Every time I see a patrol car roll by, I look into its windows wondering what the heck it uses for a laptop. If you’re like me, then you may wish to read beyond the jump to get a better idea. Raytheon, known for it’s military rockets, missiles, and other objects of destruction, is the one behind the magic for LA’s Sheriff’s Department. Starting today, the LASD gets new MDCSes (mobile data computer systems) in their cars, trucks, and even motorcycles. While the press release gives no specifications on the system, it does state that officers will be able to, “access a variety of law enforcement information including fingerprint databases, Global Positioning System (GPS) expedited routing to emergency calls, and other critical resources peace officers need to efficiently serve the public.” The near $20 million – ya, million! – investment replaces equipment from 1987. Ya, 1987!! Crazy, huh?
Raytheon Partners With Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to Raise Public Safety In Nation’s Most Populous County
New laptop computer systems will increase efficiency of deputies, deliver information faster to patrol cars
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2, 2011 — Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) announced today that Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) vehicles equipped with new mobile data computer systems (MDCS) are now rolling out on the streets, protecting residents. LASD patrol cars, motorcycles, prisoner transport vehicles and SUVs outfitted with the Raytheon-integrated computer systems were being unveiled today at a news briefing in Los Angeles.
The computer systems will enhance the access of more than 2,400 field units to new public safety technologies. Deputies will now be able to utilize the Sheriff’s Data Network, Intranet and other criminal databases from their vehicles with the state-of-the-art mobile data computers. They can also access a variety of law enforcement information including fingerprint databases, Global Positioning System (GPS) expedited routing to emergency calls, and other critical resources peace officers need to efficiently serve the public.
Sheriff Lee Baca, whose agency is the largest sheriff’s department in the nation with a county population of more than 10 million, said, “Raytheon worked closely with our sheriff’s deputies, engineers and technicians to integrate the latest public safety technologies and capabilities into our vehicles. This new mobile data computer system will greatly increase the efficiency of deputies in the field, providing them more knowledge at their fingertips, and enabling them to do more for the public now and in the years ahead.”
Daniel J. Crowley, president of Raytheon Network Centric Systems, said, “Linking the complex hardware and software in the vehicles required a skilled systems integrator like Raytheon. That expertise is what makes our company a leader in the public safety market. As a significant employer in Los Angeles County, Raytheon has a vested interest in improving public safety for the county.”
The LASD will have the added benefit of using Raytheon’s new Public Safety Regional Technology Center, opening in Downey this winter, to maximize the capabilities of the system as new technologies become available. This is in addition to Raytheon’s laying the foundation for the new UCLA Center for Public Safety Network Systems that will create a collaborative research forum that brings together academia, industry and public safety agencies.
The $19.9 million investment with Raytheon by the LASD and the County of Los Angeles will dramatically upgrade the 1987 mobile digital technology currently in use and is important to the future of public safety for the millions of people living in the greater Los Angeles area.
Visit Raytheon’s multimedia Web feature (http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/feature/rtn11_lsa/index.html) for photographs and videos showing the new mobile data computer systems in use.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2010 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 89 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter at @raytheon.
Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/02/4024341/raytheon-partners-with-los-angeles.html#ixzz1cZ59UOAJ
NFC is the new big thing in mobile. No, I’m not referring to the National Football Conference of the NFL here in the States, but rather Near-field Communication. Much like RFID – another acronym for Radio Frequency Identification – NFC will allow devices to pass information to a near-by reader.
Google already employs this in its mobile operating system Android, as does Nokia in a handful of its handsets (see image). The most commonly used technology used for NFC is in fact that other lesser-known acronym, RFID. Found in key fobs for “Pay Pass” as well as Google phones to your passport, RFID has become the standard hardware for NFC. While many have become concerned with RFIDs security vulnerabilities, manufacturers have taken to it to like crack due to its affordability and its it-just-works aspect. While reports have already floated around between job offers at Apple and rumors of NFC devices being tested in the field by the iCompany, what Apple will choose is not clear.
One thing is clear, however: NFC is the next big thing.
With its heavy use in social media from services such as Google’s Lattitude, FaceBook’s Places, to foursquare and Gowalla, all which basically are employing NFC, we have seen just how popular this technology is already in its infancy.
A start-up based in Southern California wants to be the first to take shopping to the fullest with your iPhone and other devices to pay for things like groceries, shoes, coffee, and lumber. MobilePayUSA is currently working with major merchants and financial institutions in making payment with your phone a reality. MobilePayUSA is an immediate, simple, low-cost and viable alternative to NFC sidelining security concerns and costly equipment for the merchant. I spoke to founder and CEO Randy Smith about his company’s visions and use of NFC last fall, and he hopes to eliminate plastic (credit cards) and paper (receipts) with MobilePayUSA. Smith told me that the idea is that no one really forgets their phone anymore, but wallets still seem to sometimes not find their way into peoples’ pockets. With MobilePayUSA on your phone, you won’t have to worry about having your wallet, credit card, check book, or cash. As an added bonus, Smith said that reward cards we all love to lose will be built into the application and instantly give you discounts at the register and track your points for you with every purchase. Smith hopes to have a public beta available soon.
MobilePayUSA may beat Apple to the punch with its application, but Apple doesn’t seem to want to just go after the eWallet feature. No, like anything Apple, it wants to be the only one doing what it’s doing. It wants to go far beyond “There’s an app for that.” Think car security. Think home security. Think computer security. Think whereever you need a key – or password – and you’ll begin to understand just how huge NFC can really be.
Take a look at the tech landscape and you’ll find GM’s onStar app for nearly every 2011 model in iTunes. Unlock and lock doors with a push of a button. Start your vehicle with a push of a button. Lock and unlock your front door with one of the many wireless dead bolt locks available today. Turn on or off your home lights. All from your iPhone. But the trick is, you need to actively do something with your device.
Apple will remove that from the equation and, much like how keyless entry works on a Mercedes with its fob, you could simply walk up to your front door and open it…as long as your iPhone is on your person. Or go into the garage and open your car door and simply push the Start button to power up the engine. (I can say power up now since hybrid and electric vehicles are more common. 
)
This is would make the iPhone 5 the reason to ignore Droids and Windows 7 phones and all the others.
It’s not hard to see this technology coming to vehicles soon, either. Remember, Apple and Volkswagen openly admitted a few years ago that it was working closely on iPod integration and rumors even had an iCar in development before the global economical crash. It would be easy to bring auto-locks and authorize vehicle operations with an iPhone 5 to the masses with VWs bread-and-butter Jetta and Golfs. Since VW owns Audi, Porsche, and Bentley, upscale customers would be able to brag to their friends how their phone can start the car. Heck, how cool would it be to sit in a Lambo and just drive off without every grabbing for a key?
I could see GM jumping on board as well due to its onStar app already being in use. It wouldn’t take much for GM to integrate NFC with onStar. Between GM and VW, you would have 2/3 of the most sold vehicles in the world NFC ready for the iPhone 5.
Boy, wouldn’t that make Steve Jobs smile?
The OCS9 is a multimedia PC tablet powered by Intel’s next generation Atom platform codenamed “Oak Trail”, running Windows 7, and capable of running the most demanding online PC games, MMORPG, 3D, productivity and social networking applications. It’s a high-end tablet PC. Its uniquely usable OMOS Key interface enhances the ease and speed of tasks and games commonly performed on a laptop or desktop and its intuitive control mechanism is superior to multi-touch interfaces for playing games and browsing the Web.
The OCS9 is built for hardcore and casual gaming, interactive entertainment, social networking and productivity applications, with its OMOS interface, nine-inch (diagonal) multi-touch display, detachable QWERTY controller with virtual keyboard, connectivity over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB 2.0 HS, powerful stereo sound, and long battery life, making it the ideal Tablet PC. A stand allows users to tilt the tablet for operation at a convenient angle. The OCS9 also comes with a pouch that holds the detachable controller and the alternate battery.
“OCS9’s OMOS Key raises the bar for the most usable Tablet PC interface,” said Eu-jin Oh, president of OCOSMOS. “Users will love the OCS9’s capabilities, ease of use and power.”
The OCS9 Tablet PC delivers a new platform of Tiny Computer (TC) technology that benefits both business users and the gaming public, and its unique OMOS Key interface overcomes the limitations of multi-touch interfaces.
“The Intel Atom processor continues to create waves of innovation in the industry,” said Rene Torres, director of marketing for Intel’s Notebook and Tablet Group. “We are excited to see OCOSMOS take advantage of Intel Atom’s performance and compatibility to bring PC-class gaming experiences to life with their OCS9 announcement.”
The OCS9 specifications include:
- Intel’s next generation Atom processor platform codenamed Oak Trail Up to 64GB of solid-state storage
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- 9.0 Inch (Diagonal) Widescreen Multi-Touch Display
- 1024 x 768 pixel resolution capacitive touch screen
- Front and rear cameras (1.3MP Webcam in front, 3.1MP camera in back)
- A microphone for video chat sessions
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- OMOS Key Interface: useful as a mouse, and customizable for character input
- 64GB of Internal SSD storage
- External Micro SD Card up to 64GB
- Right/Left keys on the device shoulder for gaming
- Gyroscope/Accelerometer
“The OCS9 Tablet PC is a revolution in gaming,” says OCOSMOS representative, Jay-Hun Kim. “With the Intel Atom platform and OMOS controller, the OCS9 is positioned to blow away other portable gaming consoles on the market, not to mention PCs, and users will find that 2D and 3D image editing is even faster than on a desktop PC.”
OCOSMOS is planning to work with major online and offline distributors for the OCS9, and will collaborate with leading game developers to enhance existing games for the platform. The product will be available in the United States mid 2011, and will later be available in China and other global markets.
Fidelity Electronics this week announced the launch of the VPC – Very Personal Computer: a fully preloaded, Wifi portable netbook computer at a very affordable price.
Very portable: The VPC weighs only 1.5lbs and measures just 8.4” x 5.5” x 1”
Very functional: The VPC has both wifi and ethernet connections and a full function keyboard to connect, work and play.
Very affordable: All programs and applications are preloaded and ready to use.
“At a $199 SRP, the VPC is perfect for students and people on the go,” says Richard Kizner, Director of Marketing for Fidelity Electronics. “Preloaded programs include internet browser, spreadsheet, word processor, a media player for movies, music and pictures, e-book reader, dictionary, calendar, PDF reader, email, chat, calculator, file manager and much more. VPC comes with a full function keyboard, touchpad, 7” TFT display with 800 x 480 WVGA resolution, 802.11g Wifi, 100 MHz internet browser, 2 GB internal storage, 3 hour rechargeable battery, microphone and a headphone jack. It has onboard USB, SD and Ethernet ports that make the VPC an incredibly affordable yet versatile device,” he adds.
The VPC is expected to retail at $199.99 USD and should arrive in stores beginning March, 2009.
Fidelity Electronics Inc. is a leading provider of innovative personal electronics and consumer products including award winning Fidelity digital picture frames, digital memory and imaging accessories. Fidelity operates from Vaughan, Ontario; Buffalo, New York; Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. For more information, visit Fidelity’s website at www.fidelityelectronics.com.
Bamboo is a natural resource that can be harvested and replenished with virtually no impact on the environment. It helps reduce the carbon dioxide gases blamed for global warming and can be harvested in 3-5 years versus the 10-50 years of harvesting time for most soft and hardwoods.
With a nation looking for ways to protect the environment from harmful materials, Micro Innovations has produced the EcoSmart™ product line-up that is sleek and stylish and includes organic materials. Enclosed in a solid bamboo shell, Micro Innovations’ bamboo keyboard is an elegant addition to any home or office setting. Other features include PC and MAC capability, laptop type scissor keys and plug and play technology. To further complement your eco-friendly office setting, Micro Innovations’ bamboo mouse features optical sensing technology, PC and MAC compatibility and right and left hand capability.
Perfect for making an earth friendly statement, Micro Innovations’ bamboo multimedia 2.0 channel amplified speakers contain the latest in sound technology in a beautifully crafted bamboo shell. Users enjoy rich sound performance and 8 watts of power while listening to music and movies through their computer or television. Other environmentally friendly bamboo computer accessories include a 1.3 mega-pixel webcam, 4 port USB hub, media card reader/writer and USB keypad.
“There is a high demand for environmentally friendly products. Research suggests that customers will pay a higher price for `green’ products and technology,” states Tim Coakley, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for DBL. “Micro Innovations has developed a great new eco-friendly product line-up that is stylish and speaks to an under saturated market of people who seek eco-friendly innovative technology.”
Micro Innovations’ EcoSmart™ Bamboo computer keyboard and mouse will be available in April through DBL’s website at http://www.dbldistributing.com or by contacting a sales associate at 800.733.6766. In addition, they will be prominently featured in DBL upcoming catalog, mailing in early April. The Bamboo speakers, webcam, 4 port USB hub, media card reader and USB keyboard will be available for purchase shortly thereafter. DBL’s expertly trained sales and service professionals are available to process orders between 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. PST, Monday through Friday. Customers can place orders through DBL’s state-of-the-art website at http://www.dbldistributing.com 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine. ‘House’ for instance, is feminine: ‘la casa.’ ‘Pencil,’ however, is masculine: ‘el lapiz.’ A student asked, ‘What gender is ‘computer’?’ Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer’ should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men’s group decided that ‘computer’ should definately be of the feminine gender (‘la computadora’), because:
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine
(‘el computador’), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
Crumpler has to be the one of the most unique companies I have ever encountered. Just a visit to its web site will leave you wondering what you’ve just gotten yourself into. Clicking any of the links may make many blush and rush to turn down the volume in their cubicles at work. I won’t even mention the chain on the main page and what happens when you pull it. (Okay, I will. It flushes a toilet!) The company is obviously one that prides itself in having fun while making some killer bags. My press swag prize was some itty bitty matches. Ya, matches!
I was privileged enough to be able to talk a bit to Bianca Dillion, Crumpler’s brave face for media relations, at this years Macworld Expo. She showed me the many different bags Crumpler has to offer (you can see them on a “normal” web site at its store) and the variety of tasks each bag can hold (forgive the pun.) Unlike other companies with boring names like “Road-warrior” or “Trail King”, Crumpler names its product line with gusto such as “Tony Blair”, “Albert Stash” and the “Harry Board” bag. If that’s just too odd for you, then you’ll want to look at the Squirrel line, mate.
If you noticed an English theme here, one of the founders, Dave, comes from Great Briton and has brought a bit of home back to the Aussie based company. Started 12 years ago in Melvin, Australia, by Steward Crumpler, Crumpler desired to make a tough bag that just looked different. He did not want to produce just another bag that screamed, “Look! I’m carrying a laptop!” and after a few minutes in the Crumpler booth, I can tell you he has succeeded.
At one point of my interview with Bianca, someone walked in and asked her if the straps of Crumpler bags would rip with “really heavy stuff in the bag”. Without asking what this guy was carrying — or why anyone would carry such weight — she told him without even a single bead of sweat falling from her brow that Crumpler bags have a lifetime warranty and it would replace any damaged bag if it happened. When I questioned her about her confidence in the bag, she told me that one method of testing the bags is to put it, “On the back of a 4 x 4 and drag it” all over the place in the dry dessert heat of Down Under. Bianca again reiterated that Crumpler desire is to sale tough high quality bags. Period. Well, and with style.
You can tell that every bag Crumpler makes is well thought out. No bag is just another bag at Crumpler. From the crazy naming scheme to the bright colors, Crumpler bags stand out as something different. I don’t think Crumpler doesn’t have a bag in its mix that wouldn’t fit somebody’s need. From a basic bag for your laptop to one that could carry your entire office nicely, I just couldn’t stop being impressed by what I saw. Without doubt, Crumpler bags are just plain sweet!
With the degree of quality and style Crumpler is putting in its product line, it won’t be long before US cities become just like Melvin, Australia. Everyone will have a Crumpler on their back or shoulder.
This month, ViewSonic launches four new value-priced displays that further enhance its position as a leader in display technology innovation.
“These latest displays reflect ViewSonic’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of the small business and education markets,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president of marketing, ViewSonic Americas. “Our VA Series of displays deliver the features and performance to make the most of a customer’s technology budget.”The four new displays include the 19-inch VA916 and VA926, traditional 4:3 displays, the 20-inch VA2026w and the 22-inch VA2226w – both widescreen displays that bring panoramic viewing for multiple documents and HD video content to the desktop. The dramatic increase in viewing area on the widescreen allows users to navigate between multiple windows and applications in less time and with greater ease, expanding virtual desktop space without sacrificing physical desk real estate.
All displays are Windows Vista™ certified, and incorporate a stylish, thin-bezel design and a clean cable management system. Each display also includes additional features: Read the rest of this entry »
NVIDIA and LG Electronics have recently announced their brand new line of LG Z1 notebook computers which will be equipped with Microsoft’s Windows Vista and the NVIDIA Preface Personal Media Display (PMD). Preface is used to enable Windows SideShow, which gives consumers access to all their favorite things, right on the notebook lid. SideShow can be enabled even when the computer is asleep or powered off, allowing users to see their media playback, calendar, email, slideshows of their favorite pics, all on the notebook lid. The new technology allows the operating system (Vista) to drive displays and NVIDIA’s Preface lets users link to the data/programs they want displayed.
One of NVIDIA’s general managers, John Milner, said this about the new notebooks equipped with Preface technology: “In the consumer electronics market, the line between work and entertainment devices has become increasingly blurred. The LG Z1 with NVIDIA Preface technology allows consumers to get more from the notebook experience—they can be more productive throughout their workday and enjoy personal media along the way.”
The LG Z1 looks pretty slick, what with it’s glossy black exterior and white keyboard. It comes with 1GB of DDR2 memory, an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, a 12.1 inch widescreen display, and of course the secondary screen embedded in the lid, equipped with Preface media platform.