Over the next 18 months the 3 giants of the Games Console world
will be battling it out in stores and homes across Europe,
America and Asia for the title of the world greatest Games
Console. The stakes are high in this multi billion dollar
business, not just for the console sales but for the games sales
that go along side it. Since the launch announcements of all 3
consoles in May at the E3 conference in LA. The 3 combatants
have been vying for the millions of column inches that have been
written about the Next Generation Consoles. Each Press release
has been hotly followed by another press release from a rival
company so much so that extracting the facts from all the hype
has been nearly impossible. At the launch press conferences
Microsoft boasted that the Xbox 360 could do
9-billion-dot-product-operations per second. Sony then came out
and said that the PS3 could do 51-billion-dot-product-operations
per second however Sony had combined the CPU and GPU performance
numbers whilst Microsoft only reported its CPU performance
number. When the consumer is up against this sort of publicity
blizzard it is best not to believe a thing until you can check
the facts for yourself.

So what do we know?

Well for the Xbox 360 and the Sony Playstation 3 we have lots of
lists of hardware and specifications which actually don’t mean
very much in isolation. The main thing that need concern us are
the processor speeds and they are both stated as being 3.2 GHz
The only time that the hardware will mean anything is when we
get to run them side by side and then if experience is anything
to go by the difference in real life performance won’t be
noticeable and will just be used by the press departments to
battle it out.

Despite all the press releases and information that has been
spewing out of the headquarters of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo
we actually know very few facts.

We know that in all likelihood the Xbox 360 will be on the
shelves in time for Christmas, Amazon are currently taking
pre-delivery orders and are quoting a release date of November
28th. The prices have been set at $299 for the Core System and
$399 for the Xbox 360, the difference being that the Core system
doesn’t have the external hard drive required to save games and
download new content or the headset required to play online on
Xbox Live! Why 2 prices? and why a version that hasn’t got
everything included? This looks very much like a product of the
marketing department trying to get a product at the historically
important sub $300 level more than anything and this may
backfire on them in the long run.

Next to hit the Shelves will be Sony’s Playstation 3 supposedly
in spring next year once again we have very few facts to go on,
Sony are continually releasing press releases and mentioning in
public that the price will be high and the figure of $500 has
been mentioned but many industry experts suspect that this is a
ploy so that when they release it at $300 or $350 it will look
like a bargain. The final console to hit the shelves will be the
Nintendo Revolution some time late in 2006 and 2007. Since the
“launch” at E3 this year very little has been said about it by
Nintendo. It seems at this time the “Launch” was just a way to
deflect some of the publicity away from Microsoft and Sony.

One fact is certain, If Microsoft do get the Xbox 360 onto the
shelves before Christmas it will be this year’s biggest selling
Christmas gift. So until you get your hands on one of the
consoles…. Question everything

The September 2005, Consumer Reports Canada States “The odds are roughly 1 in 3 that your computer will be damaged or thrashed by Virus or Spy ware”. Try and get an issue. It has a lot of good solid information on how to protect your computer.

Sophos stated on unprotected, unpatched Windows PC on line for 12 minutes has a 50 percent chance of being infected by a virus. They also claim “crime groups” are behind a huge outbreak in computer virus crime.

THE LIGHTERSIDE
REASONS WHY DOGS DON’T USE COMPUTERS
- Can’t help attacking the screen when they
hear, “You’ve Got Mail”.
- Can’t stick their heads out of Windows XP.
- Carpal Paw Syndrome.
- Too difficult to “Mark” every web site they visit.
- Too hard to read the screen with head cocked to one
side.
- Cause dogs aren’t GEEKS!

THE FREECYLE NETWORK
Do you have stuff you no longer have use for and want to get rid of? If you haven’t got time for garage sales, or ebay-you need to check out “The Freecyle Network”.

Founded in 2003, the network has more then 1.7 million members in 3,100 Communities in over 50 countries.
The only rules around what can be exchanged, or offered free is that it be legal, for any age group. There is a good chance of a listing from your city. For details GO TO www.freecycle.org

Site Explorer allows you to explore the entire pages index by Yahoo Search. You can view the most popular pages from any site, site map, and pages that link. siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com

When Searching Yahoo News, help.yahoo.com/help/us/news/beta/beta-08 You can also search through video, audio, syndicated news, blogs of Corporations or various individuals.

Ask.com has come up with some great features, including a “Toolbox”. Icons allow direct access to more than 20 search tools, including maps, images, weather, dictionary, local and desktop encyclopaedia is another feature providing content from Wikipedia, Houghton Mifflin and Columbia encyclopaedias right at the top of result page.

FILE TYPES
In addition to HTML files, Google search also supports 12 other formats such as PDF, Microsoft Office, PostScript, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, and others. Additionally, Google also offers the user the ability to “View as HTML, which allows users to view these files in case the corresponding software is not installed on the user’s PC. It also eliminates the hazards of opening a virus-infected document.

ADVANCED NEWS SEARCHES
A new offering from Google – Advanced News Search, allows visitors to scour headlines by date, location, exact phrases or publication. People can use it retrieve articles from more than 4,500 news outlets publishing on the Web.

WEB PAGE TRANSLATION
This feature is particularly helpful if your search has non-English results. Google offers a facility to auto-martially translate a page for you in English. Currently, Google supports Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese languages.

FREE ONLINE VIDEOS
Receive over 400 minutes of FREE online videos that show you step by step how to build an online business and an email list into the thousands. Visit the following website, sign up and get your report!
www.workingonyourown.com

CARRY A CAMCORDER WITH YOU?
Have a picture of someone famous or any that is newsworthy picture? Just go to: www.scoopt.com
Upload your picture… they will help you sell it to media outlets worldwide, and when they do sell it they’ll split the proceeds 50-50 with you.

Better Business Bureau:
www.bbbonline.org/cks.asp?

Other auction sites available to you:
auctions.nettop20.com/

If you want your own website click here and learn more:
www.turnkeystorebuilder.com

My good friend Keith Wellman gave me exclusive permission to give you this special link. It will allow you access to some extremely advanced viral marketing tools. Check it out AT: www.viralfx.com/onetime/go/

Register free and gain access to scam alerts, news.
www.directfraud.com

See how AltaVista can translate your website into 8 languages.
www.tka.co.uk/t/go.php

Drop Ship
There are thousands of companies who claim to be “Drop Shippers”. There are dozens of lists and sites that claim to tell you where to find them. Don’t be fooled by the junk drop ship lists that sell for $25 to $50+ and call themselves drop shippers. Most of these lists are worthless. They are resellers, charge you high retail prices, or you are required to pay a set up fee.

The good true drop shipper will not ask you for a fee. They will allow you to copy pictures of the products they sell. Prices are about half you would pay for retail. You can then set your price. They will not include any of their material and ship under your label.

Free Information on how to drop ship, supply website free or use your own. Copy any picture listing for your website or e mail. www.hottobuy4u.com/

Netdropsipper is a free drop shipper. However they also have a drop ship auction package they charge $99.99 for. With a click of a button you can then place any of their products on any auction site you wish.
If you have no website, they will build one for you and you can stock it with the products you want to carry. Price: $129.99 www.netdropshipper.com/

Lakeside carries hundreds of quality wholesale novelties. Just as good as a drop shipper as their minimum order is $35.00 www.lakesidenovelty.com/

Premium connection products span a wide range of interest and needs. They stock electronics such as radios, calculators, TVs and clocks; tool kits for BBQs, gardening and automotive needs; outdoor merchandise such as tents, cooler bags, BBQ grills and picnic kits; and a high quality line of leather merchandise including
www.premiumconnection.net/

Review of different drop shippers:
www.dropship-review.com

Free Auto responders hosted on their servers
www.freefollowup.com

USA Tax Forms and Help, Social Security, Disability Veterans, Passports, Business Tax ID
www.us.gov.com/

In the present vulnerable scenario, security seems to have become the prime concern of the common people.

All those who do not have the liberty as well as the money to keep body guards should not worry. To tackle the problem of security, various types of security camera have been launched in the technological world. Security cameras are recognised as the standard in monitoring property and detection of criminals. Surveillance video is claimed to be the most successful home monitoring device by its ways to protect oneself against theft and violence. This is because these cameras are very effective in deterring criminals, thus protecting your house against theft and violence and further help them to catch those perpetrators.

Surveillance cameras that are primarily used for monitoring but today their scope has not been restricted to government offices or banks.

Today, these CCTV cameras are applicable in houses as well. Cities such as London have installed several surveillance cameras throughout the city as a means of deterring and capturing criminals. Car theft is one arena where these cameras are extremely helpful. So much so is the advantage of security cameras that even cities like New York and Chicago are beginning to use surveillance cameras throughout the city. Though some people argue that surveillance cameras evade the privacy of people, thus stripping them of their civil rights. Critics have also charged that surveillance cameras are used more for social control than as criminal deterrents. However, with the rise in many anti social happenings, these cameras have proven to be very useful.

Initially these security cameras were analogue, but the digital phase has taken over them now.

These digital security cameras transmit their data feed via WiFi technology to the Internet. From there a digital video recorder or a computer can view the feed with a specially configured Web browser. The video recorders are thus able to store data feed to a DVD-ROM.

Apart from the digital video security cameras that are present in a variety of options in the computer hardware industry, digital still surveillance cameras are also available. These cameras are equipped with motion detectors that alert the camera to take a photo when any activity occurs. This camera is very much in methodology like the digital cameras that hold hundreds of photographs at one time.

In this world where a new technology is born everyday, there are a wide variety of options to choose from in the security cameras segment as well.

There are spy cameras that are the smallest and most powerful covert spy camera/recorder in the world. The micro hidden camera, though looks like an air freshener, is ultra-covert with 2GB of RAM for fast-action snapshot video when motion is detected. Then there is the night vision camera that capture footage even in complete darkness. This type of motion-activated wireless night vision camera has a 150 foot night vision range, which is capable of recording anywhere, anytime.

Many popular companies like Sony, today, are involved in the manufacturing of these CCTV cameras.

All one needs to do is to choose the one that suits one’s requirements. In recent times, they are used by many government branches, businesses and by private homeowners. Choose from Wireless Cameras, Hidden Cameras, Secure Recording Devices, and even Decoy Cameras to protect your home or office.

A number of wonderful and advanced gaming consoles have made their presence felt in recent years. As a natural corollary, avid games and people having an interest in on-line games have started to shop for the latest and the best consoles. In such instances, determining the most selling gaming consoles could prove to be quite a task. On a more general note, the gaming consoles are the new alternative for instant adrenaline rush currently available. Moreover, with user-friendly controllers, joysticks, buttons and pads – present in many of these devices – the interaction between the players can be quite lively and interesting. And this would go a long way in determining the demand for each of the individual brands.

In the video gaming market, the most selling gaming consoles are from the 3 major producers namely – Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. They are competing with the each other to win the heart of over million game lovers. While playing on the Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii, the users often experience a passionate attachment with the games.To reiterate, a gaming console is an electronic gadget that is empowered with powerful hardware and software features. It comes integrated with high-definition video applications, DVD movie playback, capabilities for digital music, and online connectivity options. Therefore, it can be said that these devices are interactive entertainment gadgets that are living up to quite a few of the expectations of the fun loving generation next.

The users can use many of these gadgets to click the funniest moments with built-in digital camera. They can even watch DVD movies as well as play music. The users who are looking for attractive features like Remote, Wireless Controller and Connect24 can avail Nintendo Game Cube, which is a technically advanced version of Nintendo Wii. The PlayStation 3 or PS3 from the well known house of Sony Computer Entertainment also comes with a range of attractive features. This console includes next-gen primary storage media, Blue-ray Disc supporting DVDs, CDs and HDDs. Therefore, it can be said that market is flooded with the most selling gaming consoles. And the users are free to choose the best from among these options.

The year 2008 has started and I am sure everybody is excited about turning over a new leaf and entering a new year. If you are gadget and electronic freak like me then I’m sure you are excited about all the new gadgets the new year will brings as well. I’m going to talk about a few of the gadgets I’m most excited about which we will see in 2008.

First off the SanDisk Sansa TakeTV Video Player. This cool little gadget bridges the gap between your TV and computer. You plug the SanDisk TakeTV flash drive into your computer and download video on to it. Anything from YouTube videos to funny videos clips you get as attachments in your email. Then you place the TakeTV drive into the TakeTV cradle which is hooked up to your TV. That is it. The videos on the flash drive can now be played on your TV. The SanDisk Sansa TakeTV Video Player even comes with a remote control. You can find the TakeTV at your local electronics store like BestBuy, Circuit City, and Office Depot.

Now of course one of my top gadgets for 2008 would be related to the Apple iPod. I mean how could not pick a gadget for an iPod. This iPod accessory is a small device which you insert into certain Nike shoes. It will then track distance, time, pace and calories burned as you workout or walk your way to being more healthy. Plus the device gives real-time verbal feedback as your workout and can track your progress and fitness goals as well. Now that is a cool iPod accessory.

Next up is a USB device. If you are like me then you have all kinds of gadgets which use USB as a power source. Well what do you do when you need to power up that device and you are not by your computer or have a friends computer close by? The 4 Port USB Car Charger is the answer. You can plug this gadget into any standard lighter jack in your car and you have 4 USB ports to charge all your gadgets. How convenient is that?

Last but definitely not least is the Sony PS3. Now I know what you are thinking the PS3 has been out for over a year now its not a new electronic. You are right but 2008 is going to be the year that the PS3 really takes off. It just got a price cut a few months ago and Sony just won the battle of the next generation DVDs with Blu-ray over HD-DVD. Plus there are a lot of hot games coming up in the next few months for the PS3. Can you say Grand Theft Auto? Yep it will be out shortly and I can guarantee it will help sell a few PS3. Gran Turismo will be out next month and if you have not seen the previews for it go take them out. They are unreal.

So there you have four of my favorite gadgets for 2008. This is sure to be an exciting year for gadgets and electronics.