Infosys is my life: SD Shibulal

Despite the solid performance in first quarter of the current fiscal year, Infosys has adopted a "cautiously optimistic" stance and left its full-year growth forecast unchanged. In the third quarter of the last fiscal also, the Bangalore-based company delivered a surprisingly robust performance, only to slump back in the quarter after that.

Acknowledging the volatility in performance, in an interview with N Shivapriya and Akanksha Prasad, chief executive officer SD Shibulal cautioned against drawing conclusions about a secular trend based on a single quarter's performance. While he described analysts as "experts", Shibulal refused to comment on why they are getting Infosys estimates wrong quarter after quarter. Edited excerpts:

In the last three quarters, including this one, analyst forecasts have failed to get Infosys' performance right. In your view, why is this happening?

Our performance has been volatile in the last few quarters. Even at the end of Q3, we said that a single quarter's performance cannot be taken as a secular trend. This quarter we have done reasonably well and we have not changed our guidance. We have a few challenges which we are trying to address - high quality growth is one of them, plus there are also challenges on the cost side because salary increases will have an impact. We have to mitigate these through various methods. I do not want to comment about why analysts are getting it wrong; they are the experts. I do acknowledge that our performance has been volatile. This is one of the reasons why we are optimistically cautious and have not changed our guidance. Our guidance is a statement of fact and not a statement of hope.

Does this quarter's performance feela vindication for you?

If we look at this quarter, we have achieved 2.7% growth. On constant currency, the growth is around 3.4%, which means we lost around $40 million due to currency volatility for the quarter.

You referred to certain steps the company undertook earlier that are showing results now. What are they?

Part of the overall Infosys 3.0 strategy was to grow the consulting and system integration business, which is now strong. The second aim was to achieve balanced growth. The Business IT Services division was growing below the company's average, so we brought in a lot of focus into that segment. Our target is to bring it on a par with the company's growth rate although as a percentage of the overall revenue it may not increase because other divisions are growing faster.

What is your strategy to win large deals?

We are working on multi-tower solutions and alliancesthe one we have with IPSoft. Since business IT services is price sensitive, we need to ensure that we bring tools, automation, and operational efficiency. It is tough to balance margins and growth, but we have done it for many years and we will do it again.

What are some of the changes you are making?

There have been changes and it is part of the overall strategy. Despite competition getting aggressive and poaching people, in the last two years, we increased our sales force800 to 1,200. It depends on the way you look at the glass - half full or half empty.

For Narayana Murthy, Infosys isa middle child. What is Infosys to you?

For me, Infosys is life. Most of my life has been spent here.

With your term ending in 2015, has the company set in motion the succession planning process?

We have a nominations committee, which has the responsibility for it. They are looking at it.

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How To Turn Your Boring Old Laptop Into A Cool Touch Screen Machine

Sure, Windows 8 - Microsoft's new touch screen operating system - will run just fine on PCs designed for Windows 7. But you won't be able to take advantage of the new touch capabilities the OS enables unless you scrap your existing PC and upgrade to a new computer.

Or maybe not.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, a company out of China demonstrated a peripheral that combines a stylus and either a USB or wireless receiver to touch-enable a non-touch screen LCD monitor or laptop screen.

The technology has made its way to the United States via Shenzhen Yifang Digital Technology Co. Ltd., mercifully shortened to Yifang Digital, whose E Fun brand markets the APEN Touch8 system in the United States. Got that?

Discovering the Touch8 digitizer was a happy coincidence. Wandering though CES' maze of booths, you never quite know what you'll find. In the rear of the South Hall, for example, Trojan was handing out thousands of vibrators. So there's that.

Yifang was showing off several versions of the Touch8, including a USB-powered model and one that used wireless technology. According to Eric Ju, an account development manager with the digital pen business unit within Yifang, the company is attempting to license or has already licensed the technology to accessory vendor Targus, which is marketing a very similar device known as the Touch Pen. The Targus Touch Pen costs $99.99 and will be available during the second quarter; the Touch8 will be available this quarter for $79.99. Targus representatives, who were likely flying home from Las Vegas, could not be reached for comment.

The Touch8 system, and presumably the Touch Pen as well, both use a receiver that mounts to one side of your screen. A combination of ultrasonic and infrared beams detects the stylus' soft, fuzzy tip, orienting it on the screen. Ju told me that a brief period of 'training' the system is required, so the Touch8 learns the boundaries of the available touchscreen real estate. The stylus itself requires power, but it can be used for 500 hours (about 62 days of 8-hour workdays) without replacing the small, watch-sized batteries that power it.

I was able to play around with the Touch8 for several minutes. According to Ju, the system accommodates up to 15.6-inch displays, making the Touch8 suitable for a notebook or a small desktop monitor. The peripheral is magnetically clipped to the side of the notebook, and must be removed and recalibrated every time the notebook is closed. In other words, you'll have to suffer through some inconveniences to eliminate others.

To its credit, the Touch8 works well at what it does: Enabling 'touch.' Swiping works fine, and single-touch gestures seemed to work as advertised. True touch hardware, however, is multitouch, and I'm not even sure if holding two stylii together, chopsticks style, would even work. Right now, the Touch8 works best for drawing, swiping and other single-mode uses.

Should you buy one?

Yes, but only if:

• You're desperate for Windows 8 and touch interaction
• You're running a small monitor
• You leave your laptop on your desk
• You don't mind the absence of multitouch
• You're willing to spend $100 but not willing to buy a brand new machine

That's a pretty limited use case. But if you really want to use Windows 8 properly, you have to do something. I've used a mouse and keyboard with Windows 8, and while it's navigable, it's also sort of a pain; scrolling 'up' to slide your Windows 8 Start screen sideways simply feels awkward.

Pictures by Mark Hachman. Posted by JMD Computer

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Get Windows 8 like start screen on Windows 7/XP

If you are amused by the all new start screen concept of Windows 8 but haven’t got a chance to give it a try then here we have something for you. The most discussed feature of this new OS is it’s all new start screen which is made up of multiple tiles. WinMetro is a free application which will allow you to have a look and feel of a  Windows 8 start screen on your current Windows OS.

WinMetro is a free software developed by IObit using which you can replace your current start button with the new Windows 8 kind of start screen. All you have to do is download and install the software from the link given at the end of this article. After installing the app it will automatically show your most used softwares along with some built in app tiles.

Some default apps included with this are calendar, weather, photos, news and some more tiles which are simply loading the webpages inside it. Once you define your default picture directory with the “Photos” app it will allow you to view all your pics on the click of a tile. The weather app uses your ISPs location and shows the weather info about that location which was not accurate in my case. You can use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom to scroll inside the screen.

After starting your PC and logging into your account it will take you to the start screen first. To go to your desktop you can press Win + X or click on the desktop tile and to again bring up the screen press the same keys or simply move your mouse cursor to bottom left corner of your screen and click on the start screen.

This software will work on Windows operating systems only. It uses around 40-50 MB of RAM continuously. So if you are already running low on resources then you might not want to use this. You can use the link below to download this software.

Download WinMetro for Windows (5.95 MB)

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MPs can now use iPads with Lok Sabha going Wi-Fi

Lok Sabha members would soon be able to use iPads in the house with a parliamentary panel clearing Wi-Fi connectivity in the lower house of parliament. The facility is already available in the Rajya Sabha. 

According to Lok Sabha Secretary General T.K. Vishwanathan, the National Informatics Centre(NIC) has been asked to extend Wi-Fi facility to the lower house before the monsoon session, scheduled to begin in July. "We plan to install Wi-Fi at the earliest...we have asked the NIC to do the needful," Vishwanathan told IANS. 

The move will help the Lok Sabha secretariat pursue its paperless office plan, which aims to reduce paper use in printing a large number of reports and documents and instead make them available on the website. 

The Lok Sabha secretariat had approached the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on security last year after the Intelligence Bureau raised some objections to extending the facility to the lower house. 

Incidentally, no such permission from the IB was required when the facility was made available to the upper house, said officials. 

Informed sources said the JPC on security, which had been pursuing the matter for about a year, resolved it with the IB last month. 

The Wi-Fi facility is expected to help over 300 of the 543 Lok Sabha MPs who have purchased iPads under a scheme in accessing routine information like notices, bulletins, list of business, questions and answers and other reports during the session. 

Under the scheme, MPs are provided Rs 50,000 to buy an Apple iPad or Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab. 

The paper used for such communication can be saved if the MPs start checking out this information in a digital format using iPads, officials said. 

Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi told IANS: "It is a good thing...Wi-Fi facility will help me get information quickly...we had asked for it in the lobby and the Central Hall area." 

In order to persuade parliamentarians to use the iPads to access various documents supplied to them in hard copy, the Lok Sabha secretariat held a familiarization workshop last year.

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Aakash gets Rs 765 crore in Budget 2012

The world's cheapest tablet project has been allocated about Rs 765 crore in Budget 2012-13, which is likely to trigger the second phase of the project expected to begin in April, even as the first phase is stuck in a deadlock.
The allocation for Aakash has been made under the National Mission for Education through ICT of Ministry of Human Resource and Development. The mission had launched the low-cost tablet project, last year.
According to official sources, the money allocated is 'sufficient' for the second phase of the project. Aakash-II is likely to cost the government about 569 crore for about 50 lakh tablets.
"Most of the money is likely to be utilized for the Aakash project. Some of it will be utilized for developing e-content," said a senior government official involved in the project.
The government plans to procure about 50 lakh tablets, in a phased manner, at 2,276 each. Half of the cost (about 1138 per tablet) will be subsidized by the central government. The rest will be borne by the state governments, who want to distribute Aakash tablets in state colleges and institutions.

The billion dollar- five-year fund allocated to NME-ICT mission expired on March 31, which led to a fresh allocation by Finance Minister Prefab Mukherjee in the Union Budget 2012-13. The new allocation comes even as IIT Rajasthan was unable to utilize about 25 crore allocated for phase I of the Aakash project, due to a disagreement with its vendor.
According to a government official heading the Aakash project, only about 500 Aakash-I tablets have been procured so far. However, according to Data wind officials, they have supplied about 10,000 tablets to IIT Rajasthan, for which they are yet to receive money.
Disagreement over specifications of the tablet has added to the deadlock. "Allocation of more money to a project which is not stable is not an established practice in government," said Satish Jha, President of One Laptop Per Child foundation, which has a competing product in the market.
Meanwhile, the government has washed its hands off the deadlock, citing it as a commercial dispute between two parties. Nonetheless, Minister for Human Resource and Development Kapil Sibal said in Lok Sabha earlier this month, that Data wind will supply about 100,000 improved tablets.
Sibal also plans to launch a tender in April for Aakash-II, which are expected to come with a better processor and capacitive touchscreen, but at the same price.

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Protect your Data, Passwords

It’s hard to remember multiple passwords and keep sensitive information secure in this digital age. Whether you use a Mac, PC or smartphone, various free tools can help you with this by securing all passwords with a master password, encrypting data and securely wiping any sensitive info explain Karan Bajaj & Hitesh Raj Bhagat

EXCLUSIVELY FOR MAC OSX
Encrypt This
Simply drag and drop the files/folders you want to protect onto the application’s icon. It will then ask you to set a password for accessing the files and then create a protected disk image of your content.
Get it from www.nathansheldon.com

Pastor
One of the simplest password managers for MAC, Pastor requires a master password to be set to access all the stored passwords and serial numbers. It even comes with a password generator.
Get it from www.mehlau.net

Password Vault Lite
This app stores all your passwords online and safeguards them with a master password. It can also run from a USB drive and features an auto-lock timer that locks the program after some inactivity.
Get it from www.lavasoftware.com

TXTCrypt
As the name suggests, TXTcrypt works for text and not for files. Simply type in any text (mails/notes), protect it with a password and share it with anyone. The receiver needs the password and TXTcrypt to decrypt and read it.
Get it from www.txtcrypt.com

EXCLUSIVELY FOR WINDOWS PCs
AxCrypt
An open-source encryption solution, AxCrypt integrates with Windows Explorer to give you encryption options with a simple right click. The developers also offer portable versions (to use on flash drives).
Get it from www.axantum.com/axcrypt

Crypt4Free
Crypt4Free is a small package that allows easy encryption and schredding (secure deletion) of files on your Windows system. It also compresses encrypted files to reduce size while sending.
Get it from www.aeppro.com

MyPadlock
MyPadlock locks down all your passwords using 128-bit AES encryption — all you need to remember is one master password in order to access all the passwords you have stored inside. Data is stored locally.
Get it from www.mypadlock.com

Zero Footprint Crypt
Equally suited to both beginners and experts, Zero Footprint Crypt works just like a file explorer (with the same tree-style/hierarchy structure). After encryption, you can also use it to securely wipe the original file from the drive.

Get it from www.goo.gl/k4oE4 Available across multiple platforms KeePass
Perhaps the most popular cross-platform password safe, KeePass is easy to use, totally free (open source) and uses the most secure encryption algorithms around.
www.keepass.info

Lastpass
LastPass not only stores all passwords and login data, it also stays synced across browsers, giving you access to your passwords wherever you are.
www.lastpass.com Password Dragon Written using Java, Password Dragon is a password manager that works on Linux and can even be stored on and launched from a USB flash drive.
www.passworddragon.com

TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt creates a virtual encrypted disk on the machine — you can add, copy, paste files into the drive and it encrypts onthe-fly. It can also be used to encrypt external drives.
www.truecrypt.org

Apps for Android
File Locker
File Locker comes with its own file browser. You can batch select and encrypt/decrypt files irrespective of size. It also allows you to open documents from within the app and notifies you if a file is left unlocked by mistake. The interface can be configured to either display all files, only locked files or only unlocked files.

Pocket
Pocket allows you to save login information for websites, bank accounts and so on under various categories. The application requires a master password to view the data stored inside and allows you to copy text while keeping it masked. This way no one can read your login credentials even if the app is left running.

Apps for iOS
Enlume
With Enlume Password Manager, you can store your passwords and other information in a categorised way. If you categorise the information you store, it also becomes easy to search. The data is then protected by a master password—if the password is incorrectly entered too many times, it locks down the app for 24 hours.

TheVault
The Vault is a password manager for iOS devices that keeps your login credentials secure. Apart from passwords, it can also store screenshots and photos as well. All the information is stored on the device itself and it also allows importing of data from other password storing applications as well.

Apps for BlackBerry
iLocker Lite
iLocker offers enhanced security by allowing you to lock any application with a password. It can be set to lock an application after the phone is locked, immediately and even at a scheduled time. This way, not only are all your applications protected, even the content inside the application is kept safe from prying eyes.

Password Manager
Password Manager Secret Server stores important passwords in an intuitive user interface that makes it easy to organise and access. You can create a favorite list of passwords or securely share a password with any one you want. A nice touch is that it shows you which password was recently accessed or modified within the app.

- JMDComputerIndia.com

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How to clean up the junk on your PC

MUNICH: It's a familiar problem for anyone with an older computer: a PC may run lightning-fast and smooth when it's new, but over time it starts coughing up unusual error messages and unidentifiable icons appear on the taskbar.

If the computer also starts getting slower at the same time as well, then it's time for a spring cleaning.

'When any computer is used under normal circumstances, a certain volume of garbage data is automatically produced,' says Harald Goerl, a professor for operating systems and computer architecture at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, Germany. Goerl nevertheless sees no need for routine clean-ups. 'You only need to do this if you can really feel that the speed has been impaired,' he says.

The primary culprit for PC slowdowns is software that is installed and then removed again. That's because many programs actually leave behind digital traces after uninstallation. The most common collection spot where junk data collects is the Windows Registry file. It's a database of information about all installed applications.
Many programs 'forget' to delete their entry in the registry when being removed. That continues expanding the database, which means the computer has to search longer to find a specific entry. 'You can compare it with a telephone book,' Goerl says. 'The thicker it is, the longer it takes to browse through.'

You can get help in cleaning up those clogged registry files with free programs such as CCleaner, Wise Cleaner, and Advanced System Care. They search through the registry automatically looking for unnecessary entries, washing away the junk.

Linux and Apple users are actually no better off in this respect, Goerl says. 'Deleted programs leave traces behind in Linux and Mac OS, too. Because there's no central registry, though, cleaning up can actually be more difficult in some cases,' he says.

Programs that are not properly removed under Windows can create other problems as well. 'When some programs are being uninstalled, they also delete libraries still needed for other programs,' explains Joachim Geiler, dean of academic affairs at the IT working group at the Mittweida University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Libraries are files with information that multiple programs need to be able to access. If they are deleted by accident, then applications may stop functioning, either partially or completely. This problem can generally be fixed by reinstalling the affected program.

Reinstalling the operating system is generally only needed in exception cases, says Goerl. 'Only in cases involving serious security problems should you have to reinstall the OS,' he says. 'If numerous files have been infected with tough-to-remove viruses, then reinstalling the operating system is probably the only remedy.'

The best recommendation for boosting speed that you suspect has been degraded as a result of application detritus: clean up your hard drive. 'At least 10 per cent of a hard drive's capacity should always be free,' says Joachim Geiler.

Otherwise files have to be split up across multiple sectors of traditional hard drives, and this results in data that is scattered in fragments throughout the hard drive, leading to slower access. The Windows defragmentation utility is needed to bring the files back to a contiguous state.

If you don't push your hard drive to its capacity all the time, then defragmentation need only be a seldom-used tool. 'Routine defragmentation used to be a common thing. Modern file systems like FAT32 create the files intelligently from the start, meaning users don't typically have to get involved,' says Geiler. The exception is for users who frequently work with especially large files, such as those used for video editing.

A clean hard drive is important beyond just the speed of the computer. It also makes work more relaxing. 'It's all about being able to find important files fast when you need them,' explains Joerg Schieb, who authored a book on keeping computers clean and running fast. For this reason he recommends routine cleanups every three months or so.

There are programs to help clean up, too. 'Lay users in particular may be better served by those programs,' Schieb says. Applications like TuneUp Utilities, Twin 7 2.0 from Data Becker, or PC Check & Tuning 2011 from Magix cost between 30 and 40 dollars and offer a number of cleanup options.

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Intel launches second generation processor - Intel Insider

Intel today launched a second generation processor called Intel Insider, a feature that will help people download and view movies in High Definition (HD) on their laptops and PCs.

The PCs and Laptops with the Intel Insider processor would be available in the country from next month onwards, Intel's Managing Director, South Asia, R Shivakumar told PTI here.

'The launch of Intel Insider in India is absolutely befitting considering it is the home of one of the largest film industries in the world -- Bollywood. With Intel Insider, people can watch their favourite movies in HD at their homes on the day of release itself,' Shivakumar said.

In a bid to boost its sales, Intel has tied-up with Hungama.com, which will act as a platform for download and streaming of famous Bollywood and international movies, including blockbusters from Yash Raj Films , Paramount Pictures , T-Series and Reliance Home Video .

The introduction of Intel Insider is a significant breakthrough in the entertainment space where consumers can unlock an ever increasing and expanding world of high- definition content on their PCs, he added.

The technology also offers a 'proactive queue' capability that will help consumers pre-download films ahead of the release date, and give them the ability to purchase those films, securely, even if they are not connected to the Internet.

This will allow consumers to start watching their movies immediately on the release date without waiting to download during peak traffic times.

-JMD Computer

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ViewSonic ViewPad 10 tablet review

The first dual-boot tablet is surely worth a look, but needs a price cut. 

There are a lot of tablets that have been launched in India within the past few months and more are on the verge of being launched. Most tablet manufacturers have chosen to go with Android as the operating system, whereas few others have chosen Windows 7. However, ViewSonic comes with a tablet that dual boots both operating system, that almost provides the user best of both sides.

Looks & Ergonomics
The ViewPad 10 is not the slimmest or the sexiest tablet out there, but its got a vibrant 10.1” display. There are three touch sensitive buttons on the matte finish bezel that extends below the glossy bezel and perform different functions under the two OS. There is a 1.3MP front camera present as well. The tablet has two full size USB2.0 port, mini VGA port, microSD card slot and 3.5mm audio jack and microphone on the side.  The back has a brushed metal finish with the ViewSonic logo printed in the centre with speakers and heat vent at corners.

 

The tablet weighs just under 1kg and was easy to use with two hands. Using the tablet in vertical as well as horizontal position did not pose any problem. The brushed metal back and the matte finish bezel provide excellent grip.

Display
The tablet has a 10.1” capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. We loved the touch response on the tablet and multi-touch worked superbly across windows and android. Of course, like every other tablet out there, the large display is a fingerprint magnet and requires cleaning every now and then.

Hardware & Software
The ViewPad 10 is powered by an Intel Atom processor running at 1.66GHz with 1GB of DDR 3 RAM along with 16GB SSD storage. The SSD provides quick boot up and thought the hardware is more than enough for Android, 1GB RAM makes the overall windows experience slightly sluggish. It comes with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, 3G and assisted GPS.  The tablet also has a G-sensor, E-compass sensor and an ambient light sensor.

The tablet comes loaded with Windows 7 Home premium and Android OS v1.6 as operating systems, which can be selected, on start-up. We loved the fact that Windows on the tablet performed the same way on a laptop. In fact, when we tried connecting to the Internet using a Reliance Netconnect USB modem, it worked flawlessly. We installed various windows application and other than the slight sluggishness due to low RAM we faced no issues.

It comes with Android is v1.6 and ViewSonic has no plans to upgrade it on the tablet. The performance on Android is fantastic, though due to the older version the number of apps is limited across categories.

Multimedia
Thanks to Windows 7 and the full size USB 2.0 port, the ViewPad tablet provides for the easiest access to multimedia. Like a standard desktop, various codecs and multimedia player could be loaded allowing the user to play any format of video as well as audio. Watching videos on the tablet was superb due to the large sized display. The sound output from the tablet is not too loud, but is higher than that for personal listening. The sound output in the earphones is great though with excellent clarity.

User Interface
ViewSonic has not done any modification across either of the interface than the standard wallpaper change to Viewsonic’s logo. Windows 7 interface is like a standard laptop, instead of physical mouse and keyboard; the user gets an onscreen keyboard and the multi-touch display to work with. In Android, it’s the same basic android interface that was in phones around a year back.

Conclusion
Although, the tablet has excellent hardware with a great touch-screen display, it’s the dual-boot operating system that is the major advantage over competitors here. However, we barely used the Android operating system over windows as it provided more options. The battery backup of the device lasted us just over a day, which is impressive considering we constantly worked on it and it was connected through WiFi constantly.

The ViewPad 10 is priced at Rs 38,000, which is too steep for an average consumer who now has options in terms of the MSI Windpad at 35,000 and the Apple iPad starting from Rs 28,000 in the same screen size.

Specifications

10.1" LCD screen with Capacitive multi-touch screen

1024x600 with LED backlight

220 cd/m2 Brightness

700:1 Contrast Ratio    

Intel Pine Trail N455 1.66GHz processor

DDR3 1GB SDRAM 667MHz

16GB SSD SATA

Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 (optional 3G module) + EDR, 3G and assisted GPS
Windows 7 Home Premium

Android 1.6

0.875 kg

1.3 megapixel camera (front)

G-Sensor, E-Compass sensor and ambient light sensor

Ports-3.5mm audio jack for stereo headset, 2 USB 2.0 ports, mini VGA port, Micro SD card slot

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HP Dreamscreen Review

A fancy desktop with lots of eye candy, but very limited use

Touchscreen tablets are expected to be the top selling gadget this year. With around 100 tablets announced at CES, touchscreen devices seem to be the direction to go. Looking at all the hype, HP has tried to go a step ahead and instead of providing a portable tablet; they incorporated touch-screen into their new desktop offering called the DreamScreen.

The DreamScreen is pure eye candy in terms of looks. This All-in-one desktop has a large 18.5” display with 1366 x 768 resolution. The display has a clear plastic bezel around the display frame that adds to the looks of the system. There is a large indicator right at the front bottom that looks like a power button, but works only as a power indicator. Other controls are placed on the right hand side. All the connectivity ports for USB and card reader, headphones are placed neatly on the left hand side with additional ports at the back. There is also a slot load DVD drive on the right hand side just above the control buttons. All in all, the Dreamscreen looks very good and can easily add to the décor of a room. The only issue is that it takes a wire with an adapter for power that is clearly visible behind the monitor.

The HP Dreamscreen is powered by an Intel processor and comes with a 250GB hard-drive. There is very little information about the hardware that has been shared by HP. It comes with a mouse and keyboard as well even though the onscreen keyboard of the PC is very responsive and easy to use. It has inbuilt WiFi for connectivity and also comes with an Ethernet port at the back.

The desktop runs on a Linux based operating system, which has been heavily customized.  The interface has been tweaked to be touch-interface friendly. The good thing is that HP has provided large icons to use on the desktop for various activities. You can either log in as the administrator or as an student. The student account has limited privileges in terms of installing and purchasing content. HP has tied up with various vendors to provide content on their machine across categories such as News, music, videos etc. Some content is paid, while other is free. Video streaming is free from various channels, whereas to use application for astrology, you need to subscribed etc. The User interface overall is very easy to use and quick to respond.

What we didn’t like was the operating system is too limited and restricted. It will play media of very few formats, does not remember your last sites/applications and does not even remember you WiFi connection password on restart. Moreover, a user cannot install additional applications, which is a major downer.

The HP dreamscreen is priced at Rs 19,999 and is aimed at the mid-level consumer who wants to have a good looking desktop with internet and multimedia capabilities.
Start your day with the LD2 Daily Bytes newsletter. It's the best gadget advisor in the country.

Whats Hot

- Looks
- Easy to use
- price
- touchscreen
-
Whats Not

- restricted OS
- paid subscription model
- limited media support

Estimated Street Price

Rs 19,990/-

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3 free softwares to turn your Webcam into video surveillance camera

There are many situations in which you require to monitor your work area or your home. Here we have few free softwares which can turn your Webcam into a surveillance camera .

1. Rise Sun:

Rise Sun is a free Windows based video security software. Which uses a webcam for motion detection. In case of any movement detection it automatically takes a snapshot and saves it on your hard disk. It can ring an alarm if any movement is detected.  You can read more about this software and download it from here.

2. TeboCam:

TeboCam does the same job as Rise Sun. But it can send you emails also in case of any activity. TeboCam can generate snapshots at regular intervals and if any movement is found it can create emails and send the snapshots to you via mail or it can directly upload it on the website. To know all the features of it just download it and use it . Here is the download link. TeboCam

3. Prog’z WebCamSpy:

Prog’z WebCamSpy is not as good as the previous two softwares mentioned here. But it can be used to make your webcam a spy cam. It is a lightweight software. Does not require much resources to work. It just sits silently and takes snapshots using webcam at regular interval and saves them on your computer. It also can zoom on particular portion while recording so you can use it for monitoring specific areas. Download Prog’z WebCamSpy

If you know any other good software which can be used for the same purpose then please share it with us using comments form below.

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Dell Inspiron 15R New Laptop (T540511IN8)

Intel® Core™ i3 Series Processor Label

Dell(TM) PC Restore Software

Shipping Country (India)

Adobe Reader 9.0

Dell(TM) Connect Software

Dell(TM) Welcome

Windows Live Software

Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN

7-in-1 Flash Memory Reader: SD, SDHC, MMC, MMC+, xD, MS, MS Pro

Break the Seal Sticker

User Manual (English)

Resource DVD

Inspiron 15 (N5010) - System Driver

SRS Royalty Info Mod

DataSafe Local Basic

65W AC Adapter

Dell Online Backup 2GB

Future Technical Support

Integrated Stereo Sound with SRS Premium Sound

Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Internal (2.1+EDR) Mini-Card
Dell Wireless 1501

Inspiron-NB H and ling and Insurance Charges /Express Premium

15.6 Widescreen HD WLED Glossy Display with TrueLife™ (1366x768)

Inspiron 15R (N5010) Direct Base

Laptop Batteries Carry 1 Year Warranty Only From Invoice Date

Dell's Terms and Conditions apply

LCD Bezel with 1.3MP Integrated Webcam,with Sensible Vision FastAccess Facial Recognition Software

Delivery charges not included

Genuine Windows® 7 OS Label

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Steps to Protect Your Computer..!!

1. Turn on automatic updates.

After installing your operating system, you usually forget to pay attention on operating system updates. If your operating system is not updated for protection against loopholes and security threats found after you installed it, your computer may be vulnerable to outside world. Hackers can get access to your computer by using these loopholes and they can do anything with your computer. So, to keep you safe, turn on automatic updates. When automatic updates are turned on your operating system is updated frequently and you will be safe from unwanted trouble. You can turn on automatic updates from Control Panel => Security Center => Automatic Updates. You must be logged in as Administrator to change this setting.

2. Turn on Windows Firewall.

Windows Firewall is a barrier between your computer and outside internet. It protects you by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic and allows only trusted programs to communicate through internet. You can turn on Windows Firewall from Control Panel => Windows Firewall. You must be logged in as Administrator to change this setting.

3. Install good anti-virus software.

Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that can damage your computer. Only installing anti-virus software is not enough. Your anti-virus software must be updated regularly with latest virus definition database, as new viruses are found daily.

4. Run windows in a restricted mode.

When you log in using a limited account, you are protecting your computer from various threats, as limited account runs in restricted mode and can not damage your computer by changing system files or registry. In fact, limited account can not install new programs and can not write to system files or registry, thus making you safe from unwanted programs which gets installed automatically from internet without your knowledge. Log in as Administrator only when you want to do some maintenance work or install new programs.

5. Do NOT click on untrusted links.

You should not click any link received in your email, unless you trust the sender. If you click on this untrusted links, it can take you to fake websites and can steal your user name, password, credit card details, or can install unwanted programs without your knowledge. Instead of clicking on the link you received in your email, copy the link address and paste it in a new browser window. Before writing your user name, password, credit card and any other personal details, recheck the domain name in address bar.

6. Do NOT write in pop up windows.

You should write your user name, password, credit card and any other personal details in main window only. If during your work, any pop up window opens asking your password or credit card details, close it immediately. DO NOT write your personal information in any pop up window.

- JMD Computer                                                  Give Comment

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EVDO Technology

EV-DO means “Evolution- Data Optimized” or” Evolution- Data only”. It is a standard telecommunication services for the wireless transmission of data. This EVDO service is for broadband internet access. It uses radio frequency signals for data transmission. It uses multiplexing techniques, code division multiple access (CDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA).

“EVDO” is a broadband wireless service for a wide range of customers, business people, public services and students. “EVDO” provides fastest wireless broadband internet service. We can access the internet in car, train, at any place. We can access internet without the need for a hotspot. It is an advanced CDMA technology developed by QUALCOMM.

EVDO has a theoretical data rate of 2.4 Mbps and having bandwidth of 1.25 MHz. This is as fast as many residential DSL and broadband connections currently available in the United States.

This data rate is comparable to DSL speed. EVDO allows the user to access the internet wherever they are not only for email, but for downloads, large files, photos, spreadsheets, etc. One of the benefits of EVDO is the ability to roam seamlessly between connection points. EVDO is mostly available for mobile phones and laptops.

EVDO Users can work on a wide range of applications, including the MS Office Suite and others, so they can do business services from anywhere. “EVDO” provides plug and play services for business functions, games and Internet access from any place at any time. “EVDO” provides data authentication and data protection.

Advantages of EVDO over WIFI:

-Always on with seamless roaming.

-Signal can travel on same cell sites as cell phones

- No need to use hot spot.

- Users can access their corporate “VPN” (virtual private network) from anywhere.

How to use EVDO network?

For EVDO network First we should buy PC card. Install the software of pc card in desktop or laptop. After installation we should be able to connect the pc card into desktop or laptop. Initialize the connection and begin surfing the internet. Depending upon the software and security restrictions the user should have username and password for internet access.

Most significant advantage of EVDO over network technologies is that it uses the same broadcasting frequencies as existing CDMA networks. “EVDO” is relatively low cost with high capacity and allows web browsing and web application usage.

“EVDO” provides the opportunity for rural areas where without DSL (digital subscriber line) and high-speed Internet to receive Internet access. this is the best way to provide internet services to these rural areas. Most people are unable to find it cost effective to use an EVDO connection as a primary connection in rural places. It is a good option for people requiring an Internet connection in rural places.

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Sony Dash -Personal Internet Viewer

Dash Personal Internet Viewer is a new launch from Sony which gives u a unique internet experience. The Dash Viewer comes with 7″ LCD touch screen to bring you high-definition online  videos from NetFix, YouTube, etc., with no delay and build-in speakers for great music experience and Internet Radios. Dash Viewer delivers more than 1000 free application including -weather, traffic, social networking, movies, music etc., Sony Dash build with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g connectivity, so u can easily connect with your wireless network. Its a complete widget machine which offers to personalize ur home screen easily.

Features Of Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer:

* Quick, easy setup to connect to your existing wireless network
* Streams web content you specify through Internet apps without distraction of a PC
* 7-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) capacitive touchscreen with gesture support
* Easy-to-use clock and alarms functionality
* Access a number of video services for online music and viral videos
* Conveniently loads and displays your photos from online sharing services
* Exclusive access to Sony content including movie trailers, minisodes, music videos, game trailers and the latest deals from SonyStyle.com
* Run multiple sources of content simultaneously for added convenient
* Built-in accelerometer supports vertical flip that allowes for two optional viewing angles – upright and tilted
* USB 2.0 interface for simple connection to a variety of external electronic devices

Price of Sony Dash : USD 200

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Sony VAIO E-series Coming Soon…

Sony VAIO E-series Review

 

Sony is to launch the new model E-series which comes with i3,i5 processors. Three models in E series are to be launched in march mid.It comes with new colors finish and with bundle of new features. Its the first ever to bring numeric keypad and comes in blue, green,white and pink and black. And it has two types of textures glossy and mat finish. It has three shortcut buttons which you can see only in VAIO laptops.

1.Assist -Launch Vaio care

2.Web -- Launch Web access

3.VAIO- Launch Media gallery

It also  has E-sata port.And one of it models has Full HD (High definition technology) which sony is the best.And the pricing starts from 37000INR approx.

 

- JMD Computer India

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Sony Vaio E Series VPC EB12

Sony Vaio E Series has been the most waited laptop model of the year. In one of our previous post we have covered about the  Intro of Sony Vaio E Series Laptops and announced that it is going to be launched very soon. The Laptops have now been released recently in India and here are some of the detail specifications of its product.

VPC EB12 (Black /white) ( MRP Rs. 36,990 /-*)

Sony Vaio E Series

Operating System

Operating System
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Basic 64-bit (English Version)

Architecture

Processor Name
Intel® Core™ i3-330M processor 2.13 GHz *1

Chipset
Intel® HM55 Express Chipset

Memory Bus
1066 MHz

Cache Memory
3 MB (L3 Cache)

Main Memory

Pre-installed/Max
2 GB DDR3 SDRAM *2 (upgradeable up to 8 GB*3)

SO-DIMM slots
2 SO-DIMM slots (The pre-installed memory module uses one)

Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive
320 GB*4 (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)

Optical Disc Drive

Drive
DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM Drive

Maximum Reading Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 8x/DVD-ROM: 8x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-ROM: 24x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 24x

Maximum Writing Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 6x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 10x

Graphics

Graphics Accelerator
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD

Display

Type
15.5 (39.4 cm) wide (WXGA: 1366 x 768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display)

Interface

USB
-High Speed USB 2.0 x 3

Network (RJ-45)Connector
-10Base-T/100Base-TX / 1000Base-T x 1

Display Output Connector
Analogue RGB, mini D-sub 15 pin x 1

Headphone
-Stereo mini jack x 1

Microphone
-Stereo mini jack x 1

HDMI In/Out Connector
Output x 1

Memory Stick Slot
-Memory Stick Duo (PRO-HG compatible, MagicGate function)*5

SD Memory Card Slot
-SD Memory Card (SDHC compatible, Copyright protection function (CPRM) )

PC Card Slot
-ExpressCard™/34 x 1

DC IN
x 1

Others
-eSATA / USB port x 1

Wireless Connection

Wireless LAN Type
-Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n*6

Wireless LAN Data Rate
-maximum 11 Mbps (802.11b)/54 Mbps (802.11g) 150 Mbps (802.11n)*7

Wireless LAN Frequency
-2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n)

Bluetooth
-Bluetooth standard Ver. 2.1+EDR

Camera

Front Side Camera
Effective pixels: 640 x 480

Audio

Sound Chip
-Intel® High Definition Audio compatible , 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support)

Speaker
-Built-in stereo speakers

Microphone
-Built-in monaural microphone

Keyboard/Input Device

Keyboard
-Approx. 19 mm key pitch / 2 mm keystroke , 103 keys

Touchpad
-Intelligent Touchpad

Battery Life

Bundled Battery
-VGP-BPS22 Lithium-ion battery: 6 Cell

Size

Dimensions (WxHxD)
-369.8 mm x 31.1-36.7 mm x 248.2 mm

Weight
-2.7 kg (including the supplied battery)

Included Software

AV Entertainment
-Media Gallery, WinDVD, Quick Web Access

Content Creation/Editing
-PMB VAIO Edition, Adobe® Premiere® Elements 8, Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 8, Roxio Easy Media Creator

Home Network
-VAIO Media plus

Word Processor / Spreadsheet
60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft® Office Professional 2007*9

Tool
-Evernote for VAIO, Adobe® Reader® 9

Utilities
-VAIO Gate, VAIO Control Center, Battery Care Function, WebCam Companion, Magic-i™ Visual Effects

Security
-McAfee PC SecurityCenter 30-day Free Trial*10, Webroot® Spy Sweeper® 90-day Free Trial*11

Support
-VAIO Care, VAIO Recovery Center, VAIO Update, VAIO Transfer Support, Norton™ Online Backup 60-day Free Trial*12

Supplied Accessories

AC Adaptor
-AC Adaptor (VGP-AC19V43)

Battery
-Lithium-ion battery (VGP-BPS22)*13

- JMD Computer India

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Sony Vaio E Series VPC EB16

Sony Vaio VPC EB16 is the most powerful built in laptop of the newly launched Sony E Series. Check out its detailed specification and prices.

VPC EB16(blue/pink/black/white) (MRP Rs. 49,990 /-*)

Sony Vaio E Series

Operating System

Operating System
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit (English Version)

Language Pack
Hong Kong Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Thai

Architecture

Processor Name
Intel® Core™ i3-330M processor 2.13 GHz *1

Chipset
Intel® HM55 Express Chipset

Memory Bus
1066 MHz

Cache Memory
3 MB (L3 Cache)

Main Memory

Pre-installed/Max
4 GB DDR3 SDRAM *2 (upgradeable up to 8 GB*3)

SO-DIMM slots
2 SO-DIMM slots (The pre-installed memory module uses two)

Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive
500 GB*4 (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)

Optical Disc Drive

Drive
DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM Drive

Maximum Reading Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 8x/DVD-ROM: 8x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-ROM: 24x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 24x

Maximum Writing Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 6x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 10x

Graphics

Graphics Accelerator
ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 Graphics

Dedicated Video Memory
1 GB DDR3 SDRAM

Display

Type
15.5 (39.37 cm) wide (Full-HD: 1920 x 1080) TFT colour display (VAIO Display Plus, LED Backlight)

Interface

USB
High Speed USB 2.0 x 3

Network (RJ-45)Connector
10Base-T/100Base-TX / 1000Base-T x 1

Display Output Connector
Analogue RGB, mini D-sub 15 pin x 1

Headphone
Stereo mini jack x 1

Microphone
Stereo mini jack x 1

HDMI In/Out Connector
Output x 1

Memory Stick Slot
Memory Stick Duo (PRO-HG compatible, MagicGate function)*5

SD Memory Card Slot
SD Memory Card (SDHC compatible, Copyright protection function (CPRM) )

PC Card Slot
ExpressCard™/34 x 1

DC IN
x 1

Others
eSATA / USB port x 1

Wireless Connection

Wireless LAN Type
Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n*6

Wireless LAN Data Rate
maximum 11 Mbps (802.11b)/54 Mbps (802.11g) 150 Mbps (802.11n)*7

Wireless LAN Frequency
2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n)

Bluetooth
Bluetooth standard Ver. 2.1+EDR

Camera

Front Side Camera
Effective pixels: 640 x 480

Audio

Sound Chip
Intel® High Definition Audio compatible , 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support)

Speaker
Built-in stereo speakers

Microphone
Built-in monaural microphone

Keyboard/Input Device

Keyboard
Approx. 19 mm key pitch / 2 mm keystroke , 103 keys

Touchpad
Intelligent Touchpad

Battery Life

Bundled Battery
VGP-BPS22 Lithium-ion battery: up to 1.5 hours of use

Size

Dimensions (WxHxD)
369.8 mm x 31.1-36.7 mm x 248.2 mm

Weight
2.7 kg (including the supplied battery)

Included Software

AV Entertainment
Media Gallery, Windows® Media Center, Quick Web Access

Content Creation/Editing
PMB VAIO Edition, Adobe® Premiere® Elements 8, Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 8, Roxio Easy Media Creator

Home Network
VAIO Media plus

Word Processor / Spreadsheet
60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft® Office Professional 2007*9

Tool
Evernote for VAIO, Adobe® Reader® 9

Utilities
VAIO Gate, VAIO Control Center, Battery Care Function, WebCam Companion, Magic-i™ Visual Effects

Security
McAfee PC SecurityCenter 30-day Free Trial*10, Webroot® Spy Sweeper® 90-day Free Trial*11

Support
VAIO Care, VAIO Recovery Center, VAIO Update, VAIO Transfer Support, Norton™ Online Backup 60-day Free Trial*12

Supplied Accessories

AC Adaptor
AC Adaptor (VGP-AC19V33)

Battery
Lithium-ion battery (VGP-BPS22)*13

- JMD Computer India

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Sony Vaio E Series VPC EB14

Sony Vaio VPC EB14 is one amongst the recently launched product of Sony. They come under the E series . The laptop is powered with a powerful i3 Processor and runs with 3 gb DDR3 SDRAM.  Looking for a better laptop at a cheaper price, may be you must consider this product.

VPC EB14(Black/ White)  (MRP Rs. 38,990 /-*)

Sony Vaio E Series

Operating System

Operating System
-Genuine Windows® 7 Home Basic 64-bit (English Version)

Architecture

Processor Name
-Intel® Core™ i3-330M processor 2.13 GHz *1

Chipset
-Intel® HM55 Express Chipset

Memory Bus
-1066 MHz

Cache Memory
-3 MB (L3 Cache)

Main Memory

Pre-installed/Max
-3 GB DDR3 SDRAM *2 (upgradeable up to 8 GB*3)

SO-DIMM slots
-2 SO-DIMM slots (The pre-installed memory module uses two)

Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive
-320 GB*4 (Serial ATA, 5400 rpm)

Optical Disc Drive

Drive
-DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM Drive

Maximum Reading Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 8x (DL)/DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 8x/DVD-ROM: 8x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-ROM: 24x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 24x

Maximum Writing Speed
DVD+R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)/DVD-R: 8x (SL), 6x (DL)DVD+RW: 8x/DVD-RW: 6x/DVD-RAM: 5x/CD-R: 24x/CD-RW: 10x

Graphics

Graphics Accelerator
-ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5470 Graphics

Dedicated Video Memory
-512 MB DDR3 SDRAM

Display

Type
15.5 (39.4 cm) wide (WXGA: 1366 x 768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display)

Interface

USB
High Speed USB 2.0 x 3

Network (RJ-45)Connector
10Base-T/100Base-TX / 1000Base-T x 1

Display Output Connector
Analogue RGB, mini D-sub 15 pin x 1

Headphone
Stereo mini jack x 1

Microphone
Stereo mini jack x 1

HDMI In/Out Connector
Output x 1

Memory Stick Slot
Memory Stick Duo (PRO-HG compatible, MagicGate function)*5

SD Memory Card Slot
SD Memory Card (SDHC compatible, Copyright protection function (CPRM) )

PC Card Slot
ExpressCard™/34 x 1

DC IN
x 1

Others
eSATA / USB port x 1

Wireless Connection

Wireless LAN Type
Integrated Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g/n*6

Wireless LAN Data Rate
maximum 11 Mbps (802.11b)/54 Mbps (802.11g) 150 Mbps (802.11n)*7

Wireless LAN Frequency
2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n)

Bluetooth
Bluetooth standard Ver. 2.1+EDR

Camera

Front Side Camera
Effective pixels: 640 x 480

Audio

Sound Chip
Intel® High Definition Audio compatible , 3D audio (Direct Sound 3D support)

Speaker
Built-in stereo speakers

Microphone
Built-in monaural microphone

Keyboard/Input Device

Keyboard
Approx. 19 mm key pitch / 2 mm keystroke , 103 keys

Touchpad
Intelligent Touchpad

Battery Life

Bundled Battery
VGP-BPS22 Lithium-ion battery: 6 Cell

Size

Dimensions (WxHxD)
369.8 mm x 31.1-36.7 mm x 248.2 mm

Weight
2.7 kg (including the supplied battery)

Included Software

AV Entertainment
Media Gallery, WinDVD, Quick Web Access

Content Creation/Editing
PMB VAIO Edition, Adobe® Premiere® Elements 8, Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 8, Roxio Easy Media Creator

Home Network
VAIO Media plus

Word Processor / Spreadsheet
60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft® Office Professional 2007*9

Tool
Evernote for VAIO, Adobe® Reader® 9

Utilities
VAIO Gate, VAIO Control Center, Battery Care Function, WebCam Companion, Magic-i™ Visual Effects

Security
McAfee PC SecurityCenter 30-day Free Trial*10, Webroot® Spy Sweeper® 90-day Free Trial*11

Support
VAIO Care, VAIO Recovery Center, VAIO Update, VAIO Transfer Support, Norton™ Online Backup 60-day Free Trial*12

Supplied Accessories

AC Adaptor
AC Adaptor (VGP-AC19V43)

Battery
Lithium-ion battery (VGP-BPS22)*13

 

- JMD Computer India

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D-Roll New Laptops

 

Modern gadgets apart from being stylish are getting smaller day-by-day. And the latest creation to catch our eye is the ‘next gen laptop design’ by Hao Hua. Dubbed “D-roll” or “digital roll,” the new device works like a regular laptop, but rolls up to be a side bag or even a backpack for easy transportation. Designed like an artist’s tube, the D-roll Laptop features a roll up OLED screen and a slide out keyboard, together with a mouse and a detachable webcam that can be worn on your wrist when not attached to the system. The mouse and web camera can also be used as the end caps for the laptop case, while the straps double as ports to plug in your USB devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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