Ericsson has a weird but interesting computer concept for us. The Spider Computers doesn’t need a monitor or a keyboard as it projects them both in front of you. The tripod includes a full PC, pico-projector, laser keyboard, 3G and lots of other features. Unfortunately we won’t see such a computer in stores anytime soon. Current technology might make it impossible to build. Well maybe it could be build after all but we can’t expect it to offer spectacular performances at this point. In a few years when pico-projectors and PC components will evolve the Spider Computer might really become an alternative to netbooks and nettops. That’s when we will return with more news about this concept if Ericsson decides to keep it, of course.

via mobileandnetbook

With Windows 7 officially out there we’re bound to see even more all-in-ones get unveiled soon. Dell has just launched a new all-in-one desktop in Japan, the Inspiron One 19.

Interested in specs? The Inspiron One will come with either a 2.6GHz or a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB RAM, up to 500GB hard drive, a DVD burner, 802.11b/g WiFi, Firewire, six USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, built-in webcam and an 18.5-inch 1,366 x 768 LCD display.

Interested in prices? The One 19 featuring a 2.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and a 320GB HDD is available for $768 while the 2.93GHz processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD version is available for $932 in Japan. Interested?

via Dell

Like netbooks, nettops are growing more and more popular. And today we have found a nettop that comes with a very special feature. The Onkyo P305A3 Ion nettop comes with a detachable DVD burner. Although it’s very interesting, there’s not that much use in a detachable DVD burner, is it?

Other features include an Intel Atom 230 1.6 GHz processor, a NVIDIA Ion graphics chipset, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, eSATA and HDMI connectivity, WiFi and Windows 7.

The nettop will only be available on March 11 2010 and it will cost you $771. If you’re ready to add a 21.5 HD LCD then be ready to get the whole system for $992.

via Netbooked

With Windows 7 just around the corner we’re bound to see new all-in-one desktops that will come our wayt with multitouch support. One of them is the newly launched Acer Aspire Z5610. The question is, are you ready for some multitouch action in your life? The Z5610 comes with a 24-inch HD touchscreen with full multitouch support which will certainly tire your hands pretty soon. Other features include a Pentium Dual Core E5300 processor, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics card, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 in the background. The Aspire Z5610 will be available for just $899 so if you’re lucky you might find it under your tree in just a little over two months!

via businesswire

Ooooh boy.  Well, folks, if there’s anything you wanted to see on YouTube you may want to go there now and watch, because it looks like the lawsuit Viacom’s bringing against them is about to blow wide open.

Check THIS out:

In addition, internal YouTube e-mails indicate that YouTube managers knew and discussed the existence of unauthorized content on the site with employees but chose not to remove the material, three sources with knowledge of the case told CNET.  The e-mails, according to the sources who asked for anonymity because of the ongoing litigation, surfaced during an exchange of information between the two sides of the legal dispute. They are one of the cornerstones of Viacom’s case, as well as that of a separate class action lawsuit filed against Google and YouTube by a group of content owners, the sources said. The group includes a European soccer league and a music-publishing company.

And this torpedoes YouTube’s defense.  It was one thing for YouTube to have no idea that the content was getting posted.  It was another to know and be working on it.  It was something entirely different to know and do nothing about it, which is what those documents seem to show.

YouTube, and through them, Google, is about to have a seriously bad time fending off Viacom’s attack.  But YouTube’s defense may not be for naught after all–see, they have one excellent point backing them up: all these people uploading copyrighted content…some of them are the ACTUAL OWNERS of the copyright.  Viacom’s doing the uploading in some cases.  So how can YouTube ever be expected to know the difference between Viacom’s own uploads and uploads from some guy who converted his VHS collection into MP4 and uploaded it himself?

Better safe than sorry though, folks–best get your video fixes while they’re there to be got.

Zontac is ready to enter the nettop business and it already has an ION-based machine ready to go. The Mini All-in-One Giant or the MAG PC will offer you a choice between a dual core Atom 330 or a single core Atom 230 processor. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi, eSATA, USB 2.0, Ethernet, VGA and HDMI connectivity. We have no idea when the MAG PC is coming or what it will cost but it might be a great addition to your home theater setup.

via techtree

So one of the most hotly contested items in the Apple community, the Blu-ray drive for iMacs, is apparently still some time off, according to sources.

Despite the addition of Blu-ray burning capability to the iMac’s Final Cut Studio software, which definitely sounded like tacit approval, the addition of Blu-ray itself is apparently not going to happen.  At least, not any time soon–check this out:

…but company chief Steve Jobs has famously described the 50GB disc format as a “bag of hurt” due to the copyright protection and licensing problems associated with the technology. The drives also remain more expensive than DVD drives even for combo drives, or those that can only read Blu-ray but can still write DVDs.

This means, of course, adding Blu-ray would only make the already pricey iMac a whole lot more so, and that’s the last thing Apple needs in a downed economy worldwide with PC makers already scoring serious points off Apple for overpriced hardware.  Add all of these together and you get one inexorable conclusion–it’ll be a while before Blu-ray becomes feasible to add to the iMac.

In case you don’t know, Windows 7 is closer than ever which means we’re going to see a lot of new desktops, nettops and all-in-one computers bragging about the fact that they can run the new Microsoft OS.

Such is the case of the newly launched EeeBox EB1501 nettop coming from Asus. Besides the new OS, this computer comes with NVIDIA’s Ion chipset on board which, together with Intel’s Atom 333 dual-core processor should get the job done for you. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 250 HDD, built-in DVD burner and HDMI connectivity. How much for it? Well just $580!

via Notebook Italia

Are you ready to experience Windows 7 on a touchscreen all-in-one Eee Top from Asus powered by NVIDIA ION? Well then you should be happy to know that both the ET2002T and the ET2203T are on their way and these brand new desktops will be available starting with October 22 in European markets. The prices for UK look a bit steep at $893 and $1,312, respectively, but you should expect to get them for much less in the US. There’s no news as to when and where these babies will appear next but Asus will probably start selling the Eee Tops in most markets soon after the European release.

via Press

Well, folks–the word coming out on digital piracy in Europe is that European governments will do pretty much anything short of sexual congress with farm animals (and even that may not be off the table) in order to keep Big Media happy.

The push for cutting off Internet access for suspected pirates continues on unabated.  Interestingly, when we first reported on such a program, it was intended for Great Britain, who later announced that it wasn’t interested in such a program, until later when it announced that it was.  And further, the British program was actually based on a FRENCH program, which also faced some hurdles from legislators before they promptly rolled over and laughed at their constituents for being suckers of sufficient size to believe that–har!–they were put in office to PROTECT PEOPLE’S RIGHTS.

If we’ve got any readers around France and England, we’d love to hear from them on what they think about the whole “lose your internet access if they think you download” policy.

If you’re rather get an all-in-one desktop instead of a nettop like the LG XPION X30 we’ve just seen then maybe the new Lenovo C100 all-in-one desktop is the home computer you need.

Prices start at $399 and you’ll get an 18.5-inch LCD display, a 2-inch thin chassis, a processor choice between Intel’s Core 230 or Core 330, DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, 1GB of RAM, 160GB of storage space and Intel’s GMA950. It will run only Windows XP for now but you could always upgrade it later to run Windows 7 too.

via Lenovo

LG is ready to launch its first small desktop computer, the XPION X30. The XPION line has been announced a while ago and we’re done waiting. The computer will bring you a NVIDIA ION graphics chipset, an Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and a 250 GB hard drive. Windows 7 will definitely be an option if you’re willing to wait some more or you will just have to settle with Vista for now.

The X30 can definitely be included in your future home theatre setup. Its brand new NVIDIA chipset will let you run all the HD videos you want and if you want to play some games from time to time you’ll be able to do that too. Unfortunately we have no pricing details just yet but they should be revealed soon.

via liliputing

It’s been a while since we’ve last looked at an LCD monitor wearing Hello Kitty original designs so today we have one more Hello Kitty display for you to enjoy or hate depending on how you feel about this particular kitten. And this time it’s not just a monitor, it’s a whole PC.

The Kitty Minew A10 PC will come with basic specs like an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM and 160GB of storage space. If you’re thinking that the desktop could be the ideal first PC of your daughter then you’d be right. But beware though, make sure she loves pink and Hello Kitty before you go ahead and purchase the Minew A10. And speaking about buying it, we have no pricing details and availability dates just yet so you have plenty of time to learn what kind of computer your daughter really wants!

via Akihabara

From a press release from the Nielsen folks:

At Nielsen, OnDemand Online and TV Everywhere are examples of what we refer to as the “Extended Screen” — initiatives that treat the computer as another screen in the home used to watch television. In fact, we’re already working to capture television viewing that takes place online and to add that viewing back in to the ratings. That includes in our National C3 ratings.

Wow, that sounds vaguely megalomaniacal.  They just sort of DECLARE the computer “another screen” and make it fall under their bailiwick?  But it’s the how of the whole thing that’ll start raising your hackles–they basically want to put spyware on your computer.

Nielsen calls it their “Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement” program, and to support it, they’ve developed an internet software meter that they install with their so-called Nielsen families.

Frankly, I remember when Neilsen sent you five bucks in an envelope and a booklet to fill out with your television viewing.  Now they want to hook up meters to monitor your Internet usage?  When did they turn into the Chinese government?  While on the one hand, I can see a definite value in knowing exactly how many people use a site (it’d wind up being “ratings” by which the prices for advertising are established) it also sound spectacularly invasive.  And that’s never a good thing.

Okay, we’ve been talking about home theatre setups for some time now, and we’ve seen some really great ones and some that aren’t so great as the really great.  And today we’re looking at a home theatre setup from the AV Forums message board, posted by user Alyse.

Alyse gave a whole list of components, including a Sony 46″ Z4500 HDTV, a Sony DG910 AV 5.1/7.1 Receiver, a Sony S350 Blu-ray Player, 5.1 Speakers with subwoofer, an Xbox 360 and running Microsoft Vista Media Center on the whole thing.

Now, Alyse seems to have this theatre in a room with windows, or at least some kind of glass blocks facing outside, because there’s some light in there.  And a second thing you’ll notice is the glass coffee table right in front of that sweet Sony TV, giving off a reflection back at you. Generally, folks, the home theatre is a bad place for any kind of reflective surfaces that aren’t transmitting a picture.

Aside from these two fairly minor problems, however, Alyse definitely has a sweet home theatre setup.

Want to relish a rich and high quality soundtrack for your music, movies and gaming sessions? Go for the new Sony’s SRS-DB500 2.1ch PC Speakers, the perfect companion for movie buffs and serious gamers who demand shrill soundtrack to go with the on-screen action.

Team up the Sony’s SRS-DB500 with your computer and enjoy 300 watts of total power output with two 75 watt speakers and the 150 watt sub-woofer that features bass reflex. The speaker comes integrated with high-efficiency S-Master Full Digital amplifier technology for rich and detailed sound.

Wireless remote commander of the speaker makes adjusting volume, bass, treble, and selecting input and lighting effects a simple task. For easy connectivity with MP3, CD player, PC, television or gaming console, the speaker supports dual input RCA and stereo mini jack. The SRS-DB500 high-power 2.1ch PC speaker system is now available for purchase.

Via: Sony

If you’re considering adding a cheap and very portable desktop to your workspace and if you’re finally going to experience with Linux then we have a new desktop to show you. The Linutop 3 comes with unimpressive features, but we did tell you it was very affordable. So, for $485 you’ll get a 1GHz VIA C7 CPU, 1GB of RAM and an amazing 2GB SSD. Did I say unimpressive? That storage space will keep all your favorite movies so the Linutop 3 could be a nice addition to your home theater system. What do you say?

via Register

For those of you considering the idea of a home theatre PC, you might do well to consider a four terabyte TeraStation storage system, especially if you’ve got an extra two grand lying around doing nothing.

Four terabytes will hold the equivalent of one thousand DVDs, so if you’ve got a mammoth film library this just might be your weapon of choice.

This enormous monster box of data storage not only has its onboard four terabytes of storage, but also comes with support for FOUR different hot-swappable drive bays.  Assuming you can jack in another terabyte drive to each of those (and I believe some will go to two terabytes), you can manage to get fully another four to eight TERABYTES of storage, equivalent to another one to two thousand DVDs.

Three thousand total DVDs.  Approximately six thousand hours of video.  That’s just over eight months worth of video, assuming you don’t do anything but watch movies.  Not even SLEEP.   And if you need more storage than that, then even I have to think you watch entirely too many movies.

We’ve been pondering the use of one of ASUS’ EeeBox PCs as a home theater PC ever since December of 08. However, until now the hardware’s specs haven’t been good enough to justify its use in the home theater, that is, until the EeeBox EB1012 was announced.

This device will feature a dual-core Atom N330 processor, a NVIDIA MCP7A ION GPU, 2-4GB of DDR2 ram, a 250GB hard drive, WiFi, Ethernet, an eSATA port, 4 USB ports, a SDHC card reader, a 5.1 audio jack and most importantly an HDMI out port.

So yes, given the above specs this computer will be able to handle 1080p video without breaking a sweat. Too bad ASUS has yet to say anything in terms of a release date or price point, bummer.

via ehomeupgrade

How do you like the computer setup in the picture here? What we have there is a BookArk stand which will be able to accommodate an up to 17-inch MacBook Air or MacBook Pro and turn it into a desktop. Get yourself a nice big display, a keyboard and a mouse and the whole setup is ready. If you’re used to hooking up an external display to your Mac than this BookArk stand is a more than elegant solution meant to help you improve your whole workspace. The BookArk is only $49.99 so you’ll be able to get it right away. The Cinema Display in the picture there is going to be a little more expensive but the setup should work with other displays too.

via BookArk