The EVO 4G is one of the thinnest Android superphones available, and the key for the Powermat back cover that replaces the original EVO back is that it doesn’t add thickness to the phone once installed. In the video, the entire Powermat system is demonstrated, and it’s clear the folks behind the technology devoted a great deal of attention to detail in order to make it a viable consumer product.

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Getting Started

Mac owners can install Windows under Bootcamp, which is part of OS X. This creates a Windows partition that allows booting into Windows as desired. Parallels Desktop (and competitor VMWare (vmw) Fusion) offer a simpler solution. A virtual machine is created inside OS X where Windows (or other OSes) can be installed and run while OS X is running. This opens up options not available to Bootcamp users, such as dragging and dropping files between the two “systems”.

Once Parallels Desktop 6 is installed, it walks the user through the Windows installation. There are options for installing Windows from the Mac DVD drive or from an image file (ISO), which is what I used. Windows is not included with Parallels; you need your own purchased copy. The Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit) install went quickly and without issue, all in a window on my Mac OS X desktop. Once Windows was done installing (and rebooting) I sat through the long Windows Update session to add all the security updates.

Parallels has a Transporter utility for Windows users who wish to make the Windows system on the Mac mimic a Windows PC. The PC is connected to the Mac with a USB cable, and once the Transporter utility runs it copies the user’s Windows files and customizations to the virtual machine on the Mac. The new Windows system on the Mac then looks just like the Windows PC. I haven’t used this method, preferring a basic Windows installation on the Mac without transferring anything. My documents are on the Mac, and Parallels allows easy access to them on the Windows side.

The Parallels virtual machine that’s home to the Windows install is seen by the OS as a dedicated computer running that OS. Windows does not work differently this way than it does installed on a real computer. Parallels adds hooks into the Windows install that makes it easy for the OS X system to interact with the Windows side of things. It is like having two computers tightly networked together, all running on the Mac.

Parallels Desktop 6 has some new features not found in previous versions, most notably a healthy performance increase according to the developers. They claim a 40 percent improvement in both Windows boot time and system performance. I haven’t run any benchmarks, but it’s definitely faster than Parallels Desktop 5. The system has been so snappy that I was surprised to see that Parallels had allocated the Windows 7 virtual machine only 1 GB of memory. My MacBook has 4 GB of memory and a dual-core CPU and I thought about bumping the memory allocated to Windows (it’s user configurable) up to 2 GB, but performance was so good I left it at the default level.

Parallels in Use

The Windows virtual machine can be run in OS X in a Mac Window or in full-screen mode. The whole Windows desktop is in a regular Mac window in the former, and takes over the whole display in the latter. Full-screen mode is handy on setups with multiple monitors with Windows on one screen and OS X on the other. Those using Spaces on the Mac can do the same thing on single display systems and use a simple key sequence to toggle between the two OSes.

I actually prefer the third method that Parallels provides to run Window. The Coherence mode hides the Windows desktop completely, and programs run in Windows appear on the Mac desktop as a simple window. This facilitates having Windows and Mac apps on the screen side-by-side, and dragging objects between them. Parallels has an option to make Windows apps use frames just like Mac apps for those who want everything to look Mac. I prefer to have Windows apps display in a Windows frame so I can tell at a glance which OS I am dealing with. The Windows Start Menu is available on the Mac system bar at the top of the screen, and Windows programs appear as a folder in the dock.

Since the Windows virtual machine is a full implementation of the OS, everything you can do on a Windows PC can be done in Parallels on the Mac. Microsoft Office 2010 programs run very well on the Mac, and it’s handy to have access to full versions of Office without leaving the Mac environment. Outlook users will be happy with that program running on the Mac in a Windows on the desktop.

I’ve been running Parallels Desktop 6 on a unibody MacBook, not a Pro. It doesn’t have the dedicated graphics option that Pros have, but the performance has still been quite good. I’m running Windows in Coherence mode all the time, with programs running on my Mac desktop. I don’t have any issues with performance, and both OSes have played nicely together. The developers claim that Parallels Desktop 6 provides better 3-D game play than earlier versions. I haven’t tried that, but our friends at TheAppleBlog have done some testing that questions those claims.

Running Windows on the MacBook hasn’t taken an appreciable toll on the battery. There’s certainly a small hit due to having both CPUs running all the time and more memory allocated, but it’s not enough to be a concern. This makes the Parallels solution for running Windows particularly attractive to mobile professionals. I’ve covered using the iPad as a second display while traveling, and this works well with Parallels. It is quite a sight to have Windows running on the iPad next to the MacBook.

Parallels Desktop 6 will be widely available on Sept. 14, but owners of earlier versions can upgrade now for $49.99. The full version is $79.99, and there’s a special version for Windows to Mac switchers for $99.99.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): Are You Empowering Your Mobile Work Force?

The ability to run Mac and Windows programs side-by-side is useful for some folks, and PD6 is designed to make that experience very fluid. The Windows desktop in PD6 can be used in several ways: a resizable window, run in full-screen mode that toggles between Windows and OS X, or run in the Coherence mode which has Windows programs appearing on the Mac desktop like native apps. Professionals using Windows at work and OS X at home can access files and programs on the Mac once Parallels is installed. I made a video of the previous version of Parallels to demonstrate how well it makes Windows and OS X play together.

The new version will be available for purchase on Sept. 14 for $79.99, with upgrade pricing of $49.99 for existing Parallels owners. Customers who have purchased the previous version recently may qualify for a free upgrade.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d): Are You Empowering Your Mobile Work Force?

Lower PC sales may also partly be a result of the iPad and the coming glut of Android tablets, as netbook inventor ASUS has already warned investors. High sales of the iPad have resulted in lower PC sales, and as Android tablets are poised to appear on the market in great numbers, the impact should be even greater. These tablets use less DRAM than conventional PCs, instead using Flash RAM for the primary memory.

Samsung is one of the largest suppliers of DRAM globally. Kwon Oh-hyun, head of Samsung’s chip business, gave the warning at a conference in Taipei. He did not indicate a long-term slowdown was expected, but did state the glut is a result of the expectation of lackluster end-of-year holiday PC sales.

Sales of servers had a strong second quarter according to Intel, and Samsung is no doubt hoping that segment continues to perform well through the end of the year to minimize the affect on the DRAM market.

Image credit: Samsung

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SuperSpeed USB, a faster bus implemented in USB 3.0, provides a high-speed transfer mode reaching 5 Gbits/second. This fast transfer is perfect for large HD video files, as a 25 GB file can be transfered in just 70 seconds; this compares to a transfer time of 14 minutes using existing USB 2.0 technology.

USB 3.0 has a benefit for mobile device owners aside from the speed improvements, as the technology allows charging devices through the USB port on laptops without impacting performance. Most smartphones are using either microUSB or miniUSB connections for power, and USB 3.0 provides a faster charge time for such devices.

Laptop makers are just beginning to produce devices with USB 3.0 technology onboard. New interface technology is slow to roll out due to the “chicken and egg” situation: A lack of USB 3.0 peripherals slows the need to put such connections on laptops. OEMs will be slow to make peripherals with the new technology as few computers have the connections. The adoption of USB 3.0 by the camera industry is important, as it will push computer makers to start using it. Our Mobilize event next month will highlight all aspects of the mobile scene — perhaps we’ll see some USB 3.0 in action.

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I’m a big fan of both the lowly computer mouse and the MacBook trackpad. I carried a mouse in my gear bag to use with notebooks for years, until getting the unibody MacBook with its large trackpad. I liked that trackpad so much I stopped carrying a mouse in my bag, although I kept one on my desk in the home office. The MacBook sits on an elevated stand on my desk, which makes using the trackpad not impractical. When Apple announced the Magic Trackpad, I ordered one right away to give it a try.

I work at my computer at least eight hours a day, and I’m trying to provide an ergonomic setting for that prolonged usage. My Bluetooth keyboard sits on a tray designed for that purpose, and is a good height for proper ergonomics. The mouse I used until the Magic Trackpad arrived sat next to the keyboard. As good a setting as this is for prolonged work, at the end of the day, my right wrist would often feel a little pained, and sometimes a bit numb. My only reason for getting the Magic Trackpad was to see if it would alleviate this discomfort at the end of the day.

Now that I’ve used the Magic Trackpad for a full week, I can state it achieved my goal. The discomfort in my wrist has disappeared; it did so in just a few days. The angle of the Trackpad and the method of working with it have improved the ergonomics nicely.

The Magic Trackpad was easy to set up; I unboxed it, hit the power button,and then paired it with the MacBook. It’s designed to sit next to the Apple wireless keyboard. The Trackpad is a full multi-touch device that’s large by trackpad standards — 5.17 x 5.12 inches. There are no mouse buttons; the entire Trackpad clicks when you press it as the sensors are integrated in the feet.

The Trackpad is configured by default to move the cursor with one finger, with two fingers used for zooming and right-clicking. You have to click the Trackpad to trigger a left-click, but there is an option to allow simply tapping the Trackpad for the click. I tried this for a while, but kept accidentally triggering clicks I didn’t want, so I went back to enforced push clicking.

One of the most useful settings of the Magic Trackpad isn’t active by default –the three finger dragging. Dragging items on the screen normally requires pushing the Trackpad down while moving the finger. It’s not that hard, but it’s much easier to enable this setting and drag things using three fingers on the pad. Don’t overlook this setting if you think it would be useful.

The Magic Trackpad has handled all aspects of my work very well. I can use it all day and never miss the old mouse; my wrist is happier with the mouse in the drawer. I find the Trackpad to be worth the rather expensive $69.

The only area where the Trackpad hasn’t done a good job is one I didn’t expect it to do well. Using it for gaming has been a mixed bag, and downright frustrating at times. I’ve recently started playing Starcraft 2, and when things get hectic in interstellar war, there’s no room for mousing error. I find the Magic Trackpad makes it too hard to jump around and click things very quickly. I’m now in the habit of turning on the Magic Mouse when it’s time to play some games.

I’m pleased with the Magic Trackpad, but some folks who’ve tried it haven’t felt the same. Our buddies at TheAppleBlog, normally happy Apple fans, did not see the magic in the Magic Trackpad. I would recommend if you are curious about how your reaction might be, visit an Apple Store and play with one if possible. After all, there’s magic, and there is Magic. For the high price of the Magic Trackpad, you want to get the capital “M”.

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I remember sitting with a friend in a local coffee shop two years ago, and the topic of discussion was the HDD vs. SSD debate. My friend worked for Western Digital, a major supplier of hard disks for computers. I was predicting the death of the HDD, and warned him that his company better be prepared for the rise of the SSD. Western Digital didn’t make or sell SSDs back then, and my concern for his job is what led to the discussion. I remember clearly my friend looking at me and telling me that I was crazy, the HDD was too cheap and would remain so for the foreseeable future.

My friend was right. It’s two years later and still my prediction has failed to come true. That is further evident by a report out of Asia that a major supplier of SSDs for the computing industry is now predicting it will be another two years before the SSD will take off. This is what I was hearing two years ago. The reason it is still two years away is the same as my friend told me two years ago. Price. The flash memory used in the SSD is still much more expensive than the components used in standard spinning HDDs. It’s as if nothing has changed in the two years that has passed since my conversation with my friend. Will pricing for SSDs ever drop low enough to make it a serious threat to HDDs? I’m not so sure anymore.

Image credit: OCZ and Western Digital

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Microsoft Security Essentials. A good anti-virus/spyware utility is a must on Windows 7, and I like Microsoft’s latest free product. I have used other free products in the past, AVG and McAfee in particular, but I find Microsoft’s Security Essentials is easier to install on new systems and uses less system resources than any other.

Rocketdock. I use a lot of Windows systems with limited screen real estate, and the free Rocketdock is a good way to have one-click access to the programs I use the most. Rocketdock is fully configurable, and can be positioned on any edge of the screen preferred. It’s simple and indispensable once installed. And it’s the utility I am most asked about when showing off a system with it installed.

Batterybar. I only use portable computers, and keeping an eye on battery performance is critical. Batterybar is a free meter (paid version available) that sits in the taskbar and shows the battery gauge. It also tracks lots of stats about the battery performance, and over time is extremely accurate.

CCleaner. Windows 7 requires housekeeping, just like all the versions before it, if you want to keep it humming along nicely. CCleaner is a free utility that keeps the pesky Windows registry lean and mean, along with clearing out the jump web browsers leave behind.

Wireless Network Meter. Desktop gadgets were introduced with Windows Vista, and Windows 7 carries on the tradition. I live my work life online, so keeping an eye on the network performance is useful. Wireless Network Meter monitors the network bandwidth in real time. It provides useful network information to make sure hotspots are secure.

We have a request in to the folks at Nvidia for conformation or comment and will update upon reply. If true, the timing couldn’t be worse for Nvidia’s hardware partners. Apple is set to re-define the consumer slate market with the availability of its iPad in just two days. The first reviews are in and it sure doesn’t sound like the iPad will flop the way some would think. So that puts other tablets potentially behind the eight-ball already.

Those not interested in the iPad are pining for the Notion Ink, ICD Vega, and others that all run on the Tegra2 processor. While Nvidia doesn’t control the timeline of its hardware partners directly, it does so indirectly — if the chip isn’t ready for optimal experience in a device, a hardware maker is likely going to delay their product.

Perhaps the biggest “at risk” product is one that hasn’t officially been announced or detailed yet — last year, I heard from Nvidia that Google was working on Chrome OS devices powered by the new Tegra chip. Chrome OS products that have no true delivery date can’t technically be delayed, but this development might not bode well. It even makes me wonder: if true, will some opt not to wait and go the iPad route instead?

Update: I’ve just heard back from an Nvidia spokesperson and was told that the rumors are not true. Everything is on track for Tegra2.