Men Free Blog

We knew it was coming, and after waiting for quite some time for FreeSat to go from concept to reality, television viewers across the UK can finally indulge. If you’ll recall, a recent survey found that just 5-percent of Europe’s HDTV owners actually bothered to tune into HD programming, but now that number is likely to change. Effective today, 98-percent of the UK can fork out a one-time fee of £49 ($96) to £120 ($234) in order to acquire a FreeSat set-top-box, and after an £80 ($156) installation, users will have subscription-free access to BBC HD, ITV HD (coming soon), Channel 4’s digital service and around 70 other TV / radio channels. Better still, that number is slated to rise to 200 before the year’s end, and unsurprisingly, the launch is expected to boost available high-def offerings in the region. Anyone across the pond have their equipment set up already? How’s the service?

[Thanks, Ivan]

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Finally, the EU’s Giove-B GPS satellite was shot into space by the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Strapped atop a Soyuz-FG rocket, the Giove-B reached orbit at 8:01am this morning, and is the second satellite launched for the nascent next-generation European Galileo satellite navigation system. This particular model is kitted out with dual redundant rubidium atomic clocks that the ESA says are “the most accurate in space”. The next bird — just three of thirty — is slated to go up in 2010 with a full-system launch around 2013. Until then, it looks like they’ll be stuck using the US’s crappy, less-sensitive GPS network (boo hoo).

[Via Physorg]

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We knew it! There was just no way a single WiFi router was going to provide coverage from Mercury to Pluto. In order to ensure that all intergalactic beings are given fair and equal access to the intarwebz (and to build a “constellation” that’ll act as a space-based network for communication, data storage and Earth observations, too), NASA is syncing up with m2mi. Of course, these two entities have worked together on occasion before, but this go ’round, they’re looking to craft (relatively) minuscule nanosats that weigh between 11 and 110-pounds and could be placed in low Earth orbit in order to create a new telecommunications and networking system. As expected, nary a launch date is even hinted at, but while we lowly Earthlings worry over the eventual rollout of 4G services, these two hotshots will be focusing on 5G — which incorporates VoIP, video, data, wireless and an integrated machine-to-machine intelligence layer. Far out.

[Via CNET]

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We’re not quite sure how much more official-er Toshiba could really get with its freshest lineup of Satellite Pro laptops, but five “new” models are being trumpeted today as the latest in its ever-expanding family of business essential lappies. Up first, we have the 15.4-inch L300 / L300D, which arrives with Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD dual-core CPUs (respectively), a TruBrite display, 802.11a/b/g WiFi and an integrated webcam with microphone. Also on tap is the 14.1-inch M300, 13.3-inch U400 and the beastly 17-inch L350. We won’t bore you with specifications you’ve already committed to memory, but needless to say, any of the aforesaid machines are readily available and boast starting prices between $699 and $1,149. Full release posted after the jump.

TOSHIBA ADDS FIVE NEW MODELS TO ITS SATELLITE PRO
PORTFOLIO OF BUSINESS ESSENTIAL LAPTOPS

Starting at $699, Toshiba’s Expanded Satellite Pro Family Now Offers a
Broader Selection of Notebook Computing Options

IRVINE, Calif. (April 22, 2008) – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division, a division
of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the addition of five
new models to its affordable Satellite Pro® family of laptops. With a starting price of
$6991, the new Satellite Pro series offers the necessary business essentials for today’s
mobile professionals and students, including a choice of display sizes and
configurations to suit a broad range of computing needs.
“The expanded Satellite Pro family of laptops demonstrates Toshiba’s
commitment to its customers,” said Jeff Barney, vice president of marketing, Digital
Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “Listening to the voice
of the customer and their requests for more computing options within the affordable
Satellite Pro lineup, Toshiba is delivering five new models of Satellite Pro laptops to
meet customer needs.”
Featuring 13.3-inch, 14.1-inch, 15.4-inch and 17-inch displays, Toshiba’s
Satellite Pro laptop family offers the latest processor technologies that provide
outstanding business performance, including models with Intel® Centrino® processor
technology, featuring Core™ 2 Duo processors2, or AMD dual core processors2.
With nine different configurations, the expanded Satellite Pro family allows
users to choose the right computer for them, including models with an integrated 1.3
megapixel Webcam with microphone, ideal for videoconferencing or staying in touch
with colleagues and family members across the globe. Additionally, in response to
customer requests for a choice in notebook operating systems, select Satellite Pro
models feature configurations with either Windows® XP Professional or Windows Vista™
Home Basic.
All five new Satellite Pro models include a DVD SuperMulti drive, TruBrite®
widescreen display and a wide variety of connectivity options including wireless3 LAN,
fast Ethernet, modem and ExpressCard slot for enhancing hardware capabilities or
adding wide-area wireless technologies. Toshiba’s ConfigFree® technology helps users
connect to the most popular types of wired and wireless networks allowing them to
stay in touch in the office, at home or while traveling. Offering users investment
protection, Satellite Pro models also include embedded support for Computrace® in
the BIOS firmware for optional Computrace® products that can help in theft recovery
and protect data on missing notebooks.
The expanded Satellite Pro family includes the following models:
Satellite Pro L300 and L300D
Starting at $6991, the affordable 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen Satellite Pro
L300 series and Satellite Pro L300D series offer the laptop essentials mobile
professionals need to do more, at or away from their desk. The stunning TruBrite®
display offers a large work space and provides an ideal canvas for desktop
presentations. Providing users with additional choices and outstanding performance,
Satellite Pro L300 configurations include Intel® Centrino® processor technology,
featuring Core™ 2 Duo processors2, while Satellite Pro L300D configurations include
AMD dual core processors2. The Satellite Pro L300 and L300D laptops also offer
configurations with Windows Vista™ Home Basic or Windows® XP Professional, as well
as integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless3 and built-in Webcam with microphone.
Satellite Pro M300
Helping mobile professionals work smart and travel light, the streamlined
Toshiba Satellite Pro M300 series features a portable design that strikes an ideal
balance between mobility and business essential computing. Starting at $9991, the
affordable Satellite Pro M300 series includes a 14.1-inch TruBrite® display that offers
users amazing picture quality in a compact form factor, while providing plenty of
room to work with spreadsheets or other important business applications. To help
ensure mobile professionals stay connected in more ways around town or across the
country, select models of the Satellite Pro M300 series also include 802.11 a/g/n
wireless4 and a 1.3 megapixel Webcam with built-in microphone.
Satellite Pro U400
With a 13.3-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite display, the Satellite Pro U400
series is ideally sized for on-the-go productivity while traveling or in the office. This
highly mobile laptop features Bluetooth® v2.1, Intel 802.11 a/b/g wireless3 and a 1.3
megapixel Webcam with built-in microphone, allowing mobile professionals to stay
connected and productive wherever they go at an affordable price of $1,0491. For
added security and protection of the system and its data, the Satellite Pro U400 series
includes a fingerprint reader and a 3D accelerometer hard drive protection system.
Satellite Pro L350
Offering fundamental business performance, the Satellite Pro L350 series
features a spacious 17-inch diagonal widescreen XGA+ TruBrite display and full-size
keyboard with a 10-key numeric pad, helping to make this notebook an affordable
desktop replacement. The large display of the Satellite Pro L350 series can help save
on additional equipment costs by eliminating the need for an external monitor. The
integration of 802.11 a/g/n wireless4, a 160GB hard drive5 and built-in Webcam with
microphone, combined with the desktop mobility of the Satellite Pro L350 series,
enables mobile professionals to stay productive and connected at an affordable price
of $1,0991.
Complete product information for all Satellite Pro configurations are available
at www.explore.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite-pro. Toshiba’s Satellite Pro series is
now available through the company’s Resellers Partners, mail order and Toshiba
Direct with prices ranging from $6991 to $1,1491.
The Satellite Pro series is available with a one year standard, limited
warranty6, which includes carry-in support at Authorized Service Providers throughout
the country; or customers may utilize any of the 4,460 UPS Stores and Mail Boxes Etc.
locations nationwide for packaging and delivery of the product to a centralized depot
for prompt turnaround service. Customers can also choose to upgrade the notebook’s
service plans, including up to four years of extended warranty coverage.
All new Toshiba laptops are RoHS-compatible7, effectively reducing the
environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other
hazardous substances. Toshiba also offers a computer trade-in and recycling program
to reduce environmental impact and promote efficient utilization of resources. All
Toshiba computers qualify for free recycling, while non-Toshiba computers and other
consumer electronic products can be recycled for a small fee. For more information
please visit: www.explore.toshiba.com/green.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS)
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of four business units: Digital
Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, Storage Device Division, and
Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide mobile
products and solutions, including industry leading portable computers; projectors;
imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage
products for automotive, computer and consumer electronics applications; and
telephony equipment and associated applications.
TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of information
products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating
company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, which
is a global leader in high technology and integrated manufacturing of electrical and
electronic components, products and systems, as well as major infrastructure
systems. Toshiba has more than 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of
over US $60 billion (FY2006). For more information on Toshiba’s leading innovations,
visit the company’s Web site at www.toshiba.com.

###

© 2008 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered
trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications,
availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice.

1. Price. Reseller prices may vary. ESUP means “Estimated Single Unit Price.”
2. Processor. CPU performance may vary. See Processor Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com
3. Wireless. May require purchase of additional software, external hardware, or services. Transmission speeds may vary. See
Wireless Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com.
4. Wireless-N. wireless AGN (802.11a/g/n) adapter is based on a draft release version of the IEEE 802.11n specification and may
not be compatible with, or support all features (e.g., security) of, certain Wi-Fi® equipment.
5. Hard Disk Drive Capacity. Hard drive capacity may vary. 1 Gigabyte (GB) means 109 = 1,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10.
See Hard Disk Drive Capacity Legal Footnote at www.info.toshiba.com
6. Warranty. The terms and conditions of Toshiba’s standard limited warranty, extended warranty and service upgrade terms and
conditions are available at www.warranty.toshiba.com.
7. RoHS. This product is compatible with European Union Directive 2002/95/EC. See RoHS legal footnote at
www.info.toshiba.com

source

Almost eight years ago, Europe embarked on a journey to create its own navigation satellite system. Named the Galileo positioning system, this global navigation satellite system was intended for the European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA) as an alternative to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). We all know that the US Military runs the current GPS network system. 

Concept building began as early as 1999 but it was four years later that proponents agreed on the first stage of the Galileo program. The main difference from the current GPS ran by the US is that Galileo is intended primarily for civilian use, unlike the current one which the U.S. military has arbitrary control over. The US has the right to limit access or shut down totally public access to the GPS system especially during times of war or when they opt to. The Galileo system will only shut down access to during extreme circumstances.

Also, the Galileo project claims to be better than the GPS in that it can provide location precision of around one meter. The US GPS system provides only a 10 meter location precision. Also, the Galileo system will be available to all users, which means both civil and military are welcome to use it.

When finished, the Galileo system will consists of 30 satellites, 27 of those would be operational while the remaining three will serve as active spares. The satellites will orbit the three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes which is located about 24,000 km altitude above the Earth, and at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees with reference to the equatorial plane.

On December 28, 2005 the first experimental satellite was launched. The Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element test satellite or GIOVE-A was launched to test technology in orbit for the Galileo positioning system. Two more test satellites, two more GIOVE, are expected to be launched in the next two years.

GIOVE-B was supposed to be launched this year, but problems after problems have pushed the Galileo project behind schedule. This time, the reported problem was with the Russian rocket Soyuz which was the one that supposed to place GIOVE-B into orbit.

Just like any space program today, the Galileo program has been hit by rising costs. Plus, the European Union officials had to step in when private partners began squabbling with each other which caused several delays in the project. The estimated costs for the project has now reached 10 billion euro or 14 billion dollars. After the delays, the latest forecast for the system’s completion has been set to 2012.