[GadgetRatty] tag: core

Dells Studio XPS 1340 and Studio XPS 1640

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:19:53 +0000

Dell’s new Studio XPS laptops have arrived on the company’s store without even a press release. The 1340 is obviously the Studio XPS 13 incher, while the 1640 is the 16-inch version of the leather accented system. Both machines are lookers, and share the same $1,199 pricepoint, with Core 2 Duo processors and the typical options.

The base model of the 1340 includes a P8400 processor, Vista Home Premium, a 13.3-inch WXGA LCD, 2 megapixel webcam, 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB 7200rpm SATA drive, slot-loading DVD burner and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M G graphics. The 1640 is similar, but with ATI Mobility RADEON M86XT graphics.

They seem pretty dangerously overpriced if you ask me. Sure, they look sweet, but I can think of several happy alternatives for less.

[Notebookreview]

Moores Law due for a reboot on Mobile devices?

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:30:19 +0000

BBC News has a great story on where the development of Mobile device chipsets is going to be going in the coming months – very simply, to a multi-core architecture.

The article features commentary from Advanced Risc Machines (Arm), a UK-based firm who provide about 80% of the processing chips in Mobile devices – the iPhone for example, has a series of Arm 11 cores.

At any rate, the story is partly/mainly about the fact that these Arm 11 processors are being superseded by something called the ‘Cortex A9’ range – which simply are multi-core processors.

The advantage of a multi-core processor, for those of you not in the know, is that you can (a) run each core slower and (b) consume less power (than a faster chip), whilst still getting the same work done. This is especially important in Mobile devices where the battery consumption is an always-important issue.

Rather than replicate the story here, I’d advise you to take a look through at by clicking here.

Certainly, for the multimedia-intensive applications that Mobile devices are being increasingly expected to perform (see here), this sort of processing is going to become more and more important.

If you want to check out Arm’s website, go here.

[Via: BBC News]

Related News from IntoMobile:

Sony announces DSC-G3 digicam with Wi-Fi

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:43:59 +0000

Oh heck! This camera has Wi-Fi. It even has a browser built-in. Sony DSC-G3 is the world’s first digital camera to pull such a feat – integrate Wi-Fi for easy uploading and sharing of pictures and videos. To promote the feature, Sony is also giving complimentary AT&T Wi-Fi access to Sony’s Easy Upload Home Page until Jan. 31, 2012. Uploading the content is really simple. A user just needs to on the Wi-Fi button and he’s taken to Sony’s upload page where he can select the site he wants to upload. Another good thing is that G3 is DLNA compatible which means hooking it up with another DLNA compatible device is easy.

Moving to its core features, it is a 10.1-megapixel camera and 4X optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. The rear space is taken by a 3.5-inch wide touchscreen Xtra Fine LCD and has a 4GB internal memory to store all the images and videos. External memory is only possible via Memory Stick cards (M2).

The camera has other features to boast, like the intelligent scene recognition system, face detection, smile shutter, image stabilizer and dynamic range optimizer. Sony’s revolutionary camera will sell in Black hue for $500.

Press Release

Advertisement: Samsung Hub - Everything Samsung!

Social Media Love?

G-CORE Mini Caddy

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:28:45 +0000

G-CORE Mini Caddy is a GPS powered range finder for golf enthusiasts. It just got announced at CES 2009 as having the first Mirasol display from Qualcomm (for true geeks out there: Mirasol Display Technology)

We don’t care too much about the display but apparently it is easily readable under direct sunlight so that’s a big plus for golfers out there. Here are the features of the G-Core Mini Caddy:

weighs only 36 grams
1.2-inch bichrome mirasol display
pre-loaded golf courses
provides information on the outline of fairways and the locations of bunkers and hazards
free downloads on to the 1GB memory

We do not have any information when this GPS range finder maybe released, or for how much.

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

ASUS debuts 18.4-inch W90 gaming laptop at CES 2009

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Got an itch for a gaming laptop that's big enough to span the laps of both you and your lover? ASUS has you covered. Here in the desert, the outfit has introduced a potent 18.4-inch gaming rig with a 1080p panel, twin ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2 GPUs, three RAM slots (a world's first, mind you) stuffed with 6GB of DDR2 memory, a Core 2 Duo processor, a half dozen (seriously) Altec Lansing speakers and a Turbo Gear function that will enable users to overclock the system and boost performance by as much as 25%. A few more configurations are available, including one with a 17-inch panel, an NVIDIA graphics option, dual HDDs, an optional Blu-ray drive and enough ports to put your average desktop to shame.

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS debuts 18.4-inch W90 gaming laptop at CES 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asus Bamboo Series 12-inch Notebook

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:30:05 +0000

[CES 2009] I really like what Asus has done with its Bamboo Series notebook - place it on a wooden floor and chances are pretty good you would actually have it blend into the background. This 12" Bamboo Series is Asus' part in helping create sustainable merchandise, featuring LED backlight for lower power consumption and Asus' Super Hybrid Engine Technology that makes it more efficient thanks to intelligent power allocation. Other features of the Bamboo Series notebook include :-

Intel Core 2 Duo processor series
Windows Vista Ultimate
Intel PM45 Express Chipset
Uo to 4GB RAM
12.1" WXGA LED backlight display
NVIDIA GeForce 9300M 256MB graphics card
Up to 320GB SATA hard drive

Hopefully the termites won't chew through this one when they're hungry.

Permalink: Asus Bamboo Series 12-inch Notebook from Ubergizmo (US, FR) | Good deals | Hot: CES 2009, Jan 6-11

Nortel uses Unreal Engine and Lands Lenovo as a customer of web.alive

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:59:19 +0000

Apparently, my skepticism over Nortel web.alive was lost on Lenovo since Nortel and Lenovo today announced the first-ever customer to its web.alive Virtual World Application. Lenovo uses web.alive to let shoppers browse, demo and interact with other shoppers and Lenovo Staff in real-time 3D.

In addition, Nortel has licensed the Unreal gaming Engine for web.alive Engine which they claim will create more realistic, interactive 3D Environment for Web 3.0 Collaboration, Training and Commerce. Wow, I used to play Unreal on my old PC. If Nortel web.alive uses the Unreal Engine and looks anything like the video game I used to play, then maybe I'll retract some of my skepticism.

Unreal Tournament 2004

Here's both news releases coming out any second on the newswires...

Just months after announcing its incubation efforts to develop web.alive, a new virtual world business application, Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] today announced that Lenovo, one of the world's largest manufacturers of personal computers, is using the application in a new online virtual store as a way to give consumers an exciting new avenue for e-commerce.

The Lenovo "eLounge" virtual store is being showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week at the Venetian Hotel's AquaKnox.

What are the benefits of virtual stores?
• Shoppers can create personalized avatars to walk around the 3D virtual store and browse through products while interacting with other shoppers and sales staff from around the globe.
• Shoppers can also attend product demonstrations or tutorials given by the virtual store staff.
• People can build social/virtual shopping communities/groups and host online shopping get-togethers with their network of friends, family and associates - a concept defined as assisted e-commerce or social shopping.
• Customer service online is taken to an entirely new level as customers do not need to email, click to call or deal with hundreds of pages of forum based questions and answers. If a customer has a question, they can simply log on and walk up to a customer service representative or ask another customer with a high feedback rating.
• Businesses can use their online stores to test out new store designs/ideas - in a virtual setting.
Interested in seeing Lenovo's virtual store prototype?
• To see the new Lenovo eLounge, visit www.lenovo.com/elounge** or visit them at CES at the Venetian Hotel's AquaKnox.
• For more information on web.alive, visit www.projectchainsaw.com or www.nortel.com/webalive.

OTTAWA - Nortel'* [NYSE/TSX: NT] announced it has licensed Epic Games' Unreal Engine for Nortel's new web.alive virtual world software application.
"The Unreal gaming engine provides an array of core technologies, content creation tools, and support infrastructure essential to Nortel's web.alive application," said Arn Hynman, web.alive chief architect. "By collaborating with Epic Games and licensing the Unreal Engine, we are enabling our customers to benefit from the same platform that powers industry-leading video games and complex 3D simulations."

"The Unreal Engine enables companies to build dynamic, interactive virtual worlds for the next-gen workforce, and this licensing agreement signifies Nortel's commitment to take its e-commerce and learning initiatives to the next level," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. "Nortel's web.alive application uniquely showcases how Epic's engine technology can be leveraged to improve business collaboration."

To learn more about the Nortel and Epic collaboration and to hear an interview with Arn Hyndman and Mark Rein, visit http://podcast.nortel.com/podcasts2/nortel_web_alive_7961.mp3.

web.alive integrates spatial, high-definition audio and customized 3D spaces with conventional telephony, corporate systems and software to create a "real-life" experience in a virtual environment. Epic's Unreal Engine 2.5 enables the display of stunning 3D environments and avatars with lifelike movements and interactivity. Nortel brings this impressive capability to your web browser as a thin client.

Nortel has also announced that Lenovo, one of the world's largest manufacturers of personal computers, is using web.alive in a new online virtual store as a way to give consumers an exciting new avenue for e-commerce.
Nortel's web.alive is a collaborative, browser-based virtual world application for enterprise use that provides an immersive, interactive and web integrated world with 3D voice and graphics. The application facilitates internal collaboration as well as customer interactions over the web and in real time. web.alive brings new dimensions to business collaboration, virtual training and ecommerce. For more information on web.alive, visit www.projectchainsaw.com or www.nortel.com/webalive.

Tags: 3d, avatar, ces, Consumer Electronics Show, Lenovo, nortel, unreal engine, virtual store, virtual world, web.alive

Related Entries

Nortel Web.Alive = Second Life for Business - Dec 15, 2008
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More on That Second Life Thing - Jan 24, 2007
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Toktumi Now Offered on Dell VoIP Website - Nov 24, 2008
Anybody Like the New Xbox Live? - Nov 19, 2008
Nortel cuts jobs and lowers forecast - Nov 10, 2008

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Comments on this Entry:

(tkeating on Jan 8, 2009 4:44 PM) Just a test VOX comment

(Tom Keating on Jan 8, 2009 4:56 PM) trying typepad/typekey comment

D2 Technologies Improves its vPort VoIP Software for Development of Next Generation WiMAX, Femtocell and Mobile Handsets/Devices

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:32:14 +0000

Some interesting news from D2 Technologies worth sharing. It's worth mentioning that D2 offers the mCUE mobile convergence software solution, which combines a communications user interface with the company's vPort MP VoIP software platform targeting OEMs and service providers to help deliver integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and Unified Communications (UC) functionality.

Their news today involves WiMAX, femtocells, and fixed mobile convergence (FMC). Many predict (myself included) that 2009 will be the year of WiMAX, FMC, and femtocells. Though I think femtocells won't really getting going until late 2009.

At CES D2 Technologies is announcing a significant upgrade to its flagship embedded VoIP software, vPort, supporting processors from market leaders such as Cavium, Freescale, LSI, Ralink, AMCC, Ikanos and TI for OEMs developing the latest in dual mode and IP phones, CPE communications products and other mobile devices.

Here's the news...

D2's vPort optimizes support for video calls, high definition audio, Windows® CE/Mobile applications and remote security management.

D2 Technologies, the market leader in embedded IP communications software platforms, today announced the next generation of its flagship vPort product line, enabling OEMs and service providers to cost-effectively and quickly deliver to market the most advanced mobile and CPE communications products. vPort 2.0 now provides optimized support for the development of femtocells, mobile internet devices (MIDs) and mobile handset products. It also offers significant technology upgrades that support WiMAX, the Windows® CE and Windows® Mobile platforms, IMS, video calls, remote management of end-user devices via TR-069 (an application layer protocol) and the Secure Real Time Transport Protocol (SRTP), and high definition audio through additional wideband CODECs.

vPort 2.0 merges the best of existing and emerging technologies to deliver a wealth of communications services in any mode (voice, video, IM chat, email, SMS, etc.) over any network (WiMAX, WiFi, cellular, IMS, broadband, PSTN), giving service providers, enterprise users and general consumers the widest choice of connectivity platforms.

A leader in embedded VoIP performance, efficiency and platform support, vPort enables networking, signaling and voice processing functions to execute as an integrated solution on a single processor. Through this upgrade, vPort now offers the broadest application support and most advanced features of any embedded VoIP software on the market, and allows manufacturers to quickly meet consumer demands for communications products such as IP and dual mode mobile phones, triple- and quadruple-play devices, advanced VoIP adapters/gateways and other mobile devices.

Key vPort 2.0 product features include:
• Broadest range of IC and core processor support for market leaders such as Cavium Networks, Freescale Semiconductor, LSI Corporation, Ralink Technology, AMCC, Ikanos Communications and Texas Instruments
• New CODECs including GSM-AMR support for femtocells
• Increased embedded OS support for WinCE/WinMobile, VxWorks, Linux, Android
- OS Abstraction Layer allows quick porting onto new and proprietary OSs
• Unified and IP communications at its core:
- VoIM and multi-protocol support (SIP, GoogleTalk, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ)
- Presence based functionality
- Video call/chat capability
• Complete suite of NAT Traversal software including STUN, ICE, and TURN
• Full SRTP support including RFCs 3550, 3711, and 4568
• Remote management integration with TR-069 and TR-104 SW modules
• Industry leading voice quality, CPU (MHz) optimization and service provider interop

"By enhancing vPort, D2 is helping customers quickly respond to the increased market demand for VoIP-enabled devices in new application areas, on new platforms and with advanced features," said Doug Makishima, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at D2 Technologies. "We are now conducting demos with our key partners and OEM customers, and expect commercial availability of vPort 2.0 toward the end of Q1 2009."

Tags: Android, D2 Technologies, femtocell, fixed mobile convergence, FMC, google, IMS, Linux, SRTP, voip, vPort, VxWorks, wimax, windows ce, windows mobile

Related Entries

D2 Technologies Releases Mobile Handset Solution Powered by Google Android - Apr 01, 2008
D2 Technologies mCUE mobile convergence softphone launches - Jan 07, 2008
Aepona enables Fixed Mobile Convergence - Jun 13, 2007
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HTC Touch HD - Nov 26, 2008
Mobile VoIP Challenges - Oct 20, 2008
Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) Leads to Workforce Productivity and Customer Service Improvements - Oct 16, 2008
OctroTalk adds Video Conferencing and Live Streaming to Windows Mobile - Oct 15, 2008
Global IP Solutions Launches Video Calling for Windows Mobile Phones - Oct 13, 2008
Motorola Femtocell Picture Frame Combines VoIP, Video, Bluetooth, Touchscreen and more - Sep 26, 2008

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HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA hands-on

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:39:00 +0000

We just hit up HP's booth to check out the new Firebird gaming rig, and it's pretty slick looking, although it's a lot bigger than we expected / hoped. The side panels are actually a cool translucent smoke finish, and the blue LED lighting might be the first classy gaming PC light kit we've ever seen. HP was demoing the Firebird with Left 4 Dead and Crysis, and the gamers on hand seemed pretty pleased -- we'll have see how the $1,799 machine's 2.83GHz Core 2 Quad and dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards benchmark out when it's released on February 1st. Check it all in the gallery!

Gallery: HP Firebird hands-on

Filed under: Desktops

HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk G3 SSD Memory Blows Away Hard Drives' Performance

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:39:34 +0000

SanDisk today unveiled its third-generation family of solid-state drives (SSDs). Using multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology, SanDisk's G3 Series of SSD memory has incredible performance benchmarks. The G3 SSDs are more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM hard disk drives and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008, clocking in at 40,000 RPM and anticipated sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write. Even the fastest hard drives I've seen to date, which I have installed on serveral servers at TMC, currently max out at 15,000 RPM.

They were designed as drop-in replacements for hard-disk drives (HDDs) in notebook PCs, the initial members in the SanDisk G3 family are SSD C25-G3 and SSD C18-G3 in the standard 2.5" and 1.8" form factors, respectively, each available with a SATA-II interface. Available in capacities of 60, 120 and 240GB*, the unit MSRPs are $149, $249 and $499, respectively. The G3 SSDs provide a Long-term Data Endurance (LDE) of 160 terabytes written (TBW) for the 240GB version, sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage. Using such fast memory instead of a hard drive in a netbook, laptop, or even PC desktop should make these computers nearly instantly boot. Sweet!

Three key features developed by SanDisk enable this new design: a new SSD algorithm called ExtremeFFSTM allows random write performance to potentially improve by as much as 100 times over conventional algorithms; reliable 43nm multi-level cell (MLC) all bit-line (ABL) NAND flash; and SanDisk's new SSD controller, which ties together the NAND and the algorithm.

The SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available in mid 2009, in a 2.5" PATA configuration. Now we just need SSD RAID5 or SSD RAID10 using multiple SSD cards and then we can finally say goodbye to current expensive RAID5/10 server configurations that require expensive hard drives and RAID controllers! Wow, servers would also be blazingly fast using multiple SSD cards working in parallel in a RAID configuration.

Tags: ExtremeFFSTM, RAID, SSD, SanDisk, memory, solid-state drives

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