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Apple Introduces new 12 cores processor

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Aazar Shahzad
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The new Mac Pros fit up to two (Westmere) 4-core Xeon processors, sure, but if you've got the inclination, you can load up on dual 6-core Intel Xeon processors, or 12 cores of power. As for the design? That's unchanged.In simpler-speak, the big update is that the Mac Pro shifted from 45nm Nahalem processors (other than in the $2,500 base model) to 32 nm Westmere processors. Those holding out on the processor generation jump to buy a new Mac Pro, it looks like that time has come.

The new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac we've ever made," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With up to 12 cores, the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50 percent, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want."

At the heart of the new Mac Pro's performance are next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. These multi-core processors use a single die design so each core can share up to 12MB L3 cache to improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. These systems feature an integrated memory controller for faster memory bandwidth and reduced memory latency; Turbo Boost to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz; and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of memory.

For the first time, Mac Pro customers have the option to order a 512GB SSD for the ultimate in reliability and lightning fast performance. With the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the system's internal drive bays, the new Mac Pro can provide ultra high-speed disk bandwidth and random disk performance, two times faster than the average performance of a standard disk drive.** Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows customers to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

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Intel's 50Gbps Silicon Photonics Link shines a light on future computers

by Aazar Shahzad
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Using copper cables to transfer data around a computer? Get your head out of the sand, Grandpa! Intelthinks that's on the outs and is touting its recent accomplishments with Silicon Photonics and integrated lasers, using light pulses to move data at 50Gbps (last time we heard Intel tout the tech was when it hit40Gbps speeds in 2007). The emphasis is on low-cost, high-speed fiber optics, the removal of cable clutter, and with the speed boost, the ability to try new system designs by being able to space chips and components farther apart from one another without as much hit on speed -- all theoretical at this point, of course. Researchers hopes to hit terabit per second speeds further down the line. As for John Q. Consumer, enjoy the progress from afar but don't count on seeing this technology hit Newegg anytime soon. Video after the break.
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Apple issues Magic Trackpad drivers for OS X and Windows

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Aazar Shahzad
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Right on schedule, Apple's released new drivers for the Magic Trackpad, in both OS X and Windows flavors. The download is pretty amusingly huge at 75MB, since it includes videos of all the gestures in action, but at least you'll know exactly how many fingers to use for that new three-finger drag gesture. The bad news? It requires OS X 10.6.4, so you're out of luck if you're still running Leopard and itching to get your swipe on with Apple's latest peripheral.

The new software also updates the MacBook and MacBook Pro multitouch trackpads with inertial scrolling and three-finger drag, which is pretty nice -- we've got it installed on a unibody MBP and it's working as advertised. Hit up Software Update now, or check the source link to score your bits old-school.
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Apple's 24-inch and 30-inch Cinema Displays

by Aazar Shahzad
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Now that Apple's unleashing a 27-inch Cinema Display in September, what's to become of its 24-inch and 30-inch bookend brethren? Straight from the mouths of Apple execs and disseminated by way ofMacworld's Jason Snell -- a man who would most definitely be in the know -- the dynamic duo is being discontinued. End of the line is when supplies run out, so better place your orders now if you aren't hip to monitors with diagonal lengths divisible by 9
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Android 2.2 upgrade for Droid X may already be trickling out,

by Aazar Shahzad
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We've already gathered that Verizon, Moto, and HTC all seem to be pretty well committed to bumping most of their Droid models to Froyo (as well they should), but things are starting to get real -- really real. First off, we've been fed a shot of a tipster's Droid X that has apparently already been blessed with 2.2 over the air; the baseband version is a tick older than the one in a shot leaked over on My Droid Life, but it's anyone's guess how Motorola is staging this and what the final gold binary really contains. We've also seen a 2.2 ROM for the Droid Incredible leak recently (and the Droid before that), so uncorroborated rumors we're seeing that three of the four retail Droids will be getting 2.2 by the 15th of next month aren't necessarily crazy. Remember: think positive thoughts.

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Logitech does 5.1 surround sound

Friday, July 16, 2010 by Aazar Shahzad
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Logitech's boxed speaker sets have always gone over quite well with reviewers, and now it's offering a 5.1 system that may just be priced at a point that's too good to refuse. You know, if you holdouts were considering sticking with that 2.0 setup for another score or so. Launched today, the Surround Sound Speakers Z506 are designed to play nice with PCs, game consoles, PMPs and DVD / Blu-ray players. Pretty much anything that sends out an audio signal can be hooked up to these, and Logi even threw in color coded connectors to prevent you from getting overly confused and eventually doing something awfully regrettable with the satellites. There's 75 watts of RMS power, which should be plenty to fill your moderately sized gaming cave -- head on past the break for a promo vid, if you're into that type of thing.

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Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 with 1080p Video

by Aazar Shahzad
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Product Description

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 is HD in every way. Record at Full HD 1080p or make a video call in HD 720p on most major IMs and Logitech Vid HD.

It takes crystal clear snapshots using 10 mega pixels, not even my digital camera is that high in mega pixels. The webcam is not as high quality using it on video chat (HD 720p), but it still beats the other webcam I was using before. I really don't think I will be using the video recorder feature often since I really can't see a need to record myself sitting in front of my desktop but I decided to try it anyways. When I tested the picture quality recording a video, it was clear (HD 1080p) and the sound was superb. Check out the attached video review for yourself (please disregard my Spanglish accent). The videos are saved in .wmv format. The widescreen lens allows a wider camera view compared to the average "square box" - so much more fits in the camera's view. The LightRight 2 technology automatically adjust the lighting conditions in the camera's view, no need to be fusing around with the settings
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Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch Fun Small Tablet

by Aazar Shahzad
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Combining intuitive design and versatility, the Bamboo Pen and Touch is a powerful creative workstation that lets PC and Mac users create digital art with an organic, hands-on feel. Using an innovative tablet and Wacom's "Multi-Touch" system, users can manipulate images and navigate the Web using simple gestures and finger taps. When combined with Wacom's pen-input technology, Pen and Touch allows you to write, doodle, and embellish with ease.

Product Details

  1. Two sensors for precise pen and Multi-Touch input
  2. Pressure-sensitive pen tip for natural pen and brush strokes
  3. Quick access to user-defined shortcuts with four ExpressKeys
  4. Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 Win / 6.0 Mac for editing, retouching, enhancing and sharing digital photos
  5. Battery-free, ergonomic pen with two switches

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Lenovo IdeaCentre A310 slips into something a little more Corefortable

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Aazar Shahzad
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We never felt like the thing holding the IdeaCentre A300 back was its CPU, but that hasn't stopped Lenovo from tacking an extra 10 onto the product number and a modern Core i3-350M inside. The 2.26GHz chip is a dual-core mobile affair, built on Intel's famed 32nm process, and offers an integrated 45nm graphics processor just for kicks as well. For this newfound privilege, Japanese buyers will be expected to pony up ¥109,000 ($1,243) when the A310 becomes available on July 17. Bear in mind that includes a bundled external DVD rewriter, the lack of which was one of our bigger disappointments with this otherwise gorgeous 21.5-inch all-in-one family -- now if Lenovo could only offer a version with a matte screen, we might even care enough to buy one.
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Acer Aspire One D255 netbook packs Atom N550 processor, subdued appearance

by Aazar Shahzad
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It's been less than a month since Acer rolled out its Aspire One D260 netbook at Computex, but it looks like the company already has a followup (of sorts) lined up in the form of the Aspire One D255. That netbook is apparently mostly identical to the D260 in terms of specs, with the notable exception of a brand new dual-core Atom N550 processor -- a first for an Acer netbook. About the only other changes are some minor design tweaks that ditch the chrome accents and flake paint options found on the D260 -- but don't worry, that impossible to miss Aspire One logo on the lid is still there. No word on availability just yet, but we're working to get that information out of Acer.
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Audi Cam lets you watch the entire repair from your mechanic's point of view

by Aazar Shahzad
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Need to get a critical tune-up, but don't trust the factory techs not to Ferris Bueller your ride? If you live in the UK and drive an Audi, you'll have technology on your side. Following a successful pilot program, the German manufacturer's outfitting each Audi Centre in Britain with helmet cameras and two-way radios to let customers monitor the entire job. While this sounds fantastic from a consumer standpoint, you'll see mechanics and IT professionals in the audience sadly shaking their heads -- if you've ever had to explain a technical product to an Average Joe who thinks they know better than yourself, you'll understand there are certain disadvantages to this idea. PR after the break
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Gateway LT32 to hit retailers soon for $450

by Aazar Shahzad
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We're not sure why Gateway's waited so long to release the details and pricing on the LT32 -- considering it's pretty much a rebadge of the Acer Aspire One 721 we just reviewed -- but lo and behold the HD-capable, 11.6-inch ultraportable will be hitting the street soon for $450. Just like the $430 Aspire One 721, the LT32 is powered by AMD's 1.7GHz Athlon II Neo K125 CPU, runs Windows 7 Home Premium, and packs a 250GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM. It also has ATI Radeon HD 4225 integrated graphics, which as we saw on the recent Acers handles 1080p flash and local video like a champ. From the looks of things the LT32 also seems to have a similar chassis to the 721, so we're not totally sure why you'd choose it over the Acer when it's $20 more, but perhaps there's just some Gateway diehards amongst us. Hit the break for the full release.
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World Cup ball gets NASA's official mark of disapproval

by Aazar Shahzad
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If you've been following World Cup tourneys through the noughties, you'll have noticed that criticizing the official tournament ball has turned into something of an unspoken tradition. The latest offender of football purists' stringent standards is the Adidas Jabulani ball, which was introduced especially forWorld Cup 2010. That wouldn't be notable in itself, but this time it's apparently gotten bad enough for NASA to pipe up and drop some science on the subject. The aerodynamics experts (at least we hope they're experts) of the American space agency have said that the 440-gram ball becomes unpredictable when propelled at over 44mph, resulting in the unnatural swerves and deviations that have been plaguing footballers this year. So there you have it, England, Italy and France: a rock solid excuse to pin your lackadaisical exhibitions of mediocrity this year -- it was the ball's fault.
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Brite-View launches CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG HD media player

Friday, July 2, 2010 by Aazar Shahzad
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We knew at Computex that tablets were on track to completely take over the world, but now it's official: a German internet provider has just revealed that it'll soon be offering a branded tablet PC of its own. You heard right -- a German ISP is making a tablet. The delightfully named SmartPad is a 7-inch, touchscreen-based slate that'll eventually support Android 2.2 (v1.6 will be pre-installed), and there's also inbuilt WiFi and an optional 3G module for those looking to "stay connected." It seems as if the company is still hammering out the final specifications, but we are told to expect an SD card reader (2GB will be included), a USB socket, a 500MHz ARM11 processor, 256MB of RAM and a proprietary app store that'll undoubtedly enrage you. According to the promotional video hosted just past the break, it should ship later this month for precisely nothing so long as you pick up a data plan to go alongside of it. 'Course, getting one outside of Deutschland is another challenge entirely...



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HP laying off some Palm staff

by Aazar Shahzad
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It's not totally unexpected, but apparently HP is laying off some Palm staffers now that the buyout is official. We don't know exactly how many people are being let go, or in what departments -- it certainly makes sense for HP to trim away some administrative and support positions as it intregrates Palm into its larger organization -- but there's no question that Palm's lost some key people ever since this turmoil began, and we're definitely curious to see who's left standing after these cuts. For what it's worth, Palm told All Things Digital that "part of the integration strategy is consolidation of functions and operations, as appropriate," and that "Palm employees overall are enthusiastic about having the financial stability and global scale necessary to complete their vision," so we've got hope -- after all, HP needs Palm just as much as Palm needs HP.
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