Transcend has announced the availability of a kit that includes a 16GB microSDHC card and Transcend P3 compact USB card reader in India. The reader is small and light enough to attach to your cell phone, PDA, or keychain. The microSD card has built in error correcting code to detect and transfer errors.The RoHS compliant card support auto-standby, power-off and sleep modes and comes with a three-year warranty. The card reader however only carries a two year warranty. The products are rated for 10,000 insertion / removal cycles. The kit has an MRP of Rs.6,000.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
T-Mobile's Android Phone Hits the Million Mark
T-Mobile USA sold 1 million G1 smartphones in the first six months since it went on the market, about one-third the number of Apple Inc. iPhones that sold in its first two quarters.
The G1, based on the Android platform, went on sale in October 2008. The sales figure was included in a first-quarter financial report from T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom released earlier this week.
AT&T Inc. and Apple sold 3.7 million iPhones in the first two quarters after the device first went on sale on June 29, 2007, according to several reports. Apple also indicated it sold its first million iPhones in 74 days. For the most recent quarter, Apple reported iPhone sales of 3.79 million.
Bloggers have attempted to account for the disparity between the G1 and iPhone sales, with one noting that T-Mobile is smaller than AT&T and T-Mobile has a 3G network still in its early development. T-Mobile is expected to double the reach of its 3G network in 2009, Deutsche Telekom reported.
"I don't think anyone expected the G1 debut to match that of the iPhone," Ryan said, "Still, 1 million units for the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, compared with Apple's 3.7 million for the largest carrier, is respectable. Also, this does set a bar for the Palm Pre debut on Sprint."
The G1, based on the Android platform, went on sale in October 2008. The sales figure was included in a first-quarter financial report from T-Mobile's parent company Deutsche Telekom released earlier this week.
AT&T Inc. and Apple sold 3.7 million iPhones in the first two quarters after the device first went on sale on June 29, 2007, according to several reports. Apple also indicated it sold its first million iPhones in 74 days. For the most recent quarter, Apple reported iPhone sales of 3.79 million.
Bloggers have attempted to account for the disparity between the G1 and iPhone sales, with one noting that T-Mobile is smaller than AT&T and T-Mobile has a 3G network still in its early development. T-Mobile is expected to double the reach of its 3G network in 2009, Deutsche Telekom reported.
"I don't think anyone expected the G1 debut to match that of the iPhone," Ryan said, "Still, 1 million units for the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, compared with Apple's 3.7 million for the largest carrier, is respectable. Also, this does set a bar for the Palm Pre debut on Sprint."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Microsoft Plans Xbox 360 "Game of the Year" Bundle
Microsoft will launch the Xbox 360 Game of the Year bundle sometime in May, the company said by way of its "Major Nelson" blog on Monday.
It's a pretty simple deal: a Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite, bundled with Halo 3 and Fable II, all for $399. As Major Nelson points out, that's the normal price of the Elite -- meaning that the games are included for free.
Bad news for Europeans, however: the deal will be offered everywhere but there; there was no explanation given. There's also the question of how many gamers out there want both an Xbox 360 Elite but don't own either game.
"Major Nelson" is the blog name of Larry Hyrb, the Microsoft director of programming for Xbox Live.
Kaspersky announces anti-virus for Windows 7
Kaspersky Lab has announced the Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows 7 beta users. According to a press release, Kaspersky Lab’s suite of security offerings will be available to Windows 7 users immediately following the launch of the new operating system. The release quotes Alexey Kalgin, Director, Product Marketing, Corporate Business Division, Kaspersky Lab, “By working with Microsoft, we are confident that Kaspersky Lab will provide Windows 7 users with a security option that is easy-to-manage, and helps protect their valuable data without slowing them down. Our technical prototype was installed by more than 300,000 people over two and a half months. Thanks to collaboration with Microsoft, we have received an exceptional amount of valuable feedback from testers that will enable us to ensure that our products are fully compatible with Windows 7 upon final release.” |
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Tech Pros Plan to Leapfrog Vista for Windows 7
Cautious business IT administrators are more willing to stay with the devil they know, Windows XP, than risk the devil they don't, even if the latter is the highly-touted Windows 7, a research company said Monday.
According to Dimensional Research, which surveyed more than 1,100 IT professionals in March, 72% of those polled said that they are more concerned about the cost and overhead of migrating to Windows 7 than they are about continuing to supporting the eight-year-old Windows XP. Only 28% felt the opposite, that they're more worried about holding XP's hand than migrating to Windows 7.
The results not only illustrate IT's historical distrust of change, but also shows how strongly corporate administrators are wedded to the aged XP, said Diane Hagglund, a senior research analyst with Dimensional and the survey's author. "IT hates nothing more than change," she said, "and in the open-ended comments, there was a clear trend that people wanted to say good things about XP -- things like, 'It's been very good to us.'
According to Dimensional Research, which surveyed more than 1,100 IT professionals in March, 72% of those polled said that they are more concerned about the cost and overhead of migrating to Windows 7 than they are about continuing to supporting the eight-year-old Windows XP. Only 28% felt the opposite, that they're more worried about holding XP's hand than migrating to Windows 7.
The results not only illustrate IT's historical distrust of change, but also shows how strongly corporate administrators are wedded to the aged XP, said Diane Hagglund, a senior research analyst with Dimensional and the survey's author. "IT hates nothing more than change," she said, "and in the open-ended comments, there was a clear trend that people wanted to say good things about XP -- things like, 'It's been very good to us.'
Users' Vista Experience Delays Windows 7 Adoption
A report released last week about IT managers'Windows 7 upgrade plans reveals that a large majority of IT staff do not intend to upgrade existing Windows machines to Windows 7 in the next year. Industry watchers estimate fall of 2009 will be the likely ship date for Windows 7; Microsoft has not confirmed timing yet.
"Windows 7 Adoption: A Survey of Technology Professionals", commissioned by systems management appliance company KACE and conducted by market research firm Dimensional Research, surveyed 1,100 IT professionals via e-mail.
Though this is only one survey and only covers 1,000 or so users, it is still likely to be disheartening news for Microsoft that 84 percent of the respondents do not plan to upgrade their machines to Windows 7 in the next year. This kind of hesitation in the enterprise IT ranks could cause delays in the software giant's strategy to get users off the eight-year-old Windows XP and the embattled Windows Vista and on to Windows 7.
But survey results indicate that Windows 7 will suffer for the sins of Vista. The leading reason for resistance to Windows 7 adoption, according to the report, is Vista compatibility problems as well as "a negative public perception of Vista that seems to have helped build this layer of distrust with Windows 7," says Diane Hagglund, senior research analyst for Dimensional Research and author of the survey.
Some other concerns that IT professionals listed in the survey about moving to Windows 7: software compatibility, cost of implementation and the economic downturn. Another piece of data implies that many users will stick with Windows XP. A strong majority - 83 percent - said they are likely to skip Vista altogether and eventually migrate directly from XP to Windows 7.
"Windows 7 Adoption: A Survey of Technology Professionals", commissioned by systems management appliance company KACE and conducted by market research firm Dimensional Research, surveyed 1,100 IT professionals via e-mail.
Though this is only one survey and only covers 1,000 or so users, it is still likely to be disheartening news for Microsoft that 84 percent of the respondents do not plan to upgrade their machines to Windows 7 in the next year. This kind of hesitation in the enterprise IT ranks could cause delays in the software giant's strategy to get users off the eight-year-old Windows XP and the embattled Windows Vista and on to Windows 7.
But survey results indicate that Windows 7 will suffer for the sins of Vista. The leading reason for resistance to Windows 7 adoption, according to the report, is Vista compatibility problems as well as "a negative public perception of Vista that seems to have helped build this layer of distrust with Windows 7," says Diane Hagglund, senior research analyst for Dimensional Research and author of the survey.
Some other concerns that IT professionals listed in the survey about moving to Windows 7: software compatibility, cost of implementation and the economic downturn. Another piece of data implies that many users will stick with Windows XP. A strong majority - 83 percent - said they are likely to skip Vista altogether and eventually migrate directly from XP to Windows 7.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Microsoft Details Dates, Versions of Office 2010
Along with Microsoft's announcement Tuesday about the availability of a preview version of its next-generation mail server, Exchange 2010, the company gave out a couple of details about that most widely used software of all – Microsoft Office.
After not mentioning the suite for nearly six months, the company has come out with a general timeframe for the productivity software's release and tipped its hand as to the naming of the suite—which will apparently get the "2010" moniker like today's Exchange product. The company had previously been referring to the product as "Office 14."
On the heels of this snippet of information, tech sites have dug up the information that there will be both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the desktop software. Up to now, the software has only been available in the 32-bit flavor. But with nearly all new Windows PCs shipping with the 64-bit edition of the operating system, the 64-bit version of Office is a natural. Microsoft staff confirmed that there will be both 32- and 64-bit versions, in a statement sent to PCMag.com.
The pertinent paragraph in Microsoft's statement is this, which decisively uses the new names:
"Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft Project 2010 are scheduled to enter technical preview in the third quarter of 2009 and become available in the first half of 2010."
The main advantage of moving to 64 bits is the ability to take advantage of more RAM than the 4-Gbyte limit with 32-bit OSes – theoretically up to a whopping 16.8 million terabytes, though other system limitations make that much unfeasible at present. But those with huge databases and spreadsheets, as well as those who run lots of programs simultaneously would benefit. Because of the memory advantage, most Microsoft server products already have moved to 64 bits, such as Windows Server 2008.
Possibly more significant for the next version of Office will be the addition of a Web-based version of the software. The company announced this at its Professional Developer Conference in Los Angeles last September. One intriguing element of that announcement was that there would be an ad-supported version of the Web version, which might mean a free version for consumers. A Web based version also means that it will be possible to run office on Linux and on the Apple iPhone.
In other Office news, Microsoft said that Mac users can try a 30-day trial version of Office 2008, for free. The trial version is completely full-featured, but just time-constrained. Users can register for a trial key, then buy the full version from Microsoft's Mactopia site, or pick up a retail copy from an Apple authorized reseller. The Home and Student Edition of Office 2008 for Mac is priced at $150, the Standard Edition at $400, and the Special Media Edition is priced at $500, according to reports.
After not mentioning the suite for nearly six months, the company has come out with a general timeframe for the productivity software's release and tipped its hand as to the naming of the suite—which will apparently get the "2010" moniker like today's Exchange product. The company had previously been referring to the product as "Office 14."
On the heels of this snippet of information, tech sites have dug up the information that there will be both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the desktop software. Up to now, the software has only been available in the 32-bit flavor. But with nearly all new Windows PCs shipping with the 64-bit edition of the operating system, the 64-bit version of Office is a natural. Microsoft staff confirmed that there will be both 32- and 64-bit versions, in a statement sent to PCMag.com.
The pertinent paragraph in Microsoft's statement is this, which decisively uses the new names:
"Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft Project 2010 are scheduled to enter technical preview in the third quarter of 2009 and become available in the first half of 2010."
The main advantage of moving to 64 bits is the ability to take advantage of more RAM than the 4-Gbyte limit with 32-bit OSes – theoretically up to a whopping 16.8 million terabytes, though other system limitations make that much unfeasible at present. But those with huge databases and spreadsheets, as well as those who run lots of programs simultaneously would benefit. Because of the memory advantage, most Microsoft server products already have moved to 64 bits, such as Windows Server 2008.
Possibly more significant for the next version of Office will be the addition of a Web-based version of the software. The company announced this at its Professional Developer Conference in Los Angeles last September. One intriguing element of that announcement was that there would be an ad-supported version of the Web version, which might mean a free version for consumers. A Web based version also means that it will be possible to run office on Linux and on the Apple iPhone.
In other Office news, Microsoft said that Mac users can try a 30-day trial version of Office 2008, for free. The trial version is completely full-featured, but just time-constrained. Users can register for a trial key, then buy the full version from Microsoft's Mactopia site, or pick up a retail copy from an Apple authorized reseller. The Home and Student Edition of Office 2008 for Mac is priced at $150, the Standard Edition at $400, and the Special Media Edition is priced at $500, according to reports.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Microsoft: No Office 2010 Beta for You
Microsoft confirmed Tuesday that it will not open Office 2010 beta testing to the general public, but will instead limit the preview to a large group of invite-only users starting in the third quarter of 2009.
The technology preview, as Microsoft will call the beta program, will involve "thousands of users," a company spokeswoman said. But it will be a closed group, in that Microsoft will not post a beta version of Office 2010 to its site for just anyone to download.
"At this point, there is no plan" to offer the beta to the general public, she added when asked whether Microsoft would release a preview to any and all.
Office 2010, the moniker Microsoft announced today for its next application suite -- the bundle had previously carried the code name "Office 14" -- will be issued in beta form to workers in Microsoft's largest corporate accounts as well as run-of-the-mill consumers, the spokeswoman said.
By omitting a general beta, Microsoft breaks with the approach it used to test Office 2007, the dramatically revamped suite it introduced to business customers in late 2006 and launched in retail January 2007. For Office 2007, Microsoft delivered two betas, one in March 2006, the second in September; in between it let users try out the suite's applications from within their browsers.
The Microsoft spokeswoman also confirmed today that Microsoft will ship two separate versions of Office 2010, one suitable for 32-bit operating systems, the other offering applications written specifically for 64-bit.
Late last month, ZDNet blogger Ed Bott rooted out references in a recent build of Windows 7 to a 64-bit edition of Office 2010, which was still called Office 14 at the time. Last Friday, Rafael Rivera, perhaps best known as one of two bloggers who sparked criticism of Windows 7's redesigned User Account Control (UAC) two months ago, reported that an Office 2010 add-on posted to the Microsoft download site was specific to 64-bit. The add-on, dated 4/9/2009 and labeled "Microsoft Office ScreenTip Language (64-bit)," was available as late as early Wednesday, but has since been pulled from the site.
Office 2010 will be the first Microsoft's suite to boast a version that natively supports 64-bit.
Microsoft has said it will ship Office 2010 for Windows sometime in the first half of next year.
The technology preview, as Microsoft will call the beta program, will involve "thousands of users," a company spokeswoman said. But it will be a closed group, in that Microsoft will not post a beta version of Office 2010 to its site for just anyone to download.
"At this point, there is no plan" to offer the beta to the general public, she added when asked whether Microsoft would release a preview to any and all.
Office 2010, the moniker Microsoft announced today for its next application suite -- the bundle had previously carried the code name "Office 14" -- will be issued in beta form to workers in Microsoft's largest corporate accounts as well as run-of-the-mill consumers, the spokeswoman said.
By omitting a general beta, Microsoft breaks with the approach it used to test Office 2007, the dramatically revamped suite it introduced to business customers in late 2006 and launched in retail January 2007. For Office 2007, Microsoft delivered two betas, one in March 2006, the second in September; in between it let users try out the suite's applications from within their browsers.
The Microsoft spokeswoman also confirmed today that Microsoft will ship two separate versions of Office 2010, one suitable for 32-bit operating systems, the other offering applications written specifically for 64-bit.
Late last month, ZDNet blogger Ed Bott rooted out references in a recent build of Windows 7 to a 64-bit edition of Office 2010, which was still called Office 14 at the time. Last Friday, Rafael Rivera, perhaps best known as one of two bloggers who sparked criticism of Windows 7's redesigned User Account Control (UAC) two months ago, reported that an Office 2010 add-on posted to the Microsoft download site was specific to 64-bit. The add-on, dated 4/9/2009 and labeled "Microsoft Office ScreenTip Language (64-bit)," was available as late as early Wednesday, but has since been pulled from the site.
Office 2010 will be the first Microsoft's suite to boast a version that natively supports 64-bit.
Microsoft has said it will ship Office 2010 for Windows sometime in the first half of next year.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
AMD Launches Fusion Media Explorer Browser
AMD has released a beta of a new 3D browser, which is designed to let users easily share multimedia files stored on their PCs with their social networks.
The browser, called Fusion Media Explorer, allows users to browse music and video albums stored on a PC, and share those files with social networks, said Casey Gotcher, director of product marketing at AMD, in a blog entry.
The software is available for download from AMD's website, but only works on PCs with an AMD processor.
AMD has integrated social-networking sites like Facebook and YouTube into the software to easily upload and share multimedia files, Gotcher wrote. Users can simply select video or music files while browsing albums in a rotating 3D interface and drag and drop to upload those directly to Facebook or YouTube.
The software works with Microsoft's Windows Vista and upcoming Windows 7 operating systems. It is not compatible with Windows XP or Linux, according to AMD.
The browser, called Fusion Media Explorer, allows users to browse music and video albums stored on a PC, and share those files with social networks, said Casey Gotcher, director of product marketing at AMD, in a blog entry.
The software is available for download from AMD's website, but only works on PCs with an AMD processor.
AMD has integrated social-networking sites like Facebook and YouTube into the software to easily upload and share multimedia files, Gotcher wrote. Users can simply select video or music files while browsing albums in a rotating 3D interface and drag and drop to upload those directly to Facebook or YouTube.
The software works with Microsoft's Windows Vista and upcoming Windows 7 operating systems. It is not compatible with Windows XP or Linux, according to AMD.
Microsoft Office 2007 SP2 Coming This Month
Microsoft has announced that it will start pushing Office 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2) to customers this month.
In an entry to the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) blog, Cecilia Cole, a Microsoft program manager, said that the service pack would be posted to the update service in April. She did not name an exact date, but said that more information would be published on an Office-specific blog "later this month".
When Microsoft releases updates for WSUS users - who are almost exclusively enterprises that feed their systems patches from their own servers - it also makes those same updates available on Microsoft Update, the similar service for consumers and small businesses. Microsoft Update, a superset of the better-known Windows Update, provides patches for Windows and some of its other software, notably Office.
Microsoft first talked up Office 2007 SP2 nearly six months ago, when it said it would ship the update between February and April 2009.
Office 2007 debuted at retail in January 2007, concurrent with the launch of Windows Vista.
In an entry to the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) blog, Cecilia Cole, a Microsoft program manager, said that the service pack would be posted to the update service in April. She did not name an exact date, but said that more information would be published on an Office-specific blog "later this month".
When Microsoft releases updates for WSUS users - who are almost exclusively enterprises that feed their systems patches from their own servers - it also makes those same updates available on Microsoft Update, the similar service for consumers and small businesses. Microsoft Update, a superset of the better-known Windows Update, provides patches for Windows and some of its other software, notably Office.
Microsoft first talked up Office 2007 SP2 nearly six months ago, when it said it would ship the update between February and April 2009.
Office 2007 debuted at retail in January 2007, concurrent with the launch of Windows Vista.
DSLR Battle Heats Up: Nikon Launches New D5000
Nikon Europe announced the introduction of its latest DSLR, the D5000. The D5000 has inherited the D90’s groundbreaking HD movie capability, Nikon’s proprietary D-Movie function (the D90 was the first DSLR to sport video recording). The 12.3MP sensor has sensitivity between ISO 200 and 3200 (can be extended to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalent). The feature being touted is the 2.7-inch vari-angle LCD that allows you to take pictures easily from any angle. When combined with live-view (the ability to see the frame on the LCD screen) it 1gives a high degree of flexibility in composing shots with off-beat perspectives and macros.
The display can be closed to protect the monitor or place it in the standard position for regular shooting using the viewfinder. You can even reverse the monitor for effortless, perfectly-framed self-portraits. A 4 fps continuous shooting mode makes it a fast camera and it can shoot 67 JPEGs or 11 RAW files continuously.
The display can be closed to protect the monitor or place it in the standard position for regular shooting using the viewfinder. You can even reverse the monitor for effortless, perfectly-framed self-portraits. A 4 fps continuous shooting mode makes it a fast camera and it can shoot 67 JPEGs or 11 RAW files continuously.
Transcend USB Flash Drives Now Feature eSobi Software
Transcend has announced its alliance with esobi to offer enhanced versions of its popular 8GB JetFlash V30 USB flash drives which will now come preloaded with the powerful eSobi Internet information management software.
Users can also choose from 21 preset regional channels to subscribe to their favorite news feeds, search Google, Yahoo, and MSN simultaneously, and also make use of eSobi's built-in web page editor for quick note-taking and sharing news and information with friends. The JetFlash V30 has a tiny, curved and ultra-compact body which measures just 60x16.5x8.1mm and weighs only 7g. It is literally smaller than a finger and can be stored in your wallet too. The Transcend JetFlash V30 USB flash drive is compatible with Windows 98 SE/ 2000/ Me/ XP/Vista, Mac OS 9.0/ OS X and Linux Kernel 2.4.2 or later.
It comes with a 2 year warranty and is priced at Rs.2,000.
Users can also choose from 21 preset regional channels to subscribe to their favorite news feeds, search Google, Yahoo, and MSN simultaneously, and also make use of eSobi's built-in web page editor for quick note-taking and sharing news and information with friends. The JetFlash V30 has a tiny, curved and ultra-compact body which measures just 60x16.5x8.1mm and weighs only 7g. It is literally smaller than a finger and can be stored in your wallet too. The Transcend JetFlash V30 USB flash drive is compatible with Windows 98 SE/ 2000/ Me/ XP/Vista, Mac OS 9.0/ OS X and Linux Kernel 2.4.2 or later.
It comes with a 2 year warranty and is priced at Rs.2,000.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Opera Mini 4.2
With their 2-inch screens and microscopic keyboards, cell phones aren't exactly ideal for Web surfing. But even worse are the slow, clunky browsers that come preloaded on many models. That's what makes the free Opera Mini such a terrific upgrade. We've reviewed it several times in the past, the most recent being version 4.1 about a year ago. But now that the iPhone and the T-Mobile G1, along with the Bolt and Skyfirebrowsers, have raised the bar for mobile browsing, a look at the latest version of Opera Mini is in order.
Opera Mini 4.2 offers several important upgrades. Opera Software switched on a new U.S.-based server park in an effort to render pages faster for its U.S. and Asia-Pacific users. Opera Mini 4.2 also synchronizes notes from the Opera Desktop browser using Opera Link. Users can also personalize Opera Mini 4.2 with new skins (actually a feature added and then removed back in Opera Mini 3).
First, some caveats on hardware requirements: Opera Mini will work on any handset that can run Java apps natively. That includes all recent BlackBerrys and most feature phones. Infuriatingly, T-Mobile blocks third-party applications from accessing the Internet with some devices, and Opera Mini doesn't work at all on Verizon (BREW) feature phones. Also, Windows Mobile and Palm OS smartphones require that you run a separate Java virtual machine before loading Opera Mini each time. And some carriers will hit you with persistent nag screens every time you fire up Opera Mini on certain handsets—an annoyance, though at least you can still run the app.
To install Opera Mini, head over to mini.opera.com using your cell phone's current Web browser, and then follow the instructions to download and install the app on your handset. Most likely, you'll see a new icon in the Applications folder of your handset, where other third-party apps are stored (if it's not part of the top level). For this review, I tested Opera Mini 4.2 on a BlackBerry Curve 8330 running over Verizon Wireless's EV-DO data network, and it required a reboot once the installation was completed.
Opera Mini 4.2 offers several important upgrades. Opera Software switched on a new U.S.-based server park in an effort to render pages faster for its U.S. and Asia-Pacific users. Opera Mini 4.2 also synchronizes notes from the Opera Desktop browser using Opera Link. Users can also personalize Opera Mini 4.2 with new skins (actually a feature added and then removed back in Opera Mini 3).
First, some caveats on hardware requirements: Opera Mini will work on any handset that can run Java apps natively. That includes all recent BlackBerrys and most feature phones. Infuriatingly, T-Mobile blocks third-party applications from accessing the Internet with some devices, and Opera Mini doesn't work at all on Verizon (BREW) feature phones. Also, Windows Mobile and Palm OS smartphones require that you run a separate Java virtual machine before loading Opera Mini each time. And some carriers will hit you with persistent nag screens every time you fire up Opera Mini on certain handsets—an annoyance, though at least you can still run the app.
To install Opera Mini, head over to mini.opera.com using your cell phone's current Web browser, and then follow the instructions to download and install the app on your handset. Most likely, you'll see a new icon in the Applications folder of your handset, where other third-party apps are stored (if it's not part of the top level). For this review, I tested Opera Mini 4.2 on a BlackBerry Curve 8330 running over Verizon Wireless's EV-DO data network, and it required a reboot once the installation was completed.
Microsoft Eases 'Downgrade' Rules for PC Makers
Microsoft Corp. has relaxed its "downgrade" rules and will let computer makers continue to sell PCs preinstalled with the aged Windows XP for as long as six months after it launches Windows 7, according to a report published Wednesday.
The information obtained by TechARP.com, a Malaysian Web site that last weekend leaked Microsoft's plans to offer free or discounted upgrades to Windows 7, seems to confirm other reports that Hewlett-Packard Co. had been given the green light to sell new PCs with XP Professional through April 2010.
Yesterday, TechARP spelled out the new optionsMicrosoft will offer computer makers such as HP and Dell Inc.
For six months after Windows 7's official launch, a date Microsoft calls "general availability," Microsoft will let OEMs sell new PCs equipped with Windows XP Professional and market them as such directly to customers or through their channel partners. Those machines must include physical media for Vista Business or Vista Ultimate, the two editions that provide downgrade rights.
The information obtained by TechARP.com, a Malaysian Web site that last weekend leaked Microsoft's plans to offer free or discounted upgrades to Windows 7, seems to confirm other reports that Hewlett-Packard Co. had been given the green light to sell new PCs with XP Professional through April 2010.
Yesterday, TechARP spelled out the new optionsMicrosoft will offer computer makers such as HP and Dell Inc.
For six months after Windows 7's official launch, a date Microsoft calls "general availability," Microsoft will let OEMs sell new PCs equipped with Windows XP Professional and market them as such directly to customers or through their channel partners. Those machines must include physical media for Vista Business or Vista Ultimate, the two editions that provide downgrade rights.
Microsoft Laptop Hunters Ad: Round Three
Microsoft changed demographics with its third addition to its Laptop Hunters ad campaign. This time, Mom Lisa and 11 year-old Jackson go off to shop for a laptop under $1500, using the same Mac-bashing template as the previous ads.
The pair is looking for a computer with "speed, a big hard drive" and a good gaming machine under $1500, for which Microsoft kindly offers to pay. Lisa and Jackson rush off to BestBuy where they look at a few laptops, including some Macs.
The pair is looking for a computer with "speed, a big hard drive" and a good gaming machine under $1500, for which Microsoft kindly offers to pay. Lisa and Jackson rush off to BestBuy where they look at a few laptops, including some Macs.
Microsoft Looks to Get More From Live Labs Researchers
Microsoft is restructuring its Live Labs research group, sending about half the researchers to work within product groups at the company.
The goal is to increase the likelihood that Microsoft's investments in research will translate into products that will actually ship, said Stacy Drake, a spokeswoman for Microsoft.
"Economic conditions do play a role" in the changes, she said. Moving the Live Labs researchers into product groups will allow them to contribute directly to those products.
Drake would not say how many people were in the Live Labs group, but she said roughly half would remain there. They'll focus broadly on Web experiences including exploration, information retrieval and discovery, navigation, and organization approaches, she said.
Live Labs launched early in 2006 under the direction of Gary Flake, who will continue to lead what remains of the group. He came to Microsoft from Yahoo, where he ran the company's research lab.
Researchers at Live Labs developed and launched Photosynth, a technology that can stitch together hundreds of photographs into one large image that viewers can navigate around. They also developed Seadragon, another photo application that lets users view a photo of a distant city skyline, for example, and zoom in close enough to clearly see a person in a window.
The goal is to increase the likelihood that Microsoft's investments in research will translate into products that will actually ship, said Stacy Drake, a spokeswoman for Microsoft.
"Economic conditions do play a role" in the changes, she said. Moving the Live Labs researchers into product groups will allow them to contribute directly to those products.
Drake would not say how many people were in the Live Labs group, but she said roughly half would remain there. They'll focus broadly on Web experiences including exploration, information retrieval and discovery, navigation, and organization approaches, she said.
Live Labs launched early in 2006 under the direction of Gary Flake, who will continue to lead what remains of the group. He came to Microsoft from Yahoo, where he ran the company's research lab.
Researchers at Live Labs developed and launched Photosynth, a technology that can stitch together hundreds of photographs into one large image that viewers can navigate around. They also developed Seadragon, another photo application that lets users view a photo of a distant city skyline, for example, and zoom in close enough to clearly see a person in a window.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Nvidia Cancels Bonus Plans for CEO, Other Executives
Nvidia on Wednesday revised its compensation plan for the current fiscal year, saying it was canceling performance-related compensation for most top executives in an effort to cut costs.
The company has canceled bonuses related to company or individual performance as they would not be appropriate "in light of the current economic environment and our cost-reduction efforts," Nvidia said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's 2010 fiscal year will end Jan. 31, 2010.
Nvidia previously offered cash compensation to certain officers, directors and managers based on individual and corporate targets, according to the SEC filing. Executives not eligible for performance-related payoffs this fiscal year include Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.
The revised compensation plan does not apply to Chief Financial Officer David White, who was hired in February. Nvidia also could change plans in the future and pay bonuses to other executives, the company said in the filing.
Huang in the past has said the company is taking steps to cut costs and conserve cash, though plans haven't been explicitly detailed.
Nvidia is chasing new revenue streams with new products in the face of the recession and increased competition from rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. Late on Tuesday, Acer announced its new AspireRevo nettop, a small desktop PC that is the first desktop based on Nvidia's Ion platform. Ion couples the Nvidia GeForce graphics card with Intel's Atom CPU. Nvidia is also looking to enter the cell phone market later this year with its Tegra processors.
The company reported revenue of US$481.1 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, a 60 percent drop from its $1.2 billion revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008. The company also recorded a net loss of $147.7 million during the quarter, which ended on Jan. 25, compared with a net profit of $257 million in the first quarter of 2008.
The company has canceled bonuses related to company or individual performance as they would not be appropriate "in light of the current economic environment and our cost-reduction efforts," Nvidia said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's 2010 fiscal year will end Jan. 31, 2010.
Nvidia previously offered cash compensation to certain officers, directors and managers based on individual and corporate targets, according to the SEC filing. Executives not eligible for performance-related payoffs this fiscal year include Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.
The revised compensation plan does not apply to Chief Financial Officer David White, who was hired in February. Nvidia also could change plans in the future and pay bonuses to other executives, the company said in the filing.
Huang in the past has said the company is taking steps to cut costs and conserve cash, though plans haven't been explicitly detailed.
Nvidia is chasing new revenue streams with new products in the face of the recession and increased competition from rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. Late on Tuesday, Acer announced its new AspireRevo nettop, a small desktop PC that is the first desktop based on Nvidia's Ion platform. Ion couples the Nvidia GeForce graphics card with Intel's Atom CPU. Nvidia is also looking to enter the cell phone market later this year with its Tegra processors.
The company reported revenue of US$481.1 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, a 60 percent drop from its $1.2 billion revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008. The company also recorded a net loss of $147.7 million during the quarter, which ended on Jan. 25, compared with a net profit of $257 million in the first quarter of 2008.
Sparkle Launches Geforce GTX285 Graphics Card
Based on the GeForce 200 Series’ second generation unified architecture, the Sparkle GTX285 is clocked at 648MHz (core) and 1476 (shader clock). It has 240 stream processors and enables DirectX 10 gaming in ‘extreme HD’ (2560x1600) resolutions. The press release claimed that the 2GB version is the first batch of GTX285’s with that much memory.
The GTX285 can work in 3-way SLI mode that allows three similar / equivalent cards to work together to deliver high frame rates even at high quality settings. The Sparkle Geforce GTX285 cards are launched by Abacus Peripherals who claimed that the high performance thermal compound used in the cards ensures optimal thermal dissipation even after years of use.
The GTX285 can work in 3-way SLI mode that allows three similar / equivalent cards to work together to deliver high frame rates even at high quality settings. The Sparkle Geforce GTX285 cards are launched by Abacus Peripherals who claimed that the high performance thermal compound used in the cards ensures optimal thermal dissipation even after years of use.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Intel's Atom Chips to Support Windows 7 This Year
Intel plans to make sure all of its popular Atom microprocessors support at least two versions of Microsoft's new operating system (OS), Windows 7, in the second half of this year.
The chip maker will implant support for the Starter and Basic editions of Windows 7 in Atom, Anand Chandrasekher, Intel's head of Ultra Mobility said at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing on Wednesday.
Intel designed Atom microprocessors for mobile devices such as netbooks, which are down-sized laptops, as well as small, handheld computers it calls mobile Internet devices (MIDs).
The chips will also support the newest version of the Linux OS that Intel developed for small devices, Moblin v2.0. The alpha version of Moblin v2.0 is already available on the moblin.org Web site.
The chip maker will implant support for the Starter and Basic editions of Windows 7 in Atom, Anand Chandrasekher, Intel's head of Ultra Mobility said at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing on Wednesday.
Intel designed Atom microprocessors for mobile devices such as netbooks, which are down-sized laptops, as well as small, handheld computers it calls mobile Internet devices (MIDs).
The chips will also support the newest version of the Linux OS that Intel developed for small devices, Moblin v2.0. The alpha version of Moblin v2.0 is already available on the moblin.org Web site.
Microsoft Releasing First SQL Server '08 Service Pack
The anticipated initial service pack for Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 database will be available imminently, Microsoft said Tuesday.
Many SQL Server 2000 and 2005 shops have been waiting for the pack before upgrading to the 2008 edition, as it contains all the cumulative updates and fixes issued since SQL Server 2008 was released to manufacturing in August, resulting in an overall more stable application.
Service Pack 1 (SP1) also makes it easier to deploy SQL Server 2008. A feature called Slipstream allows users to install the database and service pack at once, easing the process of loading the software onto hundreds or thousands of servers, said Fausto Ibarra, director of product management.
There isn't much in the way of new features in SP1, but that is a deliberate reflection of Microsoft's strategy to put out initial releases that are feature-complete, with packs only used for fixes, he said. "We got feedback from customers that they wanted more predictability, service packs that they could deploy without worrying about application compatibility."
Many SQL Server 2000 and 2005 shops have been waiting for the pack before upgrading to the 2008 edition, as it contains all the cumulative updates and fixes issued since SQL Server 2008 was released to manufacturing in August, resulting in an overall more stable application.
Service Pack 1 (SP1) also makes it easier to deploy SQL Server 2008. A feature called Slipstream allows users to install the database and service pack at once, easing the process of loading the software onto hundreds or thousands of servers, said Fausto Ibarra, director of product management.
There isn't much in the way of new features in SP1, but that is a deliberate reflection of Microsoft's strategy to put out initial releases that are feature-complete, with packs only used for fixes, he said. "We got feedback from customers that they wanted more predictability, service packs that they could deploy without worrying about application compatibility."
Intel Announces 2GHz Atom Microprocessor
Intel celebrated the one-year anniversary of its popular Atom family of microprocessors on Wednesday by announcing a new 2GHz version of the chip.
Intel senior vice president Anand Chandrasekher announced the new chip at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing on Wednesday, as he pulled a small computer out of his pocket.
“Today we’re announcing two new products in the Atom family. The Z550, this is the first 2GHz processor that will fit in your pocket...,” he said.
The Z550 is aimed at mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and works with up to 2GB of DDR2 DRAM.
The second new new Z-series Atom chip is the Z515, which can run at up to 1.2GHz speeds when needed and is also aimed at the MID market.
Both chips are made to be as power-efficient as possible to keep small battery powered devices running longer.
The two microprocessors incorporate Intel Hyperthreading technology, which enables them to more efficiently run multiple programs on a device at once and enables richer graphics.
The two new Z-series chips are already available for companies to develop products around. Pricing information was not disclosed.
Intel’s first Atom microprocessor launched last April at IDF Shanghai.
The microprocessor family has won fame for the product they’re most used in today, netbooks, or mini-laptops. The MID product segment has so far not been as successful as the netbook market.
Intel senior vice president Anand Chandrasekher announced the new chip at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing on Wednesday, as he pulled a small computer out of his pocket.
“Today we’re announcing two new products in the Atom family. The Z550, this is the first 2GHz processor that will fit in your pocket...,” he said.
The Z550 is aimed at mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and works with up to 2GB of DDR2 DRAM.
The second new new Z-series Atom chip is the Z515, which can run at up to 1.2GHz speeds when needed and is also aimed at the MID market.
Both chips are made to be as power-efficient as possible to keep small battery powered devices running longer.
The two microprocessors incorporate Intel Hyperthreading technology, which enables them to more efficiently run multiple programs on a device at once and enables richer graphics.
The two new Z-series chips are already available for companies to develop products around. Pricing information was not disclosed.
Intel’s first Atom microprocessor launched last April at IDF Shanghai.
The microprocessor family has won fame for the product they’re most used in today, netbooks, or mini-laptops. The MID product segment has so far not been as successful as the netbook market.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us)
The HP Pavilion dv2 (1030-us) is as close to a netbook as you'll see with an AMD processor. Though it was made clear that the semiconductor company had no interest in competing in the netbook category, this 12-inch beauty says otherwise. The dv2, which bears a strong resemblance to the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, is the first laptop to use AMD's new Athlon Neo processor, and at $749 (direct), it costs about $100 more than theHP Mini 2140 netbook. I think HP and AMD have the right idea here, as there aren't enough 12-inch form factors that are able to hit this price. The only catch is that you'll have to put up with fan noises and occasional heat from its underside. In term of form factor, the dv2 more closely hews to netbooks. What sets it apart from that category are the new AMD Neo processor, 4GB of memory, discrete graphics card, and 12-inch screen, not to mention its steeper price point. In that way, it straddles the line between netbooks and ultraportables.
Take away the brand logos, and you'll see the striking design similarities between the dv2z and the Mini 12. They have roughly the same dimensions: the dv2 measures 11.5-by-9.5-by-0.9 inches (HWD) and the Mini 12 is slightly thinner at 11.8-by-9-by-0.8 inches (HWD). Both have a black glossy top that collects smudges and finger print marks. On closer inspection, HP paid more attention to subtle design details on the dv2, such as the chrome trimmings along the edges, the embedded patterns on the palm rest, and the chrome mouse buttons and touchpad. The Mini 12, as with most inexpensive netbooks, is a more basic.
Take away the brand logos, and you'll see the striking design similarities between the dv2z and the Mini 12. They have roughly the same dimensions: the dv2 measures 11.5-by-9.5-by-0.9 inches (HWD) and the Mini 12 is slightly thinner at 11.8-by-9-by-0.8 inches (HWD). Both have a black glossy top that collects smudges and finger print marks. On closer inspection, HP paid more attention to subtle design details on the dv2, such as the chrome trimmings along the edges, the embedded patterns on the palm rest, and the chrome mouse buttons and touchpad. The Mini 12, as with most inexpensive netbooks, is a more basic.
Windows 7 Upgrade Options Limited for Some
Microsoft will restrict Windows 7 "upgrade rights" for Vista and XP users to 25 machines at any single street address, meaning that larger companies will have to go through volume licensing for their migration plans, according to a Web site chronicling the rollout of the forthcoming operating system..
Larger companies will have to rely on their Software Assurance (SA) maintenance contracts as the foundation for their upgrade path, but those without SA won't get any upgrade break at all beyond the first 25 PCs.
SA gives users rights to upgrade to new versions of any software they have under their SA maintenance contract.
The 25-machine limit will likely mean that any company without SA won't execute on migration plans until after Windows 7 ships. Given the length of many corporate migrations, that means companies without SA likely won't be deploying Windows 7 for at least a year after it ships.
A Windows 7 final beta, called a Release Candidate, is rumored to be coming out next month. Microsoft still says the final shipment of Windows 7 will be early in 2010, but many observers think the operating system could ship this fall.
The Web site TechARP.com reported over the weekend that Microsoft would include rights to get Windows 7 for users buying PCs now loaded with Vista and for some running XP.
Microsoft does this by offering "downgrade" rights, where users purchase a Windows 7 license as part of their PC and then downgrade it to Vista. Once Microsoft ships Windows 7, the PC owner gets the newest operating system from the PC hardware manufacturer.
The program is aimed at consumers and is offered by Microsoft in order to encourage users not to wait for the new operating system in order to purchase a new PC.
But corporations with more than 25 users don't get the same options, mainly because those with valid SA maintenance deals will get Windows 7 when it ships, as part of their contracts.
For users without SA, they will either have to buy an SA contract or pay full cost to replace the operating system on any machine purchased before Windows 7 shipped.
TechARP says Microsoft has confirmed that it is restricting users to 25 Windows 7 upgrades per brick-and-mortar address. Companies with branch offices could get around that restriction by getting 25 upgrades at each office.
Furthermore, the TechARP report says, Microsoft is limiting users to five Windows 7 upgrades per visit to the upgrade fulfillment Web site. So an organization with 15 PCs would have to make three separate requests in order to upgrade all its PCs.
Microsoft has followed similar upgrade policies for consumer and corporate users during the shipment of past operating systems.
Larger companies will have to rely on their Software Assurance (SA) maintenance contracts as the foundation for their upgrade path, but those without SA won't get any upgrade break at all beyond the first 25 PCs.
SA gives users rights to upgrade to new versions of any software they have under their SA maintenance contract.
The 25-machine limit will likely mean that any company without SA won't execute on migration plans until after Windows 7 ships. Given the length of many corporate migrations, that means companies without SA likely won't be deploying Windows 7 for at least a year after it ships.
A Windows 7 final beta, called a Release Candidate, is rumored to be coming out next month. Microsoft still says the final shipment of Windows 7 will be early in 2010, but many observers think the operating system could ship this fall.
The Web site TechARP.com reported over the weekend that Microsoft would include rights to get Windows 7 for users buying PCs now loaded with Vista and for some running XP.
Microsoft does this by offering "downgrade" rights, where users purchase a Windows 7 license as part of their PC and then downgrade it to Vista. Once Microsoft ships Windows 7, the PC owner gets the newest operating system from the PC hardware manufacturer.
The program is aimed at consumers and is offered by Microsoft in order to encourage users not to wait for the new operating system in order to purchase a new PC.
But corporations with more than 25 users don't get the same options, mainly because those with valid SA maintenance deals will get Windows 7 when it ships, as part of their contracts.
For users without SA, they will either have to buy an SA contract or pay full cost to replace the operating system on any machine purchased before Windows 7 shipped.
TechARP says Microsoft has confirmed that it is restricting users to 25 Windows 7 upgrades per brick-and-mortar address. Companies with branch offices could get around that restriction by getting 25 upgrades at each office.
Furthermore, the TechARP report says, Microsoft is limiting users to five Windows 7 upgrades per visit to the upgrade fulfillment Web site. So an organization with 15 PCs would have to make three separate requests in order to upgrade all its PCs.
Microsoft has followed similar upgrade policies for consumer and corporate users during the shipment of past operating systems.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
HP Firebird with VoodooDNA 803
HP's purchase of Voodoo has resulted in the past in an Editors' Choice–winning gaming rig, the Blackbird 002, and the Voodoo Envy 133subnotebook. The latest system to come out of this union is the HP Firebird with VoodooDNA 803 ($2,099 list). A high-powered gaming desktop, it has some unique attributes. For one, the rig's insides have several notebook-like characteristics, including switchable graphics—the first we've seen on a desktop. For another, its styling is distinctive, yet it has an HP/Voodoo family resemblance. Unfortunately, there are a few issues that could keep it from winning over the hard-core gamer, such as some disappointments with performance and limited upgradability. Still, this is not your father's gaming desktop. And for the more casual part of the gaming market, that's a good thing.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Internet Explorer Slips in the Polls
Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer, which four years ago was running on nearly nine out of 10 computers,has fallen on hard times. Last month, just two out of every three users surfed the Web with IE, a Web metrics company said Wednesday.
IE lost 0.7 of a percentage point to end March with a 66.8% share of the browser market, the lowest number since Net Applications Inc. began tracking browsers in 2005. The launch of IE8 two weeks ago didn't stop or even slow Microsoft's slide; the browser's March drop was slightly larger than the average loss during the previous 12 months.
Earlier data from NetApp indicated that in IE8's first full week of availability, users of rival browsers weren't persuaded to switch. The Microsoft browser was instead downloaded and installed by people who had been running IE7.
In the past year, IE's share has slipped 8 percentage points. If the current rate of decline continues, Microsoft's share will fall below 60% in January 2010, the company's publicly stated delivery date for the Windows 7 operating system.
As has generally been the pattern, IE's March losses were countered by rival browsers' gains. Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox increased its share by the largest amount, 0.3 percentage points, while Apple Inc.'s Safari and Google Inc.'s Chrome grew by 0.2 and 0.08 percentage points, respectively.
Firefox, which as of March had six consecutive months of growth, ended March with 22% of the browser market, a record for the open-source browser. The beta of Firefox 3.5 -- numbered 3.1 until a recent name change by Mozilla -- accounted for about 6% of all Firefox browsers in use last month, more than double the percentage of IE users running the now-finished IE8.
Safari, meanwhile, returned to the black in March afterlosing share the month before. And with 8.2% of the total market, it has nearly returned to its January 2009 record of 8.3%.
Google's Chrome picked up some users as well, ending the month at 1.2%, but Opera Software ASA's flagship browser remained stuck at 0.7%, where it has languished for nearly a year.
NetApp measures browser usage by tracking the machines that visit the 40,000 sites it monitors for clients. Its current browser share data is available online.
IE lost 0.7 of a percentage point to end March with a 66.8% share of the browser market, the lowest number since Net Applications Inc. began tracking browsers in 2005. The launch of IE8 two weeks ago didn't stop or even slow Microsoft's slide; the browser's March drop was slightly larger than the average loss during the previous 12 months.
Earlier data from NetApp indicated that in IE8's first full week of availability, users of rival browsers weren't persuaded to switch. The Microsoft browser was instead downloaded and installed by people who had been running IE7.
In the past year, IE's share has slipped 8 percentage points. If the current rate of decline continues, Microsoft's share will fall below 60% in January 2010, the company's publicly stated delivery date for the Windows 7 operating system.
As has generally been the pattern, IE's March losses were countered by rival browsers' gains. Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox increased its share by the largest amount, 0.3 percentage points, while Apple Inc.'s Safari and Google Inc.'s Chrome grew by 0.2 and 0.08 percentage points, respectively.
Firefox, which as of March had six consecutive months of growth, ended March with 22% of the browser market, a record for the open-source browser. The beta of Firefox 3.5 -- numbered 3.1 until a recent name change by Mozilla -- accounted for about 6% of all Firefox browsers in use last month, more than double the percentage of IE users running the now-finished IE8.
Safari, meanwhile, returned to the black in March afterlosing share the month before. And with 8.2% of the total market, it has nearly returned to its January 2009 record of 8.3%.
Google's Chrome picked up some users as well, ending the month at 1.2%, but Opera Software ASA's flagship browser remained stuck at 0.7%, where it has languished for nearly a year.
NetApp measures browser usage by tracking the machines that visit the 40,000 sites it monitors for clients. Its current browser share data is available online.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Waiting for Windows 7
Windows 7 arrive this year or next? Last week's"accidental" Windows 7 Release Candidate download page, dated May 2009, and repeated leaks to the Web of Windows 7 builds are strong indications that we'll see the next manifestation of Windows in about two months.
Microsoft has not confirmed the projected May delivery date and the Windows 7 RC download page is now gone (click here for a captured screenshot). But a late-May release candidate would mean cutting it close for a final release before the back-to-school weeks of late summer. That leaves us with the more important 2009 holiday season, which despite the dismal economy, is something Windows 7 can't afford to miss.
Here are three reasons why Microsoft is likely to have Windows 7 locked and loaded on computers before the holiday rush.
Back to School Timing Would Be Rushed
Even if the Windows 7 release candidate does arrive in late May, that may be too late to have Windows 7 finalized for the pre-Labor Day back to school crowd, given all the changes Microsoft has made to Windows 7.
Microsoft Watch blogger Joe Wilcox wrote that "four to six weeks minimum" will be needed for bug and application testing because of all the user interface changes made between the public beta and the upcoming release candidate of Windows 7.
The next logical time for a release is for the holidays. Veteran Microsoft blogger Ed Bott writes that if the release candidate is in May, Microsoft will have time to do testing before releasing to its OEMs in late July, RTW (releasing to Web) in late August, and then doing a retail launch in late September.
Bott writes: "If OEMs get code in July, they can have systems ready to deliver to customers in September, maybe even with a simultaneous retail launch ... holiday sales are crucial, and a September release allows for a full-on marketing blitz for the fourth quarter."
Microsoft Keeps 'Accidentally' Saying 2009
Last week's allegedly accidental Windows 7 RC download page is the latest in a series Microsoft slip-ups hinting at a 2009 release of Windows 7.
Last October, Jerry Shen, CEO of Microsoft OEM Asus,said in an interview: "In the second half of next year we will put Windows 7 on Eee PCs."
Also in October, Microsoft said on its WinHEC Web sitethat, "There is not another WinHEC planned before Windows 7 is released." WinHEC is scheduled for early May 2009.
At the WinHEC conference in early November, Microsoft Director Doug Howe showed a slide saying that the VistaVelocity program would go through next spring and then continue with Windows 7.
He was then quoted as saying, "Definitely the holiday focus is going to be on [Windows] 7."
January Release Will Remind People of Vista
Releasing Windows 7 in the first month of a new year could bring back memories of a certain other Windows OS infamous for missing the holidays and launching in the new year. As everybody now knows, compatibility problems and memory hog gripes marred Vista's launch, resulting in negative perceptions that remain today.
Any comparisons to Vista - even for something non-technical like a release date - could hurt Microsoft, considering that Vista seems stuck with one of the worst reputations of any version of Windows.
Microsoft unmistakably wants to differentiate the two OSs (even if they are both based on the same code). Missing the holidays and releasing Windows 7 in January would be the exact route it took with Vista in 2006/2007.
Microsoft has not confirmed the projected May delivery date and the Windows 7 RC download page is now gone (click here for a captured screenshot). But a late-May release candidate would mean cutting it close for a final release before the back-to-school weeks of late summer. That leaves us with the more important 2009 holiday season, which despite the dismal economy, is something Windows 7 can't afford to miss.
Here are three reasons why Microsoft is likely to have Windows 7 locked and loaded on computers before the holiday rush.
Back to School Timing Would Be Rushed
Even if the Windows 7 release candidate does arrive in late May, that may be too late to have Windows 7 finalized for the pre-Labor Day back to school crowd, given all the changes Microsoft has made to Windows 7.
Microsoft Watch blogger Joe Wilcox wrote that "four to six weeks minimum" will be needed for bug and application testing because of all the user interface changes made between the public beta and the upcoming release candidate of Windows 7.
The next logical time for a release is for the holidays. Veteran Microsoft blogger Ed Bott writes that if the release candidate is in May, Microsoft will have time to do testing before releasing to its OEMs in late July, RTW (releasing to Web) in late August, and then doing a retail launch in late September.
Bott writes: "If OEMs get code in July, they can have systems ready to deliver to customers in September, maybe even with a simultaneous retail launch ... holiday sales are crucial, and a September release allows for a full-on marketing blitz for the fourth quarter."
Microsoft Keeps 'Accidentally' Saying 2009
Last week's allegedly accidental Windows 7 RC download page is the latest in a series Microsoft slip-ups hinting at a 2009 release of Windows 7.
Last October, Jerry Shen, CEO of Microsoft OEM Asus,said in an interview: "In the second half of next year we will put Windows 7 on Eee PCs."
Also in October, Microsoft said on its WinHEC Web sitethat, "There is not another WinHEC planned before Windows 7 is released." WinHEC is scheduled for early May 2009.
At the WinHEC conference in early November, Microsoft Director Doug Howe showed a slide saying that the VistaVelocity program would go through next spring and then continue with Windows 7.
He was then quoted as saying, "Definitely the holiday focus is going to be on [Windows] 7."
January Release Will Remind People of Vista
Releasing Windows 7 in the first month of a new year could bring back memories of a certain other Windows OS infamous for missing the holidays and launching in the new year. As everybody now knows, compatibility problems and memory hog gripes marred Vista's launch, resulting in negative perceptions that remain today.
Any comparisons to Vista - even for something non-technical like a release date - could hurt Microsoft, considering that Vista seems stuck with one of the worst reputations of any version of Windows.
Microsoft unmistakably wants to differentiate the two OSs (even if they are both based on the same code). Missing the holidays and releasing Windows 7 in January would be the exact route it took with Vista in 2006/2007.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Canon PowerShot SD960 IS
The 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SD960 IS ($329.99 list) is Canon's first, and the only model in its latest Elph line to get a widescreen LCD. This slick little point-and-shooter still gives you the option to take pictures in the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, but the 2.8-inch LCD, with its wide 16:9 aspect ratio, makes it much easier to frame your shots. It wouldn't surprise us to see widescreen LCDs become standard fare on digital cameras, as they are becoming in laptops, monitors, and HDTVs. Apart from its screen, the SD960 is extremely fast and records dazzling HD video that you can easily output to an HDTV, but Canon's typically bulletproof reputation for high-quality images has developed a few holes with this model.
The 5.11-ounce SD960 sports spiffy rounded edges and comes in five colors (blue, green, silver, pink, and gold). It measures 2.1 by 3.9 by 0.9 inches (HWD), making it a bit shorter and thicker than aBlackBerry Pearl and slightly larger than the $279.99 Canon PowerShot SD780 IS. The new interface is straightforward and attractive; it's similar to the one used in previous PowerShot models, but its higher-resolution text is crisper, and it adds animations to the menus along with cool transitions between images when you're in playback mode. Navigating the menus is a breeze with the camera's easy-to-manipulate scroll wheel, which is flanked by large Play and Menu buttons. The zoom and shutter-release controls are also nice and big, which makes framing and shooting pictures simple. (Check out this video for a detailed look at the new interface.)
The 28mm lens is wider than those on the SD780 IS (33mm) and SD970 IS (37mm), which results in a shorter focal length and consequently the ability to fit more into your images. The lens provides 4X optical zoom with a focal range of 5mm to 20mm (35mm equivalent: 28mm to 112mm), with maximum f-stops at f/2.8 and f/5.8.
The 5.11-ounce SD960 sports spiffy rounded edges and comes in five colors (blue, green, silver, pink, and gold). It measures 2.1 by 3.9 by 0.9 inches (HWD), making it a bit shorter and thicker than aBlackBerry Pearl and slightly larger than the $279.99 Canon PowerShot SD780 IS. The new interface is straightforward and attractive; it's similar to the one used in previous PowerShot models, but its higher-resolution text is crisper, and it adds animations to the menus along with cool transitions between images when you're in playback mode. Navigating the menus is a breeze with the camera's easy-to-manipulate scroll wheel, which is flanked by large Play and Menu buttons. The zoom and shutter-release controls are also nice and big, which makes framing and shooting pictures simple. (Check out this video for a detailed look at the new interface.)
The 28mm lens is wider than those on the SD780 IS (33mm) and SD970 IS (37mm), which results in a shorter focal length and consequently the ability to fit more into your images. The lens provides 4X optical zoom with a focal range of 5mm to 20mm (35mm equivalent: 28mm to 112mm), with maximum f-stops at f/2.8 and f/5.8.
Microsoft to Shut Down Encarta Web Sites
Microsoft is shutting down its Encarta encyclopedia Web sites and will also discontinue its Student and Premium Encarta software products.
"The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed," reads a note explaining the move on the MSN Encarta Web site. "People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past."
The Encarta Web sites worldwide will shut down on Oct. 31 and Microsoft will stop selling the software products by June this year. One exception is the Encarta Japan Web site, which will stay live until the last day of this year.
People who have paid for a subscription to MSN Encarta Premium, which offers them access to more information, will get a refund for fees paid beyond April 30, although they'll continue to be able to access the site until it shuts down in October.
Microsoft will continue to offer technical support for the software products for three years.
The software giant has discontinued a couple of other products recently. Late last year it announced it would stop selling OneCare, its consumer antivirus product. It also killed off a mobile browser research product last year.
Its rival Google has discontinued quite a few more offerings recently, presumably in response to pressure from the deteriorating economic conditions. Google has shut down Jaiku, Mashup Editor, Dodgeball, Catalog Search, Google Notebook and Print Ads.
"The category of traditional encyclopedias and reference material has changed," reads a note explaining the move on the MSN Encarta Web site. "People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past."
The Encarta Web sites worldwide will shut down on Oct. 31 and Microsoft will stop selling the software products by June this year. One exception is the Encarta Japan Web site, which will stay live until the last day of this year.
People who have paid for a subscription to MSN Encarta Premium, which offers them access to more information, will get a refund for fees paid beyond April 30, although they'll continue to be able to access the site until it shuts down in October.
Microsoft will continue to offer technical support for the software products for three years.
The software giant has discontinued a couple of other products recently. Late last year it announced it would stop selling OneCare, its consumer antivirus product. It also killed off a mobile browser research product last year.
Its rival Google has discontinued quite a few more offerings recently, presumably in response to pressure from the deteriorating economic conditions. Google has shut down Jaiku, Mashup Editor, Dodgeball, Catalog Search, Google Notebook and Print Ads.
Windows 7 Leaks to Web ... Again
Yet another Windows 7 build has leaked to the Web, turning recent appearances of pirated copies into a weekly event on file-sharing sites.
As many as 10 different copies of Windows 7 Build 7068 have been added to BitTorrent since last Friday, according to searches on popular tracking sites such as Mininova.org and Pirate Bay. Illegal copies of both 32- and 64-bit editions are available.
The appearance of Windows 7 Build 7068 follows theleak of Build 7057 by about a week; 7057, in turn, followed 7048 by about the same time span. The newest build is the fourth to hit BitTorrent since Microsoftstopped offering the public beta last month.
Traffic on this build has been especially brisk. As of midday today, Mininova reported that the various copies of Windows 7 Build 7068 have been downloaded a combined total of more than 65,000 times.
Although Build 7068 was compiled by Microsoft on March 21, there's no hint in the new version that it is a possible release candidate (RC), unlike earlier this month when some downloaders speculated that Build 7057 was the long-awaited RC.
Last week, in fact, Microsoft accidentally revealed detailsof Windows 7 RC, including a May 2009 delivery of a public download and a new expiration date, June 1, 2010, for the preview.
According to the My Digital Life site, Windows 7 Build 7068 expires on March 2, 2010, the same date as earlier builds, including 7057, displayed.
Windows 7 leaks have been a problem for Microsoft since previews were first handed out in October 2008 at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference. Since then, other versions have appeared on BitTorrent, including a pirated copy of what was later released as the beta.
As many as 10 different copies of Windows 7 Build 7068 have been added to BitTorrent since last Friday, according to searches on popular tracking sites such as Mininova.org and Pirate Bay. Illegal copies of both 32- and 64-bit editions are available.
The appearance of Windows 7 Build 7068 follows theleak of Build 7057 by about a week; 7057, in turn, followed 7048 by about the same time span. The newest build is the fourth to hit BitTorrent since Microsoftstopped offering the public beta last month.
Traffic on this build has been especially brisk. As of midday today, Mininova reported that the various copies of Windows 7 Build 7068 have been downloaded a combined total of more than 65,000 times.
Although Build 7068 was compiled by Microsoft on March 21, there's no hint in the new version that it is a possible release candidate (RC), unlike earlier this month when some downloaders speculated that Build 7057 was the long-awaited RC.
Last week, in fact, Microsoft accidentally revealed detailsof Windows 7 RC, including a May 2009 delivery of a public download and a new expiration date, June 1, 2010, for the preview.
According to the My Digital Life site, Windows 7 Build 7068 expires on March 2, 2010, the same date as earlier builds, including 7057, displayed.
Windows 7 leaks have been a problem for Microsoft since previews were first handed out in October 2008 at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference. Since then, other versions have appeared on BitTorrent, including a pirated copy of what was later released as the beta.
Microsoft's Working on an Xbox Next
Sometimes it's what a company says it's not doing that grabs your head and twists it around. Case in point, Blizzard veep of game design Rob Pardo is flatly denyingrumors the company's been rapping with Microsoft about a hypothetical Xbox 360 successor (unimaginatively dubbed 'Xbox 720' by the mathematically literalist media).It's no secret high level execs yak about this stuff behind hermetically sealed walls and chambers, probably carrying around microscopic explosives that could blow open their carotid arteries if they squeal. Occasionally something leaks anyway (or appears to) then bangs around the blogosphere with exaggerated gravitas.
With the Xbox 360 over three years old, it's as likely as not that Microsoft's already broached the subject of its Xbox 360 followup act (in one form or another) with whoever it's dubbed worthy.
IBM, HP, Dell Aim to Cut Costs With New Xeon Servers
The world's top server vendors on Monday updated their product lines, launching new servers to coincide with the release of Intel's next-generation Xeon processors.
IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Dell said their new low-end and midrange servers will be their fastest to date, dwarfing earlier products that ran on Intel-based chips. The servers will include Intel's latest Xeon 5500 quad-core series chips, which boosts overall server performance while drawing much less power.
"This is the largest increase in performance in the history of Xeon product line," said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager, server platforms group at Intel.
HP and Dell said the chips double server performance while consuming 50 percent less power than their predecessors. Nehalem's microarchitecture design improves data throughput by cutting bottlenecks that plagued older chips.
The new servers reflect a trend of cutting data-center costs while delivering performance gains via faster chips and virtualization, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.
"These issues line up pretty well with enterprise customers' overriding concerns about the fragile economy and needing to quantify the economic value of the IT products they plan to buy," he said.
Chip improvements should allow servers to execute more tasks in virtualized environments, which should consolidate servers in smaller spaces in data centers. That could also help cut additional overhead costs per server, including energy and hardware acquisition costs.
Close to nine servers with Xeon processors can consolidate into one Nehalem-based quad-core Xeon server, Intel's Skaugen said. HP officials said that close to 24 single-core servers could be merged into one quad-core Xeon server.
Manufacturing company Emerson is looking to merge about 140 data centers into just a couple of centers by reducing the number of servers, said Stephen Hassell, vice president and chief information officer, during a Dell press conference last week. He said the company merged 18 old servers into one Nehalem-based Dell PowerEdge server, while reducing the server footprint by up to 50 percent.
The improved server performance comes partially from a faster pipe that allows chips to communicate faster with other processors, memory and system components. A crucial architectural change involves the integration of a memory controller on a CPU, which gives CPUs a faster communication channel with memory. The data-throughput improvements are bundled under a technology called QuickPath Interconnect, or QPI.
Dell already announced new PowerEdge 11g servers last week, but revealed specifications on Monday. The company's server lineup now includes five new blade, rack and tower PowerEdge servers based on Intel's Xeon 5500 series processors. The servers include the M610 and M710 blade servers, the R710 and R610 rack servers and the T610 tower server. The servers are priced starting at US$1,599 and are available worldwide starting Monday.
HP said Monday's roll-out of 10 new ProLiant G6 low-end and midrange servers was its biggest ever in the company's history. The lineup includes three blade servers, five rack servers and two tower servers. The systems will be available on Monday starting at $1,000. The systems include a number of enhancements that could see cut energy costs.
A power management technology offered by HP can cap power consumption by a set of servers. Another unique feature is the inclusion of 32 sensors in each server that can track and dynamically reduce server power consumption. Sensors measure thermal activity of components like fans, and algorithms use the data to adjust operation of the components to cool systems more efficiently.
IBM on Monday introduced four new Nehalem-based rack servers and blades feature unique designs that can slash energy costs up to 50 percent, according to the company. The offerings include the IBM BladeCenter HS22 blade server, System x3650 M2 and System x3550 M2 rack servers. IBM is also launching the System x iDataPlex dx360 M2, which is designed for data centers, and provides up to five times the compute density versus traditional 1U rack servers while cooling systems more efficiently, according to the company.
Software tools are also being offered with the servers to cut energy and system maintenance costs. Dell and IBM are offering software, called the Dell Management Console and Systems Director 6.1, respectively, making it easier for enterprises to manage hardware, software and networking resources across virtualized environments. HP is offering tools to manage power consumption by groups of servers, and tools to manage operations spread over virtual machines in a virtualized server environment.
HP and Dell are also plugging system management and diagnostic tools directly into the hardware. That will ease fixing and updating systems, and delivery of software like product updates on a timely basis, the vendors said. Servers usually ship with installation CDs, but the software will now go on a chip instead and save users from fumbling around to find the right installation discs.
Server makers will continue to see improved processor performance as Intel battles rival Advanced Micro Devices for server chip market share. AMD is due to ship its 6-core Istanbul chips later this year, while Intel will ship 8-core Nehalem-EX processors later this year or early 2010.
Intel May Not Ship Nehalem EX Until Early 2010
Intel may not release its upcoming Nehalem EX line of Xeon chips for servers that have four or more processors until early next year, an Intel executive said.
"What you'll get at the beginning of next year -- late this year or the beginning of next year -- will be the push into the four-socket, eight-socket and above space," said Shannon Poulin, Xeon platform director in Intel's Server Products Group, discussing the Nehalem EX release schedule during an interview.
Nehalem EX is Intel's next-generation line of x86 server chips designed for servers with four or more processors. They are expected to have up to eight cores on a single chip, in addition to an on-chip memory controller and support for Intel's QuickPath Interconnect technology, which greatly increases memory bandwidth.
On Intel's product roadmap, the Nehalem EX processors follow the Nehalem EP chips, released Tuesday, which are designed for servers and workstations that use one or two processors. The EP variants have up to four cores on a single processor.
Intel executives have not given a firm release date for Nehalem EX, but they have previously said the chip would likely be released during the second half of this year. In recent years, Intel updated its high-end server chips in September, suggesting the same might happen this year. For example, last year Intel released its six-core Dunnington processors in September
With the chips now set to hit the market later than September, this suggests a slower product release cycle than in recent years. But Poulin said putting the Nehalem EX chips on the market at the beginning of 2010 doesn't mean they're coming late.
"Generally we see a lag between the 2-socket and 4-socket and above [chips] ... a historic low was seven to eight months and a historic high is probably a year and a half or so," Poulin said. "This one kind of falls right in the middle."
Intel's Nehalem EP Server Chips Hit the Market
Details of the new Xeon 3500 and Xeon 5500 processors -- formerly known by the Nehalem EP code name -- were first announced nearly four weeks ago when Apple updated its line of Mac Pro computers, and other vendors soon followed with details of their own systems based on the new chips.
The 17 new Xeon chips that make up the Nehalem EP family are now available in systems, including workstations and blade servers, and Intel has high hopes for them, despite a general slowdown in IT spending and Intel's own lack of visibility into market demand.
"We expect this to be one of the broadest roll outs of new technologies and a new platform, and hopefully a nice kick for the economy for people who have been waiting to buy new servers," said Shannon Poulin, Xeon platform director in Intel's Server Products Group, during an interview.
Poulin said Intel shipped "hundreds of thousands" of Nehalem EP chips to server makers in advance of the launch.
The Xeon 5500 line ranges in price from US$188 to $1,600, in 1,000 unit quantities. The 3500 chips are priced between $284 and $999, while the L5518 and L5508 embedded versions cost $530 and $423, respectively.
Intel is pitching the new chips as the most significant revamp of its server chip line since the 1995 release of the Pentium Pro.
The Xeon 5500 and Xeon 3500 are the first server versions of Intel's Nehalem chip family and include technical enhancements that greatly increase their performance relative to previous generations of the Xeon. Most importantly, the processors have an on-chip memory controller and use Intel's QuickPath Interconnect technology instead of a front-side bus to triple the memory bandwidth available to the processors.
The new chips also have a feature, called Turbo Boost, that can overclock one or more cores on the chip to deal with a heavier processing load. The server versions of the chips are rated to run at speeds up to 2.93GHz, but Turbo Boost can temporarily raise this to 3.3GHz under certain conditions. The workstation chips get a similar boost from 3.2GHz to 3.46GHz.
In high-performance computing applications, the new Xeon 5500 chips will allow server makers to build systems capable of more than 1 quadrillion, or 1,000 trillion, floating operations per second, Intel said.
Intel is counting on the higher performance and low power consumption to spur corporate sales, but executives admit the company has little insight into future market demand.
Looking ahead, future versions of the Nehalem EP chip called Westmere are due next year. These chips will be made with Intel's upcoming 32-nanometer manufacturing process and will be socket-compatible with the Nehalem EP, reducing the cost for system makers to design servers that use the chip and allowing end users to easily upgrade.
The 17 new Xeon chips that make up the Nehalem EP family are now available in systems, including workstations and blade servers, and Intel has high hopes for them, despite a general slowdown in IT spending and Intel's own lack of visibility into market demand.
"We expect this to be one of the broadest roll outs of new technologies and a new platform, and hopefully a nice kick for the economy for people who have been waiting to buy new servers," said Shannon Poulin, Xeon platform director in Intel's Server Products Group, during an interview.
Poulin said Intel shipped "hundreds of thousands" of Nehalem EP chips to server makers in advance of the launch.
The Xeon 5500 line ranges in price from US$188 to $1,600, in 1,000 unit quantities. The 3500 chips are priced between $284 and $999, while the L5518 and L5508 embedded versions cost $530 and $423, respectively.
Intel is pitching the new chips as the most significant revamp of its server chip line since the 1995 release of the Pentium Pro.
The Xeon 5500 and Xeon 3500 are the first server versions of Intel's Nehalem chip family and include technical enhancements that greatly increase their performance relative to previous generations of the Xeon. Most importantly, the processors have an on-chip memory controller and use Intel's QuickPath Interconnect technology instead of a front-side bus to triple the memory bandwidth available to the processors.
The new chips also have a feature, called Turbo Boost, that can overclock one or more cores on the chip to deal with a heavier processing load. The server versions of the chips are rated to run at speeds up to 2.93GHz, but Turbo Boost can temporarily raise this to 3.3GHz under certain conditions. The workstation chips get a similar boost from 3.2GHz to 3.46GHz.
In high-performance computing applications, the new Xeon 5500 chips will allow server makers to build systems capable of more than 1 quadrillion, or 1,000 trillion, floating operations per second, Intel said.
Intel is counting on the higher performance and low power consumption to spur corporate sales, but executives admit the company has little insight into future market demand.
Looking ahead, future versions of the Nehalem EP chip called Westmere are due next year. These chips will be made with Intel's upcoming 32-nanometer manufacturing process and will be socket-compatible with the Nehalem EP, reducing the cost for system makers to design servers that use the chip and allowing end users to easily upgrade.
ATI and Nvidia's New Workstation Graphics
ATI and Nvidia Both Launch New Workstation Graphics
AMD today announced the availability of the ATI FirePro V7750 graphics accelerator for the high-end market, ideally suited for graphics professionals working in engineering, digital content creation and scientific fields. The ATI FirePro V7750’s 1GB of frame-buffer memory and 30-bit display pipeline can generate a multi-monitor desktop of more than 5000 pixels wide in a single-slot form factor, aided by multiple DisplayPort outputs and a Dual Link enabled DVI output.
The ATI FirePro V7750 graphics accelerator is available on HP Workstations. The new generation GPU with 320 unified stream processing units, the ATI FirePro V7750’s ultra parallel processing architecture maximizes throughput by automatically directing graphics horsepower where it’s needed. In addition, the card accelerates ATI Stream applications, utilizing the GPU to offload the CPU for specific compute-intensive workloads.
The press release said that AMD works closely with leading ISV partners, including Autodesk and Dassault Systems, to implement optimizations that enable their software solutions to take better advantage of the latest hardware developments.
Pricing and Availability
The new ATI FirePro V7750 graphics accelerator is available now with an MSRP of $899(Rs. 46,000). ATI FirePro graphics accelerators are available from OEMs, system integrators and channel partners worldwide.
Nvidia’s Quadro FX series
NVIDIA today introduced its most powerful and advanced top-to-bottom line of Quadro® professional GPU solutions in the Company’s history.
Spanning from sub-$100 entry-level to standalone visual computing systems, this new series includes seven models – the Quadro FX 5800, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX 3800, Quadro FX 1800, Quadro FX 580, Quadro FX 380, Quadro NVS 295.
The NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 is the industry’s first and only 4GB, ultra high-end solution delivers the highest visualisation performance and capabilities, enabling professionals to work with large-scale models and datasets.
The ATI FirePro V7750 graphics accelerator is available on HP Workstations. The new generation GPU with 320 unified stream processing units, the ATI FirePro V7750’s ultra parallel processing architecture maximizes throughput by automatically directing graphics horsepower where it’s needed. In addition, the card accelerates ATI Stream applications, utilizing the GPU to offload the CPU for specific compute-intensive workloads.
The press release said that AMD works closely with leading ISV partners, including Autodesk and Dassault Systems, to implement optimizations that enable their software solutions to take better advantage of the latest hardware developments.
Pricing and Availability
The new ATI FirePro V7750 graphics accelerator is available now with an MSRP of $899(Rs. 46,000). ATI FirePro graphics accelerators are available from OEMs, system integrators and channel partners worldwide.
Nvidia’s Quadro FX series
NVIDIA today introduced its most powerful and advanced top-to-bottom line of Quadro® professional GPU solutions in the Company’s history.
Spanning from sub-$100 entry-level to standalone visual computing systems, this new series includes seven models – the Quadro FX 5800, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX 3800, Quadro FX 1800, Quadro FX 580, Quadro FX 380, Quadro NVS 295.
The NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 is the industry’s first and only 4GB, ultra high-end solution delivers the highest visualisation performance and capabilities, enabling professionals to work with large-scale models and datasets.
Pocket Projector
Acer Launches India’s First “Pocket” Projector – K10 Pico
Acer announced availability of what they claim is the the first pocket projector to hit the Indian market. The K10 Pico-projector weighs just a fraction over half a kilogram (0.55 kg) and measures 127x122 x 48.5 mm. The new K10 pico-projector combines DLP technology with LED lamp technology offering advantages such as making lamp replacement virtually unnecessary owing to LEDs long life span of up to 20,000 hours. Add to this there are no breakable filaments or tubes, increasing durability. Combined with DLP technology, the LED lamp technology delivers better colour saturation and contrast performance. Compared to a traditional lamp it also can reduce power consumption up to 30%. In fact, the Acer Notebook adapter may also be used to power up the projector.
The tiny projector provides 100 ANSI Lumens for clear and detailed images up to 60 inches diagonal while a contrast ratio of 2000:1 ensures crystal clear, vibrant projections. The Acer Smart-Format technology ensures support for both 4:3 displays and widescreens. It supports manual (up to 40 degrees vertical) and auto Keystone correction tweaks the pointing up or pointing down effect.
The K 10 will be available at an MRP of INR 36,673/- and will come with a 2 Years carry in Warranty for projector and 90 days warranty on the lamp.
The tiny projector provides 100 ANSI Lumens for clear and detailed images up to 60 inches diagonal while a contrast ratio of 2000:1 ensures crystal clear, vibrant projections. The Acer Smart-Format technology ensures support for both 4:3 displays and widescreens. It supports manual (up to 40 degrees vertical) and auto Keystone correction tweaks the pointing up or pointing down effect.
The K 10 will be available at an MRP of INR 36,673/- and will come with a 2 Years carry in Warranty for projector and 90 days warranty on the lamp.
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