TechTalk: Exploring the Latest Technology News, Updates, Reviews, and Gossip

In conjunction with the release candidate of Windows 7, Nvidia has announced that it is the first hardware vendor to release a new Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL)-certified graphics driver for PC desktops and notebooks, offering all of the latest Nvidia exclusive performance, features, and technology for its ION, GeForce and Quadro products. By taking advantage of the GPU for both graphics rendering and parallel computing, Windows 7 with DirectX Compute will not only ensure that greater clarity and focus are important in the look, feel, and functionality of the desktop experience, but it will also provide the speed and responsiveness to delight customers. "Windows 7 users now have the absolute latest in performance and support for features including SLI, PhysX, 3D Vision, and DirectX Compute," said Dwight Diercks, vice president of software engineering at Nvidia. "For gaming, video transcoding, and an overall better computing experience on Windows 7, users now have...

GN has just launched a new Jabra Bluetooth headset – the BT530 USB - in India. The Jabra BT530 USB is the only Multiuse headset to feature Noise Blackout, a sophisticated noise cancellation technology that helps remove ambient sound while trying not to compromise on voice quality. By combining this technology with Multiuse functionality, which enables the headset to simultaneously connect to a PC and a mobile phone through the accompanying A330 Bluetooth Adapter and Jabra PC suite, GN Netcom has created what could be a powerful business tool that will enable professionals to communicate from anywhere using just one device. "The role of the traditional office is changing rapidly and it is no longer the hub of the working environment. Most enterprises now have a dispersed workforce and as many as 86 per cent let staff work from home one day per week," explained Ralph Ede, Managing Director, South Asia, GN. Used together with advanced DSP technology and Audio Shock Protection th...

Google will allow developers to sell applications for its Android cell phone operating system beginning next week in the United States. The move is a further step by the search giant into the mobile phone market, where Apple Inc has encountered success with its iPhone. Developers such as Electronic Arts Inc have been anxious to expand sales of their mobile phone games to the Android Market, which has been limited to free applications until now. Google said in a statement on Friday that consumers will have to pay for the applications via its Google Checkout payment product. Google's Android Market will initially carry paid applications from developers in the United States and Britain, with plans to allow developers in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France and Spain to participate later this quarter.

Another Android device to-be has begun making waves according to reports. The handset is manufactured by a company called General Mobiles (General Motors affiliated???) that seems to specialize in Dual SIM handsets. The handset called the DSTL 1 is a classy looking touchscreen handset. Other than just Dual SIM technology it’s also equipped with a Linux 2.6 Kernel, hence the Android assumption. Nothing has been made official yet so we’ll have to wait and see. The DSTL 1 also features– * a 3-inch touchscreen with a 240 x 400 pixel, 260K color resolution (WQVGA) * Wi-Fi, EDGE and GPRS support * 4GB of internal memory with external support form microSD cards (up to 8GB) * Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR * Media player with DivX playback support, FM radio * 5 megapixel AF camera with flash * MS document reader * Java support This will be the first Dual SIM Android powered handset of course and it’s possible it’ll be showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Feb this year.

The Storm is here and while I’m sure you're anxious to know how it fared. We were too. So it took us a little while to get through with testing and here’s what we have to say. Form Factor The 9500’s build quality exudes a certain sturdiness with slim chromed lines and who can miss that brilliant 3.5-inch SurePress touchscreen display that is anything but conventional and clearly visible even in broad daylight. It sports a resolution of 360 x 480 (184ppi) pixels and 65k colors with an accelerometer for screen rotation. Though it's 3G ready, video calling might be a bit of a problem considering there’s no secondary camera. The 3.2 megapixel AF camera comes with a single LED for a flash and is located at the back. On one side of this slim device (that we thought to be a lot thicker from the previews) is a 3.5mm standard earphones socket, volume keys and a dedicated camera key. A customizable key that’s usually set to Voice Command is located on the other side with a micro USB p...

For Nokia 5800 fans who were wondering when the company would release applications for the touchscreen handset, the wait is over. Nokia has released six new applications for the handset that include WaveSecure It not only helps you track the lost phone but also ensures full security of the data on the device by allowing you to track the lost/stolen device via Buddy Notification or over the Internet. Remotely Lock the lost/stolen device, so that nobody can misuse the device and data. Backups of your data including Contacts, SMSs, Calendar Entries and Call Logs can be created and users can also erase the data on the stolen device to avoid misuse. You can also be able to restore the data back onto your device once you find it or even restore it on a new device which has WaveSecure installed. SMS Timer SMS Timer allows you to schedule SMS/MMS messages to be sent on a future date and time. The application functions exactly like the standard messaging application allowing you to define multi...

For the video and multimedia generation of today, a large screen is a pre-requisite and with large displays, 'touchscreen' is exactly what you’ll need for navigation. So, for you mobile maniacs interested in multimedia handsets designed with that specification in mind, here are few choices under a Rs. 20,000 budget. Nokia 5800 XpressMusic– Rs. 19, 990 Nokia’s answer to the iPhone craze was to create one of their own from their loyal fan base and the 5800 XpressMusic was the answer. Stirring up hype before the official launch and making an appearance in the Dark Knight movie made it all the more appealing. The handset features a 3.2-inch touch screen display, microSD card support and a standard 3.5mm earphone socket. It's also equipped with an accelerometer for auto-screen rotation, handwriting recognition and a 3.2 megapixel camera. For connectivity the 5800 is also stocked with Stereo Bluetooth, USB (micro) 2.0, GPRS/EDGE, 3G (HSDPA) support, Wi-Fi, GPOS with A-GPS and TV ...