Sprint's 4G Predicament
Sprint has put a lot of money into developing and marketing its 4G network. This 4G network is made possible by the partnership between Sprint and Clearwire. Currently, Sprint has the majority ownership in Clearwire. Clearwire's 4G network is expanding, and the company wants to continue rolling out the service across the country. There's only one problem: the company needs billions of dollars to finish building its nationwide network. A few financing options are possible: Sprint could fund the project itself,
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TomTom Tricks Out Sony's Xplod Nav Systems with Maps, HD Traffic
Tom and Jerry. Starsky and Hutch. Mulder and Scully. Abbott and Costello. Batman and Robin. Bill and Ted (who went on an excellent adventure). Take your pick on which duo is your favorite, and while you're at it, add TomTom and Sony to the mix. The two companies just announced a new collaboration effort that will shuffle TomTom's navigation technology and services into Sony's Xplod AV Navigation Systems. "We are delighted that Sony has selected TomTom as their navigation services supplier in Europe," says Giles
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Watch Home Videos on Sony's New Digital Photo Frames
It's easier than ever to record cheesy videos of your vacation or embarrassing moments on the fly now that even basic point-n-shoot cameras come with the ability to shoot video, so it only makes sense that digital photo frames get on the same page. Thanks to Sony, they now have. Sony this week announced three new S-Frame digital photo frames -- DPF-XR100, DPF-VR100, and DPF-D830 -- equipped to bombard dinner party guests with both photo and video playback. "Our new digital photo frames offer consumers a variety
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Dell Streak Android Tablet Review
When it comes to Android devices, there are two inevitabilities. The first is that its popularity is unstoppable. Twice as many Android smartphones are sold now than were only two months earlier. The second given is that an onslaught of Android tablets are about to descend upon us. Major manufacturers, such as Asus, LG, Motorola, and Samsung have their devices in the pipeline for later this summer, the fall, or early next year. But Dell says, why wait? The Dell Streak Android tablet is available right now. With
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Sony Adds Touch To Entire Reader Family
Sony revamped its line of Reader digital books and introduced the new Reader Pocket Edition, Reader Touch Edition and the wireless Reader Daily Edition. The new generation of Readers has been restyled and is now lighter and smaller in comparison to previous generations. All of the new Readers also have touch screens and E Ink Pearl electronic paper displays. Other new features for the line include content zoom, adjustable contrast and brightness control, and automatic multiple page creation. Among
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IBM Introduces World's Fastest Processor: 5.2GHz Enterprise Chip
Don't blink -- if you do, you may miss IBM's new processor. The company is boldly claiming that the chip within IBM's new zEnterprise clocks in at 5.2GHz, making it the world's fastest microprocessor. We're sure this claim could be challenged on multiple fronts, namely by hardcore overclockers who have seen their own chips operate at much higher speeds with the help of liquid nitrogen. But IBM's new silicon doesn't require any complicated cooling; it's just blisteringly fast. Of course, this 5.2GHz chip won't
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HP And Hynix Team To Bring SSD-Killing Memristor To Market
HP and Hynix. Two names we know well in the computing industry, but two that are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, at least in the world of consumerdom. But now, the two companies are joining forces in order to advance the memristor and bring it to market in next-generation memory modules. The two have agreed on a joint development agreement which will bring memristor, a new circuit element first intentionally demonstrated in HP Labs, to market in future memory products. Both companies will have a hand
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Samsung Reveals Galaxy Tab: 7" Android 2.2 Tablet With Bluetooth 3.0
At last, the rumors can finally be put to rest. Samsung's Galaxy Tab is real, and it is being revealed in full today at the Berlin-based IFA trade show. For months, rumors have had Samsung preparing an iPad rival, but rather than using Windows, it was said to rely on Google's Android operating system in order to get to market faster. After all, Froyo is available now, while Windows 7 hasn't exactly had time to become accustomed to working on tablets. The new device (model GT-P1000) has a 7" LCD (so a fair bit
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Sony Unveils New Bloggie Camera
Sony added to its pocket video camera offerings by announcing the new Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20 and MHS-TS10). These new cameras are capable of capturing 1920x1080p high definition MP4 video and 12.8-megapixel photos. The difference between the two models is embedded memory, with 8GB (MHS-TS20) or 4GB (MHS-TS10) options. The cameras can store approximately four hours of HD movie recording. The Bloggie Touch features a 3-inch capacitive touch screen as well as “touch and flick” recording controls and
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Amazon Preps Subscription-based Video Streaming Service
As Apple prepares to launch an Apple TV - Netflix hookup, beginning next week when the new Apple TV ships, Amazon.com is seen to be working on a new subscription service that would stream TV shows and movies, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. While Amazon.com already has a Video-on-Demand service (first launched in 2006 as Amazon Unbox, as shown below), that service sells individual episodes and movies, some as low as $1.99 apiece. Its new service would be based on a subscription model, similar
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The Return of Windows 7 Family Pack
The Windows 7 Family Pack returns, or at least it will, starting Oct. 3rd. Microsoft offered a Family Pack bundle (with 3 installations) when Windows 7 launched, but it was a limited-time offer, and in less than two months, supplies had pretty much been sold out. Despite the fact that some other manufacturers (like Apple) make such Family Packs permanent, this will again be a temporary offering. Microsoft's announcement: All summer long we’ve given you some great reasons to purchase a new PC and make the
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Apple Reveals iOS 4.1 and 4.2; Bug Fixes, Wireless Streaming, Game Center
It wasn't worthy of a dedicated press release from Apple today, but it's news nonetheless for the 120+ million iOS users in the world. Apple has today announced iOS 4.1, their first major point update since the iPhone 4's antenna debacle. There's no mention of this release further improving reception issues, but instead, it focuses on all new features to coincide with the release of the newly redesigned iPod touch. The main new features in iOS 4.1 are TV show rental support, HD video upload over Wi-Fi, the ability
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Microsoft Launches Arc Mouse: Most Wildly Designed Mouse Ever
We're beginning to think that 2010 is the year of new mice. Or should we say, unconventional mice. First was Swiftpoint with their finger-based notebook mouse, and now there's Microsoft with their Arc Touch Mouse. The design on this one is totally new, and even old-school mouse users will probably need a few moments just to wrap their head around what's going on here. It's the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort, featuring a capacitive touch scroll strip allowing you to swiftly
Read More ...
Apple Intros New Apple TV And iTunes 10 With "Ping" and AirPlay
Apple has done it: a new, refreshed Apple TV. Steve Jobs has called the Apple TV a "hobby" for some time, but it sounds like that hobby may be something more now. With the introduction of iOS, it seems that the Apple TV has new life. For the longest time, the Apple TV truly was a sore thumb in the company's lineup, using a completely different UI and software build than any of their other devices. But now, the same UI you're used to on the iPhone and iPod touch will be coming to the revised Apple TV, and it
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Apple Debuts New iPod Touch, iPod Nano And iPod Shuffle
Well, wouldn't you know it. Apple has introduced new iPods at a Fall music event in San Francisco. It's becoming an annual tradition for the market leader in this category, but we have to say that this year's introductions were a bit more spirited than usual. Rather than simply overhauling the iPod touch, which just about everyone expected, the company also stated that the iPod Classic would remain in the family for those that needed the space, the iPod Shuffle has reemerged and the iPod nano has been completely
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MSI Launches Most Powerful Fuzion Board to Date
MSI today added another motherboard to its growing Fuzion lineup, this latest one being the 870A Fuzion Power Edition. More than just fancy nomenclature, this is MSI's most powerful Fuzion board so far with support for AMD's full line of Phenom II, Athlon II, and Sempron processors in AM3 form. The real treat with MSI's Fuzion series is the cross-vendor GPU support. Equipped with two PCi-E x16 Gen2 slots and a Lucid Hydra chip, the 870A Fuzion allows gamers to mix graphics cards from different brands and vendors
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Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty Reviewed
It's been over 12 years since Starcraft launched, and expectations for the sequel have been quite high*. Well, the highly anticipated sequel, Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, is here and we've taken the time to play through the campaign, test various difficulty levels, and tackle both human and the computer's AI in multiplayer. The single-player experience in SC2 is quite a bit different than the multiplayer game; we'll examine the two separately... Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty Reviewed
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Stuck with a Dead BFG Card? PNY Comes to the Rescue with Discounted RMA Program!
At this point, it doesn't even matter who's to blame for BFG's demise, because at the end of the day, you're left holding the bag should your BFG videcoard give up the ghost. The company's days appear numbered, and BFG, which essentially pioneered the concept of Lifetime Warranties in the GPU market, is no longer honoring RMAs for busted cards. Bummer. In case you haven't been following, BFG fell on hard times when it was unable to secure shipments of Nvidia's Fermi products, forcing the company to ditch its
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SanDisk's Sansa Fuze+ Marks Re-Entry Into Saturated MP3 Market
Is SanDisk back in the portable media player business? It looks like the answer may be "yes!" The company's Sansa line has faltered in recent years, with the last unit to come from it being introduced so long ago that most of you probably don't even remember it. The company's CEO once admitted that no one could "out iPod the iPod," so we just assumed SanDisk gave up trying as Apple continued to gobble up market share. Clearly that's not entirely true. The Sansa Fuze+ is the company's comeback device, but it's
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Dell Streak Android Tablet Review
When it comes to Android devices, there are two inevitabilities. The first is that its popularity is unstoppable. Twice as many Android smartphones are sold now than were only two months earlier; Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, claims that about 200,000 Android devices are sold every day. The second given is that an onslaught of Android tablets are about to descend upon us. There is already a smattering of Android tablet devices, but the choices are still few and far between. However, major manufacturers,
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Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty Reviewed
It's been over 12 years since Starcraft launched, and expectations for the sequel have been quite high*. Well, the highly anticipated sequel, Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, is here and we've taken the time to play through the campaign, test various difficulty levels, and tackle both human and the computer's AI in multiplayer. The single-player experience in SC2 is quite a bit different than the multiplayer game; we'll examine the two separately. First, a note on DRM. Starcraft 2 uses a DRM system similar to
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The Return of Windows 7 Family Pack
The Windows 7 Family Pack returns, or at least it will, starting Oct. 3rd. Microsoft offered a Family Pack bundle (with 3 installations) when Windows 7 launched, but it was a limited-time offer, and in less than two months, supplies had pretty much been sold out.Despite the fact that some other manufacturers (like Apple) make such Family Packs permanent, this will again be a temporary offering. Microsoft's announcement:
All summer long we’ve given you some great reasons to purchase a new PC and make the move to Windows 7, an operating system loved by a whopping 94% of folks who use it! Here’s one more: starting October 3 in the U.S., Windows 7 Family Pack will be available for purchase at participating retailers and online at the Microsoft Store. Purchasing the Windows 7 Family Pack gives you three upgrade licenses of Windows 7 Home Premium for the low price of $149.99. To take advantage of Family Pack, you’ll need a PC running a genuine copy of either Windows Vista or Windows XP that is capable of running Windows 7. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can tell you which features and editions of Windows 7 will run on your computer(s).
Considering that the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade has an MSRP of $119.99, this is a pretty good deal. Additionally, while this offer is for an Upgrade pack, there are ways to do a fresh install with the Upgrade media. We prefer a fresh install rather than doing an upgrade from an older OS so make sure the system starts completely clean, without extra dross from the older OS or any applications you may have installed.The Family Pack launches on Oct. 3rd in the U.S., but also goes on sale in Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia and many other markets on or after Oct. 22 (which is Windows 7’s 1 year anniversary). Once again, it's "while supplies last."
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Apple Intros New Apple TV And iTunes 10 With "Ping" and AirPlay
Apple has done it: a new, refreshed Apple TV. Steve Jobs has called the Apple TV a "hobby" for some time, but it sounds like that hobby may be something more now. With the introduction of iOS, it seems that the Apple TV has new life. For the longest time, the Apple TV truly was a sore thumb in the company's lineup, using a completely different UI and software build than any of their other devices. But now, the same UI you're used to on the iPhone and iPod touch will be coming to the revised Apple TV, and it will sell for a very seductive $99.And that price point isn't the only price point worth mentioning. Somehow, Apple has managed to also get users a library of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents. And here's where it really gets good: Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. We hate to say it, but Apple TV just made every other media player on the market look a little less shiny. This is pretty much the most fully-featured streamer out there, offering to pull media from more sources than any of the others thanks to iTunes Store integration.
It has a built-in HDMI port, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and a built-in power supply so there's no brick laying around. It's 80% smaller than the prior generation, but you'll need to take notice of the fine print: Apple TV users can now rent thousands of commercial free, HD TV episodes on iTunes for just 99 cents, with up to 30 days to start watching and then 48 hours to finish—or watch multiple times. Users can also rent over 7,000 movies with over 3,400 available in HD, with most new releases available the same day they are released on DVD. Not too strict we don't think, but worth noting the time frame. Pre-ordered are going live today, with shipments to begin later in the month.
On a related note, Apple has also introduced iTunes 10. This is a newly designed version of the company's music software, and the most interesting change is the removal of the "Disc" icon to signify that music is so much more than just CDs these days. It also features a new Ping music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading. The similarity to "Bing" is too hilarious to miss. iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend. We'd say that Twitter handles this just fine, but what's most interesting here is that Apple could be using this as a way into social networking. What better way to create a Twitter rival behind the scenes than to start small with something like this and see how it goes?
Ping lets you follow your favorite artists to see what they’re up to, check out photos and videos they’ve posted, see their tour dates and read comments about other artists and albums they’re listening to. You can also create a profile on iTunes to let your friends know who you’re following, what you’re listening to and which concerts you’re going to. There's even new integration to purchase tickets from TicketMaster and LiveNation from iTunes, which is a huge boon for artists in our estimation.
And that's not all. iTunes 10 also features AirPlay wireless music playback to listen to your music on remote speakers using Apple’s AirPort Express® base station. In addition, AirPlay now works without AirPort Express, using speakers, receivers and stereo systems from companies including Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, Denon and iHome, so you can enjoy your entire iTunes music library wirelessly from any room in the house with no extra gear required. We love seamless, and this sounds pretty darn seamless. iTunes is available as a free download starting today.
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Dell Streak Android Tablet Review
When it comes to Android devices, there are two inevitabilities. The first is that its popularity is unstoppable. Twice as many Android smartphones are sold now than were only two months earlier. The second given is that an onslaught of Android tablets are about to descend upon us. Major manufacturers, such as Asus, LG, Motorola, and Samsung have their devices in the pipeline for later this summer, the fall, or early next year.But Dell says, why wait? The Dell Streak Android tablet is available right now. With an 800x480, five-inch (diagonal) screen, some might question the Streak’s claim as a tablet—especially when you consider that the current über-tablet, the Apple iPad, has a 1024x768, 9.7-inch screen. But a five-inch display is really too big for a phone—even the HTC Evo 4G has only a 4.3-inch screen. So the Streak really fits somewhere between a phone and a tablet—perhaps you could call it a “phablet.â€
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Reader Questions - Chime In!
Hi All,
For the next video podcast, we were thinking about doing a segment where we answer questions from our community. If there's anything you'd like to ask us---whether it be about hardware or even personal questions--ask away here.
We may not get to all of them, but we'll do our best!
Thanks.
- Marco
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Apple Debuts New iPod Touch, iPod Nano And iPod Shuffle
Well, wouldn't you know it. Apple has introduced new iPods at a Fall music event in San Francisco. It's becoming an annual tradition for the market leader in this category, but we have to say that this year's introductions were a bit more spirited than usual.
Rather than simply overhauling the iPod touch, which just about everyone expected, the company also stated that the iPod Classic would remain in the family for those that needed the space, the iPod Shuffle has reemerged and the iPod nano has been completely redesigned to look more like a miniature screen with a headphone jack.
So, first, the new iPod touch. It's the same basic design as the "old" model, but this time it has a Retina Display with the higher resolution (960 x 640) found on the iPhone. There's also FaceTime video calling, HD Video recording, Apple's A4 processor, a 3-axis gyroscope (for gaming, we assume), Game Center and iOS 4.1. It's being called the thinnest and lightest iPod touch ever, and it can even last up to 40 hours on a charge for music or 7 hours for video. There's a front-facing camera and mic, support for the $4.99 iMovie app and a slew of games to choose from in the App Store. In fact, Apple also claimed today to be beating both Sony and Nintendo by claiming some 50% of the portable gaming market. With the App Store as big as it is, we believe it. The new iPod touch will be available next week for a suggested price of $229 (US) for the 8GB model, $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.
Now, for the redesigned iPod nano. This is probably the most stunning iPod introduction ever. Rumors were tossed about years ago, and now it seems that Apple has finally done the impossible: making an iPod that's little more than a touch screen. This Multi-Touch device is barely larger than an iPod Shuffle, yet users can touch it to navigate artists just like they're used to doing already on the iPod touch. It's nearly half the size and weight of the previous generation, and it's built to be worn on a belt clip while listening to FM radio and lasting for up to 24 hours. It even features a built-in pedometer that makes it easy to track your steps and also supports Nike + iPod, and the Shake to Shuffle feature does exactly what you'd think. Pricing is a little on the steep side: $149 for 8GB or $179 for 16GB, with pre-sales open today.
Lastly, and in a way, least, there's the iPod Shuffle. Again. It's back! There's really not much new here, but Apple has included 50% more battery life and included a belt clip and five color options. If you know how the old shuffle worked, you know how this $49 one works. It's about as simple as it gets for an iPod.
All in all, Apple's new iPod line is impressive. There really isn't anything on the market today to rival the new iPod touch and iPod nano. We need the competition, though, so feel free to pester your favorite CE company to step up to that plate.
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Microsoft Launches Arc Mouse: Most Wildly Designed Mouse Ever
We're beginning to think that 2010 is the year of new mice. Or should we say, unconventional mice. First was Swiftpoint with their finger-based notebook mouse, and now there's Microsoft with their Arc Touch Mouse. The design on this one is totally new, and even old-school mouse users will probably need a few moments just to wrap their head around what's going on here.
It's the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort, featuring a capacitive touch scroll strip allowing you to swiftly navigate with the touch of a finger. This may be the beginning of the end for the scroll wheel, no? As you'd expect, Microsoft has also included a tiny Nano transceiver and Microsoft’s BlueTrack Technology allowing you to track on virtually any surface. It's probably the most alluring travel mouse we've seen yet, or at least the most interesting.
We get the feeling the software will work best on a Windows-based PC, as Microsoft has included this line in the release: "Windows-based PC users will love packing up their laptop bags without the added bump of a mouse, as the Arc Touch Mouse flattens with just the touch of a finger." The entire device is less than 15mm thick and it goes from curved to flat with one simple movement. You'll need two AAA batteries, but they'll supposedly last around six months on a charge. The new Arc Mouse won't ship until early December, but you can set aside the $69.95 now.
Think the Mouse Is Dead? Think Again With Microsoft’s Arc Touch Mouse
Microsoft’s newest mouse flattens to be the ultimate portable device.
REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 1, 2010 — Some say the mouse’s days are numbered, but today Microsoft Corp. proves the gadget is alive and well by unveiling the Arc Touch Mouse, the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort. The new mouse features Microsoft’s first touch scroll strip for easy navigation — just move a finger slowly for controlled scrolling or flick for hyperfast scrolling. Windows-based PC users will love packing up their laptop bags without the added bump of a mouse, as the Arc Touch Mouse flattens with just the touch of a finger.
As the computing landscape evolves to offer new ways of interacting, such as touch screens and touch pads, the mouse is also evolving but holds true to its core purpose: providing comfort and precision to users when navigating the PC.
“This is not the first time that the mouse has been threatened — look at 10 years ago when people started buying laptops that had integrated pointers and touch pads. Still, the mouse category continued to grow and grow,†said Brett Ostrum, general manager for the Hardware Group at Microsoft. “The reasons people need external mice will not change: comfort and precision. The Arc Touch Mouse just demonstrates again how committed Microsoft is to continuing to bring great new mice to consumers.â€
Arc Touch Mouse
Arc Touch Mouse
Click for print version.
Designed for the Mobile Lifestyle
People today are using mobile computers more than ever, and they still want comfort and control when using them. In fact, one-third of mobile PC buyers also purchase a mouse with their new notebooks or netbooks.1 And, at less than 15 millimeters thick at its widest point, the Arc Touch Mouse was designed to deliver ultimate portability to easily slip into a bag, purse or pocket. It also goes from curved to flat with one simple movement, so working on the go is easier than ever — just collapse the Arc Touch Mouse to turn it off, and pop it up to turn on. It’s also extremely durable, tested to ensure years of performance.
Take Control With Touch Scrolling
With the Arc Touch Mouse’s touch strip, consumers can take control of their scrolling with a flick of a finger. Using a capacitive sensing technique and sensor pads, the strip corresponds to each position and velocity change to give users accurate, controlled scrolling no matter how fast or slow the movement. Move a finger slowly on the strip for controlled scrolling, or flick a finger for hyperfast scrolling that can be stopped with just a simple tap. The strip also has three tap “buttons†for added functionality: page up, page down and the middle click area, which is reprogrammable for whatever mouse function the user needs most.2 Switching from a scroll wheel to a touch strip is made easier with haptics, a vibration technology that simulates the bumps users would feel while using a traditional scroll wheel.
Additional Features
The Arc Touch Mouse is equipped with BlueTrack Technology, letting consumers track on virtually any surface,3 and a tiny magnetic snap-in Nano transceiver stores conveniently on the bottom of the mouse. Two AAA batteries give the Arc Touch Mouse more than six months of battery life, and the two-color battery life indicators let people know when the power is running low.
Pricing and Availability
Arc Touch Mouse will be available for the estimated retail price of $69.95 (U.S.)4. It is available now for presale on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Buy.com, and it will ship in early December in time for the U.S. holiday season. It will be broadly available online and in stores in January 2011.
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IBM Introduces World's Fastest Processor: 5.2GHz Enterprise Chip
Don't blink -- if you do, you may miss IBM's new processor. The company is boldly claiming that the chip within IBM's new zEnterprise clocks in at 5.2GHz, making it the world's fastest microprocessor. We're sure this claim could be challenged on multiple fronts, namely by hardcore overclockers who have seen their own chips operate at much higher speeds with the help of liquid nitrogen. But IBM's new silicon doesn't require any complicated cooling; it's just blisteringly fast.Of course, this 5.2GHz chip won't find its way into any consumer PCs anytime soon, but that doesn't mean it won't end up there eventually. The new chip will ship to mainframe customers starting on September 10th, and IBM says that the record-breaking speed is ecessary for businesses managing huge workloads, such as banks and retailers, especially as the world becomes increasingly more inter-connected, data has grown beyond the world's storage capacity, and business transactions continue to skyrocket.
The new zEnterprise technology is the result of an investment of more than $1.5 billion in IBM research and development in the zEnterprise line, as well as more than three years of collaboration with some of IBM's top clients around the world. If you're into details, the z196 processor is a four-core chip that contains 1.4 billion transistors on a 512-square millimeter (mm) surface. It's manufactured using IBM's 45 nanometer (nm) SOI processor technology, and it makes use of IBM's patented embedded DRAM (eDRAM) technology, which allows IBM to place dense DRAM caches, or components, on the same chips as high-speed microprocessors, resulting in improved performance.
IBM's z196 Processor - Copious Cache, Now at 5.2GHz
If you need more details, have a taste of this: "The core server in the zEnterprise System -- called zEnterprise 196 -- contains 96 of the world's fastest, most powerful microprocessors, capable of executing more than 50 billion instructions per second. That's roughly 17,000 times more instructions than the Model 91, the high-end of IBM's popular System/360 family, could execute in 1970." Pretty impressive, but there's no published price for obvious reasons. We're guessing it's more than your house, or something close.
Crysis anyone?
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HP And Hynix Team To Bring SSD-Killing Memristor To Market
HP and Hynix. Two names we know well in the computing industry, but two that are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, at least in the world of consumerdom. But now, the two companies are joining forces in order to advance the memristor and bring it to market in next-generation memory modules. The two have agreed on a joint development agreement which will bring memristor, a new circuit element first intentionally demonstrated in HP Labs, to market in future memory products. Both companies will have a hand in the process, with the both of them working to jointly develop new materials and process integration technology to transfer the memristor technology from research to commercial development in the form of Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM). Hynix will implement the memristor technology in its research and development fab. For those who are new to this technology, ReRAM is non-volatile memory with low power consumption that holds the potential to replace Flash memory currently used in mobile phones and MP3 players. It also has the potential to serve as a universal storage medium – that is, memory that can behave as Flash, DRAM or even a hard drive. Needless to say, this stuff would serve us all well if brought to market.
These memristors require less energy to operate, are quicker than SSDs and can retain information even when power is flipped off. So, let's make it happen, folks. Say, by the end of this year? Or are we just wishing for the impossible?
 HP Collaborates with Hynix to Bring the Memristor to Market in Next-generation Memory
Technology from HP Labs will enable quicker, more energy-efficient computing
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that it has entered into a joint development agreement with Hynix Semiconductor Inc., a world-leading memory supplier, to bring memristor, a new circuit element first intentionally demonstrated in HP Labs, to market in future memory products.
   “Bringing the Memristor to Market – HP to collaborate with Hynix on next generation memoryâ€
Highlights
   * The two companies will jointly develop new materials and process integration technology to transfer the memristor technology from research to commercial development in the form of Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM). Hynix will implement the memristor technology in its research and development fab.
   * ReRAM is non-volatile memory with low power consumption that holds the potential to replace Flash memory currently used in mobile phones and MP3 players. It also has the potential to serve as a universal storage medium – that is, memory that can behave as Flash, DRAM or even a hard drive.
Memristor research from HP Labs
Memristors require less energy to operate, are faster than present solid-state storage technologies and can retain information even when power is off. The memristor, short for “memory resistor,†was postulated to be the fourth basic circuit element by Prof. Leon Chua of the University of California at Berkeley in 1971 and first intentionally reduced to practice by researchers in HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, in 2006.
Earlier this year, HP announced the discovery that the memristor also can perform logic, showing that memristor-based devices could change the standard paradigm of computing by enabling computation to one day be performed in chips where data is stored, rather than on a specialized central processing unit.
Bringing research to market
Joint development agreements are one way in which HP partners with others to leverage its intellectual property, which includes a portfolio of more than 30,000 patents. By collaborating with others to bring new technologies to market through intellectual property licenses and other technology transfer agreements, HP helps create new markets and generates a return on its research and development investment.
Supporting quotes
“The memristor has storage capacity abilities many times greater than what competing technologies offer. By adopting HP’s memristor technology we can deliver new, energy-efficient products to our customers more quickly.â€
   * Dr. S.W. Park, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Hynix
“This agreement brings together HP’s core intellectual property and a first-rate supplier with the capacity to bring this innovation to market in world-class memory on a mass scale. It is the most recent example of HP’s ability to drive product innovation from the Labs out into the commercial world. This is discovery and invention with clear purpose, which differentiates HP and reinforces the value of our research enterprise to HP as a whole.â€
   * Stan Williams, senior fellow, HP, and founding director, Information and Quantum Systems Laboratory, HP Labs
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Samsung Reveals Galaxy Tab: 7" Android 2.2 Tablet With Bluetooth 3.0
At last, the rumors can finally be put to rest. Samsung's Galaxy Tab is real, and it is being revealed in full today at the Berlin-based IFA trade show. For months, rumors have had Samsung preparing an iPad rival, but rather than using Windows, it was said to rely on Google's Android operating system in order to get to market faster. After all, Froyo is available now, while Windows 7 hasn't exactly had time to become accustomed to working on tablets.
The new device (model GT-P1000) has a 7" LCD (so a fair bit smaller than the iPad, but larger than Dell's Streak), a 1024x600 resolution, a 1.0GHz Cortex A8 application processor, 3MP camera (rear), 1.3MP front-cam for video calling, Android 2.2 (Froyo), support for the Android Market as well as Samsung's own 'Apps' store, and full 3G support. The unit will also feature 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0, while a gyroscope ensures that it can handle tilting games as well. There will be two primary models: a 16GB version and a 32GB version, and an external memory card slot will allow for expansion. Other notable features: the device features Kobo's eReader application, and it also supports DivX file format playback -- both are "firsts" for a tablet.
The 4000mAh battery should last for around 7 hours of movie playback, and the 512MB of RAM should keep things moving along when it comes to Web browsing and multi-tasking. Samsung expects the Galaxy Tab to ship in mid-September in Europe, with other markets (Korea, U.S., Asia) to see it "in the coming months." Pricing remains unannounced, but we're certain it'll be competitive with Apple's iPad.
Samsung GALAXY Tab Opens a New Chapter in Mobile Industry
A New Smart Media Device, surpasses mobile boundaries, allowing you to enjoy more possibilities on the go
Berlin, Germany, September 2nd, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Tab (Model: GT-P1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.
“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA. This demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,†said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. The Samsung GALAXY Tab is pushing the market in new directions and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices.â€
A new concept of mobility for media
As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. Its striking 7†TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. In design, its light (380g) build provides perfect portability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web.
The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.
Powerful, always-on communication
With 3G HSPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth® 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth® headset.
Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.
While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rear-facing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September, and in other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months.
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Stuck with a Dead BFG Card? PNY Comes to the Rescue with Discounted RMA Program!
At this point, it doesn't even matter who's to blame for BFG's demise, because at the end of the day, you're left holding the bag should your BFG videcoard give up the ghost. The company's days appear numbered, and BFG, which essentially pioneered the concept of Lifetime Warranties in the GPU market, is no longer honoring RMAs for busted cards. Bummer.In case you haven't been following, BFG fell on hard times when it was unable to secure shipments of Nvidia's Fermi products, forcing the company to ditch its videocard business. According to reports, this didn't sit well with Best Buy, which ended up dropping BFG completely, including the company's power supplies that were sold in stores and online. Things went downhill from there, and now anyone who tries to send in their broken videocard for repair end up getting an apology letter instead:
"BFG Technologies, Inc. is winding down and liquidating its business," the BFG letter reads. "Unfortunately our major supplier would not support our business. As a result we are returning your graphics card without being able to repair it. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Not all is lost, however, because PNY is stepping up to the plate with a RMA graphics card promotion specifically for BFG customers. Send in your BFG card, whether it works or not, and you'll receive a 25 percent discount on select PNY videocards.
"Consumers can feel that their investment in PNY graphics card is safe based on our 25-year-old business foundation, solid warranty program, and first class technical support team," said Nicholas Mauro, senior marketing manager, PC components for PNY. "We're giving them the opportunity to either trade in an otherwise defective card or trade up for an even better value at an incredible price."
To further sweeten the pot, PNY said it will also toss in a copy of the game "Just Cause 2" from Square Enix by way of an online download redemption code. That's a $50 value if going by the MSRP, or a little less if you shop around.
Pessimists will point out that PNY is preying on BFG's misfortunes, but hey, a 25 percent discount and free game sounds like a winning proposition to us, especially when the alternative is to sit around and hope your BFG card doesn't cough up a hairball.
Those interested can visit PNY.com or call PNY directly at 1-888-316-1193. The promotion runs until October 31, 2010.
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Exciting Flight sim news
If you are a flight sim fan heres a few new and coming games you might want to look out for.
(If you are a flight sims fan you are going to be excited for next year.)
Tom clancy's Hawx 2
If you are want to fly in a wide range of modern jets, from the russian Su-47 berkut to the american f22 raptor, then you might want to try hawx 2. A new air to ground attack system has been created, use a c- 130 hercules or a uav for ground attack missions. Do aerial refueling, bombing runs, or the main reason you play, dog fights. See who can realy play and see who are crying little kids. Comes out September 7th, if you pre order you might get exclusive items (different depending on where you buy). comes out for pc , xbox, wii, and ps3.
Microsoft Flight
The classic flight sim is back......well coming back. Pretty much nothing has been shown yet except for the bad trailer, but loving all the old microsoft flight simulator i am hoping this will be just as fun. The release date is said to be some time next year ( could be longer).
Rise of flight
Heres a special flight sim. If you like ww1 aircraft or just want to try a unique flight sim try this game out.Try the royal airforce's Sopwith Camel or red barron's Fokker Dr.I. Havnt played it yet, but seems pretty cool. There is a 14 day demo if you would like to try it, planing to try it out later.
Ace combat: Assault horizon
Ace combat series is coming back next year. Been a few years since they made one for the console, but from the gameplay trailer it seems worth the wait. The developers seem to have raised the bar for future flight sims, having created much more tactical and engaging dog fights. Hoping to see more news on this game in the coming months.
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Memory tester
I have read some articles about repairing ram. So a memory tester is required. What do you know about it?
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Articles about motherboard repairing
Could you please send some links of good articles about motherboard repairing?
Any one?
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Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty Reviewed
It's been over 12 years since Starcraft launched, and expectations for the sequel have been quite high*. Well, the highly anticipated sequel, Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty, is here and we've taken the time to play through the campaign, test various difficulty levels, and tackle both human and the computer's AI in multiplayer. The single-player experience in SC2 is quite a bit different than the multiplayer game; we'll examine the two separately...
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Sprint's 4G Predicament
Sprint has put a lot of money into developing and marketing its 4G network. This 4G network is made possible by the partnership between Sprint and Clearwire. Currently, Sprint has the majority ownership in Clearwire. Clearwire's 4G network is expanding, and the company wants to continue rolling out the service across the country. There's only one problem: the company needs billions of dollars to finish building its nationwide network. A few financing options are possible: Sprint could fund the project itself, or it could turn to a competitor to help foot the bill. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sprint's board of directors is debating whether or not to let T-Mobile invest in Clearwire. If Sprint would allow T-Mobile to buy in to Clearwire, the nation's third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers would end up using the same next-generation network.
Sprint currently has the lead in the 4G race with the country's only 4G network though AT&T and Verizon Wireless are working hard to launch their own 4G networks. Both AT&T and Verizon Wireless have committed to the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard. Although Clearwire currently uses the WiMAX standard, there's still a possibility it could switch to the LTE standard in the future. Clearwire currently offers 4G service in 49 cities.
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