By Aaron Heibert - Source : Tom's Hardware

If chip fabrication continues on a shrinking trend with Intel expected to release details surround its 32nm chip fabrication technology at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) in San Francisco on December 15.

Representatives from Intel will present a paper to discuss how they produced a 291Mb SRAM memory array to test the process – a process which uses high-k and metal gate technologies. Using a 0.171-micron^2 cell size, the device has close to 2 billion transistors and array density of 4.2-Mbit^2 – it operated at 3.8GHz at 1.1 Volts.

Static RAM cells are what chip makers always build first when testing a new fabrication process – and according to Intel, the new process appears to be good. Intel has also claimed that its first 32nm processors, codenamed ‘Westmere’ are expected to debut in late 2009 – essentially be a die-shrink version of their new Nehalem architecture, due out late this quarter.

Intel is also not the only chip maker detailing its progress, however. AMD is claiming the smallest functional SRAM cell ever made at 22nm, high-k and metal gate with a density of 0.10micron^2.

From the sounds of things, we can expect to start seeing 32nm chips from Intel around the third or fourth quarter of 2009 and 22nm chips from AMD. Generally the smaller they get, the lower the voltage – thus lowering the heat. This are going to be pretty cool next year, no pun intended.

Read 14 comments

By Steve Seguin - Source : Tom's Guide

Axiotron is currently accepting orders for its new modification service that will convert an existing Apple MacBook into tablet computer for $1,299.

Although the Axiotron Modbook has been available for quite some time now, with a starting price of $2,199, it seems elusively out of the price range of many. Fortunately, Axiotron is now accepting order requests from those wishing to convert their old MacBooks into stylish new Modbooks. For as low as $1,299, the Axiotron Modservice will turn an existing Apple MacBook into a tablet Mac; keyboard-less and all. Not only is it a more affordable way to get Modbook, but it also is a great way to add new life to that old MacBook that has been gathering dust.

The Axiotron Modbook is a slate-style tablet Mac, ideal for artists, students, professionals and mobile users. The Modbook features a durable Axiotron ForceGlass screen with Wacom digitizer technology, a GPS module and a sturdy chrome-plated top shell. Although the Modbook has no built-in keyboard, it does include handwriting recognition software that can convert scribbles into coherent sentences. Artists will likely appreciate the 512 levels of pen pressure sensitivity that the industry-leading Wacom technology provides, offering the ability to draw, paint and sketch with realistic results.

Order requests can now be placed at the Axiotron website, which will reserve a spot in queue as conversions are not set to begin until November. If you do not have a MacBook or do not yet wish to part with it, the Apple website is currently selling refurbished MacBooks for just $849. Along with the $1,299 conversion process, buying a refurbished MacBook seems like it would only result in a $51 savings over just buying a new Modbook outright.

On a final note, MacBook Pros and the new aluminum MacBooks are not supported. Also, there seems to be an extra fee attached to the conversion process if the MacBook being converted does not have OS X 10.5 installed; it will be installed if it is not present. Lastly, although there is no keyboard present on the Modbook, using an external USB keyboard should work in its place. With the war Steve Jobs has on buttons though, it may be only a matter of time until standard MacBooks lose their keyboards too. Gizmodo has a review of the Modbook here.

Be the first to comment!

By Michael Brown - Source : Tom's Hardware

When is a standard not really standard? When it’s the proposed IEEE P1901 standard for powerline networking, which the IEEE Standards Association’s IEEE P1901 Working Group will once again take under consideration when it meets in San Francisco November 4 through 6.

Unlike the IEEE 802.11n Draft 2.0 standard for wireless networking, the proposed IEEE P1901 standard for powerline networking does not guarantee that products certified as compliant with the IEEE P1901 standard will work together.

When two of the several camps competing to define the 802.11n wireless networking standard merged their proposals, the resulting draft standard guaranteed that all 802.11n products would interoperate. So when two of the three camps (the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Panasonic) competing to define the IEEE P1901 standard for powerline networking merged their proposals in October 2007, many outside the IEEE assumed interoperability was an essential element. It’s not.

As currently proposed, the standard defines one unified MAC layer, but two different physical layers (one PHY layer based on fast Fourier transform orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing, as advocated by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, and another PHY layer based on Wavelet OFDM, as proposed by Panasonic). The proposed standard allows manufacturers to build devices that utilize either or both PHY layers; but if they choose one over the other, that device will function only with other IEEE P1901 devices designed to use the same PHY layer.

To be fair, Webster’s defines “standard” merely as “something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.” According to that definition, there’s nothing wrong with the proposal that the working group has failed to ratify at its three previous meetings. But it would also be fair to say that consumers equate “standard” with “interoperable,” assuming that as long as they buy a product that adheres to a given standard, it’s going to work with any other product that makes the same claim.

Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, acknowledges that consumers will need guidance beyond the presence of the phrase “IEEE P1901” on a powerline-networking product’s box. “P1901 devices will need to include some certification labeling with the PHY type,” said Ranck, “to ensure that consumers can tell the difference in the case of devices that don’t support both PHY types.”

But Chano Gomez, vice-president of technology and strategic partnerships at DS2 (a company advocating yet a third technology for a powerline-networking standard, which the IEEE P1901 Working Group has repeatedly voted down) argues that the proposed IEEE P1901 isn’t really a standard at all. In fact, he maintains that both the PHY and MAC layers are incompatible. “The current proposal under vote includes two incompatible specifications for PHY and MAC,” said Gomez, “which in my opinion is the reason why many companies oppose it. This is a truly technical reason to vote against the proposal.”

Gomez went on to say that “standards bring two benefits for the industry: they ensure that all products work together, which is good for consumers, and they provide certainty to new silicon vendors that want to enter the market. With more vendors, you get more competition and eventually more innovation and lower prices—which is also good for consumers. This two PHY, two MAC proposal achieves none of that.”

Ranck argues that the perfect is the enemy of the good. “Although some have argued against this approach in favor of having complete interoperability,” said Ranck “the reality is that the powerline industry has been fragmented for many years and there is no guarantee that a consensus on interoperability will be reached in the near future. HomePlug’s objective is to support all efforts toward unifying the industry, and we think that taking a step forward in this fashion with IEEE P1901 is a good thing.”

Powerline networking is a good idea—when it works. While few would argue that hardwired Ethernet using Cat5e is the best solution, it’s not always possible to retrofit a home to use it. Wireless Ethernet is another good solution, but radio signals have difficulty penetrating some building materials, and they have limited range. Powerline networking has a place in the market, but the IEEE P1901 Working Group could learn a few things about gaining consumers’ confidence from their colleagues on the IEEE 802.11n Working Group.

Read 2 comments

By Aaron Heibert - Source : Tom's Hardware

Been looking for a good Mini-ITX solution for a project? Home Theatre PC? Zotac has packed Nvidia power onto one of its new Mini-ITX boards, along with semi-built in Wi-Fi.

The Zotac nForce 630i-ITX WiFi is part of the company’s expansion on their Mini-ITX lineup. Featuring GeForce 7100 graphics processing, 630i media and communications chipset, 802.11b/g WiFi and support for all Core 2 Due and Core 2 Quad processors with a front side bus of 1333MHz - support for 667MHz / 800MHz DDR2.

Upon inspection of the backplane in the photos below, we can see the standard DSUB VGA connector and DVI connectors side by side – Zotac mentions the board is dual-display ready. A whopping SIX USB 2.0 ports on the backplane (there are two more available via another onboard header). Onboard 10/100 Ethernet. 802.11b/g WiFi antenna connector, and the HD audio ports for Line-In, Line-Out, and Mic. This board still has PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse which some people might find very useful while others can simply do without.

Looking at the board and its layout, aside from the obvious LGA775 socket and power connectors, we can see two DDR2 slots, two SATA connectors, single PCI-Express 1X slot, single ATA connector, and front panel LED / Switch connectors next to the onboard fan power header.

For a Mini-ITX solution, this board packs enough features to make it very attractive for those eyeballing their next Home Theatre PC (HTPC) build. It has all the features, including graphics capability, that would make it a worthy choice.

More information can be found over at the Zotac page for the 630i-ITX WiFi board.

Read 6 comments

By Jane McEntegart - Source : Tom's Guide

One of the major problems people had with the iPhone was that it was going to be offered exclusively with AT&T. Once the phone was released, the race was on to see who would be the first to have the phone unlocked and working on a network of their choice.

The same is true about the G1. While people were less vocal about the need to unlock the G1, offering a handset tethered to any specific network is going to be a pain for people who want the device but don’t want to switch networks.

Unlocking the first generation iPhone was easier than many people expected and the same could be said for the G1. It seems the folks over at Unlock-TMobileG1.com have managed to unlock HTC’s G1, available exclusively on T-Mobile. Unfortunately, the opportunist site is keeping schtum on exactly what you need to do to get your hands on the unlocking code needed for your handset and instead is offering to sell G1 owners the unlocking code for $23.99 a piece.

After placing an order (you’ll need to supply Unlock-TmobileG1 with your handset’s IMEI code) you will receive an eight-digit unlock code for your device. Video proof on YouTube shows that it actually works and judging from the abundance of 5-Star feedback from the site, it’s not just a hoax to scam you out of $24.

Check out the video below if you’re interested in seeing the unlocking process.

(Via AndroidCommunity)

Be the first to comment!

By Jane McEntegart - Source : Tom's Guide

TiVo and Netflix today announced the long awaited partnership that will see Netflix content streamed directly to viewers’ TiVo DVR boxes.

Originally announced in 2004, the two companies endeavored to deliver video online, directly. According to the Associated Press, the partnership will mean the latest generation of TiVos will be capable of beaming selections from the 12,000 movies and TV shows offered through Netflix.

The two companies said they are initiating a test of the new capability today in several thousand U.S. households and expect it to be broadly available in early December. No doubt trusting plenty of people will be sitting at home watching telly at Christmas. Those who subscribe to Netflix with a TiVo will be able to instantly watch content from Netflix on the TV via TiVo at no additional charge.

TiVo and Netflix announcement in 2004 disintegrated following Netflix’s copyright issues with TV and film studios and while the announcement is great news, customers with older generation TiVos will likely be annoyed that the service is only available to those with TiVo Series3, TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL. Although the release in time for the holidays means you’ll probably see plenty of people trying to get their hands on one of the new TiVos for Christmas.

Be the first to comment!

By Jane McEntegart - Source : Tom's Guide

AT&T has announced that the company will now offer free WiFi for iPhone and BlackBerry owners at AT&T WiFi hotspots.

“AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks. Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location. For information visit www.att.com/attwifi.”

If this sounds familiar it’s because AT&T has been announcing and pulling this on and off for the last six months. One weekend in early May, AT&T iPhone users noted that they could access free WiFi in Starbucks and Barnes and Noble stores. By Monday things had returned to normal and the presumed glitch was fixed. Fast forward a few days and AT&T announced that it was indeed planning to announce free WiFi for iPhoners.

All excited, users were disappointed when this plan was delayed indefinitely. Hopes were dashed when what looked like a deliberate launch took place in July. The AT&T website showed a whole page dedicated to the announcement and so, most were fairly certain it wouldn’t be yanked out from under users noses. The offer allowed iPhone customers access to 17,000 AT&T hotspots around the country including those in Starbucks Coffee stores, Barnes and Noble branches and various other locations such as over 800 restaurants as well as some universities, bookstores and supermarkets. Not long after, the site showed a message claiming the announcement was a mistake and pulled the page.

We don’t want to tempt fate by saying we’re not holding our breath for the offer to stick this time around, so we won’t. The announcement page has been up since Wednesday and has yet to pulled.

The deal does seem to be much more set-in-stone this time around, as WiFi access is also extended to BlackBerry users with unlimited data plans. In addition to the BlackBerry Bold, the Pearl 8120 and the 8820 will follow later this year, and AT&T said it plans to make the offer available to more mobile devices in the future.

"AT&T is committed to providing its customers with the best connectivity at the best value," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T’s mobility business unit. "We have the industry’s leading lineup of smartphones, along with the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network. It only makes sense for us to bring these unique capabilities together for our customers."

Be the first to comment!

By Steve Seguin - Source : Tom's Guide

For those wanting a desktop computer with a fun and unconventional form factor, CLVE Computer has announced the tube-shaped TVBE. With a futuristic design that is somewhat reminiscent of a walking garbage can, the TVBE will no doubt make for an interesting conversation piece.

Although it has a uniquely tube-shaped case, which the company claims is translucent, the TVBE has all the features that one might expect to find in a modern desktop computer. The TVBE comes configured with a choice of single- or dual-core 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1 GB or 2 GB of DDR2 667 MHz memory and either a 320 GB or 500 GB 7200 RPM hard drive.

As for graphics performance, the TVBE has its graphics powered by the Intel GMA950 integrated graphics solution. The Intel GMA950 is not a graphics solution that can provide adequate modern gaming performance, but for most users it will likely be enough for everyday general purpose use. As for video output, the TVBE has a VGA port that supports analog resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 pixels, as well as an S-Video port, although that is only available on the dual-core model. There is also a range of audio ports, six USB 2.0 ports (two on the top, four on the bottom), a serial port, PS/2 ports, a parallel printer port and an Ethernet port. Lastly, the TVBE is fitted with a 22x DVD-burner, although its location is hard to tell (possibly vertical tray ejection?).

The TVBE stands 9.6-inches high with the case feet attached, it has a diameter of 7.9-inches and it has a weight of 9.9-pounds. Thanks to the use of an Intel Atom processor and an integrated graphics solution, the system should remain cool, quiet and energy efficient. The TVBE has an entry level price point of €299 incl. VAT and it is now available in Germany. It will also be shipping to other countries “in the very near future”.

Be the first to comment!

By Aaron Heibert - Source : Tom's Hardware

It is nothing new when large entities are a target for something – it happens nearly every day and everyone wants a piece of the pie. According to a recently motivated class-action suit, Dell allegedly unfairly targeted women and employees over the age of 40 in recent layoffs.

The suit, launched by four former human-resources managers of Dell, are seeking US$500 million in their class-action suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The four individuals, women, allege that the company and its ‘old boy network’ discriminated against women in pay, job placement, promotions and layoffs.

Back in May of 2007, Dell announced plans to show roughly 8,800 employees the door, about 10 percent of its workforce at that time. The layoffs apparently targeted women and older workers, and more than 80 percent of Dell’s upper management is now male, the lawsuit alleges.

Quoting Steven Wittels, a lawyer for the plaintiffs:

“While Dell publicly proclaims a commitment to diversity as ‘an essential element of our corporate values,’ the reality fails to live up to the rhetoric. At Dell, it is an understatement to say that women face a glass ceiling; Dell’s glass ceiling is made of concrete.”

The plaintiffs claim that they have each lost more than US$1 million in salary and other benefits due to Dell’s discrimination. The plaintiffs apparently have statistical data to back up their claims and will be providing it in court. Dell has remained unavailable for comment at this time. According to Dell’s diversity Web page, the company workforce consists of one-third women and 32 percent of the company’s U.S. vice presidents are women or minorities.

Quoting the Web page:

“Dell’s diversity programs give us access to the broadest pool of employees, which the company needs to meet the demands of its growing customer base. We recognize, of course, that this is always unfinished business. We actively recruit diverse talent and offer diverse employees tools to promote advancement.”

Dell has received numerous awards for its diversity programs over the years, perhaps making this allegation a true test of the computer makers’ efforts.

Read 13 comments

By Michael Brown - Source : Tom's Guide

HP announced three new models in its HP Mini family today, each of which is powered by an Intel Atom N270 CPU running at 1.6GHz.

All three models measure less than one inch thick; weigh just over two pounds, depending on their configuration; offer a keyboard that’s 92 percent the size of a standard notebook PC keyboard; and feature a widescreenLCD with resolution of 1,024x600 pixels.

The HP Mini 1000, available now, comes pre-installed with Windows XP Home and includes an 10/100Mb/sec Ethernet jack, two USB ports, a built-in webcam, a two-in-one digital media reader, 802.11g wireless networking, and optional Bluetooth. The base model ($399) will be offered with 512MB of DDR2 memory (with 1GB available as an option); an 8.9-inch display (or an optional 10.2-inch screen); and an 8GB solid-state hard drive (with a 16GB solid-state drive and a 60GB mechanical model available as options). Maxing out on the options pushes the price tag to $549.99.

The HP Mini with MIE (Mobile Internet Experience) features a HP-designed user interface sitting atop the Linux operating system (Ubuntu 8.04, to be specific). This model comes pre-loaded with instant-messaging and email software and a Skype client for online video chats. The base model will sell for $379, with the same options that are available for the Mini 1000.

The third model, the Vivienne Tam Edition, is aimed at fashionistas: It features a bold, red case with a floral pattern created by the noted designer, who was born in China, raised in Hong Kong, and launched her career in New York. Said fashionistas, of course, won’t feel right with the world if they don’t pay a premium for their bling: The Vivienne Tam Edition will sell for $699 at both HP’s web store and at Tam’s New York boutique. It will run Windows XP Home Edition.

Be the first to comment!

By Jane McEntegart - Source : Tom's Guide

Several major technology companies have signed a global agreement designed to apply common set of principles for how to do business in nations that restrict free speech and expression.

Competition for the search market, advertising deals and talks with the Department of Justice aside, Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft got together and came up with an initiative that will see a set of common guidelines applied to what user data will be shared with governments around the world. The initiative is an effort to protect freedom of expression and counteract the belief that they have helped censorship in some countries.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, both Human Rights First and the Committee to Protect Journalists banded together and helped the tech companies in forming The Global Network Initiative.

The Initiative’s goal is to protect online users’ personal information in countries where the companies do business. Mercury News reports that in addition to limiting the personal data they share with governments, the companies also agreed to assess the human rights climate in a country before they begin practicing business there.

According to Mercury, the new guidelines will require clear, written communication from the government detailing the legal basis of the request for information before any personal details are handed over.

Related Links

The Wall Street Journal Mercury News
CRN

Be the first to comment!