Tech Skill

Sony brings higher-capacity PS3 in North America

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:09:00 +0000

Sony Corp said on Thursday that it would launch a higher-capacity PlayStation 3 model in North America, as the company continues its effort to make its home console the digital hub of the living room.

The new 250 gigabyte PS3 will be available Nov. 3 for $349.99, giving consumers two configurations to choose from. The company's 120 GB PS3 sells for $299.99 following a recent price cut. Sony is battling with Microsoft Corp , maker of the Xbox 360 console, to become the leader in the digital distribution of content, including games and movies, in the home. John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America, said the company was seeing "significant traction" over the past year in distributing content over its PlayStation Network and that many people need more room to store all of it. "Consumers that are coming into the market want to be able to download and own HD movies, large-scalegames, those types of things on a hard drive." The new larger-capacity PS3 will be the same size as the existing model, known as the PS3 Slim. The 250 GB PS3 has already been announced in Asia and European markets. Sony is currently the No. 3 home console maker in the United States, behind Microsoft and Japan's Nintendo, maker of the Wii. Microsoft and Nintendo have also recently cut prices. Koller said Sony was "really bullish" on PS3's prospects for the holiday season, with demand exceeding its expectations. "A lot of retailers are continuing to ask us for more, more, more, and that's a good problem to have," Koller said. "... The $299 price drop has really instigated a tidal wave of consumers that have maybe been sitting on the sidelines."

AMD DX11 RV8xx Card unveiled

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:32:00 +0000

There is a DX11 gaming system lurking deep in Computex but we managed to hunt it down as usual. We can't provide you a close up right now but judging from the looks of it, the card is about 8.5" long, dual slot and requires a 6-pin power. This card probably belongs to the mainstream segment (RV840), part of the AMD's DX11 Evergreen family. The silicon is at A10 revision right now and we can expect another spin before it enters mass production. Targeted launch of the first DX11 part is in September before the Windows

Kaspersky Lab brings security solution for home users

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Kaspersky Lab has launched Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, an all-in-one security solution designed to protect home users from all types of security threats.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 incorporates an innovative application activity filtration module that makes use of HIPS (Host-based Intrusion Prevention System) technology together with a proactive defense module and an integrated firewall. These protect the system against both known and unknown threats.

Additionally, a white-list feature for trusted applications significantly reduces the need for user interaction. All unknown applications are subjected to complex analysis; the application is then assigned a security rating based on the risk it presents. The rating assigned to an unknown application determines the level of access it has to operating system resources, network resources, confidential user data, system privileges and removable devices. This means thateven if an application is malicious, the system will be protected from infection as the program will be unable to deliver its payload.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 is designed to prevent systems from becoming infected providing far more effective security than attempting to deal with an infection after it has occurred.

New Security Analysis and Browser Setting features scan the operating system and applications for vulnerabilities, and provide options to enhance system security and significantly reduce the likelihood of a malicious program penetrating the computer.

At the heart of the new generation of products is Kaspersky Lab's new antivirus engine which is even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor. The new engine dramatically increases system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms. The unique product architecture ensures high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.

The range of functions designed to protect confidential user data has also been extended. The new generation products prevent users from unwittingly accessing known phishing sites and preclude the theft of important passwords and login details by key-logging programs.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 also includes a virtual keyboard that enables users to enter logins and passwords safely. Moreover, Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 prevents the theft of data transferred via secure connections (HTTPS, SSL) and can remove all traces of a user's Internet activity (temporary files, cookies, etc.).

The components included in earlier product versions, such as the firewall, heuristic analyzer, parental control module and anti-spam module have all been enhanced and upgraded. The product interfaces have also been redesigned, making them more transparent to beginners and more experienced users alike. The new products include an automated application mode - that results in the best options being chosen without the user being bothered by requests for action.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is developed in line with the system requirements for Windows Vista and are fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system.

Kaspersky Internet Security is priced at Rs. 990.00.

ASUS ROG Goodies for Computex 2009 Unveiled

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:25:00 +0000

ASUS' Republic of Gamers (ROG), a brand synonymous with gaming and overclocking, today presented a host of innovations and products designed to provide users with the ultimate experience in high performance gaming and overclocking. These include ROG's exclusive MemOK! one-click memory rescue tool for effortless and worry-free memory upgrades, the limited edition ASUS ROG MARS GTX 295 graphics card that shatters all existing graphics benchmarks, and the world's most intelligent graphics card—the ROG MATRIX GTX 285. Other highlights include a 120 Hz 3D-ready Gaming Monitor that provides users withan immersive gaming experience, and the ASUS W90 notebook—a mobile gaming powerhouse that has recently set a Guinness World Record in overclocking. With such an impressive line-up, ASUS is once again poised to set the gaming and overclocking scene alight.

ROG: Empowering Gamers and OC Enthusiasts around the World with the Ultimate Gaming and OC Experience.

Established in 2006, the Republic of Gamers (ROG) is an initiative by ASUS to provide the very best hardware and technologies to the gamers and overclocking enthusiasts of today. Through extensive research and development, product testing and the constant pursuit of gaming and overclocking perfection, ROG has become a badge of honor for pro-gaming and overclocking champions the world over. With numerous 3DMark Vantage world records for the Entry, Performance, High and Extreme presets under its belt, ROG is the final word in extreme performance and absolute dependability.

MemOK!: Any Memory is A-Ok!

Memory compatibility issues are often the bane of system upgraders, and ASUS is the only motherboard manufacturer in the world that has devised an ingenious tool solely to tackle memory-related problems. Called MemOK!, ASUS' exclusive motherboard feature takes the guesswork and anxiety out of memory upgrading, restoring user confidence and peace of mind. In the event of a boot failure after installing new RAM, all the user has to do is press an easily accessible button on the motherboard and MemOK! will automatically load the failsafe settings needed to ensure a successful system boot. MemOK! is able to rapidly detect and resolve memory issues—even if bad or unstable memory is used! MemOK! is available on the newly released Rampage II GENE, Maximus II GENE and the Crosshair III Formula motherboards.

ROG MARS GTX 295 Graphics Card: Limited Edition, Unlimited Power!

The new ASUS ROG MARS is currently the fastest graphics card in the world and a dream come true for gamers everywhere. An unprecedented combination of dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 GPUs, an awe-inspiring 4GB onboard memory and the world's first 1024-bit memory bandwidth, it is 23% more powerful than stock NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 graphics cards. The ROG MARS GTX295 graphics card also features an improved thermal design that boasts a 65% increase in heat pipe coverage and a 20% heat dissipation rate—thus delivering extreme cooling, even during graphically intensive operations. The ultimate result is non-stop adrenaline-pumping graphics and special effects for a truly unique and simply breathtaking gaming experience. The ASUS ROG MARS will only be available as a limited edition, and each graphics card will be assigned a unique serial number. With only 1000 units slated for production, the ASUS ROG MARS is a masterpiece of power and performance that every hardcore gamer and overclocker must own.

ASUS ROG MATRIX GTX 285: Rule Your Game with the World's Most Intelligent Graphics Card

The latest ASUS ROG MATRIX GTX 285 graphics card comes equipped with the Super Hybrid Engine for automatic hardware load monitoring and adjustments, delivering 15% lower GPU noise and increasing overclocking stability for up to a 10% increase in performance. A 5-level LED display allows users to keep track of the loading of the GPU. One of the highlights of the ASUS ROG MATRIX GTX 285 is the new iTracker2, which retains its predecessor's robust hardware monitoring capabilities and five scenario GUI modes, but now also features exclusive memory timing settings, BIOS burning and a recovery application to provide gamers with advanced control of their graphics card. With a simple click of the Safe Mode button, users can now boot their systems in safe mode even when the BIOS has crashed, and iTracker2 will automatically recover the BIOS. Keeping the ASUS ROG MATRIX GTX 285 cool is the Extreme Cooler, which intelligently makes timely fan speed adjustments according to GPU loading, and comes with 46.5% more heatpipe coverage—increasing heat dissipation efficiency by 12%.

ASUS W90: Guinness World Records' Fastest Notebook

ASUS is proud to announce that the ASUS W90 has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the fastest notebook in the world. Powered by an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300 processor and equipped with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics solution with 1GB of GDDR3 VRAM, the ASUS W90 achieved an unprecedented 3DMark06 score of 20324 at a recent overclocking gathering in Norway. This announcement comes shortly after the ASUS W90 clinched CNET's coveted Editors' Choice award. In the review, CNET's Joshua Goldman, the reviewer, said the multimedia powerhouse delivered "mobile gaming performance [that] is tough to beat", pointing out that the W90 had "outpaced all other notebooks in the processor-intensive performance tests" he conducted when running in overclocked mode.

The ASUS W90 sports an exterior design reminiscent of high performance sports cars. Head-turning looks aside, it provides users with the absolute best in multimedia entertainment and gaming. The setting of a new Guinness World Record solidifies its reputation as the epitome of extreme performance and irresistible style.

ASUS G51 and G60: Immersive Gaming through High Definition Sight and Sound

Sporting a futuristic, robot-inspired 'mecha' design, the new ASUS G51 and G60 notebooks are equipped with Altec Lansing speakers—augmented by EAX Advanced HD and CMSS technologies—that provide stellar 3D surround sound to users for gaming, music or movies. An extreme performance NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics solution provides true-to-life visuals, further supported by PhysX Technology which brings real-world realism and particle physics to games. The ASUS G51 and G60 deliver their spectacular visuals on full high definition displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

New Six-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor Delivers Up to Thirty-Four Percent More Performance-per-Watt in Exact Same Platform

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:21:00 +0000

New Delhi, India — June 2, 2009 — AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced availability of the world’s first six-core server processor with Direct Connect Architecture for two-, four- and eight-socket servers. Six-Core AMD Opteron™ processors (code-named “Istanbul”) extend AMD’s commitment to offering server customers superior value at every price point with unmatched platform flexibility.

Across a single platform, AMD can address the need for more cores and greater scalability with the new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor and offer a cost- and power-efficient solution with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors. Systems based on Six-Core AMD Opteron processors are expected to be available beginning this month from leading OEMs including Cray, Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems, along with support from motherboard and infrastructure partners. HE, SE and EE versionsof the Six-Core AMD Opteron processor are planned for the second half of 2009.

· Six-Core AMD Opteron processors leverage existing platform infrastructure and a low-cost, power-efficient DDR-2 memory architecture which can help lower system acquisition costs;

· HPC, virtualization and database workloads can benefit from increased 4P STREAM memory bandwidth of up to 60 percent[i] enabled by HyperTransport™ technology HT Assist, which helps reduce processor to processor latency and traffic;

· AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™) technology and the AMD-P suite of power management features are available across all performance and power bands, ensuring no-compromise choice;

· The new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor has up to 34 percent more performance-per-watt over the previous generation quad-core processors in the exact same platform.

“Based on close collaboration with our customers, we believe there is a clear value shift changing the economics of the server market,” said Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager, Server and Workstation Business, AMD. “The new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor meets the increasing need for a combination of low total cost of ownership, superior performance-per-watt and scalability. Simply put, Six-Core AMD Opteron processors deliver top-line performance that’s bottom-line efficient.”

Wacom Intuos 4

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:52:00 +0000

For those working as a professional graphic artist, retoucher or who have used a tablet in any kind in their professional, Wacom would not be a name that you will be unfamiliar with. Its previous flagship product, the Intuos 3, is practically an industry standard with almost all artists swearing by it. With such large shoes to fill, its certainly interesting to see how the latest addition to the manufacturer's Intuos line measures up.
Once you take the Intuos out of the box, the first thing you would notice is how sleek the Intuos 4 is.

Gone is the thick heavy piece of plastic that sits atop of Intuos 3 whose sole function is to trap heat and to stick to your arms. Well, Wacom has made the right decision of listening to their users and gave the surfacea smooth matte finish which made it an absolute pleasure to glide your hand over. However there are still remnants of the high gloss fetish; the strip covering the touch pad is covered in a high gloss plastic which perfectly captures every fingerprint and smudge. It might be great if you are trying to figure out who have been using your tablet while you are away, but probably not useful for anything else.

The new Intous 4 is also much thinner than Intuos 3 with only 1.2cm depth and coupled with its illuminated Express Keys nicely nestled amid its black base, which allows it to seat pretty on your desk. Unfortunately, there isn't much of a colour choice; you can have any colour you want as long as its black, which will probably leave Mac users spluttering for the invasion of their pure white setups. On the other hand, its still much prettier than the previous utilitarian grey setup.

ASRock P55 Deluxe and M3A785GXH/128M Motherboards Surface

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Earlier today, we covered ECS coming up with two motherboards, based on Intel P55 (LGA-1156), and AMD 785G (AM3). Coincidentally, ASRock has a similar pair which is gearing up for launch at the upcoming Computex event. The P55 Deluxe could be the company's premium LGA-1156 motherboard, while the M3A785GXH/128M a rather high-end board, especially looking at its feature-set, that expands that of the the chipset typically offers.

The P55 Deluxe supports LGA-1156 processors sans the Flexible Display Interface feature (FDI), since it looks devoid of common display connectors. It supports four DDR3 DIMMs, with the Dual-Channel DDR3 memory interface, advertising support for DDR3-2000 (probably by overclocking). The board provides three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots, (x16, NC, x4) or (x8, x8, x4, when the slots are populated). Apart from ATI CrossFireX, NVIDIA 3-way SLI support is advertised.

Over to the M3A785GXH/128M, and there is an interesting feature here. Although AMD 785G isn't specified to support CrossFire, ASRock used andexternal lane switch card to support it. The first two PCI-Express x16 are eletrically (x16, NC) or (x8, x8, when both are populated). The third slot seems wired to the southbridge and is electrically x4. The board supports AM3 socket processors, with four DDR3 DIMM slots offering support for dual-channel DDR3-1600 memory. The Radeon HD 4200 IGP makes use of 128 MB of DDR3 SidePort memory. Standard display connectors such as DVI, D-Sub and HDMI apply. An external storage controller ups the number SATA channels, by providing an internal, and an eSATA port. ASRock wasn't very generous with its photography.

WD came with 2TB Capacity AV-GP Hard Drives

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:44:00 +0000

As demand for higher capacity storage continues to increase due to large video applications, including HD video, Western Digital has expanded its WD AV-GP line of hard drives to include a 2 TB capacity, the industry’s largest available drive to-date. According to WD, the AV-GP hard drives with WD GreenPower Technology provide cooler and quieter operation and lower power consumption, as much as 40 percent over standard drives in their respective classes.
"Our consumer electronics customers require hard drives that consume less power, generate less heat and operate quietly," said Sharad Srivastava, Director-Sales (India & South Asia), Western Digital. "Audio and video recording applications, such as DVRs, media servers, media centers and mainstream surveillance systems, often demand 24x7 operations from hard drives. Our drives meet the demanding requirements of these markets including higher reliability, universal compatibility, low power consumption and theability to simultaneously record multiple audio and/or high-definition video streams."

Following are several features of the WD AV-GP line of hard drives:

* The drives have been designed to last in high-temperatures for when they are required to be con for long periods.
* Noise levels have been minimized to less than one sone - virtually below the threshold of human hearing.
* The IntelliPark feature is designed to deliver lower power consumption by automatically unloading the heads during idle to reduce aerodynamic drag. IntelliPark improves non-operating shock characteristics, providing enhanced robustness in environments where excessive transportation and handling occurs.
* They’ve been tested for compatibility with a broad range of AV products including set-top boxes, DVD recorders and mainstream surveillance systems.
* SilkStream is a feature designed to optimize smooth, continuous digital video playback of up to 12 simultaneous HD streams. It’s compatible with the ATA streaming command set so CE customers can use standard streaming management and error recovery options.
* The drive arm frequently sweeps across the disk to reduce uneven wear on the drive surface common to audio video streaming applications.

The WD AV-GP 2 TB hard drive (model WD20EVDS) is available with select distributors. Maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) is Rs. 15,500.

Overclocking Trials Push AMD PhenomTM II Processors to the Limit

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:35:00 +0000

PC speed-freaks from across Europe will be pushing their processors to the limit in a series of extreme overclocking trials over the next month. The trials, which have been organised by AMD (NYSE:AMD), will see forum users from 19 leading technology forums from across the continent compete in a series of pedal-to-the-metal contests where they will attempt to push AMD platform technology, codenamed "Dragon," to the fastest speed possible. During the trials, the contestants will try to clock up the highest scores in categories such as 3D Mark performance, calculation speed and highest CPU clock speed.(i)

The first of these events was held in London on Thursday 23rd April 2009, where sparks flew, literally! In this special event,eight teams of daredevil journalists went head to head in an attempt to break through the sonic wall in 3D Mark05 and CPU clock speeds. Things got so fast and so furious that sparks actually flew from one of the team's "Dragon" rigs!(i)

It was a closely fought battle, but two winners emerged victorious. Clive Webster from Custom PC won the 3D Mark05 competition with a score of 24,689, while Tim Smally & Rich Swinburne from Bit-Tech won the CPU clock frequency competition with a speed of 4,211MHz. For this special opening event, both winning teams won a prize of $1000 each. The Custom PC donated their winnings to the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and the Bit-Tech team gave their winnings to the Myton Hamlet Hospice.
Video to the overclocking event in London: http://links.amd.com/OCUK

Consumer Mate - the one stop solution for laptops

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Now days gadgets have become so common and easy to use that it has spread very deep into our ordinary life. A various types of gadgets are now available in the market. It’s just like you name, you have it. But purchasing a product merely doesn’t solve every problem. There are various factors behind purchasing every gadget. For example price. A lot of products are available in the market but you have to select the best out of them which has lowest price but highest quality. One of such most important product or gadgets is Laptop.
There is no doubt that it is very hard to select a laptop for your personal use because you have to take care of a lot of things. Like price, different features, facilities and last but not the least its useful life. We often find it difficult to select the right laptop for right purpose. This is because most of the time we don’t get proper information about it.
But now this problem has been solved. Recently a site has been launched named Consumer Mate. It is one of those sites which provide you latest news and product features about laptop. In this site you will be able to compare any brand of laptop with other brand and can easily take decision in purchasing one. The site have different section like compare models, test center ratings, know the basics, new launches, hot deals, consumer support, ask us and many. All this are dedicated to the consumer who have already bought a laptop or going to purchase a laptop. One can compare each and every feature of laptop. If one is in doubt about any features he/she can contact with laptop guru for suggestion which is a unique feature available in the site. One can also get latest product news from this site to keep them up to date. So if you are wondering which one to buy then just visit this site and get your problem solved.

samsung unveiled its latest 6 & 7 series LED TVs

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:41:00 +0000

Technology is an ocean of knowledge and it has really changed human civilization in many form. In the begining when TV was first discovered no was able to believe his own eyes. But now with advancement of technology, we are now able to see picture which are made up of LEDs. And in the field of doing so one of the fortunner is Samsung.
Recently Samsung has unveiled its 6 & 7 series LED TVs in the market. It is very clear to say that it is one of the finest technology so far unveiled by samsung. Samsung ushered a new era of flat panel TVs in India by announcing the launch of its new line up of LED High Definition TVs in the Indian market. Though is has unveiled series 6 & 7 having 40" and 46" screen sizes but it promised to have series 8 having 55" screen. Some of the unique features are Mega picture clarity Razor slimness and stylish design.
As compared to old picture tubes leds produce darker black that appears deep in to eye. The result is it gring great clarity to the picture and thus provide a beautiful experience for the users. The size of the TVs are so slim that no one will be able to imagine its thickness. It can be easily be placed at any place and thus break free from the conventional limits of integrating a television into a room. Energy consumption in the samsung LED TVs are also less as compared to HDTVs but reatin the same picture quality level thus no doubt that it is one of the eco friendly device from Samsung.
So if you are thinking to have a new TV in your home this the right choice you have in your hand. Go ahead and enjoy

AMD Launches the ATI Radeon™ HD 4770, World’s First Desktop Graphics Card Utilizing Industry-Leading 40nm Process Technology

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:38:00 +0000

AMD (NYSE:AMD) today launched the ATI Radeon™ HD 4770 graphics processor, a groundbreaking product that harnesses the state-of-the-art 40 nanometer manufacturing process for the desktop PC market, delivering best-in-class performance and energy efficiency at anticipated launch prices as low as $991. The ATI Radeon HD 4770 graphics card is the newest addition to the award-winning ATI RadeonTM HD 4000 series.· The new card features third-generation hardware support for the latest DirectX® 10.1 games like Battleforge, HAWX, S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky and Stormrise, delivering higher game performance and improved visual quality when compared to DirectX® 10.
· The ATI Radeon HD 4770 continues the AMD tradition of bringing industry-leading technology to market that drives a superior user experience. The ATI Radeon HD 4770 makes use of the latest GDDR5 memory technology, providing incredibly high data rates for fast game performance.
· Gamers looking to get the most value out of their graphics hardware investment can scale their performance using ATI CrossFireX™ technology, allowing a second ATI Radeon HD 4770 card to be added for a near-linear increase in performance.2
· The ATI Radeon HD 4770 graphics card allows users to enjoy HD digital content3 with incredible visual fidelity. The new card helps enhance the definition and clarity of lower resolution media, and through the second generation AMD Unified Video Decoder (UVD 2.0) technology, users can be assured of smooth video playback, crisp images, and vibrant colors on all HD content including Blu-ray discs.4 With support for HDMI, picture-in-picture (PiP) and the latest HD audio technologies like 7.1 surround sound, the new graphics card enables an impressive cinema-quality home entertainment experience.
· Celebrating the company’s 40th Anniversary, AMD continues its heritage of focusing on the design and development of new products and platforms that deliver compelling user experiences at an exceptional value. By combining new AMD Athlon™ X2 7850 processors, AMD 7-Series chipsets and ATI Radeon™ HD 4770 series graphics cards, AMD enables a PC platform that can bring HD video to life while delivering massive performance headroom and video processing acceleration.3

“Consumer pressure in this economic downturn is shifting demand to lower prices and the price band around $100 has the highest demand and highest volume,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, Graphics Products Group, AMD.5 “AMD has responded with the launch of the ATI Radeon HD 4770, targeting this market with cutting-edge technologies like 40 nm processors, support for DirectX 10.1 gaming and GDDR5 memory. This strategy stands in stark contrast to the old “trickle down” technology approach some still use to address this important segment.”

“As a leading source of cutting-edge game development tools, Emergent has a passion for delivering realistic, visually stunning game play as well as improved performance,” said Doug Kubel, vice president, Product Development, Emergent. “By supporting DirectX 10.1 in the Gamebryo LightSpeed development system, we are able to deliver improvements in both image quality and frame rates. DirectX 10.1 graphics hardware like the ATI Radeon HD 4770 makes it possible to fully unlock the experience delivered by the combined power of DirectX10.1 and Gamebryo LightSpeed.”

Windows 7 Release Candidate declared

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:35:00 +0000

Microsoft has made available the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7. Also available is a beta of Windows XP Mode, a compatibility tool to help users migrating from XP to Windows 7. The code will be generally available on 5 May from Microsoft's Windows site.
The RC code introduces a number of changes from the earlier beta release, many of these are under the hood and will not be noticeable to users. Many of the changes are based on customer feedback to the beta release, improving features such as Jump Lists and the multi-touch user interface.

"We've changed everything from major through to minor, but it won't look a lot different," said John Curran, Windows BusinessGroup lead at Microsoft UK.

Windows XP Mode, disclosed earlier this week, will enable consumers and small business customers to run any software not compatible with Windows 7. It is available only for the Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.

XP Mode is based on a forthcoming version of Virtual PC for Windows 7, but has been customized to hide the fact that applications are running in a virtual machine. Sourced from vnunet.com.

AMD Opteron™ Processor Upgrade Program Drives Faster Time to Benefit in the Data Center

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Bangalore, India, April 07, 2009— Offering partners and customers another cost-effective way to benefit from the performance and efficiency of AMD OpteronTM processor technology, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced a global AMD Opteron Upgrade Program. The program includes 2000 series and 8000 series dual- and Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors along with the upcoming six-core processor codenamed “Istanbul”. Channel partners and customers can receive up to a 35% discount in price ($50 off 2000 series, $100 off 8000 series) by upgrading the generation of their AMD Opteron processor, providing a fast upgrade path to improve performance and energy efficiency within the data center without needing to replace and buy entirely new systems

“AMD Opteron processors have always provided exceptionally long life cycles and consistent platforms,” said John Fruehe, director, Business Development, AMD. “In the current economic environment customers are trying to stretch their IT budgets and to extend the life of their technology investments more than ever, all while improving performance and energy efficiency. This program offers a unique value to our partners and customers,

particularly when you consider the enhancements to the 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor and upcoming six-core ‘Istanbul’ processor.”And here is the rest of it.

Dell brings multi-touch-studio-one-19

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:21:00 +0000

Round Rock, Texas-based Dell has just officially introduced the new Studio One 19 all-in-one personal computer system that comes with an optional touchscreen feature. The new machine is designed to provide an easy-to-use alternative to home computer systems and incorporates a unique and stylish design that enables it to be installed in almost every part of the user's home, including the living room or the kitchen.
Unlike some of those Atom-based all-in-one systems that were recently launched by companies such as ASUS or MSI, the new Dell Studio boasts a higher performance Core 2 Duo-based configuration.

“The new Studio One 19 is as nice to look at as it is functional,” said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell’s Consumer Products. “More and more people are making the kitchen the center of their entertainment and computingexperience and the Studio One 19 is the ideal system for that need. The Studio One 19 is about lifestyle and design and is very affordable for the family.”

According to Dell, the new Studio One 19 will provide a choice of an Intel Celeron, Dual-Core Celeron, Pentium Dual Core, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Quad Core processors. The system is also packed with a choice of NVIDIA's GeForce 9200 or 9400 integrated graphics solutions. Additional features include support for up to 4GB of memory, a 750GB hard disk drive, slot load optical drive, 7-in-1 media card reader, six USB ports, integrated wireless, web camera and Blu-ray Disc.

One of the main features of Dell's new all-in-one PC is the support it brings for multi-touch technologies, which will offer users fast and easy interaction with the system's features. Additionally, Dell will provide a facial recognition security option, enabled by the system's integrated webcamera.

The Studio One 19 will become available at dell.com for a starting price of $699, on March 23. In some Japanese retail outlets the new all-in-one device is already available.

MSI unveils new MSI VR430

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:17:00 +0000

The latest MSI VR430 incorporates a brand new aesthetic concept to the personal laptop computers. Featuring MSI exclusive ECO Engine, this power management function helps to extend the battery life while performing various tasks.

It sports a brilliant 14.1-inch LCD monitor (1280x800) that offers impressive details and vivid colors. The VR430 has a slim design and weighs at most 2.2kg is much more portable in the market, making it a suitable choice for business professionals on the move.

With built-in 1.3 mega pixel webcam and internal microphone, the VR430 allows you to engage in real-time sharing and live-video, suchas participating in video conferencing in order to enhance your work efficiency. Additionally, VR430 has a 4-in-1 card reader and 3 well distributed USB 2.0 ports, facilitates connection with various types of computer peripherals.

ATI FireGL, ATI FirePro Workstation Graphics passed Solidworks 2009 Certification

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:03:00 +0000

Sapphire Technology Limited, the only partner of AMD workstation graphics (except Japan) today announced — ATI FireGL™ and ATI FirePro™ 3D workstation graphics cards have completely passed all Solidworks 2009 tests and gained global certifications. Meanwhile, two mid-range models — ATI FireGL™ V3600 and V5600 have been certified by the other two SolidWorks’tools — COSMOS 2008 and eDrawing 2008. COSMOS 2008 is designed for the SolidWorks models and predict how they will behave in the real situations. Whereas with eDrawings viewer, anyone with a PC can interpret and understand 2D and 3D design data. SolidWorks users can enjoy the most stable work and optimized performance by using AMD workstation graphics.
Solidworks is outstanding for 3D mechanical CAD field, also offer a wide range of simulation products. They have innovative creativity and the biggest users’ community. The newest version “Solidworks 2009” speeds up to 65% over SolidWorks 2008. SolidWorks has added lots new features, such as SpeedPak Technology, apply filters and Sort BOM by Column, sensors monitor, electrical component library etc. By using AMD certified workstation graphics, you can spend more time on productivity, less time at work.
Here introducing a special feature in Solidworks2009-- Vertex Buffer Objects. VBO is activated by default in SolidWorks 2009 and ATI FireGL™ and ATI FirePro™ are completely support. It is a buffer which is stored on the GPU memory and when activated, the application stores vertex data for triangles and lines in this location. VBO is a way for an application to render data without repeatedly accessing the computer’s sub systems suchas the hard drive and therefore help achieve higher operational performance. Additionally, the other fantastic function “RealView Graphics” which was released in SolidWorks 2008, it is hardware support of advanced shading in real time. By applying appearances and scenes, your models come to life without going through rendering processes such as PhotoWorks. Your system must have a workstation class graphics card capable of supporting RealView. See the SolidWorks Hardware support web site for a complete list of supported graphics cards and drivers, and you will see ATI FireGL™ and ATI FirePro™ series are passed with all strict testing.
Why Choose ATI FireGL™ and ATI FirePro™:

http://workstation.sapphiretech.com/archive/newsletter/eng/0175/eng_8_20090211_9157.pdf

For more product information, please visit Sapphire and AMD website: http://workstation.sapphiretech.com/

Apple with some fresh feature and design

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Apple's online store is back up featuring a new iPod shuffle that sports a fresh design, as well as fresh features. We did expect the 4GB storage capacity, but we didn't expect the new look, and certainly not the VoiceOver capabilities.

Apple touts this third generation iPod shuffle as “the world’s smallest music player.” The device is nearly half the size of the previous model. The third generation shuffle is significantly smaller than an AA battery, Apple says, and is able to hold up to 1,000 songs thanks to the 4GB of memory it boasts. All the controls are conveniently located on the earphone cord, enabling users to play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and enable VoiceOver with a few presses. The VoiceOver feature inside the iPod shuffle will be detailed in a separate article.

This iPod is also significantly prettier than its predecessor, doing away with any sort of play, pause etc. controlson the actual player, for a sleek new look. Adding to the gorgeous aluminum design is a built-in stainless steel clip that makes the shuffle both stylish and ultra-wearable. To round up the features list, Apple claims the iPod shuffle can play your music non stop for ten hours on a single charge.
“Imagine your music player talking to you, telling you your song titles, artists and playlist names,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod and iPhone™ Product Marketing. “The amazingly small new iPod shuffle takes a revolutionary approach to how you listen to your music by talking to you, also making it the first iPod shuffle with playlists.”

Unfortunately for some, the fresh iPod shuffle only comes in two colors – silver and black. The device can be acquired immediately for $79. Visit Apple's store here to have a closer look at the features and the design of the third-gen shuffle.

Buffalo unveils stylish External HDD

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Storage and peripherals specialist Buffalo announced the HD-PEU2-RD external hard drive. It is designed to woo the fairer sex with its glossy coloured shells, available in red, white and black. The 81 (W) x 16 (H) x 130 (D) mm shell houses a 2.5 inch hard drive, which comes in capacitiesstarting from 250 GB to 500 GB. The unit tips scales at 190 g. The drive uses USB 2.0 to connect to any PC or Mac. Depending on the capacity of the hard drive, the HD-PEU2-RD is priced between $95 for the 250 GB model, and $171 for the 500 GB model.

AMD & Seagate to demonstrate SATA 6Gbps HDD

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Seagate and AMD will be demonstrating the world’s first SATA 6Gbps hard-drive today, theoretically offering twice the throughput of the existing SATA 3Gbps standard. The demo will compare an existing Barracuda 7200.12 HDD and a SATA 6Gbps HDD that uses a prototype AMD chipset to offer 5.5Gigabits per second performance.
The companies are hoping to provoke interest in the new SATA 6Gbps standard, which will begin showing up in hard-drives before the end of 2009. It uses the same cables and connectors as previous 3Gbps and 1.5Gbps SATA, but introduces new power-efficiency technology among other things.

New drives will be backward compatible with motherboards that only support the existing SATA speeds, so we’re hoping to see them hit themarket sooner rather than later. No word from Seagate as to when a commercial version of the current prototype will be launched.

Press Release:

Seagate and AMD Unveil World’s First Demonstration of Serial ATA 6Gigabit/Second Technology for High-Speed PC Applications

Seagate (Nasdaq: STX), teaming with microprocessor manufacturing leader Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) at the Everything Channel Xchange Conference in New Orleans this week, today unveiled the world’s first public demonstration of next-generation high-speed data transfer - Serial ATA 6Gigabit/second - for bandwidth-hungry desktop and laptop PC applications including gaming, streaming video and graphics multimedia.

The Serial ATA (SATA) 6Gb/second storage interface will deliver the highest performance - burst speeds of up to 6Gigabits per second - for all PC applications, maintain backward compatibility with the SATA 3Gb/second and SATA 1.5Gb/second interfaces, and use the same cables and connectors as previous SATA generations to ease integration. The third generation of the mainstream storage interface for desktop and notebook computers also enhances power efficiency and improves Native Command Queuing, a SATA feature, to increase overall system performance and data transfer speeds of mainstream PC applications but especially applications with heavily transactional workloads such as scientific modeling and forecasting, and engineering design and simulation.

“The increasing reliance of consumers and businesses worldwide on digital information is giving rise to gaming, digital video and audio, streaming video, graphics and other applications that require even more bandwidth, driving demand for PC interfaces that can carry even more digital content,” said Joan Motsinger, Seagate vice president of Personal Systems Marketing and Strategy. “The SATA 6Gb/second storage interface will meet this demand for higher-bandwidth PCs. Seagate has a long history of being first to market with new technologies such as Serial ATA, perpendicular recording and self-encrypting drives, and is pleased to be teaming with AMD to stage the world’s first public demonstration of SATA 6Gb/second storage.”

“AMD strives to deliver platform technology that our technology partners can use to create high- performance desktop and laptop PCs,” said Leslie Sobon, vice president of Product Marketing, AMD. “The new SATA 6Gb/second technology not only incorporates the best features of previous SATA generations but also includes new enhancements. This innovation enables AMD to continue to evolve its technology platforms and to develop low-cost designs that our technology partners can use to improve their own PC and laptop products.”

The Seagate and AMD demonstration features two Seagate SATA disk drives - one a shipping Barracuda(R) 7200.12 3Gb/second hard drive and the other a prototype Barracuda 6Gb/second drive - in a desktop PC to show the performance difference between the two generations. The PC is powered by an AMD prototype SATA 6Gb/second chipset. The Seagate SATA 3Gb/second drive runs at more than 2.5Gigabits per second and the SATA 6Gb/second drive at 5.5Gigabits per second, with the performance of each storage interface displayed on the PC monitor.

Serial ATA 6Gb/second - Blazing speed for next-generation personal computing

Serial ATA (SATA), the mainstream storage interface for desktop and notebook disk drives, is currently available in two speeds - 3Gb/second and 1.5Gb/second. SATA 6Gb/second was developed by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) under the Serial ATA Revision 3.0 specification.

In keeping with SATA-IO objectives for designing a low-cost interface for desktop and notebook PCs, SATA 6Gb/second maintains the low cost and low-power design requirements of previous SATA generations, and is designed to be backward compatible with SATA 3Gb/second connectors, cables and other hardware.

Galaxy unveiled low power 9600GT for HTPC

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:22:00 +0000

Something interesting for HTPC enthusiasts that we missed out. Galaxy has a special 9600GT Low Profile Low Power 9600GT card that consumes less than 60W and doesn't requires external 6-pin power connector. It is based on the 9600 GT Green Edition GPU where we have been talking about lately. This card has 8-layer PCB which is 203.2mm in length and 69.5mm in height, singleslot custom copper cooling so it can be fitted into a mini HTPC case. the card is clocked at 600MHz core with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory clocked at 900 (1800) MHz on a 256-bit wide memory bus. Outputs include DVI, HDMI.
According to Galaxy internal testing, the GPU core TDP is reduced significantly by just a reduction of 0.1V VGPU. As such, the core temp can be lowered by nearly 10 degrees using the same type of cooling.

Watercooled GeForce GTX 285 H20 Graphics Card from BFG

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:17:00 +0000

BFG Technologies®, Inc., the leading North American and European supplier of advanced NVIDIA-based 3D graphics cards, power supplies, and the Phobos™ High-Performance Gaming/Home Theater System, announced today the BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O graphics card with ThermoIntelligence® Water Cooling Solution.

The BFG NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 285 H2O 1GB graphics card features a totally silent, exceptionally efficient BFG ThermoIntelligence® copper water block. Co-developed by BFG and Danger Den™, this singleslot solution delivers up to a 42°C lower GPU operating temperature than reference cooling solutions, and is backed by BFG's lifetime warranty and 24/7/365 free technical support.

“BFG innovated the idea of offering pre-built water cooled graphics cards back on the GeForce 6800 Ultra and then extended that initiative by partnering with our friends at Danger Den for full coverage copper blocks starting with the GeForce 8800 GTX”, said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. “Our industry leading experience in providing top-of-the-line pre-assembled water cooling solutions continues with the GeForce GTX 285 H2O, and offers customers a rock solid product that is backed by our famous lifetime warranty and 100 Day Trade Up Program.”

BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O with ThermoIntelligence Water Cooling Solution

* Memory: 1GB GDDR3
* Core Clock: 666MHz (vs. 648MHz standard)
* Shader Clock: 1512MHz (vs. 1476MHz standard)
* Memory Data Rate: 2484MHz
* Processor Cores: 240

About BFG ThermoIntelligence Custom Cooling Solutions
BFG Technologies is at the forefront of high performance custom cooling. That experience has lent itself to the development of the ThermoIntelligence series which has been specifically designed to meet the cooling demands of the discerning PC gamer and enthusiast. Featuring custom air and water cooled solutions, the ThermoIntelligence series provides exceptional thermal performance without the drawbacks of traditional custom and aftermarket solutions.

Eligible for the BFG Trade Up program
Within 100 days of purchase, the BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O graphics card can be traded up to a BFG graphics card of greater performance and price, and the customer only pays the difference in price, plus applicable taxes and shipping. Currently the Trade Up program is only available in North America. Learn more at www.bfgtech.com/tradeupprogram.aspx.

Availability
The BFG GeForce® GTX 285 H2O graphics card with ThermoIntelligence Water Cooling Solution will be available starting the week of March 9, 2009 at leading online retailers in North America and Europe. A more highly overclocked version—the BFG GeForce GTX 285 H2OC with ThermoIntelligence Water Cooling Solution—is planned to be released within a week. Visit www.bfgtech.com for more information.

2.5-inch IDE Solid-State Drives from Solidata

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Solidata recently started offering new P2 2.5-inch solid-state drives that come with an IDE interface. These drives are perfect for owners of older machines that do not support SATA ports, or just people that prefer the old 80-pin IDE cables over the new SATA ones. The firm is currently offering 32 GB and 64 GB versions of the IDE SSDs. The P2 drives use MLC SSD witha maximum read speed of 90 MB/sec, and maximum write speed of 70 MB/sec. The power consumption of these drives is 0.24 W at standby while the peak consumption is 0.5 W. Dimensions are standard at 100 x 70 x 9.5 mm (width x depth x height) and the drives weight exactly 75 g.

Thermaltake brings with new chassis concept

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:33:00 +0000

Undoubtedly, one of he most impressive new products that we were able to spot at the CeBIT 2009 show in Hanover, Germany, is the new chassis concept from Thermaltake. Dubbed Level 10, the new case developed by the company is set to impress through a special design, which offers a separate compartment for each component of the system.

The new Thermaltake Level 10 chassis has been made mainly from aluminum, and features separate rooms for motherboard, hard drives, optical drives and the rest of the machine's components. Moreover, it features six hard disk drive bays, while also offering an easy way to open the hard drive bay so as to change the disks.

From what we've heard, the new Level 10 PC case has been developed by the company in partnership with BMW Designworks. The idea of dividing the chassis into separate sections is not such a new one, yet it still manages to impress the audience through the simple fact that it has been transposed into reality. Practically, one can consider that each component is placed outside the case, although inside its own compartment.

In addition to this new concept, Thermaltakealso brought along at the CeBIT exposition in Germany other new cases, as well as some new cooling solutions. Among these, we can count the new Element S, which the company says stands for Silence, Sophisticated, Specious, Stream, Speedy and Substantial. Other parts are the SpinQ, able to deliver high end cooling performance, as well as the Toughpower XT.

For the time being, there aren’t too many details on the availability or price of the Thermaltake Level 10 chassis. Furthermore, we might not even see the concept launched on the market, although word has it that the official debut of the part will be at Computex in early June. As for the price, I guess no one would expect it to be a low one.

Microsoft brings new system easier for browser switch

koushiksaha4all@gmail.com — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Microsoft Corp is developing a feature in its new operating system that allows users to turn off Internet Explorer and other key Microsoft programs.

The new feature is a major step for the world's largest software company, which has been accused by competitors and regulators of forcing consumers to run its own software, squeezing rivals' offerings out of the marketplace. "In addition to the features that were already available to turn on or off in Windows Vista
, we've added the following features to the list in Windows 7," said a Microsoft blog published on Friday, listing Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media Player and a host of other Microsoft programs.

The publicly available blog was written by Jack Mayo, a manager in the team developing Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system, which will replace the unpopular Vistaearly next year. The new design will make it easier for users to remove any traces of Internet Explorer from their desktop, although the software will remain installed on the computer, and allow them to run other browsers more smoothly.

Last month Google Inc, which recently launched its own Chrome browser, joined the Mozilla foundation, producer of the Firefox Web browser, and Norway's Opera, in protesting Microsoft's dominance in the browser market. In January, European regulators brought formal charges against Microsoft for abusing its dominant market position by bundling its Internet Explorer Web browser with its Windows operating system, which is used in 95 percent of the world's personal computers. In the past decade, Microsoft has fallen afoul of both U.S. and European antitrust regulators for bundling key programs with its operating system.