I didn’t believe anyone when they said the Blackberry was a wonder device. It was created to just send and receive email and it just does that, right? Well how wrong was I? Besides its new multimedia functions, the Blackberry can remotely control your computer via a service called PCMobilizr.

With PCMobilizer you can remote back to a desktop using your Windows Mobile or BlackBerry handheld. The company touts a simple, three-step configuration process and then you’re in control. Rove says the mobile goodness doesn’t stop with these two platforms either. They’ve got plans to support the iPhone, Nokia handhelds and Android devices too. The service currently offers a free 30-day trial and the monthly fee is $9.95.

In my tests, screen refreshing over EVDO was actually snappy but if you are using EDGE there is gonna be plenty of times that you are waiting for the device to catch up to you.

This service is PERFECT for the IT person on the go when he is caught without his laptop. I hope the GoToMyPC and Logmein folks catch on to this really neat idea. Big thanks to Kevin at JKontheRun for pointing this out.

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Well, a study was done by the NPD group and while it claims teens are using paid download services, such as iTunes or Napster, pirate usage is still very high.

The research group estimates up to 70% of U.S. kids aged 9 – 14 download music in a given month. Almost half, or 49% use iTunes, while another 26% use Limewire. MySpace was listed as the third most popular site for sharing music, at 16%.

NPD Group blames parents for letting their children use the Web unsupervised as a major factor.

Give me a break! NPD blames lack of parental supervision in piracy. I don’t know about you but I know a ton of parents that use Limewire or other downloading sites to acquire their music. I’m sure AT&T will use this to bloster their argument that the internet should be filtered on the ISP level.

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Looks like the cat is out of the bag with Microsofts forthcoming “Windows 7.” Video has surfaces online of the look and feel of the new OS. If you ask me it looks a lot Windows Vista, revisited. Thoughts?

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Remember when Microsoft said you could only run Windows Vista Ultimate in a virtual machine? They claimed the restrictions were to ease any potential security risks, because “Vista required an advanced level of know-how to thwart such virtualization [attacks].”

Well those rules changed today.

Now all versions of Windows Vista are legally able to be ran in a virtual machine.

While Microsoft did add its consumer Vista SKUs (Home Basic and Home Premium) to the list of products it will allow users to run in virtualized environments, the company is not allowing for the virtualized use of information-rights management, digital-rights management and BitLocker encryption.

Of course you could have always just installed Home Basic or Home Premium in a virtual machine but if something went wacky you’re on your own. Now, you have support.

Boring, I know but there has to be something to report on a slow news day.

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Newsgator is now offering its Desktop based RSS readers for free. Zip. Zilch. You get the idea. Along with FeedDemon, NetNewsWire, Newsgator Inbox and Newsgator Go! will be available for free. Considering the elegance of Google Reader and Bloglines this is the only way to go to really compete. Google Reader and Bloglines appeals to RSS news consumers for the ability to catch up on your feeds on any computer, something a desktop-based application doesn’t offer, but FeedDemon actually synchronizes online, which may make FeedDemon much more appealing. The price doesn’t hurt either. What’s your RSS Reader of choice? Will you be trying these programs out or sticking to Google Reader/Bloglines?

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The CompUSA name has been saved from permanent eradication from the planet earth by…. Tiger Direct.

TigerDirect, will assume CompUSA brand, website as well as other assets such as inventory and storefronts. The deal should close the fast part of 2008.

“We believe the value of the CompUSA brand remains very high. The company has a long legacy of value pricing, service and customer loyalty among consumers nationwide,” said Richard Leeds, Chief Executive Officer of Systemax. “We view this acquisition as a strong complementary business to our TigerDirect operation.”

This move may help remove some of the stigma with the TigerDirect brand and establish a strong retail presence.

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Intel, who is hell bent on creating energy saving chips, has unveiled 16 new chips that range from an 8-core behemoth to a more power efficient mobile chipset.

All of these new chips include the company’s new transistor formula and 45nm manufacturing process that boost a PC’s speed, reduces power requirements, saves on battery life, helps the environment and comes in smaller packages for more fashionable and compact computer designs. With the introduction of the new processors, Intel will be offering a total of 32 desktop, laptop and server processors based on these industry-leading innovations.

Seems like 2008 is going to be the year of the laptop. I can think of an unnammed fruit company that may have a few upgraded machines in the wings next week with these new chips.

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I can’t think of ANY positive use for this besides being a toy for a rich person who is a little too obsessed with James Bond type gadgets.

Did anyone notice the messaging feature in the video. Imagine texting on that watch. CRAZY!

Here is a quick recap of the few things that grabbed my attention in the barrage of press releases I got on CES day one.

First of all Sling Media has pulled a surprise out of their hat by announcing they they created a “Cable Labs Certified” cable modem with a built in Slingbox. Interesting eh?

SlingModem is the first cable modem with a built-in Slingbox. This product is fully functional and CableLabs certified. We’re in talks with a variety of MSOs in the US and worldwide to bring this product to market.

Secondly Bill Gates, in his last EVER CES keynote, seems to have leaked a yet unknown Treo model. It is speculated that it is the Treo 800w or Treo 850, which are CDMA and GSM accordingly. It appears to be based off the new Centro design and sporting the new Windows Mobile OS.

Also, Sony let the wraps off their much improved and much ignored Mylo internet enabled handheld. It sports an upgraded OS that is nothing like the generation one model, touchscreen, and full YouTube and Flash support, as well as a 1.3 MP camera. Can’t wait to review this one. Hey Apple, if Nokia and Sony have full flash support on their handhelds – WHY CANT YOU?!

Uh, ground control – we have a problem!

Seems that Boeing has a small security problem. Their flight controls can easily be hacked.

Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner passenger jet may have a serious security vulnerability in its onboard computer networks that could allow passengers to access the plane’s control systems, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

The computer network in the Dreamliner’s passenger compartment, designed to give passengers in-flight internet access, is connected to the plane’s control, navigation and communication systems, an FAA report reveals.

The revelation is causing concern in security circles because the physical connection of the networks makes the plane’s control systems vulnerable to hackers. A more secure design would physically separate the two computer networks. Boeing said it’s aware of the issue and has designed a solution it will test shortly.

“This is serious,” said Mark Loveless, a network security analyst with Autonomic Networks, a company in stealth mode, who presented a conference talk last year on Hacking the Friendly Skies (PowerPoint). “This isn’t a desktop computer. It’s controlling the systems that are keeping people from plunging to their deaths. So I hope they are really thinking about how to get this right.”

Now who in their right mind would put critical fight controls on the same network as the public is beyond me!

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