Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/17/oczs-pcie-ssd-z-drive-finally-starts-shipping/
Filed under: Storage
OCZ's PCIe SSD Z-Drive finally starts shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Continue reading Hercules loads Windows 7 Starter on $399 eCAFE EC-1000W netbook
Filed under: Laptops
Hercules loads Windows 7 Starter on $399 eCAFE EC-1000W netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Waze is focused on bringing you live traffic information and maps via crowd sourcing. Each phone with Waze installed generates map data and, through user-interaction, also provides information about construction, traffic jams, and other road-related events important to drivers.
Waze also provides turn-by-turn driving directions, which are adopted in real time based on traffic conditions and other information in the Waze network—it should be noted, however, that Waze currently doesn't function as a long range navigation tool but instead analyzes the areas you regularly drive in and suggests optimal routes.
Check out the demo from Waze to get a better feel for how the system works:
In addition to the application on your phone, there is also a dashboard system on the Waze web site. There you can flag areas of the map that need to be edited or repaired, make changes to the map to correct errors, and add additional information to the maps to help other commuters. Even if you don't use Waze on your phone, you can still visit the Waze site and view their live map of your area.
Waze is free and requires an iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, or Symbian phone.
• Motoblur: Motorola's combination of user interface and social service seems to be the winner. They say the widgets that allow you to customize the home screen are useful and quick, always updating live. For example, there is a messaging widget show the latest mails or texts right on the home screen, as they come in. The news widget collects information from several RSS at the same time.
• "Happenings": It is the most interesting widget-connects to social networking sites and puts all status updates together in one single feed. It's not without problems, though, as it shows the updates from all your Facebook friends. You know, all the 457 you really don't know at all.
• Contact book: Apparently, the address books collects information—addresses, emails, phones, photos, status, birthdays, dates, events—from all your contacts, adding the latest info from the social sites you are connected to. This sounds rather cool, as it seems you won't have to update your contact book ever again.
• The hardware quality: It doesn't seem very good, according to them. Apart from the boring design, the touchscreen is "occasionally hit-and-miss," and the phone feels cheap. The 320x480 screen quality is good, however.
• QWERTY Keyboard: The physical keyboard isn't good. ! Bad layo ut, and not enough spring keep them going back to the virtual one, which is accurate and feels good.
Despite the bad points, Katherine seems happy with the Motorola Cliq, saying it's a "rock-solid" performer, extremely customizable, fast, and great for social networkers. Go read her full review at T3. [T3]
The $250 Redfly hardware is the same — it has a 8.9-inch screen, a pretty cramped keyboard compared to the 10-inch netbooks of today and a decent sized touchpad. I took issue with the later. When it is paired with a Windows Mobile phone it works as a mouse, however, with the BlackBerry it works as a four way directional pad of sorts. It is supposed to mimic the rollerball on the Berry, but it doesn't really and it will take some getting used to.
Navigating the BlackBerry OS was a bit sluggish. It took at least two to three seconds to switch Windows or tasks (though apparently the drivers aren't final). The lag is killer when playing BrickBreaker. If I'm going to carry round a notebook looking device in my bag, I'd much rather a $300 netbook with browsing and performance speed. But the Redfly isn't popular with people like me, it is primarily an enterprise solution for companies that would rather deploy smartphones rather than laptops. In that niche case, I assume this BlackBerry solution will be welcomed with open arms.
Not going to lie, I'm totally surprised that this company is still kicking with the onslaught of netbooks that cost just a tad bit more (though you can find good netbooks on sale now for $250). But Redfly is still buzzing; they will be available at a larger brick and mortar retailer very soon and Android support will be here by the end of the year. [Celio Redfly]
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