IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 09/04/2010

Scosche Intros Dual-USB Chargers For iPads And High-Power Tablet Charging
If you've been in the market for an iPad, you should probably give our review a look first. After that, you should probably be aware that charging Apple's first tablet is somewhat of a burden, particularly compared to just how easy it is to charge an iPhone, iPod touch or most anything else from the company. The iPad requires at least 10 watts from a USB port, and most USB 2.0 ports aren't designed to output that much power. Several of Apple's newer computers will output that when they're not in Sleep mode,
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Apple iPad Review: The Tablet Revolution Begins
We've had the opportunity to review a few tablet / netbook combinations here at HotHardware (the Eee PC T91 from Asus immediately comes to mind), but in the 10+ years of covering computing technology, there has yet to be a tablet as polarizing, alluring, and promising as iPad. And after all of these years, who would've thought that it would be Apple leading the tablet charge of 2010? Early last decade, somewhere around 2003 or 2004, there was a huge push for tablet PCs to make it big. That's a long time ago,
Read More ...

Metal Gear Solid Creator Rings Death Knell for Console Gaming
We've pretty much come to accept that every once in awhile, some analyst or game maker will predict the demise of the PC as a viable gaming platform, citing higher profits and a larger install base as reasons for focusing entirely on the console. They're wrong, of course - PC gaming isn't going anywhere, but are consoles a dying breed?Very doubtful, but don't tell that to Hideo Kojima, a Japanese videogame maker whose "Metal Gear Solid" games have sold more than 27 million copies. Nevertheless, Kojima envisions
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Mad Catz Debuts Cyborg R.A.T. Gaming Mice And Wireless Litetouch Keyboard
Mad Catz has been a prevailing name in the console accessory market for years, offering up affordable third-party solutions (mostly controllers and gamepads) for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and all the console generations before it. But the crowded PC peripheral market has generally forged ahead without too much input from this company. Today, that all begins to change, with the company offering a number of high-grade PC products for pre-order on Amazon. Originally announced at CES and CeBIT this year, the Cyborg R.A.T.
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Holy Mega Multitasking, Batman! Intel Handing Out Samples of Experimental 48-Core Chip
Just when you thought your 6-core chip was the baddest processor on the planet, Intel goes and announces plans to ship PCs equipped with an experimental 48-core CPU to a handful of lucky researchers sometime by the end of the second quarter.That doesn't mean that you just wasted $1,100 and that your Core i7 980X is suddenly obsolete. As part of a research project, the 48-core part might never become commercially available, and if it did, it would be destined for mainframes and supercomputing tasks, not home
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iPads, Ereaders And Small Gadgets Now Clear To Stay In Carry-On Bags
The TSA takes a lot of heat, some of the fair, some of it not so fair. But one thing that has been a great improvement over the years is the organization's openness and willingness to communicate with passengers. The TSA Blog is a great place to hear more on decisions being made that will affect your airport travels, and the latest post comes just on the heels of the iPad launch in the U.S. For awhile now, many travelers have assumed that any "notebook like" gadget had to be slapped in a separate grey bin for
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Apple iPad Breakdown Reveals Sub-$300 Cost
The iPad is certainly the hottest device to physically ship in 2010 so far, and of course, it has people asking lots of questions. Lots and lots of questions. But one question that doesn't get asked much by the average consumer is how much it costs Apple to build an iPad, but that's why iSuppli is around. This research company is famous for breaking down bills of materials in order to come up with a raw material total for any given product, and the company has been hard at work breaking down the individual parts
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Dell Intros Latitude E6410, E6510 And E6410 ATG Laptops
Dell's newest Latitude notebooks already arrived on the company's website, but it seems that the launch may have been a few days before it was intended to go live. Today, the company has issued a full-on press release that details all of the new refreshes in the Latitude E Series lineup, including a rugged machine that we hadn't heard of before. The New E Series does something that many other business laptops don't: it integrates enterprise-class control and design with specs that even an avid gamer or power
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Samsung Introduces Performance Driven 640GB Spinpoint MP4 2.5" HDD
Capacity, capacity, capacity. It's the same in the real estate market for location, but in the storage market, the team with the biggest number wins. Samsung Electronics is hoping to grab a bigger slice of the notebook HDD market share with a new 640GB unit, which differs from most other high-capacity notebook drives by spinning at 7200RPM rather than 5400RPM. The Spinpoint MP4 2.5" is definitely designed for high-performance users, boasting a higher spindle rate and more cache than "standard" units. Samsung
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Dell Makes WWAN Enabling Easy For 3G/4G Equipped Notebooks
Thank heavens, there are still companies out there that are trying to put themselves in the shoes of the consumer. We still say far too few are doing this on a regular basis, but Dell has really hit a home run with their latest innovation. And honestly, we're shocked it took this long to get in order, but we know dealing with multi-company partnerships (and particularly with cellular operators) can be tiresome. The news is Dell's Mobile Activation Center, and it's now live. And if you're thinking about buying
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AMD Turbo CORE Technology Revealed
When it announced the 890GX chipset early last month, AMD also let a juicy tid-bit of information slip out regarding the company's next-gen 6-Core desktop processor. In our coverage of the 890GX, we were able to reveal the AMD Phenom II X6 brand name, that the chips would fall within the same power envelope as current quad-core designs, and that they would work in many current socket AM3-based motherboards.Today, we're able to reveal yet another piece of information regarding AMD's upcoming 6-Core Phenom II
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Shuttle Steps It Up With "Pro Series" Small Form Factor PCs
Demand for small form factor PCs seems to be on the decline in the industry, at least if the mass production of them by mainstays such as Dell and HP are any indication. But just because a fad is transforming into a niche doesn't mean that the upstarts who got them on the map are slowing down. Shuttle is a name that ties closely with the SFF box, and their rectangular cases and XPC machines have been spotted at pretty much every LAN party ever thrown. We haven't heard much from the company lately, but they must
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Verizon To Sell FiOS Markets In 11 States, Focus On Wireless
So now it begins to make sense. Last month, Verizon announced that they would be winding down their FiOS deployment, with costs already in the billions and an ISP market that's becoming increasingly competitive. All told, 18 states have (or soon will have) FiOS, and soon, it looks like 11 of them will be handed off to someone else. Verizon has spent a great deal of time, energy and effort in marketing FiOS and getting it into as many homes as possible. But it seems like the best move at this point is to cut
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Nintendo and Google Tag Team Wii 'Search Engine' Game
Sure, web searching can be fun, especially when you're hitting up, ahem, seedier sides of the web (that other 'Tube - don't act like you don't know it). But can surfing the web be fun on the Wii, so much so that it warrants a video game?Google and Nintendo seem to think so, and the two have teamed up to develop a game called "Ando Kensaku," which will go on sale in Japan on April 29. The object? Try to guess popular web search terms. If you guess more than your opponent, you win.Gamers can play offline by tapping
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Hitachi Wizardry Could Lead To Batteries Lasting Twice As Long
We've been playing with Apple's iPad over the past few days (expect a full review soon), and we're amazed by the battery life. But as tech enthusiasts, we're always yearning for more. Hitachi seems to agree with us in thinking that there's really no battery that lasts long enough, and their R&D lab has been working away in an attempt to double the life of convention Li-ion batteries that are used in everything from notebooks to vehicles. A Japanese report notes that the company is using a manganese positive-electrode
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Apple iPad Review: The Tablet Revolution Begins

We've had the opportunity to review a few tablet / netbook combinations here at HotHardware (the Eee PC T91 from Asus immediately comes to mind), but in the 10+ years of covering computing technology, there has yet to be a tablet as polarizing, alluring, and promising as iPad. And after all of these years, who would've thought that it would be Apple leading the tablet charge of 2010? Early last decade, somewhere around 2003 or 2004, there was a huge push for tablet PCs to make it big. That's a long time ago, for sure, but we recall it feeling a little bit like the netbook push of 2008. Companies were hailing their tablets as "all new machines," with new form factors that would "redefine" the way we used a computer. We were told that our keyboard and mouse were no longer necessary, and so long as we had a free hand, we had a means to enjoy a full-fledged computing experience.

But those tablets were, putting it simply, way ahead of their time. Most were very bulky (some nearly 2" thick), screens were generally low-res, battery life was abysmal and Windows XP simply was not optimized for touch. It felt like manufacturers were shoving an operating system that was designed from the ground-up to be used with a mouse and keyboard into a device with neither, and then they all wondered why no one wanted to pay more for the things than the average notebook. Users simply saw no real benefit in using a tablet over a laptop, and they definitely didn't see the need in paying more for less convenience. For years, the tablet PC lived on primarily in two places: hospitals and in the wild. Panasonic kept a Toughbook Tablet or two alive for years since it was such a great machine in the field, and obviously medical charting works very well on a tablet-styled device. But consumers? Most simply ignored them and moved on.

Apple iPad Review: The Tablet Revolution Begins

Metal Gear Solid Creator Rings Death Knell for Console Gaming

We've pretty much come to accept that every once in awhile, some analyst or game maker will predict the demise of the PC as a viable gaming platform, citing higher profits and a larger install base as reasons for focusing entirely on the console. They're wrong, of course - PC gaming isn't going anywhere, but are consoles a dying breed?

Very doubtful, but don't tell that to Hideo Kojima, a Japanese videogame maker whose "Metal Gear Solid" games have sold more than 27 million copies. Nevertheless, Kojima envisions a time not too far away when players will no longer be tied to consoles.

"In the near future, we'll have games that don't depend on any platform," Kojima said at a recent news conference. "Gamers should be able to take the experience with them in their living rooms, on the go, when they travel -- wherever they are and whenever they want to play. It should be the same software and the same experience."

Sony called Kojimo's vision a "bold prediction," which is a nice way of saying he's off his rocker. But is he? Probably so, especially considering that consoles have become much more than just dedicated gaming boxes in recent years. All three major consoles, for example, now support streaming Netflix, and for those who want to game on the go, Nintendo's DS series of handhelds continue to rake in the cash.

To make the kind of drastic shift to gaming over the Internet, as Kojimo implies, would also require ubiquitous high-speed coverage, ping reductions, and other logistics that aren't likely to be solved in the near future.

What do you think? Are consoles a dying breed? What about the PC?

Mad Catz Debuts Cyborg R.A.T. Gaming Mice And Wireless Litetouch Keyboard

Mad Catz has been a prevailing name in the console accessory market foryears, offering up affordable third-party solutions (mostly controllersand gamepads) for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and all the console generationsbefore it. But the crowded PC peripheral market has generally forgedahead without too much input from this company. Today, that all beginsto change, with the company offering a number of high-grade PC productsfor pre-order on Amazon.

Originally announced at CES and CeBIT this year, the Cyborg R.A.T. 7Gaming Mouse is a "twin-eye" device with a 5600DPI sensor, ergonomicgrip, adjustable features (length + height) and removable 30g weighs toget the feel "just right" for whatever gamer ends up buying it. Userscan also pre-load the mouse with four DPI settings that can beinstantly switched to when gameplay gets intense or you change titles,and the five programmable buttons + a 3-position mode switch allows forup to 15 user-set commands. The Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse is also upfor order, with this one having most of the same features, but it usesa 2.4GHz wireless connection in favor of a USB cord. The R.A.T. 3 and 5are also joining the party, both of which are designed for more casualusers rather than the hardcord gaming crowd.

Finally, the Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard offers a wireless2.4GHz connection, an integrated 360-degree trackball with left/rightmouse buttons and a low-profile backlit platter of keys. There's alsoan 3-in-1 LED with touch input, enabling users to toggle between mediamode, numeric keypad mode and MyEclipse mode (customizable). Look out Logitech and Razer, competition's rolling in!

EclipseÂ® Wireless litetouchâ„¢ Keyboard and CyborgÂ® R.A.T. Premium Gaming Mice Among New Products Available For Pre-Order

San Diego, April 08. 2010

Mad Catzâ„¢ Interactive, Inc. (â€œMad Catzâ€ or â€œthe Companyâ€) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider today announced that its new range of lifestyle Eclipse-branded accessories and Cyborg R.A.T.-branded premium gaming mice are now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Announced to critical acclaim at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and the 2010 CeBIT trade show in Hanover, Germany, the new range of products are due for release in Summer 2010 with consumer interest continuing to prove substantial based on online traffic received since the launch of the two websites (www.eclipsetouch.com and www.cyborggaming.com) designed to inform and update consumers on the benefits of the new product lines.

Products available for pre-order on the Amazon.com website include the following:

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cyborg R.A.T. 7Â Gaming Mouse

Featuring a new generation â€œtwin eyeâ€ 5600DPI gaming grade laser sensor, the Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse is highly ergonomic and adjustable.Â Built on a metal chassis and designed to be comfortable over sustained gaming sessions, it features an interchangeable palm rest, adjustable pinkie grips, adjustable length, width and height settings and removable 30g weights.

Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing gamers to strategically switch DPI settings mid game.Â The DPI setting can be programmed as high as 5600DPI.Â Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement during heated battle.Â 5 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 15 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.Â Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.Â The R.A.T. 7 is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse

Featuring next generation, â€˜latency-freeâ€™ 2.4GHz wireless technology freeing the gamer from tethered operation with zero lag or dropout, the Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Gaming Mouse operates via a custom rechargeable battery pack and comes complete with a desktop charging system and an additional battery pack.Â Designed with comfort in mind, the R.A.T. 9Â features the same interchangeable palm rest, adjustable pinkie grips, adjustable length, width and height settings as featured on the R.A.T. 7, while a full 45g of removable weights allows for an even greater level of weight customization.

Similar to the Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Gaming Mouse, gamers can individually set the x and y-axis DPI of the power â€˜twin eyeâ€™ 5600DPI gaming grade laser sensor and store 4 individual DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch.Â Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement, steadying aim during heated battle and 5 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 15 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.Â Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.Â The R.A.T. 9 is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cyborg R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse

Featuring a true 4000DPI gaming grade laser sensor the Cyborg R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse conceals innovation and speed beneath its armored appearance.Â Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing users to strategically switch DPI settings mid game, programmable all the way up to 4000DPI.Â Precision Aim mode allows gamers to hold down a button and temporarily slow cursor movement, thereby steadying aim during heated battle.Â 4 programmable buttons combined with a 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 12 user definable commands to be available to the gamer at any one time.Â The R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse adjusts to suit the gamers preferred style, allowing for custom length adjustment and the 30g of removable weights stored underneath the mouse can be added or subtracted in order to create a truly bespoke experience.Â Cyborg ST Software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros.Â The R.A.T. 5 Gaming Mouse is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse

The entry level weapon in the Cyborg R.A.T. line, the R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse provides performance and comfort for any gaming application.Â High speed movement and aiming is catered for via the swift 3200DPI gaming grade laser sensor.Â Gamers can program four DPI settings which can be instantly recalled via an integrated toggle switch, allowing gamers to strategically switch DPI settings mid game, programmable all the way up to 3200DPI.Â 3 programmable buttons on the R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse allow gamers to assign preferred actions to each of the buttons and the 3 position mode switch allows for a total of up to 9 actions to be programmed to the buttons at any one time.Â Powerful Cyborg ST software included in pack allows gamers to remap programmable buttons and create custom macros, all via a powerful and intuitive new user interface.Â The Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Gaming Mouse is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eclipse Wireless litetouch Keyboard

Communicating over a wireless 2.4GHz connection, the litetouch Keyboard features an integrated 360Â° trackball with left and right mouse buttons, negating the need for a separate mouse and proving ideal for living room internet surfing.Â Low profile backlit quiettouchâ„¢ scissor keys combine with intelligent power control, reducing eye strain, extending battery life and allowing users to operate in a dimmed environment.

Located to the right of the physical scissor keys, the unique litetouch LCD 3-in-1 touch panel provides the user with unprecedented control over their digital life.Â With a single press, the LCD 3-in-1 touch panel switches between media mode, numerical-pad mode and â€˜MyEclipseâ„¢â€™ mode, providing the user with a host of commands which can be used to provide dedicated controls for a multitude of activities from replicating a simple office calculator to controlling a complex media center configuration.

Powered by an internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, the Wireless litetouch Keyboard provides up to 20 hours of use between charges.Â The Wireless litetouch Keyboard is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eclipse litetouch Keyboard

Sharing the majority of features of its wireless variant, the Eclipse litetouch Keyboard has been designed specifically for desktop operation.Â With its metal finish, top cabinet and quiettouchâ„¢ low profile backlit scissor keys; the Eclipse litetouch Keyboard is an eye-catching addition to any office or study.Â With the same touch-sensitive LCD 3-in-1 touch panel as found on the Wireless litetouch Keyboard, users can access media, surf the internet and perform office tasks at a touch of a button.Â Assignable MyEclispe keys combine with touch sensitive brightness and volume controls, allowing for a powerful and highly adaptive user experience.Â The litetouch Keyboard is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eclipse mobilemouseâ„¢

Designed specifically for consumers on-the-go, the Eclipse mobilemouse features impressive technology and sophisticated good looks.Â Robust in construction, the mobilemouse uses premium hard-wearing materials with a die cast frame, ensuring that the mouse will stand up to the most demanding of commuter or business use.Â Â Â The low profile Scroll Ball allows for 4 way 360Â° scrolling, and the 1600dpi laser technology ensures smooth operation on a variety of surfaces.Â Fully wireless, the mobilemouse utilizes 2.4GHz technology and a â€˜nano-dongleâ€™ for an unobtrusive appearance and rock solid connection at all times.

Complete with a protective Carry Case and fully MacÂ® compatible, the Eclipse mobilemouse is ready for work whenever or wherever you are.Â The mobilemouse is compatible with Windowsâ„¢ 7, Vistaâ„¢ and XPâ„¢.

All products listed above can be viewed and pre-ordered now at Amazon.com

Holy Mega Multitasking, Batman! Intel Handing Out Samples of Experimental 48-Core Chip

Just when you thought your 6-core chip was the baddest processor on the planet, Intel goes and announces plans to ship PCs equipped with an experimental 48-core CPU to a handful of lucky researchers sometime by the end of the second quarter.

That doesn't mean that you just wasted $1,100 and that your Core i7 980X is suddenly obsolete. As part of a research project, the 48-core part might never become commercially available, and if it did, it would be destined for mainframes and supercomputing tasks, not home desktops.

At the same time, there is reason to envy. The underlying architecture of the 48-core part includes tweaks that reduce memory and communication bottlenecks inherent in all current x86 processors. According to Sean Koehl, technology evangelist with Intel Labs, the 48 cores are arranged with multiple points to receive and transfer data. Each core also has on-chip buffers to instantly exchange data in parallel across all cores.

As for power management, remarkably the 48-core part only draws between 25W and 125W, and cores can be slowed down or shut off completely in order to save power.

"With a chip like this, you could imagine a cloud datacenter of the future which will be an order of magnitude more energy efficient than what exists today, saving significant resources on space and power costs," said Justin Rattner, head of Intel Labs and Intel's Chief Technology Officer. "Over time, I expect these advanced concepts to find their way into mainstream devices, just as advanced automotive technology such as electronic engine control, air bags and anti-lock braking eventually found their way into all cars."

Apple iPad Breakdown Reveals Sub-$300 Cost

The iPad is certainly the hottest device to physically ship in 2010 sofar, and of course, it has people asking lots of questions. Lots andlots of questions. But one question that doesn't get asked much by theaverage consumer is how much it costs Apple to build an iPad, butthat's why iSuppli is around. This research company is famous forbreaking down bills of materials in order to come up with a rawmaterial total for any given product, and the company has been hard atwork breaking down the individual parts list in order to create a totalcost for the first-ever Apple tablet.

Apple was fairly pleased with being able to offer the iPad at $499, andby and large, many seem to agree that $499 is a fair starting point.According to iSuppli, the iPad has over 40% of its bill of materialsdedicated to the display, touch panel and other UI components. Thoseuser interface parts alone add up to $109.50, and the grand total interms of cost for the Wi-Fi only, 16GB model came to $259.60. That's abit higher than the company's original estimate, but they didn't expectto see such high costs for the battery, UI chips and power managementICs.

That may seem like a joke, or worse, it may seem that Apple is rippingpeople off left and right. But let's consider this: Apple acquired anentire company (P.A. Semi) in order to use their expertise in buildingthe custom 1GHz A4 that powers the iPad. Apple has also spent tons ofmoney advertising the iPad, and the R&D costs alone over the pastfew years have to rate in the hundreds of millions. So before you jumpon Apple for overcharging you, it's probably smart to look at a moreholistic cost view rather than a strict BOM breakdown.

Still, with BOM prices landing at under $300, it gives us hope that the$199 tablet isn't too far off. Of course, NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chipsetwon't be super affordable by OEMs nor consumers, but with competitioncomes scale, and with scale comes price lowering. And with pricelowering, comes consumer smiles.

User-Interface-Focused iPad Changes the Game in Electronic Design, iSuppli Teardown Reveals

El Segundo, Calif., April 7, 2010â€”With more than 40 percent of its Bill of Materials (BOM) dedicated to the display, touch screen and other user interface components, Apple Inc.â€™s iPad represents a radical departure in electronic design compared to conventional products, according to a teardown conducted by iSuppli Corp.

The combined costs of user-interface-related components in the iPad amounts to $109.50, representing 43.7 percent of total BOM of the 16Gbyte, non-3G version of the iPad torn down by iSuppli.

â€œWhile the iPad has the potential to change the game in the computing, wireless and consumer worlds, it already has changed the game of how many electronic products areâ€”and will beâ€“ designed,â€ said Andrew Rassweiler, director and principal analyst and teardown services manager for iSuppli. â€œThe iPadâ€™s design represents a new paradigm in terms of electronics cost structure and electronic content. Conventional notebook PCs are â€˜motherboard-centric,â€™ with all the other functions in the systemâ€”such as the display, the keyboard and audioâ€”peripheral to the central microprocessor and the main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) at the core. With the iPad, this is reversed. Everything is human-machine-interface-centric, with the PCB and Integrated Circuits (ICs) all there to facilitate the display of content as well as user inputs.â€

Based on its physical teardown, iSuppli estimates the BOM of the low-end 16Gbyte, non-3G iPad at $250.60. When manufacturing expenses are added, the cost rises to $259.60.

This cost is higher than iSuppliâ€™s virtual teardown estimate issued in February of a $219.35 BOM and $229.35 manufacturing cost. Cost for the display, the battery, the user interface chips and the power management Integrated Circuits (ICs) all exceeded iSuppliâ€™s initial estimates, driving up the total BOM.

The attached table presents the BOM and manufacturing cost summary of iSuppliâ€™s physical teardown of the iPad.

Please note that the teardown costs account only for hardware and manufacturing and do not include other expenses such as software, royalties and licensing fees.

Display of extravagance

The single most expensive component in the iPad is the display, priced at $65 and representing 25.9 percent of the productâ€™s BOM. The display is a 9.7-inch diagonal, 262,000-color TFT-LCD with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. It employs In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, which supports a wider viewing angle and better picture quality in terms of presentation of color than a conventional LCD.

â€œThe display represents a customized implementation of an IPS panel, driving up its cost relative to a more commoditized netbook panel,â€ Rassweiler said.

In the specific iPad torn down by iSuppli, the IPS TFT-LCD was supplied by LG Display. However, iSuppli believes Apple has qualified two other suppliers for the display, with more possible in the future.

The next most expensive component is the touch screen assembly at a cost of $30, or 12 percent of the BOM. The touch screen assembly is 9.7-inches in the diagonal dimension and uses capacitive technology. The supplier of the assembly is Wintek.

Battery gets charged up

Coming in at third in terms of expense is the NAND-type flash memory, at a cost of $29.50 for the low-end 16Gbyte iPad. The NAND in the iPad dissected by iSuppli was supplied by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., but Apple likely also is employing other sources of these commodity parts.

The fourth most expensive component is the battery, at $21, representing 8.4 percent of the total BOM. The 3.75-volt battery is a lithium polymer battery pack that employs value-added modular design that combines two cells into a single pack that is more easily replaceable than two individual cells wired in. In the iPad torn down by iSuppli, the battery cells were supplied by Amperex Technology and the pack provided by Dynapack. We had not expected to see the battery cells kitted as a pack, so such a design element clearly suggests these batteries are meant to be replaced at some point.

Design winners

Other notable components and suppliers in the iPad include:

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The microprocessor, combining an A4 processor core and a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), designed by P.A. Semiâ€”which was acquired by Apple in 2008â€”and manufactured by Samsung and carrying an estimated cost of $19.50.
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth (BT) and Frequency Modulation (FM) module featuring chips supplied by Broadcom Corp. and costing $8.05.
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The touch screen microcontroller from Broadcom, at $2.30.
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A power management chip from Dialog Semiconductor, at $2.10.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A touch screen driver semiconductor from Texas Instruments, at $1.80.

AMD Turbo CORE Technology Revealed

When it announced the 890GX chipset early last month, AMD also let a juicy tid-bit of information slip out regarding the company's next-gen 6-Core desktop processor. In our coverage of the 890GX, we were able to reveal the AMD Phenom II X6 brand name, that the chips would fall within the same power envelope as current quad-core designs, and that they would work in many current socket AM3-based motherboards.

Today, we're able to reveal yet another piece of information regarding AMD's upcoming 6-Core Phenom II X6 processors, a feature aptly dubbed Turbo CORE.

AMD's 6-Core Instanbul Die; Click For Larger View

Since the introduction of their Nehalem microarchitecture, Intel's processors have been outfitted with a feature called Turbo Boost that in essence overclocked one or more of the processor's cores under certain workload conditions, power and thermals permitting. Turbo Boost afforded the processors the ability to enhance the performance of lightly-threaded workloads by increasing the performance of active cores. AMD's new Turbo CORE technology functions in a similar way.

AMD's Turbo CORE technology automatically increases the frequency of three active CPU cores by up to 500MHz, without the need for any special software or drivers. The technology will be enabled on upcoming Phenom II X6 processors and will work with all AM3-based motherboards.

Â
AMD Turbo CORE Technology Explained; Click For Larger View

The technology works by putting three cores into a boost-enabled P-state when power consumption is below the processor's rated TDP. Being in the boost-enabled P-state doesn't necessarily mean the three cores are overclocked by 500MHz, but rather that they are ready to have their frequencies increased based on the processing workload. When Turbo CORE is active, Cool 'n' Quiet still functions, so each core could be operating at anywhere up to that maximum clock, but is not necessarily at the absolute maximum. And the individual cores don't necessarily have to be operating at the same frequency either. Essentially, when three or more of a Phenom II X6's six cores are at low utilization, the processor determines that it is in a boost-eligible state, and the active cores are put into a Turbo-enabled state to increase performance. According to AMD, the active cores must be in software P0 state for transition to boost and the processors will fully utilize available TDP budget to maximize performance, while remaining within electrical limits.

More news regarding the Phenom II X6 will be available in the not too distant future. So stay tuned to HotHardware for the full scoop, once the embargo lifts. it won't be long now.

Scosche Intros Dual-USB Chargers For iPads And High-Power Tablet Charging

If you've been in the market for an iPad, you should probably give our review a look first. After that, you should probably be aware thatcharging Apple's first tablet is somewhat of a burden, particularlycompared to just how easy it is to charge an iPhone, iPod touch or mostanything else from the company. The iPad requires at least 10 wattsfrom a USB port, and most USB 2.0 ports aren't designed to output thatmuch power. Several of Apple's newer computers will output that whenthey're not in Sleep mode, but unless you have one, you'll need tocarry around the included wall plug.

Or, you could look to Scosche. On the heels of the iPad announcement,this accessory company has introduced the new Revive II line,Â whichincludes a home a car AC adapter with two USB sockets designed forhigh-output charging to use with devices like the iPad. The interestingpart here is that future slates and tablets are likely to run into thissame problem; with higher capacity batteries comes charging needs thatcannot be handled with existing connections. Each adapter comes withone standard USB port (for charging lower power devices like iPhone)and a high-power output for tablets.

The company has also introduced their Kickback P1 case, which issomething that Apple should've included from the start. It's somewhatdifficult to use the iPad while seated without some sort of stand, butthis peripheral definitely takes the edge off. The reVIVE II chargerswill retail for $24.99 (car) and $29.99 (home) and are available nowfor pre-order on scosche.com and in shipping late spring, while thecase will be available this summer at $44.99.

Chargers feature dual USB ports to power iPad and another USB powered device at home or in the car

Innovative chargers join iPad accessory line that already includes kickBACK case and stand and five earphone models

Oxnard, CA, â€“ April 07, 2010 â€“ Scosche Industries, an award-winning innovator of iPod, iPhone and now iPad accessories, is proud to announce two new additions to its quickly expanding iPad accessory line â€“ reVIVE II Dual USB Chargers for home and car.Â Each of the two reVIVE II chargers features a 2.1 Amp (iPad) and 1 Amp (iPhone or any other USB powered devices) port so iPad users can power their new iPad and another handheld device simultaneously from one wall outlet or car power port.Â According to Pew Researcheâ€™s Internet and the American Life the average consumer owns between 3 and 4 gadgets, which makes the additional USB port on both reVIVE II models a welcome addition for most consumers.Â

â€œThe new chargers and kickBACK P1 case are just the tip of the iceberg for our iPad accessory line,â€ said Kas Alves, executive vice president of Scosche Industries.Â â€œWe will be announcing several industry first products via our Twitter and Facebook pages in the coming weeks, so become a follower and fan today so you donâ€™t miss anything.â€

Should users confuse the two USB ports the iPad will charge slower in the 1A port and other devices will simply charge at the same rate in the 2.1A port â€“ no devices would be damaged by mistakenly plugging the wrong device into the wrong port and the ports are clearly labeled to help avoid any confusion.

The reVIVE II chargers will retail for $24.99 (car) and $29.99 (home) and are available now for pre-order on scosche.com and in shipping late spring.

The two chargers join the much-anticipated kickBACK P1 for iPad, which will be available for preorder on Scosche.com for $44.99 and shipping early summer.Â The shatterproof polycarbonate and rubber hybrid case provides superior protection for Appleâ€™s new iPad tablet.Â The caseâ€™s patent pending locking kickstand enables both vertical and horizontal viewing and has a low angle setting for the optimal typing position.

Verizon To Sell FiOS Markets In 11 States, Focus On Wireless

So now it begins to make sense. Last month, Verizon announced that theywould be winding down their FiOS deployment, with costs already in thebillions and an ISP market that's becoming increasingly competitive.All told, 18 states have (or soon will have) FiOS, and soon, it lookslike 11 of them will be handed off to someone else.

Verizon has spent a great deal of time, energy and effort in marketingFiOS and getting it into as many homes as possible. But it seems likethe best move at this point is to cut ties and sell out. Now, it lookslike a deal is in the works to sell FiOS markets in 11 states, with thereason being that they're looking to "narrow focus to fast-growingwireless and high-speed Internet businesses." Frontier Communications,a CT-based company, is set to buy Verizon's phone and cable lines inthe Northwest and elsewhere for $5.3 billion in stock, with Verizonreceiving an additional $3.3 billion derived from assets being sold.

All told, Frontier will acquire around 4.7m phone lines (nearlytripling the size of their current holdings), but of course Verizonwill hold tight to their wireless business. What's interesting here iswhat the future could hold for Verizon Communications as a whole. Willthis enable Verizon to jump to LTE faster in the wireless space? Willother U.S. carriers need to fear seeing a Verizon map with 100% 4Gcoverage over America? It's hard to say now, but you can bet we'rekeeping our fingers crossed. Now, if only that iPhone would go aheadand jump over...

Nintendo and Google Tag Team Wii 'Search Engine' Game

Sure, web searching can be fun, especially when you're hitting up, ahem, seedier sides of the web (that other 'Tube - don't act like you don't know it). But can surfing the web be fun on the Wii, so much so that it warrants a video game?

Google and Nintendo seem to think so, and the two have teamed up to develop a game called "Ando Kensaku," which will go on sale in Japan on April 29. The object? Try to guess popular web search terms. If you guess more than your opponent, you win.

Gamers can play offline by tapping into about 10,000 pre-stored words and phrases, but with an active Internet connection, you'll be able to download challenges based on current Google search trends.

If it sounds a bit wacky, that's because it is, but how could you not be intrigued after listening to the game's theme song?

Dell Makes WWAN Enabling Easy For 3G/4G Equipped Notebooks

Thank heavens, there are still companies out there that are trying toput themselves in the shoes of the consumer. We still say far too feware doing this on a regular basis, but Dell has really hit a home runwith their latest innovation. And honestly, we're shocked it took thislong to get in order, but we know dealing with multi-companypartnerships (and particularly with cellular operators) can be tiresome.

The news is Dell's Mobile Activation Center, and it's now live. And ifyou're thinking about buying a WWAN-equipped machine, we'd say Delljust took a leg up on everyone else. Basically, this new portal allowsyou to activate your mobile broadband service that ships with yourWWAN-enabled netbook or notebook without ever having to wonder about"how." Now, consumers get their machine and ponder the options: Do youcontact Dell or the wireless carrier? Does it require visiting astore?Â Can I add it to my existing plan or is it a new plan? That'sall over and done with if you choose a Dell.

Currently, the service can be enabled at checkout when you buy amachine, and all of the options above are laid out as choices beforeyou ever see the laptop. Dell took the wireless activation process fromthe carriers and integrated it into their shopping cart; a process thattook a lot of time to accomplish, but one that will likely gain themlots of business. It's only available for U.S. customers now, but othermarkets should be served soon. Now, if only that mobile data weren't soexpensive...

Dell Intros Latitude E6410, E6510 And E6410 ATG Laptops

Dell's newest Latitude notebooks already arrived on the company'swebsite, but it seems that the launch may have been a few days beforeit was intended to go live. Today, the company has issued a full-onpress release that details all of the new refreshes in the Latitude ESeries lineup, including a rugged machine that we hadn't heard ofbefore.

The New E Series does something that many other business laptops don't:it integrates enterprise-class control and design with specs that evenan avid gamer or power user could appreciate. There's also a bundledsuite of Migration Services to ease the pain of transitioning from yourold OS (likely Windows XP) to a new one (Windows 7). The LatitudeE6410, E6510 and E6410 ATG laptops are the ones making their debut, allfeaturing optional Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs, DDR3 memory, high-defdisplays and three color options (something else that's rarely found ona business machine).

Additionally, these new Latitude laptops offer a new Fast Response FreeFall Sensor, and since we didn't know much about the rugged unit untiltoday, we were thrilled to see it ship with a splitting-the-difference14.1" display, "semi-rugged" shell and certification that it survivedthe MIL STD 810G standard for shock, vibration, temperature, humidityand altitude. The group starts at $1129, but you'll end up paying farmore for a system with bleeding edge specifications.

DELL UNVEILS NEW E-FAMILY LAPTOPS AND INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES DESIGNED TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS SIMPLIFY PC REFRESH

â€¢ Refreshed mainstream Latitude E-Family laptops unite enterprise-classcontrol, design and collaboration for mobile computing needs
â€¢ New suite of management capabilities help customers simplify deployment, management and recovery of assets
â€¢ Dell Migration Services provides easy transition and deployment of Windows 7, with automated processes to help reduce costs

ROUND ROCK, Texas, April 8, 2010 â€“ New additions to the line of popularDell Latitudeâ„¢ E-family laptops â€“ and complementary software andservices solutions- will make it simple and affordable for public andprivate sector organizations worldwide to refresh laptops.

Recent economic turmoil, technology shifts, hardware advances, andchanging workforce needs have created an opportunity for CIOs torethink their IT infrastructure status quo and unlock new efficiencies.This has created a situation in which many IT organizations are nowfacing aging client infrastructures that, while letting them savecapital expenditures today, sets them up for far greater operationalexpenses in the future.

According to IDC, the industry can expect to see 27 percent growth incommercial laptops alone the next three years as organizations begin torealize the cost and impact of holding on to an aging infrastructure.
"Companies have a great incentive to refresh today," said BobO'Donnell, Program VP, Client Computing, IDC. "With new technologiessuch as Intel's processors and Microsoft Windows 7, CIOs can drivegreater workforce efficiency and IT automation. In addition, a modernsystem running a modern operating system offers greater efficiencieswhen it comes to desktop virtualization, data protection, assetmonitoring and remote management."
Dell Latitude E-Family
The award-winning Latitude E-Family line has been extended with theavailability of the Latitude E6410, E6510 and E6410 ATG laptops. Basedon direct feedback from customers, Dell improved reliability anddurability while evolving the Latitude family. Enhancements include theaddition of new Intel Core i5 and Corei7 processors, fast DDR3 memory,HD displays and other new features, bolstering a product lineup thatalready features breakthrough battery life and professional style â€“including a choice of three colors. Additionally, these new Latitudelaptops offer a new Fast Response Free Fall Sensor with exclusivetechnology that can help prevent data loss from drops.

New additions to the Dell Latitude family support a range of usage needs:

â€¢ Mainstream â€“ The dependable and stylish Dellâ„¢ Latitudeâ„¢ E6410 andE6510 are 14.1-inch and 15.6-inch professional laptops, available now,that start at $1,129 and $1,164 USD, respectively. The systems, whichinclude a 3-megapixel camera and optional discrete graphics from NVIDIAare designed for easy mobile collaboration and advanced productivitywith feature advancements in manageability, durability and securitythat can help empower IT and lower total cost of ownership.
â€¢ Semi-Rugged â€“ The Latitude E6410 ATG is a 14.1-inch semi-ruggedlaptop, engineered to increase productivity regardless of location orterrain. It is built and tested to meet the MIL STD 810G for shock,vibration, temperature, humidity and altitude.

Available as an option with select Latitude E-Family systems, DellLatitude ONâ„¢ technology provides access to e-mail, calendar andcontacts without needing to boot up. The technology, Latitude ON Flash,also supports virtual remote desktop control for flexible computingmodels. Additionally, select configurations of the Dell Latitude E6410are qualified for MicrosoftÂ® Office Communicator.

With an emphasis on stability, inter-compatibility, global support andenterprise-class mobility features and systems management capabilities,the refreshed lineup of Dell Latitude E-Family laptops can reduceorganizational costs while helping IT organizations drive towardsgreater client efficiency and control.

Designed with the Planet in Mind
These latest additions to the Latitude E-family continue the line'sreputation for environmentally conscious design. Approximately 85percent of an E-family laptop can be recycled, and they featuremotherboards containing halogen-free laminates and plastics.Organizations can help reduce their own impact on the environment withLatitude's:
â€¢ Energy Smart power management settings for low energy consumption, which result in longer battery life;
â€¢ Inverted motherboard for improved thermals;
â€¢ ENERGY STAR and EPEAT certifications; and
â€¢ Energy-efficient LED displays and backlighting.

Client Energy Smart consulting services are also available to help optimize organizations' client-related power consumption.

More information on the Latitude E-Family can be found at www.dell.com/latitude.

Intelligent Management Solutions
Dell offers a comprehensive set of imaging and asset managementsolutions that help customers efficiently image, deploy, manage andrecover assets to extend productivity and savings. To help customersmanage their computing environments in the most efficient way, Dellallows them to manage on their terms with a Dell management offering orthrough Dell's industry-leading partners, automate management tasks ortake advantage of lifecycle services.

Management Consoles â€“ DMC, DDM, KACE KBOX Appliance
â€¢ Dell Management Console is available at no cost and helps customersmanage their Dell commercial client laptops and desktops. The DMCstreamlines desktop to datacenter infrastructure management and enablescentralization, remote visibility and control, and common taskautomation.
â€¢ Dell Distributed Device Management (DDM) is a SaaS-enabled solutionthat automates processes to help enable effective, real-time managementof commercial client PCs virtually, regardless of their location. DDMservices include: Dell Asset Management, Dell Software Distribution,Dell Patch Management and Dell Anti-Malware & Virus Management.
â€¢ The KACE KBOX Systems Management (KBOX 1000 Series) and Deployment(KBOX 2000 Series) Appliances (both physical and virtual appliances)provide mid-sized organizations comprehensive, end-to-end systemsmanagement and deployment capabilities via affordable and easy-to-useappliances.

Dell has developed tools to help customers image, deploy and managelaptops and desktops, including:, Dell Deployment Pack for SystemCenter Configuration Manager (SCCM) to help simplify deployment andDell Update Catalog for SCCM to help simplify system updates.

Automation Tools â€“ Helping customers drive efficiencies and get more value out of their consoles
Dell developed several utilities available at no cost that helpcustomers automate several deployment and management tasks, includingthe following;
â€¢ Dell Client Systems Deployment CAB - A simplified file directory thathas the latest drivers for a specific Dell commercial desktop or laptopto help greatly reduce the amount time spent building a completesoftware image.
â€¢ Client Configuration Toolkit â€“ Software tool that helps enable IT toupdate and/or configure BIOS without a desk side visit eitherone-to-one or one-to-many
â€¢ OpenManage Client Instrumentation â€“ A management tool that helpsenable deep insights into assets to assess the health and state ofcomponents (processors, batteries, monitors, fans, etc.) in a system.It also helps third-party management consoles to communicate with Dellhardware.
â€¢ Dell Client System Update â€“ Helping solve a leading driver for helpdesk calls, the easy-to-use tool scans a system's drivers and compareswhat is available on www.support.dell.com and updates the systems asneeded. The tool can be scheduled to run on a regular basis and userscan customize what updates are downloaded and installed. IT can setparameters for updates (schedule and define what is downloaded) viacommand line interface or script.

Dell Services
Dell offers a comprehensive of set of services that help you automatethe deployment and management of commercial laptops and desktops, aswell as the ability to help you securely dispose of outdated or retiredassets. The modular services include:
â€¢ Deployment Services - End-to-end deployment services are designed tosimplify and accelerate the customization and utilization of your newsystems. Dell Deployment Services include everything from orderconsolidation to coordination of deployment resources.
â€¢ Managed Deployment - Services are for customers who need a complete,end-to-end deployment solution. Managed deployments are useful withincomplex logistical environments which require a single point of contact.
â€¢ Hardware Customization (CFI) - Services to help accelerate yoursystem deployments. Dell can perform a range of services such as customconfiguration, consolidation, and integration in our factory so thatyou can deploy your systems right out of the box.
â€¢ Asset Recovery Services - Safe and environmentally-appropriatedisposal solutions for outdated or end-of-life IT assets. This serviceincludes transportation, flexible logistics, equipment processing,detailed data security and environmental reports at an affordable price.

Dell Distributed Device Management is a SaaS-enabled solution thatautomates processes to help enable effective, real-time management ofclient PCs virtually, regardless of their location. This serviceutilizes a software agent that resides on each asset that collectsinformation that is then transferred securely to the systems housed inthe data centers. Dell Distributed Device Management services include:
â€¢ Dell Asset Management - Enables you to discover, inventory, track andmanage distributed desktop and notebook computers to help improvesystem-wide security, risk management, and compliance.
â€¢ Dell Software Distribution - Provides the ability to distribute andcontrol software and versioning in dispersed desktop and notebookenvironments.
â€¢ Dell Patch Management - Helps automate and centralize patchmanagement processes to help ensure security and identifyvulnerabilities.
â€¢ Dell Anti-Malware & Virus Management - Protects your PCs andhelps ensure end-point security by centrally deploying SymantecÂ® andMcAfeeÂ® anti-virus software and updates for distributed desktop andnotebook computers â€“whether or not they're on the corporate network.

Organizations also have the option of having Dell remotely manage theentire desktop environment using the Distributed Device ManagementPlatform, providing Service Desk, onsite Field Service, along withadditional services of choice, relieving IT organizations from theburden of desktop management and freeing them to work on missioncritical, revenue generating projects.

About Dell:
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovativetechnology and services they need and value. For more information,visit www.dell.com.

My 1 month IPOD acting up.

I bought an Ipod touch a month ago, but recently is acting up on me. For example it refuses to connect to Bluetooth, and the other day I have to turn it off, but when I turned back on it asked me to reinstall it to Itunes.

I am very disappointed with the Ipod, it can't even play Flash. Like it successor the Ipad.

I just want to warm anyone that is thinking on getting these devices.

Does a ssd make ping lower

Hello guys, i play some 2d fighting games online and my ping is 15ms which i believe is very good so i was wondering if i get an ssd will it give me 0ms ping? Since an ssd have 0ms access time so does it means i get low ping in gaming server?

Friday, April 9, 2010

IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 09/04/2010

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