Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Intel: MacBook Air sheds custom CPU for 45-nm Penryn "S"

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421328487/

Filed under: Laptops

We can finally bring an end to all the fuss made about the custom, 65-nm processor dusted-off special for use in the MacBook Air -- it's gone, although still available inside the Voodoo Envy if you're feeling nostalgic. Intel confirmed its replacement by the smaller, off-the-shelf, 45-nm Penryn-class 1.6GHz and 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo procs which go by the product names SL9300 and SL9400, respectively. So while those clock speeds are identical to the first generation MacBook Air, the bump from 4MB to 6MB of L2 cache in the new Core 2 Duo "S" processor should give the processor access to more information, faster, while providing less drain on the battery thanks to a drop in TDP from 20W to 17W. For the record, while Intel laments the loss of Apple's laptop graphics business to NVIDIA, an Intel spokesperson says it'll "work hard to win back the business." Hmm, we talking Larrabee by any chance?

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Multi-finger MacBook trackpad gestures demonstrated on video

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421407002/

Filed under: Laptops

You've seen our hands-on first impressions, now check the video summary of the new multi-touch, glass trackpad featured on Apple's new MacBooks. It covers 2-, 3-, and 4- finger gestures in addition to the traditional 1 finger gesture some of you would like to direct towards Steve for all those glossy displays. See the demonstration after the break.

Continue reading Multi-finger MacBook trackpad gestures demonstrated on video

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Dell's Studio 15 laptop gets its Centrino 2 on

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421434657/

Filed under: Laptops

Dell's Studio laptops have style, we'll give them that, but we were a bit dismayed when they launched right before Intel's Centrino 2 processors. After three months of living a pleasant but not-really-cutting-edge life, the Studio 15 finally crashed the cool kids' party a couple weeks ago, rocking the house with two new Centrino 2 configurations. Buy one now and your processor will be either a P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB cache, 1066MHz FSB) or for an extra 175 simoleons, a T9400 (2.53GHz, 6MB cache, also 1066MHz FSB). If you were holding out for this before buying one of Inspiron's classy siblings, well, here you go -- but the competition is awfully fierce right now.

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AT&T and Option launch USBConnect Quicksilver

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421479856/

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

AT&T and Option jointly announced the launch of one of the world's smallest HSPA USB devices today, the USBConnect Quicksilver. The latest in the carrier's line of LaptopConnect devices, this mobile broadband unit weighs just 1.2-ounces and can roam (for a price, of course) in more than 150 countries, with 3G available in over 60. Best of all, this USB modem actually looks halfway decent for the fashionistas that care, boasting an "intelligent" protective cap and a mildly curvaceous flair. Oh, and did we mention that it's available today at no cost if you ink your name to a two-year DataConnect plan of $60 or more? 'Cause it is.

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Microsoft survey hints at Instant On OS concept

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421522895/

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Hmm, what have we here? A recent Microsoft survey sent out to select users has us wondering what on Earth the mega-corp is planning to do next, and judging by the looks of things, it has everything to do with Instant On. We've seen a number of these lightning-fast boot applications, with the most recent being ASUS' Splashtop OS and the iteration loaded onto Dell's freshest Latitudes. The survey makes mention that the "Instant On experience is different from 'Full Windows' because it limits what activities you can do and what applications you have access to." The survey also asks about which applications would be most important to have quick access to, and it very plainly states that in this "scenario," your PC would "be usable in eight seconds." So, is Instant On coming to Windows? Who knows -- but it's clear someone at Redmond is giving it some thought.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Gallery: Microsoft survey hints at Instant On OS concept

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Sharp's SH-01A 8 megapixel flip packs a 28-mm wide angle lens and Dolby Pro Logic II

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421620861/

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

Sure, the US has fancy-pants capacitive touchscreen phones out the wazoo, but Japan's superphones still dominate when boiled down to a base, spec-for-spec comparison. Take this new Sharp SH-01A clamshell for example, just revealed by the FCC. It sports a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8 megapixel CCD sensor and, according to rumor, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound for your microSD stored media. Remember, FCC testing doesn't mean it'll be sold between the left and right coasts -- this flip is likely just being certified for US roaming whenever it's finally announced for NTT DoCoMo in Japan.

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Iomega ships Bluetooth-equipped 1TB / 2TB StorCenter ix2 NAS

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421695127/

Filed under: Wireless, Storage

If you've been passing off NAS devices for years due to the typically prohibitive price tags, you might want to have a gander at Iomega's latest. The StorCenter ix2 brings 1TB (500GB x 2) of network storage for just $299.99, and the 2TB edition is also available for around $170 more. In short, the box -- which isn't much to look at, admittedly -- promises to provide backup for all of your critical files regardless of which networked computer they're on. Additionally, users with top secret snaps on their Bluetooth-enabled cellphone will appreciate the optional BT compatibility, not to mention the gigabit Ethernet jack and twin USB sockets. Oh, and it also doubles as an iTunes server and supports both UPnP and DLNA protocols, meaning that this fellow should do a decent job of serving up media on the side.

Gallery: Iomega ships Bluetooth-equipped 1TB / 2TB StorCenter ix2 NAS

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Samsung & LG HDTV prototypes battle for supremacy

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/421937754/

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Samsung and LG are locked in a tight race for "best HDTV you won't be buying this year or next" this week at the International Meeting on Information Display 2008, trading shots with OLEDs, LCDs and more. Samsung brought along an upgraded version of its true 240Hz 15-inch Blue Phase LCD panel with improved image quality, some fresh carbon nanotube-based color electronic paper, plus slimmed-down versions of its 40- and 50-inch LCDs. Then it got busy with the OLEDs, dropping in a 14-inch HD display, 31-inch 1080p display and 5-inch VGA panel, to which LG could only respond with the above 19-inch OLED powered by amorphous silicon TFT. More stills of the carnage exist beyond the read link, but in the battle of display tech streeting in 2011 at the earliest, we just hope LG is holding back a few surprises for CES.

[Via OLED-Display, thanks Erik]

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Apparent $300 Eee PC turns up in the form of the 701SDX

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/422041820/

Filed under: Laptops

Nothing's quite official just yet, but the folks at Eee PC News have gotten their hands on some pics of a hereto unheard of Eee PC 701SDX model, which they speculate could well be the sub-$300 (we're guessing $299) Eee PC we've been hearing about it. From the looks of it, that seems to be a pretty safe assumption, with the netbook packing a 7-inch display and ditching the webcam to save a few bucks. No word on any specs, unfortunately, but Eee PC News seems to think there's at least a chance it could ditch the Celeron of the original Eee PC 701 in favor of an Atom processor, and pack either a 4GB or 8GB SSD drive, plus Windows XP for an OS. If ASUS's history is any indication, however, we should know for sure soon enough.

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