Reg Hardware

21st July 2008 Archive

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  • Dell hits all the wrong keys – again

    You say tomayto, we throw tomahtoze...

    Dell isn’t having much luck with keyboards this summer. The computer giant admitted Friday that some of its XPS One machines have been wrongly shipped to the UK with US keyboards. We were alerted to Dell’s latest embarrassing keyboard blunder after El Reg reader Chris told us about a friend who recently bought a Dell XPS One …

    PCs 21 Jul 06:02

  • What's best advice for building an Atom-based PC?

    If I were to assemble a PC based on the Intel Atom for my mother to do internet browsing, how would I go about it? I'm mostly confused about the power supply requirements and the memory compatibility. I should be able to figure out the rest.

    Q&A 21 Jul 07:02

  • Wii aids family togetherness, report claims

    One big whole

    If it’s quality family time you’re after, then it’s a Wii’s you want. That’s according to a new study which claims to have discovered that gamers rank the Wii as the best console for family togetherness. Pollster GfK NOP questioned 464 people aged 16 and over, and found that 83 per cent believe the Wii increases family …

    Consoles 21 Jul 08:07

  • US PS3 sales surge

    But not enough to knock the Wii off course

    US PlayStation 3 sales almost doubled last month on the back of the latest in the Metal Gear Solid game series - but the Wii remained June's games console champion. According to figures from market watcher NPD, Sony shifted 405,500 PS3s through US retail channels in June, up 94.3 per cent on the May's total of 208,700. The …

    Consoles 21 Jul 09:50

  • MobileMe offers another free bite of the Apple

    'We're really sorry again'

    Apple has offered MobileMe users free month's trial to apologise for taking their money without asking, in addition to the free month they got for the misrepresentation of the service. However, users are still reporting that MobileMe keeps forgetting where they're supposed to be and when they should be there. Last week Apple …

    Mac 21 Jul 10:25

  • Star Wars MP3 player invades the galaxy

    Take The Force with you

    The technology behind the Star Wars MP3 player is hardly light years ahead, but the unit’s kitsch value alone means it’s sure to excite some of the film’s fanatics. The Star Wars MP3 player: impressive, most impressive? Sadly, the player’s major drawback is that it only has a 512MB internal memory and there’s no mention of …

    Media players 21 Jul 10:38

  • Roberts solarDAB radio

    Review Here comes the sun, little darlin'

    Undeterred by the unpredictable nature of the great British summer, Roberts has released a radio that it can power itself purely by the light of the sun. Firstly, let's look at the other functions on the radio, which are pretty good. There's the detachable aerial, for instance. This can be clipped into a recess on the back of …

    Media players 21 Jul 11:29

  • Asus Eee PC storms Euro PC maker chart

    Acer tightens grip too

    Asus saw its share of the European PC market more than double in Q2, and it's all thanks to the Eee PC. So show figures from market watcher IDC. In Q2 2007, Asus' share of the PC market was a mere 2.8 per cent. One year on, that figure had risen to six per cent. Its shipments rocketed from 497,000 units to 1.315m. That was …

    PCs 21 Jul 11:51

  • Robotic camera mount captures panoramic wonders

    Shoot high quality wonders with ease

    A wide angle lens isn’t the only way to get a panoramic holiday snap. A robotic camera mount's been invented that promises to capture highly detailed panoramic shots with ease. A commercial GigaPan model will released this year The GigaPan robotic mount attaches to any compact camera. Users simply select the area they want …

    Cameras 21 Jul 11:58

  • Intel UMPC chip enters service as server CPU

    Madness or genius?

    UK hosting company Bytemark has seen the future of servers and it's... er... a processor designed for tiny laptops and desktops. Yes, we're talking Intel's Atom, specifically the 1.6GHz 230, which Bytemark's now using as the basis for what it claimed were its lowest-cost dedicated Linux-running servers yet. An Atom-based box …

    PCs 21 Jul 12:32

  • iPhone 3G gains battery booster

    Emergency power for your precious phone

    The arrival of a swathe of iPhone 3G accessories was inevitable after the handset's release. The latest one’s a backup battery that’ll juice up your handset when you’re away from a power socket. The Backup Battery for iPhone 3G: power in no time The 1400mAh rechargeable battery can be charged through the iPhone’s dock and …

    Gadgets and Gizmos 21 Jul 12:35

  • LG unveils 'speedy, sexy' storage

    Designer drives?

    Whoever said storage wasn’t sexy was dead wrong - at least according to LG. The firm’s launched a range of portable hard drives that are more designer than desktop. LG's XD1 drive: good looking? The XD1 2.5in range features a snakeskin-like look dubbed “Sunrise Gradient” and can be bought in either a “red wine” shade or …

    Storage 21 Jul 14:48

  • Cheap chargers claimed to put gadget fans at risk

    Buyer beware!

    Buying an unbranded power adaptor may save you a few quid, but it could end up costing you dear, Trading Standards officers claimed today. Trading Standards has recalled all unbranded console chargers, including this one marked only 'DE62347066' The Buckinghamshire division of the government-backed consumer protection body …

    Gadgets and Gizmos 21 Jul 14:56