The Palm made a big splash in the portable device world…a few years ago. With the ascendancy of a host of portable-device manufacturers, thinkers, and developers, Palm frankly got lost in the shuffle…not to mention the fact that the iPhone came out in the meantime. But the Palm is back—and maybe with a bang. June will witness the release of the Palm Pre—and an accessory item, the Touchstone.

The Touchstone, and other devices like it, may just be the next big thing in technology. You’ve heard of wireless technology. In fact, you may be reading this article via a wireless signal, be clicking with a wireless mouse, or even typing with a wireless keyboard. Wireless accessories, signals, and devices are no new thing.

But more likely than not, you’re wireless device doesn’t charge wirelessly. The Palm Pre does. And that’s what will set it apart in the market, not to mention usher in a host of wireless-charging devices of the future. Wireless charging is no newcomer to technology, but useful adaptation and easy integration into every day life is the next challenge.

Wireless charging is a fairly straightforward phenomenon. The wireless charger is usually a pad of some sort which contains an embedded coil with an alternating current. Devices which are capable of being charged wirelessly contain a similarly-designed coil which responds to the magnetic field produced by the charging pad, and subsequently initiates a charge to the device’s battery.

While wireless technology is still jumping hurdles, it wields incredible potential for the next horizon of technology. Imagine a world where you never have to plug in your cell phone, your iPod, or your computer. Such a world is admittedly some distance away, but wireless charging may just catch on. Implementing universally accessible wireless charging devices into walls, desks, or rooms would eliminate a host of wiring and add a modicum of convenience to our power-hungry technology-driven society.  

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It seems the Kindle is growing—and not just in popularity. The New York Times recently blurted out some news, lending credence to long-circulated rumors of Amazon Kindle’s next major move. Sometime soon, Kindle will unveil a new large version of its reading device in a marketing move that is aimed to boost appeal for newspaper and periodical reading.

(Credit: New York Times)

The downtrodden print industry would be thankful. As newspapers and magazines bite the dust on a daily basis, publishers are wondering what the future holds. Amazon isn’t wondering. They’re doing. And what they’re doing is going to get a lot more attention. The move could be a veritable rescue plan for a newspaper industry that is quickly becoming superannuated.  

But how does a passé newspaper industry, fraught with budget deficits, a shrinking readership, and writers-turned bloggers, adopt a strategy that gets Kindle subscriptions? No one is quite sure. No one, that is, except the New York Times. Their inside information on the Kindle Big may just be the hint that they are on Kindles preferred vendor list. No doubt that would be a win-win situation for New York Times and Amazon. As to how the little guy is going to get in on the action—that may prove to be the newest challenge for their marketing department.

But before the chicken-counting begins, we must wait and see how the big screen Kindle will be received, and what challenges it will face. Challenge number one could be the cost. Why would someone by a $300 newspaper, plus pay monthly subscription costs? Can Kindle jump the financial hurdle? There is also the outdated challenge. Black and white print gets old really fast. Even print newspapers have colored pictures. The Kindle has no color. That could be a non-start for anyone who would rather whip out their smartphone to check the news headlines—and watch a color video or two. And, as always, Apple lurks in the background, amidst the whispers of the nobody-knows-quite-what-it-is device that is rumored to be coming out next.

Will Kindle’s growth in size give them a growth spurt in popularity? Only Times will tell—the New York Times, that is. 

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OCZ technology, http://www.ocztechnology.com, has gained a reputation for producing the finest memory components for today’s PCs. Recent developments in the last year have increased their reputation as a valued supplier due to their outstanding power supplies and coolers. The Gladiator Max CPU cooler sets a competitive trend in the market.

OCZ produced some great coolers like the Vendetta models though the expansion in their product lines has paved the way for improved products. Moving further into the cooling foray, and targeting the increasing need to cool faster and faster processors, the Gladiator Max CPU Cooler is a true winner.

OCZ have a name for this design - HDT or Heatpipe Direct Touch. The motive behind building the Gladiator Max CPU cooler was driven by changes in the computing world today using more powerful processors which also generate tremendous amount of heat. The Gladiator Max CPU cooler is built to ensure that the cooling challenges are met and the system works along this concept. This has produced further confidence in PC overclocking possibilities. Compared to many other coolers, the Gladiator has a bigger fan at 120mm in width with less throughput requirements due to reduced revolutions.

The design of the Gladiator Max CPU cooler is quite slick. The cooler has 4 heat pipes which are U-shaped amounting to 8 vertical pipes. These dissipate heat and the fins of the cooler are quite rigid being seated firmly onto the housing. The base of the Gladiator Max CPU cooler has 4 pillars. There are 4 pillars forming part of the base and connected to 4 fins.

The installation is quite easy as unlike many coolers, you don’t need to remove the motherboard. So, there is no skill required, novices can install this fan. You will be quite amazed at how quiet the cooler can be during the day. This adds to its strong market position combining extra cooling, ease of installation and noise reduction. For example, the renowned Asus Triton cooler presents a significantly higher noise level. That said, it should be noted that the Triton has a fan size of 92mm and more revolutions.

So, enjoy a high speed computing experience with the latest processors whilst keeping the processor cool!

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The keyboard market is finally catching up with the needs of gamers worldwide, with several specialized gaming keyboard offerings. Two popular choices among them are Logitech’s G15 keyboard and Ideazon’s Zboard.

The G15 functions well in tandem with their gaming mice. Even if you don’t have a Logitech gaming mouse, the G15 is still a great option because it packs useful features. The new G15 has fewer programmable keys which is an improvement over the old G15 because it reduces keyboard clutter (fewer keys).

The new G15 is also enhanced for World of Warcraft enthusiasts with dedicated keyboard support for critical functions.

Key features:

1. It has an LCD display that shows gaming information (amount of ammunition left etc.) during play time, as well as showing system information such as RAM usage, what MP3 is playing, date, time, etc. at all times.

2. It has 6 programmable keys in 3 modes. The keyboard is C++ programmable and the LCD display can be used to edit C++ code to create Macros for each of the programmable keys. It is therefore a highly customizable keyboard.

3. In-built Media Center functions and hotkeys to pull up an Internet Browser and email, etc.

4. It has a backlit display available in two colors so that it can be used in the dark without any trouble. The brightness of the backlit can be adjusted (3 levels).

5. It allows up to 10 simultaneous key presses.

6. It has 2 USB ports to expand the total USB device supporting capacity of your PC. These can be used to attach specialized gaming hardware as well.

7. It has palm rests for more comfortable typing.

Drawbacks:

1. The keyboard is larger than a standard keyboard. It may not fit in many keyboard trays and will definitely use up a lot of desk space. If you plan to use it along with a gaming mouse, make sure you have enough space to begin with.

2. Although the keyboard is designed for gaming and serious computer use (such as document creation) alike, users report it having not the required feel for serious typing at high speeds.

3. Beware: freely distributed Macros can also spell trouble.

Ideazon Zboard

Ideazon’s Zboard is an excellent keyboard solution with specialized features for playing games such as Age of Empires, Half Life, Doom, and Battlefield. There is a standard keyset which can be used for all your standard applications and games. (there is also a detachable palm rest). There are a number of function keys including media controlling keys and other hot keys.

Key features:

1. The interchangeable keysets mean that you can buy a keyset for your favorite game and you are away.

2. First / Third person action games can be played easily by virtue of the gaming keyset(s).

3. It has 2 USB ports. You can attach more USB devices to your computer through the keyboard.

4. A row of multimedia and functional keys.

5. A selection of business oriented keysets such as one that has Adobe Photoshop functions on board (other options are MS Excel, Flash and more). Further improving flexibility.

Drawbacks:

1. It has a split space bar which requires some getting used to.

2. It does not have the option of programmable keys.

3. Keyboard feel is not as good as more expensive products that are available on the market.

4. Keysets have an associated learning curve.

Conclusion

If you are into serious gaming and play a variety of games then the G15 is the automatic choice because of the programmable keys. Although the Zboard has the hot swappable keysets, the problem is that if you play several games the cost of the keysets can add up (each has to be purchased separately). G15’s LCD screen is a great feature that actually makes it even more attractive than more expensive keyboards.

The advantage that the Zboard has over G15 is in the pricing. If you play just the one game or two, it turns out to be very good value.

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