Sony Alpha 380 gets lukewarm reviews.

The leading model of Sony's "upper entry level" trifecta of Alpha-branded shooters, the 14.2 megapixel DSLR-A380, has been hitting test benches lately and we've rounded up the results for your perusal. The consensus appears to be that Sony has focused on bringing fans of compact cams up to the big time, with its uniquely responsive Live View and straightforward usability. Alas, ease of use is not the only thing brought up from the little leagues, with comparatively poor output at ISO 400 and above, lack of any video recording (as with the Canon EOS 500D and Nikon D5000, its nearest competitors) and unsatisfying viewfinder ergonomics. Conclusion? If you were looking for a point-and-shoot on steroids, your search is at an end, young hobbit -- but photography enthusiasts should probably look elsewhere.

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PS3 Slim hardware still losing money

The Times Online had a sit-down with Sony Computer Entertainment boss, Kaz Hirai, after the big Gamescom show last week in Cologne. You remember, the event that saw the official launch of the PS3 Slim. The Q&A is an interesting read in whole, but the answer that stands out comes in response to a question about whether the lower-priced $299 PS3 Slim will be sold at a loss relative to its cost to manufacture. "Yes," was the quick answer from Kaz. That's a surprise for two reasons. First, the PS3 Slim benefits from more efficient 45-nm manufacturing processes used on its smaller, less power-hungry Cell processor. Also, just last month Sony's CFO told investors that manufacturing costs of the PS3 had dropped by "about 70%, roughly speaking" -- that comes to about $240 based on original manufacturing estimates of $800 when the PS3 launched back in 2006. Regardless, a console being sold as a loss-leader is nothing new in the gaming industry and, as Kaz points out, will almost certainly be offset by looking at the PS3 as a platform that includes the hardware, software, peripherals, and services.

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RIM buys Iris browser developer, Torch Mobile

Blackberry-maker Research In Motion has purchased Torch Mobile, the developer of Iris browser, an Iris-based Web widget platform, an RSS reader, and enterprise-level software products. Torch Mobile's development team will merge with RIM, and their energy will be spent on enhancing the BlackBerry mobile browser experience. The companies have not disclosed financial details of sale.

The buyout is good news for BlackBerry owners, as the handset's default browser is lackluster at best. That said, it will probably be a while before end users feel any effect from the acquisition. The mobile browser Iris is widely used on Windows Mobile devices, but the deal will cease development for that platform.

This purchase is one of RIM's many attempts to maintain traction in the smartphone race. The company has faced stiff competition, with Apple rapidly consuming market share. In early June, RIM scooped up ailing GPS company Dash Navigation.

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Microsoft extends Windows 7 Family Pack to Europe

Earlier this year, looking to placate anti-trust concerns in Europe, Microsoft proposed a browser-less version of Windows 7 for the region and then scratched that plan to favor the so-called browser ballot screen option. Its initial plan prevented European users from doing an in-place upgrade from Vista, though, so those who bought a copy of the operating system early were set to receive full licenses at upgrade prices.

Microsoft of course plans to honor those purchases but has now confirmed that, starting September 1, upgrade editions of Windows 7 with Internet Explorer 8 included will be available in the region as well. This leaves a one-week window in which European customers may continue to pre-order full versions of the OS at the upgrade price of €119.99.

Additionally, in a blog posting today at the Windows 7 Team Blog, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc revealed that since upgrade editions will now be offered in Europe, the software giant will also be selling the three-license Family Pack - which contains upgrade editions - in select European countries. These include the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden.

LeBlanc mentioned that versions without Windows Media Player, marked with a prominent “N” and a big red box, will also be available for all Windows 7 SKUs in both full and upgrade editions, but for no discount off the regular price. This version is the result of a previous European antitrust suit over the inclusion of that software in Windows.

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Gran Turismo 5's damage modelling is unfinished

The game's new damage modelling was on show, though we must admit it looked a tad limited.

There's reason for this. Yamauchi-san explains in an interview with GamesBlog that the GT5 code brought to GamesCom "marks only the first step of what we want to achieve for damage."

It's also interesting to hear that Polyphony might be testing the damage out on gamers, since Yamauchi-san adds "we’re interested to know how far the players want to go."

Moreover, as previously predicted, the damage will not affect all car models in the game (of which there'll be a massive 1000):

"The damage already has repercussions on the steering but beware, it should not affect all vehicles in the game," Yamauchi-san adds.

It's also great to hear that GT5's release date is not far off, with Yamauchi-san explaining that the game will come out shortly after the franchise's PSP edition, which will be released on October 1st.

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LaCie Little Disk: Big On Storage

Carry your files in a portable hard disk the size of a lighter. This Little Disk offers huge capacity for its minuscule dimensions. Designed exclusively for LaCie by Sam Hecht, it features a high-gloss black finish and clean, simple lines.

It comes with an extractable USB connector that’s integrated so it can never get lost and also a protective removable cap. USB 2.0 powered, it works without a cable or power supply for true mobility. LaCieSync software is included for keeping your important data secure. Access and modify files, emails (Microsoft Outlook) or personal settings and it will sync updated data back to your computer - protected by AES 128-bit encryption (Windows only). It also comes with ‘1-Click’ Backup Software (Windows & Mac).

The 30 GB is $129.99, and the 40 GB version is $159.99. Click on “product page” to purchase online.

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MacBook Air Sleeves From Belkin

If you are looking for a MacBook Air sleeve after you get your shiny new toy, Belkin has several new designs that will be ready soon.

There are 6 (coming soon) different sleeves for the Air, with prices going from $40 to $50. The design and color changes from sleeve to sleeve, while some are normal, others have a shoulder strap, or a band, or are made from different material, like Leather/Neoprene.

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Nex-Sys V1 Corner Computer Desk

Do you want to be like everybody and have a boring, hum drum computer desk? If you are bored with your current desk then the Nex-Sys Corner V1 might interest you.

Its Completely hand crafted has support for 2.1 speakers, height adjustable flat screen monitor and comes with a custom car seat and is available in a range of different specs.

There’s not much room for papers or folders on this desk, but who uses paper anymore anyways?

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Cute Apple Shaped USB Laptop Speakers

Not the Apple you’ve been hearing about so much lately . These are apple shaped digital USB Laptop speakers. They are portable, come in red or green, and are oh so cute.

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Intel to Disclose Additional Details About Westmere Processors Next Month.

Intel Corp. said that it would disclose additional details about its next-generation microprocessors code-named Westmere next month at the Intel Developer Forum 2009. The world’s largest maker of chips is expected to reveal details about new security capabilities of the forthcoming chips.

“Where Nehalem was new chip archeticture design, Westmere is the next design being used to build processors that feature two 32nm cores with 4MB of cache that sit next to a memory controller and integrated graphics built on a separate, neighboring 45nm chip, all in one package. Westmeres will be the basis of upcoming all new Core chips (Core i3, i5, and 7) over the next few months. Westmere processors will share some of the same features that were built into Nehalem, including Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost,” a statement by Intel reads.

The Westmere generation of chips will sport seven new instructions for accelerating encryption/decryption algorithms – 6 new instructions for AES as well as carry-less multiply instruction (PCLMULQDQ). Carry-less multiplication is an essential processing component of several cryptographic systems and standards. Hence, accelerating carry-less multiplication can significantly contribute to achieving high speed secure computing and communication. Intel names full disk encryption as one of the usage models for the new instructions added to Westmere.

The first processor – code-named Clarkdale – that belongs to the Westmere family will not be aimed at ultra high performance market. Instead, it will be designed for mainstream personal computers and will feature integrated graphics core, something not meant for high-end systems targeted at computer gamers.

Just as announced originally, Intel will start shipping its first 32nm dual-core microprocessors with 4MB of cache, Hyper-Threading, dual-channel DDR3 memory controllers and integrated graphics cores late in 2009. Since Clarkdale central processing units (CPUs) has integrated memory controller, graphics core as well as PCI Express interconnection inside, there will be no need for graphics/memory controller hub (or North Bridge) on the mainboard. Instead, the new processors will connect directly to Intel 5-series core-logic (code-named Ibexpeak platform) controller hub (PCH) that will carry hard drive controller, wired and wireless network controllers, monitor physical interfaces, PCI controller and other input/output as well as platform-related capabilities.

The code-named dual-core Clarkdale processors will be sold under different brands and will support different features:

Intel Core i5: 3.46GHz, 3.33GHz, 3.20GHz, 4MB of cache, Hyper-Threading technology. The chips will be priced at $284, $196 and $176 in business quantities, depending on the frequency.
Intel Core i3: 3.06GHz, 2.93GHz, 4MB of cache, Hyper-Threading technology. The chips will be priced at $143 and $123 in business quantities, depending on the frequency.
Intel Pentium: 2.80GHz, 3MB of cache, no Hyper-Threading. The chip will be priced at $87.

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G1 Android Phone May Be Unable to Receive Updates

Users of the first Android phone, the G1, may be unable to get significant future operating-system updates because the phone's internal flash is nearly full.

A Google developer who works on Android said recently that he's unsure if the G1 will be able to handle further updates.

"As much as I'm hoping that it'll be possible to somehow continue updating the G1, I can't promise anything," Jean-Baptiste Queru, a software engineer at Google, wrote on Twitter. "We knew that internal flash space was going to be very tight on the G1 and we kept the system partition tight on purpose," he also wrote.

G1 users got the so-called Cupcake update to the operating system earlier this year. Google is reportedly working on further updates to the software, including a version known as Donut. It has not published information beyond the first-quarter update on the Android road map page.

T-Mobile denies that the G1 will be unable to accept future updates. "We plan to continue working with Google to introduce future software updates to the T-Mobile G1. Reports to the contrary are inaccurate," it said in a statement.

But some observers wonder if T-Mobile will continue offering certain updates, like security patches and bug fixes, but not more substantial updates.

The issue raises questions about application compatibility in the future. If developers build applications to the latest software version but the G1 doesn't have that software, the applications may not work for G1 users.

Queru declined to comment further for this story, and Google did not respond to a request for comment.

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Verizon Wireless Updates Specifications for 4G LTE 700 MHz Devices

Verizon Wireless today released updated specifications for wireless devices -- traditional and innovative -- that will run on the nationwide Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G network it is building on the Upper 700 MHz C-Block spectrum. The network access requirements contain key updates, clarifications and additions to guide developers into the next phase of bringing their LTE devices to the Verizon Wireless network.

Verizon Wireless expects to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in up to 30 markets in 2010, covering 100 million people. In subsequent years, an equally aggressive growth plan will result in full nationwide coverage in 2013. The company's LTE network will ultimately connect a full range of electronics devices and machines.

Developers can access the Verizon Wireless 700 MHz LTE Specification updates from the open development Web site at www.verizonwireless-opendevelopment.com. Developers can view which sections of the specifications have been updated by checking the Revision History. For more information about Verizon Wireless' LTE 4G network visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

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Sprint 4G powered by WiMAX is expanding across the country

Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint launched 4G service in Portland, Atlanta and Las Vegas August 17. Sprint also plans to deploy Sprint 4G service in these additional markets in 2009: Chicago, IL; Dallas, Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, PA; Austin, Texas; Abilene, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; Charlotte, N.C.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Greensboro, N.C.; Honolulu, HI; Killeen-Temple, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; Maui, Hawaii; Midland-Odessa, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Salem, Ore.; San Antonio, Texas; Seattle, WA: Waco, Texas; and Wichita Falls, Texas.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

“Sprint continues to lead the wireless industry by harnessing the power of WiMAX,” said Todd Rowley, vice president of Sprint 4G. “The availability of Sprint 4G in more places this year and our aggressive expansion of Sprint 4G service and products demonstrates our commitment to provide 4G capabilities and devices across the country for our customers. These capabilities enable significantly enhanced performance and productivity.”

Sprint has several new 4G devices planned for 2009 and 2010, including a single-mode 4G data card, embedded laptops and a 4G phone. As they become available, Sprint 4G-enabled smart phones will have the promise of delivering the unique processing power, applications and network connectivity to connect your entire digital life on the internet.

Sprint makes the Internet a moving experience and offers a variety of value pricing options for residents and visitors

At these speeds, Sprint 4G breathes new life into wireless internet. Customers can now instantly download the files they need to get work done on the run. Or they can browse the web just like at home from across the city, not just a few hotspots. Kids can laugh at an online video or movie trailer while travelling in the family car across the city. Avid online game players can enjoy an enhanced competitive experience with higher speeds and reduced latency. It’s all a part of extending the web experience to meet each person’s moment-to-moment needs by using 4G data cards and routers – and in the future – laptop solutions and mobile phones that deliver rich content, larger file transfers, streaming video and low-latency remote access.

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Asus uBoom Sound Bar സ്പീകെര്സ്.

That's not necessarily a compliment; you'll either love-or-hate the dated design of the uBoom and uBoom Q sound-bar speakers. On the upside: the Q connects directly to a notebook via USB—no need for audio-cables, drivers, or power supply.

The uBoom (pictured below) is a beast at 3kg, and its 24 watt sound (total RMS) does need a power supply. The 400g uBoom Q (2.4 watts) is USB powered. Both have an auxillary audio input, and the uBoom adds a microphone jack.

The speakers just went up on Asus' site for you to check out, but there's no pricing info yet.

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Jason Graves Composing Section 8 Score

BAFTA award-winning composer Jason Graves has created an original music score for the intense first-person shooter Section 8 developed by TimeGate Studios.

Renowned for his cinematic and prolific orchestral music on video games such as Dead Space and the Star Trek franchise, Graves delivers a powerful and anthemic score for Section 8 featuring vintage synth and guitar elements blended with orchestra to portray the futuristic, sci-fi setting of the game.

“Section 8 was a great opportunity to combine my three musical passions: orchestra, electronics/synths and guitars,” said composer Jason Graves. “It was so much fun playing guitar and tweaking my analog synths. I treated them as additional members of the orchestra, sometimes taking the spotlight and other times adding textural background.”

Section 8 gives players unprecedented strategic control over the battlefield, employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries to dynamically alter the flow of combat.

Set at the crossroads of a growing insurrection among its colonies, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry to turn the tide.

Utilizing advanced powered armor suits, these brave volunteers are the only ones crazy enough to smash through enemy defenses and drop directly into the battlefield from 15,000 feet, earning them the nickname “Section 8″.

“The music focuses on the two primary locations of the game,” added Graves. “One is more orchestral in nature and the other has a hybrid rock edge to it. TimeGate gave me a lot of freedom to try different things – it was refreshing to experiment with such a diverse sound palette.”

Section 8 is being released by SouthPeak Games for Xbox 360 and PC on September 1st, 2009.

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FIFA 10 Cover Athletes Revealed

Electronic Arts today unveiled the global cover athletes for FIFA 10.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard joins Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney as the face of FIFA 10 worldwide on each available platform— the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PSP and on mobiles.

FIFA 10 marks the fifth year the 23-year-old Rooney has been featured on the global pack cover of the FIFA franchise while the 31-year-old Lampard is on the cover for the first time in the FIFA franchise history.

“It is an honour to be part of the EA SPORTS FIFA franchise. Being on the cover of this fantastic football video game with such a rich history is really a great achievement for me”, said Lampard.

The two football greats will be joined by numerous stars from all over the world on regional packaging, including Karim Benzema in France, Xavi Hernandez in Spain, Giorgio Chiellini in Italy, Bastian Schweinsteiger in Germany and many others all over the world.

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Justice Department approves Oracle purchase of Sun

Business software giant Oracle said Thursday that the US Justice Department has given the green light to its 7.4-billion-dollar purchase of Sun Microsystems.

"The US Department of Justice has approved Oracle's proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems," Oracle said in a statement.

Approval of the deal had been expected.

It still needs the clearance of the European Commission.

Sun, a one-time Silicon Valley star, is the developer of the popular Java programming language.

Sun is also the fourth-largest maker of computer servers but has been steadily losing market share to IBM as well as Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

IBM also made a bid to acquire Sun but was edged out by Oracle

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Nokia Announces Finalists in 2009 "Calling All Innovators" Global Developer Competition

Forum Nokia Developer Community (FNDC) today announced the finalists in its 2009 Calling All Innovators contest, a global mobile developer competition designed to generate applications and solutions that enhance the use of Nokia mobile devices in real-world scenarios.

The total cash and prizes for the 2009 Calling All Innovators contest are worth more than $250,000. The top three submissions in each category will receive a cash award, and prizes that include premium placement featuring the winning application in Nokia's Ovi Store, and the opportunity to demo their winning apps at Nokia World.

Over 1,700 submissions were received from developers in 85 countries signaling a strong answer to Nokia's challenge to think big and create mobile applications and services that can help build a better mobile user experience. More than 421,000 visits to the contest website from around the world engaged with FNDC, the world's largest mobile developer community.

"The quantity and quality of the applications we received are astounding," said Purnima Kochikar, vice president, Forum Nokia Developer Community, Nokia. "We encourage our developer community to work with us to extend their market reach, taking advantage of our global presence, global distribution through Ovi Store and local market knowledge. Turning the spotlight on our developers in marketing efforts like Calling All Innovators is just one way we can expose the best mobile applications from our developer community to consumers around the world."

A complete list of Forum Nokia's Calling All Innovators finalists including video demonstrations of the applications can be found online at http://www.callingallinnovators.com. Following are the finalists in the 2009 Calling All Innovators global contest:

Internet Innovation

Developers were asked to submit either web applications known as Web Runtime widgets, or websites which are optimized for mobile browsing with Nokia devices.

Pixelpipe for Share Online - This WRT widget application from San Francisco-based Pixelpipe, enables individuals to create and configure Nokia Share Online to use the Pixelpipe Media Gateway to distribute photos, video, audio and files to more than 90 popular social networking, photo/video, and blog services directly from the built-in phone gallery and camera applications. Developer website: http://pixelpipe.com/

Dianping - This widget for one of the top websites in mainland China provides information about more than 275,000 restaurants, including descriptions, recommended dishes, address, phone number, price range and more. Individuals can search for restaurants by districts, categories, price range and key words. The application includes access to more than 7.5 million restaurant reviews, and coupons for restaurants, too. Developer website: http://www.dianping.com/citylist

Tech Buzz Homescreen Widget - The Tech Buzz Widget from UK-based Mippin, is a fast, elegant way to reliably access the latest tech news anywhere on Nokia mobile devices. It regularly downloads tech stories from across the web, displaying the headlines and images in rotation on the Nokia N97 home screen, to give users immediate access. Developer website: http://www.mippin.com/web/index.jsp?p=2

Flash

Developers were asked to submit applications that expand the capabilities of Adobe Flash Lite on Nokia devices.

FLORIN - Personal Finance Tracker - With the FLORIN flash-based application from UK-based BlueskyNorth, consumers have access to a highly capable, but easy to use personal finance tracker for use on Nokia Series 60 5th Edition devices. Developer website: http://www.blueskynorth.com/index.php

Reuters Slideshow - The Reuters Slideshow app from UK-based Tui Interactive Media, combines Flash and WRT widget functionality to deliver a constantly updated feed of pictures and news. Coupled with its mini-view for use on S60 5th Edition devices, the application offers an engaging way to catch up on the latest news. Developer website: http://www.tui.co.uk/

ActiveChinese - This mobile educational application, from the company of the same name, is comprised of 10 flash-animated lessons for English speakers to begin to learn how to speak Chinese. A series of built-in flashcards provides the most useful word and phrases, and includes: the Chinese character, Chinese pronunciation, PinYin, and the English translation. Developer website: http://www.activechinese.com/

Emerging Markets and Mobile Necessities

Developers were asked to submit applications or solutions that are the most innovative application using Nokia platforms, ranging from SMS through Series 40 and S60 device platforms. All applications would be evaluated, including those developed using Java,Python or open source.

Mobile JobHunt - Inspired by Nokia Life Tools in India, Mobile JobHunt from LEG aims to help people in rural areas in China. JobHunt provides timely and accurate job information from major cities on Series 40 Nokia phones. Other related services include employment news, skills training, employment legal rights, and entertainment. Developer website: http://www.leg3s.com

Mobile Credit Card Terminal - Mobile Credit Card Terminal from 2C2P in Singapore gives business owners the ability to charge a credit card/debit card, and to manage transactions securely from Nokia S60 devices without additional equipment. Developer website: http://www.2c2p.com/

Blue Home - Created by Binu Johnson in India, Blue-Home installed on a Nokia S60 mobile device, and hardware in the home that can be purchased for approximately $30, an individual can monitor and operate six home appliances via Bluetooth in the mobile device. Developer website: http://www.bluehome.info/

Apps on Maps

Developers were asked to submit new ideas that harness the power of location-aware services using Ovi Maps on Nokia devices. From all of the ideas submitted, 14 developers were given exclusive access to the Ovi Beta SDK to turn their ideas into a completed application for use on Nokia devices.

PocketLife - from Wanaka, New Zealand, is an established location-based social network for web and mobile. As a location-based lifestyle app, with Pocket Life for Ovi Maps on your Nokia device, individuals can always be in touch with their closest friends, down to knowing precisely where they are at that given time. Using Pocket Life, individuals can discover new places, share photos, and quickly know their way around like a local. Developer website: www.pocketlife.com

Ground Guidance - How do you navigate when there are no roads? Ground Guidance with Ovi Maps solves this problem. With technology originally built for the U.S. Army, St. Paul, Minnesota-based Primordial uses an innovative, patented technique, combined with a wide range of data sources to create a walk-able route where no road data exists. Pick any two points in the app, and the user will be presented with a walk-able path to take. Developer website: www.primordial.com

Smart Eggs - submitted by Forum Nokia PRO member company, MSCorp based in Coral Springs, Florida, will bring the thrill of discovery and surprise to your explorations when using Ovi Maps. Crack open a Smart Egg to get a multimedia review of the latest movie, or tips about special promotions from nearby shops. Engage in a mobile treasure hunt with your friends, collecting codes inside Premium Smart Eggs. This mobile app for brands, artists, and venues interacts with consumers at the local level, while promoting the use of multiple Nokia services and platforms, including Ovi Maps and more. Developer website: http://www.mscorp.com/

The winners in the Internet Innovation, Flash, and Emerging Markets and Mobile Necessities categories will be announced on September 1, in the evening prior to Nokia World 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany at an awards ceremony being held at the Porsche Museum. The Apps on Maps winners will be announced on September 3, during Nokia World.

In the Flash category, there is an additional prize of $10,000 USD for one application that also received funds from the Open Screen Project Fund (http://openscreen.forum.nokia.com/) this year.

Finally, the top 10 submissions in all three categories will receive the "Judge's Choice Award", which provides a one-year membership in Forum Nokia Launchpad (value of 300 euros). All Forum Nokia Launchpad members receive access to exclusive resources and support.

About Forum Nokia Developer Community

Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia Developer Community (FNDC) connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, China, and Singapore, FNDC provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at http://www.forum.nokia.com.

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Samsung Targets Gaming PCs with Solid-State Drives.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of flash memory, this week said that solid-state drives (SSD) provide just what the doctor ordered for PCs designed for video games: extreme performance. Even though SSDs provide additional performance that computer games need, capacities of flash-based drives are still well below those of advanced hard drives, therefore, it is impossible to install tens of games onto an SSD.

Samsung’s 256GB multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state drive does provide blazing performance: its maximum sequential read speed is 220MB/s, whereas maximum sequential write speed is 200MB/s. Such performance is virtually unachievable by conventional hard disk drives. The direct result of such high read speed is very fast loading time for modern video games, which means exceptional end-user experience.

“In addition to processing power, advanced graphics cards and high-resolution monitors, gamers want a fast storage drive for reduced loading times and faster game performance. Our 256GB SSD provides much better overall performance than conventional HDDs, as well as longer battery life for the notebook gamer. Clearly, all PC gamers will benefit from the blistering speeds and dazzling photorealism enabled by the Samsung 256GB SSD,” said Jim Elliott, vice president of memory marketing at Samsung Semiconductor.

Unfortunately, 256GB may be not enough for modern gaming personal computers. There are many games that require more than 10GB of disk space, Windows Vista operating system also needs around 15GB or more. As a result, for hardcore gamers, SSD may not be the greatest option. Still, if someone wants to enjoy 3-5 games, but does not want to wait for each of them to load, solid-state drive is the best possible choice.

“The PC gaming market continues to evolve into a more mainstream segment, and should reach $30.7 billion by the end of 2012. PC gaming enthusiasts are at the forefront for demanding the latest high-powered hardware available, making the PC gaming industry an important innovation driver for adopting cutting-edge technology, like high-performance solid state drives. Using an SSD will give the gamer the extra edge that he or she is seeking,” said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research.

Read more »

Samsung Targets Gaming PCs with Solid-State Drives.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of flash memory, this week said that solid-state drives (SSD) provide just what the doctor ordered for PCs designed for video games: extreme performance. Even though SSDs provide additional performance that computer games need, capacities of flash-based drives are still well below those of advanced hard drives, therefore, it is impossible to install tens of games onto an SSD.

Samsung’s 256GB multi-level cell (MLC) solid-state drive does provide blazing performance: its maximum sequential read speed is 220MB/s, whereas maximum sequential write speed is 200MB/s. Such performance is virtually unachievable by conventional hard disk drives. The direct result of such high read speed is very fast loading time for modern video games, which means exceptional end-user experience.

“In addition to processing power, advanced graphics cards and high-resolution monitors, gamers want a fast storage drive for reduced loading times and faster game performance. Our 256GB SSD provides much better overall performance than conventional HDDs, as well as longer battery life for the notebook gamer. Clearly, all PC gamers will benefit from the blistering speeds and dazzling photorealism enabled by the Samsung 256GB SSD,” said Jim Elliott, vice president of memory marketing at Samsung Semiconductor.

Unfortunately, 256GB may be not enough for modern gaming personal computers. There are many games that require more than 10GB of disk space, Windows Vista operating system also needs around 15GB or more. As a result, for hardcore gamers, SSD may not be the greatest option. Still, if someone wants to enjoy 3-5 games, but does not want to wait for each of them to load, solid-state drive is the best possible choice.

“The PC gaming market continues to evolve into a more mainstream segment, and should reach $30.7 billion by the end of 2012. PC gaming enthusiasts are at the forefront for demanding the latest high-powered hardware available, making the PC gaming industry an important innovation driver for adopting cutting-edge technology, like high-performance solid state drives. Using an SSD will give the gamer the extra edge that he or she is seeking,” said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research.

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Windows 7: Want the Release Candidate? You're Too Late

Microsoft has, as planned, removed the download for the release candidate of Windows 7, the next major update to Microsoft Windows.

The official download has been available from Microsoft's website since early May and offered for those who wanted it a free preview of what the new operating system will offer, before it hits stores in late October.

For those of you already running the release candidate, Microsoft were keen to point out that the evaluation software will expire in March next year, at which point you'll have to upgrade to a retail version of the OS.

Certain users, such as developers and early Windows 7 testers, got the final Windows 7 release earlier this month. If you weren't in this group and you were looking to grab the release candidate, you'll have to now wait until the October release.

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OCZ Technology: Solid-State Drives Really Going Mainstream.

OCZ Technology is primarily known for its high-performance dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules aimed at performance-minded end-users. The company also makes power supply units, USB drives and even notebooks, but it looks like the company’s main growth driver for the future is solid-state drive lineup. According to chief exec of OCZ, SSDs are already entering the mainstream market and their popularity will continue to increase.

“I guarantee that if I gave you numbers, which I cannot right now, your jaw would be left hanging open. […] SSD technology is moving past the early adoption stage and is really going mainstream. […] I did not believe that people would go and buy a 120GB SSD for the same price that they could buy 2TB of hard drive space, but they do. They feel that performance gap is significant enough,” said Ryan Petersen, chief executive officer of OCZ Technology, in an interview with Computerpoweruser magazine.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are indisputably faster compared to hard disk drives (HDDs), but their cost-per-GB is undeniably much higher. At present even 250GB may not be enough for systems aimed at multimedia and games. It is obvious that for those, who want to have performance at any cost, SSDs is a great choice, but there are also those, who demand maximum capacity, which solid-state drives just cannot provide.

Another obstacle on the way of SSDs is software and content piracy. It is not a secret that many end-users want to make reserve copies of video games distributed on dual-layer DVDs or 50GB movies distributed on Blu-ray disc media and some users download BD remuxes or dual-layer DVD images to burn them onto bulk media. At present pirated or copied software or movies that require 10GB – 50GB of space are not common, but the increase of demand towards storage space is rather clear.

As a result, going forward we are likely to see high-end PCs with both SSDs and HDDs in order to use the best of both worlds: high performance of flash and high capacities of hard drives. It is a big question, though, whether solid-state drives are a part of mainstream personal computers.

Mr. Petersen also said that according to NPD Group OCZ Technology is the No. 2 supplier of SSDs via e-tailers. The head of OCZ did not reveal who is the No. 1 though.

“I have seen the NPD data for etailers and we are in the No. 2 position,” he said.

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Retailers Run Out of PlayStation 3, PS3 Slim May Be Approaching.

A number of retailers from Japan and the UK notified an analyst from Wedbush Morgan Securities, a financial services and investment firm, that they were not able to refill their stocks of Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles since Sony Computer Entertainment ceased to supply current models. Potentially, this means that SCE is preparing to release a new model with lower cost.

“The retail commentary I’ve seen has come out of the UK. I have not seen at the U.S. retail. We heard Japanese retail a few weeks ago, say they were not going to be getting any more PS3s after August 8, and now we are starting to hear the UK retail say they cannot re-order PS3s until month-end. And that suggest there will be a model change,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan, in an interview with VG247 web-site.

Earlier this month rumours transpired that Sony plans to launch slim version of PlayStation 3 at €299 price point on the 18th of August, 2009 at the opening of Gamescon trade-show in Cologne, Germany. No exact details were revealed at that point.

In case the information from the retailers in Japan and the UK is correct, then there is truly something going on as it is would be at least strange for Sony to start preparing for Christmas season in August, considering the fact that the demand for PlayStation 3 is not strong and it is logical to sell as much as you can now amid the global economic recession.

“If Sony’s practice is the same as it was in the past, and the PS3 Slim is more of a redesign of the components to drive down cost, then I think we will get a price cut,” added Mr. Pachter.

Sony did not comment on the news-story.

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Nvidia Readies Core-Logic for Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 Microprocessors – Rumours.

Despite of the fact that Nvidia Corp. does not have a license to develop and sell core-logic sets compatible with Intel Corp.’s microprocessors featuring built-in memory controller, the company still wants to introduce a chipset supporting central processing units based on Nehalem and Westmere micro-architectures early next year, according to media reports.

Nvidia plans to release three new single-chip core-logic sets in Q1 2010, according to reports from DigiTimes and HKEPC web-sites. Nvidia code-named MCP85 core-logic will be aimed at microprocessors from Advanced Micro Devices, code-named MCP89 is designed for Intel Core 2-series processors and will be compatible with 1333MHz quad-pumped processor system bus, the most intriguing part is named MCP99, which will utilize so-called direct memory interface (DMI) and will be aimed at Intel core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 microprocessors. The new media and communication processors, as Nvidia calls its chipsets, will feature integrated GeForce graphics cores and dedicated memory controller to enable higher performance in video games.

It should not be a problem for Nvidia to release its MCP85 and MCP89 for AMD and Intel processors: it has all necessary technology licenses and the products are likely to be in demand, especially in the notebook segment, where current-generation chips will be used for quite a while going forward. Considering the fact that performance of integrated GeForce 200M graphics core is likely to be higher compared to existing built-in graphics, many PC makers may be very interested in such a platform. Nvidia may even brand the new chips as Ion 2 to attract maximum attention.

The release of MCP99, which will support both Nehalem and Westmere generations of microprocessors, seems to be rather controversial. Firstly, Nvidia cannot legally release a chipset supporting Intel’s processors with integrated memory controller and its legal dispute with Intel is unlikely to come to its end by Q1 2010. Secondly, there is hardly a need for integrated graphics core in premium systems based on quad-core Intel Core i7 “Lynnfield” microprocessors, whereas mainstream dual-core Intel Core i5/i3 processors will feature integrated graphics core and Nvidia’s new core-logic does not seem to be needed again. Theoretically, Nvidia’s solution may offer considerably higher performance compared to Intel’s integrated core, however, it is unlikely that PC makers will pay for two integrated graphics cores for mainstream personal computers.

Nvidia did not comment on the news-story.

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ATI Demonstrates “The Future” DirectX 11 Graphics Cards at Quakecon.

ATI, graphics business unit of Advanced Micro Devices, may be demonstrating its next-generation DirectX 11 graphics processing units at Quakecon, a video game convention held yearly in Dallas, Texas. The company claims that it has exclusive Area64 room at the show and that it shows next-gen technologies there.

“Area64 will be exclusive access only, meaning, you can try to find it, but its hidden and being kept secret. AMD will be showcasing what we lovingly refer to as ‘The Future’,” said Ian McNaughton, a senior manager of advanced marketing at AMD.

Even though AMD now has a rather broad portfolio of products, it is doubtful that the company demos its 32nm central processing units or next-generation core-logic at a computer game convention. A logical assumption would be demonstration of the next-generation ATI Radeon graphics processing units (GPUs) that support DirectX 11 application programming interface (API) and belong to Evergreen family of GPUs. Mr. McNaughton marked his statement with "DirectX 11" tag, which indirectly confirms that the claim refers to the forthcoming graphics cards.

Back in the days, ATI used Quakecon to show the power of the now legendary ATI Radeon 9700 Pro (R300), the world’s first DirectX 9 graphics processor. In 2002, the company equipped several PCs with the novelty and allowed gamers to try the latest technology and enjoy the unrivalled (back then) performance themselves at Quakecon.

The alleged demonstration of the next-generation graphics cards means that the new boards are in production and that the company is gearing up for the launch of the graphics cards. Another claim in AMD’s official blogs earlier this month says that ATI’s DirectX 11-supporting graphics boards will be available when Microsoft ships its Windows 7, which may mean that the launch is scheduled to take place before the 22nd of October.

“AMD has been working hard to support DirectX 11, so there are plans to make native DirectX 11 hardware from AMD in its ATI Radeon GPUs available when Windows 7 is released,” the statement reads.

ATI demonstrated its first DirectX 11 graphics processors at Computex Taipei 2009 in early June, however, it did not outline any actual timeframes for introduction. The general expectation is that ATI plans to release its chip known under “RV870” and “Evergreen” code-names that is produced using 40nm process technology this Fall.

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Microsoft asks court to hold off on Word ban

Microsoft Corp. is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to allow it to keep selling Word software as it fights an unfavorable patent ruling.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas found Microsoft infringed on a patent held by a Canadian company, i4i LLP. Last week, the judge ordered Microsoft to pay $290 million and to stop selling copies of its word processing program that use the patented technology within 60 days.

The patent relates to the way Word 2003 and 2007 let users customize document encoding.

Microsoft says it and the public will both suffer if Word goes off the market while the company devises a workaround.

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Google WiFi network celebrates third anniversary

The Google wireless broadband network built with Tropos routers, in Mountain View, California marks its third anniversary in August of this year and continues to experience unprecedented usage. The steady growth trend was outpaced in a recent 30-day period as the number of users jumped from 16,000 to 19,000, according to Google’s statistics. On a daily basis, the network now transports close to 600 gigabytes of user data -- double the volume from just two years ago. “We continue to experience extremely high demand – both in terms of users and bandwidth,” said Karl Garcia at Google, who leads the Google WiFi project. "We’ve seen the iPhone and other Wi-Fi enabled handheld devices as significant drivers of the high demand we see. Currently nearly a quarter of all devices that connect to our network are handhelds, compared to almost none when we launched the network,” said Garcia.

“The launch of the iPhone significantly drove up network use; we’ve identified 4,000 unique iPhones on the network in just the last 30 days. We’ve seen the iPhone and other Wi-Fi enabled handheld devices as significant drivers of the high demand we see. Currently nearly a quarter of all devices that connect to our network are handhelds, compared to almost none when we launched the network,” said Garcia. The growing trend for smartphone access of Wi-Fi networks is similarly being experienced by AT&T who recently reported to AppleInsider that 49 percent of users who connect to their Wi-Fi network are using a smartphone.

The coverage area of Google WiFi is approximately 12 square miles and incorporates business and residential areas. The high performance broadband network is accessible to the community and visitors free of charge; all they need is a Wi-Fi enabled device and a Google account. “The Google WiFi network is a valuable community resource and helps increase economic development by making it easy for residents and visitors to stay connected anywhere around town,” said Margaret Abe-Koba, mayor of Mountain View. “We are very pleased that Google continues to support our community with this robust service.”

The Google WiFi network has managed to keep pace with the doubling in bandwidth demand without major hardware upgrades. Instead, most of the increases in capacity have been due to innovations in the Tropos software and new, patented algorithms to coordinate and manage radio spectrum resources. These include PowerCurve, which adjusts the power and bit rate of each packet; Airtime Congestion Control, which senses congestion and allocates resources fairly; and Smart Channel, which maximizes spectral reuse and avoids interference. These three patent-pending technologies enable far more efficient use of radio resources than before, typically quadrupling the data capacity for the same swath of spectrum. Tropos continues to be a wireless broadband market leader with its proven technology and ongoing innovations which make customers’ networks faster, smarter, and more reliable.

“The volume of data and number of users on the Google WiFi network in Mountain View is unmatched compared to other similar networks anywhere in the world,” said Tom Ayers, president and CEO of Tropos Networks. “We continue to work closely with Google to extend Tropos' technology leadership and continue to solve the unique and challenging issues that outdoor wireless broadband presents.”

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Oracle Looks to Planning Apps for Next Billions

Oracle is devoting two full days and 70 sessions at the upcoming OpenWorld conference to its Primavera PPM (project portfolio management) software, which is used to track and manage the torrent of people, assets, timelines and expenses associated with projects and services engagements.

It's no accident that Oracle has decided to give such a high-profile showcase to Primavera, which it acquired last year. While PPM software may not be sexy, demand for it is growing explosively. Forrester Research expects what it defines as the "project based solutions" market to reach US$6.5 billion by 2010, up from $4.25 billion in 2007.

That growth is being fueled by a number of factors, such as the general march toward service-based economies around the world, according to a report by Forrester analyst Ray Wang.

Second, many companies invested in PPM applications around the year 2000, and are now looking to replace the systems as they become outdated, Wang wrote. In addition, vendors' products have created highly specialized products for various industries, presenting a choice for customers who instead were forced to customize other software tools to fit their requirements.

Oracle, which declined a request for comment on its plans, competes with many other established PPM products from CA, Compuware, Planview and other companies. But Primavera was a long-standing and major independent player in the space. It has 76,000 customers and its software is used to manage projects with a estimated value of $6 trillion, according to Oracle.

Oracle's purchase of Primavera made sense for a number of reasons, such as the fact that Oracle's own Projects software is often used for cost management on large construction projects that employ Primavera's software for scheduling, according to a research note by Gartner analyst Matt Light. The acquisition therefore means less need for Oracle to support rival products like Microsoft Project for project scheduling capabilities, Light said.

Oracle also gained fresh inroads into the installed base of its bitter rival SAP, where Primavera has many customers.

While it's not publicly known what Oracle paid for the privately held company, various estimates pegged Primavera's annual revenue at about $200 million, and Oracle is no doubt hoping to increase that number substantially.

At OpenWorld, the company will likely give customers a long-term Primavera product road map and also offer a sense of how it plans to weave the technology into its wide range of financial, human resources, BI (business intelligence) and PLM (product lifecycle management) applications, said 451 Group analyst China Martens via e-mail.

"The ultimate goal is to make PPM use more widespread, not limited to a group or department, but fully deployed as a enterprise app to track projects from start to finish with input from and visibility into useful information held in other apps," she said.

Oracle could also stand to sell more PPM licenses as infrastructure projects funded by government stimulus money begin to ramp up later this year and next.

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Volvo ReCharge

Volvo Recharge Built for The Future

Type: Plug-in series hybrid
Class: Hatchback
Manufacturer: Volvo Car Corporation

Specifications:

Propulsion system: Four in-wheel electric motors, 4-cylinder 1.6 litre. Flex-fuel engine
Top Speed: 100 mph
Zero-to-62: 9 seconds
MPG: 124 mpg (1.9 l/100km)
Vehicle range: Battery 62 miles
Fuel(s): Electricity, gasoline, E85
Battery pack: lithium-polymer (full recharge: 3 hours)
Tailpipe emissions: Yes

The Volvo ReCharge is a concept car built into a specially designed Volvo C30 and it had its premiere in the fall of 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Volvo Recharge is a series hybrid, meaning there is no actual connection between engine and wheels (the Chevy Volt is also considered a series hybrid). With the aide of British electromagnetic specialists PML Flightlink, Volvo has put together a dynamite powertrain that offers enough mileage on the battery alone to make the gas engine little more than a security blanket—the perfect means of weaning us all off of gasoline and other fossil fuels.

The successful premiere of the Volvo ReCharge might be responsible for kicking their plug-in program into high gear. The company recently laid out some plans to put a few plug-ins into the Swedish government fleet, but it is unlikely that these vehicles will possess much of the technology or specs found in the ReCharge.

Nonetheless, with the Volvo Recharge, the company has grasped the true value of the plug-in for the wary, gasoline-dependent consumer: a rechargeable, functional electric car with a solid range that features a ‘token’ gas engine. Why? Not so much to extend its range, but to ease our transition off gasoline and towards alternative fuels such as electricity.

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TH!NK city

TH!NK city is a modern urban car. With zero local emissions and an energy efficiency three times that of a traditional combustion engine car, it is a car for the environment. And it is a fun car for you. A choice of sodium or lithium batteries allows you to accommodate your car to your driving style, travelling up to 180 kilometres* in one charge, with a top speed of 100km/h. Driving a silent car will give you a totally new experience.

Specification

· Top speed 100km/h · Acceleration 0-50km/h 6.5 seconds · Acceleration 0-80km/h 16.0 seconds · Typical charge time – standard electric socket: 0-100% SOC (state of charge) approx. 13 hours, 230VAC / 14A 0-80% SOC (state of charge) approx. 9,5 hours, 230VAC / 14A · Range IEC* 170km (summer tires, heater off) · Range FUDS** 180km (summer tires, heater off) · Range EU UDC*** 203km

Norway-based manufacturer Think successfully previewed the Think City at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, and having recently been on the receiving end of a few million dollars from GE, the vehicle shows no signs of slowing down. Currently there are about 1200 Think vehicles driving the streets of Norway.

The materials. According to the company web site, the Think City is made of 95% recyclable material, and “the car itself is designed to be recycled”. You don’t see that claim very often.

The clever, and honest, marketing copy. The Think City says what few others do—that, as an electric car that plugs into the grid, it is not a zero emissions vehicle when you consider the source of that energy. Instead, the Think City is a “zero local emissions” vehicle

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Tango T600

Type: 100% all-electric vehicle

Class: Tandem 2-seater

Manufacturer: Commuter Cars Corporation

Tango T600 Specifications:

Propulsion system: 2 Advanced DC FB1-4001 9" motors
Top Speed: 150 mph
Zero-to-60: 4 seconds
Vehicle range: 80 miles with standard (lead-acid) battery pack
Fuel(s): Electricity
Battery pack: Lead-acid (80% charge: 10 minutes; full charge: under 3 hours)
Pack options:

• 19 Hawker Odyssey's
  
• 25 Exide Orbital XCD's
  
• 25 Optima Yellow Tops.
  Tailpipe emissions: No

Faster than a speeding bullet
The Tango's ability to maneuver through traffic is second to none. Like a motorcycle, it can change lanes to gain advantage in traffic better than any car in history. Where lane splitting is permitted (i.e., driving between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic), the advantage can be staggering. In extremely heavy traffic, a Tango or motorcycle can travel in 20 seconds the distance that cars travel in 20 minutes.

Acceleration and top speed
With over 1,000 ft-lbs. of torque, the Tango can accelerate from zero to over 130 mph in one gear. Without an energy-robbing transmission or differential, it accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and finishes the standing 1/4 mile in about 12 seconds at over 100 mph.

Safety and Stability
The Tango's racecar-style roll cage design, its 4-point harnesses, its low center of gravity, and a weight comparable to a midsize sedan combine to make the Tango extremely safe. And with 2,000 lbs. (mostly batteries) under the floor, the Tango's static rollover threshold is equivalent to a 5-star NHTSA rating, placing it in company with the lowest slung sports cars.

Conclusion
The best thing the Tango has going for it is its clever approach. The manufacturer has not only addressed ‘green’ concerns with the vehicle’s powertrain, but also some of the irritating aspects of driving that few other such cars do, such as parking. The Tango is a step in the right direction, but in order for her to have any real impact—on the market and the environment—the cheaper models need to go into production, and soon.

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