Thursday, July 23, 2009

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

It was only two days ago that they finally became official, but already we've got a couple of reviews springing up to tell us all about the second generation X25-M SSDs from Intel. PC Perspective kick things off with a full examination of the new drive, finding plenty of good (improved random reads and writes), some bad (minor fragmentation issues under extreme use scenarios) and pretty much no ugly. Not to be outdone, Anandtech have dissected the drive and compared its innards with the older generation hardware, while also running a few benchmarks for good measure. The conclusion in both camps is that while Intel has improved the hardware side of things, it is the drastically reduced price that makes the X25-M G2 the best choice in the consumer SSD space. Navigate past the break for a pricing chart, but remember that retail cost will be a bit steeper, should you be able to snag one in the wild.

Read - PC Perspective review
Read - Anandtech preview

Continue reading Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

Filed under: Storage

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break.

Continue reading NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

Filed under: Laptops

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

MIT's electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but if we let that stop us from discussing EVs, we might never talk about them. The headline ambition of this project is a full recharge within 10 minutes, which would eliminate somewhere between four and ten hours of waiting. Speedwise, the Electric Vehicle Team is aiming for a 100 mph top speed from a 250-horsepower / 187 kilowatt AC induction motor, and a not unheard of 200-mile cruising range. To achieve their rapid juicing ambition, the students will strap 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems to a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid body. The batteries' low internal resistance is what makes things possible, but further hurdles, such as finding a sufficiently powerful energy source, would have to be overcome before any sort of widespread use may occur. Video after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Filed under: Transportation

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong

The folks behind the Viliv brand of consumer electronics don't ever stop swinging, it seems. They hit us with the beloved X70, the keyboard-sportin' S7, and before we have a chance to blink they're back in the ring with the X70 EX Premium. Currently on sale in Hong Kong, this bad boy features optional 3G (in which case you should ask for the X70 EX Premium 3G) and sports a 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB RAM, a 32GB SSD, and an SDHC slot for extra storage. As you've probably guessed, the display is your standard 7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution. Throw in Windows XP, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a GPS, and this guy is yours for $6,898 in Hong Kong bucks (roughly $890 US). No word yet on a Stateside release.

[Via Gadget Mix]

Filed under: Handhelds

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800

Looks like the kids in Taiwan will be able to take everyone's favorite Ion-based nettop for a spin sometime soon. Except, instead of being known as the Acer AspireRevo, its been rebranded as a Gateway QX2800. Actually, that isn't the only difference -- the CPU on this new guy has been upgraded to an Atom 330 dual core, and storage is now 500GB. But besides that, its the same kid: NVIDIA Ion 9400M graphics chipset, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI output, and six USB 2.0 ports. According to PCADV, the dual core processor could give this machine a 40% performance increase over the AspireRevo. To ship with Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 at some vague point in the not too distant future.

[Via iTech News Net]

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If advertising creates demand, shouldn't we see more noticeable lifts in movie box office $s versus normal seasonality? http://bit.ly/1tWlvj

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Occasions/Holidays Drive Movie Box Office Sales, Not Advertising - http://bit.ly/1tWlvj - Ads don't create demand; they only share-shift it

RT @Cherylguerin: Wow - two of my favorites together -- Amazon and Zappos. http://ping.fm/ABk4i

Starbucks credits McD's launch drawing more customers to coffee category - http://bit.ly/zI8S2 - do your ads drive customers to competitors?

A new-old source of trust: others. Despite bad critics' reviews Trnsfrmrs2 is still tops at box office and #13 on all-time grossing list.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Ugh, seriously Intel? While we've been waiting for 34nm-based SSDs for what feels like ages now, it's not so much the new process technology that had our interest piqued. Instead, it was the hope of a 320GB model from the outfit. Today, Intel got official with a new pair of 34nm SSDs, though neither of 'em are any larger than the previous 50nm X25-M (2.5-inch) and X18-M (1.8-inch). In fact, the new units even boast the same model names. The newcomers arrive in 80GB and 160GB sizes, and while actual hard drive benchmarking tools are apt to show a marginal increase in performance, even Intel admits that most folks won't see "noticeable gains" in real-world use. So, what's the point of popping out 34nm SSDs that are silver instead of black? Lower prices, or so the company says. If the market reacts to the cost savings that are being passed forward, you can expect the 80GB model to run $225, while the 160GB edition gets marked at $440, both in quantities of 1,000. Call us spoiled, but we're still longing for more.

[Thanks, Joseph]

Continue reading Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Filed under: Storage

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 20! 09 12:12 :00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Morrison gets pictured running Android

Motorola Morrison gets pictured running Android

Well, we've already had a pretty good indication that Motorola's Morrison QWERTY slider would be one of the company's planned Android phones, and it looks like most all doubt has now been put to rest courtesy of this shot of what's purported to be a Motorola employee's very own Morrison. In addition to offering us a better look at a slightly more refined version of the phone, it also quite clearly shows it running Android, and it does indeed appear to be the real deal. As you can see above, it's also still sporting that T-Mobile logo, though we're still not hearing anything different than the previous rumors that it's slated to launch on the carrier by the end of the year.

[Via TmoNews]

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola Morrison gets pictured running Android originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life

Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life

After no small amount of external pressure, Dell has finally managed to do some major damage on the Adamo's number one drawback: the price. The starting mark for the 1.2GHz machine has been slashed from $1,999 to $1,499, while the high-end model with SSD and a 1.4GHz processor is down to $2,299. Still not in the same general galaxy as most consumer-aimed Dell products, but quite a lot closer to the realm of possibility.

[Via LogicBUY]

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Adamo gets $500 price drop, whole new lease on life originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends

Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends

Presumably, Intel has been holding back its Core i5 CPUs in an effort not to cannibalize the prodigious success of its Core 2 line, but the chips had to come out of the oven at some point. If Chinese sources are to be believed, that time could be early this September. As detailed above, the i5 mainstream offerings will start at 2.66GHz (Core i5-750), alongside two additions to the Core i7 family, the 860 (2.8GHz) and 870 (2.93GHz). The new parts are highlighted by 8MB of cache and Turbo Boost -- Intel's auto-overclocking system that speeds things up when your cooling allows it. Click through for another slide detailing Clarkdale plans for 2010, which seem to agree with earlier rumors on the subject. Mmm, fresh silicon.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends

Filed under: Desktops

Intel Core i5 750 reportedly arriving September 6, bringing Core i7 friends originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD's 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen GPUs could be ready for bloom by late September

AMD's 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen GPUs could be ready for bloom by late September

Looks like AMD's heading off trail with its upcoming 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen series processors. The Inquirer's dug up some details, and while clock speeds are still unknown, the codenames for the lineup include Cypress at the top of the pile, followed by Redwood, then Juniper and Cedar for the mainstream crowd, and finally Hemlock for the lower end. The series could reportedly be ready by late September, which gives a month of breathing room before DX11-supporting Windows 7 hits the scene. Could this give AMD its much-desired lead over NVIDIA? Hard to say, but things should get mighty interesting between now and late October.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

AMD's 40nm DirectX 11-based Evergreen GPUs could be ready for bloom by late September originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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