Look At The Next Generation Apple TV Powered By A4 processor

According to reliable source, Apple has been revising its next generation TV and is believed to be based on upcoming next generation iPhone HD architecture and design with ability to decode up to 1080p full HD media without limitation.


If this is true, then most probably the Apple TV will be powered by the same A4 processor that being used in its current iPad and 3GS and potentially backed up by a mere 16GB on board flash storage running with iPhone OS. As you may wonder how this supposed to work since media centric set top box may easily require Tera-byte range of storage in digital home, the Cupertino-based company is believed to be leveraging on Cloud based storage technology that can easily offload its storage space elsewhere. By doing that, most of its hardware and peripheral ports could potentially be stripped off, leaving only the processor core, main subsystems and possibly video-output for more cost effective platforms in this price sensitive and competitive consumer space.
As some may think this is in response to the Google TV’s announcement but in actual fact, the concept and product definition may have started even before Google and Intel disclosed their Google TV. However, no concrete availability date yet but the next generation Apple TV is expected to get a significant cost saving with product cost in sub $100, as compared to $229 for its current model.


Originally Posted: http://thetechjournal.com/tech-news/look-at-the-next-generation-apple-tv-powered-by-a4-processor.xhtml

Toshiba & Vizio May Unveil Google TV HDTV Sets At CES 2011

TV manufacturers Toshiba and Vizio are planning to unveil HDTV sets powered by the Google TV software at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, according to inside sources at the two companies who wish to remain unidentified. If true, the backing of these TV makers will come as a timely boost for Google who has in recent weeks seen its Google TV platform embargoed by major US TV networks.

Google TV is Google’s effort to merge traditional TV viewing with the internet in a seamless manner, empowering users to browse web content and surf TV channels directly on HDTVs loaded with the software which is based on the popular Google Android operating system and driven by the Intel Atom processor.

Sony and Logitech – two of the co-developers in the project – launched their respective Google TV-based devices last month. Sony released four screen sizes of Google-TV-powered HDTV sets under the moniker “Sony Internet TV”, and a Google TV Blu-ray player, while Logitech unveiled its Revue Google TV set-top box. Google is rumoured to be actively seeking new consumer electronics manufacturers to adopt its software platform: Samsung and LG Electronics have apparently expressed their interests, but to date no official partnership announcements have come to pass.

However, despite signing content partnership agreements with several large media and entertainment companies in the USA such as Amazon, Netflix and HBO, recently Google TV suffered a significant setback when four major American TV networks – ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox – decided to block Google TV from accessing and displaying their online content, on fears of a dilution of advertising revenues and a rise in unauthorised viewing.

Intel Core i7 990x – Fastest desktop processor to launch early 2011

World’s fastest desktop processor based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge platform, the Core i7 990x to hit market by early January 2011. The much awaited performance powerhouse from Intel stable labeled under the ‘Extreme’ series will be a six core processor running at 3.46GHz stock stretching upto3.73 GHz in Turbo Boost mode.

This processor as any of its predecessors will be enthusiast friendly and can be easily overclocked to 4.5GHz and above. The Core i7 990x will also be featuring a DDR3 (triple channel), X58 chipset and LGA1366 socket with a TDP of 130 watts. The 6 processing cores in this beast will be emulating 12 threads.

Like any processor from the premium ‘Extreme’ series, the i7 990x will not come that cheap. The world’s fastest desktop processor will also be world’s most expensive processor for sure. It will be priced any were between $1000-$1100.

But while comparing to its predecessor 980x, the final verdict is that it is nothing more than a 980X with 130MHz more (from 3.33GHz to 3.46GHz) and the rest identical to its sibling, so it would not make sense to aim this top end model for a premium price.

Sony shows 3D laptop due in 2011

In 2011, Sony plans to join the small set of companies that offer laptops that can dislpay 3D video and games at 1080p resolution.The company showed off prototypes of a forthcoming Vaio laptop at the IFA electronics show here Wednesday, models that come with a "3D" button and active-shutter glasses to separate what the right and left eyes see."3D Vaios will debut next spring," said Sir Howard Stringer, Sony's chief executive, in a press conference touting 3D technology and Sony's commitment to it. Sony also touted other 3D products and content at the show.

The protoypes shown at IFA use "frame-sequential" technology that rapidly cycles the full screen between left-eye and right-eye views, with blank screens in between each to reduce the "crosstalk" that can reduce 3D image quality.

That means the laptop must be able to display video at 240 frames per second to keep up with a 3D rate of 60 frames per second. Sony wouldn't reveal whose graphics chip is used in the system. Sony's also cautioned that the ultimate products may be different from the prototypes it showed.

LG Optimus 2X coming to T-Mobile USA by March ?

The LG Optimus 2X cell phone has a Tegra 2 Processor, T-mobile is pretty much the Android carrier now and basically the best for high end phones. I am so looking forward to this phone. Better hardware plus good developers that port the newest software onto those devices can actually make the phones with better hardware a lot better.  T-Mobile is really coming up with the high-end phones. Hopefully 2011 has more HSPA+ HTC offerings. Preferably running Android. The LG Optimus 2X will be on T-Mobile in late February or early March.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play – New Sony Ericsson PlayStation Phone

The new Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is an Android phone that’s gonna have android games that can use the hardware buttons. It will be interesting to see if this is gonna be successful. A lot of people complain that cell phone games don't have a true dpad and buttons, but i dont think it will matter sales wise. Its meant to get revealed at mwc in feb and start shipping to the UK in april. It’s a phone that is a gaming platform, or is it a gaming platform that is a phone?

Sony Ericsson Yendo with Walkman

Sony Ericsson's latest batch of phones was announced during the Singapore-heldCommunicAsia 2010 tradeshow. The Android-based Xperia X8 was the main focus of that launch, but it was not the only touchscreen device on display. We also saw the Yendo with Walkman, a basic mobile phone with an interface not unlike what's found in the Xperia X10 mini.

Upside

Because it's a Walkman-branded phone, the Yendo comes with quite a number of music-focused features. Aside from a music player, it comes with other extras such as the TrackID music-recognition service and built-in FM tuner. 
The phone itself has a 3.5mm audio jack. This means you can plug in your favorite set of headphones, an important feature for many music lovers. 
With dimensions of 94 x 52 x 16mm, the Yendo is a very compact handset. It should fit comfortably in most pockets and handbags. At 81g, it is also very light. 
The touchscreen interface on the Yendo is similar to the company's Xperia X10 mini's. Commonly used applications can be easily accessed by tapping on the onscreen buttons at the corners. We found the interface on the X10 mini quite user-friendly so this seems a good fit for the Yendo.

Downside

Unlike the Android-based X10 mini, the Yendo runs on a proprietary operating system. This is necessary to keep the cost down, but also reduces the user's options for third-party applications. 
Because it's an entry-level device, the Yendo also has limited connectivity options. You get dual-band GSM and Bluetooth but not 3G or Wi-Fi, so high-speed Internet access will not be readily available.

Outlook

The Yendo with Walkman will be available later in Q3. Sony Ericsson has not announced a price, but given its basic set of features, we expect it to be quite affordable.
SPECIFICATION

General

Phone type

Candy bar

Operating system

Others

Dimensions (H x W x D)

93.5 x 52 x 15.8 mm

Weight

81g

Built-in memory

5 MB

Connectivity

GSM frequency bands

Dualband

Connectivity options

EDGE, microUSB, USB, WAP, Bluetooth

Display and Text Input

Display size

2.6-inch screen

Display resolution

QVGA

Multimedia

Maximum camera resolution

2 megapixels

Sound features

MP3 playback, WMA playback, FM radio, Built-in speakers

Audio jack type

3.5mm

iPad 2 Rumor: Cameras, Better Screen, Sleeker Form Factor

Apple's iPad may gain some significant upgrades early next year, including dual cameras, a better screen, and sleeker form factors, according to a new report from ABC News.
Sources suggest that component suppliers are revving for a new round of production in the first quarter, though the verdict is still split as to whether it's a ramp-up for a new iPad or simply a new round of production for the original model. Considering the iPad was announced in January 2009 and launched in April, however, an update would fall in line with the company's practice of updating products at least once per year.
Plenty of possible goodies await. One source claimed that the tablet will gain both front- and rear-facing cameras. Module makers Genius Electronic Optical Co Ltd and Largan Precision Co Ltd are apparently launching supply deals with Apple, though plenty of ambiguity remains.
Another source suggested that the revamped model will also be slimmer, lighter, and boast an even higher resolution display, a la the iPhone's retina display.
All of this ought to good make for an even happier new year for the Cupertino-based colossus. Apple is expected to ship 13 million iPads this year and nearly three times as many in 2011. An aggressive update in the first quarter could help kick-start sales. For customers and potential customers itching to pull the trigger, there's no word yet on price or availability, so, for the time being, you'll have to look elsewhere for eye candy.

Cr-48: Google Announces First Chrome OS Notebook

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Finally after a long long wait, Google has showcased the very first laptop running Chrome OS. This new 12.1-inch laptop from Google is named as Cr-48. Unfortunately, Cr-48 will not be available for final user until mid-2011.

Google has planned to distribute Cr-48 via Chrome OS Pilot Program which will have limited laptops. Retail buyers can head over to Acer and Samsung stores, once the laptop is released.

Key features of Cr-48:

• 12.1-inch LCD screen.
• 3.8 pounds.
• 802.11n Wi-Fi and 3G support.
• Webcam.
• Flash storage.
• Full-sized keyboard.
• Over-sized touchpad.
• stand-by time: 1 week, active usage: 8 hours.
• USB port.

Caps lock key, flash drive, and function key are some of the features that are currently not present in Cr-48. But this laptop is just a prototype, so we can expect some changes after the completion of Chrome OS Pilot Program.

Forget Windows: Midori is coming

WINDOWS is a name that has ruled the whole computer world since its first launch in November 1985. Since then it is like a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

With many advanced versions of Windows available today such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, it is the most used operating system in the world. In 2010, Microsoft is going to launch WINDOWS 2007, but now here is time to experience a yet another technology of operating systems.

Yes, MICROSOFT is working on a new generation of operating systems called Cloud-Based Operating System and rumors are there that MIDORI will be their first such operating system, which will replace Windows fully from computer map.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE

MIDORI is an offshoot of Microsoft Research's Singularity operating system. In this the tools and libraries are completely managed code. MIDORI is designed to run directly on native hardware (x86, x64 and ARM), will be hosted on the Windows Hyper-V hypervisor, or even be hosted by a Windows process.

MIDORI can be also seen as MICROSOFT'S answer those competitors who are applying "Virtualization" as a mean to solving issues within contemporary computing.

The main idea behind MIDORI is to develop a lightweight portable OS which can be mated easily to lots of various applications.

IMPORTANCE OF MIDORI

For knowing the importance of MIDORI you have to think about, how an operating system is loaded on a computer. Actually operating system is loaded onto a hard disk physically located on that machine. In this way, the operating system is tied very tightly to that hardware. As Windows is dependent on hardware, it might face opposition from contemporary ways of working because people are extremely mobile in using different devices in order get diverse information.

Due to this trend installing different applications on a single computer may led to different compatibility issues whenever the machine require updating. The new operating system will solve these problems by the concept of Virtualizing. This will solve problems such as widespread security vulnerabilities, unexpected interactions among different applications, failures caused by errant extensions, plug-ins, and drivers and many more.

ERIC RUDDER, Senior Vice President, Technical Strategy

The importance of this project for MICROSOFT can be understood by the fact that company choose Eric Rudder , former head of Microsoft's server and tools business and a key member of Chairman Bill Gates' faction of the company, to handle it.

WHEN WILL IT BE LAUNCHED

Just Wait and See. Microsoft has not declared any such date about launching of MIDORI, but there are rumors that this project is in incubation phase.
Source:- http://www.squidoo.com/latestinventions 

Tech Updates by Ashu: iPhone 5G to feature 8MP camera from Sony

Tech Updates by Ashu: iPhone 5G to feature 8MP camera from Sony

iPhone 5G to feature 8MP camera from Sony

Even the iPhone 4G seems to be premiered early with iPhone OS 5MP camera and 64GB of storage are still unconfirmed yet as the device become official presumably this June. Then suddenly beside all this 4th generation early rumors, the iPhone 5G is much way ahead and up with rumor of taunting an 8MP camera supplied by Sony. capabilities however the hardware rumors of

“Apple has picked Sony's 8-megapixel camera chip for the 2011 iPhone, according to supply and manufacturing sources, said Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar.”

Currently the iPhone’s camera is from OmniVision hint that the 5MP camera will come from them too. Knowing Sony’s phones mounted by their camera modules boast high quality captured images then I must say it’s not a bad choice. Along the way the 2011 maybe time for 4G networks so possibly we can have an iPhone 5G with 4G support. 

In the end, it’s too early to tell for 2011 iteration of the iPhone, let’s just see what Apple has stored for us this summer, mainly the iPhone HD and iPhone OS 4.

source:- http://www.techgeeze.com/2010/04/iphone-5g-to-feature-8mp-camera-from.html

China Creates World's Fastest Supercomputer, Surpasses the US' Jaguar

Recently a survey ranked a Chinese supercomputer as the world's most powerful, surpassing The Jaguar, the supercomputer that previously headed the Top 500 (www.top500.org).

Dubbed Tianhe-1, which means Milky Way, the Chinese supercomputer showed a speed of 2,570 trillion calculations per second, thus making it to number 1 position in the Top 500 survey of supercomputers.

The machine is located at the National Centre for Supercomputing in the northern port city of Tianjin and most of the chips it uses were designed in the United States.

It is worth mentioning that The Jaguar, installed at a US government facility in Tennessee, boasts a speed of 1,750 trillion calculations per second, thus holding the second position in the ranking.

The third most powerful supercomputer is located in China as well. Called the Nebulae, the supercomputer can be seen at the National Supercomputing Centre in the southern city of Shenzhen, reports Physorg.

Over a half of supercomputers included in the Top 500 list are in the United States. China has now 42 systems in the list, surpassing Japan, France, Germany and United Kingdom.

Samsung Launches World's First Ultra Definition 3D TV

Samsung has already amazed gadget fans with its Galaxy S smartphone and Galaxy tab and now the company launched a brad new revolutionary device - a three-dimensional ultra definition TV.

The new 70-inch 3D Ultra Definition (UD) TV from Samsung is currently considered to be the first of its kind and is the largest 3D TV on the market today.It is worth mentioning that the 70-inch diagonal display supports a 240Hz resolution which in its turn takes the 3D feature to a new level.

Nokia Team Builds Ice Touchscreen

A group of specialists at Nokia in Finland decided to develop the world's first ice touchscreen. It is worth mentioning that there's a tradition in Finland to make various ice sculptures throughout the long cold winter. This tradition inspired Antti Virolainen and his team members to create the device.

"We decided to see if we could make an ice sculpture that was interactive," said Virolainen.

A 25-centimeter-thick river ice, weighting 1 ton, was delivered by a firm in nearby Oulu. Then, using a chainsaw, the piece was cut into 50-centimeter-square parts. The team used these parts to build a 2m x 1.5m ice wall. Then the wall was blasted with a heat gun to make a smooth surface.

To make the wall interactive the Nokia team used a digital projection technology. The ice touchscreen makes use of rear-diffused illumination (RDI). It is worth mentioning that this technique was for the first time used in Microsoft Surface, a table-based interactive touchscreen presented by the software giant in 2008.

At the back of the ice touchscreen the team installed a near-infrared light source along with a series of near-infrared cameras that are focused on the front surface, reports NewScientist.

When a person places their hand on the ice, it reflects the light towards the infrared cameras. Each camera collects a signal which allows a computer (connected to a projector) to locate the hand position, size and motion. The computer used the gathered information to project images beneath the hand.

Intel to Create 1,000-Core Processor

The current prototype Intel chip features 48 cores, but in the near future it could be turned into a 1,000-core processor.

Intel researcher Timothy Mattson mentioned that the architecture for the company's prototype chip is "arbitrarily scalable."

"This is an architecture that could, in principle, scale to 1,000 cores, Because I can just simply keep adding, adding, adding cores," Mattson was quoted as saying during the Supercomputer 2010 conference.

At the same time Matson reminded that if over 1,000 cores are added, the diameter of the on-chip network that links the cores would surpass the optimal size parameters, which could negatively influence the performance.

For more information regarding Intel's Single Chip Cloud Computer (SCC) click here.

Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 Comes with the Latest in Desktop Design

Lenovo’s desktops and laptops are normally very business-minded, with apparently little thought given to style. But not the IdeaCentre A600. It has looks to compete with HP TouchSmart and Apple iMac. Lenovo actually claims that it’s the thinnest AIO computer in the market today, and from its looks, it’s most likely true. It’s not a touchscreen AIO like HP’s TouchSmart series though, but the A600 introduces a different form of interaction altogether in the form of its 4-in-1 remote control. What’s so great about a remote control? Well, aside from serving as a Windows Media Center remote control, this accelerometer-equipped device also triples up as a game controller, mouse pointer, and VoIP phone. When it comes to appearance and design, the A600 is based around a 21.5-inch screen with Full HD 1920 x 1080px resolution. It’s thin at the top while the bottom is much thicker because that’s where the bulk of the hardware components are located. For connectivity options, it sports WiFi, a 6-in-1 media card reader, side-mounted USB and FireWire ports with additional USB ports on the rear of the panel. The price starts at $999 with choices of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, optional ATI Radeon graphics and technology with DirectX10 support, up to 4GB of RAM, and up to 1TB (1000GB) of hard drive space for storing hundreds of videos, music, and other documents. Other features include:

• 1.3 or 2-megapixel camera
• Touch sensitive controls
• VeriFace 3.5 face recognition
• Dolby home theatre
• Intel G45 Chipset
I’m aware that Lenovo’s sleek and shiny All-in-One IdeaCentre A600 desktop has been drawing eyes and envy since it was unveiled at CES 2009. But I guess the long wait is over because it’s now on sale and you can start ordering yours today!

Source

USB Rechargeable Batteries

Here is a way you can preserve our environment and energy by using rechargeable batteries, rather than using plain disposable batteries that are harmful to our environment. So, by not using rechargeable batteries, not only do we end up spending more money but also end up polluting the environment.

Here is something that will surely catch your attention: You must have heard of rechargeable batteries which was released first in the 80’s and became a huge hit because it could be used over and over again. You must have heard of charging the batteries using electricity and power outlets and there are latest ones that use solar power for recharging. Well here is a USB AA rechargeable batteries. USBCELL AA batteries are standard rechargeable batteries but in order to recharge them you need to remove the top of the battery and plug them into the USB port. It takes about an hour to recharge it to 50%.

Transcend Introduces First 64GB USB Flash Drive

Transcend launched two 64 GB flash drives in India, the JetFlashread speeds of up to 32MB/s and write speeds of up to 18 MB/s. The short transfer times allow users to transfer large amounts of data such as music, digital photos and Full HD videos. 600 and the JetFlash 620. The drives deliver

According to Mr. Gordon Wu, Regional head, SARRC Transcend Transcend Ultra Speed USB flash drives now come in an enormous 64 GB of storage capacity, enabling users to store over 16,000 high-quality pictures or songs, 640 minutes of Full HD videos, or seemingly limitless amount of documents all in a tiny thumb-sized storage device.The JetFlash 620 comes bundled with Transcends JetFlash SecureDrive software. The powerful software helps safeguard users’ confidential data by creating a private, password-protected area on their JetFlash drive.

Taking full advantage of the dual-channel technology, Transcend Ultra Speed series USB flash drives deliver read speeds of up to 32MB/s and write speeds of up to 18 MB/s. The outstanding performance dramatically shortens the transfer time, making it ideal for transferring large amounts of data such as music, digital photos and even Full HD videos.