09
Sep
2011
Techwatch: The IFA show took place over the last week in Berlin, as you’ve probably noticed from the flurry of TechWatch news stories relating to the event.
But for those of you who’ve missed some (or all) of our coverage, or indeed the articles splashed liberally around other tech sites, here’s a quick round-up of the hot topics at this year’s IFA. (more…)
02
Jun
2009
BBC: A study on recycling suggests Britons are the worst in Europe when it comes to recycling electrical equipment.
Computer manufacturer Dell found that fewer than half of UK residents regularly recycled old hardware, compared with more than 80% of Germans.
Within the UK, the Welsh are the worst when it comes to recycling technology; almost 20% have never done so. It is thought the UK creates enough electrical waste each year to fill Wembley Stadium six times over.
Environmental consultant Tony Juniper said that lack of awareness was a serious issue.
“Governments in every country need to make the disposal of old electrical equipment as accessible and commonplace as recycling old paper, plastics and glass,” said the former Friends of the Earth director.
In early May, mobile operator 02 looked at what electrical equipment was inside a typical home. It found that there was an average of 2.4 TVs, 1.6 computers, 2.4 games consoles, 3 mobile phones, and 2.2 MP3 players.
11
Nov
2008
Electronista: Dell’s plans to relaunch into MP3 players have been shelved in what may be a permanent cancellation, according to claims made by the Wall Street Journal late Sunday.
Alleged sources say that at least one miniature player scheduled to launch alongside a media jukebox and sharing suite from Zing has been delayed past its original fall target while the software alone goes ahead.
The unnamed device is currently postponed “indefinitely” and so may not be released at all, the reported insiders note.
The exact reason behind the sudden backing off from a portable player is unknown, though the tip points to the need to finalize the system as creating problems for any potential release. Separately, Dell also faces a weak economy and would be hindered by launching a media playback device well after iPods and Zunes have been updated.
30
Oct
2008
NaviGadget: Dell apparently leaked some info on their website this week and revealed their plans to enter GPS enabled smartphone market with two Pharos branded models called Traveller 117 and Traveller 127.
Here is some of what we know so far: the devices are manufactured by Inventec, support a 7.2Mbps HSDPA network, have an A-GPS receiver and run on Windows Mobile 6.1.
They also have a 2MP camera.
19
Aug
2008
Electronista: Dell’s planned return to MP3 players will include not just one but two devices and a hardware-independent software approach, say multiple sources of BusinessWeek.
Without providing full details, the magazine claims that a second device beyond the original Wi-Fi player will arrive but that both will launch after the software that they will use, shipping in early 2009 rather than September.
The software in question has also received new details and is designed to challenge the single-device nature of iTunes and the iPod, the report notes. Zing’s already confirmed software will allegedly be sent to “other companies” besides Dell, including cellphone manufacturers and multiple online music stores, with the goal of creating a more universal standard and to permit media sharing between devices and users.
02
Aug
2008
CrunchGear: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Dell “has been testing a digital music player that could go on sale as early as September.”
The music player will apparently feature a Wi-Fi connection and a “small navigation screen” which seems to indicate a touchscreen.
Dell is big, and these days it’s as much about the hardware as it is about the content deals you’re able to strike. Picture this, a Dell MP3 player with Wi-Fi connection directly into, say, Napster or Rhapsody, allowing you to download as much music as you want.
Alas, it seems that “Dell is working on software for a range of portable PCs that will let users download and organize music and movies from various online sources” which looks and sounds great on paper but might turn out to be a logistical nightmare in real life.
30
Jul
2008
IntoMobile: Michael Dell, the founder of the computer manufacturer that bears his namesake, has hinted at the possibility that Dell is entering the handset business. More specifically, Dell could be poised to take a swing at the smartphone segment that fellow computer-maker Apple has so successfully tapped.
In response to an interview question recently posed by GigaOm’s Om Malik, in regards to whether Dell would be working Android or Symbian, Dell said his company “is kind of working on that.”
Dell’s intimation that an Android- or Symbian-powered handset is in the product pipeline is reminiscent of rumors that had Dell working with Google to launch and Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2008.
05
Jan
2008
Slashdot: Dell has taken the wraps off their new 30″ LCD monitor and launched the UltraSharp 3008WFP.
You’ll note that there are more than a few upgrades provided with this newer 3008 version. Specifically, the panel now has a 117% color gamut, in addition to having a 3000:1 contrast ratio, versus the 1000:1 performance of its predecessor, the 3007WFP.
The panel also comes with the same pixel response time of 8ms but now has enhanced brightness capability at 370 nits. Also, Dell finally saw fit to add significantly more connectivity options to the panel, with not only two DVI-D inputs, but also HDMI, Composite, Component, S-Video and the new DisplayPort interface.
27
Jun
2007
Engadget: Dell’s gotten official with a a pair of new monitors today, including the previously-seen 24-inch 2407WFP-HC LCD (pictured above) and the slightly more budget-minded 19-inch SE198WFP (seen after the break).
The 24-incher, as we knew before, boasts Dell’s trademark TrueColor technology for 92 percent color gamut coverage of the NTSC color space (in other words, it’ll look real nice).
Otherwise the specs are about what you’d expect, including the de facto 1920 x 1200 resolution, 6ms response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and both VGA and DVI ports (with HDCP support).
08
Jun
2007
Engadget HD: According to unconfirmed reports stemming from Taiwan, Michael Dell is pulling his company out of the LCD TV biz to return focus to its core PC efforts.
Unlike Apple’s ridiculous desktop display markup, Dell has concentrated on providing low-cost computer and home theater offerings, something particularly dangerous in the cutthroat LCD TV market, so it’s not a total surprise to see ‘em bail now.
Dell is purportedly set to stop manufacture this month, so we should know soon enough how legitimate these reports are.
According to NetworkWorld Dell denied the plans. NetworkWorld writes: ‘Dell acknowledged that it is making changes to its TV line, but said it will continue to sell Dell-branded televisions with screens of 37 inches and smaller.’
25
May
2007
TWICE: Dell has opened up distribution to Wal-Mart Stores in a dramatic expansion of its retail strategy.
Beginning June 10, over 3,000 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico will carry up to two Dimension desktop SKUs.
The multi-media models are being built exclusively for Wal-Mart, and will be sold in brick-and-mortar stores only in package bundles for under $700 (around €520).
Wal-Mart will be the third retailer in the States to sell Dell products, following Costco and QVC.
None of the Dell models will be available online, the Wal-Mart spokesperson said, and no other changes have been made in Wal-Mart’s current PC assortment, which includes desktops and notebooks from Acer, eMachine, HP and Toshiba.
06
Apr
2007
BBC: Chinese computer maker Lenovo has topped a ranking of the world’s most eco-friendly electronics firms. Compiled by Greenpeace, the quarterly report ranks firms by how green their production processes are and what they do to recycle hardware they sell.
In previous reports Lenovo ranked low for eco-friendliness but in 2007 it scooped the top spot over Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Dell, and Samsung.
Apple came last of the 14 firms Greenpeace profiled in the report.
Greenpeace Ranking:
1) Lenovo: 8
2) Nokia: 7.3
3) Sony/Ericsson: 7
3) Dell: 7
5) Samsung: 6.3
5) Motorola: 6.3
7) Fujitsu/Siemens: 6
8) Hewlett-Packard: 5.6
9) Acer: 5.3
10) Toshiba: 4.3
11) Sony: 4
12) LG Electronics: 3.6
12) Panasonic: 3.6
14) Apple: 2.7