JungleDisk 2.0 Launched

Jungle Disk has announced the release of the final version of it's popular backup software. Jungle Disk 2.0 includes many performance enhancement that make backing up important data easier than ever.

Jungle Disk 2.0's new features include :

• An Improved User Interface - with a better and easier setup wizard makes, a new backup preview dialog and a new backup selection dialog for easier to set up automatic backups.
• Support for new Jungle Disk 2.0 buckets - allows users to instantly rename files and directories, encrypt file & directory names, change encryption key (bucket password) instantly and support for unlimited number of buckets.
• Support for European S3 buckets.
  
• Support for connecting to multiple buckets at the same time.
• Support for multiple backup jobs with independent scheduling.
• Expanded bandwidth limiting - flexible choices to control network drive and automatic backup traffic, set limits on both upload and download rates, on the fly changing of limits and setting schedules for limits.
• New command line options that tightly integrate task schedulers and batch jobs.
• Optimized performance improvements for larger directories and larger cache sizes.

Unlocked Palm Centro Now Available

Palm, Inc. announced today the availability of an unlocked version of its popular Palm Centro smartphone for the US market. Now offered unlocked for use on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless (three of the US's largest carriers), Centro gives U.S. customers the ability to choose the mobile phone service that fits their needs. Palm concurrently announced the availability of the Google(TM) Maps service for mobiles with My Location builtin on the unit itself, giving users faster access to local maps and driving directions.

The unlocked Centro will be available in a slightly updated white color with grey accents. Available in 25 countries worldwide, the Centro offers customers flexible ways to keep in touch with friends, family and co-workers through voice, SMS text messaging, email or the web. The Centro is Palm's smallest and lightest smartphone to date. The Centro is now available from the official Palm Store (online) for $299.

Save on These Tech Deals...

I checked on the TigerDirect's page and found a few deals that looked good. Save mucho moola by using the links below:

• SAVE $4 - Case Logic Small Camera Case $5.97 (US)
• SAVE $3 - Cables to Go 6-Foot HDMI Male/Male Cable (Black) $6.97 (US)
• Low Price! - Logitech V100 Optical Mouse for Notebooks (Refurbished) $8.97 (US)
• SAVE $10 - Logitech V200 Notebook Mouse (Refurb) $14.97 (US)
• SAVE $10 - Logitech Cordless Mini Optical Silver Mouse (Refurbished) $14.97 (US)
• SAVE $10 - Logitech V200 Notebook Mouse (Onyx) (Refurb) $14.97 (US)
• SAVE $5 - Logitech MX Revolution Rechargeable Cordless Laser Mouse (Refurbished) $44.97 (US)
• SAVE $80 - Targus 15.4 Corporate Traveler Vertical Roller $59.97 (US)
• SAVE $25 - Sandisk Sansa 4GB MP3/MP4 Player (Refurbished) $44.99 (US)

Jungle Disk Releases 2.0 Release Candidate

Jungle Disk has announced the availability of Release Candidate (RC) of version 2.0. This is going to be the last build for final testing. This is expected to be the final version unless any major bugs are found. As posted by Jungle Disk on their official site, the RC is considered very stable so users still running version 1.50 and the older betas are encourage to try use this updated build.

The release candidate can be downloaded from Jungle Disk's beta download page. You can find out more information about the improvements to this version by looking up the release notes here.

Deliveries

I went to the local 2Go branch earlier to pick up my uMobile SIM card. The delivery guy came by 12:00 PM yesterday but I couldn't accept the delivery because I didn't have a photocopy of any of my ID's. He showed me the instructions from uMobile stating no to deliver the SIM unless the recipient provided photocopies of proof of identity. I told him I'd drop by their office after work the next day.

So I went to their Balibago office at 7:30, waited till 8 AM, eventually signed forms, and left with my new uMobile SIM. When I got home, I was barely out of my socks when an AIR21 delivery guy parked in front of the house. He was delivering the memory I won a few days ago. Schweet!

I've plugged in the SIM in my trusty Treo650 and let it sit for a while. I'm currently testing the RAM using Memtest86+. Memtest86+ will take a few hours to finish. Hopefully nothing is terribly wrong with the memory.

FTW - Won My First Auction!

I got an email an won a bid for a 256MB SDRAM module. And I got it cheap too. It cost me Php 350, including the shipping. I am currently texting the seller. Paid for the item through Smart Money. Amazing how convenient these electronic payments are! Transaction was smooth to say the least. The seller was easy to deal with and I had no problems with him. He was actually very flexible. When I suggested sending the money through Smart Money, he obliged and created his own Smart Money account. All I need to do now is wait for it to arrive.

Via Nano Running Crysis

Found a video of the demo Via Nano unit I blogged about 2 days ago. The video is posted along with first-hand accounts of the event and it's posted on TweakTown. I must say I'm impressed. This platform might prove its worth and become Via's chance to really make an impact in mainstream PC market.

Via And NVidia Launch Mini-ITX 2.0

As was previously announced, Via and Nvidia officially came out and formally presented their partnership to produce the most affordable Vista-capaable platform. PC Perspective ran a story with in-depth information on the expected performance of the upcoming platform. They even posted a picture of a sample board, with an 8600GT strapped on to the PCI Express slot. Digitimes also ran a story on the announcement, highlighting the two's support of Mini-ITX 2.0. Intel's entry to the Mini-ITX niche has been observed as "limiting", having a very basic graphics subsystem and no provisions for upgrades. Seeting up an official spec for Mini-ITX 2.0 is seen by analysts as Via's play to keep its dominance over it's Mini-ITX turf while attracting more of the mainstream market.

Mini-ITX 2.0 seeks to up the ante by allowing consumers more mainstream expansion choices while maintaining the 17 x 17 cm form factor. In more detail, 2.0 will require the following feature set on boards:

• Processor: High-performance, power efficient x86 processor, such as the VIA Nano processor;
• Memory: Support for minimum 2GB DDR2 SDRAM;
• Graphics: DirectX 9.0 integrated (IGP); DirectX 10 through an add-in card;
• Display: 1 VGA port for LCD display; 1 HDMI port on add-in card;
• HD Audio: 3 Audio jacks for up to 6-channel surround sound;
• Broadband Connectivity: 1 Gigabit Enthernet port;
• Storage: 2 Serial ATA II slots + 1 IDE (PATA) slot;
• Peripheral Connectivity: Minimum 4 USB2.0 ports;
• Expansion: 1 PCI Express 16-lane slot;
• Size: 17cm x 17cm;
• O/S Support: Microsoft Windows Vista; Microsoft Windows Vista Premium (through an add-in graphics card); Microsoft Windows XP, and major Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Suse Linux and gOS;

When compared to the current Mini-ITX offerings of Intel, these specifications are a boon for anyone seeking a low-cost solution for multimedia and gaming on the Vista platform. Clearly this strategy can open up a niche for Via in the mainstream market, opposite Intel's pushing the Atom platform (and their other Mini-ITX offerings) in the low-power niche that Via traditionally dominated. Now, only the market will say who's strategy will eventually pay off. Who gains more is will eventually be dictated by the consumers. I'm hedging my bets on Via gaining a bit on the mainstream market.

Browser For Kids With Autism

One of the things that has always amazed me about the open source development circles is the astounding number of user-developed apps. Programmers and developers often write new apps when they find apps already available don't do enough or don't behave the way they want them to. It's common to find out that apps are written because programmers and code hackers want more out of the apps they use. They then in turn release them as open source so others can use these apps, help debug them or improve them. Communities are often grown from these roots.

It's refreshing to see though that open source initiatives aren't the only source of good software. Individuals who want to create something for their loved ones or for causes often have the same drive as developers I mentioned, albeit for a different cause. One such piece of software would be the Zac Browser. It was created by a grandfather who wanted to help a grandchild with autism browse the web safely and independently. Assistive technology has always been expensive, and though the communities that support autism cause have grown over the years, that hasn't brought down the cost dramatically. This grandfather has made a great contribution to the cause of children with autism by making his browser free to the public.

The Zac Browser helps autistic kids focus their attention by using a simplified interface. It protects them as well by limiting their exposure to inappropriate content, filtering out any violent of otherwise disturbing content. The sites have been pre-selected by the developer and is updated regularly. The best part of it is that it is free to anyone who would want to try it.

I discovered this little gem while browsing for news about autism. AP featured it in a news article. I posted a video featuring the Zac Browser below:





The Zac Browser can be downloaded as an installer package or a "just run" no-install package. It works with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME and Windows 98. No word yet if this will be ported to Linux, but I'm hopeful it will be.

Eee Box - Asus' Eee PC Comes to Desktops

I read about the Eee Box from three articles several days ago. CNET, ZDNet and HotHardware all had articles pointing to emerging details about the Eee Box. Even Gizmodo had a few words to say about it. I must say it reminds me of the HP Blackbird, but that is altogether a different kind of machine.

Anandtech had a much more exhaustive feature on it. They benchmarked a demo unit. The article established the price point and corresponding configurations. The Anandtech article mentioned that all three units will b powered by an Intel Atom processor clocked at 1.6GHz. There will be a $269 base unit that will come with 1GB of RAM, an 80GB 2.5" laptop hard drive and Linux pre-installed. A Windows XP unit with the same spec will retail for $299. A third variant with Linux pre-installed will have the same $299 price tag as the XP unit but will have double the RAM and hard disk space. Goes to show how much you're really saving when you go for Linux ;-)

No fresh news is forthcoming, though. But I'll be watching.