of Philosophy and Technology

SMC Networks appoints Millennium Technology Corporation as its new Philippine distributor.  This was announced yesterday as SMC introduced new products  in the local market.

I blogged yesterday about my new Netgear Skype WiFi phone and to my surprise one of the products launched by SMC yesterday afternoon was a Skype WiFi phone.   With over 100 million users Skype has now become the choice of consumers for FREE PC to PC voice calls and with the advent of Skype WiFi phones it would be very convenient for users to call their office for free .   Through Skype WiFi phones it is now possible to place skype calls without the PC as long as there is an available WiFi network.  As of this writing the Skype WiFi phones could NOT be used in hotspots that require web-based login and authentication as it does not contain a web browser. In Makati however, you could use it almost anywhere, there are hundreds(?) of open hotspots along Ayala and Makati Avenues .

I have finally used my SPH101 it is a Netgear Skype WiFi Phone.  Sent to me last year by Netgear, I just put it under my table in the office.  I saw it again just today when I decided to clean my office.

What is it? 
A mobile phone that enables you to make free Internet calls to anyone else in the world who has Skype.

I thought you needed a PC to talk on Skype? 
Millions of Skype users talk for free by plugging in headsets, speakers, or USB phones into their computers.  NETGEAR’s Skype WiFi Phone changes that, freeing you to walk around untethered anywhere within a WiFi network to which to have access, while you talk to other Skype users worldwide.

If you don’t need a PC, how do you download Skype? 
It is pre-loaded with Skype and ready to use with a wireless network out of the box.

How do you manage your Skype contacts? 
An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see who is online and available to talk.  Same great interface Skype users are used to.

What if you want to call or get calls from non-Skype users? 
Using SkypeOut, for a small fee, you can make calls to mobile and traditional landline phone users.  The SkypeIn option receives calls from non-Skype users.  Skype Voicemail takes your calls when you’re busy or offline.

How does Skype generate revenue? 
Skype generates revenue through its premium service offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, as well as voicemail and call forwarding services.

What about security? 
Skype uses secure and encrypted communication so nobody’s able to listen in.  The NETGEAR Skype WiFi Phone is designed to deploy Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) for WiFi security.

What wireless standard is used? 
The wireless mobile phone is WiFi compatible 802.11g, and is backwards compatible with 802.11b.

Adobe Systems Incorporated recently introduced Adobe Acrobat 8 software in the Philippine market. This newest version of Acrobat features tools for communicating and collaborating with other users across the boundaries of operating systems, applications and firewalls. With Acrobat 8, users can now more effectively engage with the rich, high-value information in PDF documents and forms, and more reliably and securely drive their work to completion leveraging the ubiquitous, free Adobe Reader software.

Acrobat 8 unveils a truly comprehensive set of capabilities for working with PDF documents with an easy to use interface that would enable first-time users and professionals alike to explore the power of Acrobat by easily surfacing the most valuable tasks. The ability to start common activities – such as combining, signing and protecting PDF files, interacting with PDF forms, reviewing and collaborating on documents, or launching a real-time web conference – can now be done with a single click.

For the first time, all of the Acrobat 8 products, as well as Adobe Reader 8, provide one-button access to Adobe Acrobat Connect software, an easy-to-use, hosted software service that provides immediate access to a personal meeting room for real-time web conferencing. Along with Acrobat Connect, Acrobat 8 further extends the family beyond simple PDF creation and now enables users to choose the most appropriate means for engaging others, through electronic documents or in real-time over the web.

Marianne Young, Solutions Engineer of Adobe Systems said that the Acrobat 8 product line introduces several major innovations in the areas of document collaboration, PDF content reuse, PDF forms, packaging of multiple documents, and controlling sensitive information. For example, shared reviews put collaboration within the reach of virtually anyone with access to a shared network folder and Adobe Reader. A participant in a shared review can see comments posted by others, track the status of the review, and work even when not connected – reducing duplicated work and enabling large groups to collaborate more efficiently. Acrobat 8 also enables PDF content to be exported into popular formats to enable reuse and repurposing of content.

With Acrobat 8, users can take advantage of the power of PDF forms. Form field recognition automates the process of creating PDF forms from static PDF documents, and wizards help manage the distribution of forms and collection of data. Users of Acrobat 8 Professional or Acrobat 3D Version 8 can enable anyone with the free Adobe Reader2 to digitally sign and save PDF forms. Additionally, PDF packages allow for grouping disparate information into what appears like a single document, but preserves individual files and security settings for maximum flexibility.

The Acrobat family consists of Acrobat 8 Professional, Acrobat 8 Standard, Acrobat 8 Elements, Acrobat 3D Version 8, Acrobat Connect, and Acrobat Connect Professional.

Self-cleaning underwear: no more “skid marks”

Scientists working for the US Air Force has created t-shirts and underwear that could be worn for weeks without washing yet could remain hygenic.  LIvescience.com reported that “the new technology attaches nanoparticles to clothing fibers using microwaves. Then, chemicals that can repel water, oil and bacteria are directly bound to the nanoparticles. These two elements combine to create a protective coating on the fibers of the material. This coating both kills bacteria, and forces liquids to bead and run off.”

Dopod: no more flaws

Dopod International officially announced the entry of its phone in the local market. With the entry of three new handset models, Dopod officials assured the consumers that the problems with Dopod 900, the company’s first 3.5G handset, is now the thing of the past.  I was informed that the battery life of the new units has been greatly improved and the connectivity problem is no longer an issue with the new models.  I used to have the Dopod 900 but I gave it up because of very bad battery life and connectivity problem with the PC.  With the launch of the new handset models I am thinking of going back to Dopod as it is not only a phone but also a real computer.

Sony Wireless Music Gateway

The HWS-BTA2W or the Sony Wireless Music Gateway provides non-Bluetooth devices with audio streaming capabilities. The Sony HWS-BTA2W is a two-way audio adaptor that converts non-Bluetooth products into stereo Bluetooth devices by transmitting and receiving stereo audio streaming.  This gadget allows users to control and transmit to any music device with a standard 3.55mm stereo jack using a cellphone or a computer with bluetooth capabilities.  I found this gadget when I was scouring the streets of Hongkong for some gadgets and surprisingly maybe because of the Japanese markings all over it, nobody seems to notice it. 

Real Cyborgs

Space.com reported that super futuristic military capabiliites would be available for testing in just three years.  This means that what we see now in sci-fi movies would become a reality soon.  Soldiers would soon be able to see through walls and carry objects more than 20x their own weight. They will also be better protected. The risk of internal injuries are still possible using the current armor, the armor of the future will provide a more protective 2-inch gap between the soldier and his armor eliminating the shock waves that may cause ribs and other injuries. And by 2010 body-worn sensors that monitor basic body functions like breathing, heart and pulse rate, and shock waves from bullets, will let medics know right away when soldiers get injured.

Hi-tech cheating

An Indian chess player has been banned for 10 years for cheating after he was caught using his mobile phone’s wireless device to win games. The player, Umakant Sharma, had logged rating points at a rapid pace in the last 18 months and also qualified for the national championship, arousing the suspicion of officials and bemusing rivals.

Sharma was finally caught at a recent tournament when officials discovered that he had stitched a Bluetooth device in a cloth cap which he always pulled over his ears.

His accomplices outside the hall, who used a computer to simulate the games relay the best possible moves to him by calling his mobile phone. (Reuters)
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After we published the Motorola KRZR review, Technews Lab was flooded with calls and emails asking us our opinion about the phone.  KRZR is also one of the top words searched in our site and the same word has brought us good traffic from google and other search engines.  The Motorala KRZR K1 has caught the attention of many people because of its looks and very elegant finish. Here’s the last paragraph of the review:

“The Motorola KRZR K1 or MOTOKRZR is definitely an eye-catching phone.  I have yet to meet someone who was has not admired or at least touch the phone and left envious.   It has a solid construction, slim, shiny and certainly a fashionable piece of art packed with new and standard functionalities. However, like other Motorola phones that we have tested, the K1 mysteriously slows down after a few weeks of extensive use, giving us doubt whether to include this unit in our shopping list come Christmas time.” (Technews, November 27, 2006)