The DreamScreen offers built-in WiFi, allowing you to access Facebook, Snapfish, Pandora, and thousands of other Internet radio stations. The twist is that everything is preset: there are no options for updating your own Facebook status, for example. You can just track your friends’ updates, photo uploads, etc. in real time. Likewise, Snapfish connectivity allows you to surf through slideshows. You can also stream your personal music, photo, or video collection to the DreamScreen, or transfer digital content via USB connection or a flash memory card slot.

The device comes with 2GB of memory built in, and has a screen that measures 10.2″ or 13.3″, depending on the model you choose. Hi-Fi speakers are built in, but there’s also a port for your headphones or external speakers. The DreamScreen provides five-day weather forecasts, a calendar, a clock, and an alarm.

While there is no touchscreen access, the buttons on the bottom right of the frame disappear when not in use. There’s also a remote control that nests on top of the frame. You can mount it on the wall, or use the stand that comes with it.

The 10.2″ model is available now for $249. The 13.3″ version is expected sometime this fall for $299.

Image: Hewlett-Packard Development Company.

Post from: EveryJoe

HP’s DreamScreen

Early adopters HP and Acer are not getting distracted by a barrage of models and are pushing their product line aggressively as HP has ordered around 3.3 million units from the top four Taiwan manufacturers in August 2009. The numbers is a significant 15% percent rise and the volume is expected to be pushed to 3.5 million units in September in preparation of the Windows 7 launching.

Taiwan manufacturer Inventec has received over one million unit orders from HP for August, both Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics have 700,000 unit orders and Wistron is working on 50,000 unit orders.

HP’s orders are huge but Acer is looking at 3.6 million units in September as they predict the spike is demand from North America and Europe. If things go well with Acer they are looking into shipping over 9 million units in the third quarter and most importantly they are just 200,000 units behind HP.

The number of units being shipped out is good news to Microsoft as their Microsoft Windows 7 is going to benefit much from these machines. The computer manufacturers need Microsoft to deliver the goods on Windows 7 and Microsoft needs the computer manufacturers to deliver theirs. Apparently, the hardware vendors are hitting their target, is Microsoft poised to do the same? If Microsoft doesn’t deliver I don’t see consumers buying computers with Linux on it and most likely, we are going to see disappointed vendors in the holiday season.

Are you excited on this news? You should because you are more likely to get big discounts because of this slugfest, supply and demand.

Image from HP.

Post from: EveryJoe

HP and Acer Pushing Hard on Netbooks

It seems that the industry is seeing some positive signs and are predicting a strong finish in 2009. The demand for microprocessors have increased and Intel has changed it’s third quarter forecasft from $ 8.1 billion dollars to $ 9.2 billion dollars. Other heavyweights like HP and Dell has also increased they forecast saying that third quarter would have a spurt in computer sales. I am not sure if Windows 7 has anything to do with this but it is definitely nice to know that these companies would not cut jobs going into the holiday season.

Dell has reported last week they experienced 23 percent drop in profits for the second quarter but this is still better than the analysts estimates. Michael Dell, CEO of Dell is confident that the second half of this year would be stronger than the first half. HP on the other hand has the same fate as that of Dell where their profits have dropped 19 percent for the first half but they feel they can get back to the game in the second half.

The economic stimulus package in China is expected to boost the PC industry and could be the spark to the economic recovery in the U.S.

I think this should be an exciting finish for the tech industry and these hardware vendors are making up for the lost profit in the first half, Microsoft is redeeming themselves via Windows 7, and both the software and hardware companies are relying in each other to boost their respective sales.

Image from Dell.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tech Recovery for 2009

In 14th place, HP is lagging far behind other PC brands, having postponed its 2007 commitment to phase out PVC and BFRs from its computer products from 2009 to 2011. Dell and Lenovo are still low on the list, though they do have PVC and BFR-reduced products on the market, though Lenovo lost ranking due to continued use of toxic chemicals. Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson are in first through third places, with the greenest practices.

Greenpeace wants PC-makers to eliminate BFRs and PVC from their product range because of the harm they cause to the environment throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.

Image: Greenpeace.

Post from: EveryJoe

HP, Dell, Lenovo still not green enough

The program is still sketchy and the contest rules are still awaited from wherever. The bloggers are expected to coordinate, judge and ship prizes by 21st Dec, 2008, with HP and Microsoft only playing the roles of prize providers.

Check out any of the 50 blogs for contest updates. Wish you good luck.

Thank you, Jason Bean, for the tip.

Image source: The HP Magic Giveaway.

Post from: EveryJoe

Win PCs Through the HP Magic Giveaway