mercredi 3 juillet 2013
Intel packs performance and reliability into its latest SSD 520 series
mardi 18 juin 2013
iPads become child's play
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(AP) -- Make room in the toy box for the iPad.
Crayola allows tots to doodle on the iPad using its iMarker just as they would a crayon on a coloring book. Tweens are able to belt out their favorite Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez tunes on a Disney microphone that turns the tablet into a karaoke machine. And technology accessories company Griffin enables teens to fly its toy helicopter by using the
That the iPad and iPhone have infiltrated the $22 billion toy market this season is no surprise. Smartphones and tablets - particularly Apple products - are more popular than ever with people of all ages. This year, Apple is expected to double the number of iPhones sold to 90.6 million worldwide, according to research firm Gartner, while the number of iPads sold is expected to triple to 46.7 million.
And Apple products have a certain "cool factor" with kids that toy companies, which can make up to half of their revenue during the holidays, are hoping to tap into. In fact, the iPad and iPhone are among the most coveted electronics this holiday season among kids. About 44 percent of 6- to 12-year-olds want the iPad this year, according to a survey by research firm Nielsen. The iPod touch came in the No. 2 spot with 30 percent, followed by the iPhone at 27 percent.
Not to mention, anyone who's a parent knows all too well that babies and older kids alike love to fiddle with or drool all over mommy's iPad. Nearly 40 percent of 2-to 4-year-olds have used a smartphone, iPad or video iPod, according to a survey by nonprofit group Common Sense Media. That number rises to 52 percent for 5- to- 8 year olds. And even 10 percent of infants have used one of the devices before their first birthday.
"It's mostly something for kids to use in the car or at the doctor's office," says Chris Baynes, a toy analyst. "It's a way to get the kid to be quiet."
With that in mind, Crayola teamed up with Nashville, Tenn.-based Griffin Technology, which is mostly known for selling iPhone and iPad cases and car chargers, to make the iMarker and the ColorStudio HD app for kids. The iMarker, which is like a stylus that resembles a Crayola marker, is targeted at children ages three and up.
"Regardless of who they buy it for, once it is in the household, we know that kids use it," says Vicky Lozano, vice president of marketing at Crayola, which makes the iMarker.
Other toy makers also have gotten into the game:
- Griffin's $49.99 remote-controlled toy helicopter is aimed at teens over 14. Called the "HELO TC," it flies using a device that plugs into an iPhone, iPad or iPod. A free app turns the touchscreen of the devices into a cockpit that controls the helicopter.
- Mattel Inc.'s Fisher-Price unit is selling "The Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case" aimed at babies for $15. The case locks the iPhone into a colorful, easy to grab case that looks like a big round rattle. The case stops babies from making unwanted calls and protects the iPhone from something else: drool. Parents can open up three free apps that play music, read words aloud and count numbers. The company plans to release an iPad version of the case this spring.
- Disney has three offerings. The "Disney Spotlight" microphone, which is $69.99 or $99.99 for a wireless version, plugs into the iPad and allows kids to sing along to Disney songs from shows such as "Hannah Montana" - or to their own music - and record their own music video. Disney's $79.99 AppClix digital camera enables kids to upload their pictures to an iPad and a free app allows them add Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck into the photos. And Disney teamed up with Canadian toy maker Spin Master to create "Appmates," a toy car based on the characters from the company's "Car's 2" animated movie. One car sells for $12.99 while a two-pack goes for $19.99. Using a free app, kids can "drive" on different courses by moving the car across the iPad screen.
- Spin Master, which makes toys such as Air Hogs and Bakugan, started a new line this year of toys for the iPad and iPhone called "AppFininity." Its first toy in the line is the $19.99 AppBlaster, a plastic gun for kids over age eight. After slipping an iPhone or
lundi 6 mai 2013
Motorola phone talks a tough game
With the Motorola Tundra, you get a "rugged" phone that not only does a very nice job with the basics, but also absorbs the stresses of everyday living. It comes with the extras (such as a decent 2 megapixel camera), if you want them.
"It isn't a sexy phone, but it's proving to be popular," said Kristie Lundgren, a product manager for Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola Inc. She likes to say it's a phone "as tough as your kids, made to sit on the bottom of backpack or a diaper bag."
The Tundra has one drawback: its steep price. It costs $199 with a two-year contract and is available only at AT&T Wireless.
Price aside, here's why I like this phone:
• The keys are big and firm. "It was designed for people wearing gloves," Lundgren said. They also are slightly raised, making it easier to dial without looking at the keypad.
• The sound quality is excellent, thanks to a noise-suppression technology Motorola calls CrystalTalk Plus. In test calls with friends and family from busy, traffic-filled streets and chatty coffee shops, I was heard clearly. The people I called were impressed.
• The Tundra is comfortable to hold, thanks to its rubberized exterior. That tough hide means you don't need a case, either.
The primary market for the Tundra is businesses that work mainly outdoors, such as construction or landscaping. It has push-to-talk features and it can be programmed to prevent employees from using certain applications (such as the Web browser) or to call only numbers from an approved phone book - no phoning home on company time.
I think consumers, too, will like the benefits of using a rugged phone.
You can make a call in the rain (but don't purposely submerge it underwater) and not worry when a toddler tosses the phone across the kitchen.
It's a tough phone that works well. Sometimes, that's all one needs.
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(Eric Benderoff writes about technology for the Chicago Tribune. Contact him at ebenderoff(at)tribune.com or at the Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611.)
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(c) 2009, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at www.chicagotribune.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
mercredi 1 mai 2013
Intel Unveils New Chip Designs
In his Intel Developer Forum keynote today, Pat Gelsinger detailed the roadmap for Intel's continued march toward pervasive, higher performance and power efficient computing. The senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group discussed new features of the company's next-generation processor family including a new turbo mode that shifts the processor into a higher gear for mind-blowing performance without a heat penalty.
The company's first desktop PC chips branded Intel Core i7 processors and initial energy-efficient, high-performance server products (codenamed "Nehalem-EP") will be first to production. Intel is also planning to manufacture a second server derivative designed for the expandable sever market ("Nehalem-EX"), and desktop ("Havendale" and "Lynnfield") and mobile ("Auburndale" and "Clarksfield") client versions in the second half of 2009.
"Our engineers have put together an incredible processing family here that will include a tremendous amount of new processor features all centered on delivering faster computer performance and terrific energy efficiency," Gelsinger said.
The next-generation Core microarchitecture also features Intel Hyper-Threading Technology delivering up to 8-threaded performance capability on 4 cores in the initial versions and best-in-class memory bandwidth thanks to the new QuickPath Interconnect. QuickPath is a technology that connects processors, chipsets and memory together, and delivers up to three times the memory bandwidth of previous generation Core microarchitecture solutions.
The new Intel Xeon processor X7460 with 6 cores and 16MB L3 cache for expandable servers launching in September has already broken multiple performance world records. An 8-socket IBM System x 3950 M2 server became the first platform to break the 1 million tpmC barrier on the TPC-C benchmark. New 4-Socket performance records include TPC-C on HP Proliant DL580 G5, TPC-E on Dell PowerEdge R900, SPECjbb 2005 on Sun Fire X4450 and SPECint_rate2006 on Fujitsu-Siemens PRIMERGY RX600 S4.
Gelsinger also discussed the industry's first many-core Intel Architecture (IA) based design, codenamed "Larrabee." Expected in 2009 or 2010, the first product based on Larrabee will target the personal computer graphics market, support DirectX and OpenGL, and run today's games and programs. Larrabee is expected to kick start an industry-wide effort to create and optimize software for the dozens, hundreds and thousands of cores expected to power future computers.
The Intel executive also outlined Intel's vision for the next wave of the Internet, called the Embedded Internet. Emerging markets in the embedded computing space such as IP networking and security, video intelligence, medical, in-vehicle infotainment and home automation can greatly benefit from the always-on Internet connectivity. Gelsinger said that this area is another growth opportunity for Intel and the high-tech industry, and predicted that there will be 15 billion devices connected to the Internet as a result of the rapid rise of the embedded internet.
Where Will Mobile Computing's "On-the-Go, Go?"
Showing the breadth and health of Intel's next-generation processors, David (Dadi) Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobility Group today demonstrated the first working laptop platform codenamed "Calpella."
"Calpella will redefine how we compute on-the-go by giving users a stunning new computing visual experience, better manageability and security, enhanced turbo mode features and evolutionary power management for notebooks," said Perlmutter. "It is all about dramatic mobile performance without compromise."
New Mobile Processors Unveiled
Building on the recent Intel Centrino 2 launch for notebook PCs in July, Perlmutter unveiled Intel's first-ever mobile-focused quad-core laptop workstation – the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor. While the products include four cores, they only use 45 watts of power.
Perlmutter also introduced the company's second-generation dual-core mobile processors for increasingly popular ultra thin and light notebook PCs.
He also outlined upcoming mobile platform enhancements including the Intel High-Performance SATA Solid-State Drive product line for faster system responsiveness, lower power consumption and rugged, reliable operation and available later this year, Intel Anti-Theft Technology, which features intelligent hardware-based detection and response mechanisms that enable IT managers or service providers to disable the platform and/or access to data in case of loss or theft.
WiMAX Connecting Soon
Emerging WiMAX 4G networks around the world will be connecting the plethora of mobile platforms and devices, and specifically within the United States where Sprint XOHM plans to turn on its first citywide network in Baltimore in September. Globally, more than 400 WiMAX trials and networks2 extend the richness of the mobility experience. Perlmutter also announced that Dell has now joined other computer-makers such as Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Panasonic, and Toshiba as publicly committing to include the Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5050 Series module to future laptop product lines.
Source: Intel
dimanche 14 avril 2013
Intel's new X79 chipset details leaked
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Today's technology rumor has to do with Intel. A Chinese site, it.com.cn, has supposedly gotten its hand's on a slide from Intel, a slide that outlines their next platform chipset. The slide even has a handy little road map on it.
If the data on the slide, which has yet to be verified, turns out to be true, the X79, will be the successor to the popular X58 platform, which was launched about three years ago. The X79 is expected to seat four-core and six-core Sandy Bridge-E processors , and have significant upgrades to system memory. There will also be some changes in connectivity, but the details on this point are a bit sketchy.
The X79 is also expected to feature an LGA 2011 socket. The PCI-E hub has been moved from the northbridge to the processor die, which would be similar to another
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Some other features of note include an integrated Lewisville gigabit Ethernet PHY chip and an audio codec with support for dual stream HDMI and DP audio. The chip is also designed to be overclocked, which means that this is meant to be a machine for serious enthusiasts.
If the slide turns out to be genuine, the X79 will be arriving on the shelves of stores in the final quarter of 2011. Though again, one must remember that this is all conjecture based on a single slide. Do not plan your next upgrade based on this information. At least not until it is confirmed by the company.
So, fact or fiction, you decide.
mardi 19 mars 2013
Fez won't receive patch on XBLA
Fez, one of the more popular indie on the Xbox, will not be getting the re-release of the dreaded patch that deletes players’ saved games. According to Polytron, Fez’s developer, Microsoft will charge too much for the patch to be released, and therefore, the developer has decided to not release the patch for the Xbox.
Polytron claims that the patch fixes various issues with the game including, but not limited to, frame rate problems, loading issues, game-killing bugs.
Microsoft has denied that the fee was the reason behind Polytron’s decision to not re-release the patch. In a statement released recently, Microsoft claims that it supports Polytron’s decision to re-release the patch, and that it will remain a “huge fan of Fez,” even though Polytron and Microsoft couldnt hammer out a solution.
“Polytron and their investor, Trapdoor, made the decision not to work on an additional title update for FEZ. Microsoft Studios chose to support this decision based on the belief that Polytron/Trapdoor were in the best position to determine what the acceptable quality level is for their game.
While we do not disclose the cost of Title Updates, we did offer to work with Trapdoor to make sure that wasn’t a blocking issue.
We remain huge fans of Fez.”
Polytron has openly stated that if Fez had been released on Steam instead of XBLA “the game would have been fixed… at no cost to [them].
vendredi 15 mars 2013
DRAM prices drop yet again
According to market research firm iSuppli, a stick of 2GB DDR3 ram now costs US$21 compared to US$44 in June 2010. Similarly, a stick of DDR2 ram has dropped from US$39 to US$21 in the same time period. DDR3 prices are expected to drop at a faster rate as it accounts for 60% of the market leading to an increased supply of DDR3 rams.
PC manufacturers and consumers would also be expected to upgrade the capacity and number of rams, taking advantage of the low ram prices. iSuppli said that DRAM per PC grew by 24% in 2010 and is expected to grow by more than 33% in this year.
Source: Tomshardware.com