Key features of Air Traffic Controller 3.0 include:

* No fly zones
* Weather conditions (clouds and wind effects)
* Various plane types (props, jumbos, jets)
* Hot air balloons
* Day and night missions
* System malfunctions
* Create your own game levels
* Practice Mode as well as interactive Tutorial to master the game
* More than 50 missions and 100 levels
* Missions include emergency landings, vacation detours, closed airports, crazy planes, frenzy landlings, etc

Controls are pretty simple. You select individual planes by pressing up and down on the keypad. To set a plane on a new course, press left or right to turn it. Once given a direction, the airplane will continue flying straight in that direction, influenced by the prevailing wind conditions, until it either flies off screen, lands on the runway you guided it to, or collides mid-air with another aircraft.

Click here to download the free edition of Air Traffic Controller 3.0 for Java J2ME mobile devices. To download the full version, visit m.atcgame.com from your mobile phone browser.

The bare fact that some markets (U.S. among others) still wait to get the first units of the N85 doesn’t stop Nokia from preparing the first firmware update for their OLED screen-equipped slider. According to always highly informed Symbian Freak, which is the best source when it comes to new firmware releases for Nokia smartphones, the Finnish giant already has the new firmware at the Nokia service points and will be releasing to the general public in the next few days.

The change log for the software release 11.047 reveals a bunch of bug fixes:

• Characters in memory card not-present prompt note are not localized
• Headset - volume-adjustment is not working properly
• Video disturb happened, once some other event happened during video play on full screen
• Bluetooth name cannot be defined in camera application
• “Video call” is shown in Options when highlighting a contact in Space UI.
• Not detecting always wall charger -> Not charging
• 2G cannot connect to GPRS service in some cities in China
• Non-stop Music Player “Library update”
• FMTX: The audio is routed to DUT speaker after receiving a message when FM transmitter is transmitting audio.
• Predefined contacts does not support Chinese characters
• APN setting for Vodafone Mobile connect “Prompt Password is set to Yes”
• Audio > downlink quality improved
• Some of the S60 key presses are not registered by device
• Network level icon is not shown during VT call
• ITU is not responding when MO is done where slide is closed and opened when call is established
• Long press of Media keys prev/next not working correctly for local videos
• DTMF tones sent from prepaid line to *700 (or *500) are not received by NW
• OFR_opo-up at boot about positioning
• Orange enterprises APN is used by default in the email Wizard
• Podcast: messed up characters
• All key presses are not registered by device
• GSM/WCDMA - OTC - NW lost after handover with open data connection
• general instability, improved
• Headset - volume-adjustment is not working properly
• Battery KPI: Battery stand by measurement is too high
• CSD - Data transmission breaks on HSCSD calls
• [DRM Free][ID_MUP_FreeFTMD_102] Mp4AacM4A file cannot be played by the device (34047)
• Some KPI - Results are out of range.
• FTP: Speed download to low
• [TPRO] Wap Live browsing : Access Time to the Home page is too long (34970)
• 3G Network lost forever after cell reselection from 3G > 2G with an active PDP context
• VARIANT - Operator RSK (live! icon) appears too small and distorted when in landscape in mode (VCP)

As always, we advise keeping your device up to date. Hence, as soon as you notice a new firmware being available through Nokia PC Suite, hit the “update” button and fix all of the mentioned bugs…

[Via: SymbianFreak]

Related News from IntoMobile:

• Nokia N96 gets another firmware update
• Over-the-air firmware update for Nokia N78 - v11.043 is here
• Nokia 9300(i)/9500 firmware update
• Nokia N93 firmware v20 update back online
• Nokia N78 get some more update love

The U120 is much the same as the original U100, but with 3G built-in. It's the other two that do clever things with the standard netbook loadout, though all remain stuck with a 600-line display. Here's a bullet list:

• Options for 2GB of RAM.
• The Z530, a more expensive version of Intel's Atom CPU, which uses 20% less power.
• A new chipset that uses less power.
• 6-cell battery as standard.
• Hybrid flash/spinning storage, also said to use less power.

The holy grail is to get a full day of work off a single charge. It's driven netbook makers to offer long-life batteries, and Acer's Aspire One rules at Amazon thanks to the inclusion, at no extra cost, of the 6-cell upgrade. In the case of Samsung's NC10, almost 7 hours can be squeezed by keeping the display dim. even with WiFi on.

MSI's response line-items every part to stay ahead of the game, and UMPC Portal outlines where the compromise might be: New MSI Netbooks; Not Your Standard Cookie-Cutter Specs.

Update: I just double-checked the sales ranks, and it turns out Asus' Eee 900HA has dethroned the Aspire One. It's understandable — the 900HA has gotten excellent word of mouth. But look who's storming up the chart, despite its relatively high price.

Monday Deals are only accessible via the links below and are active between 11am and 4pm UK time on Monday 1st December*. Normal pricing will resume at 4pm.

WowWee Rovio Robot Mobile Webcam, normally £254.99, now £199.99, save £55
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176842&partner=tracyandmatt

Samsung i300 Windows Phone, normally £69.99, now £59.99, save £10
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=173094&partner=tracyandmatt

TeleAtlas McGuider EU Maps + Siraya Bluetooth GPS Bundle, normally £67.99, now £42.99, save £25
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176839&partner=tracyandmatt

GlobalSat BU-353 WaterProof USB SiRF Star III GPS Receiver normally £42.99, now £27.99, save £15
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176841&partner=tracyandmatt

iGo 3500 charges iPods, iPhones + more, normally £19.99, now £9.99, save £10
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=173095&partner=tracyandmatt

invisibleSHIELD Full Body Shield for Apple iPhone 3G, normally £14.99, now £9.99, save £5
http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=176886&partner=tracyandmatt

*These deals are available on Monday the 1st of December 2008 between 11am and 4pm by following the links above only. Normal pricing will apply outside of these hours. Voucher codes do not apply with these deals. Limited to 2 units per customer, available while stocks last.

Posted by: Matt

[ Post Tags: expansys, deals, special offers, tracyandmatt.co.uk ]

No grey?

Finally, some design engineer was thinking outside the box !

This is a sleek all black design with rounded edges that actually looks good on my desk ….oh and its compact so it fits on my desk too.

How it ships

Here is a Pic of the stuff right out of the box

Quite a bit of stuff is included with the WorkForce 600 including Ethernet cable, power cable, driver/software disc, user manuals, sample paper, phone cable and of course the printer cartridges. I must point out that the cartridges are full carts, not half full etc..

Also, the black cart is double size which makes perfect sense.

No USB cable though, everything else is included, why not complete the kit and throw in a USB cable? Not such a huge deal though given the fact that it is WiFi enabled.

Setup

I generally don’t like reading manuals, and was able to get the whole thing going in under 10 minutes using the (very thorough) quick setup guide.

I have read some horror stories from other reviews online that it took them hours to install all the software and drivers. I circumvented the process by going to the Epson website and downloading the latest version of their software without all the extras. Here is the link:

Here are some pix illustrating the very straightforward networking install process.

Printing

I have a kid and therefore a reservoir of kids pics that had, until yesterday, sat dormant on my hard drive. After printing out a ton of pictures in black and white and color, I recruited my toddler for quality testing. She attempted to smudge the picture immediately upon printing, and in spite of her sincere efforts there was barely any evidence of smudging. We also tried something that I had read about in another review - running water over a black and white printed page. My toddler completely drenched the sheet and we were both thrilled to discover the text still fully readable! The technical reason for this is that the Workforce 600 uses special Durabrite Ultra ink, a type of thermal ink which is quick drying and smudge proof.

The print quality for black on white is nice and crisp. Similarly color looks great. The colors are high contrast and there is no evidence of bleeding. Being a trained photographer, I am super critical when it comes to print quality.

I played with the FIX PHOTO and FIX RED-EYE options using a photo that needed serious help and both features succeeded in making the person in the photo look human again

I printed out a large document and sat back to admire the speed…up to 38 pages per minute (ppm) in black and white. The printer supports Two Sided Printing but, as I discovered, this means that you have to turn the paper over yourself.  Quite a few other two-sided printers know how to feed the paper back through all on their own, not sure why this useful feature wasnt properly integrated.

Scanning

It was easy to navigate this process. I scanned in old photos as well as a few documents that I needed to archive. The photos retained their color and actually looked brighter and crisper than the original - not sure if this is actually possible…but it was my perception. You can scan to Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office Documents. This feature is more than fine for day to day scanning requirements and has an optical resolution of up to 2400 dpi

Copying

The quality of the copies didn’t compare to printing or scanning quality. It lacked the sharpness that I was seeing with the other features. It’s adequate for copying things for personal use, but I still think I will take my customer facing materials to the print shop.

The feeder for copying large documents is easy to use but the copies come out in reverse order because they are laid face up - a little quirky.

As with other multifunction printers, you can copy straight to a USB stick or other compact memory card. Of course, this works for scanning as well.

Faxing

I use lingo.com VOIP service. Faxing  is sometimes a problem since it was primarily created to be used over an analog line. I was able to find this help page very easily. (Easy online help, BIG points for Epson !!!)

http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/wf600_/wf600_00ug/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=Epson&file=WF600.1.31.html#1001041

I didn’t make any changes to default settings. I didn’t even have to slow down the send setting as I have for previous fax machines.

It just worked flawlessly.

Connectivity

This is why I am digging this printer…Wifi connectivity. I can put my printer where I want to and not have to factor in cabling to my computer. The wireless setup was very easy, worked first time and has worked no problem for the last week. If you prefer to be wired there is an 10/100 Ethernet Jack or a USB 2.0 connection (but no USB cable!).

Memory Card Reader

The printer comes with a set of built in memroy card readers . xD/MS/SD and CF. Just insert the card and the files show up automatically as a local drive on your PC.

PictBridge

Something additional to mention is that it supports PictBridge so you can print straight from your digital camera.

Conclusion

This printer retails for under $200 ($160 at some places). At this price point given the number of features that it ships with, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed. It has a small footprint and well designed product that is easy enough for the non techies in the house to use and even set up. Having all the features you need and delivering to a high standard, it is nice to see that Epson has a strong competitor in the marketplace.

-Printer Specs-

* 5-in-1 — Print, Copy, Scan, Fax, Photo, Wi-Fi
* Draft speeds up to 38 ppm (black and color)
* Laser quality documents about 2x faster
* Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking built in
* Extra High-capacity Black ink
* 2-year limited warranty with registration
* Smudge, fade, water resistant, highlighter friendly
* Uses up to 3x less power than a laser printer
* Fax and 30-page ADF
* Built-in memory card slots and 2.5-inch LCD

Show the world what your business is made of with WorkForce, Epson’s new line of printers and all-in-ones, engineered for the small business and home office. Get laser quality output at laser fast speeds for prints that make you look your best.

Make your business look its best with brilliant color output from the Epson WorkForce 600 all-in-one. Why waste money on a laser printer when you can get so much more for less, including the ability to wirelessly print and archive critical documents, or fax stacks of originals in seconds. Because time is money, the WorkForce 600 races through every task. In fact, it’s about two times faster printing documents than leading competitive models. And, it uses up to three times less energy than a laser printer. Fast, affordable and built to grow with your business, the WorkForce 600 does it all, so you can focus on the business at hand.

Features & Benefits:
* Boost your productivity — Fast draft and copy speeds — up to 38 ppm (black and color)
* Get speed without sacrificing quality — Laser quality documents at about 2x the speed of competitive ink jet   printers
* Easily network within your workgroup — Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking
* Print more, change cartridges less often — High-capacity Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow ink cartridges; Extra   High-capacity Black also available
* Protect important documents — Smudge, fade and water resistant, highlighter friendly documents rival those from   a laser printer and photos rival those from the lab
* Send faxes fast, even in color — Fax in as fast as 3 sec per page; store up to 60 speed dials and receive up to   180 pages in memory; also faxes legal size
* Print photos without a computer — Built-in memory card slots, PictBridge and 2.5-inch LCD
* Make quick color copies and enlargements — One-touch copying with high quality scanning; reduce and enlarge 25   to 400 percent
* Do more with useful software included — OCR and creativity software to create flyers, brochures, calendars and   more
* Save energy — Uses up to 3x less power than a laser printer
* Save paper — Built-in double-sided printing1
* Do more in less time — Copy, scan or fax stacks of documents with built-in, 30-page ADF
* Get product protection you can count on — Epson Preferred program with 2-year limited warranty and 2-year toll-  free support, with registration, plus quick product exchange

---
Related Articles at GadgetGrid:

• Epson Powerlite 1705C Wireless Multimedia Projector
• Wireless-G PrintServer with Multifunction Printer Support
• Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer
• Canon Selphy ES1 Compact Photo Printer

Over at the estimable BoingBoing Gadgets, fellow expatriate Brit Rob Beschizza has found a solution to the ever growing waistline that is the inevitable result of the typical English diet of Fish'n'Chips, Full English Breakfasts and deep-fried Mars Bars.

The Waistband Stretcher, unsurprisingly found at the SkyMall, clamps onto your slacks and slowly strains the waistband to fit your blossoming belly. SkyMall says that you can expect an increase of up to five inches, depending on the fabric being stretched.

Alas, this is to late for Beschizza, who long ago switched to an elastic-waisted, thrift-store trouser for his day to day clothing needs. It really is rather sad to see the sartorial slide of a fellow countryman. I have heard rumors that he is planning to buy a fanny pack, but hopefully that's just cruel internet speculation. $30.

Product page [SkyMall via BBG]

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After dismissing airport-destined full-body scanners as nonsense last month, the German government has decided to have another crack at the latest device in the game known as "security theater".

The T-Ray scanner, which sees through clothes to detect such hidden dangers as nail clippers and perhaps a ripe, potentially explosive Mozzarella di Bufala (yes, Naples airport -- I'm still sore about that), has been nicknamed the "Naked Scanner" by Germans. The device renders a blurred picture of the body underneath the clothes, raising issues of privacy.

Now, remember -- this scanner is likely to do nothing other than inconvenience passengers and add extra Euros to EU airports' budgets. But attempting to discount the device on privacy grounds seems a little prudish. Here's what the German Interior Ministry (irony noted) is doing about it:

 

Germany will begin laboratory tests in the next few weeks on full-body airport screening devices to see if they can produce images that do not show passengers naked. (emphasis added)

This is especially ridiculous when you consider the usual German attitude to nudity. I have spent many afternoons in German parks, and seen the rather scary sight of a big-bellied father, naked but for a pair of sandals, cooking sausages on a barbecue. That's something the politicians should be looking into.

Germany plans lab tests for airport "naked scans" [Reuters]

See Also:

• Germany Says "Nein" to Full Body Scanners
• British Security Camera Can See Through Clothes

Continue reading The Simpsons mocks (m)Apple

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Simpsons mocks (m)Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source: American Inventor Spot