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Microsoft's Surface RT has a better display than does the iPad -- that's the case being made by one of the tech gurus behind the new tablet.

At a Reddit IamA held yesterday, Microsoft engineers who worked on Surface answered questions about the tablet.

One question asked how users might consider Surface versus the iPad in light of their different screen resolutions. Surface for Windows RT offers a resolution of 1366x768 while the current iPad delivers a resolution of 2048x1536.

Microsoft's Steven Bathiche quickly chimed in to address that issue. Bathiche is the director of research for … Read more

Networks are everywhere these days, and it's a rare company or organization that doesn't use at least one. Even families are getting in on the act, with shared resources like multimedia files. TEC Solution' IP-guard is a single solution to most users' network management issues. Its modular design lets you manage and protect your online and offline computing resources based on your specific needs. It helps secure your intellectual property through active security features as well as through sophisticated tracking and logging of all activities in your network.

IP-guard installs in two parts, the V3 Console and V3 … Read more

NoteID provides users with a simple tool for learning notes and keyboard positions for budding pianists. With a simple layout and nice testing software, there are only a few dull spots on this mostly excellent program.

The program's interface allows for quick learning, regardless of piano experience. A full keyboard layout and the well-planned controls guide users through the process. However, a Help file is available for added security. Users begin by playing a game that teaches specific notes on the screen's piano keyboard. Users are shown their scores after they click a button to ask for more … Read more

Alpine has just released its DPR-RDS1, which allows users to add iPod and iPhone playback to any car stereo with an FM stereo.

At its core, the DPR-RDS1 is essentially an FM modulator hide-away box, which converts a line input into an FM signal. The box is hardwired to the stereo's antenna input to reduce interference from competing FM broadcast signals. FM modulators aren't exactly new tech; my first CD changer was installed using an FM modulator back in the early '90s. However, the DPR-RDS1 differs from your general purpose FM modulator in a few critical ways.

Firstly, it's made for iPod/iPhone; which means that it features a 30-pin dock connector, instead of generic RCA inputs. The dock connector supports 12-volt and 5-volt power, so the DPR-RDS1 will also charge your iPod/iPhone while in use.

The dock connection cable also pulls the currently playing song's metadata and converts it to an Radio Data System (RDS) signal. FM radios that support RDS for displaying text can show the song, artist, and album title on their car stereo's display. OEM car stereo manufacturers haven't exactly been consistent about implementing RDS support into their units--and even less consistent about documenting it when they do--so, double check that your radio supports the protocol before making a purchase.

Because the DPR-RDS1 relies on FM modulation to relay audio data to your car's stereo, you can expect sound quality to be about as good as a strong radio station, which is noticeably lower in quality than CD audio, but still better and more reliable than wireless FM transmitters. Also, FM modulation is a one-way interface and there is no way to control the media player from the headunit, so you'll have to make your song selections from the iPod itself. Try not to spend too much time staring down at your iPod's screen in a moving vehicle.

The DPR-RDS1 Factory Radio Interface for iPod and iPhone is listed at an MSRP of $100 in Alpine's press release and $120 on Alpine's website, so expect to pay something in that range.

Check out the video of the DPR-RDS1 in action after the jump.… Read more

Ever since the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army has been trying to field a grenade launcher that duplicates the accuracy of that mythical grenadier and his M79 so compelling portrayed in Francis Ford Coppela's movie "Apocalypse Now."

The M320 40mm Grenade Launcher Module issued to the 82nd Airborne Division recently may do the trick. Specs for the M320 called for something more reliable, more ergonomic, more accurate, and safer than the so-so M203 launcher troops have been using for more than four decades. Heckler and Koch, who was awarded the contract, delivered a parcel of clever, … Read more

Correction: this article was updated at 1:30 p.m. PDT on June 4 with the correction about the upload and download speeds of the module.

Netbooks, such as those AT&T is bundling with its data plans, are about to get a new module that helps connect to the Internet via cellular networks.

Ericsson is expected to launch on Thursday its latest mobile broadband module, called Ericsson F3307, specifically designed for mini laptops. The module is pre-certified with major cellular networks in 75 countries.

This means Netbook manufacturers can quickly equip their Netbooks with this new integrated wireless … Read more

Daily Planner Plus aims to be the organizational tool to end all organizational tools. However, rather than being a jack of all trades, the program ends up being a master of none thanks to an over-abundance of useless features.

This program has a look unlike any other planning software we've tested. Users first see a large open screen with small command icons running along the top and settings running along the left side of the screen. Initially, this looked more like a design program than a planner. The commands along the top range from creating a daily journal, calendar, … Read more

LG has finally released a second module for the LG Versa, in the form of a game pad module made for, well, playing games.

As you might recall, the Versa is a unique touch-screen phone with the option of attaching external modules. Previously, the Versa only came with a QWERTY keyboard module, which is handy for messaging and surfing the Web. Now it has this game pad controller, which you can slide on the back of the phone's body for storage when not in use.

Like you would expect, the game pad controller has an eight-way directional pad and … Read more

The Bravia Internet Link is getting some siblings. Sony is adding three new accessories to its product line: the Wireless Link Module (DMX-WL1), the DVD Link Module (DMX-DVD), and the Input Link Module (DMX-SW1). Like the Internet Link, the new "Link" accessories are also designed as modular add-ons to specific current and recent Sony Bravia flat-panel LCD TVs. By snapping onto the TVs backside, they should still allow for a reasonably thin profile.

The $150 Input Link Module adds four HDMI inputs to compatible Bravias, while the $200 DVD Link Module adds a "built-in" upconverting DVD player to the mix. But it's the $800 Wireless Link Module that's the highlight of the new line. The two-part system includes a wireless video transmitter and a receiver (the latter of which snaps onto the back of the TV). Put the transmitter near your equipment rack, plug in up to five HD sources (four HDMI inputs, one component), and they're wirelessly transmitted to the TV for distances up to 65 feet (according to Sony). Video sources are limited to 1080i resolution, however, and it's unclear if there's any compression or lag (the latter is a big frustration for gamers). The Wireless Link Module is scheduled to hit in October, while the other two are already available.

Are any of these worth buying?… Read more