Best computer news

Have you ever wished that you could find out just how many words per minute you are capable of typing? Yeah, we have too. Now while most of us would just download some freeware that does the calculation for us, there are some USB gadgets out there like the Speedometer Mouse and USB Think Light that give you feedback on a slightly different level and now we have a USB WPM Speedometer.

The gauge in the center displays how many words per minute you are cranking out, but we aren’t quite sure what the gauge on the right is for. On the left appears to be a fan, which we are sure you are going to need when you red line it and are doing 200+ WPM.
Permanent Link

So what are you supposed to do when you like to spin clay, have too much time on your hands, and a dead hard drive laying around? Why turn the hard drive into a pottery wheel of course! And that’s just what this guy did.

Using just a few simple spare parts that most of the enthusiasts are sure to have laying around, and a very simple knowledge of electronics, the video shows you how you can make your own too. While it may not be good on a practical level, you have to admit that it is in fact pretty original. It’s good to see some ingenuity, especially with USB. Video after the jump.
Permanent Link

Now that consumers can finally start purchasing next generation high definition movies without wondering if they were wasting their money. It would appear though that consumers weren’t the only ones holding back. Phillips & Lite-on is now geared up to release its first external Blu-ray BD-ROM to the market, and we’ve already seen Buffalo announced theirs as well except it’s a burner.

The DX-4O1S drive will be able to handle BD-R/RE/ROM discs at 4X and connects via USB. It will also handle reading DVD’s at up to 12X and CD’s to 32X. While these might not be impressive numbers for what we currently have on the market for CD’s and DVD’s, you have to keep in mind that this technology is sure to evolve quickly and things will get much faster over time. The drive is expected to be available in March at a price of just $300.
Permanent Link

Seems like everyone just wants a taste: Sony entered the high-stakes world of USB turntables earlier this week with their own entry, the PS-LX300USB. The consumer-focused belt-driven turntable doesn’t have the extras to compete with DJ products like the Stanton T.90, but does offer the same features as the competing ION TTUSB10 – for $50 less at retail.

Sony has another leg up on ION, too: their recording bundle includes Sound Forge Audio Studio, a lighter version of the Sound Forge 9 recording program that has far longer (and more impressive) pedigree than Audacity, ION’s recording program of choice. Better software, lower price; we get the feeling Sony will be grabbing a nice slice of market share.
Permanent Link