BlackBerry Protect is RIM’s remote phone backup, locking and phone locating service. It’s akin to Apple’s MobileMe Find My iPhone functionality. In addition to the location service, Protect remotely backs up your Contacts, SMS messages, Calendars, Tasks, Memos, and Browser Bookmarks. It does not backup emails, however. This isn’t too large a negative as your mail is almost certainly backed up in the cloud with your Hotmail, Gmail, or similar accounts. At the moment, Protect is still in the beta testing phase but it available for a wide range of BlackBerry devices in App World under the Test Center category. Only devices with system software of 4.6 or higher are compatible. This means that users of older phones like the 83×0 series are out of luck. Protect uses your BlackBerry ID account. This account is the same one used to log in to BlackBerry AppWorld. The app is fairly configurable in that you can select exactly which bits of information you want backed up and how often (daily, weekly or monthly).

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Much hype had been generated for the newest release of the Marvel vs Capcom title. From the many preview videos available on Youtube, it’s pretty much given that the game would be visually impressive. After spending some time with it though, here’s the rest of the skinny for you guys.

Characters and Capabilities

This iteration of the dual universe mashup offers thirty six characters in the standard version (four unlockable), plus two as downloadable add-ons… or included in the Collector’s version… namely Jill Valentine and Shuma Gorath. In my opinion, these two do not encourage the spending of extra dollars to collect them. Jill is another human commando (like her partner in fiction Chris Redfield) and Shuma Gorath, while powerful in Marvel comics, looks like little more than an oceanographic oddity. Any number of characters could be more impressive; perhaps Emma Frost and Nero may have been better suited as revenue generators.

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In the forth quarter of 2010, Dell released their refreshed XPS line of laptops. That debut heralded a change in the hierarchy of Dell’s laptop lineup in that the Studio line was being phased out, with the XPS being the natural step up from the entry-level Inspiron line. This, of course leaves the typically overwrought (read as ugly) Alienware series alone at the high-end.

Today, I’m giving you a quick take review of the 14″ member of the XPS line, the predictably named XPS 14. This is as much a comparison of the XPS 14 to my trusty 3.5 year old Dell Inspiron 640m as a straight up review.

What it’s got (as tested):

• Intel® Core™ i3-370M (2.4GHz, 4 threads, 3M cache)
• 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 420M 1GB graphics with Optimus
• HDMI and Mini DisplayPort output
• 500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Silver Anodized Aluminum 14.0″ HD (720p) WLED Display with 2.0 MP webcam (1366×768)
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Card
• 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
• JBL 2.0 Speakers with Waves Maxx Audio 3
• Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1000
• 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
• Dell Bluetooth 3.0
• eSATA Port

What it’s NOT got:

• Backlit keyboard
• Firewire
• High-res LCD (not even as an option)
• Express Card slot
• VGA output

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Backing up is something that most of us know that we should be doing on a regular basis. Problem is, though, that so very few of us  actually do this. When the hard drive fails, or the USB flash drive is lost, we’re in for a world of hurt and regret. So what to do? Back it up automatically to the cloud.

Dropbox is one of a few cloud storage solutions and it’s free, up to a point. Dropbox allows you to store files in the cloud. This means that you’re able to access your files from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet. The neat thing about this is that files are synchronised between locations. This means that your files are physically present on your desktop and your computer and the cloud at the same time. Any modifications, additions, or deletions at any location gets synced to the other devices within seconds, or as fast as your internet connection allows.

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iNoticed the first rumours of the iPad a short while ago…and chose to ignore them, since Apple itself was extraordinarily tight lipped about the device. In and of itself the secrecy lent credibility to the rumours, yet discouraged further exploration.

Well its out. The iPad has been announced and has been available since April ’10.

Thus far, I’ve heard many people give amazingly dim reviews about the iPad, and unfortunately, I find myself in the position of “defense”. I’ve never been a fan of Apple, and their over-reaching pricing, aloof O/S and candyland design (I admit that almost all their recent machines are quite appealing to the eye).

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