Microsoft 6000 Desktop Wireless Multimedia Keyboard Review–A Load Off Your W...

The folks out at Geeks.com sent over a Microsoft 6000 Desktop Wireless Multimedia Keyboard, and while I've dealt with a variety of computer keyboards and such before, especially wireless keyboards, I have to admit that this one is probably one of the better ones I've tackled in some time. And an even bigger surprise comes when you get a look at the price tag on it. So brace yourself, because this one's going to be a doozy.

The Microsoft 6000 Desktop Wireless Multimedia Keyboard comes with a hundred and six different keys and a whole bunch of individual function keys, for stuff like controlling zoom on web pages, cueing up various media applications, and a set of taskbar favorites. Because it's wireless, you'll also get a USB transceiver that makes this largely plug and play (there's also installation software so you can access the full array of features, but basic functionality is available on just a plug and play level), as well as a pair of feet that let you adjust the keyboard's angle.

I've used a lot of different keyboards, and I'll say this much: laptops are great things, but their keyboards can be a giant pain in the old carpal tunnel. This particular keyboard angles your wrists in a different position, as well as offers you a moderately padded rest, to really reduce the amount of pain you put into this. You likely know that I write for several of our sister sites (just check out that whole "Today on our other blogs" post that crops up every day for links), so it's clear that I do a LOT of typing in a typical day. This keyboard was so comfortable to use, largely owing to the curved design, that typing up a normal round of post was almost as easy on my wrists as a regular email.

It's comfortable, it packs lots of features–about the only thing I can complain about is that mine did not come with a pair of AA batteries, which this thing needs to run on–and it does so for just eighteen bucks out at geeks.com.

The Microsoft 6000 Desktop Wireless Multimedia Keyboard will really make your typing a lot easier, and if you do a lot of typing in a day, your wrists will thank you for it.

The Good

Lots of features

Nearly painless typing

Inexpensive

The Bad

Requires batteries to run

Score 9 / 10

40% of Smartphone Buyers Android, 45% of Mobile Phone Buyers Smartphones, Sa...

According to November data from The Nielsen Company, the popularity of the Android OS, among those who purchased a smartphone in the last six months (40%), makes it the leading OS. This data is similar to data released by NPD, which indicated that Android sales, up to November, were 46%. Nielsen did not mention that the average price increased to $157.

However, when it comes to overall consumer market share, Android OS (25.8%) is still behind Apple iOS (28.6%). RIM Blackberry's share (26.1%) puts it within the margin of error of both Apple iOS and Android. In other words, RIM remains statistically tied with both Apple for first and Android for third. "Apple's clear lead over Android notwithstanding, this race might still be too close to call, reported Nielsen."

All three smartphone OS leaders - Apple iOS, RIM Blackberry and Android - are benefitting from strong demand for smartphones. In November, 45 percent of recent acquirers chose a smartphone over a feature phone.

BlackBerry, Android & iPhone Top Smartphones, Samsung Top Maker, Says comScore

ComScore released comScore MobiLens for three months ending November 2010. The November report found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 24.5 percent market share, followed by LG (20.9&), Motorola (17%), BlackBerry (8.8%) and Nokia (7.2%).

RIM's BlackBerry OS led among smartphone platforms with 33.5 percent market share. Google Android captured the #2 ranking among smartphone platforms in November with 26 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers. Apple accounted for 25 percent of smartphone subscribers (up 0.8 percentage points), followed by Microsoft with 9 percent and Palm with 3.9 percent. These figures are a little different from Wireless and Mobile News' Top Ten Best Smartphones, which had iPhone and Droid X in the lead.

Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending Nov. 2010 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Aug. 2010 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
	Aug-10	Nov-10	Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
RIM	37.6%	33.5%	-4.1
Google	19.6%	26.0%	6.4
Apple	24.2%	25.0%	0.8
Microsoft	10.8%	9.0%	-1.8
Palm	4.6%	3.9%	-0.7

For the three-month average period ending in November, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 24.5 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers, up 0.9 percentage points from the three-month period ending in August. LG ranked second with 20.9 percent share, followed by Motorola (17 percent), RIM (8.8 percent), and Nokia (7.2 percent).

Mobile Content Usage

In November, 67.1 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, up 0.5 percentage points versus the prior three-month period, while browsers were used by 35.3 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.8 percentage points). Subscribers who used downloaded applications comprised 33.4 percent of the mobile audience, representing an increase of 1.1 percentage points. Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 1.0 percentage points, representing 23.5 percent of mobile subscribers. Playing games attracted 22.6 percent of the mobile audience, while listening to music attracted 15 percent.

LG Optimus Black Android Smartphone

LG Electronics will unveil a new Android smartphone, LG Optimus Black, at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 6th 2011 in Las Vegas. Measuring at just 9.2 mm thick, the smartphone comes equipped with a brighter 4-inch NOVA display with 700 nits of brightness for optimal visibility. LG Optimus Black provides users with an easier and more natural experience when browsing the web, reading emails, or writing documents with higher levels of brightness and pure white tones that deliver true black and white colors for ideal handset viewing. The NOVA display on LG Optimus Black also radically reduces power consumption by 50 percent during general indoor use compared to a conventional LCD. For your info, the AMOLED display consumes twice as much power as NOVA to display a full white screen. The LG Optimus Black uses the Optimus UI 2.0 that lets users directly access messages, emails and missed calls from the locked screen with just one single finger tap. Other specs include a 1500mAh battery, Wi-Fi Direct for quick and high-quality data transfer between mobile devices and a 2MP front-facing camera. The LG Optimus Black will be released globally in the first half of 2011.

Nokia E5- Enticing features and affordable price

Nokia world`s most renowned manufacturer of mobile phones announces the all new Nokia E5. The Nokia E5 is an innovatively designed business smartphone. The handset is loaded with full QWERTY keypad and 5MP camera with 3G connectivity. The A-GPS, Wi-fi and 32 GB expandable memory offers a never before users experience.

The key features of the Nokia E5 include:

* 2.4 inch QVGA LCD display
* 320 x 240 pixel resolution
* Full QWERTY keyboard
* 3G Connectivity
* Wi-Fi
* 5 megapixel camera with LED flash
* 250 MB internal memory
* 32 GB expandable memory
* 2 GB MicroSD card included
* 3.5mm headphone jack
* Bluetooth
* A-GPS
* OVI Maps
* 1 click access to SMS/MMS and email
* OVI Chat and OVI Share
* 18 hours 30 mins talktime
* 29 days stand-by time
* 1200 mAh battery

The highly impressive Nokia E5 comes in 5 different colors namely Carbon Black, Chalk White, Sky Blue, Copper Brown and Silver Grey. Priced at of Rs.10, 634, the Nokia E5 makes a very good buy.