IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 10/04/2010

Samsung Claims Highest Capacity 7200RPM Notebook HDD
Unless you're willing to invest in a full-blown desktop replacement, computing on the go has often meant sacrificing performance and capacity, all in the name of mobility. While that's still the case, Samsung has narrowed the divide by introducing their new Spinpoint MP4 2.5-inch internal hard drive.The MP4 delivers 640GB of storage spread across just two platters, making it the highest-density, 2.5-inch drive around. Combined with a 7200RPM rotation speed, 16MB of cache, and improved caching algorithms, Samsung
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Super Talent Shoots for the Entry Level Market with Value SSD Product Line
If we could, we'd all be rocking multiple high-end SSDs in a killer RAID 0 configuration with transfer rates that are off the charts. So why aren't we? Take your pick - kids' college fund, mortgage, car payment, food, and everything else that takes a chunk out of our paycheck. For most, investing several hundred, or even thousands of dollars on a storage medium whose price-per-gigabyte is nothing short of obscene just isn't feasible.Dry those teary eyes, would-be upgrader, because you too can own an SSD and
Read More ...

Fujitsu Power Strip Gives You Visual Indication Of Energy Usage
When you think Fujitsu, you probably think notebooks, or maybe storage products like hard drives and optical media. But do you ever think "power strip?" You might begin to soon, as the company has made public a new prototype of sorts that might just up-end the power strip market for good. And while that may not seem like a big deal to the Average Joe, hardcore gadget nerds know just how important a good, well-spaced-out power strip can be. There's nothing like coming up one socket too short! The company has
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Redbox Mulls Low-Cost Video Streaming Service
Does Redbox have its eyes on the video streaming market? A survey being sent to Redbox customers suggests the company may be considering a streaming service that would cost a fraction of what Netflix charges. According to High-Def Digest, the survey asks customers to rate their interest in a plan that would cost $3.95 per month and provide access to unlimited streaming as well as four free rentals from Redbox kiosks. Considering a Redbox rental costs a dollar, anyone who rents four movies or more per month would
Read More ...

Four Foxconn Workers Attempt Suicide In A Month: Are Low-Cost Gadgets The Reason?
So, it turns out those reports last October about Foxconn making the new Apple tablet (renamed iPad) were probably true. But it also seems that some of those folks who couldn't quite keep a lid on Apple's secrets may be in very bad positions over in China. A report stemming from the country and coming just days after Apple announced that it had sold 300,000 of their tablets on the first day in America has shocked the collective tech world, and not in a positive way. Foxconn's Longhua plant is veiled in secrecy.
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3D Dominates The Cinema: Reels In 33% Of All Box Office Revenue Since December
Here's a tidbit that the 3D pundits might find interesting: 3D movies have generated 33% of total box office revenue since the release of Avatar last December in the U.S. 33%. That's one-third of all movie revenue in America. Talk about stepping in and making an impact! Just two years ago, finding a 3D theater was a chore; now they're everywhere, and even though they're certainly priced higher than the average 2D film, it seems that customers are still buying in. According to a new report from the International
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Apple Details iPhone OS 4: Multi-Tasking, App Folders, And More Coming This Summer
Wow, what a week it has been for Apple. Last Saturday, the company's first tablet launched and sold over 300,000 units on the first day. On Monday, they announced that iPhone OS 4.0 would be explained in detail later in the week. And now, those details are live, and they're substantial to say the least. Apple's CEO Steve Jobs took the stage in California in order to lay out the next generation of the company's iPhone operating system, going on and on about seven "tentpoles" that would boost up a seriously overhauled
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OCZ Unveils Vertex 2 And Agility 2 SSDs
OCZ announced the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive (SSD) Series. These new enthusiast-class SSDs incorporate a new controller design that delivers better performance across the board. The higher-end Vertex 2 features transfer rates up to 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write and 4KB random writes up to 50,000 IOPS. For cost-conscious consumers, the Agility 2 provides identical read/write rates and 4KB random writes up to 10,000 IOPS. The new drives will begin shipping in the next few weeks in capacities
Read More ...

Bang & Olufsen Announces App For iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad
Bang & Olufsen is extending control of home automation and home entertainment to your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad via the new BeoLink application. This new app gives you access to audio and video controls as well as the home automation system. The BeoLink application sends commands via Wi-Fi. The interface is customizable to show the scenes and commands requested by the customer. The app is free and currently available in the App store. Bang & Olufsen Announces BeoLink Application for iPhone, iPod touch,
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Samsung Claims Highest Capacity 7200RPM Notebook HDD

Unless you're willing to invest in a full-blown desktop replacement, computing on the go has often meant sacrificing performance and capacity, all in the name of mobility. While that's still the case, Samsung has narrowed the divide by introducing their new Spinpoint MP4 2.5-inch internal hard drive.

The MP4 delivers 640GB of storage spread across just two platters, making it the highest-density, 2.5-inch drive around. Combined with a 7200RPM rotation speed, 16MB of cache, and improved caching algorithms, Samsung says you can expect up to a 30 percent performance boost over 5400RPM drives.

"Demonstrating Samsung's industry leadership in delivering advanced and high performing storage solutions, the Spinpoint MP4 offers the biggest capacity what has previously been offered as an option for advanced data storage," said H.S. Lee, vice president, storage and marketing, Samsung Electronics. "The large capacity and productivity improvements in the MP4 drive make it an optimal solution for our notebook PC and slim-desktop customers."

The features don't end there, however. Samsung's MP4 boasts external USB 3.0 support, NCQ, an optional Free Fall sensor, and a decrease in power consumption by 34 percent during read/write operations when compared to the MP2.

Samsung will start shipping the MP4 to OEMs later this month.

Fujitsu Power Strip Gives You Visual Indication Of Energy Usage

When you think Fujitsu, you probably think notebooks, or maybe storageproducts like hard drives and optical media. But do you ever think"power strip?" You might begin to soon, as the company has made publica new prototype of sorts that might just up-end the power strip marketfor good. And while that may not seem like a big deal to the AverageJoe, hardcore gadget nerds know just how important a good,well-spaced-out power strip can be. There's nothing like coming up onesocket too short!

The company has designed a new strip that's outfitted with a powersensor to "measure electrical energy at each outlet in real time tohelp figure out how much electricity is being used in an office." It'sjust the next logical step in the shift towards energy conservation atevery level, and having the ability to closely monitor how much drainis coming from each socket could be a huge help for those who want tocut back but really are in the dark about where to start.

The strip will also come with the ability to show measured data and ascheduler for turning items on/off, and a visual graph of the powerconsumption will be available for easy viewing. Each outlet of thepower strip is equipped with a contactless powersensor that has a resolution of 1W and can measure up to 2,000W, butplans are still in place to get it out to the commercial market.Something tells us it'll be there soon; this isn't a product waitingfor its time to come, it's a product that just so happens to be hittingduring a peak market.

Four Foxconn Workers Attempt Suicide In A Month: Are Low-Cost Gadgets The Reason?

So, it turns out those reports last October about Foxconn making thenew Apple tablet (renamed iPad) were probably true. But it also seemsthat some of those folks who couldn't quite keep a lid on Apple'ssecrets may be in very bad positions over in China. A report stemmingfrom the country and coming just days after Apple announced that it hadsold 300,000 of their tablets on the first day in America has shockedthe collective tech world, and not in a positive way.

Foxconn's Longhua plant is veiled in secrecy. It's said that around300,000 workers both live and work at the plant, which makes consumerelectronics for Apple, Dell, HP, Nokia and tons of other companies thatbrand the goods you buy and enjoy each day. It's a strange situation;the company keeps a curtain around their methods in order to keepothers in the dark, yet no one really asks questions so long as thequality of product is high and we keep getting them cheap. It's a Catch22, of sorts.

But now, reports from the Chinese media have found that four workershave attempted suicide in the last month alone. Some say they were andare under great amounts of pressure, and when you consider the demandsthat are likely being placed on them to produce goods that are in highdemand elsewhere in the world, you can probably start to share in thepain. Of course, no actual explanation has been given yet, and it's notlikely that the truth of the matter will ever be revealed. Otherreporters who have tried to get into the Foxconn plant have benassaulted, leading us to think that something may not be quite right orjust inside the locked doors. We know 300,000 is a large population,but what other employer of any size have you heard of having foursuicide attempts in a month? Smells fishy.

3D Dominates The Cinema: Reels In 33% Of All Box Office Revenue Since December

Here's a tidbit that the 3D pundits might find interesting: 3D movieshave generated 33% of total box office revenue since the release ofAvatar last December in the U.S. 33%. That's one-third of all movierevenue in America. Talk about stepping in and making an impact! Justtwo years ago, finding a 3D theater was a chore; now they'reeverywhere, and even though they're certainly priced higher than theaverage 2D film, it seems that customers are still buying in.

According to a new report from the International 3D Society Study(watch out for bias, obviously), 33% of domestic box office revenuessince Avatar's release have been from 3D films, with four of them("Clash of the Titans," "How to Train Your Dragon," "Alice inWonderland" and "Avatar") generating $1.2b in domestic ticket sales outof a total $3.587b. Of course, those movies were huge hits, and tons ofmarketing dollars were spent on them to ensure that they got yourattention.

Another nifty stat was this one: for Alice in Wonderland" and "How toTrain Your Dragon," 3D ticket salesaccounted for 65% of total domestic grosses, as well as 80% of "Avatar"grosses to date. So not only are people choosing 3D more frequently,but it looks as if they're choosing 3D more often than not on filmsthat are played up as "must-see" in 3D. The 3D films that we have seenin cinemas have all been fairly spectacular, but wearing the glassesdoes get a little tiresome. Paying extra for the effect is also anannoyance. But it's looking more and more like 3D is here to stay as aformat, and if the box office success translates into the home market,watch out: you'll be having the upgrade itch before you even knew itwas possible to want one in your den.

OCZ Unveils Vertex 2 And Agility 2 SSDs

OCZ announced the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive (SSD) Series. These new enthusiast-class SSDs incorporate a new controller design that delivers better performance across the board. The higher-end Vertex 2 features transfer rates up to 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write and 4KB random writes up to 50,000 IOPS. For cost-conscious consumers, the Agility 2 provides identical read/write rates and 4KB random writes up to 10,000 IOPS. The new drives will begin shipping in the next few weeks in capacities of 50GB, 100GB, 200GB, and 400GB.

OCZ Technology Announces Vertex 2 and Agility 2 Solid State Drives

Company Unveils Cutting-Edge 2.5-Inch Solid State Drives for the Consumer Market

SAN JOSE, CAâ€”April 8, 2010â€”OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (OTCBB: OCZT), a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs), today unveiled the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive (SSD) Series. These are new enthusiast-class SSDs designed for consumers who are seeking unprecedented speed and reliability with the goal of enhancing both their daily computing experience and long-term productivity.

â€œOCZâ€™s original Vertex Series of solid state drives have become a top seller due to the productâ€™s exceptional performance and reliability,â€ said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. â€œThe new Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSD lines continue that tradition by incorporating the latest controller and firmware technology. They are an excellent solution for customers who are looking for improved transfer rates and best-in-class input/output per second (IOPS) for a wide range of uses, ranging from entertainment to workstation and tier 2 storage applications. Additionally, this new product line highlights our continuing determination to be the market leader in the high reliability memory and flash-based storage market.â€

Building on the features that distinguished their highly acclaimed predecessors, the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 incorporate a cutting-edge new controller design that delivers superior performance across the board. As the higher-end option, the Vertex 2 excels in 4KB random writes up to 50,000 IOPS and features transfer rates up to 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write. For the value-conscious enthusiast, Agility 2 provides similar performance at a lower price point and delivers identical read/write rates and 4KB random writes up to 10,000 IOPS.

OCZ Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSDs not only provide a faster, more responsive PC experience, but also promote cooler, quieter and more energy-efficient conditions compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. Built with SATA 3Gb/s, the drives easily integrate into todayâ€™s mobile and desktop platforms and feature TRIM support for Windows 7 systems. Available in 50GB, 100GB, 200GB, and 400GB capacities*, Vertex 2 and Agility 2 will begin shipping in the next few weeks through OCZâ€™s extensive global channel. Both series come backed by a three-year warranty and OCZâ€™s dedicated technical support for ultimate peace of mind.

For more information on the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 Series, please visit our product pages here.

Redbox Mulls Low-Cost Video Streaming Service

Does Redbox have its eyes on the video streaming market? A survey being sent to Redbox customers suggests the company may be considering a streaming service that would cost a fraction of what Netflix charges. According to High-Def Digest, the survey asks customers to rate their interest in a plan that would cost $3.95 per month and provide access to unlimited streaming as well as four free rentals from Redbox kiosks. Considering a Redbox rental costs a dollar, anyone who rents four movies or more per month would essentially get the streaming service for free.

A Redbox spokesman confirmed that a survey had been sent to customers with questions regarding a low-cost streaming service option. Even so, he told PC Magazine the survey shouldn't be interpreted to mean Redbox is planning to launch a streaming service: "It's not necessarily an indication of something that Redbox is interested in doingâ€¦. Redbox certainly understands that the entertainment model is continually evolving."

Netflix's competitive offering costs $8.99 per month for unlimited streaming and unlimited DVD rentals with one disc out at a time. Netflix currently supports streaming to Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 consoles as well as PCs and Macs.

The survey did not say whether the Redbox streaming service would work with video game consoles, PCs, or other devices.

A New Way To Build Computer Memory

HP seems to have taken an old technology and dragged it into our future. It's scalability seems to be unlimited according to reports.

Check It Out Here.

RealNeil

Super Talent Shoots for the Entry Level Market with Value SSD Product Line

If we could, we'd all be rocking multiple high-end SSDs in a killer RAID 0 configuration with transfer rates that are off the charts. So why aren't we? Take your pick - kids' college fund, mortgage, car payment, food, and everything else that takes a chunk out of our paycheck. For most, investing several hundred, or even thousands of dollars on a storage medium whose price-per-gigabyte is nothing short of obscene just isn't feasible.

Dry those teary eyes, would-be upgrader, because you too can own an SSD and still pay your monthly bills. That's because flash storage makers are starting to focus on the entry-level and mainstream markets, just as Super Talent is doing with their new Value SSD product line.

Available in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities, these drives boast anywhere from 90MB/s reads and 30MB/s writes, to up to 150MB/s reads and 100MB/s writes. Conservative, yes, but so are the price tags. All of these drives are available now starting at $65 for the 8GB model, and up to about $175 for the 64GB version.

Fast Entrance to the SSD World
Â
San Jose, California â€“ April 8, 2010 --Â Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced a new value solid state drive (SSD) product line dubbed Super Talent VSSDÂ that brings performance and solid-state technology together at an incredible price.
Â
Super Talent VSSDÂ offers shorter OS bootup time, faster application loading, less system power consumption and a brand new experience the customer can never get from traditional hard-disks. VSSDÂ takes full advantage of the 3Gbps SATA-II bandwidth. The VSSDÂ is capable of sequential read speeds up to 150 MB/sec and sequential write speeds up to 100 MB/sec.
Â
Part Number
Description
Sequential Read /Â
Write Speed
FTM8GL25V
8GB 2.5â€ SATA-II VSSD
90/30 MB/sec
FTM16GL25V
16GB 2.5â€ SATA-II VSSD
90/30 MB/sec
FTM32GL25V
32GB 2.5â€ SATA-II VSSD
150/60 MB/sec
FTM64GL25V
64GB 2.5â€ SATA-II VSSD
150/100 MB/sec
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Â
Available in capacities from 8GB to 64GB, Super Talent provides customers the option to enter the SSD world with a limited budget, but no compromise in performance. Customers can now build or upgrade a system economically, running the operating system and applications on the VSSDÂ and storing data on a traditional hard-disk.Â
Â
VSSDs have undergone exhaustive validation and stress testing in both WindowsÂ® and Linux environments to emerge as one of the most reliable SSDs available. These drives are encased in a lightweight polymer shell that protects the drives against physical damage. VSSDs are dramatically more resistant to shock and vibration than hard drives.
Â
VSSDs are available now from Super Talent resellers worldwide at street prices ranging from about $65 for the 8GB model to around $175 for the 64GB model.

About Super Talent Technology
Super Talent Technology Corporation, based in San Jose, California, designs and manufactures a full range of DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 memory modules and Flash based SSD and USB storage devices for computers and consumer electronics. An ISO 9001 certified company, Super Talent utilizes its state-of-the-art factories and leading-edge components to produce award winning products with outstanding reliability. Super Talent is an active member of the JEDEC and ONFI standards bodies. With over 250 patents, the company was ranked in the top 50 of the Wall Street Journal's Patent Scorecard^TMÂ for the IT industry three consecutive times

Bang & Olufsen Announces App For iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad

Bang & Olufsen is extending control of home automation and home entertainment to your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad via the new BeoLink application. This new app gives you access to audio and video controls as well as the home automation system. The BeoLink application sends commands via Wi-Fi. The interface is customizable to show the scenes and commands requested by the customer. The app is free and currently available in the App store.

Bang & Olufsen Announces BeoLink Application for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Offering total smart-phone integration of home entertainment and environmental controls - even when one is not at home

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Bang & Olufsen, the Danish provider of high-end audio and video products, introduces the BeoLink application for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad -- new software that is offered for free in Apple's App Store. The application seamlessly expands and extends the experience delivered via Bang & Olufsen's Master Link Gateway by giving access to audio and video, as well as the home automation system, using either the iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

When coming home, one can use the iPhone to switch on music and at the same time turn on the light in the house and unlock the front door. If outside in the backyard and the remote is not handy, the BeoLink application will still allow the homeowner to change the CD or turn up the volume on the television or audio system. When leaving for work, there is no need for one to worry about whether the music or television was turned off -- a simple push of a button on the iPhone will make it all happen.

"We are very happy to extend control of home automation and home entertainment via this simple application," says Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America. "Giving customers greater freedom and convenience in their intelligent home fits hand-in-hand with Bang & Olufsen's ongoing philosophy that technology should be the servant of man, not the other way around."

The BeoLink application, which is designed by Ikatu, sends its commands via Wi-Fi, and the interface is highly personalized and tailor-made to only show the scenes and commands which the customer requested when installing the Master Link Gateway.

It is a unique way to extend the benefits of the Master Link Gateway, with control from the minute one is within Wi-Fi range. It offers control beyond the house limits, is conveniently always at hand when needed, and is a highly personal tool.

Gateway to the home

More and more people value an intelligent home, where simplicity and ease-of-operation are of prime importance. This entails an intuitive, yet all-encompassing control, and Bang & Olufsen is among the very first companies in the world to offer this in a mobile version.

Via Master Link Gateway, customers can control and operate all their home automation equipment, as well as their A/V equipment, from all over the house with the Beo5 remote control, and they can also choose to control their A/V system from their home automation panel if convenient. The Master Link Gateway even extends one touch control from inside the home to an array of systems outside, such as gates, garage doors, lights, alarms and more.

With Master Link Gateway, Bang & Olufsen uses its extensive experience within system control to bridge the gap between entertainment and environment in the home, thus ensuring that Beo5 is the only remote control needed on the coffee table. With the addition of the BeoLink application, the experience is taken a step further to now offer control that transcends the borders of the house.

Extending the remote

In addition to the extra convenience and a sensation of "magical" control of the entire house, the BeoLink application offers customers a Bang & Olufsen touch and feel to the smart phone user interface. It enables control even before entering the home, after leaving the home, or simply whenever one's mobile phone is in hand. Simple, personal and convenient, the BeoLink App is a great solution for those who use the mobile phone extensively and prefer collecting all applications on it.

Together with Master Link Gateway, the BeoLink application is the perfect choice for anyone who wishes to take the intelligent home to a new level, with unprecedented freedom in control and ease of use.

The BeoLink application is available now via the Apple App store. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users can download the free application directly from there.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 10/04/2010

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