My first blog !: TheWire

PC buyers' guide

If you're planning to build a new PC or upgrade an existing one, our PC Buyers' Guide should be your first port of call. We've compiled a list of PC components split into three separate systems covering entry-level, mid-range and high-end. These are our picks of quality hardware and the approximate price you should be paying. We'll update this list with new prices and hardware each issue 
Ifyour budget stretches to around the $2,500 mark, you can buy yourself a rather powerful machine that’ll excel at gaming, watching movies (in full 5.1 surround sound) and other high-end tasks just as well as it’ll handle Facebook. 
So you live at home and your dad is a highflying lawyer who keeps your trust fund topped up, or perhaps your student loan is about to take a massive hit — whatever the reason, if you’ve cash to burn then this is the PC for you. 
Extreme 
Budget 
This system costs well under $1,000 and offers plenty of power for everyday tasks such as web browsing, email, basic photo and video editing and, if you add in a cheap video card (this system uses onboard graphics), you’ll have a decent gaming system. 
Hardware and pricing sourced from New Zealand retail stores and correct at the time of goi ng to print. Prices include GST. The cost of shipping has not been included in the price. Stores include: playtech.co.nz, ifocus.co.nz, computer- lounge.co.nz, ascent.co.nz, alphacity.co.nz and pbtech.co.nz. 
 
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PC buyers' guide

If you're planning to build a new PC or upgrade an existing one, our PC Buyers' Guide should be your first port of call. We've c...

Five things you must know about... 3D printing

<a href="" name="bookmark354">With 3D printing poised to take the tech world by storm, 3D printing is not only getting increasingly affordable, but it has more to offer than just funny-looking MakerBots; it may change the way we live, work, and play. In short, get ready for the DIY future</a> 
<a href="" name="bookmark355">1. Digitise objects</a> 
If you have a cheap 3D printer, you'll probably need a tool to scan objects you want to reproduce. Enter the MakerBot Digitizer, a 3D desktop scanner announced in March. The Digitizer will let you scan small household objects, creating 3D design files that can be shared, backed up, and reproduced. Pairing a Digitizer with a 3D printer could let you 'back up' physical items and print replacement parts as necessary, or make modifications to better suit your needs. 
<a href="" name="bookmark356">2. It's additive</a> 
A 3D printer extrudes tiny layers of a single 
material - plastic, typically - again and again, to build a 3D object. The process is known as additive manufacturing, and it can be much more efficient, and cheaper and faster, than traditional subtractive manufacturing, where engineers cut parts from larger pieces of material. Consumer-grade 3D printer costs are dropping so fast that, by 2016, analysts say, enterprise-class 3D printers may cost less than a new computer. 
<a href="" name="bookmark357">3. Build better bones</a> 
3D printing lets doctors quickly design and print implants custom-tailored to a patient's physiology. Earlier this year, US surgeons 
replaced 75% of a patient's skull with an FDA- approved 3D-printed replica. Scientists claim that 3D printing produces a better-fitting implant than more traditional metal plates, and 3D-printed implants can also be etched with surface or edge details that encourage cell growth and allow bone tissue to attach and heal more easily. 
<a href="" name="bookmark358">4. No printer required</a> 
As cool as 3D printing is, picking up an actual 3D printer for home use is still a pretty expensive investment. If you have an idea for a new object but don't have the time or money to sink into 3D printing as a hobby, you can upload your model to a 3D printing service such as Shapeways or Sculpteo and pay them to print and ship it to you. You'll still need to learn how to design a 3D model, but most 3D printing services offer tutorials and examples on their websites to help you get started. 
<a href="" name="bookmark359">5. Not just plastic</a> 
Most consumer-grade 3D printers can print only plastic. Industrial-grade 3D printers are more versatile; the Objet Connex printers, for example, can print objects made of up to 14 different materials. The result: objects with flexible joints, or even a translucent rubbery hand over a rigid skeletal structure. Multi-material printers are still too expensive for home use, but in the near future, medical offices might print out models of patients' bones sourced from their X-rays. 
 
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Five things you must know about... 3D printing

With 3D printing poised to take the tech world by storm, 3D printing is not only getting increasingly affordable, but it has more to offer ...

Crystal ball gazing

<a href="" name="bookmark98">What will the internet be like in 2017?</a> 
THE OTHER DAY I was locked in a "telepresence" suite at Cisco's Auckland headquarters for two hours. 
For those unfamiliar with Telepresence, it's the company's high-end video conferencing product. It enables a meeting to take place with people located around the world. I was joined by journalists and Cisco reps from Melbourne, Sydney and San Jose. 
The reason for the meeting was to receive a press briefing about Cisco's latest Visual Networking Index (VNI), a rolling five-year forecast that predicts the size and nature of internet traffic around the world. 
Most vendor surveys are thinly disguised attempts at getting free copy in the editorial pages of technology publications, but the VNI has gained credibility - it was accurate within 10% of its projected growth prediction last year. 
According to the latest forecast New Zealand's IP traffic is expected to double in the next five years to 318 petabytes of data by 2017. Global IP traffic will increase threefold in the same period, to 121 exabytes of data. An exabyte is 1000 petabytes, and a petabyte is 1000 terabytes. 
Cisco vice president for global technology policy Robert Pepper (speaking from San Jose) said the four catalysts driving the increase in traffic globally are more internet users, more devices, faster broadband speeds and more rich media content. By 2017, Cisco predicts around 28% of the world's population will have access to the internet, while in New Zealand 92% of the population will be connected. 
Cisco predicts average broadband speeds to grow 8.3-fold to 70Mbps in 2017 and the average mobile connection speed will grow four-fold to 6,068 Kbps by 2017. 
It's also forecast that by 2017 there will be 24 million devices/connections in New Zealand and that equates to around five devices/connections for every person. 
I thought that must include machine- to-machine connections like wearable tech, such as wristbands that measure your heart rate when you go running, but no, it's devices such as PCs and laptops, tablets, smartphones, set top boxes and gaming devices. 
By 2017 there will be 24 million devices or connections in New Zealand 
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So much for convergence - the idea that one device can fulfill every digital desire. Who would have thought you would need a smartphone, tablet and a PC? 
The other big driver for the increase in data is video. If Cisco is correct and New Zealanders will enjoy average broadband speeds of 70Mbps in 2017 (a very optimistic prediction), then what will we be downloading? 
I'd like to think it will be a smorgasboard of top-notch content from local and international providers such as BBC's iPlayer and the US on-demand service Netflix. In order for those companies to unlock their content for New Zealanders to enjoy - and pay for - it's not just the broadband infrastructure that needs to improve, it's also the regulatory environment to further enable competition in the content market. 
The Commerce Commission is currently looking into issues around the pay TV market. To quote the Commissioner Mark Berry: "We are aware of concerns that access to content and Sky's contracts with internet service providers may be hindering competition. As a result, we have now opened a separate investigation under sections 27 and 36 of the Commerce Act." 
That announcement was made on May 16 - last year. At the time of writing Broadband Diary, there had been no outcome. I regularly send an email to the Commission asking for news, and the latest reply is typical: "Thanks for checking - sorry, the investigation is still ongoing, with no firm deadline (which is often the way on a large investigation as there are so many factors that can impact on when it finishes)." 
I do hope, for the sake of Cisco's predictions at least, that they get a move on.

Crystal ball gazing

What will the internet be like in 2017? THE OTHER DAY I was locked in a "telepresence" suite at Cisco's Auckland headquarter...

Crowd-sourced modem a first for NZ

<a name="bookmark94">An online community of tech-enthusiasts is working with Telecom to produce a new mid to high-end modem for commercial release</a> COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM the popular Geekzone forum were invited to participate and suggest ideas for the modem which were then discussed and critiqued. Initial discussions focused on technical specs and ideas, followed by a voting process to decide which features could potentially make the grade. Telecom New Zealand initially intended to examine the results and confirm the necessary details before putting a prototype into production later this year, however since discussions began decided it might be more practical to produce a number of devices. Chris Quin, Telecom Retail CEO, said if the Geekzone contributors had their way the modem cost "a million dollars", making it a possibility they would instead produce two or three gateway products of varying cost. An effort to collaborate with consumers directly about what they want in a modem is unprecedented in NZ, and Geekzone community manager Mauricio Freitas says crowd-sourcing is a good approach to take. "It is exciting to see a large company such as Telecom NZ tapping into consumers to help define a new product and I hope the users see the benefit in this approach." Chris Thompson, head of consumer marketing at Telecom, said it makes sense to ask consumers exactly what they want from their products. "Early adopters, or 'power-users' offer great insights to the demands that our wider customer base will be making in the future," he said. "Telecom staff have been working closely with Geekzone for a number of years, participating in a flourishing community of tech-enthusiasts who are always forthright with their thoughts and opinions and this is the natural next-step." Although the price tag is yet to be determined, expect to see the new modem in production later this year.

Crowd-sourced modem a first for NZ

An online community of tech-enthusiasts is working with Telecom to produce a new mid to high-end modem for commercial release COMMUNITY MEM...

Samsung pairs with Intel for streaming

<a href="" name="bookmark92">Samsung TVs will be able to play movies streamed directly from PCs running Intel's latest processors by the end of this year</a> 
INTEL AND SAMSUNG announced a tie-up on Tuesday under which the chip maker's Wireless Display technology will be integrated directly into Samsung's TVs. That will eliminate the need fora separate receiver to play PC content on TVs. 
Samsung is a big customer win for Intel. Around 10 million TVs from manufacturers including LG, Toshiba and TCL already have Wireless Display integrated, and with Samsung, the number will double by the end of the year, said Kirk Skaugen, 
senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group. 
Wireless Display capabilities are available in Intel’s latest Core processors. Intel has said it will eventually put the media streaming chip in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. 
Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8.1 operating system will augment the media streaming technology with new features, Skaugen said. 
The new feature is part of Intel's effort to make its latest Core processors code- named Haswell more appealing to buyers. The chip maker launched new dual- and quad-core processors for desktops, laptops and hybrids at the trade show. 
Samsung already offers technology through which video can be shared wirelessly between tablets, smartphones, TVs and other Samsung devices. The technology is based on DLNA and requires devices to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. 
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Samsung pairs with Intel for streaming

Samsung TVs will be able to play movies streamed directly from PCs running Intel's latest processors by the end of this year INTEL AND...

Fight pirates with malware

<a href="" name="bookmark88">A new report released by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property suggests the use of malware to fight piracy</a> 
THE COMMISSION, which consists of a panel of politicians, military and defence officials, and technology experts, suggests among other things that companies should be able to implement computer- crippling procedures if need be. 
"Software can be written that will allow only authorised users to open files containing valuable information," reads the report. "If an unauthorised person accesses the information, a range of actions might then occur. For example, the file could be rendered inaccessible and the 
unauthorised user's computer could be locked down, with instructions on how to contact law enforcement to get the password needed to unlock the account." 
This is the exact same tactic used by hackers attempting to extort money from users, holding the computer ransom until cash is given up to regain control. Criticism has been quick to follow the release of the report, especially because if a third- party were to gain control of pre-installed malware there would be no need to try other methods of illegal activity. 
"There is no good malware at all," said Christian Mairoll, CEO of online security firm Emsisoft. "Piracy is indeed a problem that has to be solved. But legalised and widely spread malware would lead to even more problems with unforeseeable circumstances." 
The commission acknowledged any new methods of cyber defence would require changes to US laws, but said new steps are required to battle piracy.

Fight pirates with malware

A new report released by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property suggests the use of malware to fight piracy THE COM...

Charge your phone in 30 seconds

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaATLkrzg3naw95cRIFY6Mws9f7KkGI07Ko3Ini6TivAnglWZ82-sSP4DYxh_jQO3ObMRG3shfqML1hH2d2bh8Z894Mdse_yVNG8XVywh9FyYHPIuL-GXbNOj6sGDcp-54K0mS0A_9LjR/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHetapX_pCmNsM49q9c4fGWFUuNUdaB0FEVv39d5WT4agB8C5mTJcA6mB88ly-OhgWk40-G_BmZMv2ZC7cESe3wXBndQsMRgA_R2c_TMQL1LxLQN-fWZ0zje1oMD-PrE7YzoBYusmhXG2Z//?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px; display: inline;" title="image" width="244" /></a> 
IT'S BECOME PART of the daily ritual: 
Get home, plug in your phone, wake-up to a full battery, repeat. Our poly-gadget lives depend on our batteries having enough juice for the day, and depending on how we use them, they're usually good for just about one workday of use. 
However, a new nanochemical innovation from an 18-year-old California teen may throw this whole ritual on its head. Eesha Khare of Saratogoa, California took home a US$50,000 (NZ$62,500) scholarship from this year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for her supercapacitor battery that can fully charge a smartphone in less than 30 seconds. Additionally, the tiny technology can last for 10,000 charge- recycles, compared to only 1000 cycles for traditional rechargeable batteries. 
Manufacturers are surely taking note that in addition to its extreme efficiency, Khare's charger is also flexible, which would make it an ideal component for the coming wave of wearable tech making its way to our faces. 
Aside from mobile, the technology has obvious applications in all-electric cars. 
Tesla's all-electric Model S recently scored a 99 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. 
The only reason it didn't score a perfect 100 was because of the time it takes to fully charge - around five hours even when using Tesla's proprietary high power wall Connector. 
Hopefully, Elon Musk is watching. 
The Intel Fair also recognised 17-year-old Henry Wanjune Lin of Shreveport, 
Louisiana for his new cosmological mapping data and awarded him a US$50,000 scholarship. 
Nineteen-year- old Romanian lonut Alexandru Budisteanu took home the fair's Gordon 
E. Moore Award and its US$75,000 scholarship for his new take on autonomous car navigation tech that costs around only US$4,000 to implement.

Charge your phone in 30 seconds

IT'S BECOME PART of the daily ritual: Get home, plug in your phone, wake-up to a full battery, repeat. Our poly-gadget lives depend ...