IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 09/06/2009

JVC introduces the UX-LP5
JVC is giving us its latest Hi-Fi: the UX-LP5 . The best thing on it is that it comes with an integrated iPod dock that you can flip down whenever you donأ¢آ€آ™t want to use it.

Besides having the chance to listen to your music from your iPod, the featured video output gives playback to all your videos stored in it when you connect it to a television.

Additional features are a total power output of 70 watts, an AM/FM tuner, a CD player, a USB port, MP3 and WMA compatibility. Also including is an audio input on the front of the device for easy connectivity. You can get the JVC UX-LP5 now for $149.95.

For more info on the JVC UX-LP5 click here.

Nvidia lets loose GeForce 186.03 WHQL driver for mobile GPUs
Santa Clara's own Nvidia Corp. has just released a new driver for GeForce notebook GPUs, the WHQL-certified GeForce 186.03. Available for the 32 and 64bit versions of Windows Vista, the driver has support for GeForce 8M, 9M, 100M, and 200M-series GPUs (but doesn't work with Hybrid SLI, Fujitsu, Lenovo ThinkPad or Sony VAIO laptops), comes with the PhysX System Software v9.09.0203 and features (pretty much the same things as the 185.85):

- Support for single GPU and Nvidia SLI technology on DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and OpenGL
- Support for Nvidia SLI Multi-monitor
- Full support for OpenGL 3.0
- Support for CUDA 2.2
- Expands GPU hardware acceleration for the Nvidia Video Encoding library to GPUs with less than 32 cores.
- Support for Ambient Occlusion أ¢آ€آ“ the newest Nvidia Control Panel feature to offer enhanced 3D gaming realism exclusively to GeForce GPUs.
- Numerous bug fixes
- Accelerated performance in several 3D applications (compared to Release 179 drivers):
up to 25% performance increase in Assault on Dark Athena
up to 22% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with antialiasing enabled
up to 11% performance increase in Fallout 3 with antialiasing enabled
up to 14% performance increase in Far Cry 2
up to 45% performance increase in Mirror's Edge with antialiasing enabled

To download the new mobile-prone driver simply follow the links below:

- GeForce 186.03 for Notebooks WHQL (Windows Vista 32bit)
- GeForce 186.03 for Notebooks WHQL (Windows Vista 64bit)

Western Digital rolls out 4TB My Book Studio Edition II
SiliconSystems owner Western Digital has now introduced a new storage solution targeting Mac users, the 4TB My Book Studio Edition II. Seen below, the 2.63kg dual-bay device makes use of GreenPower-enhanced hard drives, has support for the Time Machine automatic backup feature, comes with USB 2.0, FireWire 400/800, and eSATA connectivity, and is supposed to deliver the performance required for fast, smooth video editing, and rendering complex 3D objects or special effects.

The new 4TB My Book product is backed by a 5-year warranty and has a recommended price tag of $649.99.

Nokia N97 dأƒآ©buts in U.S. stores
Engadget are reporting that the N97 - Nokia's most powerful, feature-packed handset yet - will be launched at the cellphone mega-giant's flagship stores in both New York and Chicago later today.

Some 'less than official' type sources previously said that the handset was to be launched on the 2nd of the month, and now a week past due, Nokia has still hasn't confirmed a date. At a time when other high-rollers (the Palm Pre, iPhone 3G S) in the cellular device industry are coming out to play is Nokia making the smart move throwing their handset into the mix? Well at the right price, and the right specs, they could very well be onto a half-decent idea, yes.

So. What do we know so far? The device is expected to retail for a whopping $699.99 (ouch!), however, those that have pre-ordered the device will have received a decent $175 discount. The biggest issue with the pricing is that there is no dedicated U.S. carrier for the unit, which means good news for those on the smaller networks - but no subsidised prices at the stores when you sign your contracts. Again, whether Nokia has made the right choice with this only time will tell. But is it worth the specifications? Lets check them out:

Screen: Resistive TFT touch screen, 16M colors, 360 x 640 pixels, 3.5 inches with handwriting recognition
Connectivity: GPRS Class 32, HSCSD ,EDGE Class 32, 3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps, WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB v2.0 microUSB, GPS with A- GPS
OS: Symbian OS v9.4, Series 60 rel. 5
CPU: ARM 11 434 MHz processor
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
Camera: 5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, LED flash, video light

More details on Nokia's Website

Hm. Well the device is certainly in line with the major players - but the price pinch may be Nokia's downturn. For those that need a highly capable handset, Nokia's N97 seems to certainly contend with the iPhone and Pre, and for those on minor networks or with a particular grudge against Palm/Apple, it may certainly be for you.

Ultimately the sales will speak for themselves, and only then will we find out if Nokia's latest is really for the mass smartphone market - or just for the Nokia-addicts out there. Nonetheless, the device certainly heats up the month in the mobile industry, and it will be interesting to see where the power lays in the weeks to come.

PhotoFast announces the G-Monster V5 solid state drives
Providing more NAND to the masses PhotoFast has designed yet another G-Monster series of 2.5-inch SSDs. Coming in 32, 64, 128 and 256GB capacities, the G-Monster V5 and V5J drives features a SATA 3.0 Gbps interface, have a MTBF (mean time before failure) of 2.5 million hours and come backed by a one-year warranty.

The V5 models are equipped with an Indilinx controller, 128MB of cache memory and provide read and write speeds of up to 270 MB/s (the 32/64GB drives reach 200 MB/s when writing), while the V5J SSDs boast JMicron's latest controller (JM612), 256MB of buffer and maximum read/write speeds of 240/200 MB/s. The drives' prices have not been revealed.

Acer said to be planning 11.6-inch Timeline series laptop
The Timeline family of ultra-thin laptops has just last week started to reach stores and Acer is already reported to be prepping its expansion. Currently Acer is offering 13.3-, 14- and 15.6-inch models and is gunning to add a 11.6-inch slim machine to its product portfolio as soon as July.

Just like the laptops already released, the 11.6-inch Timeline model will be less than 1 inch thick at its slimmest point, and come equipped with an Intel CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) processor, probably up to 4GB of RAM, a hard drive with a capacity of up to 500GB and GMA integrated graphics. No word on pricing yet so we'll have to wait for Acer to make an announcement.

TriGem intros the Averatec D1200 25.5-inch All-in-One PC
Putting its Averatec brand to more good use, TriGem USA has now debuted the D1200, a quite secsy Full HD 25.5-inch All-in-One desktop PC. The new machines comes priced at $999, features a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, and packs a 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo E5200 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, an 8x slot-in DVD drive, GMA 4500HD integrated graphics, and a built-in hybrid digital/analog TV tuner.

"With its sleek, contemporary AIO design and crisp LCD, the D1200 is an ideal system for power users and those looking for a computer that can function both as a PC and TV," said Henry Hewitt, vice president of sales at TriGem USA. "The system's affordable price point makes this innovative technology and design accessible to a broader segment of customers. The D1200 is an ideal solution for those who are 'space challenged' and need a PC/TV combo that fits easily in apartments, dormitories, bedrooms, kitchens and smaller homes and offices."

The D1200 also boasts a 2 megapixel camera, WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet, is pre-loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium, and offered with a one-year warranty.

Palm Pre helps Sprint set new personal sales record
Sprint is apparently enjoying the exclusivity deal it has with Palm as the launch of the Pre smartphone has broken previous sales records (first day and first weekend) for a Sprint device. The Pre debuted on June 6th and, according to analyst estimates, it managed to sell over 50,000 units during its first weekend. Sprint hasn't said anything about the actual Pre sales figures so the estimates are the only thing one can go on. It's worth noting that upon launch, the Pre was available in Sprint stores and Sprint.com, at Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores.

"Sprint is a very different company than it was 12 months ago," said Dan Hesse, president and CEO. "Palm Pre is the coming out party for the new Sprint. It is the perfect device that highlights all of the positive changes in our company, including our revolutionary Ready Now retail store experience, greatly improved customer care, unmatched value pricing plans and America's most dependable 3G network."

For more info about Pre on Sprint check out this page.

LaCie to deliver the LaCinema Classic Bridge HD media player
LaCie didn't waste any time after announcing the LaCinema Black PLAY and LaCinema Black RECORD, and has already revealed yet another HD media player bearing the LaCinema name. The LaCinema Classic Bridge is sort of a budget solution for providing movie and music playing as well as photo viewing on TVs as it does not come with built-in storage but enables users to connect an external drive to it via USB or (easily) install a 3.5-inch HDD of their choice.

Seen below, the Neil Poulton-designed Classic Bridge features DivX certification, has a USB 2.0 port and a HDMI output, comes backed by a two-year warranty and a price tag of $99. Unfortunately, the player is not yet shipping.

PhotoFast reveals the compact G-Monster mini SATA SSDs
PhotoFast has just announced the G-Monster mini, something the company claims to be the world's smallest SATA solid state drive. Measuring just 25 (W) x 40 (L) x 6.6 (H) mm, the new drives have a SATA 1.5/3.0 Gbps interface, maximum read and write speeds of 100 and 70 MB/s, respectively, and make use of either SLC (single-level cell) or MLC (multi-level cell) NAND flash memory chips - the SLC models come in 16 and 32GB capacities, while the MLCs go from 16 to 64GB.

The G-Monster mini SSDs are offered with a one-year warranty.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 09/06/2009

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