solutions watch

Popular Science has made a slideshow of twelve of the coolest new gizmos, gadgets and games on the market this month.

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A recent report from Streamingmedia.com suggests that Apple’s H.264 media format is gaining significant ground on Microsoft’s Windows Media format. Both are still significantly behind RealVideo however.

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Have you ever hit “Send” on a text message on your mobile phone before addressing it? Ever wondered where all those lost SMS text messages go? If so, you might want to speak with Stan Bubrouski, whose cell phone has been channeling wayward text messages from across the country for years.

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Sure, you could fill your video iPod with episodes of Knight Rider from iTunes for $2 a pop. Or you could save some cash - and your soul - and fill it with files you convert from your DVD collection using freely available software.

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The next version of Sony’s PSP will sport an integrated digital video camera that will allow users to stream live video to the PlayStation 3. The feature, which will take advantage of the PSP’s Wi-Fi support, will be targeted at younger users as the new way to chat with friends while on the go.

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Looking at the GMail’s javascript source gives a pretty good hint that Google is developing a service that will let you use GMail as a server rather than just a client, similar to what Yahoo provides. This article walks us through what he has found and imagines how a service like this would work.

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The March issue of PSM not only reveals details about Sony’s new online service set to take on Xbox Live, but also that the PS3 will act as a DVR and a Location Free Player for the PSP. Let the hype begin! Here are some of the highlights

• PS3 will have online service that goes beyond xbox live
• PS3 will be a DVR
• It will connect with psp
• There are alot of games being worked on for it right now in the US (alot more then what people know about)
• The final ps3 dev kit is alot faster than they thought (according to the developer)
• The ps3 will have an itunes type service to let you download HI DEF movies, music, etc
• The Ps3 will take the media center functionality the 360 has even further

• PS3 will serve as a location free player for the psp, means you can watch the dvd’s that you have in your psp on your psp (from anywhere in the world), or any other video files you have on your ps3, though this is still only being planned.

• PSP will be able to send its files straight to the psp from anywhere in the world, and it can also control its DVR functionalities

• Firmware updates will add more functionality, much like with the psp

• The Blu Ray Player functionality doesnt cost as much as a stand alone player because the Cell and RSX can take care of alot of the stuff the ps3 will need to do to be able to read the disks

• Fall release date for ps3, no release date for online service, but expected to launch w/ the system

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Here are a couple of links I am going to keep my eye on. I still have to do some research with my EV-DO provider in my area. My first thought is Verizon Wireless will do everything they can to keep you from using this on their network.
(Engadget.com) (Kyocera.com)

According to this entry Microsoft is trying to add streaming media to computers and handhelds. Doesn’t microsoft basically already have this with media center extenders from linksys? I guess the difference is making the the stream compression good enough to work over a broadband connection.  Maybe MS should work on the compression of their own dvr-ms format.

Four trademark applications submitted earlier this month by Apple are adding grist to the rumor mill concerning the launch of an iPod phone, which has been the subject of speculation almost since the launch of the company’s popular digital-music player. Here comes the phone…

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