Monday, July 13, 2009

AMD six-core Opterons get new 'Highly Efficient' and 'Special Edition' siblings

AMD six-core Opterons get new 'Highly Efficient' and 'Special Edition' siblings

We can beat about the bush or we can just admit that Intel has AMD beat on pretty much all fronts right now. Cognizant of this, AMD sprung the Istanbul server chips months ahead of schedule, and is now seeking to maintain momentum by adding meat to the bone. Three new chips are being added to the server-focused HE (Highly Efficient) Opteron line -- all clocked between 2GHz and 2.1GHz and dissipating 55 watts of heat -- while pure performance considerations are addressed with the SE 2439 and SE 8439, both running at 2.8GHz with 6MB of L3 cache. If we were paranoid, we might think today's leak of Intel's mobile CPU schedule was a coordinated attempt by the market leader to steal some of the limelight from this announcement by Advanced Micro Devices. Those of you who actually need to buy processors in batches of 1,000 or more should hit the read link for a full price breakdown.

[Via Daily Tech]

Filed under: Desktops

AMD six-core Opterons get new 'Highly Efficient' and 'Special Edition' siblings originally appeared on Engadge! t on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Storm 2 spec'd, 3G-equipped original en route to AT&T?

BlackBerry Storm 2 spec'd, 3G-equipped original en route to AT&T?

You haven't forgotten about that BlackBerry Storm 2, have you? The Boy Genius Report is claiming it's gotten device specs for RIM's touchscreen-centric maven, also reportedly called the 9550, and while not surprising (and not confirmed), according to his source the CDMA device will be sporting 802.11b/g (which we already sort of knew), a 3.2 megapixel camera, 360 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, and BlackBerry OS 5.0. If that's not enough, the site's also saying a GSM version of the original, with 3G in tow, does exist as the 9520 and is possibly on track for release soon on AT&T and Rogers. All nice fodder for dreams, but we're not getting our hopes up until something more official rears its SurePress-laden head.

Filed under: Cellphones

BlackBerry Storm 2 spec'd, 3G-equipped original en route to AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neoluxiim demos solar-powered e ink display

Neoluxiim demos solar-powered e ink display

We've been sort of wondering when we'd see a solar e-ink display, and here we are -- Neoluxiim is demoing this panel for use in point-of-sale advertising. What's interesting here is that the background appears to be in color while the text is black, but we're assuming that's just a fixed image behind the e-ink layer. Everyone ready for impulse purchasing to go high-tech? Video after the break.

Continue reading Neoluxiim demos solar-powered e ink display

Filed under: Displays

Neoluxiim demos solar-powered e ink display originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BenQ S6 MID back for vengeance... XP-style

BenQ S6 MID back for vengeance... XP-style

The BenQ S6 MID didn't exactly light the world on fire when it was launched back in 2008, and although we assumed it had faded into irrelevance along with the rest of the category, it looks like the company's bringing it back -- preloaded with Windows XP instead of Linux. It actually makes a certain insane kind of sense, since the S6 is built on an Atom processor, but we're just not sure anyone wants to pay $424 for XP on a 4.8-inch screen with an 800MHz processor -- especially since you'll have to fly to Taiwan to pick one up. On the other hand, can you really put a price on "100% Web Experience?"

[Via Pocketables]

Filed under: Handhelds

BenQ S6 MID back for vengeance... XP-style originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera to launch in September, cost around $600

Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera to launch in September, cost around $600

It's been a while since we've heard anything about Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera, but as the twin-lensed shooter nears that scheduled September release some more details are spilling out -- including the price, which will be "around $600" at launch. Yeah, it's steep, and that's not all: to properly view the images you'll need to either shell out for special prints with a plastic lenticular lens on it or buy a special stereoscopic LCD photo frame, and none of that really screams "cheap." Honestly, our instinct would be to spend all that scratch on a good DSLR or even something like the Olympus E-P1, but there's always a chance Fujifilm's about to reveal the public's deep-rooted desire for 3D snapshots. We'll see -- anyone dying for one of these?

[Thanks, ED]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera to launch in September, cost around $600 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's next-gen Chocolate BL40 teased on video, looks good enough to eat

LG's next-gen Chocolate BL40 teased on video, looks good enough to eat

We can't verify the authenticity of the video, but it seems a little far-fetched to believe that even LG diehards out there would've been able to toil away making a very legit-looking promo piece for the company's recently-teased new Chocolate in such a short period of time -- so we're tentatively going to say we think we're looking at the real thing here. That said, what we've got is nothing short of drool-worthy: the rumored 21:9 800 x 345 display appears real (which is said in the video to be 4 inches diagonal), plus there's a gorgeous Flash-based 3D UI, multitouch, AGPS, WiFi, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, and a glass screen surface that's said to be scratch-proof, all packed into an impossibly thin case. Yes, we know everyone's been trying to sound the dumbphone death knell for years now -- but frankly, you'd have to have a grossly miscalibrated monitor to not have a special place in your heart for what you're seeing here. Follow the break for the quite-possibly-authentic video in full.

[Thanks, Edward]

Continue reading LG's next-gen Chocolate BL40 teased on video, looks good enough to eat

Filed under: Cellphones

LG's next-gen Chocolate BL40 teased on video, looks good enough to eat originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's dual-boot Android and XP netbook launching in August?

Acer's dual-boot Android and XP netbook launching in August?

You remember Android right, Google's other OS that actually exists? Well, Acer's set to launch what could be the world's first Android-based netbook in August. At least that's what DigiTimes is reporting second-hand via Chinese-language Apple Daily. While two suspect sources won't turn a rumor into fact, Acer's already on record with plans for an Android netbook in Q3 in dual-boot XP configurations. So hearing that Quanta and Compal will have these out smack in the middle of the quarter isn't much of a stretch.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's dual-boot Android and XP netbook launching in August? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's Core i7 'Clarksfield' CPUs for laptops launching late September?

Intel's Core i7 'Clarksfield' CPUs for laptops launching late September?

Taiwanese rumor-rag, DigiTimes, has a knack for sniffing out insider information from within Taiwan's MoBo manufacturing cartel. So it's worth paying attention when it claims to have the latest launch schedule for Intel CPUs. Up first is a trio of laptop-based Clarksfield CPUs -- 2GHz Core 2 Extreme XE, 1.73GHz Core 2 Quad P2, and a 1.6GHz Core 2 Quad P1 -- ready to make their debut sometime around the end of September or October. These processors should carry the Core i7 brand to keep things as ~~confusing~~ simple as possible and would be a suitable match for a Q4 refresh of the MacBook Pro or Dell XPS laptop, for example. At the low end of the rumored schedule are a pair of Celeron SU2300 and Celeron 743 CPUs for ultra-thin laptops with an expected announcement coming at the end of September. Intel's also pegged with plans for desktop-based Lynnfield CPUs and P55 chipsets to be announced between September 8-11. The first announcement is set for early August -- if Intel starts making a fuss about its new Xeon procs for servers at that time then we'll have a pretty good idea as to the validity of DigiTimes' claims.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Intel's Core i7 'Clarksfield' CPUs for laptops! launchi ng late September? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Solar-powered night garden fills Jerusalem with tranquility, world peace soon to follow

Video: Solar-powered night garden fills Jerusalem with tranquility, world peace soon to follow

Juxtaposing the manmade and the natural in artistic expression oftentimes leads to creepy results. It is no mean feat, then, that the Jerusalem night garden -- built out of steel wires, laser-cut panels and 1W to 3W Power LEDs -- feels like a warm and welcoming place to visit. Whether it is the clean energy source, producing 720W of electricity per hour, or the ethereal light and movement of the flowers, something about the exhibition awakens the wistful child we've got locked away in the Engadget dungeons. He cries out for more of this aesthetically pleasing eco-friendly design, which in this case even comes with a specially composed soundtrack. To see if you agree with such juvenile enthusiasm, check out the video after the break.

[Via inhabitat]

Continue reading Video: Solar-powered night garden fills Jerusalem with tranquility, world peace soon to follow

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: Solar-powered night garden fills Jerusalem with tranquility, world peace soon to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's 9.7-inch 'netbook' to debut in October for $800?

Apple's 9.7-inch 'netbook' to debut in October for $800?

It's back. The Quanta assembled Apple netbook rumor that kicked off in March with a Commercial Times report calling for a Wintek-supplied touchscreen has returned... with a fever. China Times has now stepped in with a claim of a 9.7-inch touchscreen netbook to debut in October. CT claims that Wintek, and Dynapack have all received orders direct from Apple while Foxconn (not Quanta) will be the main manufacturer. It's still unclear whether the reported device takes on the traditional netbook form-factor, goes convertible like the T91, or is a 9.7-inch slate like a giant iPod touch. In fact, the Chinese-language report translated into English refers to it as "Apple's netbook (or a "tablet" as many call it)" only adding to the confusion. Regardless, we find it hard to believe that Apple would just follow the industry trends here. Then again, Sony did announce the VAIO W after rebuking netbooks as a race to the bottom thus leaving Apple as the only major without a low-cost netbook in its portfolio. But $800, if true, prices whatever this is right out of netbook territory -- ultra-portable anyone?

[Via MacRumors and Gizmodo]

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Apple's 9.7-inch 'netbook' to debut in October for $800? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bandai RilakKuma netbook suffers from serious supercuteitis

Bandai RilakKuma netbook suffers from serious supercuteitis

The RilakKuma is what's known in the business as a money-printing device. It might have the same spec -- Atom N270, 1GB memory and 160GB storage -- as every netbook since the time of Moses, but its killer feature is a set of eyes and whiskers painted on the lid. Having once already cashed in on popular children's characters, Bandai is clearly not shy about exploiting its intellectual assets in peddling outdated 8.9-inch 1024x600 displays to the undemanding youth. Only 500 units will be produced, making this a pretty exclusive item and the price is unsurprisingly steep: ¥79,800 ($862). Integrated WiFi and a 1Seg tuner go some way toward rationalizing the cost, but let's be frank, rationality doesn't play a huge role in a purchase like this.

Filed under: Laptops

Bandai RilakKuma netbook suffers from serious supercuteitis originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Surge official on AT&T, ships July 19 for $79.99

Nokia's Surge official on AT&T, ships July 19 for $79.99

We've known about Nokia's so-called Surge for months now, but at long last, AT&T has done its duty by making things official and giving us a price and release date to consider. The Symbian S60-based smartphone is aimed squarely at social media freaks, boasting a full QWERTY keyboard, a browser with Flash support (imagine that, right?), a pre-installed JuiceCaster app for easily updating your Facebook / Twitter status and a price tag that's sure to turn heads. For just $79.99 after rebate, you'll also get a 2 megapixel camera, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Video Share and the pleasure of handing over at least $30 per month for a required data plan (if you want the $50 rebate, anyway). If you're sold already, you can get yours on July 19th.

Gallery: Nokia's Surge official on AT&T, ships July 19 for $79.99

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's Surge official on AT&T, ships July 19 for $79.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Why the pen isn't mightier than the keyboard

Entelligence: Why the pen isn't mightier than the keyboard

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

When it comes to futuristic concepts, few ideas have captured the imagination like pen-based computing. The idea of doing away with a cumbersome keyboard for navigating and entering information has been a Holy Grail ever since Captain Kirk signed his first digital clipboard in space, but here in our century the concept has met with little success. Most recently, Microsoft's Tablet PC operating system has failed to take the world by storm, and lots of platforms, from the Momenta PC and Pen Windows, to the Newton and the PalmPilot, have come and gone while failing to shift the masses from their keyboards. Even smart phones, led by the iPhone, have shifted from being poster children for pen-based platforms to adopting finger touch and virtual keyboards for text entry.

Continue reading Entelligence: Why the pen isn't mightier than the keyboard

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Entelligence: Why the pen isn't mightier than the keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To savvy digital mktrs "reach+frequency" are euphemisms for how many users you beat on the head with ads and how often - http://bit.ly/VPTEW

I know I am wasting my ad dollars, but ... http://bit.ly/15pui5 - audiences can't be re-aggregated, and don't need to be anyway.

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