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second-generation version XO laptop computer in
the works

post from Ployer on 20 May 2008 08:00:00 PM. © Ployer

One Laptop per Child (OLPC), the non-profit organization focused on providing educational tools to help children in developing countries "learn learning," is working on a second-generation version of its XO laptop computer. Leveraging new advances in technology, the primary goal of the "XO-2" will be to advance new concepts of learning as well as to further drive down the cost of the laptop so that it is affordable for volume purchase by developing nations.

"Based on feedback from governments, educators and most important, from the children themselves, we are aggressively working to lower the cost, power and size of the XO laptop so that it is more affordable and useable by the world's poorest children," said Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chairman of One Laptop per Child. "The delivery of the first generation XO laptop has sparked tremendous global interest in the project and provided valuable input on how to make the XO laptop an even better learning tool moving forward."

"One Laptop per Child and the XO laptop are crucial to the fulfillment of the proposed UN Ninth Millennium Goal: to ensure that every child between the ages of 6 and 12 has immediate access to a personal laptop computer by 2015, said, Nirj Deva, Member of the European Parliament. "It's only through access to education that young people will be able to develop the skills necessary to compete globally and to develop the solutions required to break the cycles of poverty, disease and malnutrition. Learning unites the child with the world, binds the village into a community, and joins that community to the global village."

The first generation XO laptop went into production in early November 2007, and there are approximately 600,000 units in deployment in a number of countries including Peru, Uruguay, Mongolia, Haiti, Rwanda, Mexico, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the US and Canada (as a result of the Give One Get One charitable giving campaign that ran last November 12 - December 31, 2007). Key goals for the XO-2 include:

Cost Reduction - Set in early 2005, the original target price of the XO laptop was $100. Although that target has not yet been met (it is now at $188), it is clear that OLPC must aim for an even lower target price of $75. New developments in display, processor and other hardware and software technologies will make it possible to achieve the $75 target in the future.

Lower Power Consumption - While the first generation XO laptop already requires just one-tenth (2-4 watts versus 20-40 watts) of the electrical power necessary to run a standard laptop, the XO-2 will reduce power consumption even further to 1 watt. This is particularly important for children in remote and rural environments where electricity is scarce or non-existent. Lowering the power consumption will reduce the amount of time required for children to generate power themselves via a hand crank or other manual mechanisms.

Smaller Footprint - The XO-2 laptop will be about half the size of the first generation device and will approximate the size of a book. The new design will make the XO laptop lighter and easier for children to carry with them to and from school or wherever they go. The XO-2 will continue to be in a green and white case and sport the XO logo in a multitude of colors that allow children to personalize the laptop as their own possession.

Enhanced Book Experience - Dual-touch sensitive displays will be used to enhance the e-book experience, with a dual-mode display similar to the current XO laptop. The design provides a right and left page in vertical format, a hinged laptop in horizontal format, and a flat two-screen wide continuous surface that can be used in tablet mode. Younger children will be able to use simple keyboards to get going, and older children will be able to switch between keyboards customized for applications as well as for multiple languages. The dual-touch display is being designed by Pixel Qi, which was founded in early 2008 by Mary Lou Jepsen, former chief technology officer of One Laptop per Children and a leading expert on display technology.

Read The Full Article:
http://ployer.com/archives/2008/05/secondgeneration_version_xo_laptop_computer_in
_the_works.php

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iPhone 3G Launch Date Confirmed - June 9th

post from Ployer on 20 May 2008 07:54:00 PM. © Ployer

According to Gizmodo, Apple will launch their 3G iPhone at the WWDC Keynote on June 9th. The second-generation iPhone will be available worldwide right after the launch.

The 3G iPhone will no longer be available at a fixed price point--at least in some countries, and its launch will also bring new sales policies.

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http://ployer.com/archives/2008/05/iphone_3g_launch_date_confirmed_june_9th.php

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Asus EEE 900 PC

post from Gizmo Coded Name on 20 May 2008 06:22:37 PM. © Gizmo Coded Name

The Eee PC is a new line of PCs that focuses on providing the most comprehensive Internet experience based on three Es: Easy to learn, work, play; Excellent Internet experience and Excellent on-the-Go. Although petite in size, this high performance[...]

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/GizmoCodedName/~3/294593346/

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SanDisk Launches Premium Mobile Phone Storage

post from I4U News on 20 May 2008 04:00:00 PM. © I4U News

SanDisk announced what it calls the industry’s first premium mobile phone memory cards this week. The cards are called SanDisk mobile Ultra and can be had in microSD/SDHC and M2 varieties. All the cards in the line come with a small USB adapter to allo...

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http://feeds.i4u.com/~r/i4u/OVzm/~3/294525575/article17438.html

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ASUS BC-1205PT SATA Blu-ray Disc Optical Drive

post from Benchmark Reviews: computer hardware, guides, and news. on 20 May 2008 03:33:42 PM. © Benchmark Reviews: computer hardware, guides, and news.

The HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc format war is finally over. Now that Toshiba and Mircosoft have both jumped ship on HD-DVD, for the first time in at least a dozen introduced media types Sony finally has its moment of glory with their Blu-ray Disc format. This news is exactly what movie buffs and storage moguls have eagerly awaited for more than a year, and now that the casualties are cleared it's time to get productive and introduce new products built from the blue laser technology.

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http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=
60

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Led Lenser Flashlight for Law Enforcement
Available Soon

post from I4U News on 20 May 2008 03:00:00 PM. © I4U News

Police officers, fire men, hunters and plain old people all need a really bright flashlight at some point. Whether you are trying to find you camp on a moonless night or trying to take your 3-year old to the bathroom during a power outage flashlights are o...

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http://feeds.i4u.com/~r/i4u/OVzm/~3/294525576/article17436.html

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Thoughts on the Netflix box

post from Jeremy Toeman's LIVEdigitally on 20 May 2008 02:49:58 PM. © Jeremy Toeman's LIVEdigitally

Bringing you up to speed: Netflix announced a $99 device that hooks up to your TV and streams movies (free to Netflix subscribers) from your queue straight to your set. This is not the first “Internet set-top box” to come out, nor will it be the last. But it’s definitely one of the [...]

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http://www.livedigitally.com/2008/05/20/thoughts-on-the-netflix-box/

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Logitech Pure-Fi Mobile Speaker System

Logitech has just rolled out its Pure-Fi Mobile speaker system that allows you to enjoy music on-the-go, and will target those who rely on their Bluetooth-enabled cell phones as the device of choice when it comes to portable music. It has a maximum working range of 33 feet, and features 2" high-excursion drivers as well as a couple of 2" pressure drivers to deliver articulate bass and smooth treble no matter where you are. The Pure-Fi Mobile also doubles up as a wireless speakerphone thanks to a two integraed mics, where one is used to pick up vocal nuances while the other will monitor and block unwanted background noise for greater clarity in your conversaions. You don't even need to touch your handset to answer a call as all the relevant controls are already on the Pure-Fi Mobile itself. You will be able to purchase the Pure-Fi Mobile in Europe and the US sometime in early June for $149.99 a pop.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/05/logitech_purefi_mobile_speaker_syste
m.html

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Jive System for Oldies

Social networking is not just for the young, as the Jive system here aims to introduce older folks to the wonders of social networking by relying on a hardware-based social networking device. Of course, you'll still need a router for you to get connected, but the mechanics are much simpler than going online. All you need to do is slot in a physical key to the base unit and it will automatically perform all the necessary online status updates for you. I just wonder how this concept will play out if it was actually commercialized - after all, older folks who are technologically averse tend to prefer an old fashioned phone call or written letter, so this might not actually catch on if released.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2008/05/jive_system_for_oldies.html

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New DS Lite Colors Coming

I guess Nintendo must be running some kind of secret paint factory somewhere, as they seem to splash their products in a wide range of colors. Strangely enough, folks who already have a DS Lite won't mind forking out another $129.99 for a different colored DS Lite despite the older one working perfectly fine. You don't see the same phenomenon happening to iPod nano owners, and I strongly believe this is the indoctrination of playing too much Pokemon has on a person that he/she "gotta catch 'em all". Apparently two new colors to adorn the DS Lite will be lime green as well as hot red, and these will hit Europe sometime this June.

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