Biggest technology launches of 2009

[seema]

Microsoft this year also unveiled its revamped search engine Bing in yet another attempt to take on Web giant Google. The Bing unveiling is surely one of the biggest Microsoft launches of this year.

Unlike Google, Microsoft said Bing is not a search engine. The software giant dubs Bing as a "decision" engine, rather than a search engine. According to Microsoft, Bing helps people in making decisions.

Bing offers several features that are not automatically available on Google such as instant excerpts that allow users to see the contents of a page without actually clicking on it and a sidebar detailing related searches.

Another key feature is Save and Share. The feature not only saves your search history, but also allows a user to refine it. Users can delete searches, go back to them, and save and share them.

[seema]

Apple refreshed its iMac line-up in October this year following the big launch of iPhone 3G S in June.

The updated iMacs come with bigger screens -- 21.5 inches and 27 inches, compared with previous models' 20 inches and 24 inches. The 27-inch model features a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, offering 60% more pixels than the previous 24-inch model.

The 21.5-inch models are available with 3.06-GHz or 3.33-GHz Intel Core Duo processors, and the 27-inch models come with quad-core 2.66-GHz Core i5 and 2.8GHz Core i7 processors, in addition to the Core 2 Duos to the options list.

Memory sizes of 4GB are standard across the board (with a maximum of 16GB), as are 500-GB or 1-terabyte hard drives. A 2-TB drive is an option for all iMac models as a Configure to Order (CTO) option.

Graphics options for the Apple's updated iMac range runs from Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics to ATI Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics.

Unlike the previous iMac, which had a black plastic back, iMac's new range comes in an all-aluminum case.

[seema]

They year was high of Netbook with major laptop makers stepping into the market of new breed of mini-laptops. Korean giant Samsung launched an ultra-sleek Netbook N140 powered by Windows 7 OS.

Targetting both home and enterprise users, Samsung N140 comes with a 10.1-inch LED Backlit display and a spillproof keyboard. The Netbook supports 11 hours with a 6 cell battery and has 250GB hard disc drive.

In addition, the Netbook promises high multimedia experience and SRS effects that produce clear High Definition 3D sound. Weighing 1.27 kg, N140 packs an array of wireless communication technology and data-sharing capabilities. Other key features include three USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. The Netbook is priced around Rs 24,990.

[seema]

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took a leap into satellite imagery of geographical regions with the launch of Bhuvan, India's mapping application website.

Similar to Google Earth or Wikimapia, Bhuvan is a web-based 3D mapping tool which uses images taken over a year by ISRO's seven remote sensing satellites, including Cartosat-1 and Cartosat-2.

The application will allow users to have a closer look at any part of the subcontinent barring sensitive locations such as military and nuclear installations. The satellites can capture images of objects as small as a car on a road.

This would provide a user with images having resolution up to 10 meters. The degree of resolution showcased is based on points of interest and popularity, but most of the Indian terrain is covered upto at least six meters of resolution with the least spatial resolution being 55 meters.

Like Google Earth, Bhuvan allows users to view cities and other places of interest, looking perpendicularly down or at an oblique angle, with different perspectives.

Bhuvan will provide local information, specifically of major towns and cities of India. Several local problems like floods, famines, infrastructure development, lack of education and administration would be addressed in a better way through this system.

[seema]

This year, cellphone numero uno Nokia stepped into the laptop space with the launch of a mini laptop, aka Netbook. Called Booklet 3G, the 2 centimeter thin Netbook sports a 10" glass HD ready display.

Weighing 1.25 kg, the Netbook is encased in an aluminum chassis. Nokia Booklet 3G features full-size SHIFT keys similar to the laptop keyboards and has protruding black keys.

The Netbook packs an HDMI port for HD video-out, a front-facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth and SD card reader.

Booklet 3G comes with an onboard GPS chip and Ovi Maps preinstalled. Interestingly, there is a SIM card slot which is swappable and lets users make calls.