complicated

The World's Smallest Mobile Phone

2009-12-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Mobile thin models have been introduced Motorola and Samsung, but war will continue the design. Because the world's smallest mobile phone is now thrown into the market with a super small size. I think Mobile wrote just for this zippo lighters will be difficult unrivaled for some time to come. Xun 138 CHI Bar type mobile phone operates on GSM networks with a body length of only 67 mm or slightly longer than the size of AA batteries and weighs just 55 grams.

But do not be impressed first, because many more furniture completeness of this cute phone offal. With a cute size is not possible to use the key pad, the solution is to use touch screen that can read handwriting (hand writing recognition) of the 260 color display support k. Remarkably again, the author is still jammed with 1.3 Mega pixel camera (though with a VGA quality), USB port to transfer files from mobile phone and PC, WAP, GPRS, MP3 Player, and 138 MB of internal memory. Maybe the next generation will be equipped with a mini SD card size and bluetooth, so to speak simply use a Bluetooth earpiece. Xun Chi 138 is intentionally made with a gaudy pink color to be easily visible goal when stuck because of its small size. As for business writing on the touch screen using the stylus to stay clipped to the back of the phone body.

Size: 67 mm x 32 X 18
Weight: 55 grams
Network: GSM 900, 1800 Mhz
Feature Display: LCD Touch Screen
Camera: 1.3 Megapixel Camera

Recognizing Microsoft Windows 7 Inspired from Mac OS X

2009-11-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

Microsoft's success throughout the world create a scene with the release of Windows 7 in late October and is not accompanied by similar statements from Simon Aldous (Manager of Microsoft Partner Group). Aldous even gave contradictory statements of fact. Aldous openly admit that the design of Windows 7 was inspired by Mac OS X.

"What have we tried to do with Windows 7, either traditional format or both formats touch graphics created by borrowing on the Mac," said Aldous. However. Aldous argue that it has added improvised (Graphical User Interface (GUI) of Windows 7, which was built on Vista's core technology is stable.

"We took a good part of Vista, with the core infrastructure at the operating system, and we make Windows 7 faster and more streamlined in the coding, to make it more effective," said Aldous.

Windows 7 has been standardized to be able to work in a variety of hardware configurations. While on the other hand, Mac OS X Snow Leopard also been optimized to work in certain configurations. "Pain" is the same who later became the perception of "artificial" by the users of Windows 7.

HP vs Infusion Printers

2009-11-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Deskjet printers the latest Hewlett-Packard, K209, expected to shift the popularity of the printer is widely used intravenous digital printing businesses.

Yes, printers are sold at a price of Rp 1,289,000 was estimated to be the printer of choice for businesses. Not only carrying the print function only, printer with this dynamic design also serves as a scanner and photocopy.

"Why should I buy the infusion printers if Deskjet K209 could be a solution," said Alia Octhora Goddess, Market Development Manager of Inkjet and Web Solutions Imaging and Printing Groups Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Thursday (12/11/2009) night.

In comparison, he added, the cost required to buy a printer unit infusion was approximately U.S. $ 160. The cost includes includes a printer and an ink infusion package. While K209 with an additional 1 black cartridge and 1 color cartridge only U.S. $ 157.

"It costs about Rp 1,289,000 when combined with a pair of cartridges, each of which approximately Rp 85 thousand then the equivalent capacity even with a better quality printer than an IV," explained a woman with short hair is half Promotion.

Alia compare when using K209, the costs required to print a black and white documents only Rp 140. As for color documents, the cost is Rp 340.

Windows Start Selling Computers

2009-11-07T02:53:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - A new movement has been done Microsoft. Microsoft started selling computers and software from third parties through online store

This is part of a drive that Windows can be appointed as Apple got it from retail stores. Microsoft said that it would sell PCs in their retail stores, but planned to open only two this year.

Previously, Microsoft has released its newest product, Win 7.

Not only software Win 7, but Microsoft also provides all the laptops that support Win 7 as well as other accessories and software for your computer.

Pressing on the laptop will show 10 models, organized by price, including the two models under $ 750. This website also offers a 3 Netbooks and desktops, Lenovo A600 with a $ 999 price. In software, Microsoft sells Norton 360 and Adobe Photoshop, along with Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products.

ASUS Smartbook, Price Less Than Netbook

2009-11-06T02:53:00.000-08:00

In an investor conference held Friday (30/10) held in Taipei, led Asus, Jerry Shen, has confirmed that a device will be launched Smartbook in first quarter of 2010, with a low enough price that is NTD6000 (USD184). Shen said that Smartbook category has growth potential and high volume, and this is the reason for ASUS to make Smartbook as 'secret weapon', in addition to the Eee PC. Shen added while speaking at the conference, that it had not seen the Smartbook market.

Shen stressed that innovation, price and competitive speed from ASUS will be the key that will be accepted in many manufacturing world. Smartbook, eBooks, or tablet product innovation has become the subject of internal and brainstorming committee that will run from 6 months into the future with direction and purpose for the display device in the event Smartbook CeBIT and Computex 2010.

Smartbook ASUS is equipped with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, operating system Android, and Internet browser. The basic idea of this by making Smartbook Shen, is to create a highly portable device with multiple connectivity and network bandrol cheaper prices than a netbook.

Adamo Slim Dell More than MacBook Air?

2009-11-04T03:32:00.000-08:00

When Apple released the MacBook Air, someone released a YouTube video that mocked Dell laptop that was "old"? Could Dell will soon release a product that will be a leader in the race to make the lightest and thinnest laptop? NYTimes says that while exploring a variety of Dell's trademark they found some mysterious names like "Adamo" and "Adamo by Dell."

Why use a new brand as "Adamo by Dell" and does not integrate all its product lines into one brand alone? Apparently the product (or product lines) recently prepared by the Dell is far different from other Dell products (such as the Nokia to the high-class product line Vertu).

Adamo even has a special site that says that http://adamobydell.com/ Adamo will come soon. Adamo searching in search engines also do not provide meaningful results.

However Uptownlife.net said that "rumor Dell will introduce a computer named Adamo who will compete with MacBook Air."

When asked whether Dell is preparing a similar product with the MacBook Air, Michael Tatelman, VP of marketing Dell also seemed surprised, saying only that Dell "was needed to get some products that the public associates the symbolic Dell brand with other things." Apparently they intend to change the public perception to see Dell as a modern company.

Dell spokesperson Bob Kaufman said Dell would not comment on speculation. Remains to be seen whether Dell and its partners in Asia can produce something that rivals aestetika MacBook Air from Apple. To be sure, Dell can beat Apple in terms of price. Kay Rogey who served as president of analyst firm Endpoint Technologies said that "one thing that they can differentiate from Apple is cheap. They could easily trim $ 400 from the sale price of MacBook Air."

Microsoft Preparing the Application Distribution System for Windows

2009-11-03T03:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever questioned Microsoft's decision to change the name of the application "Add / Remove Programs" in Windows XP and earlier into "Programs and Features" in Vista? It is possible that Microsoft is considering a package management system similar to that of the various Linux distributions (for example in Debian APT, RPM in Red Hat). Such systems will revolutionize the way users interact with Windows applications, while providing some benefits in the form of security because it only allows users to install applications that are secure only.

For you who do not quite understand the package management system, the system allows users to search, download install and update applications with ease, without having to visit various websites to download the search application.

Microsoft recently asked the beta testers of Windows 7, asking for input from them about the "single place to find and update management for programs on your PC." The participants were asked to indicate (1 - 9) how important the features below for them:

* The ability to install a program on my PC.
* The ability to find the program I want to use on my PC.
* The ability to have all programs on my PC up-to-date.
* The ability for me to update specific programs on my PC at a time that is convenient for me.
* The ability for me to remove a specific program on my PC.
* The ability to set the schedule for updating the programs on my PC.
* The ability for a program to automatically configure settings it needs while it is being installed on my PC (eg there is no need for me to manually configure the firewall, etc).
* The ability to block a program from being installed on my PC when the program publisher can not be verified.
* The ability to Ensure that only programs on my PC from publishers I choose to trust can automatically stay up-to-date.
* The ability to install programs on my PC from programs publishers I trust, without any security prompts or warnings.
* The ability to see the security prompts or warnings when trying to install programs from publishers I had not previously chosen to trust.
* The ability to install a program so that all the users sharing a PC can use it.
* The ability to install a program and have it usable almost immediately.
* The ability to install multiple programs on my PC at the same time.
* The ability to install programs without causing any noticeable slow-down to other programs on the PC.
* The ability to install a program without interrupting other activities I am doing on my PC.
* The ability to know that my PC has all the necessary requirements needs a program before installing the program (eg memory, hard disk space).
* The ability to know the identity of the company or vendor that created a program installed on my PC.
* The ability to find reviews and ratings about a program before installing it on my PC.
* The ability to quickly find the programs I use most frequently on my PC.
* The ability install or update a program without the need for a reboot.
* The ability to have a single place for finding and managing updates for the programs on my PC.
* The ability to know which programs are causing problems on my PC.
* The ability to restore a program to its original settings and behavior when it malfunctions.
* The ability to install a program to a USB key.
* The ability to discover which programs can be installed.
* The ability to discover which programs can be removed.
* The ability to discover the repair functionality for a malfunctioning program.

In short, Microsoft wants to know what features it wanted Windows users from an application distribution system. The world's largest technology companies seem to be working hard with many third-party developers to design this system well, but if this system can achieve similar functionality in the Debian APT system will surely be a major breakthrough. Who would not want the features to look for the application locally on a PC, the Internet, download, install, update all applications from one application only? Maybe this system will be completed when Windows 8 comes (or whatever name the successor of Windows OS 7).

Microsoft Announces 6 version of the Windows 7

2009-11-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

If you are hoping Microsoft will not offer Windows 7 in many confusing versions such as Vista and follow the only rival Apple released a version of the OS with all features, you seem to be selling disappointed. As previously reported, there are some things that indicate that Windows 7 will be available in several types of variants, and now, Microsoft has announced that all editions of Windows 7 officially: there will be 6 different versions of Windows 7.

Here is a summary:

1. Windows 7 Starter Edition - for netbooks and developing countries, only 3 applications can run simultaneously.
2. Windows 7 Home Basic - also for developing countries.
3. Windows 7 Home Premium - This version gives you Windows Media Center and other features for use at home.
4. Windows 7 Professional - the same with Windows Vista Business, with additional security features.
5. Windows 7 Enterprise - this version will be sold in large quantities for corporate.
6. Windows 7 Ultimate - has many features of the Enterprise version, but will be sold to consumers.

Microsoft probably will pair different prices for each version. One thing that is interesting is addressed to the Starter Edition netbook, although Windows 7 Ultimate beta has been reported to work well on the cheap mini-laptops like the Asus Eee PC. The problem is Microsoft is not possible to ask the computer vendor to pay full price for licensing the operating system that will be sold along with a laptop for $ 300. So companies make a version of Starter Edition at a low price and then packed into a PC with cheaper prices.

Update: Microsoft had previously offered Starter Edition software for consumers in developing countries. But Windows 7 Starter Edition is slightly different because Microsoft also will offer this variant to consumers in developed countries for the first time, but only to the segment of the industry seeking low-cost operating system for netbooks.

Microsoft Show Desktop Social Concept

2009-11-01T03:36:00.000-08:00

At the end of last week Microsoft showed a prototype of Social Desktop will be introduced in TechFest 2009 and although currently still in the stage of intensive development, this product seems to be one product that drew attention and if Microsoft decided to release it, this product will destroy the wall barrier between the desktop and the Internet are becoming increasingly thin.

Social Desktop enables users to different, commenting, tagging and even search all the files on your desktop as photos and video through a portal. Think of all the features you get by making your own file upload to social networking sites like Flickr, but the difference you do not bother to send the file you want to share the social networking site.

Moreover, interaction with the objects belong to you will be seen on the Windows desktop, making your PC a social networking site.

Social Desktop currently operates in Windows 7 Beta, rogue use the preview function of the new files introduced in Windows 7. Social Desktop then creates a unique URL for each file in your hard disk you want to share and eventually published into a Silverlight-based portal and is operated by Windows Azure, a special OS that operates Microsoft's cloud computing platform. In this portal of your friends can make comments, give tags and more.

Asked about the differences in Social Desktop with Windows Live Mesh, Lili Cheng from Microsoft says that in "Live Mesh, as if you move your PC to the cloud. In Social Desktop, you would like to feel that the web world built into the desktop. "

If this service is released, looks like we will see a new wave of social networking applications where to use social networking users do not even need to upload their files to the cloud, the most boring event in the use of social networking sites.

Unfortunately, Microsoft says that this concept is still in development stage and will not be part of Windows 7.

Apple Introducing the Magic Mouse

2009-11-01T02:16:00.000-08:00

Apple Mighty Mouse expelled in 2005 and his brothers. The device was replaced with a wireless Mouse Magic magic because multitouch features on the surface above it.

New mouse that shipped with the new iMac models introduced on Tuesday (20/10). Mouse is more than just click the right and left.

Users can use one finger to scroll anywhere, not just up and down or from side to side. In supported applications, such as Preview, the user can scroll in any direction.

Mouse Magic also supports the movement of friction, although not the same as that found in Apple's multitouch trackpad. Swipe with two fingers to the left will bring Safari to the previous page. Similarly, swiping left or right with two fingers, would bring to the picture before or following the iPhoto application.

If you are not interested in Magic Bluetooth Mouse, buyers can still choose the cable version of Mighty Mouse now renamed the Apple Mouse. The company has lost the right to use the Mighty Mouse as the brand earlier this month.

The new Magic Mouse uses optical tracking laser that can be used in various types of surfaces. Magic Mouse activated by two AA batteries, and Apple says can survive for about four months.

The device can detect when not in use and manage electricity to the button below can live or die.

In addition to the iMac is packaged together with the already redesigned, Magic Mouse can be purchased separately for U.S. $ 69. The device requires Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later with Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0.

Fun While Raising Mobile

2009-10-31T06:24:00.000-07:00

After the success of S-10 IdeaPad, Lenovo IdeaPad S10 successor out-2. As a successor, S10-2 accounted a success, especially for mobility.

The first rock S10-2, which weighs 0.5 kg lighter than its predecessor was enough difference. No wonder the netbook thin with a cool body design is a choice of mobile generation. Interestingly, that first impression to use it.

Unlike the S10, S10-2 was more trendy. The glossy plastic body comes in four colors, white, pink, gray, and black. Do not be surprised if the S10-2 became champion of the urban mobile. The body is solid, not fragile impressive when taken anywhere.

6 cell battery go mobile supports, let alone the main features such as 3 USB ports, Ethernet, VGA-out, audio in / out, 4-in-1 card reader. Indeed, if used for a long time to warm the surface will, but still remain comfortable in the skin.

Claims of the manufacturer Lenovo said its battery standby time reached six hours more. After a try with boost Wi-FI, standby time reaches one hour earlier than he claims. Fair.

If used while driving, long battery power is a certain satisfaction. When a holiday, the mobility of S10-2 strongly supports the work on the move while still able to look stylish.

This type is also better than its predecessor because the keyboard bigger (89%), so typing feels more comfortable. Similarly, the 10.1-inch screen resolution is 1024x600, no less than other competitors. Images appear bright and colorful, but did not seem blinding.

Unlike the previous IdeaPad, S10-2 has the specific verse that can be used at any time. This series comes with speakers located at the bottom.

Unfortunately the sound sounded like using a silencer and less clear. If you want to use it for the long term, we recommend using earphones or headphones. Users also may be a bit disappointed, because this type was equipped with a built-in bluetooth like its predecessor.

But the IdeaPad S10-2 equipped with Intel Atom N270 processor, 1.66 GHz and 1GB of RAM, which is the most appropriate standard for the netbook class. Processor was quite okay when playing videos, but the problem becomes slow because Norton antivirus trial versionnya sometimes disturbing activities.

Asus Ready to Release Super Cheap Netbook

2009-10-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

Asus plans to launch a super cheap smartbook in the first quarter of 2010. The machine is expected to run Google's Android OS. The company plans to launch smartbook in the first quarter of next year.

It described the site as smartbook ultraportable laptop's carrying low-power 3G, ARM-based processor. Not yet clear whether it would be Asus machine running Windows as well Linux.

Was carried Smartbook Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 1GHz, GPS, 3G, WiFi, and integrated graphics. The price for the device is said about U.S. $ 180.

This news comes shortly after Acer netbook launching Android. The company markets a dual-boot netbook running the Google OS and Windows XP.

Android is intended to turn on the computer with a fast and permits quick access to limited functions without having to spend time to wait until Windows is ready.

T110-T130 Notebook Super Thin with Toshiba Offering Complete Features

2009-10-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Toshiba launched the latest innovation. This time, Toshiba's Computer Systems Division (CSD) to introduce the latest Portege Notebook PC, Slim T110 and T130 Series.

Both devices carry the Toshiba power to enter into the mainstream market is increasingly competitive and attractive. Because of its competitors had already plunged, not possible to rely solely on Series Toshiba Satelitte and Satelitte pro to confront their speed. Moreover, Toshiba raised the target market slice to 30% of the original 19% to trigger.

If viewed from the name certainly was predictable that this portable computer shaped thin aka slim. Thickness claimed less than one inch to the tertipisnya, while the weight of 1.58 Kg.
Portege is also equipped with Windows 7, ultra-fast DDR3 memory and more ports, including HDMI-out. Built in Wireless LAN and Bluetooth also ensure users remain productive by continuing online.

This slim series will be available in two screen sizes and various color options:
* Portege T130: 13.3 inches features a 16:9 widescreen Clear SuperView display. Wrapped with a distinctive color Toshiba Fusion is Precious Glossy Black, Glossy Red Iron and Glossy Pearl White.

* Portege T110 offers 11.6-inch 16:9 widescreen display with Clear SuperVie
w Precious Color Glossy Black, Glossy Red Iron.

The main features are offered such options: Hard Drive protection with 3D motion sensor, all digital HDMI connectivity, built-in webcam with face smart technology that allows you to login with your face, sleep and charge USB port, RoHS compatible and 5 star energy , 0 qualified.

For the Indonesian market, T110 sold at Rp 6,990,000 per unit and the T130 for Rp 8,290,000.

Portege T110 Main Specifications

Processor : Intel Dual Core (1.3 GHZ)
OS : Windows 7
Memory : DDR3 2 GB to 4 GB
HDD : 250 GB (highest specifications)
Screen : 11.6 inch 1366x768 resolution (16:9)
Weight : 1:58 kg, 286x221x24.9/34.2 mm
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, W-LAN
Price : Standard Specification began USD 6 million
Color : Precious Glossy Black, Glossy Red Iron and Glossy Pearl White

Portege T130 Main Specifications

Processor : Intel Dual Core (1.3 GHZ)
OS : Windows 7
Memory : DDR3 2 GB to 4 GB
HDD : 500 GB (highest specifications)
Screen : 11.6 inch 1366x768 resolution (16:9)
Weight : 1.76 kg, 323x223x22.2/34.2 mm
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, W-LAN
Price : Standard Specification began Rp 9 million
Color : Precious Glossy Black, Glossy Red Iron and Glossy Pearl White

ACER Laptop Released 3D

2009-10-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to create unusual laptop. Acer seems to know well about it. So this Taiwan-based company also launched the Acer Aspire 573DG. Uniqueness, this is the world's first laptop with a screen that supports three-dimensional images (3D).

From the information gathered, it is known that the Aspire 573DG is part of the Gemstone series is legendary. His body is thick with dimensions of 15.1 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches. Do not compare with the Acer Aspire Timeline slim and light it.

When compared with the body design Dv6 HP Pavilion or Gateway NV5807u, Aspire 573DG is still less style. But he also really not as rigid as Dell Studio 1555.

He weighs almost 2.8 pounds. Certainly not a comfortable portable computer strapped to the shoulder or carry in a long time.

Bids main course screen capability 15.6 inch display three-dimensional image. This is all thanks to the hardware in the form of a pair of 3D stereoscopic glasses are polarized, which can be seen in both the day-to-day lighting. This technology was imported by DDD TriDef, which provides hardware and software as well.

A combination hardware and software is not only capable of displaying images that are by nature a 3D display. A two-dimensional (2D) also can be converted into 3D on the screen resolution 1366 x 768 (standard resolution for display in an optimal 3D image) is. Includes photos, video games, and video.

TriDef already buried some content that is converted into 3D. For those who want to make changes to the collection of pictures, games, or video, can use TriDef tool.

In fact, change the look of 2D into 3D, too short, though Acer use technology from others. It can be done instantly and easily, as long as the user opens all multimedia files through its Media Portal TriDef. If not, your results will not change despite the 3D screen.

Tests carried out PC Magazine, to photograph, rendering it will produce a good 3D view. In the high-resolution images, 3D display is much deeper.

The problem, in 2D and DVD video, this change was too subtle. 3D effects difficult to detect the video format WMV, AVI, and MPEG. DDD TriDef technology also has not recognized the H.264 and MP4 formats. He is recognized as the only or change the format better in high-definition video formats.

"In this holiday season, we see that the 3D content is very popular in movies and video games," said Ray Sawall, senior manager of Product Marketing Acer America, in a press release yesterday.

The consumer electronics manufacturer recently was vying to make devices that can bring 3D content to users. So far, discussion of the problem is more often heard in the television industry as being cultivated Panasonic, Mitsubishi, and Sony, which plans to throw a television that is compatible with the 3D to the market in 2010.

In the computer business, the story is still minimal. Acer is one of the few vendors who try to present trends in the 3D screen portable computer. 3D view can be achieved only with a few clicks of the mouse and without the need for special graphics card.

Aspire 5738DG have used the Windows 7 operating system launched by Microsoft is officially around the world yesterday. This laptop costs U.S. $ 780. Processors rely on Intel Core 2 Duo processor, graphics chip ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570. In addition, 4 gigabytes of RAM memory (GB), 320 GB hard disk, a web camera, and the touchpad that recognizes a variety of finger gesture.

HP Compaq L2105tm: LCD Monitor with Multi-touch and certification of Windows 7

2009-10-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

HP Compaq L2105tm is an LCD monitor which is one of the first with the certification of Windows 7.

But certainly not the certification that we are talking about but a Multi-touch technology in it.

Just like a Multi-touch on other devices, screen size 21.5 inch LCD is also able to run commands through touch (several) finger on the screen or using a stylus that's included in the sales package.

Other specifications such as format 1080 (1920 x 1080), 5ms response time, viewing angles 170 / 160, 1000:1 contrast ratio, VGA, DVI-D with HDCP connection.

Based on factory tests performed, this monitor will begin to dim (brightness down to 50%) after we use them for 50,000 hours. Quite well, too loh means about 2 years if we use the full 24 hours per day or 4 years if we use for 12 hours per day.

Which was encouraging for us, the price is still reasonable about U.S. $ 299 (approximately USD 3 million).

Dell will release 'iPod Android'

2009-10-26T04:53:00.000-07:00

Dell reportedly wanted to emulate the glory of Apple's iPod Touch to refine a device equipped mobile internet access Google's Android operating system.

This tool will play music and videos like the iPod Touch. This tool resembles the iPod Touch but slightly larger.

Later devices from Dell are not working as a mobile but have features wireless Internet connectivity for surfing and other purposes.

Mentioned that Dell plans to launch the device before the end of the year 2009, targeting the holiday season.

Some time ago, also blew a rumor that Dell is developing a smartphone. We'll see whether Dell was preparing 'weapon' to frustrate the dominance of the iPod Touch music player market.

Dell is developing a pocket-sized gadget fashioned after Apple's iPod Touch that will play music, videos, and connect with the web and is based on the Google Android mobile operating system, according to reports in today's Wall Street Journal.

Dell hopes to break a bad streak of luck with consumer gadgets. It was not very successful with its DJ Ditty music player line or with the Axim PDAs, which got axed a few years ago. Dell is giving pocket-sized devices one more shot, this time with an iPod Touch-style mobile Internet devices (MIDs). So will it make a difference?

Intel Presents Atom on Television

2009-10-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

Fulfilling his promise to bring the Atom processor in all products, Intel introduced the Atom to the television set.

Atom processor for television, Blu-ray players and other electronic devices introduced in the Intel Developer Forum, which was held in San Francisco, 22-24 September 2009.

Eric Kim, Senior Vice President and General Manager Digital Home Group, Intel Corporation, the Atom processor is revealed in his keynote speech.

Kim mentioned the name of the Intel Atom processor CE 4100 as a System on Chip's first Intel Atom-based microarchitecture. Processors with 45nm manufacturing that has Sodaville code name.

Sodaville has some ability to be excellent. Including support for the MPEG4 format and 1080P, 1080P video capture up to DDR3 and DDR4 memory.

On occasion, Intel also demonstrated the concept of the future of television. The concept is built with Adobe Flash 10 that shows the integration of conventional television broadcasting with the Internet-style features such as social networking, video conferencing, bookmarking and navigation.

USB 3.0 Postponed Until 2011

2009-10-25T01:34:00.000-07:00

USB 3.0 is ready rolled, unfortunately until now for the equipment and the latest USB technology is not yet visible.

Intel was just going to install a USB 3.0 interface on the chip and motherboard after the year 2011. If this is done Intel, use USB 3.0 to use another vendor. This means that every motherboard with USB 3.0 will be charged an additional fee to install the USB 3.0 chip.

Manufacturers of motherboards are interested in the development platform available today, the Nehalem. To make the transition from PCI Express 2.0 5GHz. One more for the data transfer via fiber optic Light Peak is capable of handling up to 10Gbps data transfer. Light Peak next year will begin mass-produced.

Intel has not commented why they do not want to chip directly adopt USB 3.0.

IEEE Ratifies Final 802.11n Certification...Seven Years Later

2009-09-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

So, here's a question. Did you realize that the 802.11n WLAN router you purchased three years ago, your shiny new 802.11n-equipped notebook and your 802.11n dongle you bought for your grandmother wasn't actually certified? It's true! 802.11n--which is widely known as the quickest of the Wi-Fi transmission protocols available today (trumping 802.11a/b/g)--has been mulling around in one "Draft" status or another for years now. Seven whole years, in fact.

Over the weekend, however, the IEEE working group responsible for making sure 802.11n was rock solid from top to bottom decided that everything was finally just right.The Standards Board finally ratified the 802.11n-2009 amendment, which defines "mechanisms that provide significantly improved
data rates and ranges for wireless local area networks (WLANs)." Over one million 802.11n units already ship per day worldwide, but now you can finally rest assured that one product will cooperate with another. Here's a simple overview of what this certification means:

"The IEEE 802.11 standard defines how to design interoperable WLAN equipment that provides a variety of capabilities including a wide range of data rates, quality of service, reliability, range optimization, device link options, network management and security.

The 560-page 802.11n amendment-"…WLAN Enhancements for Higher Throughput"1-will enable rollout of significantly more scalable WLANs that deliver 10-fold-greater data rates than previously defined while ensuring co-existence with legacy systems and security implementations."

Publishing of the actual document is scheduled for next month, and users shouldn't really have to worry over their current products not working right. The goal here was to make sure Draft-N items didn't get put out of work when the final specification was published, so the average consumer shouldn't even notice a difference. Still, it's nice to see all the i's dotted and t's crossed so we can get to work on the next fastest thing.

CableCARD Now Open To All, No Need For OEM Installations

2009-09-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

For HTPC owners, most thought this day would never come. It's a liberation celebration, and frankly, it's coming way too late. Still, we'll take late over never almost all of the time, so we can't help but thank those involved for finally freeing CableCARDs of the OEM chains. This past week at CEDIA, Microsoft announced that anyone could now purchase an off-the-shelf CableCARD and install it into their system. This has absolutely not been the case in years past.

Up until now, users have had to purchase an entirely new system from a certified OEM (think Dell, HP, etc.) with a CableCARD installed at the factory. If you even attempted to install a loose CableCARD into your own machine, you'd never get anything to work. Without that OEM touch, CableCARDs were worthless. Obviously, this ensured that only the affluent ponied up for a CableCARD-equipped HTPC. After all, who wants to buy an entirely new rig just to use one $100 part?

As Windows 7 enters the fray, users will be able to add CableCARDs to their own systems with little to no hassle. These cards will allow users to access all of their carrier's cable channels right on their HTPC, eliminating the need for a cable box and a media center PC. Switched Digital Video support was also added into Windows Media Center for Windows 7, which definitely comes in handy for those looking to tune into SDV channels.

Switched Digital Video (SDV) Support Added for Windows Media Center

In response to customer requests and cable providers' deployment of SDV, Microsoft now supports SDV in Windows Media Center for Windows 7. In conjunction with a device known as a tuning adapter, supplied by a customer's cable provider, Windows Media Center and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD will be able to tune to SDV channels. Customers can enjoy SDV broadcasts on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC's ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer's PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

"We are excited that digital cable customers will now be able to take advantage of this new opportunity to bring great cable TV programming to the PC," said So Vang, vice president of OpenCable at CableLabs. "We are dedicated to helping customers get the most from their cable service, and this will be a great win for both the customer and the cable operators."

Digital Cable Customers Can Now Enjoy More TV Portability in Windows Media Center

Microsoft and CableLabs also announced that they worked together to enable digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices and portable media.

Windows Media Center Features in Windows 7 Highlighted

Using new Windows 7 features such as Windows Touch, HomeGroup, Remote Media Streaming and PlayTo, sharing recorded TV, videos, music and pictures throughout the home, while on the road and to remote locations has never been easier. There is also support for the AVCHD format. This allows customers to view HD video from many popular HD video cameras.

In addition, support for the international broadcast TV standards that was released with the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will also be included in Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This includes native support for both ATSC and QAM, the ability to remap channels, and support for subchannels.

New Firmware for ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners

In conjunction with the Microsoft and CableLabs announcements, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will be providing a new firmware update that is available to all ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuners being used with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This firmware update will allow existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV marked as CF. Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices, and portable media. In addition, the firmware will contain support for SDV. When installed on a Windows 7-based PC with a digital cable tuner with CableCARD and a tuning adapter from a cable provider, it enables access to switched digital channels in locations where SDV has been deployed.

Sony's New Slimline PS3 Won't Be Backwards Compatible, Won't Support Linux

2009-09-02T20:48:00.001-07:00

Sony hasn't sold a PS3 that offered a hardware-level backwards compatibility mode in several years, but with the announcement of the PS3 Slim, fans of the feature were hopeful it might reappear in the new, slimmed-down version. Ars Technica recently had the chance to sit down and talk with Sony's director of hardware marketing John Koller, and the company executive was quick to dismiss any notion that backwards compatibility would reappear.

"It's not coming back, so let me put that on the table," Koller told Ars. "It's not as big as a purchase intent driver as you may be hearing. We've got such a substantial lineup of titles on the PS3; most people are buying the PS3 for PS3 games. They've buying it for PS3 games and Blu-ray movies. That (backwards compatibility) won't be returning." Sony has ample reason not to build PS1/PS2 support into the PlayStation 3 . The PS2 is still available, it's cheap ($49-$99 depending on whether you buy refurbished or new), and new games are still being developed for the platform over ten years after it debuted. PS2 owners with a massive game library they aren't willing to give up are therefore "invited" to buy a new system.

The old-style PS3 on the left, the newer, PS3 Slim on the right.

In the interview, Koller also addressed the quesetion of why Sony was removing the PS3's ability to install Linux. "There are a couple of reasons. We felt we wanted to move forward with the OS we have now. If anyone wants to use previous models and change the OS, they can do so." Koller said. "We wanted to standardize our OS."

Frankly, that doesn't make much sense. The homebrew, Linux-using PS3 market may account for just a fraction of PS3 owners, but Sony has actively encouraged the cluster computing and high performance computing (HPC) markets to consider using the PS3 (with some success.) Sony's own OS certainly isn't up to the task of running an HPC node, when the company announced the first Cell-powered rendering server, the BCU-100, the system was running Yellow Dog Linux. Documentation from Sony's website states: "Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux (YDEL) combines a minimal-interaction graphical installer with support for a wide range of Power architecture hardware...This cross-system binary support grants BCU-100 users a great deal of flexibility through compatibility with other Power architecture compute nodes and workstations."

The BCU-100—widely announced, now curiously absent

"In conjunction with the Y-HPC Cluster Construction Suite from Terra Soft...YDEL offers a complete end-to-end, server-to-compute-node solution with technical and engineering support from the industry leader in Linux solutions for the Power architecture." Pay no mind to the horrendous screech from outside, it's merely Fixstars Solutions (the developers of YDEL) being thrown under a bus. While it's possible that Sony has a pre-arranged deal to provide the older, Linux-compatible hardware to its enterprise customers and potential clients on an indefinite basis, the idea of buying a handful of PS3's and setting up a small-scale node for whatever reason is gone...

Assuming Sony has any success keeping the platform locked at all. Removing the specialized hardware and software that allowed for PS2 emulation is one thing, but the company can scarcely stop the Cell at the heart of the system from executing properly compiled PPC code. As soon as PS3 Slim's are available on store shelves, you can bet there'll be hackers dissecting system with a fine-toothed comb. Historical precedent indicates this isn't a fight Sony is going to win.

Lenovo And Samsung Delaying Ion Netbooks For Windows 7 Launch

2009-09-02T20:29:00.001-07:00

Hey, here's a quick quiz just to see how well you've been paying attention over the past few months. Do you remember Lenovo's Ion-powered IdeaPad S12? What about Samsung's Ion-powered N510? If not, you're certainly not alone. Both machines have gone radio silent since debuting a few months back, and yes, it's intentional.

Various reports are now flying around suggesting that both of these cutting-edge netbooks have been delayed for a few months yet. The reason? Windows 7. Reportedly, both Lenovo and Samsung are waiting until Windows 7 ships to actually ship their newest netbooks. The rationale here is simple: with only two months to go before Win7 hits the shelves, why not wait and give consumers an upgraded software experience from the start? And since we all now know that Windows XP can't be upgraded to Windows 7 without losing all of one's data, the choice to hold back makes even more sense.

Early reports suggest that Windows 7 runs like a champion on Atom-powered netbooks, and we have no doubts that it will run great on Ion-powered notebooks as well. These decisions leave us to wonder whether buying a netbook now is even a smart move. You'll have a tough time upgrading, you'll have to deal with the upgrade, and you'll get only two months of use from it before being tempted by an all new version of Windows. Who knows--maybe patience really is a virtue at this point.

Asus P7P55D Premium Lynnfield Motherboard Sneak Peek

2009-09-02T20:23:00.001-07:00

As we creep ever closer to the official launch of Intel's Lynnfield platform, more news and information regarding the processors, motherboards, and chipset seems to be hitting the web almost daily. The latest piece of interesting Lynnfield-related information we have for you comes in the form of Asushigh-end P7P55D Premium P55-based motherboard.

The Asus P7P55D Premium packs some interesting features to compliment Intel's upcoming Core i5 and Core i7 socket 1156 processors...

Asus P7P55D Premium Motherboard
As you can see, the board sports a dark PCB, with some aggressive looking heatsinks on the VRM and chipset. An interesting note about the VRM design on this board is that it has a hybrid 32+3 phase configuration, where 32-phases are dedicated to the processor core and three to the CPU's integrated memory controller. In addition, the VRM is made up of low RDS (on) MOSFETs, Ferrite core chokes, and 100% Japanese-made, high quality conductive polymer caps. There's even a heat-plate on the underside.

Other interesting features of the P7P55D Premium include an integrated Asus T.Probe chip which detects and balances power phase loads and temperatures in real-time. According to Asus, T.Probe allows the components in the VRM to run cooler with more even power distribution across phases, which should extend the board's lifespan while offering more stable power ouput as well.

The P7P55D Premium also sports Asus' Turbo V EVO chip for real-time overclocking and tweaking assistance. And the Turbo V EVO chip is complimented by the Turbo V Remote, which gives users the ability to overclock / underclock and adjust EPU settings directly from the controller, without having to exit whatever application may be loaded on the system.

Source: Asus

Another noteworthy feature of the P7P55D Premium in the integration of a Marvell 9123 6G SATA controller. Instead of connecting directly to the PCIe Gen 1 lanes available in the P55 chipset though, the Marvell 6G SATA controller is linked to the chipset via a PLX8613 PCI Express Gen 2 bridge. The PLX8613 connected to the P55 via four Gen 1 PCIe lanes, but links to the Marvell controller via single Gen 2 lane. Although the 500MB/s available with a single Gen 2 PCIe lane is 100MB/s lower than the SATA 6G spec, Asus notes, "The 600MB/s is the theoretical transfer rate. Due to the limitation of current SATA 6Gb/s HDDs, the 500MB/s is quite Enough for the SATA 6Gb/s HDDs."

We'll be taking an in-depth look at the P7P55D Premium in the not too distant future, so be sure to come back after the Lynnfield launch for the full scoop.

Nokia Intros 12 Hour, Windows-Powered Netbook: Booklet 3G

2009-09-02T20:22:00.001-07:00

Score another one for the rumor mill, as those whispers we heard way back in February about a newfangled Nokia laptop have proved legitimate. After sticking to cellphones forever, Nokia has finally decided to hop on the netbook/smartbook bandwagon while things are still hot in order to catch the attention of those loyal to the brand.

The company's first foray into the notebook arena will be called the Booklet 3G, which is described as a "new breed" of portable device for the company. The "mini laptop" has yet to be fully detailed, but there are some tidbits that have been made public. As the title of the machine implies, this one will arrive with a built-in 3G WWAN module that will enable it to hop online anywhere that cellphone data service is available.

Like we'd heard earlier, the machine won't use Android. Oddly, it won't even use a Symbian-based system which is used on a plethora of its smartphones. As with most every other netbook, this one will also run a Windows-based OS. We're guessing Windows XP, but who knows, maybe it'll be Windows 7! Another staggering detail is that the Booklet 3G will boast a 12 hour battery life. Presumably in response to all the attention that has been placed on battery claims of late, Nokia does go out of its way to exclaim that the 12 hour figure is with "normal daily use," and that you'll never get 12 hours of solid Quake gameplay. Still, if this thing can really pull off 12 hours of use with "normal" activities, it'll absolutely tip the netbook world on its head. To date, the longest lasting netbooks only make it around 6 hours. To double that would totally rule, and it would probably get us wondering why no other PC maker has utilized whatever battery technology Nokia is tapping.

Other specifications include a 10.1" LCD, an HDMI video output, a 2cm thin body, a 1kg weight, a SIM card slot, assisted GPS, Bluetooth, and a built-in SD card reader. Nokia tells us that more details (include a price and ship date) will be published at Nokia World 09, which kicks off in Germany next month.

Rhapsody App Coming To iPhone, Requires $14.99/Month Plan

2009-09-02T20:19:00.001-07:00

If there's ever been an iPhone app that runs a good chance of being blocked at the point of entry, it's this. Real has just submitted its Rhapsody app to the App Store for approval, and if it passes, it'll bring an all new source of music to iPhone users everywhere. In fact, it'll be the "fully on-demand subscription music library app on the iPhone," but of course, one could easily argue that this functionality is already available through the iTunes app. Particularly if you're getting your checks from Apple.

If all goes well, users will get full access to Rhapsody's eight million songs, all of its radio stations and the ability to create your own playlists right on the iPhone itself. Heck, the app will even sync with one's account in order to listen to playlists you've already created on the PC. At least for now, it looks like the app will only work when you're online, which means it'll drain the battery quite quickly, and it may not work so well in spotty 3G/EDGE zones (if it will use cellular data at all). We're told that version 2.0 would include offline support if Apple would allow it, which would definitely make it one of the App Store's hottest downloads.

Real hopes that it will be approved and available to download within a few weeks, and while the app itself will be available gratis, you'll need a $14.99/month Rhapsody To Go plan in order to take advantage (Rhapsody Unlimited users are out of luck). Of course, a Spotify app could make this look a lot less appealing, but for those already hooked on Rhapsody, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Wikipedia Could Add Checkpoint Layer To Curb Bogus Information Posting

2009-09-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

Wikipedia. What would you ever do without it? It really makes you wonder how difficult homework is these days given that nearly every subject on the planet is covered in one form or another on the know-it-all website. Of course, that "easy homework" is really only easy if the information that one finds is accurate, and that's why the site's founders are cracking down on misinformation in hopes of making the pages we frequent so often more trustworthy.

In an effort to curb the rampant posting of bad information, the company is hoping to impose new restrictions on article editing, a move that will certainly anger those who favor a more hands-off approach yet please those who want a little more control from the men and women at the top. For sure, the choice to leave well enough alone or intervene is a tough one. The site was born out of a love for open information, and with its founders looking to keep a closer eye on content, it certainly makes you wonder if personal bias will ever enter the equation.

The changes aren't set in stone just yet, but it's suggested that while anyone will still be able to edit articles, the changes won't be approved and posted until a seasoned and trusted Wikipedia author checks it for accuracy. The site is currently testing the process, and if it's successful, it could apply to all entries within the next month or so. Thankfully, you don't have to be a Wiki expert to be one that signs off on changes; in other words, the creators are just looking to add a small screen in order to prevent bogus information from being posted. If information is entered and someone that's trustworthy feels that nothing is wonky, it's probably good to go. So long as this whole process doesn't slow down the rapid-fire updates, we're 100% fine with it. More accuracy in the information we digest daily? Sure!

Lenovo Ideapad S10 Netbook Full Evaluation

2009-09-01T22:48:00.002-07:00

Every sign we've seen thus far leads us to believe that netbooks are going to be very popular this holiday shopping season. With good reason, too – they fill a void which has existed since the dawn of mobile computing. Truly cost efficient, rugged, little notebook computers with enough processing power and screen resolution to get basic tasks done – nothing more, nothing less. Given that pocketbooks are hurting in the current economic climate, these new low-cost mobile systems become that much more attractive, besides being a downright exciting product category.

Many of the large-scale PC vendors have already developed, or are developing a netbook product for the end of the year. Dell’s Inspirion Mini 9, along with the Asus Eee PC and MSI’s new Wind netbooks appear to be some of the more popular models. As this year comes to a close, the pace of netbooks hitting the market has certainly accelerated, and we expect that to continue for the next month or so. One of the more exciting netbook models that came to market just recently is Lenovo’s IdeaPad S series.

Lenovo's IdeaPad S10 - From the left..

.. and the right!

There are a number of reasons why Lenovo’s IdeaPad is one of the more exciting releases to date. First off, they are offering 10” diagonal screens on the IdeaPad S10, which appear to be what most consumers are drifting towards when looking at netbooks. Secondly, Lenovo’s build quality is generally perceived as one of the best in the notebook market, as their rugged ThinkPad series designs are likely to be seen in some form on the IdeaPad models. Thirdly, Lenovo is being aggressive with their pricing, offering the S10 out to market at $399 with an well-rounded feature set and a sleek, simply designed exterior.

The IdeaPad S10 is what we'll be looking at today. Designed for cheap, low-powered light mobile computing, it almost seems to be the polar opposite of Lenovo’s other recently released workstation notebook, the monster Thinkpad W700. These two products are designed for very different markets, but their close release showcases that Lenovo is really covering the entire range of notebook offerings, from low-end to high-end. Let’s see if their new foray into the sub-$500 mobile market is worth all the hype.

Asus Eee PC 1005HA Seashell

2009-09-01T22:47:00.002-07:00

It's hard to believe that the machine we'll be inspecting in the pages ahead is actually real and shipping. It's not so much a feat of engineering as it is a feat in product development. You see, we just wrapped up our evaluation of Asus' 1008HA Seashell three weeks ago, and already we're being treated to the second "Seashell" model to ship stateside.

The 1005HA is undoubtedly a member of the expanding Eee PC lineup, and while it's numbered lower than the aforesaid 1008HA, there are actually a few aspects that we prefer on this model versus its predecessor. Actually, maybe predecessor isn't the proper term; it's not like the 1005HA is taking the place of the 1008HA. In fact, we envision them both hanging around on store shelves for some time to come.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 Netbook

2009-09-01T22:45:00.002-07:00

Lenovo's S10-2 is an somewhat of an odd proposition for netbook buyers. For those who completely missed out on the IdeaPad S10, this is a welcome update and a solid overall contender in the netbook space. For those familiar with the original, two feelings are apt to surface: bitterness and / or confusion. Indeed, the changes found on the IdeaPad S10-2 are minor, with most of the hardware remaining exactly the same. In fact, the vast majority of the tweaks are completely cosmetic, though we do think much thought went into this overhaul.

Rather than dishing out a completely new netbook at the 10.1" level, Lenovo instead opted to stick with its S10 label and push out a new revision. Here's a rundown of what's new compared to the original IdeaPad S10:

0.2kg (0.44lbs.) lighter
4mm thinner
New top lid with special cover pattern and color design
New Dolby sound enhancements
89% full-size keyboard with enlarged right-Shift key
Larger touchpad
Optional 3G built-in
One extra USB port (now a total of three)
OneKey Rescue System
Lenovo QuickStart
Up to six hours of battery life, or around 30% more than before

Wireless Resonant Energy Link: Efficient Wireless Power

2009-09-01T22:41:00.002-07:00

Intel - August 24, 2009 - With the dramatic rise in the number of electronic devices we each use in our everyday lives powered by batteries that often need recharging; the costs, resources and management of multiple, incompatible power cords, and adapters have become cumbersome and time consuming for the typical user. Intel Labs Seattle researchers demonstrated recently, at Research@Intel Day, "Wireless Resonant Energy Link" (WREL) - the transfer of electricity without using any wires. This technology could allow people to cut the last cord that keeps mobile devices tethered.

Research@Intel Day,WREL On Display

See the video below for more information on this research. Which we first showed you back in Februrary in an article titled, "Projects From The Intel Research Laboratories". We saw WREL live, in action at that event and have to say the technology could offer some very interesting possibilities.

Maemo to Power Nokia's E900

2009-09-01T22:39:00.002-07:00

On Thursday, Nokia unveiled its first phone using a Linux OS. The N900 uses Nokia's Linux-based Maemo OS, but for the first time in an actual cell phone as opposed to an Internet Tablet that requires wi-fi or cell phone pairing.

The N900 runs Nokia's new Maemo 5 software. Nokia makes sure to emphasize the device's ability to run "dozens of applications simultaneously." Size-wise, it compares favorably with the iphone 3GS, at 110.9 mm x 59.8 mm x 18 mm vs. 115.5 mm x 62.1 mm x 12.3 mm. Yes, yes, it loses out by about 50% in the thickness category, but otherwise, it's pretty similar. Why that extra thickness? A slide-out QWERTY keyboard, of course.

Unlike other recent smartphones (Android, iPhone, Pre) the N900 uses a Mozilla-based browser, instead of a Webkit-based one. The N900 has a TFT 3.5" resistive touchscreen, with 16M colors, 800 x 480.

Additional specs: 32GB of storage, with microSD card expansion, and a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Also, A-GPS, an FM receiver / transmitter, compass, accelerometer and up to 9 hours of talk time (emphasis on the "up to").

Clearly, Nokia wants this to be an iPhone killer, but what it doesn't have, naturally, is the App Store.

Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia, said in their press release announcing the N900:

"With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience. The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we'll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone , and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways."

The N900 will carry a retail price of €500 before carrier subsidies. It will launch in "select markets" in October, wherever that means. Unfortunately, no word on U.S. pricing or availability yet.

Watch a video from Nokia:

Super Talent Goes Green With Latest DDR3 Memory

2009-09-01T22:36:00.002-07:00

If you’re looking for some new memory for your computer and love the idea of being green, you might want to check out Super Talent’s latest DDR3 offering. The company’s latest RAM uses 38% less PCB material and 47% less packaging material than Super Talent’s standard DDR3 DIMMs. Check out full details in the press release below.

Super Talent Develops Green DDR3 Memory

Eco-Friendly DDR3 DIMM with Ultra-Slim Package

Saves Energy, Materials, Shipping Costs

Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, developed a new line of green DDR3 modules that use 38% less PCB material and 47% less packaging material than the company’s standard DDR3 DIMMs.

Super Talent VLP vs. standard memory

In this product line Super Talent has taken two major steps toward developing more eco-friendly DRAM. Using JEDEC standard schematics Super Talent developed very low profile (VLP) DDR3 unbuffered DIMMs for use in standard DDR3 based x86 motherboards. These DIMMs use 38% less FR4 material, which is the fiber glass epoxy substrate most PCBs are made of, and one-third less copper. These DIMMs have already been tested exhaustively with a variety of hardware and software to ensure they meet Super Talent's rigid quality standards, and are backed with Super Talent's lifetime warranty.

Super Talent also redesigned their package for these green DIMMs to use about half as much plastic in a clamshell that occupies 57% less volume. These reductions in material usage result in a packaged module that weighs 35% less than a standard DDR3 packaged DIMM, which translates to significant savings in shipping costs.

	Standard DDR3	Green DDR3	% Improvement
Height_DIMM	30.1mm	18.8mm	38%
Length_Pkg	175mm	161mm	8%
Width_Pkg	57.9mm	46.9mm	19%
Height_Pkg	13.0mm	7.6mm	42%
Weight_Pkg	15.0g	8.0g	47%
Weight_DIMM+Pkg	30.4g	19.8g	35%

“Our goal with these green DDR3 DIMMs is to offer a greener memory choice for regular desktops that uses less raw materials, produces less industrial waste and consumes less fuel to transport with absolutely no tradeoffs in functionality or price”, explained Super Talent Director of Marketing, Joe James. “When multiplied by the hundreds of thousands of memory modules we produce monthly, this can have an enormous environmental impact.” Super Talent’s first green 1066 and 1333 MHz 1GB and 2GB DIMMs will begin shipping in September.

Super Talent VLP vs. standard package

Canon Redefines Mid-Range DSLRs With New EOS 7D

2009-09-01T22:31:00.002-07:00

Canon just announced the new EOS 7D DSLR with a fast burst rate of eight fps continuous shooting, 18-megapixel resolution, and Full HD video recording with variable frame rates and manual exposure controls. Other enhancements to the EOS 7D include a completely new 19-point Autofocus system, a new Canon iFCL Metering System (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance), and a new Intelligent Viewfinder.

Canon’s CMOS sensor and the Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors in the EOS 7D make it possible for the camera to capture eight frames per second up to 126 Large JPEGS when using a UDMA CF card. In terms of video recording capabilities, the EOS 7D features Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p, or 30p.

The EOS 7D’s redesigned Autofocus system features a new multi-axis cross-type 19-point AF grid with points that are evenly spread out across the image plane and displayed through Canon’s new Intelligent Viewfinder.All of the 19 points are f/5.6-sensitive for both horizontal and vertical cross-type focusing. The center AF point is especially sensitive, adding high-precision diagonal cross-type sensitivity for f/2.8 and larger aperture lenses. The new AF system also enables new AF area selection modes including Spot AF, AF Point Expansion, and Zone AF.

Another first for an EOS system camera, Canon has redesigned the exposure metering system for the EOS 7D to complement the new AF system. Canon’s iFCL metering includes a 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor that considers both illumination and color to deliver consistent results in all lighting conditions and keep exposure levels stable from shot to shot, even if the light source changes.

The pop-up flash on the EOS 7D features a built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter for control of multiple off-camera EOS Speedlites. The camera also supports an ISO range from 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800).

Finally, Canon improved the ergonomic feel of the EOS 7D with a new super-fluid body design and a revised grip that fits better in a user’s hand. The camera also has a new Quick Control Button for easy access to camera settings and a RAW/JPEG toggle button.

The Canon EOS 7D will be available at the end of September in a body-only configuration for $1,699. A kit version with Canon’s EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens will be available for $1,899.

A new WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter is also available for the EOS 7D. This transmitter offers photographers a range of connectivity options including IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet. This transmitter will be available in early November for $699.99.

Canon EOS 7D with WFT-E5A

In addition to the 7D announcement, Canon is making its first lens with Hybrid Image Stabilization available. The new EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens can compensate for both angle camera shake and shift camera shake up to four shutter speed steps. The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is scheduled to be available at the end of September for approximately $1,050.

Asus G51, G61 Laptops Piggy-Back Transformers

2009-08-29T21:47:00.001-07:00

Asustek Corporation has just launched their G51Vx and G60Vx mecha-inspired gaming laptops as a a follow-up to their successful G50Vt line of machines.

The laptops, previewed just last month at Computex come in 15.6- and 16-inch formats and look like something you’d find in a Transformers movie – no coincidence there, we presume – with a suggestive techno look thanks to a backlit keyboard and some LED lighting on the LCD frame – which, by the way, is pure white with a metallic grey glossy finish.

According to the specifications, these two laptops are looking to be multimedia powerhouses, powered by Core 2 Quad or Core 2 duo processors , in addition to a GeForce GTX 260M with 1GB of GDDR3. Up to 4GB of DDR2-800 will provide the RAM needed to run just about any game around. And RAID support will let users couple up 1TB worth of storage on these laptops.
Surprisingly, Asus also claims that the LED-backlit panels are Full HD, and if true that would be quite a surprise to see a 15.6-inch LCD piling on the pixels at 1920x1080. Blu-ray is a factory option, and we can’t see why not. Audio is provided courtesy of Creative Labs and EAX Advanced HD 4.0 support coupled to Altec-Lansing built-in speakers. If you’re a video conferencing buff, you can use the in-built webcam (2MP) to gloat about it to your friends.
Similar to the G70 series of Asus laptops, the G51Vx and G60Vx also sport the “Extreme Turbo” profile to allow automatic overclocking. So, in theory, you should be able to squeeze a few more frames per second out of these…
Asus will being sales in July 2009 but pricing is still a well-kept secret All we can add is that these Autobot-ish laptops are sure to hook the Transformers crowd this Summer.

Toshiba Outs Satellite A, M, P and U Notebooks

2009-08-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

We're not sure what's up with all of these companies busting out "back-to-school" machines in late June, but we're downright saddened by it. While kids attempt to enjoy their summer break, firms like Toshiba are helping them remember that next term is just months away. Today, Toshiba has revealed a new slate of notebooks, the Satellite A, M, P and U Series machines.

According to the company, The Satellite M and Satellite U Series offer great multimedia performance and everyday mobility, while the more powerful Satellite A and Satellite P Series, deliver an excellent platform for powering HD entertainment. The new Satellite laptop models are available today in both Intel and AMD CPU configurations, with prices starting at $699. There are far too many to break down, so we'll post the rundown below for you to wade through.

Complete Line-up
The new Satellite laptops continue to include premium features such as LED-illuminated Feathertouch multimedia command keys, built-in Webcams with Toshiba’s face recognition software, harmon/kardon^® speakers and Toshiba’s innovative eSATA/USB combo ports with USB Sleep-and-Charge at starting price points ranging from $699.99 to $849.99². They include:
For Multimedia and Mobility:
The Satellite U500/U505: The Satellite U Series is not just a highly mobile laptop, it’s a fashion statement. With a unique textured finish on the outside and impressive multimedia performance on the inside, this ultraportable fuses function with style and travels well with a weight starting at just 5 pounds. Pricing starts at $849.99 MSRP².
The Satellite M500/M505: The Satellite M Series is a versatile, upscale multimedia performance laptop for work and play for home users, students and mobile enthusiasts. With its dashing good looks, this laptop packages performance-class technology with a 14-inch high-def LED display perfect for enjoying digital media, casual gaming or even getting work done. Pricing starts at $699.99 MSRP¹.
For Widescreen HD Entertainment:
The Satellite A500/A505: The Satellite A Series is an entertainment-packed performance laptop that combines high-end processing with Toshiba’s latest design elements – perfect for home users and tech enthusiasts. The sleek Satellite A Series 16-inch diagonal widescreen HD Edge-to-Edge display on particular models, grill-encased harmon/kardon^® speakers, slot-loading DVD drive and glossy Fusion finish will turn heads, and its astonishing performance and massive hard drive will keep you entertained for hours on the go. Pricing starts at $749.99 MSRP¹.
The Satellite P500/P505: Featuring a massive 18.4-diagonal widescreen HD TruBrite display, the Satellite P Series is designed with digital media enthusiasts and mainstream PC gamers in mind. The Satellite P Series offers more than an ordinary laptop, and not just in size. Featuring grill-encased harmon/kardon speakers, as well as sleek slot-loading DVD drives and glossy Fusion Finish with Toshiba’s new Sonic pattern, this high-performance desktop replacement also incorporates powerful processing muscle. Select models also include Edge-to-Edge displays and illuminating backlit keyboards. Pricing starts at $799.99 MSRP¹.
Additional new features available on select models include:
High Definition Widescreen Display: The new HD TruBrite™ widescreen displays feature a stunning 16:9 aspect ratio¹ and native 720p resolution, offering more viewing space than standard displays while delivering a more enjoyable TV-like experience. In addition, select models include LED backlit displays that light up instantly and are more environmentally conscious and energy-efficient than standard TFT LCD displays.
Cinematic ‘Edge-to-Edge’ Display: With an uninterrupted, seamless edge between the glass screen and stylish chrome trim, users will be able to focus on the task at hand without distraction.
New Sleek Flat Keyboard with black matte finish: A comfortable typing surface and premium look that is less prone to fingerprints.
Illuminating LED Backlit Keyboard: Enjoy more computing time even in lower light conditions.
Slot-loading DVD Drive: Combining fashion and function, the adoption of slot-loading drives eliminates external moving parts and makes loading DVDs and CDs easier in confined spaces. The new drives have all the same capabilities of Toshiba’s DVD SuperMulti drives with Labelflash.
Touchpad with Multi-Touch Control: The standard touchpad now includes multi-finger touch control capabilities, making it easier to scroll and navigate through Web pages and long documents or rotate and zoom into images. These new touchpads feature four gestures: Rotate, Ping, Momentum and Scroll.
Toshiba Power-saving Eco Utility button: From a new button on the Feathertouch control panel above the keyboard, users can now access a utility that allows them to monitor and adjust their power consumption and settings in real-time. The utility also provides daily, weekly and monthly analysis reports that show accumulated power savings.
Toshiba PC Health Monitor: A system utility that proactively checks the critical components of the laptop for problematic conditions, such as battery performance, heat and hard drive movement and alerts the user to potential problems before it’s too late.
Hard Drive Impact Sensor: A built-in 3D accelerometer that protects the user’s hard drive to safeguard data from the daily bumps of mobile life.

Apple Sued Over Tiered Pricing, Gift Cards

2009-08-29T21:23:00.001-07:00

On April 7th, i Tunes went 100% DRM-free, but at the same time Apple introduced tiered pricing. And therein lies the crux of this new lawsuit against Apple. Daniel and Barbara Owens of Illinois have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple. The couple has purchased "numerous" iTunes gift cards over the years, but in this case the gift cards were bought on March 1 from Sam's Club and on May 19 from Wal-Mart. Here's what the lawsuit says, in part:

The above-mentioned 99¢ iTunes cards that were purchased on March 1, 2008 from a Sam’s Club in O’Fallon, Illinois both state: “Download $25 worth of entertainment to enjoy your Mac or Windows PC. And, of course, your iPod. Songs are 99¢ and videos start at 1.99.” The above-mentioned 99¢ iTunes card purchased on May 19, 2009 at a Wal-Mart in O’Fallon, Illinois states: “Download $15 worth of entertainment to enjoy your Mac or Windows PC. And, of course, your iPod. Songs are 99¢ and videos start at $1.99.”

It's the text that says "Songs are 99 cents and videos start at $1.99" that is the problem, according to the plaintiffs. The lawsuit adds:

Defendant knowingly and fraudulently misrepresented, concealed, omitted, and/or suppressed the cost to purchase individual songs from its iTunes internet website. As a result, Plaintiffs and members of the putative class have suffered economic harm in that they have paid monies for a product that was worth less than what was represented and/or they have been denied the benefit of their bargain to purchase any song from Defendant’s iTunes Store for $0.99.

The Owens want Apple to refund the 30¢ people have had to pay to buy certain songs with the so-called "99¢ iTunes gift cards," which would amount to as much as $5 million, according to the lawsuit. Read the filing in full below:

Microsoft Limits Free Windows 7 Upgrades

2009-08-29T21:20:00.001-07:00

Businesses who are thinking about upgrading more than a handful of computers between now and the October 22^nd release of Windows 7 may want to hold off. That is, assuming the companies want the latest OS. While it’s true that Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to its new OS, the company has made little mention of the “fine print” that limits the number of free upgrades to 25.

Gartner analyst Michael Silver is calling attention to this limit with his latest research note. In his note, Silver writes, "Microsoft has limited the number of free Windows 7 upgrades that can be claimed via its Windows Upgrade Option…. Organizations need to understand their Windows 7 requirements and obtain rights for the best value."

Just last week, Microsoft fleshed out the details of the Windows Upgrade Option program for the first time. Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc disclosed the details in a blog post. He wrote: "Anyone who buys a PC from a participating OEM or retailer with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate on it will all receive an upgrade to the corresponding version at little or no cost to customers."

Silver speculates that Microsoft might be limiting the number of PCs that are eligible for this upgrade in order to increase sales of its Software Assurance licenses. Software Assurance provides businesses with unlimited upgrades for three years, but companies must pay between $100 and $150 per PC for this right.

For companies that need to upgrade more than 25 PCs between now and October 22, Silver recommends contacting PC manufacturers and asking for the right to upgrade later at no cost. Because large OEMs administer their own programs, they have greater ability to do this and are able to make exceptions for organizations.

Sony's First True Netbook Revealed: The VAIO W

2009-08-29T21:16:00.001-07:00

Many argued that Sony's VAIO P was really the company's first true netbook, but Sony insisted otherwise. Now, however, the company has issued a machine that we can all agree is a bona fide netbook: the VAIO W.

As has become customary for Sony, it has taken a design and tweaked it slightly for higher-end consumers. Make no mistake -- this is definitely aimed to compete with the Aspire One, Eee PC and X-Slim families, but you'll be paying a premium for Sony's take on the netbook. Arriving in a trio of colors (berry pink, sugar white and cocoa brown), the machine is equipped with a high-res 10.1" LED backlit display (1366x768 resolution), an Energy Star 5.0 label, an isolated 'chiclet style' keyboard and two USB 2.0 ports.

You'll also find a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, Bluetooth, a 160GB hard drive, built-in webcam + microphone, multimedia streaming support and Windows XP Home . Pre-orders have already started, with retail availability scheduled for next month. Unfortunately, Sony gives us little reason to spend "about $500" on this machine over any of the other netbooks in the field, but we suspect at least a few consumers will be willing to pay the premium for style.

Google Introduces Chrome OS For Netbooks

2009-08-29T21:13:00.001-07:00

Shock of the month? The year, even? Out of absolutely nowhere, Google--the search engine champ at the moment and the developer of Android--has announced its first full-fledged operating system. Of course, maybe we shouldn't be so surprised. After all, it's not like Google hasn't been dabbling in applications for awhile now.

In fact, this announcement came just hours after Google removed the "Beta" label from its entire application suit, Gmail and Gdocs included. The company has also introduced its own browser (Chrome) and its own mobile operating system (Android). Thus, the next logical step is a lightweight OS suited for none other than the netbook.

Call us selfish, but we really (really!) wish this would've surfaced around a year ago. Instead, we've seen netbook after netbook emerge with the exact same specifications due to Microsoft's restrictions on Windows XP-based machines. Had Google introduced Chrome OS last year, we may already be onto the true next-generation of netbooks.

At any rate, we're here now, and we couldn't be more excited. Nine months after launching Chrome, the Google Chrome Operating System has emerged as Google's attempt to "re-think what operating systems should be." Here's how Google describes the system:

"Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work."

The OS will work fine on both x86 as well as ARM chips, and Google's already working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. As for the software architecture, you're looking at a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel, with the Web as the platform for developers. Even Google understands that this may eat into sales of Android-based netbooks and UMPCs, but it's hoping to serve multiple market segments with multiple products. Nothing wrong with that!

"Rules" for Windows 7 Upgrades Verified

2009-08-29T21:10:00.001-07:00

Technophiles like ourselves who are also frugal have, in the past, purchased upgrade editions of Windows, and been able to do a clean, fresh install either by entering a prior valid license key or inserting a CD for the older software at install time. That went away with Vista, which required a hacky workaround, but now Microsoft is completely shutting down even that methodology, for Windows 7.

Why the big deal about a being able to do a clean, fresh install with an Upgrade edition? If you install an upgrade on top of an well-used copy of Windows, you've got all that leftover dross on your hard drive. Typically, extra crappy drivers and unneeded files are left behind, using up drive space, but also possibly destabilizing the system.

We realize many will take this route anyway, simply because you won't have to reinstall all your programs and drivers in that case. Not us, though.

Without a way to this, the only way to get a "relatively" clean install is to install an older OS (say Vista) cleanly, then install 7 on top of it. That will pretty much minimize any extra garbage on the system.

An alternative, and perhaps even cleaner, would be to install the Windows 7 RC first. That requires a fresh install, anyway. Then you can install the Windows 7 release on top of the RC.

Technically, however, this isn't an upgrade. Microsoft calls this a custom installation. Your existing operating system, programs and data are placed in a folder labeled WINDOWS.OLD. You'll have to reinstall any programs in place, however, which is why it's not really an upgrade.

Still, if you want a clean install that won't contain any remnants of Vista, it's the cleanest you can do. At that point, we'd take a snapshot of the disk, using something like Acronis' True Image, and then if we ever need to restore a clean copy of Windows 7, we've got it on hand.

Oh, and for those who might ask why anyone should complain about having to install an old OS, since after all the consumer bought an upgrade copy, the reason is not just the hassle of having to install the older OS, but also the fact that the end user has to keep around the install media and all the license info as well. What a hassle.

Yes, we realize we could buy a full, not upgrade copy, but really, we've been "supporting" Microsoft for years and don't see why we have to go through the extra expense, aside from adding to Microsoft's bottom line, that is.

Caveat: there is, of course, always a chance that Microsoft will modify the upgrade process; October is a ways away. However, once the RTM build is seeded, that will be it.

Office 2010 & Free Web Version Hits Tech Preview

2009-08-29T21:02:00.001-07:00

On Monday, the first day of the Worldwide Partner Conference 2009, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft Project 2010 have all reached the technical preview stage. That means that some (probably not you or me) will be getting invites to try out the nascent productivity software.

At the same time, Microsoft announced that the Web version of this suite, lightweight Web browser versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote will be free. Let's be honest, there was pretty much no way they couldn't be free what with alternatives like Google Docs out there for free.

On the other hand, Google Docs does not work well with complex formatting or complex formulas (Excel); we can easily find documents that work just fine in Office but are all messed up in Google Docs.

In their press release, Microsoft the collaborative and work-anywhere aspects of the new suite:

Office 2010 and related products will deliver innovative capabilities and provide new levels of flexibility and choice that will help people:
Work anywhere with Office Web applications — the lightweight Web browser versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote — that provide access to documents from virtually anywhere and preserve the look and feel of a document regardless of device.
Collaborate better with co-authoring in Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 and Microsoft OneNote 2010, and advanced e-mail management and calendaring capabilities in Microsoft Outlook 2010, including the option for users to ”ignore” unwanted threads.
Bring ideas to life with video and picture editing, broadcast capability in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, easy document preparation through the new Microsoft Office Backstage view, and new Sparklines in Microsoft Excel 2010 to visualize data and spot trends more quickly.

Oh, and not that Microsoft will worry all that much now, but the Technical Preview has been leaked to (where else) P2P sites, so those not in the lucky group to be invited will likely still be able to try it out.

AT&T Spruces Up Subsidized (Pricey) Netbook Line

2009-08-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

Here we go again. Just as you're finally choosing which netbook you're going to buy on which carrier, here comes AT&T to make your decision even tougher. Or maybe, it actually makes things easier. As the world warms to 3G-equipped netbooks sold directly through mobile carriers, AT&T is doing its best to take advantage of the situation. And frankly, to take advantage of the uninformed.

Let's take a look at the mobile operator's newest offerings. If you'll recall, it started offering netbooks for sale at discounted prices earlier this year, but there's one big catch: if you buy it, you've got to commit to a two-year data plan of $60 per month (5GB cap) or $40 per month (a lousy 400MB cap). And, mind you, the 3G card that's integrated into the netbook cannot be removed, so you're stuck with an already sluggish machine for two whole years. Can you imagine how lethargic an Atom N270 will feel in 2011? We think it feels slow now!

At any rate, AT&T has today announced the expansion of its mobile broadband-enabled netbook lineup, and thankfully it has made the whole lot easy to pass on. At first glance, the proposition seems interesting. After all, it's not like the company is offering up no-name netbooks. They're offering Acer's Aspire One, Dell's Inspiron Mini 10 and Lenovo's S10. The problem? The price. Each of those three only sport a 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. Somehow, AT&T thinks it's okay to charge $199.99 after a mail-in rebate for each of them, and they require you to sign on for a two-year data plan.

Compare that deal to this: Gateway introduced an eerily similar netbook yesterday with basically the exact same specifications for $299 outright. So you can pony up an extra $100 in order to pick your own favorite carrier, get a 3G USB stick for free after rebate (with a new two-year agreement) and have the ability to use that data plan on any computer you want. Yeah, we think we'll pay the $100 premium for that kind of flexibility. Seriously AT&T, you might want to consider selling these for $0.99 on contract like Sprint--otherwise, you're making it far too easy to turn down.

Asus Reportedly Cancels First USB3 Motherboard

2009-08-29T20:41:00.001-07:00

Just two weeks ago, we reported how problems with Marvell's SATA 6GB (88SE9123) had led motherboard manufacturers to delay certain P55-based products. Now, Asus has reportedly pulled its P6X58 Premium motherboard altogether. As originally conceived, said board would have featured both USB3 and SATA 6GB as major selling points; it's possible Asus killed the board rather than ship a premium-class product with just one differentiating feature.

An Asus spokesperson told The Inquirer that the board was cancelled "not for any particularly interesting reasons." As if, you know, Asus routinely showed its premium boards at major trade shows, only to cancel them two months later. At this point, it's not clear if Asus's decision to nuke the motherboard had anything to do with USB 3 performance or not. If Intel's controller is having growing pains, it's perfectly possible that Asus opted to pull the feature for now, and will add it back when it's time for the next product refresh. Given the wide variety of USB 3-capable equipment on the market (none), the manufacturer is scarcely missing anything by opting to wait a little while.

Acer Introduces Timeline 8000 Notebook Lineup

2009-08-29T20:32:00.003-07:00

Acer'sTimeline series launched with quite a bit of momentum behind it, but ever since, we've heard almost nothing about the ultra-light, long-lasting crew. Now, Acer is hoping to give the series a new lease on life with the introduction of the Timeline 8000 family. This set is a sleek, classically styled gaggle of machines that aims at both business users and general consumers.

The 8000 series will be comprised of three machines: a 13.3", 14" and 15.6" model. Unfortunately, there's little benefit to snagging the largest model over the smallest, as all three share a 1366x768 resolution, and thus, have the exact same amount of screen real estate. As for CPU choices, you'll find either Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Solo ULV chips with up to 4GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on whether a 32-bit or 64-bit OS is installed. As for storage, you'll find HDD options ranging from 160GB to 500GB in size, or those needing extra speed can opt for an 80GB Intel X25-M SSD. Graphics wise, you'll be looking at Intel's GMA 4500MHD or a dedicated ATI 4330 GPU.

The largest model will boast four USB ports, while the other two have three sockets; each one will ship with Bluetooth and a flash card reader, and the whole line will also feature 802.11n Wi-Fi. Naturally, the eight-hour battery life should catch some serious attention, but it looks like we'll have to wait to see about a price and release date.

Microsoft Renames Its Phone OS

2009-08-29T20:29:00.001-07:00

We won’t be hearing the term Windows Mobile much longer. At an event to show off upcoming Christmas goodies, Microsoft let it slip that the devices will soon be known as Windows Phone. Reports indicate that the Windows Phone branding will be applied to Windows Mobile 6.1, the upcoming 6.5 version, and to Windows Mobile 7, which is expected sometime in 2010. Right now, it’s still unclear when the naming system will be implemented.

Windows Mobile 6.5

The name change "reflects the upcoming desktop operating system release where people away from their PC can have the same experience everywhere," says Microsoft. Over the years, the OS has also been known as Windows CE and Pocket PC.

The Windows Mobile brand is popular, but many have become discouraged by the slow release of new features and a new OS. Windows Mobile 6.5 is ready and has been sent to manufacturers. It should be available to consumers this fall. Still, some believe Windows Mobile 6.5 will deliver too little, too late. Windows Mobile 7 should deliver a much improved feature set over 6.5, including a new suite of Windows Mobile applications (Internet Explorer, email, SMS, photo and music management) as well as zooming and scaling capabilities via multitouch.

Microsoft Unveils Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade & Family Pack Pricing

2009-08-29T20:24:00.001-07:00

According to a recent blog post from Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc, Windows 7 will include a tool that will allow users to upgrade from a basic version of the OS to one of the more feature-rich versions at that touch of a button. Even though most people buy the edition of Windows that best meets their needs when they purchase a computer, those needs may change over time.

To help meet the changing needs of users, Microsoft is offering a program called Windows Anytime Upgrade. This program will make it easy and convenient for customers to upgrade to a higher edition of Windows 7. Windows Anytime Upgrade will allow users to launch a screen from within Windows 7 and purchase a product key for a pricier version of the software. They will also be able to enter a product key for an upgrade that was purchased at a retail store. After purchasing or entering a product key, buyers can upgrade to their chosen version of Windows 7 with just a few clicks.

Customers will be able to upgrade from Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium for $79.99. Users who want to move from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional will pay $89.99. Finally, Windows 7 Home Premium users can upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate for $139.99.

The upgrade packages will be available at retail stores after Windows 7 is released to market on October 22nd. The online upgrade option from within Windows 7 will be available to users in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.

In addition to Windows Anytime Upgrade, Microsoft will also offer the Windows 7 Family Pack which will allow for Windows 7 Home Premium to be installed on up to 3 PCs. By running run Windows 7 on more than one PC on a home network, Microsoft points out that you’ll be able to take advantage of features like HomeGroup. HomeGroup lets you connect PCs and share files. The Windows 7 Family Pack will be available for $149.99 starting on October 22nd until supplies last. The Family Pack provides a savings of more than $200 for three licenses.

CrunchPad Tablet PC To Surf In The Clouds

2009-08-29T20:16:00.001-07:00

Is the Tablet PC really ready to make a comeback? With Apple's rumored tablet inching closer to reality each and every day, we've got yet another entrant vying for attention. According to a new article in the Straits Times, a Singapore start-up company by the name of Fusion Garage has teamed up with TechCrunch's own Michael Arrington in order to produce the world's next tablet--or, at least the next one that anyone will bother to care about.

The device will purportedly be called the CrunchPad, and according to the report, it boasts a 12" display and weighs 1.2kg. Full dimensions are 12.77" by 7.83" by 0.74", and the homegrown operating system promises to give users easy access to YouTube clips and their own media, as well as Office documents and the like. Unlike most tablet PCs (and portable computers in general), the CrunchPad isn't slated to have any onboard storage space. Instead, it'll rely on wireless connectivity in order to sync with the "cloud," essentially running applications off a central server that it can connect to over the Internet. Take away the wireless connection, and poof, there goes your application.

As expected, the device will sport a full touch screen, which should be loads of fun to tinker with. We're still not given a price, but with competition from Apple seemingly around the bend, we'd say the company better think twice before charging a bundle and calling it special.

Toshiba To Launch 64GB SDXC Card

2009-08-29T20:12:00.001-07:00

Toshiba announced the launch of the world’s first 64GB SDXC memory card that is capable of operating at the world's fastest data transfer rate for reading and writing to a flash memory card. The new card meets the specifications of the new SD Memory Standard, Ver. 3.00, UHS104. In addition to the new 64GB SDXC memory card, Toshiba also unveiled 32GB and 16GB SDHC cards that are also compliant with the world's fastest data transfer rate.

The SD Memory Card Standard Version 3.00, UHS104 offers a maximum write speed of 35MB per second, and a read speed of 60MB per second. The large storage capacities in combination with the faster data transfer rates are designed for a wide range of consumer electronics applications such as digital still cameras and digital camcorders that require high bandwidth data communication. Thanks to these new cards, DSLRs will be able to shoot longer continuous bursts in the highest quality RAW format. The new cards will also make it possible to download a 2.4GB video in only 70 seconds.

The SDXC card format is the next-generation standard that was defined by the SD Association in January 2009. The standard applies to cards with capacities ranging from 32GB to 2TB. The previous SDHC standard applies only to cards with capacities from 2GB to 32GB.

Mass production for the new 64GB SDXC memory card from Toshiba will start in the Spring of 2010. Mass production for the new 32GB and 16GB SDHC cards will also begin in Spring 2010.

Will Future iPhones Tattle On You?

2009-08-29T20:00:00.001-07:00

Apple may have found a new way to force you to tell the truth about how well you’ve taken care of your iPhone or iPod. A recent patent filed by the company describes a customer abuse detection system that will allow technicians to tell if you’ve been too hard on Apple devices. Instances of abuse could include things such as immersing the device in liquid, exposing it to extreme temperatures, dropping it, or tampering with the device’s internal circuitry.

This detection system could store a digital recording of the event in the device’s memory anytime abuse occurs. Using diagnostic tools, technicians could access this information to find out how well you’ve taken care of your iPhone or iPod. If you’ve treated the device poorly, Apple could make the argument that your warranty is void and you’re not eligible for repair or replacement under warranty.

Apple doesn’t explicitly say that it will use the customer abuse detection system to refuse device repairs or replacements, but the patent does suggest the company is looking for a way to protect its own interest. The patent states, “it is not uncommon for consumers to receive replacement products or repair services on abused products not covered under the terms of a warranty. Such erroneous replacements or repairs may be costly to the vendor and/or manufacturer of the product.”

The trouble with a customer abuse detection system such as the one described comes down to the way in which the information is used. For example, say you accidentally drop your iPhone and then a month or so later something goes wrong and the iPhone fails to function. Should the accidental drop mean you’re no longer entitled to a warranty, especially if the phone continued to function after the drop? Most people would probably argue that the two events are not necessarily related and that Apple should still honor the warranty. However, with a consumer abuse detection system, Apple may see things differently.

Before we jump to conclusions, it’s important to point out that Apple has not said it will use the customer abuse detection system against customers to refuse warranty work. It’s only a possibility. There’s also the possibility that the customer abuse detection system would only be used in situations where there is a very clear connection between the abuse and a device’s inoperability. Finally, it’s important to remember that this is only a patent—Apple has not made any official announcements saying it will deploy a customer abuse detection system.

Dell Axes 12" Inspiron Mini 12 Netbook

2009-08-29T19:58:00.003-07:00

Talk about a short life. Dell's Inspiron Mini 12 launched in late October of last year, and it seems the company's largest netbook is already being canned before it can even celebrate its first birthday. It's almost tragic, isn't it? With fewer and fewer netbooks launching these days with 11.6" and 12" displays, it really hurts to see yet another big guy take the fall. After all, these 12" machines usually have keyboards that are much larger and far more comfortable to use than those on the 10" machines, but we suspect the sales volume just didn't warrant an extension.

Indeed, the Mini 12 launched at around $600, which is dangerously close to the price put on 13.3" and 14" thin-and-light notebooks from MSI and company. Of course, those that closely follow Dell's moves won't find this as a shock. Recently, the company's Inspiron Mini 9 netbook was also canned with nary a peep from the parent company, and the 12" version is also vanishing without any official word. But trust us, you won't have much luck if you surf over to Dell's website and attempt to order one.

So, in the larger picture, what exactly does this mean? Does it signal that larger netbooks are unwanted? Does it signal that the $299 price ceiling is made of more than glass? We're guessing that the Mini 12 would've done much better below $600, but we can understand why Dell was forced to sell it for more. Who knows--maybe the Mini 12 will resurface with great specs and a new face.

Best Buy To Offer Samsung Omnia 2 & More On August 23

2009-08-29T19:58:00.002-07:00

Assuming a mole from Best Buy is correct, the retailer is going to be a busy place on August 23^rd. The mole has provided Boy Genius Report with a screenshot that shows Best Buy’s plans to begin offering a number of anticipated feature phones that day.

Although it’s no iPhone, the Samsung Omnia 2 is definitely one of the hot upcoming phones that will soon be available on Verizon’s network according to the leaked screenshot. Other popular phones include the Samsung Rogue, LG Chocolate Touch, and Samsung u450 Intensity, all for Verizon. T-Mobile is said to be getting the Samsung Gravity 2, while AT&T users will be able to enjoy the Samsung Solstice and the LG Xenon.

Sprint users will have a chance to get their hands on the BlackBerry Tour again, since a new shipment should be in about the same time. There’s also an M330 from Samsung that’s headed to Sprint, though few details are available about this phone for now.

Palm's Paid App Beta Program Goes Live

2009-08-29T19:51:00.001-07:00

You've got to hand it to 'em here, Palm sure is doing a bang-up job in reviving itself. Around this time last year, many pundits wondered if the company famous for creating the Palm Pilot and Treo smartphone would live to reach the next decade. The Palm Pre turned things around for the California-based company, but it's still struggling to contend with Apple's almighty App Store.

You see, no matter how swank the Pre's webOS is, it still lags badly in the app quantity department. Apple has well over 50,000 apps to choose from. The Pre has less than 50. All that could begin to change in the near future, however, as this week Palm opened up its e-commerce beta program for the Palm App Catalog.

If you're curious, that's Palm's version of a paid app store. Starting today, developers who wish to charge for their webOS applications can begin submitting them for consideration in the App Catalog e-commerce beta program, which will begin in mid-September. Devs who make the cut will have the opportunity to have their applications, both free and paid, featured in the Palm App Catalog ahead of the next wave, and to be among the first to be paid for purchases of their Palm webOS applications.

What's in it for coders? Cash, naturally. Palm will hand over 70% of the profits to devs, while 30% remains with Palm to cover all those expenses we common folk don't even want to think about. Customers will be able to easily purchase applications using Visa and MasterCard credit cards, though the program won't begin until this fall in the US at the earliest. We hate to be brash, but we definitely hope more free apps show up before we start focusing on paid apps. You've got to build a following before asking 'em to pay, right?

RIM Acquires Browser Developer Torch Mobile

2009-08-29T19:43:00.003-07:00

RIM, the maker of the popular line of BlackBerry smartphones, has acquired Torch Mobile, the WebKit browser developer that’s most known for its Iris mobile browser that runs on Windows Mobile phones, for an undisclosed sum. WebKit is the open-source code that underlines many of today’s mobile browsers found on the Apple iPhone, Palm Pre, and Google Android phones.

According to Torch Mobile’s website, “Our team of developers will join RIM’s global organization and will now be focused on utilizing our WebKit-based mobile browser expertise to contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the BlackBerry platform.” The site also explains that Torch Mobile’s team of skilled developers will continue to be active participants in the WebKit development community. It's unclear if the Iris browser will continue to be available for Windows Mobile users.

The BlackBerry browser has been criticized by some as being behind other browsers such as the iPhone’s Safari browser. Recent rumors have suggested that RIM is working on Flash and Silverlight support for its BlackBerry line, but many wonder if the company’s current browsers are up to the challenge.

Will this purchase by RIM be the first step in upping the competition for mobile browsers? Time will tell, but Torch Mobile’s developers could certainly be an asset for RIM.

Windows 7 RC Downloads to Close Thursday

2009-08-29T19:43:00.002-07:00

Run, don't walk to the nearest browser if you want to download the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC). Downloading will be allowed until 11 AM ET this morning, and that's not far off.

The pipeline opened for the Windows 7 RC on May 4th. While originally stating that downloads would cease in late July, Microsoft has twice extended it, first to August 15th, and later to August 20th. That would be today, if you're calendar-phobic.

The RC gives you a chance to run Windows 7 for free, at least until next year. Naturally it's not the final software, but by all reports, it's pretty darn stable. Windows 7 RC is set to nagging you on March 1, 2010; it will begin to automatically shut down at two-hour intervals on that date. D-Day is June 1, 2010 after which the OS will not boot at all.

After the Windows Vista fiasco (let's be honest; that's what it was), Microsoft is looking to Windows 7 to re-invigorate its OS division, so to speak, as well as its coffers. Still, many businesses have said they might skip Windows 7, or at least delay adoption, in this time of recession.

Launch date for Windows 7 is Oct. 22nd. Prior to that date, while MSDN members and certain others can obtain an early copy, John Q. Public can obtain a legal copy by attending one of the 25 launch events Microsoft is hosting in the U.S. Those events begin Sept. 24; a complete list of the sites and schedule is available on Microsoft's site.

Core i7 Extreme Overclocking with LN2

2009-08-29T19:40:00.001-07:00

Enthusiast level hardware is exciting, especially if you can make use of its full potential. When Intel released the monster 3.33GHz Core i7 975 processor, they laid claim to the highest performing desktop CPU on the market. Interestingly enough, they were competing with themselves as the 3.2GHz 965 held the pole position up to that point. But the new model was welcome as it brought with it the new D0 stepping which lowered operating voltage requirements, tightened up memory timings and brought slightly cooler temperatures. Of course enthusiasts also noticed another tangible benefit in the form of higher overclocking headroom.

Intel's Extreme Edition processors are not for everybody. Economically, they just don't make much sense for mainstream users. These extravagant chips were designed for smaller segment of the market where the consumers who buy them tend to push their hardware a lot harder than most folks. Here, workstation professionals, overclockers, benchmark freaks, and extreme enthusiasts spend as much time tweaking system settings for optimal performance as they do operating their computers. Besides the small speed bump that the 975 features at its stock settings, the main advantage it has over its more affordable siblings is an unlocked multiplier which provides coveted flexibility to overclockers as they push core speeds to new heights. If overclocking is an art, using an Extreme Edition processor is like painting with the finest tools on an immaculate canvas.

In order to push the limits of the 975, we decided to leave the safe confines of air cooling and enter the precarious world of sub-zero chilling. Liquid nitrogen, or LN2, is commonly used as a coolant within the overclocking scene and can reach much lower temperatures than air, water, or the phase change cooling you may be accustomed to. While we are used to seeing processors operate in air-cooled settings of around 40'C, the use of LN2 will allow us to push clock speeds all the way down in the -80'C range in order to unlock the overclocking capabilities of both the motherboard and CPU. We paired a Core i7 975 processor with the EVGA X58 Classified motherboard to find out just how far we can go with the X58 platform and Intel's current flagship CPU...

Core i7 Extreme Overclocking with LN2

Sprint Officially Offers $200 BlackBerry Tour

2009-08-29T19:36:00.001-07:00

Already launched on Verizon Wireless and Alltel, Sprint has become the next to official trumpet the release of RIM's BlackBerry Tour. We already knew the company was planning to put its own stamp on the highly-acclaimed smartphone, and just like that, the Tour 9630 has become a family member with Palm's Pre and the like. Boasting a 3G radio, GPS, document editing and a 3.2MP camera, this phone is certainly looking like a solid rival to the aforesaid Pre and Apple's iPhone.

RIM claims that web browsing is faster than ever here, with easy access to social networking sites and a microSD card slot to load up your multimedia. The phone itself is slimmer than a deck of playing cards, and considering that it touts a "world phone" specification, you can roam with it internationally should you be okay with paying crazy expensive data/phone rates. For a limited time, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is $199.99 at Sprint on a two-year contract, but with the iPhone 3G selling for $99 on AT&T, we suspect this rate will drop off steeply in the near future.

The full QWERTY keyboard makes sending emails and editing documents quick and easy
Data gets delivered to the smartphone automatically thanks to BlackBerry® Push Technology.
Users can keep in touch with colleagues or loved ones through instant messaging, or up-to-date on news, sports, weather and movies with Sprint TV®.

Nokia Announces Linux-Based Smartphone, What About Symbian?

2009-08-29T19:26:00.001-07:00

Nokia’s latest E900 has some people wondering if the company has finally come up with a smartphone that will rival Apple’s iPhone. Aimed at the top end of the market, you may recall that the new N900 is the company’s first phone running on Linux software. By taking advantage of Nokia's Linux-based Maemo operating system, the handset offers multitasking and Web browsing capabilities using its touchscreen and slide-out keyboard.

Although the N900 might be Nokia’s latest high-end device, don’t think this means the company is moving away from its Symbian operating system, which is currently the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. Nokia has said that Linux will work with—not replace—the Symbian operating system in Nokia's high-end device lineup. Symbian currently controls more than half of the global smartphone operating system market, beating out Apple, Research in Motion, and Google combined.

"This is in no way putting Symbian in jeopardy," said Anssi Vanjoki, head of sales at Nokia. "Open source Symbian is going to be our main platform, and we are expanding and growing it the best we can, both in terms of functionality as well as distribution ... populating more and more of our product line with Symbian."

We’ll be interested to see how well the Nokia N900 is received and what effect it has on the Mobile Phone OS market when it becomes available in select markets in October.

Enter The Dragon: AMD Phenom II X4 940

2009-08-29T05:07:00.001-07:00

AMD has been fighting an uphill battle on two fronts for the last few years. For a time, fierce competition from NVIDIA, coupled with some of their own problems executing, put the ATI graphics division in a deep hole. And ever since the introduction of the original Core 2 Processors, and more recently the Core i7, AMD's processor division has fallen well behind Intel in terms of overall performance.

Starting in November of 2007 though, we got a sense that AMD was slowly, but surely, clawing its way back into the fight. It began with the introduction of the Spider platform, which consisted of AMD's native quad-core Phenom processors, 7-series chipsets, and 3800-series graphics cards Individually, the components that made up the Spider platform weren't performance leaders in their respective categories, but ultimately the platform proved to be solid, and of course, it was priced very competitively. The introduction of Spider also marked the first time AMD could offer an entire desktop platform consisting only of AMD-branded processors, core logic, and graphics.

As many of you know, AMD hasn't been sitting idle since the Spider platform introduction. The company's chipset division has launched a handful of new chipsets, featuring one of--if not--the best IGPs on the market and a new Southbridge, the SB750, that allows for higher overclocks through the use of ACC, or Advanced Clock Calibration. The ATI graphics division has also been firing on all cylinders lately, having released a top to bottom lineup of GPUs that compete very favorably at their respective price points. AMD also recaptured the 3D performance crown from NVIDIA for a time with the Radeon HD 4870 X2. AMD wasn't going down without a fight.

With the chipset and graphics divisions on a roll, it was time for the CPU team to pull the trigger on something new and exciting, to complete the new platform trifecta. It took some time, but that's exactly what's happening today. The end result is the Dragon platform which consists of new 45nm Phenom II X4 processors, 7-series chipsets, and ATI Radeon 4000 series graphics cards. We've got the goods in house and will fill you in on all of the juicy details on the pages ahead; for now let's get some of the particulars and back-story out of the way...

AMD Dragon Platform

AMD Phenom II X4 Processors

Specifications and Features

Model / Processor Frequency:	AMD Phenom II Processor Model X4 940 / X4 920 / 3.0GHz, 2.8GHz
L1 Cache Sizes:	64K of L1 instruction and 64K of L1 data cache per core (512KB total L1 per processor)
L2 Cache Sizes:	512KB of L2 data cache per core (2MB total L2 per processor)
L3 Cache Size:	6MB (shared)
Memory Controller Type:	Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller, capable of being configured for dual 64-bit channels for simultaneous read/writes
Memory Controller Frequency:	Up to 1.8GHz with Dual Dynamic Power Management
Types of Memory:	Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2 8500 (DDR2-1066MHz)
HyperTransport 3.0:	One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 3600MHz full duplex
Fab location:	AMD's Fab 36 wafer fabrication facilities in Dresden, Germany
Process Technology:	45nm (.045-micron) DSL Silicon on Insulator (SOI)
Approximate Transistor count:	approx. ~758 million (65nm)
Approximate Die Size:	258 mm2 (45nm)
Nominal Voltage:	.0875-1.5 Volts
Max Ambient Case Temp:	62 degress Celsius
Max TDP:	125 Watts
ACP:	*to be announced after launch
Future Memory Controller Note:	Future 45nm processors versions are planned to include support for DDR3 memory

Although the Dragon platform as a whole is new, most of its parts have already been on the scene for quite some time now. As such, we have already covered them in-depth here on HotHardware, so we won't do the same again here. We will, however, recommend taking a look at a few past articles to get familiar with some of the underlying technology and components that partially comprise the Dragon platform.

ATI Radeon HD 4850 and 4870: RV770 Has Arrived

ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 - AMD Back On Top

AMD 790GX Chipset Platform Launch

AMD 780G Chipset and Athlon X2 4850e Preview

AMD Phenom X4 9350e and 9950 BE Debut

AMD Spider Platform - Phenom, 790FX, RV670

The Radeon HD 4800 series articles detail the features and technology that have made them so successful in the 3D graphics space. And the various 7-series chipset, Phenom and Athlon processor, and Spider platform related articles cover the remainder of the platform--with the exception of the Phenom II that is, which we'll show you next.

Windows 7 HD and SSD Performance Analyzed

2009-08-29T04:59:00.001-07:00

Windows 7 is undoubtedly the most exciting new operating system to come out of Microsoft within the past decade--and with good reason. The user interface is superb, gone are many of the oddball Vista quirks, and the operating system is light and snappy, marking a massive 180 degree shift away from the heaviness and bloat of Vista. Despite the fact that it's based on many of the same core Vista elements, Windows 7 is a different beast, and should be looked at in a fresh new light.

Windows 7 RC gets ready to take on a a pile of really fast drives.

As with any new operating system release, there are a lot of questions with regards to how it will perform on various hardware configurations--one of the more interesting ones being related to disk performance. One of Windows Vista's cardinal sins, in our opinion, was that the operating system was constantly thrashing the system's hard disk. Whether it was trying to do some sort of smart caching or indexing files for searching, it never felt like the operating system would settle down. The disk was always active and performing reads or writes, which meant that whenever you had to actually run a program, you had to fight for disk resources.
This was noticed fairly early on, by large swaths of users, who complained about slow disk performance. Microsoft would eventually release an update to their disk caching algorithms embedded within Windows Vista Service Pack 1, which dramatically helped performance and snappiness of the operating system. However, the problem never felt completely resolved, and in the minds of most users, the damage was done. Windows Vista was, and still is, perceived as a slow operating system in the minds of most power users. One of the first things which most notice about Windows 7 is how "light" the operating system feels. It's quick to load up, it does not spend much time thrashing the hard disk once you're inside the interface, and your hard drive quickly settles down and lets you start working. It feels quicker, due to this fact, and as such, the entire computing experience on Windows 7 is much more enjoyable. All users, from those who use low-end netbooks to high-end workstations, will immediately benefit from Microsoft's new, more lightweight disk usage algorithms.
Today we're going to look at how various types of disks perform under Windows 7, both of the traditional platter based variety and new solid state disks. We're not only curious about how disk performance changes between the operating systems, but if Windows 7's new solid-state specific optimizations and tuning give you even greater performance compared to Vista.

X58 Showdown: ASUS Rampage II vs. MSI Eclipse

2009-08-29T04:37:00.001-07:00

If the recent release of Intel's X58 chipset has taught us anything, it's that change can be good. In our first two forays with these new boards and Intel's Core i7 processor, we've been firmly impressed by the performance gains seen over legacy Core 2 architectures, much less AMD's recent advancements and new offerings. Now, with some time under our belts, we're going to take a look at two new Intel X58 Express chipset based boards from ASUS and MSI that we've put through the test ringer. Focusing on the upper-tier of the PC market, both come fully stocked with additional components, fancy board designs, and all of the other benefits that the X58 provides, with higher-end prices to match.

First, we'll start off with an overview of the Intel X58 Express chipset. As shown in the block diagram below, the major changes revolve around the CPU's system and memory interfaces. Considering Intel's relatively slower evolution over their past few chipset updates, it's almost as if they sat back, looked at what needed changing, and then just went ahead and did them all in one fell swoop.

The first and most obvious change is the new LGA1366 socket, which nearly doubles the number of pins in order to support the Core i7. Why all the extra connections? Well, one of the biggest changes to the CPU design was to move the memory controller from the North Bridge to the CPU itself, which now supports Triple Channel DDR3. Also to supplement this new memory controller with more bandwidth, Intel created a new way to connect the CPU and the rest of the board. Dubbed QPI (Quick Path Interconnect), it consists of a serial point-to-point interconnect that offers up to 25.6GB/s of bandwidth - more than double that of the previous X48 chipset.
Another big change brought about is the native support of not only ATI's CrossFireX, but 2 or 3-way SLI for NVIDIA's graphics cards as well, provided the motherboard has the necessary BIOS hooks. As the X58 is currently the only chipset that supports the Core i7, it means you won't have to debate where to go to support not only the top processors, but the top graphics solution as well (depending on which side is currently residing on top). The South Bridge sees very little change, actually, although the ICH10/R originates from a previous coupling to the mainstream P45 chipset rather than the ICH9/R found on the X48s.
Both of today's entries feature all of the above, and then throw in their own special accoutrements to make them stand out on their own. For our testing purposes, we'll pit these two boards against each other in head-to-head combat spanning synthetic benchmarks, some real-world rendering and encoding, and then finally the all-important gaming benchmarks including some SLI frame rates.

Overclocking Intel's Core i7 920 Processor

2009-08-29T04:30:00.001-07:00

With the introduction of the new Intel's Core i7 920 Processor architecture, the company affectionately known as "Chipzilla" from Santa Clara has once again topped itself on the performance charts. Core i7 chips deliver significantly better performance per clock cycle, while at the same time being more power-efficient versus its predecessors. There's no doubt that it's a great chip, an insanely complex piece of circuitry which can churn through whatever you throw at it with relative ease. It is the chip you want in your system, assuming price is no barrier. However, in this economic environment, price is a major factor for most people out there, and lots of people out there are looking for a bargain, or at least, something to make the price tag more tolerable.
As with any new processor architecture introduction, early adopters bear the brunt of the cost on these new chips. If you were to set up a high-end Core i7 system today (Core i7 965, X58 motherboard, 6 GB DDR3-1600 memory), you're looking at a price tag of around $1,500 - $2,000, without any graphics cards or storage or extras. However, it is possible to get similar performance levels of a top-of-the-line Core i7 system without paying nearly as much, and that's through the time-honored tradition of overclocking.
Intel planted a gift in the Core i7 launch in the form of the Core i7 920. This is Intel's entry level Core i7 processor which runs at a stock speed of 2.66 GHz, not too far off from the high-end Core i7 965 model which runs at 3.2 GHz. While the high-end Core i7 965 sells for over $1,000, the Core i7 920 sells for a respectable $300, considering the performance that this chip is capable of with a little elbow grease. In terms of their basic hardware, they are the same chip underneath, but they simply run at different frequencies. While overclocking the Core i7 is a bit different compared to previous generation Core 2 processors, most of the same principles apply to these new systems.
So, we grabbed one of the new Core i7 920 processors off the retail shelf and decided to see how far we could clock it up. We want to give potential buyers an idea of what overclocking with the Core i7 is like, along with how much performance you'll gain, how to deal with heat, and how power consumption comes into play.

Core i7 920 Retail Box - Front

Core i7 920 Retail Box - Rear

Corsair Issues 8GB And 12GB DDR3 RAM Kits For Core i5/Core i7 CPUs

2009-08-29T04:23:00.001-07:00

Corsair, a company famous for keeping cutting-edge RAM popular amongst performance junkies, has just issued its newest DIMMs. After introducing us all to its new DDR3 modules for Lynnfield CPUs, the outfit has today introduced new 8GB and 12GB solutions for those with a 64-bit operating system and a nagging desire to have more RAM than they'll ever (probably) need.

The new high-density devices play nice with Intel's Core i5 and Core i7 processors, and they're available in dual/triple channel configurations. The kits also feature the company's DHX+ cooling technology and American Racing Blue fins and highlights, though we don't suspect the design will matter much to you unless you've got a clear or translucent chassis to house them in. The dual channel configuration is comprised of four matched 2GB modules, while the triple channel configuration is made up of six 2GB modules.

All of these are fine tuned to work with Intel's X58 chipset, and both sets have XMP profiles set at 1600MHz with CAS latency settings pegged at 8-8-8-24. Corsair hasn't bothered to mention price, but we suspect you'll be paying a premium.

Corsair® Launches High Density DDR3 Memory for Core™ i5 and Core™ i7 Processors

- New 8GB and 12GB solutions, with new American Racing Blue DHX+ fins -

FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 27, 2009 — Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies and flash memory products, including solid-state drives, today announced a new set of high density products for Intel® Core i5 and Core i7 processors. These DIMMs are available in dual and triple channel configurations and are specifically tuned for Intel CPUs.

The 8GB and 12GB module kits feature Corsair’s DHX+ cooling technology, and sport new American Racing Blue fins and highlights. The dual channel configuration, part number CMD8GX3M4A1600C8, consists of four matched 2GB modules, optimized for P55 motherboards. The triple channel configuration, part number CMD12GX3M6A1600C8, consists of six matched 2GB modules, and is optimized for X58 motherboards. Both sets of modules have XMP profiles set at 1600MHz, with CAS latency settings of 8-8-8-24. An Airflow fan with matching blue highlights is included with both the dual and triple channel configurations.

“Windows® 7™ early adopters and other power users have recently been demanding 8GB and 12GB performance memory solutions to optimize their computing experience,” stated John Beekley, Vice President of Technical Marketing at Corsair. “These 8GB and 12GB configurations will allow these advanced users to get the most out of their high performance rigs, particularly if they often switch between demanding tasks like gaming and video production.”

Corsair has recently produced a whitepaper detailing some of the performance gains that can be realized with memory configurations of 8GB and larger. You can find the results of this study . The study demonstrated that the higher density memory took excellent advantage of the improved memory handling in Windows 7, and resulted in substantial performance gains in system startup, shutdown, context switching, and game loading.

About DHX+ Technology
Corsair’s innovative DHX+ (Dual-path Heat eXchange Plus) technology uses specially designed, high-quality heatsinks and a custom-designed PCB that allows both the front and rear of the memory ICs, and the printed circuit board itself, to be cooled. DHX+ technology also allows for the cooling fins to be removed, allowing for a range of modular cooling accessories including extended heatsink fins, the Hydro H30 series water-block and Ice series T30 thermo-electric cooler, which cools the memory up to 20°C below room temperature for maximum overclocking performance.

About Corsair®
Founded in 1994, Corsair Memory, Inc., is a worldwide leader in high performance components for personal computers. Specializing in very high performance memory and ultra- efficient power supplies, our flagship products, Including Dominator™ memory modules, are the choice of overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere. Our expertise in design and manufacturing is also evident in our complete line of Flash Voyager® and Flash Survivor™ USB storage devices. Corsair offers 24/7 customer support via forums and the Tech Support Express helpdesk. For more information, please visit www.corsair.com

Two chances to win a Palm Pre

2009-08-25T08:05:00.002-07:00

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: They’re for residents of the US and Canada, respectively. And the good news: It’s actually seven chances. (And no purchase is necessary.)

US residents can enter a monthly giveaway on our Facebook page -- just log in to Facebook and leave a comment on the “Win a Palm Pre” tab explaining why you need one. The current giveaway runs through August 14, and there will be five more monthly giveaways after that. See the full rules here.

For Canadian residents, you have until August 31 to enter a contest to win a Palm Pre from Bell Mobility, the exclusive Canadian carrier. You can enter the contest here and check the official rules here.

Planning the perfect weekend, Palm Pre-style

2009-08-25T08:04:00.003-07:00

Some new additions to the Palm Pre’s beta App Catalog have arrived just in time to help you get ready for the weekend. Planning a road trip? Mileage Monitor by Foxtail Software will help you gauge your fuel efficiency. Rusty Brick’s Shabbat Shalom lets you check global times for Shabbos, while Kosher2Go by Rocketouch offers a global guide to kosher establishments.

And if kicking back is in your weekend plans, check out ESPN Zoom by EpicTilt, the popular photo-hunt game. Bursting your bubbles turns out to be a good thing in Bubbles! from bytesquencing.com, while Word Ace by Self Aware Games takes classic word games into the realm of fast-paced multiplayer online competition.

BlackBerry Storm 9530, Tested and Burned In

2009-08-15T10:00:00.002-07:00

Touchscreen smartphones are certainly a big hit right now. If you consider Apple’s ever-popular iPhone, HTC’s well-received Touch lineup, and many others, touch is a high-demand feature. Manufacturers are certainly taking note of this fact. Traditionally speaking, the BlackBerry line of smartphones share a common layout with a QWERTY keyboard located beneath a standard (i.e. non-touchscreen) display.

Considering the popularity of touch, you can imagine that Research in Motion wasn’t going to hold out on creating a touchscreen device forever. As to be expected, the company received a lot of hype when it announced the first ever touchscreen BlackBerry smartphone in October of last year. But as the BlackBerry Storm 9530 officially hit the scenes late last year, it was met with mixed reviews.
We’ve been checking out Verizon Wireless’ version of this smartphone for over a month now. Instead of rehashing the same stuff that you’ve seen in other reviews, we’re going to look at this BlackBerry in terms of how it is different from other smartphones (not just other BlackBerries), and how well it will meet the needs of both business and personal users. In light of the fact that Amazon is now offering the Storm for just $99, it’s also important to consider what you’ll get for the money.

In years past, BlackBerries were most popular for business users who wanted easy access to email while on the go. As smartphones have evolved and become more widespread, however, we’re seeing more and more consumers carrying smartphones. Smartphones with touch screens have attracted the attention of many non-business users, perhaps because of the shiny interfaces they often provide.
The BlackBerry Storm’s clickable touchscreen is what sets the Storm apart from other touchscreen devices we’ve seen to date. We’ll discuss interactions with this screen more later, but it’s important to keep in mind that you must touch the screen to select a command and then press the screen to “click.” Other touchscreen devices simply require a single tap of a finger or stylus to initiate an action.

Research in Motion took its experience in producing business-centric devices and has incorporated many of the company's well-liked and well-known organizational and communication features into the BlackBerry Storm. Because you interact with the Storm in a manner that is unlike any other BlackBerry to date, the new interface affects the way the way applications look and feel. However, the changes are minor so most BlackBerry users will still feel right at home. In the end, some users will welcome the change while others may dislike the new interface. In addition to traditional business applications and features, the BlackBerry Storm also incorporates a number of consumer-friendly features, including a camera, application store, GPS receiver, and media player/manager. Read on as we discuss more about this rather interesting smartphone...

Nikon Coolpix L100 Mega Zoom Camera Review

2009-08-15T09:49:00.002-07:00

Don’t be fooled by the Nikon Coolpix L100’s DSLR-like looks. Although the L100 looks like a high-end camera that could compete with the functions of a DSLR, it’s really a relatively simple point-and-shoot with a wide angle 15x zoom lens as well as image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD, and a high speed burst shooting mode of 13fps that surpasses that of many cameras.

The L100 is part of Nikon’s Life series of digital cameras that are known for their simple and easy to use functions. As Nikon describes it, the Life series is “Powerfully capable–yet simple, at an entry-level price.” Indeed, the L100 offers plenty of fully automatic controls for the user who wants to simply point and shoot. In fact, unlike a lot of mega zoom cameras on the market today, the L100 was designed for fully automatic use and doesn’t offer many manual controls at all.

With an MSRP of about $280, the L100 has a lower price tag than most mega zoom cameras currently available. Beyond the wide angle zoom lens with an equivalent focal length range of 28-420mm, the L100 doesn’t have the same number of bells and whistles as you’ll see on the L100’s higher-priced mega zoom competitors. However, the L100 isn’t completely bare-bones. It still features a 10 megapixel sensor, Nikon’s latest EXPEED image processor, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, and Nikon's Smart Portrait System which includes red-eye fix, face detection, smile mode, and a blink warning feature. The L100’s high speed burst rate that can capture up to 30 images at 13fps is also sure to attract the attention of users who regularly capture action shots.

Automatic controls, ease of use, and an affordable price tag are certainly appealing, but what’s really important is how well the L100 performs. Carry on reading to find out if the L100 deserves to be your next camera.

Myvus Crystal EV Video Glasses Bring The Big Screen To Your Face

2009-08-15T09:48:00.002-07:00

If you're anything like us, you spend a great deal of time looking at an LCD monitor. Every so often you'll get up the nerve to go look at an HDTV or a movie screen, but by and large your eyes stay planted on whatever monitor is connected to your rig. Myvu's hoping to give those retinas of yours a break, regardless of where you're at.

The company has just introduced the Crystal EV, a "personal media viewer" that looks like a set of glasses worn by one certain Star Trek character (whom we won't mention by name). InMotion Entertainment has signed on to sell these video glasses at airport stores across the US, which is a brilliant plan to be honest. Just think about it--the average business traveler rushes off to the airport with nary a clue of how he or she will entertain themselves for 6+ hours in the air. The look across the terminal, spot these, and just like that a sale is made.

For those unfamiliar with this territory, these video glasses are able to connect to iPods, iPhones and an assortment of other media players in order to project a virtual big-screen image in front of the user's eyes. The Crystal EV promises a 64" equivalent screen, which represents a 30% increase over the original Crystal. There's no mention of a price, but hey, you're on the company's dime now anyway, right?

Sony Converts eBook Store To Widely Adopted EPUB Format

2009-08-15T09:46:00.002-07:00

Traditionally speaking, Sony has never been a company to follow publicly accepted norms. From Mini-Disc to ATRAC Memory Stick Pro to those UMD movies that nobody wanted for their PSP, the outfit has a long, storied history of forcing its own proprietary formats onto consumers. Of course, that same history includes the fact that most consumers simply don't want to cave to Sony's wishes, and formats such as MP3, Secure Digital and Compact Disc have absolutely garnered broader industry support.

We tell you all of that in order to explain just how shocked and pleasantly surprised we were to read the latest press release from Sony. By converting its entire online eBook store to the widely adopted EPUB format, it's hoping to "take the confusion out of digital book formats." The EPUB books will be able to be read on a host of other e-readers, meaning that content purchased through Sony's online store doesn't have to be viewed on a Sony Reader. A nice gesture for sure, and one that we're confident will actually pull in more sales for Sony in the long run.

Furthermore, the firm will adopt Adobe Content Server 4, a popular server software solution that copy protects eBooks and gives Sony the ability to "make its eBook store compatible with multiple devices and its Reader devices open to multiple sources for content." Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division, voiced his support for Sony opening up to the industry rather than sticking to its own path:

"Our intention is to lead by example. Our Readers have long supported industry-standard formats such as EPUB and PDF. Now, what is quickly becoming the de facto standard for eBooksDRMs creates silos and limits overall market growth. Consumers should not have to worry about which device works with which store. With a common format and common content protection solution (DRM), they will be able to shop around for the content they want regardless of where they get it or what device they use." will be available in our store. A world of proprietary formats and

The Reader Pocket Edition (priced at about $199), and the Reader Touch Edition (about $299) will both support the EPUB and PDF formats out of the box when they go on sale later this month, and Sony will also provide an update path for owners of the first edition Reader, model PRS-500, so early adopters of the Reader will be able to enjoy this benefit as well. We have to say, we like where you're going with this Sony. There's a good chance more folks would buy into your hardware if you supported files, formats and software that are accepted widely elsewhere.

Dell XPS 730x H2C Intel Core i7 Gaming System

2009-08-09T09:20:00.002-07:00

We evaluated the original Dell XPS 730 in early May, shortly after its initial release. At the time, it was Dell's latest high-end gaming machine and the word on the street was that it would be the last to carry the XPS badge. Moving forward, Dell was to concentrate on their Alienware gaming brand and the XPS brand would lose its gaming focus to embrace multimedia and content creation. Naturally, we checked with Dell directly and while they did confirm the rumor, they also assured us that the XPS 730's life wouldn't be cut short and it would go on to live through a full product cycle. It seems they weren't bluffing, not that we doubted them in the first place.

Shortly after Intel released their new Core i7 processors about a month ago, Dell announced a new update to the XPS 730 with Core i7 tech under the hood. The new XPS 730x is first and foremost a technology update. The Intel Core 2 processors and NVIDIA 790i Ultra SLI chipset powering the original XPS 730 have been swapped with new Core i7 processors and Intel's X58 Express chipset. The XPS 730x retains the original 730's ability to support both Crossfire and SLI and the latest graphics options from both the green and the red camp are available. Like all XPS 700 series machines since the XPS 710, the 730x is available with optional factory overclocking and a H2C edition that features a two-stage liquid cooling system. This brings the XPS 730x to the forefront of bleeding edge tech and should present a nice performance boost over the original 730.

Dell XPS 730x in Victory Red (click for larger image)

While the new performance features are the highlights of the update, they aren't the only new additions. In our evaluation of the original 730, we noted that the XPS 730 chassis, an update of the original XPS 700 series chassis used in previous models, was one of the best we've seen, rivaling that of the HP Blackbird 002. For the XPS 730x, the chassis has received several subtle updates while retaining all of the qualities we liked from the original XPS 730.

The various pre-installed software and utilities included with the XPS 730 have also been updated for the 730x. The original 730 had software configurable LED lighting controlled via a custom screen in the NVIDIA control panel. While this worked, it wasn't particularly elegant or user friendly. The XPS 730x still offers configurable LED lighting, but it is now controlled by Alienware's slick AlienFX utility. Hardware and performance monitoring has also been improved and the XPS 730x now includes a custom monitoring utility that makes monitoring system temperatures and controlling fan speeds extremely easy.

Overall, there are enough new updates and changes to warrant a fresh look at the flagship of the XPS series so we've obtained a XPS 730x and gave it a full shakedown. Read on for details of the new features and a full suite of performance benchmarks.

HP HDX 18t Premium Series 18" Notebook Review

2009-08-09T09:16:00.002-07:00

Synopsis: HP's HDX 18t Premium Series Notebook is a mammoth 18" desktop replacement machine with a wealth of multimedia-targeted features and capabilities on board. With a stylish, glossy exterior, large keyboard area with touch-sensitive illuminated buttons, a TV tuner and remote control, this machine screams Media Center PC. It has a fair bit of gaming under the hood as well, with NVIDIA's GeForce 9600M GT powering its graphics subsystem. It's a well-rounded machine at a fair price ($1599 as tested), that will serve a multitude of usage scenarios for the family or power user with perhaps the exception of hardcore gaming solely focused on frame rate. All told we think the HP HDX 18t is a solid value for the money, is well built and specified and with stylish good looks, will dress up the coffee table quite nicely.

HP HDX 18t Premium Series Notebook
Specifications and Features

18-inch, 16:9 ratio LCD, 1920X1080p native resolution
2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9600
Intel Mobile Series 4 Chipset (PM45 with ICH9M I/O Controller Hub)
Intel Centrino 2 Platform Technology
4GB DDR2-800 System Memory (CL6)
320GB 7200RPM Hard Drived
512 MB GeForce 9600M GT
Blu-ray and DVD+/- R/RW disc drive
HP Integrated HDTV Hybrid Tuner (optional)

HD Video Playback CPU Utilization - WMVHD and H.264 .Mov - Click for high res.


Gorgeous, big 18.4" LCD Great multimedia features Solid multimedia performance Latest Centrino 2 Technology NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT GPU Sleek case styling Optional HDTV Tuner and Blu-ray Drive	Battery Life 2.5 - 3 Hours, tops 8.8lbs = workout if transported Some screen glare 3D Graphics could be stronger

Digital Storm Custom Core i7 Gaming System

2009-08-09T09:15:00.002-07:00

Boutique system builders tend to fall into three categories, there are the more custom or high-end offerings from some of the larger names like Dell/Alienware or HP/Voodoo (though you may or may not classify them as "boutique"), there are offerings from large e-tailers like Tiger Direct's SystemMax, and then there are independent companies as well, obviously. A few of the major names in this third category are MainGear, Velocity Micro and the company whose product we have on the bench for you today--Digital Storm.
Digital Storm as a company has been around since 2001. It has become fairly well known in the community for building solid computer systems, primarily targeted at the enthusiast, though they also have a workstation and server product line-up as well. The company has historically taken a design approach to their products that incorporates only top shelf, standard components in an effort to offer the consumer a high quality product that is both easily serviceable and upgradeable down the road. That said, even with top shelf components, quality systems with a reasonable value and price point are not always equal to just the sum of their parts. We'll step you through the salient features, performance, and value of Digital Storm's 950si custom Core i7 gaming system in the pages ahead and let you be the judge of what this boutique builder, with a history for quality products, has to offer.

Digital Storm 950Si Custom Core i7 Gaming System
System Specifications - As Tested

Processor
Intel Core i7 920 (quad 2.66GHz cores, 8MB Cache, 4.8GT/sec) - Factory Overclocked to 3.97GHz

Motherboard
EVGA X58 3X SLI Motherboard, X58 Chipset

Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Memory
6GB Corsair DDR3-1600 Triple Channel Memory with Heat Spreaders (3x2048)

Actual clock speed set 1600MHz, CL 9,9,9,24

Graphics Cards
1 x 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285

CPU Cooling
CoolerMaster V8 Cooler

Audio
Razor Barracuda AC1 PCI Sound Card - 7.1 HD Audio

Hard Drive
1.5TG Seagate 7200.11 7200rpm 32MB Cache SATA 300MB/s w/NCQ

Optical Drive 1
Lite-On 20x DVD+/RW- Dual Layer Burner with Lightscribe labeling Technology

Optical Drive 2
Lite-On Blu-ray / DVD Player

Flash Card Reader
Internal 8-in-1

Case
Silverstone TJ-09 – Full Sized chassis with side window and fan

Power Supply
1K-Watt Corsair HX1000W - Nvidia 3-way SLI Certified

Expansion Slots
1 x PCIe x16, 1 x PCIe x8/x16, 1 x PCIe x8, 1 x PCIe x1, 2 x PCI
2 x 32-bit PCI, support for PCI 2.1

IO Ports
1 x PS2 Keyboard
1 x Serial Ports
12 x USB2.0 ports (4 external + 8 internal headers)
Audio connector (Line-in, Line-out, MIC)
FireWire 1394A (1 external, 1 header)

Storage IO

1 x UltraDMA133
9 x Serial ATA 300MB/sec with support for RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 0+1, RAID5, JBOD
1 x Floppy disk drive connector

Bundled/Installed Software
Cyberlink PowerDVD BD Edition (Blu-ray Edition)
Drivers Discs: Motherboard, Sound Card

Digital Storm Memtest v2.11 disc

Warranty and Support
3-year parts and labor, depot repair (upgradeable to 5 years)
Lifetime phone support, business hours
Lifetime labor free upgrades for components purchased directly from Digital Storm

Price: $ 3,265.00 USD
(as configured with current discounts)

Our test system was powered by an Intel Core i7 920 processor (2.66GHz), overclocked to 3.79GHz and was built upon EVGA's X58 3X SLI motherboard that we evaluated for you here recently. Also installed was 6GB of Corsair DDR3 system memory set to 1600MHz with latency settings of 9,9,9,24. For graphics, the system was powered by a single GeForce GTX 285 card though dual and 3-way SLI configurations are also available. Finally, we had a single 1.5TB Seagate Baracuda 7200.11 hard drive installed in our system though smaller and faster 10K RPM drives are available as well as larger RAID setups.

Life-time Labor Free Upgrades:
Digital Storm was recently added as a Premier Intel Channel Partner in 2008, they are also an AMD Solutions Provider member, an NVIDIA PartnerForce partner, and an EVGA step-up program approved system builder as well. In addition to a relatively healthy warranty policy, Digital Storm also offers a life-time labor free upgrade service, for component upgrades in their systems, but only for components purchased through Digital Storm directly. We did a quick search through the company's upgrade store and though they don't have the widest selection of products to choose from, they do have a solid offering of great upgrades and more importantly pricing for those components is very competitive versus what you can find at various e-tailers currently. Regardless, this free upgrade service is a rather nice kicker for those who don't want to muck around under the hood as well as remain within warranty terms wherever possible.

The Warranty:
Digital Storm’s standard warranty includes a three year full parts and labor warranty along with life-time phone-based technical support with staffed personnel. Four and five year warranties are available for an additional up-charge. Digital Storm will also cover shipping costs back to their depot for 30 days after receipt of the product. Beyond that, all labor and parts costs are covered for the warranty period but shipping costs for warranty work are the responsibility of the consumer. Digital Storm's full published warranty can be found here.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s Notebook Review

2009-08-09T09:11:00.002-07:00

Lenovo’s notebooks span the entire spectrum, offering low-cost models such as the G530, netbooks such as the IdeaPad Y530, and high-end models such as the ThinkPad W700. Today, we’re taking a closer look at Lenovo’s newest offering, the ThinkPad T400s, a thin and light model that’s designed to give users a blend of portability, performance, and energy-efficiency. This notebook is the company’s thinnest and lightest T Series model, weighing 3.91 pounds and measuring just 0.82 inches thick. The T400s incorporates many features from Lenovo’s best selling notebook, the T400, and combines it with the some of the traits of the ThinkPad X300, which is part of Lenovo’s lightest line.

In addition to being Lenovo’s lightest T Series model, the company boasts that the T400s is 22% lighter and 17% thinner than Dell’s E6400 and 22% lighter and 30% thinner than HP’s 6930P notebook. As you should expect though, the portability and performance of the ThinkPad T400s comes at a higher price than everyday notebooks that aren’t quite as portable. The ThinkPad T400s starts at $1,599 and offers many customization options and other features that business users are sure to love, including VoIP support and a powered USB port that will accommodate iPhone/iPod and Blackberry circuitry. In the coming pages, we’ll take a closer look at what this thin and light notebook from Lenovo has to offer, but first, let’s check out the full specifications of the T400s below.

Lenovo T400s Thin and Light Notebook
Specifications and Features

ThinkPad T Series leads the way: Our best processors, fastest graphics, and durable, reliable data storage. It is why T Series notebooks have earned a place on the desks – and in the briefcases – of business leaders worldwide. – Lenovo

Processors (Speed, L2 Cache, FSB)

Intel Core2 Duo SP9400 (2.4GHz, 6MB Cache, 25 watt)
Intel Core2 Duo SP9600 (2.53GHz, 6MB Cache, 25 watt)

Chipset/CPU

Intel 4500MHD/Core2, SV Small FF, 25W

Preloaded Operating Systems

Genuine Windows XP Professional 32 downgrade
Genuine Windows Vista Starter Edition for India
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic 32
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 32
Genuine Windows Vista Business 32
Genuine Windows Vista Business 64
DOS License

Memory

1GB/2GB/4GB DDR3 1067 MHz

Serial ATA Drives

80GB, 128GB, 160GB SSD SATA
128 GB, 256GB SSD FDE SATA
120GB, 250GB 5400rpm SATA

Displays

14.1" wide LED WXGA+ (1440x900)

Graphics

Integrated Intel GMA 4500 MHD

Optical Bay

9.5mm Optical Drive with Blu-ray, Multi Burner DVD, Combo DVD

Wireless

Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5300 (3x3)
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100 (1x2)
Intel WiMAX Wi-Fi Link 5150 (1x2)
Realtek Wireless B, G, N Card
WWAN, WiMAX, WLAN Bluetooth, UWB

Ports and Slots

Standard USB 2.0, 1 Powered USB 2.0, 1 USB/eSATA
VGA, DisplayPort, Mic/Headphone, RJ45
Optional 34mm Express Card or 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader
Combo Microphone in /Audio out

Protection

Roll-cage protects against rough-handling or accidental drops

Warranty

1 or 3 Year Depot TopSeller
1 or 3 Year Depot
3 Year On-Site including GMP

Additional Features

Integrated 2MP Camera

Multi-Touch TouchPad

Security

Integrated Fingerprint Reader with LED
Trusted Platform Module
ConstantSecure (WWAN models)

Form Factor/Dimensions

14" Wide
3.91 lbs/1.77kg with optical drive
21.1mm x 337mm x 241.0mm (6-cell battery)

Battery

6 cell Li Ion Prismatic Battery: up to 5.5 hrs
3 cell Ultra Bay battery: up to 8.5 hrs with 6 cell battery

Energy Efficient

Energy Star 5.0 qualified
Mercury and arsenic free low-power displays
Improved packaging
Low power Solid State Drives

Kingston CF Ultimate 2GB and 15-in-1 Card Reader

2009-08-09T09:07:00.002-07:00

and PDAs, to MP3 players and Digital Cameras, that it's hard to imagine a world before the Flash memory was invented. However, thanks to some very smart minds at Toshiba all the way back in 1984 and then Intel in 1988, we all have the ability to store information on the fly in a number of hand-held applications and more.

Like any other technology, Flash Memory, specifically NAND Flash which is the type used predominantly in consumer electronics, has been improving exponentially in terms of density and speed increases. Today we have two products from Kingston to show you that typify the state of Flash technology. Kingston's 100X CF Ultimate 2GB Compact Flash card and their 15-in-1 card reader, are targeted at offering maximum performance and high speed access to your images, data and other files. Here's a quick-take on the product and then we'll look at how it performs.

Kingston CompactFlash Ultimate
Specifications & Features

Kingston CompactFlash Ultimate specifications
- Capacities: 1 GB, 2GB, 4GB
- Dimensions: 1.43" x 1.68" x .13" (36.4mm x 42.8mm x 3.3mm) - CF Type 1
- Speed Rating: up to 18 MB/sec. read rate and up to 15 MB/sec. write rate; 100d
- Operating temperature: 32^o F to 140 ^o F (0 ^o C to 60 ^o C)
- Storage temperature: -4 ^o F to 185 ^o F (-20 ^o C to 85 ^o C)
- Standardized: complies with CompactFlash Association specification standards
- Small: one-third the size of full-size PC card
- Easy: plug and play
- Guaranteed: lifetime warranty
- Versatile: compatible with PC Card Type II adapters
- Economical: auto sleep mode preserves system/camera battery life
Kingston 15-in1 Reader
Specifications & Features

Kingston 15-in1 Reader Features and Benefits:
Dimensions –3.46" x 2.19" x .63" (8.78 cm x 5.56 cm x 1.6 cm)
Operating Temperature – 0 degrees to 60 degrees C (32 degrees to 158 degrees F)
Storage Temperature – 20 degrees to 85 degrees C (-4 degrees to 185 degrees F)
Standardized – complies with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed specification standards for up to 480 Mbps data transfer and backwards compatible with USB 1.1 specification standards for up 12 Mbps data transfer.
Portable – convenient small size; no power cable required
Easy – plug and play into any USB 2.0 or 1.1 port
Guaranteed – five-year warranty
Versatile – works with 15 different Flash card formats:
MSRP $19.00 USD

CompactFlash (CF) I and II
Secure Digital
miniSD
microSD (SD adapter required)
MultiMediaCard (MMC) Version 3.1
MMCmicro (MMC adapter required)
MMCmobile (DV RS-MMC)

MMCplus(Version4.0)
RS-MMC (Version 3.1)
Microdrive (CF Type II)
Memory Stick
Memory Stick PRO
Memory Stick PRO Duo
Smart Media

OCZ Reaper Heat Pipe Conduit DDR2

2009-08-09T09:02:00.003-07:00

For the last several months, DDR2 memory development has been largly stagnent. The fastest DDR2 memory kits from last summer were, for the most part, still the fastest DDR2 memory kits this spring. We haven't seen any truly significant developments in DDR2 since Micron stepped up to the plate with their D9 chips. Although manufacturers continue to release new DDR2 memory, speed increases are fewer and harder to come by. It seems that even the mighty D9 has run out of headroom and it's becoming very difficult to produce faster DDR2 memory while still maintaining acceptible production yields.

With the relative standstill in DDR2 development, manufacturers determined to keep pushing DDR2 speed boundries have resorted to increasing voltage and improving cooling. Voltages on performance DDR2 modules now far exceed JEDEC's specification of 1.8v and values of 2.2v and higher aren't uncommon. As a result, these modules need better cooling and the standard heatspreaders that we've seen on performance RAM since the hayday of DDR are being replaced with more effective cooling methods.

We looked at the current DDR2 speed leaders back in March; Corsair's Dominator series and OCZ's Flex XLC series. Both of these product lines are good examples of recent attempts at pushing DDR2 speed boundries and they both utilize high voltages and relatively drastic cooling techniques. While Corsair went with the traditional big heatsink + fan method with their Dominator series, OCZ decided to go the water cooling route with their Flex XLC line. In recent years, heatpipe cooling has gained immense popularity in PC cooling and it was only a matter of time before they would also be applied to our memory. The wait seems to be over because the distinguishing feature of OCZ's latest line of DDR2 memory is the use of a large heatpipe assembly.

Features and Specifications

OCZ's latest solution for cooling their high performance memory modules is the Reaper Heat Pipe Conduit (HPC) system. The Reaper HPC memory uses a combination of an aluminum heatspreader, copper heatpipe, and aluminum fin array to quickly dissipate heat. Heat generated by the memory is absorbed by the heatspreader, where it is then transported to an aluminum fin array which then dissipates the heat into the surrounding air. In theory this method should cool the memory modules much more efficiently than the flat heatspreaders most other memory modules sport. The Reaper HPC currently comes in four flavors and we've summerized the juicy details in a table for your convenience.

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition DDR2 Memory

While not as well specified as OCZ's Flex XLC series, the Reaper HPC series of memory modules certainly won't be mistaken for generic value RAM and they occupy the next highest spot on OCZ's product line. Like the Flex XLCs, all Reaper HPC memory modules get the benefit of an EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles) programmed SPD which allows them to automatically boot at the rated specs when used on NVIDIA SLI chipsets. All Reaper HPC units are also covered by OCZ's lifetime warranty.

OCZ's Reaper HPC series originally consisted of two high performance memory kits rated at PC2-9200 and PC2-8500 speeds. Two new kits were recently added to the Reaper HPC line-up, an affordable PC2-6400 kit and a low-latency Enhanced Bandwidth Edition PC2-6400 kit. For the purposes of this article, we have obtained the original PC2-8500 Reaper HPC kit and the new Enhanced Bandwidth Edition PC2-6400.

Corsair Ice T30 Memory Cooler Review

2009-08-09T09:00:00.002-07:00

How cold can you get your PC? It seems like enthusiasts and overclockers constantly find new and creative ways to cool down the heat producing parts of their computer. We've already brought you coverage of liquid helium and liquid nitrogen being used to achieve sub-zero temperatures in order to achieve huge overclocking results. But using these methods doesn't provide a 24/7 solution that people can use without having to fill a pot every few minutes. Phase change, thermoelectric cooling, and watercooling attract a larger audience since they require little maintenance after initial setup, but they carry a hefty price tag. Still, exotic cooling enthusiasts want more variety with new designs and better performance in order to keep up with the constant flux of new technology.

If there's a demand, you better believe that companies will find a way to supply consumers with highly sought after products. And as the PC enthusiast sector grows, we see more parts being released that focus on cooling high end components. While it seems like every company makes a RAM cooling fan these days, Corsair has decided to take it up a notch. The Ice T30 sub-ambient cooling system is the first of its kind and made specifically for Corsair's enthusiast grade memory. Is it all just hype or does cooling your memory provide measurable benefits? Read on to find out what this cooler has to offer.

Corsair Cooling Ice T30 for Dominator GT Memory

Corsair Cooling Ice T30 Thermo-Electric Cooling Solution
Specifications and Features

Model	CWCDHXTEC

Features	First sub-ambient memory cooling
	Humidity monitor eliminates condensation
	Cools up to 20 degrees C below ambient
	Watercooled TEC
	Watercooling block
	Humidity sensors and control circuitry
	Installation instructions

System Requirements	3/8" inner diameter tubing

Warranty	One year

The TEC Heat Pump Controller sits in a metal housing that can be secured in a 5.25" drive bay. If desired, the orientation of the PCB can be rotated within the housing. To operate the T30, the TEC Heat Pump, temperature sensor, and dual molex power adapters must be connected. Sensors detect ambient temperature and relative humidity inside the computer and the controller adjusts the voltage to the TEC according to the current environment.

Corsair also includes two Allen wrenches,six screws, and a large thermal pad. These items are necessary for installation. Clamps, zip ties, and 3/8" to 1/2" ID barbed couplings are provided for broader compatibility with more liquid cooling solutions.

DDR3 Round-Up: Core i7 Performance Analysis

2009-08-09T08:58:00.002-07:00

Since the great DRAM price plummet of 2007, memory prices continue to be extremely low. It's currently possible to pick up high capacity memory modules for very respectable prices. As the DRAM market is highly volatile, however, it's possible that we could see prices jump within the next month, week, or even by the day. However, it has been about a year since prices dropped, and things have yet to "recover", allowing prices to remain low. Regardless, continues to be a fairly good time to buy system memory.
The majority of the really good deals are for DDR2 memory, which has completely flooded the market and is available for ultra low prices (under $30 for 4 GB in some cases). With virtually no money to be made in DDR2 anymore, beyond high-end enthusiast modules, memory manufacturers are pinning their hopes on DDR3 to revive the market. Not that the situation is much better there, as 4 GB of solid DDR3-1333 memory can be had for about $70 on the low-end.
However, there is demand, and they have Intel to thank for it. As Intel has now integrated a triple-channel DDR3 memory controller onto their superb new Core i7 processors, potential buyers are now advised to buy three-or-six DDR3 memory modules per system, compared to two-or-four of previous generation Core 2 based systems. Instead of dual-module kits, triple-module kits are currently the flavor of the moment, which has allowed memory manufacturers to be a little more creative in terms of naming and packaging.
There's quite a lot of variance in DDR3 modules today, which can certainly be overwhelming for potential new buyers. While the Core i7 processor is officially rated to run at only DDR3-1066 speeds, modules that can run at DDR3-2000 or even higher are available for the Core i7, and many new motherboards support speeds even greater than these. There is also the introduction of huge 12 GB (6 x 2 GB modules) capacity kits to consider, and we have latencies in the CAS 7 to CAS 9 range, all of which affect pricing of these various modules kits dramatically.

Triple-Channel DDR3 Memory Kit from Kingston

Triple-Channel DDR3 Memory Kit from OCZ

Triple-Channel DDR3 Memory Kit from Corsair

Today, we're going to look at some of these new kits and see if we can break down what memory-related aspects you should look for when buying an X58 platform. We've got kits from big names like Corsair, Kingston, and OCZ here in the labs. Let's try to clear up some questions, shall we?

Hitachi Intros World's First 2TB 7200RPM 3.5" Desktop Hard Drive

2009-08-09T05:32:00.002-07:00

Western Digital was visibly proud when they introduced the planet's first 2TB desktop hard drive back in April. You might say it was just as proud as Hitachi was when they introduced the world's first 1TB desktop hard drive back in early 2007. Regardless of actual pride levels, there's no doubt that Hitachi is beaming today with this announcement. The device you're looking at below is the industry's first 2TB desktop hard drive with a 7200RPM spindle rate.

If you'll recall, the 2TB Caviar Green HDD we took a look at earlier this year spun at a lathargic 5400RPM. WD called it "green," performance junkies called it "too slow." Now, Hitachi is giving those with a need for speed and space just that with the 2TB Deskstar 7K2000. According to the company, this drive blends high performance and high capacity with low power and other eco-friendly features designed to enable Energy-Star rated computers and other high performance desktop systems.

The new Deskstar 7K2000 is now in its fourth-generation using the company’s five-platter design with relaxed bit density and perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology. The drive also promises an ultra-quiet operation, a 32MB cache and a 3Gb/s SATA interface. In addition to the new 2TB Deskstar 7K2000, Hitachi is also refreshing their high-volume desktop hard drive family. The new 7200RPM Deskstar 7K1000.C range will deliver up to 500GB per platter, and will come in capacities of 160GB to 1TB. Like previous generations, both the 7K2000 and 7K1000.C Hitachi Deskstar drives feature industry-standard 512-byte sector formatting, a patented ramp load/unload design to increase shock protection, and Thermal Fly-height Control (TFC) to maintain a consistent fly-height during the read/write process for added data reliability. Volume production and worldwide availability of the new Deskstar 7K1000.C will begin in the current quarter, but your guess is as good as ours on pricing/availability of the new 2TB model.

OCZ's Colossus SSD To Ship In 128GB-1TB Sizes This Month

2009-08-09T05:30:00.002-07:00

We've already taken a sneak peek at OCZ Technology's Colossus--which is quite possibly the most exciting thing to happen to desktop storage since the advent of the VelociRaptor--and now we know exactly when it's coming. Or, maybe not quite exactly, but close enough!

Thanks to a tidbit from OCZ itself, we're told that the outfit is preparing to ship its beastly Colossus SSD lineup in around three weeks, meaning that you should be able to upgrade your rig in fine fashion prior to Labor Day. The drive, which will boast a 3.5" form factor and will likely be one of the fastest (if not the fastest) desktop drive on the market, will ship in sizes of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB for prices of $300, $650, $1200 and $2200, respectively.

The real question is this: are you willing to sink that deep into your child's future college fund in order to snag the bragging rights of a 2TB SSD RAID setup within your desktop? Decisions, decisions!

Apple 13" Macbook Pro Video

2009-08-09T05:22:00.002-07:00

While historically Apple has taken a bit of heat for producing notebooks that weigh in at a hefty price premium compared to their PC counterparts, it's becoming more apparent that Apple has seen the light and is now offering a few more competitively priced models for the "laptop hunters" out there this back-to-school season.

As such, today we're taking a closer look at Apple's 13" Macbook Pro.

The 13" Macbook Pro features Apple's uni-body enclosure that is carved from a solid block of aluminum for added durability. The machine also features a LED-backlit screen with a higher color gamut than most notebooks, a backlit keyboard, and a 7 hour battery that actually lasts about 7 hours, which reaffirms Apple's reputation of advertising realistic battery life claims. A number of other features like a built in iSight webcam, a Superdrive (CD/DVD reader and writer), a Magsafe power adapter and for the first time for Apple a built in SD card reader--all in a package that's about 4.5 pounds--make this one heck of an attractive little notebook.

The one we tested was the lower end model equipped with a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus and 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 memory.

TDK HDD Roadmap Outs 960GB Laptop Drives, 3.2TB Desktop Drives

2009-08-09T05:21:00.003-07:00

Ever since TDK issued a promising new line of solid state drives back in May, the drive and optical media manufacturer has remained eerily quiet on further plans. According to a new report, however, the company may be aiming to compete with the likes of Seagate, Western Digital and Hitachi in the "big boy" desktop HDD space.

If all goes well, we could see hard drives as large as 2TB in the desktop 3.5" arena and 620GB in the notebook-friendly 2.5" format by January of 2010. The information is being gleaned from a recent presentation to financial analysts. As it stands, the "current highest density read/write heads it is mass producing are for 250GB/platter 2.5" or small form factor (SFF) drives and for 500GB/platter 3.5" disk drives."

The roadmap, however, explains how the company plans to leap to 320GB per platter (2.5"), and it shows that mass production could start as early as a few months from now. Doing a little math, that means that 620GB 2.5" HDDs aren't far away, and we can bet notebook buyers to-be would greatly appreciate the extra headroom. Heck, there's even the possibility that three-platter 960GB notebook drives could be created from this, and we can absolutely assure you that the collective tech world will go wild when the 2.5" HDD breaks the holy 1TB barrier. Also of note, these new drives from TDK are only expected to spin at 5400RPM, with 7200RPM versions emerging as the head and media technologies used improve.

As for the desktop drives, the outfit is purportedly looking to move from 500GB/platter to 640GB/platter drives in show order, with the hope being that a four-platter 2.5TB drive could hit the market by early next year. Of course, if the stretch goes well, we could even see a 3.2TB five-platter model from all of this. And believe us--if that happens, the rest of the gang won't be far behind on introducing similar models of their own.

Stealth's NW-2000 Notebook/Tablet Can Take A Beating

2009-08-09T05:20:00.002-07:00

Last we heard from Stealth Computer, it was gettin' down with its very own Core 2 Duo-equipped mini PC. Now, the company is back to doing what it does best: rugged. The all new Stealth NW-2000 Rugged PC isn't for the faint of heart nor those without a degree in weightlifting, but if you're looking for a new machine to withstand scenarios only found in the Rambo series, this probably fits the bill.

The dual-mode machine can easily convert from a traditional notebook to a tablet PC (and back again), with the display supporting touch input for in-the-field doodling. Naturally, the NW-2000 rugged mobile machine meets Military Standard MIL-810F specifications for shock and vibration. The whole machine is encapsulated in a magnesium alloy chassis with built-in protective doors for all I/O ports, and the IP54/NEMA13 environmental protection provides a degree of defense in adverse operating conditions with protection from lint, dust and the spraying of water.

As for specifications, the highly durable, super heavy machine checks in with a 13.3" WXGA LCD (sunlight viewable), a backlit/spill-resistant 86-key keyboard, shock mounted removable hard drive, fingerprint recognition security and a TPM module. There's also integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet and 56k modem, not to mention a 1.06GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of DDR2-667 RAM, a DVD burner, a battery good for around 6 hours of use and Windows XP/Vista. Of course, it tips the scales at just north of nine pounds, so we hope your back is well prepared for the load.

We hope your wallet is ready to take a beating in order to procure a machine that'll do the same, as this thing starts at $4,895. Looks like it's this or a fully loaded 17" Alienware M17x. Oh, what to do?

Buffalo's MicroSD/USB Drive: Guaranteed To Get Lost

2009-08-09T05:19:00.002-07:00

In the never-ending race to produce a flash memory device that'll become lost the moment you unwrap it from its packaging, Buffalo has developed this: the 16GB microSD USB card reader.

Put simply, this nub of a flash memory device--which looks about as large as Logitech's latest USB receivers--holds 16GB of information on its own. But, knowing that that'll never be enough for you, Buffalo also included a microSD/microSDHC slot, so you can toss another 16GB in through that. All told, you're looking at having at least 32GB of storage in a device barely bigger than your thumbnail, which is both useful and highly dangerous.

Useful because, well, who wouldn't want 32GB of storage in something barely larger than their thumbnail? Dangerous because, well, who can afford to lose 32GB of data? If you're certain that you can hold on to your goods no matter how minuscule they are, you can purchase this now (sans a microSD/microSDHC card) for ¥15,500 (around $158).

Twitter, Facebook Hit With DDoS Attack

2009-08-09T05:13:00.002-07:00

A distributed denial-of-service attack on one (yes, one) person yesterday left news media in a quandary. With no Twitter, and no Facebook either, how was the news to be obtained?

Seriously, however, the outage was the result of attacks across several services aimed directly at a blogger named Cyxymu from the Eastern European country of Georgia. Max Kelly, chief security officer at Facebook, told C|Net:

"It was a simultaneous attack across a number of properties targeting him to keep his (Cyxymu) voice from being heard. We're actively investigating the source of the attacks, and we hope to be able to find out the individuals involved in the back end and to take action against them, if we can."

Twitter was down for several hours starting early Thursday morning. It also suffered periodic slowness and time-outs throughout much of the day.

Other services that faced the same DDoS attack were Facebook, LiveJournal, Google Sites, and YouTube.

Of course, the obvious theory is that the attack is due to the still-existent Russia - Georgia enmity. That was posited by Bill Woodcock, research director of the Packet Clearing House, a nonprofit technical organization that tracks Internet traffic:

He said he found evidence that the attacks had originated from the Abkhazia region, a territory on the Black Sea disputed between Russia and Georgia.

Interestingly, he indicated that he found no evidence a botnet, which is frequently used in this sort of attack, was exploited in this case. He noted, instead, that at about 10:30 AM EDT, millions of people worldwide received spam e-mail messages containing links to Twitter and other sites, and that's what caused the outage.

Humorously, as indicated above, there was no way for people to Tweet about the Twitter outage, and that, as satirist Bad Reporter notes, has prompted Twitter to consider a backup system so people can Tweet about not being able to Tweet.

How many of you readers were traumatized by the Twitter outage?

Asus VH242H 23.6" Widescreen LCD Monitor

2009-08-09T04:33:00.002-07:00

With Asus's recent Blitzkrieg of inexpensive Eee PC netbooks and nettops, it might be easy forget that Asus also manufactures a full bevy of components and peripherals from motherboards to graphics cards to networking products. Asus also makes LCD displays, ranging in size from 17-inches on up to 26-inches, which cover a wide swath of feature sets and needs from the budget user to the graphics professional.

One of Asus' recently released displays is the Asus VH242H 23.6-inch widescreen LCD Monitor. The "V" in the product name indicates that it is a "value" model--in other words, it is a budget display. But even with a budget price tag of $249 and using inexpensive thin-film-transistor twisted-nematic (TFT-TN) display technology, the VH242H offers features and performance that you would expect from more-expensive displays. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find many 24-inch or 23.6-inch LCD display at this price point.

Where the VH242H finds places to cut corners is with its lack of an integrated USB hub and a monitor stand that doesn't swivel or offer any height adjustments. But the monitor does include integrated, stereo speakers, as well as separate video inputs for DVI-D, VGA, and HDMI 1.1. Adding to its value, the HDMI input is HDCP compliant, so you can use the VH242H to display protected HD content.

Asus VH242H 23.6" Widescreen LCD Monitor

Specifications and Features

Panel

Pixel Pitch

Color Saturation

Native Resolution

Brightness (Max)

Static Contrast Ratio

Dynamic Contrast Ratio

Colors

Viewing Angle (CR=10)

Response Time

Analog Signal Frequency

Digital Signal Frequency

Video Inputs

Audio jacks

Stereo Speakers

Power Consumption

Power Saving Mode

Chassis Color

Security

Tilt

VESA Wall Mounting:

Phys. Dimension (WxHxD)

Net Weight (Est.)

Gross Weight (Est.)

Accessories

23.6" (16:9 aspect ratio) TFT-TN

0.272mm

72% (NTSC)

1920x1080

300 cd/m²

1000:1

20000:1

16.7 million

170°(H)/160°(V)

5 ms (Tr+Tf) grey-to-grey

31.469-79.976KHz(H)/56-75Hz(V)

31.5-67.5KHz(H)/50-60Hz(V)

DVI-D; VGA (D-Sub); HDMI 1.1 (HDCP)

Line-in; Headphone out; S/PDIF out

2Wx2 stereo RMS

<55w>

MSRP: $249

Gigabyte GV-N250OC-1GI GeForce GTS 250

2009-08-09T04:24:00.002-07:00

A few months back NVIDIA "released" the GeForce GTS 250 priced at just around $150. The reason behind the quotations in the previous statement is that the GTS 250 is not exactly something new. While a lot of NVIDIA's R&D dollars have gone into their higher-end products such as the GTX 285 and GTX 295, to satisfy their mid-level needs they turned to an old stand-by: rebranding a previously higher-end card. In the case of the GeForce GTS 250, we're pretty much looking at the same specifications that we saw with the GeForce 9800 GTX+, with a 1GB frame buffer being the only major difference (and even that isn't a meaningful differentiating factor as 9800 GTX+ cards with 1GB of onboard memory have been around for quite some time.)
Still, it's not all as bad as it might seem, for the 9800 GTX+ was a powerful card in its prime, which means you're getting that same power for much less than the 9800 GTX+ retailed for just over a year ago. Additionally, with the rebranding, NVIDIA hopes to eliminate some of the confusion that comes from having different product lines out there. For example, one might expect a "9800" series card to outperform a "285" series, even though we as enthusiasts know better. Renumbering the cards, as well as placing the GT / GTS/ GTX marker before it, should give a better indicator of where the performance level should be, relative to other NVIDIA offerings.
So, then, what's a manufacturer to do with their current and future product listings? To remain competitive, and not have products lingering in the warehouses, companies need to adjust for these changes quickly. For Gigabyte, they went down parallel paths in regards to the GTS 250. First, they took the GeForce 9800 GTX+ GPUs currently in their possession, flashed their BIOSes, updated the cooler, and rechristened them as the GV-N250ZL-1GI. Newer shipments that were already marked as GTS 250s were used to create the card that we're looking at today, the GV-N250OC-1GI. Although it might be noted that "OC" is part of the product name, this card actually does not get overclocked past the default specifications laid out by NVIDIA. Instead, it appears that the OC refers to the differences in speeds between the 'ZL' model and the 'OC' model, with the ZL clocking in at 740 / 1850 / 2000 MHz and the OC at 738 / 1836 / 2200 MHz. The biggest variance appears to be with the memory clocks, although a recent BIOS update for the OC version will update the core and shader clock speeds to match the ZL. We also became aware, however, of a revision to the GV-N250OC-1GI that comes with higher core and shader clock speeds, bringing the GPU up to 765 MHz and the shaders up to 1912 MHz. For now, we'll focus on the original version's specifications, listed below:

Gigabyte NV-N250OC-1GI GeForce GTS 250

NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250

Specifications and Features

As we mentioned in the introduction, the majority of these specifications match those of the GeForce 9800 GTX+. We can even keep the memory buffer numbers intact, as not only were there 512 MB and 1 GB variants of the 9800 GTX+, but we have seen the same amounts of memory installed on GTS 250s as well. Since we're not covering anything new in terms of the underlying technology behind the GeForce GTS 250 and the G92 that it's based on, we suggest instead revisiting a couple of the following HotHardware articles regarding NVIDIA's previous and current GPU architectures:

GeForce 8800 GT: G92 Takes Flight
GeForce 8800 GTX and 8800 GTS Launch
GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB Refresh
GeForce 9800 GTX Launch
NVIDIA Geforce GTX 280 and GTX 260 Unleashed

Our GeForce 8800 GTX launch article goes in depth on NVIDIA's previous generation G80 GPU architecture, which is fundamentally very similar to the G92, save for its wider memory interface, and explains NVIDIA's CUDA GPGPU technology. Also, our GeForce 8800 GT and 8800 GTS 512MB articles cover much of the technology employed in NVIDIA's G92 GPU architecture. From there, we invite you to take a look at the GTX 260 and GTX 280 launch piece, in which we discuss the GT200 GPU, and the differences and similarities between the two GPUs. We will be including a GTX 260 Core 216 in our benchmarks as well to show the performance deltas between these two sub-$200 graphics cards.

Intel Core i7 Processors: Nehalem and X58 Have Arrived

2009-08-09T04:12:00.002-07:00

There are only a select few events in the PC hardware world that get hardcore enthusiasts truly excited. For example, when popular trade shows like Computex, IDF, and CES take place, there is a fair amount of buzz. Also, anytime the major players in graphics release next-generation GPUs, things definitely heat up; or likewise when a hot new game hits. Finally, when either of the processor big guns, Intel or AMD unleash new CPU micro-architectures on the world, you can almost bet on the community to come alive with enthusiasm. We're sure we've missed a few other momentous occasions as well, but you get the gist. It takes something new and exciting to get a PC Enthusiast's pulse racing.

Thankfully, today is one of those times. Although Intel won't be officially launching their Core i7 processors, formerly codenamed Nehalem, and the X58 Express chipset until sometime later in the month, we've had them in house for a while now and can finally show you all the goods. We've tested every Core i7 speed grade that will be available at launch, along with at trio of X58 Express based motherboards. We've even thrown in some high-resolution multi-GPU SLI and CrossFireX testing for good measure as well.

There's a lot to cover, so we'll keep the introduction short and dive right in. Below are some Core i7 features and specifications to whet your appetite--the main course is available on the pages ahead. Also, our video spotlight of all this new Intel technology can be found here.

Intel Core i7 Processor and Corsair Triple-Channel DDR3 RAM
On The DX58SO 'Smackover' Motherboard

Intel Core i7 Processors

Specifications & Features

Core Frequencies - 3.2GHz (965), 2.93GHz (940, 2.66 (920)
QPI Speed - 6.4GT/s (965), 4.8GT/s (940, 920)
TDP (Thermal Design Power) - 130W
Stepping - 4
Number of CPU Cores - 4
Shared L3 Cache - 8MB
L2 Cache - 1MB (256K x 4)
Processor input voltage (VID) - 1.160v
.045-micron manufacturing process
Shared Smart Cache Technology
PECI Enabled
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST)
Extended HALT State (C1E) Enabled
Execute Disable Bit (XD) Enabled
Intel 64 Technology
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT)

Packaging - Flip Chip LGA1366
Total Die Size: Approximately 263mm2
Approximately 731M Transistors
MSRP - $999 (965), $562 (940), $284 (920)

45nm Nehalem Quad-Core Die

Intel hasn't exactly kept many details regarding Nehalem and the X58 Express chipset a well guarded secret this past year or so. In fact, we've already posted a number of articles related to both, dating back to March of last year, in which we write about many of the main features and specifications of Nehalem, its naming convention and the supporting X58 Express chipset. Here is a breakdown of a few of the most pertinent stories...

Intel Showcases Dunnington, Nehalem and Larrabee Processors

IDF: Inside Nehalem

Intel Nehalem Processor and SSD Sneak Peek

Intel Penryn and Nehalem Details Emerge

Intel Reveals Nehalem Naming Convention

NVIDIA To Support SLI On Intel X58 Chipset

We're going to summarize many of the main details again here, but if you'd like to check out our complete coverage of the Core i7 (Nehalem) and the X58 Express chipset, the list of articles above covers just about all there is to know.

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P Ultra Durable 3 Motherboard

2009-08-09T04:08:00.002-07:00

Home PCs have reached a new plateau recently with the much heralded release of the Core i7 processor from Intel, which goes hand-in-hand with the X58 Express chipset and the motherboards built upon it. Although the Core i7 does borrow technology from earlier CPUs, there are some major changes including placing all four cores on a single die, adding the memory controller directly to the die thereby foregoing the Northbridge, and having said memory controller able to support triple-channel DDR3. Early adopters will be pleased with their performance, as we pointed out in our release piece just a few short weeks ago, but as all major updates go, this requires not only a good deal of money up front, but some patience as well, as kinks get ironed out with the new technologies.

Today, we take a step back from the Core i7 to look at one of the motherboards from Gigabyte's new Ultra Durable 3 line, the EP45-UD3P. As its name suggests, this board is based on the current mainstream chipset offering from Intel, the P45 Express. Although we've covered this ground before, most recently with our look at two recent offerings from MSI, it's helpful to remember that the P45 is closely related to the X48 Express with support for Core 2 Duo and Quad processors as well as DDR2 or DDR3 RAM. What that means for most people is that the EP45-UD3P, as well as other P45 boards, makes for a great upgrade without breaking the bank. We'll get into the UD3P part of the name, and its ramifications a bit later, but for now here's a look at the specifications and bundle.

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P

Specifications and Features

CPU
• Support for Intel Core™ 2 Extreme / Quad / Duo CPUs
• Also supports Intel® Pentium® Extreme Edition / Intel® Pentium® D / Intel® Pentium® 4 Extreme Edition / Intel® Pentium® 4 and Intel® Celeron® processors in the LGA 775 package
• L2 cache varies with CPU

Chipset
• North Bridge: Intel® P45 Chipset
• South Bridge: Intel® ICH10R Chipset

Front Side Bus
1600/1333/1066/800 MHz

Main Memory
• 4 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory
• Dual channel memory architecture
• Support for DDR2 1366+*/1066/800/667 MHz memory modules

Storage
South Bridge:
• 6x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2_0, SATA2_1, SATA2_2, SATA2_3, SATA2_4, SATA2_5) supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices
• Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10
GIGABYTE SATA2 chip:
• 1x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices
• 2x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (GSATA2_0, GSATA2_1) supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices
• Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1 and JBOD
iTE IT8718 chip:
• 1x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive

Expansion Slots
• 1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16
• 1x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8
(The PCIEx16 and PCIEx8 slots support ATI CrossFireX technology and conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
• 3x PCI Express x1 slot
• 2x PCI slots

Audio
• Realtek ALC889A codec
• High Definition Audio
• 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
• Support for Dolby Home Theater
• Support for S/PDIF In/Out
• Support for CD-In

IEEE1394
• T.I. TSB43AB23 chip
• Up to 3 IEEE 1394a ports
(2 on the back panel, 1 via the IEEE 1394a bracket connected to the internal IEEE 1394a header)

LAN
• 2x Realtek 8111C chips (10/100/1000 Mbit)
• Support for Teaming

ATI CrossFire
Supports ATI CrossFire graphics cards (x8, x8)

On-Board Peripherals
• 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector
• 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
• 1x floppy disk drive connector
• 1x IDE connector
• 8x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
• 1x CPU fan header
• 2x system fan headers
• 1x power fan header
• 1x front panel header
• 1x front panel audio header
• 1x CD In connector
• 1x S/PDIF In header
• 1x S/PDIF Out header
• 2x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
• 1x IEEE 1394a header
• 1x parallel port header
• 1x serial port header
• 1x power LED header
• 1x chassis intrusion header

Back Panel I/O Ports
• 1x PS/2 mouse port
• 1x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
• 1x optical S/PDIF Out connector
• 1x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector
• 8x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
• 2x IEEE 1394a ports
• 2x RJ-45 ports
• 6x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/Side Speaker Out/Line

BIOS
• 2x 8 Mbit flash
• Use of licensed AWARD BIOS
• Support for Dual BIOS
• PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b

Hardware Monitoring
• System voltage detection
• CPU/System temperature detection
• CPU/System/Power fan speed detection
• CPU overheating warning
• CPU/System/Power fan fail warning
• CPU/System fan speed control

Dimensions
• 30.5cm(L) x 24.4cm(W) ATX Form Factor

Mounting
9 mounting holes

Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P ships in a box that is more focused on features than fancy graphics and imagery. Primarily highlighted are the components making up their Ultra Durable 3 Technology, including 2oz. of copper embedded in the PCB, 50,000 hour rated Japanese capacitors, Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs, and ferrite core chokes.

Inside the box we found a user's manual, another manual regarding Trusted Computing, and yet another multi-language hardware installation guidebook. The last of these is a guide written in 25 languages that quickly covers the basics from installing the CPU or RAM to connecting drives and assorted cables. The main manual is all you'll really need as it covers the same ground, but in more detail. Finally, the Ultra TPM manual is a step-by-step description of how to set up encrypted folders on your PC using hardware-based encryption. Drivers and applications arrive on a single DVD for both Vista and XP users. Along with the device drivers, Norton IS, Easy Tune 6, G.O.M. (Gigabyte's Online Management Utility) and Ultra TPM Security software are included.
Two case badges, one each for promoting Gigabyte and Dolby Digital Audio, are thrown in with the cables. There are four orange SATA cables, 2 completely straight while the other two have angled connectors. Blue ribbon IDE and floppy cables and a colored/labeled I/O shield make up the rest of the basic items. An additional bracket with external eSATA data and power ports connects to two open SATA ports on the board, and gets equipped with eSATA power and data cables. Overall, nothing too fancy outside of the external SATA equipment.

EVGA X58 3X SLI Core i7 Motherboard

2009-08-09T04:03:00.002-07:00

Intel's recent launch of the Core i7 processor and its accompanying chipset platform, was met with plenty of buzz and splash, due not only to the product's architectural enhancements but also its performance gains. However, the new serially enabled Core i7 also brought fairly significant platform changes as well. Though some folks may be resistant to it, most times, change is good. And Intel's new, more scalable QPI serial interface was long overdue. In fact, the Core i7 marks what could be considered one of the most significant changes in Intel's desktop processor architecture in many years. Though the new CPU requires a new processor socket and the new X58 Express chipset, end user migration to the new Core i7 desktop chip will be gradual at first but will build momentum as the platform matures into 2009.

Of course, all of these changes mean lots of new product releases from Intel's "ecosystem partners", as they like to call them. Since our launch article took flight in November, a steady stream of Intel X58 chipset-based motherboards have been filing into our labs here at HotHardware and we're queueing them up for testing and evaluation. One of the first boards we got in was an offering from EVGA, aptly branded the X58 3X SLI. Though the board's part number is a bit cryptic (we tested an EVGA p/n: 132-BL-E758-A1 board), the model naming should tip you off that this motherboard not only supports AMD ATI multi-GPU CrossFireX graphics configurations but also NVIDIA SLI graphics setups including 3-way SLI.

The EVGA X58 3X SLI motherboard also supports all of the latest features inherent to Intel's X58 Express chipset, including triple channel DDR3 system memory. Here's a quick look at the X58 Express chipset block diagram, as a refresher.

Noteably, 3-way SLI configurations are supported in this motherboard via a x16,x8,x8 lane configuration, in each of the board's three full length x16 slots. You can reference this diagram here from our recent overview of the technology for further details. However, with each of these lane configurations supporting full Gen2 PCI Express links, there is more than enough bandwidth to support the required graphics processing throughput.

X58 Showdown: ASUS Rampage II vs. MSI Eclipse

2009-08-09T04:02:00.002-07:00

First, we'll start off with an overview of the Intel X58 Express chipset. As shown in the block diagram below, the major changes revolve around the CPU's system and memory interfaces. Considering Intel's relatively slower evolution over their past few chipset updates, it's almost as if they sat back, looked at what needed changing, and then just went ahead and did them all in one fell swoop.

Asus W90Vp 18.4" Gaming Notebook

2009-08-09T03:58:00.002-07:00

As of late, much of the spotlight on Asus products has focused on the company's diminutive Eee PC netbook line. With a near constant stream of new models to fit nearly any possible set of requirements, it's easy to see why the Eee brand has become Asus' most recognizable. That said, the company's mobile product offerings are definitely about more than just 8- to 10-inch machines, and that's clearly evidenced by the Asus-branded rig that we're looking at today, the W90Vp.

The W90Vp pulls no punches, makes no excuses, apologies or attempts whatsoever to be something it's not. We've always heard that judging a book by its cover (or a notebook by its lid) was a bad idea, but we can tell you right now -- the W90Vp is exactly what you think it is. Big, beastly, brawny and not for the weak of heart.

The Asus W90Vp

Quite frankly, it's almost laughable that this computer can be considered a "notebook." All it takes it one moment with it on your lap, and you too will have a tough time classifying it as such. Asus has absolutely thrown caution to the wind and forged ahead with a machine that will only appeal to a niche of gamers and enthusiasts, but we definitely appreciate that someone's still willing to do it. With all the focus these days being put on bargain basement machines that can fit in oversized cargo pockets, it's a breath of fresh air to see something as completely over-the-top as the W90Vp. Not that "ridiculous" is a bad thing -- don't get us wrong -- but there's hardly a better way to describe a laptop that's over 2.25" thick at places, 17.7" from end to end and around 12 pounds with the battery installed.

On one hand, it's easy to say that Asus made no compromises here. It didn't bother scaling back the processor or GPU in order to shove everything into a slimmer case. Nor did it replace the twin HDD setup with an SSD setup to save space and weight. Neither did they leave off the numerical keypad. Heck, they even threw in a Blu-ray drive, which seems pretty smart given that the 18.4" Full HD display just might be larger than your bedroom television. On the other hand, though, we can't ignore that Asus did in fact compromise in some areas. With an absolutely gigantic surface to work with, it placed a trackpad that's smaller than that found on the 13" MacBook Air. Asus could have fit a miniature Wacom tablet on this thing, yet it chose to take the path of least resistance.

The Asus W90Vp Keyboard and Touchpad

Similar curious decisions are splattered about, making the W90Vp a bona fide Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. If you're interested in seeing exactly what corners were cut, what envelopes were pushed and what barriers were broken down, follow us through the rest of this evaluations as we break the intricacies down on one of the world's largest notebooks.

ToshibaDirect.com is offering a free upgrade from Windows Vista® to Windows® 7

2009-08-03T08:40:00.002-07:00

ToshibaDirect.com is offering a free upgrade from Windows Vista® to Windows® 7 with all new Satellite® and Qosmio® laptops purchased today!

June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010, purchase any new Satellite® or Qosmio® laptop from ToshibaDirect.com, and we'll pay for your upgrade to Windows® 7 when it becomes available.

If you purchase a laptop with...	You may upgrade to...
Windows Vista® Home Premium	Windows® 7 Home Premium
Windows Vista® Business*	Windows® 7 Professional
Windows Vista® Ultimate	Windows® 7 Ultimate

The Toshiba Tecra®, Portégé, and Satellite Pro® laptops as well as any systems with Windows® XP, Windows Vista® Starter, and Windows Vista® Basic do NOT qualify for the Windows® 7 Upgrade Option.

Note: The Windows Vista® to Windows® 7 upgrade does not require the removal of Windows Vista® before installing Windows® 7. However, some applications may require removal prior to the Windows® 7 upgrade process and reinstallation once the upgrade is complete. Upgrading Windows® XP to Windows® 7 will require a clean installation of Windows® 7.

Full details on how to sign up for the upgrade program will be shipped with your laptop, and are also available online at http://laptops.toshiba.com/windows7upgrade.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

2009-08-01T00:34:00.002-07:00

After I had previously written a guide SEO (Search Engine Optimization) from Google for beginners (Hint SEO for beginners). At this time we do not have to strain hard to translate the previous ebook guide is only available in English is.

Google has not had time to translate this guide into SEO these 40 languages, including English.

SEO guide for beginners in 22 pages is very helpful for us to start a new one or have never learned what it is to SEO and how to apply them in our blog or website. So that at least the website / blog we can terindex with good search engine.

With diterjemahkannya into 40 languages (which include the estimated 98% internet users in the world), it is expected that the website owners / webmasters can improve the visibility in search engines and of course also easier (profitable) job search engines, especially google as the main players.

Following list of more SEO Guide is already translated into 40 languages (in the form of PDF, with the number of pages about 22 pieces):

Mundie: The desktop of the future is a room

2009-07-30T21:19:00.002-07:00

Microsoft Chief Research & Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie, demonstrates natural user interface technologies during Thursday's Financial Analyst Meeting in Redmond.

(Credit: Robert Sorbo/Microsoft)

REDMOND, Wash.--While gesture recognition, such as that seen in Project Natal can help gaming, Microsoft's Craig Mundie showed how it will also transform the office.
In a demo, Microsoft's top research and strategy officer showed how the desktop computer of the future will use an entire office as both display and input device, with voice and gestures augmenting a number of touch screens.
"The real question is what killer apps (will mark the) new era and what will be the user interface that people use to get at them," Mundie said, speaking at Microsoft's financial analyst meeting here.
His demo included hologram-like video conferencing, a virtual digital assistant, and multiple surface computers along with voice, touch, and gesture recognition. The desk was a multitouch surface computer, and the office's walls were also a display that could easily switch from being a virtual window and collection of digital photos to being a corkboard of sticky notes to various workspaces.
In one case, Mundie also used Natal-like depth cameras to put himself in the middle of an architectural demo, essentially putting himself inside a building that was not yet built. His talk followed entertainment chief Robbie Bach demoing the gaming potential of Natal, playing a breakout-like game called Riccochet, where one uses their body to push, block, and kick balls at various bricks. Microsoft showed Natal at the E3 trade show earlier this year but hasn't said when the Xbox 360 add-on will be commercially available.
"I'm not playing the Riccochet game, but I am using these technologies," Mundie said. "This is our dream, but it is really not that far away. We see a pretty direct path to make this happen. We have all of the technologies to make this happen in our research labs."
In an interview earlier this month, Bill Gates told CNET News that Microsoft plans to use Natal far beyond the Xbox, including with Windows.
The demo was similar in some respects, but more advanced in others, than the one shown by Office chief Stephen Elop earlier this year.

Hackers rumored to have cracked Windows 7 activation

2009-07-30T21:18:00.002-07:00

Microsoft only just released final code for Windows 7 to manufacturers and the company is already facing a security risk.

The Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy system in the Windows 7 Ultimate release to manufacturers (RTM) has reportedly been compromised by some Chinese hackers, according to a variety of Chinese forums, and first reported by Neowin.com.This means the user can fully activate the software offline without connecting to Microsoft's activation server.
The software's RTM code is generally the same as the retail code, which will be available to the public in October. PC makers tend to get the final product with plenty of time in advance of the launch to make their products ready on the launch date.
It must have been a complicated process, but in a nutshell, hackers reportedly used the leaked ISO file to get hold of the activation certificate that Microsoft digitally signed for the original equipment manufacturer, or OEM version of Windows 7. It's rumored that the key that got hacked is one that can be used to activate multiple OEM-branded installations, such as Dell's, HP's, or, of course, Lenovo's.
I am no fan of the activation, (it's a pain when you change computer parts, which I do very frequently) but this is rather upsetting news. I am sure, in no time, you will be able to buy a copy of Windows 7 in China or Vietnam for less than a dollar.
Addressing this, Microsoft released a this statement to CNET News:

We are aware of reports of activation exploits that attempt to circumvent activation and validation in Windows 7, and we can assure customers that Microsoft is committed to protecting them from counterfeit and pirated software. Microsoft strongly advises customers not to download Windows 7 from unauthorized sources. Downloading Windows 7 from peer-to-peer Web sites exposes users to increased risks--such as viruses, Trojans, and other malware and malicious code--that usually accompany counterfeit software. These risks can seriously harm or permanently destroy data and often expose users to identity theft and other criminal schemes.