AMD A8-3850 Llano APU Review
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Hardware Roundup: AMD Llano A8-3850 Edition
If you haven't been following AMD closely over these past several months, then the announcement of the A8-3850 Llano APU may come as a surprise. Even more surprising, or more likely confusing, is the array of new terminology and monikers like 'APU', 'Fusion', 'Llano' and 'Lynx'. Fusion is AMD's marketing name for a new series of processors, or accelerated processing units (APU) that combine the CPU, GPU and other functions onto a single die. The latest AMD processors, or APUs, are codenamed Llano, and are based on the K10 core. The desktop platform is codenamed 'Lynx' and today we have a roundup of reviews on the first APU for the Lynx platform - the A8-3850. The new APU is manufactured using a 32nm SOI process and is a quad-core processor clocked at 2.9GHz. Also onboard the package is a Radeon HD 6550D GPU clocked at 600MHz. As mentioned, the Lynx platform comes with a new FM1 socket and A75 chipset. Take a moment to check out some of the reviews from around the Web using the links below.
AMD A8-3850 Llano APU @ OCC
AMD A8-3850 Llano APU @ TechSpot
AMD A8-3850 Llano Desktop Processor Review - Can AMD compete with Sandy Bridge? @ PC Perspective
AMD A8-3850 (Llano) APU and A55/A75 Chipset @ TweakTown
AMD A8-3850 Llano APU & Gigabyte A75M-UD2H @ Neoseeker
AMD's A8-3850 Fusion APU @ Tech Report
AMD A8-A3850 APU and Lynx plattform preview @ Bjorn3d
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Razer Releases Transformers 3 Collector's Edition Gaming Suite
Razer today released its collection of Transformers 3-branded gaming peripherals to commemorate the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The new line-up consists of four DeathAdder mice, a Vespula mousemat and laptop sleeves.
First up is the themed DeathAdder which will be available in four colors, each representing a Transformer: red (Optimus Prime), yellow (Bumblebee), silver (Megatron) and purple (Shockwave). As always the DeathAdder mouse features a right-handed design, a 3500DPI infared sensor, an 1000Hz polling rate and five Hyperesponse buttons. Next up is the dual-sided Vespula mousemat which has an Autobots SPEED side for faster movements and a Decepticons CONTROL surface for precise tracking. Each side is illustrated with the appropriate Transformer, Optimus Prime for the Autobots and Megatron for the Decepticons. The Vespula is also bundled with a gel-filled wrist rest. Last up is the Transformers-edition laptop sleeves. The sleeves fit laptops up to 15" and feature a plastic shell, a padded interior, travel straps and a metallic logo on the front. As with the DeathAdder, the laptop sleeves will also be available in red, yellow, silver and purple variants.
The Razer Transformers 3-branded DeathAdder mice and Vespula mousemat are available now from the Razer Store retailing for $69.99 and $44.99 respectively. The Laptop sleeves will be available in the near future for $49.99. The Razer Transformers 3 collector's edition gaming suite is currently only available in North America.
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Sensitive Skin for Robots Developed
They may be our companions or overlords but many people do believe that the future will contain robots, beyond those for manufacture and toys. Current robots, with an ability to observe the environment, do so using cameras and possibly microphones. Microphones obviously let them hear what is around them, and cameras allow a robot to see where it is, when there is enough light. What about when there isn't? For a human, we can just reach out and feel ourselves through a dark environment, and soon robots will also be able to do so. Scientists at Technische Universitaet Muenchen have developed a "skin" for robots capable of sensing even light touches. Consisting of hexagonal circuit boards or plates, 5 cm2 in size, the skin uses infrared sensors to detect objects closer than one centimeter, and each plate has six temperature sensors, and an accelerometer. Not only does this give a robot a sense of touch but also the ability to detect temperature changes. The accelerometer allows a robot to register its limbs moving which is a lot more interesting an accomplishment than you may think. With the ability to track its limbs without cameras, so it knows when an arm is raised without viewing it, a robot could gain self-perception. Not quite self-awareness, but at least one step closer.
The video is a demonstration of the plates on a single robotic arm.
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MySpace Sold for $35 Million
The troubled social networking site MySpace has reportedly completed its sale to Specific Media, an advertising network firm. Unfortunately, its owner News Corp didn't get its expected $100 million asking price, as the website was sold for roughly $35 million. A bargain price, considering the $580 million News Corp paid for it almost six years ago. Aside from Specific Media, private equity firm Golden Gate Capital was also in the running for acquiring MySpace. It was also rumored previously that MySpace co-founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe would bid at the last minute, to salvage what remains of a once-mighty Facebook competitor. With the sale finally completed, plans for MySpace Music could be the next step where its buyers are taking the website.
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New iPhone Rumor Puts iPhone 5 Release in Mid-2012
Despite the plethora of rumors that Apple is set to release its next generation of iPhone in either August or September, recent reports from Wall Street peg the iPhone 5 release somewhere in mid-2012. Instead of a next generation unveil, many Apple watchers believe that this fall will see the release of an iPhone 4S, a slightly upgraded model of the fourth generation smartphone akin to the 2009 3GS release. One expert expects Apple to drop the prices on its current iPhones to generate more sales, making a carrier subsidized 3GS free, and the iPhone 4 $99. It is expected the iPhone 5 will release next year at the usual Apple entry point of $199/$299.
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The Google+ Project
Google has been working to have its presence felt in as much of our lives as possible with email, maps and street views, video sharing, phones, VOIP, and even laptops. Last year it tried to join the online social networking party with Google Buzz, a not too well received experiment. Google is trying again with the Google+ Project, which is currently in an invite only beta (you can sign up to receive an invite at the project's page). There are several features to Google+ such as "Circles," a system to collect friends into groups for sending out information only to those that are interested. "Sparks" is a way to tell Google what you're interested in then it shares with you things it thinks you might like, so you can then share it with specific friends or your Circles. The "Hangouts" feature allows a user to just sit someone and let friends come in and, well, hangout. With Android phones and other mobile devices, it should come as no surprise that there is mobile integration. "Huddle" allows text messages from a single circle to be grouped together into one page, so everyone is on that same page. Also every picture and video taken on your Android phone will be automatically uploaded to a private album on your Google+ account, awaiting you to share it.
I have already signed up for an invite and will share my experiences when I get in. Until then, feel free to discuss this in the forums.
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AMD Plans to Phase Out Current AM3 CPUs Fairly Quick
AMD is planning for its APUs and AM3+ CPUs to carry the company for a while, but what of the current AM3 CPUs? Well, if a leaked roadmap is anything to go by, the current AM3 CPUs will be phased out fairly quick once the A-Series APUs and AM3+ CPUs launch later this year. The AM3 Phenom II CPUs will be the first one to go, as AMD projects to rely solely on the AM3+ products by the fourth quarter of this year. However, since the AM3+ products aren't quite out yet, we should see the AM3 ones stick around just a bit longer. The AM3 Athlon II CPUs will be around longer than the Phenom II CPUs, but by the start of next year those will be replaced by the A-Series. What we'll be left with is the E-Series at the entry level, the A-Series at the mid-range, and the AM3+ CPUs at the high-end, though the E-Series and AM3+ are expected to hold about half the market combined with the A-Series making up the difference.
The current E-Series products will also be phased out by the fourth quarter, with the E-240 being the first to go and the E-300 replacing it, while the E-350 will be replaced with the E-450. The E-450 has a 50MHz bump on the speed, but it will pack a more powerful GPU and support for 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. If you are planning on using the E or A-Series for an HTPC, you should know that only the A-Series is capable of Blu-ray 3D playback. Of course, if you have no interest in that then you can go ahead and use the E-Series, but it is something to consider.
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Amiga Reborn for PC
The classic Amiga personal computer brand has been resurrected, this time as a series of new performance PCs. Put together by Commodore USA, the new company has licensed both the Amiga and Commodore brands. The company will also be producing a modern Commodore 64.
The new Amiga line consists of three variants: the small Amiga 1000, the huge Amiga 2000 and the Amiga 3000. The Amiga 1000 box is primarily intended for the HTPC crowd, the roomy Amiga 2000 leans more towards hardware enthusiasts, with support for seven expansion cards, full sized ATX PSU and motherboard support, and an optical drive. Lastly, the Amiga 3000 falls somewhere in between the 1000 and 2000, with support for a micro ATX motherboard, four low-profile expansion cards, four hard drives, an optical drive and a full-sized ATX PSU. Further details were not yet available, although Commodore USA has promised to reveal more information at a later time.
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Kaz Hirai to Become Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman
Kazuo Hirai has been the global face of Sony Computer Entertainment for some time and is a recognizable name for the company. He's been the President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, but now, he's taking on a new role as Chairman of the company. The current Chairman, Akira Sato, is retiring later this year so Kaz Hirai has been chosen as the successor. Andrew House, PlayStation chief over in Europe, has been appointed to become the new President and CEO, hoping to fill Hirai's sizeable shoes. Both men will take over their new roles on September 1st, a day after Sato retires, so it will give them a bit of time to get use to the new responsibilities. Both men will now oversee the direction Sony Computer Entertainment heads and how Sony will handle the launch of the PS Vita handheld later this year. I have high hopes for both men in their new roles, so hopefully Sony can continue its success with the new leadership.
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Writing Flexible Electronics
The image here is of a flexible LED array created at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). What's special about the array to get it on the OCC homepage? The interconnects between the LEDs were drawn by a pen. Specifically a rollerball pen using a special silver-based ink and when the ink dries, the conductive silver remains. This allows for personal fabrication of electronic components 'on-the-fly' with a low cost and ubiquitous printing tool. Of course that is not the only advantage to this technique as the silver pathways have been shown to survive multiple bends and folds, making electronics created this way very flexible and able to conform to multiple shapes. The idea of using a metallic ink is not original as modified inkjet printers have been used to print electronics in the past. However the pen allows greater freedom and flexibility as no programming is needed and the pen can be used on more surfaces than just paper, such as wood. The researchers want to develop more kinds of ink that can be used on other electronic and conductive materials.
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