Tuesday, February 03, 2009

IBM Sequoia: Faster Than the Fastest 500 Supercomputers, Combined [Supercomputers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/n4gW7EU3qII/ibm-sequoia-faster-than-the-fastest-500-supercomputers-combined

20 petaflops. That's the speed rating of IBM's slated Sequoia supercomputer, the future world's fastest supercomputer that promises to be faster than every system on the Top500 supercomputer list, combined.

So what's all that actually mean? IBM offered us some more tangible ways to wrap your mind around 20 quadrillion mathematical processes per second.

• If each of the 6.7 billion people on earth had a hand calculator and worked together on a calculation 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, it would take 320 years to do what Sequoia will do in one hour.


• 20 petaflops could offer a 50x improvement in our capability to predict earthquakes, allowing scientists to predict an earthquake's effects on a building-by-building basis across an area as large as Los Angeles County.

• 20 petaflops could also provide a 40x improvement in our capability to monitor and forecast weather. This would allow forecasters to predict local weather events that affect areas 100 meters to one kilometer in size, down from their current ten-kilometer ability.

The Sequoia will be powered by 1.6 million cores (specific 45-nanometer chips in development) and 1.6 petabytes of memory. It will be housed in 96 refrigerators spanning roughly 3,000 square feet.

It's for the U.S. Government who will use the system for "uncertainty quantification (UQ) studies" and weapon science calculations. [IBM Supercomputing]



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Plug-in Prius Averaging 65 mpg in Tests, 15 More Than Standard Model [Cars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9xYcXE_uX4w/plug+in-prius-averaging-65-mpg-in-tests-15-more-than-standard-model

Toyota claims that their upcoming plug-in model Prius averages 65 mpg in real-world testing. That's about 15 more than the 2010 Prius—the current leader in fuel efficiency.

This bump is attributed to their new lithium ion battery, which can store more power than the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries found in traditional Prius models. The testing is ongoing, and there is no word on when we might actually be able to purchase the plug-in, but this is definitely encouraging news for anyone sick of lining the pockets of big oil companies. [Automotive News-subscription]



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AT&T Developing All-In-One U-Verse and Femtocell Box [At&t]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/h7KoWkjWxg0/att-developing-all+in+one-u+verse-and-femtocell-box

An AT&T employee says that a U-Verse IPTV box with Femtocell capability is in the works. That's one set top unit that'll have TV, telephone, internet and improve cellular reception.

I've got particularly weak AT&T reception in my house, so any news on Femtocells, useful for improving coverage by bridging cell call data over a fixed internet connection, is good news.

The employee came upon this information as internal news of landline and wireless business integration. In this case, specifically, landline workers would be used to do low level wireless installs and wireless workers would soon be tinkering with U-Verse.

The box is supposed to come in the next year or so and hopefully, U-Verse's rollout will have progressed somewhat by then. More news is that the 3G Microcell, AT&T's stand alone Femtocell pictured above, is confirmed to be hitting by Q2 of this year. (Timing was previously unknown, although AT&T hinted at the Web 2.0 conference that movement would occur sometime in 2009.)



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Benchmarking the iBook Vs. a Hackintosh Nebook [Hackintosh]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QF_Ist_HEOI/benchmarking-the-ibook-vs-a-hackintosh-nebook

No one expects an MSI Wind to run OSX as well as the latest MacBook, but how does the 1.6GHz N270 Atom system stand up to the 1.33GHz iBook G4 with 768MB of RAM?

In short, it competes. Comparing load times, as you see in this graph, it's quicker across the board. The MSI Wind (1GB version in blue, 2GB version in purple), boots 12 seconds faster than the iBook. And it loads all other tested apps faster as well.

Where the iBook still reined supreme, however, were complex processes like unzipping files. The Atom simply couldn't keep up in a few of these tasks.

Still, taking all tests into account, you could conclude that the MSI Wind is on a pretty level playing field with a 4-year-old Apple laptop packing a PowerPC processor. Is that some great feat? I'm not sure. Is it interesting? Yeah, it's kind of interesting, especially if you were considering a used iBook to save some cash. Hit the link for full testing results. [AppleDifferent via bbGadgets]



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5-in-1 Spy Pocket Audio & Color Video Recorder Writing Pen Is the Ultimate Spy Gadget [Gadgets]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TUnfVc9ixbc/5+in+1-spy-pocket-audio--color-video-recorder-writing-pen-is-the-ultimate-spy-gadget

This 5-in-1 Spy Pen is every secret agent's wet dream. It functions as an audio and video recorder, USB webcam, 2GB USB flash drive, and works as a fully functioning pen too.

Using a single rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, the pen can record up to 60 minutes of color video, and can be charged using a USB charging cable or an emergency AC power adapter. Also included is a special stand, which converts the Spy Pen from a simple video recorder into a webcam. And as for hiding all your important documents? Simply unscrew it in the mid section, and voila! The Spy Pen is now a 2GB USB flash drive.

It'll cost you $99 for the 5-in-1 Spy Pen, but if you pay just 10 bucks more, you can own one with 4GB of memory. Listen and sniff closely, do you hear/smell that? It's a collective orgasm from millions of spies around the world. [Product Page via Red Ferret]



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UQ Communications kicking off WiMAX trials in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/uq-communications-kicking-off-wimax-trials-in-japan/


On a global scale, WiMAX may be folding under the pressure of LTE, but that's not stopping the next-gen technology from catching the attention of mobile web surfers in Japan. UQ Communications is gearing up to start a WiMAX trial for citizens located in one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, Yokohama or Kawasaki, and at first, speeds will be capped at around 16Mbps down / 4Mbps up. If all goes well, those figures will creep up to a mighty impressive 40Mbps / 10Mbps when the full-on launch occurs in July. The best part? Folks can apply now to get a free data card in order to be a guinea pig, and even after the test period ends, those who want to join in can get service for just ¥4,480 ($50) per month without any sticky contracts attached. Hit up the read links for all the nitty-gritty.

[Via PortableMonkey]

Read - WiMAX trial
Read - Data card details

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UQ Communications kicking off WiMAX trials in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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College students contact space station with self-built radio system

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/college-students-contact-space-station-with-self-built-radio-sys/

While putting a call in to the International Space Station and chatting up an astronaut for a full ten minutes would likely be more than enough to satisfy most science classes, a group of students from Humber College in Toronto decided to go one big step further and do so with a radio system that they designed and built themselves. According to the school, that makes it the first time that's ever been done by students at the college level, which provided some well-deserved bragging rights for the students and their instructor, who said that they're "playing way, way above their league." Be sure to hit up the link below for a video of the big moment and, of course, the complete NASA control room-esque geek out.

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College students contact space station with self-built radio system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/vilivs-s5-mid-goes-haptic-will-move-you-in-march/

Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March
Viliv has been showing some potential lately with its touchable upcoming products, the clean looking S7 netbook tablet and S5 MID. We received some further information on the latter of those two this morning, most notable being the inclusion of haptic feedback that should make its 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 screen feel a little more tactile. We also got confirmation that the device will be running Windows XP hidden behind a custom UI overlay that, we presume, will be similar to the one we saw running at CES on the S7. Still no price, but the company is aiming for a March release domestically. Our fingers are tingling with anticipation.

Gallery: Viliv S5

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Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba TG01 GUI, video playback demoed on film

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/toshiba-tg01-gui-video-playback-demoed-on-film/

We just saw Toshiba's newest, Snapdragon boasting, offering -- the TG01 -- bust onto the scene, and now we're catching some demo action, too. We're not really expecting to get any alone time with the device until it's unveiled at MWC in Barcelona, so Slashgear's impressions will have to do for now. They seem pretty satisfied overall with the GUI, are "not convinced" about the device's resistive touchscreen's (and lack of buttons) potential for gaming, but the 1GHz CPU and 800 x 400 display seem to impress. The screen looks pretty frustrating to use, but check the GUI video demo after the break for yourself, and hit the read link for two other, in-depth peeks.

Continue reading Toshiba TG01 GUI, video playback demoed on film

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Toshiba TG01 GUI, video playback demoed on film originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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India 'unveils' $20 laptop, the Sakshat

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/india-unveils-20-laptop-the-sakshat/


As expected, India's government unveiled the jointly-developed "$10 laptop" today, now priced at $20. Unfortunately dubbed Sakshat, which ironically translates as "before your eyes," the laptop is slated to ship in six months, with specs in line with what we've heard already: 2GB of storage, WiFi, Ethernet and 2 watts of power consumption. In fact, there really isn't much "unveiling" going on at all, since there's still no published image of the thing, or information about the screen size, RAM or processor. Some folks are also still skeptical as to whether a laptop can really be produced at such a low cost, since most LCDs alone would put it over budget, but we suppose we'll find out this summer. The laptop itself won't be subsidized, but the government will shoulder 25 percent of the cost of broadband for colleges, and there will be free e-learning textbooks available to students online.

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India 'unveils' $20 laptop, the Sakshat originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung pulls a Samsung, leaks nine new models ahead of MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/samsung-pulls-a-samsung-leaks-nine-new-models-ahead-of-mwc/


In typical Samsung go-big-or-go-home style, the world's number two phone manufacturer is now expected to announce no fewer than nine new models at this month's Mobile World Congress -- and that's just from the EDGE-powered middle of the range on down. Starting with the most interesting of the school (if we want to go with a fish analogy here), the pictured S5050 brings high style, a 3.2 megapixel cam, 2.2-inch QVGA AMOLED display, and most interestingly, dual SIM slots -- an indication that this will very likely see duty in the Far East. Heading on downrange, the B5702 is almost as awesome but trades the high-tech display for a 2.4-inch TFT. Of course, there's more than just sliders in the mix; you've also got bars like the S3310, which supports microSD expansion, a 2.1-inch QVGA display, and FM radio (an almost ubiquitous feature in developing market phones). The E2210 holds down the clamshell fort -- but to get it, you'll have to be cool with a meager 160 x 128 display and a weak VGA cam. Heading down to the very, very bottom of the range, you get into a couple candybars designed to be accessible to the world's poorest: the E1125 and E1100, which rock 128 x 128 displays, a data-less GSM radio, and 300 / 200-contact phone books, respectively. That E1100 sounds suspiciously like the legendary Nokia 1100, doesn't it? Anyhoo, expect this all to break at MWC, along with the usual array of moderately more droolworthy high-end fodder.

[Via GSMArena]

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Samsung pulls a Samsung, leaks nine new models ahead of MWC originally appeared on Eng! adget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Transcend rolls out high-speed 192GB 2.5-inch SSD drive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/transcend-rolls-out-high-speed-192gb-2-5-inch-ssd-drive/


It's not exactly the most spacious 2.5-inch SSD drive available, but Transcend's new 192GB model certainly isn't any slouch either and, according to the company, it should be more than fast enough for most users as well. That's due in no small part to its SATA II interface that helps push out read / write speeds of 150MB and 90MB per second, which are further backed up by a latency of just 0.2ms, and some integrated Error Correction Code (or ECC) to ensure that data is transferred intact. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like it should be rolling out any day now, if it's not already.

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Transcend rolls out high-speed 192GB 2.5-inch SSD drive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SIM2 Solar Series infinite contrast HDR LCD ships in Q2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/sim2-solar-series-infinite-contrast-hdr-lcd-ships-in-q2/


After several years high dynamic range LCD technology is finally ready for market, now that SIM2 and Dolby are showing off this Solar Series 47-inch screen at the 2009 Integrated Systems Europe show. Just like last year's prototype, it's both brighter (4,000 cd/m2) and has a greater contrast ratio than any flat panel currently available. The 2,206 LEDs can provide up to an infinite contrast ratio and supposedly match real world visuals thanks to 16 bit color processing. The only bad news is that even with a name change to Dolby Vision, that ugly wide bezel from the BrightSide days still remains. We'll have to wait until closer to the Q2 shipping date to find out the price, but with SIM2's high end reputation it won't be cheap.

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SIM2 Solar Series infinite contrast HDR LCD ships in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coto

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheDieline/~3/kX5uc9I7A58/coto.html

Jar-in-moss2c
Coto is a luxury fashion accessories company in NYC. Their slender, well-made neckties and hand made cuff links are stylish and understated. Their products are packaged in unique packaging. The cuff links are packed in tiny glass vials sealed with a cork and branded with the Coto logo. When they are shipped, they come nestled in a bed of reindeer moss. The ties are in round 'capsule' boxes that were also shipped in the moss.

(photo credits: Reuben Miller)

Vial1

Here's some background info that Dominick Volini of Coto was kind enough to share with me: 


"[about the cuff links] We are big collectors of curiosities. Our friend and industrial designer, Greg Buntain, made us bamboo vials when we first started the brand. We loved them. We played off of this vial theme to encase our links. Our cufflinks are specimens of nature – made from coconuts, tagua nuts, horns, briar root, etc... We also needed a durable case to house the delicate "fly" links which are made out of natural feathers.   The glass vials and natural cork presented the links very well – like a message in a bottle washed up on the beach...relics from a distant island. The COTO laser engrave adds a nice clean branding detail.

[about the neckties] Playing off of the round-end necktie and sustainable components of our products, we wanted to create packaging that integrated these unique features. We fused two cases that we constantly use – tea containers and an old fly fishing reel case. We loved the round capsule aesthetic of the tea containers and the proportions of the reel case. Using recycled paper with a linen texture gave it the enviro piety and aesthetic we were looking for.

We wanted the exterior of the capsule to be clean – we are big fans of ample white space on web/print so we used....white. The interior needed to pop with our signature orange-yellow color we call 7AM (a good time to check the surf and see the beautiful sun rising). The branding is simple and understated as well – a tonal emboss/deboss "O" logo on the top and a small "COTO" wordmark print on the interior top."


Box-in-moss1 


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"We use reindeer moss to buffer the capsule and vial in their shipping containers. It is a nice detail when opening the package – instead of finding packing peanuts we surround the cases with soft, sponge-like, natural moss. Full disclosure, we are also addicted to the woodsy smell of it."

Tie-face-frontroll

More about Coto: COTO is rooted in a philosophy of self expression. It is a simple idea that penetrates everything we create – to be forward-thinking in our own unique way. We view the building of COTO through an artistic lens that provokes thought and, we hope, inspires others in our creative niche. 

Our inspiration is pulled from a passion in art, sport, nature and travel. Nomadic surfers, isolated artists and culture-seekers ourselves, we embody the freedom and authenticity of a left-of-center attitude.

The COTO product offering is our platform of expression. Utilizing nature-borrowed, sustainable materials, we create a limited collection for those who appreciate the details. By using carefully selected components, each product reveals a familiar, almost vintage quality in character and craftsmanship. They complement a style of understated sophistication – for the sartorial and sustainably minded.

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Nikon Coolpix S230: Nikon's Less Pricey Touchscreen Digital Camera [Digital Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/wOWvpzB2f4c/nikon-coolpix-s230-nikons-less-pricey-touchscreen-digital-camera

The touchscreen S230 differs from Nikon's first touchscreen camera, the S60 in a few big ways: It has real buttons where it needs them, the touchscreen works better (supposedly), and it's over $100 cheaper.

On the other hand, it's got a slightly smaller 3.0-inch screen, and it's not the slim wedge of sexy that the S60 was, either. It has most of the other software features though, like a paint application for doodling penises on people's heads, along with Nikon's fairly standard point-and-shoot kit, like auto scene-selector and image stabilization. Not bad for $230.

NIKON UNVEILS NEW S230 TOUCH SCREEN DIGITAL CAMERA

Playback and Zoom Controlled with the Swipe of a Finger

MELVILLE, NY (February 2, 2009) – Hot on the heels of the successful COOLPIX S60 camera, Nikon today introduced the new S230, which incorporates Nikon's innovative touch screen LCD, offering the cutting-edge of elegant design and intuitive operation. The S230 combines a 3.0-inch high-resolution touch panel LCD design with a new graphic interface that lets users switch modes, view and edit images and change camera settings with the touch of the screen.

"Touch technology is one of the hottest things in consumer electronics today and our new S230 is no different," said Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "With the S230, our touch screen brings a new level of sophistication and interaction to consumers, by putting the power of the camera right at their fingertips."

Touch controls also give users a fun, creative way to do more with their pictures. The camera comes equipped! with a stylus that brings an element of personalization and expression. With the Draw Function, users can write or draw on their pictures. The S230 also has the Paint Function, which enables users to add fun frames and stamps to their pictures. The camera saves the images as copies, so the user always has access to the original picture.

In addition to the Touch Screen LCD, the S230 includes several innovative features introduced across the entire COOLPIX line. The S230 incorporates Nikon's world-class NIKKOR lenses, which deliver extremely accurate and high-speed focusing, and Nikon's EXPEEDTM digital image processing concept, which ensures high-quality pictures with stunning color and sharpness.

The S230 camera also includes new shooting modes, which Nikon has seamlessly integrated into the camera's interface. These include:
• Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognizes the scene in your camera and adjusts the camera settings:
o The camera will select between six common scene modes: Close-up, Portrait, Landscape, Backlight, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape.
• Smart Portrait System, which integrates the following to make it a snap to capture stunning portrait photos of friends and family:
o In-Camera Red-Eye FixTM, which automatically fixes most instances of red-eye.
o Enhanced Face-Priority AF, which can detect up to 12 faces from a variety of angles, including straight on, from the side, or even in a multitude of three-quarter positions.
o Smile Mode, which automatically detects when your subject smiles and releases the shutter.
o Blink Proof, which automatically takes two shots and saves the one in which the subject's eyes are open.
• 4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization, which helps enable blur-free pictures, even in low light or unsteady conditions with the following features:
o Electronic VR, which compensates for camera shake within the image processing, which minimizes blurriness in photos and helps ensure crisp, cl! ear imag es.
o Motion Detection, which automatically sets a faster shutter speed and higher ISO if the camera detects movement from camera shake or if the subject moves.
o ISO 2000 Capability, which makes it easy to take sharper, more natural-looking photos in lower light conditions.
o Best Shot Selector (BSS), which takes a maximum of 10 sequential shots while the shutter button is pressed, and saves the sharpest image, making sure photos are crisp, clear, and detailed.
The new S230 camera will be available nationwide beginning February 2009 and will retail for $229.95. The camera will be available in five colors: Plum, Jet Black, Night Blue, Gloss Red and Warm Silver. The new S230 is one of four new S-series cameras introduced by Nikon today. Other cameras include the S630, S620 and the S220 (for more information, please see press release, "NIKON UNVEILS S630 NEW POCKET-SIZED 7X ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA," Feb. 2, 2009)
For more information about the new COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.



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