Harmon Kardon Puts Speakers On Ice

Here's what Harmon Kardon wants you to know about its new, hopelessly sophisticated GLA-55 two-piece speaker system: "Every detail . . . from the facets of its bass-reflex enclosures to its custom chrome tubing, has been designed to complement its astonishingly high sonic quality." Whether that's enough to justify $999.99 is your call. Also know, however, that the GLA-55 sports touch-sensitive volume control and packs several proprietary technologies to bolster audio quality, including Atlas AL and CMMD transducers, Slipstream Port Design ("high output bass with low distortion"), COE (Computer Optimized Equalization), and OCT (Optimized Compression Technology, "[which ensures] clean, accurate sound at high output levels").

An Eye On The Exemode

Call us suckers, but we love niche products such as Exemode’s SQ28m Pocket Digital Camera ($68) that serve seemingly no fruitful purpose but scream “Buy me anyway!” The keychain-worthy SQ28m measures just 0.9 x 2.2 x 0.74 inches (HxWxD) and weighs less than an ounce but packs several filters to alter the still shots and 8fps 320 x 240 AVI video (no audio, sorry) it shoots via a 1.95MP CMOS sensor. The goods store to either 64MB of onboard storage or to micro-SD cards (2GB or less). Coming in blue or red, the SQ28m also touts a macro mode (as close as 15cm), 39.5mm-equivalent fixed focal length lens, and rechargeable Li-Ion battery.



“Radical Reinvention Of The Personal Computer”

If only we could actually sit down at the Philco PC and start banging out a Mickey Spillane-like novel on this 1950-ish appearing marvel. But alas, the Philco PC is a mere 3D rendering from the SchultzeWorks design studio. Nonetheless, the Philco PC begs for a PC maker to step up and make this nostalgic-tinged beauty a reality. Inspired by the 1954 Philco Predicta TV—plus “an eclectic mixture of modern minimalism, the steampunk movement, and antiques”—the Philco PC is a “design aesthetic that blends multiple elements of the familiar, but with some surprisingly fresh styling that just so happens to house a state-of-the-art Windows 7 PC,” states designer Dave Schultze. He adds that “with few exceptions, most computers are engineered eyesores.” Hmm, he needs to meet more modders.

HARDWARE MOLE

Seagate Thins Out, Deals In SSDs

It took Seagate a while, but the world’s leading hard drive maker finally got in the SSD game in early December 2009 with the announced release of a new SSD drive line dubbed Pulsar in 50, 100, and 200GB capacities. The 2.5-inch SATA drives have read/write ratings of 30,000/25,000 IOPS and are based on SLC technology. Bad news for consumers, though; Seagate is aiming initial models at the enterprise server market. Consumers will be able to get in on 160 and 250GB versions of Seagate’s new, December-announced Momentus Thin, a 2.5-inch SATA laptop drive measuring just 7mm thick, or about 25% slimmer than standard 2.5-inch notebook drives. Seagate had yet to announce pricing, but look for drives shipping in early 2010.

Targus Gives Notebooks Some DVI Love

Sure, at $159.99, Targus’ new USB 2.0 Docking Station With Video isn’t exactly an afterthought. Still, your money will net you built-in DisplayLink technology (which pumps up the resolution of a docked note/netbook to a maximum 2,048 x 1,152) and a 24-pin DVI connector that supports connecting to external displays at up to 2,048 x 1,152. The ergonomically tilted dock, which is Windows XP/Vista/7-compatible, also has four USB 2.0 ports, including two always-on options suitable for charging peripherals; one Ethernet port; one mic jack; and one audio out port.

Also oozing USB joy is FastMac’s True-Power USC Power Outlet With Built-In USB Ports. Available for preorder at $9.95 each for early 2010 shipping (following final UL approval), the outlets give you two standard three-prong outlet connectors but also two handy USB ports for your charging needs.

Good Tech, Bad Tech At The Movies

As CNN.com’s Manav Tanneeru recently pontificated, “Sometimes terrible movies—the ones with such bad acting, dumb dialogue, and cheesy special effects that they’re unintentionally hilarious—are the ones we remember the most.” Tanneeru aptly adds that tech-based movies “seem to fail more often than not.” To that end, Tanneeru, along with Steven James Snyder of Time.com’s Techland blog; Sidney Perkowitz, an Emory University physicist and writer of “Hollywood Science: Movies, Science and the End of the World”; and Rotten Tomatoes’ Matt Atchity, compiled the worst nine tech movies ever. Unfortunate list makers are “Antitrust,” “Feardotcom,” “Hackers,” “Independence Day,” “Johnny Mnemonic,” “The Lawnmower Man,” “The Net,” “Swordfish,” and “Weird Science.” For better tech-related fare, check out Snyder’s recent “Best Of The Decade: Sci-Fi Movies” list, which includes our favorite, the brilliant “Primer.”



INTERNET


One Billion & Beyond By 2013

IDC expects the number of Internet-connected mobile devices to pass the 1 billion mark by 2013, which compares to 450 million-plus such users in 2009. About 1.6 billion global users used the Internet in 2009, IDC reports. By 2013, that number should top 2.2 billion people, or roughly one-third of the world’s population. Elsewhere, more than 1.6 billion global devices accessed the Internet in 2009 vs. 2.7 billion expected to in 2013. China topped all countries in 2009 with 359 million Internet users and should hit 566 million by 2013. The United States followed with 261 million Internet users last year, with projections calling for 280 million in 2013. IDC projects about 624 million global Internet users will make online purchases in 2009 totaling roughly $8 trillion. That total could exceed $16 trillion by 2013.

There’s A New National Cybersecurity Coordinator In Town . . .

. . . and his name is Howard Schmidt. It took roughly seven months, but President Obama finally made good in mid-December on a claim he made in May 2009 to name a national cybersecurity czar responsible for shoring up cybersecurity issues in both the military and civilian arenas. Schmidt’s resume includes 40-plus years of law, security, and defense experience and previous stints as a cybersecurity advisor to President Bush and high-ranking security positions with eBay, Microsoft, and the Defense Department. At the time of Obama’s announcement, Schmidt was president of the Information Security Forum, a 300-member “independent, not-for-profit organization that supplies authoritative opinion and guidance on all aspects of information security.” In his new position, Schmidt will answer to the National Security Council and work directly with Obama.

Extra! Extra! Miami Herald Seeks Your Donations

As with many print publications, the Miami Herald has struggled recently due to shrinking ad profits and more readers turning to free online news outlets. Although some publications, including Variety recently, have begun charging readers to access online content, the Herald is going in another direction. In December, it began posting a “Support Ongoing News Coverage” message at MiamiHerald.com reading “If you value The Miami Herald’s local news reporting and investigations, but prefer the convenience of the Internet, please consider a voluntary payment for the Web news that matters to you.”

On a related front, leading U.S. publishers Time Inc., Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, and News Corp. banded together in early December to announce an upcoming collaborative online storefront that will sell various full-color publications suitable for reading on touchscreen-enabled devices.



SITE SEEING

“Ataque de Panico!” Indeed

Try telling Fede Alvarez that YouTube isn’t the land where aspiring filmmakers’ dreams come true. After reportedly spending a year and just $300 to $500 to produce his FX-oozing “Ataque de Panico!” (“Panic Attack”), Alvarez posted the 4:48-minute film starring mammoth, missile-launching robots running roughshod over his hometown of Monte-video, Uruguay, to YouTube on a Thursday. By Monday, Alvarez stated he was up to his eyeballs in feelers from Hollywood, including one that supposedly netted him a recent $30 million deal with Ghost House Pictures, the outfit Sam Raimi (“Evil Dead,” “Spider-Man”) helps run. Rumor is that the 30-year-old commercial director is now at work on a full-length, big-screen version of “Ataque de Panico!” with Raimi’s help. “Ataque de Panico!” had amassed 4.6 million-plus views at YouTube at press time.

A Work In Progress We Can All Watch

In an effort to “provide transparent, timely information about construction at the World Trade Center,” the New York/New Jersey Port Authority recently plastered new video and photos taken from the top of the presently five-story strong One World Trade Center building to the World Trade Center Progress home page (www.wtcprogress.com) and Flickr and YouTube. “The World Trade Center rebuilding effort has a global following, and these sites provide more ways for more people—those in the neighborhood and around the world—to keep an eye on what’s happening,” stated Anthony Coscia, Port Authority chairman. In addition to up-to-the-minute updates concerning the 16-acre site, the Port Authority is making reports, slideshows, video, and e-alert subscriptions available.


SOFTWARE


Better Science Skills? Try A Third-Person Shooter

Want to improve your teen’s science skills? Get him a copy of the third-person shooter Immune Attack from Dr. Melanie Stegman and Michelle Fox of the Learning Technologies Program at the FAS (Federation of American Scientists) in Washington, D.C. The duo used the game, which involves “navigating the microscopic world of immune system proteins and cells to save a patient suffering from a raging bacterial infection,” to evaluate 180 seventh graders. Those who played Immune Attack demonstrated a better understanding of molecular and cell biology. “Additionally, we have used Immune Attack to inspire high school computer programming classes to create their own new video games based on Immune Attack,” Stegman stated. Immune Attack is available free at www.immuneattack.org. Version 2.0 is set for an early 2010 release.



WD Advances Hard Drive Format

The days of storing data on mechanical drives in 512-byte sectors are coming to an end. By moving to 4KB sectors, Western Digital’s new Advance Format will enable drive makers to eke out 7 to 11% more storage on platters. WD states the technology “improves burst error correction by 50% through the use of larger ECC code word” and is designed to function with “most current operating systems,” although not WinXP. WD is offering its Align software for WinXP users, however, which “allows Advanced Format drives operating under WinXP to run at full performance.” WD is expected to turn Advanced Format loose first in its low-power Caviar Green line in 500GB drives.


Duo Brews Up DECAF

Something tells us the intrigue surrounding the Cofee (Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor) tool that Microsoft began offering law enforcement agencies recently and the antidote to Cofee called DECAF (Detect and Eliminate Computer Assisted Forensics) that two anonymous developers created isn’t over. The controversy started in November when Cofee’s code was reportedly leaked and spread online. DECAF appeared soon thereafter for download touting Cofee-countering abilities. Microsoft reportedly issued a takedown. The DECAF download disappeared at decafme.org. The developers then claimed DECAF was a “stunt to raise awareness for security.” Some pundits even claimed DECAF was a phony all along. On Dec. 22, however, the developers posted that “DECAF wasn’t fake” but that they “just respect authority and experts in the field and would rather promote a positive move then a negative one.” Stay tuned.



SOFTWARE SHORTS

Epson & IMDb Get App Happy

Add Epson to the list of printer makers making goo goo eyes at the iPhone. With Epson’s new iPrint app (free), owners of various Epson Artisan, Stylus, and WorkForce models can wirelessly print photos from an iPhone or iPod touch via Wi-Fi and sans driver installation or computer. An automatic printer discovery feature takes care of hooking up with the printer, and printing options include bordered and borderless photos.

IMDb’s app (free), meanwhile, currently omits personal ratings and favorites but otherwise touts most of the same goodness as is available at IMDb’s full-fledged site, including access to info on 1.5 million-plus flicks, movie times, trailers, and photos.



Lenovo Boxes Up ThinkVantage Tools

If you’re a ThinkPad or ThinkCentre owner, Lenovo is offering a new tab-based ThinkVantage Toolbox that combines “system health, security, and support services” to keep systems running tip-top. Using PC-Doctor as a platform, the toolbox will be bundled with new ThinkPads and ThinkCentre PCs running Win7. A contextual IMS (Intelligent Messaging Services) feature is included, which PC-Doctor CEO Steve Petracca states is “a predictive, self-healing technology that can diagnose a problem or a performance issue before the user is even aware, and then help them take the appropriate corrective action.”



Hollywood Enjoys Banner Year, Continues Hunting Pirates

Based on ticket sales for the 2009 calendar year, the last 12 months have been nothing short of a blockbuster for Tinseltown. According to Hollywood.com, U.S. and Canadian moviegoers forked over $9.67 billion in tickets as of mid-December. With such flicks as “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes” expected to rake in considerable loot through 2009’s conclusion, projections are that profits will top $10 billion for the first time ever and reach $10.6 billion for 2009. That would top 2007’s record of $9.68 billion in sales.

Still, don’t expect the MPAA and law enforcement to let up. Just ask Gilberto Sanchez, a New Yorker arrested in mid-December for allegedly uploading “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” in spring 2009 before the flick’s official May release. Reportedly, the upload was watched millions of times before “Wolverine’s” official screening. Sanchez has called the charges “just ridiculous. I bought it from a Korean guy on the street for five bucks. Then I uploaded it. I didn’t make any money.” Sources say Sanchez then cut the interview short and left to deliver a trunkful of stolen “Up” DVDs to a nearby orphanage.