By James A. Martin
PC World (US)
January 21, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO – I learned a lot in 2008: Never underestimate the American voter; never take basic financial security for granted; and never pay money to see Tom Cruise in an eye patch (or to see Tom Cruise, period). But the year was full of other, more practical epiphanies, too. Among them: Selling a laptop on eBay can be an invitation to fraud; netbooks lose their novelty rather quickly while the Apple iPhone’s allure only grows; and more.

This week and next, I’ll share some lessons learned from 2008 related to mobile technology.

It Can Be Scary to Sell a Laptop on EBay

It’s extremely tempting to sell your old laptop on eBay, especially when money’s tight. But be forewarned: As I learned from experience, the process can subject you to fraud, especially when you’re trying to sell an expensive or highly desired laptop.

Too often, there’s an assumption that it’s primarily sellers on eBay who are trying to rip off buyers. However, throughout my years as an eBay buyer and seller, the only times I’ve experienced fraud are when I tried to sell my Sony Vaio ultraportable. In two cases, my auction closed when someone attempted to buy the laptop using hijacked eBay accounts (and credit cards). In one instance, I learned of the fraud only after I’d dropped off the laptop at the post office. Fortunately, after a mad dash back to the post office, I retrieved the Vaio before it had left the building.

If you’re planning to sell a laptop or other high-ticket item on eBay, please read my reports (with tips for how to avoid being ripped off): “Selling Your Laptop on eBay” and “More eBay Cautionary Tales.” You could avoid losing both your laptop and the money a fraudulent buyer promised to pay you.

Netbooks Quickly Lose Their Novelty…

These days there’s a lot of interest in netbooks, those subcompact, stripped-down laptops available from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other computer makers. I admit I’ve been taken by them, too, especially the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, which is the best I’ve tested so far.
But almost as quickly as my ardor for netbooks was aroused, it died. Though I appreciate the compactness of a netbook, it’s difficult to get excited about what is, in essence, an intentionally underpowered Windows XP machine. (Some netbooks come with Linux or Windows Vista installed, but many have XP.)

Though Vista isn’t the dream OS Microsoft touted it to be, using Windows XP again after I’d switched to Vista felt like a step backward. There were other things about the netbooks I tested that felt retrograde or cheap: the small screens (8.9 inches or 10.2 inches are the usual sizes); the all-too-brief battery life; the loud clacking sounds the mouse buttons make; and so on.

I’m not swearing off netbooks. If a dazzling yet affordable model arrives, I would probably buy it. But until then, I’ll stick with my admittedly-too-expensive-but-oh-so-exquisite Apple MacBook Air ultraportable.

…But the iPhone 3G Doesn’t

Like many Apple iPhone users, I’ve experienced dropped calls and sluggish-at-times Web browsing. Even so, six months into my life with an iPhone 3G, the smart phone continues to delight and astound me.
Here’s one example: A few days ago, my partner Nick and I emerged from a movie theater in San Francisco. It was nearly 10 p.m. and we hadn’t eaten dinner. But there were no restaurants in our immediate vicinity that we (a) both wanted to dine in and (b) were still open.

So I took out my iPhone, opened Google Maps, clicked to affix our location on the map, and searched for nearby restaurants. I found a Mexican cantina that, according to Google Maps, was a 5 minute walk down the street. I clicked the restaurant’s name on the map. The iPhone 3G dialed the restaurant. The restaurant’s host informed me dinner was served until 11 p.m., and off we went.

The above scenario is just one example of how I use the iPhone 3G every day. Having such a wealth of information available on the go makes life much easier, in ways big and small.

I realize the iPhone 3G isn’t the only smart phone that can perform such feats of magic. But given its strengths as a music and video player, too–not to mention all the useful and fun apps available through the Apple App Store–the iPhone 3G is the only smart phone I’m interested in owning.

Are You an Extreme Commuter?

Do you travel over 90 minutes each way most days to get to work? If so, I’d like to hear from you. Why is your commute so extreme? How do you stay productive and organized, given such a cumbersome commute? What digital tools, services, and accessories do you use to help you stay productive?

Please share your thoughts with me for use in a possible upcoming Mobile Computing blog post. And be sure to tell me your first and last name and your hometown.

Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

Who Offers the Most Reliable Laptops and the Best Service? In our most recent reader survey on service and reliability, Apple was the only laptop maker to earn above average scores for “overall satisfaction with reliability” and “service experience.” Browse the laptop chart to see how computer makers fared.

The Ideal Desktop Replacement: What should the ultimate desktop replacement laptop look like? We think it should merge some of the best tech from Apple, Intel, Lenovo, and others. For starters, we’d like our desktop replacement to offer twin sliding screens and dual HD-quality Webcams. Read Danny Allen in Geek Tech for his take on the ultimate laptop.

Laptops for Business Travelers: In “Great Laptops for the Savvy Business Traveler,” we showcase the best laptops for savvy travelers, including the Lenovo ThinkPad X200, HP Compaq 6530b, and Sony VGN-Z598U.

Contributing Editor James A. Martin offers tools, tips, and product recommendations to help you make the most of computing on the go. Martin is also author of the Traveler 2.0 blog. Sign up to have the Mobile Computing Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.

Suggestion Box

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I’ve missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I’m unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.

By Jon Brodkin
Network World (US)
February 17, 2009

FRAMINGHAM- A startup called Neocleus is preparing to ship a bare-metal desktop hypervisor that it promises will improve endpoint security and let IT shops manage how virtual desktops interact with each other.

The current desktop virtualization market is dominated by Type 2 hypervisors, which run as an application on top of the operating system. Citrix and Intel are working on a bare-metal, or Type 1, hypervisor for client PCs, and plans to release one of its own the second half of this year. Vendors say bare-metal hypervisors will be more secure than today’s model because they are independent of the client OS, and will run faster because they let applications run on the local client rather than a remote server. Neocleus, which was founded in 2006 and emerged from stealth mode nine months ago, was “really the first to make a stance and put a bare-metal hypervisor on the device,” says Forrester analyst Natalie Lambert. Neocleus debuted last year with Trusted Edge, a US$79-per-device product that lets end points securely connect to corporate data center resources. Neocleus will go into beta the last week of March with its full platform, code-named Mako, and then ship in May or June, says chief marketing officer William Corrigan. Neocleus’ headquarters are in New Jersey, but nearly all of the company’s 35 employees, including its CEO, are based in Tel Aviv, Israel. CEO and co-founder Ariel Gorfung was previously CEO of Intuwave, a UK company that made middleware for the Symbian mobile OS. CTO and co-founder Etay Bogner previously founded security vendor SofaWare, which was acquired by Check Point. Neocleus’s virtualization software, an adaptation of the Xen server hypervisor, will allow PCs to run multiple operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Each OS would be in its own “bubble,” which, if infected, could simply be deleted, preserving the integrity of the machine as a whole, Corrigan says. Virtual desktops can be managed centrally, but not in the sense of pushing patches out to user machines. Instead, Neocleus sets policies, a lot of “if, then, else,” Corrigan says.

“If a particular condition exists, then allow this application to run in this particular virtual machine. Or, if that virtual machine doesn’t exist on that machine, go get the VM on a central server,” he explains. “We’re managing that externalization of the virtual machine, the shell. How does one shell interact with this one or do they not [interact] at all.”

Polices might prevent one operating system from using more than a certain percentage of a system, or prevent certain users from using particular devices or applications. This is useful for businesses that want to separate personal and corporate computing into different virtual machines, Corrigan says.

Neocleus is not targeting the thin client market, and, as Lambert notes, desktop virtualization typically requires more up-front cost than simply buying new PCs.

But Corrigan contends that the price of desktop virtualization is worth it, saying “how do you measure the cost of one catastrophic virus?”

Neocleus will likely charge between $50 and $100 per desktop.

The company has $11.4 million in second-round funding from Battery Ventures and Gemini Israel Funds.

The IDG News Service contributed to this report.

By Dave Johnson

Making double exposures with a film camera used to be tricky. To take a good multiple exposure, for example, your camera needed to have a special control that prevented the film from advancing while you captured each frame in the series. And you needed to underexpose each frame by just the right amount so that the final image wouldn’t be overexposed from all those clicks of the shutter.

These days, creating a multiple exposure digitally is a snap. Let’s see how.

Do It in the Camera
Just like in the days of film, it’s possible to make a double exposure “in the camera,” without involving your photo editing software–but only if your camera includes such a feature. Check your user guide for any multiple exposure mode options.

If you can make a multiple exposure with your camera, set it to the appropriate mode and snap away. Remember that since you’ll be putting two or more exposures in the same image, you need to reduce the exposure of each picture you take. If you shoot two pictures, for example, a good starting place is to halve the exposure that each photo would normally get. To do that, set your camera’s exposure compensation control to -1 for both shots.

Do It on the Computer

Few cameras have a multiple exposure mode, though, so you’ll probably need to combine separate images in a photo editing program. There’s no need to vary the exposure in this situation. Just take each photo the way you normally would, and transfer them to your PC. Then start up your favorite photo editor.

This technique makes use of layers, a feature that lets you “stack” images and vary their opacity. Most photo editors, like Adobe Photoshop Elements and Corel Paint Shop Pro, have this capability. I’ll demonstrate with Photoshop Elements.

Stack Some Layers

Start Photoshop Elements and open the files that you want to use for your multiple exposure. They can be any images at all, as long as they all have the same pixel resolution. For this experiment, I’ll use a sequence of photos I shot on my desk with some goofy toys: sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3.

You can use these photos or, if you prefer, combine a flower with a photo of a loved one, or a sequence of someone swinging a golf club. The possibilities are endless. Once you open all of your source photos in Photoshop Elements, you’ll see thumbnails representing each one at the bottom of the window.

Now choose one of the photos and select its contents by pressing Ctrl-A. ChooseEdit, Copy from the menu. Now select the next photo and choose Edit, Paste. This will paste the first photo into the second photo as a new layer. You’ll be able to tell this has happened, because you’ll see the two images in separate layers in the Layer Palette, on the right side of the screen, as the image to the right shows.

Finally, repeat the process for the remaining photo. Choose the remaining photo, press Ctrl-A, and chooseEdit, Copy from the menu. Select the composite photo and choose Edit, Paste. You’ll see all three images appear in the Layers Palette.

Tweak the Opacity

We’re almost done. Select the top layer in the Layers Palette and vary the opacity slider until the layer underneath starts to show through. If you are creating a double exposure, this is pretty easy to do–set the opacity at 50% to start and then fine-tune it until it looks perfect. If you have three or more photos, though, it’ll take some finessing to get a good result. In this example, I set the top layer to 50% and the middle layer to 70%.

Before you drop hundreds or thousands of dollars on the wrong flat-panel HDTV, read our comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know. Our advice might just help you save some money.

The Big Picture

HDTVs are available in a variety of flavors, including front- and rear-projection, but flat-panel sets have emerged as the most popular option by far. What’s not to like? You can get a big, beautiful picture from a display thin and light enough to hang on a wall. And the picture isn’t the only attractive thing: Prices have dropped over 20% in the past year alone.

If you decide that a flat-panel HDTV is the way to go, you still have to determine which kind to buy: plasma or LCD. For screens smaller than 42 inches diagonal, your only choice is LCD. But for screens of 42 inches or larger, it’s a matter of assessing which technology better suits your viewing conditions and preferences–and your budget.

Almost all sets on the market now, both plasma and LCD, are wide-screen models. Translation: Such sets have a 16:9 ratio of screen width to screen height (aspect ratio), which is the standard for HDTV and very close to the ratio used for most modern movies. As a result, the displays are more rectangular than the traditional, almost-square 4:3 sets of the past.

Plasma
Essentially all current plasma displays offer HDTV resolution. Screen sizes begin at 37 inches diagonal and typically range up to about 65 inches (occasionally moving up to the downright ridiculous 150-inch sets that companies trot out for trade shows). Prices start at around $800 and can reach about $15,000 for large, very high-end models, though $5000 to $7000 would be a more typical top price for 60- to 65-inch units.

Typically you get what you pay for in both plasma and LCD. A budget plasma model will usually have lower contrast and poorer reproduction of black and of dark grays, yielding a picture with less punch and detail. A bigger problem with a bargain set is that it may do a worse job of upconverting regular standard-definition TV programs and DVDs to its native resolution. The resulting picture could look softer, coarser, or noisier than if it had better processing.

The most expensive plasmas in a given screen size are typically 1080p models, which offer 1920×1080 resolution. Whether that provides a visible improvement in picture quality over 720p, in either 1366×768 or 1024×768 resolution, depends on the screen size and viewing distance. The smaller the screen, the closer you must be to it to fully appreciate the benefit of a higher display resolution. For example, with a 50-inch screen you would have to sit within about 10 feet to perceive the difference between 1080p and 1366×768. That said, we recommend skipping the less expensive 720p models and buying one that supports 1080p, the resolution of Blu-ray Disc video. Even some online streaming services offer 1080p today; we expect more services to do so in the future.

Like CRTs (picture tubes), plasmas use phosphors to generate light, which means they can be subject to “burn-in”–or, at least, older plasma sets are susceptible. Burn-in occurs when a static image stays on the screen for a very long time; for example, it could be the health meter in a video game, or an annoying network logo that squats in the corner of your screen.

Fortunately, you can minimize the risk–or in most cases, nearly eliminate it–by keeping the contrast and brightness settings reasonable (almost all TV sets come out of the box with their contrast, brightness, color, and sharpness controls turned up way too high) and by using stretch modes to fill the screen when you’re watching 4:3 programming (though that will distort the picture). Plus, most of today’s plasma TVs use pixel-shifting strategies that continually move the image on the screen in imperceptibly tiny increments to prevent burn-in. Such technology should help–that is, unless you plan to watch NCAA March Madness nonstop. Then you have bigger issues.

One last thing to bear in mind with plasma sets is the audio. Most now come with speakers either built in or attached to the sides or bottom of the panel, but some remain strictly video displays with neither speakers nor any integrated TV tuner. In such cases you will need to factor those additional costs into your home-theater budget.

LCD
LCD screens range from desktop-friendly 15-inch models up to 65-inch wide-screen wonders complete with speakers and TV tuners. At screen sizes smaller than 30 inches, HDTV LCDs still come at a premium price relative to conventional picture-tube sets, but the cost difference is much smaller than it once was. A 26-inch high-definition LCD, for instance, could sell for as little as $400. (A 26-inch wide-screen display has about the same screen height as a 21-inch TV with a conventional 4:3 aspect ratio.) And in large screen sizes of 50 inches and up, LCDs are now price-competitive with plasmas. According to the DisplaySearch Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database, the global average Internet price for LCD TVs fell by an average of 22% as compared with last year.

LCDs continue to play catch-up with plasma models in picture quality, however. LCD sets often come under criticism for having lower contrast ratios than their plasma counterparts, as they have a tougher time reproducing deep black and dark grays. They also have much slower response times (expressed in milliseconds) than plasmas. That limitation can lead to blurring in fast-moving action scenes, something that sports and video-game fiends are likely to find problematic. New advances in LCD technology have largely overcome the problem in the best sets, however.

LCDs are often one to several inches thicker than plasmas and have a somewhat narrower effective viewing angle. (Plasmas, like CRTs, are easily viewable from well off to the side and do not exhibit any change in brightness as you stand up or sit down.) On the other hand, LCDs are immune to burn-in, easier to view in brightly lit rooms, and just about always include all the standard features of a conventional TV. LCDs also run cooler than plasmas, which minimizes the need for potentially noisy cooling fans.

Another bonus of LCDs is that they give you the freedom to set them up almost anywhere in your house. LCDs work well in bright-light situations that would be tough for most plasmas. If you want your TV to serve double duty as a huge monitor, consider that LCDs are about a quarter to a third lighter than plasmas of the same size, so they’re easier to tote between rooms.

The Specs Explained
Buying an HDTV requires more than just deciding how big a screen you want, looking at some sets, and purchasing the one with the best picture that fits your budget. An options explosion has littered the shopping landscape with numbers, features, and terminology that even experts sometimes have trouble tracking (not us, though). We’ve cut through the chaos to give you the information you need to get up to speed. When you’re finding your way in the high-def, A/V world, don’t just go for the gaudiest numbers–some are important, sure, but others aren’t. Let’s quickly walk through a few.

Important: Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio refers to the brightest and darkest light values a display can produce at the same time. All else being equal, the higher the contrast ratio is, the better the quality is. All else is seldom equal, however.

Pumping up the maximum light output, for example, will increase contrast, but it won’t do anything to help pitiful black levels–that, in our opinion, is a much greater concern. LCDs in particular have a tougher time dealing with darks. So take contrast ratings as a very rough guide to be supplemented by eyes-on evaluation. LCD contrast-ratio specs start at about 600:1, while those for plasmas start at about 1000:1. Although ratings of 10,000:1 or better are becoming common for both types of displays, you should approach such claims with a healthy bit of skepticism.

Since no true standard method for measuring contrast ratio exists, manufacturer exaggeration is rampant. Independent reviews are a more reliable guide, but in the end you need to trust your own eyes. Keep in mind that when you’re on a showroom floor, you’re checking out the HDTVs under the store’s lighting conditions, not yours. Will you watch in a dark cave or in a well-lit, open space? Probably the smartest idea is to check the store’s return policy before buying.

Important: Aspect Ratio
The aspect ratio describes the relationship of screen width to screen height. Conventional sets have a 4:3 aspect ratio, whereas wide-screen models are 16:9. Wide screens are the future. For one thing, HDTV is a wide-screen format. For another, DVDs usually look better on wide-screen displays because nearly every movie made in the last 50 years was filmed in an aspect ratio of either 1.85:1 (very close to 16:9, which is 1.78:1) or 2.35:1 (even wider than 16:9).

Important: Video Inputs
The number and type of video inputs determine which sources you can use with the display.

Composite video: This input type has the lowest quality but the broadest compatibility. Any device that has video outputs will include composite video among them. Connection is made with a single 75-ohm coaxial cable between RCA jacks.

S-Video: S-Video offers better quality than composite video does, and most video sources except standard VCRs now have S-Video outputs. Connection is made with a special cable and multipin sockets.

Component video: This high-quality option is the minimum standard for connecting high-definition cable and satellite set-top boxes, as well as progressive-scan DVD and Blu-ray Disc players. It requires three 75-ohm coaxial cables of the same type used for composite video.

VGA (Video Graphics Array): This high-quality analog RGB connection is used primarily for computer connections.

DVI (Digital Video Interface): One of the highest-quality types of inputs. This digital video connection can attach to devices with HDMI outputs (see below) by means of an adapter. It may also be used for computer connections. Requires a special cable and multipin sockets. Some displays with a DVI input may work only with computers, so watch out for that if you plan to connect an HDTV source, such as an HD digital cable box or a Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD player. Another thing you need for guaranteed HDTV compatibility is compliance with the HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) system.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface): Also of the highest quality, HDMI is DVI plus a digital audio and control link. HDMI is the dominant digital connection interface for HDTVs today. The big draw here is that you get a one-wire setup that pumps HD content into your other home-theater components too. This connection is provided on almost all current HD satellite receivers, HD cable boxes, and upconverting DVD players (those that provide 720p, 1080i, or 1080p output from regular DVDs), and it is the standard video connector for Blu-ray Disc players. The exact version of the HDMI input (for example, 1.1 or 1.3) is of little consequence on TV sets currently on the market. Of more importance to HDTV shoppers is how many HDMI inputs a TV has. Aim to get an HDTV with at least three or four HDMI inputs, to accommodate the multiple devices you’re bound to accumulate.

HDMI CEC: HDMI inputs may include support for the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocol, which enables CEC-certified components to send control information back and forth to one another. This arrangement can allow single-remote–or even single-button–control of functions involving multiple components, such as a TV, DVD player, and A/V receiver. Manufacturers tend to have their own names for HDMI CEC, such as CE-Link (Toshiba) and Anynet (Samsung). In many cases the CEC functionality is restricted to components from the same maker, which obviously lessens the benefit in a mixed-brand system.

Important: Resolution
Non-CRT displays, such as plasmas and LCDs, are fixed-pixel arrays, meaning they have rows and columns of individual picture elements that turn on and off to produce the necessary patterns of light. Resolution is specified as the number of pixel columns by the number of pixel rows-640×480, for example, or 1280×720. Resolution and contrast ratio determine perceived picture detail.

Digital content currently is delivered in one of five formats: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. The 480i format is the same as that used for standard analog TV, and when programming originally in 480i is delivered by digital cable or satellite to your home, it retains that format. DVDs are sometimes mastered in 480p, but mostly they are 480i; a progressive-scan DVD player can deinterlace 480i DVDs to create 480p output, however. The 720p and 1080i formats are used by satellite, cable, and over-the-air-broadcast high-definition content providers, as well as some advanced DVD players that upconvert 480i and 480p content. Blu-ray Discs output 1080p video, though Blu-ray players can deliver the content in 1080i or 720p format for displays that do not accept 1080p input.

Given that the price differential between 720p and 1080p has narrowed considerably, we recommend buying a set that supports 1080p. Your new HDTV represents a long-term investment. Some online streaming services, such as Vudu and Dish Networks’ on-demand options, are offering 1080p today, and we expect more services to follow in the future. If your budget can handle 1080p, go for it.

Generally speaking, a display is considered high-definition if it is wide-screen and has a total pixel count approaching a million. So 1920×1080 (1080p), 1280×720 (720p), 1366×768, 1024×1024, and 1024×768 are all examples of high-definition display resolutions. The larger the screen and the closer you sit to it, the more important its resolution becomes.

Somewhat Important: Screen Size
Size matters, don’t get us wrong. But just because you can afford a 65-inch monster, that doesn’t mean you should buy one. You need to factor in the screen size and where you plan to watch the TV. Having your nose pressed up against the display in a broom closet of a room is hardly “ideal viewing conditions.”

To determine the best viewing distance, and therefore how much space you’ll need in your TV room, remember this simple bit of math: Note the screen size in inches and multiply it by two. Calculators ready? Take, for example, a 52-inch set. The sweet spot for viewing is 104 inches away, or a little more than 8.5 feet from the screen (8.66666667 feet if you want to be nitpicky about it). You don’t have to be exactly on target; simply bear this in mind as you plan where to place your new set.

Somewhat Important: Built-In Tuners
Most current flat-panel displays include a tuner for conventional analog broadcast and cable-TV reception and for broadcast HDTV. A few, however, are strictly business–they’re monitors with no built-in tuner (more common for plasmas than for LCDs). That may not matter if you receive all your TV programming via satellite or cable, but if you want to watch broadcast TV over an antenna, be sure that the set you buy includes a TV tuner. Most sets also have built-in tuners for digital cable TV (referred to as ATSC digital tuners). Although such tuners have a standard for handling scrambled premium channels (for example, HBO), many sets do not support it, so be sure you know exactly what you are getting. If you’re interested in that capability, you may know about CableCard (a few sets in the recent past offered a CableCard slot). But CableCard is giving way to the new Tru2way standard, which can banish the external box if both your TV and your cable provider support it.

Somewhat Important: Refresh Rate
Refresh rate refers to the number of times per second a new image displays on the screen. The standard refresh rate for television in North America is 60 times per second, or 60 Hz (hertz), and until fairly recently that was it. Now, however, many high-end LCD HDTVs offer a 120-Hz refresh rate. Usually the TV set achieves the higher rate by interpolating new frames between the ones that are broadcast. The tactic helps minimize or eliminate the blurring of fast motion that sometimes occurs on LCDs because of their relatively slow response times (how long they take to switch between black and white or between dark gray and light gray). Done well, 120-Hz refresh can be very effective; but done poorly, motion can appear slightly unnatural. As always, look at a set and judge its performance before you buy. Also find out whether the 120-Hz processing is switchable, so that you can turn it off if you don’t like it or you don’t need it. As response times and video processing of LCDs improve, the need for refresh-multiplication is diminishing.

Because plasma sets have very fast response times, they don’t require 120-Hz processing (though it may start showing up in them simply for marketing reasons). A nonstandard refresh rate presents another potential benefit, however, when you’re viewing material that originated as film. Movie film is shot at 24 frames per second and displays in theaters at 48 Hz, with each frame flashed on the screen twice. But putting movies on TV at the standard refresh rate is a little tricky, since 24 does not divide evenly into 60. The conventional solution is to stagger the frame repetitions, displaying the first frame twice, the second three times, the third twice, and so on. Although such 2:3 (or 3:2) processing works pretty well, it imparts a subtle stutter to on-screen motion.

Typically, viewers are so accustomed to this artifact that it seldom jumps out; but once you notice the effect, it’s as plain and obvious as can be. The TV can eliminate it, yielding a slightly smoother impression, if the set has the ability to switch to a refresh rate that’s an even multiple of 24 Hz for film-based content. Pioneer plasmas, for example, run at 72 Hz for film material, and the 24-fps output options of some Blu-ray Disc players are designed to facilitate the same sort of processing. Since 120 Hz is an integral multiple of 24 Hz, the opportunity exists to do something similar in high-refresh-rate LCDs, depending on how the display’s interpolation processing is designed.

Minor: 24p Input
Some Blu-ray Disc players can provide 24-fps 1080p video from their HDMI outputs for discs mastered at 24 fps, matching the frame rate of the film original. If the TV connected to such a player can accept 24-fps 1080p (24p) video and can operate at a refresh rate that is an integral multiple of 24 Hz (such as 72 or 120 Hz), it can process the video to create slightly smoother motion than if it were to convert the footage to the standard 60-Hz refresh rate. The benefit is relatively subtle, however, and not very many TVs offer such processing yet; even some sets that accept 24-fps signals just convert them to 60 fps for display. Be sure you know what you’re buying.

Minor: Ethernet Port
Some HDTVs now provide ethernet ports, which can give you access to the Internet or to content (such as pictures) streamed over a home network. Features available via ethernet vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, so confirm what you’re getting before you lay out the cash.

Minor: USB Port
Some HDTVs now have USB ports. Usually they are intended for connecting to flash drives containing pictures, music files, or possibly updates to the TV’s internal operating software (firmware). The exact functions of USB ports vary somewhat from one TV to the next, so do some research prior to committing to a set.

Minor: Comb Filter Type
Comb filters are necessary in analog TV to separate color and luminance information without losing too much detail, but that’s not an issue in HDTV. The only time the comb filter comes into play is for analog TV reception or any signal coming in via a composite-video connection. For all other connections, it’s out of the loop. In any case, the comb filters in flat-panel TV sets are routinely very good these days.

Flat-Screen TV Shopping Tips
All right, you’ve made it this far. Here are key points to consider before you take the HD plunge.

Consider the alternatives: If you can live with a tabletop set that’s 10 to 18 inches–rather than four to seven inches–deep, DLP (digital light-processing) rear-projection sets can deliver solid performance in similar screen sizes and at lower prices. You just don’t hear about them as much because they’re not as sexy.

Think HDMI: Get a set with at least three or four HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs. Doing so will ensure that you can connect it to multiple HD sources such as digital cable boxes, satellite receivers, and Blu-ray Disc players. Try to choose a set with at least some front- or side-accessible ports; such conveniences can make life much easier when it comes time to connect a device.

Compare displays using various input sources:Most flat-panel displays will handle HDTV and DVD signals well, but mediocre cable and satellite signals will give some of them fits. Don’t make a buying decision based solely on images generated from pristine sources, or based on what you see in the store.

Look for good black tones: When you’re comparison shopping, bring along a DVD of a movie containing some dimly lit night scenes. Use it to check for good black reproduction and the ability to render detail in near-darkness.

Get to know the remote: A good remote can be your best friend, a bad remote your worst enemy. (Well, okay, we’re exaggerating a little, but you get the idea.) Does it have backlighting or glow-in-the-dark buttons to help you see what you’re doing when the lights are turned down? How easy is it to find commonly used buttons by feel?

Check the video settings: Grab the TV’s remote, pull up the video-adjustment menu and look at the settings. If you thought the picture looked a little (or a lot) off on first viewing, try selecting the median settings for contrast, brightness, color, tint, and sharpness. Those probably won’t be optimum, but chances are they’re closer than what you found originally. A good display can easily look worse than a lesser one if it’s poorly adjusted. Repeat your tests using a variety of sources, including a dimly lit movie, if necessary. Also keep in mind that you’ll likely have to readjust the color settings for each source. Most HDTVs these days have input memories, so your set should keep the ideal settings for high-def movies on one input and your video games on another.

By Billy Joe I. Allardo

AMD’s Spider platform is designed to work optimally by working the Phenom processors and chipsets with ATI’s new HD graphics cards. Here’s a basic run-down of what you’ll need to build a high-end rig based on AMD’s quad-core Phenom X4 processor.

Processor
AMD Phenom X4 9600 2.3GHz

As the system’s central figure, the processor basically dictates what other components belong in the system. Nowadays, a multi-core processor is a must-have inside every new performance PC to ensure that the system can hold its ground when it comes to multitasking environments and resource-heavy applications. The Phenom X4 9600 features a 65nm process that the results to less power use and heat emission and a HyperTransport bandwidth of 1.8GHz. Attach a capable cooling solution and this quad core processor has enough power to handle the workload.

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-MA790-FX-DQ6

The motherboard is the backbone of the PC, so it is important to secure one that provides the best possible features and support for future upgrades, such as multi-core processors, multiple graphics cards and whatever level of connectivity you require. Currently the top dog of AMD’s 700-series chipset, the AMD 790FX chip allows the board to prop up Socket AM2+ processors plus PCI-Express 2.0-based graphics cards that support ATI’s CrossFire X multi-GPU technology. This board also has a number of expansion slots, connectivity ports for external Serial ATA devices, and four PCI Express x16 slots for a multi-GPU configuration.

Graphics Card
ATI Radeon HD 3850 1GB

The Radeon HD 3850, along with the other graphics cards built using ATI’s R600-based cores, slipped to the mainstream bracket after the brawnier Radeon HD 4-series hit the market halfway through this year. Still, the ATI Radeon HD 3850 offers enough punch to take on tough graphics processing tasks and HD videos such as the Blu-ray format. If one card isn’t enough, you can spring for an identical card and run them together on a Crossfire X configuration, which is supported by the motherboard. That should be easier to do from here on out, ever since the emergence of newer HD 4-Series cards have made these performers more affordable.

Hard Drive
Seagate ST3250620NS 250GB

The current crop of games and high-definition movies will require storage. This Seagate drive features a 250GB capacity—probably the minimum you’d want to get for the long run (although more is always better). But it features a reasonably fast 7200rpm spindle and a 16MB cache for quick access times and application loading.

Memory
Corsair DOMINATOR TWIN2x2048-8500C5D2GB 1066MHz

Having at least 2GBs worth of performance memory is, in a way or two, an investment. Especially now that the use of dual- and quad-core processors is becoming prevalent, adequate memory with a high bandwidth is critical for optimizing performance. The bandwidth of this Corsair memory module pair adequately matches the multi-core processor we’re using. These modules are also built with heatsinks to keep down the heat.

Chassis
Cooler Master CM960

The chassis holds everything in, so make sure that it has enough space for your hardware – including future expansions. Intake vents and cooling fans are important for maintaining a stable temperature, while additional connectivity and expansion slots–such as multiple dive bays and accessible connectivity ports–help you in the long run. The Cooler Master CM690 has a spacious interior, and features removable HDD racks, and can fit up to seven 120mm fans.

Power Supply Unit
Cooler Master Real Power M-850

A higher wattage gives the PSU a higher power ceiling, allowing it to accommodate more hardware with high-powered demands. With 850W at its disposal, Cooler Master’s Real Power M-850 gives you the space for additional hardware in the future. It also offers support for high-end systems and features modular cables that allow you to remove unused lines to reduce cable clutter.

Optical Drive
Lite-On 4x BD-ROM

While a CD/DVD burner is almost standard now, a Blu-ray drive should set you up—entertainment wise– for the next few years. A Blu-ray burner also helps with backups; the ability to store more than 25-50GB of data on a disc and out of your hard drive never hurts.

We ran some tests in order to gauge the setup’s performance. It did well and the scores it garnered were far better than the ones posted by our current test bed in the productivity apps. It notched a 127 score in Sysmark 2007 and posted a whopping 3DMark 2006 score of 10586.

The setup got rates of 152 and 57.3 frames per second in First Encounter Assault Recon and Company of Heroes, respectively.

A Quick Look

March 16, 2008

Web apps that transcend the Web. PCs that redefine what a PC can do. And oh yeah, a certain cell phone you may have heard of. We pick 25 breakthroughs that you can get your hands on right now.

By the PC World Staff

Published in the March-April 2008 print edition of PC World Philippines

NetGear Digital EntertainerHD EVA8000

Innovation: Only streaming-media device to play protected files in both iTunes and Windows Media formats. Also handles 1080p HD video and acts as a DVR.

Benefit: It makes life easier in a multiple-DRM world. Netgear’s Internet media player busts through the DRM (digital rights management) wall, and even allows you to check your e-mail and watch YouTube videos on your television.

HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC

Innovation: The first all-in-one PC on the market to boast a touch-screen display.

Benefit: Does for the computer what the iPhone has done for mobile handsets. HP’s kitchen-friendly computer is beautifully designed, and its touch screen makes it suitable for use on a countertop as well as a desktop. HP also supplies a software interface, optimized for use with the touch screen,that ties into news, weather, and calendar details, among other daily-living information. The handy, customizable HP control panel lets you quickly access photos, launch a photo editor, and play back music, too.

HTC TyTN II

Innovation: Clever, unique hinge lets you slide the screen up at an angle.

Benefit: Well-positioned QWERTY keyboard results in what looks like a tiny notebook that you can use in your hands or rest on a table.

The tilting screen is the main innovation, but the TyTN II is one of the most powerful phones available, period. Want a quick rundown of the specs? How about the Windows Mobile 6 operating system, a large screen, 3G wireless connectivity, GPS, a three-megapixel camera, and the ability to talk to corporate BlackBerry servers? Top that, iPhone.

Facebook API

Innovation: Platform lets anyone with a good idea and some coding chops add real value to Facebook.

Benefit: Facebook taps developers’ creativity, in turn permitting Facebook users to customize their pages.
Sure, the killer app of Facebook has not been written yet—and many of the ones that exist now are kind of silly. But Facebook has been on a roll in more ways than one, having led to the creation of the Google-backed OpenSocial, which looks likely to result in open platforms’ becoming widespread. Common ground should spark lots of creativity, and it should keep the social networking and media buzz alive.

DeviceVM Splashtop

Innovation: Allows a PC to boot in a few seconds into a simple, secure interface with a Mozilla based browser.

Benefit: Lets you save energy by keeping your PC powered off when you’re not using it.

DeviceVM’s Linux-based technology allows you to boot into its Internet-appliance-like platform in a few seconds, so you don’t have to spend minutes waiting for Windows to start up. If all you want to do is check your Web mail account or make a Skype call, for example, you’ll save both time and watt-hours. Though the technology is currently shipping as a feature only in the Asus P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi AP motherboard, it should be more widely available in desktops, laptops, and additional motherboards in 2008.

Toshiba Portege R500

You don’t have to give up much at all to go truly lightweight. Thin takes on new meaning with the lightweight Portege R500. But you don’t have to sacrifice function for form with this laptop, which is equipped with an ultralow-voltage Intel processor. The stylish 2.4-pound ultraportable manages to include both a rewritable-DVD drive and a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display in its svelte, 0.77-inch-thick chassis. Enough said.

Data Robotics Drobo

Innovation: Highend, redundant storage for the masses.
Benefit: USB 2.0 storage appliance delivers RAID 5 benefits without mindnumbing complexity.
“Redundant array storage” and “sexy” don’t normally go hand-inhand. But Data Robotics’ unique Drobo ($500, find.pcworld.com/59296) offers high-end storage features in a sleek design with software that doesn’t require a master’s degree in IT to figure out. Drobo uses storage virtualization algorithms to provide many of the benefits of RAID 5, but is relatively easy to set up: Just place the drives into the case, plug in the USB cable, install the software, and you’re off.

March 16, 2008

Web apps that transcend the Web. PCs that redefine what a PC can do. And oh yeah, a certain cell phone you may have heard of. We pick 25 breakthroughs that you can get your hands on right now.

By the PC World Staff

Published in the March-April 2008 print edition of PC World Philippines

Make no mistake, the Web is taking over. applications are moving to browsers en masse, and technology to take Web apps offline promises to smooth the road ahead. and let’s not forget breakthrough devices advancing the Web-anywhere world: apple has redefined the phone, and One Laptop per Child’s sub-$200 laptop is delivering Internet-style collaboration to kids in developing nations. But innovation isn’t all on the Web; the PC is evolving as well. apple has reenvisioned backup, HP has created the first useful touch-screen PC, hybrid hard drives boost speed and battery life, and ultraportables have become even more useful. Chosen from the hundreds of products we reviewed in 2007, here are 25 that will change the way you work, communicate, and play this year—and beyond.

Google Gears

Innovation: Plug-in lets Web applications work offline.

Benefit: Tackles the single biggest hurdle to making Web apps truly convenient. Imagine firing up only one application—a Web browser—for handling all of your daily computer tasks. It’s a nice dream, but it has one major problem: What do you do when you’re offline? Google Gears, a Windows application now in beta, solves this problem by allowing service designers to create versions that still work when your PC doesn’t have an Internet connection. Google Reader, Zoho Writer (which added offline editing via Gears in late 2007) and online task manager Remember the Milk already use it, and Google is working to add Gears to other applications in its stable. (If you’re thinking of ditching desktop software entirely, read one writer’s take.)

Asus Eee PC

Best-selling ultraportable is light on the budget, heavy on features

A direct descendant of the OLPC XO and Intel’s low-cost Classmate PC, Asus’ Eee PC also runs on a simplified Linux OS for the consumer market. Performance users might get turned off by the lack of significant internal storage (4GB flash), but students and casual users will appreciate the Eee PC’s Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections, built-in webcam, card reader, three USB ports (for expansion), small, 7-inch frame, and a very budget-friendly price ranging from P17,000-19,000.

Apple iPhone

Innovation: Gee-whiz touch-screen interface and spartan case dial up a mobile revolution.

Benefit: Mac OS–simple software offering slide-and-glide access to bright, colorful menus sets this cell phone apart from its rivals.

The iPhone has taken some criticism for its shortcomings, mainly its lack of 3G connectivity, but you can’t deny that the sleek handset is innovative. Apple made navigating via a touch screen— sure to be a staple in future PDa phones and other small devices—intuitive and fun. iPhone’s Safari browser makes the handset a great mobile Web device (at least when you can get a Wi-F connection). And, sure, many phones play music, but Cover Flow cranks the iPhone up to 11 as a music player.

One Laptop Per Child XO

Innovation: $200 laptop does mesh networking, is sand-and waterproof, and works well in direct sunlight.

Benefit: What every child in the developing world needs; makes you ask, “When will my laptop be able to do that?” Innovation isn’t always about being bigger, better, and faster. One Laptop per Child’s Linux-powered XO laptop, with a 7.5-inch display—designed for children in poor countries—is one of the cheapest, most power-conscious, and sturdy notebooks on the planet. It also has features you might wish you had on your mainstream laptop. One clear standout: XO’s Wi-Fi allows it to function as a mesh-network node that can connect with other XOs, even when no Internet connection is available.

Time Machine, in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Innovation: Backs up changes hourly to an external drive behind the scenes, then lets you “go back in time” to restore data.

Benefit: Makes light work of the one task that every computer user should do and most people put off—and gives the function a pretty face, to boot. Time Machine is the killer feature in Leopard. You’ll either love or hate this wild and wacky space-and-time user interface, but performing backups will never be the same. One question: Why doesn’t Windows Vista have anything this simple and useful? (For more information about the new Mac OS, read our Leopard review.)

Airlive WMU-6500FS

Innovation: Storage box that lets you download from FTP and HTTP sites, and acts as an independent BitTorrent client without having to turn on your PC.

Benefit: Saves you energy by letting you keep your PC turned off during long download sessions. This network-attached storagebox is essentially an external hard drive enclosure that comes with network connectivity ports and a simple Linux-based interface for setting network tweaks and download queues. Costing around $100 (3.5-inch hard drive not included), this affordable multifunction external drive enclosure independently downloads from FTP, HTTP and Torrent clients, features a USB host function, and also serves as a wireless access point for 802.11b/g networks.