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Monday, March 09, 2009

24 Samsung SSDs get strung together for supercomputer fun

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/24-samsung-ssds-get-strung-together-for-supercomputer-fun/

It wasn't all that long ago when a mere nine SSD drives in a RAID array was enough to cause most folks' jaws to drop, but the world of ridiculous technology exercises moves quickly, and we can only be thankful that a select few continually feel the need to one-up each other and share their results with all of us. This latest effort comes from a group enlisted by Samsung (in a not too thinly disguised marketing exercise), who paired up 24 SSDs in a RAID array totaling 6TB in size. Even more impressive than that, however, is the 2GB per second throughput speed they managed to achieve, which they naturally spared no expense in demonstrating -- as you can see in the video after the break.

[Via Reddit]

Continue reading 24 Samsung SSDs get strung together for supercomputer fun

Filed under: Storage

24 Samsung SSDs get strung together for supercomputer fun originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playing both sides: Nokia says its 4G position 'has not changed'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/playing-both-sides-nokia-says-its-4g-position-has-not-changed/

Coupled with the discontinuation of the N810 WiMAX, Nokia's intention to get LTE devices into the marketplace by next year had many folks thinking that the company was starting to sour on WiMAX altogether, but -- at least officially -- it turns out that's not the case. Nokia has contacted us today to let us know that its positions on the battling 4G technologies have not changed, emphasizing that the N810 WiMAX's departure "does not apply to other WiMAX business development efforts that Nokia is involved in." Considering the growing belief that both of these technologies are here to stay -- that is, it's not looking like an HD DVD vs. Blu-ray-style battle of attrition -- it's a shrewd attitude for Nokia to take.

It gets juicier, though: Nokia is also refuting claims that it has entered into an exclusive agreement to develop a touchscreen LTE device with Verizon: "While we have not entered into any exclusive agreement for 4G touch screen device development as is being reported, we will continue to follow and pursue developments as a normal course of business." In other words, "we're not opposed to the idea, but we haven't yet." Sorry to leave you hanging, Verizon subscribers, but the good news is that we're pretty confident these two giants are in bed together for the long haul in one capacity or another.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Wireless

Playing both sides: Nokia says its 4G position 'has not changed' originally appeared on Engadge t on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Inspiron Mini 10 gets reviewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/dell-inspiron-mini-10-gets-reviewed/

Dell's Mini 10 netbook certainly seems to occupy the sweet spot between the company's Mini 9 and Mini 12 offerings but, according to Laptop's review of the netbook, there may be just a few too many trade-offs for some folks. On the upside, the Mini 10 does compare favorably to most other 10-inch netbooks in terms of size and weight, and the keyboard is actually a tad larger than the one on the Mini 12, with it measuring about 0.3-inches deeper and extending right to the edge of the system. Unfortunately, Laptop found that the reworked touchpad was quite a bit more finicky than the one's on its counterparts, and Dell's decision to hold back on some features like a six-cell battery means that it doesn't quite give you the same bang for the buck as something like the Samsung NC10 or ASUS Eee PC 1000HE. Still undecided? Then hit up the read link below for the full rundown.

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Inspiron Mini 10 gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's 16-inch IdeaPad Y650 reviewed: not bad at all

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/lenovos-16-inch-ideapad-y650-reviewed-not-bad-at-all/

Lenovo's curiously cute IdeaPad Y650 has been shipping out to multimedia lovers everywhere for just under a month now, but if you've been holding tight until a legitimate review hit the tubes, here's your sign. Computer Shopper managed to get ahold of one of these 16-inch beauties, and while it was disappointed in the lack of a Blu-ray player and 1080p screen option, it generally had positive things to say. The screen, though limited in resolution (1,366 x 768), was deemed "brilliant," and the gesture-enabled touch pad was also a joy to use. It was found to be "surprisingly light" for a machine this large, and the attractive pricing made it all the more, um, attractive. All in all, it seems the Y650 is a solid choice for those looking for decent power, good looks and a large panel, but gamers and high-def junkies should probably turn their eyes elsewhere.

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo's 16-inch IdeaPad Y650 reviewed: not bad at all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate demos world's first SATA 6Gbps hard disk as speed-freaks swoon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/seagate-demonstrates-worlds-first-sata-6gbps-hard-disk-making-s/

You read that right, 6Gbps. Seagate and AMD will be showing-off a prototype Barracuda hard disk drive with AMD prototype 6Gbps SATA chipset for the first time this week at the Everything Channel Xchange Conference in New Orleans. Yup, a world's first. Fortunately, the third generation SATA interface remains backward compatible with your old SATA 3Gbps and SATA 1.5Gbps disks and devices -- cables and connectors too. SATA revision 3.0 also brings enhanced power efficiency with improved Native Command Queuing for applications with heavy transactional workloads. No update to the official launch timeline was made so we'll assume that the first half of 2009 for retail devices is still in the bag. Hey, you weren't planning to purchase a new laptop or desktop before then anyway were you. Were you?

[Via CNET]

Read -- SATA 6Gbps demonstration
Read -- First half of 2009 launch

Filed under: Storage

Seagate demos world's first SATA 6Gbps hard disk as speed-freaks swoon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung outs Fabrizio PAVV 450 Series plasma HDTVs in Korea

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/samsung-outs-fabrizio-pavv-450-series-plasma-hdtvs-in-korea/

Despite a sudden lack of support, the plasma ain't dead yet. Just days after announcing its ritzy new Bordeaux PAVV Fabrizio 650 LCD HDTVs over in South Korea, the same company has introduced a new line catering to the unshakable PDP fans across the globe. The Fabrizio PAVV 450 Series includes a 42- and 50-inch version with Sammy's own Crystal Engine, 0.001 millisecond response time, "Mega Contrast," and a trio of HDMI sockets. Outside of that, details are still being kept under wraps, but hopefully we'll know more after these get a US ship date. Wait, these are coming to America, right Samsung?

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung outs Fabrizio PAVV 450 Series plasma HDTVs in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oyster Wave Energy Converter puts climate change to good use

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/oyster-wave-energy-converter-puts-climate-change-to-good-use/

One of the Holy Grails of green power is hydroelectricity, and we've certainly seen our fair share of research in that department. The newest guy on the scene is called Oyster, a collaborative effort between Queen's University in Belfast and Aquamarine Power Limited that sees something called an Oscillating Wave Surge Converter placed offshore (in depths around 10-12 meters). When moved by waves, the device's double acting pistons push seawater ashore via high pressure flow lines, where it is converted to power using tried and true hydroelectric generators. Since the hydroelectric plant is located onshore, it is accessible for maintenance 24-7. According to the company, peak power should be around 300-600 kw, depending on the unit's configuration and location. The first prototype is to be deployed off the coast of Orkney this summer, where we'll see if it can transform high tides and abnormal weather patterns into juice for your Xbox. One more pic for you after the break.

[Via Renewable Energy World]

Continue reading Oyster Wave Energy Converter puts climate change to good use

Filed under: Science

Oyster Wave Energy Converter puts climate change to good use originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of! feeds.

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Intel develops multi-computer display linking, the commercial writes itself

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/06/intel-develops-multi-computer-display-linking-the-commercial-wr/

We can see it now: the four former members of 'N Sync (minus Justin Timberlake) showing up in an HP-inspired television spot, their heads cut off from the frame while they individually sing about what how each of their MIDs knows them personally and proceed to show what they can do in a array of spectacle and CG. Suddenly, they all hold their devices next to each other in a two-by-two grid pattern and the four screens become one as their voices, too, join in harmony -- which is exactly what Intel touts its newly-developed multi-client display linking can do. Except for the harmony part, that's all 'N Sync. In a word? Beautiful. It's all part of Intel's MID-centric "Carry Small, Live Large" initiative. We're not taking bets on whether or not this feature will make a cameo in its upcoming joint venture with LG or any device in the foreseeable future, but it's definitely something's that piqued our interest.

Filed under: Displays, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Intel develops multi-computer display linking, the commercial writes itself originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pixavi announces wireless Xcaster ST 5000 video conferencing camera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/07/pixavi-announces-wireless-xcaster-st-5000-video-conferencing-cam/

Video conferencing cameras generally aren't the most exciting devices out there, but Pixavi certainly looks to be a decent job of standing out from the pack with its new Xcaster ST 5000 camera, which packs some built-in WiFi (802.11n, no less) and about as catch-all a feature set as most anyone could ask for. That includes HD video recording using the h.264 codec, a 4x optical zoom, MEMS image stabilization, a "high resolution" touchscreen, built-in Bluetooth to accommodate a wireless headset, 16GB of onboard flash plus both SD and CompactFlash card slots, a full range of line-in and AV-out ports, and a promised six hours of use from the camera's 6600 Ah battery, to name just a few features. As you may have surmised, the camera is also fully ruggedized and waterproof, though it expectedly doesn't come cheap. Look for it to run $7,950 when it lands in May.

[Thanks, Chimin]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Pixavi announces wireless Xcaster ST 5000 video conferencing camera originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's upcoming mobile chips to squeeze 3GHz out of Penryn, bring high-performance ULV to the masses

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/08/intels-upcoming-mobile-chips-to-squeeze-3ghz-out-of-penryn-bri/

Yeah, we've had just about all the Atom we can handle, and it looks like Intel's just about ready to help us back away from the difficult choice of sexy form factors for low prices and sexy form for exorbitant prices. Intel is working on Montevina Plus, which will push Penryn laptop chip technology past the 3GHz mark, while subsequently sending ULV chips into the mainstream, showing up in laptops ranging from $599 to $1,000, instead of the $1,500+ premiums they currently usually command -- great news for ultraportable lovers that actually want to get a few things accomplished on the road. Intel also sees 2009 as the year of the nettop, at least in emerging markets, and will naturally be pushing Nehalem all over the place -- with the way chip roadmaps are planned, the economic downturn naturally won't be messing with any planned rollouts for the time being.

Filed under: Laptops

Intel's upcoming mobile chips to squeeze 3GHz out of Penryn, bring high-performance ULV to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Vaio P benchmarked in all its magnificent and diverse forms

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/08/sonys-vaio-p-benchmarked-in-all-its-magnificent-and-diverse-for/

Thanks to the work of the gang making time over at their Vaio P forum, the folks at Pocketables have been able to compile benchmarks of all the various configurations of the ultraportable. Including the three models available domestically (which all sport a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520) and the various 1.6GHz Z530 and 1.86GHz Z540-based machines available elsewhere, this ragtag group of benchmarksters have come to the conclusion that the main factor when it comes to the machine's performance is the disk drive type. "Yes," writes Jenn Lee, "the faster CPUs give the ALU/FLU numbers a noticeable bump up, but it's not as significant as the increase seen between a HDD and SSD." Hopefully this is some small comfort to those of you who are miffed that the 1.86GHz model isn't available in the States. Of course, now that we've seen the Vaino we're so over Sony's sassy'n'classy non-netbook, but if you're morbidly curious the read link tells the whole sordid tale.

Filed under: Laptops

Sony's Vaio P benchmarked in all its magnificent and diverse forms originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco said to be buying Pure Digital for around $500 million

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/cisco-said-to-be-buying-pure-digital-for-around-500-million/

Believe us people, popularity pays off. Just ask Pure Digital CEO Jonathan Kaplan, who is reportedly scrambling for ways to spend $80 million of the $500 million Cisco Systems is about to hand over in order to acquire the company. Granted, none of this has been confirmed just yet, but TechCrunch has it that the deal is all but done. Reportedly, Cisco's interested in bringing the firm into its portfolio in order to further push high-bandwidth using services. Obviously, user generated HD video fits pretty perfectly into that agenda. We suspect we'll be hearing more on the subject as the work week begins in earnest, but it sure sounds like Linksys is about to get a new cousin.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Cisco said to be buying Pure Digital for around $500 million originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple touch-screen netbook in Q3?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/09/apple-netbook-in-q3/

Boom: Apple netbook in Q3 -- that's the rumor being spread by the Commercial Times / DigiTimes tag-team of electronics tattlers. Apparently, Wintek will supply the touch-panels to Quanta computer who'll be tasked with assembling Apple's netbook. Take this one with a grain of salt though -- while these two Taiwan-based magazines tend to be accurate with insider info related to Taiwan-based companies like Acer and ASUS, they can often be wide of the mark with rumors related to foreign companies. Unless of course we missed the launch of the Blu-ray Xbox 360 and G5 PowerBooks.

[Image courtesy of Frunny]

Filed under: Laptops

Apple touch-screen netbook in Q3? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama's Plan to Digitize Medical Records Draws Criticism from Doctors [Healthcare]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vfv37Dvq_C4/obamas-plan-to-digitize-medical-records-draws-criticism-from-doctors

Digitization of medical records is one of Obama's most prominent talking points: he claims modernizing records will save lives and billions of dollars at the same time. But some doctors aren't taken with the idea.

In a New York Times op-ed piece, Dr. Anne Armstrong-Coben expresses concern that the modernization of medical records may not be as obviously beneficial as it seems. For one thing, there's no unified system yet, and the likeliest candidate (Google Health) isn't subject to the now-outdated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the national privacy statute. Creating an easy-to-learn and effective system is a huge undertaking, from construction to installation to training, and not everybody is confident it can be done properly.

A buggy or confusing system could result in more mistakes, not less, as Dr. Armstrong-Coben points out. "I have seen how choosing the wrong box can lead to the wrong drug being prescribed," she writes. Older generations of doctors may have trouble adjusting to a totally digital system, and there are bound to be mistakes made by even the computer-savvy before digitization becomes ubiquitous.

On the other hand, Dr. Armstrong-Coben complains that full digitization may make the doctor-patient relationship less personal, a point not likely to hold much water with digitization proponents. The potential money and lives saved far outweigh the loss. She reminisces, "I loved how patients could participate in their own charts - illustrating their cognitive development as they went from showing me how they could draw a line at age 2 and a circle at 3 to proudly writing their names at 5." Unclear, however, is why she can't just keep a notebook in which her young pediatric patients can ! draw.

Obama's plan will cost about $100 billion, a huge chunk of the stimulus package, but some experts claim it will save two to three times that yearly. Those savings could go toward universal health care or simply flow back into the hospitals for better equipment.

Doctors like Armstrong-Coben bring up an interesting point: this is a new frontier and a massive project, and it won't be as simple as handing doctors a new iMac and watching the savings roll in. But it's a necessary step; just because it's going to be hard doesn't mean it's not worth the effort. [NY Times and CNN]

Topps 3D Live Brings Augmented Reality to Baseball Cards [Augmented Reality]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/C4fH33txmzA/topps-3d-live-brings-augmented-reality-to-baseball-cards

After recently buying the venerable trading cards company, Disney is making a seriously cool bid to keep card collecting alive, debuting 3D, augmented reality baseball cards complete with tiny players, stats and games.

This kind of augmented reality tech has been seen before, most recently in a German Mini advert that placed a Mini Cabrio on a magazine, via a webcam. These cards (video here) take the concept a little bit further, with custom 3D models suited to each player and even a few little pitching, batting and catching games. The cards will be available in different editions in packs of either five or ten, for $1.00 or $2.00, respectively.

A rep for Upper Deck fired back, cryptically promising competing cards that "come alive and contain video." What this means, I have no idea, but at any rate it looks like baseball cards don't plan on dying quietly. Video at the source. [NYT]

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