CyberLink PowerDVD is a commercial media player for Microsoft Windows and Linux. The latest version of the software is PowerDVD 8. Several editions of the software are sold including: Ultra, Deluxe and Standard. All editions support the viewing of DVD but only the Ultra edition supports Blu-Ray playback. HD DVD playback is not supported.
The product is distributed via physical install media (CD) or via download from the Cyberlink website. PowerDVD is often bundled with a variety of PC systems and peripherals (particularly optical drives).
HD DVD support was included in some versions of PowerDVD 7 but was removed from PowerDVD 8 because there will be limited new releases in this format as it is no longer supported by any major studio. It can be re-enabled through a workaround. Cyberlink advises users who want to keep HD DVD playback to buy the Ultra editions of PowerDVD 7 and 8 which can be installed together on the same system.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Voice command device
A voice command device is a device controlled by means of the human voice. By removing the need to use buttons, dials and switches, consumers can easily operate appliances with their hands full or while doing other tasks.
The first examples in home appliances are washing machines that allow consumers to operate washing controls through vocal commands, and mobile phones with voice-activated dialing.
Newer VCDs are speaker-independent, so they can respond to multiple voices, regardless of accent or dialectal influences. They are also capable of responding to several commands at once, separating vocal messages and providing appropriate feedback, accurately imitating a natural conversation. They can understand around 50 different commands and retain up to 2 minutes of vocal messages.
The first examples in home appliances are washing machines that allow consumers to operate washing controls through vocal commands, and mobile phones with voice-activated dialing.
Newer VCDs are speaker-independent, so they can respond to multiple voices, regardless of accent or dialectal influences. They are also capable of responding to several commands at once, separating vocal messages and providing appropriate feedback, accurately imitating a natural conversation. They can understand around 50 different commands and retain up to 2 minutes of vocal messages.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
PowerVR
PowerVR is a division of Imagination Technologies (formerly VideoLogic) that develops hardware and software intellectual property for 2D and 3D rendering, and for video encoding, decoding, and associated image processing. In the late 1990s they competed heavily with 3dfx in the 3D accelerator market for desktop PC's and game consoles, but both companies were forced from this market by the rise of OpenGL, Direct3D and the ATI and NVIDIA cards that better supported these technologies.
Since then, the PowerVR technology has been aimed primarily at the low-power market and are now found inside many mobile devices such as palmtops and cellphones. PowerVR accelerators are not manufactured by PowerVR, but instead the IP is licensed to other companies such as NEC, Intel, Freescale, TI, and Samsung.
Since then, the PowerVR technology has been aimed primarily at the low-power market and are now found inside many mobile devices such as palmtops and cellphones. PowerVR accelerators are not manufactured by PowerVR, but instead the IP is licensed to other companies such as NEC, Intel, Freescale, TI, and Samsung.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Microphone
A microphone sometimes referred to as a mike (pronounced /mic) or—more recently—mic, is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, hearing aids, motion picture production, live and recorded audio engineering, in radio and television broadcasting and in computers for recording voice, VoIP, and for non-acoustic purposes such as ultrasonic checking.
A Neumann U87 condenser microphone
The most common design today uses a thin membrane which vibrates in response to sound pressure. This movement is subsequently translated into an electrical signal. Most microphones in use today for audio use electromagnetic induction (dynamic microphone), capacitance change (condenser microphone, pictured right), or piezoelectric generation to produce the signal from mechanical vibration.
A Neumann U87 condenser microphone
The most common design today uses a thin membrane which vibrates in response to sound pressure. This movement is subsequently translated into an electrical signal. Most microphones in use today for audio use electromagnetic induction (dynamic microphone), capacitance change (condenser microphone, pictured right), or piezoelectric generation to produce the signal from mechanical vibration.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Blackberry Enterprise Server
Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) is the name of the middleware software package that is part of the Blackberry wireless platform from Research In Motion.
BES connects to messaging and collaboration software (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise, Zimbra) on enterprise networks to synchronize email and PIM information between desktop and mobile software.
Coincidentally, "bes" also happens to be the Dutch word for "berry".
Previous to v4.0, BES was largely two separate code bases: the 2.2 version for Domino and the 3.6 version for Exchange. In version 4.0 and beyond, much of the code is integrated, but separate distributions still remain for each mail platform.
BES connects to messaging and collaboration software (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise, Zimbra) on enterprise networks to synchronize email and PIM information between desktop and mobile software.
Coincidentally, "bes" also happens to be the Dutch word for "berry".
Previous to v4.0, BES was largely two separate code bases: the 2.2 version for Domino and the 3.6 version for Exchange. In version 4.0 and beyond, much of the code is integrated, but separate distributions still remain for each mail platform.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
BlackBerry OS
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 scroll wheel (1995–2006) or more recently the trackball (September 12th 2006–Present). 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, 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.
Third-party developers can write software using these APIs, 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.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
BlackBerry
The Blackberry is a wireless hand held device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smart phone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services. It is an example of a convergent device. Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), it delivers information over the wireless data networks of mobile phone service companies. BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through the BlackBerry Connect software. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays.
While including 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 wherever it can access a wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by a scroll ball in the middle of the device (older devices used a track wheel on the side). Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Mike) also incorporate a Push-to-Talk (PTT) feature, similar to a two-way radio.
While including 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 wherever it can access a wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by a scroll ball in the middle of the device (older devices used a track wheel on the side). Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Mike) also incorporate a Push-to-Talk (PTT) feature, similar to a two-way radio.
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