New Mac Mini Review

The new Mac mini.
Now up to 2x faster, it’s mini in size only.

   Mac mini is even more of a powerhouse, thanks to new dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, discrete AMD Radeon HD graphics, and ultrafast Thunderbolt technology. It also comes with OS X Lion, the world’s most advanced desktop operating system. And Mac mini with Lion Server now features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor for incredible performance. But it’s as easy as ever to set up and run.

When the Mac mini first arrived on the scene, it was in many ways a tool for Apple to attract Windows users and get them to switch to Apple. Since then, it's still been an occasional switcher tool but is now increasingly used for home theaters and servers. With a Core i5 and even optional dedicated graphics in the 2011, the tiny computer is poised to grow even larger. But will the lack of an optical drive set it back? Read our 2011 Mac mini review to find out.

Since then, it has still played that role, and continues to be sold without peripherals. It has also evolved into what many consider to be the ideal home theater PC. The latest iteration of the Mac mini has now arrived, and not without controversy. It takes a huge leap forward in speed with Intel’s second-generation Core-series processors. The 2.5GHz Core i5 Mac mini we've reviewed also sports a first for discrete graphics chip that opens the door to gaming for the first time. But without an optical drive, it's a major gamble on the future of software and that price trumps a DVD drive.

Design and expansion

The Mac mini itself is classic Apple. It revolves around a minimalist, industrial design with a now seamless unibody enclosure borrowed from the previously server-only edition; it's one of the few small form factor computers that looks attractive, not just functional. Underneath the device is a circular cover that is designed to be twisted off to allow you to upgrade the RAM yourself. While we'd like to have the option to more readily replace the hard drive, having quick access to the memory is still appreciated. More adventurous owners can upgrade the drives if they like, although there's a good chance you'll void your warranty in the process as you empty a large part of the case.

On the back, the user is greeted by the same array of ports as on the 2010 model, with one major excpetion. There are four USB 2.0 ports -- USB 3.0 sadly remains missing -- as well as a FireWire 800 port, an SDXC card slot, audio out and line in jacks, and an HDMI port. In place of the pure Mini DisplayPort, however, is the Apple- and Intel-developed Thunderbolt port. While there's not as much expansion as on a tower PC, it's surprisingly good at accommodating most home users and even pros. Who'd have thought just a year ago that a Mac mini could handle an external, multi-disk array of solid-state drives as well as if it were inside the computer?

Performance: objective and subjective testsThe 2.5GHz Mac mini is well equipped to be a solid everyday computer, at least on paper. Apple claims that the 2.5GHz model outperforms the model it replaces by nearly double in both processing and graphics performance. After all, like the previous MacBook Air line, the previous Mac mini range was still lopsided but is now theoretically well-balanced for the price and the tiny design.

                                           NO MORE OPTICAL DRIVE

And lastly, I can’t end this section without calling out the mini’s lack of an optical drive one more time. I’ve dinged Apple for not putting Blu-ray drives in its machines in every single Mac review I’ve written over the last few years, and it appears Cupertino’s finally upped the ante by just eliminating optical media entirely — yes, the Air’s never had an optical drive, but until this last revision it was never a credible primary machine. With the new Air and now the mini, it’s a bit more serious: Apple definitely expects some people will use these machines as their only computers, and no optical drive means the company is fully committed to the idea that everything — music, movies, and now apps and even OS upgrades — will come down your broadband connection. 

Mac mini Key Features

• Dual-core Intel Core i5 processor (2.3GHz model); dual-core Intel Core i5 or i7 processor (2.5GHz model); quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Mac mini with Lion Server)
• Discrete AMD Radeon HD graphics (2.5GHz model)
• Thunderbolt I/O technology for lightning-fast data transfer and daisy-chaining up to six peripherals, including the new Apple Thunderbolt Display
• Removable panel that makes adding memory quick and easy
• Works with almost any display, keyboard, and mouse
• HDMI port and included HDMI to DVI Adapter for connecting your HDTV
• OS X Lion

Summary

   Unlike the new MacBook Air, the new processors in the Mac mini don’t suddenly make it a dramatically different kind of product; if the new Air with Lion represents Apple’s vision of what traditional computing should look like in 2011 and beyond, the new mini is more like a concession to the idea that perhaps not everyone else has quite caught up. It’s a tiny desktop PC that can go anywhere and hook up to nearly anything, and if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll leave extremely happy: the mini offers solid performance in a stunning case that’s unmatched in the industry. Just make sure you spring for a Magic Trackpad — and maybe a standalone Blu-ray player while you’re at it

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HTC Titan II Review

  

   HTC has announced the massive Titan II Windows Phone at CES. Suffice it to say, Nokia's Lumia 900 is going to have some competition for best Windows Phone when they launch.The big news here is Titan II's 16 megapixel camera, which is easily twice as many as most competing phones, and a 25% more than Sony's recently announced super phone, the Xperia S.

 

   

   In the last year, HTC has stepped up its game in the camera department. First, there was the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide, which wowed us with its excellent image quality, intuitive camera interface and wide variety of advanced shooting features. HTC followed up with another camera-centric phone for T-Mobile, the HTC Amaze, which added the BurstShot and a few extra shooting modes. HTC extended this to its Windows Phones, starting with the HTC Titan and following up with the HTC Titan 2.

   According to Jeff Gordon, the online communications manager for HTC, the company wanted to find a way to differentiate itself in the Windows Phone world. Microsoft doesn’t allow overlays (like HTC Sense) and requires certain hardware specs and features. The one area where there is some flexibility, however, is the camera and camera user interface.
  
  The 16-megapixel camera has a F2.6 aperture, which is ideal for shooting in low light environments. It also has a backlit illuminated sensor. The camcorder can shoot up to 720p resolution video. Since the Titan 2 has a single core processor, it can’t support 1080p HD video capture.
   Like the Amaze and Touch 4G Slide, the Titan 2 has a slew of shooting modes and advanced features. You get a couple of hip-looking filters (like a built-in Hipstamatic app), panorama mode, BurstMode (for taking multiple shots in succession), an image stabilizer and flicker adjustment. There are also white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness controls. HTC has gone above and beyond any camera I’ve seen in terms of shooting modes. Candle Light, Backlight Portrait, Night Portrait, Beach and Text are just a few of the shooting modes. There are also quite a few camcorder modes like Vintage Warm (sepia-toned), Vintage Cold (like an old black and white movie), Overexposed and Blue Tint. The camera interface is also clean and easy to navigate.

KEY FEATURES OF HTC TITAN II

Company : HTC

ModeL : Titan 2

Announced : 2012, January

Status : Coming soon

Display : S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size : 480 x 800 pixels, 4.7 inches (~199 ppi pixel density)

Ringtones : Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones

Memory Slot : No

Internal : 16 GB storage, 512 MB RAM

Data : GPRS, Class 32

EDGE : Class 32

Speed : HSDPA, 14.4 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps

WLAN : Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA

Bluetooth : Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR

Camera : 16 MP, 4640 x 3480 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash

Features : Geo-tagging, BSI sensor, image stabilization, face detection

Video : Yes, 720p

Secondary : Yes, 1.3 MP

OS : Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

Chipset : Qualcomm S2 Snapdragon

CPU : 1.5 GHz Scorpion

GPU : Adreno 205

Messaging : SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email

Browser : WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML

Radio : Stereo FM radio with RDS

GPS : Yes, with A-GPS support; Bing Maps

Colors : Carbon Gray

Intentainment: – MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player

– MP4/WMV/H.264/H.263 player

– Facebook and Twitter integration

– YouTube client

– Document viewer/editor

– Voice memo

– Predictive text input

Battery : Standard battery, Li-Ion 1,730 mAh

    This has been an exciting show for Microsoft’s mobile operating system with the announcements of both the Titan 2 and the Nokia Lumia 900 on AT&T’s LTE 4G network. Finally, Windows Phone is getting enticing hardware--and its about darn time.

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Discover The Health Benefits of Noni(Morinda citrifolia)Super Fruit...Must see

   Morinda citrifolia L (Noni) hasbeen used in folk remedies by Polynesiansfor over 2000 years, and is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmin,analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects. In order to reveal the nutritional and medicinal value of the Noni plant, and to summarize scientific evidence that supports the Polynesians’ claim, a literature review and recent advances in Noni research is given below.

                             INTRODUCTION  

   Herbal and natural products of folk medicine have been used for centuries in every culture throughout the world. Scientists and medical professionals have shown increased interest in this field as they recognize the truehealth benefits of these remedies. “Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food” was advised by the father of medicine, Hippocrates, over two millennia ago. It’s still true today that “you are what you eat.” Folk medicine in different cultures has a long history of ancestors creating primitive medicines during their struggles against natural calamity and disease.Tea is one of the first Chinese herbs mentioned in anncient literature. Tea supposedly originated in China, and was discovered to be an antidote for poisonous herbs by a great herbalist, Shen Nong, about 4700 years ago, when tasting unknown herbs to find plants with medicinal value. He is generally known as the “God of Agriculture” in China for his great achievements as both a pioneer and a leader in farming. His findings were compiled in a book in the Dong-Han dynasty (25-220AD) called “Shen Nong’s Herbs,” which isstill a classic herbal book today. While searching for food, the ancient found that some foods had specific properties of relieving or eliminating certain diseases, and maintaining good health. It wasthe beginning of herbal medicine. The same story occurred in Polynesia. Among the medicinal plants discovered by the ancestors of Polynesians, Morinda citrifolia L (Noni) is one of the traditional folk medicinal plants that has been used for over 2000 years in Polynesia .It has been reported to have a broad range of therapeutic and nutritional value. 

Traditional Uses of Noni

Plant Part Used Traditional Medicinal Uses  Leaves Relieves cough, nausea, colic (Malaysia), tuberculosis, sprains, deep bruising, rheumatism, bone fractures, dislocations, hypertension, stomach ache, diabetes, loss of appetite, urinary tract ailments, abdominal swelling, hernias, vitamin A deficiency  Fruit Lumbago, asthma, dysentery (Indochina), head lice (Hawaii), wound poultice, broken bones, sores or scabs, sore throat, peeling and cracking of toes and feet, cuts, wounds, abscesses, mouth and gum infections, toothaches, appetite and brain stimulant food, boils, carbuncles, tuberculosis, sprains, deep bruises, rheumatism, stomach ulcers, hypertension  Fruit Regulate menstrual flow, urinary tract problems, arthritis  Stem Jaundice, hypertension  Seed Scalp insecticide, insect repellant  Flowers Sties  Leaves, flowers, fruit, bark Eye conditions, skin wounds, abscesses, gum and throat disease, respiratory ailments, constipation, fever, laxative

Key Components & Their Benefits Proxeronine & Proxeroninase The building blocks our bodies use to manufacture Xeronine. With nutrient-depleted foods, where these building blocks are not available, our proteins can become reliant on inadequate substitutes such as sugar, caffeine, cocaine, or nicotine to do their work. In returning Xeronine to the body, Noni has been found to help break addictions to these substances. By promoting optimal protein functioning, Noni promotes massive cellular regeneration and hormonal balance. Scopoletin Has anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, lowers blood pressure, and binds to serotonin to help regulate sleep, hunger and temperature. Anthraquinone Controls infectious bacteria such as Staphylococcus Aureus, E. Coli & Salmonella. Damnacanthal Inhibits growth of pre-cancerous cells. Terpene Helps with cell rejuvenation, thus increasing nutrient-toxin exchange. Phytonutrients & Selenium Provide powerful anti-oxidant protection against free radicals. Rich in soluble and insoluble fiber Soluble fiber helps cleanse the blood, decrease choloesterol, binds to fats and balances blood sugar levels.  Insoluble fiber ("bulk") is important for colon health. Rich in amino acids Amino acids are the buildings blocks for proteins, important for most body functions. The "essential" amino acids are the ones our bodies cannot make and we therefore must get from our diet.  Noni contains 17 of the 20 known amino acids, including all 9 essential amino acids. Rich in essential fatty acids Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats and oils.  The "essential" fatty acids in Noni are the important poly-unsaturated fats that we must get from our diet. They maintain healthy skin, nerve cells, heart tissue and blood vessels and help balance mood. They keep cell membranes working properly and efficiently, improving the nutrient-toxin exchange.  Important Overall Characteristics Adaptogen An adaptogen is a substance that has a global balancing effect on all body systems.  There are only 12 known adaptogens; of these 12, Noni is said to be the "premiere" adaptogen. Alkaline Tissues degrade and disease thrives in an acidic environment.  Noni promotes an alkaline body chemistry, the optimal state for good health. Anti-oxidant Anti-oxidants, such as green tea, pycnogenol, and vitamin C, among others, are important in neutralizing "free radicals", or particles that cause DNA damage that can lead to cancer.  Noni has recently been found to be the most effective of all known anti-oxidants. Low Glycemic Index A 3:1 ratio of carbohydates to fiber in Noni helps balance blood sugar levels. Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory andSelective Cox II Inhibitor Unlike typical pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, Noni  decreases pain and inflammation while protecting stomach, kidney, and liver cells. Humectant As a humectant, Noni helps tissues retain moisture. Immuno-Modulator Noni intelligently supports the immune system, not just by boosting it, but by regulating it to suppress the allergic and auto-allergic responses.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM	INTERNAL DISORDERS	EYES, MOUTH & THROAT
Diarrhea	Diabetes	Eye infections
Intestinal Parasites	High Blood Pressure	Inflamed, sore gums
Indigestion	Headache	Sore throat with cough
Stomach Ulcers	Kidney and Bladder	Gingivitis
BONES & JOINTS	Tumors	Toothache
Arthritis	Fevers	CHEST
Broken Bones	GENDER-SPECIFIC	Cough
Sprains	Childbirth and Pregnancy	Tuberculosis
SKIN	Menstrual Cramps	Asthma
Abscesses, Boils, Blemishes	Regulate Menstruation	Respiratory Afflictions
Wounds, Infections	Prostate Complaints	TONIC TO SLOW AGIN

Roadable Aircraft Review

  

    At the very least, the flying car looks to us a lot closer to reality than our colony on Mars. 

    Designed to be a viable piece of transportation that's just as happy in the air as it is on the ground, the Transition comes loaded with all of the safety goodies of your standard economy car – airbags and crumple zones come standard. While Terrafugia hasn't exactly said what kind of top speed the Transition can carry on terra firma, it does say the craft gets around 30 mpg when scooting around town.

  
   Should the weather turn sunny and the skies grow clear, however, the Transition can lower its wings, fire up a rear-mounted propeller and take to the air where it can carry a top speed of around 115 mph with a range of 460 miles. Not too shabby. The little carplane only requires an air strip of around 1/3 of a mile, and with its wings folded, can comfortably fit in any garage. Final MSRP is expected to be around $194,000. 

   For a refundable $10,000 deposit you can, today, reserve your Transition for an anticipated 2010 delivery. At that point you’ll need $194,000 to buy one of these flying cars outright.

   You’ll also need a sport pilot license to operate a Transition. (Terrafugia will be offering Transition-specific courses that can qualify you for a license after 20 hours of flight time).This licensing requirement—along with regulations requiring Transition owners to take off from an airport and not from, say, an empty section of the Wal-Mart parking lot—has lead some to see the Transition less as a flying car and more as a glorified aircraft. Maybe so, but we think it’s a major step in that direction. Imagine some one who lives in Palo Alto, for example, but works across the Bay in Oakland. 

    This person could use the Transition to drive from a private residence to a nearby airport, take off, fly over all the car-clogging Bay Bridge, and land at an airport near the Oakland office. That’s an hour or more commute by car versus maybe 15 minutes with the Transition.

   Further, future versions of the Transition may include under-vehicle thrusters that would allow the car-plane to take off vertically. And maybe that will lead to the creation of “air highways” and, perhaps, take-off sections of Wal-Mart parking lots.

                                               Watch this video