Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Google announcing Chrome OS launch plans this Thursday

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/google-announcing-chrome-os-launch-plans-this-thursday/

It's looking increasingly unlikely that Google's Chrome OS is really launching this week (not that we were really that convinced anyway). What is true, however, is that the company is hosting an event later this week at its Mountain View, CA headquarters to showcase its progress, provide an overview of the platform, and give information on its "launch plans for next year." Excited? Us, too.

Filed under: Laptops, Software

Google announcing Chrome OS launch plans this Thursday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/asus-g51j-3d-sports-nvidia-3d-vision-with-120hz-display-to-bring/

No knock on Acer, who got here first with the Aspire 5738DG, but it sounds like the ASUS G51J 3D has the technology edge in the nascent 3D laptop category. We'll have to see it in action to be sure, but the laptop is using NVIDIA's 3D Vision tech for extensive game compatibility (around 400 games currently work with it), and a 120Hz, 15.6-inch screen paired with some active shutter glasses. We've found the shutter method to be typically a more enjoyable 3D experience than polarized solutions, with no knock on frame rate or resolution. The GeForce GTX 260M card with 1GB of DDR3 memory doesn't hurt either, but that hugegantic USB IR blaster that has to sit on the desk and sync up with the glasses could be a problem for 3D-on-the-go. Of course, the benchmark friendly Core i7-based G51J which this machine is based on (the only real difference is the screen) was never much of one for portability. The laptop will be out soon, with a starting price of $1,700.

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ati-radeon-hd-5970-worlds-fastest-graphics-card-confirmed/

ATI just announced its latest greatest polygon cruncher on the planet: the previously leaked Radeon HD 5970. The new card card is also one of the first to support Microsoft DirectX 11 and Eyefinity multi-display (driving up to three displays at once for a 7680x1600 maximum resolution) with ripe potential for overclocking thanks to the card's Overdrive technology. Instead of relying upon a single GPU like the already scorching Radeon HD 5870, the 5970 brings a pair of Cypress GPUs linked on a single board by a PCI Express bridge for nearly 5 TeraFLOPS of computer power, or a mind boggling 10 TeraFLOPS when setup in CrossFireX. Naturally, the card's already been put to the test by all the usual benchmarking nerds who praise the card as the undisputed performance leader regardless of game or application. It even manages to keep power consumption in check until you start rolling on the voltage to ramp those clock speeds. As you'd expect then, ATI isn't going to offer any breaks on pricing so you can expect to pay the full $599 suggested retail price when these cards hit shelves today for retail or as part of your new gaming rig bundle.

Read -- Press Release
Read -- HotHardware review
Read -- MaximumPC
Read -- Tweaktown
Read -- PCPer

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fedora 12 'Constantine' launches with enhanced video codec and power management

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/fedora-12-constantine-launches-with-enhanced-video-codec-and-p/

Continuing in the time-honored tradition set by the likes of Fedora 10 and Fedora 11, Fedora 12 (codenamed "Constantine"). With this release comes improvements in the realms of webcam support, video codec, audio, security and power management, as well as "bluetooth on demand" and some virtualization enhancements. The only thing absent for the devout Linux fan? A fun alliteration like Karmic Koala. Missed opportunity, if you ask us.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Fedora 12 'Constantine' launches with enhanced video codec and power management originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Google Earth 2.0 For iPhone Brings Custom Maps [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1dmZwOIyB28/google-earth-20-for-iphone-brings-custom-maps

Google is rolling out Google Earth 2.0 for the iPhone over the next 24 hours and it brings a long-awaited custom map feature by allowing you to sync your Google My Maps with the app.

Along with the custom maps, the update brings more languages and better performance. Anyone managed to get the update yet? [Google Lat Long Blog]

Flash 10.1 Tests: Hardware Accelerated HD Hulu and YouTube Video? Yes Please [Adobe Flash]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/FW1IhEldNSQ/flash-101-tests-hardware-accelerated-hd-hulu-and-youtube-video-yes-please

The first Flash 10.1 desktop player beta has arrived, and AnandTech has put the new GPU-accelerated video playback to the test. And while the OS X version currently lacks graphics acceleration, Flash 10.1 still serves up improvements on the Mac.

I took the same [480p Hulu] Office clip I'd been using for all of the other tests and ran it on my Mac Pro at full screen (2560 x 1600)….Going from roughly 450% down to 190% (or a bit over 10% of total CPU utilization across 16 threads) made full-screen Hulu playable on my machine. In the past I always had to run it in a smaller window, but thanks to Flash 10.1 I don't have to any longer.

Meanwhile, Nvidia Ion-accelerated video was deemed "almost perfect." Just take a look at the table. CPU-utilization of 70% generally makes video unwatchable, but updating to Flash 10.1 made full screen high-def (1920 by 1200) Hulu a smooth stream on the Ion test system.

ATI chips and integrated Intel graphics ran into a few problems, but they've been attributed to the Flash 10.1 player still being a beta. I recommend giving the full test info a read over at: [AnandTech | Flash 10.1 Download]

Flash 10.1 Is Good News for Hackintosh Netbooks [Hackintosh]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3h8mi0f4Qoc/flash-101-is-good-news-for-hackintosh-netbooks

High-Def Flash video is a stretch on some hacktintosh netbooks, but Flash 10.1 brings it into the realm of possibility. I just installed it on my MSI Wind running Leopard, and damn: HD YouTube and Vimeo videos were almost watchable.

I say almost, because there was still some noticeable frame dropping. But still, I could actually watch HD flash video (windowed and full-screen) without it stuttering like a slideshow. One issue with YouTube: the CPU pretty much went into overload once the video was playing, and on the third viewing I had to Force Quit Firefox to wrestle back control.

But this is good news for hackintoshes, and netbooks in general. This is not hardware GPU acceleration (limited to Windows right now), it just seems to be better CPU usage. Earlier today I also posted about AnandTech's Flash 10.1 CPU-utilization tests: they still noticed improvements under OS X, too. If you've given Flash 10.1 a try, post a comment here so other readers can see what sort of netbook you have, and if it's worth trying.

For the record, my MSI Wind U100 has 2GB of memory, a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, and integrated Intel 945 graphics. (Pic above is of the Dell Mini 9).

Fusion-io ioXtreme PCI Express SSD reviewed: wicked fast, bloody expensive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/fusion-io-ioxtreme-pci-express-ssd-reviewed-wicked-fast-bloody/

Okay, so maybe you didn't need a full-on review to tell you that Fusion-io's ioXtreme PCI Express SSD was staggeringly pricey, but at $11 per gigabyte ($895 for 80GB), you may want to turn a blind eye right now if you're short on disposable income. If you've managed to continue on, then you owe it to your collective senses to give the read link a look. The gurus over at HotHardware were able to get one of these lightning fast devices in for review, and while we were always assured that performance would be mind blowing, it's another thing entirely to see those promises proven in the lab. Critics found the card to be the "fastest overall SSD solution on the market today," with consistent 700MB/sec reads and 300MB/sec writes. Of course, they were still anxious to get their hands on a supposedly forthcoming update to make this thing bootable, and the omission of a RAID BIOS definitely put a small damper on things; still, it's hard to let annoyance such as those overshadow the monster performance numbers, but we'd recommend giving the full skinny a good lookin' at before committing your child's college education fund to a pile of NAND.

Filed under: Storage

Fusion-io ioXtreme PCI Express SSD reviewed: wicked fast, bloody expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sciphone's Android-toting N21 unboxed, dual SIM slots caught rockin' the suburbs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/sciphones-android-toting-n21-unboxed-dual-sim-slots-caught-roc/

It may look a lot like the General Mobile DSTL1, but SciPhone's N21 still has its very own soul. Our BFFs over at Engadget Chinese were able to wrangle one in, and naturally they took the opportunity to score a photo shoot and host it for the world to see. There aren't too many surprises to be found, but if you're looking for a pinch of KIRF, twin SIM slots, a 5 megapixel camera and the not-exactly-newest version of Google's mobile operating system, you know where to look.

Filed under: Cellphones

Sciphone's Android-toting N21 unboxed, dual SIM slots caught rockin' the suburbs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi introduces 2TB SimpleDrive for digital pack rats

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/hitachi-introduces-2tb-simpledrive-for-digital-pack-rats/

Hitachi GST has been pushing 2TB hard drives for quite some time, but for whatever reason, the outfit's long-standing SimpleDrive line has been held back from enjoying the spoils. Until today, obviously. The outfit has just introduced a 2TB edition of its external SimpleDrive, and it also announced that all of its 3.5-inch retail drives are now available in 2TB capacities. There's also an upgraded Hitachi SimpleTech Pro Drive and Duo Pro Drive (2 x 2TB), with prices for the entire lot checking in at $249.99, $299.99 and $499.99 in order of mention. Oh, and in just case your 250GB drive from 2002 just hit its limit today, you'll be elated to know that each of these are available as we speak.

Gallery: Hitachi introduces 2TB SimpleDrive for digital pack rats

Filed under: Storage

Hitachi introduces 2TB SimpleDrive for digital pack rats originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz takes aim at Microsoft with its own Wireless-N Gaming Adapter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/mad-catz-takes-aim-at-microsoft-with-its-own-wireless-n-gaming-a/

Well, go figure. It seems like some companies see Microsoft's new and pricey Wireless N adapter for the Xbox 360 as a prime candidate for some competition. One of the first out of the gate is Mad Catz, which has just released its new Wireless-N Gaming Adapter that packs a slightly more reasonable MSRP of $80 (twenty bucks less than Mircosoft's), and should no doubt see even bigger discounts than the official Microsoft option. As you may have already guessed, however, this one is actually just a standard wireless bridge aimed at the gamer crowd, which just so happens to mean it'll also work just fine with the PlayStation 3 if you're looking to step-up to 802.11n or take advantage of the forthcoming Adhocparty service.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming, Wireless

Mad Catz takes aim at Microsoft with its own Wireless-N Gaming Adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA Tesla 20-series GPUs promise to dramatically cut supercomputing costs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/nvidia-tesla-20-series-gpus-promise-to-dramatically-cut-supercom/

Sure, you've been hearing NVIDIA toss around names like CUDA, Fermi and Tesla for what seems like ages now, but we're guessing this is the sort of thing that'll get most folks to really take notice: a promise to cut supercomputing costs by a factor of ten. That rather impressive feat comes courtesy of the company's new Tesla 20-series GPUs, which come in the form of both single GPU PCI-Express Gen-2 cards and full-fledged GPU computing systems, and promise a whole host of cost-saving benefits for everything from ray tracing to 3D cloud computing to data analytics. Of course we are still talking about "cheap" in supercomputing terms -- look for these to run between $2,499 and $18,995 when they roll out sometime in the second quarter of 2010.

Filed under: Desktops

NVIDIA Tesla 20-series GPUs promise to dramatically cut supercomputing costs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/samsungs-ubicell-cdma-base-station-going-3g-in-2010/

We're all for upping our cell service in-home, so a few cheers to Samsung for upgrading its Ubicell personal CDMA base station to 3G. Joining the femtocell party in 2010, all we know beyond its primary directive is built-in GPS for more accurate E911 calls. Mum's the word on price, carriers, or any more definitive launch date. The last Ubicell (pictured) was launched with Verizon, so nah, we wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this one here followed in its ancestor's footsteps.

Filed under: Cellphones, Networking

Samsung's Ubicell CDMA base station going 3G in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stantum's unlimited multitouch meets Mini 10 in a fight to the death

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/stantums-unlimited-multitouch-meets-mini-10-in-a-fight-to-the-d/

The last time we saw Stantum, it was blowin' minds with its PMatrix technology -- and here we are, a mere ten months later, and the company's back with its proof-of-concept Slate PC. Based on the Dell Mini 10 platform, this bad boy features a 10.1-inch "unlimited" touchscreen and new, compact case. In order to save space, the company did away with not only the keyboard and trackpad, but the webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, and one of the USB ports (bringing the total down to two) as well -- which just might limit the appeal for resellers. You never know. Feel like diving in? Hit the read link to contact the company, and tell 'em Engadget sent you.

[Thanks, Adam]

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Stantum's unlimited multitouch meets Mini 10 in a fight to the death originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell's 5-inch Android Streak MID on AT&T in 2010?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/dells-5-inch-android-streak-on-atandt-in-2010/

It's not much to go on but after months of rumors and then the sudden appearance of Dell's 5-inch MID on video, well, even unsubstantiated reports from the Commercial Times can be taken with a degree of truthiness. The latest tattle has QISDA manufacturing Dell's Android 2.0-based MID (spotted with a 5 megapixel camera, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, 3G data, and WiFi) with the intent of ramping up for an AT&T launch sometime in 2010. Given the uptick in leaks recently, we'd expect a Q1 launch to be just about right.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Dell's 5-inch Android Streak MID on AT&T in 2010? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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