55 per month making it a steal. Even counting the AED 45 that Etisalat gives you as free talk time, this package from du is a much offer than the unlimited local, limited local and the email plus packages that Etisalat provides.

Alternatively, you can pay AED 180 per month and get AED 1500 worth of credit towards the purchase of a device from du which doesn’t make much sense to us, as you are not getting any discount so might as well spend that 1500 on a local shop where you can buy a device for a better price.

Our recommendation
For the casual user, we think that the etisalat AED 49 plan with 100MB data and 900 local and 100 international SMS/MMS messages is the best option. We suggest signing up for a 12 month plan and get 150 minutes of talk time per month as well. For someone who uses more data, the du package of AED 55 per month on a 12 month contract is a no brainer. You get unlimited local data as well as 800 local and 200 sms messages.

Canon EOS 550D DSLR

The Canon EOS 550D is the best entry level camera on the market right now. With a whopping 18mp sensor, top notch image quality, fantastic LCD screen and full HD video capabilities, it is a huge step up from the 500D that it replaces. Read our full review here.

Digital Music straight to your Smartphone

Digital is where it’s at and if we at t-break Media didn’t believe that, we would not exist. From ebooks to applications and multimedia, the future for almost all kinds of content is digital. However, are we in the UAE prepared for it? Lets talk about that- taking the music industry as an example.

For the record, Apple’s iTunes accounts for 70% of worldwide online digital music sales even though it doesn’t officially exist in the Middle East. Global giants such as Nokia, Amazon and Apple are aggressively vying for an increasing share of your wallet through the sale of digital music- through online stores and over-the-air download. This obviously doesn’t go down too well with traditional music stores that are facing an unpleasant truth of declining sales. However, if they don’t change their business model radically to reflect the new digital world, they will soon be out of business.

This global reality is starting to touch UAE – following the unveiling of Nokia’s ‘Comes With Music’ offering earlier this year. However, bandwidth restrictions and the insane costs of mobile data communications do not necessarily allow the digital segment to grow as fast as the rest of the world. That has to, and will change over the next few quarters. The sale of digital music via over-the-air downloads onto the mobile phone is definitely here to stay, and at least Nokia expects the take-up in UAE and across the region to be swift and the volumes to be significant enough to make this a viable alternative to the traditional model.

According to Frederic Copper-Royer, Music Manager, Nokia Middle East and Africa, the global music industry has accepted that the digital distribution channel is the way forward. “Big music groups, including Universal Music Group, Sony Corporation’s Sony Music, Warner Music Group, EMI and thousands of independent labels are opting to sell songs and albums electronically with global organisations including Nokia.”

He says the opportunity for local artists opting to distribute their music digitally in UAE and across the region is important. “While online distribution (via your computer’s internet connection) is at the center of the digital music experience as we know it, the real new opportunity is selling music via the mobile device.” says Copper-Royer. “Now that these users have the very real possibility of making over-the-air music downloads we expect to see significant penetration in a relatively short time frame.”

I agree with Mr. Copper-Royer. OTA downloads to your device is certainly the way forward with Smartphones getting smart enough to become your primary connectivity tool to the Internet. What do you think?

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