Intel Shows Its Atom-based Android Smartphone and Tablet Prototypes

By all standards, Intel had a dream year - the company achieved record revenue and record profits. However, there was one dark spot on otherwise, a spotless record: Atom line of products.

Intel Atom was introduced in 2008 as a byproduct of Intel receiving back the P55C core from US Army. The second byproduct of that heavily modified and optimized core was Larrabee graphics core, which got canceled and is now known as a HPC-accelerator Knights Bridge / Knights Corner. Intel Atom enjoyed a lot of success in 2008-2010, with a lot of analysts writing stories about the rise of netbooks and how netbooks will mark the end of PC as we know it. Sounds familiar, right?

Fast forward to third quarter of 2011: Intel posted excellent sales and profit results, but the company also marked a 32% decline in sales of Intel Atom platform. Indeed, when we look at Atom as a whole, the product actually declined by over 60% during 2011 alone - as tablets took over the hearts and minds of consumers, sales of netbooks came to a screeching halt.

Intels answer to tablets is known for quite some time: Intels second SoC design codenamed Medfield (first one being Cedarview, D2x00 Series). Medfield is manufactured in 32nm process node and is consisted out of single Atom core operating up to 1.9GHz clock, integrated graphics subsystem (it is not known which one, but current Atoms utilize PowerVR SGX545), Image Signal Processor, memory controller and chipset features. Do note that SGX545 is more powerful than SGX543MP2 used inside the Apples A5 Dual-core chip.

On IDF Fall 2011, Intel showed its prototypes of smartphone and tablet designs, but the Android operating system was not ready for the limelight. Few months after, Android 2.x and 3.x long gone and the company is optimizing for Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

You can expect the first smartphone and tablet designs coming in the first half of 2012. Second half of 2012 will see the appearance of Windows 8 tablets, where Intel will argue compatibility with full set of applications on Windows 8. Bear in mind that ARM-based tablets wont be able to run software compiled for the X86 instruction set.

Still, Medfield is just the introductionary part and were not surprised ARM vendors are sound asleep at the market acceptance. Real headache for every member of ARM ecosystem is coming on CES 2013, the 22nm Silvermont - completely new Atom architecture, which will go hand in hand with the next-generation 22nm Haswell architecture for high-performance computers.

HP Introduces Advanced Family of Disk Arrays at Entry-level Prices

HP today introduced a new family of entry-level disk arrays with enterprise-class features that can help customers more effectively centralize storage to lower costs, increase administrator efficiency and reduce business downtime.

The HP StorageWorks 2000 Modular Smart Array (MSA2000) family is composed of low-cost Fibre Channel and iSCSI disk arrays for highly available, storage area networks (SAN) that is designed for virtualized server environments.

The easy-to-use, enterprise-class systems are designed for small and mid-size businesses, however, enterprises also will find the MSA2000 is an ideal solution for their remote office, departmental, secondary and tertiary storage needs.

The entry-level external storage market was $2.8 billion in 2006, according to analysts, and HP garnered a market-leading 21 percent market share in this segment in 2007.

“HP’s market strength and experience in the entry-level SAN segment allows them to deliver cost-effective solutions that provide high levels of availability and scalability,” said John Webster, principal IT advisor, Illuminata Inc. “There is a growing demand among customers with smaller storage needs for features to support high-profile data and applications, as well as deployments of virtual servers.”

The MSA2000 arrays are easily deployed in physical or virtual server environments to deliver an available and automated infrastructure. The modular arrays also support a wide range of application deployments, including VMware virtualization software. The MSA2000 enables customers to increase disk utilization by deploying any combination of SAS or SATA drives to achieve an ideal mix of price, reliability and performance to support their business.

New capabilities within the MSA2000 increase application uptime to better ensure that the systems are available for the business. For example, features such as dual power supplies, optional dual controllers and redundant hardware with automatic failover significantly reduce business downtime.

To further minimize the risk of business interruption, the MSA2000 includes optional management software for “snap and clone” capabilities. These new data duplication capabilities are critical in protecting data and streamlining IT processes with rapid backup and recovery operations. This more reliable data protection also features a persistent cache that does not require a battery backup, thus reducing the potential disposal of hazardous material.

Both the iSCSI and Fibre Channel MSA2000 arrays complement the HP BladeSystem and feature a built-in management console to set up and configure the storage without additional hardware and software. This enables HP BladeSystem customers to easily fit the MSA2000 into their current management environment and configure all their blades at once instead of one blade at a time.

The flexible and modular nature of the HP StorageWorks portfolio eases the addition of file services to the MSA2000 family using HP ProLiant Storage Servers or an HP StorageWorks EFS Clustered Gateway. By leveraging familiar ProLiant server configuration and system management tools, minimal training is required for IT managers and administration is simplified.

“Our modular storage arrays are perfect for customers who have a limited IT budget, but need a solution that is quickly scalable for shared storage environments,” said Robin Hensley, vice president of Entry Storage, StorageWorks, HP. “Customers will benefit from consolidating their storage and can take advantage of features like snap and clone to protect their data and deliver value to their business.”

The MSA2000 disk arrays can scale up to 36 terabytes of capacity and support either 4-Gb Fibre Channel (MSA2000fc) or 1-Gb iSCSI (MSA2000i) host connectivity. The arrays can be configured with up to 48 SAS or SATA disk drives for an optimal mix of performance, cost and energy efficiency.

The HP StorageWorks 2000 Modular Smart Array starts at U.S. list price of $4,999 with general availability expected in March.

Source: HP

iPhone 4S gets thumbs up from Consumer Reports

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Consumer Reports, the influential magazine for product reviews, gave a thumbs up to Apple's new iPhone on Tuesday after declining to recommend the previous model because of reception problems.

"Apple's newest smartphone (the

Consumer Reports said the iPhone 4 continues to lose

Apple has received some complaints about battery problems with the iPhone 4S but Consumer Reports said the phone "did very well in our standard tests of battery life."

"The iPhone 4S and new samples of the iPhone 4 have displayed no notable battery problems in additional special tests we carried out," it said.

Apple said last week it was working to squash software bugs that have caused some iPhone 4S owners to report lower than expected battery life.

Apple said it would release a software update to address the bugs in a few weeks.

The iPhone 4S has been a hit for Apple. The Cupertino, California-based company sold more than four million of the smartphones in the three days after it hit the market on October 4.

Dell Latitude 100L Value Notebook

Dell today introduced the Latitude(tm) 100L, a desktop replacement notebookcomputer designed for small businesses and institutional customers sensitive topurchase price. Starting at S$ 1,736(1), the Latitude 100L easily handlesessential computing tasks like word processing, e-mail and Internet access, andis ideal for customers who value the flexibility and productivity that comeswith mobile computing.

Weighing slightly more than three kilograms(2), the 100L can be customconfigured with Intel(tm) Celeron(tm) or Mobile Pentium(tm) 4 processors, 14.1-or 15-inch displays, 20GB(3) to 60GB(3) hard drives and a variety of fixedoptical drives. Optional integrated wireless capability is also available.Complete product details can be found at www.dell.com/latitude

Dell supports the Latitude 100L with a portfolio of product lifecycle servicesincluding mobile and security solutions. Smaller IT staffs can focus on internalstrategic initiatives while Dell's award-winning services provide for accidentaldamage coverage, custom software integration, on-site break-fix service,advanced technical support, theft prevention security and asset management.

About Latitude: 10 Year Anniversary Celebration Dell is marking its 10thanniversary of Latitude notebooks this year.
Since 1994, Dell has provided customized mobile solutions and had shipped morethan 13 million Latitude notebooks worldwide. Today, Dell is the leadingsupplier worldwide of notebooks for medium and large businesses(4). Dell'snetwork-optimized notebook products offer long life cycles and cross-familycompatibility, all of which contribute to simplified IT management and lowertotal cost of ownership.

Technical Features of the Latitude 100L include:

* Choice of Intel Celeron processors at 2.40GHz(5) or Mobile Intel Pentium 4processor at 2.66GHz(5) combined with the Intel 852GMV chipset
* Choice of 14.1- or 15-inch XGA (1024 x 768) display
* 128MB to 1GB of DDR266 shared SDRAM(6)
* Choice of 20GB, 30GB, 40GB or 60GB hard drives
* Choice of 8-cell, 65WHr or 12-cel 96WHr Lithium Ion Battery
* Choice of CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW combination and DVD+RW/+R(7)opticaldrives
* Integrated 10/100 Etnernet and 56K V92 modem(8)
* Ports include: Two USB 2.0, VGA, Headphone and Microphone
* Optional internal wireless mini-PCI card 802.11b, 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g(9)
* Choice of Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional Operating System
* One Year Service and Support, optional longer terms available(10)

High fashion, high tech intersect at CES confab

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The folks who brought you laptop trackpads, voice-activated smartphones and touch-screen tablets are dreaming up new ways for users to interact with technology through wearable, fashionable gadgets.

The high-tech industry used the International

"The nail had to look nice, I didn't want women to have to compromise," said dermatologist Sri Vellanki, founder of the Montana-based company and inventor of the concept, who said she hopes to sell the product in a few months.

SunnyBag, a firm based in Austria, was showing its handbag equipped with

The surge in the use of smartphones which can be used as music players has stimulated the creation of headphones which double as fashion accessories. Some on display at CES are integrated into caps or scarves.

Some headphones were being marketed as fashion items including one from iHip promoted by permatanned reality show star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi with splashes of glittery faux-diamond plastic and leopard print.

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The "hi-Call" devices look like ordinary knit gloves, but are equipped with

CES also saw a spate of new wristwatch products, some powered by Android, which can access apps from a smartphone, some with emergency calling capacity.

The crowdfunded Pebble Technology watch can tell users when their bus is arriving, monitor one's sleep and send data back through their smartphones to the Internet.

Italian-based i'm SpA, which last year debuted what it called the world's first smart watch, unveiled a new version along with i'm Here, a GPS tracker that help mark out missing children, adventurers or adults with dementia.

Another wearable device came from US-based Vuzix, which offered a rival to Google Glasses with a device fitting around the forehead with a screen which connects to a smartphone.

But Vuzix's David Lock said another device in the works is a real pair of glasses which also allows users to visualize what is on a smartphone or other mobile device.

"We see that as the holy grail," Lock said.

CES also featured its own high-tech fashion show, with LED and illuminated dresses and corsets and accessories.

"We're about to see an entire new industry take off based on high tech fashion," said Robin Raskin, organizer of the show featured in the CES Living in Digital Times program.

"Fashion is soon to become personalized, elegant and useful and will remain a constant couture."

IBM, HP Look to Small Businesses

Top-tier OEMS continue to push their technology down to the smallest businesses as they try to expand the reach of their portfolios.

IBM on April 10 rolled out two new System i Express servers and a new pricing plan - and highlighted a partner program - as it attempts to carve out space in a market traditionally dominated by Windows-based servers.

The move by the Armonk, N.Y., company came two weeks after rival Hewlett-Packard unveiled its ProLiant ML115, a system powered by Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron processor that starts at $499 and can perform such essential small-business functions as networking, file and print, and shared Web access.

Illuminata analyst Gordon Haff said it makes sense for these companies to turn their attention to smaller businesses, particularly for IBM, which historically has done little business in this arena. "IBM has a very well established medium-business play with System i," Haff said. "Although they've called it SMB - small and midsize business - … it's quite clearly a medium-business play."

At an event here announcing the offerings, IBM officials said they hope their integrated platform - the hardware bundled with such applications as database management, security and job scheduling - combined with the low per-user fee will entice small companies to look at their offerings rather than simply opt for Windows-based solutions.

With the System i 515 - designed for five to 40 users - IBM is targeting small companies with as few as five employees and less than $100 million in annual revenue. Despite having a reputation as a vendor that caters primarily to large enterprises, IBM has a thriving midmarket business, said Steve Solazzo, general manager for IBM's SMB unit. About 20 percent of IBM's overall revenue comes from that segment, Solazzo said. The new System i 525 is more of a midmarket play.

"IBM and the midmarket … is not as much an oxymoron as it may sound," Solazzo said to a small gathering of reporters and analysts here.

Both IBM and HP, of Palo Alto, Calif., view small companies as a potentially lucrative segment of the marketplace, where businesses - and their IT needs - can grow rapidly.

"This is a very broad offering that can fit the needs of an office with 20 employees, 10 employees or four employees," Krista Satterthwaite, a group manager for HP's Industry Standard Servers, said of the ML115. "As these small and midsize businesses continue to grow into bigger and bigger businesses, HP has the ability to offer them products that can take them all the way up the chain. A small business with an entry-level server can turn into an enterprise customer for us."

IBM officials estimated that smaller businesses offer a $50 billion market.

Illuminata's Haff said that for HP, which has had a presence in markets of all sizes, the new server is a "more tailored offering" for smaller companies and is less of a stretch than for IBM. IBM has to battle the perception that it doesn't work with smaller companies, as well as the lack of name recognition for the System i platform, he said. Partners will be the key.

"Integration is clearly a big plus - for IBM - ," Haff said. "The challenge is that you can go into a small business, and they'll say, 'System i? What is that?' And that goes back to partners really being the lead here."

Along with the new servers and per-user pricing model, IBM touted its System i Vertical Industry Program, a partner initiative launched in January and designed to bring the System i platform to SMBs.

Paul Paciello, director of IT for Polar Beverages, said IBM is addressing the key issues with smaller businesses when it comes to technology, particularly with the integrated software stack and management capabilities in the System i platform. "It's not about the technology," Paciello said. "It's about business. All technology does is enable business to do a better job."

Polar Beverages, in Worcester, Mass., for several years has been running a System i5 550 for its more mission-critical applications, and a host of Windows servers for other software, Paciello said. However, he has found it easier to consolidate many of those applications running on Windows systems onto the System i server rather than keep growing his Windows environment.

Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International

Dell Slapped With Lawsuit Over Intel

Dell is facing an investor lawsuit alleging that it improperly accounted for hundreds of millions of dollars in payments from its long-time partner Intel. Plaintiffs allege that the computer giant was receiving as much as $ 1 billion a year in "secret and likely illegal" kickbacks from Intel to ensure that Dell used no other chipmaker. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas, it said. Officials at the law firm could not immediately be reached for comment. A Dell spokesman said the company does not comment on pending litigation. The company has not seen the lawsuit, he added.

Dell announces new Inspiron R laptops - 13R, 14R, 15R

Sleek and powerful, the new Dell Inspiron R allows for simple and effortless sharing of photos and videos.

SINGAPORE,APRIL 27, 2010 – Pre-loaded with easy-to-use software such as Dell Dock and DataSafeOnline, the Inspiron R is a great choice for anyone who wants to easily access personal files and securely share photos and videos wirelessly. It is also the ideal mobile personal entertainment hub, offering smooth video playback, surround sound and a built-in Webcam.

Wrapped in curvy edges, smooth lines and four unique brushed metal finishes with chrome accents, the Inspiron R laptops are as beautifully designed as they are useful. Available in three display sizes from 13- and 14-inch models that fit perfectly in a messenger bag to home and a dorm room-friendly 15-inch version, the Inspiron R boasts a contemporary and sleek appearance that will make anyone feel good about bringing it out in the classroom or the local coffee shop.

For those who choose the optional Intel Wireless Display feature, the Inspiron R makes it easy to view movies, photos and surf the Web on a HDTV without the need for cables.

“The Inspiron R takes the rock solid Inspiron line and amps up the cool factor with a sexy and practical machine for gaming, entertainment, and social networking along with all the usual home, school and work functions. Aside from the great new look, the Inspiron R makes it easy to access media and puts your most commonly used apps right up top with the Dell Dock feature,” said Walt Mayo, Vice President and General Manager, Dell Consumer Asia. “Photos, videos and personal files can also be securely stored and shared with DataSafeOnline for peace of mind right out of the box. This is a laptop that moms will love and youths will desire.”

Designed to stand up to the rigors of active children, students, commuters and travelers, Inspiron R models also add smudge-resistant palm rests, a full-size, ergonomically-designed keyboard and a stiffer frame for a solid, quality feel while available Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors and optional ATI graphics ensure great performance today and tomorrow.

Dell ships the Inspiron M101z ultrathin laptop with long battery life

Sub-four pound laptop packs premium style and performance in an ultra-portable PC

SINGAPORE, Aug. 17 2010 – Dell today announced the latest in compact computing - the ultra-portable and ultra-stylish Inspiron M101z laptop. The perfect combination of size, weight, performance and contemporary lux looks, the Inspiron M101z is the ideal on-the-go, easy-to-use laptop PC for today’s mobile population.

Whether a student running between classes, a mom trying to keep the kids entertained, carrying this ultrathin sub-4-pound laptop that fits easily in a handbag or backpack helps lighten the load. Despite its diminutive size, the Inspiron M101z laptop packs performance punch, nimbly stepping through everyday tasks quickly and delivering impressive stutter-free playback of streaming movies and HD videos.

Blending brains and beauty, the Inspiron M101z laptop is built around a clever hinge-forward design that moves the display closer and keeps the body rigid for improved strength and durability. It features a full-width keyboard that simplifies typing and navigation, while the attractive finishes and smooth curves make it stand out in a crowd. And with a choice of four vibrant colors, people also have the ability to add personal style to their PC.

Powered by AMD Athlon™ II Neo Mobile processors and integrated ATi graphics, the M101z laptop leaves comparably-sized netbooks in the dust, while achieving up to 6.5 hours of operation with its standard 6-cell rechargeable battery.

The Inspiron M101z is available today from www.dell.com.sg and prices begin at S$699 with a one-year limited warranty standard. The Inspiron M101z comes with Syncables Desktop® software that makes it easy to synch photos, music, video and data with a primary computer for quick, on-the-go access. Another helpful application pre-installed includes Skype.

Highlights:

· Speedy AMD Athlon™ II Neo single and dual core mobile processor options with integrated ATi graphics
· Dazzling 11.6-inch TrueLife™ HD glossy WLED display (1366x768)
· Full-width ergonomic keyboard with raised individual keypads
· Up to 4GB of fast DDR3 memory at 800MHz
· Up to 320GB SATA hard drive that can store 142 hours of DVD-quality video, 38 hours of HD video or up to 80,000 MP3 songs
· Built-in 1.3 megapixel Webcam, SRS Premium Sound with two 1.5W speakers, three USB 2.0 connections, one with USB PowerShare, HDMI port, VGA port and 7-in-1 media card reader
·Integrated 10/100 Ethernet, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) with Bluetooth 3.0 wireless standard
·Selection of colors and finishes including Clear Black, Peacock Blue and Tomato Red with Jax pattern, and Promise Pink with DigiPais pattern and matching design on palmrest
·Standard 6-cell battery with 9-cell battery option available later this fall
·Choice of operating systems, up to Windows® 7 Home Premium
·Clean user interface with Dell Dock and pre-installed applications including Syncables Desktop, Skype and Microsoft Office 2010 Starter.
· Available external DVD/RW drive and portable USB speakers options

Evercool Unveils Armor HDD Cooler

Armor HDD Cooler

Taipei based Evercool has launched the Armor HDD Cooler,adding on to its portfolio of cooling products. Measuring 150 x 85 x162mm and weighing 585.5g, the cooler converts two 5.25” drive bays toaccommodate three 3.5” HDD.

Demountable Filter and Mesh

Armor HDD Cooler with 3x 3.5" HDDs

Featuring demountable and easy to clean filters to keep dust out of thecase, the Armor also has four rubber spacers at the bottom to absorbshock to protect and reduce damage to the HDDs from impact. Heat isexhausted by a 2 ball-bearing 80mm fan (running at 1200 RPM) and itsstylish mesh design should appeal to most users. Availability andpricing has not been announced yet so stay tuned for more updates.

Features:

Convert the dual 5.25” Drive Bays into a three 3.5” H.D.DInside demountable filters are easy to clear as well as filter the dust effectively to keep the case inside cleanAseismatic design preserves the hard disc from damageUsing 8cm long life fan provides well cooling performance News via [Evercool]

Diablo III Officially Launches Today

VR-Zone was at Funan DigitaLife Mall around noon, and spotted a long queue that formed from inside to the outside of the complex. Gamers who have pre-ordered the Diablo III game will need to join the queue to collect their Standard Edition box set. Surprisingly, the queue was moving relatively fast and acording to Asiasoft, the gamers in line are being verified at the verification counter and thengiven a queue number; they will be free toleave the queue after. At 3pm, gamers will collect their box setsbased on the range ofqueue numbersthat are flashed on the number displays.

Seth Chan, a 24-year old clerk, wasfirst in the pre-order queue since 6am yesterday morning and for being a hardcore fan, he walks away with the Standard Edition of the game,as well as a Collectors Edition.

Also spotted at the event were ASUS showcasing Nvidia technology with their desktop system that is equipped with Rampage IV Extreme, ASUS GTX680 (reference) and GTX 680 DirectCu II Top, Intel Core i7-3820, CoolerMaster Hyper 412 Slim, Gskill DDR3-1600 CL9 16GB (4GB x4), OCZ Vertex 4 128GB, CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 1500W PSU, and 3x VG278H 3D monitors;ROG CG8580 and CG8565 gaming desktop PCs; and Jinx gaming T-shirts that are retailing at S$32 at the event.

Needless to say,we expect to seecosplayersat such gaming event, like this female demon hunter with two crossbows -one of thefive distinct classes in Diablo III. 3PM isnt just the official Diablo 3 launch time, but is also the official timethat gamers canget on the game servers to play. Unfortunately,up to the time of posting, we have heard from manyplayers that they are experiencing an "Error #37" in terms of connecting to the servers. So if you are experiencing such problems, do try again later.

Oh, and if you have collected your pre-order and still at Funan DigitaLife Mall, you may want to stay for the lucky draw at 6.30pm and the grand lucky draw at 8.45pm where you stand a chance to walk away with exclusive game premiums like SteelSeries Diablo III gaming mice, headsets and mousepads.

AMD Socket F CPUs w Integrated PCIe

AMD first integrates the memory controller onto their processors and is now looking to integrate PCIe as well. The expected timeframe for the PCIe integration onto CPU core will be H2 2006 and AMD Opteron based on Socket F 1207 is expected to take up this integration. You can expect what those extra 267 pins compared to the S940 Opteron are for now.

AMD Llano APU is Shipping

In fact, Llano (as part of the Sabine platform) has been shipping since late March, as suggested by the above picture - a celebration at AMDs Singapore branch.

While AMD remains silent about when we can expect the OEMs to ship systems with A-series APUs, rumours suggest we can see Sabine based laptops as early as May. Of course, we can certainly expect the notebook and desktop worlds, OEM and retail, to be flooded with A-series Fusion APUs within this quarter, by June. Rumours suggest AMD has notched up an impressive number of design wins for its A-series APUs.

Despite being so close to release, we dont know much about Llano and its Sabine platform and Socket FM1, beyond a tentative line-upand some performance demos by AMD.

AMDs Llano release is now expected to be closely followed by its next-gen CPU release, FX-Series (Bulldozer) in what is a crucial few months for AMD.

Source: AMD Blogs

Apple Plans iTunes Store for Newspapers

Apple may be planning to launch a new service for the iPad, and its targeting users who want to read electronics newspapers. To date, the company alreadylaunched theiriTunes store for music and videos andiBooks for ebooks, and it with the new store for electronics newspapers, this means you can choose from a wide variety of newspapersto download and read.

Special iPad versions of somenewspapers are already available though the application will provide more convenience instead of having to switch between differentapplications. The move could boost the appeal of the iPad device, but it is likely the service will only be available in US initially.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Le développement de S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 arrêté

Mauvaise nouvelle pour les fans de S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. Contrairement à ce qu'annonçait les développeurs il y a peu, la firme connaît une très mauvaise passe. D'après une interview du scénariste et concepteur Alex Sytyanov, la fermeture du studio GSC l'année dernière et les difficultés financières auraient entraîné l'arrêt du développement de S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Même si selon Sytyanov le propriétaire du studio Sergei Grigorovitch aurait la possibilité de revenir sur sa décision, mieux vaut ne pas avoir trop d'espoir sur une finalisation prochaine du jeu.

L'interview d'Alex Sytyanov (traduite

ATi R580 Die Exposed

Our friends over at HKEPC has got hold of a X1900XTX cardalready and the R580 die size is noticeably larger than the R520. If the processtechnology remains at 90nm for the R580, the estimated number of transistorsstand at 350M or more compared to 321M for the R520. Radeon X1900 XTX will beclocked at 695MHz core and 1550MHz memory while the Radeon X1900 XT will beclocked at 625MHz core and 1450MHz memory. ATi has revealed that Radeon X1900XTX will require at least 450W PSU with 30A in 12V rail. If in Crossfire setup,the system will require at least 550W PSU and the 12V rail will need to provide38A.

ATi First To Recieve Vista WHQL Certification

Underlining the company's leadership in developing hardware and drivers tosupport Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Vista operating system, ATI Technologies Inc.(TSX:ATY)(NASDAQ:ATYT) today announced that its driver has been granted thegraphics industry's first Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) certification forWindows Vista by Microsoft. WHQL certification sets a high bar for quality andreliability, and is considered essential by many business and home users.

Windows Vista is the first version of the Microsoft operating system thatrequires hardware for 3D acceleration. WHQL certification reassures businessesand consumers that ATI graphics processors are fully ready to unlock thestunning graphical features of the powerful Windows Vista platform, includingWindows Vista Premium(1).

"ATI is working closely with Microsoft to ensure the best performance and mostreliable Vista experience through our top-to-bottom line of graphicsprocessors," said Ben Bar-Haim, vice president of software, ATI TechnologiesInc. "With Windows Vista, 3D graphics now matter to everyone and ATI's WHQLcertification gives businesses and consumers alike the confidence that their ATIsystem is ready for Vista."

ASUS EAH3870X2 Photos amp; Specs

ASUS, producer of top quality graphic solutions, has today unveiled the latestgeneration of AMD GPUs – the world’s first on-board dual RV670XT, with the ASUSEAH3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G and EAH3870X2/G/HTDI/1G. The EAH3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G comesequipped with the fastest upgraded DRR3 0.8ns memory modules and two exclusiveextra DVI outputs. It also comes specially designed with dual fansinks for bothGPUs – ensuring efficient heat dissipation. On top of all this, the ASUSEAH3870X2 Series will also come bundled with the hottest DX10 game, Company ofHeroes: Opposing Fronts.

Exclusively Designed Hardware Features

The EAH3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G comes equipped with the fastest upgraded DRR3 0.8nsmemory modules, and harnesses the high speed capabilities of these super fastmemory modules for the best performance. It is also exclusively equipped withtwo extra DVI outputs for a maximum of four-display video outputs. Additionally,the EAH3870X2/G/3DHTI/1G utilizes the specially designed dual fansink thateffectively dissipates heat away from both GPUs – enabling much more stableperformances in comparison to reference designed single fansinks.

Hottest DX10 Game Bundle – Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the second installment in thehighest-rated strategy franchise that delivers an unprecedented level of realismand reveals a darker, more brutal war. With enhanced lighting effects, missionpersistence, improved vehicle and soldier AI, enhanced physics and a dynamicweather system, this game will set new standards in visual realism for the RTSfranchise. Utilizing the powerful performance of the ASUS EAH3870X2 Series,gamers will be able to enjoy the full graphical spectacle that the game canoffer.

Unprecedented Rock Solid Quality from ASUS

In line with the Rock Solid promise of quality from ASUS, the EAH3870X2 Seriescomes with several solutions to provide top quality graphic performance. Withthe EMI shield, 310dB EMI Interference can be reduced to provide stablesignals. The temperature of the newly adopted DIP Spring Chokes is 510°C lowerin comparison to traditional Toroidal Coil Chokes; while the Japan-made polymercapacitors lowers power loss to provide more stability. Users will thus feel atease while enjoying extreme performance with ASUS’ uncompromising quality onlywith the ASUS EAH3870X2 Series.

Special Features

New Generation Dual GPU SolutionExclusive Hottest DX10 Game bundle: Company of Heroes – Opposing FrontsExclusive “4 DVI-I Output”1GB DDR3 Memory on boardASUS Splendid: Watching movies on PC is as good as on Top-of-the-lineconsumer televisionASUS Gamer OSD: Real-time overclocking, benchmarking and video capturingin any PC game!ASUS Video Security Online: Keep an eye on your home at all times nomatter where you areASUS Smart Doctor: Your intelligent hardware protection and overclockingtool

ASUS Unleashes M4A Boards w 8-Phase Power

Ultimate Power Designs for Pushing AM3 CPU to the Limit

ASUS M4 Series Motherboards with Exclusive 8-Phase Power Design Provides Stability and Performance to Unleash Maximum CPU Potentials

ASUS, world-leading producer of motherboards, has today launched the brand new M4 Series motherboards to fully support the AMD? next generation AM3 processors. The Phenom II AM3 processors are able to support up to DDR 3 2000MHz memory speed, so DDR3 tech. is finally realized in AMD platform. To unleash the AM3 processors’ full potential, ASUS’ constant development of the 8-Phase power design has resulted in superb performances—reaching an excellent 91% in power efficiency. With the ASUS TurboV’s intuitive overclocking utility, and the easy-to-use ASUS Turbo Key, users can easily overclock and overvoltage the new processors like never before. The ASUS M4 Series thus brings the AM3 CPU performance into full play—providing users with the perfect choice for the AM3 processors usage.

Breakthrough 8-Phase Power Design Tailored for Optimal Performance

ASUS is proud to introduce the brand new 8-Phase power design on the M4 Series; which with the highest phase number of VRM power in the AMD platform, leads industry specifications. The ASUS M4 Series is also designed with an additional 1 to 2 power phases dedicated to the CPU embedded memory and HT controller—guaranteeing delivery of appropriate voltages for more stable operations and longer CPU lifespan—regardless of heavy or light system loading. ASUS has also adopted EPU function—a well-liked feature in ASUS P5Q series launch, in AMD platform. This unique EPU technology will provide total system power management by detecting current PC loadings and intelligently moderating power in real-time. The ASUS M4 Series also utilizes high quality 5000-hour long lifespan (at 105ºC working temperatures) capacitors that improves power efficiency and lowers system temperatures—providing a durable working environment and better overclocking capabilities.

Easy and Outstanding Overclocking with Turbo Key and TurboV

The ASUS Turbo Key is an exclusive feature that transforms the PC power button into a physical overclocking button. Completing the easy setup provides users with the ability to boost performance levels with just a push of a button—presenting users with faster, more powerful performances without interrupting ongoing work or games—overclocking has never been easier! For hardcore users, the ASUS M4 Series also features TurboV, an advanced overclocking tool that utilizes a micro-controller to provide precise 0.02V voltage adjustments. Furthermore, users can save their preferred OC profiles and easily apply the best O.C. settings for different scenarios. Now anyone can enjoy performance boosts—without needing to exit the operating system or rebooting; -with the ASUS M4 Series motherboards.

M4A Series product list:

M4A79T Deluxe

M4A79 Deluxe

M4A78T-E

M4A78-E

M4A78 PRO

Chipset

790FX+SB750

790GX+SB750

780G+SB700

System bus

HyperTransport™ 3.0: up to 5200 MT/s

Memory

DDR3 1600(O.C.)/ 1333/1066 MHz

DDR2 1066/

800/667 MHz

DDR3 1600(O.C.)/ 1333/1066 MHz

DDR2 1066/

800/667 MHz

DDR2 1066/

800/667 MHz

Graphics

N/A

ATI Radeon™ HD 3300

ATI Radeon™

HD 3200

PCIe x 16 slot

x4

x4

x2

x2

x1

Gbit LAN

x1

Audio

8CH HD Audio

Storage

1* Ultra DMA
5* SATA 3Gb/s

1* eSATA 3Gb/s

1* Ultra DMA
6*SATA 3Gb/s

1394a

Yes

-

M4N Series product list

M4N82 Deluxe

M4N72-E

M4N78 PRO

Chipset

NVIDIA

nForece 980a SLI

NVIDIA

nForece 750a SLI

NVIDIA

GeForce 8300

System bus

HyperTransport™ 3.0: up to 5200 MT/s

Memory

DDR2 1066/800/667 MHz

Graphics

GeForce 8 Series GPU for Hybrid SLI output only

GeForce 8300 GPU

PCIe x 16 slot

x3 (3-Way SLI)

x2 (SLI)

X1

Gbit LAN

x1

Audio

8CH HD Audio

Storage

1* Ultra DMA
5* SATA 3Gb/s

1* eSATA 3Gb/s

1* Ultra DMA
6* SATA 3Gb/s

1394a

Yes

Yes

-

Arctic Cooling Try Their Hands On Console Gaming

Arctic Cooling, trusted leader in IT hardware design which specialises in providing efficient and quiet thermal cooling solutions for laptops and PCs, has just launcheda TV game console- the ARCTIC GC PRO.

This all-in-one console is packaged with 48 built-in games, wireless controllers and various add-ons, featuring high resolution 3D graphics powered by a 32-bit 3D processor which delivers lifelike and detailed graphics, process heart-stopping realism to enhance overall gaming experience.

The 48 built-in games offers wider variety of games to get everybody moving, categorised under Sporty and active, Cool and groove, Intelligent and witty. The ARCTIC GC PROcomes with 2 cordless motion controllers to allow mulitplayer gaming with your mates.

The console also includes 7 add-ons - 2 tennis rackets, 2 table tennis paddles, a golf club, a baseball bat, and a football "band" that can be tied around the gamer's foot, for endless gaming fun.

The ARCTIC GC PRO comes with 2-year warranty. MSRP is US$57.90 / 39.90 Euro

Details of games:

Sporty and active
Now you can play tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, table tennis and even skiing at
home! These exciting sport games are all included in the ARCTIC GC PRO. Simply
insert the add-ons in the wireless controllers – tennis racket, table tennis bat, golf
club, baseball bat and a football controller – to enjoy life-like gaming and play like
an athlete!

Cool and groovy
Racing, treasure hunts, strategy games are all time favourites and they are preprogrammed
in the ARCTIC GC PRO. Kids and adults will love the fun brought
from these games!

Intelligent and witty
Gaming is a good learning tool as well. The ARCTIC GC PRO comprises different
analytical and mathematical games such as Sudu, Russian Blocks and puzzles.
Play more, think more, learn more.

ASUS to begin shipping motherboards with revised 'B3' P67 and H67 chipsets this week

As part of an overall recovery plan following the detection of the Intel 6 Series chipset design error, ASUS has implemented various customer support measures, including extensive product replacement and return with additional service hotlines around the world.

Based on new information from Intel, ASUS has announced that its updated Intel 6 Series-based motherboards will begin shipping starting this week, immediately after the revised design is released by Intel. ASUS hopes that its fast response will prevent any further inconvenience and interruption to customers.

As Intel indicated the design error only occurs with certain SATA 3Gb/s ports, ASUS has created the SATA Verifier utility to help customers clearly identify all unaffected SATA 6Gb/s ports for each relevant product.More information can be found at http://event.asus.com/2011/mb/Identify_unaffected_SATA_port/.

Customers who already own potentially affected motherboards may visit http://event.asus.com/sg/2011/SandyBridge/ for product return and replacement details and registration.

Users can easily identify revised products by checking for the New B3 Revision label displayed on the packaging. The chipset version can also be verified through the sticker affixed on the motherboard itself, the BIOS, ASUS SATA Verifier and CPUID’s CPU-Z utility.

ASUS would like to use this opportunity to encourage any current users in possession of affected products to carry out return and replacement promptly, so that the transition to the revised hardware is as smooth and fast as possible.

Apple recruiting former Google employees to make amends for faulty iOS6 Maps app

We’ve posted a few stories regarding the iOS6’s Map application being buggy, displaying erroneous locations, and overall just a terrible experience for many as compared to Google’s Maps application. Google has been working on and refining their Maps app for many years now, therefore, in terms of maturity and usability, the search engine’s Maps app should be much better than Apple’s. Apple was hoping that its iOS6 Maps app would be on par with Googles current GIS platform, however, that isn’t the case.

Now that Apple knows for sure its Maps app didn’t work out as intended, it’s inevitable that the Cupertino firm is headhunting for Google employees on the other side of the Silicon Valley. Apparently, this is a good time for Apple to be pursuing some former Google Maps app developers. Developers reportedly found that the work at Google became less and less interesting, and so they were seeking out other opportunities.

A source familiar with the matter told techcrunch that:

“Many of my coworkers at Google Maps eventually left when their contracts ended or on their own accord. One guy looked around for other GIS work and ended up at Apple when a recruiter contacted him. He had heard rumors for a while that Apple was going to develop its own in-house mapping platform, and given his experience at Google, he was an easy hire. Apple went out of their way to bring him down to Cupertino and he’s now paid hansomly as a GIS Analyst. Another coworker that was a project lead at Google Maps, left for the East Coast after his contract ended, and was recently contacted by an Apple recruiter. The position sounds like a product development manager position, and will pay him $85k+ and all the moving expenses from the East Coast. He’s gone through 2 rounds of interview and seems like a frontrunner to land that position.”

Apple has a lot of catching up to do in the geographic information system (GIS) department, and despite the faulty iOS6 Maps app, the tech-giant does have the financial backings and will to develop a platform that can truly compete with Google.

“Apple has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to build a robust mapping platform to counter Google Maps, so it doesn’t surprise me that it’s going out of its way to lure former and current Google Maps employees. At Google Maps, we know what data’s important, rendering priorities, keyword searches, and how the user experience is suppose to be. However, Apple needs to find a way to get its own 5 million miles of street view data, partner with the right folks, and spend a fortune on licensed data – which it can.”

The late Steve Jobs, Apple’s former CEO, was quoted as saying:

“I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apples $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong. Im going to destroy Android, because its a stolen product. Im willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”

The sentiment behind Jobs’ desire to kill off what he calls a “stolen product” (Android OS) probably still has some relevance to Apple’s long term goals. How much will Apple pour into developing a Maps app that can compete with Google’s? Jobs previously proposed that he would drain the bank to right what was wrong, but will Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook, be willing to do the same?

Apple delays white iPhone 4 till Spring 2011

Apple Inc has said it would delay the release of its white iPhone 4 again, this time pushing the expected availability date all the way into Spring 2011.

When the iPhone 4 was launched back in June 2010, the white iPhone 4 was only expected July 2010. Apple cited production difficulties when disappointed fans questioned why the white version was not available at launch. Then in July, Apple delayed the white iPhone 4 again, estimating that it would be available by the end of this year instead.

While an Apple spokeswoman today apologized for disappointing customers again waiting for the white iPhone, she declined to reveal why the phone would be further delayed.

By the time the white iPhone 4 becomes available, we should be seeing a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 (which is reportedly in the works), or even the iPhone 4's successor considering the current generation seems to be plagued with problems including the noteable antenna issue, and suffering from cracked glass...

Source: Reuters

ATi R520 Is Lead Free, RoHS Design

The enthusiasts-class X1800 will sport a new Ultra-High-Performance 3D Engine, Quality display and video engine, high-speed memory controller, Xilleon TV encoder, Dual-DVI / Dual-link DVI, HDTV, HDCP board options. R520 is based on lead-free, RoHS board design and is Crossfire ready. There will be two versions available at launch : X1800XT and X1800XL.As for mainstream segment, X1600 will sport a new 3D, Video and display architecture available in 512MN, 256MB and 128MB configurations. It has DVI, VGA, S-Video out and is Crossfire ready as well. There will be two versions available at launch; X1600PRO and X1600XT. As for budget segment, X1300 is the follow-up to RV370 and sports high-end video technology at value segment pricing. It comes with 128-bit, 64-bit and 32-bit memory interface and has 32MB to 512MB frame buffer configurations. There are two versions available at launch; X1300LE and X1300 PRO and HyperMemory variant to be available as well.

ARCTIC COOLING Silentium T11 and ARCTIC HC 01-TC

Chassis with Quality and Durability

Choosing a well-made chassis for your computer core components is an initial and critical decision for computer builders. A chassis nowadays is more than just a skeleton to provide structure for the components, it should also be a framework that allows good and silent cooling, and have a stylish appearance at the same time. The new chassis, ARCTIC Silentium T11, contains all the superior qualities that any computer users may look for. This series is affordable, yet offering exceptional durability, expandability and accessibility to users.

The Silentium T11 is a mid-tower with dimensions of 49 (L) x 43 (H) x 19cm (W). The design of this chassis features sturdy and durable steel construction that provides solid foundation for computer internal hardware.

There are two USB and audio ports on the front of the chassis to allow users to connect external and audio devices easily. For visual appearance, the front panel also includes two covers to conceal CD-ROM and DVD-writer device bays. It contains four 5.25" external drive bays and one 3.5" internal drive bay. Its design also supports up to 35cm long high-end VGA boards. The spacious space inside the chassis is ideal for overclockers to install.

The Silentium T11 also showcases tool-free installation for quick assembly and upgrade. Side panel slides open easily with thumb screws. Similarly, tool-free and screwless installation for mounting 5.25" drive bays is also very convenient for builders. The Silentium T11 is available in black and white.

The Case with ARCTIC Temperature-Controlled Fans

The Silentium T11 comes with two temperature-controlled ARCTIC 120mm fans. These controlled fans complement with the framework of the chassis to provide adequate airflow and offer maximum cooling performance at a minimum noise level. The temperature controlled fans are ideal to provide sufficient ventilation inside the chassis.

Since these fans are able to self-regulate their speed and work automatically according to the internal chassis temperature, further adjustments in computer settings are not required. The speed of the fan is able to remain at its lowest rpm at most times. This is to offer adequate ventilation at lowest noise level possible. However, the fan speed is adjusted to its maximum to provide instant cooling when the internal temperature reaches its critical range.

The Air Flow inside the Chassis

Unlike other generic PC cases, the design of the Silentium T11 is different in several ways to provide maximum cooling capacity to the internal computer hardware. Besides the two intaking fans, the Silentium T11 incorporates an unprecedented feature, a VGA air hood, to guide intake air directly to the VGA board. The air hood acts as a tunnel to trap the incoming air to flow into the VGA board directly and thus, provide maximum cooling effect to the VGA board.

The rear fan pulls in cool air into the case and gives sufficient cool air to the CPU. The CPU is then able to maintain at a low temperature since the rear fan is feeding cool air into the CPU cooler. This is what makes the Silentium T11 to be superior since it offers new fan ventilation technology.

All in all, the Silentium T11 is an ultimate computer case for anybody – from personal or home office users to professional overclockers. Since it is embedded with high-quality and convenient features, the ARCTIC Silentium T11 is an excellent option when choosing a computer case.

MB Form Factor:Full / Micro ATX
Material:SECC
Drive Bays:4 x 5.25" (external), 1 x 3.5" (internal)
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Panel I/O: 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x Audio
Ventilation:2 x 120mm ARCTIC F12 TC
Dimension:49 (L) x 43 (H) x 19 (W)
Net Weight:5kg

The Silentium T11 comes with a 2 year limited warranty. It is available in mid of October 2010. The MSRP is US$59.95/ 49.95€, excl.VAT.

Apple announces iPad Mini, iPad 4, and revamped Macs

Apple has unveiled the iPad Mini, a new fourth-generation iPad, and updates to its Macbook and iMac ranges.

The smaller device, designed to compete with Amazons Kindle Fire and other more compact rival tablets, is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the previous iPad model, featuring a smaller 7.9-inch display, compared to the traditional 9.7-inch display of its larger cousin. It is powered by a dual-core A5 processor, comes with a front-facing high-definition FaceTime camera, a 5 megapixel iSight camera on the back, and runs iOS 6.“iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9-inch display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad,” said Philip Schiller, SVP of Worldwide Marketing at Apple. “iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless?all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life.”Prices for the Wi-Fi iPad Mini will start at $329 for a 16GB model, $429 for a 32GB version, and $529 for 64GB. For those who want 4G, they will need to fork out $459, $559, or $659 respectively.There was a surprise for those at the Apple event, however, when Apple unveiled the iPad 4, only six months after the iPad 3, or “new iPad,” went on sale. This upgrade features the same size screen as the previous models, but packs a faster A6X chip, a high-definition camera for FaceTime, and iOS 6. It also touts a battery life of 10 hours, the same as the previous model.Prices will start at $499 for a 16GB model, $599 for a 32GB model, and $699 for a 64GB model. The 4G version will cost $629, $729, or $829 respectively.Both the iPad Mini and fourth-generation iPad will be available for pre-order this Friday, 26 October, and will ship on 2 November in the US, most of Europe, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.Apple also unveiled a new iMac with Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a choice of Nvidia GeForce graphics cards, and a standard 8GB RAM and 1TB hard drive, which can be upgraded to 32GB of RAM and 3TB of storage. Screen sizes available include 21.5-inches or 27-inches. It also features four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt ports. Prices start at $1,299 for the 21.5-inch model and $1,999 for the 27-inch model, and they will be available in November and December respectively.As if an iPad Mini was not enough, Apple updated the Mac Mini with a choice of Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, a standard 4GB of RAM, upgradeable to 16GB, integrated graphics that is 65 percent faster than previous models, four USB ports and one Thunderbolt port, and a 1TB hard drive. Prices start at $599 for an i5 model and $999 for an i7 model. It is available immediately.Finally, Apple introduced a new version of its 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display. This version is 20 percent thinner and nearly a pound lighter than current models, a 2.5GHz or 2.9GHz i5 or i7 processor, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB of RAM and 758GB of flash storage, two USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt ports. It is available today and prices start at $1,699.

Apple releases OS X 10.6.3 update

Apple has released its third point-update, 10.6.3 for the Snow Leopard operating system, which has been touted to fix a huge variety of issues with the OS that early-adopters have had to deal with since the OS's release.

Most of the problems that are supposedly patched in the 10.6.3 release are system related, like compatibility issues, better Airport reliability, fixes for the Mail application and Time Machine improvements.

However, looking through the entire list of fixes reveals something rather interesting: the update does not seem to provide any security patches for the operating system, is which a little puzzling considering that the Pwn2Own hacking competition had just ended and companies like Microsoft are pushing out unscheduled security fixes.

The Combo Update which is downloadable from Apple's website here comes in an impressive package of 784mb, but those who use OS X's built-in Software Update might not have to deal with such a large file download as the combo update also bundles in previous updates as well.

AOpen Aeolus 7800GTX-DVD256

AOpen launches the most powerful next-generation VGA card, Aeolus7800GTX-DVD256, built with NVIDIA's "Full-Throttle Graphics processor".

The new VGA card is driven by NVIDIA’s GeForce 7800GTX graphics processing unit(GPU), embedded with CineFX 4.0 engine.

Full-Throttle Graphics and Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Compatible
The CineFX 4.0 engine delivers advanced visual effects at unimaginable speeds.The VGA card’s full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 enablesstunning and mind-blowing special effects. The next-generation shaderarchitecture with texture unit design streamlines texture processing for fasterand smoother gameplay.

Two Times Shading Power for Top-notch Gaming
Aeolus 7800GTX-DVD256 delivers almost two times (2x) the shading power ofprevious generation products taking gaming performance to extreme levels. TheMicrosoft DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 support ensures top-notch compatibilityand performance for all DirectX 9 applications, including Shader Model 3.0titles.

Supporting Next-generation Microsoft “Longhorn” OS
The new texture core accelerates 64-bit floating point texture filtering,shading, blending for state-of-the-art high dynamic range visual effects. Thearchitecture of the display card is designed for the next-generation Microsoft“Longhorn” operating system.

Supporting SLI technology
Another great feature of the display card is its support to the SLI technology.The card delivers almost two times (2x) the performance of a single CPU forunparallel gaming experiences by allowing two graphics display cards to run inparallel. The SLI technology, which is the must-have feature for performance PCIExpress graphics, dramatically scales performance on over 60 top PC games.

When two graphics cards with both supporting SLI technology run in parallel for3Dmark2003/2005 benchmark test, they always outperform a PC installed with onlyone graphics card. Therefore, buying the SLI card is no other than making aninvestment which are less likely to depreciate than cards with no SLItechnology.

Intellisample 4.0 technology Offers Most Realistic Gaming Experience
The advanced visual effects engines of the card offer the most realistic gamingexperience. The NVIDIA Intellisample 4.0 technology provides outstanding visualquality through gamma correct rotated grid antialiasing and advanced anisotropicfiltering. The improved sample coverage (up to 128 Taps) improves quality ofanisotropic filtering. Its support for normal map compression enables morelifelike characters and environments.

Digital Home-theater Quality Video
The card’s PureVideo technology delivers digital home-theater quality video tothe PC. The dedicated video processors of the card dramatically increase itsvideo processing performance.

The product’s enhanced HDTV processing provides 50% efficiency improvement andWMV9 1080p support.
The card’s multi-threading video processing functions improve video outputefficiency remarkably.

Its MPEG2 video encode and decode delivers a stunning video experience, and WMV9decode acceleration provides unmatched performance for Microsoft Windows MediaCenter Edition. The integrated HDTV-output brings content from desktop PC toyour HDTV.

Free Gaming Title bundle
In order to provide extra benefits to its users, AOpen bundles the new VGA cardwith gaming application – Second Sight (optional).

Apple inks deal with TomTom for maps

After Apples announcement that it would be ditching Google Maps in favour of its own Map app at its keynote WWDC address, TomTom has revealed that the Cupertino, California-based company has signed an agreement to use its maps.

The details of the agreement have been kept under wraps, but it should give Apple global rights to use TomTom Maps, which cover over 200 countries and territories, and encompass over 35 million kiometres across the world.This is an interesting revelation, as it suggests that Apple is still relying on others to provide its map technology, whereas Google is compiling its own data. Of course, with such strong rivalry between the two companies it is not surprising that Apple would rather ink a deal with someone else.Encroaching on Googles territory is likely to only escalate tensions between the two companies, but there is an element of “fair game” in the technology industry at the moment, with competing firms stepping on each others toes fairly regularly and in fairly obvious ways. Often these rivalries are muted when there is a reliance on products, such as Apples use of Samsung chips or Google Maps, but that is slowly changing as companies seek to become more self-sufficient or establish ties with other third-party vendors.Apples new Maps app is one of the big driving points behind iOS 6, the latest version of its mobile operating system due out in Autumn. It will feature vector-based maps for smoother and more fluid graphics and text, even when zooming, panning and tilting, a Flyover mode for interactive 3D views, real-time traffic information, and local search.We contacted Apple for more details on this deal and will update you as soon as we get them.

ATi R580 To Arrive In Jan 2006

New 90nm GPUs from ATI and NVIDIA, with ATI’s flagship R580 chip and two 7xxx series from NVIDIA, are expected to enter mass shipments by the end of the first quarter of 2006. ATI’s next-generation flagship GPU, the R580, which the graphics chip vendor expects to release in January of 2006, should actually start shipping at the end of the first quarter. NVIDIA is scheduled to introduce its GeForce 7600 (G73) and 7200 (G72) graphics chip during the same period when ATI’s R580 hits the market.

ASUS Dual GeForce 6800 Ultra GPUs Card

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