Gizmodo: hewlett-packard

What Would've Happened if Hewlett Packard Built R2-D2

Rosa Golijan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

Youch. So that's what would happen if HP built astromech droids. Can't say I blame Leia, those error messages make me want to break something, too. Though maybe a lightsaber would've looked more dignified than the baseball bat. [Abstruse Goose]

Then and Now: The Hewlett-Packard Family

John Herrman — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EDT

Gizmodo '79 is a week-long celebration of gadgets and geekdom 30 years ago, as the analog age gave way to the digital, and most of our favorite toys were just being born.

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When Tech Gods Were Mortal Men

John Herrman — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EDT

Anyone who knows tech knows certain names—Gates, Jobs, Woz, Kamen, Stringer—but before they became legends, they were busy doing, well, some curious stuff. Here's a glance at their lives circa 1979:

Steve Jobs

Now: Just returning to daily work at Apple after a prolonged health scare, he's still one of the most powerful—and recognizable—names in the industry.

Then: This was the year Steve started work on the Lisa, but also the year he became kind of a square. This happened in stages: he bought his first house; began his lifelong Mercedes habit; trimmed his hippie mop; bought some suits; and became a father—at least as far as the courts were concerned—to his daughter, Lisa Nicole. Sellout. [Source]

Bill Gates

Now: Having stepped back from a day-to-day role at Microsoft, Bill now dedicates most of his time to his giant philanthropic foundation. For many, he's still the voice of Microsoft—a perception he seems to appreciate.

Then: Still in his mid 20s, Bill Gates the businessman was busy rebranding his company from Micro-Soft to Microsoft, and moving operations from Albuquerque to the state of Washington, where they would stay from there on out. Bill Gates the nerd, on the other hand, was solving the so-called "Pancake Problem," publishing a paper on it—his only academic work. Apparently, n being the number of pancakes in a stack, (5n + 5)/3 flips will always be enough to sort them into a desired order. Why? I have no idea, but it's probably got something to do with me not being a genius billionaire. [Science News]

Steve Wozniak

Now: Sometimes he's Segging, sometime's he's dancing, sometimes he's even Giz-ing. In any case since distancing himself from Apple, he's been doing whatever the hell he wants.

Then: He had begun work on the Lisa, which would later be passed to other engineers. But outside of work, he was diversifying his portfolio. Before he was a voluntary spokesperson for Dean Kamen's Segway, he was a paid spokesperson for Datsun, featuring in a TV commercial for the 1979 280zx in which he drops such memorable elocutions as "I prefer the Z!" and "IT. IS. AWESOME." It is, Steve. It is.

Steve Ballmer

Now: At Microsoft, he's the dude. He basically runs the show, filling Billy G's old shoes, as it were. In any case, he's at his peak.

Then: Fresh out of college, Steve hadn't even joined Microsoft yet. It wasn't until 1980 that he even pitched the company, who later gave him a job, then a few more jobs, then THE job. A distinguished student at Harvard, he had lofty dreams, which led him to LA, where he tried to make it in Hollywood. (Behind the scenes, of course.) His bid for fame, or at least, profit made from others' fame, didn't pan out, so he went back to school at Stanford. In an alternate universe, Ari Gold's character in Entourage is based on Steve. [Seattle Times]

Michael Dell

Now: Michael Dell helms the second largest PC manufacturer in the world, and is currently trying to navigate a difficult economy and a precipitous drop in some of his core businesses.

Then: Baby Dell has was just getting a taste of his two lifelong passions: computing and cash. He got his first machine, an Apple II of all things, in 1979 at the age of 14, and promptly tore it apart. Soon after, he tried his hand at entrepreneurship, hawking newspaper subscriptions to newlyweds, whose information he scrounged from public records. This quickly made him a thousandaire. [Source]

Sir Howard Stringer

Now: Currently serving as the Emperor of all things Sony, Stringer is hoping to overhaul the company's lumbering, inefficient structure into something a little more streamlined, a little more manageable, and a lot more profitable.

Then: Our Howard, not yet a Sir, was killing network news. In 1979 he was working for CBS, and in 1980 presided over wide staff cuts at the network, mainly in the news department. Apparently, this gutted the network, dragging it down in the ratings races to this day. Not an auspicious start as far as restructurings go, but Sony's a totally different animal, I guess. Right? [NYT]

Bill Hewlett and David Packard

Now: Passed away, so R.I.P.. But, when they were less dead, they founded what would become the largest PC manufacturer in the world, and drove innovation in personal computing, printing and computer science for years.

Then: As loads of exciting innovations were swirling around them, courtesy of people who were more or less children, Bill and David were in the twilight of their respective careers. David had returned to HP after a stint in Richard Nixon's Defense Department, where he became an expert in weapons procurement. Half-employed by HP and still advising the government from time to time, he could be seen wandering the halls of the company, doing odd jobs and making new employees kind of sad. By this time, Bill Hewlett had stepped down as CEO, though he and David still featured in some seriously rad company literature from time to time. [HP, Ralph Sanders, Image from BusinessWeek]

The Google Guys

Now: Eric Schmidt, Sergey Brin and Larry Page run the internet, to put it bluntly. Google's got the most popular search engine, a wide range of successful web services, and a lion's share of the online advertising market. They might have even made the OS on your phone.

Then: This is where Silicon Valley exec age disparities start to get funny. In 1979, Eric Schmidt was on his way to becoming a respectable adult, heading into a PhD program at Berkeley. Meanwhile, Sergey was emigrating from the Soviet Union. With his parents, of course, since he was only six. While Schmidt was churning out a dissertation over in Oakland, Sergey and Larry were building block castles at Montessori schools. Tech-savvy PhD candidates take note: Those kids at the Waldorf Academy down the street? They might be your bosses someday. I mean, don't worry, you'll be filthy rich. But still. [NNDB, The JC]

Dean Kamen

Now: Though he hasn't birthed truly high profile invention since the Segway, Kamen is still doing some really cool stuff, be it designing water purification systems, bionic arms for vets, or rock-climbing wheelchairs. Or hanging out on his own private island.

Then: In 1979, Dean was running from the tax man! Sort of. Having failed to graduate from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Dean had jumped headfirst into a new project called the "Auto-Syringe," which would later be known as the first insulin pump. After his project gained traction, he moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire for tax reasons, and promptly got rich. [Wired]

Gizmodo '79 is a week-long celebration of gadgets and geekdom 30 years ago, as the analog age gave way to the digital, and most of our favorite toys were just being born.

Student HP Ad Shows Beautiful Alternate Universe Where Printers Are Fast, Predictable, Musical

John Herrman — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:46:29 EDT

In response to a call from Hewlett Packard for user-made advertisements, two students at London's Kingston University pulled off a mesmerizing synchronized printing routine with a stable of HP printers.

It's important to bear in mind here what's really been accomplished here. Yes, two students have created a professional-level advertisement, which is artistically and conceptually impressive. But more importantly—and I say this as someone who, like millions of others, spends my his life just one spool error away from a blinding fit of rage—they've tamed one of our generation's greatest technological beasts, and made it dance for us. Good work, fellas. [Tom and Matt via Digg]

The Birthplace of Silicon Valley Is a Palo Alto Garage

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EDT

This is the Palo Alto, CA garage where two young Stanford engineering grads named Bill Hewlett and David Packard started building what would one day become the world's largest PC manufacturer. In 2000, HP turned it into a museum.

We've known about this garage for awhile, but we're glad CNET brought it back to our attention. Given HP's status now as kind of an old man company, making personal computers of reasonable quality and negligible excitement along with printers and other peripherals, we tend to forget how big a deal they really are. HP is the number one PC manufacturer in the world; their market share is nearly four times that of Apple and consistently ahead of rival Dell, and they've actually been putting out some nice products lately, like the begging-for-Windows-7 TouchSmart series and the svelte DV2 laptop. They're credited with creating Silicon Valley, and the American technology industry certainly wouldn't be the same without them. So it's really interesting to see where this pivotal company got its start, especially since its story is just as grassroots as Apple's or Microsoft's. And like them, it started with a couple of brilliant guys and some innovative hard work.

Hewlett and Packard rented the garage way back in 1938 to build audio oscillators with a new, more efficient design, a business that quickly expanded into all means of electronic hardware (and later, software). HP was brilliantly managed; they partnered with Sony and other Japanese companies as well as Disney, absorbed valuable component makers, and would later appoint the first woman CEO of a company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Carly Fiorina.

In 2000, HP bought the garage and its corresponding house where the company's founders lived while they worked, and turned it into a museum of sorts. They recreated the garage exactly how it was at the time, with the same decor and audio oscillator parts strewn about. It's not open to the public, since it's just a house on a residential street in Palo Alto (and HP is nothing if not neighborly), but it's definitely someplace we'd like to take a look at. Love them or hate them, HP is top dog in the computer hardware world, and it's a treat to see how it all began. [CNET]

HP to Release Budget Ultrathin Laptops Later This Year

John Herrman — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:04:03 EDT

Intel told us to expect cheap, thin, midsized laptops to start showing up in major laptop manufacturers' catalogs this summer, and sure enough, Lenovo announced theirs one week later. Next up, according to Digitimes: Hewlett-Packard.

As per usual, the paper cites trusted sources in the "Taiwan manufacturing industry" who say that HP is gearing up to first incorporate Intel CULV processors into existing laptops, after which they'll design their very own cut-rate ultrathin laptop, basically inline with the Aspire Timeline or Lenovo U350, and hopefully nothing like the HP Chameleon concept, shown at left. They won't ship until Q4 of this year though, by which time the field will be a little more crowded. [Digitimes]

HP Pavilion DV2 Laptop Now Available At A Svelte $749

Dan Nosowitz — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:40:00 EDT

We spotted HP's sleek, powerful, 12-inch DV2 back at CES, and now it's finally available for sale for only $749. It's packing some pretty impressive specs at that price point.

The DV2, which checks in at under an inch thick and less than 4 pounds, is HP's best combination of portability, power, and price to date. Check out the specs below.

· 12.1-inch diagonal LED BrightView display (1280x800) and nearly full-size keyboard

· AMD Athlon™ Neo Processor MV-40

· 320 GB hard drive

· SuperMulti 8x DVD+/-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Support

· ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 Graphics with M82-SE LP with up to 2302MB total graphics memory with 512MB dedicated

· 4GB DDR2 Memory (1 Dimm)

· HP webcam and microphone

It's available immediately from HP's online shop, and sure to pop up at a nearby Best Buy. [HP DV2]

A Lesson in Gadget Product Placement, Courtesy of Scooter Smiff

John Herrman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:02:41 EST

Moderately musical little person Scooter Smiff has helpfully demonstrated, point by point, how not to endorse gadgets in your music video.

1. Get a company's flagship phone
I understand that Scooter Smiff's audience is probably as young as he is and doesn't buy many massive smartphones, but if you've got to shill for a BlackBerry, hope it's not the Pearl Flip. Matt—notably a gadget blogger, not a rapper—said it was kind of uncool, looked inconsistent, and even called it a "fatass". Next time beg for a Storm, or at least a Bold.

2. Don't include an incredibly boring product
So imagine you're a tween, just browsing YouTube, and you notice Scooter Smiff's teacher grading (UPDATE: fabricating, more like. Scandal!) his paper on an HP Touchsmart PC, with her fingers. This is the least exciting thing you've ever seen. It doesn't even make sense in context—it's like HP just edited a few seconds of their press materials into the video. Same goes for the inexplicable printer cameo.

3. Refrain from using devices that make you look even more like a child
Riding a miniaturized Cadillac Escalade will not help you look older, and will probably make those few people who actually have a toy like that return it as fast as they can drive it back to Sotheby's. See also: catcalling obviously older girls.

This song might not be as embarrassing as the iPhone's prominent role in a certain inauspiciously-named (and NSFW) track from earlier this year, but a difference here, and an important one, is that HP and BlackBerry actually wished this on themselves. [CrackBerry]

Sony Recalls Battery Packs Found in HP, Toshiba and Dell Laptops

Erica Ho — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Today HP, Toshiba, and Dell issued a recall of 100,000 Sony battery packs found in their laptops sold between 2004 and 2006. Only 35,000 battery packs were affected in the U.S, with an additional 65,000 batteries recalled worldwide. Out of the 40 reported incidents, only 19 incidents have been in the U.S., thus affecting a smaller amount of people than in past Sony battery recalls. There have been reports of smoke and fire coming from the laptops. Sony issued a statement saying that the defective batteries are related to manufacturing line adjustments from 2004 to 2005. For a list of affected laptops, please head over to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website for more details. The CPSC asks that laptop owners should take the batteries out and immediately contact the manufacturer for replacements. [U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]

HP Shows Off Two New iPaq Phones: One Touch, One Not

John Herrman — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:26:56 EDT

HP's rumored touchscreen handset has showed up in the for of the iPaq Data Communicator, a pop-out QWERTY Windows Mobile handset, with a solid but predictable spec sheet. You'll find a full range of 3G capabilities, Wi-Fi, a-GPS, a 3.1MP camera with autofocus and flash all behind a 2.8in, 320 x 240 screen, controlled with a 5-way "optical navigation" key. It measures in at the same respectable 1.7cm thickness as the T-Mobile G1 — a little thinner than its clear competitor, the HTC Touch Pro. For the old-fashioned types, you can find most of the same guts in the Voice Communicator, a sleek, half-QWERTY candybar phone

HP's choice to use Windows Mobile here is an expected one, but it's still unclear how they plan to differentiate these handsets from the existing crowd of nearly identical hardware running the aging OS. In a best-case scenario, HP expands their TouchSmart brand downward, adapting their impressive PC touch interfaces to phones, hiding Windows, as HTC has for years, under a slick, modern shell. There's no mention of such software on HP's spec pages, we can hope, right? The Voice and Data Communicators are only available in Europe now, for €399 and €499, respectively. [HP via Slashphone]

HP Planning Touchscreen Laptops, New Netbooks and a Touch Phone, Like, Now

John Herrman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:31:06 EDT

HP does pretty well for itself nowadays, consistently leading the market in notebook sales. According to the Wall Street Journal, though, they want to diversify. A lot. In a scattershot semi-announcement, the company said it is working in three new directions. Long-rumored touchscreen notebooks, likely to feature HP's second-gen TouchSmart interface, are due before the holidays. In addition, HP is planning to build it's own 10-inch netbook this year, joining the ranks of just about every other company that has made a computer, ever. Buried at the bottom of the article, though, is a potential bombshell: a new touchscreen phone.

While this could just be another iPaq with Windows Mobile and a touchscreen, there's no reason to completely rule out Android here, or at the very least a snazzy TouchSmart-esque alternative WinMo interface. As for the touchscreen notebooks, even HP admits that past attempts "haven't done that well," so it'll be interesting to see what they bring to the table. [WSJ]

VoodooPC Will Survive, But Confirms "Integration" into HP

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:02:50 EDT

I just got off the phone with Rahul Sood, founder of VoodooPC, who confirmed that the rumors of Voodoo's demise were not just premature but "nonsense," but said "HP is asking us to integrate into the larger execution engine." Rahul is comfortable speaking both plainly and in business-ese—what we take this to mean is that Voodoo will merge manufacturing with HP's core in Asia, unify other non-design aspects of the business, and shut down a good chunk of the operation in Calgary, Alberta. "Typically we don't comment on layoffs specifically," says Rahul, who adds that he himself will not be leaving Canada.

"We're basically plugging into the larger businesses," he says. "Notebooks will be manufactured and handled in Asia where there's much broader distribution. I can't just snap my fingers and have [the Envy and Omen] in Russia, Dubai and other places where people are begging for them. To scale the business and stay true to the brand, we have to structure it accordingly." Regarding layoffs, he did acknowledge: "There are definitely going to be people impacted. With any change, we have to take that impact in stride and keep pressing forward."

Rahul also addressed the concerns that some gamers had that Voodoo had abandoned its core audience. He surprised us with an interesting statistic: 25% of the Voodoo customer base are gamers, he says. The other 75% are "fortunate people who love the style and the fact that our products are so different." On the matter of the sleek new Envy not being a gaming PC at all, he mentions that it's not the first time, and that the hot-selling 12-inch Envy had integrated graphics too.

He stresses that the crazy Omen desktop and the Blackbird are both solid gaming platform. He also says that he's interested in the new directions that DIY enthusiast gamers will soon be taking. "The DIY enthusiast market will change," he says. "They're going to focus on more efficient computing rather than speeds and feeds, to bring more value to the end than just framerates. The DIY market will evolve—that's an opportunity for us to look into."

We have no idea what that might mean. Could it be a line of Voodoo-branded accessories? Or simply designing systems themselves with more DIY tweakbility in mind, like the Blackbird? Your guess is as good, or actually probably better, than mine, so go ahead and guess.

New HP Notebooks Boast Hi-Def 16:9 Screens

Elaine Chow — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:01:40 EDT

HP has dropped two notebooks catering to portable home theater addicts. Both computers run Windows Vista SP1 and come with Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processors, Nvidia GeForce 9600M graphics chips, 4GB DDR2 RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a DVD±R/RW drive. The HDX16 has a 16-inch 1366x768 pixel Brightview display and comes with a 320GB hard drive while the HDX18 boasts an 18.4 inch 1920x1080p LCD screen and gives you an extra 180GB storage.

Other features include one-touch access to entertainment, video-upscaling to view standard DVDs in hi-def, a 55% wider viewing angle, a built-in bass subwoofer, an integrated fingerprint reader and... “lustrous sophistication with HP Fluid Imprint finish in titanium,” though I'm not really sure I see what's so lustrously sophisticated from the press photos. The HDX16 will drop in late September for $1299, while the HDX18 will cost you $1349.

The HP HDX Experience*
• HP MediaSmart for one-touch access to entertainment plus video-upscaling to view standard
DVDs in high-def.
• Platinum Support via direct line (866.408.5408) to speak with an HDX Specialist. (U.S. only)
• Project lustrous sophsitication with HP Fluid Imprint finish in titanium.
• Get a 55% wider viewing angle plus enhanced brightness, color intensity and clarity with the
18.0" diagonal HP Full HD Ultra BrightView Infinity display.(8)
• Experience thunderous audio with built-in HP Triple Bass Subwoofer.
• Immerse yourself in simulated surround sound with Dolby Home Theater.
• Get extra protection from accidental drops with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection.
• Simplify your password management with the integrated fingerprint reader.

Key Specifications
• Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology featuring Intel® Core™2 Duo
Processor P8400 (2c)(3)(4b)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium 64-bit with Service
Pack 1 (1)(20a)
• 18.4" Diagonal High Definition (8) HP Ultra Brightview Infinity Display
(1920x1080p)
• NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with up to 2302MB Total Available Graphics
Memory with 512MB dedicated
• 4096MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• 500GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive Dual HDD - 250GB + 250GB(SATA) (7)
• LightScribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double
Layer (6d)(16a)(16c)(16d)
• Intel® WiFi Link 5100AGN & Bluetooth™(10)(10b)(10d)
Luxurious Style
Expanding on the elegance of the current line, the new HDX series is defined
by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes with surprising innovations
inside and out. High-gloss HP Imprint finish in titanium and chrome now
encases all surfaces visible during normal use for greater durability, and a
sleeve is included for extra protection. The HDX series Fluid Imprint features
an flowing linear pattern that enhances the reflective qualities of the metallic
finish. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and
touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when
the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance. HP’s
mobile products have won coveted International Red Dot, iF and CES
Innovation design awards and been recognized by other leading design
institutions.
Extreme Entertainment
Extreme entertainment is at your fingertips with everything you need to enjoy
content in the highest-quality formats – and create your own
show. Introducing HP MediaSmart for access to DVDs, videos, photos, music,
karaoke, games(25), Internet(15) TV, and streamed or recorded TV at the touch
of a button.
• Watch standard DVDs in high definition with Video Upscaling.
• Connect to your HD TV via the HDMI port to view content from your HP
HDX notebook.
• Control playback with the HP ScrollSmart Remote Control.
• Edit and burn HD content with Cyberlink DVD Premium.
• Create movies complete with special effects fast with Muvee autoProducer
Premium.
• Enjoy thunderous audio enabled by the HP Triple Bass Subwoofer.
• Get simulated surround sound with Dolby Home Theater and Altec Lansing
speakers.
• Experience true immersion in 3D games with NVIDIA G9600 series
graphics and discrete video memory with DirectX 10 support.
Platinum-tier Support
• One-year limited hardware and software warranty with 24/7 phone
support
• Toll-free phone support during warranty via direct line to an HDX Specialist
in the U.S. @ 1.866.408.5408 and toll-free support in Canada @
1.800.HP.INVENT.
• Easy-to-use dashboard for system diagnostics and updates with preinstalled
HP Advisor
Designed to Captivate
For those who want the latest performance technologies enabling a premium
home cinema and computing experience, the HP HDX 18 delivers in an
elegant desktop-replacement design. Its reflective Fluid Imprint finish encases
leading-edge mobile architectures from Intel and NVIDIA. HP HDX notebook
PCs provide the options you need to connect, enjoy and experience peace of
mind.
• Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Ultra Wide Display. Enjoy a viewing angle of
140 degrees (vs. standard 90) and significatnly enhanced brightness, color
and clarity with the HP Full HD Ultra BrightView Infinity display.(8)
• Connect(15) with the HP Webcam. Turn your next instant message into a live
video chat with the integrated webcam, omni directional microphone and
an IM solution. Optimized for low-light environments, it's great for
capturing short videos to share on your favorite social networking site.
Personalize your videos with included YouCam software.
• Enhanced security options. HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks
your hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent
data loss. The eSATA/USB Combo port enables fast backup to an external
hard drive. And the dual hard disk drives provide an easy back up option.
The integrated fingerprint reader offers greater security and ease-of-use by
associating passwords to your system and online accounts with unique
fingerprints.
• Personalized disc labels with LightScribe. Create custom laser-etched disc
labels right in the drive with LightScribe and preinstalled Cyberlink DVD
Premium. Just burn data on the disc, flip it over and burn the cover image
using any scanned image and/or text.(16a)
• Full-memory access. Windows® Vista®(1) 64-bit operating systems are able
to fully access system memory to support 3D games and complex
applications.
HP and the Environment
• Help conserve energy with this ENERGY
STAR® qualified and EPEATTM Silver
registered PC.
• Reuse or recycle your HDX series
packaging to help minimize waste.
• Please recycle your computer hardware
and printing supplies. HP recycling
services make responsible disposal easy.
Learn more about HP’s environmental
initiatives and recycling at:
www.hp.com/go/ecohighlights

HP Gaming Mice Have 5 Programmable Profiles, 5 Macro Buttons

Elaine Chow — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:50 EDT

HP has two new mice out dedicated to gaming. The HDX Laser Mouse gives you five mouse setting profiles, five programmable macro buttons, and is allegedly eight times faster than conventional mice. The slightly more advanced Laser Gaming Mouse with Voodoo DNA gives you everything the regular laser mouse has, plus HP's VoodooDNA GUI software for even speedier mousing. The company also released pictures of its wireless Vector Mouse, but no details as of yet. The regular Laser Mouse will set you back $40, while the Voodoo DNA version is $60.

The Laser Gaming Mouse with Voodoo DNA is pictured above. Here's the more ho-hum Laser Mouse:

And here's the mysterious Vector Mouse:

Plug and Play Performance
• Customize your mouse for an effortless gaming experience personalized to the way you play

Features & Benefits:

• Keep up to 5 mouse setting profiles
• Five programmable buttons to store macros
• 8x faster than conventional mice. Delivers blazing speed and instant acceleration
• Polytetrafluoroethylene Gaming Feet. Large, frictionless feet for effortless smooth glide
• High resolution engine churns images at an astounding 6.4Mpixels/sec. Large sensor array and precision laser technology allow the HDX Laser Mouse to deliver best-in-class performance and tracking
• Gaming laser mouse with four on the fly selectable DPIs
• DPI=400/800/1600/2400 *
• 4 multi-color DPI settings
• Up to 35 inches/second **
• Up to 8G
• Up to 500 reports/second
• Full speed USB 2.0
• 5 programmable buttons
• 5 individual setting profiles
• 4 large Teflong feet, 3D racing rubber tire pattern scroll wheel

System Requirements:
• Genuine Windows Vista® or Genuine Windows® XP

Warranty and Support:
• One-year, worldwide parts-and-labor limited warranty
• 24x7 HP technical phone support during warranty period

What's in the Box:
• Laser mouse
• Documentation
• Software Driver
• 1 year limited warranty

Additional Information:
Questions about the HP HDX Laser Mouse?
Look us up online at www.hp.com

3.5-Inch Digital Photo Frame from HP Small but Chic

AddyDugdale — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:45:00 EDT

There's been a slew of Hewlett Packard products over the past few days and, although this digital picture frame is probably the smallest of the bunch, it's pretty damn cute. Available in Europe at the moment, the frame has QGVA resolution, is SD-, SDHC- and MMC-compatible, can hold up to 45 pictures, and costs $76. Like I said, cute. [CNET Asia]

HP Pavillion DV Series Notebooks Redesigned with Magic Chrome, Blu-ray, HD Tuners and More

Benny Goldman — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 EDT

HP overhauled its feature-packed consumer DV notebooks, the familiar black-and-silver ID getting a "magic chrome" enhancement: otherwise invisible controls light-up when touched. It's the first new look for the Pavilion line since 2006. The entire line features HD tuners, Blu-ray drives, webcams, fingerprint readers and built-in 3G internet. Here's a closer look at the line, as well as a newest TX tablet PC and the XB4, the laptop dock equivalent of Batman's utility belt.
The Pavilion dv4 is the baby of the bunch at 14.1". It has a maximum 320GB hard drive and 3 USB ports. Base price is $800 for an AMD processor or $1000 for Intel, and they'll be on sale in September.

The dv5 has a 15.4" display, along with 4 USBs and an NVIDIA graphics card. Available this month, the minimum on this notebook is $700 for AMD, $900 for Intel.

The top-of-the-line dv7 has a 17" display, multi-channel audio with subwoofer, 4 USBs, ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards, and a hard drive up to 640GB. It'll start at $950 for AMD and $1230 for an Intel chip when it's out in July.

The Pavilions also have LightScribe laser etching for CD/DVD-Rs, and accelerometers inside that stop the hard drive of a falling laptop to prevent data loss. In fact, the only downside to the Pavilion series is that it runs Vista.

A docking station, the xb4, will also be available for the new Pavilion line for $250 in July. One great thing about the docking station is that USB drives will run directly from it.

Last but not least, HP is also introducing a new tablet PC. The tx2500z has a 12.1" display that rotates 180 , up to 320GB hard drive, a 5-in-1 card reader, and 3 USBs, among other features. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet.

HP Fuses Style and Entertainment in Next-generation Notebook Portfolio
BERLIN, June 10, 2008 - HP today unveiled six consumer notebook PC series that push the boundaries of innovation and aesthetics, embodying the company's blend of mobile computing and design expertise.
Announced at the company's Connecting Your World event, the entertainment-packed HP Pavilion "dv"-series notebooks is adorned with a sleek, liquid-metallic HP Imprint 2 surface design, "magic chrome" touch controls that appear at the touch of a finger, and intuitive, one-click access to high-quality TV,(1) photos, movies and music from nearly any location. The notebook series also features built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection, which automatically stops the hard drive from spinning after it detects sudden movement, helping to prevent the loss of data.

Also new are three series in the Compaq Presario notebook PC line, which provide high value and attractive designs in an array of sizes and configurations. All HP consumer notebooks are also designed with protecting the environment in mind, with energy-efficient features and select materials for easier recycling. In fact, HP has set a goal to remove all mercury - a potentially hazardous substance commonly found in notebook screens - from its entire notebook line by the end of 2010.

In addition, HP announced accessories to personalize the mobile experience with multimedia docking stations, power adapters, extra capacity batteries, TV tuners,(1) remote controls, speakers, color-matched accessories and much more, enabling consumers to do more with their notebooks.(2)
"HP is creating notebook computers that captivate consumers by combining sleek and striking designs with immersive entertainment capabilities that make for a great user experience," said Kevin Frost, vice president and general manager, Consumer Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP. "As the No. 1 consumer notebook brand, our new lineup raises the bar even higher, with notebooks that are tailored for the ever-changing lifestyles of people who are on the go and need to stay connected."

HP Pavilion notebooks deliver exquisite design and powerful entertainment
HP Pavilion notebooks set a new standard in notebook design with unexpected innovations such as invisible "magic chrome" controls that light up and become fully interactive upon power up. Smooth lines, optional HP BrightView Infinity Widescreen flush-glass screens, along with color-matched keyboards and touch pads create a frameless, thin and elegant appearance.

The new HP Pavilion notebook series also offers consumers a choice of the latest AMD and Intel processors and a high-speed eSATA interface for backup to external storage drives. The series also introduces to consumers built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection technology, which was previously available only in HP business-class notebooks. This technology automatically detects if a notebook has been dropped and, while the notebook is on its brief journey to the floor, automatically stops the hard drive from spinning, helping to prevent the loss of files and data.

Matching outer style with inner power, the new HP Pavilion series offer a broad range of features and sizes to match consumers' lifestyles.

The ENERGY STAR -qualified HP Pavilion dv4 Entertainment Notebook PC packs the latest technology into a 14.1-inch diagonal display. Already lightweight and power-efficient, an HP SmartBay enables the use of an included weight saver in place of the optical drive for even greater mobility. Entertainment-ready, the HP Pavilion dv4 offers a choice of integrated TV tuner(1) and Blu-ray(3) optical drive, delivering a portable high-definition(4) experience. Other options include broadband wireless(5) for those who wish to stay connected without a wireless hotspot, and a brighter, mercury-free LED display.(2)

For users seeking an ideal balance among mobility, performance and screen size, the HP Pavilion dv5 Entertainment Notebook PC delivers a mid-size, 15.4-inch diagonal display, exquisite design and powerful entertainment with optional discrete graphics from NVIDIA.

The HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment Notebook PC's 17-inch diagonal display and sleek design deliver powerful high-definition entertainment for TV,(1) photos, movies and music with full-size realism that makes it an ideal alternative to desktop PCs. The HP Pavilion dv7 brings together a rich set of standard features such as premium multi-channel audio and options such as subwoofer, Blu-ray optical drive, built-in TV tuner(1) and robust graphics from ATI and NVIDIA.(2)
Style made simple and affordable

Designed for those on the go, the versatile HP Compaq Presario notebook PC line includes a new industrial design and HP Imprint 2 surface finish, a range of optical drives, built-in wireless(6) technologies and high-quality audio, webcam and analog microphone capabilities.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 Series Notebook PC is a powerful system that pays equal attention to design and performance. The 14.1-inch diagonal display offers a built-in TV tuner,(1) optional Blu-ray and discrete graphics technology that bring together the paramount combination of consumer entertainment and notebook computing.

The Compaq Presario CQ40 and CQ50 Series Notebook PCs are 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch diagonal display notebooks, respectively. Versatile and affordable, the notebooks are built to travel, offering essential mobile and wireless technologies.
Personal accessories for the mobile lifestyle
HP accessories are loaded with innovative features to let users personalize their notebook experience.

The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station combines the comfort of a standard notebook stand with the connectivity of a port replicator. Convenient and easy to use, the dock requires no software for set up and connectivity is achieved by a single cable that passes all signals, including USB, video, audio and power. For superb audio output, the dock includes speakers, a subwoofer and an auxiliary audio-in port to play music from MP3 players and other external devices.

HP Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation allow consumers to stream music wirelessly from a wide variety of audio sources, including MP3 players, notebooks and desktop PCs and CD players. Active Noise Cancellation reduces ambient noise and improves the listening experience and enhances audio quality.
Pricing and availability(7)

The HP Pavilion dv4t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $999 and will be available beginning later this month. The HP Pavilion dv4z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $799 and are expected to be available beginning in September.

Both the HP Pavilion dv5t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $899, and the HP Pavilion dv5z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $699, will be available later this month.

The HP Pavilion dv7t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $1,229 and will be available later this month, while the HP Pavilion dv7z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $949 and are expected to be available in July.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 and CQ40 Series Notebook PC availability and pricing varies by region.

Compaq Presario CQ50 Series Notebook PCs start at $499 and will be available later this month.

The HP Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones start at $149 and are available now. The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station starts at $249 and is expected to be available in July.
Customers can shop for the new HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebook PCs by calling +1 888 999 4747, via chat, online or at retail outlets nationwide.

(1) Availability of signals limited by the strength and accessibility of the originating TV signal, location and other factors. Performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product.
(2) Sold separately or as an add-on features.
(3) Blu-ray is a new format containing new technologies. Certain discs, digital connections, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and the display may require HDCP support. This Blu-ray drive does not support writing to ultra-high speed CDRW media (16X to 32X advertised performance). HD-DVD movies cannot be played on this notebook PC.
(4) High-definition content (for example, WMV HD files) is required to view high-definition images.
(5) Broadband technologies require separately purchased wireless data service contracts. Check with local service provider for coverage and availability.
(6) Wireless access point required and is not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. Wireless Internet use requires separately purchased Internet service contract.
(7) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

Bill Gates Says White Space Is for Free Wi-Fi; Broadcasters Want License and Regulation

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Referring to Microsoft's desire to use soon-to-be-opened broadcasting bandwidth for low-powered unlicensed wireless devices, Bill Gates argued that it will make for improved Wi-Fi, a term he appears to be using as simply non-regulated, subscription-free wireless. He said:

"We're hopeful that that will be made available so that Wi-Fi can explode in terms of its usage, even out into some of these less dense areas where distance has been a big problem for Wi-Fi."

Bill's opponents see this not as an opportunity for more Wi-Fi but as a chance to widen costlier, regulated wireless subscription services.

Microsoft along with Google, Dell, HP, Intel and Philips, have been lobbying the FCC to permit white-space devices, which they have been continuously submitting for testing. Broadcasters and others fear static and other kinds of interference.

Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, argues for the regulated model:

"Broadband penetration could be drastically improved through a fixed, licensed service without interference to TV reception. Unfortunately, Microsoft continues to push for an unlicensed technology that simply does not work...TV viewers should not be inundated by the inevitable interference caused by such faulty devices."

Spoken, I must say, like someone who has no faith that these problems can be solved through technology.

Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer, Craig Mundie, addressed the situation in a more desperate tone:

White space activity today is sort of our last hope to get some good spectrum.

You hear that, Obi Kevin-Martin-obi? [Reuters]

I'd Rather Live in the Old Disney "House of the Future" Than the New One

matt buchanan — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST

Here's two visions of our future home. One has wall-sized TVs, lots of plastic wares and all-electric grooming tools. The other, touchscreens everywhere, smart kitchen counters and auto-thermostats.

The first is Disney's vision of now back in 1957, the second, its re-vision of the House of the Future with Lifeware, HP and Microsoft, which is debuting this May in Tomorrowland. We've more or less seen it every year at CES , and it's not really all that fantastical or jaw-dropping. I didn't feel teleported to some technological paradise that I couldn't wait to blast through years of icky time to get to, anyway.

Give me wall-sized super HDTVs, plastic toilet paper and genuinely exciting, if tacky and the over the top, futuretastic baubles over intelligent lights and DRM'd furniture from Microsoft any day. (Now, or in the future.) [AP]

HP Updates MediaSmart Server, Adds Linux-Powered mv2120 Media Vault

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST

The Skinny: The mv2120 Media Vault, a junior Linux-based server with the Photo Webshare and iTunes server functionality of its big brother but a much lower cost. (They'll start at $300.) As for the big guy, he's getting some much needed updates come February, including server-side anti-virus software from McAfee; improved media streaming to Media Center Extenders thanks to Packet Video, and support for 64-bit Vista.

Voiscan Uses HP Technology to Scan Text and Speak It in Any Language

AddyDugdale — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:20:39 EST

A South Korean company, Mouscan, is bringing out a handy little gizmo that scans text and then reads it aloud in any language. The Voiscan, which uses technology originally developed by Hewlett-Packard for its CapShare handheld scanning device way back in 1998, is quick and easy to use.

All you do is wave the cellphone-sized device over the text you want translating. It just takes a couple of passes before the Voiscan starts relaying the info in whichever language you choose. The gadget is expected to be aimed at travellers and the visually impaired when it is released sometime next year. [The Raw Feed and TECH CHRONICLES]