laptop posts

Crook Reaches Through Window to Swipe Laptop From Man's Lap

by Warren Riddle — Jul 10th 2009 at 2:01PM

Several weeks ago, brazen thieves stole 31 computer monitors from a Canadian man's driveway as he was preparing to load them for transport. In Minneapolis on the 4th of July, an even more audacious (or inebriated) would-be bandit reached through local resident Jesse Phoutthaphaphone's window and stole his laptop, directly out of the shocked Phoutthaphaphone's hands.

According to local NBC affiliate KARE 11, the victim, who had been checking out his MySpace page dressed only in his skivvies, bolted from the house and chased the thief into a nearby resident's garage. With the neighbor's help, the thief was overpowered, but, alas, the laptop hit the ground and shattered during the battle. The two men did manage to subdue the culprit until police arrived, though.

Tags: crime, laptop, theft, thief, top

Cell Phones, Computers, BlackBerry, iPhone, Web

Buy Me Some Peanuts and iPhone Apps: High-Tech Ballparks on the Rise

by Caleb Johnson — Jun 23rd 2009 at 6:22AM

Since its inception, the sport of baseball has remained largely unchanged on the field, a fact that's played a large part in endearing the game to generations of Americans. Yet, there's no doubt that things have changed in the stands. Scorecards disappeared long ago, giant video screens replaced binoculars, and cell phones now light up the stands instead of glowing cigars. It's a fact; technology is altering how we spend a day at the ballpark.

According to ABC News, the latest wave of smart phones might be having an unprecedented impact on America's pastime -- or at least how we watch it. Fans are using free Wi-Fi, which is offered at many stadiums like San Francisco's AT&T Park, to access new, unique content during the game. AT&T Park officials told ABC News that 1,310 fans logged on to the stadium's network, which features 139 access points, during the busiest game of the Giants' season. There's a pitch-tracker application for the iPhone that shows the spot at which every pitch crosses the plate, and on-demand video replays at the Giants' Digital Dugout Web site (which also features a food finder to help fans locate particular drinks and treats in the ballpark). Some fans even check Facebook and e-mails during the game, something die-hards frown upon.

Tags: baseball, gadget, laptop, smartphone, sports, top, wifi, wireless

Computers

Why Laptop Batteries Don't Last as Long as Claimed

by Terrence O'Brien — Jun 22nd 2009 at 3:12PM

More Accurate Battery Test for Laptops in Our Future?

Anyone who has shopped for a laptop knows that a manufacturer's estimated battery life is estimated pretty liberally. Usually, the numbers are based on a test called MobileMark 2007, which measures how long a computer's battery lasts under conditions that are, to be polite about it, completely unrealistic. The screen is set to 20-percent brightness, Wi-Fi and any other wireless tech shut off, and all apps are turned off. As the New York Times said, "it turns a computer into a dimly lit clock."

The problem is that nobody simply sits in front of their laptop staring at a blank screen. In fact, most users treat their laptops just like a desktop PC. Most users listen to music, instant message, and browse the Web (all at the same time) with the brightness pumped up to 100-percent. It's no surprise that when manufacturers claim battery life is around six hours, it .

Tags: AMD, battery, battery life, BatteryLife, laptop, mobilemark, top

Computers

Data Backup Service Helps Nab Thief

by Caleb Johnson — Jun 1st 2009 at 5:01PM

A data backup program recently helped Berkeley, California authorities solve a theft case. Soon after an unidentified Berkeley man's laptop was stolen from his car on May 5th, he took to the Web to examine his personal account on an online, data back-up program. Finding pictures the thief had taken of himself with the computer's built-in camera, the victim and police handily recovered the purloined PC, according to CNET News.

According to a policeman's article that appeared in an e-mail newsletter issued by Berkeley City Council member Susan Wengraf (later posted to the Web by open-source advocate Bruce Perens), the victim then showed the photos to detectives. They quickly identified the thief as a man with the name Vega, who was released from jail earlier this year.

Tags: dumb criminal, DumbCriminal, laptop, police, theft

Computers, Web

Denmark to Allow Internet Use During Exams

by Kaiser Hwang — May 15th 2009 at 9:10AM

Politiken is reporting that several high schools in Denmark will be allowing 'A' level students to have Internet access during their written exams. If the experiment goes well, the system will be implemented across the country for the 2011 high school exams.

According to Politiken, the Ministry of Education will require that papers be handed in digitally, and administrators will carry out random site checks to curb plagiarism and cheating.

We love this idea. Before you cry foul, remember that there was a time when calculators weren't allowed to be used in tests. School is about preparing students for the real world, and these days the Internet allows information to be obtained at the blink of an eye. Plus, we think this is excellent training for an entirely new generation of bloggers. Long live the hyperlink! [From: Politiken]

Tags: education, laptop, school, students, testing, top

Computers

Woman Struck and Killed by Laptop in Car Wreck

by Lee Bains — Apr 16th 2009 at 12:46PM

Last month, 25-year-old Heather Storey was driving to work through Surrey, British Columbia, as she did most days, with her laptop computer perched on the backseat of her car. When her car was suddenly hit by a towtruck, that innocent laptop turned to a deadly projectile.

Yesterday morning, according to the CBC News, Sergeant Roger Morrow of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the press, "'What we believe happened [was] that she was struck in the back of her head and neck with this laptop computer. She simply didn't have it secured within the confines of her car, and ultimately it has been the instrument of her death.'"

Her brother, Michael Pratt, addressed the press, as well, imploring the public "not to keep stuff [in your vehicle] that can get airborne or hit you." While Heather's mother Marilyn Storey clutched her daughter's laptop, he added, "'[Your] family, and people that care about you, really will miss you when you're gone.'"

We can only reiterate Pratt's words of caution with hopes that such a young life will not again be taken by such a tragic accident.

Related Links:

Tags: accident, death, killer gadgets, KillerGadgets, laptop

Cameras, Computers

Why You Should Always Empty Your Computer's Trash Bin

by Peter Mychalcewycz — Mar 19th 2009 at 6:39PM

Here's a tip: If you are going to rat someone out to the cops, make sure the cops don't end up busting you instead.

The Smoking Gun reports that Michelle Owen, a 24 year-old Indiana woman, suspected that her ex-boyfriend had used her computer to look up child pornography. Embroiled in a custody dispute with the man and concerned by the criminal nature of such searches, Owen requested that police search the laptop for illegal content, which, in hindsight, might have been a mistake.

While searching the computer, detectives found no evidence of child pornography, but instead found video files containing footage of Owen performing illicit acts with a dog. In case you were wondering, the dog is believed to be a beagle named Toby. Owen has been charged with two felony bestiality counts despite her explaining to police in their official report that the incident was "just something she did while she was drunk and barely remembers it."

Sorry honey, next time you might want to empty your computer's recycle bin. May we also suggest that you stop drinking immediately? [From: the smoking gun]

Related Links:

Tags: beastiality, crime, crimes, dog, laptop, relationships, sex, spying, top

Computers, Laptops, Notebooks

MacBook's Battery Goes Boom in London Office

by Tim Stevens — Feb 27th 2009 at 12:15PM

It's been quite some time since we've had a good exploding battery story. Back in 2007, it seemed like nobody was immune from the plague, with Sony being blamed for battery recalls extending to laptops from Apple, Dell, Toshiba, and a number of others. Given that was so long ago and the news was so widely publicized, we'd figured everyone would have, by now, swapped their recalled batteries for free replacements. Apparently, we were mistaken -- some unlucky soul's aging Apple PowerBook self-destructed in a London office yesterday, sending six-foot flames shooting to the ceiling.

The laptop apparently started smoking, then sparking, then a massive pillar of flame blew out of it that reached the ceiling. It took an entire fire extinguisher bottle to put out the flames, but even then it was still glowing red and dripping slag. It's believed that the laptop is three or four years old, and nobody is sure whether it had its battery replaced during those 2007 recalls. We're guessing it didn't.

If you have an older PowerBook and aren't sure if you need a new battery, head over to Apple's Battery Exchange site and check your serial numbers. Better to be safe than get burned! [From: The Inquirer]

Related Links:

Tags: apple, apple macbook, AppleMacbook, batteries, battery, battery recall, BatteryRecall, exploding batteries, exploding battery, ExplodingBatteries, ExplodingBattery, killer gadgets, KillerGadgets, laptop, macbook, sony battery, SonyBattery

Computers

It's Alive: Actual Worm Crashes Man's Computer

by Tim Stevens — Feb 25th 2009 at 4:19PM

Real Earthworm Causes Problems for Man's Computer

We've had no shortage of reports about worms lately, with the Conficker virus making its way into the core of computers around the world, spreading fear and hate, and even grounding a few planes along its way. Today, though, we present a story about a very different type of worm: a real, live, earthworm. Well, it was alive, before being killed by the heat inside a man's laptop.

Experiencing computer problems, 45-year-old Englishman Mark Taylor recently received a message stating that the cooling fan on his machine wasn't working correctly. He took it to a computer technician, who took a look inside and discovered the problem -- a five-inch earthworm that had crawled in through one of the cooling vents and, ultimately, jammed the fan. Taylor suspects that one of his cats brought the worm into the house, and that, looking for a warm hiding place, the worm made its way into the laptop. In the end, all it found was its doom, meaning that this is one worm we don't have to worry about spreading. [From: The Telegraph]

Related Links:

Tags: animals, cooling, earthworm, funny, laptop, weird, worm

Computers, Laptops

More Specifis on India's $20 Laptop, the Sakshat

by Paul Miller — Feb 3rd 2009 at 3:33PM

As expected, India's government unveiled the jointly-developed "$10 laptop" today, now priced at $20. Unfortunately dubbed Sakshat, which ironically translates as "before your eyes," the laptop is slated to ship in six months, with specs in line with what we've heard already: 2GB of storage, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and 2 watts of power consumption. In fact, there really isn't much "unveiling" going on at all, since there's still no published image of the thing, or information about the screen size, RAM or processor.

Some folks are also still skeptical as to whether a laptop can really be produced at such a low cost, since most LCDs alone would put it over budget, but we suppose we'll find out this summer. The laptop itself won't be subsidized, but the government will shoulder 25-percent of the cost of broadband for colleges, and there will be free e-learning textbooks available to students online.

Related Links:

Tags: 10 dollar laptop, 10DollarLaptop, budget, india, laptop, netbook, sakshat

Audio/Video, Cell Phones, Computers, Video Games, CES 2009

CES Day 2 Highlights, Part One

by Tim Stevens — Jan 9th 2009 at 1:45PM

It was a long and exciting first day at CES, with the Palm Pre proving to be the biggest announcement made at the show. It certainly made us do a double (and triple) take, but there's plenty more to report and lots of surprises still to come.

Grippity Keyboard Reinvents Typing - There's a very strong chance you're sitting in front of a keyboard right now as you read this, and while the things are nearly ubiquitous when it comes to home consuming, many (including us) would be very happy to see a typing interface that's a little more fresh. One possible solution is called the Grippity, a handheld device that looks something like an overgrown PS3 controller with a normal QWERTY graphic layout on the front but with the keys themselves on the back. While we find the idea to be totally intriguing, it sadly feels a bit clumsy to use.

Gateway's Mid-Range MD and UC Laptops - There's something of a growing divide in the laptop realm between high-end, powerhouse laptops and low-end, budget netbooks. Gateway is filling the void with its MD and UC series laptops, both with stylish designs and practical specs at reasonable costs that should fit into most people's budgets. They're not exactly groundbreaking in any respect, but they're solid choices for sure.

Samsung Shows Off Flexible OLED - LCD screens have definitely reached something of a saturation point, but the way things are going, it looks like they'll soon be superseded by OLED. These new screens don't require backlighting like an LCD, so they can be ridiculously thin. They can also be extremely flexible, as is Samsung's trick screen shown in the above link. Right now, OLEDs tend to be small and expensive and, generally, not available, but we expect to see many, many more of them this year.

Skype Hits Android, Java-Compatible Handsets - Millions have used Skype to make free online calls, and now it's getting much easier to make those calls on the go as the folks at Skype have announced the program's compatibility with numerous handsets. First up is a version of the app capable of running on Google's free mobile operating system Android, meaning anyone using a G1 can make calls without using minutes. Skype has also released a streamlined Java version of the client that's compatible with many handsets. If you're pushing the limits of your calling plan's allocation, you may want to make the leap.

Coby Shows Off Sub-$200 Netbooks - Netbooks are great, truly bringing low-cost portable computing to the masses, but they still need to get a bit cheaper before they're ubiquitous. While Gateway is filling the middle of the cost spectrum, Coby is heading to the bottom with its lineup of under-$200 offerings. The machines have the standard tiny netbook styling and hardware specs, with Intel Atom processors, but their bright coloring and low cost should make them a hit -- if and when the company actually puts them into production.

Mattel's Mind Flex Will Challenge Your Kid's Minds - There are plenty of games out there that will make your kids think, but not many tax the ol' noodle quite like this. The Mind Flex uses a headset to detect your brain activity which, in turn, levitates and guides a ball through an obstacle course: relax to lower and focus to raise. It's actually a lot of fun and we're eager to hear what others have to say when it's released this Fall for $80. [From: Engadget]

Tags: android, ces, ces 2009, ces-2009-highlights, ces-2009-top, Ces2009, coby, gateway, gateway md, gateway uc, GatewayMd, GatewayUc, grippity, laptop, mattel, mattel mind flex, MattelMindFlex, md, mind flex, MindFlex, netbook, oled, samsung, skype, uc

Computers, Laptops, Notebooks, desktops

Laptop Sales Overtake Traditional Desktop PC Sales Over Holiday

by Lee Bains — Jan 9th 2009 at 5:01AM

Laptops have officially overtaken traditional desktop PCs, according to a Reuters report.

In the all-important week before Christmas, laptops dominated online retail giant Amazon.com's list of the 10 highest selling computers and hardware components, while nary a desktop appeared on the list. Noting advances in laptop technology and consumer demand for portability, commentators find that laptops' recent success largely depends on one particularly relevant reason: a newfound competitiveness in pricing.

Peter Lin, an analyst with iSuppli, told Reuters, "On both price and performance, laptops are so competitive now it's surprising they weren't able to catch up with desktops even earlier."

Tags: desktop, industry, laptop

Computers

Why You Should Never Try to Steal a Law Student's Laptop

by Dan Reilly — Nov 14th 2008 at 2:41PM

A thief learned the mistake of trying to steal a law student's laptop last week after after becoming a punching bag for an Arizona State student he tried to rip off. Armed with a baseball bat, the intruder, Gabriel Saucedo, allegedly climbed through an open window into Alex Botsios' apartment, waking the student and threatening to smash his head in.

Botsios was willing to let Saucedo take his wallet and guitars. Then the robber made the mistake that ultimately landed him in the hospital -- he went for the laptop. According to Botsios, he said "Dude, no -- please, no! I have all my case notes...that's four months of work!" Saucedo, obviously underestimating the fury of an overstressed, overworked first-year, was unsympathetic. That's when Botsios could take no more.

Wrestling Saucdeo to the floor, Botsios separated the bat from the thief and repeatedly punched him in the face. When it was all over, police had to get Saucedo stitched up before charging him with armed robbery and kidnapping, while Botsios only suffered some scrapes and a bruised knuckle. Most importantly, at least to the student, is that his laptop, which he called "his baby," escaped unharmed. Next time, Saucedo might want to try robbing a third-year student, as they're generally more docile. [From: KTAR.com]

Tags: crime, expire-images2009-11-13, laptop, robbery, top

Cell Phones, Computers, BlackBerry, Google, iPhone

Could Your iPhone or BlackBerry Ever Replace Your Laptop?

by Terrence O'Brien — Oct 28th 2008 at 11:28AM

Computers are progressively getting smaller -- at this point it's a good chance that your cell phone is more powerful than the machines used to send the Apollo missions to the moon. The move from desktops to laptops occurred first in the workplace, and the shift towards smaller and lighter laptops has been primarily driven by business users.

The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that some business users (though a relatively small portion) are even starting to phase out the laptop entirely. As smart phones have gotten more powerful and loaded with more features (full QWERTY keyboards and large touch screens), mobile professionals are beginning to leave the laptop at the office (or hotel) and rely on these souped-up handsets while on the move.

While the iPhone, BlackBerrys, Android, and Windows Mobile handsets have given cell phones surprising amounts of power and versatility, they're still fairly limited when compared to a full sized laptops. Professional tools like Salesforce and Office have made their way to handsets, but with limited feature sets. The tiny keyboards (or touch screen keyboard, in the case of the iPhone) are fine for text messages and quick e-mails, but really aren't ideal for lengthy editing of text or spreadsheets.

Could smart phones one day replace laptops? Perhaps, but the limitations of the form factor pose a major roadblock. Viewing large spreadsheets on even the relatively large screen of the iPhone requires far too much scrolling to be practical and writing even brief blog posts on a BlackBerry is just asking for thumb cramps. [From: Wall Street Journal]

Tags: android, laptop, laptops, mid, smart phone, SmartPhone, trends, umpc, windows mobile, WindowsMobile

Audio/Video, Computers, Laptops

Sony Unveils World's Lightest Blu-ray Laptop

by Darren Murph — Sep 23rd 2008 at 4:37PM

It took a few ~~days~~ hours longer than expected, but Sony's VAIO TT is here. And it's sexy. This 11.1-inch beauty features a sub-1-inch thick, 2.87-pound chassis made from carbon-fiber, and Sony claims it's the lightest notebook on the planet to pack Blu-ray capabilities.

Arriving in a variety of configurations, the VAIO TT is available with an XBRITE-DuraView LCD, Intel's Centrino 2 technology, an HDMI output, dual channel 256GB (128GB x 2) SSD setup with RAID, Sprint WWAN (EV-DO Rev. A) and Windows Vista running the show. The Fall-bound TT -- which will arrive in premium carbon black, silk black, champagne gold and crimson red outfits -- will start at around two large, with the Blu-ray model going for $2,700 and the SSD edition demanding $2,750.

There's no direct mention of a battery life figure, which scares us just a tad, but you can dig into the full release just after the break.

Don't miss the gallery over at Engadget.

Tags: blu-ray, bluray, breaking news, BreakingNews, HD, hdtv, laptop, sony, travel, travel laptops, TravelLaptops, vaio, vaio tt, VaioTt

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Editors' Picks

Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams

Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.

Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.

Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.

Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.

17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.

Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."

Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?

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