rkaja84's Blog

Nokia is about to acquire Montreal, Canada based OZ Communications, a privately held company that delivers access to popular instant messaging and email services on mobile devices.

By acquiring OZ, Nokia will enable easy-to-use, fast access to leading instant messaging and email services, including AOL, Gmail, ICQ, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo!. With more than 5.5 million monthly paid users, OZ’s solutions have been deployed by leading mobile operators on a wide array of mobile device platforms.

As part of the deal, Nokia will continue to work with OZ’s existing OEM partners and mobile operator customers. After the deal is sealed (expected time is Q4 2008), OZ will become part of Nokia’s Services & Software operative unit.

As the Penryn updates slow to a trickle, Dell is looking out for one remaining straggler by updating the potent Precision M6300 workstation. Starting today, users can select either the 2.6GHz T9500 Core 2 Duo or the drool-worthy 2.8GHz X9000 Core 2 Extreme, but curiously enough, only the T9500 is listed as an option ($370 upgrade over the base T7500) when entering the US configuration site. Nevertheless, we reckon Dell will have that sorted soon enough, and while you're ordering, why not indulge in the 512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M, too? It's only an extra $699, after all.

Concorde, schmoncorde. At least that's what we assume Reaction Engines' A2 would utter if it could in fact speak. The supersonic jet, designed by Oxfordshire's own Reaction Engines, could one day shuttle passengers from Europe to Down Under in less than five hours, cruising at up to 4,000 miles-per-hour along the way. Granted, the aircraft is still in concept mode at the moment, but if all goes to plan, it could be operational "within 25 years." Reportedly, the 156-yard long jet could maintain a speed of 3,800 miles-per-hour -- over twice that of the famed Concorde -- and could carry 300 guests on each trip. Who knows how much a seat would cost, but we're guessing the sky's the limit.

Samsung adds two new LCD displays to its SyncMaster series of LCD monitors, the 2493HM and 2693HM. Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM is the 24-inch model with 1920×1200 resolution, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 400cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response rate and a 160-degree viewing angle.

The SynaMaster 2693HM is the 25.5-inch model that has similar features but it has a contrast ratio of only 3000:1. Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM offer DVI and HDMI ports while the 2693HM adds also VGA.