.::REALITYRECALL::.

Looking for something in between a nettop and a full-fledged, sometimes HTPC? Then you might want to consider Lenovo’s recently announced Q700 system, which the company describes as the “perfect fit” for anywhere in your home. That’s apparently assuming you have some less-than-demanding computing needs, however, as the Q700 is currently only available with a Pentium Dual-Core E5200 processor, along with 4GB of RAM, a max 640GB hard drive, a built-in DVD burner, and the usual integrated Intel X4500 graphics. It does pack an HDMI out, TV tuner, and plenty of other media-friendly features, however, not to mention a starting price of just $499 and a form-factor that lets it be neatly tucked away in your home theater rack. Hit up the link below to get your order in, or a closer look if you’re still undecided.

[Thanks, David]

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

Lenovo debuts “fit anywhere” Q700 home entertainment PC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'll admit it—I'm jealous. Some of you have bad-ass home theaters. Maybe one day I will be able to step up to something like one of these 10 home entertainment gems.

The_Foxman:Here is the theater that I built in my basement. Front projection with 100 inch screen. 7.1 surround sound. Base shakers in the theater seating. Lots of fun.
By the way – the house is for sale in the northwest suburbs of Chicago 🙂
kev50027:61″ HD Plasma with 5.1 surround sound, PS3 and Xbox 360
rtkane: 104″ Carada Criterion Screen w/ brilliant white screen material
Panasonic projector (don’t remember model).
Onkyo stereo/speakers/sub
Boston Acoustics center channel
PS3
XBox w/ HD-DVD
Vudu
Tivo HD w/ Digital Cable
sbcale:1080p LCD Projector, 110″ Diagonal screen, 7.1 Surround Sound, 8 Berkline 090 Theater Seats, Xbox 360, PS3, HD DVR, OPPO DV-981HD 1080p High Definition Up-Converting DVD Player, Biometric Figerprint Door Lock.

Did all the work myself, minus the paint and carpet
TonySwank:Epson 6100 Projector
DIY 117″ Screen
Onkyo 805
Polk Speakers
PS3
360
Media Center through custom built desktop
ds10484: Pioneer Elite PRO-151FD 60-inch Kuro Plasma
Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH AV Receiver
Panamax M5400-PM Line Conditioner
Definitive Technology Speakers:
– 2x Mythos ST
– 1x Mythos Ten
– 2x Mythos Gem XL with Gem Stands
Sony PS3 (Original 60GB with a swapped 500GB 7200RPM HDD)
Nintendo Wii
Motorola PVR
Logitech Harmony One
ShyamlataCynortas:Here is a project we did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGhJNuSkGxE
Venomuss: Egyptian Tomb Home Theater. Screen size 8’X14′.
ara23: 110” Projection with the Panasonic AE2000U
selianth: Our home theater was just written up in Electronic House, actually.
Panasonic PT-AE3000 Projector, SmX Cinema Solutions 129-inch ProLine Screen (2.37:1)
Monitor Audio RS6 Front Speakers (2), Monitor Audio RSFX Rear Speakers (4), Monitor Audio RSLCR Center-Channel Speaker, SVSound PC-13 Ultra Subwoofer
AuraSound Aura Pro Bass Shakers (6), BASH Subwoofer Amplifier, Berkline 13175 Home Theater Seats (6)
Comcast HD DVR, Denon 3808ci Receiver, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 3
Logitech Harmony 680 Universal Remote, Logitech Harmony PS3 IR Adapter, X10 Powermid IR Repeater
Thecus N5200 1.5TB RAID5 NAS, Home Theater PC

Facebook has apparently embarked on its next step toward total social networking dominance as, according to Mashable, the site recently began recruiting beta testers for a “faster, simpler” Facebook ‘Lite.’ The new, simplified ‘Lite’ format, which would be similar to existing mobile versions of Facebook, will enable users “to make comments, accept Friend requests, write on people’s Walls, and look at photo and Status updates” more efficiently, according to TechCrunch.

The Facebook crew claims the changes are designed to simplify the site and ease the initiation process for new users, but judging from the screen shot, and the alterations, it seems more like a direct challenge to Twitter. Facebook’s evolution over the course of 2009 has included inbox upgrades, the enabling of wall post responses, and the addition of universal status updates — features reminiscent of those offered by the micro-blogging challenger to Facebook’s dominance.

Continue reading Facebook ‘Lite’ Promises Easier and Faster Time-Wasting

Filed under: Web

Facebook ‘Lite’ Promises Easier and Faster Time-Wasting originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A merger between Bell and Telus, two of Canada’s largest phone and internet companies, is looking “very likely” within the next two years, according to a report from RBC Capital Markets.

On Tuesday, a judge ordered Microsoft to stop selling Word, its flagship word processing software and one of the main components of the Microsoft Office System – namely part of Word 2003 and Word 2007. This also now extends to Word 2010 which contains the same feature set. Judge Leonard Davis of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a permanent injunction that “prohibits Microsoft from selling or importing to the United States any Microsoft Word products that have the capability of opening .XML, .DOCX or DOCM files (XML files) containing custom XML,” according to a statement released by attorneys for the plantiff, i4i, CNET reports. Microsoft stated that it planned to appeal the verdict.

Read full story…

Check out this wicked Astro Boy figurine recently spotted at Hong Kong’s Ani-Com show. I can’t wait for the big-screen CG reboot of everyone’s favorite Pinocchio-like android kid with arm canons. Speaking of which, new full-length trailer after the jump!

First created by Osamu Tezuka (the father of Manga) in 1952, Astro Boy played a big part in the rise of the anime aesthetic. Various Astro Boy comics and series have run over the years—influencing pop culture mainstays like teenage hairstyles, video games (Mega Man), and movies (Steven Spielberg's A.I.) along the way. Personally, it was the classic 80's series that got me hooked.

We’ll learn more about the availability of Hot Toys’ figurine closer to the movie’s October 23 release. Voices from Samuel L. Jackson, Charlize Theron and Donald Sutherland look solid; but let’s hope Nicolas Cage doesn’t inject his super-intense brand of fail. [Current and io9]

We’ve seen teasers before, but this full-length trailer debuted yesterday:

The average Canadian cellphone user is paying among the highest bills in the developed world, according to a new international study.

Those Microsoft rascals have scored a big one: The Xbox 360 is now the only game console that will get Netflix video streaming. No Sony PlayStation 3, no Nintendo Wii, no Atari 2600. That’s what the Xbox Update page says:

Netflix Partnership

This exclusive partnership offers you the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via Xbox 360. Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers**, at no additional cost.

From the Netflix Web site, simply add movies and TV episodes to your instant Queue, which will appear automatically on the TV screen via Xbox 360. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming Netflix movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can browse and rate movies, fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Universal remote.

Oh Sony, Sony. That has to hurt. A little. In the inside. [Xbox via Endgadget]

Google Map Element

Google have just released a new service called Web Elements which allow users to cut-and-paste Google applications into their websites or blogs. The elements include real-time news, calendars, presentations, spreadsheets, YouTube videos and a simple Google Map.

To use the Google Map element you just need to define a location, choose a size and map type and add a marker title. The map element is very simple to use and is a great way to create a very simple interactive map.

If you want to create a slightly more complicated map Google also have a Get Maps web page. This page shows you how to grab the embed code from the main Google Maps site, how to create a My Map and how to add driving directions to your business website.

Via: Official Google Blog: New tools for Google Services for Websites

_____________

Instead of watching video files on your PC it be nice to have a disc to pop into any player to watch from other locations.  Today we take a look at DVD Flick…a free and Open Source DVD authoring tool used to make a playable DVD from several different video file formats.

Installing DVD Flick

Installation is a quick and easy process following the install wizard.

After installation you will get a welcome screen that will allow you to read through their guides, website, and forums.

Using DVD Flick

Here we will demonstrate making a quick DVD using three differently formatted videos.  The first thing we’ll do is add a new title or video clip(s) to the project.

You can either browse for them in Explorer or simply drag and drop into the project window.  Notice we are using three video formats with AVI, WMV, and FLV.

Now in the project area you can start authoring the DVD by moving clips, editing titles, etc.

There are some cool menus you can choose from to customize into the DVD creation.

Once you choose a menu you can preview how it will look.

It allows you to customize settings from basically every aspect of the DVD including Audio, Video, Burning and general settings.

Projects are saved with a .dfproj file extension which may look odd later if DVD Flick is not associated with them.

Click on the Burn DVD button when ready and you’ll be shown a progress screen with an extra cool bonus.

Click on the “Entertain me” button while the DVD is burning and you can play a version of Tetris.

It uses ImgBurn technology to execute the DVD burning process and it pops up while the actual burning takes place.

When everything has finished you should see something similar to the picture below provided there were no errors.

DVD Flick is easy to use and light on system resources and includes just the right amount of features for the home DVD Author.  If you are low on cash this is a very good free alternative to a commercial application such as Nero. 

Download DVD Flick 

Read the Full List of Supported Audio & Video Formats

Three Saskatchewan men charged after a YouTube video showed ducklings being shot illegally were handed hefty fines Monday, as well as a three-year ban on acquiring hunting licences.

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Popular social networking site Facebook has bought FriendFeed.com, and will be taking its entire staff aboard, the companies announced this afternoon.

“Since I first tried FriendFeed, I’ve admired their team for creating such a simple and elegant service for people to share information,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO.

While the small 12-person team will become Facebook employees and the four founders (all ex-Google employees) will assume executive positions at the social network, where FriendFeed users will go is not as clear cut.”

“FriendFeed.com will continue to operate normally for the time being,” The FriendFeed blog today says. “We’re still figuring out our longer-term plans for the product with the Facebook team.”

Facebook already uses a number of FriendFeed’s popular features, but one of the main advantages of FriendFeed is that its feeds show up in real time, where Facebook’s status updates must be refreshed.

Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2009