Free Web Version of Photoshop Launches

The maker of the popular photo-editing software Photoshop today launched a basic version available for free online.
San Jose, Calif.-based Adobe Systems Inc. says it hopes to boost its name recognition among a new generation of consumers who edit, store and share photos online.While Photoshop is designed for trained professionals, Adobe says Photoshop Express, which it launched in a ''beta'' test version, is easier to learn. User comments will be taken into account for future upgrades.Photoshop Express will be completely Web-based so consumers can use it with any type of computer, operating system and browser. And, once they register, users can get to their accounts from different computers.Web-based software is increasingly popular, and Adobe knows it's got to get on that train, said Kathleen Maher, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research.Many kinds of software are available for use online in a trend known as ''software as a service,'' or ''cloud computing.'' The earliest were e-mail programs, but they now include services to create and manage content and even whole operating systems. And they don't require time-consuming upgrades because they're maintained by the service provider.Google Inc. provides a host of such services, as do Microsoft Corp. and others.''This is the battlefield where Adobe and Microsoft and Google are going to fight some pretty big battles,'' Maher said.Photoshop enters the online photo-management arena many years after such services first appeared. Some companies have already made a big name for themselves, like 9-year-old storage solution Shutterfly Inc., photo-editing service Picnik or image-sharing site Photobucket Inc.Adobe says providing Photoshop Express for free is part marketing and part a strategy to create up-sell opportunities. It hopes some customers will move from it to boxed software like its $99 Photoshop Elements or to a subscription-based version of Express that's in the works.Ron Glaz, a research analyst at IDC, says the move was necessary for Adobe to keep pace. Users are less likely to switch to a software they aren't familiar with, he said.''They have a whole market that they are missing out on, and they need to make sure that the market is aware there is a Photoshop solution for them. As that market grows and becomes more sophisticated, hopefully it will generate money,'' Glaz said.''It's one of those things, if you can't beat them, join them,'' Glaz said. ''If they don't join them, the long run could be really painful.''

3 Great Laptops Under Rs 40,000

Acer Aspire 2920N

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Acer has appeared on this lineup. Acer's last few releases have been driving this segment very hard, with products like its 4520 model, which did exceedingly well and was well appreciated.
This time around too the company had some of the best options available in this price bracket. One of these models is the Acer 2920N. It is perhaps one of the cheapest 12.1 inch laptops available now. It offers an Intel C2D T5450 processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB storage and 3 USB slots. These are healthy specifications, and a price tag of just Rs 37,000 makes it a great portable choice for anyone who is looking for crunching power and portability .

DELL Inspiron 1525

Dell is a natural choice here. Not only does the company offer some of the very good VFM products in almost all price brackets the market, it has made a mark with its excellent after-sales service. The Inspiron 1525 is the updated version of the popular 1520 model and offers a significantly improved design. Specifications wise it offers a similar configuration as other machines in this roundup. It packs in an Intel C2D T5450 processor which is clocked at 1.67 GHz,1 GB RAM, a 15.4 inch LCD panel with a native resolution of 1280x800, 160 GB of HDD space and 3 USB slots. Its current street price is around Rs 33,500 and it can be customized to even include a 250 GB of storage for around Rs. 3,000 more.

Compaq Presario C740TU

HP has to be commended for maintaining a clear differentiation in its product range. While the HP brand of laptops caters to the value and performance markets, the Compaq brand has been used to address the needs of the budget and ultra-value markets.
The Compaq Presario C740TU that we have chosen is currently one of the best VFM models available. It offers an Intel C2D T5450 processor which is clocked at 1.67 GHz, 512 MB RAM (upgradeable to 1 GB for an additional cost of Rs 1,450), a 15.4 inch LCD panel, 160 GB of HDD space and 3 USB slots. Its current street price is around Rs 34,000.
Though most users will today balk at the sparse amount of RAM being offered, please note that the laptop can be easily upgraded, inexpensively. The OS offered is Windows Visa Basic. A 1-year warranty is offered through Compaq's service centers.
Watch out for a review of this laptop, which will come up pretty soon. In the meantime you can check out a detailed specification list here.

Gooooo Touch Screen Mobiles

Samsung’s Soul is a classy high-end slider with a metallic finish. Its 5 megapixel autofocus camera uses image stabilization technology. It comes with 128MB of internal memory and supports external memory via microSD card. What makes the handset unique enough for our feature is its navigation system that, like the others in this category, employs haptic feedback and intuitive displays.
Underneath the 2.2-inch TFT display is a smaller touch-sensitive 1.2 icch OLED navigation panel that uses icons to depict various functions being used. This system, called Magical Touch (by Samsung), enables the icons to change according to the functions chosen. The Soul has Bluetooth with A2DP, a media player, FM radio, and supports 3G.

I can say it's one heckuva cool phone. Although the screen may be a just a bit small at just 2 inches, the technology is really good. The entire keypad is touch-sensitive; there are no conventional keys. In fact, this keypad is intuitive enough to selectively display keys that pertain to the feature being used. For instance, if you’re watching videos or playing music the lights in the numeric keypad go off and all you’ll see are keys that allow you navigate the music and video player.
The E8 also has a touch-sensitive scroll area under the display. Other features include a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with A2DP profile, an integrated FM radio, and support for EDGE.

The KF600 is a superbly designed slider phone. Aside from its 2 inch TFT display that sports a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, it has a smaller 1.4 inch touch sensitive navigation system in the form of a secondary screen underneath, with a resolution of 176 x 240 pixels. The phone's animated screen savers extend to the bottom screen when in standby mode. An intuitive navigation system displays small icons that coincide with the function running on the main screen.
The lower screen doubles as a highly sophisticated pad that recognizes handwriting for typing mail or messages. The KF600 comes fully loaded with a 3 megapixel autofocus camera with a flash, stereo Bluetooth profile, FM radio, media player, and document viewer. Oh, and more importantly, it has a slide-out keypad.

Charge your iPhone and iPod On The Move

To stay loyal to the Apple gods means you have to live with the non-removable batteries on your iPods and iPhones. Bringing the USB cable along with you everywhere is good if you expect to have computer access to get some charge from its USB port, but not too helpful if you are out, let’s say, on a safari. In that case, the RichardSolo Smart Backup Battery is an indispensable accessory.

MacBook Air: Mac Love Is In The Air

For a long time, Apple fans have been hoping for a slim and lightweight version of the MacBook to come along. Even the lightest MacBook was over 4.5 pounds (2kg).
And so, after a long wait, it’s finally here. The MacBook Air.
Debut at the MacWorld 2008 yesterday, the MacBook Air is currently the world’s thinnest (and may I add, the coolest) notebook in the market, measuring a mere 0.76-inch (1.94cm) in height and 3lbs (1.36kg) in weight

Triple Your Wi-Fi’s Signal Strength With Wi-Fire

hField Technologies’ Wi-Fire is a compact high-performance USB Wi-Fi Adapter for Mac and PC that extends the Wi-Fi range upwards of 1,000 feet. Being a college student, I am blessed with a blanketed campus, offering a strong Wi-Fi signal wherever I go, right? …. Well, wrong. Dreaded dead spots exist and, to my dismay, my dorm room seems to be the epicenter of a dead spot, a barren wasteland of former Wi-Fi signal.
My solutions included hardwiring—too easy. Setting up a router? Forbidden. And as this epic conundrum reached a head, an epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks (as they tend to do). However, this epiphany came in the form of a small device called the Wi-Fire from a startup company that I had never heard of. The device triples the power of the internal receptor, making it virtually impossible not to get a signal, regardless of where you are.