TrickleStar’s range of products address the issue of standby power consumed by PC appliances and TV accessories such as printers, modems, speakers, scanners, DVD players, amplifiers, game consoles, and so on, by stopping the flow of standby power when they are in ‘standby’ mode. Each of the products in the TrickleStar range is reliable, cost-effective, easy to use, environment friendly and offers comparatively superior technology. The TrickleStar PC Standby Power Saver is the simplest and most effective way to reduce the standby power that is consumed by PC accessory devices. The product connects to a PC via a standard USB cable and detects the power status of a PC via the USB port. When a PC is powered, the product will switch ‘on’ all accessory devices. Conversely, when a PC is switched ‘off’, the product will switch off all accessory devices.
Assembling to discuss human development needs in the Arab World was the first SkillsInvest Forum held on 11th June 2009, at the Dubai Knowledge Village, in the presence of Arab and international policy makers, industry leaders and academics. The event represented a unique platform to address the education and skills requirements of the Arab World and foster an exchange of knowledge and ideas between key stakeholders.
The morning panels discussed human resources requirements, entrepreneurship and leadership as well as the role of technology in education and training in the Arab world, while the afternoon sessions focused on three key industries: Energy, ICT and Banking & Finance, along with presentations addressing the critical challenges facing the region in terms of skills shortage and skills gap.
Experts taking part in the debate came from all parts of the Arab world including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the UAE.
SkillsInvest was organised in partnership with Dubai Knowledge Village, a free zone cluster that has evolved into an effective catalyst for training and learning for the entire MENA region. The event received the support of the Dubai School of Government, Shell, Dubai Internet City and Zawya.
When it comes to portable solar chargers, FreeLoader is one of the most recognised names on the market. The basic FreeLoader that has been launched last year by UK-based company Solar Technology, has now been upgraded into the FreeLoader Pro. The Pro version of the charger is described as the “super powered” FreeLoader. It can charge anything from cell phones and ebook readers to handheld gaming devices and music players. It even has a multi-voltage switch that lets users switch to 9.5 volts from a lower voltage in order to charge larger electronics like laptops, MP4 players, and portable DVD players. Additionally, an accessory called the CamCaddy that comes with the FreeLoader Pro will let you charge batteries used for video, digital cam and SLR batteries as long as they’re between 3.2 and 7.9 volts.
The lovable 13-inch MacBook Pro measures only an inch in thickness, despite a built-in optical drive, and uses the same Unibody enclosure carved out from a thick slab of aluminum. Apple has gone out of its way to emphasize the MacBook Pro 13-inch’s green credentials. As with its predecessor, the laptop is certified for Energy Star 5.0, EPEAT Gold, and RoHS. The use of an LED display eliminates the use of hazardous materials (mercury and arsenic) and promotes energy efficiency. Furthermore, the company has an excellent recycling program in place, and the use of a non-removable battery across the board curbs the amount of waste heading into a landfill.
Maingear’s Pulse, a small form factor PC based on NVIDIA ION graphics is being touted to be the “world’s greenest gaming PC.” The graphics card of the PC can be upgraded with a GeForce 9800 GT ECO discrete graphics card that consumes 40 percent less power than a standard GeForce 9800 GT – it’s available in both 512MB and 1GB configurations. Pulse is also available with high performance, Core 2 Quad CPUs. According to the company, “By offering special edition GeForce 9600 GT and 9800 GT graphics that consume 40% less power, a fully loaded Pulse consumes less than 145 watts under load while gaming.” Maingear also makes special note of the case design, which optimises airflow – letting components run just a little faster without overheating.
Small but important changes to the Ethernet specification have allowed manufacturers to build smart networking gear, which can sense when a port is inactive and can determine how much power is needed to push a signal across the length of a cable. It’s all based on the IEEE 802.3az specification, and like 802.11n, the products supporting the tech are here far in advance of the finalisation of the specification. In fact, D-Link just announced version 2 of its implementation of this tech, called D-Link Green. It makes its debut in a pair of switches: the $79.99 DGS-2208 and the $59.99 DGS-2205.
BenQ’s new Joybook Lite U121 netbook claims to be an ecofriendly device. The 1.3 kilogram netbook has an 11.6-inch screen, Bluetooth, WiFi and 3.75G HSUPA among other common trappings of a netbook. One very useful feature it has though is energy efficiency that could lead to users carrying the netbook around without having to worry about the need to recharge. Designed for rapid charging capabilities, an hour’s worth of charging is enough to fill the battery up 80 percent, which is equivalent to six hours of battery life. When it comes to its energy efficiency, BenQ credits Intel’s Atom processor for the U121’s 40 percent lower (compared with the Joybook’s previous netbook release) power draw.
If you want external storage that’s both environmentally responsible and truly distinctive-looking, get it with the SimpleTech [re]drive. It’s available in capacities of 500GB ($80 street) and 1TB ($95 street), so it’s easy to have a lot of eco-friendly hard-drive space at your fingertips (and at your PC’s USB port). The [re]drive’s appearance and its greenness are tightly intertwined. The 1.5-by- 4.8-by-7.4-inch drive is constructed of aluminium and bamboo, which gives it a unique two-toned design. SimpleTech points out that the drive’s symmetrical frame facilitates interchange-ability, reduces waste and production costs, and – because the aluminium acts as a heat sink – obviates power-sucking, noisy fans.
Samsung has launched the Samsung Crest Solar phone. With the new phone, Samsung claims that an hour’s worth of sun exposure is enough for 5 to 10 minutes of talk time. More than providing a source of alternative energy when needed, the Crest Solar was specifically made for rural areas where there may be faulty (or even completely absent) electrical supplies. Other features include a powerful torch light, FM radio, and games. A couple of interesting specs are the Mobile Tracker, which sends out messages in case of an emergency. The Samsung Crest Solar will be available this June in India, Europe, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Latin America.