Partial's Technology Buzz

[Partial]

I have decided that I am going to start a thread that will contain tech news that is relevant to those looking to buy new products, or invest in a company that produces a new technology that could have a big impact on the industry. I will keep this thread up to date. If anyone wishes to add their own content, feel free. We can also discuss the latest Tech Buzz here.

[Harlan Huckleby]

OK. What is a blackberry?

[Little Whiskey]

OK. What is a blackberry?

is that similar to a dingle-berry??

[Zool]

A blackberry is essentially a PDA with wifi and 802.x wireless built right in. It works as a cellphone and it will connect with email servers. It also has a web browser built in, tho I find the browser clumsy at best. Its best feature is that its basically a portable email machine.

I've been looking at the 7000 series nVidia video cards. Does anyone here have one yet?

[Partial]

From Wikipedia:

The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services. It was developed by Research In Motion (RIM) and delivers information over the wireless data networks of cellular telephone companies. BlackBerry made headway in the marketplace by first concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as Palm Treo, through BlackBerry Connect software.

Research In Motion was involved in a patent dispute with NTP, Inc., which could have potentially forced RIM to suspend service to most BlackBerry users in the United States. The dispute was settled out-of-court in March 2006. See NTP, Inc.

The devices are manufactured by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM) in Waterloo, Ontario, and are resold by cellular phone companies throughout the world. They fit in the palm of the hand and are operated using a trackwheel and buttons. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have colour displays.

While including the usual PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on newer models, the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail anywhere it has access to an appropriate wireless network, as well as for its built-in keyboard optimized for "thumbing", or using only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by the trackwheel (or "thumbwheel"), a scrolling wheel with a "click" function, located on the right side of the device. Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with Nextel, TELUS, and other iDen networks) also incorporate a two-way radio.

Modern BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7 or 9 processor, however older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Intel 80386 processors. The latest BlackBerry models (8700 series) operate with an Intel PXA901 at 312 MHz, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM.[1]

The devices are very popular with some businesses, where they are primarily used to provide e-mail delivery to roaming employees. To fully integrate the BlackBerry into a company, the installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required.

In November, 2004, RIM announced that the number of subscribers to the BlackBerry service had reached two million, having doubled within ten months.[1] Continuing their growth, RIM announced an additional one million subscribers in May, 2005, only six months after reaching two million.[2] On December 21, 2005, RIM announced that their subscriber base reached 4.3 million subscribers [3] and has surpassed 5 million by March 2006, despite slowing sales [4].

Most BlackBerry devices come with a full, albeit tiny, QWERTY keyboard, using the "Alt" key to enter numbers and special characters. A self-configurable "Auto Text" feature can be used for frequent words or easier input of special characters like umlauts (point 13 at [5], German). The 7100 series models feature a reduced-key keyboard and use a technology called 'SureType' to allow each key to represent multiple letters, numbers, and symbols. SureType uses a prediction dictionary to figure out which word a user will want, similar to Tegic's T9, used on many cellphones.

RIM provides a proprietary multi-tasking operating system (OS) for the BlackBerry, which makes heavy use of the device's specialized input devices, particularly the thumbwheel. The OS provides support for MIDP 1.0 and WAP 1.2. Previous versions allowed wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Server's e-mail and calendar, as well as with Lotus Domino's e-mail. The current OS 4 provides a subset of MIDP 2.0, and allows complete wireless activation and synchronization with Exchange's e-mail, calendar, tasks, notes and contacts, and adds support for Novell GroupWise and Lotus Notes.

Third-party developers can write software using these APIs, and proprietary BlackBerry APIs as well, but any application that makes use of certain restricted functionality must be digitally signed so that it can be associated to a developer account at RIM. This signing procedure guarantees the authorship of an application, but does not guarantee the quality or security of the code.

BlackBerry handheld integration into an organization's e-mail system is provided through a software package called "BlackBerry Enterprise Server" (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise.

Individual users can often use e-mail services provided by the wireless provider and therefore may not be required to install a BES server on their local network, but organizations that have multiple wireless users usually run BES on their own network.

BES can act as a sort of e-mail relay for corporate accounts so that users always have access to their e-mail. The software monitors the user's local "inbox", and when a new message comes in, it picks up the message and passes it to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC). The messages are then relayed to the user's wireless provider, which in turn delivers them to the user's BlackBerry device. This is called Push procedure, where the mobile user doesn't have to synchronize the data by hand. All new e-mails, contacts and calendar entries are pushed to the BlackBerry device automatically. Device storage also enables the mobile user to access all data offline in areas without wireless service. As soon as the user connects again, the BES sends the latest data. This way the handheld is always up-to-date.

BES also provides handhelds with TCP/IP connectivity that is proxied through a component called "Mobile Data Service" (MDS). This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems Java ME platform.

In addition, BES provides security, in the form of Triple DES or, more recently, AES encryption of all data (both e-mail and MDS traffic) that travels between the BlackBerry handheld and a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

The universal and push-based connectivity of the BES/MDS infrastructure are among the most valuable aspects of Research In Motion's product. An organization can have devices on different carriers, and connected through different cellular network protocols, all functioning in an integrated fashion.

Most providers offer flat monthly pricing for unlimited data between BlackBerry units and BES, which also enhances the value of the MDS component. In addition to receiving e-mail, organizations can make intranets or custom internal applications with unmetered traffic.

With more recent versions of the BlackBerry platform, the MDS is no longer a requirement for wireless data access. Beginning with OS 3.8 or 4.0, BlackBerry handhelds can access the Internet (i.e. TCP/IP access) without an MDS - previously only e-mail and WAP access was possible without a BES/MDS. The BES/MDS is still required for secure e-mail, data access, and applications that require WAP from carriers that do not allow WAP access.

In summary, a BlackBerry is a wireless office tool. It has essentially the merger of a pda/palm pilot and a cell phone. They receive a wireless signal similiar to a cell phone, and when you pay for the service they use that signal to connect to email servers and the internet. They're really nice for checking and sending email on the road. My mom has one from work and I am convinced she would go crazy without it.

[Partial]

I've been looking at the 7000 series nVidia video cards. Does anyone here have one yet?

Wait. Definitely wait. GeForce 8 series will be coming before Christmas because of directx 10. The difference in quality will be HUGE. The rumored specs for the 8 series is ridiculous. Definitely wait if you can afford to, it will work much better with games in the future.

[Deputy Nutz]

Blackberrys = Crack

[Zool]

I've been looking at the 7000 series nVidia video cards. Does anyone here have one yet?

Wait. Definitely wait. GeForce 8 series will be coming before Christmas because of directx 10. The difference in quality will be HUGE. The rumored specs for the 8 series is ridiculous. Definitely wait if you can afford to, it will work much better with games in the future.

The "afford it" part is the hard part. The 8's will probably start at $350. A 7600gts is under $200 right now with i think a 16 pixel pipeline and is supposed to have the DX10 support without a firmware upgrade. When the 8's come out the 7900's should drop quickly and thats what I'm hoping for. about $150 is my ceiling for now. Im going to get a new processor at the same time.

Right now i have an MSI Nforce4 ultra with a 3200+ OC'ed to a 3500+ and a 6800 256. I heard a rumor about AMD's prices dropping at the end of this month also.

Thanks for the info.

[Partial]

AMD is going to drop there prices like crazy (40%ish) in about 3 weeks to compete with Core 2 Duo. You have a fine gaming rig. Upgrading really won't give you any advantage right now. a 7600gt isn't going to give you a huge advantage over the 6800. I am not sold that the advantage is even notable. It's flat out not worth it. Save your money and wait. If you are really looking to upgrade badly, I would wait until next summer. By then the AMD will have to come out with something to keep pace with core 2 duo, or they will be toast for a few years. By that time, the 8 series cards (which will be a much bigger jump from a 6 series to a 7 series) will be out for awhile and be about the price of the mid-range 7 series cards now. By waiting until next summer, you'll get about a 40% speed improvement versus upgrading now. 40% improvement is virtually unheard of, but that is what happens when you a new processor design (core 2 duo) and the dx10 cards come out.

[Zool]

The problem is my 6800 is overheating even though my case temp is 40 degrees. I have a bad feeling its not going to last.

[Partial]

clean it

[Zool]

I got a new fan for it even. I got a 400watt Antec PS thinking that might be it. Its fine most of the time, but when playing Oblivion for a while it slows down then the monitor goes blank for 5 minutes.

I thought maybe it was my monitor, but I tested that too. Cant be the processor or the system would lock.

I just thought of something. Maybe its the OC on the processor. Maybe I have the clock speed set wrong.

I'll have to check tonight.

[Tony Oday]

Looking for an HD monitor for the bedroom.

I already have a 60 inch TV for the NFL ticket downstairs. I upgraded my Direct TV HD reciever so I have an extra one. Im looking for something between 27" and 32".

Since I already have a tuner I would think that would get me some savings. Where and what would you suggest?

[Zool]

I have an LG LCD and been extremely happy with it. Its pretty much as bright as a plasma.

[Tony Oday]

Price range?