Apple Buys Chip Company Who Boosted A4 CPU To 1GHz: Oh, It's On
Intrinsity. It's a company you have probably never, ever heard of in your entire life. And if it weren't for a little company from California called "Apple," you may perish without ever hearing of them, either. But that's not exactly the case anymore, as Apple has just decided to plunk down the necessary funds in order to acquire Intrinsity, much like they did with P.A. Semi a few years back. Apple has been on a quiet acquisition rampage over the past couple of years. They've managed to pick up P.A. Semi (a
Read More ...
HTC To Pay Royalties To Microsoft For Android Patent Infringements
Guess what? Starting today, Microsoft will "receive royalties from HTC." We know you're probably eying that statement and assuming something is mistyped, but in fact, that's a direct quote from a new Microsoft press release. As the story goes, Microsoft actually decided recently that Google's Android operating system infringed on some of their patents, and obviously, that just wasn't going to fly. Somewhat quietly, the company has seemingly informed HTC of the news, and rather than entering into a bloody court
Read More ...
Cub Scouts Can Now Earn "Video Games" Merit Award: Finally, Justification!
Generations from now, our grandchildren will look back at 2010 and pinpoint this moment as one of the "ah ha!" moments of the 21st century. It'll be live the day the first television was shipped, or the first e-mail was sent. Maybe it will even be compared to the day that Bill Gates founded Microsoft or Apple shipped the Apple IIe. It's probably right up there with the invention of the mouse, the fax machine or even the cellular telephone. Yes, a new "Video Game" merit pin is up there with all of those milestones
Read More ...
Gigabyte Unveils New AMD 800 Series Motherboard Family
Haven't you heard? AMD has a new CPU out, and the bargain price is shaking up the industry in a big way. With each new processor from Intel or AMD comes a load of motherboards itching to support it, and if you're not going the pre-fab route, Gigabyte would like to encourage you to have a look at their newest options. The company has just launched a new AMD 800 Series Motherboard family, featuring support for 4-way CrossFireX, CPU Core Auto Unlock, auto-charging for iPhones, USB 3.0 (yes!), 3x USB power (enough
Read More ...
MSI Launches Thinnest 16" Gaming Notebook: GE600 With Core i5
You need a thin-and-light notebook. But you love gaming more than those darn spreadsheets. Oh, what to do? MSI has the answer, and it's called the GE600. Announced today, it's the company's lightest 16" gaming notebook, and it strikes a sweet spot that we're sure many have been searching for. Most 16" and 17" gaming notebooks these days are on the "huge" side, easily 1.5+ inches thick and upwards of 9-11 pounds. That's tough to justify in a tough economy, so splitting the difference seems like an intelligent
Read More ...
HP Grabs Palm, WebOS for $1.2 Billion, What's Next?
As recent as a week ago, Palm chairman and CEO Jon Rubinstein held firm that things weren't as bad as they seem, that Palm wasn't in dire need of a lifeline, and he and his company had a plan to return the struggling smartphone maker to profitability. It looks like we'll never know if that was true or not, as HP today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Palm for about $1.2 billion. You snooze, you lose, Lenovo, HTC, and everyone else rumored to have been interested in Palm. The big
Read More ...
Cub Scouts Can Now Earn "Video Games" Merit Award: Finally, Justification!
Generations from now, our grandchildren will look back at 2010 andpinpoint this moment as one of the "ah ha!" moments of the 21stcentury. It'll be live the day the first television was shipped, or thefirst e-mail was sent. Maybe it will even be compared to the day thatBill Gates founded Microsoft or Apple shipped the Apple IIe. It'sprobably right up there with the invention of the mouse, the faxmachine or even the cellular telephone.Yes, a new "Video Game" merit pin is up there with all of thosemilestones in our opinion, and it's exactly the ammunition that parentshave needed for years to coerce their lazy children into sticking withsomething that's greater than them in an effort to learn loads of lifelessons at a young age. The Boy Scouts of America is a solidfoundation, but it requires a lot of work and determination fromyoungsters who generally do anything they can to avoid just that. Forthose unfamiliar with the organization, young males work their way upthrough Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos and eventually Boy Scouts,earning pins, belt loops and badges along the way to prove their hardwork.
This new "Video Games" pin is specifically designed for the first threeof those (so for the younger ones, before they hit the "Boy Scout"stage), and if they complete the tasks, they really will get to sport apin that looks like the one pictured here. There's no doubt this willalready be the envy of the troop, and we're guessing that it will bethe most earned pin of all time in just a decade or so.
Contrary to popular belief, the badge doesn't require you to actuallybe an outstanding gamer. No Gamertags are looked at, no trophy case isinspected. It really doesn't matter how many hours you log in XboxLIVE; you just have to be a good teacher. We'll admit to being somewhatdisappointed by the requirements here, but really it's hard to complainwith a Video Games pin, even if it's not as fun to earn as we hadhoped. At the very least, this proves that even Boy Scout leadersunderstand that video gaming isn't just a complete waste of life, andthat's likely to be good enough for some kids who are fighting to provethat very point to their strict parents. Below are the requirements toearn the Video Games belt loop and academics pin:
Belt Loop
Complete these three requirements:
  1. Explain why it is important to have a rating system for video games. Check your video games to be sure they are right for your age.
  2. With an adult, create a schedule for you to do things that includes your chores, homework, and video gaming. Do your best to follow this schedule.
  3. Learn to play a new video game that is approved by your parent, guardian, or teacher.
Academics Pin
Earn the Video Games belt loop and complete five of the following requirements:
  1. With your parents, create a plan to buy a video game that is right for your age group.
  2. Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system.
  3. Play a video game with family members in a family tournament.
  4. Teach an adult or a friend how to play a video game.
  5. List at least five tips that would help someone who was learning how to play your favorite video game.
  6. Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour.
  7. Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork.
  8. Choose a game you might like to purchase. Compare the price for this game at three different stores. Decide which store has the best deal. In your decision, be sure to consider things like the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty.
  9. With an adult’s supervision, install a gaming system.
So, what kid will be first to earn it? We know the competitive nature will lead to an all-out war to achieve it first.
Read More ...
time to lol
A comic over at IGN: LINK
Read More ...
HTC To Pay Royalties To Microsoft For Android Patent Infringements
Guess what? Starting today, Microsoft will "receive royalties fromHTC." We know you're probably eying that statement and assumingsomething is mistyped, but in fact, that's a direct quote from a newMicrosoft press release. As the story goes, Microsoft actually decidedrecently that Google's Android operating system infringed on some oftheir patents, and obviously, that just wasn't going to fly.Somewhat quietly, the company has seemingly informed HTC of the news,and rather than entering into a bloody court battle that would almostcertainly end with Microsoft at the victory table, HTC has decided tosimply agree to terms and start paying up. As you know, HTC is one ofthe world's most prominent phone makers to use Android, and reportshave stated that the company is in talks with several other firms whodeal in Android. It just so happens that HTC decided to fold their handfirst.
Interestingly, Microsoft is being very low-key about what this newpatent agreement entails. We're told that it "provides broad coverageunder Microsoft's patent portfolio for HTC's mobile phones running theAndroid mobile platform," but outside of that, only the companies beingquestioned by Microsoft's lawyers really know. It's a little crazy thatMicrosoft is able to extract royalties from more than just Google; eventhough it's the software that's to blame, it seems that any hardwaremaker selling a phone with Android is also being asked to pony up.
Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vicepresident and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property andLicensing at Microsoft, had this to say: "HTC and Microsoft have a longhistory of technical and commercialcollaboration, and today's agreement is an example of how industryleaders can reach commercial arrangements that address intellectualproperty. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with HTC."
So, now Microsoft will be making money off of Windows Phone 7 andAndroid? Must be a nice position to be in. Now, if only they could findthat iPhone OS was infringing as well, they'd really hit the jackpot.
Read More ...
Gigabyte Unveils New AMD 800 Series Motherboard Family
Haven't you heard? AMD has a new CPU out, and the bargain price isshaking up the industry in a big way. With each new processor fromIntel or AMD comes a load of motherboards itching to support it, and ifyou're not going the pre-fab route, Gigabyte would like to encourageyou to have a look at their newest options.The company has just launched a new AMD 800 Series Motherboard family,featuring support for 4-way CrossFireX, CPU Core Auto Unlock,auto-charging for iPhones, USB 3.0 (yes!), 3x USB power (enough tocharge an iPad, we bet) and quite a bit more. Unlike past boards, youcan tell that Gigabyte's playing to win in terms of extra features; inthe past, so long as a motherboard had plenty of slots and supportedyour favorite CPU, GPU and RAM, you were set. These days, it's allabout the extras, and the flagship GA-890FXA-UD7 has plenty to goaround.
For media lovers, the GA-880GMA-UD2H has an onboard ATI Radeon HD 4250,which should be plenty for living room usage. These new boards alsosupport SATA 6Gbps, so your new hard drives will be able to have oneless bottleneck in the way of blistering performance. All of thesemainboards should be making their way to retail soon, but MSRPs aren'tyet public.
-- GIGABYTE Unveils Industry-leading AMD 800 Series Motherboards --
-- Featuring 4-Way CrossfireX, CPU Core Auto Unlock, On/Off Charge for iPhones, USB 3.0, 3x USB Power and more... –
Taipei, Taiwan, April 27, 2010 - GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions today unveiled an exciting range of motherboards based on the highly anticipated AMD 890FX, 880G and 870 chipsets. The new models are the GA-890FXA-UD7, GA-880GMA-UD2H and GA-870A-UD3, all of which support the AMD Phenomâ„¢ II X6 six-core processors, native SATA 6Gb/s (via the SB850 Chipset) and ATI CrossFireXâ„¢/Hybrid CrossFireXâ„¢ multi-GPU technologies. The new additions also boast unique GIGABYTE technologies such as Auto Unlock that enables hidden CPU cores, On/Off Charge for enhanced iPhone/ iPad/iPod Touch charging, USB 3.0 and 3x USB power that distinguish them as industry leaders in this market segment.
As the flagship model for the series, the GA-890FXA-UD7 is designed to appeal to extreme overclockers, gamers and tech enthusiasts who demand only the latest, most advanced equipment. It features the AMD 890FX + SB850 chipset combination with support for 4-way ATI CrossFireXâ„¢ on an XL-ATX form factor and the highest quality 8+2 CPU VRM power phase design that handles 140W CPU power requirements with ease. In addition, the GA-890FXA-UD7 comes with the unique Hybrid Silent Pipe that allows for highly efficient system cooling without generating fan noise. Other noteworthy features include GIGABYTE 333 Onboard Acceleration technologies, onboard debug LEDs, and support for DDR3 1866.
For media center enthusiasts, the GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H motherboard features ATI Radeon™ HD 4250 integrated graphics that offers exceptional power efficiency and versatile high definition graphics configurations for the living room. ATI Radeon™ HD 4250 graphics includes support for Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1, for next generation features and performance that make this solution a leader in its class. The GA-880GMA-UD2H can also accommodate discrete VGA cards with ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ for those enthusiasts who want to play demanding games on their media centers.
GIGABYTE Auto Unlock technology features a unique Core Boost micro-processor that enables the CPU’s hidden cores (when available), effectively providing a CPU upgrade while running multi-threaded applications or multi-tasking. More information is available from the official GIGABYTE motherboard web page.
“The GIGABYTE 800 series motherboard line-up is one of the most exciting launches we’ve had in a while due to the sheer number of unique new features, from both AMD and GIGABYTE, that make their debut on these products,†commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of Motherboard Marketing at GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd. “Perhaps the most interesting of these is On/Off Charge, the first of many unique features derived from GIGABYTE 3x USB Power technology. On/Off Charge USB ports will make their way onto a majority of GIGABYTE motherboard models in the coming months as a standard feature that iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users can look for when they upgrade their PCs.â€
GIGABYTE On/Off Charge allows iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users to charge their devices from the USB ports of their PC regardless of whether it is on or off. This capability is enabled by the On/Off driver utility combined with a dedicated white and red On/Off Charge USB port connector that connects to two front panel USB ports for user convenience. In addition, GIGABYTE 3x USB Power technology allows these users to enjoy faster device recharging by tripling the current that is available from all USB ports.
USB 3.0 Support
The GIGABYTE AMD 800 series motherboards support USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) via an onboard NEC uPD720200 host controller. With superfast transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps, users are able to experience an almost 10x improvement over USB 2.0. Additionally, backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 assures users of continued use of their legacy USB 2.0 devices. The onboard NEC SuperSpeed USB technology also provides new power management features that include increased maximum bus power and device current draw to better accommodate power-hungry devices.
3x USB Power Boost
The GIGABYTE AMD 800 series motherboards feature a 3x USB power boost, delivering greater compatibility and extra power for USB bus powered devices. GIGABYTE’s unique USB power design is also able to efficiently regulate output over the full voltage range, which greatly enhances USB device operation and compatibility. In addition, dedicated lower resistance fuses ensure lower voltage drops, and provide more stable and plentiful power delivery.
SATA 6 Gbps Support
GIGABYTE AMD 800 series motherboards feature 6 ports of high-speed native SATA Revision 3.0 with 6 Gbps link speeds for twice the data transfer rates of SATA Revision 2.0 (3 Gbps). Moreover, they support multiple RAID configurations that include RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 that provide users with a range of choices for high performance or high reliability data storage.
A list of XL-ATX suitable cases is available on the GA-890FXA-UD7 web page. More information about the GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD7, GA-880GMA-UD2H and GA-870A-UD3 motherboards is available from their respective product web pages. More information about GIGABYTE On/Off Charge and 3x USB Power is available from http://www.gigabyte.us/FileList/WebPage/mb_on-off-charge/on-off-charge.htm and www.usb3motherboard.com.
About GIGABYTE Upgrade Your Life
GIGABYTE, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is known as a global leading brand in the IT industry, with employees and business channels in almost every country. Founded in 1986, GIGABYTE started as a research and development team and has since taken the lead in the world's motherboard market. On top of motherboards and graphics accelerators, GIGABYTE further expanded its product portfolio to include notebook and desktop PCs, digital home entertainment appliances, networking servers, communications, mobile and handheld devices, servicing every facet of people's lives at home or business. Everyday GIGABYTE aims to “Upgrade Your Life†with the most innovative designs and impeccable quality and services. Visit www.gigabyte.com.tw for more information.
Read More ...
Forget Cash or Check
If you owed me money I will swap your credit/debit card :)
pretty cool article love how technology are making us more efficient,
"Several of the companies have developed small credit card scanners that plug into a cellphone and for small fee enable any individual or small business to turn a phone into a credit card processing terminal. PayPal’s cellphone app calls for only a simple bump of two cellphones to transfer money. Apple has submitted a patent application for a cellphone payment system."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/29cashless.html?hp
Read More ...
HP Grabs Palm, WebOS for $1.2 Billion, What's Next?
As recent as a week ago, Palm chairman and CEO Jon Rubinstein held firm that things weren't as bad as they seem, that Palm wasn't in dire need of a lifeline, and he and his company had a plan to return the struggling smartphone maker to profitability. It looks like we'll never know if that was true or not, as HP today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Palm for about $1.2 billion. You snooze, you lose, Lenovo, HTC, and everyone else rumored to have been interested in Palm.The big draw for HP is Palm's webOS platform, which the OEM hopes will help it participate more aggressively in the fast-growing and highly profitable smartphone and connected mobile device markets. According to HP, Palm's webOS will allow it to take advantage of key features, like multitasking and sharing up-to-date information across different applications.
"Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. "And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team. The smartphone market is large, profitable and rapidly growing, and companies that can provide an integrated device and experience command a higher share. Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market."
It will be interesting to see where HP goes from here. Obviously the OEM has some kind of plan for Palm's webOS, as well as the financial backing that Palm never had, which raises all kinds of questions and potential scenarios. Will we see a webOS enabled tablet from HP? Perhaps. How will HP attack the smartphone market, and can it compete with Google, Microsoft, RIM, and Apple? Maybe.
Whatever HP's plans are for the webOS platform, the OEM would be wise to focus on app development. According to Todd Bradley, EVP of HP's Personal Systems Group, Palm has about "2,000 applications and growing," a pittance compared to Android (50,000+) and iPhone (180,000+).
And what of Jon Rubinstein, the man who didn't necessarily think Palm needed to be sold in the first place? He's expected to stick around with the company, so perhaps we'll get to see what his plans were after all.
Read More ...
Apple Buys Chip Company Who Boosted A4 CPU To 1GHz: Oh, It's On
Intrinsity. It's a company you have probably never, ever heard of inyour entire life. And if it weren't for a little company fromCalifornia called "Apple," you may perish without ever hearing of them,either. But that's not exactly the case anymore, as Apple has justdecided to plunk down the necessary funds in order to acquireIntrinsity, much like they did with P.A. Semi a few years back.Apple has been on a quiet acquisition rampage over the past couple ofyears. They've managed to pick up P.A. Semi (a chip designing company),LaLa (a music streaming company), and now Intrinsity (another chipcompany). And those are just the three we know about. The tinyTexas-based company was greatly responsible for the lightning fast 1GHz A4 design that's within the iPad, and in what feels like an attempt togain an edge over other tablet makers who might just decide to consultIntrinsity for their own designs, Apple has taken the company right offof the market. Must be nice.
What's most interesting about this move is just how serious Apple mustbe about mobile devices. It wasn't long ago that Apple was the laughingstock of the PC world as they continued to rely on IBM's sluggish"Power PC" chips while everyone else relied on AMD or Intel. Now, Appleis the envy of every other technology company, and with a new iPhonejust months away, it's a likely bet that we're see more custom Applesilicon in there, too.
Analysts have suggested that Apple paid around $120 million forIntrinsity. Obviously, Apple has declined to comment. Many reportssuggest that the A4 is actually an ARM A8 chip, but with a lot of majortweaking. Intrinsity reportedly worked with Samsung in order to boostthe speed to 1GHz, giving Apple a huge edge. We found the battery lifeof the iPad to be leaps and bounds better than any other similarproduct, and we think there's some magic here between a boost in CPUspeed and low power drain. Clearly, Apple doesn't want that magic to belicensed out to the highest bidders.
We can't ever imagine Apple licensing out any of their own chips toothers, so this might mean that Apple simply intends to compete in thetablet and smartphone space on their own power. They've certainly gotthe money, and now the knowledge, to do so. But will the world continueto love a closed system if the App Store ever plays second fiddle toanyone else? Oh, the drama we love.
Read More ...
No comments:
Post a Comment